In this fascinating plant science experiment, your kids will learn what happens when you put pine cones in water and why pine cones open and close their scales. Kids love to collect pine cones, and I don’t blame them! There’s something magical about the way they fall from the trees and litter the ground below. With their unique shapes and textures, pine cones are fascinating to explore and collect. Chances are you have done at least a few eco-friendly craft projects and activities with pine cones, such as creating a pine cone turkey for Thanksgiving or a pine cone snowy owl for the winter. But have you ever tried putting a pine cone in water? In this fun and easy...
Many of us dream of becoming authors. If you’ve had “writing a book” on your bucket list, you’re in good company. Some of us eek one out on a topic we feel passionate about. (For me, it was Back to Work After Baby; for my husband, Relationships to Infinity.) Some of us publish prolifically. (See, for example, the many awesome time management books by Laura Vanderkam, including Tranquility by Tuesday, which she’ll be talking with me about during our Mindful Return May Book Talk.) If book-writing has been on your list – or on the list of your child! – I’m here to share some inspiration with you. I recently learned the beautiful story of a BigLaw attorney who co-authored...
As the world moves away from fossil fuels, we spoke with local folks who’ve made the jump in recent years from working in oil and gas to working for clean energy companies in Southern California. This is one story in that four-part series. Read the introduction here: From fossil fuels to careers in clean energy: Profiles of locals who’ve made the switch Read about a second worker here: White collar refinery worker trades career in oil for biofuel Read about a third worker here: Permit expert’s career switch from oil to clean energy pleases ‘hippy’ parents When your passion is energy, Nathan Lee said the rule has long been that “all roads lead to Houston.” That’s how Lee ended up...
Frozen Peaches Scrolling through Twitter, I saw the cover of Frozen Peaches with the sled dogs and ice castle. I had to read it! I was fortunate enough to get a chance to interview the author, Erin Soderberg Downing. Read on for a chance to enter the giveaway for a copy of the book. Erin Soderberg Downing — Interview About the Book Hi Erin! Thank you for sharing the latest book in The Great Peach Experiment series: Frozen Peaches with me (and such a clever and fitting title!). Congratulations on its recent release. Can you give us a short summary about the book? Sure! The third Peach adventure opens with Freddy Peach’s announcement that he’s been testing his family’s recent good-luck streak...
Are you a pizza classicist or a contemporary pie connoisseur? Coniglio’s Old Fashioned in Morristown marries Jersey’s beloved pizza traditions with modern brick-oven flair. Below, Somerset County-bred pizza celeb Nino Coniglio dishes about his Jersey upbringing, the journey to becoming a pizzaiolo, and why Morristown wows his Brooklyn friends. There’s a viral photo of you wearing a T-shirt that says “Pizza Saved My Life.” It’s true, and my wife, Shealyn Brand Coniglio, a pizza influencer, had it made for me. Making pizza and competing for trophies laser-focused my energy and talents on positive things. I’ve competed in Italy, France, Sprain, and the U.K., plus domestically. I’ve won “Pizza Maker of the year” at the Pizza Expo in Vegas and World Champion...
