We’re finally seeing the signs of summer: long days, warm breezes, red sunsets and of course, fresh food

Summer specialties

• Toss potato and pasta salads with red, green or yellow peppers. Throw in some cherry tomatoes, zucchini or yellow squash for a rainbow of colour.
• Brighten up a chicken or turkey salad by adding big chunks of peaches or apricots; enjoy a burst of flavour in every bite.
• Greens go great with papaya or mango strips; top with an herb vinaigrette or fruit flavoured yogurt dressing.
• Tuck favourite sandwich fillings into Italian focaccia bread; layer with strips of cheese and tomato slices, sprinkle with fresh herbs and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Fuelling with fluids

Don’t forget the fluids. Children especially are prone to fluid loss when playing in the sun. While ice water is your best bet, the following ideas may beat the heat and add some fun.

• In a blender, puree chunks of peaches, pears or nectarines, along with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Pour into ice cube containers and freeze until firm. Serve as ice cubes in chilled water or as a popsicle treat.
• Spice up regular lemonade by adding cranberry or raspberry juice. Dilute sweet drinks well with water as sweet drinks may increase thirst.
• Mix up a fruit spritzer by adding soda water to 100% fruit juices. Try freezing it until just slushy and eat with a spoon.

Picnic Pitas

This light, elegant dish provides a welcome change to the usual picnic fare. Best of all, it can be made a day ahead.

Ingredients

3 tbsp. balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 cup fresh, chopped basil
1 small eggplant, sliced into thin rounds
1 zucchini, sliced thinly
1 yellow squash, sliced thinly
1 red pepper, sliced thinly
1 small red onion, sliced thinly
1/4 cup 2% plain yogurt
2 tbsp. low fat mayonnaise
1 tbsp. fresh, chopped basil
1 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Blend vinegar, oil and basil. Add vegetables, tossing to coat.
2. Place vegetables in roasting pan and cook, stirring occasionally until tender, about 30 minutes.
3. Whisk together ingredients for yogurt spread.
4. Spread yogurt mixture on pita halves, crusty rolls or focaccia bread. Top with veggie mixture and serve

No matter how hard you try is your best still not good enough? Need to talk? Talk to a mentor.

Juicy bright with whites says it all.

Dress it up!

Romantic lace dresses and skirts grace the runway with nostalgic elegance. The 60’s influence brings us the hourglass dress.  A Jackie Kennedy inspired sheath dress is lovely falling just below the knee. Full skirts bring us back into ultra-feminine elegance.

The maxi dress is great for either daytime or evening wear and flatters almost any figure. Choose one in a soft flowing fabric for comfort. The little white dress makes a statement and moves the little black dress to the back of the closet.

70s inspired

This season also takes us back to the 70′s but with a sophisticated twist. The best of the disco era includes shimmering fabrics, fringes and flares. Groovy high-waisted, wide leg pants are paired with an elegant lux top. Stripes are back. Chose thick or thin in this spring’s technicolors. Lacy peasant blouses and homespun knits are all ready to go for spring.

The right pair of shoes will always finish your look. Elegant kitten heels, strappy stilettos, towering wedges with cork heels, gladiators or clogs – your look can be changed by unique footwear. Details such as rosettes, snakeskin, metallics and bows showcase what’s on the runway.

Spring and summer handbags are bright and beautiful. Choose a practical shoulder bag or a clutch purse in a sizzling hot color. Pair a feminine dress with a rich jeweled pendant necklace.

Finish your look with a sleeveless jacket or trench coat. Varying fabrics and colors can provide either a sporty, feminine or classic look.

One Tip Wonder: Put some vivid color in your wardrobe this season. Have fun shopping for a new dress that flatters your figure and add a clutch bag for a splash of color. Enjoy looking great this season!

The best picnic I ever had was also the simplest.

We stopped at a grocery store for tomatoes and good cheese and focaccia and those really chunky Kit Kat bars that had just come out.  We took the whole thing to St. James Park, found a spot with a view of Buckingham Palace and just took it all in.  It felt so indulgent, so luxurious.  All these years later I can still remember how those tomatoes tasted warmed by the sun of a perfect day.  There is something truly magical about a picnic.

The simplest definition of luxury

One of my favorite quotes from British writer Rosamunde Pilcher sums up picnics perfectly.  She says , “Luxury is the total fulfillment of all five senses at once.”  I could not have said it better.  I think part of what makes picnics so perfect is that once we get there, we slow down.  We eat slowly, we look around, we give ourselves permission to enjoy.

There can be this idea that picnics are only for children or romantics, and while I think both those groups should be emulated wherever possible, picnics are not theirs alone.  Picnics don’t have to be elaborate or fancy, they just need to involve good food, a pretty view and no dishes to wash when you get home.

Times are still tough for a lot of people, and luxuries have long gone by the wayside.  A picnic can be a wonderful way to bring some luxury back into your summer without breaking the bank.  Here are a few ideas:

1. Buy a very small BBQ. I bough a tiny table top BBQ two summers ago for $30.  It runs on those little canisters of gas you get for camping.  It’s only a foot across,  but you can fit six hamburgers or almost a dozen hotdogs at a time.  We’ve taken it to the lake after work more times than I can count.  Get a box of frozen burgers and a bag of chips and you’re all set to luxuriate.
2. Think seasonal and fresh. Go to your local vegatable market and see what’s in season.  Whatever they have the most of is usually cheapest.  Fresh tomatoes, carrots, celery and peppers all take very little prep.  Just chop them up and grab a dip and you’re well on your way.
3. Think inside the box. Some of your old standbys become magical when eaten on a picnic.  Don’t believe me? Take a box of cereal and some milk out to your favorite spot and see if it doesn’t taste better outdoors.  A friend of mine makes mac and cheese on the camp stove all the time.   All you need is an old pot, a  little butter and some milk.  It’s so easy the kids can do it (as long as they’re old enough to be around a stove.)
4. Make the picnic part of your healthy lifestyle. We all love to multi task, why not make a picnic part of your workout? Head to the lake, or find a spot you have to walk to to get some exercise in then use one of Anita Romaniw’s healthy and nutritious picnic recipes to serve up a meal that makes your day AND keeps you on track.

This summer make room for a little luxury and take yourself on a picnic.  I promise you won’t regret it.

For more great picnic ideas see the “Summer Picnic Food Ideas” article.   What do you pack around when it comes to your life? Try our online lesson What’s in Your Bag? to find out.

Therefore, most summers and throughout the year, DRIME desires to send out short term teams to various parts of the world to do drama and evangelism, and to equip local believers in a new tool of ministry.

Each year we offer a variety of missions trip opportunities from 1-4 weeks primarily during spring break or summer months.  If you have a heart for the nations & a desire to share Jesus creatively, perhaps a DRIME mission trip is just the thing for you! Team members will be prayed over and chosen based on a number of factors including a servant’s heart, team spirit, spiritual maturity and ministry experience.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2012 TEAMS:

-Summer trip to Togo, West Africa (June 29-July 17)

-Summer return trip to Thailand (June 29-July 17)

*Dates are approximate and include training days, travel, in-country ministry and debrief

To find out more or hear about other opportunities, please fill out our contact form.

To apply online, click on the PAT.

Check out our past trips:

• Hong Kong 2011
• Thailand 2011
• Eastern Canada (ON/QC) 2011
• Thailand/Hong Kong, 2010
• Benin 2008, 2009
• Paraguay 2008, 2009
• California 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011
• Greece 2004
• Kenya 2004, 2006
• Ethiopia 2003
• Russia 2002
• Brazil 2001, 2002, 2003
• Ireland 2000, 2001
• N. America 1997
• N. America/Argentina 1996

Get ready for romance as the spring and summer fashions of 2010 hit the stores!

Sparkle and shine hit the runway again as embellishment continues to climb the fashion charts with sequins, crystals, beading and glitter. Even the most basic T-shirt is upgraded to total decadence this season.  If embellishment and romance aren’t on your fashion palette then consider the alternate styles offered this season.

The minimal urban look gives a clean line with a precise silhouette. This architectural clothing is sleek and sophisticated especially in neutral colors. The minimalist style, shy on accessories, offers a simple yet elegant look.

Underwear is the new outerwear. Lingerie inspired pieces such as frilly lace bras over shirts and bustiers will make you blush. Victoria’s Secret is moving out of the store and into the streets.

Simple and sporty weekend wear moves into the weekday. Sleeveless hoodies and drawstring details on track pants with mesh inserts provide comfort and style.  The military look carries over from last season with khaki hues in an officer jacket or trench  coat, cargo pants and chinos.

The tunic white blouse is a fashion must-try. Add a button down, wrapped or pleated style, whatever best suits your body type.

Shoes this season are skyscrapers with platform heels. Mary Janes with cut out details, T-strap diva shoes, cork wedge heels and high sling backs look great but prove difficult to wear for those long days at the office. Pointed toe flats with pretty detailing and bows or two strap sandals such as gladiators will offer casual comfort.

Transparent accessories are hot! Shop for Lucite bracelets, plastic earrings, or crystal shoes. Even Cinderella would be impressed!

One Wish Fashion List:    With so much variety this season shop til you drop and enjoy browsing the racks to create your own distinctive  style. A romantic flowing dress with skyscraper heels, a crisp white  blouse with a pair of chinos or a sporty ensemble for the weekend will  take you from the office to the beach.  Have fun with the variety of this season!

Do you have a family reunion or group event to plan this summer?

A photo scavenger hunt can easily be adapted to any space and works with groups large and small.  (I was in one once with three hundred people.)  A photo scavenger hunt gives people a chance to really show their creativity and best of all, the event creates its own memento.  Years later, I still have the photos from that giant 300 person hunt.  And they are still hilarious.

For full instructions and a list of ideas to get you started, head over to “How to Host a Photo Scavenger Hunt”.  It’s guaranteed to be an event they’ll always remember.

Are family get-togethers stressful?  Try our free life lesson Finding Freedom

Commercial flights aren’t as comfortable as they used to be.

As with any flight, there are ways to make your experience a bit better. You just need to come prepared.  Gadgets are always a great idea but with the ever decreasing rules for carry-ons, you need to choose wisely.  With your sanity and survival in mind, Shaun Smith offers up the 10 best gadgets to have on a flight.

More for people who are going places:
Now that you’re traveling in style, do you know where your life is going?
Where do we go from here?

How do you spend your summer holidays?

Some of our family’s happiest times were spent in the Great Outdoors.

During the month of July, our family of seven would be in the raspberry fields picking berries. The children could keep their earnings as spending money. Then August was vacation month.

Arriving at the Inkameep campground in Osoyoos, we’d pitch our tents and dock the canoe. After a good swim our children would be off to meet the neighbor’s kids. In the evening, our picnic table often became the meeting place of happy card games.

So many happy memories were made this way! But one memory stands out.

My husband wanted our family to experience one of the wonders of nature. So, one dark August evening we left tent-city and walked toward the sand dunes.

We climbed a sand dune and sat down, digging our bare feet into the warm sand. Quietly we listened to the sounds of a warm summer night: a splash in the water, cicadas chirping, a bat in flight…Gradually, the dark silhouette of the mountains became etched in light, then a bright full moon popped over the hills like a balloon that had been held under water.

As the moonlight bathed the country side, we saw horses grazing in a meadow just below us, a canoe coming towards the shore…We imagined they were pirates!

More than thirty years have passed. All five of our children are grown and some have families of their own now. Guess how they are spending some of their vacations? In the Great Outdoors, of course.

Dear God, thank you for creating a beautiful world for us to enjoy. Help us to take better care of it.

Questions: What are your holiday plans? Why not plan some family activities in the Great Outdoors. The memories you build into your children will last forever.

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, God is Jealous, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to have fun. For some cost efficient alternatives, sign up for dancing or cooking lessons at the community center, or start a book club with your friends.

Related links:
- Loneliness: Feeling lonely this summer? Read Selvin’s story, “Finding a Place to Belong”
- Online chat: You can also connect with others in our free online chat room.

School’s out and the kids are all at home.

To begin with, Michelle recommends extra-kid-proofing your house. Chances are good that you’re going to have the neighborhood kids in and out of your place over the summer.  While your own children know not to touch Grandma’s teddy bear in the living room, the other kids might not.  If it’s special and fragile, move it out of reach until September.  A little time now can save a lot of tears later.

To see how an egg timer and an activity bin could save your summer, keep reading “Sanity Savers: Help kids get along and have fun”.

Do you feel like the days are getting away from you? Try our free online lesson Managing Time Wisely to get the most out of your summer.