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Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
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Monthly Notes:
Monthly
Awareness
August 2014
National Blueberry Month
Admit Youre Happy Month
Family Fun Month
National Catfsh Month
National Eye Exam Month
National Golf Month
Peach Month
Romance Awareness Month
Water Quality Month
National Picnic Month
I think whoever was in charge of making
August Family Fun Month obviously had
children. With August signaling back to
school me, its clear we all need to pack in
as many acvies with family as possible.
Get out of your rut! Maybe this arcle will
help. I thought it might be fun to throw out
some ideas on ways to embrace whats le of
summer.
The First, Cook Together -
OK. Hear me out. I am sure most
of you do cook for your family; however, the
majority of this is usually the domain of one
family member. Why not pick a day to create
a fun meal youve never tried before, and
enlist every member in your household to one
task. Just be sure to be fair and not let some-
ones sole parcipaon be clean up guy. Lets
be honest, no one really enjoys doing dishes.
Start with researching an interesng recipe or
meal online, aempt to replicate your favorite
restaurant meal or dig out instrucons for an
old family favorite. Get everyone into it and
the whole process can be fun. Shop for the
ingredients together. This makes it easier not
to forget items, and potenally get this chore
done more quickly. And listen up for subs-
tuons or suggesons on alternaves. There
always seems to be a dieter in the house, or
one whose focus is on healthier opons for
what you may habitually choose. Dont stress,
if no one cares to budge or compromise, what
beer place to be than at the grocery store!
Invite them to add their own personal meal
into the cart.
The Second, Get Outside -
Guess what? Its already August
which means we do not have a
whole lot of great weather le
in the forecast. This summer has been so
mild and enjoyable. Soon enough, well be
huddled inside so why not hit the deck with
that meal you just prepared instead of parking
the family inside with the TV as background
noise? Aer dinner, walk together through the
neighborhood or sit around outside before a
re or groupings of candles.
Research the great acvies available out-
doors, many, many of which are free. Whens
the last me you ran through a sprinkler, set
up the badminton net, threw your kids in a
pool or pushed your spouse on a swing? But
even if pools and parks require admiance
fees, a day of spoiling your family could be
totally worth the bonding me that comes
with it.
The Third, Learn Together -
Now this one may be an even
bigger stretch than the rst, but
really hear me out while I explain
my thought process
There isnt much me le before school
starts. It is really important to take some me
and learn all of the ways your children will
be interacng during their school days. Most
school districts now have a heavy technology
emphasis and are reaching out to kids and
parents via e-mails. Some ulize iPads and
laptops in their curriculum. Parents arent
always as savvy as their kids in all of this but
you need to be. Keep abreast of them, and
strive to be even ahead of them. You might
be able to oer ps and tricks they may not
know in order to help them be more eecve
and e cient with these products.
Even more importantly, help your children
understand appropriate e-mail and other ap-
propriate on-line behaviors as well. Thereve
been plenty of inappropriate ancs reported
on the news and through your childs school,
but even so, dont assume your student is
immune from exposure to it. A good rule of
thumb? Think rst! If they wouldnt want
their grandmother to read it or see it, dont
post it! Its easy to forget how much informa-
on we can gather about one another with a
simple Google-search of a name.
Also encourage your children to understand
the text-type talk theyre used to can be
detrimental in professional situaons. If they
can break some of that habit early on, it may
help them stand out when applying for jobs or
surviving on their own in college.
It is also not a bad me for parents and stu-
dents to understand how they will be graded
in school, and what lines of communicaon
are open with teachers and administrators.
Try to remember if your student has shown
responsibility in staying on top of assignments
and give them reminders if necessary unl
good use of me becomes a habit.
Wow. In reading this over, number three
doesnt sound nearly as much fun as other
acvies (I warned you it would be a stretch).
Think of it this way: If your kids develop
beer habits, make as good use of schooling
as they can and yes keep out of trouble,
that means a much happier, relaxed and less
stressed bunch in general and thats more
fun, isnt it?
CUBS
1-3 @ DODGERS
5-7 @ ROCKIES
8-10 RAYS
11-14 BREWERS
15-18 @ METS
19-21 GIANTS
22-24 ORIOLES
26-28 @ REDS
29-31 @ CARDINALS
BEARS
8TH - VS. EAGLES 7:00PM
14TH - VS. JAGUARS 7:00PM
22ND - @ SEAHAWKS 9:00PM
28TH - @ BROWNS 7:00PM
WHITE SOX
1-3 TWINS
4-6 RANGERS
7-10 @ MARINERS
12-13 @ GIANTS
15-17 BLUE JAYS
18-20 ORIOLES
22-24 @ YANKEES
26-28 INDIANS
29-31 TIGERS
3rd - International Forgiveness Day
5th - Work Like a Dog Day
9th - Book Lovers Day
10th - National Smores Day
13th - Lef Handers Day
14th/15th - V-Day, start of WWII
16th - Tell a Joke Day
21st - Senior Citizens Day
22nd - Be An Angel Day
26th - National Dog Day
27th - Global Forgiveness Day
29th - More Herbs, Less Salt Day
30th - Toasted Marshmallow Day
31st - National Trail Mix Day
Dont Forget, August is National Family Fun Month
24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
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S UDOK U BRE AK
CONTEST CORNER
l d
1. Myth: Sharks are hungry man eaters
looking for any chance to attack.
Fact: Sharks are not hunting hu-
mans. Most attacks on humans are
mistakes due to poor water visibility or
are inquisitive bites. Tis is why there
are so many more bites
than fatalities.
2. Myth: Sharks are all the
same.
Fact: Shark species are
incredibly diverse with very
diferent sizes, shapes, hab-
itats, diets and behaviors.
Tere are approximately
500 shark species, but only
three (white, tiger and
bull) are responsible for the
majority of all bites.
3. Myth: All sharks are
voracious predators.
Fact: Basking sharks and whale
sharks, the two largest species of
sharks, are flter feeders that feed on
fsh eggs and other tiny organisms.
4. Myth: Te only good shark is a dead
shark.
Fact: Sharks play a vital role in
keeping marine ecosystems balanced
and healthy. Additionally, sharks help
coastal economies through ecotourism.
Many people are willing to pay large
sums of money for the opportunity to
dive with sharks.
5. Myth: If a shark attack has not oc-
curred, it means they do not live in that
area.
Fact: Sharks inhabit all of the worlds
oceans from inshore, coastal waters
to the open, deep-blue sea and some
can even be found in freshwater rivers
and lakes.
6. Myth: Sharks have walnut-sized
brains.
Fact: Sharks can exhibit complex
social behavior and some species can
communicate with body language,
live in groups and even hunt in packs.
Sharks and rays have some of the larg-
est brains among all fsh, with brain-
to-body ratios similar to birds and
mammals.
7. Myth: All sharks must swim con-
stantly.
Fact: While most sharks do need
to swim continuously in order to pass
water over their gills and breathe, some
sharks are able to actively pump
water over their gills while rest-
ing on the sea foor.
8. Myth: Shark fns grow back
if they are cut of.
Fact: A fnned shark thrown
overboard will drown, bleed
to death or be eaten by other
sharks.
9. Myth: Shark fns are fa-
vorsome, nutritious and ofer
medicinal properties.
Fact: Shark fns ofer no favor
or nutritional value. In fact, as top
predators, sharks accumulate contami-
nants from their prey, such as mercury,
which has serious health efects even at
low doses.
10. Myth: Sharks have no predators.
Fact: Te greatest threat to sharks is
HUMANS. Each year, tens of millions
of sharks are killed for their fns. We
are disrupting the ocean ecosystem by
killing too many sharks.
Facts provided by: [Link]
y
v
SHARK WEEK Inspired Myths vs. Facts
INGREDIENTS:
Crust & Toppings:
(4) tablespoons unsalted
butter, melted
(2/3) cup graham cracker
crumbs
(1/2) cup marshmallow
fluff or cream
(4) marshmallows, toasted
and cut in half
Chocolate Ganache:
(4) ounces milk chocolate, chopped
(3) tablespoons heavy cream
Marshmallow Cheesecake:
(1/2) cup whipped cream cheese, at
room temperature
(1/2) cup marshmallow fluff or cream
(1/3) cup sweetened condensed milk
(2) teaspoons vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, mix together butter and
graham crumbs until moistened. Press
crumbs into the container of your choice
(jar, ramekin, etc) with the back of a
spoon. Place the chocolate in a bowl.
Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan
and heat over medium heat until warm,
just until bubbles appear on the edges.
Pour the cream over the chocolate and
let it sit for 30 seconds, then stir con-
stantly until the chocolate is all melted
and a smooth ganache comes together.
Add about a teaspoon of the ganache on
top of each graham crust.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat
the cream cheese on medium speed until
creamy. Add in the marshmallow fluff
and beat until combined, then with the
mixer on low speed, pour in the milk and
vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until
a smooth batter forms. Pour the batter
on top of the chocolate ganache, leaving
space on top for more chocolate and
marshmallow.
Add another teaspoon of ganache on
top of the cheesecake and a sprinkle of
graham crumbs if you wish, then refrig-
erate for 4 to 6 hours. When ready to
serve, add a tablespoon or so of marsh-
mallow fluff on top of the ganache, then
top with a toasted marshmallow. Sprinkle
extra graham crumbs on top and serve!
24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
[Link] 3
A DOGS WORLD
Hey Everyone! Franklin here. I hope all of you
are wrapping up your summer nicely. And yes. I
did say wrapping up. Despite what you may be
hoping for, the weather will be vastly chang-
ing. Personally, I cannot wait until winter rolls
around, but I will try not to depress anyone with
thoughts of snow.
Since we are not teachers like our mom, we have
been at the shop all summer plugging away to keep
[Link]
everyone out there cool. Moms doing her own kind
of busy by making sure our brother Jack has a
fun-lled summer. Hes been going to the pool
and taking different classes at the local library.
I think Im jealous of all the fun activities
theyve been sharing.
For those of you going back to school or have
kids who are, Murphy and I want to wish you
good luck during the new school year. May it be
even better than the last and serve as one more
positive step to a great future. We canines plan to
spend a semester or two taking advantage of all
of the distractions around our house. We hope to
ace a quick Jack-toy theft or two while no ones
looking.
Until next time, heres to mild days and nights and
plenty of light to get out and about. Oh yeah, do
not forget to include your pets in Family Fun Month
festivities. - Franklin
With August being National Smore month I
thought it only ftting to drop in a few factoids
about Smores to dazzle your friends with.
Smore originated from the
combination of the words Some
More as people could not get
enough of the classic combination
of gooey marshmallows, crisp
graham crackers and Hersheys
Milk Chocolate Bars.
Te frst printed record of a
Smores recipe appeared in a Girl
Scout handbook in 1927.
Te Hershey Company makes
more than 373 million Hersheys
Milk Choc-
olate bars a
year. Tats
enough
Hersheys
Milk Choc-
olate Bars
to make
746 million
Smores.
August 10 is National Smores
Day.
Americans buy 90 million pounds
of marshmallows every year.
During the summer months, 50
percent of them are toasted over
the fre.
Milton Hershey introduced the
frst Hersheys Milk Chocolate
Bar in 1900.
Random Humor:
SHARK WEEK STYLE
COOKING CORNER:
No Bake Smore Cheesecake
[Link]
Smore Fun Facts
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Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
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Toms Two Cents
PG.1
August is Family Fun Month
Sports Corner
Unique Holidays & Monthly Awareness
PG. 2
10 Fun Facts About Sharks
Sudoku Break
Contest Corner
PG. 3
Cooking Corner: Smore Cheesecake
Random Humor: SHARK WEEK STYLE
Dogs World: Note from Franklin
PG. 4
Toms Two Cents
I hope this months fresh edion is
nding everyone, well, refreshed! I am.
To celebrate an unnumbered birthday of
hers, my wife and I had a great adventure
trekking through Alaska. It was a well-
deserved (so
Ive been told)
vacaon for both
of us.
Vacaons
are a great me
de-stress and
recharge the old
baeries. If you
have the me
and the means
just do it! You
really owe it to
yourself and
your loved ones.
The technology
cluered world we live in can use a break
from you as well. Besides ge ng out
there, I turned o the phone and laptop.
While wring this I was trying to
remember the last me I took a summer
vacaon; then remembered it was a
cruise with the whole family through
Alaska. Doing the land tour got me out
of the daily grind again and got me back
in touch with nature for a few days. The
lack of internet and cell phone signals
caused no unnecessary anguish. Just the
wife and I and the great outdoors was all
I really needed.
For those who have never been,
let me tell you, Alaska is one great place
to explore.
There is plenty
of scenery,
awesome
people, and of
course, wildlife.
Also worth
menoning is
how fantasc
our meals were,
and how cheap
the seafood
was. People
have been
asking what the
best part was.
When I really thought about it, the most
honest answer turns out to be that it was
ge ng to spend a lovely eleven days with
my great wife, Janet.
The whole summer has been
incredibly busy for us here around the
o ce. We are truly grateful for the trust
you place in me and my company. If for
some reason we fell short this summer,
or you felt as though we let you slip
through the cracks please give me a
call or drop me a line. I will do my best
to get things squared away. I try hard to
stay on top of everything from day to day,
but know I am human and miss things,
overlook things, or was unaware.
Try to relax with the loved ones and
get out and enjoy the dog days.
Best wishes, - Tom
In This Issue:
2137 Hammond Dr.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
info@[Link]
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(847) 397-5888