How long can milk stay out before going bad?

insulated lunch bags ice pack image

pooshy88

I like my protein shakes with milk so I was thinking about mixing my protein and milk before i leave the house and drink it about 2-3 hrs later. It will be in a lunch bag with one of those blue ice cubes. I just dont think it will provide the temperature needed for the milk to stay good.

Answer
I think you'll be fine since you have it on an ice pack.

Technically, once dairy products rise above 40 degrees (F), bacterial growth 'could' occur. The warmer it is, the more likely.

You could just use a insulated thermos. That keeps things hot or cold for several hours.

Is it safe to send meat in my son's lunch at school?

proud nerd

My son has an insulated lunch bag, but still has four hours between the time he goes to school and the time he eats lunch. Is it safe to give him ham or turkey sandwiches? He can't have peanut butter, since a child in his class is allergic to peanuts. What other types of sandwiches can I make for him?

Answer
I have the same problem with no peanut butter. So I freeze the sandwich container over night (empty) and put a small ice pack in the lunch bag for the day. It works for us and she says her fruit and juice stay cold as well.
Hope that helps...

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Can I store a bottle with express milk in an insulated nappy bag for a few hours?

insulated lunch bags for kids image

ked.08

I would love to be able to take a bottle with expressed milk to the shops or when we are going somewhere that breastfeeding is a little akward. Can I store the bottle in one of those insulated bottle bags? Can I maybe take the frozen breast milk bags and sterilised bottles and heat when needed? I am not sure how long I can keep it out of the freezer before it is ruined. Thanks :-)

Answer
Yes, you can do this.

Freshly expressed breast milk can be left out at room temperature for at least six hours.

Frozen breast milk can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours once it's thawed. Frozen milk loses some of its immune properties and isn't as resilient to bacterial growth as fresh milk is. It would be fine to tote it along in a small insulated bag (like a lunch kit) with an ice pack to prevent it from thawing too quickly. For both of my kids, I've also brought along a thermos of hot water to heat bottles in once they were ready to eat.

Refer to this chart and the accompanying article - it will help you figure out how to store and transport your milk:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026900.asp#T026901

Good luck!

What's the best water bottle for a kid's lunch box?

rainwriter

I've been out of the loop for a while. Are Siggs still a big deal or have they been passed up? It seems like most water bottles we find end up with a slow drip when on their sides after just a few uses.

Answer
Ha! You've come to the right place, I happen to be anal about water bottles and have been on a big campaign to find a water bottle that a) is leak proof, b) is thermal and c) the kids can actually open by themselves.

I love the contigo stainless steel ones.
http://www.gocontigo.com/autoseal-stainless-steel-kids-cup.html

S'well also makes insulated leak-proof bottles for kids, but I'm not sure how easy they would be to open. I actually e-mailed the company to ask if their bottles are leak PROOF and they are.
https://store.swellbottle.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TWB

Kleen Kanteen makes good ones but the sport bottles are not leak proof, they even say that on their website.

My kids are 3 and 6 and wouldn't be able to easily open a bottle that has to be screwed on and off, so we chose contigo. They've been shoved in back packs, dance bags, gym bags, lunch bags, and never leaked.

EDIT- Apparently we have a water-bottle-hater in our midst, LOL! Lots of thumbs downs!

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What accessories should you have when shoeshoeing?

insulated lunch bag set image

Connie

Should you have eye goggles, poles, helmet/hat, and what else if its your first time.

Answer
Poles are a good idea because they help with balance, probing the snow when making stream crossings, helping you get out of deep snow if you posthole through the crust, they help when descending steep terrain and can be used to give yourself a boost when going uphill too. They can also be use to make a splint in an emergency and can also be used to hold up a tarp if you need to make a shelter.

Helmet....no, unless your snowshoeing trip will also include technical mountaineering. Then you might want a climbing helmet.

Goggles...not normally. They tend to fog up, but in extreme climates they could be useful. Sunglasses, however, are a very good idea, especially on sunny days.

Good boots and warm socks are very important. Bring extra socks in your pack, even for a day trip.

Wear more thin layers instead of less heavy layers. You can get really warm while snowshoeing, even in very cold weather, but you'll want something extra to have when you stop for a break. If going overnight, make sure you bring an entire change of baselayer clothing and a warm sleeping bag. Wool and synthetic clothes are ideal, avoid cotton at all costs.

Gloves and hats...I tend to wear thin, windblocking gloves while snowshoeing and keep a heavier set in my pack in the event I get cold or wet. Hats are another story. Like I said, you get warm when snowshoeing, so often I will wear a ball cap and keep a knit or fleece hat for when I stop. If it is a particularly cold day and need to wear a knit hat while snowshoeing, I will keep an extra in my pack in the event the one I'm wearing gets wet and/or sweaty.

Things to bring:

Water (if you use a hydration pack generally it won't freeze, but your line might) otherwise stash the bottles in your pack or use an insulating cover to keep them from freezing. Hot water kept in a thermos is also a good idea. Drink a lot of water. People tend to really get dehydrated in the winter because they don't feel thirsty.

Food. High Calorie stuff like energy bars and instant soup too (bring a cup and spoon for the soup.) Trail Mix or other snacks.

Sunscreen, lip balm, whistle, map, compass, matches/lighter, some lint, tinder, or other firestarting material (in a plastic bag), 1st Aid stuff, pocketknife, water purification chemical or filter, you may want a small backpacking stove if you want to cook lunch.

Watch the weather, especially in the mountains. For long day trips it would be wise to prepare the night outside. An emergency bivy shelter or even a sleeping bag would not be a bad idea. Likewise, if you are going into avalanche prone areas make sure you check the conditions and take a beacon, shovel, and avy probes. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.

Be Safe & Have Fun!

Are there any alternatives to having a screw top bottle.?

WWE Foreve

I recently went to my school and they said that screw top bottles are not allowed. Which most of thermos and bottles have screw tops. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should use instead of screw top bottles. I really like to keep foods hot and drinks cold. I would like it if someone could find bottles or thermoses without screw tops. I would really appreciate that!
Thanks!

Answer
That limits the options quite a bit. Some models I can suggest are:

For FOOD:

Option 1: Zojirushi type thermos bento lunch jars.

http://www.zappos.com/zojirushi-classic-bento-vacuum-lunch-jar-ultra-black?channel=126&si7757425=&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=138A9AB8-71EE-DF11-8F9A-001B2163195C

The top 2 inner containers have plastic lids but the bottom one has a screw lid. The screw lid is the smallest container so you may be able to do without.

-- edit: I just realised the middle, large one is also a screw top (only a quarter turn). But you can still look through their range to find a non-screw top combination. --end edit

It does keep food warm/hot but you need to prep them first (putting very hot water in, then removing them before putting your foods that you want to keep hot).

The outer container is double-walled. All these items come in an insulated bag with eating implements (which vary depending on the model you buy). There are different configurations, colors and sizes that you can choose from.

I have two of these (similar to those in the above website but with gold-colored bags) and they do keep food reasonably warm/hot. Zojirushi often change the color scheme and bag designs.

Other versions (targeted at girls/women):
http://www.casa.com/p/zojirushi-mini-bento-stainless-lunch-jar-white-273582


Option 2: Heated thermos (Fuloon thermos lunch jar)

This has a power supply to warm your food at work/school (if you have access to power). I do not have this, so cannot give you an evaluation. It does look very useful though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fuloon-Stainless-Thermal-Layers-Design/dp/B007PN2Z9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342339770&sr=8-1


For WATER/DRINKS (non-fizzy):

If you only want them cold, you can get Tupperware tumblers called Handoliers or Thirstbreak Tumblers with plastic lids like this:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=handolier

http://www.amazon.com/Set-Tupperware-Tumblers-Seals-Colors/dp/B004FDDVZE/ref=sr_1_23?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1342341109&sr=1-23&keywords=tumblers++tupperware

You really need insulation through the use of an insulation bag: keeps the cold and condensation droplets in.

You can also add reuseable ice to your tumbler; these do not dilute your drink and is ... reuseable.

Other accessories: ice pucks.

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What foods and drinks should I serve at my 13 yr old son's birthday party?What type of decorations to put up?

kids lunch bag containers image

Rite

The activity will be baseball in our backyard and they will be eating in the veranda. There will be about 15 kids in the party.

Answer
Make a "Concessions" sign for over the food area.

Get a good cream cheese ball recipe http://www.grouprecipes.com/cream-cheese-ball and make the "stitching" on the ball using red pimentos (find a recipe that's flavorful as cream cheese tends to be bland).

Hot dogs and burgers are the foods of choice...can wrap in foil for effect.

Take ordinary brown lunch bags, roll down the edges and serve peanuts in them (or if you're avoiding nuts because of potential allergies...fill them with chips. (You're going for the "Ballpark" look here..lol)

Popcorn in those cardboard containers.
Boxes of Cracker Jax
Nachos and cheese
Cotton candy
Probably cans of soda for the party as well as bottles of water

Serve cake and ice cream in those little plastic baseball helmets

Hang a "GATE (son's initial)" sign up over the entrance....did you give them admission tickets to enter the party in their invitation?

Use a green tablecloth and angle it to look like a baseball diamond and put bases on it.
Hang up team pennants, foam hand #1 with his pic on the hand or finger pointing to it around the area with posters of great players.

Have all the kids sign a real baseball for him to keep as a birthday souvenir!

Table centerpiece : black and white helium balloons held down by a CLEAN pair of cleats ;)-...will be hovering over the "pitcher's mound" on the table

Have grown-ups dress as Umps for the party


for kicks.....run the old comedy clip by Abbot and Costello: "WHO'S ON FIRST" (it's on DVD)...look on youtube...it's a classic!

Good school lunch ideas for middle school?

Alyssa

Well my friends would always call my lunch the "dessert". I would always take it as a joke, because I wasn't really concerned about my weight or anything like that. My mom packs my lunch, so she isn't much of a cook so she just throws in a bag of chips, a few strawberries, and a nutty bar. It's kinda our usual thing lol but recently I decided to try jelly and it's AMAZING so I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all the time now haha. But my friends still think my lunch is unhealthy. All of my friends' parents pack their kids lunch with fancy, cooked lunches and a small piece of chocolate as their dessert. And also I am a dancer, NOT A RUNNER, so whenever we run in PE they always act concerned about what I'm eating. It's so annoying. I am more of a sprinter, not a long distance runner. I also have a 6 pack! But nooo, abs don't matter, if you can't run a mile in 5 minutes your unhealthy!! Also I remember the last time I ran the mile my friends were talking during lunch and they were all like "Ugh I got 6 minutes on the mile, I am SOO out of shape!" And then after 10 minutes of them complaining later they asked me "What did you get on the mile?" And I replied "10 minutes and (forgot time lol) seconds" and they were all like "Oh.." and looked at each other all weird. I dance 12 hours a week but according to my friends I am out of shape?! I am sick of it and I want them to stop calling my lunch unhealthy. What are some good yet easy yet tasty foods? Haha my mom is lazy about packing lunches and also I want my lunch to taste GOOD, unlike most of my friends' lunches. Thanks!

Answer
Actually, you and your Mom are not that far off the mark. With a few changes, you can make your lunch pleasing, and healthier. But, make no mistake, peanut butter really is not the best substitute for say, an egg, or a couple ounces of baked chicken. But it is good, and filling, and somewhat healthy. diabetics get to have it, so can you. Watch the amount you put on the sandwich, 2 tablespoons is the serving size.

Swap out the white bread on your sandwich to whole wheat bread. And switch the jelly to honey. Yum, honey is packed with good nutrition, and a classmate showed me her PB and H sandwich back in 2nd grade. Love them.
Toss in a banana or an apple, your strawberries are fine if they do not have sugar on them.

Switch out the chips to pretzels, or veggie chips. Or, bring some baked chips and salsa. Salsa has almost ) calories. And it is good for you.

Wraps are great, use your imagination, or copy flavors from the fast food restaurants.

things that are good for you, and taste great, are easy to pack, and are healthy are:
a box of raisins
a package of almonds, or trail mix, or dried peanuts
a fruit cup [just pour fruit cocktail into a tupperware, rather than buy that expensive one at the store
some healthy cookies, like oatmeal raisin
Cheese, like laughing cow, and some healthy crackers. Or a cube of cheddar
carrot sticks
-celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter, or Kraft jar cheese, found in the grocery aisle by the Velveeta. My Dad liked the pimento, rivers liked the Old english. Stick some raisins on the peanut butter, call it "ants on a log."
A boiled egg, or a deviled egg, made with diet mayo. You can't taste that it is diet because of the spices.

Do what Rivers does, and take leftovers from supper to school. a plastic container with a sturdy lid, or a wide mouth thermos would work. Pack things like crackers and bread in plastic, too, so they do not get crunched. So easy, go eat your dinner, let the leftovers cool, and go back and scoop them up into your container and put them in the refrigerator.
cook extra, and have enough for Mom, too for her to take to work. It is no less trouble to cook 4 pork chops, than it is to cook 2.

good luck!

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What kind of gift should a daycare give to the families during the Holidays?

kids lunch bags and bottles image

Jill

I work at a daycare center and every year we have an annual Holiday open house. During this event we give out a present from us (the center) to the children's families. The first year we did a cookbook, and in it we had recipes from the staff as well as the families. It was a big hit. The following year we had a calendar, inside of it was crafting project ideas, as well as funny quotes from the kids. Again, the parents loved it. This year I'm drawing a blank. Each classroom does a personal gift from child to parent. But I am looking for a center wide gift we can give out. Something (like the cookbook or calendar) which can be replicated since we will need 30-40 copies. IDEAS? HELP?! :)

Answer
An item with the daycare's logo on it, such as reusable grocery bags, water bottles, lunch box cooler, coffee cup, etc.

Have each class write a story or poem as group and have the children help with illustrations. Put the stories together in a short story book.

Have each class write and sing a song. Have the kids practice for a few weeks, then record each class's song and give parents a CD.

Have each child make a picture/painting. Put them together in a book and print color copies for parents. It can be any picture the child wants to draw or a theme, such as animals, 'my hero', 'Who I look up to', 'my family', or 'what I want to be when I grow up'

What foods and drinks should I serve at my 13 yr old son's birthday party?What type of decorations to put up?

Rite

The activity will be baseball in our backyard and they will be eating in the veranda. There will be about 15 kids in the party.

Answer
Make a "Concessions" sign for over the food area.

Get a good cream cheese ball recipe http://www.grouprecipes.com/cream-cheese-ball and make the "stitching" on the ball using red pimentos (find a recipe that's flavorful as cream cheese tends to be bland).

Hot dogs and burgers are the foods of choice...can wrap in foil for effect.

Take ordinary brown lunch bags, roll down the edges and serve peanuts in them (or if you're avoiding nuts because of potential allergies...fill them with chips. (You're going for the "Ballpark" look here..lol)

Popcorn in those cardboard containers.
Boxes of Cracker Jax
Nachos and cheese
Cotton candy
Probably cans of soda for the party as well as bottles of water

Serve cake and ice cream in those little plastic baseball helmets

Hang a "GATE (son's initial)" sign up over the entrance....did you give them admission tickets to enter the party in their invitation?

Use a green tablecloth and angle it to look like a baseball diamond and put bases on it.
Hang up team pennants, foam hand #1 with his pic on the hand or finger pointing to it around the area with posters of great players.

Have all the kids sign a real baseball for him to keep as a birthday souvenir!

Table centerpiece : black and white helium balloons held down by a CLEAN pair of cleats ;)-...will be hovering over the "pitcher's mound" on the table

Have grown-ups dress as Umps for the party


for kicks.....run the old comedy clip by Abbot and Costello: "WHO'S ON FIRST" (it's on DVD)...look on youtube...it's a classic!

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What does your child need when attending preschool?

lunch bags for preschool image

ACJ Mom

My daughter starts in September and aside from doing some clothes shopping for her, what else might she need?
No, no bus taking for her. I already stocked up on crayons (on sale at walmart for $0.25!) and I believe lunch/snack is free.
Angel- It's full day, 5 day a week preschool...

Answer
Our son starts Pre-K in September as well. Maybe they can be buddies.

Here is the list we were given:

For school:
-Toothbrush
-Two (2) pocket folders
-Backpack or tote bag
-Box of tissues
-Change of clothes
-Once a month classroom snack

For home:
-Safety scissors
-Box of crayons
-Pencils
-Markers
-Glue sticks
-Paper
-Variety of children's books
-Routine or schedule for daily activities


She may or may not need a lunch box. Our school will provide them with a free lunch. Is she taking the bus? Our son is taking the bus there, but he will be getting picked up (if he takes the bus home it's with high schoolers).

How can i become a more patient parent?

3littlegir

To be honest i am quite stressed out. I have a 9m old baby who i have all the patients in the world for but also have a 6y old & 4y old that I always seem to be at war with.
How can i make it more peaceful? I encourage them & praise them and i do really try but i wish i had more fun with them & i am sure it is not them it's just me.
They break up from school this week & i am dreaming of a happy christmas, any tips would be really appreciated.

Answer
Its really tough dont be so hard on yourself. I have pretty much the same mix as you - a 5 1/2 year old boy - he's at scholl full time, a 4 year old daughter - 5 mornings at preschool and a 15 month old baby girl. I feel like I dont have much fun with mine either.

I work 3 days a week but finish in time for school pick up and my childminder brings the girls to school. So 3 days a week they all want me me me from 3.30pm having not seen me all day and thats when I find it the hardest. I have to unpack their bags, make packed lunches, tidy the breakfast things that I never had time to tidy in the morning, make dinner - all whilst sorting out the computer game my son wants to watch, the stickers or whatever my daughter wants to do, carting round the baby as she just crawls round my ankles otherwise or just cries, and changing a nappy or wipng a bottom, getting drinks, bla bla bla.

I dont think just explaining to them that Mumy has things to do and that their whingeing doesnt help will really work because a 6 yr old and 4 yr old will listen but then whinge 5 minutes later and of course a 9 month old wont just cooperate with that.

Trying to get some time for yourself each day would be great - but when ???? If you are like me then by the time they are all in bed and that is a feat in itself - there is still laundry to do and toys to tidy and then you just want to veg in front of the laptop/telly.

I suppose there are two pieces of advice that are useful:

1. Pick your battles
2. Let the housework go
3. Get out somewhere each day

I find 1 and 2 really challenging. I start off tine with the choose your battles and as time goes on I give off more and more about more and more, things reach a peak and I have to have a good old cry, decide I cant keep on like this, choose my battles and start over. Try to ignore the small stuff. If they dont finish their breakfast dont sweat it just giveit back to them later or whatever. On the housework thing dont make the kitchen spotless just leave it and then be silly and dance with them, do sticking with them etc, whatever you can.

Try to get out at one point during each day. I find the fresh air (even if just from house to car) helps , it kills some time of the day (sorry if that seems depressing way to look at it but some days you just want toget through), and gives you a focus. It doesnt have to be for them, just go and buy a pint of milk.

I feel a bit like all I have done is waffled bu I wanted you to know the way you feel is normal. Sorry I havent helped much have I ?! If you find a solution let me know.......

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What are some healthy meals\snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner that I can make at home?

lunch bags for freezer image

Witty rema

What are some healthy, easy meals\snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner that I can make at home?
10 points for the most ideas for all the meals\snacks!

Answer
Breakfast:

- Egg whites (better for you than the whole egg) with a little salt and pepper, maybe some cheese to add flavor, on wheat toast.
- Grapefruit (it's sooo healthy for you, it can be a snack too)
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/351
- Oatmeal
- All fruit smoothie. Have non frozen fruit and add ice or use frozen fruit and add a little 100% fruit juice. You can make it a *healthy* milk shake by using low fat milk instead of juice and adding a little sugar (sugar isn't unhealthy in small amounts, but fake sugar like sweet and low and equal are bad for you)

Lunch/Dinner:

- Chicken breast with lemon pepper or other seasonings
- A spinach tortilla with chicken cooked in some bbq sauce. Add lots of lettuce and a little bit of light ranch (like a teaspoon, if even that).
- Salad- there are thousands of possible salads you can make but what I love doing is a bunch of lettuce, some spinach if you like that, salt, pepper, garlic (powder and only a small amount) and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, or even carrots and peppers
- Taco Salad: brown some lean beef, drain any fat, add seasonings (McCormick has a taco seasoning packet for 50 cents). Make a bowl full of lettuce, tomatoes if you want, some beef, some cheese if you want, and tortilla chips if you want (less healthy version).
- Chicken in a bag- McCormick's has these awesome chicken bag seasonings where you throw chicken in the bag (they provide) with some carrots, potatoes, whatever you want, add the seasoning and bake for about an hour. One of my husbands favorites!
- Costco sells individual salmon fillets. Take one out of the fridge/freezer, season to your liking, throw on a pan, the grill, or in the oven and cook.
- a sandwich- between whole wheat bread slices, pita style, or wrapped up (spinach wraps are really delicious, or whole wheat wraps which I'm not a huge fan of).
- Make some quinoa or brown rice in a rice cooker or in a pot if you don't have one. Add some black beans, salt and pepper, and some mozzarella if it's still to bland. I like to add some sriracha (chili hot sauce) into the rice as it cooks and some garlic seasoning. It adds some kick and makes it taste really good without adding the sodium from cheese.

Snacks:
- peppers
- celery. If you hate it alone add some organic peanut butter (no preservatives) you can even go to many stores and grind your own peanuts into peanut butter.
- peas, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, other vegetables but not potatoes or corn.
- apples, pears, bananas, berries, grapefruit, and other fruits.
- some nuts or a homemade trail mix (raisins, peanuts, almonds, some dark chocolate chips, whatever else you want)


Dessert
- a small amount of dark chocolate is actually really good for you. The higher the cocoa content the better :) But only a small amount.


Those are my favorites but check out this site: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/over-100-quick-and-easy-healthy-foods.html

for more options. There are an unlimited amount of healthy foods out there you just have to find what you like and stick with it :)

How long is cooked frozen chicken good for?

randomness

if I pre cooked chicken and put it in a ziplock bag in the freezer how long will it stay fresh for? I'm asking for my sons lunch so please give me a serious answer.

Answer
Randomne, I'm not one of these people that suffer from paranoia, but I do not leave them in the freezer any more than three months.

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How to prepare a bento and how long will it last/safe to eat?

insulated lunch bags hot cold image

Cloud

I want to take my lunch to school this year, and I want to take a bento lunch. I was wondering how I may prepare this lunch (any tutorials will help) and how long it will last out of a refrigerator. If I do store it in a refrigerator, how should I heat it up in a microwave.. wouldn't that kill the whole point? Haha Thanks! Just rather not get food poisoning or a bacterial infection, I just got my wisdom teeth out. ;)

Answer
"Do you eat the lunches hot, cold, or at room temperature?

Thereâs no microwave oven at my sonâs school, so most of the lunches shown here are meant to be eaten cool (packed in insulated lunch bags with ice packs) or at room temperature. The only foods that turn out warm are those packed in thermal lunch jars or thermal food jars. If you have a refrigerator and a microwave oven available where youâll eat, you may want to pack a cold bento lunch with multiple tiers packed so that you can easily microwave only the container of foods you want to eat warm (i.e. keep the fruit away from the meat). If youâre going to microwave your lunch, be sure to use a microwave-safe container. Details at the hot vs. cold lunch packing considerations post.

Isnât room temperature food dangerous?

Reusable ice blanket for packed lunchesBe mindful of packed lunch food safety: bacteria thrive on moisture and protein at room temperature. Use an ice pack and an insulated lunch bag when packing particularly perishable foods that will be unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Freeze little pudding cups, juice boxes, or containers of canned fruit to use as edible ice packs. Certain foods like oregano and cilantro have antibacterial qualities that help prevent food spoilage; spice food more aggressively than usual if you will be eating lunch at room temperature (details at the food safety post).

I donât want to microwave or pack food in plastic containers. What are my options?

Stainless steel food containers - Thereâs information on the risks of microwaving in plastic at the post on tempered glass bento boxes, which are microwave-safe but heavy. Stainless steel boxes like these or multi-tiered tiffin tins like ToGo Ware are lighter, and can be warmed in a stovetop steamer. Or line plastic boxes with an edible liner such as lettuce so that the food does not touch the plastic directly. Details are at the hot vs. cold lunch packing considerations post. The Gear section of the Lunch in a Box community forum has the most up-to-date information on the latest bento gear of all kinds."

What are some lunch ideas that don't need a microwave?

Tanya

I found some good containers that keep food cold (which is great because there is no access to a refrigerator) but no good ones that keep food hot/warm (at least, not in my budget). I'm going to be starting college in a couple of weeks and the only thing I can think to take are sandwiches and salads. Any ideas on what to take would be awesome (healthy ideas would be more so), thanks.

Answer
have you thought about a thermos?

or an insulated lunch bag?

as long as you put stuff thats already hot in it they will keep it warm

otherwise if you have access to hot water you could have noodle cups

or if you have a sandwich press you could toast your sandwich

or you could have wraps

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i was trying to find out what women carry in their purses?

cute lunch bags for women image

hcc_elf

i'm doing some research of what women generally have in their purses

Answer
I have a small wallet with my drivers license and debt card and cash. Then I have a larger wallet that has my check book, credit cards and other various cards (Sam's card, insurance card...). I have a make up bag with chap stick, mascara, eye drops, contact drops, nail file, matches (just in case), perfume, gum, Tylenol and a pen. I have a small hair brush and my sun glasses and my cell phone and my keys. I also have a small walletish type thing that has a new set of contacts, a contact holder and saline solution in it (very handy and cute! Its purple). If its that time of the quarter (I take the 3 month pill) I will have sanitary products in the zip up hiddey pocket on the side. I believe in being prepared. :)

Edit: I will also have a book in there on most occasions. There isnt one in there now because I left it in the car at lunch.

I need help with CHEAP baby shower ideas?

Kelly P

my step-mom is having a baby in March and I have offered to host her baby shower at my house. I need cheap ideas on BABY BOY baby showers. PLEASE

Answer
do brown and blue with dots and blocks these are simple to make home made decorations so the budget will last longer and the food can be what ever you want. also these mod colors are so in right now an choose two other colors if she hates these.

here are a few ideas.
have boxes which you can get free at sams outside liquor stores and at walmart if you just ask. then spray paint them to look like blocks and use stencils if your not a crafty person. then place the blocks stacked on each other or by them selves around the room.

take a clothes line and between pillars door ways or on the large table or fire place string it up. then using clothes pins take baby doll or real baby clothes and hang some of them up. very cute and very popular for a large decoration like if you have a large fire place just don't have the fire lit.

use a clean baby tub,baby potty, or other large baby item to serve the punch in and use round ice cube molds with colored ice as polka dots to stick with the theme. plus after washed well the tub or potty can go to the mommy to be.

look up diaper cakes and how to make them they are easy and fun and make both a great center piece as well as a gift to the mommy.

also use a whole punch to make several circles out of construction paper and sprinkle around the room on tables and around center pieces to stick with the dots theme.

ask florist at your near by grocery store or florist if you can have the old flowers that they don't want. usually if you get a nice one then will give you the ones that are extra or are about to wilt just make sure to do this the day of the party.

also get large glass bowls from the dollar stores and put blue water in them then when you put the white tea lights in them to float around it will look like white polka dots. very cute.

also save some boxes and cut out giant polka dots medium sized ones and small then spray paint different colors and hang from around the room with floss or fishing string so that the dots look like they are just floating.

for food get a not expensive thing of ham or turkey lunch meat and spread the off brand cream cheese on i then take those small pickles not the sliced one but the ones that look miniature and put them on the meat then roll up and cut into small pieces like you would a tortilla roll up. very yummy and always a hit at parties.

make cookies and cupcakes that go with the party theme like ones with teddy bears or polka dots

and make simple sandwhiches like tuna or chicken salad and ham with cheese and cut into squares or use a cookie cutter to do polka dots.

chips dip crackers and veggies are a huge hit cheap when off brand and fill woman up pretty easy.

and for punch do it old school use the moms favorite sherbert flavor and add sprite or seven up.
if she like rassberry then use ginger ale.

for favors by baby booties in bulk they are cheep and buy a big bag of potpurri and fill each of the booties then tie off with a ribbon. very cute or at eh dollar store buy scented tea light candle in bulk and put into some cute bags or celliphanes and tie off with ribbon and if the mom has ultrasound pics find the best one and make some black and white copies that are small and place on card stock, punch a dot out with the whole punch and run ribbon from the whole to one of the above party favors.

hope this helps.

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Does anyone know where i can find a zebra print lunch box that fits a thermos and is insulated?

insulated lunch bag and thermos image

Nellie

zebra print, insulated, fits a thermos lunch bag??? that isnt over 25 dollars?

Answer
Hi, There is one here but it is 40.00 http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=zebra%20lunch%20box&tag=recommended0b-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325 Hope this helps.

How long can milk stay out before going bad?

pooshy88

I like my protein shakes with milk so I was thinking about mixing my protein and milk before i leave the house and drink it about 2-3 hrs later. It will be in a lunch bag with one of those blue ice cubes. I just dont think it will provide the temperature needed for the milk to stay good.

Answer
I think you'll be fine since you have it on an ice pack.

Technically, once dairy products rise above 40 degrees (F), bacterial growth 'could' occur. The warmer it is, the more likely.

You could just use a insulated thermos. That keeps things hot or cold for several hours.

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Does anybody know how a 13 year old girl can lose weight the healthy way?

lunch bag for bodybuilders image

Lutineya

I'm not like like obese, but my doctor told me I am at risk to becoming overweight. I have a problem of eatting when I am bored or stressed and I dont make great food choices. I really want to lose weight (not extremely skinny but healthy) Does anyone have any ideas about good kinds of excercise (besides that weight lifting stuff) and what kinds of foods to eat? Thanks SO much!

Answer
Actually by limiting weight lifting out of it you're limiting what you can do. You can lift weights without getting giant muscles, especially being female. Female bodybuilders for instance have to work twice as hard as men to get the same results, their bodies just don't make muscle as easily, I believe because of lower testosterone. That's why if you look at a female gymnast she'll look very fit but not muscular, yet a male gymnast will look very muscular by doing the same things.

Also a healthy amount of muscle is essential to the metabolism. Unlike fat, muscles burn fuel, the more of it you have the more fuel you naturally need for everyday life.

In other words, some weightlifting is GOOD for you, and it's pretty easy too.

Aside from that there's cardio. In the morning, maybe before breakfast, go out for a 1/2 hour brisk walk, take a pet dog if you have one, or a parent(get parental permission so they don't freak out). Just get that heart moving. This exercise alone will get rid of a lot of your stress, 1/2 hour of exercise is clinically proven to be as effective as an antidepressant.

Now for foods, cut cola out of the picture, it'll only make you a diabetic. Instead drink water for hydration, 2L per day. Just keep it by you and when thirsty take a sip(you should drink a fair bit while exercising), you get used to it fast. If you crave flavour go to a local tea shop and buy some looseleaf teas, they won't be bitter like bagged tea so you can drink them without sugar. Though if you want a sweet flavour try stevia, you can buy it at a health food store, I like the NOW brand, a small amount is as sweet as sugar and is 0 calorie, plus it's natural unlike aspartame or sucralose. If it's bitter then try another company. I find the NOW brand has done me well.

Other foods to eat are whole grains, whole wheat or multigrain pasta and bread. Brown rice is good too, All of these have the whole grain it them, which means they're higher in fiber and nutrients naturally.

Sweet potatoes are good too, they're lower carb and high in nutrients and taste. If you like chocolate have dark chocolate. Also having soup at dinner is a great way to help eat right, because it slows you down at dinner and fills you up before the main course. Also make sure to get plenty of fruits and veggies.

You should eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a few snacks in between. Basically eat about every 2 1/3-3 hours so that your body can keep burning fuel, instead of slowing down because it has nothing to use.

So yeah, eat healthy and often but smaller portions, exercise, drink enough water, and you'll be fit in no time.

Also it's good that you're not going for skinny, it's great to see someone young wanting to be fit for a change, way to go. I hope this helps.

What kind of diet should I follow to acheive this look-longer and leaner?

bill c

I am a female that weighs 155 lbs., down from 172. In high school I weighed 132, but still had patches of major muscle, like calves that wouldn't budge, but also patches of major fat, like hips, thighs, and stomach, very stocky. I was very active in tennis, ballet, and did some cardio. Recently, I pretty much been following a more protein than carbs diet, doing 3 weight training sessions, 6 cardio sessions, a dance, Pilates, or yoga class occasionally to get off the weight I did. However, this guy I work with that runs at least 20 minutes a day and eats nothing but carbs...his lunch is like pasta, a bagel, frozen yogurt and a cookie! But his body is exactly what I'd like to achieve, long and lean and not overly muscular. He was pretty thin to begin with. Should I eat carbs and just do cardio? I'd like to loose some of the muscle I have as well as more fat. I don't see my trainer for another week and a half, so I'd like to get some ideas before that. Thanks a lot.

Answer
First off, congrats on losing 17lbs.

Now, how tall are you? You're never going to look long and lean if you're 5'1" and weight more than 100ish pounds.

Your guy friend is lucky and has a fast metabolism.

There's also three basic body types that we humans can be:

Mesomorph
Ectomorph
Endomorph

Most people are a mix of two of them.

Changing your body is a good 85% diet (15% working out).

If you're not eating exactly like this, change to it tomorrow. If your trainer says "that not right" he's milking you.

The first things you want to eliminate from what you eat are: sugar, fried foods, and white flour. You want to eat as natural and unprocessed food as possible.

Sugar, anything with it is bad. From Coco-Crispies cereal, nearly all sodas, to a small bag a M&M's. All turn into body fat fairly quickly.

Fried foods. Chips, french fries, etc. All have very high levels of calories and fats. Cut out mayonaisse and butter while you're at it.

White flour. White breads, spahgetti, Ramen noodles, most cereals, tortillas (corn & flour).

You're going to want to eat 6-8 small meals/snacks in a day. That may seem like a lot of eating, but look at it this way. Say your lost in the woods and you need to make a fire that will last all night. Will the fire last longer throwing all the wood you've collected into the fire once or twice during the night, or if you toss a couple of logs in once every 45 minutes-hour?

Your body is pretty similar. You need to feed it a little bit every 2-3 hours to keep it burning fat. The longer you go in between meals, the more likely your body is going to store what you eat as fat. This is because your body doesn't realize that there is food everywhere in the world we live in. It still thinks your a cave-man. And cave-men didn't get to eat very often. Sometimes once every 3-5 days...starving. So our body is designed to store what we eat as fat, because fat has the most energy (calories) per pound. So, if you sleep all night, then skip breakfast and don't eat until lunch at say 11:30am...you probably haven't ate anything in 12+ hours. So, your body thinks your starving, that there is no food to eat. Then you eat a nice, greasy, calorie-loaded slice of pizza. Your body will then store most of it as fat because it thinks there is a food shortage.

Aim for 200 calories at each meal/snack.
Also try to eat 20 grams of protein at each meal. And of course, your going to want to keep even healthy carbs to a minimum (less than 80 grams a day, 10-15 per meal).

IF you really want to get shredded quick, cut all the carbs out of this diet.

The healthiest carbs are:
Yams
Oatmeal (no sugar)
Sweet Potatoes
Brown Rice

OK carbs are:
Whole-grain bread/buns/tortillas (whole-grain should be the first thing on the ingredients list)
Fruits (If you can, cut them out. If you can't, eat them in the morning).

Aside from the carbs listed above, your meals should consist of:
Chicken breast
Turkey breast
Tuna
Salmon
Egg whites
Almonds
Low-fat cheese (cottage, string cheese)
Lots of vegtables
Lots of water

You need to drink 1 gallon (128oz)minimum per day. Water is what carries the toxins and fat you burn off out of your body through your urine. It also helps keep you feeling full and does wonders for your skin. If your urine isn't clear like water, drink more.

Also, take a multi-vitamin (like Centrum).

Bodybuilders and fitness models basically eat this way. Not only is it low calorie, low carb, high in protein and natural...it controls your blood/sugar levels and how your body uses the food based on the glycemic index.

Also, ONCE a week have a "cheat meal". I'm talking a couple slices of pizza, burgers, tacos...whatever. Just keep it under 1,000 calories. The food will taste better than it ever has. This will give your mind a break and your body by sort of resetting your metabolism so you don't plateau.

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Can anyone tell me what brand this lunch bag is?

insulated lunch bag purse image

Hannah!

I was at Marshall's a couple of months ago and I saw this really cute insulated lunch bag. It looked like a purse and it was light blue with pink roses. It was insulated and it came with like 3 different-sized containers. It was so cute and at the time I wasn't sure if I wanted it but now I really REALLY want it. I don't know what it was called and of course Marshall's doesn't have it anymore. Does anyone know what brand it is?

Answer
No but here are some cute ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BETSEY-JOHNSON-Dotty-Rose-Polka-Dot-Rose-Floral-Lunch-Box-Make-Up-Bag-2-PC-Set-/400316322200

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=231473408

http://www.amazon.com/BlueAvocado-Lunch-Case-Black-Cream/dp/B008CNPC46/ref=sr_1_235?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1345822964&sr=1-235&keywords=lunch+box+bag

http://www.amazon.com/Dakine-Womens-Lunch-Opal-3-5-Inch/dp/B00862K2OS/ref=sr_1_389?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1345823141&sr=1-389&keywords=lunch+box+bag

http://www.target.com/p/skip-hop-zoo-lunchies-insulated-lunch-bag-owl/-/A-13126448?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=|13126448&CPNG=luggage&ci_sku=13126448&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=

What is the best commuter bag for a male in his 30's commuting to a professional job?

Tony

Obviously, the messenger bags are popular, but how practical are they? I will be carrying a change of shoes, a planner, my lunch, etc.. I think the plan is to possibly leave a more professional looking bag in the office for meetings and such. Are most commuters using more practical packs to get to the office? I'm new to the train/city culture!

Answer
I work in Downtown Honolulu, so there are lots of bankers and lawyers. Many carry leather or high quality nylon messenger bags. Some carry duffle bags or backpacks. Really, I would worry more about how the items you want to carry fit than what it looks like. You're probably not going to take that bag to meetings anyway; it's just for commuting.

The messenger bag will hold the things you're talking about, but the bag will look full, stuffed. A backpack is good because it's usually a larger size in width and height. It won't bulge as much as the messenger bag, which is usually not very wide. Duffles are good, like the backpack, but because they hang lower if you have a lot of stuff, it might make your shoulder sore.

I'd go with the backpack. The one I use has an insulated section on the bottom for my lunch and the top portion is like a regular backpack. Really convenient so that I don't have to carry my purse and lunch box separately from the backpack.

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What would you buy for a week's worth of groceries, staying under $125?

lunch bags for men walmart image

a person

For 2 adults and 2 kids, 5 and 6.
I need dinner for 5 nights, things for packed lunches, snacks and drinks.
Please help me make a list. I suck at grocery shopping. I always run out of food before the week's over. I'll be shopping at Walmart.
Thanks!

Answer
These are some quick meals that are pretty cheap but still good.

Chicken Alfredo

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
Spaghetti noodles

This is a pretty quick recipe so start boiling the noodles first.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Cook in olive oil or margarine/butter until done. Add Alfredo sauce and heat thoroughly. When noodles are done, drain them and serve alfredo sauce on top.
**If you want you can add some fresh garlic, salt, or parmesan cheese to boost the flavor a bit.


Pizza casserole:
1 lb ground meat
1 (15oz) jar of pizza sauce
1 (12 oz) bag of egg noddles
1 (8oz) bag of mozzarella cheese

Brown the meat and drain. Boil the noodles, drain well. Put the meat and noodles in a large mixing bowl (or back in the pan you boiled the noodles in to save on dishes) and add pizza sauce and 1/2 bag of cheese. Mix well and pour into a greased 9x13 ( I use Pam spray) Top with the rest of the cheese and bake it in a 350* oven for 20- 25 minutes. Serve

Poor Mans Stroganoff (this isn't really a casserole but it is cheap and good)

1 lb or so ground meat
8 oz container of sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom condensed soup (we use cream of chicken cause we don't like mushrooms)

Brown the meat and drain off grease. Add sour cream and condensed soup (no milk) heat thoroughly and serve over cooked noodles or rice.

Tator Tot casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 can green beans ( we use corn)
1 can cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom
1 can water or milk (we use milk)
Tator-tots to cover the top of dish
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Brown the beef, drain and put into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Combine green beans or corn, cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, and the water or milk in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the beef. Put Tator-tots on top to completely cover the mixture.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until Tator-tots are lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle shredded cheese if desired over the top and bake for 5 more minutes.


Someone posted this link on another question and the site looks awesome. It's Kraft foods but they have a page called 1 bag, 5 dinners:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/dinner/1bag5dinners/1bag5dinnerslanding.aspx


This is also a good site. You can click on the ingredient option at the top of the page and enter ingredients you want and don't want then it brings up recipes for you:
allrecipes.com

Packed Lunch ideas:
Snack bars
Hard boiled eggs
Muffins
Quick breads
string cheese
cheese chunks and chunks of salami or other meat (the kids get sick of lunch meat in a sandwich but they don't mind eating it as cubes)
cottage cheese
fresh fruits
fresh veggies/pickles/olives
Salads??
Deli salads (many do not have mayo)
snack pack pudding or jello
make your own snack mixes with dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels etc
There used to be and maybe still are soups in the cans that you can twist them and they heat up. Otherwise invest in a thermos to keep foods warm/cold

You can do leftovers for lunches too. Sandwiches can be boring but maybe try to change them up a bit like using pita bread, rolls, tortilla shells

If you like flavored water...it is way cheaper to buy the little packets that you can add to each bottle. Frozen juice is good to keep on hand too.

Keep a pizza or two in the freezer so when you are stuck for ideas or don't want to run to the store, you can pop in a pizza.

When you are cooking, make larger amounts and freeze the rest. If you do that for a week, you will have another week of food waiting in the freezer for you later on. :)

Keep PB on hand for the kids for snacks. Also fresh or canned fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, cottage cheese, snack paks, fresh vegs/dip

Finally, here is a site for a printable grocery list that should help when you shop. Hang it on your fridge and check things off as you need or think of them:
http://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/

Fast Food That Will Keep for 7 hours without Refrigeration?

Dark

I need to get some fast food early in the morning (5am) and put it in a bag until about noon, for lunch. Nothing hot will work, since it'll become soggy, and unfortunately, Subway isn't open that early. Any ideas?
If all else fails, I guess I'll have to bring a homemade sandwich.

Answer
The only restaurants that I know are open at 5am are diners, Dunkin Donuts, and any 24-hour Wendys or McDs that might exist where you are. But you really don't have to be stuck with their stuff, and none of it will still be nice and tasty by the time you eat it. So instead, make stuff at home and bring it.

You can buy insulated lunch bags for cheap - often less than $5 - and put a small ice pack (also cheap) at the bottom, in effect allowing you to bring anything you'd like for lunch. Here's an example of a manly insulated lunch bag, and of an ice pack, so you know what I mean:

http://www.amazon.com/Insulated-Lunch-Cooler-Bag-Black/dp/B000IBH0BS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361394365&sr=8-1&keywords=man%27s+insulated+lunch+bag
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Ice-Mat-9-Cube/dp/B001TWI81G/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1361394404&sr=1-4&keywords=lunch+bag+ice+pack

Insulated lunch boxes come bigger and smaller than that, as well as more narrow, so if you need to find one to stick inside something you're carrying, you should be able to do so. You can buy stuff like this at Target, the supermarket, Walmart, etc.

If you want to bring something hot, you can also do that. You can buy an insulated Thermos, and put it in your bag. That way you can have soup, Mac & Cheese, leftovers from dinner, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Foogo-Proof-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0025Y6742/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1361394468&sr=1-5&keywords=insulated+thermos

In this way, you can pack stuff from home, and save money like that - but you can also eat hot or cold foods, your choice, no risk of spoilage.

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how do i know if I'm doing the right course in college?

kids lunch bag pattern image

Lizzy

I'm so confused. And I worry about my future.

Answer
As a freshman, you're going to do general educational stuff the first year typically, so don't sweat it that much. The exception to this is if you are doing science or engineering areas. Those areas are pretty much a block program starting the freshman year.

Next, try to identify, in broad terms, the type of areas of interest to you. Look for online tests like Myers-Briggs, Holland Codes, etc. Take as many as you can and look for patterns.

Examples:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Codes

Let me expand on this a bit. You might really enjoy science areas like chemistry, biology, nanotechnology, etc. If so, you need to get started on those type of classes in your freshman year. On the other hand, you might be a social science person, ie. psychology, sociology, etc. That is your first broad decision. Do you like concrete facts and research or would you rather be less technical?

Remember, you do not have to know exactly what you want to do initially, but you can help yourself by taking classes that line up with your broad interests initially.

Never pass up the opportunity to interview someone. If you like psychology, get on the phone and talk to some psychologists. Take them out to lunch and grill them about what they do. Visit a chemical manufacuring facility and see what they do. Interview everyone.

As for talking to counselors, well, that is a mixed bag. Some really look to push their lastest programs. Ask for things like salary info, regional hiring interests, etc. Realize that some counselors will simply direct you into a program that may interest you but has no industry demand. For example, in my area, the local community college has tons of people enrolling into computer network administration even though the job market is way over saturated. These poor kids end up coming back after they graduate to get a degree in something else as they can't find a job. So, make sure the counselor is really knowledgeable about the job market.

One thing I will add is that if you are considering social sciences, in today's markets, you should plan on getting a master's degree. That really opens the door for you.

Hope that helps.

Describe a holiday you went on to Turkey?

Me

Answer
Limak Lara De Luxe Resort & Hotel - THE BEST HOLIDAY EVER!

Erm.. I don't know what you want me to do to be honest? Describe my holiday? O_O
*Well... I went with extended family - Mum, Dad, 2 brothers, my mum's sister, her husband (so my uncle) and their 3 kids, and one of my mum's brother's, his wife (so my auntie) and their three kids.
*Flew with Thomas Cook, 4 hour flight from Manchester to Antalya.
*Left home at 4am, took off at 7am, arrived in Turkey at about 1pm local time.
*It was hot :)
*Ermm... got there, dumped bags at reception and then sat in the sofa area for about ten minutes enjoying the all inclusive drinks and stuff and saying how amazing the hotel was.
*Got given our room keys, went upstairs, said OMG this is an amazing room, as we had panoramic windows showing the sea and beach and all the pools of the hotel etc. There was a huge corner sofa, a 6 person granite table for room service I suppose because we ate at the restaurants in the hotel every night, a huge immaculate bathroom and a jacuzzi!! And a massive balcony with a table, chairs and some sunbeds.
*Got changed into swimwear, left mum to unpack and went to the pool with brothers and three of my cousins (about the same age - we were 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 11, interestingly)
*Had about three or four hours in the pool, which was mainly empty by this point as we'd got in about 3ish and after an hour or two most people were heading back to their rooms to get ready for dinner.
*Went for dinner at the buffet style restaurant and all had about 3 meals each as its kinda free being all inclusive
* Went to watch the evening entertainment by the animation team
*Sat around inside with some of the boys playing table tennis, the adults drinking alcohol and getting funnier and funnier as they attempted charades.
*Went to bed, woke up being burnt alive by the sun through the window at about nine, got ready for first full day at the hotel, and went down.
*Repeated same sort of pattern throughout the week, establishing "our" spot on the beach, making friends with all the animation team, rejecting a marriage proposal from a kinda creepy waiter who insisted on blowing kisses and calling me darling and making me a rose out of a paper napkin (didn't mind too much tbh haha), visiting the mini disco most nights with my 5y/o cousin and me and my 13 y/o cousin enjoying it more than her because it brought back memories from old times in other hotels when we went to the minidisco, ermm... riding a camel, building sandcastles, going parasailing, going on a pedalo, going on a banana boat (eight cousins on a banana boat = way more fun that you can have with parents or just brothers), learning Turkish for thankyou, eating more icecreams than you thought possible in week, getting fat on chips everyday for lunch, needing to jump in the pool in the 34c heat, even though the week before we went it was 40c, playing ping pong, pool, and bowling in the games room, exploring the hotel and getting lost cos its so huge and like a maze, steam room, sauna, turkish bath, waterslides.


Well, that was my favourite holiday so far. :]

Don't really know why you're asking this tbh but if you're considering visiting Turkey then I'd say yes definitely go, and seriously consider the Limak Lara De Luxe Resort & Hotel in Antalya because it's amazing & the animation staff are incredible, friendly and talented. Wish I was back there now :( xx

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Is it Illegal to lock your young children in their bedroom?

children's place lunch bags image

Dee

My sister and i have a HUGE problem. In the middle of the night almost every night or during nap time her children ages 2 & 5 will to the strangest most unheard of thing. The go out of their bedroom and into the living room pull the chairs from the dining room table to the kitchen and stand on them to get the snacks out the cabinet and pantry and if there are no snacks then they will get things out the fridge. At first it was just the snacks and they would only take a little but now it has escalated to anything they can get their hands on like the mayonnaise bread pepper peanut butter and they will either eat it all or make a huge mess with it all over the floor. They once poured an entire box of cereal on the floor then poured syrup on top of it and ate it.

This has been going on for about a year and a half now and we have tried EVERYTHING! We have tried putting the plastic child lock things on their doorknob but the oldest learned how to break them off the knobs and hide them, we tried punishing them by making the stand in the corner or even spanking but that has failed, we tried putting the food up higher but they started using chairs standing on each other backs and scaling the counters and pantry shelves, we recently even tried giving them their on cabinet so that they will stay out of the others but they would eat all there snacks at once then when they were all gone they started to get into the other cabinets again.

We are seriously at a loss about what to do! This is not only dangerous for them but it is really hurting us financially. We are too single females with 2 young children living in a two bedroom apartment on a fixed income and they eat over half of all the food we buy at the beginning of the month bye the end of the week! We once left the groceries on the floor since we were so tired from shopping and the kids went to take a nap we fell asleep and woke up and they had eaten ALL of their valentines candy, 2 big bags of chips for their lunch, and opened 7 bottles of water and 6 packs of hot coco mix trying to make hot chocolate! Its not like we starve them since they eat like grown men so what are we to do. Since we are at the end of our ropes with this i thought of the idea of switching their bedroom doorknob around so that it locks from the outside so that during nap time and bed time they can't get out. Inside there room they have a bathroom so they are both potty trained and can use it when they need it so i didn't think it would be a bad idea. If you know the answer to my question or have any suggestions about what we can do about our problem please let me know! Answers and suggestions are greatly appreciated. BTW we live in the state of florida city or Tallahassee.

We are not beating the kids we are spanking them which is perfectly legal and i'm a psychology student and here to tell you that a good spanking never did anything to damage a child's mental state as long as they were being terrible and deserved it. I would like to meet the child that wasn't ever hit and grew up without being a spoiled, rude, selfish, and disrespectful brat. Of course if the child is a goodie two shoes then they wouldn't have been hit. So please no comments on how spanking is wrong and all that other junk because if you seriously believe that then your children are either angels are hell spawns.


Believe me hitting them hard or enough is not the problem we give them spanking around the clock at least 4 a day if not more for all the crazy stuff they do. And when i say stand in the corner i mean they stand in the corner for hours holding huge books and balancing on 1 foot. Punishment is not the issue. Also as i said before them being full is not the issue the eat more than enough all day at daycare and at home.
@ first comment. Those suggestions would be fine if they had anything in this world the cared enough to lose if we take away every toy and outside activity they will just play with a piece of paper they found on the floor or a pencil or even sometimes batteries whatever they can get their hands on even if it means taking off their clothes and making a fort with them. Her kids have a amazing imagination and can entertain themselves with anything. Also about the no Junk food thing the kids have passed that level and have now moved on to whatever food they can find like just this passed night when i went to bed after asking for help i woke up to find the kids in the kitchen drinking the syrup out the bottle and eating the cheese out of the box mac n cheese. They know what they are doing is wrong because when they get caught they cry or try to hide what they did. And they are wide awake i assure you. We did progress to more serious punishments because we thought they would help but alas th
@ first comment. Those suggestions would be fine if they had anything in this world the cared enough to lose if we take away every toy and outside activity they will just play with a piece of paper they found on the floor or a pencil or even sometimes batteries whatever they can get their hands on even if it means taking off their clothes and making a fort with them. Her kids have a amazing imagination and can entertain themselves with anything. Also about the no Junk food thing the kids have passed that level and have now moved on to whatever food they can find like just this passed night when i went to bed after asking for help i woke up to find the kids in the kitchen drinking the syrup out the bottle and eating the cheese out of the box mac n cheese. They know what they are doing is wrong because when they get caught they cry or try to hide what they did. And they are wide awake i assure you. We did progress to more serious punishments because we thought they would help but it didn

Answer
I have seen a child do this before. She was the child of a woman I use to be friends with. If I was ever at her house for the night, my child would get up with her child and do the same thing.

One, or both, of these children have issues with food, this could be because of a medical reason. Are either of these children on medication? There are some medications from what I understand that can actually cause a child to be very hungry and they will do this type of thing. This could also be a mental health thing. The child I knew had been taking medication and was very thirsty and hungry from it and this was a type of side effect.

The first thing I would do is get locks for all the cabinets, and for the refrigerator. These things work sometimes, and sometimes they do not. If you have tried things like this in the past and they did not work then get an alarm. They sell these most places. Instead of locking their door...which is not a good idea and you could actually get into serious trouble for doing...get an alarm to put on the outside of their door. Shut their door at night and set the alarm. When they wake up in the night and open their door, it will go off. It will wake you up and will scare the crap out of them. You guys get up and tell them they are to go back to bed and they are not to mess with the food. Reset the alarm and then wait. They will most likely try again. Repeat the steps until they know that once that alarm goes off you are going to wake up and stop them, eventually they will stop. This is the only thing that worked for the child I know that did this. That, and switching medications.

What should I do for a Birthday Party?

Q. My son Leon is about to have his 1 year old Birthday Party on July 14. Any ideas? Only 18 people are coming.

Answer
Well it depends on how much money your willing to spend, and also 1 year old birthday parties are hard, they can't do many games or crafts. Babies love animals, so how about this:

Animal party:
- Create a jungle, using green streamers hung from the ceiling and draped
from the furniture.
-Place stuffed animals where they can be seen and played with by the young party guests.
-When entertaining little ones, be alert to choking hazards.
-Balloons should be placed out of reach.
Cover your table and set with Animal Jungle plates, napkins and cups.
- Use a stuffed monkey, elephant or giraffe for a centerpiece and attach a bouquet of balloons to the stuffed animal
- Pin the tail on the lion: Play this game just as you would "Pin The Tail on the Donkey". Make a simple lion and tails from poster board. Right before the party add double stick tape and the children's names to the tails. Of course their parents would help them out.
- Safari: Hide stuffed animals around the party area. Then have all the babies look for them. Of course they get to keep the ones they find. Parents would probably also help with this.
- Feed the monkey (bean bag toss): Paint a monkey face on a box using one large brown circle for the head and two smaller circles for the ears. Use a utility knife (ADULTS ONLY), to cut a large opening where the mouth would be and add the eyes and nose with black paint. Now make or purchase 3-4 yellow beanbags (bananas). Socks filled with dried beans and secured with rubber bands will work well. To play, mark an "X" the floor where the player will stand. Place the "monkey box" a reasonable distance form the "X" and the children will take turns feeding the hungry monkey his bananas!
- Since these are VERY little kids you are working with it is better to have this game like this: already have puppets made, and just have a puppet show theater for the babies to play with the puppets.
- PARTY FAVOR!: From oriental trading company, you can order all kinds of animal party favors.
- Cake!: All superstores such as Publix can make you cakes. Get a cake with lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Any animals would work.
- If you want to serve lunch, make pb&j sandwiches and cut them into animal shapes using cookie cutters.
- Snack: Jello cut into animal shapes using the cookie cutters and animal crackers.
- Drinks: Some kind of green punch.

Cars and trucks:
- Decorations: Hang plenty of primary colored balloons and streamers around the room. Cut large cars, police cars and trucks from poster board. Mount them on the wall and hang them from the ceiling. Your local teacher supply store will have posters and cut outs at a reasonable price. Stuff clean tires with pillows for chairs. Cover a table with white butcher paper. Make a road down the center of the table with black construction paper and yellow lines with paint or paper. Add a few toy vehicles on the road.
- Stations: #1- Set out a road mat and trucks and cars for the babies to play with. #2- Set out a sandbox and some trucks for them to play with. #3- Have wind-up cars set up for them to race them (adult help).
- Cake!: Make your cake into a road and have cars on the 'road'.
- PARTY FAVORS!: Again oriental trading company has lots of cute party favors.
- Drinks: Fruit punch
- Snacks: crackers and cheese.


Sounds like a fun party to me! (if I find anymore themes you could do I can edit this)

Hope this helps(:

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Some advice for a gift ?

insulated lunch bag pink image

Ianaki

I want to buy the best present for my wife ?

Answer
Here are a few ideas...
scarf
umbrella
cozy socks in fun patterns
bright sports watch
cotton cami (lady's undershirt) with lace--basically you need to know S, M, or L--usually at Old Navy, Gap, Penney's, etc.--usually under $10
soft sweater
long-sleeved T-shirt
flannel sheets for winter, probably in a basic color like ivory or cream colored
over-sized velour towels
LED flashlight--look for bright colored ones like hot pink
calendar or appointment book for 2014
insulated cup or lunch bag
lunch, brunch, or dinner out--I would like this the best.
tickets to a stage play or musical
Ask her if she'd like a cat or dog from the animal shelter, then the 2 of you can go to pick it out.
If she drives, take her car to the car wash for "the works."
If it's her b-day, then cake & ice cream.

can anyone help me? help?

Q. i need a lunchbox and a matching binder i know this is my second time asking but i need one fast!
that would go good with this bag!!

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff195/mileyrox101101/?action=view&current=Maddysbag001-1.jpg&t=1218172309690

Answer
Roxy has an pink/black argyle set that would match that includes a lunchbox and binder (bonus special offer: free shipping on those items and free mag subscription). I added a few other links too for other options.

Lunch box:

http://www.amazon.com/roxy-delish-lunch-box-Pink/dp/B0014DTOV8/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1218749082&sr=8-16

http://www.amazon.com/Insulated-Lunch-Bags-Personalized-Kids/dp/B000XQBM3A/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1218749205&sr=8-30

http://www.polkadotpatch.com/children-s-personalized-pink-preppy-argyle-girls-lunchbox.html

Binder:

http://www.amazon.com/Roxy-Notable-Binder-PINK-MULTI/dp/B001C5AVJC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1218749284&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/ROXY-Dont-Stop-Binder-Multi/dp/B001BBHXKC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1218749284&sr=8-4

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How do I keep food cool during the day?

kids lunch cool bags image

Totally Na

The problem is that I am trying to eat alot of chicken due to going to the gym and stuff. I need to keep the chicken cool so it doesn't go off during a hot day in my bag at uni ...........

If I try to take a small eski in my bag, my bag gets wet. And I don't fancy carrying and eski around at uni.........so not kewl :P

Any ideas homies???

Answer
buy a cool bag (small like for kids lunch) freeze the cool unit inside overnight and it will keep your food cool for the day - if you buy the tiny lunch box/bag you can put it in your other bag

How long does an insulated bag work for?

~ <3 ~

I'm going to be at college for 12hrs, plus another 2hrs driving time.

If I were to keep some food in an insulated bag, APPROXIMATELY (to your best knowledge) how many hours max would it stay fresh for if:

-the food was reallly hot or frozen?
-it was just sorta cold?

Thanks.

Answer
I found this for you. Hope it helps!

Lunch Bags & Boxes
The first thing you will need is a container in which to pack the lunch. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money. For adults a small cooler makes a great lunch box. Fred uses a medium sized cooler. He is usually gone for 24 to 48 hours, so he needs alot of food to keep him going. For children and teenagers, you can usually find inexpensive lunch boxes and insulated lunch bags at yard sales and thrift stores.

Small children often prefer a plastic lunch box with cartoon characters on the side. I suggest you buy these as cheaply as possible. They only last for a year or two before the children drop them or the latch breaks. At $6 to $10 a piece, buying brand new boxes has never been a good investment for me. I have purchased them new when I desperately needed the thermoses that came with them. After the plastic lunch box broke, I purchased replacements from my local Goodwill. I continue to use the same thermos year after year.

If the art work on an older lunch box is shabby, you can easily replace it. Use rubber cement to glue down a new picture (cut to size) and then cover the picture with clear contact paper. I've done this, and it lasted almost 2 years, until the lunch box cracked and became unusable. Amy D. describes the process in detail in the first book of The Tightwad Gazette.

For older children insulated lunch bags work best. They don't have the juvenile connotations of plastic boxes with matching thermoses, so older kids usually don't object to carrying them. I like them because they don't break when they get drop-kicked across the livingroom by a budding football player. Since they have soft sides, it is easier to fit more food and odd-shaped containers in them too. They usually have zipper closing and shoulder straps for carrying them. I buy the largest ones I can find because I find them easier to fill. Many modern insulated bags have several extra zipper pockets and sections on the outside to carry little extras like napkins, spoons and salt or pepper packets. My boys like these but they aren't really necessary. Purchased brand-new, insulated lunch bags cost between $5 and $15. If you wait until back-to-school-sales you may find them cheaper. Over the summer they can often be found at yard sales. Insulated lunch bags usually do not come with their own thermos, so you will have to use some you already have or buy them separately.

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what are some tips for highschool?

lunch bag for geeks image

Q. im gonna be a freshman in a public highschool coming from a cathloic school grade school. is there any tips or things is should know?
ok people im not as innocent as you think i am. i know what the worlds like with sex, drugs and crap like that.

Answer
-dont stare at the pregnant teen moms, they get enough crap they dont need it from you
-dont walk reallly slow in the hall ways or stop
-dont act like your better than everyone else
-make as many friends as possible
-get involved in school, it may sound lame but it is fun
-dont hook up with a band geek, his friends will all hate you
-NEVER get really wasted and hook up with a lot of guys. You will be called a sl ut and an enormous amount of guys will want to get in your pants since it is obviously so easy
-If you have to disect a frog, JUST DO IT. It's honestly not that bad
-Never pretend you are drunk. Not cool
-That guy who sit's behind you is really nice- you should hook up with him
-Please wear a bra
-Dont wear heels to school
-It is not necessary to have 50 tampons in your school bag
-The Swim Team is a cult
-If you try hard enough you really can screw up your face during your ID picture
-The coffee they serve in the cafeteria in the morning tastes like a$s
-The best way to budge in the lunch line is so put everything you own in your book bag and use it to keep everyone at a distance from you
-No one cares who you were in middle school- so what if you were the 8th grade cheerleading captain? No one gives a $hit
-Half the time you bring your textbooks, you don't need them
-It IS possible to fall UP the stairs
-There will always be that annoying kid who can get hours of homework done in time to go to bed at a decent hour while you're up at 3:00 AM finishing a 5-page paper
-You can feel completely prepared for a test...and then fail
-Wearing sunglasses on your head in class is f^ucking weird
-I had no idea that alcohol could force you to have sex with your best friends boyfriend
-Honestly, 80% of the guys that talk to you want to hook up
-football games. GO TO THEM. PEOPLE GO TO THEM
-If you go drunk to football games you will get caught
-Dont skip gym..get over yourself...YOU NEED GYM TO GRADUATE
-Make friends with everyone who is rich and having a sweet sixteen party
-Leaving fake secret love notes in your friends lockers is really fun
-Not up for english today? Go to the nurse and tell them you need to lay down....for a half hour.
-Want to get known fast? Take pictures of yourself naked with your phone
-The most entertainging spot in the cafe? Between the goth kids and senior football players
-Teachers probably know just as much as you do about weed and alcohol
-It doesn't matter if you say excuse me, that girl standing in the middle of the hallway still isn't going to move
-If it looks too crowded, there is still probably room for you somewhere
-Only upperclassmen can paint their faces and bodies for football games, you cant
-You dont need to carry every single book you have all the time. This is why we have lockers
-YES YOUR WINTER COAT IS TOO BIG FOR YOUR LOCKER
-Messenger bags = back pains
-Dont memorize your crush schedule and follow him to class
-Most of the cheerleaders aren't as hot as everyother teenage movie makes them out to be
-You want to talk politics and relgion at lunch? DONT DO IT
-NO ONE WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU WORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
-TRY EVERYTHING. You want to take art, you take art. No one cares if you suck
-Make friends with the geeks. They know how to unblock myspace/facebook in computer class
-The person next to you in English Class is probably cooler than you size them up to be
-Your guidence counselor doesn't really know your name..unless you're really smart/bug him a lot
-It doesn't matter how smart you are, it matters what you get on your report card
-No matter what your health teacher says, half the people in your health class have had sex
-It takes only a period's time for 3,300 people to find out that Mary-Ann did in fact get drunk and have sex with her bestfriend's prom date
-People will do pretty much anything for attention
-AP kids are 50% snobbish and 50% awesome
-Marching Band is the most sexually active club of the school
-Thespians really do hug and kiss eachother as much as they are rumored to
-You really will not remember anything you learned in algebra class over spring break
-If you are skipping, act like you have a destination and no one will mess with you
-Skip. Skip as many classes as possible without getting caught
-Your gym teacher doesn't care if you feel comfortable in leggings, she's going to take points off anyway
-No one cares how "fuck*ng wasted" you got last saturday
-DO NOT MESS WITH THE BAND GEEKS. THEY WILL TEAM UP AGAINST YOU AND YOU WILL LOOSE
-It's really cool that you love your school....but honestly your wardrobe cant consist of sweatshirts with your school logo on them
-Yeah that kid you saw on the first day of school....dont be creepy. If he wants to hook up let him come to you. Dont be too forward
-Never run through the halls screaming, this makes people mad
-Never steal anyones booze
-You dont know the kid who is throwing the house party? Go anyway, odds are he wont care
-Live for the weekends
-Study for tests
-Dont get too dressed up for school, it's just kinda weird
-Always make sure you are on the right bus
-FACE IT if you look emo, dress emo, or listen to emo music...PEOPLE WILL CALL YOU EMO
-Dont change for any guy
-Dont get upset if you dont develop a new group of friends...it doesnt happen over night it takes a while
-You dont have to be friends with everyone, chill out
-Dont be annoying in class. You dont have to say something every second
-Please bathe. If you smell, everyone will know
-No one really cares where you sit at lunch
-Swimming will probably be the best class you ever take. Dont be a b*tch about getting your hair wet.
-Spark notes is $hit. Most teachers know you use it and make questions to stump the slackers. READ THE BOOK
-When doing your critical paper, do not slack off! This is important
-Dont be stuck up. Odds are some girl is going to call you out on it

how early sould i be at the store for nintendo wii?

Austin S

it is a 24/7 wal-mart, and i figured i would get there in the morning 11/18 so i can make sure i can grab one at midnight.

Answer
No! You have to go November 17! Youll be to late. Trust me! That wat happend last year to me.

Hello...

Here is an excellent guide to camping out!



sfwinelap_500x375.jpg OK, so even though I told you that there were lots of alternative ways to get your PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii, some folks just canât stand to be away from the action. After all, launch days are kinda like the Olympics â they only come around once every four years (or maybe more in the case of gaming). And if youâve ever been a part a system launch, you know the magic. Fifty or sixty hardcore gamers standing outside a store talking âgeekâ about what games they pre-ordered or what information theyâve heard about the system so far. Anytime you group people together with a similar passion of any kind, itâs a recipe for fun.

But as much fun as launch days bring, they can also bring about the worst in folks. I pray that everyone will be safe and that theyâll make this an experience to remember for good reasons. And with that said, this list was inspired. This is a download of my experience of over twenty-plus years of gaming and having been a part of six console launch days. No, Iâve never had to stand on line without knowing that my system was reserved. But Iâve spoken to enough people and accumulated enough knowledge to share. And with that said, hereâs my list of guidelines to insure that your camp-out in front of Best Buy, Target, Circuit City or Toys R Us is safe and not in vain.

1. Bring friends. (The more, the better). It might be difficult to find folks who are this hardcore about gaming â so much so that theyâll take a day off of work and camp out in front of a store in November. But if youâre going to do it, this is the kind of thing that is best done among three or four committed friends. (Basically folks who wonât leave when it starts to get cold or who wonât back out at the last minute.) Why? Well, for starters, youâll need someone to hold your place in line while you go to the bathroom (or there are alternativesâ¦.. calm down, Iâm kidding.) But seriously, there are more than a few reasons why having three other gamers with you is a good idea. Youâll definitely want the security as youâre coming out of a store with a shiny new PlayStation box in a big yellow and blue see-through Best Buy bag. (And there are a bunch of other reasons to bring friends that Iâll mention later.) But just trust me on this one. Youâll want to huddle up your crew for this quest. Round up your posse and have them start planning around the date now.

2. Get to know the store manager. Now. - Thereâs nothing worse (and I mean nothing) than taking all of this time to camp out overnight, only to find out that the store isnât getting any units. Or perhaps that they have only four (after all of the in-store corruption and holding systems for family members happens.) Your first job is to seek out the store manager. (Things like this are best done in person â not over the phone.) Go during your lunch hour or after work. Donât be shy. Tell the attendant that you have an important question and that you need to speak to the store manager. I find itâs best to dress respectably (business casual is fine) and have a pen and notebook in front of you when you speak. And keep asking for folks until you get the top girl/guy whose answers satisfy you. Youâll want to know a few things:

a. Are there any promotions that youâll be running for the PlayStation 3/Nintendo Wii launch day(s)?

b. Do you have any expectation of how many systems will be in your store on launch day? (Or if youâll have any at all?)

c. Do you know if anyone has already expressed a desire to wait outside the store for a system?

d. Where is the best place to line up? (Nothingâs more embarrassing than waiting for days outside of a Best Buy to find out that the line is at another entrance. And yes, Iâve heard about this happening.)

e. ââ¦and what is your name, sir/maâam?â (This one is very important. If the manager senses that thereâs a chance that their false information could result in affecting their job, theyâll take this opportunity to clarify anything they arenât sure of. (Especially in light of all of the negative press Best Buy received last year during the Xbox 360 launch.) Once I even had a store manger take my information after I asked him a few questions about another tech product. But this was only after I made direct eye contact and asked him for his name.

If nothing else, this letâs the manager know what to expect on launch day. When he/she sees your face now, theyâll more than likely remember the discussion in November. This can only help you. Perhaps the manager will ask you for your name and have someone call you as more information is made available? Also, amidst a launch day crowd and lots of confusion, it could warrant you a bit of favor if that manager sees and recognizes you.

More importantly, talking to the manager lets you know what to expect from the store. If the guy looks like he doesnât have a clue about âone of those new PlayStation-thingeesâ, then perhaps youâre shopping at the wrong store. (More on that later.) But your discussion with the store manager doesnât stop there because when you get to the launch line in November â even if youâre not the first one to arrive â youâll want toâ¦.

3. â¦talk to the store manager and let him/her know that you are standing in line! This is not such as big a deal if there are already folks on line, but Iâve heard about situations where people started lining up outside of an electronics chain on the left and somehow folks began to start lining up on the opposite side. The lines each slowly grew and nobody asked any questions until more and more people began to show up and confusion ensued from there. Avoid this altogether. If youâre first in line, just walk inside (and while youâre there, familarize yourself with where the bathroom is) and then ask for the manager. Let him/her know that youâll be standing outside and for which system youâll be waiting for. (Hopefully he/she recognizes your face if you followed my number 2 and the conversation will be brief.) Also, there might be some sort of bracelet or ticket that theyâll have to hand out. Itâs a small but important step if you expect to play Resistance: Fall of Man on the weekend of November 17.

4. The early bird gets the worm. The PlayStation launch is on a Friday this year (November 17). If I were crazy enough to camp-out, Iâd probably think about taking a few days off and starting to camp out no later than early Thursday morning (â¦or possibly as early as Wednesdayâ¦.or maybe even earlier depending on how many hardcore folks there are in your town. (HEY! I see those juding eyes through the screen. Donât get all judgemental on me. Folks lined up for a year in advance of the Star Wars prequelsâ¦.and those were shite AND they didnât get anything to take home for the experience.)

Anyhow, this is where having âtalked to your store managerâ comes in handy. If you were friendly enough, more than likely he/she will have clued you in if anyone else has mentioned when they plan to start lining up.

If youâre insanely hardcore, you might even want to start a âwatchâ around the store⦠As you or your buddies pass by the store on your normal route in the days leading up to the launch, give them a shout out via mobile phone if you happen to see anyone lining up. And bring your stuff with you. If you see folks starting to form the line, perhaps youâd want to consider parking the car and hopping on the line yourself.65697919_7ad049a868.j...

5. Be Social. If youâre going to have to stand among a bunch of strangers in a competitive situation, ease the tension by talking to folks. And Iâm not talking about just the folks that you bring to the launch. If you bring buddies, each of you should start talking to other folks in the line. (This is usually a problem for me. I just like to zone out sometimes and read orâ¦.what elseâ¦game.) But itâs definitely to your advantage to talk to people. First off, talking can usually uncover information. âMy cousin is inside working tonight and he said that they have only 12 PS3sâ. Or perhaps one of you will get some other details that you can bring back to the group. Hey, you might make a new friend (that youâll put on that mysterious online friends list that Sony has yet to discuss.) It just helps to ease the atmosphere. I still remember some of the folks that I met during the PS2 and the Dreamcast launch. But if you canât be convinced to be nice just because sometimes itâs a good thing to be nice, know that you can stay more connected to the real-time information flowing around you if you talk to folks who are there for the same reason that you are.

6. When it comes to stores, discriminate. Last year a lot of folks were upset that I got a system without standing in some long line when many of them waited in the the rain â overnight â for an Xbox 360 â in vain. One female friend almost cornered me at work: âHow is it fair that you can get a system, but I waited longer and didnât get one?â And so I asked her, âWhere did you wait?â Her reply? âWal-Martâ. And therein lies the problem.

Even though a store might carry PlayStation or Nintendo products, it doesnât necessarily say anything about their commitment to gaming. For some stores, gaming is a complete afterthought. Just some section in the back of the store, next to the television displays. And this isnât standard to any one chain. One Wal-Mart might have a great gaming section while another locationâs section is horrible. This is why you want to start interviewing managers now (see number two) to find out who has a launch day plan and who didnât even know there was going to be a new PlayStation.

If youâre in the group of folks that didnât (or canât) find a a place to pre-order a system, youâre limited to camp out in front of stores that generally donât run pre-order programs. This isnât an exhaustive list, but the main stores that youâll probably want check with (at least in the Northeastern section of the U.S.) are: Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Toys R Us and (God forbid) P.C. Richardâs.

7. Bring a survival kit. (And get comfortable â youâre going be here for awhile.) - If youâre going to make any kind of serious sacrifice to get your new next generation system, youâll want to bring all of the necessary essentials for survival. Those fold up plastic and fabric chairs are practically made for events like this. Also, November = winter. Dress for an outdoor trip. (Donât forget, most of that time will be spent sitting in one place.) Bring food (including enough extras for the guy you met outside whose brother works inside Target. It could pay off.) Having some kind of makeshift pillow would be a good idea, but the plastic fold up chair is essential. After all, what good is it to get a new system yet be too stiff to sit down and enjoy it?

8. Know the rules of the line. - Weâve all been to an amusement park and watched the kids who cut the line. Weâre upset, but we wonât make a big fuss over it. Hey, maybe youâll wait a little longer, but the rideâs not going anywhere. These rules are multiplied by a factor of 5000 when youâve waited for hoursâ¦.maybe daysâ¦. and someone decides to let their friend hop on line in front of them just before the Circuit City doors open.

I donât know all of the âRules of the Queuing Line,â but someone let me peek at their guide book once. Two of the rules I do recall are as follows: If you followed number one in my list and you have a bunch of friends, itâs okay for one to step out of line to get a bite to eat for the group (be nice and ask if anyone else wants anythingâ¦.ok, maybe not not everyone. Maybe just the dude behind your group.) However, only one from the group should leave and it shouldnât be for any substantial period of time. Half an hour, tops. Same goes for bathroom visits. Basically the rule is this: for each person in that group standing in line expecting to buy a system, they should have waited with everyone else in the group. (Bonus: If you want to wait in shifts, but only because four of you are standing in line to buy one system, make a mini-announcement so that everyone can hear that youâre only buying one system. And this time around, even that might not calm folks.)

The second rule I peeked at is one for all of you âsolo journeyâ folks. You people will certainly want to follow number five on the list because when you need to go to the bathroom, you must let the person behind you (and maybe even mention it to the lady in front of you) know that you need to make a short trip to the restroom. Iâm sure theyâll appreciate the same courtesy when nature calls for them, as well. But donât mention that youâre going to the bathroom, only to return three hours later. Folks who queued up behind you will start to unsheathe swords and draw arrows from quivers if you pull stunts like this.

Undoubtedly folks who didnât read this post are going to bring a bunch of friends â but not having done their homework, they wonât know which stores are expecting what. And that will lead to five friends waiting in five different store lines for systems. Itâs okay if theyâre only buying one system between them. But if they all expect to come home with systems and four folks slip in line at about 8AM in front of a hundred angry dads, how do you think thatâs going to turn out? (If I had to guess, it would probably involve news cameras and ambulances.)

I guarantee you â about 90% of all skirmishes that happen during this launch will be because of some sort of misunderstanding that falls under this area. Donât be the guy on the news â know the rules of the line!1122sears550x377.jpg

9. Be alert! - This goes hand-in-hand with, âbring friendsâ and âbe socialâ. Especially if youâre not familiar with the area where youâre going to wait in, keep a heightened awareness about you. (Kinda like you do when youâre sitting at the airport gate before your flight.) Just like the lady tells you as the flight is preparing for takeoff, look around while youâre on line and plan your route back to the car once you get your system. (And pleaseâ¦.. for the love of all thatâs good and holyâ¦. donât take the bus home. You just spent $600 on a system. Find $10 and buy a cab ride home. Please.) Bottom line is this â the goal is to slide that PS3 into the space in your home entertainment system. Giddily smiling as you walk back to the car, happy that youâre carrying the next generation in gaming under your arm might result in you getting âgotâ.

10. Bring a covering. - Hereâs one that most folks donât consider. Rather than walking out of Best Buy as a target with a big yellow and blue bag, why not bring something to make your $600 less conspicuous? Most people who have considered this go with the ever popular âblack garbage bagâ, but sometimes those can be just as conspicuous. My suggestion - get a big Macyâs shopping bag or a large shopping bag from any other clothing store. (A pink Conway bag is your road to success). Also, remember to put a few shirts inside of the bag so that you can drape them over the box. Again, it sounds silly, but the whole point of gaming is fun and you want to ensure that you get home safely so that you can enjoy your system. And that brings me to my next pointâ¦..

11. If you sense danger, WAIT! - If youâre in the rare situation where you feel that youâre not safe, go back to the store. Itâs the mallâs responsibility to make sure that you have a safe environment in which to shop. At Best Buy or Circuit City, talk to those annoying guys that bug the hell out of you for your receipt when youâre trying to leave the store. Tell them that you donât feel safe and you think some security is needed outside of the store. Then hopefully the âmall copsâ will deter any theft and you can go home safely. Thankfully Iâm a big guy and I havenât had to do this before. But itâs not about just you. Perhaps thereâs some Mom who doesnât see the danger that you see. Why risk the trip just because youâre in a hurry to get home and play? Youâre risk losing your money and the system that you waited on for hours. If you sense danger, swallow your pride, go back to the store and make sure that thereâs enough security there for everyone to get home safely.

Iâd rather wait inside the store â even for an hour or more until the situation is safe â than to have the system in hand, only hours from glory and rush out into danger, not only putting the system in jeopardy, but your life as well. Patience, Young Skywalker.

12. If you wait in line a day or more in advance of launch, agree to sleep in shifts. - This might sound rather silly, but if get your place in line on Wednesday (November 15), discuss with your buddies a plan for sleeping. I know it sounds as if Iâm overcomplicating the experience as if folks were in an episode of âLostâ, but whaddya want?!! I knew a guy who was so hardcore to get a system that he stayed up for the two days that he was on line (Xbox 360) and as it got closer to the 9am hour, sleep began to overtake his body. He eventually got his system, but think of the risk he was putting himself inâ¦. (especially considering number ten on the list) walking out of a store needing desperately to rest with a $700 bag in your hand.

Now, if youâre with a group, this one is easy. (Usually thereâs a guy who can operate on little to no sleep.) However, if youâre alone, this will be a challenge (to say the least). But as youâre being social (see five), at least discuss it with the folks you are standing around. (My strong advice is that if these arenât folks that you know and you need to sleep a few hours before the actual launch date, âdonât trust em!â You might wake up in a lawn chair by yourself in front of Circuit City at 11:30am with a damn PS3 bracelet still on your arm â that is, if they didnât cut that from your wrist! And no, I didnât hear about this actually happening, but it does sound pretty funny.)

13. Enjoy yourself! - Hey, this is a game system launch â bring games! Bring a DS or a PSP and see how many folks show up on the network. Again, you might make some new friends that you can look for later on that day on the PS3âs mysterious online friend finding system. The point is, as much as this is a sacrifice, itâs a time to celebrate your passion. I mean, letâs not get too crazyâ¦.. donât dress in cosplay or anything, but bring a portable system and a few games. (And donât get so excited about the new system that you lose or forget your $199 PlayStation Portable. Yet another good reason to have a bunch of friends â someone can guard the knapsacks of gaming goodies.)

My advice is to take a few mobile phone movies. This experience can be something you look back on and laugh about. (That is, provided you actually get a system.) But forsaking all other rulesâ¦. above all elseâ¦.pleaseâ¦..

14. Please, Please, Please â BE SAFE!! - I would love to turn on the news on the 17th at 6pm and see only corny news stories about âPlayStation Maniaâ where they stick a camera in front of some little kiddies who just stare and drool on the mic. But sadly, I suspect that Friday November 17 is going to be one crazy day. Remember â above all else, this console is not worth your life. If faced with the unfortunate situation of having it stolen, just walk away thanking God that you lived to talk about it. No system is worth your life or your health. Itâs unfortunate that the economic situation is such that hard working folks canât all afford to enjoy the fun, but thatâs just the sad state of affairs that we live in. Best thing you can do is get a system and share the experience at home with a friend who might not have been able to afford one. But please, pleaseâ¦.just be safe

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