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Caption contest: Into the lion's den

February 8th, 2010 by Andreas

Into the lion

Yup, we went to the zoo again over the weekend. It's the second week we're using our family pass and we're only $6 short of having the pass pay for itself already.

And yup, the photo for the caption contest is from the zoo again. I know it may seem like we're turning this thing into the zoo caption contest but hey, that may not be such a bad idea. There are tons of great photo opportunities there.

This weekend, just like the week before, we didn't have time to explore the whole zoo as we had planned. We seem to always kind of get stuck somewhere unexpected on our way to the savanna.

Yesterday, it was the giant playground right outside of the main eating area that held us back. Both our girls just had too much fun running, climbing, jumping, sliding and swinging and it didn't seem right to tell them to break it up.

We took turns watching the girls and relaxing on a shaded bench, and we also took turns with the camera. I snapped this shot just as our oldest was ready to climb into the jaws of the lion and I thought there might be a few possibilities for a caption.

What's being said in the photo? Post your suggestions — as many as you want — in the comment field below before tomorrow Tuesday at 9 p.m. On Wednesday, we'll tell you who won.

Score big with healthier Super Bowl snacks

February 5th, 2010 by Zee

As you gear up for Super Bowl Sunday, keep in mind that your game-time grinds don't have to be bad for you.

"Score a nutritional touchdown and serve some healthy snacks while rooting your team on to victory," registered and licensed dietitian Susan Burke March said in a press release. March is the author of "Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally."

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-- Photo courtesy Kern Communications

Here are some of March's quick tips for healthy, football-friendly fare:

 1. Always choose baked chips instead  of fried. Tortilla chips and  potato chips come in different baked flavors and saves up to 30 percent of the calories of fried chips. Fat-free  or reduced fat does not mean calorie free; watch your portion size.

2. Serve bean dip instead of regular sour cream dip. Only 46 calories  per three tablespoons compared to more than double for full-fat sour  cream.

3. Nuts are nutritious, but they add up quickly. Serve a giant bowl of  air-popped popcorn sprayed with butter-flavored cooking spray and sprinkled with dehydrated butter granules (I like Butter Buds or Molly McButter). Delicious with only 60 calories for three cups, only a trace of fat and about 10 grams of sodium. Save 280 calories, 28 grams of fat and 330 milligrams of  sodium over the regular microwave popcorn.

4.  Replace fried mozzarella sticks with chicken skewers.  They're  really popular and always great party food. You can buy them already prepared  (especially at warehouse grocers) and save 188 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 546 milligrams of sodium over the same sized portion of fried cheese.

5. Serve a healthy submarine  sandwich. Whole-wheat hero rolls give you that extra added fiber and nutrition (not to mention taste!) compared  to white bread. Layer on turkey  breast, lean roast beef or lean ham, shredded lettuce and tomato slices; slice  into 2 inch portions and serve with sliced onions and pickles.

6. Keep the calories low by using low-fat mayonnaise and naturally low-calorie ketchup and mustard. Fat-free dressings should be  offered; the new varieties are so good, you won't miss the fat.

7. Imbibe with caution because those  brews add up! One regular beer ranges between 150-200 calories. Instead serve light beer; only about 100 calories per bottle. A 5-ounce  glass of wine has about 100 calories, as does one ounce of alcoholic spirits such as vodka, gin or scotch. Serve a variety of diet sodas, flavored club sodas and keep a big cooler with individual bottles of spring water.

8. Don't forget: Substituting juice  for regular soda is like substituting regular sour cream for mayonnaise; you're  not going to save calories. An  8-ounce glass of juice, unsweetened, has about 120 calories. Offer club soda with a splash of 100 percent juice and a piece of fresh lemon or lime for a lower calorie refreshing  beverage.

9. Dips:  Any dried dip mix will do, but instead  of regular sour cream, add ½ cup of nonfat sour cream, ½ cup of nonfat  mayonnaise and ¾ cup of diced fresh tomatoes, ¼ cup of chopped green onion  and ¼ cup of chopped ripe olives, rinsed and drained.  Mix and refrigerate for ½ hour before serving.

10. Crudités: Everyone likes crunchy veggies, especially with a tasty dip. Buy pre-washed and cut-up veggies, and you're ready to go -- zero prep  time.

March adds: "At half time, get up and do 100 jumping jacks!"

What about you? What's your snack-time strategy for Sunday? Will you opt for healthier fare or splurge on traditional game-time treats?

Figuring out how to operate the bronze elephant

February 3rd, 2010 by Andreas

Meeting a bronze elephant: Caption contest winner

We were pretty happy that we were able to fit both of our daughters in this week's caption contest, which we've only done three times before.

I'm not sure if that makes it easier or harder to come up with a fitting caption. What do you guys think?

Here are the Top 3 we settled on this week:

  1. "Where's the coin slot for this thing?" — cami68
  2. "We like you better, baby elephant! The bigger ones stink!" — jdk
  3. "Oh my gosh, I am taller than Dumbo." — appagom

Congratulations cami68!

With this win, cami68 extends her lead in the overall medal count. She's in first place with five golds, two silvers and three bronzes.

RRRR is still in second place with four golds, one silver and one bronze, and Brian keeps his third place with three golds and three silvers.

Thanks, everyone, for playing! Come join us Monday, when we'll do it again.

Caption contest: Meeting with bronze elephant

February 1st, 2010 by Andreas

Meeting a bronze elephant

We went to the Honolulu Zoo yesterday. Just like the other two times we've taken our kids there, we left the place with a promise to ourselves to go more often.

This time, though, we became members and got a family pass for $30 that's good for the whole year. I think the idea of being able to go there for free will spur a few more visits.

We packed up some lunch for everybody and had a picnic on the grass, surrounded by birds and ants and other families with the same idea.

We had a great time, even though we had to cut the visit a bit shorter than we had planned because the girls seemed to get tired from spending a couple of hours in the hot sun.

On our way home, we asked our 3-year-old what her favorite part about the visit was. "When I was climbing!" she said. "You remember when I was climbing, to get up?"

It took a second or two before Zee and I realized what she was talking about. But then I remembered. "Oh, you mean when you were climbing on the baby elephant? On the baby elephant statue?"

"Yea!"

So, in honor of our little girl's favorite memory from yesterday's trip, this week's caption contest is a picture of our daughters saying hello to the bronze baby elephant sculpture that's sitting right across from the elephant exhibit.

What's being said in the photo? Post your captions — as many as you want — by tomorrow Tuesday at 9 p.m. and check back Wednesday to see who won.

Conquering clutter: free drawer organizers

January 29th, 2010 by Zee

I'm certain I read this some time ago in a magazine, Good Housekeeping or Real Simple, I think.  I just wanted to share with you -- and show you -- what a great idea this is. Mainly because it's a no-cost solution, and who doesn't love ideas for freebies in this economy?

Forget spending anything on fancy organizers for your junk drawer, sock drawer or underwear drawer. All you need are lightweight cardboard boxes used as food packaging, like cereal boxes.

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I used this idea to organize a drawer filled with kitchen utensils and cooking gadgets.

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All it took was a Cheerios cereal box and two Quaker oatmeal boxes. I measured and cut them to fit in the drawer.  They neatly store everything.

I'm always looking for inexpensive organizing solutions (free is even better!) to try. Care to share any ideas?