A Trip to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Perched between the shores of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, are the perfect vacation spot for West Michigan families.
August, 2011
Cruisin’ the Dunes
There are so many ways to explore the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Maranda talked to some local businesses and got the scoop on everything from dune buggy rides to razor rentals.
The Famous Whippy Dip
Make sure to add the Whippy Dip to your list of stops in Silver Lake. This place is famous for their amazing ice cream treats!
Craig’s Cruisers Silver Lake Location
For 32 years, families have enjoyed fun at the Craig’s Cruisers in Silver Lake.
A Lesson in Wake Boarding
The Ellenbaas family spends their summers on Silver Lake and their three sons love to wake board. They took Maranda out for a spin on their boat and to show off their skills.
Wave Club Rentals
If your family is heading up to Silver Lake, you’ll want to remember Wave Club Rentals. They have everything from pontoon boats to kayaks…..something for everyone in the family!
Whole Grain Goodness
Another key nutrition message for MyPlate is to increase our consumption of whole grains. In fact, we are told that at least half of our grain servings should be whole. But whole grains can be confusing – what are they and how do we know what to buy?
Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.
Here are some tips for adding whole grains into your family meals and a delicious new recipe to try:
Simple switches – To make half your grains whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined-grain product. For example, eat 100% whole-wheat bread or bagels instead of white bread or bagels, or brown rice instead of white rice.
Whole grains snacks – Popcorn, a whole grain, can be a healthy snack. Make it with little or no added salt or butter. Also, try 100% whole-wheat or rye crackers.
Save some time – Cook extra brown rice or barley when you have time. Freeze half to heat and serve later as a quick side dish or add to canned, lower sodium soups. Try the brown rice salad below!
Explore whole grains – Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soups or stews and bulgur wheat in casseroles or stir-fries.
Try whole-wheat versions – For a change, try brown rice or whole-grain pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes, and whole grain macaroni in macaroni and cheese. Staples in my pantry include Barilla Plus Multi-Grain pasta (I promise it tastes like regular) and Success Boil-In-Bag Brown Rice.
Things That Go Bump in the Night
This past weekend was a big milestone for my family. After a long three years of trying to sell our home we finally moved! Though I don’t recommend packing up a home and moving at 28 weeks pregnant, it was still totally worth it to be in a new place in time for the baby’s arrival and Sophia’s kindergarten debut this fall.
Sophia was probably the most excited of our family to leave our cozy downtown abode and head to “the burbs.” She finally is in a neighborhood with kids to play with and has a backyard to run, jump and get all her energy out.
After a long day of moving, unpacking and starting to settle in, we all turned in Sunday night for some much needed rest. Sophia was snug as a bug in her new “big girl bed” until 1:30am when I heard a crash from the upstairs. Well, the bump in the night was all 45 pounds of Sophia rolling out of bed and thudding on the floor….but not before her chin met the side of her bed. Unfortunately after turning on the light and seeing it, I knew right away she needed to have it looked at and my blissful night’s sleep was now going to be replaced with a long night in the ER.
Before I even could think about it, the first thing that popped into my head was Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Although there is a med center and a hospital much closer to our new home, I knew from our half hour Where You Live special, how Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital caters to kids and Sophia wouldn’t just be put in a regular ER with adults. I couldn’t think about bringing her anywhere else.
Although it was a bad circumstance to have to visit, my husband and I were more than impressed by the treatment and facility! From the valet parking (which was a warm welcome at 2am) to the perky nurse at the check-in desk, everyone addressed Sophia so friendly and made her fears disappear. The tears turned to giggles as she watched Monsters Inc. in the waiting room and her eyes lit up when she got into her cartoon character exam gown and was able to relax with On Demand movies on her personal TV. The digs were so posh, she barely felt the doctor clean-up her chin and glue her boo-boo back together. The highlight of her trip was probably the blue-raspberry slushy, a pretty cool parting gift at 4am.
Our first weekend in the new house will certainly be a memorable one. The scar that will form on Sophia’s chin will be a story for years to come. But, another memorable part was our experience at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Filming Where You Live there impressed me, but it wasn’t until I was in the shoes of people we filmed and my daughter was receiving the treatment, that I realized how much of an asset this place really is. Though no parent ever wants their child to have to visit a hospital, it is a great feeling to know that Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is right in our own backyard when we need them, even if it’s just for a bump in the night.
Be One of Maranda’s 100 Winners
This month, Maranda has teamed up with Meijer to giveaway 100 $10 Meijer Back to Class gift cards to help with your child’s classroom supplies. Simply visit the contest section of the site to enter!
Thanks to our Park Party Sponsors
Thanks to our amazing Park Party sponsors for another great summer!
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Maranda's Blog
Keep in step with Maranda as she explores issues affecting your family.
Maranda's Go-To Gal
Insights from the mom who helps Maranda get it all done.
Whitecaps Blog
Whitecaps mascot Crash takes you inside the ballpark.
Cruiser's Blog
Cruiser has the inside track for Craig's Cruisers.
Health & Wellness
Make health and wellness a priority.
Fifth Third River Bank Run
On pace with the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
Healthy Living
Simple solutions for healthy living.
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