There's a strategy to the Wordle word puzzles and once you know it, your chances to complete the puzzle in six guesses goes up, way up!
On the November 2020 ballot in Illinois is a change to the Illinois constitution that changes the way the income tax rates can be changed. This will discuss this change.
There have been a slew of parody songs that have been created since the COVID-19 virus appeared. Here's a list of videos and links to some of my favorites.
When selecting a 401K or IRA, if you are asking a financial advisor which one, you are asking the wrong question.
When adopting a dog, dog rescue organizations are a great place to start. I have adopted two dogs from these type of organizations and also foster dogs.
As we get ready for the December 2019 release of the ninth movie in the Star Wars series, here's a brief discussion on the trailers as they are released and what we are seeing and hearing in each. The commonalities will provide a preview of the movie. Final trailer was released on October 21
Smartphones were first released in 1994, 15 years before Apple's iPhone, and have been making obsolete items eve since.
This is a glossary of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used in the Lego world. You might see and hear these at train shows or conventions and wonder what they mean.
Piggybacking on the simplify your life theme, here are 7 ways to simplify your Facebook life to bring you more joy and time.
With Toys R Us closing in 2018, the stores selling Lego sets has expanded. Here's a list of stores that I check regularly for new sets and discounts.
Kids love things that move and Lego toys are a favorite as well. Here, I am going to show the Lego sets that include motorized functionality.
Whether due to their color or rarity, the prices for these Lego parts are unbelievable. I keep track of some of the most expensive pieces.
The best ways to earn XP (experience points) in "Pokémon Go."
The Last Jedi has some interesting questions to answer. I am going to take a look at four you'll want to watch for in the movie and compare them to the previous movies.
If you haven't watched the release release of each Star Wars movie in a theater, or weren't born before 1970 (probably needed to be at least 7 to see the first one in theaters), then there are three ways to watch the movies, Theatrical Release, Chronological, or my own custom order.
One of our favorite traditions around Christmas time is watching movies. When my kids were little these are the favorites we watched.
Australia offers some unique animals and local costumes that are fun to wear.
Star Trek conventions have been popular for a long time. You really need to dress the part in a great uniform for conventions or Halloween.
Halloween is great time to show people what you love, and with the World Cup recently completed, soccer costumes are becoming more popular.
This is a fun costume as everyone knows the Lego brand. There are many items from your house that can be utilized. Make sure to start early, as this one can't be built overnight.
When you are missing a Lego piece that is needed to complete a set or build your own creation, there are a couple of stores and online shops that can help.
Group family gifts are a nice way to celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter. Find some great ideas here.
Hiking is not just on dirt trails and mountains. It can take you into the urban jungle of Chicago. Follow this Cub Scout pack as it explores downtown Chicago.
There's nothing like fall colors, and trees whose leaves turn red are spectacular. Here are a few of these trees.
There are four types of baseball fans in Chicago, a White Sox fan, a Cubs fan, a baseball fan, and non-baseball fan...that reminds me of a joke.
Pixar is a animation company that brought animation into the digital age. Steve Jobs purchased Pixar and created wonderful characters in his movies. Pixar is now owned by Disney Studios.
A successful team is a team that can play together without the cattiness that corrupts some teams. Below are ideas for starting the bonding process.
At the end of every season you should empty your equipment of all fuel. This includes lawn mowers, electric generators, snow blowers, edgers, and leaf blowers.
How do you determine if a politician is good or bad? Here are the rules I live by when looking at my government officials and determining whether I want an incumbent to stay in office.
The Illinois tollway was established in 1957 with the promise of it being a freeway in 30 years. 60 years later, those same roads are still tollways. It's time to start retiring the ITA.
These are the charities and non profits that I support, many which are in the Naperville area. Most of my support is for kids and feeding the hungry.
There are rules when disposing a United States flag, with the preferred way to be burned in a flag ceremony. Read about customs and what local organizations that will do this for you.
Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and crocus are my favorite perennials. I like the hardiness of spring bulbs, I can divide the bulbs to make more flowers, and almost every color is available.
Smart phones and iPhones are expensive and not getting cheaper. So when a screen is cracked or the cell phone gets wet, what do you do when you didn't buy insurance? Here's a couple ideas to explore before buying a new one.
Find out where you can find Amazon discounts, coupon codes, or gift cards. There are even ways to earn free gift cards by using products like Bing.
Lego builds a lot of different animals. Here are a list of my favorites.
Traveling to the Mall of America from Chicago, Illinois is extremely easy and a great family vacation.
An iconic Halloween costume from the 90's. The Top Gun fighter pilot costume will wow your fellow party goers.
The iconic Chicago Bears coach, Mike Ditka, is an easy Halloween costume or tailgating costume to create. A sweater vest, a pair of sunglasses, and a mustache is about all you will need.
Cucumbers are my favorite vegetable from my garden. Here are some of the recipes my family enjoys.
As more and more people turn to a healthier lifestyle, they wonder what to give out during Halloween that is an alternative to the traditional candy.
Finding different ways to display lego creations is easy if you know what you are looking for. Check out some of the ways we have lego sets displayed around the house.
Within the Cat and the Hat are a couple of characters that make it easy to create a costume for two people. Thing 1 and Thing 2
The balance between responsibility, maturity, and introducing children to technology and social media is a fine line. Here's a guide on when to introduce technology to kids.
In 2013, NCIS will end its 10th season and we assume start its 11th. Even though the first episode of NCIS aired on September 23rd, 2003. The first appearance of the major characters occurred on the TV series JAG on April 22nd and April 29th in...
Here are my favorite movies by Matt Damon
The iconic Mr. Clean is an easy Halloween costume, especially if you are already bald.
There are many places around Chicagoland to see animals and other wildlife. The big three being Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, and the John G Shedd Acquarium.
I started on Squidoo on October 10, 2008 and this is my yearly diary. In 2014, Squidoo lenses were transferred to Hubpages and so the story continues from there.
The Tour de France leaders wear special jerseys and hats while riding. Four jerseys indicate the Overall leader, King of the Mountain, Sprint Leader, and Best Young Rider. The leader of each team and the over leading team have special rider number bibs.
Check out information and actual user reviews for the most popular and best inflatable kayak on the market today. Getting out on the open water is superb fun, great for family adventures, for fitness, and to help you simply get away from the hustle...
Cleaning up a messy garage is easy with these easy garage storage ideas. A few shelves and cabinets are all you need to get your car back in the garage.
Whether you agree that Chicago pizza is better than New York pizza or not, the toppings is what makes a pizza pie the best. Here are some favorite topping combinations.
Ocean Kayaks are typically larger and sturdier than most other kayaks. This allows them to handle the rougher conditions and bigger waves than found in rivers and lakes.
When building MOC (my own creations) lego designs, you need access to a lot of bricks. Here are the best places to find bricks in bulk or by the pound.
Lego sets over 1,000 bricks are fun to build. There are many different genres with large Lego sets. The list of the largest sets ever produced is updated regularly and interesting to review.
Adult costume based on Flo from the Progressive Insurance commercials.
The Allstate spokesperson, Mayhem, is becoming the go to Halloween costume for adults. This is an easy costume to create with a couple of minor purchases.
Abby Sciuto is the beloved forensic scientist on NCIS. Working with major mass spec she is able to determine many minute details about a crime.
There are moments in sports that inspires everyone to be a better person. These are some of the best that have happened over the years. Not in the pros, but in amateur sports.
Long ago Egypt offers a multitude of Halloween costume ideas for codes, from scary to glamorous, you'll be able to find a great costume.
There are many English style costumes your kids could wear during Halloween.
The French have some very iconic figures in their past which makes Halloween costumes a lot of fun.
The Japanese have a long heritage and many era costumes that are great dress up for girls and ninja costumes have been popular for years with the boys.
German style costumes for kids are cute and range from military to costumes from the alps.
Ireland is an old and traditional land with some great costume ideas for kids.
The Popcorn Kernel is an integral part of leadership in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. They provide enthusiasm for the upcoming popcorn sales that raises funds for the pack and troop.
When mentioning a book on a blog, article, or website, you can earn a few dollars by using an affiliate link for the book. Here are the top 5 affiliate programs with this in mind.
Some great games to play during a golf outing. These games add fun and help raise additional money for charity events.
There are many books for new scout leaders that can provide valuable information as you enter the world of Boy Scouts or Girls Scouts. Check out some of these below.
Walt Disney started making movies in 1937 and has made hundreds of movies over the years. Here's my best of list.
When trying to improve your golf game, there are some gadgets that are worth their weight in strokes. What we find is that the more you practice the better you get.
Smokers and incense burners from Germany remind me of my childhood and Christmas. My mom had many of these and the scents filled the air on those cold winter nights.
There aren't many movies out there that focus on Golf, however, the few that are happen to be pretty good.
I love Lego Train shows. These usually feature a local Lego Train Club displaying a large layout at a library or other function. Lego shows allow you to see a large variety of lego sets in one place
Your senior in high school is graduating and maybe going to college. Here are some great gift ideas.
10th graders are getting ready to drive. Steer (pun intended) gifts in this direction.
Awesome gift ideas for 8th graders for birthdays, Christmas, or graduation.
Gifts for freshman in High School is hard as their needs are becoming expensive.
In the middle of middle school, 7th graders want it all, new clothes, the latest electronics, and money. Here are some great ideas for these new teenagers.
Finding Gift Ideas for 6th graders is easier than you think. These 12 year olds love electronics, books, and gift cards.
Finding gifts for 5th graders is no easy task. 11 year olds are making their way to middle schools and are starting to see themselves as older and more mature. Here are some great preteen gift ideas
Finding gifts for 3rd graders is easy. They like everything and they are not too old yet to know any better. Focus on games and activities for 8 and 9 year olds.
Ideas for gifts for 2nd graders is easy with this great list.
1st grade gifts are easy as almost anything will entertain them.
Boys and Girls in 4th grade are very easy to buy for. However, they are starting to want electronic gadgets at this age. Below are my gift ideas for Christmas and birthdays.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs has a set of rules he lives by. For the last 17 years, the "NCIS" writers have been teasing us and releasing a few rules each year. Here's the complete list to date of Gibbs' Rules.
One of the favorite dessert of Boy Scouts is cobbler made in a dutch oven over a campfire. Here are some great recipes.
Here's a list of novels for the Halloween season.
Creating a website for a scout pack or troop is pretty easy with these mostly free sites. It's a great place to save documents and create a history for the pack or troop.
In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated their 100th anniversary. The scouting movement was originated by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907 in England and moved to the U.S. 3 years later.
Real Estate Marketing these days is complex with all the online resources. Meeting people face-to-face is always the best, use these strategies to get that first meeting.
A restaurant fundraiser is easy to set up and run. The hardest part is energizing your group to make the restaurant night a success. Here are some tips to help increase participation in your restaurant night.
Glenbard West opened in 1922, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and was the first of four high schools in District 41.
Bike hooks are a necessity for every cycling enthusiast. When you need store your bicycle for a season or a day, you'll need one of these storage ideas.
Below are answers to two tests that are part of the Problem Solving 101 Lens. If you want to take the test before seeing the answers, please CLICK HERE. Otherwise, you get to see answers with no questions. Maybe you are trying to figure out the...
Problem solving is one of the best skills to learn and have at your disposal. Understanding how to problem solve leads to well thought out fact based decisions.
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is located in Elwood, Illinois just outside of Joliet.
On September 1st, the Boy Scouts of America start their popcorn fundraiser. Popcorn is available from scouts selling door-to-door, in front of stores, and online. Support the scouts today.
Video gaming consoles are going through their third and fourth generations at the moment, Nintendo has the WiiU, Microsoft has the Xbox, and Sony has the Playstation 4.
A driving vacation is more interesting when you have some great stops along the way. Here are some of the places we have stopped when driving from Chicago to Washington DC
As a family, we tend to drive to our vacation destination, and going from Chicago to Orlando was no exception. With four kids, it's important to plan ahead on where to stop along the way. Check out our favorites.
With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows hitting the movie theaters later is 2010 there's no doubt that J K Rowling will go down as one of today's classic writers. Her books are very well written and with multi-million sales for each book, the...
Are you a fan of the Harry Potter books or the Harry Potter Movies? I've read all the books and watched all the movies and have side-by-side comparisons of both.
It's hard to know which children's Christmas books are good. Here are some of the favorites we've read to our kids over the years.
My mom has been making this chocolate cake for over thirty years. My kids have started asking for grandma's Texas Cake instead of birthday cakes. And my sister's kids ask everytime they are going to see grandma, is she bringing Texas cake. To help...
Many years ago when my family used to drive from Cardiff to Grimsby to visit my Grandparents we used to stop off at Service Stations for bathroom brakes and to get something to eat. I always remember running to the video arcade games, putting in...
Kindergarten is a fun year for reading to boys and girls. The kids are beginning to read on their own, and the books are beginning to transition away from pictures and into more words.
Every golfer already owns a set of golf clubs, shoes, and many shirts. When you are looking for a Christmas, Birthday, or Father's Day gift, here are some great golf gift ideas.
Here are some great games I've played on a golf course. These games are designed to level the playing field across all handicap levels. They also help keep your head in the game.
Wheatland Athletic Association serves the area between Naperville and Aurora Illinois. It has the recreational and travel teams in softball, baseball, basketball, and soccer.
Playing in a fantasy golf league is fun and keeps those of us in the north interested in our favorite game while the snow is on the ground.
With cell phones proliferating our society today, you need to intentionally put it away. Here are some great activities you don't want to ruin with you cell phone.
Before Ash Wednesday each year, Catholics and Christians around the world pick a sacrifice for lent. There are many types of sacrifices, so here are some ideas for both adults and children.
Cub Scout skits are fun to do. Here are my favorite skits that are suitable for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other camp settings.
One of my favorite parts of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts were the hikes. Our Cub Scout program hiked every month and we tallied the number of miles for each scout and parent.
Successfully running a school based parent organization is hard work. You need volunteers and fundraisers, and by-laws. Here's some tips to running a PTA or PTO.
Fundraising for Non-Profits is tricky and stressful when kids are involved. Here are the fundraisers I liked the best when my kids were in school, scouts, and sports.