Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

Freelance Contributor

Exploring Nature Spots Near Akron

Akron, Ohio is home to some amazing bike, hike, and walk trails in Ohio. A short distance from
the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and housing a few of its own lengthy hiking trails, there are
plenty of opportunities, and gorgeous hidden nature spots in, and around Akron.

1. Portage Lakes State Park — Wingfoot Lake State Park —993 Goodyear Park Blvd. Suffield,
OH 44260

If you’re looking to do it all, kayaking, boating, swimming, hiking, and having a large group of
people, Portage Lakes State Park will be able to accommodate all of your needs. It features
many different lakes as well as a wetlands area that attracts many different species to the
surrounding area. There are also events that take place in the park which showcase the multipurpose
use of the park.

2. Cascade Valley Metro Park

Located in south Akron, this metro park offers a large range of different trails for you to explore.
The Overlook area offers amazing views and a relatively easy trail which is great for children or
beginners. More experienced hikers might enjoy the moderately challenging Highbridge Trail
which has some beautiful views of the Cuyahoga river.

3. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm —1828 Smith Rd. Akron, OH 44313

As well as having three walking/hiking trails, this park and nature realm is a great place for
children or adults who want to learn while they hike. There includes seasonal exhibits as well as
a great kids adrea and a on-site naturalist who is happy to answer any kinds of questions about
the area and wildlife. This area houses many beautiful observation decks, ponds, and even a
large ravine. This is a perfect place to take the whole family to enjoy and learn about the
outdoors.

4. Treaty Line Area in Sand Run Metro Park —995 Treaty Line Rd. Akron, OH 44313

For those wanting to work up a sweat, the Treaty Line Area inside the Sand Run Metro Park
might be right for you. It features several challenging hills and workout stations that can further
challenge you during your walk. This trail is also pet-friendly and features restrooms and a
picnic area which makes it well suited for groups.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Address: 714 N Portage Path Akron, OH 44303

Phone: 330-836-5533

Website

Built during the years 1912 to 1915, this manor was formerly owned by F.A. Seiberling, founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and his wife Gertrude. Stan Hywet means stone quarry in Old English, which is a natural feature of the property. As most of the estates similar to Stan Hywet have been demolished over the years, the property and a few others have been preserved as historic estates and are therefore protected by the organizations that handle them.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is considered as Akron’s sole National Historic Landmark. More than fifty years ago, the Seiberling family donated the estate to a non-profit organization, allowing the public to see what it is like inside the manor.

To support its day to day expenses, they have allowed some parts of the estate to be rented out for special occasions, such as weddings and corporate events. The lush garden surrounding the estate is perfect as backdrop for events and gatherings. They also offer tours around the estate from April to December.

If you’re an architectural buff and you enjoy visiting houses steeped in history and built with that authentic classical design that today’s classic houses could not emulate, then you must not fail to visit Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens when you find yourself in Akron.

For inquires regarding events and tours, you may call their office today.

How to Exercise your Cat

Lots of people need ways to exercise their cat in a short amount of time that is efficient and easy. It is hard to create fun games for your cat while getting them fit, so here are some tips to keep your cat exercising for fun.

The easiest toys for cats are the soft hair ties that you find at any store. You can throw these across the room, and your cat will most likely play fetch. You can find anything that a cat will want to chase and that can fit in their mouth. Toys that should fit in their mouth without danger of choking like  bracelets, toy mice, and even fluffy balls for cats.

Your cat will also have fun with cat lasers. The laser can also go on the walls to make your cat jump and swat at it. But be careful that you don’t do this too often because it frustrates your cat if they cannot catch the toy.

Cats will also enjoy cat towers or little mazes to run around in which they thoroughly enjoy. They will even climb and jump at anything they see which is entertaining for both you and the cat.

Motorized mice are a great way to get your cat’s attention, and start running everywhere in a frenzy for the mouse. The feathered birds on a stick will help you a lot with getting your cat jumping and leaping to try and chase it everywhere. The feathered toy is also very good to help your cat lose weight while having fun chasing it. Some of the toys come with bells to catch your cat’s attention, and to be aware of where the toy is.

If you want your cats to get some fresh air, a harness is the perfect solution. You have to get a leash and harness to walk your cat outside, but it is really fun for both you and the cat to walk around your neighborhood or park. Some cats do not enjoy this type of exercise. But those who do, are thrilled to have a walk outside.

If your cat does not enjoy the outside, then you can even get a treadmill or wheel and let them run. This is only an exercise to do with supervision to make sure nothing goes wrong. This is a fun way to exercise your cat without having to be outside if you can get them to stay on it.With a little bit of time you and your cat will enjoy spending time together.

Exercising  your cat will be beneficial for your cat’s health while forming a strong bond with you.

 

Sweets For My Sweet: Valentine’s Day Sweets That You Can Whip Up Easily For Your Loved One

If I have to pick out a holiday in which chocolates reign supreme, it would have to be on Valentine’s Day. Of course, I’m a woman and chocolate reigns supreme to me pretty much 90% of all the days of the year, but I’m talking about serious skyrocketing sales here. Every year, billions of people around the world spend their money on flowers and chocolates for the Love Day. While many will argue that the holiday is being promoted by florists as well as chocolate and greeting card companies for the purpose of profit, no one can deny that a lot of people out there are inspired by Valentine’s Day to tap into their romantic side and whip up something for their significant other.

In Japanese culture, it is common practice for young women to give out chocolates to the guy they like – some of which they make themselves. As Americans, we pretty much have the luxury of ordering our chocolates beforehand, but considering the influx of orders in this time of the year, you have to properly schedule when you order your treats. However, if you’re like me who wants to add a personal touch to your V-Day gift, you can whip up your own sweet treat for your significant other yourself. In this article, I will share recipe ideas that will help you decide which treat to give your loved one this holiday season.

  1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries – You will need strawberries and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Heat some water in a pan and put a bowl over it. When the water boils, turn off the heat and place the chocolate chips into the bowl. Let the heat from the water melt the chocolate. Dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate and place in a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Let the chocolate cool and harden.
  2. Peanut Butter Balls – Ingredients are chunky peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter and melted chocolate. Mix peanut butter, butter and sugar in a bowl. Form into a ball. Place in a baking sheet covered with wax paper and slowly pour melted chocolate over them. Let the chocolate cool and harden.
  3. Easy Nutella Cupcake – You will need a chocolate cake mix and a jar of Nutella. Mix the cake mix according to the instructions in the box. Using a regular size baking pan lined with cupcake cups, pour two tablespoons of cake mixture into each cup and add a tablespoon of Nutella. Cover the dollop of Nutella with another tablespoon of cake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and let it cool. 

There you have it ladies and gents – three easy desserts for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Of course, you can pretty much make these any day you want and not just for the holiday. Whether you’re single or with your significant other this season, remember to fill every day with love as if it’s Valentine’s Day.

Stop The Mess – Three Ways to De-clutter Your Child’s Bedroom

I will be the first to admit that the holidays can be a seriously messy season. Usually in our household, the mess starts around November and doesn’t stop until the decors are neatly packed and stored in the attic for another year. I’m not talking about regular household mess, but we have those, too. I am pertaining to all the garbage that seem to accumulate within the house during this season – from candy wrappers that are remnants of the kids’ trick or treating to the gift bags and toy boxes that arrive in the house together with my in-laws and other relatives.

Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the gifts and the holiday visits. However, after all our loved ones ride their cars out of our driveway, I am usually the one who has to clean up after the wrappers and tags from gifts. This is by no means an easy task as the children get a substantial number of gifts from their aunts, uncles and grandparents. Over the years, I have learned to form a system when it comes to the mess during the holidays, particularly in my kids’ rooms. As a mother, I felt the need to share some ideas on how to de-clutter rooms to other mothers out there who might need these ideas just as badly as I did years ago. So, to all mothers out there, listen up…

  1. Put up shelves. Since I’m not handy with tools, I asked my husband to do this for me. We had to get those wood planks from our local home improvement store; they have those that are perfect as shelves. You may or may not need to sand them, it depends how rough the planks’ surface are. My kids have a collection of storybooks that they received from my parents and sisters, so we put them all in there. If one of them wants to read one, they need to inform us since the shelves are out of their reach. That pretty much controls at least a quarter of the mess in their room.
  2. Contain them. This is another helpful way to de-clutter your child’s bedroom and it works best with toddlers and preschoolers. At that age, they tend to scatter all their toys around the house and just leave them everywhere when they lose interest. I have found plastic veggies in my shoe once and another one in the bathroom. Basically, what we did was purchase those plastic boxes with lids on them. We placed their toys in boxes and just gave them one box-full of toys to play with. It may not sound that efficient, but we were able to lessen the mess by doing that. That way, they don’t scatter all their toys around the room. I also saved my husband from stepping into LEGO parts and for anyone who has had that misfortune, you know how much that actually hurts.
  3. Donate. This is not an easy thing to do and I understand it. I watched Toy Story movies from 1-3. Believe me, I understand. However, it is a sad reality that kids will outgrow their toys and rather than leave them to gather dust, we donate them. It wasn’t easy at first and you just have to let them understand that other kids with no money for new toys would love to play with their discarded toys. This also goes for clothing. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment you’ll feel when you see your kids saying goodbye to their well-loved toys knowing that they will cheer other children up is priceless.

There you have it, folks. I’m sure some of you have used these methods in the past with varying success. While the task can be quite daunting, I find that it’s really just a matter of reaching out to your children. Talking to them and making them understand how important it is not to make a mess in their rooms is something that parents must not neglect to do. While the above methods have all worked out for me, it will not be possible without my children’s willingness to work with us.

Do you have other ideas on how to de-clutter your child’s room? Share it with us by commenting down below.

Baking Soda and Its Uses

I like baking – I have a sweet tooth. Among my baking ingredients, amidst the flours and vanilla extract and eggs, there is one thing that I consider to be very important in the household that I always make it a point to stock on it and that is baking soda. For a couple of years now, I have collected some uses of baking soda from online sites and have even tried some of them myself. In this article, I will share with you some of the benefits of baking soda.

  1. Facial Scrub – This is something that I have done and still continue to do to this day. I make my own baking soda facial scrub by mixing one and a half tablespoons of warm water to three tablespoons of baking soda. The consistency should be that of a paste. Use this to scrub dead skin cells and germs off your skin. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes. It stings.
  2. Room or Fridge Freshener – Let’s admit it. Our fridge is the source of a mixture of odors from leftovers and other stuff we put inside it – not all of them pleasant. The simple solution I have is to put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a small container (something that will not take too much space in your fridge) and let it sit there for a few days. I find that odors inside the fridge are neutralized when I do this. You can also try this out in your rooms.
  3. Kitty Litter Deodorizer – As a pet lover, this is something I do. Before filling your litter pan with kitty litter, sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom and then add the kitty litter. This helps the kitty litter from getting too stinky.
  4. Minor Insect Bite Treatment – I cannot attest for this because I have not tried this myself, but baking soda is said to be a good treatment for insect bites. You have to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
  5. Brush and Comb Cleaning Agent – Your brushes and combs collect dirt from your hair. It also gets oily from your scalp and residue from your hair products. You can easily get rid of this by soaking your combs and brushes in warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda for about half an hour to an hour. After that, you can simply rinse it and let it dry.

Baking soda has been very helpful around the house and not just for baking purposes. It can clean surfaces, act as a beauty product and can keep the air fresh. So the next time you run to the grocery store, drop by the baking goods aisle and make it a point to keep your shelves stocked with it.

 

Volunteering is Beneficial for the Whole Family

The benefits of families volunteering together are substantial.  Of the adults, teens and children who volunteer about 75% report being more physically, mentally and emotionally healthier than those who don’t.  They have lower levels of stress and are better able to manage it.

Volunteering can teach life skills such as time management, teamwork, effective communication, goal setting and developing compassion for others.  Family members are working toward a common goal, which leads to them functioning better as a unit. They’re more likely to feel that life has a purpose, and develop a deeper connection and commitment to their community, family and friends.

Families who volunteer together may be more productive at and satisfied with work and school.  The experience is a good addition to a resume and gives an edge over another candidate who doesn’t have it.  And it’s a given that good colleges are looking for more than test scores and grades on applications, volunteering is a must.

In addition to all these benefits volunteering together can also address an on-going issue for today’s families, “With everyone going off in different directions how can we spend some time together?”  A sound strategy for getting children and teens invested in it is to get and keep them involved in the decision making, even young children can contribute.  Be open-minded to their interests and don’t dismiss nontraditional ideas.

One family, of self proclaimed non-running couch potatoes, organized a 5k walk/run for a son’s terminally ill classmate.  They enjoyed the experience so much they do it as an annual event, donating the money to a different charity each year.  Another family adopted the local no-kill animal shelter as their project.  The 5 year old’s job was “petting coordinator”, which she was quite diligent and serious about.

A Greek proverb states, “A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit.”  Families flourish in the same way; think about creating a tradition of volunteering for your family today and a legacy for your descendants of tomorrow.

Nicole Abbott – writer, educator and psycho-therapist

Kid Proof Your Home Office

Here are a few tips to kid proof your home office if you are a work from home mom:

1. Keep as few wires as possible reachable to little hands. That means position your furniture to cover outlets so wires are not exposed and inviting little hands to pull at them. Also, you can get cable covers and wire clips to hold several wires together.

2. Keep as much away from the edge of surfaces where little hands can reach. For instance, keep your computer monitor far back and when you are not using your keyboard put it above your monitor if possible. Also, unplug your printer and fax machine when not in use so that even if little hands get on them they can’t do much damage.

3. Your file cabinet will be hard to keep organized if your little one keeps getting into all the papers. The easiest solution is to get locks for the drawers. However, be careful that they cannot lock themselves in the drawers.

These are a few inexpensive tips to help you if you are trying to earn extra money at home. Of course the ideal would be to lock your office door when you are not working and only work when your little one is not around. However, this is not always practical and therefore I hope these simple tips are helpful as you set up your home office.

Spice It Up! – Herbs and Spices You Should Stock Up In Your Shelves

“If you are careful,” Garp wrote, “If you use good ingredients, and you don’t take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, I find, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane.” ― John Irving, The World According to Garp

Do you love to cook? Perhaps planning to learn? Does the idea of stocking up your shelves with spices with names you can’t even pronounce properly sound intimidating to you? Well, you’re not alone. I believe most people who are still starting up with their journey to the wonderful world of stews, spices and stoves have found that choosing the basic spices quite daunting. After all, you don’t want to spend that much money on saffron ($2,000-$10,000/pound) while you still don’t know what it does and therefore would not even know where to use it.

As someone who has once faced the task of feeding a small family with what little knowledge I have had with cooking – basically limited to three ways of cooking eggs and nuking ready-made dinners – I want to impart some advice: learn while it’s still early. In this article, I will attempt to share with you the basic herbs and spices that you should get while you’re still learning to cook. I’m no expert, mind you, but over the years, I have gained some knowledge of cooking, so I feel compelled to write this piece. Get your paper and pen ready and let’s begin…

  1. Bay Leaves. Typically sold dried, bay leaves give off that aromatic scent, which makes it ideal for stews and marinades. You will need to remove this from the food before serving.
  2. Cayenne. This has got to be one of my Top 5 Must-Haves when it comes to spices. Cayenne is made from tiny spicy red peppers. It gives off that extra kick you want in your dishes without interfering with the overall flavor. It’s also ideal for boosting your immune system and a great ingredient for a healthy juice recipe.
  3. Parsley. It’s a no-brainer that the world’s most popular herb would make this list. Afterall, parsley is both great for pasta and pizza, plus it’s healthy too! As a source of anti-oxidants, you can never go wrong by stocking up on parsley.
  4. Garlic Powder. I find it strange that I’m not a fan of garlic, but a huge lover of garlic powder. I love marinating barbecues in it; I love it with my bread. If you love grilled food as much as I do, then you should definitely get yourself some garlic powder.
  5. Basil. I have a basil plant – that should pretty much tell you how much I adore the herb. It’s great for soups, pasta and meat – how can you afford not to have it?

There you have it – the basics – at least according to me. Some people might have more herbs and spices in their list, but to each his own. As you grow more confident in your cooking skills and become more willing to try experimenting on new recipes, you will find that your shelves will also have more jars and packets of spices with varying flavors and textures. Who knows? It has not happened to me yet, but you may one day have enough reason to take a deep breath while you order saffron from the spice shop. Good luck!

Is Your Car Heater Not Working?

There can be several reasons why your car’s heater could be broken or simply just not working. The following reasons may help you to understand why it is not working and why you need to take it directly to a mechanic to have it fixed.

It could be as simple as the engine thermostat, the fan motor, or simply a fuse that is out or simply not working properly. You will need to take the vehicle to a car repair shop right away to have them diagnose the problem and get your heat flowing properly once again. If you decide to fix the problem yourself you may be doing more damage to the vehicle by not knowing the correct diagnosis. Car repair shops can easily diagnose the problem. So take the vehicle to a mechanic and save yourself the headache and money of making it worse off.

Many people think that they may just be low on coolant in the radiator and try to fix it themselves. By doing so you can cause yourself and your car some serious damage. The cap could release and intense amount of steam that has been built up by pressure and burn you very badly.

So the best remedy if your car heater is not working properly is to take it to a car repair shop and let a real mechanic fix it.