| How to Plan a Cookout Posted: 29 Jun 2017 05:00 PM PDT Having a cookout is a great way to celebrate a special occasion, but you can also host a barbecue just because. A cookout can be a small intimate gathering or a huge affair, and the key to planning is getting a head start. To give yourself lots of time, you should start planning things like the guest list and the menu a couple of weeks in advance. In the days leading up to the cookout, you can get ready by going shopping, making sure you have everything you need, and preparing some foods in advance. EditPlanning the Details - Select an appropriate day. You can hold a cookout on a holiday, to celebrate an event, or on any day of the week you feel like. Pick a time and day when most people you'll be inviting are free from work and school, such as a weekend.
- Check the long-range forecast before deciding a date, and try to choose a day that has no chance of rain or storms.
- To make sure you and your guests have lots of time to prepare, start planning your barbecue at least two weeks in advance.
- Choose your guest list. Your cookout can be as big or small as you like, and you can invite anybody you want. Some people you might want to consider, include friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates.
- Remember that the more people you invite, the more food you'll have to prepare.
- Send out invitations. The invitations don't have to be formal or even written, but you should give guests plenty of warning so they can plan to attend.[1] On the invitation, you may want to ask guests to inform you about dietary restrictions. The invitations should include the event type, date, time, and location. There are lots of ways you can invite your guests, including:
- Formal written invitations
- Evites
- An email with all the details
- A phone call to each person
- Ask guests to RSVP in advance. Having a guest list is essential not only so you know who's coming, but also so you know how much food to purchase and prepare. On written invitations, write a date by which you want guests to respond. On the phone simply ask guests to tell you by a certain day if they can make it.
- The RSVP deadline should be at least a few days before the cookout so that you know how much food to buy.
- As guests RSVP, make a note of who is and isn't coming.
- Make a shopping list. Go through your kitchen, barbecue tools, cupboards, and party gear and make a list of things you need for the cookout (other than food). Things you may need include:[2]
- Plates
- Utensils
- Napkins
- Barbecue fuel
- Barbecue utensils
- Decorations
- Tablecloths
- Aluminum foil
- Choose snack items and appetizers. Food is one of the most important elements of a cookout, and there are lots of different courses to consider. You can start planning the menu before you have a finalized guest list, but you'll have to determine quantities later. Popular appetizers and snacks for barbecues include:
- Fresh fruit[3]
- Fresh vegetables with dip
- Chips
- Guacamole[4]
- Pick a main course. The main course at a cookout is typically a red meat dish, but it can also be poultry, fish, or a plant-based protein. Pick a food that you really like, and that will also be popular with your guests. Good options include:
- Steak[5]
- Ribs
- Hamburgers
- Hot dogs
- Sausages
- Kebabs
- Shrimp
- Pork butt
- Brisket[6]
- Tofu
- Portobello mushrooms
- Select a few side dishes. There are lots of popular side dishes you can serve at a cookout. You can pick your favorites, try to pair the sides with the main you're serving. For instance, if you're serving something lighter like shrimp or mushrooms, you might want a heavier side like potatoes. Popular cookout sides are:
- Roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, zucchini, and bell peppers
- Coleslaw[7]
- Potato salad
- Corn on the cob
- Baked potatoes
- Salad
- Pasta salad
- Plan a dessert. Dessert isn't necessary at a cookout, but it's a nice touch. You can either go simple and opt for things like cookies, fruit, or ice cream. Other options include cake, brownies, cupcakes, squares, and marshmallow treats.[8]
- Pick some beverages. Beverages can be simple like pop, juice, and beer, or you can even have a themed drink or cocktail for the cookout. It's good to have a variety of drinks to accommodate kids, people who don't drink, and people with beverage preferences. Here are some drink ideas:[9]
- Lemonade
- Punch
- Iced tea
- Sangria
- Wine
- Margaritas
- Mojitos
- Soda
- Plan for dietary restrictions. It's possible that not all your guests will want to or be able to eat the food you've decided in your meal plan. One way to accommodate dietary restrictions is to offer a number of different dishes, including different meat options and a vegetarian option.[10]
- Check your RSVPs to determine if any of your guests listed allergies or restrictions.
- Ask guests to bring dishes. Cookouts are fairly informal gatherings, and it's totally acceptable to hold a potluck-style barbecue. Especially if you're having a lot of people come, don't be afraid to ask guests to bring a dish so that you don't have to worry about it.
- The custom is typically that the host will provide the main dish, and can ask guests to bring sides, appetizers, snacks, and desserts.[11]
- Make a grocery list. Once you've decided on all your menu items and your drinks, make a list of all the food, spices, and condiments you need for your snacks, main, sides, dessert, and drinks. To help plan the quantity of food, each guest will consume, on average:[12]
- Two beverages when they arrive, followed by one more every hour
- 6 to 8 ounces (170 to 227 g) of meat
- 1 cup (150 g) of pasta salad or potato salad
- 1 cup (100 g) of coleslaw
- 1 to 2 cups (75 to 150 g) of salad
- Two pieces of fruit
- 4 ounces (113 g) of cake or cookies
EditGetting Ready the Days Before - Go grocery shopping. One or two days before the barbecue, grab your shopping list and your reusable bags and head out to grab all the things you need for the cookout.
- There may be things you need that you didn't already put on the list, including ice, sauces, barbecue fuel, and other miscellaneous items.
- Thaw frozen foods. At least 48 hours before the cookout, remove frozen meat and veggies from the freezer to thaw them. Place them in the refrigerator to thaw. Don't leave items on the counter, as they will be prone to food-borne diseases.
- The meat may only need 24 hours to thaw, but thawing it early will give you time to marinate it the night before the barbecue.
- Clean up the grill. Remove the grills from the barbeque and soak them in a bucket of soapy water. Wipe down the barbecue itself to remove food crumbs and oil. After the grills have soaked for at least 10 minutes, scrub them with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
- Return the grills to the barbecue and let them air dry. When they are dry, use a clean cloth to rub some cooking oil on them.[13]
- Prep food and make your side dishes. The night before the barbecue, you can do a lot of food prep work. This includes making side dishes, making desserts, washing and cutting fruit and vegetables, and marinating meat. Transfer side dishes and chopped fruit and veggies to airtight containers for storage.[14]
EditPreparing on the Day - Set up a cooler. The morning of the cookout, fill a cooler with ice and put drinks in there that should be served cold. This includes beer, pop, juice, and other drinks that people typically don't like warm.[15]
- Clean the house and patio. You may want to dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, and tidy the patio before your guests arrive. People probably won't be spending too much time inside, but it will be nice to have a clean house regardless.
- To clean the patio, wipe down any outdoor furniture, remove items that don't have to be there, and sweep or power wash the deck or patio.
- Put up decorations. You don't have to decorate for a cookout, but you certainly can. There are lots of decorations you can use, including flowers, plants, balloons, streamers, lights, torches, candles, and even special table cloths.[16]
- Set up a food and drink station. Because barbecues are informal, guests usually take care of serving themselves food and drinks. Set up a large table with napkins, plates, utensils, and cups.[17] When the guests start to arrive, you can put out snacks and drinks (ones that aren't in the cooler).
- When the food is ready, place the side dishes and mains on the table as well, along with serving utensils so that guests can get their own food.
- Put out a large garbage can. Before guests arrive, place a large garbage can outside with a fresh garbage bag in it. This will give guests a place to put trash, make your job easier, and make it so guests don't have to go inside.
- This is especially important if you're using disposable serving ware and utensils.
- Fire up the grill before guests arrive. About an hour before guests are set to arrive, turn on the barbecue and preheat it for your food. This will make sure the grill is nice and hot and ready to go as soon as your guests arrive. When the grill is hot, put on long-cooking side dishes like baked potatoes and corn on the cob.
- Side dishes like corn and potatoes should go on the grill 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to eat.[18]
- Start cooking the main when guests arrive. As soon as your first guests get there and lunch or dinnertime arrives, move your corn and potatoes off the grill and start cooking the main dish.
- To keep the sides warm while everything else cooks, wrap them in foil.
- Set food out on a table so guests can serve themselves. Once the food is ready, put the side dishes, appetizers, and main food on the table so that guests can serve themselves and dress their food. Now that all the hard work is out of the way, it's time to enjoy your cookout!
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| How to Know when Your Child Is Lying Posted: 29 Jun 2017 09:00 AM PDT Children's lying evolves with their age, often beginning with simple and obvious lies and gradually becoming more sophisticated. They may lie to win an argument with a sibling, get out of doing their homework or deal with a difficult situation. You can tell if your child is lying by observing their body language, listening to the nuances of dialogue and using your emotional intelligence.[1] Responding to your child's lies with an emotionally mature attitude will help to provide them with a good model for future behavior and improve your relationship with them moving forward.[2] EditObserving Body Language - Notice the quality of eye contact. Your child may be lying if they avoid eye contact altogether or maintain unusual eye contact. If your child is younger, they will probably avoid all eye contact. If they are a little older and more sophisticated, they may make a point of maintaining eye contact for a long time, with wide eyes or an unusual expression.[3]
- If they blink a lot while trying to maintain eye contact, it could be a sign of lying.[4]
- Observe brief facial expressions. Your child may express very brief moments of fear, anger, sadness, surprise or despair while lying, which are sometimes called microexpressions. This occurs when someone is consciously trying to hide how they are feeling. You have to watch carefully to see these brief expressions of emotion, which sometimes last less than a second. See if you can discern any of the following emotions in their face while they are talking. If the emotion is at odds with what they are saying or seems out of place, it could indicate a lie:[5]
- Surprise may be expressed with raised and curved brows, horizontal wrinkles on the forehead, eyelids open and the jaw dropped open.
- Fear may be expressed with the brows raised and drawn together, wrinkles in the center of the forehead, whiteness in the upper eye showing, and the mouth open with tensed lips.
- Sadness can be seen when the child is looking downwards, the upper eyelids are dropped, the cheeks are raised upwards, and the corners of the lip are turned down.[6]
- See if they are constantly fidgeting. If your child is unable to stay still while telling you their version of the story, it could indicate a lie. For instance, if you notice doing any of the following fidgeting behaviors, it is a warning sign: [7]
- Constantly moving their hands.
- Shifting in their seat.
- Shuffling their feet back and forth.
- Look for facial cues and touching. Studies have found a correlation between certain facial cues lying.[8] See if your child bites their lip while talking to you. They may also lick their lips, which could also indicate a lie. If they touch their nose, face or head while talking, it could also indicate a lie.[9]
- Look for strange gestures. See if your child is holding their hands behind their back, or constantly shifting their feet or hands. Bodily gestures are a common giveaway of deceit in both children and adults. It could be as simple as your child holding their hands behind their back.[10] Look for any of the following signs:[11]
- Scratching their body while talking
- Moving their fingers without their arms and for no reason
- Strange movements, shakes or nods of the head
- Shuffling or shifting of the feet and legs
- Shifting position in their seat
EditListening to Language and Emotion - Listen to pitch. If their tone of voice or pitch goes up, it is often a sign of discomfort due to fear, anxiety or other difficult emotions. This is a telltale sign of lying. It may be a sign that your child feels very uncomfortable and has a sense that they are being forced to lie for some reason.[12]
- See if they repeat the question. If your child repeats a question that you ask them, they may be trying to buy more time to come up with a lie. For instance, if you ask what they did at school today and they repeat the question, there could be something they do not want to report.[13]
- Notice if they get evasive. If your child avoids responding directly to a simple question, they could be trying to avoid having to lie. For instance, if they bring up a completely different subject in response to the question, they may be trying to avoid responding to the question. If you ask again and they offer a strange answer, it could be a lie.[14]
- Avoid taking an investigative approach. It is important to maintain a trusting, loving relationship with your child to decrease the chances that they will lie to you. You should avoid asking your child directly about the lie or pressuring your child for the truth of what happened. An investigative approach can lead to evasiveness and may not encourage your child to be more truthful.[15] Instead, tell stories that encourage truth telling, such as 'the boy who cried wolf', and model the behavior you expect from your child. [16]
- Listen for emphatic statements in sibling rivalries. In order to assert themselves with siblings, you children will often lie in order to get their way in an argument. If your child is making a statement in disagreement with a sibling, they may be lying in order to win a power struggle.[17]
- If your child repeatedly says "no" in response to any question about an event or situation, they may be lying.
- If your younger child has been fighting with an older sibling, they may be lying in order to assert themselves in the relationship.
- Pay attention to how their lying changes with age. As your children develop, they will evolve in their relationship to lying and the truth. Whereas lying is often very obvious with younger children, it can get more sophisticated as they grow up. In older children, lying is often more accompanied by guilt. Listen and respond in accordance with their age and maturity:[18]
- If your two-year-old is lying in a disagreement with a sibling, you could try expressing doubt in response to their lie so they know that you see their lie. For instance, if they claim that they did not eat a brownie, you could say, "That's curious, why do I see chocolate all over your face."
- If your four-year-old is lying, you should use it as an opportunity to explain why lying is not okay in your household.
- If your child is between five and eight, they may lie to avoid homework or otherwise reduce the pressures of increasing responsibility at school or at home. You should try to praise good behavior and talk openly about the importance of telling the truth.
- If your child is between nine and twelve, you may notice they will experience more guilt when they lie. You should have longer and more open conversations about lying and truthfulness.
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| How to Treat Hot Spots in Dogs Posted: 29 Jun 2017 01:00 AM PDT A hot spot, or what veterinarians term "acute moist dermatitis," is a painful and inflamed area of the skin that is often accompanied by discharge and a bad odor. Hot spots occur via allergic reactions to bacterial skin infections often caused by a lesion or wound. Skin breaks, lesions, and wounds can have a variety of causes, including flea bites, scratches, scrapes or nicks, anal gland problems, and underlying allergies. Dogs often itch and scratch skin breaks and wounds to such an extent that wet scabs form on the fur.[1] Hot spots can be painful for dogs and can become very large quite quickly. It is important to seek prompt and adequate treatment if you notice a hot spot on your dog.[2] EditIdentifying Hot Spots - Watch your dog. Notice if your dog scratches or licks a particular spot constantly. This is usually a sign that he is suffering from some sort of skin irritation.
- Part and inspect your dog's fur. Examine more closely the problem area you have identified. Hot spots can be difficult to see with the naked eye because they tend to spread under the cover of the dog's fur. Usually by the time you notice them, hot spots are well established and growing rapidly. [3]
- Identify that you are dealing with a hot spot. Hot spots are red, moist, hot and irritated rashes. Other identifiers of hot spots include discharge and an unpleasant odor.[4]
- Hot spots are most commonly found on a dog's head, hip or chest area.
- Dogs with long hair and thick coats are most commonly affected.
- Dogs who are not groomed regularly and have matted coats are also prone to developing hot spots, as are dogs who swim or are frequently in the rain.[5]
- Dogs with hip dysplasia or anal sac disease are also more likely to suffer from hot spots because they tend to lick the skin on their hind end.[6]
- Check areas surrounding the hot spot. If you do identify a hot spot, take some time to carefully check the rest of the dog's skin. Part the fur in the area surrounding the hot spot and examine for any other moist or reddened areas. All spots need to be treated immediately and, if possible, you should try to ascertain the underlying cause of the hot spot (flea bite, scratch, allergy, etc.).[7]
- Contact your vet. If this is your dog's first hot spot, seeing a vet is crucial. Your vet can give you an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.[8]
EditCleaning the Affected Area - Trim or clip the hair from the surface of the hot spot. Exposing the hot spot to air will dry out the moisture and help speed up the healing process. Be careful not to pull the hair, irritate the skin or cut your dog's skin.[9]
- Disinfect your scissors or clippers before clipping. In cases where there is a lot of discharge emerging from the hot spot, you will need to clean your clippers frequently while removing hair. Otherwise, the clippers will become plugged with debris. Remember to clean and disinfect the instrument after use.[10]
- Have your dog sit or lie down for this process. Get a second person if you need help keeping the dog still.
- To avoid accidentally cutting your dog's skin, don't cut too close to the skin itself and instead leave a quarter inch of stubble.[11]
- If the affected area is too large, shave it.[12]
- Clean the wound. Use an antimicrobial shampoo that you can purchase at a vet's office or a pharmacy for humans.[13]
- A good product will contain chlorhexidine as an ingredient.[14]
- You can also clean the area with a mild, water-based astringent or antiseptic spray.[15]
- Consult your veterinarian before use of any product on a hot spot.[16]
- Leave the antimicrobial shampoo on the dog for 10 minutes. This will allow the medication in the shampoo to settle into the affected area and begin working. Rinse thoroughly after 10 minutes and dry the affected area completely.[17]
- If using an alternative solution, read and follow the accompanying instructions on how to apply.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment or spray. Your vet will usually prescribe a topical medication, such as a Gentamicin or Betamethasone spray. Your vet may also recommend oral antibiotics, depending on the situation.[18]
- You can apply an antibiotic treatment on the wound up to three times per day.[19]
- Keep the area dry. The air will help the wound heal more effectively, whereas more moisture will facilitate the wound's growth.
- Keep in mind that hot spots can't be covered with a bandage because this traps moisture in and thereby worsens the wound.[20]
- Inspect the wound twice daily. If there is a buildup of discharge, repeat the shampoo process (shampoo, rinse, dry) to keep the wound clean.[21]
- Check the dog's entire body for any new or developing hot spots. This check should be done daily, particularly if it is hot or humid out.
EditPreventing Further Injury - Stop the itch. Hydrocortisone spray and Benadryl tablets work well. The appropriate dosage is 1 tablet per 50 pounds.
- Your vet may also prescribe steroids. Steroids work well for severe spots, but may cause side effects and can be harmful in the long-term. In addition, if the steroid is stopped before the spot is completely gone, the hot spot may come back and be worse than before.
- Avoid using creams on the hot spot. Creams keep moisture in the area, and the spot needs to dry completely before it can heal.
- Use an Elizabethan collar if your dog keeps licking or biting the lesions. The cone-shaped collar will restrain your dog's reach, making him unable to further irritate the wound.[22]
- An Elizabethan collar should not be used as the sole means of treatment for hot spots. Collars don't treat the hot spots but prevent your dog from making the lesions more severe. Untreated lesions will only grow and become more serious, in addition to being painful for your dog.[23]
- You can wrap a sock around one of the dog's rear feet and tape it into place if the hot spot can be scratched by a rear foot.
- Trim your dog's toe nails. This keeps your dog from having a ready way to scratch the area and spread the infected discharge.[24]
- Prevent hot spots. Make sure your dog is regularly groomed and that his hair is clipped short, particularly during the warm seasons. Be sure as well to follow a flea control program as advised by your vet. As a general rule, promptly treat any scratches, nicks or cuts and inspect them daily until they are fully treated.[25]
- A number of conditions can cause a dog to develop a hot spot, but you can try to mitigate these conditions. For example, if your dog has a particular allergy or a food sensitivity, work with your veterinarian to decrease symptoms and flare ups.[26]
- It's a good practice to have your vet diagnose any and all skin rashes, abnormalities or wounds on your dog.
- In severe cases, hot spots can do serious damage to the skin of a dog. Though scarring is rare, it can sometimes be a consequence of hot spots.[27]
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