Articles written by Char McClary

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About me - Char McClary

I'm an artist, a writer, an entrepreneur, a mother and a wife. I am also an avid reader and an aspiring chef.

I live in a beautiful small town in North Dakota and spend my time playing with my kids, gardening, working on my online shop and writing.

I love my

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Food & Drink > Recipes (Other) Recipes: Dishes for students on a tight budget: 4 of 34

"Ya gotta eat." Never were truer words spoken. Yet, as a student, finding ways to fit meals into your budget, much less your schedule, may be proving difficult at best. Here are some quick ways to quiet that growling belly while making sure you can still afford tuition! Cereal: buy the good stuff; this is not the time to rel...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Accessories Top ten items a new mom needs: 3 of 12

The pending arrival of a new baby can send even the most organized of women into a panic. There are so many things to get ready in the home so that when that big moment happens and you walk through your front door carrying your little bundle of joy, your first days can be spent relaxing and cooing with your little one rather...
Relationships & Family > Cheating Spouses & Affairs How do you tell a friend that her husband is cheating?: 2 of 8

Telling a friend that her husband is cheating on her is probably one of the most difficult positions someone can face. Some women would rather not know if their significant other is tom-catting around behind her back; some women would be furious if you didn't tell them what you knew. Some women will blame the bearer of bad n...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Teens Should parents search teenager's rooms: 2 of 8

There is such a fine line between trusting your child and protecting them from outside influences and their own immaturity in decision making. On the left you have obsessive over-protectiveness; on the right, neglect. Finding a middle ground where your child is not only given the sense of being trusted, but is still protecte...
Pets & Animals > Dog Breeds Hybrid dog breed facts: Puggle: 1 of 4

I admit that when my husband and I went out looking for a puppy for our family, we didn't do much research. All we knew was that we wanted a dog that would stay somewhat small and be child friendly. When we walked into the pet store, the first glass section we were drawn to held the most adorable puppies we'd ever seen in ou...
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) How to know which side dish to serve: 2 of 7

A great meal is a medley of contrasts, so when you're planning side dishes for a main course, keep these four important contrasts in mind: taste, texture, heaviness and color. When considering taste, imagine serving a meal of Cajun spiced fish, rice mixed with jalapeno peppers and a hot spiced cider. Although each of those s...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Saving the environment: 24 of 80

When I was a child and a young teen, I didn't even think about the environment. I was guilty of tossing a candy bar wrapper or twelve in the gutter and spraying my 80's and early 90's 'do with tons of aerosol hairspray. One of our greatest joys back then was cruising around town, driving aimlessly with the radio cranked, to ...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Anger: 115 of 360

It's Mine my body my arms, my legs my neck and belly you think you have the right to stamp your brand upon my body you want to leash it take control make my feet, my knees my uterus yours you think you have the right sitting there in robes and shiny shoes to steal what nature gave to me the one thing that belongs to me the l...
Celebrations & Holidays > Birthdays Creative ways to celebrate your children's birthdays without giving a birthday party: 10 of 22

Living in an extremely small country town of approximately one hundred people, most of my children's friends live out of town. Being as two of my children have dead-of-winter birthdays, it's next to impossible for their friends to attend a birthday party because of the winter driving involved. At the very least, it is an eno...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Childhood Development Getting your kids to do their chores: 5 of 11

Getting your children to help out around the house can be a frustrating, uphill battle. There are a few dozen belief systems out there ranging from rewards to threats, anything to teach the kids to pick up their toys, get their laundry in the hamper, and put their dishes in the sink. My personal beliefs fall somewhere in the...