Patriot Day, also known as The National Day of Service, is a day for honoring those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001, by doing at least one good deed. Even if you’re new to the area, or community service has never really been “your thing”, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Look on websites like eventful.com and eventbrite.com (search for “volunteer”) for places and events in your area that appeal to you. Contact the venues and inquire if there is anything that you can do to help out.

Think about your normal activities and interests and see if they don't naturally suggest a way you can help someone out.

• Good at woodworking? Build flower boxes or bird houses for the local park, homeless shelter, Habitat for Humanity, etc.
• Social media is your expertise? Think of all the collection drives you could do for your area by reaching out to the people in your network—food, blankets, coats, shoes, baby clothing, sporting equipment, school supplies, books, board games, old phones, unused cosmetics, pet food and more.
• Do you have a special skill? Offer to demonstrate at a local women's shelter, at a PTA meeting, a fundraising event, the library, the museum, or a nursing home.

Young people can find volunteer campaigns to “make the world suck less” at DoSomething.org. There are also opportunities for scholarships.

Spend a little while today finding some way to help others in need, and do it! It's a great way to remember the fallen, and it's a wonderful gift.

Labor Day weekend doesn't seem complete without getting out the grill, does it? Having friends and family over for a barbecue is what the holiday is all about—as well as some good eating!

Safety first, though! Many injuries occur during grilling season, so take care that you are following the instructions provided with your grill and using a little common sense:

• Only use your grill outdoors—not in the house, camper, or tent.
• Use long-handled tools and potholders.
• Trim the fat from meats to prevent flare-ups.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid after coals have been ignited.
• Have a box of baking soda handy in case of fire, and a fire extinguisher or hose.

Now, on to the recipes!

You may have your tried-and-true recipes that you're known for, but if you're ready to take it up a notch and experiment with some truly decadent dishes, the BBQ Pit Boys have you covered. They'll show you how to select the right cuts of meat for the smoker or grill, along with tips and tricks on cooking some great recipes. Watch their Peanut Butter & Jelly Ribs recipe video and see if your mouth doesn't start watering!

What about beer and chicken? Find out here. There's a lot of controversy about whether the beer (or other liquid) in the can actually provides any flavor or moisture to the chicken, but cooking a chicken vertically means you have more room on your grill for other goodies.  What’s not to like?

Happy grilling!

Women in the United States were given the right to vote on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed. August 26th is designated as Women's Equality Day, set aside to commemorate that occasion.

Let's celebrate Women's Equality Day with some fascinating facts!

• Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote AND the first state to elect a female governor.
• Here are some things invented by women: the circular saw, the dishwasher, Kevlar, the windshield wiper, the engine muffler, the electric hot water heater, wireless transmission technology, and the chocolate chip cookie.
• The two highest IQ's ever recorded belonged to women.
• 855 enlisted African-American women and officers made up the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during WWII. The women were charged with delivering mail to approximately seven million American troops stationed in Europe.
• In a touch of irony, high heel shoes were first worn by men in the 1600s. Women wore them to appear more masculine.
• Julia DeForest Tuttle, known as the “mother of Miami,” has the distinction of being the only woman to have founded a major American city.
• When Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady, she would only allow female reporters at her press conferences. Her decision meant newspapers would have to hire women journalists if they wanted the story.

If you're interested in learning more about the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, watch Hilary Swank as suffragist leader Alice Paul in Iron-Jawed Angels (2004).

It won't be too long before the school bus is honking its horn in front of the house again—are you and your kids ready?

Now's the time to start gradually easing the family back into the school year schedule.

Late sleepers should get used to waking up earlier, and having regular meal times again can be very helpful for younger children. If earlier bedtimes are a hassle, use some psychology—often children don't want to go to bed for fear of missing out on some fun. So plan some not-so-fun activities like watching a dry documentary or cleaning the refrigerator.

Involve your children in the back-to-school shopping.

Block out some time to go through the drawers and closets and decide which clothes have to go, which clothes can be handed down to a younger child, and what clothing needs to be purchased. Discussing the budget before hitting the stores should make things easier.

School supply lists should be available on school websites or in local stores.

Be sure to consult your children about purchases—some of them can be very particular. Does your child prefer a separate eraser, for example? Will any old yellow #2 pencil do, or do they prefer a certain brand or a mechanical pencil? And don't forget about any personal hygiene products (tissues, etc.) that would make your child feel more comfortable away from home.

A little preparation before the first day of school arrives will guarantee that you'll make the grade!

No doubt you've heard the expression while watching the local weather forecast: “These record-breaking high temperatures definitely signify that the dog days of summer are here.”

You may immediately imagine a couple of hound dogs, lying on a porch on a hot summer afternoon, too hot to even pant. The term “dog days” actually refers to the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, during what is typically the hottest, sultriest time of summer.

So let's while away these dog days with some summertime trivia:

• Despite the sweltering heat while filming the 1958 movie The Long Hot Summer, co-stars Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward married during the production.
• One of the most famous cinema summer camps is the fictional Camp Crystal Lake from the Friday the 13th movies. The real camp where filming took place was Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, a Boy Scout camp in Blairstown, NJ.
• Seals and Crofts' 1972 hit Summer Breeze is still one of the most popular summer songs of all time. One of the backing instruments was a child's toy piano.
• The Woodstock festival, held in August of 1969, is famous for being a “free concert.” Advance tickets were available at New York record stores or by mail, for $18, and 186,000 were sold. Due to a late change in venue, organizers abandoned building ticket booths when the festival-goers began arriving by the tens of thousands.
• National Lemonade Day is August 20th. Celebrate with some awesome recipes.   

Stay cool and be safe!

Do you think of yourself as an artist? When famed abstract artist Jackson Pollock referred to an artist, he meant anyone who is “building things.... some with a brush, some with a shovel, some choose a pen.” If your idea of creativity is building something from a watermelon, Pollock would have certainly approved!

Fruit carving, called Mukimono in Japan, has a long history, perhaps dating as far back as the 7th century AD. Watermelons have traditionally been carved into vessels to hold a candle, much like today's jack o' lanterns, or made into baskets to hold flowers or fruit, but mostly these fruits are carved to add an artistic presentation to the table.

Sound intriguing? If you're interested in trying out watermelon carving, it's pretty easy to get started. You'll need some internet instruction, a watermelon or two to practice on, a refrigerator to hold your fruit, and some tools—a pen, a carving knife, a melon baller, a peel zester, a U-shaped garnish tool, and a V-shaped cutter.

Are you ready to see some of the awesome watermelon carvings you could do?  Watermelon.org has many simple projects with directions to get you started. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are photos from some seriously skilled carvers. And if you’d like to eat your creations, check out these recipes from what about watermelon.

As a bonus, here is a photo of watermelon enthusiast Jackson Pollock enjoying one of America's favorite pastimes.  

Yes, you really can have your fruit and carve it too.