Complete our online Scavenger Hunt to be entered to win an iPad! You will have to visit our website, Facebook, Blog, and Pinterest page and do a little searching to complete the entry form to be entered to win.

We will draw one winner on June 29th at 4pm. Only one entry per person, and all fields must be completed and requirements met for a valid entry. Good Luck!  Click here for full entry form and complete details!

1. Find all 5 of the RED COWS located throughout our website on various pages just like this one… and no this does NOT count as one location, but keep looking!

2. Follow Blue Cow on Pinterest

3. List one pin Blue Cow has pinned on Pinterest in May or June

4. Like us on Facebook!

5. Leave a comment on our Facebook page, a wall post, or picture.

6. Find one blog post we posted in May or June 

Now that you’ve made the rounds and found all the information you need, fill out the form/checklist  by clicking here!

Make sure to include your contact info! Winner will be drawn June 29th at 4pm! Click here for full entry form and complete details!

The weather is getting warmer in Southeast Idaho and Northern Utah and school will be out in just a few short weeks, so what’s on the calendar? If you’re looking to plan your family vacation we’re right there with ya! Check out the 10 best family vacations in 2012 from Family Vacation Critic

“Expecting a tax refund from Uncle Sam this spring? Use it to treat your family to a fabulous vacation at one of this year’s hottest vacation destinations! To compile our list, we read through many of your recommendations, researched, and drew from our own experiences and favorites to put together these family-friendly vacation ideas that are particularly worthy choices for 2012. Some will appeal to the budget-minded, while others are more tantalizingly extravagant. You’ll find something for adventurous thrill-seeking families, as well as for those who prefer to spend lazy days on the beach with a cocktail while the kids are happily entertained.

1. Boston

A topnotch aquarium, a famously cool science museum, as well as a rich history and sophisticated New England charm have long attracted families to Boston, and the city that always tops the travel lists promises not to disappoint in 2012.  In the summer, the new and improved Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is scheduled to reopen, 11 years after the original museum was struck by lightning and burned down in 2001. The new museum will have replicas of the three merchant ships: the Beaver, the Eleanor, and the Dartmouth, and new exhibits featuring Samuel Adams and King George III. For families with younger kids, the Boston Children’s Museum is a must.  Everyone will love the new “Remember When” exhibit (which runs through February) where you can dress up in vintage clothes and play with toys from the past.

2. San Francisco

Kids (and grownups) of all ages will get a thrill out of riding the cable cars through the hilly streets of San Francisco, watching performers along touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, chocolate-tasting at Ghirardelli Square, and taking a winding drive down famous Lombard Street. I dare anyone not to be impressed with the stunning vistas across the San Francisco Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge. The number of kid-friendly attractions (don’t forget the zoo, museums, Alcatraz and Union Square) are endless.

2012 marks the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge; and the tourist board didn’t pass up the opportunity to commemorate the occasion a variety of family-friendly events planned throughout the year. The highlight will be a two-day celebration at Golden Gate State Park in May, where there will be live music and entertainment, exhibits and bridge memorabilia on display. The celebration will go well beyond the park, where attractions like The Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Exploratorium have related events and exhibits planned, many of which will be free.

3. The Mediterranean

Caribbean cruises have grown steadily in popularity amongst families, and with good reason. They offer an affordable, convenient means of getting around the islands, with plenty of organized activities for kids and parents. Until recently, fewer families have opted to venture into Mediterranean waters, perhaps because they assume it’s going to be a budget-buster. In reality, many Mediterranean itineraries are comparably priced; it’s just the airfare that is expensive. But if you travel in shoulder-season and search out bargain airfares, it can be more affordable than you might think.

4. Belize

Central America’s only English-speaking country is a great destination for adventurous families who enjoy diving and snorkeling, as well as those interested in learning about the archeology and history of this culturally rich (and affordable) country. While probably not ideal for the youngest travelers, Belize has so much to offer older kids. Caving, tubing through the stalagmites of an underground river, or zip lining through the rainforest are memories your children will never forget.

5. Denver

A host of outdoor activities, public parks and incredible vistas in every direction make Denver a great choice for families. In winter, hit the slopes at several nearby mountains, and in summer visit the city’s Botanical Garden and let the kids wander down the Children’s Secret Path. The Children’s Museum of Denver and the World of Wonder Children’s Museum are tons of fun any time of year.

2012 is the perfect time to visit the Mile High City. The new and greatly anticipated Elephant Passage ($50 million in the making) exhibit at the Denver Zoo is set to open in the spring 2012. The Elephant Passage will be a 10-acre complex that will house several animals including Asian elephants, Indian rhinos and leopards. When it’s complete, it will be the largest bull elephant habitat in the world.

6. London
Set to host the 2012 summer games from July 27 to August 12 2012, London is an excitingly glitzy destination for families this year. Although most of the major events have already sold out, there are loads of free events and festivals scheduled around the city, including the triathlon and marathon races. If you’re determined to get event tickets, the 2012 ticket resale program starts on January 6. People who have already bought tickets that they are unable to use can sell them at face value. London promises to be teeming with excitement, celebrities and fun, but don’t expect any bargains. Hotels and flights will be expensive and hard to come by; if you haven’t started planning already, get going!

Outside of the Olympics, London has an amazing array of family-friendly sights. Take the kids for a ride on the London Eye — they’ll be able to see Big Ben and Parliament as they rotate 135 meters into the sky — awesome! (For great views of the London Eye, The Savoy hotel offers plenty, in a luxurious setting.) Older kids will enjoy a visit to the famous Madame Tusuad’s Wax Museum, and all ages will get a kick out of the double-decker bus tour and the changing of the guard. Hyde Park is an excellent place to spend a warm day with the family; there’s a great playground, ponds with paddle boats, and even a carousel.

7. Orlando

Think you’ve been there done that and seen it all in Orlando, think again, 2012 will bring several new attractions and events to the theme park capital of the world. Universal Studios, which has grown enormously in popularity amongst families since the addition of Harry Potter, will open a cool new attraction in 2012: Despicable Me. Despicable-Me riders will be transformed into the movie’s famous little minions and take a 3-D ride featuring Gru and his lair, the adorable orphans, and an interactive dance party.

8. Nova Scotia

I highly recommend sea-loving families visit this region of Canada. While you won’t find the shiny resorts and pre-packaged activities you will find in other popular family destinations, sometimes making your own fun is the way to go. Greater Halifax is a must; there’s a beautiful harbor, shops and cafes, as well as outdoor activities galore, including swimming, camping, hiking, sailing, and whale watching.

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking off the east coast of Canada.  There will be a marine-art festival, several concerts, a monument memorial on the waterfront, and a film festival with showings of Titanic movies. In March, The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will host “Built in Belfast — Remembered in Halifax,” a guided tour which takes visitors through a history of events, and pays a visit to the graves of some of the 150 victims who are buried in Halifax cemeteries. The museum is also expanding its permanent Titanic exhibit this year. There’s another Titanic exhibit at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, which shows a model of what the wreck site looks like now.

9. Oahu

Hawaii’s third-largest island, Oahu, isn’t new to family “Best Of” lists, so seeing it here should be no surprise. But a recent arrival to the island makes it an even hotter destination for 2012. Last April, the kid-friendly Mecca welcomed the master of all things family: Disney! Aulani Resort is located on the west coast of Oahu, and is Disney’s first and only resort not connected to one of its theme parks.  Since it’s been open for several months now, they’ve had a chance to work out many of the kinks, making 2012 the perfect time to visit. Young families will love this beautiful 21-acre oceanfront resort, which has an awesome water park, complete with zero-entry pool and lazy river, as well as a super-cool snorkeling pool right on the property called Rainbow Reef. There’s also a kids’ club and a variety of family-centric activities scheduled day and night.

10. The Grand Canyon

The southwestern United States is home to one of the most awesome landscapes in the world: The Grand Canyon. For those who have yet to visit this spectacular national park, it’s located in the northwest corner of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada.  It’s an area of the country you must see at least once in your lifetime, and it’s super family friendly. Like many of the country’s national parks, the Grand Canyon offers the Junior Ranger program for kids 4 to 14. Children can pick up an activity booklet at the visitor center and complete a series of activities and assignments to receive their very own Junior Ranger Badge at the end of their visit. For 17 days in 2012, admission to Grand Canyon National Park  will be free. The free days are: Jan. 14 to 16 April 21 to 29, June 9, Sept. 29,  and Nov. 10 to 12.”

via

1. Make “Print Preview” Function Your Friend

In most printer driver  programs there is a print preview function that lets you see just what you are going to be printing before you print it. This is especially helpful when printing things from the Internet. Images can be shifted around, whole pages can be blank and there can be just generally disorganized. A quick preview can help make sure all is well.

2. Only Print What You Want

If you want to print just a portion of a page, only print a portion of the page! There is no use in printing out graphics and text you have no use for. If printing off the Internet, simply highlight the text you wish to print and then print it. You should end up with a print out that contains only what you want.

3. Keep The Print Cartridges Alive

Even though you may not have a need to print something everyday, try to use both your black and color printer cartridges once a week or so. Just print something small or run a diagnostic test. If you let your printer ink cartridges sit, they will eventually dry up, meaning you’re out of luck when it comes to ink. This applies to all brands so HP printer ink cartridges will be just as affected as Brother printer ink cartridges.

4. Power Down Right

Do not just flip off the power strip switch each time you want to turn off your electronics. You would not just shut off the power to your computer without shutting it down properly, right? So why do that to your printer? Take the time to power down your printer the right way. Otherwise, you will be cutting off the power while the print heads are not in the right position, meaning the ink will dry up faster!

5. Organize Your Prints

Do a little bit of planning before you hit that print button. This means, proofread text, organize images and double check everything before you print. If you look over the copy once it prints out and are dissatisfied, that is wasted printer ink, right there. Not to mention, wasted paper.

6. Use the Draft Setting

Again you can use the functions of your printer driver here. The draft setting in your printer options is really one of the best ways to save ink. It makes it so the printer prints much faster than normal and the amount of ink used per page is much less than if you printed at a normal setting. You will also notice a difference as the pages just shoot out of your printer rather than leisurely coming out.

7. Print Only What You Need

It can be tempting to print any old thing all the time, especially when you get a new printer or something. However, try to restrain yourself. You can keep most records on your computer these days, and as long as you back them up on a CD or an external hard drive, you do not need a hard copy. If you print only when you need to, those printer ink cartridges will last a lot longer.

Article via

• Productive meetings happen if you plan for their
  success. Make sure you have a clear objective and set a defined agenda. Allow
  enough time to reach the goal, and schedule the meeting time accordingly. If you
  want to keep it short, schedule it for late in the day.
• Invite only the people who will contribute to the
  objective. Meetings of more than six people tend to get less accomplished.
• Send invitations early and be clear about location,
  date, time and the objective of the meeting. Follow up with a reminder in a
  different format. If your invitation is sent via e-mail, follow up with a phone
  call.

• Make sure that everything will be ready at your
  meeting. Double check that your equipment, venue, handouts, refreshments, and
  presentations are lined up well in advance. Rehearse your presentation to smooth
  out any rough spots.
• Use Report Covers with Clear Vinyl Front to hold
  meeting handouts. The clear front panel allows you to include a cover page, or
  make the meeting agenda easily visible. Fasteners in standard three-hole
  position let you bind in up to 1/2 inch of material.
• If you want participants to be familiar with the
  material to be covered, send it out ahead of time. Include the agenda, list of
  participants and the date, time and location of the meeting.

• Begin on time and stick to the agenda. Allow attendees
  to contribute ideas, but don’t let the meeting get off track. Keep an eye on the
  clock to make sure the entire agenda gets covered in the time allowed.
• Appoint a person to take notes during the meeting.
  Capture all ideas and issues that need further action. Consider recording long
  meetings with audio or video so that no important information is lost.
• After the meeting, extract the most important points
  into a concise minutes document. Distribute the minutes to attendees,
  highlighting action items that require further activity.

Idaho® Potato and Grilled Chicken Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Yield: 6 – 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 – 2 pounds Idaho Potatoes, peeled (if desired) and cut into cubes
• 1 1/2 – 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, grilled or broiled
• 3 large Belgian endive, sliced (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 3 cups romaine lettuce leaves, chopped
• 1 bunch watercress, large stems removed
• 1/2 cup bottled raspberry vinaigrette dressing
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 2 cups green grapes, halved
• 1/2 pint container (1 cup) fresh raspberries

  Optional: 1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted

Directions

1. Over high heat, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add cubed potatoes to boiling water; return to boiling and simmer 6 minutes or until tender but firm. Drain potatoes and set aside or refrigerate.
2. Slice chicken into thin strips. Mix together washed greens (endive, romaine and watercress) and refrigerate.
3. In a large bowl, mix together vinaigrette, mustard and mint. Toss dressing mixture with grapes and chicken. Stir in potato cubes.
4. To serve, arrange greens on a platter (or on individual dishes), top with salad mixture and garnish with raspberries and almonds.

The Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo could be yours when you purchase 10 Dymo LabelWriter labels! That’s over a $199.99 value! Offer is valid April 1, 2012-June 30, 2012, please see list below for qualifying labels and rebate form. View all qualifying DYMO labels here!

Earth Day, first launched on April 22nd, 1970 when 20 million Americans came together and demonstrated for more environmental action, is considered the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Landmark acts such as Clear Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other ground breaking laws soon passed as a result of this remarkable event. Today, more than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

100% Recycled Storage Boxes

Also did you know that 74% of office paper is recycled, but it is still the largest single product going to landfills. Recycling one ton of paper saves three cubic yards of landfill space, 20 trees, 60 pounds of air pollutants, 7,000 gallons of water, ans saves enough energy to power the average home for six months? If your office isn’t recycling, start a program today! Find out other head-spinning green facts at http://www.goinggreentoday.com/blog/10-green-facts-that-will-make-your-head-spin

Secretaries week begins April 23rd, and is commonly celebrated on Secretary’s Day on April 25th. Start planning ahead to ensure you have the perfect gift to show your appreciation!

National Professional Secretaries Week and National Secretary’s Day was created in 1952 through the work of Harry F. Klemfuss of Young and Rubicam. Klemfuss recognized the importance and value of the position to a company or business. His goal was to encourage more women to become secretaries. Using his skill and experience in public relations, Klemfuss, promoted the values and importance of the job of secretaries. In doing so, he also created the holiday in recognition of the importance of secretaries.

Show your co-workers you appreciate their hard work and dedication in the workplace this week by giving them a little something to brighten their workspace!

Order any of the products below for guaranteed FREE next day delivery at www.portersop.com

This article by Steelcase General Manager
Ken Tameling breaks down the innovative re-design process of the Steelcase Think
chair and how designing for sustainability can result in a higher performing, cost neutral and less expensive product- perfect for an educational setting.

“At Steelcase, we know the way to remain an industry leader in providing the best products IN the world is to ensure that they are the best products FOR the world. That’s why every step of the way – through design, manufacturing, delivery and product lifecycles – we consider the impact of our work on humans and the environment and uncover opportunities to make things better. A recent example where we successfully found a product alternative that did just that was with our Think Chair.

We initiated a redesign project to eliminate a small concentration of identified material of concern. The material we sought to replace was an integral ingredient in the product assembly. After an extensive global search, we discovered that an alternate material did not exist. However, it was our objective to completely eliminate this material from the Think Chair and our product portfolio. A project team at Steelcase was tasked with the challenge of designing a new solution that would maintain the same product performance and meet our environmental requirements. The project team focused on solutions that could be produced utilizing materials that had already been through the human and environmental health assessment process and ensured that newly introduced materials also met the assessment requirements. The team successfully designed a new solution that not only met our environmental criteria but more than doubled the durability.

An added benefit was that the new solution resulted in an annual cost savings of $44,000. This project demonstrates that designing for sustainability can result in a higher performing, cost neutral – or even less expensive – product. Our team is motivated by these types of challenges and strives every day to create maximum value while being catalysts for good at the same time. By doing so, we’ll continue to deliver innovative products and increased value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Via

If there is one important place in your home to start going green, it is the kitchen. After all, most families spend the most time in and around the kitchen, and your health and well being is largely determined by the foods you eat. Maybe it is time to make a checklist of your own. Here’s a start:

1. Choose fresh, locally grown, and organize foods for your diet (see link below on how to shop organic on a budget)

2. Avoid canned foods, which often contain BPA

3. Stay away from overly processed or packaged foods, which often contain high amounts of sodium, preservatives, and artificial ingredients

4. Use wood cutting boards instead of plastic boards, which encourage bacteria growth in their cracks and crevices

5. Say no to plastic, as chemicals can leach into your food and drink; better storage options include glass, ceramic, and stainless steel containers.

6. Replace the bacteria- collecting sponge with quick drying dish rags

7. Replace non-stick cookware, which can emit toxic fumes harmful to your health; try using stainless steel, cast iron, or enamel cookware instead

www.organicauthority.com/organicfood/organic-food-articles/top-tips-for-shopping-for-organic-foods-on-a-budget.html

www.howtocompost.org