Nicole Beck

Instead of breaking the bank at a St. Louis Cardinals game, try the River City Rascals - a cheaper, more family-friendly baseball outing.

"Stop This Train," a song from John Mayer's Continuum,is a song that speaks to a common theme in Mayer's songs: that messy place between adolescence and adulthood.

An easy to create fudgy, chocolaty cake for any occasion.

Mixing chicken, peppers, onions, and pasta--this chicken breast recipe is sure to be a hit with family each night you choose it.

Though most Saint Louis area brides immediately think downtown venue for receptions, West Saint Louis County and Saint Charles County offer beautiful venues that can be just as beautiful, less expensive, and more convenient.

These general strategies for the reading section are a great start when preparing to take the ACT. Most are specifically applicable to the READING section of the ACT or the Critical Reading section of the SAT. These strategies are applicable to both tests.

This lesson plan offers students a differentiated way of approaching understanding of the memoir form, a subgenre of the creative nonfiction genre.

This is a multiple Intelligence Lesson Plan geared towards teaching the literary device of tone. Activities address all "types" of learning that are currently out there. Assignments address different intelligences and allow students choice.

Creative Nonfiction is a complex, interesting genre that is gaining popularity while schools begin to add it to their Language Arts curriculum. This lesson plan, geared for upper level high school students, is a great way to introduce creative nonfiction in your classroom.

Poetry is often a subject that makes students groan with disgust. This interactive and higher thinking approach presented in the Bloom's format may help get your students involved and thinking beyond how boring they think poetry is. Includes Assignment Idea

This lesson plan can be used in any class that is teaching the Bill of Rights. This lesson helps bring the Bill of Rights into reality for middle school students. With scenarios that could happen to us today, it's all about connecting students to their government.

The following books are the top ten books to read to prepare you for the new learning processes and writing choices many of your college classes will ask you to make.

Alanis Morissette is probably best known for her album "Jagged Little Pill" Her following albums display some of Morissette's best work in lyrical and personal growth. Beyond "Jagged Little Pill," these are the top ten songs by Alanis Morissette.

Jewel's songs are not for everyone. They have an attention to lyric and mood that only appeals to some. Still, her best songs are not those hits on the radio, but those on the rest of the album exploring human feeling and frailty in a beautiful way.

There are plenty of toys out there for infants. Some are simple and some are infinitely complicated. It may seem difficult to pick out the best toys that are going to entertain your baby and not hurt your wallet, but here's a guide to help.

It takes rational thought, open communication and serious consideration to deal with issues at daycare: whether it's a one-time offense or a repeated problem.

35 miles west of St. Louis, you'll find Daniel Boone's Missouri home and an Early American village. With gorgeous scenery, authentic historical buildings and artifacts, visiting the Daniel Boone home is an enjoyable learning experience.

What's the secret to a long, happy life? It's anyone's guess, but taking a small sample of people who have lived happy, productive lives into their eighties, they share similar qualities that may just be pieces to the puzzle of longevity.

Choosing a unique and fun first date is virtually impossible. Use the weather, the scenery, and events in your area to your advantage to find unique and memorable first dates.

Still, many bloggers overlook one simple portion of why they blog: for themselves. It may be for attention, sympathy or even help, but more so people are writing about experiences because it helps put those experiences into perspective.

Antique Airfield is home to the Airpower Museum and the APM Library of Flight. All three join forces to preserve and enjoy the amazing history of aviation, focusing on the antique and classic age of airplanes.

If you enjoy your history, follow the signs off I-55 toward the Mother Jones Monument, and you'll discover a fascinating learning experience hidden off old Route 66 in Central Illinois.

Many parents want to help their children succeed at school, but many also don't know how. By using a little bit of your imagination, you can help your elementary-school-age child build important writing skills.

Basic explanation of the Praxis Exams, who should take it, when, how to sign up and prepare, where to find resources about the Praxis.

Whether you're a daycare worker, a babysitter, or a teacher, strategy and analyzing the situation are important parts of helping the child learn suitable reactions that are not violent.

When looking for an apartment, there are so many things to consider it is often overwhelming. By organizing your concerns, shopping around, and staying focused on what's best for you, you'll be able to find an affordable, safe and cozy apartment.

While some children sleep without much help or prodding, many young children don't want to take a nap. They will fight sleep no matter how exhausted they are. If this is your child, read through these tips to find out what method might work best.

Whether or not you plan on following the World Baseball Classic, it is likely that your favorite team will be affected in Spring Training by this new baseball tournament.

Starting 3/3/06-3/20/06 the World Baseball Classic goes beyond the Major Leagues, and includes the best players from 16 of the best baseball playing nations. Like the AllStar game, the WBC won't hold too much importance but it will be an enjoyable watch.

Many kids are staying with their parents longer! While moving out comes with freedom and independence, it also comes with a lot of surprises you may not be prepared for. Budgeting, organization and knowledge will help this transition be a smooth one.

Many children, in a search for sympathy, find a way to make themselves a victim of a silly situation. While it may seem harmless to indulge this behavior, the child will develop stronger socially if certain steps are made to curb this behavior.

In today's ever-fluctuating job market and constantly changing company structure, getting fired at least once in your lifetime is almost a given. Knowing what to keep in mind as you finish up time at your job and go to the next phase in your life is key.

Writing realistic dialogue in fiction can be a daunting task. However, by following a few simple excercises, you will find yourself writing better and better dialogue in your fiction.

Living alone can be a lonely experience no matter how active your social life. Here are a few tips on how to feel less lonely while living by yourself. (Especially helpful for those who have recently moved by themselves).

By taking a few measures every day, beating the winter blahs is as easy as opening your blinds on a sunny day! However, nothing beats eating right and exercise in making you feel more energized and ready to take on those winter blahs.

There are online job search engines out there claiming to get you a job fast and easy! First, you have to know how to use it, treat job hunting seriously, and not rely on online searches alone. Here are some tips for the best job search-engines online.

In today's age of video games, non-stop internet access and increasing "reality" television, it is important to give our children the tools to engage their imagination and creativity. Here are some great toys that do just that for different age groups.

Not many employers ask for cover letters in newspaper ads, however it's almost always a good idea to send one. This article tells you why you should send a cover letter, what your cover letter should say and how to best highlight your unique skills.

If you're going to or plan on going to a college/university in a small town, you may think there won't be anything to do, but if you know where to look, you'll be able to find plenty of fun things to do in your spare time.

Babler State Park is a welcomed relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of St. Louis. Enjoy hiking, camping or even just driving through and enjoying the scenery. With its rich history, Babler is a great place to visit.

An affordable vacation with a sense of amusement, romance and adventure is in store when visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From shopping, eating, and museums to hiking, horseback riding and breathtaking views, Gatlinburg has everything for every couple.

You're the bridesmaid, and the bride - your close friend - is driving you crazy! If you're ready to call it quits, whether to the friendship or the wedding, read the following tips on how to get along with a crazy bride on her big day.

It is one of the hardest decisions to make when your children are young: where to enroll your children for daycare. The following are important aspects to consider when finding the right place to entrust with the care of your child.

In John Keats' poem "This living hand, now warm and capable" he is contemplating on the integral part of literature, the relationship between the writer and reader. This is the basis of literature's appeal: the grasping for expression and understanding.

In the short span of twenty years, between 1900 and 1920, the roles of women changed dramatically in the United States. Women went from home-bound producers to wage-earning consumers to political and social reformers.

Baseball is a game of inches. Life, too, is about inches, moments between life, death. In Don DeLillo's Underworld DeLillo's fictionalized account of the 1951 play-off game serves as a link between past and present .

In Southeast Alaska many Native American groups have begun to face issues of contrasting culture. One of the central issues is the clash between traditional Native spiritualism and the influx of Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.

The assassination of John F. Kennedy produced an enormous reaction both in 1963 and the decades that followed. Gregory Corso used poetry to express his reaction which echoed what many felt after that turn of events.