Quick breads are healthy snacks. Check out these tips and recipes from allrecipes.com:

• Bake a loaf fresh for the week, then slice as you go.
• Bake several loaves and freeze, pulling them out as needed. (Muffins and quick breads can be frozen for up to three months.)
• Slice loaves and freeze servings individually (wrap each in plastic wrap, then in a resealable plastic bag). Kids can grab one from the freezer in the morning for a snack if they are going straight from school to an after-school activity.

Date Nut Bread

Makes 2 loaves

• 1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 1/4 cups boiling water
• 3 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 Tbsp margarine
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine baking soda with the boiling water. Soak the dates in the water and baking soda solution for 30 minutes.
2. Cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs, vanilla, dates, nuts, flour, and salt.
3. Divide batter equally between two 9×5” inch greased loaf pans. Bake 1 hour at 300 degrees (or until loaf tests done). Can be frozen when cool.

Cranberry Bread

Makes 1 loaf

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp orange zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the cranberries and walnuts, and stir to coat with flour. Mix together the egg, oil, orange juice, and orange zest. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack, and cool completely.

Banana Bread

Cream cheese gives this bread a creamy new twist and texture.

Makes 2 loaves

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Cream the butter or margarine and cream cheese together. Gradually add the sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, and soda; mix until batter is just moist.
2. In a small bowl, mix together chopped pecans, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and cinnamon.
3. Divide 1/2 batter into two greased and floured 8×4 inch loaf pans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over batter in pans, and top with remaining batter.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

The light displays and Santa’s Village are created by 3 Dudes Productions and Winterland, Inc. After success with previous light parks across the country, the two companies were eager to join forces to bring this event to New Hampshire. David Fred, owner of Winterland, the Indiana-based company responsible for installing the lights. “The light park is a staycation! It is affordable entertainment that creates everlasting memories,” says Fred. “As people return each year, they say they have been looking forward to experiencing the magic of the holiday season by coming to our light shows.”

All of the light parks created by the 3 Dudes and Winterland partnership will be giving back to charitable organizations. One hundred percent of New Hampshire Motor Speedway proceeds will be given to Speedway Children’s Charities, an organization that cares for children in education, financial, social, and medical need.

The event also will be a drop-off site for Toys for Tots, the US Marine Corps Reserve program that aims to collect new toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. Lastly, Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will benefit the Salvation Army, helping further their mission of assisting those who are homeless, abused, or disadvantaged. Visitors will receive discounts in exchange for donations to either of these two organizations. “Giving to those in need is really what the Christmas season is all about,” says Mike Miller, president of 3 Dudes Productions.

The light park is open nightly from November 18 through January 1, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours of operation are Sunday–Thursday, 6pm–9pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm–10pm. Admission is $15 per car. For more information, visit www.NewHampshireGiftOfLights.com.

And they make perfect holiday gifts!

by Jeff Cambron

With football season in full swing and the playoffs approaching, make the most of the remaining games with the latest cool equipment.

1. Binoculars
A must-have for any pigskin aficionado worth his or her salt, these come in especially handy for those stranded in the cheap seats. Don’t miss a single play with a Bushnell H20, available at Amazon.com. There are cheaper models out there, but this waterproof and fogproof pair will lockout moisture and make sure you catch all the action, no matter the weather. [$72 or less]

2. Cameras
Smartphone snapshots might be all the rage these days, but there’s no replacement for a quality photograph from a real camera. Fortunately, there are some top-notch, inexpensive models you can slip right in your pocket. Pick up a Nikon Coolpix with up to 16 megapixels at Target. Snag a discounted Target gift card from sites like GiftCardGranny.com and cut costs even lower. [$200 or less]

3. Grills
Become the star of your next tailgate party with a grill that shows off not only your culinary skills, but your team pride as well. The Team Grill model gas grill comes featuring the colors and logo of you favorite squad, and the Game-Day model can be picked up for a very reasonable price. [$349]

4. Beer Coolers
Now this is fun. A product tailor-made for your next Sunday Beer-B-Q, the remote-controlled Shoot a Brew cooler will toss you a beverage from up to eight feet away. Perfect for football fans, and the extremely lazy. A word to the wise: Since you probably don’t have hands like your favorite wide receiver, just be sure to stay sober enough to avoid getting beaned. [$295]

5. Surround Sound
If you can’t be there, might as well make it sound like you are. You’d be amazed how a quality sound system can enhance your viewing experience. Hear every bone-crunching tackle like you’re right on the front line. Best Buy has several affordable options from top-tier brands like Panasonic, Samsung, or Sony. Want to save more? Pick up a factory-refurbished model for even less. [$200 or less]

6. NFL Sunday Ticket
For about the price of one day at the stadium with the family, you can instead enjoy up to 14 games every Sunday from the comfort of home. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Ever better, this year the Ticket is available to PS3 game system owners without the need for a satellite dish installation or even a DirecTV subscription! [$339.95]

7. Fantasy Apps
Football purists may think it sullies the experience, but the fact remains fantasy football has become almost as popular as the real thing. Stay on top of your team all season long with ESPN’s awesome new Fantasy Football 2011 app. Add/drop players, propose trades, stay on top of league news, and more, right from your iPhone. [FREE]

8. Madden 2012
Still soured by the off-field shenanigans this summer? There’s always the latest edition of the long-running game franchise to keep you busy. With no labor disputes and hours of football fun, this might be the best deal of all. Grab a GameStop coupon and save a few bucks for next season. [$59.99]

Jeff Cambron has worked in the technology space for over 10 years, fueling an obsession with all things digital. He is currently waiting online for the iPad 3, but can be reached via Jeff@Kinoliinc.com.

Providing an evolution in education

Story and photos by Vicki Beaver

“Don’t touch its back. It breathes through its back,” echoes through the young crowd under the tent canopy as the small group of kids watches a White’s tree frog from Australia pass from one open hand to another.

Shawn O’Neill of Rainforest Encounters orchestrates the smooth interaction between children and amphibian as he introduces his collection of critters at Kids Fest in Newport, New Hampshire. His ability to calm the uneasy and steady the exuberant is balanced with his care and precaution for everyone involved. His passion for reptiles, amphibians, and other animals is contagious, and it’s reflected in the faces around him.

Hands-on Animal Education

Based in Newport, Rainforest Encounters offers educational, hands-on animal programs at schools, birthday parties, and other events and gatherings. Their goal is to introduce children as well as adults to misunderstood or maligned animals that live locally and around the world and to educate their audiences about them.

Rainforest Encounters has reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, including tarantulas, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, scorpions, geckos, bearded dragons, tortoises, lizards, an albino corn snake, pythons, and a nine-foot red-tail boa constrictor. Each program is an interactive presentation. The animals are introduced one at a time, and everyone gets a chance to hold them, ask questions, and hear stories and interesting facts about them.

While parents bring their children for this special experience, O’Neill finds he’s usually surrounded by just as many adults. “They get right in there and get just as excited,” he says.

A Man and a Mission

O’Neill started Rainforest Encounters because of his interest in reptiles and other animals, but a more compelling passion was the catalyst for its creation: to expose children to some of the animals they would otherwise grow up fearing and misunderstanding. “Without exposure, kids have an inherent fear and think that these things are evil and they’re going to hurt them,” says O’Neill. “I try to show kids that they’re harmless, and hopefully they’ll respect them. When you don’t have exposure to these animals, you may always have a fear of them.” He reassures his audience that they are not here to harm people.

Part of every presentation is devoted to explaining how each of these under-appreciated critters plays a beneficial role in the habitat where it lives and in the ecosystem. “Everything plays a part in the global ecosystem, even the little hissing cockroach. Without them, this world would be uninhabitable,” says O’Neill. “They actually benefit us. Cockroaches and lots of other insects help break down decaying matter under trees in the rainforest, which stores most of the carbon dioxide produced. If they didn’t break down all that waste, eventually tree roots would be smothered and the trees would die. That would severely affect the human race. It’s not just the animals you’re looking out for. If something happens to them, it’s going to affect us all.”

Paying It Forward

Pet-store staff can offer a wealth of knowledge, says O’Neill, but while they know a lot about dogs, cats, birds, and some reptiles, they may not have the in-depth knowledge that a new snake or frog owner might require in order to keep his pet healthy and happy. O’Neill offers consultations for people who need advice after they have purchased an unusual pet. Many times, these pet purchases are the results of “impulse buys,” and people may end up with an animal they don’t really know how to keep healthy; it can be difficult to know how to tell whether the animal is doing well or not.

The absolute last thing O’Neill advises doing is releasing any pet into the wild. Entire ecosystems can be devastated by the release of non-native species that become unwanted pets. Instead, contact him and tell him what you have. If he can take the animal, he’ll even come to your house and pick it up. He will rescue most reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, with the exception of venomous animals.

When owners of unusual pets go on vacation, they may have trouble finding pet-sitting services for their critters. O’Neill can help there, too; he offers snake sitting and more at his place or yours.

Worthy of Respect and Admiration

We owe many modern medical advances to nature and animals. The White’s tree frog, for example, is saving people’s lives. All frogs have a secretion as a defense mechanism, and scientists have found a way to reproduce the secretion of the White’s tree frog for use in blood pressure medication.

Most amphibians breathe and drink water through their skins. At Rainforest Encounters, people wash their hands and rinse them well before and after handling the animals. Any residue of soap or chemicals left on hands can be absorbed by amphibians’ skin. These may then enter an animal’s blood stream and be fatal to the animal.

The best thing you can do if you find a wild animal is to leave it alone. Take pictures and enjoy watching it, but don’t try to touch or catch it. Snake populations in New England and amphibian populations almost everywhere have declined rapidly over the past couple of decades.

At the Kids Fest, O’Neill holds out one of the pythons to the slightly cringing crowd and explains that the snake’s skin is not slimy—a common belief. With a little encouragement, even the most tentative hand reaches out and lightly touches the beautiful, scaly skin. “It’s soft!” someone exclaims.

By Susan Nye

Unlike those of many small towns, New London’s Historical Society is more than a room with a few old documents and musty, dusty artifacts—much more. Set in a field just up the road from Little Lake Sunapee, this Historical Society boasts an entire village with a meetinghouse, blacksmith shop, general store, and more.

Piece by Piece

Led by Maude Swift, the New London Historical Society was founded in 1954 by a group of townspeople eager to preserve their town’s history and historic buildings and educate future generations. They began by collecting memorabilia and documents but took a decided turn in a new direction in the early ’60s, when Mrs. Swift donated one of her many antique houses near Pleasant Lake.

Now known as Elkins, the area at the foot of Pleasant Lake was commonly called Scytheville in the mid 1800s. With waterpower from a series of dams, it was an industrial hub and home to the New London Scythe Company. Mrs. Swift’s 1835 Cape Cod style house had originally been a home for scythe factory employees. Next, a generous donation of open farmland was given to the society, and the house and its foundation were broken down into sections and carefully carted up the hill to the field on Little Sunapee Road. With great attention to detail, volunteers lovingly reconstructed the granite foundation and house. Fully furnished with period pieces, Scytheville House is a wonderful example of restoration and preservation at its best. The society’s first major project set a high standard of excellence for the rest of the village.

After Scytheville House, additional buildings followed. Throughout New London, pieces of the town’s history were dismantled and reassembled on Little Sunapee Road. A few of the buildings are new construction but built according to mid 19th century designs. The Meeting House is modeled after a building in Wayne, Maine. Extreme care was taken to faithfully replicate the design and workmanship.

The Village Scout

If Maude Swift was the godmother of the New London Historical Society, then Laurids “Bud” Lauridsen was the godfather. An antique dealer and restorer, Bud traveled all over New England sweet-talking potential donors, collecting, and learning. His daughter Laurie remembers, “It’s a small town, and there wasn’t a lot to do when we were kids. Among other things, Dad collected old cars. After dinner, we’d hop in the Model A and drive around the back roads. Dad would spot an old building and add it to his list. Later, he’d go back and try to convince the owner to donate it. More often than not, he was successful.” Laurie continues, “We nicknamed him Wheels because he was always on the road. He’d scout out early American collectibles, furniture, coaches, and sleighs. He also made several trips to Old Sturbridge Village. His goal was to create a similar but smaller version, and he wanted to learn as much as he could.”

Thanks to the dedication of Maude, Bud, and the society’s countless volunteers and donors, the village currently includes 14 antique and replica houses and barns. Fulfilling the society’s goals to open a window on the past, to preserve, and to educate, each building is filled with authentic furniture, tools, and decorations. The society’s textile collection is highlighted in Almira’s Parlor. Typical of many rural women, Almira Williams and her mother ran a millinery and fancy goods business out of their parlor. From kitchen tools in the Scytheville House to violins in progress at Claude Goings Violin & Carriage Shop, visitors get a glimpse of life in the mid 1800s. Special exhibits of antique quilts, hooked rugs, or other collections are on display every summer. Board member and docent Debbie Hall loves taking groups through the village. “It’s a wonderful place to learn more than the facts and figures of history. The village teaches us how people in rural New Hampshire actually lived.”

Hands-On History

Her concern over the lack of knowledge and interest in history drove board member and history professor Dr. Sandra LeBeau to join the New London Historical Society. Proficiency in history is at an all-time low, but the village and the society’s special events can put families and children in touch with New London’s past. Sandra explains, “It is a wonderful place for children to explore. Every year the local fourth graders spend a day at the village. They have a lesson in the old schoolhouse, they churn butter, they see the fire engines in action, and they get a taste of 19th century cooking.”

For many, old and young alike, the highlight of the tour is the society’s collection of antique coaches, carriages, and sleighs. This splendid collection is housed in the transportation building. The modern exhibit hall has a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment and enough space to display most of the society’s vehicle collection.

The centerpiece of that collection is the Concord Coach. Built by the Abbott-Downing Company of Concord, New Hampshire, it had its first run between Hopkinton and Concord in 1874. Later, it brought summer visitors from the railroad station at Potter Place to New London and back again. In addition to the Concord Coach, the collection includes a Gray Line sightseeing stagecoach, fire engines, and New Hampshire Governor Colby’s chaise.

A Labor of Love

The New London Historical Society has no paid employees. President Maggie Ford began volunteering six or seven years ago. When asked about her work with the society, she says, “The village is a real treasure. There is so much to see. It’s very engaging and just draws you in.” She continues, “There are about 70 active volunteers. We give our time as board members, as docents, or on the Tuesday Gang because we want to preserve and share our past. It is truly a labor of love.”

The Tuesday Gang, an all-volunteer crew, takes care of the village. Hank Otto, former board president, coordinates the group. Hank explains, “There is always plenty to do, and you don’t have to be a master carpenter to join the Tuesday Gang. Every week 10 to 15 gentlemen over 60 get together to repair, paint, and sweep as well as set up and take down exhibits. There is always something to do, but there is great camaraderie and we have a lot of fun together.” As an added incentive to potential volunteers, says Hank, “We assign someone to bring muffins every week. Around 10 o’clock, we have a coffee break and a muffin.”

In addition to tours, the society hosts special events and lectures throughout the year. Old Home Day in October and the Holiday Open House in early December are perfect opportunities for a trip to the village. With many demonstrations and activities, people of all ages will enjoy a window on the past and a fun-filled day.

New London resident Susan Nye writes for magazines and newspapers and shares stories and recipes on her blog Around the Table at www.susannye.wordpress.com.

Special Events at New London Historical Society

September 17 – Main Street, New London

Take a narrated walk along New London’s upper Main Street, meet characters from New London’s past, and see where they lived and worked. Rain date: September 24.

October 1 – Old Home Day

Celebrate the harvest with a fun day for the entire family with 19th century games, hearthside cooking, weaving, and spinning. Visit the antique carriages and fire equipment, do a little shopping at the general store, and more!

December 4 – Holiday Open House

Kick off the holidays with a step back in time. Enjoy a homegrown small-town holiday with strolling musicians and mini concerts. There are crafts for the kids, cooking, and weaving and spinning demonstrations. Stock up on holiday baked goods at the General Store and get the jump on your Christmas shopping at the silent auction.

by Chad Denning

Have you heard about the new electric bikes? Stop by Village Sports in New London or Golf & Ski Warehouse in West Lebanon and check them out!

John Kiernan, owner of Village Sports, carries the Torker brand bike in his shop. The bike is extremely easy to operate, surprisingly light, and zooms up to a comfortable 18 mph. So who’s buying this bike? “The customer base seems quite broad,” John says. “We sell electric bikes to people in their twenties and to those in their eighties. The largest customer group is active middle-aged folks.”

Reasons for purchasing electric bikes are as varied as the people who by them, according to John. “I think the main reasons to consider buying one are for a unique riding experience, to get motivated to bike more, staying fit, saving money, and the satisfaction of making a forward-thinking purchase.”

The electric bike is similar to other bikes with pedals, wheels, and a drive train, but it also has an electric-assist motor in the front hub, complete with a lithium ion battery for power. The typical bike carries a charge for two continuous hours or up to 40 miles and can be recharged in four to five hours on a normal 120v outlet. There are many different types of electric bikes on the market today, differentiated by design, weight, and purpose. Prices range from $1,000 to $2,200.

Golf & Ski Warehouse in West Lebanon carries electric bikes and features the Hebb product line. Store manager Nick Matulonis says, “These bikes are a great way to commute in this age of going green. People are saving gas, saving money, and having lots of fun.” Chris, a sales associate, agrees, “The electric bike is an experience you will never forget!”

Dr. Deborah A. Osgood of Knowledge Institute in Exeter was named the winner of the first Self Made in New Hampshire award on Thursday, June 16. The celebration gala took place at Brookstone Event Center in Derry.

“The essence of being self made is finding yourself and your purpose in life,” said Osgood, who was nominated for the award by her husband, Dr. William R. Osgood. “If you’re able to find your purpose, you can help make a difference around you.”

Osgood worked her way through all of her post-high school education—bachelor’s,  master’s, and doctorate degrees—while working full time. She created Knowledge Institute to help other small businesses across the country with government and nonprofit business assistance programs. She serves on Gov. John Lynch’s Economic Development Advisory Committee and on the U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness Board. She also helped pilot a program where she served as a mentor to businesswomen in Iraq.

“Deborah is an outstanding choice for the inaugural winner of the Self Made in New Hampshire award,” said Eric Brooks, of Brooks Properties, which presented the event, and one of the judges for the award. “She embodies exactly what being ‘self made’ is all about. I am proud that Brooks Properties can honor her with this award, which she so greatly deserves.”

The two runners-up were Maryanna Hatch of RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community in Exeter and Kirk C. Simoneau of Nixon, Raiche, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau, P.A., in Manchester.

Hatch dedicated her life to better residential facilities for the elderly. At 88, she now lives in the retirement community she spent years of her life trying to make happen. Simoneau overcame personal and family struggles and tragedy to put himself through law school. He now often works pro bono to help victims of domestic violence get restraining orders.

The seven semifinalists also honored at the event were Fred Bramante, Daddy’s Junky Music, Manchester; Ben Gamache, Gamache Enterprises, Manchester; Gina Branley Hutchinson, Red Star Productions, Derry; Bob Lawton, Funspot, Laconia; Mark Lore, Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp., Londonderry; G. Hayden McLaughlin, Belknap Landscape Company, Inc., Gilford; and Steven Smith, Main Street Radio, Newport. More than 40 men and women from around the state were nominated for the award.

Self Made in New Hampshire is presented by Brooks Properties, sponsored by Pentucket Bank, and produced by LTD Company. For more information, visit SelfMadeInNH.com. Nominations for the 2012 award will be accepted starting in January 2012.

Swimming Educator Reveals Kids Can Survive

“Many parents and even some traumatic swim programs still use that ancient and ridiculous method of introducing children to swimming by throwing them into the water without any knowledge about swimming whatsoever—and all they are doing is teaching their children how to be terrified of the water,” says Rita Goldberg, a former national swimmer in Great Britain, owner of a swimming school and author of the children’s book I Love to Swim (www.ilovetoswimthebook.com). “These advocates claim they are teaching survival, but I believe teaching survival can be—and should be—gentle and fun.”

Goldberg’s lament is that too many children drown needlessly every year, and too many parents are either resistant to teaching their toddlers to swim, or teach them the wrong way.

“No child, and I mean no child, has to ever drown in a swimming pool again if they are taught how to survive in the water the right way and at the earliest possible age,” she adds. “Drowning is actually the second leading cause of accidental death in the country. It is leading in Florida and a few other states, and the real tragedy is that most every child who drowns could have been saved by simply being taught to swim correctly. Traumatizing them only teaches them to fear the water, and who among us makes the best choices, or can even process calm thought, when we are afraid? Children are no different. They need to be given the tools to survival and draw their confidence in the water from that knowledge. We want kids to respect the water, not fear it.”

Goldberg’s tips for teaching kids to swim include:

• Start Young New studies show that the best age to teach a child to swim is between the ages of six and twelve months. Just as parents are learning this is a good time to teach children how to read, they are beginning to understand this is a time when children are able to absorb information like sponges. Teaching them to swim at this early age is a great way to make swimming second nature to them.
• Float to Survive As a supplement to safeguarding your kids through extra vigilant supervision and a safety gate around the pool, focus on giving your child the best lifesaving tool you could offer them—the ability to survive in the water. The first gift I give children when I teach them is the ability to float on their backs. This is the most important survival skill of all. This enables all swimmers to rest, breathe, and call for help, thus alleviating the “silent” danger of floating face down.
• Gentle and Fun Swimming will come more naturally to children who are taught gently, without trauma, and with a sense of fun. You cannot teach a 2-year-old not to go near the swimming pool. You cannot teach them that the pool is dangerous. Parents see the swimming pool as a potential death trap for their kids, but all kids see is a big, wet playground. You’re not going to change their opinion, so stop trying. Focus on calm, gentle fun, and your kids will take to their lessons like fish to water.

“Parents need to understand that playing in a swimming pool is the same as playing on dry land to children,” Goldberg adds. “It’s all play to them. While it’s important for them to feel confident in the water, we need to help temper that confidence with a strong sense of safety and good judgment. Adhering to those rules as parents will serve to reinforce those rules; however, the best way to pull it all together is to start them young. Once both swimming and safety are second nature to them, they’ll be safer and your supervision of them in the water will be more fun for everyone.

by Andrea Woroch

Sure, an all-expense-paid trip to Europe seems like the ultimate graduation gift. However, college students who face thousands of dollars in academic debt may need to jump on the job hunt sooner than expected. With new financial responsibilities looming, recent grads will appreciate whatever help they can get.

To help soften the real world blow, here are seven practical gifts job-seeking college graduates will appreciate.

Resume Service
The first thing employers see is an applicant’s resume and cover letter. Unfortunately, the style of these documents has become more complex in recent years. Graduates won’t get noticed using the old method of simply listing experience by date. Cover letters are now approaching works of art, mentioning much more than that applicant is interested in the job and is a good team player, trustworthy, and a hard worker.

A resume service will create updated documents so subsequent resumes and cover letters live up to modern standards. Costs run roughly $100 to $200, depending on the services you desire. It’s worth paying extra to have an expert explain the latest tricks and how graduates can alter these documents for each job. Sites like ResumeMyCareer can help you compile a professional and competitive resume at an affordable cost.

Home Furnishings
After living with cinder-block bookshelves and saggy mattresses for four years or, worse yet, being surrounded by their childhood furniture while living at home, graduates might appreciate an upgrade on everything from a couch to kitchen implements, especially those moving into a new apartment to be closer to their new 9 to 5 job. You might also put together a basket of upscale bed and bath products so the grad can finally dump their dollar-store shampoo and soap.

Gift Cards
The 2011 crop of college graduates faces more debt than any other generation, so money is always a welcome gift, especially to help them get through that first, unstable post-school year. Grads not comfortable with the idea of asking directly for money can create a gift card registry at CardAvenue.com to receive gift cards from hundreds of merchants in a variety of categories from apparel to food, gas, and much more.

Job Interview Clothing
Suits can be overkill in some places, unless the graduate lives in a big city or is looking for a management position. Most employers will expect something a bit more casual these days. Men should have a dress shirt, pants, and shoes with a matching tie and, perhaps, a sports coat. Women will need a demure outfit of skirt and blouse or dress with basic pumps. A coordinated jacket would nicely complete the outfit.

Foreign Language Lessons
College graduates face a tough job market, and high unemployment rates mean more experienced competition. Given any opportunity to improve his or her skill set, grads can make themselves more marketable to potential employers depending on the position. Consider gifting Spanish lessons (Rosetta Stone is an effective and affordable option) or perhaps a GMAT review course for help towards MBA school admissions.

Briefcase
Backpacks and messenger bags are great for toting books and water bottles, but grads will have a better chance of securing a job when they show up looking sophisticated. A soft-sided briefcase with room for a laptop, resume binder, and lunch will give any job seeker a more professional appearance.

Smartphone
With instant email access and GPS navigation, a smartphone will keep recent grads connected with potential employers and recruiters so they never miss an interview opportunity or an offer. Not to mention, the various apps that offer banking on-the-go, cheap dinner recipes, and anything else you can think of to help make their lives a little easier.

Take the bikes out of the garage and show them a little love with a tune-up. Then, take a ride around the neighborhood with your family and relish your time spent outside, breathing in the fresh air and spending valuable time with your loved ones.

Take a brisk walk or try an outdoor workout. Outdoor exercisers lost an average of 7.43 pounds and 6.17 percent of body fat in eight weeks, according to a study from California Pacific Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. That’s because outdoors, your body is challenged by inclines, declines, and obstacles, explains Tina Vindum, founder of Outdoor Action Fitness, an outdoor-fitness instruction program in Marin County, California. You’ll also improve your mood and boost self-esteem. Before you get started, make sure to warm up with at least five minutes of power walking or light jogging.

Here are a few ideas to try, suggested in Fitness magazine:

1. Side Leap

Fitness Focus: Inner Thighs, Quads, Calves, Glutes

• Stand on a flat surface with your feet together.
• Bend your knees and hop as far as you can to your right, landing on the ball of your right foot.
• Without returning left foot to the ground, bend your right knee and hop as far as you can to the left.
• Work up to 20 hops on each side.

2. Park-Bench Dip

Fitness Focus: Triceps, Shoulders, Core

• Sit on a bench and place your hands on either side of your hips.
• Slide your butt forward, supporting yourself with your hands.
• Bend elbows, bringing upper arms almost parallel to ground, then return to starting position.
• Keep lower back close to the bench throughout the exercise.
• Complete 12 to 15 reps.

3. Park-Bench Push-Up

Fitness Focus: Chest, Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders, Core

• Stand facing a park bench and place your hands on the seat; walk your feet out behind you until your legs are fully extended.
• Bend your arms and lower chest toward bench, then push up.
• Complete 12 reps.

4. Tightrope Walk

Fitness Focus: Calves, Quads, Core

• Find a curb or fallen tree with a smooth surface that is at least 6 feet long.
• Raise arms out to sides and walk across the “tightrope” until you reach the end (or go at least 6 feet).
• Turn on the balls of your feet; walk in the opposite direction.
• Continue for 3 minutes.

5. Hanging Crunch

Fitness Focus: Abs

• Take hold of a sturdy, low tree branch, monkey bars, or other elevated handhold, palms facing forward.
• Keeping arms fully extended, exhale as you bend your knees and bring them slowly toward your abs.
• Inhale as you slowly release.
• Do as many reps as you can, working up to 12.