Do you have any camping trips planned this summer? Take a few minutes to check out these 17 Easy Campfire treats. Click HERE to see the list of yummy ideas that The Morning Thing shared today. Your family will LOVE trying these treats while enjoying nature.

We also shared some fabulous ways to make your car cleaner than it has ever been. We will all be taking some road trips this summer, so it’s time to get the car or van ready for those family road trips! Click HERE for 23 different tricks to try!

Don’t forget to take WNZR along with your family as you travel this summer! You can hear us online at www.wnzr.fm or download the WNZR app.

WNZR, in partnership with Christian NetCast, has smartphone apps for both Apple and Android devices. You can find WNZR on the iTunes App Store, or Google Play. WNZR can also be found on the TuneIn Radio app. Take WNZR with you wherever you GO!

Today, The Morning Thing shared some valuable information about dehydration and caffeine.

It’s summer, so higher temperatures are part of our daily lives. Do you know what signs to look for that signal dehydration? Click HERE to see 9 symptoms to watch for as you are out enjoying these fun summer days.

We also shared 7 surprising facts about caffeine. Click HERE and test your knowledge about your cup of coffee or glass of tea!

The Morning Thing is a GREAT way to start your day. Inspiration, information, great music and a few laughs for your morning. Click HERE to see what is coming up for the rest of this week.

Have you ever heard this at your house? “I wish I was the boss of this house!”
Have you ever thought about what would happen if your kids got the chance to run the household?
Well, get ready to smile. We found 15 funny scenarios to share with you.
Click HERE to see the list, especially if you want a good laugh for your Monday.

(Picture of Rachel Rinehart taking over the WNZR studio in 2010, 6th grade)

The Morning Thing celebrated National Donut Day by sharing our 5 favorite recipes for the “Ultimate Donut”.

Click HERE to hear about Jessica Wells’ very sweet recipe.

Click HERE to hear about Kelsey Bryte’s donut recipe.

Click HERE to hear about Eddie Dilts’ favorite donut.

Click HERE to hear Dan Monnin share his thoughts for the perfect donut.

Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart and Aubrey Bailey talk about the ultimate donuts.

Do you know the history of National Donut (or sometime spelled Doughnut) Day?
It is cool!
National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for Chicago‘s The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression, and to honor The Salvation Army “Lassies” of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

Soon after the US entrance into World War I in 1917, The Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that the needs of US enlisted men could be met by canteens/social centers termed “huts” that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service. Typically, six staff members per hut would include four female volunteers who could “mother” the boys. These huts were established by The Salvation Army in the United States near army training centers.

About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near to the front lines, the two Salvation Army volunteers (Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance) came up with the idea of providing doughnuts. These are reported to have been an “instant hit”, and “soon many soldiers were visiting The Salvation Army huts”. Margaret Sheldon wrote of one busy day: “Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee.”
Click HERE for more history on this special day.

Summer is here…..and that means the mosquitoes are here!
We have hear a lot about the Zika virus, so fear of these pests is very real.
Mosquitoes are known to carry many infectious diseases from several different classes of microorganisms, including viruses and parasites. Mosquito-borne illnesses include malaria, West Nile virus, elephantiasis, dengue fever, yellow fever and more.
So, we do NOT want these pests around us or our family members!

The Morning Thing team shared a list of plants that can help repel mosquitoes from your house. Click HERE to see the list from Natural Living Ideas. The bonus is that many of these plants have multiple uses, including using them in summer cooking recipes!

Besides fighting mosquitoes, many of us feel the battle to stay motivated during the summer months. We all want to go back to those lazy summer days of our youth, right?! We shared some secrets from highly motivated people. Click HERE to see the secrets of why some people seem to achieve so much more than others.

Today is a wonderful holiday with a rich history. Did you know that Memorial Day dates back to 1866, right after the nation was recovering from the Civil war.
Do your kids know “why” we celebrate on the last Monday of May?
Click HERE for some wonderful ways to teach your kids more about the real meaning of this special holiday.

What will you and your family do to today to celebrate Memorial Day?
There are many local activities happening.

Memorial Day celebrations across Knox County
Memorial Day ceremonies are scheduled for this morning across Knox County.

The city of Mount Vernon will hold a parade through the town square beginning at 10:30 this morning. A program with the theme “Home of the Free Because of the Brave” will follow at the Public Square.

The village of Fredericktown will have a flag raising and laying of the wreath on the east side of the Square at 9:45 this morning and a parade at 10 beginning at Forest Cemetery. There will also be a program to conclude the event in the Cemetery.

Danville Memorial Day activities include a parade from the Square to Memorial Park at 10 a.m. and a speaker at Memorial Park after the parade.

Centerburg’s parade starts at 10:30 this morning at the post office finishing with an 11 o’clock service at Eastview Cemetery.

Utica’s Memorial Day service begins at 11 this morning at American Legion Post 92 on Washington Street.

Click HERE for 5 ways that your family can celebrate Memorial Day this year.
Have a wonderful holiday!

(photo from www.listenspeaklearn.org)

It is a special holiday weekend. Are you ready for Memorial Day on Monday?

The Big Blue Crew will be in Mount Vernon’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday. Click HERE for more information on the parade route. We hope to see you there.

The village of Fredericktown will have a flag raising and laying of the wreath on the east side of the Square at 9:45 a.m. and a parade at 10 a.m. beginning at Forest Cemetery. There will also be a program to conclude the event in the Cemetery.

Danville Memorial Day activities include a parade from the Square to Memorial Park at
10 a.m. and a speaker at Memorial Park after the parade.

62% of people barbecue for the holiday.
If you are having friends or family over for a cookout on Monday, check out these wonderful party ideas. Click HERE for ideas for centerpieces, tablescapes and candles.

Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen. Today (5/27) is National Sunscreen Day. Be informed! We found 8 little-known facts about sunscreen. Make sure that you are informed as you head out into the summer sun. Click HERE to read these startling facts.

A BIG part of the Memorial Day celebration will center around food! The Morning Thing crew shared our favorite Memorial Day foods for our Fave 5:
1. Eddie Dilts loves macaroni salad. Click HERE to hear his thoughts.
2. Wesley Boston loves his Mom’s rainbow jello. Click HERE to hear more about this recipe.
3. Marcy Rinehart loves the perfect grilled hot dog. Click HERE to hear Marcy’s description of “perfectly grilled”.
4. Jessica Wells loves cheesy potatoes and begs Marcy to make her secret recipe. Click HERE to hear the recipe (it’s not a secret). 🙂
5. Aubrey Bailey loves ALL picnic items. She is easy to please at your BBQ table. She loves hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit salad, corn on the cob – basically anything that appears on the picnic table.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

“I’ll just play it by ear.” “It’s raining cats and dogs outside.” “Oh gosh, I’m laughing so hard I’m in stitches!”

We say weird things sometimes. English is full of idioms, those phrases that taken literally mean something quite different than their intended meaning. Why do we say random things like “the pot calling the kettle black” or “driving me up the wall?” Turns out there are good explanations, a method to the madness if you will.

Usually it’s a lesson in history, perhaps linguistics. Either way, it’s helpful at best and fun at least to know why we say the things that we do. You can check out the origins of idioms here and here.

In addition to idioms we say weird things like “Red sky at morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailors delight” to describe the weather. Turns out that a lot of these Old Wives’ sayings about the weather actually are true. You can check out the scientific reasons for it here.