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WHAT S H E DOE S FOR FAM I LY AND OT H E R P EOP L E MY LOVING MOTHER
My mom has always been a patient, caring, and loving person to everyone she meets. She was, and still is, someone who won’t hesitate to reach out and help you through a problem in any way she can.
what I want in my life, no matter who I’m helping or talking to.
On top of her care for other people and desire to help, my mom also has an impressive self- awareness. My mom is turning 70 this year, and as far back as I can remember, she’s always thought of ways to improve her health. Her goal is to make things better and improve herself as a person, whether it’s her physical or mental well-being. Mom is big on self-growth, which is another trait
My family didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up, but my mom made sure my brother and I didn’t miss out on the fun moments in life. She would spend a lot of time making sure we had the chance to go out as a family once in a while and enjoy life as best we could. Thanks to my parents and their amazing care, I had a great childhood. That’s not to say we didn’t have hard times, but even when we were faced with difficult moments, Mom did everything she could for us. When my brother and I were younger, she made a lot of sacrifices to ensure her family was well taken care of. We were the priorities in her life, and she did whatever she could to give us a great childhood. I will be forever grateful for what she did for me when I was little.
she instilled in me. I know that taking care of yourself is important so that you can take care of other people, and I’ve learned that from a young age.
MY MOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PATIENT, CARING, AND LOVING PERSON TO EVERYONE SHE MEETS.”
When it comes to spending time with my mom, like when we celebrate Mother’s Day, it’s always pretty casual. We enjoy going to restaurants or even just grabbing a burger and sitting down to laugh and catch up. However, this year, I have a fun trip planned for us. Mom has never left the country, so I’m planning on taking her out of the U.S. on a trip to Italy and France. She’s always wanted to visit these countries, and I’m glad I can help get her there. I want to make sure we visit Paris and travel through the south of France, as I heard it’s beautiful there. Then, we’ll try and see as much of Italy and its coasts as we can. I’m excited to experience the different cultures and mingle with the locals once we’re there. I know it’s going to be an incredible trip.
Growing up in a household with a mom who was willing to do so much for her family had a lot of influence over me. Watching my mom while I was growing up made me want to help people in the same way. I wanted to make sure the people of my community were taken care of and wanted to be as patient as I possibly could for them. While that can be hard for me sometimes, my mom led with patience in everything she did. Regardless of whether or not it was a family matter, she always approached a problem calmly and never once became irritated. Having that same demeanor is
–Sean Gates
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HOW TO FIND SUCCESS IN A
THE LARGEST SOLAR PLANTS ACROSS THE GLOBE
MONTH OF EXCESS MAY ’ S FOOD - R E L AT ED HOL I DAYS AR E A T H I NG OF B EAU T Y Set the diets aside and poke another notch or two in your belt because May isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to sweet and savory holiday regrets. From National Hoagie Day and National Pizza Party Day to the holidays that really spell it out for you, like International No Diet Day and National Eat What You Want Day, we’re all looking forward to an excuse to let our stomachs hang low this month. For those of you who plan on partaking, let’s take a look at the best junk food-related holidays this month and how to celebrate them! Gather your friends and family around the table and dust off Grandma’s old recipes, because it’s time to treat yourself to the most American thing since, well, itself. National Apple Pie Day is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones while baking the most traditional American dessert. Make the process a game by pairing off into teams for a bake-off; you can even pit the kids against the adults —with a little supervision of course. If you’re feeling a little lazy, throw an apple pie potluck and watch your store-bought delight steal the show as your audience praises your craftsmanship and attention to detail — just how Sara Lee taught you. As if one day wasn’t enough, it turns out that the entire month of May is recognized as National Hamburger Month! Meat lovers rejoice as patties of heavenly beef are passed around the table for all to enjoy. There’s no shortage of ways to celebrate this patriotic pastime. From grilling out with the neighbors to making sliders for your new love interest, there’s a little something for everyone, especially considering the advances we’ve made in burger technology in recent years. If meat isn’t your thing, throw a veggie or tofu burger on the grill and season it to mouth-watering perfection. We won’t tell the beef purists if you don’t. NATIONAL APPLE PIE DAY MONDAY, MAY 13 NATIONAL HAMBURGER DAY TUESDAY, MAY 28
Solar energy is quickly becoming one of the main sources of clean energy in many different countries, cities, and homes. For years, the United States held the largest solar power plants in the world, but both China and India quickly caught up, and they currently hold some of the largest solar power farms worldwide. However, no country holds the title of Largest Solar Power Plant in the World for very long. These plants’ plans constantly adapt, and technology advances onward, creating increasingly larger facilities. The largest solar power plant today might be in second place by next year. Although it doesn’t look like there will be a true holder of this title long term, here are four of the largest solar farms in the world today. TAMIL NADU, INDIA The Kamuthi Solar Power Project covers 2,500 acres and consists of 2.5 million solar panels. On average, this solar farm generates about 648 megawatts (MW), which is estimated to be enough to power 150,000 households per year. The Kamuthi solar facility took eight months to build and was completed in September 2016. The entire project cost around $679 million. QINGHAI PROVINCE, CHINA The Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is located on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai province. Built in two phases, the first finished in 2013 and the second in 2015. The park can generate 850 MW, which can power up to 200,000 homes per year. The total cost it took to build Longyangxia Dam Solar Park was about 6 billion yuan, or $820 million. COAHUILA, MEXICO Enel’s Villanueva photovoltaic plant, one of the largest within the Americas, was completed and became fully operational in 2018. The plant has over 2.3 million solar panels that span 2,400 hectares and produces an estimation of 1,700 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, which is enough to power about 425,000 homes. ROSAMOND, CALIFORNIA The Solar Star power plant currently holds the top spot of the largest solar plants within the United States. The plant was completed in 2015 and uses 1.7 million solar panels over a span of 3,200 acres. The plant generates 579 MW per year, which produces enough power to give 255,000 homes clean energy.
Eat up, everybody. Happy holidays.
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T H E B E S T T I M E F O R I N V E S T M E N T S AFFORD I NG SOLAR ENERGY
When it comes to investing in solar technology, many people worry about the cost, and for good reason. Until recently, the cost of a complete solar system was beyond reach for most homeowners. However, the price of solar technology and installation has dramatically decreased over the past several years, making it easier than ever to buy a system of your own. Due to consumer demand, and even a few government mandates in some areas, the overall cost of the initial investment has lowered even further. In other words, there’s never been a better time to invest in your home. Currently, the government offers homeowners a 30 percent tax credit on new system installations. For example, if your solar-system investment is $30,000, the government issues you a tax credit of $9,000. That means next year when you file your income taxes, you’ll receive a $9,000 check from the U.S. government. You can apply that money directly to your system payments or invest as you’d like.
Some homeowners delay installing a solar system because they expect solar technology to get better than it is today, which is a valid train of thought. However, solar technology isn’t something to chase after, like the latest iPhone release; the technology won’t be advancing as quickly as Apple does. Now is the best time to invest in and install solar power to your homes. Not only are prices the lowest they’ve been in years, but the investment is a money- swap between you and the power company. When you’re tied to the utility company, you pay a monthly statement, but when you disconnect from the electric company and produce your own energy, you’ll build continued equity.
In most cases, the monthly cost of an electric bill and monthly solar-system-installation payment are very similar; the only difference is that you’re now paying yourself.
SHRIMP “SAUSAGE SKEWERS
These shrimp skewers are a quick way to add some surf and turf to your cookout. Pair themwith a vinaigrette salad for a side dish that complements without overwhelming the main event.
INGREDI ENTS
Creole Seasoning Ingredients • 2 tablespoons paprika • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder • 1/4 tablespoon dried oregano • 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme 4. Add creole seasoning andmix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well- cooked (6–8 minutes).
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1/2 pound raw shrimp,
peeled and deveined • 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes 1. Heat your grill tomedium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. DIRECT IONS
• 3 Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
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I N S I D E
MOTHER’S DAY 1
HOW TO CELEBRATE INDULGENT MAY HOLIDAYS
SOLAR-POWERED FARMS 2
THE PERFECT INVESTMENT FOR YOUR HOME
SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS 3 HOW TO TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY 4
Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. TRAVEL GREEN When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation! STAY GREEN Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world. GO GREEN GET OUT THERE WITH THESE ECO-TOURISM TIPS
DO GREEN Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.
Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.
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