An RSS feed of the Living & Learning channel for Next Avenue. http://www.nextavenue.org/ en http://www.nextavenue.org/sites/all/themes/nextavenue/images/rss-na-logo.png http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/kick-summer-memorable-memorial-day-feast <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(237, 245, 250); font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(73, 73, 73); font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(237, 245, 250); font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(73, 73, 73); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> The unofficial beginning of summer is this weekend, so break out the white pants and have a picnic with these creative recipes.</div> </div> <br /> Suzanne Gerber Fuse/ThinkStock May 23, 2013, 4:28 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/final-salute-military-veteran-father When a military-veteran father died, his widow and daughter didn&#8217;t know what benefits were available. It took 21 years, but they finally gave what he deserved.<br /> Wendy Schuman by Cory Schuman, courtesy of the author Emma at Arlington Cemetery May 23, 2013, 2:46 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/when-and-how-coax-your-parent-move-closer Experts offer advice about when and how to convince your elderly, faraway parent to move closer to you. MP Dunleavey iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 22, 2013, 2:47 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/top-10-picks-new-american-idol-judges It&#39;s rumored that &#34;American Idol&#34; wants younger judges next season. If that&#39;s the case, here are my 40-or-younger choices. Jeanie Mackinder/CC 2.0 Michael Bublé is John Stark's pick as a possible American Idol judge. May 21, 2013, 2:03 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/bridge-everywhere If you want to keep your boomer brain cells sharp, and your social life active, start playing bridge. Matthew Solan iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 19, 2013, 11:42 am http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/career-advice-my-daughter-graduation-day Next Avenue&#8217;s Work &#38; Volunteering blogger, Nancy Collamer, offers career advice for the new crop of college graduates. Nancy Collamer By Joel Collamer Juliana and Nancy Collamer May 16, 2013, 4:28 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/turning-volunteer-work-encore-career After suffering a layoff, Carol King stumbled onto her encore career &#8211; preparing others for their own encores. Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock May 16, 2013, 3:20 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/law-degree-earned-years-ago-leads-encore-career After decades working as a writer, Janice Fuhrman put her law degree to use by helping people 60 and older who can&#39;t afford legal representation. Encore.org May 16, 2013, 3:16 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/foot-surgery-new-career-direction Elaine Chavez saw her layoff as an opportunity to deepen her teaching skills. iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 16, 2013, 3:08 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/best-ways-comfort-your-unemployed-adult-child A career coach and parent suggests what to do and what not to do to help your unemployed adult child get back on his feet. Carol Ross Comstock/Thinkstock May 15, 2013, 12:42 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/tv-gets-its-first-bookmark Called &#39;Bookmark,&#39; this hourlong show takes its time to let authors talk about their creative process. John Stark Courtesy of RLTV Experience Matters Author, syndicated columnist and former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan is the host of RLTV's series "Bookmark," premiering May 17. May 15, 2013, 12:17 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/why-you-shouldnt-get-rid-old-photos Print images are potent storehouses of memory and emotion for future generations. Here are smart ways to mine their power. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Thinkstock May 13, 2013, 7:38 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/why-im-not-getting-married-minnesota Same-sex marriage just became legal in Minnesota. Here&#39;s why I&#39;d rather stay single. iStockPhoto/ThinkStock May 13, 2013, 7:01 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/finding-meaning-helping-women-poverty Susan Burgess-Lent left a long journalism career to pursue work she found more meaningful, helping women in urban slums around the world. Photodisc/Thinkstock May 13, 2013, 6:22 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/how-throw-unforgettable-destination-party A great way to celebrate a milestone birthday or special anniversary is with a destination party in a locale you&#8217;ll never forget. Stephanie Oswald Jupiterimages/Comstock/Thinkstock May 13, 2013, 5:31 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/layoff-leads-new-career-job-counselor After a layoff, Gerard Baltrusaitis went back to school and ended up landing a job helping others looking for work. iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 13, 2013, 5:11 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/dont-miss-list-midnight-mel-brooks-and-more See it! Hear it! Read it! Do it! The best of movies, TV, music, books and beyond. Pamela Miller Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classic "Before Midnight," with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, premieres May 24. May 13, 2013, 4:24 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/rhythms-life-musical-mom-declines-one-note-time When a&#160;caring son&#160;hears his aging mother&#39;s missed piano notes, he knows what&#39;s coming next and begins to prepare for her inevitable decline. George Hodgman iStockPhoto/ThinkStock May 13, 2013, 3:39 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/unexpected-benefits-volunteering-nature When &#39;citizen scientists&#39; volunteer to help gather data about birds, fish and nature, they don&#39;t get paid, but the personal and spiritual rewards are priceless.<br /> <br /> &#160; Akiko Busch iStockPhoto/ThinkStock May 13, 2013, 1:36 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/beware-2-travel-scams-your-next-trip Con artists are grabbing personal information through phone calls to your hotel room and public Wi-Fi spots, so here&#8217;s how to protect yourself from travel scams when you&#8217;re on a business trip or vacation. Caroline Mayer iStockPhoto/ThinkStock May 13, 2013, 10:52 am http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-05/marijuana-booming-again-among-boomers Many boomers who used to smoke marijuana &#8212; plus a crop of new ones &#8212; are turning to weed. Robyn Griggs Lawrence Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock May 11, 2013, 10:36 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/shocking-things-our-parents-still-say-us No matter how old we get, some of our parents still say shocking and inappropriate things to us. Linda Bernstein iStockPhoto/ThinkStock May 11, 2013, 10:04 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/my-17-year-old-self-came-back-haunt-me A cache of rediscovered letters written one summer long ago were embarrassing &#8212; but also enlightening. Julie Shifman iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 10, 2013, 10:58 am http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/riches-rags-people-magazine-reunion Twenty-five years ago People magazine threw a Gatsby-like event in Key Largo, Fla. It&#39;ll never happen again. iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 9, 2013, 2:09 pm http://www.nextavenue.org/feeds/living-and-learning-rss.xml http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/what-does-exploding-rate-boomer-suicide-say-about-us The new CDC report on U.S. suicide rates makes one thing very clear: We have a national crisis on our hands. iStockphoto/ThinkStock May 8, 2013, 2:28 pm