Lifestyle | thebrynnproject

6/19/14

Are You Keeping Your Info Safe?

Staying safer and more secure online is a very high priority for all Americans. Between social media, email, banking, and shopping, it's safe to say that a large part of our lives are online. And the safeguard for all of these mediums is a username and password. Over the years, the method of account access has become quite vulnerable.

Recently a Pew Research Center study discovered that in the last year 21% of Internet users (18 and older) have had their online account compromised, and only 23% of people think their accounts are very secure.

So I'm interested in helping make sure more people feel safer online. From cyberbullying to staying a step ahead of those hackers. So I talked with the Executive Director of The National Cyber Security Alliance, Michael Kaiser, about making sure all of us are being safer online. And I also wanted to bring this up because with kids being out of school for summer, cyberbullying can become even more prevalent (and it doesn't just affect the kids but also the adults. So Michael, what do you think it's so easy for our online lives to become less safe?

People lead their sometimes bad offline behavior online as well. There's really no boundaries anymore about the ways people treat each other and that's an issue that we need to address with everyone.

What seems to be some of the biggest issues when it comes to that safety online?

I think the biggest issue comes in a couple different areas. One is just basic security. Making sure that you are keeping a clean machine and all your computers and internet devices free from malware and infections. Then it's your online behavior, what you do online. For example how you treat and respect other people online and also the kind of information you share that can put you at risk.

That's something that gets a lot of people in trouble. They begin to think “this is my account on this website so therefore I'm okay to post this piece of information”, and then they find out that someone hacked into their password and now has this piece of personal information.

Yes, so there are two issues there. One is the password access meaning they probably have a weak password. The most common one right now being 123456, which you should avoid using. The other is that they may not be fully aware of who can see the things they are posting. Maybe they haven't adjusted their settings on a social network or maybe they're not aware of how information gets shared on a network. So we need to be aware of that so that they can be sure that the information being shared matches with the people they want to see it.

Let's start with those settings. What are some of the options for settings that will make it a little bit more personal that we don't realize we have access to?

So really the most basic is who gets to see it. Your friends, the friends of your friends, or everybody. So that's the kind of thing that people need to go in and think about. And really people are different. Some people are more vocal and want to be wide open to the world and other people want to keep things a little more private. That's why those settings are there so that you can customize it to you and your desire.

That's definitely something that I feel like a lot of people don't realize. If you look at Facebook, one of the biggest social media sites, in that top right corner are those privacy settings that a lot of people don't take advantage of.

I think that's true. I think people have gotten into the habit of “oo I just signed up, I'm going to go do everything”. But we have a responsibility in our online world that when we sign up for these services to have some knowledge about how they really work and how we can make it work to our advantage and the way we want it to work. And also to keep it going. We have seen some evidence of most people adjusting their settings on a regular basis, but still not nearly as many as it should be.

What about when it comes to that password? It seems that everything is online from our credit cards to other bills we need to pay, our bank accounts, we have access to everything online. What can we do to make sure we have a strong password that won't be something along the lines of 123456?

Yeah, so it's really a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. And I think the biggest burden for people is having a password they can remember. But there are devices out there to help you safely store your passwords. Having a couple of words together though is not bad as long as you add some numbers and symbols in the mix. So maybe there's a couple of words they start with and then they use that and add extensions to that as they change their accounts on different services.

So something they can remember, and something that makes it harder to crack which really includes those numbers and symbols. And make sure to have a more random nature to that. Then if they can they can ask if the service they're using offers another factor for verification. Maybe it's a one-time password that's generated through text or something like that. That's actually becoming more and more common and by adopting that it makes your authentication for the service much stronger.

And one example that I can think of is Gmail. They allow you to set it up so that it's like a two-step password where you input your password and then you get a text sent to you for what's almost like another password that changes every time.

Yeah and that's where the world is headed. So that's called the two-step verification, but many other sites have that as well. Facebook has log on approval. People have to opt in to it, it's not automatic, but even the fingerprints on phones like Samsung and Apple have an added that verification step to authenticate yourself before you start using it.

Right, now is there any way that someone can try and hack that or is that pretty foolproof?

Well, nothing is 100% foolproof. You should always remember that, but it is A LOT more secure. The bad guys are smart, and every time you set up a new security system they will try and break it. So you have to remember that's always a possibility. But certainly it does add an additional layer of protection that keeps the password protected.

That's definitely something where we want to make sure we are staying that step ahead of those people are going to try to hack through the security systems. Is there anything else we can do to make sure we are staying a step ahead?

Yeah, I think the key is to keep learning and keep educating yourself. Take the time to understand how new technology works and make sure that you are aware of how to use them and utilize them safely and securely.

Where can people go for more information about being safer online from protecting that personal information to even what we say?

Yes they can go to www.stopthinkconnect.org, and they will find information about all our programs and also how to keep others safer. So we can make it an easy effort and we can all play a part in making the online community safer.

Giving Back to Special Ops Families

7/18/14

The Special Ops Warriors Foundation has teamed up with 5 Hour Energy to further help Special Ops families. I chatted with Surviving Spouse of Army Master Sgt. James "Tre" Ponder, Leslie Ponder, and Deputy Executive Director at Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Edie Rosenthal, about this.

Globetrotters Celebrate 89 Years

7/17/14

The Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 89th consecutive year, and they've teamed up with Howard Johnson's for the Happiest Day of the Year. I chatted with Harlem Globetrotter, Buckets Blake, about his time with the team.

Small Business Risks and Rewards

7/21/14

Restauranteur and Star of Giuliana & Bill, Bill Rancic, joins Brynn McKenry to chat about the risks and rewards of small business.

Saving Energy with Simple Home Improvement

7/28/14

By now we have had those tax refunds for a couple months, and has yours been sitting in the bank waiting for you to figure out what necessity or fun expense you are going to use it on? Maybe you want it to be a little more practical than taking your loved one to a nice dinner or enjoying a nice vacation.

Well, this season isn't just about relaxation and vacations. It is also the time of the DIY and getting those home improvement projects done. I sat down and chatted with home improvement and frugal living expert, Leah Ingram, about some ways to invest in your home and save money in the long run.

As most of us are getting that tax money back and now that there is the relief from submitting those taxes, what are some fun ways that we can spend that?

I think that if you still have your tax refund sitting around then a great way to spend it is on a home improvement project. The IRS says that average American refund was about $3100.00. The benefits of that are two things.

First, these projects can increase the value of your home if you plan to sell it later on.

Second, many home improvement projects also increase energy efficiency which can save you more money on those energy bills.

So while you're investing you've been saving from something like those taxes, you can also save even more money in the long run.

Absolutely and there are still tax credits available for certain home improvements and energy improvements. So you might actually have a tax credit you can apply to next year's taxes too.

So what are some of those options for home improvement projects that save energy and can also be a tax credit for next year?

The best way to do that is actually to add insulation to your attic, assuming you are someone who owns your own home. We spend about 60-70% of our energy bills on heating and cooling. If you can make your home more energy efficient then those heating and cooling bills will go down. I used the Cost Guide Tool on homeadvisor.com to figure out that hiring somebody to put insulation in your attic is about $1100. That's way under that average tax return so many of us will have money left over.

I can tell you that we just had the windows replaced on our home. I live in Bucks County, PA, so I had the same winter that you had over there in Chester County, PA. Our oil bills were through the roof. So with the help of homeadvisor.com, I put out bids to contractors for new windows and after just a month I've seen a decrease in those home heating/oil/cooling bills. So I may not get a tax credit for the windows, but I'm already saving money.

I can imagine. I'm currently in an apartment and renting, so for me to do that will have to wait until I'm a homeowner. But a former apartment that I rented was never updated with things like new windows. And that apartment had many sliding doors and windows all over the place that the heating bills became pretty outrageous.

And those heating bills just this past winter were crazy, but if you are a homeowner and you have the money to spend then you need to prioritize what home improvements you need to make. That priority for many people tends to lead to something like making the home more energy efficient. Or maybe you're a homeowner and you're getting ready to sell. So then you want to look for projects that increase curb appeal.

The Cost Guide, which actually is a database of more than 800 home improvement projects where you can see what people are paying in your area for those projects. So for around $1100 if you want to improve curb appeal, you can get a new garage door or a new steel entry door. They're both not super expensive, but if you're looking to up your curb appeal then they are great investments.

That's something to keep in mind for those people who just bought their first home that works for now, but further down the road will want something a little bigger.

Absolutely. It's hard to live in a home with always thinking about the resale value, but if you're a smart homeowner then any investment you make in your home for improvements will also have you thinking about the next buyer or getting the most out of your dollar. Things like adding a new garage door, putting a new front door on, or getting your home painted are all curb appeal items that really will benefit you when you go to sell your house.

I feel like that also can add some comfort to the home with that refreshing energy of something new and a little change or update.

Oh yeah, absolutely. For my husband and I, we will be selling our house shortly. My husband got a new job and we will have to move. I am really looking forward to getting the outside of my house painted because every time I drive up it will be fresh and pretty and new. So I can't wait to get that done.

So I'm sure right now you're probably looking for those reasons to make sure it gets painted and trying to see if there are things like chips in the old paint to give you more of a reason to get it done sooner.

Oh of course, absolutely. And when you're going to sell your house, you don't want people coming up and automatically saying that they want a credit because of something as simple as not painting a house. Another great thing about Cost Guide is that you can get that sense of what things cost for those people who think that getting their house painted is a little outside their budget.

I thought it would be $8000 or $9000 to have my home painted, but I went on and saw that the average price in the Philadelphia area is between $3300 and $3500. That's a lot less than what I thought, and suddenly I could afford this project. If I didn't have that tool to educate me, then I probably wouldn't have gone ahead and scheduled to have my house painted. Then that wouldn't help me when I go to sell my house.

That's a good point then, and it's interesting to think how many people have been like you and overestimated on what they thought a project would cost and then decided to not go through with it because it was expensive.

Absolutely. It is amazing how much you end up overestimating when it comes to the cost of things. Now with a tool like Cost Guide, you can get a real sense into what a certain project will cost in your area.

Where can people go for more information and to access a tool like Cost Guide?

I would recommend they go to homeadvisor.com which is free for consumers to use. It's great when you need to have a home improvement project done. Then if you're looking to educate yourself on the cost of these projects, click on the tab that says Cost Guide.

So sometime in order to save money in the long run, you need to put a little more money into the initial project. Leah Ingram is also the author of the book “Suddenly Frugal: How to Live A Happier and Healthier Life For Less”. You can pick up a copy of her book on her website www.leahingram.com.

Simplifying Routines In Summer

8/11/14

Isn't it interesting how we have these expectations for a nice, relaxing summer and then the summer months seem to be even busier than the rest of the year? Between work, family, and warm weather activities, it doesn't mean we have to let that laid-back, relaxed lifestyle that comes with summer go away.

I sat down with the regular lifestyle contributor for The Today Show, Elizabeth Mayhew, to come up with a few ideas for creating good habits, saving time, and getting some summer relaxation. So first, Elizabeth suggests that the reason we let summer get so busy is because we want to keep the entire family entertained. While the parents are at work, kids are enrolled in a summer programs and camps. Then you have the pressures of entertaining or going out more.

While you're embracing the summer months with activities, vacations, entertaining, and getting out on the town, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice some of those good habits you have the rest of the year. This can actually be a time to work on those habits that can help you last through Fall and Winter. Let's check in with a couple of Elizabeth's ideas for staying on track with those habits.

A good breakfast. After all it's the most important meal of the day. Many kids and parents sometimes tend to be running around the house and out the door that they just grab something small only to find themselves reaching for a snack around 9:30 or 10:00am. Now by starting the day off with a protein-packed breakfast, it can help you stay satisfied through to lunch time.
- Elizabeth recommends Tyson's Day Starts Breakfast Sandwiches. They contain 24% of the daily recommendation of protein. There are seven different options to choose from Southern Style chicken and biscuits to omelets and flat bread sandwiches. These can be found in the freezer aisle of your grocery store.
Now if you want a healthier option, you could always go for a smoothie. A trick to making smoothies is doing everything the night before. Right after dinner, you can make the smoothie and Elizabeth suggests pouring it in a thermos and storing it in the refrigerator to stay cool and frothy. Then once you have the smoothie made, you can add the blender tools in the dishwasher with the dinner dishes, and don't have to worry about cleaning up the next morning.
- You can even add one of Elizabeth's favorite ingredients...flax seed on top of the smoothies for some Omega-3s.
Can't get the benefits without the cost. Even if you're tired from a long day, it can really make a difference to do something the night before.
Teaching good habits. If you have young kids then you need to start doing and teaching these kinds of things now. This is the chance for them to establish the habits that will keep them going through the rest of their life. Whether it's making breakfast, being prepared, having you clothes set out the night before, making you bed, or brushing your teeth, you need to be the example to teach them how to be self-sufficient.
- You can even make it something fun for them to do. Elizabeth suggests playing their favorite song with a little healthy competition to help get them going in the morning. It teaches them how to prioritize and get things done. The competition could include trying to get five things accomplished before the end of the song.
- Now Elizabeth says that she did all of this for her now teenagers and sees how teaching good habits from an early age really helps out. They are able to help her out so she can get what she needs to done. One day they are going to be on their own and you want to be confident in knowing that they are getting a good breakfast to have energy throughout the day and aren't rushing around. The summer is the best time to teach this because the kids don't have to rush out to the school bus at 6am.

We tend to lump summer into on big vacation but in actuality it's not. Most of us are still working and then have to get up to get everything else done. So while the kids are out of school, it's an opportunity to take advantage of, to save your sanity, and teach them about self-sufficiency and starts with a good breakfast. After all it's been proven that kids perform better in school with a good breakfast and also if they spend the summer doing some reading and writing. When I was growing up, I remember my mom taking my sister and I to a store called The Learning Station to pick up a math workbook so that we don't forget everything we learned over the course of the next three months.

You can get more information about everything that I talked with Elizabeth Mayhew about at www.tysondaystarts.com and on Elizabeth's website, www.elizabethmayhew.com. Be sure to follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter under @elizabethmayhew.

Don't Let Outdoor Entertaining Scare You

9/3/14

Fall might be creeping it's way in, but we can still have some fun entertaining. Whether it's outdoor entertaining or wanting to get a head start on the Fall/Winter festivities, the one concern that most people have is having to do so much work. Let me tell you that entertaining doesn't have to be an extravagant chore, but instead it can be simple and easy.

I chatted with HGTV Design Star Kellie Clements about a recent Entertaining Survey and some tips to overcome anyone's fear of hosting. Before I get into some of Kellie's advice, I want to say that she was such a delight to talk to. She made sure all of her ideas were clear and easy while welcoming my suggestions (even joking about bringing me on to join her team).

Throughout the article, make sure you keep this in mind: If you're going to do something that's really casual, it should be really simple and you don't have to over think it.

Did you know?

89% of Americans prefer a more relaxed atmosphere and a chill vibe. Meaning we are moving away from the formality of sit down meals for outdoor entertaining.
- So some simple ways to achieve that chill vibe and that relaxed atmosphere can be in the ambiance, the décor, and the type of food you serve.
  - If you choose finger foods rather than foods that require a plate and utensils, your guests can socialize easier. They aren't tied down to a seat while they are eating and can move freely.
    - If you serve food that requires utensils, you MUST have seating for every guest.
    - If you serve finger foods, you can be more creative with the seating. You could throw a blanket under a tree, use indoor/outdoor pillows to sit on, flip a planter upside down.
  - Lighting is important for creating the mood, and you can have some fun creating it.
    - Tiki Room products have come out with some torches, mercury candles, and glowing tabletop torches. Traditional lighting tends to attract mosquitoes and bring them where you don't want them, but these Tiki Brand torches will help keep those pesky bugs away from the food and eating areas.

Did you know?

Majority of people don't entertain outdoors because they are intimidated by how small their space is.
- It's not about how big your patio is because having something on a smaller scale will create a more intimate environment. Just make sure you're smart about the different items you place on your patio.
- Pick items that multi-task. For instance, Kellie created a set where they took a colorful garden stool and placed it in a location where it can be additional seating or a place holder for a plate if someone needs to free their hands.

Don't forget about the kids.

You can save some of the actual seating for the kids by throwing a blanket on the ground and designate a kids' area so that the parents get some time to themselves while the kids are having fun.
- This can also keep the kids from playing around on those bar height chairs that you might worry if your child would fall out from moving around.

Remember.

Don't over think it.
Look around your house to see what you have to repurpose.
- Kellie says that even if you think you aren't a DIYer, you can still accomplish repurposing. Take those old tired chairs and give them a fresh coat of paint and repaint that pottery.
- Get ideas for DIY from the internet.
Create a fun project/game with the kids. It can be a great conversation piece when someone comes over about the family bonding experience you had when you made the item.

So for pictures of HGTV's Design Star, Kellie Clement's, outdoor establishment, you can go over to Tiki Brand's facebook page.

Get Your Grill On

9/3/14

There's still time to get the grill out and cook up some of your favorite outdoor dishes. Now while enjoying the food on the grill sounds tempting to most people, sometimes the grill can seem a little intimidating. So I chatted with the Whole Foods Market Global Meat Buyer, Theo Weening, about choosing the right cuts of meats, adding flavor, and the proper grilling techniques.

Choosing the right meats and ensuring you get that good, quality taste. Make sure you see this on the label:

No antibiotics.
No added hormones.
On a vegetarian diet.

If you're unsure about a particular cut and if it's quality, go to your local butcher counter. Let the butcher be your best friend. They can help guide you to the right cut for what you want to cook. You also want to look for a bright flesh color in the case.

Now if you're someone that likes marinades and spices, there are a ton of options. You could use something pre-made or something homemade. Theo recommends Paul Newman oil vinaigrette with a little garlic.

Suggested tip: Take a flat iron steak (it comes from the shoulder so it's very thin) and add a coffee rub and put it on a cedar plank. Then flip the steak after 5 minutes on the cedar plank. The flavor of it makes it a little different and stronger. It may look like it burns the outside a little bit, but while the outer part is crisp and dark the inside will be medium rare.

Then once you have your meat picked out, the next step is the grill. A lot of mistakes that many people make is to put the meat on the grill before it's hot enough. This will cause the meat to not cook right and lose flavor.

A trick that Theo recommends for making sure the grill is hot enough is called the hand test. This means that you hold your hands up above the grill and if you have to pull them away in about two seconds, then the grill is ready.

When it comes to grilling you steak to the perfect degree, Theo recommends take the tip of a knife or fork and pushing down on the steak. Now you don't want to cut into the steak because this will cause the juices to escape. As you push down, if the cut is very soft then it's going to be medium rare and as it gets tougher will determine how well done it is.

Once you have the meat cooked on the grill, another important tip is to let the meat rest for a few minutes after removing it from the heat. This will allow the juices to stay inside adding flavor it to the cut. If you take it right off the grill and cut into the meat then it will cause the juices and flavors to flow away.

Now if you are entertaining for a large group of people, you want to make sure you have a lot of variety. Some easy options to have for large numbers include:

100% grass fed burgers
Sausage (instead of the typical BBQ hotdogs)
Kabobs.

With kabobs, you can satisfy both the people who eat meat and the ones who don't. Just make sure that you put the skewers in water 15 minutes before so they don't burn on the grill. Then you can skew up some beef, pork, and chicken with a little marinade and seasoning. For those who don't want meat, you have plenty of vegetables still in season like corn, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes that you can skew up. Another option is to take a Portobello mushroom, add some balsamic vinegar, and flip it over, like a steak, after 5 minutes.

So once you have the main course meal prepped out and cooking, it's time to start thinking about those side dishes that can be the perfect compliment. With the flat iron steak, Theo mentioned above you can place it on a bed of spring mix. Quinoa salad can also be nice and refreshing or even just taking some corn to pair with it.

Another tip: Theo loves take corn with a little oil and the husk on the grill. While it's on the grill, you just roll it for about 5-7 minutes. Then when you're ready to eat, just peel the husk and serve.

So with the next couple weeks of warm weather, get outside and embrace the grill. For more grilling tips, you can always check out your local butcher for cut ideas and recipes. Then you can also head over to www.wholefoodsmarket.com for even more recipe ideas.

Don't Put The Grill Away Just Yet

9/10/14

You don't have to say goodbye to grilling just yet. Hang onto the grill with the lingering warm weather and listen to Brynn McKenry talks with the BBQ Pitmasters, Tuffy Stone and Cason, about some grilling favorites.

Pets as a member of the family

9/10/14

Our pets are often a well-loved member of the family, and pet expert and stylist Ali McClennan has some ways to make sure your pets are getting the best possible care.

Change Your Clocks, Change Your Battery

10/30/14

Don't forget to set the clocks back an hour this weekend. Yes, Daylight Savings Time is here. And while you are setting those clocks back, use this as a reminder to also change the smoke alarm batteries.

Why do you ask?

Well, home fires take the lives of more than 2,500 each year in the U.S alone, and sadly about seven people are killed in home fires every day.

So I chatted with the President and Chairman of The International Association of Fire Chiefs, Keith Bryant, and the Brand Manager for Energizer, Carrie Johler, to get for ideas to remember to change your batteries and your clocks.

Keith Bryant and Carrie Johler - Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery

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Make The Elections More Personal

11/3/14

Tomorrow is Election Day and with the significant impact that elections have on our country, it is surprising that only 38% of eligible Americans voted in the 2010 election. What happened to the other 62%?

Was it a matter of information overload? Maybe not being able to really connect to a candidate? Well since each voter is unique, Microsoft and Bing have teamed up to help make the information a little more personalized and more convenient.

Whether you're looking at the big elections or your small town elections, it's time to be better informed and confident in a quick and easy way. I got the opportunity to chat with the CEO and Founder of Mic, Chris Altchek, about the significance of being an informed voter. Chris also explains how Mic reaches the younger voters and encourages them to be fully informed.

Chris Altchek - Be An Informed and Confident Voter