Great (and Cheap) Summer Activities for your Kids



Summer is here! And, around my house, it is pretty obvious. Over the years I have noticed that my kids always seem to get a condition during the first week of summer called "rulesdontapplya." Rulesdontapplya is a common ailment that hits kids of all ages right after school lets out. Maybe your kids get it too. You might see this ailment displayed in behaviors like eating popsicles for breakfast, wearing pajamas until 6:00 p.m. or by the noncompliance of standard household rules like wearing shoes outdoors or bathing. It usually takes a week for my kids to get this illness completely out of their systems. That’s why I typically do not schedule any activities for them the first week. I let them be lazy daisies. That way, by the second week of summer vacation, my kids are practically begging me to put them in summer school to combat their boredom. That’s when our real summer schedule begins.

There are so many things to do with kids in the summer to keep them busy without spending a lot of money. Start by scouring the local newspaper to find out the happenings in your local area. Although each area is different, there are some summer staples that are typically found throughout the country.

First of all, the library usually offers programs for preschoolers all the way up to teens. You can enroll in a summer reading program that rewards kids for reading books. Also, many libraries have weekly storytelling sessions that include arts and crafts. And, most of the activities are free to the public. Public libraries also offer classes for kids on things like babysitting, pet care, and learning special skills. Our library has weekly activities for kids as well like bingo, scavenger hunts, and puppet shows.

Next, check out some movie theater discounts. National Amusements offers a wonderful program called "Bookworm Wednesdays" throughout the summer. This program encourages young children to read by offering a free movie on Wednesdays for those kids who read a book and write a short book report about the book. Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a specific children’s film every Wednesday from June 27th to August 15th at 10:00 a.m. All they need to do is present the Official Bookworm Entry containing their book summary at participating Showcase/Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box offices. Children under six who accompany a participant are not required to do a book report. Adults who accompany a participant receive free admission to the Bookworm Wednesdays movie. To learn more about Bookworm Wednesdays, visit the National Amusements website.

Another great place to look for great summer activities is your local Parks and Recreation Department. Many sponsor free programs for children of all ages and families. For example, you can register for scheduled activities, art projects, nature hikes, environmental education and other various park happenings. For a nominal fee, you could also sign your kids up for youth athletics and other age-specific activities.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs provide fun and engaging ways for kids to learn about the Bible during the summer. Typically about a week long, kids attend either a morning or evening VBS, depending on the church. Not only do children have the opportunity to learn about the Bible and meet new friends, they also get to play games, participate in fun activities and make crafts. Always free for kids, it's also common for Vacation Bible Schools to have a theme each year. Activities, crafts and scripture lessons taught throughout the week all center on the chosen theme. My kids have attended as many as three different Vacation Bible Schools at different churches during the summer. They love it and always learn new things.

The bottom line is, you can keep your schedule full of free activities if you take some time to look around. So, make sure you beat the boredom blues by getting your kids involved in local programs that can keep them active physically as well as keeping their brains busy. Check out your local area newspapers and websites for free and nearly-free summer activities that will keep your children entertained, healthy and active without you going broke!

Business Can Be Part-Time: Being A Mom Is Always Full-Time

Business Can Be Part-Time: Being A Mom Is Always Full-Time by: Cheri Alguire
Sometimes it might feel that your business is taking up all of your time. It can be very common to feel as though all you do is work on your business, answer calls, talk to clients and put out fires at the office. In fact, sometimes you may feel as if your family is being shoved to the background because you are too busy with work.

The thing that you need to remember, even when work gets crazy, is that business can be part time, but being a mom is always full time. Once you have children, you are a mom twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for fifty-two weeks of the year. You don’t get time off, you don’t get vacation, and you definitely don’t get sick days. Once you become a mom, you are always a mom, and that’s great! It just means that you need to reprioritize your life.

Depending on your business, you may have the flexibility to work part-time while your children are young, enjoying the best of both worlds. Some businesses allow working women the ability to care for their children, enjoying every moment that being a mother provides, while building a career and a future for that family.

Even if you don’t have the ability to work your business part time while your children are young, you need to remember that business can be part-time and being a mom is always full time. This will never be so apparent than if you get a phone call in the middle of an important meeting that your child is sick at school and you need to come and pick him up. Being a mom means never taking a day off, no matter what!

If you don’t feel like your current position or occupation allows you enough flexibility to spend ample time with your children, it doesn’t hurt to take a look around. They are numerous jobs that allow you to spend time with your children, take care of them when they are sick, and make enough money to maintain your household. Don’t ever feel that you are “stuck” in your current occupation because there are opportunities for everyone out there to make a life that is family-friendly and balanced. Your children are number one, and if your company doesn’t understand that, then you can find a company that does.


Jobsandmoms.com has job postings, books, and other resources that can help you find a desirable, flexible position that works with you and your children.

Need a little inspiration? Check out Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs: How Eleven Women Escaped Poverty and Became Their Own Bosses by Martha Shirk and Anna S. Wadia (available at www.GreatBooksandAudioBooks.com). Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs tells the inspirational stories of eleven low-income women who have marshaled the creative energy, confidence, and capital necessary to start their own small businesses. These women, who have used their entrepreneurial skills as a route out of poverty, give an American face to an economic empowerment tool that has enjoyed great success in developing countries. By becoming their own bosses, they not only provide for their children but also inspire them.

Real Estate, Business and Life Coach Cheri Alguire has partnered with hundreds of Real Estate Professionals and Small Business Owners to help them become more successful in business and in life. Coach Cheri specializes in Group Coaching for Small Business Owners, Working Mothers, Real Estate Agents and Managers. Learn more at www.NextLevelServices.net.

5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Children

5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Children by: Michael Atma
Is your child stressed out? Some people think only adults experience stress, but it affects our children too. Here's how to help your child manage their emotions.

We often view our kids as happy-go-lucky beings without a care. But children can also experience stress. Not only do they get anxious about things in their own young world--school, friends, peer pressure--but they also can be deeply affected by outside factors such as war, natural disasters and other unsettling world events.

In fact, the list of contributors to childhood stress can be quite long. Many stressors are the result of family problems, like divorce, a death or a parent's job loss but there are also less obvious triggers such as moving to a new city or the birth of a new sibling.

As a parent, you can become attuned to what's a normal amount of anxiety for your child and what is not. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, use the following tools to help your child handle it better.

Tuning into Anxiety Attack symptoms

1. Tune in to their moods. Pay attention to your child's behavior. Take the time to talk to your child to get to the root of the problem. Ask questions like "How are you feeling?" "What's happening at school?" or "How are things with your friends?"

When you show concern for their problems and issues, it's reassuring to them and they'll be more responsive to that attention.

2. Watch the same shows they do. If you have younger children, you certainly don't want them watching the doom and gloom of daily news shows. Children's minds are like sponges in they absorb almost everything they see or hear.

They are especially sensitive to negative energy, pain or suffering. Shows like the news can be traumatizing and anxiety-producing for younger children.

It's important to discuss with them what they've seen. You can't tell them that it's never going to happen to them but you can say,"We're going to do everything we can to protect you". It's also a good idea to let them know whom to call and what to do in case of an emergency.

3. Focus on the positive.

There is obviously no way a child can be shielded from a major trauma such as a death in the family, a house fire or a natural disaster. Instead, help children count their blessings. Comfort and reassure them by saying, "We're strong and we're going to make it." "And as difficult as it may be, try to maintain everyday routines.

For many young victims of floods or fire, for example, going back to school, even in another city, can help bring some normalcy back to their disrupted lives. What can also help is to make sure children have positive outlets like physical activity, going to the movies or spending time with friends.

4. Lead by example.

Children often learn to deal with stress by mimicking how you respond in challenging times. Even if you don't tell your child that you're about to be laid off from your job or that you're worried that your marriage is on the verge of breaking up, they can still pick up on your stress.

They may not understand the underlying causes but they can hear the strained tone and elevated volume of your voice,which gives them the message that something's going on that may affect them too.

That's why it's so important to show them good coping skills. If you light a cigarette, have a drink, or use foul language when you're under pressure, your little one may internalize that as a coping method.

Instead, model healthy behavior during difficult times, such as writing in a journal, de-stressing in a hot bath, sharing how you feel without blaming, or taking a walk.

5. Instill confidence.

When children are young, there are times when you will have to come to their defense and help them handle tough situations. But as they get older, you also have to let them champion themselves, which builds their confidence in their ability to resolve problems on their own.

One of your missions as a parent is to know when to step in and when to stand back. Your response will depend on the child's temperament, maturity and the situation.

For example, your third grader may be able to confront a taunting classmate on their own, but a serious case of bullying may warrant your intervention.

Still, always make sure your child knows you've got their back. Tell them, "Try it on your own first,but if you need help,let me know and I'll be there."

To Your Great Life and Health...

Pardon Me, But I Thought Free, Freebie, No Cost, Free Download As Well As Many Others, Meant Just That!

You all know what I am referring to and I'm sure you are as fed up as I am with all the parsing of common words to misrepresent something, someone or both. The parsing of commonly held words is stupid and will not be tolerated by the masses any longer! If an advertiser wants us to dance a jig or jump through hoops to receive their low cost, almost worth nothing, free or freebie item all they must do is simply say so. Rather than parsing of words to mean almost free or free if you are new to our service, or free for the taking but it will exclude you from future almost free or freebies items, just simply say so. Most adults are capable of understanding that you are a business because you want to feed your family. As adults most people don't want you as a business to lose any money. As adults most people would like to know that you are making a fair profit and will be in business for years to come. As adults we simply wish for you to not parse words in an attempt to take advantage of anyone! We are giving you businesses, big and small, fair warning that we consumers are fed up with the parsing of words to take advantage of consumers and we are not going to let it continue any longer. We promise to embarrass you and your company if you continue in the future of parsing words to not mean what everyone takes them to mean. Just so that everyone is on the same page, we have listed what we understand these certain common words to mean.


1) The word free or freebie means simply that - zero exchange of money, postage stamps or anything of value.


2) The word free and freebie mean no exchange of money now or latter and also mean the same for new as well as existing customers.


3) The word free and freebie do not mean that we will be branded to lose out of or to be excluded of any special price or deal at a later time if we take advantage of your free product or service now.


4) The word free and freebie simply mean free, zero cost and zero exchange of valuable information such as our email address or the email addresses of six of our friends. This would also include any personal telephone numbers. Time of year or season does not change these commonly held meanings.


5) The word free or freebie means that we don't have to do anything or offer anything in exchange for your free or freebie product or service.


Now that we have stated clearly what these commonly held words mean to us at large; we expect you businesses, big and small, to understand that we consumers will penalize any company by broadcasting it over the internet to everyone that said company has tried to parse these commonly held words. We believe there is no reason to parse these commonly held words other than to take advantage of another. Therefore we will broadcast across the internet via e-mail, via blogs, via bulletin boards via forums via any way possible now and in the future any company and/or individual that plays games with or parses the meaning of these commonly held words. For the record the meanings of these words are the same whether you are giving us a great or not so great of free or freebie item. We also wish to state for the record that we consumers understand that you businesses must make profit in order to stay in business. We are not opposed to the fact that not every free or freebie item will be of great worth. We however expect the meaning of these commonly held words to remain just the same, regardless of worth of free or freebie item. May this article serve as fair warning to all businesses, big and small, that we consumers are fed up with all the parsing of commonly held words to take advantage of any consumer!


As a consumer, if you agree to this writing then it is expected of you to hold all businesses to these rules and if some business does not, you have the responsibility to make said infringement known to the masses via one or more methods listed above. Every concerned consumer should print out this little article and keep it handy and ready to post or serve such business and/or individual that breaks these rules. This article is free, zero cost, will not exclude you from future freebies, and will not require you to post personal information or the personal information of six friends. You need not do anything to print it out and post it. This article is completely free of charge regardless of time of day or season of year. This article is simply, FREE!

Handmade soaps

Sudz

Handmade soaps are very popular and there is a reason why. We start with the very best bases and add essential oils that are proven to be effective for helping the skin in a variety of ways. Each bar of soap is hand crafted.




Size 5 oz
Comes in the following
Specialty Sudz
Oatmeal Milk & Honey



Have dry skin? This soap is a great relief to itchy dry skin. The top layer is a super sweet smelling Honey Soap base which is a great cleansing agent. The middle layer is pure Goat's Milk soap and the top layer is also made from Goat's Milk but has real oatmeal added for a great skin exfoliate.


Top Layer Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Honey, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Fragrance


Middle Layer Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Fragrance


Bottom Layer Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Oatmeal Fragrance
$4.50


Clay & Tea Tree Oil


This great acne fighting soap has Fuller's Earth Clay and Tea Tree Oil to help cleanse the skin from toxins and oils that cause acne. It has a Shea Butter base to help soften the skin.


Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Silk Amino Acids, Titanium Dioxide, Tea Tree Oil, Fuller's Earth
Retail $4.50



HOT ITEM
25% OFF
Lavender & Shea Butter



A silky Shea Butter base with cleansing Lavender oil. Perfect for your face or your whole body. Has great lather and a calming scent.


Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Silk Amino Acids, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Lavender Oil


$4.50 SALE $3.37


Perfume Sudz
Each one of our perfume Sudz has a great goat milk base.
Random



Random is a scent that evokes sensuality, gentleness, and passion. It is has notes of pink cotton candy, sweet lemon drops, raspberries, fig leaves, caramel, Sicilian orange, Barbe-a-Papa, Lily of the Valley, and powdery vanilla musk. Playful, mischievous, romantic.


Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Fragrance
$4.00



Giggles




This unique fragrance begins with top notes of fresh bananas and juicy grapefruit, middle notes of kiwi, juicy bubblegum, and strawberries; and a hint of vanilla as a base note.


Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Fragrance
$4.00


Angelic



Angelic has a floral scent with top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and mandarin; heart notes of rose, freesia and jasmine and a bottom of white musk. It's amazing!
Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Triethanolamine, Water, Fragrance
$4.00









~ The Best Day Of My Life ~




~The Best Day Of My Life ~
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today... but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what a great life I have had so far; the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, even the hardships, because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.



Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.



Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.



Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his plan ensures everything will be just fine.



And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.



As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!Is the day that you will keep your promise...

Will be the day you will get me forever!!!

Do You Dread Potty Training Your Toddler?




Recent research reveals that the Dread of Potty Training is spreading like wild fire among parents. This recent outbreak among parents and caregivers of 2-3 year olds has them scrambling for books, videos and pricey potty training aids of all types. There is only one cure for this phenomenon: a good dose of old fashioned common sense. Although it is naturally instilled in most parents it is the last resource they usually try.

If you think about it, your child just a short while ago was a crawling infant. The next transition stage was to learn to walk. Your beautiful toddler started to pull themselves up on the furniture and then take that one step between the coffee table and the couch. What did you do? Run out and buy training manuals and pricey equipment to get them through this stage? Did you get yourself all worked up and set a date that they had to be walking by? Then on that fateful day stand that beautiful baby on its feet and demand they walk by the next day without falling? Of course not, who would do that? Chances are you cheered, clapped and smiled as you hugged them. Then you told everyone you know about your baby's success. That's good old fashioned common sense at work! You've got it.

Now to cure the Dread of Potty training, let's take that common sense to the next level. With a checklist to ensure the timing is right and a few tips to tweak the skills you already have, you and your toddler could actually enjoy the potty training process. Imagine spending most of the time you are potty training focused on the benefits to your child. How great they will feel with the pride of having accomplished independence. The confidence they will gain in knowing they can have "big kid" status and stay clean and dry all by themselves. Mostly they will learn co-operation skills that will roll over into all the other areas of their lives, making mealtimes, bedtimes and toy cleanup easier as well.

The key to making the potty training transition easy for both you and your child is readiness based on communication skills and physical readiness. Print the following short checklist and use it over the next seven days.

• Your child shows interest in what you and your family members do in the bathroom.

• Your child has a clear understanding that being clean and dry is preferable to diapers.

• Check your child's diaper frequently. When you find them to be dry over an hour and then suddenly very wet, it is a sign that they now have control over the essential muscles.

• When your child's diaper is dry after a nap or in the morning on a fairly consistent basis.

• Your child begins to recognize when they move their bowels and will hide and show modesty.

• Your child may indicate they want their diaper changed immediately after eliminating.

• Your child has enough speech to communicate their need to use the bathroom.

• As a parent you have a low-key attitude towards potty training. A sense of humor is not essential, but it helps.

• You have a clear enough calendar to not be pressured or rushed through this process. Many of the things on this list come naturally and the rest can be encouraged. Although it is not necessary to have all these readiness signs in place before you begin, the more time you spend in preparation for the potty training process the less stress and mess you will have when you begin.

Understanding The Gay Teen




In the past, it could be said that talking to your teens about sexuality was relatively straightforward. These discussions normally centred on the average heterosexual relationships without any reference to alternative sexualities such as homosexual and bisexual orientations. However, it is imperative in modern society to teach our children about alternative sexual orientations and tolerance of those differences.


Gay teens are one of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in society, facing the pressure and dangers of gay bashing' and other forms of homophobic bullying. There is a threefold likelihood of lesbian or gay teens being bullied than other youth.

These pressures in turn lead to a higher incidence of social isolation, alcohol and drug abuse, family problems, and low self esteem than their peers.

There is a relatively common belief that someone who is gay must have suffered some sexual trauma or has been influenced to make this decision by a gay adult. This is a myth as neither of these things influences sexuality. In the past, many have felt the need to hide their homosexuality and have lived their life feeling as though they are living a lie. However, in more recent times, teens are coming out' much more often and at a younger age.

Talking to parents about their sexuality can sometimes be difficult, if not seemingly impossible. If they have heard anti-gay conversations between their parents or others close to them, this may contribute to their fear. In some situations, these youth run away from home because they feel that they cannot deal with the reaction of their parents.

There are also many gay teens that are forced out of their homes by parents who are unable to deal with their teen's sexuality. Even for those who remain at home, the tension that occurs when the teen comes out' can push relationships between the parents and the child beyond breaking point. This can lead to verbal or even physical violent eruptions between both parties, leading to severe relational breakdown. The trauma of this resistance to the teen's sexual identity can be emotionally devastating. This resistance may be particularly high in parents who have been raised with the conviction that homosexuality is always wrong.

Becoming a teenager is already a big deal regardless of whether the person is heterosexual or homosexual but for the gay teen, the issues are far more frightening. Often, the teen is already having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that he or she is homosexual and is already fearful of peoples' intolerance of them. The ultimate rejection by their parents on the basis of gender issues leaves the person feeling totally confused and isolated.

The incidence of suicide among gay teens is around three times that of their heterosexual counterparts though sexuality and gender issues are not in themselves, seen as a risk factor for suicide. However, the feelings of isolation and of being different can drive many to suicidal behaviour.

Perhaps the difference in acceptance of homosexuals could begin in what we teach children in earlier years. After all, bigotry is something that is learned from a young age. Make your children aware that any form of hatred and discrimination is unacceptable and instil these values as early as possible.

When discussing sexuality with your children, explain that homosexuals have not choice and that they need to be respected as people just as anyone else does.

Let's do what we can to stop contaminating the minds of our young and causing the discrimination against other people, whether based on race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Gay teenagers need empathy from those around them and from their healthcare provider. Otherwise, they may feel isolated and worthless, thus pressuring them into taking risks with their sexual health. Having sex with someone of the same gender does not eliminate the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and gay teens need to be aware of this and comfortable enough to discuss these problems with their doctor without fear of prejudice.

Becoming a teenager is a huge milestone for both teenagers and parents and it is particularly so when the teenager is gay. As parents, it is important to reassure the teenager that being gay really is okay and that, regardless of their sexual identity, you love them anyway.

Though the gay community has gained some civil rights over the years, it is important to continue the fight to erode the conservative views on gay issues. Only then can the gay community have the same freedoms as their heterosexual counterparts.

Surviving the Summer With Kids




Surviving the Summer With Kids

You know what it’s like – kids are desperate to start the summer holidays, you’re anxious to reduce the clutter in your calendar, everyone’s looking forward to the warm weather, and then suddenly, after one week of summer bliss, the whine sets in:

“Mom, I’m SO BORED!”

This, from children with a room so bulging with activities, games, toys, crafts, and who knows what all else, that they can’t keep it cleaned or organized.

However, even with all of this, suddenly, you’re expected to be the entertainment committee. You need to have wonderfully stimulating activities for your kids, up your sleeve, ready at a moment’s notice – but you, too, are needing a break. What’s a mother to do?

Well, here are some tips:

1. Let them be bored. By jumping in with solutions all the time, you are not allowing your children to use their own creativity. Ignore the bored whine if you can, and simply suggest that they go look through their rooms for something to do. If that doesn’t work, give them chores whenever they say they’re bored.

2. Have a planned activity each day that stimulates their creativity. Do prepare one activity a day – supplies for a water fight, an art project or science experiment, a hike, etc. Do something that gets them out of the everyday, and triggers their mind to think of something different or unusual so that they can stimulate their own creativity.

3. Get them outside. Send them outside every morning, before the “dangerous sun times” and make them stay there until lunch. There are playgrounds, bicycles, sports and games etc. that can keep them going for hours if they are bored enough to find something to do. The sunshine will also stimulate “happy hormones” which will have them (and you!) feeling much better about life. If it’s raining, dress them appropriately, and send them out for at least an hour. They can do puddle jumping, rescue earth worms, make mud pies – the list is endless.

4. Give them a routine. Create a daily, loose-but-structured routine that gives each day some framework. Include chores, scheduled activities (meals, screen time, outdoor play, a planned activity, etc.) Don’t over schedule or you’ll be doing them (and yourself!) a disservice. Kids’ lives are so over-booked these days that they never have time for dreaming or self-discovery.

5. Restrict Screen Time. Try and keep “mindless entertainment via a screen” to an absolute minimum. Let kids schedule one TV show plus one hour for games each day, and then let them use the rest for other things. Well, that should get you started. The Internet has a wealth of information on this topic, so do some searching, gather your “ammunition” and get ready for a great summer!

Ideas for Gifts you can give again and again




Ideas for Gifts you can give again and again
Have you ever wanted to give the same gift twice? To not have to think of new ideas each year? There are gifts you can safely give multiple times to the same people and they will be extremely happy each time.

For collectors you simply need to find out what they need for their collection and get it for them. Now for some collections this might be expensive, but there is usually a low cost alternative. Starting off a collection for someone can be a great idea. For a child you could start with stamps. A large number of foreign stamps along with an album may start a life-long hobby. You may want to check with the parents before starting a collection that may prove expensive. For teenagers you could try a charm bracelet that can be added to each year. You could buy a jacket with patches that you can add to. For sports fans try sporting memorabilia. For those that like ornaments and small decorative objects you could purchase tea-spoons, thimbles, paperweights and the like.

Magazine subscriptions are a good bet for a repeatable gift. These can be given each year and provide interest throughout the year. Depending on the type of publication you may even be able to tell yourself that you are making a positive contribution to their life. Browse a store selling magazines or try the internet for ideas. There are many to choose from including National Geographic, Readers Digest and more specialist magazines.

There are many items that are published yearly that can be given as repeatable gifts. Consider diaries and address books for example. These can be purchased in all sorts of price ranges. If the person has a paper personal organizer then consider buying the refills. Not very exciting, but extremely practical. Some organizations and charities produce this sort of item. You can buy from one that they support. Calendars are especially good as a low cost gift. Calendars showing particular places or themes are very popular. Many TV shows, films and famous people have their own calendars that may be of interest.

Consumables are often given repeatedly. Especially her favorite perfume, or his favorite aftershave. You will need to be careful if buying this sort of gift as the choices of a scent is often very personal and you would not want your gift to languish in the bathroom cupboard. Many companies produce gift baskets and presentation sets with bath products and the like. You could consider giving basic skin care products to a man or woman. You may need to enclose an appropriate note to make sure that they do not get the wrong message!

You could consider giving food and drink items as gifts. You can give foods that the receiver has never had before. You could give expensive or luxury items that they would not normally purchase. You could give a selection of a particular type of item, such as a set of different fruit liqueurs. A box of chocolates is a classic gift, especially one from a luxury chocolatier.

Gift vouchers and certificates ensure that the recipient will get something that they want. This can be particularly useful in the case of teenagers where they want to make their own choice of gift. Vouchers can be given for online stores such as Amazon or iTunes. They can be purchased for particular shops. Some malls and shopping centers have a scheme where the vouchers can be used in all of the shops there. You could even give a voucher for a flight or to help with a vacation.

All of the gifts above can be given safely many times. Most of the types of gift can be chosen with particular persons in mind to make the gift special. For some gifts it will be important to tell the receiver that this gift will be given again next year. Ask them if this is OK. You do not want to waste your money on an unwanted item. You can use these gift types as a safety net for when you have run out of ideas. This will also free up your time to look for those really special unique gifts.

Top Ten Journal Writing Tips for Preteens and Teens




Top Ten Journal Writing Tips for Preteens and Teens
Daily journal writing can be an excellent tool of self-expression and self-discovery for preteens and teens (actually for kids of all ages!). Journal writing helps them to process the myriad of thoughts, feelings, and emotions they experience and becomes an invaluable tool for understanding their many life experiences. It is also an excellent form of creative self-expression.


But, when faced with a journal full of blank lines or with the task of remembering to write each and every day, some youngsters are simply overwhelmed and unmotivated. To help encourage the healthy habit of daily journal writing by your child, check out the following journal writing tips written especially for kids.

Top Ten Journal Writing Tips

1. Silence your inner critic -- It's your journal and your words and if you took the time to write them down then they are valuable, NO MATTER WHAT!

2. Break the rules -- You can break all the rules (grammar and spelling need not matter) or follow them if you prefer. It's your choice! Either way, there is no such thing as right or wrong in journal writing.

3. Go with the flow to express yourself -- Take time to tune in to how you feel. Do you feel like writing a lot or simply feel like writing one word. When you go with the flow your journal writing comes easily and feels good.

4. Pick a special spot to journal -- Choose a place where you feel safe, happy, and secure and where you feel inspired to lose yourself in your journal writing.

5. Go wild with embellishments -- Use stickers, colored pens, magazine pictures, drawings or photos to jazz up your journal. Being creative with your journal will make your writing experience more colorful, exciting, and fun.

6. Keep it simple -- If your journal writing begins to feel like a task you must accomplish, scale back or take a break. Journal writing is much more enjoyable when it feels spontaneous.

7. Discover your writing style -- All the journal writing tips in the world can only guide you, and in the end you must choose your style based on what works best for you. Ask yourself if you like to use only words (no pictures or stickers) or if you prefer to combine writing and drawing. Maybe poetry dominates your journal or maybe your preference is to break all the rules and simply free write.

8. Create a theme journal -- You can create a dream journal, a wish journal or a journal of family, friends and best moments in life. Be creative in choosing themes and if you run out of ideas you can always research new journal writing ideas on the internet.

9. Rule your Kingdom -- Nothing else matters on the pages of your journal but you. Celebrate, vent, accentuate, complain... it's up to you. Just always, always, be kind to yourself as cruelty hurts and makes you sad.

10. Keep it fun and fulfilling -- If it's not fun and fulfilling, chances are you'll quit writing. So keep it fun by giving yourself permission to try new ways of journal writing and keep it fulfilling by focusing on a wide range of topics (not just sad or bad ones, but happy and exhilarating ones as well).


Daily journal writing is a wonderful tool of expression for preteens and teens but they must feel invested in their writing. The best way to get them -- and to keep them -- invested is to encourage the free expression of their uniqueness and creativity. Let the writer choose the journal writing style that best suits their personality and personal tastes.

Happy journal writing!

What is Mineral Makeup?



What Is Mineral Makeup?

Mineral makeup is the latest thing and it's based on the oldest things. As an all-natural makeup, these mineral-containing makeups are being touted as something that can actually help your skin.

There are many cosmetic companies marketing mineral makeups by different names, but all versions of mineral makeup have a common ingredient. They all contain "natural" minerals.

The idea behind "Mineral makeup" goes against the more modern use of artificially created compounds and takes its inspiration from minerals and inorganic pigments that exist in nature.

Many people prefer the natural colors of the cosmetics and feel they are supporting better health by limiting their exposure to articifial chemicals which make up the ingredients of most cosmetics. These are generally compounds which the body is less likely to be allergic to and many natural minerals also behave as antioxidants. These minerals, such as mica, titanium dioxide, zinc and iron oxides, and ultramarine pigments and even calcium, can be can be combined to make every cosmetic from foundation to eyeshadow to shimmer powder for the body.

As with any type of makeup there are some mineral makeups that are expensive and there are some that are inexpensive. But there is no reason to feel you can't afford mineral makeups.

A leading cause of wrinkled skin is the heavy and constant application of makeup. After years of makeup use, your skin looses much of its natural elasticity. This is partially due to a lessening of the production of elastin but is also due to a build up of free-radical stress which is very similar to the rust build-up on a car. As human beings evolved, our cells learned to utilize many of these minerals as basic nutrients which support normal cellular function. As many things are absorbed through the skin, many people believe there is a nutritional advantage to using natural compounds as makeup as opposed to artificial chemicals which the cells do not have any use for. Already there are many creams and lotions which are fortified with vitamins and minerals for this exact reason. Instead of waiting for nutrients in our diets to travel through the bloodstream and benefit the cells of the skin, these nutrients are applied directly to the skin so the cells can use them directly.

Whether or not this is true, many feel there is certainly a benefit to not applying artificial chemicals to the skin as they will be absorbed and may enter the blood stream. This can lead to alergic effects and other forms of discomfort to the body.
If you use makeup, a good choice is mineral makeup.
The benefits of mineral makeup cosmetics are advertised to be:

1. Natural look and feel

2. Longer laster--stays on the entire day

3. Better for sensitive skin

4. Anti-inflammatory

5. No harmful ingredients
Mineral powders are inorganic and contain no moisture. This means that bacteria can not grow and no preservatives are needed. That means no preservatives against your skin, when you use mineral makeup. The minerals in the makeup are also natural sunscreens which protect you from the harsh effects of the sun. More and more people are switching to mineral makeup which is why many top cosmetic companies are developing entire lines of mineral makeup. They understand market demand and that means you!

Pure Natural Mineral Makeup from the Earth


Pure Natural Mineral Makeup from the Earth





Mineral Girlz uses only the finest ingredients in our products. Made with crushed minerals from the earth, 100% pure Minerals:


is free of preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance and other potential skin irritants
is free of fillers and binders
is weightless
provides adjustable coverage—from light to full


will improve the condition of the skin over time


Mineral makeup - a light-as-air, non-shiny cosmetic - was designed originally for men and women with highly sensitive skin types.

Mineral makeup does not irritant skin conditions like rosacea, post laser or acne like other products can.

Mineral Girlz' products not only conceal redness all day long, but will change your skin in seconds! Completely free of perfumes, fillers, oils and dyes, enjoy this treat for your skin!

Then, add sun protection, flawless radiance and un-detectable, natural looking coverage.

Mineral Girlz mineral cosmetics will help you achieve what you want with makeup! A four in one cosmetic (sun screen, concealer, base, powder) mineral makeup saves you money, time, and is actually good for your skin. So pure, you can sleep in it.

Just brush on the weightless minerals. The results are amazing! Imperfections will disappear, and your complexion will become radiant and healthy looking.

No creasing or caking. No shiny base. Finally, something for your skin, no matter what tone or condition! Looking good has never been so easy!
Just go to
http://www.mineralgirlz.com/members/momysheaven/
To take a closer look! I am posative you will love it, and you’ll love our prices to.





Consultant Program

As a Wrap It Right Consultant, you earn the following:

20% commission (paid once monthly) on all sales made via your affiliate link (if a

sale is made on the site and not via your link, no commission is earned).

30% discount on all purchases for both stock and personal use. You can also place

orders with your discount code for local customer orders that are shipped directly to

you. If the product is to be shipped directly to the customer, you earn 20%

commission on the sale.

3% Shopping Credit earned off of your 1st generation downline sales. If your entire

downline has $500.00 in sales for the month, you will earn yourself $15.00 in free

product for that month! You can use this immediately or choose to save them!

All Wrap It Right Consultants receive the following:

Company Website (also known as affiliate link) complete with Consultant name, city

and state. To receive commission on any web driven orders, you must make sure

your customers are entering our store thru your link.

Yahoo Consultant Group- This group is mandatory because this is where all company

information is sent to. Our mail is light and moderated. You can choose to go on

Daily Digest or Individual Emails.

Training Sessions- These will be launching mid August 2006

Company sponsored hostess program - Will be launched by mid August. Check back

frequently for details.

Wrap It Right Fundraisers- A great program for schools and other community

organizations! This will be launched by Mid August~ Check back frequently for

details!

Wrap It Right is perfect for anyone that wants to earn an extra income! Our sales

market is extremely large! A lot of our reps sell to themselves for their own

businesses, or to others in the direct sales industry that want to Spice Up their

packaging and encourage more sales! It is proven that a customer will buy a product

that is neatly packaged instead of one that is plain. Our products are also great for

those that love to inexpensively wrap their presents! We can help everyone take an

inexpensive small gift and make it the most beautiful, well remembered gift.

Please contact us if you need more information!

Join Mineral Girlz!

  • Join Mineral Girlz!


    Join My Team


  • Why Join Mineral Girlz?
  • Mineral Girlz is dedicated to helping young ladies build the knowledge of skin care and makeup application. Our makeup is formulated to be light and natural. We also will be adding skin care products, perfume and more fun things for girlz. Mineral Girlz also supports their consultants by providing them with a consultant message board, free advertising buttons and banners as well as free printables. We also have very affordable sales materials like brochures, invitations, business cards and more. Mineral Girlz also has affordable products at prices that girlz can afford.


    What do Mineral Girlz consultants do?
    Mineral Girlz consultants sell Mineral Girlz makeup, either face to face or over the web. You can sell via your website, online auctions, and much more. Consultants also host parties, set up fundraisers, the possibilities are endless.


    How do I Join?
    Joining is easy, first you need to decide what type of program you want to join. We have Senior Consultants , Basic Consultants, Mineral Girlz and Fundraisers

click the link below to compare commisions ext....

Red, White and Blue Celebration




Our new sale will be...

Red, White and Blue Celebration
Item red, white or blue will be Buy One Get One Free

Blush- charisma
Lip Gloss- Be Mine, Simply Sparkle
Eyeshadow - Baby Blue, True Blue, Stonewashed, Intense, Ice
Dusting Powder - Super Shimmer
CBM colors - Brillant Blue, Fruit Red, Pearl White
Salt Soaks - Giggles
Salt Scrubs - Giggles

Sale runs July 2-15th

For every BOGO item you add to your cart you will get another automatically sent to you! Happy 4th of July Shopping!!

http://www.mineralgirlz.com/members/momysheaven/

Looking to keep your teenage girls busy this summer?

Looking to keep your teenage girls busy this summer? Ask me about Mineral Girlz! We have an incredible program that will allow teens and tweens to run their own business!

It is completely free to join as a Mineral Girlz (under 18, any age) or a Basic Consultant. There are absolutely NO FEES, NO QUOTAS, & NO MINIMUMS! There is no catch to this program at all. We are in the business to help young women succeed, teach them proper use of make-up, learn leadership skills, and so much more!

Hello! My name is..............

Hello! My name is Tina Duncan and I am a consultant for the Giggle Girlz Team!I am a Loving wife to a wonderful man of almost 3 years. I am a 22 year old SAHM of a 21 month old daughter and a 6 month old boy. I also have 3 little sisters ages 9,8,6. They love to where makeup and I like them to were it the right way. My hubby and I are happily raising our family in Eureka CA.I am excited to be able to offer you fabulous new makeup and body products to help our teen and tween girls look good with good-for-you products! Don't forget...it's not only for girlz...we women LOVE Mineral Girlz products too!