As a mother I know of lots of things that I try to teach my kids about. With the movie Nanny McPhee coming to theaters on August 20th, I have teamed up with TwitterMoms and other bloggers to share "Five Lessons Every Kid Should Learn."
Here are my lessons, and I hope you will share yours as well. I can't wait to read the other lessons from wonderful blog-moms out there.
1) Kids have to learn early that it is not OK to take candy, or other items, from strangers. Unfrtunately, predators and drug dealers are targeting younger kids these days and doing it with candy and other items.
2) Kids also have to learn to not go away with strangers. I have a problem with talking to strangers so it is hard for me to tell my kids not to talk to them, but I do stress that it is one thing to talk to someone in a public place and leaving with someone.
3) One thing I have seen that unfortunately too many kids do not learn is when to be quiet!! I believe that all kids should learn when it is time to just be quiet. But as you look around there are parents that don't practice this concept, so unfortunatly they are not teaching their kids to be quiet either. Then our teachers have to deal with the consequences.
4) Kids MUST learn about good hygiene!! This is something I struggle with my two kids about, but the older they get (and get interested in the pposite sex), I remind them that they need to take more care of their appearance. And I don't mean girls putting on makeup or trying to be someone they are not, but just plain old bathing and taking pride in being clean!
5) All kids (and adults too in some cases) must learn to respect their elders!!! I work in an assisted living facility and it is really sad at how many people call the "old folks" just by their first name only. And in schools (and other public places) you see and hear kids being just plain RUDE! We need to go back to the ole
R-E-S-P-E-C-T song!
What can you add, or even take away from my list?? Please share your thoughts. in the meantime, are you going to take your kids to see Nanny McPhee?
About Nanny McPhee Returns (In Theaters August 20, 2010):
In Nanny McPhee Returns, Oscar®-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson returns to the role of the magical nanny who appears when she’s needed the most and wanted the least in the next chapter of the hilarious and heartwarming fable that has enchanted children around the world.
In the latest installment, Nanny McPhee appears at the door of a harried young mother, Mrs. Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. But once she’s arrived, Nanny McPhee discovers that Mrs. Green’s children are fighting a war of their own against two spoiled city cousins who have just moved in and refuse to leave.
Relying on everything from a flying motorcycle and a statue that comes to life to a tree-climbing piglet and a baby elephant who turns up in the oddest places, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach her mischievous charges five new lessons.
Watch the “Nanny McPhee Returns” Trailer: http://www.nannymcphee.com
Join Nanny McPhee Returns on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nannymcpheereturns
Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card Click here.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Joke of the Week
Four older men stood on the first tee to start off a game of golf. Just as Ralph was about to hit his tee shot, a funeral procession drove by.
Ralph took off his hat and bowed his head until the procession was finished. Once the procession was over, he put his hat back on his head and started to line up his shot.
John and the other guys were astonished.
"Ralph, we've had a standing tee time together for the past 10 years," John said. "And we had no idea you were such a sentimental guy!"
"Well, we were married 25 years," Ralph said. "It's the least I could do."
Ralph took off his hat and bowed his head until the procession was finished. Once the procession was over, he put his hat back on his head and started to line up his shot.
John and the other guys were astonished.
"Ralph, we've had a standing tee time together for the past 10 years," John said. "And we had no idea you were such a sentimental guy!"
"Well, we were married 25 years," Ralph said. "It's the least I could do."
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ten tips for saving money during the back-to-school season
Back to school time is upon us once again. A few years ago the school district here decided that school would not start before August 25th so every year since then they have started on the 25th, even if it is a Friday. I really hate that for 2 reasons:1) why start school on Friday?? It is crazy!! & 2) my poor son's birthday is no other than August 25th - Happy Birthday to him!
We all know how crazy it can be getting ready for back to school. With all the supplies you have to get, the costs can sky-rocket. So I decided to team up with other Twitter Moms and share some tips for saving money during the back to school season.
1) If your state offers the no-tax weekend, make sure you save up and take advantage of it. This is the perfect opportunity to buy those expensive items.
2) Shop at stores that offer rebates and other special offers such as Staples.
3) Check all of the weekly ads. You can find some really great deals if you look for them and take advantage of them weekly.
4) When you find a really great deal, use the whole family. Most of the time there will be a limit to how many items one person can get, so give the kids some money and let them buy the limit as well.
5) If you can get a good deal, and can get extras, do it and put the extra stuff up for next year. I have a cabinet that we store school supplies in and I cannot tell you how many folders and pencil erasers we have, but we will not need to buy any for a really long time.
6) Use coupons! This is a BIG change that I have made over the last year. If you can combine a sale with a coupon, there will be lots of things that you can get almost free ~~~~ and who doesn't love free stuff?
7) Do you shop at the outlet stores? Sometimes it is worth taking a day trip to the outlet store mall and hunt for the deals there.
8) Some things are worth getting in bulk because you will use more of them. In these cases, it wouldn't hurt to shop at places like Sam's. Sam's is good for after school snacks or lunch snack items.
9) Some communities offer back to school events where they give away school supplies. There is a church near our home that does this every year and we take advantage of it. They send an invitation to everyone in the area and have games, inflatables, food, and of course school supplies for the kids.
10) A friend of mine came up with a really neat idea this year. She is hosting a clothing exchange party. On the invitations, she told the mothers to get all the clothes that were too small and bring to exchange for some clothes that would fit. This is great if you have children of all ages and sizes show up!
So what are some of the ways you too save money? Please share your ideas as well. In fact, if you are a blogger you can do a post like this one and possibly get a $50.00 gift card for Staples. You can find all the information here.
About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media.
Staples makes going back-to-school easy for 2010:
Staples provides significant savings, a wide selection of quality products, and a one-stop shop and stress-free shopping experience.
Staples is in-stock throughout the entire season and into the start of the school year.
Staples kicks off the back-to-school season to provide customers with an official start date for back-to-school shopping and a clear roadmap for value throughout the season.
Staples is the expert on back-to-school, with more than 20 years experience.
Staples offers more ways to save from hot buys like penny and dollar deals to savings on technology to reduced low prices on hundreds of core items.
More info: http://www.staples.com
Join Staples on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/staples
Follow Staples on Twitter: http://twitter.com/staplestweets
Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here."
We all know how crazy it can be getting ready for back to school. With all the supplies you have to get, the costs can sky-rocket. So I decided to team up with other Twitter Moms and share some tips for saving money during the back to school season.
1) If your state offers the no-tax weekend, make sure you save up and take advantage of it. This is the perfect opportunity to buy those expensive items.
2) Shop at stores that offer rebates and other special offers such as Staples.
3) Check all of the weekly ads. You can find some really great deals if you look for them and take advantage of them weekly.
4) When you find a really great deal, use the whole family. Most of the time there will be a limit to how many items one person can get, so give the kids some money and let them buy the limit as well.
5) If you can get a good deal, and can get extras, do it and put the extra stuff up for next year. I have a cabinet that we store school supplies in and I cannot tell you how many folders and pencil erasers we have, but we will not need to buy any for a really long time.
6) Use coupons! This is a BIG change that I have made over the last year. If you can combine a sale with a coupon, there will be lots of things that you can get almost free ~~~~ and who doesn't love free stuff?
7) Do you shop at the outlet stores? Sometimes it is worth taking a day trip to the outlet store mall and hunt for the deals there.
8) Some things are worth getting in bulk because you will use more of them. In these cases, it wouldn't hurt to shop at places like Sam's. Sam's is good for after school snacks or lunch snack items.
9) Some communities offer back to school events where they give away school supplies. There is a church near our home that does this every year and we take advantage of it. They send an invitation to everyone in the area and have games, inflatables, food, and of course school supplies for the kids.
10) A friend of mine came up with a really neat idea this year. She is hosting a clothing exchange party. On the invitations, she told the mothers to get all the clothes that were too small and bring to exchange for some clothes that would fit. This is great if you have children of all ages and sizes show up!
So what are some of the ways you too save money? Please share your ideas as well. In fact, if you are a blogger you can do a post like this one and possibly get a $50.00 gift card for Staples. You can find all the information here.
About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media.
Staples makes going back-to-school easy for 2010:
Staples provides significant savings, a wide selection of quality products, and a one-stop shop and stress-free shopping experience.
Staples is in-stock throughout the entire season and into the start of the school year.
Staples kicks off the back-to-school season to provide customers with an official start date for back-to-school shopping and a clear roadmap for value throughout the season.
Staples is the expert on back-to-school, with more than 20 years experience.
Staples offers more ways to save from hot buys like penny and dollar deals to savings on technology to reduced low prices on hundreds of core items.
More info: http://www.staples.com
Join Staples on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/staples
Follow Staples on Twitter: http://twitter.com/staplestweets
Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Family movie night with Letters to God
Yesterday the new movie Letters to God came out on DVD. I made plans to pick up dinner from Little Caesars and go to Blockbuster to rent the movie, but when I went to WalMart to get my prescription I saw that they had the movie for sale for only $13.00. If you are a movie fanatic like we are you know that is a good deal for a new movie. I knew this was going to be an awesome movie just from seeing the preview. I have to admit that I cried during the preview.
Here is the story line from the web page for the movie:
The Story
A heartfelt tale of inspiration, hope and redemption, Letters to God is the story of what happens when one boy’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning—the resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them.
Tyler Doherty (TANNER MAGUIRE) is an extraordinary eight-year-old boy. Surrounded by a loving family and community, and armed with the courage of his faith, he faces his daily battle against cancer with bravery and grace. To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher and the ultimate pen pal—Tyler’s prayers take the form of letters, which he composes and mails on a daily basis.
The letters find their way into the hands of Brady McDaniels (JEFFREY S.S. JOHNSON), a beleaguered postman standing at a crossroads in his life. At first, he is confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters. Overtime he begins to form a friendship with the Doherty family – getting to know not just Tyler but his tough, tender yet overwhelmed mom (ROBYN LIVELY), stalwart grandmother (MAREE CHEATHAM) and teen brother Ben (MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BOLTEN) -- who are each trying to stand strong against the doubts that come with the chaotic turn their lives have taken.
Moved by Tyler’s courage, Brady realizes what he must do with the letters, a surprise decision that will transform his heart and uplift his newfound friends and community –in an exhilarating act of testament to the contagious effect of one boy’s unwavering faith against the odds.
Inspired by a true story, Letters to God is an intimate, moving and often funny story about the galvanizing effect one child’s belief can have on his family, friends and community.
My Thoughts
I won't ruin the movie and tell you more than the description above but I will say that this is truly an amazing story about courage, faith, friendship, sacrifice and love. Sometimes people, including Christians, think that God is only working if He performs a miracle. What we fail to realize is that He is always performing miracles but we have to open our eyes and see them. In this true story movie, the letters that this sick, 8-year old boy, Tyler, writes to God inspires a whole community. There are many miracles performed, including Tyler leading a boy in school to Christ. The greatest thing about this particular boy is that he is the "mean" kid at school and picks on Tyler when he comes back to school bald. There are other miracles with Tyler's family, the mailman, and others in the community. I cried through this movie and was touched tremendously! In fact, my 2 kids were a little upset with me when I told them they could not play but instead had to sit with their dad and I to watch this movie. During the movie, though, they did not move at all. As a family we were touched and as an individual I was touched. This will be one of those movies that are showed in churches all around the world and I pray that communities everywhere are touched by the message that God has given to us through the story of Tyler.
Click on the link below to go to the web page and see more on the movie.
The Movie - Letters to God, a Possibility Pictures Production
You can also see the trailer for the movie here.
Here is the story line from the web page for the movie:
The Story
A heartfelt tale of inspiration, hope and redemption, Letters to God is the story of what happens when one boy’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning—the resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them.
Tyler Doherty (TANNER MAGUIRE) is an extraordinary eight-year-old boy. Surrounded by a loving family and community, and armed with the courage of his faith, he faces his daily battle against cancer with bravery and grace. To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher and the ultimate pen pal—Tyler’s prayers take the form of letters, which he composes and mails on a daily basis.
The letters find their way into the hands of Brady McDaniels (JEFFREY S.S. JOHNSON), a beleaguered postman standing at a crossroads in his life. At first, he is confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters. Overtime he begins to form a friendship with the Doherty family – getting to know not just Tyler but his tough, tender yet overwhelmed mom (ROBYN LIVELY), stalwart grandmother (MAREE CHEATHAM) and teen brother Ben (MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BOLTEN) -- who are each trying to stand strong against the doubts that come with the chaotic turn their lives have taken.
Moved by Tyler’s courage, Brady realizes what he must do with the letters, a surprise decision that will transform his heart and uplift his newfound friends and community –in an exhilarating act of testament to the contagious effect of one boy’s unwavering faith against the odds.
Inspired by a true story, Letters to God is an intimate, moving and often funny story about the galvanizing effect one child’s belief can have on his family, friends and community.
My Thoughts
I won't ruin the movie and tell you more than the description above but I will say that this is truly an amazing story about courage, faith, friendship, sacrifice and love. Sometimes people, including Christians, think that God is only working if He performs a miracle. What we fail to realize is that He is always performing miracles but we have to open our eyes and see them. In this true story movie, the letters that this sick, 8-year old boy, Tyler, writes to God inspires a whole community. There are many miracles performed, including Tyler leading a boy in school to Christ. The greatest thing about this particular boy is that he is the "mean" kid at school and picks on Tyler when he comes back to school bald. There are other miracles with Tyler's family, the mailman, and others in the community. I cried through this movie and was touched tremendously! In fact, my 2 kids were a little upset with me when I told them they could not play but instead had to sit with their dad and I to watch this movie. During the movie, though, they did not move at all. As a family we were touched and as an individual I was touched. This will be one of those movies that are showed in churches all around the world and I pray that communities everywhere are touched by the message that God has given to us through the story of Tyler.
Click on the link below to go to the web page and see more on the movie.
The Movie - Letters to God, a Possibility Pictures Production
You can also see the trailer for the movie here.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Geek Dad - Book Review
About the Book
Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery.
Enter supergeek and father of two Ken Denmead. An engineer and editor of the incredibly popular "GeekDad" blog, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibilities of their imaginations. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any time frame or budget. With Denmead's expert guidance, you and your child can:
* Fly a nighttime kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons
* Construct the "Best Slip 'N Slide Ever," a guaranteed thrill ride
* Build a working lamp out of LEGO bricks and CDs
* Create a customized comic strip or your own board game
* Transform any room into a spaceship
* Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links
Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to robots to gadgets, Geek Dad helps every geeky father unleash his inner kid - and nurture the next generation of brainiacs.
About the Author
Ken Denmead is the editor of "GeekDad" , the blog on Wired magazine's Web site. A professional civil engineer, he lives near San Fransisco with his wife, two dogs, and two sons, who are both geeks in training.
My Thoughts
I was really thrilled when I was given the opportunity to receive this book and do a review on it. I am a mother of two very rambunctious children but I am not one that would be considered tech-savvy in any way. My husband is a very great father and husband but he is not one that likes to do "projects", so this book was great for me (the mom) to do projects with the kids. The book is written in a way that it is easy to follow along with. You do not have to be a geek to do these projects. I was going to do a video upload of one of our projects together, but my camera died. But this is going to be a book that will have more reviews to follow. I give the book to the kids and tell them to pick out a project. The book is great because it also gives you an estimate at the beginning of each project of the cost, difficulty (which is very important for someone like me!), duration (how long it will take to complete), and reusability (if it is good for one time only or if it will last forever. It also gives you the concept of the project as well as the tools needed.
With both of my children going into middle school, I am always stressing the science projects and other "projects" that are required. As I looked through Geek Dad, I have found many ideas and will have a more positive outlook as the school year begins again. There are also many other ideas on the "GeekDad" blog, and geekdadbook.com.
As I said previously, my kids and I will be working on some of the projects, and as soon as I can get my camera working again, I will post reviews of the projects along with pictures and/or videos.
One of the first projects my son wanted to try (which was the one I wanted to video), was a classic with a twist. We have all heard of putting Mentos candy inside a bottle of cola and it will explode. Well, in Geek Dad, they tell you how you can put Mentos in ice cubes so that when you put the ice cubes in a glass of cola (preferrable Diet Coke), the "victim" will have no clue anything is wrong until the drink blows. Naturally the surprise affect of this, rather than the expected, is well worth trying it out. Of course I made him take it outside before giving anyone a "drink". I will try this one again when the camera is working and hopefully I can surprise the kids...or even better maybe I will help them get their daddy!
Go ahead and let out the inner geek in you and get your copy of this wonderful book. It is on sale at "Amazon. You can also share some of your ideas for "geeky projects" to the "geek dads" that made this book possible by going to the "GeekDad" blog.
As I read through this book and began to write this review, I was reminded of a commercial that I have seen a few times on t.v. I cannot find the commercial on youtube or anywhere, but you have probably seen it as well; the kids are saying that they get called geek and nerd, but at the end they say something to the affect of one day they will be the boss. I really like that commercial because of how true it is. The kids that are smart get picked on in school, but what the other kids fail to realize is that they are going to be the executives and CEOs one day and the "mean kids" will be working for them.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review. I was not compensated in any other way and the reviews in this post are strictly mine.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Vacation - Goin on a hike
Recently my family and I went on vacation to Ohio to visit family. While we were there we went to a place called Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. It was beautiful. Here are some of the pictures we took on our little hike through the caves and falls.
Isn't that a beautiful and peaceful looking picture? I wish I could sit on my back porch and see this kind of view everyday.
This is my mother-in-law and her mom. Grandma did good for her age but she almost did not make it...only bad part of the whole experience!!
This is me taking a break from the walking.
The kids had a blast!
Hubby and I got our son to take a picture of us in fron of the water fall....so beautiful!!
This was a REALLY DARK cave!! But at least it was not extremely long!
So what are some of the things you and your family are doing this summer? I would love to see some of your photos as well!! Also, if you want you can enter the giveaway by
clicking here.
Isn't that a beautiful and peaceful looking picture? I wish I could sit on my back porch and see this kind of view everyday.
This is my mother-in-law and her mom. Grandma did good for her age but she almost did not make it...only bad part of the whole experience!!
This is me taking a break from the walking.
The kids had a blast!
Hubby and I got our son to take a picture of us in fron of the water fall....so beautiful!!
This was a REALLY DARK cave!! But at least it was not extremely long!
So what are some of the things you and your family are doing this summer? I would love to see some of your photos as well!! Also, if you want you can enter the giveaway by
clicking here.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year
I am participating in a blogging program through Twitter Moms and Airwear and they want to know how parents are ensuring a healthy, safe, and successful school year. As the new school year quickly approaches I am both nervous and excited for both of my children because they will both be in the middle school. I am nervous because I know the work gets harder and so does peer pressure, but I am excited because they are growing up and doing fairly well. But I do believe that there are things that parents can do to help their kids with a successful school year. Here are some of my ideas:
1) One of the most important things that parents need to do is to keep your kids involved over the summer. We cannot let them go the whole summer just playing and allow them to forget everything they have learned in school. I encourage parents to take their kids to the library at least twice a month and encourage them to read.
2) Talk to your kids regularly about how to stay healthy by washing hands and using hand sanitizer. A lot of the classes these days have sanitizer in the rooms but if yours doesn't then I recommend sending a small bottle with your child and encouraging him/her to use it. We all know how quickly germs spread in school!
3) Along the same lines of being healthy, it is also important to take your child to the doctor for regular check ups. I firmly believe that yearly physicals are beneficial to everyone, old and young alike.
4) Talk to your kids A LOT about peer pressure!! The peer pressures in school are getting worse every year and they start out at younger age groups than I would have ever imagined before.
5) Talk to your kids!! Sometimes we get so busy in our everyday lives that we don't take the time to really talk to our kids. I think if they know that we are open and willing to talk and listen to them, then they will come to us when they need to talk. Let them know that you can sit and talk without being judgmental so that when they have a problem they feel comfortable talking to you about it.
6) Help your kids be successful by helping them be prepared. Go to the school on the night of open house and find out what supplies the kids will need and make sure your child is prepared with all supplies on the first day.
7) If your kids usually eat school lunch, I think it is important to have an option available if they want to take lunch. My kids will look at the menu for lunch and decide on days that they do not like what the school is offering that they want to take lunch. So I try to keep sandwich makings and snacks just in case.
8) Make sure kids get a good breakfast. I think all of the schools offer breakfast now so there is no reason why a child should not get breakfast. Studies have always showed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I have to agree with this!
9) Encourage your kids to go to bed early. This will help them to be well rested and able to pay attention more in the class room.
10) And last but certainly not least...Encourage your kids!! Don't dwell only on the bad grades or the bad behavior but make a point to encourage them and talk about something good that they have done. This makes them feel special and makes them want to do more things that will get them this kind of attention.
Airwear is offering an opportunity for readers to participate in an essay contest. If you would like to participate and have to opportunity to receive up to $1,000.00 in Airwear vouchers, Click Here. Good luck with your kids and the return back to school! Share your tips for back to school as well...maybe together we can make it through another year!
Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.
Safe, Healthy, Eco-friendly EyewearAirwear Back-to-school Eyewear
1) One of the most important things that parents need to do is to keep your kids involved over the summer. We cannot let them go the whole summer just playing and allow them to forget everything they have learned in school. I encourage parents to take their kids to the library at least twice a month and encourage them to read.
2) Talk to your kids regularly about how to stay healthy by washing hands and using hand sanitizer. A lot of the classes these days have sanitizer in the rooms but if yours doesn't then I recommend sending a small bottle with your child and encouraging him/her to use it. We all know how quickly germs spread in school!
3) Along the same lines of being healthy, it is also important to take your child to the doctor for regular check ups. I firmly believe that yearly physicals are beneficial to everyone, old and young alike.
4) Talk to your kids A LOT about peer pressure!! The peer pressures in school are getting worse every year and they start out at younger age groups than I would have ever imagined before.
5) Talk to your kids!! Sometimes we get so busy in our everyday lives that we don't take the time to really talk to our kids. I think if they know that we are open and willing to talk and listen to them, then they will come to us when they need to talk. Let them know that you can sit and talk without being judgmental so that when they have a problem they feel comfortable talking to you about it.
6) Help your kids be successful by helping them be prepared. Go to the school on the night of open house and find out what supplies the kids will need and make sure your child is prepared with all supplies on the first day.
7) If your kids usually eat school lunch, I think it is important to have an option available if they want to take lunch. My kids will look at the menu for lunch and decide on days that they do not like what the school is offering that they want to take lunch. So I try to keep sandwich makings and snacks just in case.
8) Make sure kids get a good breakfast. I think all of the schools offer breakfast now so there is no reason why a child should not get breakfast. Studies have always showed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I have to agree with this!
9) Encourage your kids to go to bed early. This will help them to be well rested and able to pay attention more in the class room.
10) And last but certainly not least...Encourage your kids!! Don't dwell only on the bad grades or the bad behavior but make a point to encourage them and talk about something good that they have done. This makes them feel special and makes them want to do more things that will get them this kind of attention.
Airwear is offering an opportunity for readers to participate in an essay contest. If you would like to participate and have to opportunity to receive up to $1,000.00 in Airwear vouchers, Click Here. Good luck with your kids and the return back to school! Share your tips for back to school as well...maybe together we can make it through another year!
Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
How to Reach Your Full Potential for God - book review
Book Description
In How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, acclaimed pastor and speaker Charles Stanley connects readers with the plan and purpose God envisioned when He created them.
"Things are never going to change" or "This is just the way I am--I'm never going to get better" are just a few of the damaging lies Christians believe about themselves, their situations, and their walk. But Dr. Stanley shares the real truth as God sees it.
In this powerful and inspiring message, readers reconnect with the grand vision God had when He uniquely created them. They learn that regardless of setbacks, failures, and frustrations, there is a better path based in His Word, one that's full of freedom and purpose. This book takes them to their specifically designed path to become exactly who the Father made them to be and achieve exactly what He designed them for.
My thoughts
I really enjoyed reading this very informative book by Charles Stanley. No matter how long a person has been following Christ, there are always areas that we can improve in. People question all the time what purpose they have in life or they don't understand why they are not hearing from God on certain areas. Charles Stanley gives great pointers by outlining seven essentials to living the life God desires for us. Among these essentials is: having a clean heart (this chapter is a real eye opener for those that "thought" they were clean), a clear mind (what are you thinking about? It is not always about what you do but how you think.), using your gifts, a healthy body (your body is a temple of God so why would we not take better care of it?), right relationships (Is there someone in your life that you need to break ties with?), a balanced schedule, and taking God-approved risks. He outlines just how we can improve in all of these areas of our lives. Anyone that reads this book with an open heart and an open mind, can and will learn something.
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Disclaimer: I received this book free for review purposes only. The thoughts in this review are mine and I was not compensated in any way.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Girls from Ames - Book Review
WOW...I have just finished reading the book The Girls from Ames and all I can say is WOW. When I agreed to review this book I had no clue that I would learn so much from a group of girls that I have never met, that grew up in a place that I have never heard of. This book has been a true inspiration to me and I recommend it to everyone!!
From the back of the book: Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana, Sheila. Meet the Ames girls , eleven childhood friends who formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa. AS young women, they moved to eight different states, yet they managed to maintain an enduring friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child's illness, and the mysterious death of one member of their group. Now in their forties, the girls have a lifetime of memories in common, some evocative of their generation and some that will resonate with any woman who has ever had a friend. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the deep bonds of women as they experience life's joys and challenges-and the power of friendship to triumph over the heartbreak and unexpected tragedy.
My thoughts: This book is a true testament of how friendships should be. As I read this book and learned about the girls, I found myself being really caught up into their lives. I laughed with them, I cried with them, and I sometimes ven felt like I was sharing with them, in a sense. I found at different points in the book that I could identify with each of the girls with different situations. Like Karla, I must have my coffee in the morning and I want my sleep or I am grumpy. And like Marilyn, I take a "be-a-nice-mommy-instead-of-a-screaming-bitch-pill".
I have always thought that I did not need many friends. I had one really close friend in school and she was the only person I trusted and felt like I needed in my life. Well, she was killed in a car wreck 7 years ago and I was left with no one to fall onto. There was no other friends to offer a shoulder or an encouraging word. Reading this story of the Ames girl, I realize that having more friends is very important. No matter what, we all need someone that we can count on, especially us women! I also learned through reading this book that I need to stay in better contact with my friend's parents. I did for a while but that has kind of become non-existent. I intend on calling them and checking in on them.
I hope that it is not too late for me to find some good friends that I can hold on to! If Kelly can find the man she has been looking for, then surely I can make friends!!
After reading the book I went to the website Girls from Ames and I was super happy to hear that they were in the process of making a movie!! I thought as I was reading that this would make a great Lifetime movie!
Get your copy today of The Girls from Ames from Amazon.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Two Cups of Coffee
I received this in an email once a long time ago and thought it was really awesome. I have been thinking about it lately and I finally found it so I wanted to share it. Tell me what you think......
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Memorial Day
It is Memorial Day weekend. The official start of summer!! So what are your plans for this weekend and Monday? I have family reunion on Sunday and I guess I will be one of the unfortunate that will be working on Monday. But I hope that everyone will take time ouot, no matter what your plans are, and think about what Memorial Day is all about. We need to think about the soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free, and also the families of those!! Take time to say a prayer for our current military men & women as well as their families too. I am sure they would all appreciate it.
Now if you know someone that would like to show their American pride, check out the great folks at ABC Neckties. They have awesome assortment of "flag" ties. I have one of these and my son took it as soon as it came in and wears it even when we are not celebrating a patriotic holiday!
Now if you know someone that would like to show their American pride, check out the great folks at ABC Neckties. They have awesome assortment of "flag" ties. I have one of these and my son took it as soon as it came in and wears it even when we are not celebrating a patriotic holiday!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
5 fun family vacation activities your kids will love
Ok so summer time is among us and that means summer vacations!! What are some of the things that you are planning this summer? What are some of the things that your family likes to do on vacation?
I am going to take a moment and share my idea for 5 fun family activities that your kids will love. If your kids are anything like mine, they are hard to please sometimes! But these ideas would make any kid happy!
1) Have you ever heard of the Great Wolf Lodge? You really should check them out if you have not already. They are an indoor water park! And as if that wasn't enough they have specialized rooms to make any family happy.
2) Theme parks are always a great family spot. In fact in July my family will be traveling and going to King's Island. My hubby is from that area so he is the only one that has been before and he is really looking forward to taking me and the kids!
3)One trip I would love to take is to see Niagra Falls. I would love to take a family road trip to see the falls and I am sure we can find some good stops on the way as well!!
4) My kids LOVE going to the beach. Even if we don't make plans to do anything except stay in a hotel with a pool they are happy! In fact they get mad when dad makes plans to do anything that involves leaving the pool.
5) Walt Disney!! Every family should make this trip at least once!! I went when I was too young to remember and again my senior year of high school. This is the one trip that I am most looking forward to taking with my family in the future.
There are also places that are good depending on where you live...such as I have heard there is a M&M factory in Las Vegas I believe and I know there is Hershey, PA where they make Hershey candy. Those would be fun family places to go but again that would depend on where you are living or going.
So, what are YOUR plans this summer? You can share along with me and other bloggers by going to Twitter Moms and making a post of your own. But I would also like for you to leave me a comment about some of your plans. I am looking forward to my vacation in July!! And I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post them for all to share in my excitement wiht me.
Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Williamsburg Tourism and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here
Fun Family Vacation Activities Visit Williamsburg
I am going to take a moment and share my idea for 5 fun family activities that your kids will love. If your kids are anything like mine, they are hard to please sometimes! But these ideas would make any kid happy!
1) Have you ever heard of the Great Wolf Lodge? You really should check them out if you have not already. They are an indoor water park! And as if that wasn't enough they have specialized rooms to make any family happy.
2) Theme parks are always a great family spot. In fact in July my family will be traveling and going to King's Island. My hubby is from that area so he is the only one that has been before and he is really looking forward to taking me and the kids!
3)One trip I would love to take is to see Niagra Falls. I would love to take a family road trip to see the falls and I am sure we can find some good stops on the way as well!!
4) My kids LOVE going to the beach. Even if we don't make plans to do anything except stay in a hotel with a pool they are happy! In fact they get mad when dad makes plans to do anything that involves leaving the pool.
5) Walt Disney!! Every family should make this trip at least once!! I went when I was too young to remember and again my senior year of high school. This is the one trip that I am most looking forward to taking with my family in the future.
There are also places that are good depending on where you live...such as I have heard there is a M&M factory in Las Vegas I believe and I know there is Hershey, PA where they make Hershey candy. Those would be fun family places to go but again that would depend on where you are living or going.
So, what are YOUR plans this summer? You can share along with me and other bloggers by going to Twitter Moms and making a post of your own. But I would also like for you to leave me a comment about some of your plans. I am looking forward to my vacation in July!! And I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post them for all to share in my excitement wiht me.
Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Williamsburg Tourism and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here
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