by: Craig Borglum
Does your sprinkler system know if it's raining? It can by adding a simple devise known as a "rain sensor."
For this reason every lawn sprinkler system should have a rain sensor. The rain sensor determines whether or not enough rainfall has occurred in order to skip an irrigation cycle.
There are three basic types of rain sensors. They all serve the same purpose: keeping your system from over-watering the turf or your garden. How does it do that?
The electrical connection between the sensor and your sprinkler system controller is interrupted when a certain amount of rain triggers the device. The sensor breaks the electrical connection so that electricity cannot flow to either the sprinkler valves or to a pump start (if your system is on a well without a pressure tank).
One type breaks the connection by weighing the water in a rainfall collection cup. The problem with this type is that leaves, sticks, or the occasional lizard will find its way into the collection cup and therefore turning off the system.
The next type uses electrodes to determine how much water is in the collection cup. This kind of rain sensor device also has a system problem of collecting things other than rainfall in the collection cup.
The expansion disk type seems to be the most popular. This kind of sensor does not use a collection cup; instead rainfall causes cork disks to expand. This device uses a pressure switch to break the electrical connection. These can be adjusted in increments of ¼" to the desired rain fall setting. These adjustments can be configured to kick in from 1 to a 1/2" of rain has fallen.
The most important aspect of installing a rain sensor is where to place it. It should be installed in an area that is unobstructed by trees, roof over hangs, or anything else that might block rain from getting to the sensor.
Wired rain sensors are usually installed by the timer. The wires should be connected inside the controller's valve wiring panel. This allows for easier electrical trouble-shooting of the system as the sensor can be easily disconnected.
Year by year, as technology improves, FM sensors have become more popular. Although they are more expensive than the wired devices, the ease of installation and increased placement options offset the cost. Most wireless units come with by-pass switches built into the device.
Some digital controllers also offer by-pass options for both wired devices and wireless rain sensors. No matter the type of rain sensor type that you choose, all rain sensors offer many advantages over not adding this detector to your automatic sprinkler system.
Some of the immediate and long term benefits include:
- Saves Money. Whether you pay for city water or spend electricity running a pump, the money you save over time will more than pay for the rain sensor.
- Extends Sprinkler System Life Span. Sprinklers are made up of gears and other parts that move. The less the sprinkler parts are used, the longer they last.
- Protects Water Resources. By limiting the over use of your sprinkler system, rain sensors reduce excess water run-off that carries fertilizers and pest control chemicals into our shared water supply.
- Conserves Water. Less water is wasted when less supplemental water is needed for your turf and in your garden.
How much money can you save with a rain sensor device? It will vary based on your water source (city, re-claim, or well) and where you live (water costs, electrical rate, climate).
Here is one example that demonstrates the benefits listed above: Seminole County, Florida. System Description:
Intended to sprinkle a 1/4 acre of turf calibrated to precipitate a half inch" of water every time the system runs.
- This schedule would equal 6,788 gallons per irrigation cycle.
- This system (on City Water) pays $2.30 per thousand gallons.
- Every time the rains sensor interrupts a sprinkler cycle, you would save $15.61
According to a recent study in Florida, the use of a rain sensor device averaged a 45% savings in water for single-family residential water usage. The next time you see a sprinkler system running in the rain, you now know it doesn't have to be that way. Rain sensors are affordable solutions to conserving our water, protecting our water resources, and saving you money.
Baby Birth Announcement
by: Crizza Reyes
We all know practically that there's nothing more exciting in this world of having a baby. It is difficult for you to appreciate this kind of stuff if you are younger. It's not uncommon for children, teens and even adults to comment on how annoying babies and toddlers are. For them, they are annoying but, if you have your own, that point in life will change. The rules suddenly don't apply to your child. He or she's not annoying and complaining like the rest of them. And even if he or she is, you don't really mind. Of course you don't; because this small miracle is a part of you. Some mother want to scream out loud to the entire world in order to let others know that they now a baby. They send notifications by mail such as baby girl birth announcements with decorative borders and adorable photos. Although acquaintances receive a head-ups, is this truly a wise route in this day and age? Several says it's not.
As a matter of fact, the birth of a child is an exciting time. Parents make phone calls to tell all their family and friends and everyone buys presents for the newest person in their world. Proud parents and excited grandparents want the world to know about this great little person that has entered their life. As a logical parents they want to announce their child's birth formally with baby birth announcements.
Honestly speaking, i don't think many new parents give baby boy and baby girl birth announcements a second thought. All they can think about is how proud and excited they are having a beautiful child has come into their life. However, spreading the word about your new, little joy can be somewhat dangerous. Check this out. Let's say you and your spouse just had a baby boy. Like many couples, you tie beautiful balloons to your mailbox. Their baby blue color gives away the fact that you just brought home a baby boy. Now anyone that may pass by your home, knows that a newborn boy is inside. Hmmm, this is not something I would advertise to every unpleasant person, pervert and criminal in town. Especially in 2007.
Having a baby birth announcement this is the first impression that your child makes in the minds of friends and families that do not live close by so you likely want to make it a good impression to them. our baby’s birth announcement will be seen on fridges, mantel pieces, and in wallets of those who just can’t wait to boast a little. This idea of having a baby birth announcement is something that people save in their scrapbooks to show off to future generations to come and send across the world to help distant family members feel more to keep in touch. You can make a good impressions by making your baby birth announcement unique and pleasing to the eye.
You can find a beautiful baby card announcements with many contemporary designs that allow you to add your favorite baby photo to create it more special. Designs that help make the color come alive accentuate the announcement and make it unforgettable. A special verse or quotation can be chosen to individualize it. Or simply buy the finished card to the stores and choose the best one that fits to your baby and more unique.
If you're in love with the idea of sending baby girl birth or boy birth announcement out there, then I highly suggest you to keep it to close family and friends. You tell one person, he or she informs ten more. Before you know it, half the town knows about your newborn child. Lastly, consider drugstore baby boy or baby girl birth announcements, as opposed to the fancy ones. We all know that once people read cards, they go straight to the trash can.
By then, if you are having a problem in finding baby birth announcements that are as unique and as special as your child, you can log on online using online catalogue to broaden your choices. You can find great scope of selections to choose from online. And also, you can find places online where you can design your own birth announcements. You can add special graphics, the names of the other members of the family, pictures of the baby, fancy backgrounds, and other things to make your baby birth announcements extraordinary. You can add up also, a special Bible verse, a few lines of a poem, or sincere thought from the proud parents may be that extra-special touch that will make it memorable. You can find a great array of affordable, elegant, and stylish custom designs to choose from. Birth announcements that you order online can be printed out and mailed to you or you can send a baby announcement e-card to as many people as you like.
If you want your baby birth announcement to be remembered, memorable and will be treasured by families and friends and also by other people, make it stylish and unique. Remember, your baby birth announcements are the first impressions that many will have of your new family addition, so isn’t it worth your time and effort to make it exceptional?
We all know practically that there's nothing more exciting in this world of having a baby. It is difficult for you to appreciate this kind of stuff if you are younger. It's not uncommon for children, teens and even adults to comment on how annoying babies and toddlers are. For them, they are annoying but, if you have your own, that point in life will change. The rules suddenly don't apply to your child. He or she's not annoying and complaining like the rest of them. And even if he or she is, you don't really mind. Of course you don't; because this small miracle is a part of you. Some mother want to scream out loud to the entire world in order to let others know that they now a baby. They send notifications by mail such as baby girl birth announcements with decorative borders and adorable photos. Although acquaintances receive a head-ups, is this truly a wise route in this day and age? Several says it's not.
As a matter of fact, the birth of a child is an exciting time. Parents make phone calls to tell all their family and friends and everyone buys presents for the newest person in their world. Proud parents and excited grandparents want the world to know about this great little person that has entered their life. As a logical parents they want to announce their child's birth formally with baby birth announcements.
Honestly speaking, i don't think many new parents give baby boy and baby girl birth announcements a second thought. All they can think about is how proud and excited they are having a beautiful child has come into their life. However, spreading the word about your new, little joy can be somewhat dangerous. Check this out. Let's say you and your spouse just had a baby boy. Like many couples, you tie beautiful balloons to your mailbox. Their baby blue color gives away the fact that you just brought home a baby boy. Now anyone that may pass by your home, knows that a newborn boy is inside. Hmmm, this is not something I would advertise to every unpleasant person, pervert and criminal in town. Especially in 2007.
Having a baby birth announcement this is the first impression that your child makes in the minds of friends and families that do not live close by so you likely want to make it a good impression to them. our baby’s birth announcement will be seen on fridges, mantel pieces, and in wallets of those who just can’t wait to boast a little. This idea of having a baby birth announcement is something that people save in their scrapbooks to show off to future generations to come and send across the world to help distant family members feel more to keep in touch. You can make a good impressions by making your baby birth announcement unique and pleasing to the eye.
You can find a beautiful baby card announcements with many contemporary designs that allow you to add your favorite baby photo to create it more special. Designs that help make the color come alive accentuate the announcement and make it unforgettable. A special verse or quotation can be chosen to individualize it. Or simply buy the finished card to the stores and choose the best one that fits to your baby and more unique.
If you're in love with the idea of sending baby girl birth or boy birth announcement out there, then I highly suggest you to keep it to close family and friends. You tell one person, he or she informs ten more. Before you know it, half the town knows about your newborn child. Lastly, consider drugstore baby boy or baby girl birth announcements, as opposed to the fancy ones. We all know that once people read cards, they go straight to the trash can.
By then, if you are having a problem in finding baby birth announcements that are as unique and as special as your child, you can log on online using online catalogue to broaden your choices. You can find great scope of selections to choose from online. And also, you can find places online where you can design your own birth announcements. You can add special graphics, the names of the other members of the family, pictures of the baby, fancy backgrounds, and other things to make your baby birth announcements extraordinary. You can add up also, a special Bible verse, a few lines of a poem, or sincere thought from the proud parents may be that extra-special touch that will make it memorable. You can find a great array of affordable, elegant, and stylish custom designs to choose from. Birth announcements that you order online can be printed out and mailed to you or you can send a baby announcement e-card to as many people as you like.
If you want your baby birth announcement to be remembered, memorable and will be treasured by families and friends and also by other people, make it stylish and unique. Remember, your baby birth announcements are the first impressions that many will have of your new family addition, so isn’t it worth your time and effort to make it exceptional?
What Went Wrong When Children Stop Sharing Their Problems?
by: Jacob Gan
All parents desire that their children share their problems with their parents. However, many children do not share the same desire. Why does such a situation arise?
It is very often painful for children to bring up their problems to their parents. If, what they get in return from their parents are nothing more that irrelevant, and sometimes inappropriate, responses and instructions, the children will feel that it is not worth their trouble to be open with their parents. Also, sometimes, the responses are so disempowering to the children that they are actually not only counter-productive, they can be very damaging to their children's development.
We, as parents, have to understand the reasons why giving out advices without careful understanding is not helpful. We will have to learn to respond to our children's problems in such a way that we empower them to solve their own problems.
We shall now discuss the reasons why giving advices to our children the usaul way is not helpful to our children.
We assume that we know what the problems are and forget to first listen carefully in order to better understand the problems. As a result, due to lack of in-depth understanding of the real issues, the advice that we so readily provide will not be relevant and will not solve the problems.
Without sufficient probing, we may not understand our children’s points of view or perspectives on what trouble them. As a result we do not provide the solutions that our children need. When our children share conflict that they are having with their friends, we may start advising them on how to stay away from those friends while they actually may be feeling guilty for not treating their friends right and want to gain the courage to apologize to their friend. As a result we may be doing further damage to relationships that they are trying so hard to salvage.
In our eagerness and haste to provide the counsel, we forget to extend empathy to our children for the problems they are facing. Our children will not feel connected to us, and they may feel that whatever suggestions we provide have no bearings on their problems and are unlikely to be accepted.
As we are the one dishing out the advice, if the advice turns out to be good, the credit goes to us and not to our children. On the other hand, if the advice is taken and implemented but does not turn out to be successful, it is taken to be our children’s fault as the advice is likely to have been one that was successful when followed by another person. In this case, it is a lose-lose situation for our children because if the advice is successful, we claim the credit and if it is a failure, it is a reflection of our children’s incompetence and stupidity.
We take the position of the experts who have the knowledge and wisdom and we talk down when we give advice, instead of speaking as equals. We treat our children as if they have neither the knowledge nor the skills to handle the problems. It is a one-way traffic and likely to be resented by our children because they feel that we treat them as if they have nothing good to share with us.
We give the message that we think our children cannot develop the solutions themselves. This is disempowering for our children and will do great harm to our children’s development.
We do not show appreciation for the efforts our children have taken in solving their own problems. This will discourage them to take great efforts in coming up with their own solutions and taking the necessary steps to solve the problems when other problems crop up in the future.
They may just want to share their problems with us and do not want or need any counsel from us at all. Whatever advice we provide may not only be futile, but damaging to our children’s self esteem.
We shall now discuss what we shall take into consideration when we respond to our children's sharing of the issues that they face.
How are you going to understand their problems and help your children gain a better understanding of their own problems so that they can develop their own solutions? As parents, we encourage our children to connect the various aspects of the problem that trouble them in order to help them to have a good grasp of the specific issues that trouble them and encourage them to develop their own solutions.
How are you going to show sufficient empathy with your children so that they feel fully connected with you enough to express their real thoughts and feelings and be receptive of what wisdom you may have to offer? Our children want to feel that we are there with them - not just physically, but emotionally as well. We want them to feel that we do feel the way they feel. It is vital that we do not belittle their feelings.
How are you going to make the situations "win-win" for them? That is, how are you going to encourage them to develop their own solutions and they take the credit when they succeed and also take the credit for the efforts taken when they fail? If they are the ones who come up with the solutions they should be the ones who claim the credits when they succeed. On the other hand, if they fail, provide the encouragement that they have taken the efforts which are by themselves very admirable. When they fail, encourage them to get up again, examine the reasons for failure and try again.
The last, but definitely not the least, question is this: “What else can you do to make them feel that it is always good for them to bring their problems to you?”
Resources:
http://jacobgan.com
http://succezz.com
http://demystifycancer.com
All parents desire that their children share their problems with their parents. However, many children do not share the same desire. Why does such a situation arise?
It is very often painful for children to bring up their problems to their parents. If, what they get in return from their parents are nothing more that irrelevant, and sometimes inappropriate, responses and instructions, the children will feel that it is not worth their trouble to be open with their parents. Also, sometimes, the responses are so disempowering to the children that they are actually not only counter-productive, they can be very damaging to their children's development.
We, as parents, have to understand the reasons why giving out advices without careful understanding is not helpful. We will have to learn to respond to our children's problems in such a way that we empower them to solve their own problems.
We shall now discuss the reasons why giving advices to our children the usaul way is not helpful to our children.
We assume that we know what the problems are and forget to first listen carefully in order to better understand the problems. As a result, due to lack of in-depth understanding of the real issues, the advice that we so readily provide will not be relevant and will not solve the problems.
Without sufficient probing, we may not understand our children’s points of view or perspectives on what trouble them. As a result we do not provide the solutions that our children need. When our children share conflict that they are having with their friends, we may start advising them on how to stay away from those friends while they actually may be feeling guilty for not treating their friends right and want to gain the courage to apologize to their friend. As a result we may be doing further damage to relationships that they are trying so hard to salvage.
In our eagerness and haste to provide the counsel, we forget to extend empathy to our children for the problems they are facing. Our children will not feel connected to us, and they may feel that whatever suggestions we provide have no bearings on their problems and are unlikely to be accepted.
As we are the one dishing out the advice, if the advice turns out to be good, the credit goes to us and not to our children. On the other hand, if the advice is taken and implemented but does not turn out to be successful, it is taken to be our children’s fault as the advice is likely to have been one that was successful when followed by another person. In this case, it is a lose-lose situation for our children because if the advice is successful, we claim the credit and if it is a failure, it is a reflection of our children’s incompetence and stupidity.
We take the position of the experts who have the knowledge and wisdom and we talk down when we give advice, instead of speaking as equals. We treat our children as if they have neither the knowledge nor the skills to handle the problems. It is a one-way traffic and likely to be resented by our children because they feel that we treat them as if they have nothing good to share with us.
We give the message that we think our children cannot develop the solutions themselves. This is disempowering for our children and will do great harm to our children’s development.
We do not show appreciation for the efforts our children have taken in solving their own problems. This will discourage them to take great efforts in coming up with their own solutions and taking the necessary steps to solve the problems when other problems crop up in the future.
They may just want to share their problems with us and do not want or need any counsel from us at all. Whatever advice we provide may not only be futile, but damaging to our children’s self esteem.
We shall now discuss what we shall take into consideration when we respond to our children's sharing of the issues that they face.
How are you going to understand their problems and help your children gain a better understanding of their own problems so that they can develop their own solutions? As parents, we encourage our children to connect the various aspects of the problem that trouble them in order to help them to have a good grasp of the specific issues that trouble them and encourage them to develop their own solutions.
How are you going to show sufficient empathy with your children so that they feel fully connected with you enough to express their real thoughts and feelings and be receptive of what wisdom you may have to offer? Our children want to feel that we are there with them - not just physically, but emotionally as well. We want them to feel that we do feel the way they feel. It is vital that we do not belittle their feelings.
How are you going to make the situations "win-win" for them? That is, how are you going to encourage them to develop their own solutions and they take the credit when they succeed and also take the credit for the efforts taken when they fail? If they are the ones who come up with the solutions they should be the ones who claim the credits when they succeed. On the other hand, if they fail, provide the encouragement that they have taken the efforts which are by themselves very admirable. When they fail, encourage them to get up again, examine the reasons for failure and try again.
The last, but definitely not the least, question is this: “What else can you do to make them feel that it is always good for them to bring their problems to you?”
Resources:
http://jacobgan.com
http://succezz.com
http://demystifycancer.com
8 Tips For A Stress-Less Holiday To Make
by: Marilyn Bohn
I think GPS systems are the greatest. (Global Position System) I know a few people who definitely need them. A few years ago we had guests driving from California to our home in Utah to stay over night. It was about a ten hour drive. I gave what I thought was excellent instructions and directions so they would not get lost. The night (early morning) my guests were to arrive I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with a start as Maggie hadn’t arrived. (She didn’t follow my directions, instead made up her own). From our place they were driving back to Washington D.C.. Her sister said she was afraid to take a nap because she was afraid she would wake up in Mexico. A GPS in her car will save her hours of frustration and time.
With the holidays arriving GPS is a great idea for all of us to have. The GPS I am talking about is: Great Planning System. By planning ahead we can have a happy stress free, joyous holiday season. Christmas can be one of the most stressful holidays. But with forethought and organization it can be fun and a holiday to look forward to instead of dreading.
First of all we need to decide what it is we want to get from the holidays. Do we want to have big dinners, entertain friends, and attend every function we are invited to, decorate, bake, spend time with family, send out Christmas cards, exchange neighbor gifts, establish traditions, give to charity or do something unique this year?
Once we have our goals in mind then we can move forward.
•Take some time and decide what is important for you to do this year for the holiday. Then write it down, map it out.
•Establish a time frame to accomplish each task. If it isn’t accomplished in the time we thought it would be, no beating up on ourselves or negative self talk. And if it doesn’t get done ask yourself what is the worst that can happen?
•Cook food ahead of time and freeze it. Some pies freeze well as do cookies. Check your recipes to see what else you can make and freeze.
•Plan on delegating. Who can put up the outdoor lights? Who can do the food shopping? Who can help decorate? Get a crew together to share in the fun.
•Plan a specific time to decorate, another to bake, another to deliver gifts—whatever you plan break it up into little jobs, a little at a time.
•If you send out Christmas cards, organize a basket with the cards, addresses and stamps, and then while watching a T.V. show address the envelopes on the commercials. Do cards in November to save time in December. OR Instead of sending cards, call your friends to wish them a Merry Christmas. Long distance calls have become so reasonable it may cost less than sending a card.
•Keep a notebook with the names of those you are giving gifts to. Check off the gift as it is purchased and make a note when it is wrapped and sent. You could do this on a spread sheet if you use the computer.
•If your family will let you mix up your traditions, try a new one, customize to your own personal preference.
Through all the planning remember this is to be a joyous season; don’t get sucked into thinking you have to do it all. Actually you don’t have to do any of it so have fun with what you decide you really want to do.
I think GPS systems are the greatest. (Global Position System) I know a few people who definitely need them. A few years ago we had guests driving from California to our home in Utah to stay over night. It was about a ten hour drive. I gave what I thought was excellent instructions and directions so they would not get lost. The night (early morning) my guests were to arrive I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with a start as Maggie hadn’t arrived. (She didn’t follow my directions, instead made up her own). From our place they were driving back to Washington D.C.. Her sister said she was afraid to take a nap because she was afraid she would wake up in Mexico. A GPS in her car will save her hours of frustration and time.
With the holidays arriving GPS is a great idea for all of us to have. The GPS I am talking about is: Great Planning System. By planning ahead we can have a happy stress free, joyous holiday season. Christmas can be one of the most stressful holidays. But with forethought and organization it can be fun and a holiday to look forward to instead of dreading.
First of all we need to decide what it is we want to get from the holidays. Do we want to have big dinners, entertain friends, and attend every function we are invited to, decorate, bake, spend time with family, send out Christmas cards, exchange neighbor gifts, establish traditions, give to charity or do something unique this year?
Once we have our goals in mind then we can move forward.
•Take some time and decide what is important for you to do this year for the holiday. Then write it down, map it out.
•Establish a time frame to accomplish each task. If it isn’t accomplished in the time we thought it would be, no beating up on ourselves or negative self talk. And if it doesn’t get done ask yourself what is the worst that can happen?
•Cook food ahead of time and freeze it. Some pies freeze well as do cookies. Check your recipes to see what else you can make and freeze.
•Plan on delegating. Who can put up the outdoor lights? Who can do the food shopping? Who can help decorate? Get a crew together to share in the fun.
•Plan a specific time to decorate, another to bake, another to deliver gifts—whatever you plan break it up into little jobs, a little at a time.
•If you send out Christmas cards, organize a basket with the cards, addresses and stamps, and then while watching a T.V. show address the envelopes on the commercials. Do cards in November to save time in December. OR Instead of sending cards, call your friends to wish them a Merry Christmas. Long distance calls have become so reasonable it may cost less than sending a card.
•Keep a notebook with the names of those you are giving gifts to. Check off the gift as it is purchased and make a note when it is wrapped and sent. You could do this on a spread sheet if you use the computer.
•If your family will let you mix up your traditions, try a new one, customize to your own personal preference.
Through all the planning remember this is to be a joyous season; don’t get sucked into thinking you have to do it all. Actually you don’t have to do any of it so have fun with what you decide you really want to do.
Toddler Pillows Tips For A Perfect Little Fit
by: Patricia Bowlin
A toddler pillow is a pillow that is just the right size for a child of two years or more. Prior to age two, use of a pillow of any type is considered dangerous and is not recommended.
Babies should sleep without the possibility of snuggling their little heads under a pillow and potentially smothering. Toddler pillows are about half the size of a standard adult pillow and they have their own special pillow cases that are made to fit.
A child of two to five or six years old simply can not sleep comfortably on a large standard adult pillow. Their necks and shoulders can not be comfortable because the pillow is too large and too thick. The toddler's special pillows allow your child's head, neck and shoulders to be supported just like yours but in a size proportional to the child's smaller body.
Measurements for pillows for toddlers are usually 12 inches by 16 inches in size. Pillow cases for the toddler's special pillow come in a wide range of prints and colors to fit in with any bedding theme you may have in your child's room.
When traveling, the pillow for your toddler will be great for carrying in the car for napping or for sleeping in hotels. Since hotel pillows are traditional thick and fluffy, your child will be much more comfy and sleep better with their own little pillow.
There are even allergy-proof pillows in toddler sizes available if your child is allergic to pillow fill. You'll even find pillow covers that are toddler sized for additional allergy proofing.
If your child doesn't have allergies, you can select down fill for their special little pillow, or you can select polyester fiber fill. Each will last pretty well, but you will pay a bit more for 100% down fill.
Now that you know all about toddler pillows you'll probably want to have several on hand so you have enough for sleep overs.
A toddler pillow is a pillow that is just the right size for a child of two years or more. Prior to age two, use of a pillow of any type is considered dangerous and is not recommended.
Babies should sleep without the possibility of snuggling their little heads under a pillow and potentially smothering. Toddler pillows are about half the size of a standard adult pillow and they have their own special pillow cases that are made to fit.
A child of two to five or six years old simply can not sleep comfortably on a large standard adult pillow. Their necks and shoulders can not be comfortable because the pillow is too large and too thick. The toddler's special pillows allow your child's head, neck and shoulders to be supported just like yours but in a size proportional to the child's smaller body.
Measurements for pillows for toddlers are usually 12 inches by 16 inches in size. Pillow cases for the toddler's special pillow come in a wide range of prints and colors to fit in with any bedding theme you may have in your child's room.
When traveling, the pillow for your toddler will be great for carrying in the car for napping or for sleeping in hotels. Since hotel pillows are traditional thick and fluffy, your child will be much more comfy and sleep better with their own little pillow.
There are even allergy-proof pillows in toddler sizes available if your child is allergic to pillow fill. You'll even find pillow covers that are toddler sized for additional allergy proofing.
If your child doesn't have allergies, you can select down fill for their special little pillow, or you can select polyester fiber fill. Each will last pretty well, but you will pay a bit more for 100% down fill.
Now that you know all about toddler pillows you'll probably want to have several on hand so you have enough for sleep overs.
Don't Go Into Debt for Baby's Layette!
by: Susan Hawkins
Here's a message for first-time moms. Any seasoned mother will tell you - the newborn stage flies by like a cheetah on caffeine, so remember these two things: Cherish those precious, middle-of-the-night moments when it's just you and your baby, and resist the temptation to go hog wild on your infant's initial wardrobe.
During their first month, most newborns continue to gain weight at a rate of at least 5 ounces (141 grams) a week. They generally grow in height about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.54 to 3.81 centimeters) during the first month. Many newborns go through a period of rapid growth when they are 7 to 10 days old and again at 3 and 6 weeks.
Infants grow so quickly that many experienced mothers suggest starting out with the layette items you receive for baby shower gifts, supplemented if necessary by some items of your own choice and a few hand-me-downs. Save your money (and your urge to have the world's best-dressed baby) until the rapid growth process takes a breather.
You won't have to wait long. Physical growth slows down during the second half of the first year, yet by that first birthday cake, your baby will probably have almost tripled his or her birth weight and will have grown about 10 inches (25 centimeters).
Perhaps the definition of a layette will help you focus on your needs. A layette is quite simply a complete assortment of clothing and accessories for a new baby. And keep in mind, many newborn babies hardly spend a month in the 0-3 month sizes, so concentrate on size 0-6 months. To help you prepare the nursery with the essentials in infant finery without breaking the piggy bank, follow this checklist and you'll be all set with the perfect layette:
Clothing:
1 “Take Me Home” Outfit
8 Bodysuits
3 Shirt and Pants Sets
4 Coveralls (one-piece footed outfits)
1 Sweater
6 Pairs of Socks
8 Sleep Gowns with Elastic Bottom
2 Sleep Sacks
Lots of Burp Cloths
4-6 Drool Bibs
Bath Accessories:
2 Large Hooded Towels
4-6 Receiving Blankets
6-9 Washcloths
1-2 Washcloth Mittens
1-2 After-Bath Cover-Ups
3-6 Crib Blankets
Accessories:
1-2 Caps and Booties
1-2 Mittens
Depending on where you live:
Coat, Hat and Snowsuit
Swimsuit and Brimmed Sun Hat
Last, but not least, you'll need a good supply of cloth or disposable diapers, whichever you prefer. How many will you need? Well, if you're breastfeeding, and your baby is eating regularly around the clock, expect to use about eight to 10 diapers a day. That's 70 a week, so stay well-stocked!
Don't forget - your baby shower will probably yield lots of wonderful surprises in any of the above categories, including personalized baby gifts that will start your baby out in style. And count on a couple of baby gift baskets in the mix, too. It's no sweat - you'll be all set and not in debt from your layette!
Here's a message for first-time moms. Any seasoned mother will tell you - the newborn stage flies by like a cheetah on caffeine, so remember these two things: Cherish those precious, middle-of-the-night moments when it's just you and your baby, and resist the temptation to go hog wild on your infant's initial wardrobe.
During their first month, most newborns continue to gain weight at a rate of at least 5 ounces (141 grams) a week. They generally grow in height about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.54 to 3.81 centimeters) during the first month. Many newborns go through a period of rapid growth when they are 7 to 10 days old and again at 3 and 6 weeks.
Infants grow so quickly that many experienced mothers suggest starting out with the layette items you receive for baby shower gifts, supplemented if necessary by some items of your own choice and a few hand-me-downs. Save your money (and your urge to have the world's best-dressed baby) until the rapid growth process takes a breather.
You won't have to wait long. Physical growth slows down during the second half of the first year, yet by that first birthday cake, your baby will probably have almost tripled his or her birth weight and will have grown about 10 inches (25 centimeters).
Perhaps the definition of a layette will help you focus on your needs. A layette is quite simply a complete assortment of clothing and accessories for a new baby. And keep in mind, many newborn babies hardly spend a month in the 0-3 month sizes, so concentrate on size 0-6 months. To help you prepare the nursery with the essentials in infant finery without breaking the piggy bank, follow this checklist and you'll be all set with the perfect layette:
Clothing:
1 “Take Me Home” Outfit
8 Bodysuits
3 Shirt and Pants Sets
4 Coveralls (one-piece footed outfits)
1 Sweater
6 Pairs of Socks
8 Sleep Gowns with Elastic Bottom
2 Sleep Sacks
Lots of Burp Cloths
4-6 Drool Bibs
Bath Accessories:
2 Large Hooded Towels
4-6 Receiving Blankets
6-9 Washcloths
1-2 Washcloth Mittens
1-2 After-Bath Cover-Ups
3-6 Crib Blankets
Accessories:
1-2 Caps and Booties
1-2 Mittens
Depending on where you live:
Coat, Hat and Snowsuit
Swimsuit and Brimmed Sun Hat
Last, but not least, you'll need a good supply of cloth or disposable diapers, whichever you prefer. How many will you need? Well, if you're breastfeeding, and your baby is eating regularly around the clock, expect to use about eight to 10 diapers a day. That's 70 a week, so stay well-stocked!
Don't forget - your baby shower will probably yield lots of wonderful surprises in any of the above categories, including personalized baby gifts that will start your baby out in style. And count on a couple of baby gift baskets in the mix, too. It's no sweat - you'll be all set and not in debt from your layette!
Quick and Easy Party Planning Tips
by: Chantel Danis
Planning a party can be overwhelming, especially when you start at the last minute. So, do yourself a favor and make it a priority to plan any soirée early. A couple of weeks is plenty of time to get everything together, however, it does take effort and organization. To kick start your planning, follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to an awesome party that friends and family will talk about for years.
The easiest and most effective way to plan any party is by simply answering five basic questions. Who, what, where, when and why. Just like everything else in life, to be successful, you need to have a clear vision of where you are going, otherwise you end up going in circles or going off the path completely. One way to make sure this doesn’t happen is by compiling your answers to the above questions and creating a sentence from it.
The most important question is the "who". In order to plan a party, you have to know who the party is for. Answer the following three questions and then create a sentence from them.
1. Who is my anticipated guest list? (Friends, family or coworkers?)
2. Do you want a small gathering or a lot of people?
3. Will this be exclusively for adults or will there be children?
Perhaps your sentence will look like one of these:
A small party for adult friends
A big family party
Now that you know who will be attending your event, you need to figure out what kind of party you want and where you would like to host it.
1. Is this a casual or formal party?
3. Will you host this party at home or at a venue?
Now add those answers to your sentence.
A small, casual home party for adult friends.
A formal, big family event at the local recreation center.
Once you get this far, you can figure out what type of food and drink you will be serving. Naturally, if it is formal, you might want to consider a sit down supper with wine. If it is casual, perhaps a buffet style supper or potluck with punch. If this party is after dinner hours, then appetizers will do just fine. Let’s look at that sentence now.
A small, casual home party featuring a potluck dinner and drinks for adult friends.
A formal, big family event with a sit down supper and wine to drink hosted at the local recreation center.
The party is definitely shaping up, but there is still some work to do. Now you need to know why you want to host an evening to begin with. This will form the theme.
1. Is this a party to celebrate a specific day or person?
Once you’ve answered this question, you can decide on what type of entertainment would be appropriate for this particular party. Perhaps some dancing, board games or singing. Whatever suits the needs of the crowd.
A small, casual home party featuring a potluck dinner and drinks for adult friends to celebrate Christmas.
A formal, big family dance with a sit down supper and wine to drink hosted at the local recreation center to celebrate Christmas.
Finally, you need to answer the last question. When? Now you can create an invitation based on your sentence. See how much clearer the picture is? You know exactly where you want to go, now all you need to do is organize the steps to get there and that’s where your to-do list comes into play. Here is an example to do list to help you plan that perfect stress free party.
To do List
1. Book your venue
2. Book your entertainment
3. Create your guest list
4. Send out invitations
5. Plan your menu and do your grocery shopping
6. Buy decorations according to your theme
Tip: It helps to create an agenda of how you would like the evening to unfold. This can be approximated. You just never know what surprises will unveil itself at the party, so just go with the flow and enjoy yourself.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and wish you the best party ever!
Chantel Danis
Planning a party can be overwhelming, especially when you start at the last minute. So, do yourself a favor and make it a priority to plan any soirée early. A couple of weeks is plenty of time to get everything together, however, it does take effort and organization. To kick start your planning, follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to an awesome party that friends and family will talk about for years.
The easiest and most effective way to plan any party is by simply answering five basic questions. Who, what, where, when and why. Just like everything else in life, to be successful, you need to have a clear vision of where you are going, otherwise you end up going in circles or going off the path completely. One way to make sure this doesn’t happen is by compiling your answers to the above questions and creating a sentence from it.
The most important question is the "who". In order to plan a party, you have to know who the party is for. Answer the following three questions and then create a sentence from them.
1. Who is my anticipated guest list? (Friends, family or coworkers?)
2. Do you want a small gathering or a lot of people?
3. Will this be exclusively for adults or will there be children?
Perhaps your sentence will look like one of these:
A small party for adult friends
A big family party
Now that you know who will be attending your event, you need to figure out what kind of party you want and where you would like to host it.
1. Is this a casual or formal party?
3. Will you host this party at home or at a venue?
Now add those answers to your sentence.
A small, casual home party for adult friends.
A formal, big family event at the local recreation center.
Once you get this far, you can figure out what type of food and drink you will be serving. Naturally, if it is formal, you might want to consider a sit down supper with wine. If it is casual, perhaps a buffet style supper or potluck with punch. If this party is after dinner hours, then appetizers will do just fine. Let’s look at that sentence now.
A small, casual home party featuring a potluck dinner and drinks for adult friends.
A formal, big family event with a sit down supper and wine to drink hosted at the local recreation center.
The party is definitely shaping up, but there is still some work to do. Now you need to know why you want to host an evening to begin with. This will form the theme.
1. Is this a party to celebrate a specific day or person?
Once you’ve answered this question, you can decide on what type of entertainment would be appropriate for this particular party. Perhaps some dancing, board games or singing. Whatever suits the needs of the crowd.
A small, casual home party featuring a potluck dinner and drinks for adult friends to celebrate Christmas.
A formal, big family dance with a sit down supper and wine to drink hosted at the local recreation center to celebrate Christmas.
Finally, you need to answer the last question. When? Now you can create an invitation based on your sentence. See how much clearer the picture is? You know exactly where you want to go, now all you need to do is organize the steps to get there and that’s where your to-do list comes into play. Here is an example to do list to help you plan that perfect stress free party.
To do List
1. Book your venue
2. Book your entertainment
3. Create your guest list
4. Send out invitations
5. Plan your menu and do your grocery shopping
6. Buy decorations according to your theme
Tip: It helps to create an agenda of how you would like the evening to unfold. This can be approximated. You just never know what surprises will unveil itself at the party, so just go with the flow and enjoy yourself.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and wish you the best party ever!
Chantel Danis
Eliminate Holiday Stress
by: Colette Robicheau
Feeling pulled in a million directions this holiday season? Your children need you at school concerts, work has extra holiday hours and commitments and your friend needs help planning a big holiday party? The extra money, time and energy during the holiday season is very stressful. Keep in mind that you won’t be of use to anyone if you over extend yourself. Practice these holiday stress reducers so you don’t just survive the season, but enjoy this special time of the year.
1. Take a break each day for yourself. Plan it in your calendar as you would a meeting or appointment. Schedule “you” time for at least 15-30 minutes each day doing something that you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a good book, going for a manicure or journal writing, take the time to relax and rejuvenate.
2. Just say “No”. It’s OK not to do everything. Graciously thank people for their invitations but let them no you are unable to attend. No excuses necessary.
3. Question your traditions. Traditions are wonderful, but ask yourself if everyone is still enjoying them or whether the time and effort is worth it to you and your family. Ask family members which traditions they really enjoy. Then think about altering those traditions to better suit today’s busy lifestyle.
4. Don’t buy into bigger is better. Whether shopping for a gift, creating a warm evening for friends or cooking or baking, think of ways to simplify. Don’t make it more difficult than it has to be.
5. Maintain your regular exercise routine. Don’t schedule your workouts around your other activities, schedule your other activities around your workout routines. Try to go to the gym, swim or exercise at home at the same time each day. If you need to go to the store, park far away from the front entrance and get some exercise while you are at it. What about bundling up and having some fun with the kids outside? Give yourself and loved ones the best gift of all this holiday and take care of your health first.
6. Get to bed at your usual time or earlier. It can be tough to squeeze everything in that needs to get done for the holidays after work and throughout the day. Sometimes people make up for this by staying up later hours. With festive activities like parties and concerts keeping you up at all hours, it’s time to head to bed early on those nights you are at home. If you find yourself just flipping through the TV channels and considering your rerun options, make going to bed early a priority and a better use your precious time.
7. Eat properly. Don’t use the holidays and stress as a reason to over eat. Although the holidays bring with them sweet treats and extra appetizers, try not to make food the prime focus. And remember, just because someone offers you something, you do not have to accept. It is not considered rude to politely pass on a food or beverages. If you have ordered something out on the fly and the portion is large consider packing half of it to go and you will save both calories and on time preparing another meal. Remember there is no rule saying you must eat everything on your plate or everything that is handed to you. Pick and choose the healthiest foods and indulge on those. Be selective with richer foods and treats and eat smaller portions.
8. Watch your alcohol consumption. Although some people believe alcohol decreases your stress, it is only a temporary solution. Try to stay away from consuming too many cocktails as this will interfere with your digestion, calorie intake, sleep and overall energy and well-being. When you are careful with what you drink, you will eliminate consuming too much at holiday parties which can create stress issues bigger than post holiday pounds.
9. Cut down your gift giving list. If you have way too many people to buy gifts for this year, try having a family, friend or work gift draw. Often people are very excited about this idea, and are just waiting for someone to suggest it. This will help to relieve you of what to get, time to get it and money to budget. It’s simple, the fewer people you have to buy gifts for, the less over all stressors for you.
With all the additional stress that can be added this holiday season it’s important to practice some de-stressing activities to make your holidays the festive and joyful time you really want it to be.
Feeling pulled in a million directions this holiday season? Your children need you at school concerts, work has extra holiday hours and commitments and your friend needs help planning a big holiday party? The extra money, time and energy during the holiday season is very stressful. Keep in mind that you won’t be of use to anyone if you over extend yourself. Practice these holiday stress reducers so you don’t just survive the season, but enjoy this special time of the year.
1. Take a break each day for yourself. Plan it in your calendar as you would a meeting or appointment. Schedule “you” time for at least 15-30 minutes each day doing something that you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a good book, going for a manicure or journal writing, take the time to relax and rejuvenate.
2. Just say “No”. It’s OK not to do everything. Graciously thank people for their invitations but let them no you are unable to attend. No excuses necessary.
3. Question your traditions. Traditions are wonderful, but ask yourself if everyone is still enjoying them or whether the time and effort is worth it to you and your family. Ask family members which traditions they really enjoy. Then think about altering those traditions to better suit today’s busy lifestyle.
4. Don’t buy into bigger is better. Whether shopping for a gift, creating a warm evening for friends or cooking or baking, think of ways to simplify. Don’t make it more difficult than it has to be.
5. Maintain your regular exercise routine. Don’t schedule your workouts around your other activities, schedule your other activities around your workout routines. Try to go to the gym, swim or exercise at home at the same time each day. If you need to go to the store, park far away from the front entrance and get some exercise while you are at it. What about bundling up and having some fun with the kids outside? Give yourself and loved ones the best gift of all this holiday and take care of your health first.
6. Get to bed at your usual time or earlier. It can be tough to squeeze everything in that needs to get done for the holidays after work and throughout the day. Sometimes people make up for this by staying up later hours. With festive activities like parties and concerts keeping you up at all hours, it’s time to head to bed early on those nights you are at home. If you find yourself just flipping through the TV channels and considering your rerun options, make going to bed early a priority and a better use your precious time.
7. Eat properly. Don’t use the holidays and stress as a reason to over eat. Although the holidays bring with them sweet treats and extra appetizers, try not to make food the prime focus. And remember, just because someone offers you something, you do not have to accept. It is not considered rude to politely pass on a food or beverages. If you have ordered something out on the fly and the portion is large consider packing half of it to go and you will save both calories and on time preparing another meal. Remember there is no rule saying you must eat everything on your plate or everything that is handed to you. Pick and choose the healthiest foods and indulge on those. Be selective with richer foods and treats and eat smaller portions.
8. Watch your alcohol consumption. Although some people believe alcohol decreases your stress, it is only a temporary solution. Try to stay away from consuming too many cocktails as this will interfere with your digestion, calorie intake, sleep and overall energy and well-being. When you are careful with what you drink, you will eliminate consuming too much at holiday parties which can create stress issues bigger than post holiday pounds.
9. Cut down your gift giving list. If you have way too many people to buy gifts for this year, try having a family, friend or work gift draw. Often people are very excited about this idea, and are just waiting for someone to suggest it. This will help to relieve you of what to get, time to get it and money to budget. It’s simple, the fewer people you have to buy gifts for, the less over all stressors for you.
With all the additional stress that can be added this holiday season it’s important to practice some de-stressing activities to make your holidays the festive and joyful time you really want it to be.
Family Financial Goal Setting
by: Vince Shorb
As most of us understand, written goals can be a powerful force that changes your life for the better. Discover how combining your personal goals with your families goals to reach your dreams.
When the entire family is working toward one goal you will be pleasently suprised on how fast you will see results. What's more, when the entire family unit is working toward financial goals it can be a bonding experience that everyone will appreciate.
Working toward family financial goals brings families closer together. You will find that your family will begin to operate as one unit in order to reach those financial goals. Many top business organizations, sports teams, charities and sororities share common financial goals that bring everyone involved closer together. It works for them so let the power of family financial goals work for you.
What family goals to set.
Family goals should be set for all areas of your life including: health, personal development, spiritual/ religious and life goals. This article will focus on family financial goals; however you can easily adopt the techniques to cover the remaining areas of your life. Once more, each individual person in the family should set their own personal goals and have full support from the family.
By setting family financial goals and working as a family to achieve financial freedom everyone involved gets a sense of purpose and something positive to work toward. Children, parents and other extended members of the family will all benefit from the support of working toward family goals.
How to set family financial goals.
Setting family financial goals begins with identifying objectives that your family wants to accomplish. Take some time to figure out what motivates everyone. It could be that one family member wants to take a trip to Hawaii, another wants a nice dinner once a week, and yet another person in the family wants to cut a few years off their retirement schedule. Find out what everyone dreams about because this will help you understand each others goals and you'll become closer because of it.
Once you have an understanding of what each family member wants it time to align your goals. Maybe you want to learn more about making investments, want to increase your 401k savings, would like that new car, or just want to have more money for a rainy day. The bottom line is that everyone in the family has to do their part. When everyone works together with a common goal of achieving financial freedom then everyone's life improves. The ability to set family financial goals and achieve family goals will improve every aspect of you personally and your family as a whole.
Family Financial Goals That Work.
There are effective goal setting techniques available that will allow your family to maximize the effectiveness of your financial goals. One helpful technique to aid in accomplishing your goals is to set them using the S.M.A.R.T method.
- S ' Significant & Specific. The more detailed you are able to make your family goals the closer you are to achieving them. This gives you a clear target to shoot for and when you see what you're aiming at you have a much better chance at hitting the bull's-eye.
Be sure to make your family financial goals significant. They must mean something to your family so that they are motivated to reach them. Setting a goal of saving for a gallon of gas probably won't motivate people but if it was to save gas for a weekend trip now that's another story. Remember kids, teens and young adults are motivated by lifestyle not money. So be sure to relate money to being able to afford the type of lifestyle your family wants to live.
- M - Motivational & Measurable. Creating measurable goals will allow your family to celebrate when you acheive them. This makes goal setting fun and a true bonding experience.
The family financial goals that you set should be motivational to the entire family. Design goals that motivate and encourage each family member to do their part.
- A - Attainable. Dream huge and be realistic. You can be anything you set out to be; however growing gills so you can swim underwter probably won't happen.
- R - Results-oriented, Reasons & Related. One way to maximize the effectiveness of your family financial goals is to phrase your goals in the positive. Using results-oriented words like "I accomplished," "I received," or "I have", will direct your mind to focus on the outcome. Focusing on the outcome is one of the key steps to becoming financially free.
Your family financial goals should include the reasons too ' would you like money for college, a nice vacation, etc. It's the reasons behind the goals that make us want to accomplish them. Who cares about money it's the lifestyle that money allows us to afford that matters.
Family financial goals must relate to each other so the family works as a single unit. Setting powerful family financial goals starts with making sure everyone's goals are heading in the same direction and not contradicting each other. For instance, if one family member's goal is taking a family trip to the beach next weekend and another goal is to work that weekend to save more money ' those contradict each other.
- T -Time. Its important that your goals have a set deadline in place. Decide on a specific time so you push each other to accomplish them by a certain date.
Take an evening and sit down together for dinner with no interruptions. Get everyone's dreams, goals and aspirations out. Find a way to align your goals to create a dynamic family that accomplishes goals together. Every goal you set out and accomplish together will bring everyone closer.
As most of us understand, written goals can be a powerful force that changes your life for the better. Discover how combining your personal goals with your families goals to reach your dreams.
When the entire family is working toward one goal you will be pleasently suprised on how fast you will see results. What's more, when the entire family unit is working toward financial goals it can be a bonding experience that everyone will appreciate.
Working toward family financial goals brings families closer together. You will find that your family will begin to operate as one unit in order to reach those financial goals. Many top business organizations, sports teams, charities and sororities share common financial goals that bring everyone involved closer together. It works for them so let the power of family financial goals work for you.
What family goals to set.
Family goals should be set for all areas of your life including: health, personal development, spiritual/ religious and life goals. This article will focus on family financial goals; however you can easily adopt the techniques to cover the remaining areas of your life. Once more, each individual person in the family should set their own personal goals and have full support from the family.
By setting family financial goals and working as a family to achieve financial freedom everyone involved gets a sense of purpose and something positive to work toward. Children, parents and other extended members of the family will all benefit from the support of working toward family goals.
How to set family financial goals.
Setting family financial goals begins with identifying objectives that your family wants to accomplish. Take some time to figure out what motivates everyone. It could be that one family member wants to take a trip to Hawaii, another wants a nice dinner once a week, and yet another person in the family wants to cut a few years off their retirement schedule. Find out what everyone dreams about because this will help you understand each others goals and you'll become closer because of it.
Once you have an understanding of what each family member wants it time to align your goals. Maybe you want to learn more about making investments, want to increase your 401k savings, would like that new car, or just want to have more money for a rainy day. The bottom line is that everyone in the family has to do their part. When everyone works together with a common goal of achieving financial freedom then everyone's life improves. The ability to set family financial goals and achieve family goals will improve every aspect of you personally and your family as a whole.
Family Financial Goals That Work.
There are effective goal setting techniques available that will allow your family to maximize the effectiveness of your financial goals. One helpful technique to aid in accomplishing your goals is to set them using the S.M.A.R.T method.
- S ' Significant & Specific. The more detailed you are able to make your family goals the closer you are to achieving them. This gives you a clear target to shoot for and when you see what you're aiming at you have a much better chance at hitting the bull's-eye.
Be sure to make your family financial goals significant. They must mean something to your family so that they are motivated to reach them. Setting a goal of saving for a gallon of gas probably won't motivate people but if it was to save gas for a weekend trip now that's another story. Remember kids, teens and young adults are motivated by lifestyle not money. So be sure to relate money to being able to afford the type of lifestyle your family wants to live.
- M - Motivational & Measurable. Creating measurable goals will allow your family to celebrate when you acheive them. This makes goal setting fun and a true bonding experience.
The family financial goals that you set should be motivational to the entire family. Design goals that motivate and encourage each family member to do their part.
- A - Attainable. Dream huge and be realistic. You can be anything you set out to be; however growing gills so you can swim underwter probably won't happen.
- R - Results-oriented, Reasons & Related. One way to maximize the effectiveness of your family financial goals is to phrase your goals in the positive. Using results-oriented words like "I accomplished," "I received," or "I have", will direct your mind to focus on the outcome. Focusing on the outcome is one of the key steps to becoming financially free.
Your family financial goals should include the reasons too ' would you like money for college, a nice vacation, etc. It's the reasons behind the goals that make us want to accomplish them. Who cares about money it's the lifestyle that money allows us to afford that matters.
Family financial goals must relate to each other so the family works as a single unit. Setting powerful family financial goals starts with making sure everyone's goals are heading in the same direction and not contradicting each other. For instance, if one family member's goal is taking a family trip to the beach next weekend and another goal is to work that weekend to save more money ' those contradict each other.
- T -Time. Its important that your goals have a set deadline in place. Decide on a specific time so you push each other to accomplish them by a certain date.
Take an evening and sit down together for dinner with no interruptions. Get everyone's dreams, goals and aspirations out. Find a way to align your goals to create a dynamic family that accomplishes goals together. Every goal you set out and accomplish together will bring everyone closer.
How Christmas Changed My Life - By A Dyslexic
by: Genevieve Dawid
When I look back, I was quite a privileged child in more ways than one. I had a wonderful family and friends, lived in a lovely house with a large garden to play in. We went on marvelous family holidays by the sea, and traveled abroad, something I adored. I didn't have a private education but went to a local school that was "state of the art". However, for all this idyllic childhood, and the wonderful new facilities the school had to offer, learning was a nightmare for me as a child; I just hated trying to learn and so school was a place where I didn't achieve. I had no idea how other children knew the answers to questions and understood figures and numbers. I kept the same school reading book for weeks on end; one of my worst struggles was with writing my name.
Then one Christmas, my elder brother, who was a great artist, received a drawing set. He would do a drawing and then show Mum. When it came to my turn, instead of trying to create a picture, I took the note pad and drew each of the letters of my name over the whole page - but not in the right order nor in a straight line, as I didn't know how.
When showed Mum what I had drawn, she looked closely at it. "Well look at that, you do know the letters of your name, don't you?"; she said, and then asked me if I could put the letters in the right order, and in a straight line. I shook my head.
Mum took a ruler and wrote the letters in order, in a row. Instantly, I could now see each word. Using a ruler I copied the letters in order, again and again, until I got it. I had finally learnt to spell my name! Next Mum got my school reading book and used a card over the page, revealing one word at a time. I could now make sense of it. We progressed to me holding a card under each word to separate them so I only saw one word at a time. In this way, during the school holidays, Mum taught me to read.
I returned to school thrilled that I could now read and write and was instantly taken out of the additional remedial class. However, the teachers were furious with my parents and accused them of interfering with my learning! Despite the fact that for the first two years at that school their methods hadn't worked for me, they didn't like it that my parents had found a way to help me.
With practice at home, within weeks I could read any book for a child of my age. It was like a miracle. I continued to have some difficulty with spelling and grammar, my mathematics was poor and every new thing that I had to learn was incredibly difficult, but my parents had proved to me that there was always going to be a way. They just needed to help me identify the problem and together we would find the answer by finding an alternative way to learn. This was a revelation to me.
That Christmas, a simple plain sheet of paper and pencil allowed me to transcend what was in my mind - to see a solution to something that I knew was a problem, but couldn't explain.
From then on I always had an exercise book and pen nearby, and using the page like a mirror to reflect what was in my mind, the problem was copied as a visual image on a page. Seeing it on the page enabled my parents and me to identify and resolve the problem.
You have to know your own mind to identify the problem, before you can go forward, and then you will go forward with speed.
Gradually my mother found many ways of teaching me, and these things I included in my book, The Achiever's Journey. As I got older, I started interpreting my mind through writing and drawing. Interestingly, many other people found this useful, including those without any learning difficulties. I couldn't believe it, what a revelation to find out that others didn't really know their own minds either.
As my education continued, I still found the school's teaching methods virtually impossible to learn and virtually gave up. I learned in secret at home and to cure my boredom whilst at school, I started to share the benefits of transcending the mind, and spontaneous words and drawings using paper and pencil, with my classmates.
When I look back, I was quite a privileged child in more ways than one. I had a wonderful family and friends, lived in a lovely house with a large garden to play in. We went on marvelous family holidays by the sea, and traveled abroad, something I adored. I didn't have a private education but went to a local school that was "state of the art". However, for all this idyllic childhood, and the wonderful new facilities the school had to offer, learning was a nightmare for me as a child; I just hated trying to learn and so school was a place where I didn't achieve. I had no idea how other children knew the answers to questions and understood figures and numbers. I kept the same school reading book for weeks on end; one of my worst struggles was with writing my name.
Then one Christmas, my elder brother, who was a great artist, received a drawing set. He would do a drawing and then show Mum. When it came to my turn, instead of trying to create a picture, I took the note pad and drew each of the letters of my name over the whole page - but not in the right order nor in a straight line, as I didn't know how.
When showed Mum what I had drawn, she looked closely at it. "Well look at that, you do know the letters of your name, don't you?"; she said, and then asked me if I could put the letters in the right order, and in a straight line. I shook my head.
Mum took a ruler and wrote the letters in order, in a row. Instantly, I could now see each word. Using a ruler I copied the letters in order, again and again, until I got it. I had finally learnt to spell my name! Next Mum got my school reading book and used a card over the page, revealing one word at a time. I could now make sense of it. We progressed to me holding a card under each word to separate them so I only saw one word at a time. In this way, during the school holidays, Mum taught me to read.
I returned to school thrilled that I could now read and write and was instantly taken out of the additional remedial class. However, the teachers were furious with my parents and accused them of interfering with my learning! Despite the fact that for the first two years at that school their methods hadn't worked for me, they didn't like it that my parents had found a way to help me.
With practice at home, within weeks I could read any book for a child of my age. It was like a miracle. I continued to have some difficulty with spelling and grammar, my mathematics was poor and every new thing that I had to learn was incredibly difficult, but my parents had proved to me that there was always going to be a way. They just needed to help me identify the problem and together we would find the answer by finding an alternative way to learn. This was a revelation to me.
That Christmas, a simple plain sheet of paper and pencil allowed me to transcend what was in my mind - to see a solution to something that I knew was a problem, but couldn't explain.
From then on I always had an exercise book and pen nearby, and using the page like a mirror to reflect what was in my mind, the problem was copied as a visual image on a page. Seeing it on the page enabled my parents and me to identify and resolve the problem.
You have to know your own mind to identify the problem, before you can go forward, and then you will go forward with speed.
Gradually my mother found many ways of teaching me, and these things I included in my book, The Achiever's Journey. As I got older, I started interpreting my mind through writing and drawing. Interestingly, many other people found this useful, including those without any learning difficulties. I couldn't believe it, what a revelation to find out that others didn't really know their own minds either.
As my education continued, I still found the school's teaching methods virtually impossible to learn and virtually gave up. I learned in secret at home and to cure my boredom whilst at school, I started to share the benefits of transcending the mind, and spontaneous words and drawings using paper and pencil, with my classmates.
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