Easy (and affordable) ways to unwind
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Women across the country are meeting the demands of busy schedules and tightened wallets by setting aside life’s simple pleasures and putting themselves at the bottom of the to-do list. In fact, a new survey commissioned by the makers of Edwards frozen desserts finds more than nine in 10 American women have cut back on indulgences during the past year.
Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents are cutting back on events out with friends and more than one-third (35 percent) are cutting back on even the smallest treats, such as manicures and desserts.
The survey also found that:
-Nearly all (94 percent) American women in the study admit that they don’t indulge or treat themselves as often as they’d like because other people or commitments come first.
-Fifty-six percent of women say they don’t treat themselves as often as they’d like because they can’t afford to.
-Nearly a third (32 percent) of women say they now have less free time for themselves than they did a year ago.
Wedding planning can be an overwhelming thing, big and small alike. June is the most popular month to be wed, and it is fast approaching. Being a mother of two sons, I dealt with the “bride vision” from a totally different perspective. My oldest son was in the military when he first married, making it very difficult to plan a traditional wedding. She had her vision of the perfect wedding and if money were no factor, the girl would not had compromised a thing! It was very hectic getting everything in order and let me tell you, the internet provided a huge amount of help with funds and finds. Want to know where to found great deals on beautiful wedding gowns, read on…
This News Flash arrived in my mail box this morning. I thought my readers may appreciate this healthy information and savings!
General Mills to Further Reduce Sugar in Cereals
“General Mills announced this week a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to children under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain….
Continue reading to get your $1 OFF coupon and website links.
The holidays are most definitely exciting, and stressful. This goes for CHILDREN as well as parents; a major point that parents must remember. It’s been a long time since I had to put the children to bed. St. Eve Kids and TwitterMoms have come up with a fun contest. Answer the question, “What are your five tips & tricks for getting your kids to bed on time and getting them to stay in bed?”
My boys are now 22 and 27. Thinking back, I found that the the number one thing that helped the children maintain their regular sleep schedule during the holidays was planning.
- First, set a realistic schedule for each week in December. Don’t cram everything into one week. Being a Christian, I used Advent as my starting time. Set a time to tell the children about the activities of the week, when they are scheduled, and what you expect from them. Sunday morning was my preference.
- Secondly, reaffirm the importance of sleep frequently. Interject this topic when discussing the weekly schedule.
- Third, rearrange bath times or other nightly tasks to accommodate an event that might overlap. This seemed to help with everyone’s stress level.
- Fourth, Don’t skip the nightly story or game. Whatever your normal bedtime activity is, don’t skip it! If it’s reading, then read even if it’s later than you expected.
- Fifth, be consistent. If you say the bath has to be done before we go, then make sure that happens. I found that during the holidays, especially the week of, being inconsistent can greatly increase that stress level for both parents and children!
These are the things that worked for me, hope the will be helpful for you too. As I remember it, my boys adjusted to the holiday schedule quite well and got a good night sleep!
About St. Eve Kids and the contest:
Did you ever see these Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchairs? They are awesome. When I first checked them out I thought wow how can this even work out? are they safe?
Features -
* The original award winning highchair
* Adjust to be used when a child is ready to sit on his own (around 6 months) through adulthood
* Seat and footrest are adjustable to the size of your child
* Ergonomically designed to provide stability, comfort and confidence
* Made of cultivated beechwood, providing strong, solid and durable product
* Meets US and international safety standards
* Five-point safety harness
* JPMA certified
* Holds up to 300 Lbs
* 7-year warranty on all wooden components
Now for the best part….
Hooked on Books
Books open a window to the world, taking readers to other times and other places – introducing them to new thoughts and ideas. Yet reading does much more than expand the imagination, especially for children.
Research shows that exposure to books in early childhood – even in infancy – is critical to future reading development. It’s a building block for early learning experiences, contributing to language development, better grades in school and enhanced productivity in adult life.
In 2007, the National Center for Educational Statistics released its annual “Reading Report,” finding that a staggering 33 percent of all fourth-graders in this country still cannot read at even the basic level. Worse yet, deficient readers run higher risks of failure in personal, professional and social areas.
Even those who do read at grade level face additional challenges. For instance, as children age, research shows that time spent reading decreases. Eighth grade seems to be the tipping point where children stop reading for pleasure due to more homework and competing interests. On average, young people between the ages of 15 and 24 spend almost two hours a day watching TV, but only seven minutes of their daily leisure time reading.
So what can parents and caregivers do to give children a solid reading foundation and help them become life-long readers?
Children - 
Education - 
