This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine. After looking into the NMEDA, a non profit association that advocates safe, reliable vehicles and modifications for those with special mobility needs, I was more than pleased to blog about them.

After all, it seems we (hubby and I) are the chosen family caregivers. Whenever a family member needs a caregiver, they come to our house. In 2008, my mother in law recovered at our house for some time. Just before she was released from the nursing home, I remember her saying, “I’m coming to your house of course, where else would I choose to go right? Besides, you cook!” Maybe it’s our way of life or my home cooked meals, who knows. I’m happy and honored to be the chosen one.

My father just recently moved in with hubby and me. He has slowed down quite a bit the last year or so. After several strokes, his one leg and balance are not up to par. Who’s to say, the leg may go long before the rest of the body leaving us in need of mobility equipment.

I’m just sayin’ »

“Did you know you could be carrying up to 10 extra pounds of unreleased crap in your bowels? It is true, the average American is caring several pounds of unreleased waste in there bowels.” ColonBlow.com

To support this fact, ColonBlow.com offers poop pictures and producer testimonies posted for your viewing pleasure. And get this; they boast an “As Seen On TV” label on the site too! ROFLMAO

Seriously, colon cleansing is supposed to date back to ancient Greece. Cleansing the intestines first became popular in the United Sates around 1920. When the theories behind the process lost support, the practice fell away. There is not enough legitimate, conclusive research to say either way whether colon cleansing is beneficial or an overstated myth.

I’m just sayin’ »

A positive consequence of the dreadful economy is education. OK you are probably thinking I am some kind of wacko, which I am. However, numerous people I know have returned to school. They all say now is the time. Evidently, low income equals higher education whether it be via loans, grants, and/or scholarships.

Colleges have always assisted with financing however, the economic struggles facilitated new challenges. Nowadays, tuition planners dedicate an enormous amount of time on financing assistance, including grants and scholarships.  Prospective students must become enrolled students, as tuition is income for the colleges.
I’m just sayin’ »

Want to be a $100,000 blogger? That is a silly question. While everyone who blogs may not expect to make a hundred thousand, who would say no to that question, I’m just sayin’.

Given the opportunity to download and review the FREE eBook “Six Figure Affiliate Blogging” sparked a quantity of real interest for me.  The author Zac Johnson had 15 years invested in working internet marketing. Mr. Johnson claims after just three years of blogging, his site became another six figure a year project.

Taken directly from the intro, “This “How to be the Next Six Figure Affiliate Blogger” guide isn’t about creating a blog on affiliate marketing, or getting lost in the “make money online” get rich schemes. Instead, it’s about finding a blogging niche and using affiliate marketing to generate revenue from that blog.” I’m just sayin’ »

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures, and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grand kids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grand kids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie, and Twittererific, Tweetdeck, Twitpix, and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag. I’m just sayin’ »

I find Mexican food irresistible so I jumped at the chance to write this post!  This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mission tortillas are my favorite brand without doubt. The tortillas, both corn and flour, are always fresh. Moreover, they are far more flavorful than any other brand I have used.

I have a story and a recipe to share however, a few facts about Mission Foods first. My personal favorite, Mission Flour Tortillas, contain 0 grams trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free. The home-style flour tortillas are the type I like to use most however with hubby’s diet, the extra thin corn tortillas work better. The have less calories and fat, again with no trans fats. The serving size is two tortillas.

Mission Foods kicked off summer with the Mission Menus Challenge.
On June 28, 2010, Chef Sara Moulton encouraged consumers to submit their budget-friendly recipes to Mission for a chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles and win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover as well as a host of weekly prizes. The challenge runs until 11:59:59 PM ET on August 9th. Recipe submissions are judged as follows: Degree to which Recipe is ‘budget friendly’ (34 points), Creative use of Mission Flour Tortillas (33 points), Overall appetizing appeal of the dish (33 points).

The other night hubby asks what is for dinner. Mexican I replied. Next came, oh c’mon Mexican and a few unidentifiable grumbles. You see hubby is on a diet, a low carb, low fat, portioning controlled diet. He was thinking chili or tacos, which means way less food for him. After dinner, he complimented the meal, “Dear that was really good.” As a wife with an opportunity, I replied with a slightly snarky smile, “Yeah and you grumbled when I said Mexican.”

For dinner, I served Mexican Style Chicken Lasagna.

Ingredients:
6 Mission extra thin corn tortillas
2 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut lengthwise into 1” thick strips

2 teaspoons chili powder, divided
2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

1 bell pepper ( I used red)
1 onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis, lime, and cilantro
1/2 15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed well
2-3 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 cup light sour cream
1 1/2 cups reduced fat Colby Jack cheese, shredded

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish or casserole with cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken with half the chili and cumin powders; season with salt and pepper. Toss chicken to coat thoroughly with spices and set aside. Clean and slice the bell pepper and onion into strips. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Heat half of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken, stirring constantly until no longer pink. Add the vegetables and garlic; continue to stir and cook for two or three minutes. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, black beans, and remaining spices. Stir well. Turn heat to low and cook for about five minutes in order to incorporate flavors and allow thickening.

Place three Mission Corn Tortillas on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half the mixture over the tortillas. Drop half of the sour cream by spoonfuls evenly over the chicken mixture. Cover with half the cheese. Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas, chicken, sour cream, and cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cheese is melted and sides are bubbling. Remove from oven and allow sitting for a few minutes for firming.

Yeilds: 4 servings

I just love preparing this Lasagna .  The recipe is very versatile. I have used a variety of meats, cheeses, and vegetables-corn, red beans, or pigeon peas. Other ingredient I have substituted include using Mission Chunky Salsa in place of the diced tomatoes.

Add Spanish rice and a salad, this Mexican Lasagna will serve 4 people.

I was checking out some vitamin web sites. You know, looking for the best deal, the best vitamins, something believable. If you read anything I have ever posted about searching on Google, then you probably think this is gonna be another rant, no so this time. This one made me laugh, the results were too stupid to even rant!

Ok here is the intro…. “only the highest quality vitamins at the lowest prices available. Just ask our tens of thousands of satisfied customers! Because we only sell the highest quality of vitamins…”

What exactly were these “highest quality” vitamins – DIET PILLS – WTF?! Yep, I follow the link to the category page labeled vitamins and this is what I got – (And these were my thoughts)

1. Adapexin-P -  Most Popular Diet Pill – Without a prescription too (Holy Cow Batman)
2. Phenphedrine – Strongest Diet Pill – Strongest Fat burner on the planet (Ok then iI’ll have a Big Mac and Large Fries please)
3. Lipovox Hardcore Detox – contains the 10 “SuperFoods”…made famous during the Oprah Whinfrey Show ( Oh it absolutely must be true then… The OPRAH reviewed it)

Need I go on??? Did I tell you Stupid? I think pretty soon a search for vitamins might just return results for dog poop, I’m just sayin’!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Medical Guardian. All opinions are 100% mine.

The National Safety Council states, “Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults 73 and older and the second leading cause of death from ages 60-72.” Clear cut statement, I’m just sayin”.

Medical Alert systems provide 24/7 Round The Clock UL approved live emergency response monitoring. I am certain you have heard all the tag lines and jokes surrounding them. Trust me this is no joking matter.

My mother in law fell in July 2008.  Being elderly, heavy, and ailing, she lay on the floor with her dog at her side in excess of 12 hours. Her son arrived to find his mother in shock, shaking violently on the living room carpet. Understand, she did not live alone even though she thought she was able. Mom was to be alone for just that evening.  Needing a drink of water late at night, she walked through the dimly lit living room and tripped over her own shoes.

Later we found, in addition to shock and a blood sugar higher than the hospital meter could read, she had broken her hip. Mom was hospitalized for three months. The surgeon warned 73% of the people who fall and break a hip do not live a full year. I found this nearly unbelievable. Unfortunately, it turned out to be true. My mother in law passed away one year later almost to the day.

Do not think this could never happen to your family. It can. Do you remember the old saying hindsight is 20-20? In hindsight, which does not make the outcome any easier, I remember briefly discussing a medical alert system with my mother in law. She protested, using the defense her daughter lived with her and worked nights while she was sleeping. Her position was that our suggestion was ridiculous. She laughed, we dismissed the idea.  Given the same opportunity, you should not dismiss it. Hindsight does not relieve guilt or sadness! Medical Guardian alert buttons provide protection for loved ones, help to maintain independent living, and most importantly, save lives.

Three daring statements concerning senior life insurance by Jan Pinney:

1. One of the biggest money saving tips that I have to offer you is… you must make a habit of reviewing your policies each and every year!

2. He had a policy that was costing him $12,660 dollars a year. So my friend ran his information through his computers and found that he could get the same exact coverage for only $7,225 dollars a year.
Mr. Melnick didn’t believe him… he thought he was lying.
3. My company has streamlined the process of shopping for life insurance. I have a network of computers that monitors over 186 or America’s top life insurance companies.
All the companies that I quote have been rated Excellent and Superior by A.M. Best.

Having twenty plus years of small business responsibilities I can not imagine this insurance servicing company would make such audacious statements based on lies, I’m just sayin’.

I’m just sayin’ »

The experts say children mimic their parents. It is true. Our children are watching closely, taking in our actions, thoughts, and opinions. What does parenting have to do with Canon, you ask. It’s a bit of a long story but I think you’ll like it

It all started when I found a camera bag on a deserted country back road. Inside were a Minolta 35mm, two lenses, and a few colored filters. No ID, no houses or even cars around, it was mine and all it took to get me rolling! Being interested in shooting cool pictures, I started by experimenting with all of the settings. My favorite subject was my oldest and only son, at the time. Thinking back, what a trip it was to focus with that dinosaur. It seemed like a hundred setting changes and then “Oh Crap” I missed the shot! This was a rather costly way to learn about photography, libraries books are free, duh. The photo hobby went by the wayside amidst my relocation; at some point during my messed up divorce, the camera was sold.

Some years after my second son was born, hubby bought me the latest Canon SLR camera. Knowing how I enjoyed taking pictures, he chose the Rebel EOS-F1 thinking it would be perfect. He was so right! Two sons involved in sports presented great photo ops. This time I read the basics however, being a hands on person I have to admit I did more experimenting than reading. If it were not for the Rebel and my 80-200 zoom lens NO photos of my oldest son’s graduation ceremony would even exist. Thanks to Canon, Mom got her photos ha!

Thinking I mastered the Rebel, which I really didn’t, I moved up to the Elan 7 model. Oh gosh, the possibilities this Canon camera offered were overwhelming. In fact, much more camera than I ever needed or wanted. At the same time, my youngest son (aka Red) was in the play offs. The team was to play in the National Pop Warner Super Bowl held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

Being the “team photographer” so to speak, I contacted the local paper to request a press pass. Without one, there would not be entry to the sidelines. The Cape Coral Breeze granted my request in exchange for the photos. How exciting!!! Not only were Red and the team competing in Nationals for the first time in league history but also I would be there on the side lines with national sports journalists and photographers from ESPN!

For those of you who follow college football, Noel Devine starting running back for the WV Mountaineers was on the team. Noel, Red, and many of the other starting players made the front page of the newspaper that week!

Remember these are film shots scanned into the computer. Quite different from digital shots that are easily retouched. Back in day that was done by pros.  From Pop Warner I moved on to shooting skateboard competitions and metal shows. Of course, Red was participating and all the while watching mom rather closely.

In 2007, I would buy another Canon camera, the 20D. Before the purchase, I called Canon directly for some guidance. You see Red chose to study photography and this camera was an expensive one. Canon was extremely helpful and mindful of the purpose. It was comforting to find they did not recommend something more expensive or elaborate. The 20D went through several car accidents and a ton of college parties and keeps on producing great shots.

After trying Red’s 20d out, I really wanted a digital camera. Therefore, I added the Power Shot A550 point and shoot to my collection. Affordable, with fast and easy shooting plus it takes video clips, perfect for my current lifestyle.

Fast forwarding to 2010: Red holds an Associate of Science degree in digital photography. His equipment is Canon: 20D, 50D, and about $5000 in Canon lenses plus every accessory you can image. Two weeks ago, my dear son arrived in London to further his education. His goal is to achieve a BA in visual communications.

Canon Rocks, did I not support my views on that… I’m just sayin’

And I found some great prices on Canon cameras particularly point and shoots.

According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, Phentermine is used, in combination with diet and exercise, to aide in weight loss. It is prescribed by a physician and works by decreasing your appetite. This is an amphetamine and can become habit forming.

It is particularly important to note and discuss with your doctor the complications that could arise when taking this medication in combination with the following:

fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), guanethidine, insulin, MAO inhibitors , paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and vitamins.

One would think this unnecessary, a doctor would not already know what medications their patient was taking right? Wrong. I had one too many experiences with my parents where their doctor did not have a complete list of the current prescribed meds, no kidding. Bring a list just to be safe.

Now, Phentermine should not be confused with Phentirmene. Evidently, the latter is an over the counter weight loss aide asserting “no side effects” and “no dependency”. Supposedly, phenylethylamine (PEA) is the active ingredient found in Phentirmene. And get this, PEA is tagged as an amphetamine-like substance, has a euphoric effect, and it can be found in chocolate too!  Oh man, are the slandering my beloved snack, chocolate?? Sounded way too fishy so I hit Google to find something reputable and redeem my chocolate!

According to Elaine Magee, MPH, RD who writes the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic Expert Column, “In the early 1980s, researchers thought they had solved the mystery of our love affair with chocolate. They detected the chemical phenyl ethylamine (PEA) in chocolate. PEA is a central nervous system stimulant, usually present in the human brain, which is thought to help arouse emotions. But, the human body actually absorbs very little PEA from chocolate — not enough to affect our emotions, anyway. So, it seems the sexiest thing about chocolate is its taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture — which, in my estimation, is not too shabby!“

Diet and exercise are the only weight loss combination I feel good about, I’m just sayin’.  In any case, when embarking on a weight loss program it is always best to seek professional medical advice in advance.

Are you buying into these phentermine or phentirmene diet miracles ?

We have a rather large kitchen island where most of the family meals are served. Knowing how hard the kids can be on furniture, especially stools, I purchased some economical all wood stools on sale for about $8.00 each maybe ten years ago. While I have repainted the legs and rungs once, those stools were a great bargain and continue to serve us well. Only problem is the stools are hard and lengthy sitting is not an option for the older folks. In fact, Dad complained that he could not make it through dinner without his leg going numb.

I started thinking about buying covers for the stool. The stool cushions would need to be durable, stain resistant, and slip proof. To fit this description, my initial thought was to purchase patio furniture cushions. After browsing several patio furniture cushions sites, I looked into making my own.  Making a homemade bar stool cushion is a simple and economical task provided the correct tools and supplies are available along with straightforward, proven instructions.

I do have a sewing machine and good straightforward instructions; all I really need to do is find the perfect fabric and make my own. Lord knows I have a ton of extra pillows around here, therefore no need to buy padding!

I like this design however, the “skirt” would be an added step, and I will not be adding the four buttons for comforts sake!

This is the style I have decided on. I know what you are thinking , no skirt she is taking the easy route. Well, that is correct! And what is wrong with easy and new eh?  The fabric I chose is much heavier. I think it will provide a smoother, tighter covering.I’ll update on the final product!

Bar Stool Cover Instructions

Pattern

Stand your bar stool upside down on butcher or construction paper and draw round the edge of the seat using a piece of chalk. You can then draw around this outline, including enough extra fabric to cover the seat sides as well as 1.5 inches for the hem.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, with right sides together. Pin to secure fabric. Next, pin pattern to the fabric and cut.

Sewing

Fold the edges of your cover over by half an inch, and then turn it over by another inch to make the hem and secure it with pins.  Sew the hem, by either hand or machine, leaving a small gap so you can insert the elastic.

To do this, fix a safety pin to the end so you can easily move it through the hem.  Pin the ends of the elastic together and fit the cover over your bar stool seat.  Adjust the position of the pin to get the right fit, then sew the ends together and finish the hem.

Padding

To add padding cut and sew a pocket the size of your bar stool’s seat.  Any cheap fabric can be used, as it will not be visible once covered. Stuff the pocket with pillow stuffing, foam, or recycle from an old cushion.  Once stuffed, sew the cushion shut and place it on the bar stool before fitting the new cover.

If the four insets are desired as shown in the first photo, mark the cover with chalk at inset locations. Using heavy thread similar to embroidery thread and attach a button or simply stitch from cover top through the padding. Pull to desired inset tension and tie securely. Repeat the process for the remaining insets.

Hope you enjoyed this Bar Stool DIY project. Have any tips on making new cushions or refurbishing stools? Do share, comment luv follows you!

While answering a question on myLot this afternoon I got to thinking about dieting and the struggles overweight people suffer. This particular myLot user wanted to know the proper response to a skinny person that complains they are fat. Of course, this woman had been quite overweight some years ago, a size 20 to be exact. After the skinny woman had finished her rant about being fat, this myLot user replied, “Honey, You’re talking to a fat girl and I have no sympathy for you!” This woman, who generally poses a quite pleasant, likable disposition, has been hard-bitten by her weight journey. In her opinion, the skinny woman gaining 25 lbs over four years had no reason to complain.

Being a huge “search for it online” person, I did just that. “OK Google, what you got for diets that work?”  A Google search for the phrase “diets that work” returns about 9,710,000 results in 0.35 seconds. With that bitter, out of character myLot response still on my mind, I took the liberty to investigate a few of these search results. The number one site returned was a diet review site with great SEO. (In case you do not already know, SEO is search engine optimization, truth does not apply) No real medical facts or medical references in that first site returned. In fact, nothing there but opinion; 10 diet plans with reviews and recommendations. The ninth return was dated January 2010, and every result in between was at least two years old, so I went with number 9 – The Daily Beast made a resolution for 2010: Let’s figure out, as definitively as possible, which diets really work.

I read the article completely. It presented lots of quotes and medical facts to support the findings, offering a certain level of legitimacy. I had to read it a second time to figure out their claim for number 1 diet overall, as I missed the link, twice! Below is a screen shot of the diet list.

Now I am thinking about this differently and wondering do overweight people really believe the sites that place higher in the search validate diets that work? Is it responsible for a bogus “diets that work” website to be the number one result on a Google search because of SEO and the framework of the site? Does this not cause further distress and disappointment for overweight people? After all, they are searching for help, strength, and/or support only to find SEO rich bullsh*t results. I believe people have to take responsibility for their actions however maybe Google owes them a disclosure in the same way paid bloggers are required to disclose…. I’m just sayin’

For the record, my hubby lost over fifty pounds in the last ten months. How did he do it – portion control, no late night snacking, reducing fats and carbs, and exercise. He’s happier and healthier, and I am thankful he didn’t search Google first!

The woman was so cheap . . .  When someone rang her doorbell, her kids had to yell, ding dong!

Never knock on Death’s door; ring the doorbell and run… he hates that 

And the #1 Funny Friday doorbell joke….

A woman had been married so many times she was totally fed up. You see all the men she married either ran away, physically abused her, or the men were terrible in bed.  The woman was wealthy and lonely so she posted an ad outlining her requirements. What she wanted was a man who:

1) must not run away.

2) must not beat her up.

3) must be good in bed.

For several months, her phone rang off the hook, her doorbell was chiming constantly, she received tons of mail, etc., all to no avail. None of the men seemed to meet her qualifications. Then one day she heard the door chimes again and upon opening the door, she saw a man in a wheel chair with no arms and no legs. “Hello, I’m here responding to the ad,” he began. She replied, “How do you fit the requirements?” He said, “I have no legs so I can’t run away, I have no arms to beat you.” The lonely woman asked, “Are you good in bed?” The man said, “I rang the doorbell, didn’t I?”

OK maybe that’s an old corny joke but you gotta admit the grandma pic is hilarious!

Funny Friday Video Feature

TGIF – Hope you have a great weekend!

When I learned Twittermoms was teaming up with Airwear to find out how moms ensure a healthy, safe, and successful school year for their kids, I had to answer the blog call. A child’s vision is close to my heart; you see my youngest son wore glasses from the age of fifteen months. I cant tell you how important safe, durable lenses are for children, especially those who like to play sports and those who push their lenses to the limit, like Red!  Of course, Airwear offers all of the above and then some. OK, back to my story…

I remember it like it was yesterday. My cousin Anna went along with us to the ophthalmologist appointment for moral support. Finding that my son’s vision was estimated at 20/200 at best was incredibly upsetting. The child really could not see much of anything from one eye! Outside both Anna and I cried while Red looked at us rather puzzled.

The day Red put on his first pair of glasses was even more unforgettable. The nurse tried to fit the glasses but had no luck, Red was squirming like crazy. I pointed to the flowers across the street and told him to try looking at them through HIS NEW glasses. Aaahhh that phrase worked well. The expression on his face was as though a light finally shone in on the darkness! His eyes were big and his smile wide. That night when I tried to take them off he resisted immensely. It took quite some time to convince him they would be waiting for him in the morning.

Having two grown son’s hubby and I learned (through good and bad experiences) how to ensure a health, safety, and successful school year. These are the ten most important things hubby and I incorporated into the boys’ school years.

1. Physicals – I always made it a point for the boys to have their physicals just prior to the start of school. This included vision and hearing exams too. It is truly amazing how bad vision can have an extremely negative effect on early learning skills.My youngest son struggled when he was in the lower grades due to his poor vision, even while wearing his glasses. It required great energy and concentration for him to focus all day long. After speaking with his teacher, she decided to administer his afternoon testing orally. The combination of being so young and having bad vision had a direct effect on his tests. By not having to read and write the answers, the results were greatly improved.
2. Open house - I always attended open house with the boys. Parents and children both need to be informed and know what to expect. This is vital to a successful school year.
3. Breakfast - I insisted the boys eat a good breakfast regardless of the circumstances. They were taught and frequently reminded that breakfast was the most important meal. My analogy (when they were young) was they needed food in their body just as a car needs gas. Cereal, hot or cold, along with juice or milk was the typical breakfast. I had yogurt, granola bars, and fresh fruit on hand as well and did give them a choice. My youngest liked veggies or leftovers for breakfast when he got older which was AOK with me. The boys love to eat anyway so breakfast was really no problem. In fact they never missed breakfast even when they entered high school and had to fix it themselves.
4. Standard bed times – Rest is an import aspect of life, period. Regular bed times, and rising times for that matter, offer a stable routine as well as allowing the body time to recoup. Additionally, the kids know what to expect, get the rest they need, and gives Mom some quiet time too.  Hubby and I would read or tell stories at bedtime when the boys were young. This really built confidence and strong relationships with our kids.
5. Dinner time – Dinner time is family time. I prepared dinner 6 out of 7 nights. There is nothing more rewarding than sharing your day with your family and having them do the same. Yes, there were times when sports or other activities interrupted dinner however, most of the time we sat down and ate together. The boys are grown now and have told me they looked forward to our dinner time as well.
6. Volunteering – My husband and I always volunteered at school. Whether it be sports, dances, or carnivals one of us always supported what our boys were involved in at school. This really helped build their confidence and self esteem.
7. Transportation – Making a plan in advance and sharing it with your kids will relieve a great amount of stress, especially if you have children in different schools with different times. Know bus drop off and pick schedules, bus stops, or car pool parents along with phone numbers. Write down the information and be sure your children have access to the information in the event you are not available!
8. Washing hands – A parent can not stress enough to the children that hands carry germs. Talk to your kids about appropriate ways to interact with others along with how germs are transmitted. Pack a hand sanitizer or wipes in the back pack or lunch box.
9. Back to School Tradition – We had a back to school shopping tradition. Every year after the supply lists were published we would set a time for school supply shopping. The boys and I would shop for supplies and afterward stop for pizza or a burger. They looked forward to it every year.
10. Back Packs – Be aware of what your children will have to carry on a daily basis before buying a book bag or back pack. Both of my boys carried almost all of their books once they reached middle school. What a load to carry all day long! Consider a rolling bag if this is your child’s situation, they will be thankful you did at the end of the day.

My hope is that hubby and my parental experiences will give you some ideas to ensure your kids have a healthy, safe, and successful school year.

Before I close, this is one more exciting excerpt from twittermoms I’d like to share – “Airwear and your fellow TwitterMom, Beth Aldrich, are sponsoring an essay contest for consumers, encouraging parents and care-givers to share how they plan to help their kids live a healthy, safe and successful school year. Families can submit their thoughts by visiting LighterSaferGreener.com. One grand prize winner will be awarded $1,000, while 10 first prize winners will receive vouchers for Airwear lenses valued up to $400.”

And the legal stuff: “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. “