Hubby Not Helping Out At Home? Send Him To School

Are American husbands a washout at cleaning the house? Better at watching the game than watching the kids? Spark-free at igniting romance?

The sad but true answer to all the above questions is "yes": In a new survey, 60 percent of women said husbands could use some lessons at helping out around the house. Hearing their plight prompted a leading consumer brand to find a way to help.

Eight husbands were recently sent to Brawny Academy-a training camp for husbands who require domestic guidance-where their lessons in the ABC's of pitching in at home will be captured in a reality show produced exclusively for the Web.

"My husband gave me his credit card for my birthday and told me to go pick out my own gift," said Andrea Kiley, wife of Brawny Academy participant Michael Kiley. "He is a terrific guy in many ways, but he needs some basic training in taking care of the kids, the house-and me!"

The eight men's experiences will be captured in an entertaining series of "webisodes." In each segment, the husbands-chosen from across the country-learn tools and techniques they can use to be more helpful around the house. The intensive nuts-and-bolts training covers key chores, giving the guys a better clue about cooking, cleaning, caring for children and fixing things around the house.

The husbands' stay at the academy also includes some fine-tuning of their personal skills, showing them how to communicate better and spark romance with their wives.

"American wives are fed up with their spouses falling down on the job at home, so Brawny decided to help out by teaching a few of them how to be like the Brawny Man: strong and versatile," said Steven Sage, Georgia-Pacific Vice President of Marketing, Towel and Napkin Categories.

Congratulate To Spread Joy

Congratulating everyone for any achievement has become a norm. You pass graduation congratulations will pour in. Get a new child, same story repeated. Get engaged, get married, get a job, a new house, promotion, what ever, congratulations will come in avalanche if you have a big circle of friends and family.

What is the effect of such a message on the sender and the recipient? Let us consider.
In our life, whenever we achieve anything, we need acknowledgement. If no body acknowledges our achievements, we feel useless. For example, consider that you are the only person left on the earth and you get a very large diamond. There is no body else to congratulate you. What will you do with the diamond?

We need acknowledgment. We want to share our joy. We want people to celebrate with us. Without that all is useless. That is why people who have a very small circle of friends and family feel lonely. Similarly those who congratulate feel good. They are sharing some body else’s joy. That is a selfless act. Such acts always give us joy. Whenever you send a congratulatory message, examine your feelings carefully. You will find that you feel good.

Sharing others joy and grief, both connect us. We are all social animals and our satisfaction comes out of that connection. Please send as many Congratulation ecards as you can to make the recipients happy.

My Dryer is Tearing My Clothes – The Inside Scoop

I took some clothes out of the dryer the other day and noticed that one of my shirts was torn and my favorite t-shirt had a hole in it. Since the shirts were fine when they went in the dryer and ruined when they came out, I figured it must have something to do with the dryer. I called a service technician to find out why my dryer was damaging my clothes.

What I found out was surprising, and if I knew then what I know now, I could have diagnosed and repaired the problem myself. So here's the inside scoop if you have the same problem and would like to save your clothes and a few dollars.

If your dryer is tearing your clothes, you need to check three parts; the drum glides, the drum seals, and the drum support rollers. To check these parts, open the dryer's cabinet by removing the front or rear panel. Remember to disconnect the power to your dryer before beginning any repairs.

The glides support the drum and are located at the top or bottom of the bulkhead (the bulkhead is located at the front of the drum). When the glides wear, the drum tilts to the front of the dryer creating a pinch point between the top of the drum and the dryer wall. Your clothes can be torn if they get caught in this pinch point.

Glides are not difficult to replace. They are held in place by screws, rivets, or grooves. It's best to replace all of the glides - they can be worn out even though they look fine.

Having checked the glides, now check the drum seals. They are located around the circumference of the drum and keep clothes from getting trapped between the drum and the dryer wall. Your clothes can be torn if they get caught between the spinning drum and the dryer wall.

Not all dryers have two drum seals. Some dryers have one seal.

Examine the seal for signs of wear or damage. You don't need to remove the drum to check the entire seal, but you do need to remove the drum belt to relieve the tension on the drum. After removing the belt, turn the drum and examine the seal.

If the seal is worn it's not difficult to remove, but it takes some effort. The seal is secured to the drum with an adhesive. Before you replace the seal, make sure you have the adhesive you need – not all seals come with adhesive.

To replace the seal, remove the drum from the dryer's cabinet. With the drum removed, peel back the seal and scrape off the old adhesive. Scrape off as much adhesive as you can because the new seal bonds better to a clean surface.

Place the new seal, stitch side down, in the same position as the one you scraped off. Apply a small amount of adhesive under the entire edge of the seal. Allow the adhesive to dry for a few hours before reinstalling the drum.

While waiting for the adhesive to dry, check the rollers located at the back of the dryer, underneath the drum. If the rollers are worn, you dryer's drum will tilt, creating a pinch point between the drum and the dryer wall. Your clothes can be torn if they get caught in this pinch point.

The left roller tends to wear more than the right one but you need to replace both to keep the drum from tilting. It's easy to replace a roller because you only have to remove a screw or clip. Your new rollers may come with lubricating oil. Apply one drop of oil to the hub (center of the roller). Too much oil will only attract dust and lint and limit the life of your rollers.

Now that you have the inside scoop, you can prevent your dryer from ruining your clothes. Save your clothes and your money with these simple repairs.

5 Simple Tips on Preparing your Family Pets for a Disaster

Disasters can happen anywhere at any time. The public doesn’t usually get a lot of notice before a disaster strikes, so you must be prepared in advance and know what to do quickly if there is an emergency.

Here are 5 simple steps that you can take to prepare your pets and reduce the level of stress and worry for your entire family to a minimum.

Tip #1. Get a Pet Emergency Supplies Kit.
Have it readily accessible and make sure it consists of at least the following items:

• Pet first aid kit that will cover your pets’ emergency medical needs. If your pets take any medications, add some extra supplies.


• Food (in water proof container) and water, 3-day ration.


• Collars with ID tags - make sure the information is current and updated. You might consider microchipping as permanent identification as collars get lost.


• Safety harness and leash.


• Sanitation Items.


• Rescue Pet Decals – to alert rescue teams to save your pets inside the house.


• Comfort toys and blankets to take with your pets if you have to evacuate.

Tip #2. Pack a picture of your pets in case you get separated.
It will help rescue workers to identify and reunite you with your pets faster.

Tip #3. Get your pets familiar with their carriers or crates.
Usually, pets associate them with visits to the vet and become stressed at the first site of them. Let your pets play in the carrier or get them some treats to make the transition easier when the time comes.

Tip #4. Know your pets hiding places in and out of the house.
At the first warning of a disaster, you might consider putting them in one room in case you have to leave in a hurry.

Tip #5. Have a Family Emergency Plan Ready:

• Map out a get-away plan: how you pack your pets, where you go.


• Check with the nearby shelters, veterinary hospitals, and hotels to see if they would take your pets in an emergency.


• Develop a pet care buddy system – arrange for friends or extended family to take your pets in if you must evacuate in a shelter that doesn’t allow pets for health issues. Instruct your caretakers on the location of the emergency supplies kit and anything else you might find useful.


• Learn about various disasters that could strike your particular area. You might have to wait home longer before getting an order to evacuate, so get some extra supplies of food and water.


• If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you if possible.
  

5 Movies From Your Childhood To Share With Your Kids

Brand new movies are great! It’s so much fun standing in line at the theater, breathing in the buttery popcorn smell, giddy with anticipation when a new movie is released.

My children love watching the latest and greatest movies, but I just grin when I hear my children singing the songs I used to sing as a kid – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” or “Tomorrow”. Hearing their little off-key renditions is the best music to my ears.

Have you introduced your children to the movies you enjoyed when you were younger?

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
The Robinson family gets shipwrecked near an island. With hard work and togetherness, they build a majestic tree house. They are faced with many trials - wild animals, weather, and pirates, but their ingenuity carries them through. Great family values!

The Parent Trap (1961)
Twin daughters are raised not knowing about each other, each living with one parent. They unexpectedly bump into each other at summer camp, put two and two together, and work out a scheme to get their parents back together again. This movie is just plain good fun.

Mary Poppins (1964)
Mr. and Mrs. Banks are both so preoccupied with their own interests that their children, Jane and Michael are unhappy. When the magical nanny, Mary Poppins enters their lives, she brings the family closer. Between the penguin scene, the chimney sweep dance, and the magic, your children will be entranced.

The Sound of Music (1965)
The hills are alive with the sound of music. Your home will be alive with the sound of music once your kids watch this one.

Annie (1982)
Oh, how we love Annie! The music, the dancing, the wealthy Mr. Warbucks, and a happy ending. It doesn’t get much better than that!

These five movies are a must in every family library. Share the memories, and sing the tunes. It’s ok if you’re a little off-key. I won’t tell.

"Pushy" Deaf Kid's Mom

There are some things that we as persons, born on this planet, have no control over. Our own birth defects are included in that scenario. While there are those who believe that we ourselves choose what obstacles we must face and overcome in this life, prior to our earthly birth, I am not one who buys that. I did not choose to be born deaf.

Be that what it may, I was entered this world with a 70% hearing loss in both ears. It didn’t take my Mother long to recognize my hearing deficiency. She had been born a hearing impaired person too. My Mother determined that her child would not hide his deficiency, as she had been allowed to do.

Mom, as a child, had many siblings. Most of her sisters were older than she so hers were hand-me-down clothes. Poor, nearly deaf, she had taken a back seat in classrooms in an effort to not call attention to herself and her perceived inadequacies. Always, when called upon by a teacher, Mother would say, “I don’t know…” As she later told me, “The alternative answer would have been even more humiliating, I didn’t hear!”

I would never be allowed to make such an unwise determination. Every year, the first day of grammar school, Mother would march me before the teachers and tell them, in no uncertain terms, “This boy can not hear. I want him in a front desk, and I don’t want him moved around the room!”

As any otherwise normal kid would, I hated it. I asked her, “Why do you have to make such a big thing about this? I hear alright,” I insisted.

“Of course you do,” was her reply. “Because, I love you, I want you to hear what your teachers say and not have the articulation problems that I’ve had learning to form your own words correctly.

I didn’t really comprehend, until later, the significance of the second part of Mother’s answer. But yeah, I knew that she did love me. Even though I often resented the seating restriction, I was ever to be found occupying a front desk.

As a direct result of my “Pushy Mother’s intervention,” I was not distracted by classroom conversations which were not part of the curriculum. I couldn’t get away with anything because the teachers would catch me. And, I learned to properly pronounce most words because I “Heard” them. Mother’s vocabulary was excellent, her speech clear, as she had invested many childhood hours in a dictionary, looking up words that she felt she might need with emphasis on pronunciation. In grade school, I was spared that responsibility which I would not have taken upon myself anyway.

It wasn’t until high school that I learned to be stupid in my selection of where to sit. I never even considered that perhaps misunderstanding assignments, or not hearing what instructors actually said, had something to do with how hard I had to struggle.

Later, I was witness to what might have happened to me if not for having a “Pushy Mom.” A cousin inherited the same type of hearing loss I was born with. His mother didn’t bother to be pushy on this issue. He was shuffled along through school and treated like someone with a learning impairment. No wonder, for when he spoke he sounded retarded.

For a while, as an adult, I sold hearing aids. When I checked my cousin’s hearing, it was virtually identical to my own. Only then, did I fully comprehend and appreciate the wonderful gift my mother had given me by being “Pushy.”

If you have a child that doesn’t have excellent hearing, consider becoming a “Pushy Parent,” if only on this one issue. It is one thing that you can do for your child ~ on this planet ~ to level the playing field while he or she is too young to appreciate it.

Online shopping tips

Online shopping has become very common among people who know that it saves their time and money both. It doesn’t means that you start searching endlessly for bargains online because there are many other easy ways too.

It may be anything for which you shop online ranging from clothes, gifts, computers or electronics you will always look for some bargain or sort of reasonable discount. A discount coupon is indeed a smart way to save money at the same time it is also available easily. Gone are the day’s when you had to wait for the Sunday newspapers and magazines to clip these coupons. Now you can get discount coupons from various online websites and entertainment coupon books.

Online discount coupon sites provide great rebates, offers and bargains to the shoppers however you need to take the following safety tips if you are a beginner:

1. You should stay away from online coupon websites that ask you for your personal information so as to print your discount coupon. Because you have a chance to get 100 of spam mails fro each discount coupon they give.

2. Keep away from discount coupon sites that have too many pop ups attached to it since they are annoying and can download viruses to freeze your computer.

3. Online printable coupons and coupon codes are free, so do not think of paying to any of the online coupon sites who provide you with these coupons.

4. Many websites offer freebies or deals which you may find irresistible but remember that there is nothing wrong in freebies but you should be vigilant and not naive. Don’t waste your time in idiotic scams.

5. Never complete online surveys to get free stuff or discount coupon codes unless they are from any of the reputable companies.

Vertical Platform Lifts in Homes

Vertical platform lifts are primarily used by individuals who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters. They are used to transport a mobility device and its rider up and down the stairs. They are often found in residential settings, but many businesses also use them. This includes places like churches and schools.

A vertical platform lift is designed to support the weight of a mobility device, such as a mobility scooter, and its rider. Most do not support less than 500 pounds and many can support as much as 750 pounds. In many cases a 2 people will ride the vertical platform lift at one time. This is common among husbands and wives, as well as caregivers. Some models are able to travel distances up to 12 feet.

Since most vertical platform lifts are intended for outside use they are water resistant and weather proof. Many also feature a battery backup to make sure that even if the power goes out that the device can still be used. If you intend to install the vertical platform lift in a public area or if you are worried about young children playing on it, it is a good idea to invest in a keyed lock. Most distributors can outfit the porch lifts with locks if they do not already come with one. They are controlled by use of either a set of call buttons or a remote control.

Vertical platform lifts are used by many millions of people. They are like having your own personal elevator and can also be used to transport goods up and down the stairs.

People In Glass Houses

Predominantly glazed room additions and incorporations into house design will prove to be the most significant development in domestic architecture since we moved out of caves and into living spaces built out of logs and bricks and mortar!

Although at a time when so many homes in the UK has a conservatory (1 in 4 is the latest estimate) is it not inevitable that a downturn is likely if not already taking place? As the rate of order intake decreases across the UK what are the real trends?

The industry has become enormous. It is the biggest ever in terms of home improvements, easily outstripping its rivals in terms of expenditure. It is the average family's third highest spend after the house and the motor car! Additionally there are all the purchases that take place after the conservatory is built such as furnishings, blinds, and conservatory plants. Acquiring these items is a continual process of buy and replace with what is fashionable and what has worn out. I would suggest that the same is the case with the main 'conservatory' itself. The glazed conservatory frames can be replaced (the part above the base and walls) with, in many cases, something more visually appealing and technically worthwhile.

Can we really expect conservatory replacements to prevent a downturn? Or, can we expect that in a couple of years time 1 in 2 homes will have a conservatory. For expectations such as these to achieve reality the industry must take a long look at itself, and re-examine it's past attitudes. The product must be more fully understood in it's technicalities. Visual qualities must be addressed to make these structures far more appealing and to create new looks. To have a conservatory has become highly fashionable but fashions wain without some sort of re-invention. Most suppliers have lost sight of their real potential, concentrating too much on the 'bottom line' for the ever increasing number of repetitive installations.

Over the last 10 - 15 years we have seen the creation of a this new product and of it's industry. Estimates vary greatly as to it's size but £15 billion per annum in the UK ($25billion) over the last year alone wouldn't seem far off the mark. The amazing thing is, is that the product is in it's infancy! Why? Are these structures not just live in greenhouses, a combination of frames and glass. Isn't a window a window at the end of the day, no matter how many you place side by side?

Quite frankly the conservatory AND their integration into domestic buildings and architecture will prove to be the most significant development since we moved out of caves and into living spaces built out of logs and bricks and mortar! The point here is that we are now learning to create and control, beautiful light, warm and airy spaces. We are only now beginning to move out of our cave like existences!

Technically, the most powerful developments so far have been in glass and glazing technology. Then there has been the advent of multi-wall translucent polycarbonate sheets and the development of roof and window frame glazing profiles.

The achievment of transparency without enormous heat loss has been one of the greatest challenges - at least at economical cost. It has been the same problem even in warmer climates except the challenge was to keep the heat out.The end result is naturally light and far healthier living spaces.

Most of the work required to achieve growth in the industry is to be ultimately far more professional in it's attitude to the product and to it's customers.

What can we expect from future developments. It is now possible to flick a switch and a glazed area will immediately become blackened out, or greyed out or any other colour for that matter. The technology is called 'smart glass' and the cost is falling. Not only will we be able to create privacy as required, but a further control on heat energy flow is introduced.

The public is becoming more aware of the benefits and the potential downfalls in having a conservatory built. Some of the so called conservatory structures built on homes to date leave a great deal to be desired. They are a long long way from environmental control technology. Many suffer from uncontrollable over heating when the sun comes out. Suppliers who continue to offer a product which is sub-standard on the false ill-advised premise of being cheaper (you don't need roof ventilation attitude) will bring themselves down and put the whole industry at risk.

You might say that I am bound to say it, but including real design capability within conservatory supplies will add real perceived value. Just offering design drawings for customer approval and a copy for the customer to hang on to, properly presented, will ensure that friends and neighbours will benefit from your design knowledge and expertise.

Need To Get Information About Your Biological Parents?

Sooner or later, adopted individuals – whether in their younger years or during adulthood – would have the tendency to feel the need to search for information about their identities and to search biological parents.

Although finding biological parents can be a really challenging process, most adopted individuals would persist in getting information for many important reasons. For once, these persons may be interested to trace their siblings and relatives. Most adopted persons feel enormous emptiness in their hearts that can not be filled in any other way than getting in touch with their biological parents, siblings, and relatives. On the other hand, their parents may have also been longing to get in touch with them and get information about them. Most of the time, a meeting of an adopted individual and the biological parents could answer many questions that may have been lingering in their minds for many, many years.

Besides the emotional reasons, another good motivation for adopted individuals to trace their biological parents is to know their genetic and medical history. This is important for people to discover, especially if there are disorders and diseases within the family that the person can possibly inherit. For example, a woman who has a mother or a sister that has been diagnosed with breast cancer faces the inevitable possibility that that person could also get the disease. Finding accurate information then is vital for that person to take precautionary measures. Extreme cases such as the need to find a genetic match for a bone marrow, tissue or organ transplant is another important matter to consider why some people do search biological parents.

Allow PublicRecords.com to shed some light in your difficult pursuit of searching information about your biological parents. By visiting PublicRecords.com, you wouldn’t have to visit different public offices or hire expensive private investigators anymore. No, you wouldn’t even need to experience searching through several government and commercial databases and get nothing but irrelevant results.

And since PublicRecords.com has a huge, comprehensive database that holds more than 2 billion US public records, you can easily perform people search and find public records at the same time by using our services. Important public records – such as birth records, marriage records, divorce records, death records, phone records, and address records - are unbelievably very accessible at PublicRecords.com.

What are Gift Baskets?

Gift Baskets are a popular gift option especially during the holiday season. The basic purpose of a gift basket is to give your fellow friend number of small gifts instead of giving a larger one. Every item in the gift basket is arranged in a container and the entire package is attractively wrapped in cellophane. Each gift basket is designed to create a complete and personal moment for the recipient. The small gifts present in the gift basket are carefully chosen and blended to make a cohesive whole.

Gift Baskets are available in different themes. For instance, if you want to gift a gift basket to writer then you can tailor the basket as per the recipient’s interest. You can fill the basket with books, paper, pens, pencils, and dictionary and so on. Similarly if you want to gift the basket to a beautician you can arrange the basket with nail polishes, lipsticks, combs and shampoos, dryer and so on.

Gift baskets are not just good ideas for Christmas but also for any other occasion. They create a personalized feeling that anyone would enjoy receiving them. There are three main types of gift basket mainly

•Pre-made Gift Basket: A pre made gift basket are attractively wrapped and ready to purchase. This is gift giving at its best.
•Create din Store: There are many stores that allow you to decide what gift items should be wrapped in the gift basket. This gives the basket a personal touch while still allowing for a more professional presentation. This is a perfect choice especially when you want to gift a friend with a professional gift.
•Homemade Gift Basket: if you want to have a total control over what to put in the gift basket and how it is presented then a home made gift basket would be a perfect choice. Homemade gift basket gives you an opportunity to buy the contents and wrap the basket yourself.

How to Get More Space in the Garage

It doesn't seem to matter how big your garage is: you can always fill it up with stuff. Sure, you can hire some professional organizer to come help you clear a path to the car doors, but that costs money. How about I just give you some tips instead? You don't even need to pay me $100 an hour, or whatever it is de-clutter-ganizers are making these days. So, without further ado, here are five ways to clear up space in the garage:

1. Hang things from the ceiling.
Garages usually have plenty of headroom, so that leaves many cubic feet of space you can exploit. Is your family full of sports fanatics? You can buy ceiling-mounted racks designed specifically for outdoor recreational equipment, everything from snowboards and bicycles to canoes and kayaks. You can also get platforms that go up and down with a crank of a lever. These allow you to tuck hundreds of pounds of junk--er, valuable family heirlooms--up amongst the rafters.

2. Make use of wall space.
You've probably got at least one pegboard in the tool area of your garage, but there's no reason to limit yourself. You can attach your own homemade brackets, nails, and pegboards, or you can buy special panels designed to support hooks, baskets, and shelves.

3. Cabinets are for garages too.
Most garages have enough room on the sides or in the back to accommodate banks of cabinets, while still leaving enough space to get in and out of the car. Even if there's only enough room for 12" deep cabinets, that's still a lot of extra storage if you run them from floor to ceiling. Also, cabinets look nice--all your clutter gets hidden behind the doors, where you don't have to look at it every time you drive inside.

4. If you have too many vehicles, try a car lift.
You've got a good 10-12 feet of height in your garage, right? And the average car is less than five feet high, right? Well, there are systems out there that let you stack them. Granted, these are pricey, and raising and lowering the top car can be a hassle if the vehicle is driven every day, but if there's a car you don't drive that often but that takes up space, it might be something to look into. Car lifts can make a lot of sense in houses with one-car garages.

5. Think garage sale.
If you've tried your hardest to find storage space for everything, but you're still tripping over stuff, it may be time to clean the garage out. Chances are you have toys, boxes, tools, etc. that you bought many moons ago (and which your family probably hasn't used in almost as many moons) that you don't need to keep around. So, clean it out and throw it out, or better yet, have a garage sale. At least then you make some money and are rewarded for your efforts.

5 Tips To Maximize Your Child’s Wardrobe During Seasonal Change

While the northern hemisphere prepares to put away their winter wear in preparation for the warmer summer months, we here in the southern hemisphere are doing the exact opposite.
Living here in southern Queensland, Australia, we experience relatively stable seasons. Therefore it’s not uncommon that particular clothes worn for one season are not needed again until the following year.

As adults, the uncomplicated approach to a new season can simply involve resurrecting the previous year’s items, and rearranging these items to the front of your wardrobe. Any changes to particular items are generally dictated more by fashion or personal preference than by ‘fit’ (unless of course we have gained or lost a few kilos!).

Now when it comes to growing children, the change of season often dictates a totally different approach. Depending on the individual child and their age, they’ll grow at different rates from one year to the next. The impact of this growth on an existing wardrobe, can range anything from the requirement for a ‘part’ modification (where most items still ‘fit’), up to, and including the situation where a ‘complete overhaul’ is in order (where virtually everything has been outgrown).

Particularly where the latter situation is the case, one of the first reactions to this sudden realization can be panic and stress (especially if you’re the parent who’s responsible for finding, and financing these ‘modifications’).
So ‘BEFORE’ pulling out your credit card, and rushing out on a panic shopping spree with your child / children, here are 5 practical tips to consider to save both your purse and your sanity:

1. INVEST THE TIME to go through each child’s existing wardrobe. If the idea of this task is stressful for either party, consider breaking it down into smaller manageable parts. (I.e. concentrate on one child’s wardrobe at a time, and/or break the exercise up over several sessions or days. E.g. Spend 15-30 minutes per session going through a particular section. Perhaps jumpers 1 session, and long pants the next etc.)

2. AVOID GUESSING whether an item fits or not. This includes ‘calculated guesswork’ which is the exercise of ‘holding an item’ up against the body. If it’s been several months since a child has worn an article of clothing, take the time to physically get them to TRY EACH ITEM ON. You’ll be amazed at how much more accurate your assessment will be by basing your judgments on practical testing and not calculated guesswork.

3. If you have children of the same sex, consider WORKING THROUGH THEIR WARDROBES FROM OLDEST TO YOUNGEST. Working in this manner means that ‘pre-loved’ or outgrown items from an older sibling can be passed down to the younger siblings and included in the items they will try on, along with their existing wardrobe. The benefits of this exercise are two-fold: 1. Younger siblings can find themselves with an ‘instant brand new’ (to them) wardrobe. 2. Minimizing the requirements for any one child’s wardrobe can result in a significant saving in time and money.

4. KEEP ONLY THOSE ITEMS you (and particularly your child), feel confident your child will wear. Depending on the age, personality and maturity of your child, if your child appears uncomfortable wearing a particular item, ask ‘them’ to consider if they feel they will wear it or not. If the answer is a resounding ‘no’, or their body language relays the same message, seriously consider removing that item from their wardrobe. No matter how much attachment another person may have to an article of clothing, if the person to whom it belongs is not going to wear it, the truthful fact is, it’s likely to end up taking space and energy in a cupboard. Learning to respect your child’s preferences and choices is an exercise that long term will not only save you heartache, but save your well-earned money as well.

5. SELL OR DONATE items of clothing that can’t be used by immediate family members or relatives. Occasionally there may be an article that has particular sentimental value that you may wish to retain as a ‘keepsake’. However for the most part, clothing serves its purpose when it is being worn and used. If an article is no longer being used within its current location, why not allow another individual to experience this pleasure. Not only is it a wonderful feeling to be able to give something to someone else, -- it can be also be an extremely liberating feeling to not only clear your physical space, but also clear the emotional energy attached to holding onto something that is not fulfilling its purpose.

Although the above tips require an investment of your time and energy at the outset, you’ll be well rewarded for your efforts in both the short and long term. Armed with accurate information about your child’s existing wardrobe well before you part with a single cent, will help to ensure that when you ‘do’ shop, you’re investing your time and money into the most appropriate and needed items for that particular child.

And as an added bonus, remember our children are children for such a short time. So why not take advantage of this opportunity when going through their wardrobes –- celebrate the fit of your child’s clothes as a measure of their growth from the previous year!

Aging and Mid Life Crisis

Isn’t it time to put into action all the things you dream about? Have you not spent the first 20 years of your life being trained and conditioned as someone’s child or student? Following all the instructions and rules set forth before you. Remember those that ended up rebellious always paying the task masters for that small taste of self expression?

Along comes the next 20 years where we believe that we are putting into reality our own ideas and life desires. We become someone’s mate, parent, employee and still keep our place that society has molded for us. We seem to be performing that wonderful balancing act of keeping everyone in our lives happy with our choices. Time is passing and something inside tells us that we aren’t fulfilled where we are in life. That all these choices have been for everyone else in our lives and not for us. There must be something more out there! Will someone think you’re selfish? It sits in the back of our mind and starts showing up in our dreams. We try to ignore it and yet we become dissatisfied with the choices we made. Yet, we have no idea what we would do instead!

Along comes our forties and with it a new found confidence. The ability to assert ourselves comes to the surface. It’s not always a pretty site and can be somewhat frightening at first but hang in there because maturity blossoms. They call it a “Mid Life Crisis” but I like to think of it as a time frame to create and express who you really are. The truth and nothing but the truth will free up your mind, heart and soul. You’re no longer looking for approval. You want real friends, loving partners and people in your life to know that you’re living life and not just existing. Don’t just become Aging Baby Boomers.

How do you do this? How do you explore yet meet all the realistic goals of this aging process? Many of us have no one to ask or to even bounce ideas off of. The generation gaps are to large and the concepts of what is necessary for a solid future definitely do not match. We have to learn to share and outsource our ideas and information. Taking stock of where we are and the directions we want to take can get that excitement back in our lives. Set those goals for yourself and share goals with those you love and share lives with. Skip over the depression stage and take those thoughts and dreams and find someone to help you turn them into reality.

There are life coaches, financial advisors, therapists, friends and loved ones who will be able to help guide you and encourage you on your journey. Have the desire to enjoy everyday of your life.

Every Mom Needs A Break Before The Breaking Point

It’s probably no secret to you that today’s mom is busier than ever. It doesn’t matter if you’re a career mom trying to balance work and family or a stay-at-home mom trying to run the household and manage the many activities your children are involved in. This hectic pace often translates to isolation and leaves you little time for anything else.

I’ve been working closely with stay-at-home mothers since 2002 and it’s no secret that most moms will do everything they can to provide the best for their families, often at the sacrifice of their own happiness. We lose contact with friends, don’t take care of ourselves like we used to and seemingly lose our true sense of self.

Still, it’s not easy when we have heavy demands on our time and sometimes the only spare moments we have are when everyone is finally in bed and the house is silent. When the house if finally silent, take the time to read a good book, call an old friend or put in that exercise DVD you’ve been promising yourself you’d try.

And never be afraid to ask for a break. Ask a trusted friend or family member to watch the kids for a while and go do something fun for a few hours. The kids will be just fine and you’ll be a much happier mama when you return. That’s good for the whole family!
Recently, I spoke to Life Coach Aurelia Williams of RealLifeCoaching.net and she told me, “Being a busy mom, it can become so easy to fall into the mommy guilt trap where you start to neglect yourself. Many moms feel guilty if they take time for themselves and end up taking care of everyone else around them and pushing their own needs aside. This ultimately will leave you feeling burnt out, stressed out, truly unhappy and sometimes resentful. During the journey of motherhood, it is easy to lose ourselves along the way and inadvertently cut off or not seek out the support and camaraderie of other mothers.”

Aurelia also urges you to give yourself “time to unwind, socialize and bond with others, especially other moms.” This allows you to truly rediscover yourself – you know the woman you were before all those wonderful kids came into your life? When you socialize with other moms, you can gain support, ideas and tips to help you with deal with certain parenting and relationship concerns from others who feel just like you do or have dealt with the same issues.
Even when you’re busy, you can always connect with other moms during your children’s activities. Start chatting with other moms at your child’s soccer practice or after her piano recital. Social opportunities are available to you many times in the day – you may just not notice it.