by ttwogood
Go ahead and laugh that we cling to our religious faith and proudly display religious items throughout our home.
Go ahead and laugh when you say that we don't seem to live in the 'real' world because things aren't done that way anymore.
Go ahead and laugh as you say, yes it's good to be religious but my family seems fanatical and a little weird.
Go ahead and laugh as you say just how uncomfortable you are around us because you fear that you might slip up and cuss.
Go ahead and laugh at how strange it is that my wife and I would rather spend time together,instead of with others.
Go ahead and laugh as you declare just how 'lucky' we must have been to make it through the tough times and to avoid divorce.
Go ahead and laugh as you say how easy it is to loath my children because they always seem to do just the 'right thing'.
Go ahead and laugh that my children appear to be happy and they have happy friends-no gloom and doom or dark clouds overhead.
Go ahead and laugh when our children dress up not as demons but rather as Biblical characters for halloween.
Go ahead and laugh at the fact that we have a sacred area of our home that we call our prayer closet.
Go ahead and laugh as you come up with excuses for not having family devotions and prayers together every night.
Go ahead and laugh and say just how silly we look while dinning out, because we pause to say grace aloud and together.
Go ahead and laugh because we strive to have a sit-down, around the table, family meal at least four nights a week.
Go ahead and laugh because we believe that 'our way' provides the very comfort and security that children need and want.
Go ahead and laugh because we claim to have discovered the true secret to happiness,and it's called being a Christian.
Go ahead and laugh because being a Christian isn't about what we do or don't do but rather about what Jesus has done for us.
Go ahead and laugh we will still pray that you will want to join in with us someday soon.
Go ahead and laugh for we will worship the Lord our God; because in Him we have all and are in need of nothing.
Go ahead and laugh and say that you think that 'all this' is okay for my family, but it wouldn't work for your family.
Go ahead and laugh it's okay because we believe that someday soon you will wish for your family to be as ours.
Go ahead and laugh my friend, for laughter is all you may have.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Shopping on a Budget
by Laura Taff
Shopping for clothing, accessories, shoes and more can be tight on a family's budget no matter what the national economic situation is. Even when times are great, its a good idea to get more for your money. I used to just go shop right off of the racks, whatever was available that I liked. After being chided by friends repeatedly, I finally started to understand what they meant. Let's say I had $60-$70 to spend. We all know that isn't going to buy very much. Depending on where I choose to spend it, I may get an outfit out of that. Sometimes that won't buy just a pair of jeans or a skirtLet's imagine I spend that same $60-$70 with a plan in mind, and don't mind bargain hunting to get the best deal. In that case, I honestly could get two or three outfits for that. Once, on a bargain hunt, I got a nice dress, two blouses, and a pair of shorts for $25. That's right, I said $25! So how did I do it?
I think everyone is pretty aware of clearance racks at stores, but how much attention do you pay to them? I found an end of season clearance sale at a major department store and practically the entire store was on clearance. The great thing is, I live in an area where it stays warm longer than the official end of summer, so I was able to wear those great finds for several months before the actual end of the season. So, yes, the clearance rack is a great way to save on shopping. But, what if you don't live in an area where it stays warm longer than the season? You can still take advantage of these deals, it just takes some planning ahead. Seriously, if you can get all of that for $25, grab it for next season and just wait. That's a great way to save on Halloween costumes as well. Shop the clearance when the season is over, and you've got next year's outfit. Just don't forget to buy it in a size bigger, because obviously your child will have grown by the next year.
There are some other ways besides clearance racks that a shopper can find a bargain. One is to realize that shops try to create urgency to get get you to buy now. They make those sales end at a certain time on purpose! They want you to feel like you're going to miss it. So the best way to combat that is planning ahead, and not being in a hurry. Be willing to walk away from a sale if need be. Chances are, that sale will end and that item will end up on the clearance rack marked down further than the sale. Of course, this is a risky strategy if you fall in love with a certain item. There is also the chance that someone else will grab up the deal or beat you to the clearance and you won't get the item. So try not to get too attached to one thing. Pick out several items you'd like to have and don't freak out if one of them isn't there when it finally gets marked down. But think of the benefits. In one case, I saw a great dress on the clearance rack, but I had already picked out other items that used up my $25 budget for the day. So, even though I tried it on and it looked fabulous, I left it on the rack. Not to mention it was $22 and would have been my only purchase for the day. Anyway, a week or two later, I was back in the same store and the dress was still there, only this time it was $7! At that point I was glad I had walked away. I still got the dress and for $15 less!
Thrift stores are another way a bargain shopper can make their money stretch further. A lot of people find it embarrassing to shop at a thrift store, but there's no need to. You have to be willing to look through the racks, but you can find things that people obviously bought and wore once (or not at all) before they donated. If you live in an area where the donations are not as nice, maybe thrift stores are not right for you, but you should at least check it out. If there's not a thrift store near you, or the donations are not as nice, look for outlets. They can be a money saver too. It is still brand new items, they just never sold off of the original rack and had to be moved out.
Don't forget shopping online. If you've never tried it, shopping online can be a great way to find the best bargains. You can find items that aren't available in stores, and possibly even get free shipping. Look for online coupon codes to your favorite stores, and try to combine offers when possible. For instance, if there is a minimum purchase requirement for free shipping, and that same store has a coupon code, and has sale items, you could shop the sale items, use the coupon code, and get free shipping. If you are having trouble meeting the minimum order requirement you could get together with a friend and make a purchase together and both reap the benefits. Often times online coupon codes last longer than regular ones, so find out when it expires and don't worry about waiting to use it at a more convenient time if necessary.
Whatever you do, have a game plan before you shop. Set a limit of spending and stick to it, even if that means walking away (or clicking away in the case of internet shopping). This can make shopping a fund experience rather than a stressful one. You're on a treasure hunt! So, enjoy yourself and reap the rewards.
Shopping for clothing, accessories, shoes and more can be tight on a family's budget no matter what the national economic situation is. Even when times are great, its a good idea to get more for your money. I used to just go shop right off of the racks, whatever was available that I liked. After being chided by friends repeatedly, I finally started to understand what they meant. Let's say I had $60-$70 to spend. We all know that isn't going to buy very much. Depending on where I choose to spend it, I may get an outfit out of that. Sometimes that won't buy just a pair of jeans or a skirtLet's imagine I spend that same $60-$70 with a plan in mind, and don't mind bargain hunting to get the best deal. In that case, I honestly could get two or three outfits for that. Once, on a bargain hunt, I got a nice dress, two blouses, and a pair of shorts for $25. That's right, I said $25! So how did I do it?
I think everyone is pretty aware of clearance racks at stores, but how much attention do you pay to them? I found an end of season clearance sale at a major department store and practically the entire store was on clearance. The great thing is, I live in an area where it stays warm longer than the official end of summer, so I was able to wear those great finds for several months before the actual end of the season. So, yes, the clearance rack is a great way to save on shopping. But, what if you don't live in an area where it stays warm longer than the season? You can still take advantage of these deals, it just takes some planning ahead. Seriously, if you can get all of that for $25, grab it for next season and just wait. That's a great way to save on Halloween costumes as well. Shop the clearance when the season is over, and you've got next year's outfit. Just don't forget to buy it in a size bigger, because obviously your child will have grown by the next year.
There are some other ways besides clearance racks that a shopper can find a bargain. One is to realize that shops try to create urgency to get get you to buy now. They make those sales end at a certain time on purpose! They want you to feel like you're going to miss it. So the best way to combat that is planning ahead, and not being in a hurry. Be willing to walk away from a sale if need be. Chances are, that sale will end and that item will end up on the clearance rack marked down further than the sale. Of course, this is a risky strategy if you fall in love with a certain item. There is also the chance that someone else will grab up the deal or beat you to the clearance and you won't get the item. So try not to get too attached to one thing. Pick out several items you'd like to have and don't freak out if one of them isn't there when it finally gets marked down. But think of the benefits. In one case, I saw a great dress on the clearance rack, but I had already picked out other items that used up my $25 budget for the day. So, even though I tried it on and it looked fabulous, I left it on the rack. Not to mention it was $22 and would have been my only purchase for the day. Anyway, a week or two later, I was back in the same store and the dress was still there, only this time it was $7! At that point I was glad I had walked away. I still got the dress and for $15 less!
Thrift stores are another way a bargain shopper can make their money stretch further. A lot of people find it embarrassing to shop at a thrift store, but there's no need to. You have to be willing to look through the racks, but you can find things that people obviously bought and wore once (or not at all) before they donated. If you live in an area where the donations are not as nice, maybe thrift stores are not right for you, but you should at least check it out. If there's not a thrift store near you, or the donations are not as nice, look for outlets. They can be a money saver too. It is still brand new items, they just never sold off of the original rack and had to be moved out.
Don't forget shopping online. If you've never tried it, shopping online can be a great way to find the best bargains. You can find items that aren't available in stores, and possibly even get free shipping. Look for online coupon codes to your favorite stores, and try to combine offers when possible. For instance, if there is a minimum purchase requirement for free shipping, and that same store has a coupon code, and has sale items, you could shop the sale items, use the coupon code, and get free shipping. If you are having trouble meeting the minimum order requirement you could get together with a friend and make a purchase together and both reap the benefits. Often times online coupon codes last longer than regular ones, so find out when it expires and don't worry about waiting to use it at a more convenient time if necessary.
Whatever you do, have a game plan before you shop. Set a limit of spending and stick to it, even if that means walking away (or clicking away in the case of internet shopping). This can make shopping a fund experience rather than a stressful one. You're on a treasure hunt! So, enjoy yourself and reap the rewards.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tips For Selecting Family Tree Maker Software
by Jeff Kona
You've most likely been considering getting some sort of software product to aid you with your family history project. You may have realized that there is a fairly considerable supply of software products that could meet your requirements, but you don't know which ones to purchase. To add to the frustration, there seems to be new applications showing up every few weeks or months! How in the world do you sort through the options and decide which one is the appropriate selection for you?
Instead of gazing at the options presented and making a choice from there, you should think about what you want from a software product and find the one that meets those requirements. You may not find one that meets all of your requirements, and in that case you must choose the one that comes closest to meeting your requirements.
So how do you know what you need? If you're a beginner you may not even have a clue about what is available and what you should expect the software to do for you. Here are a few tips to help you get started making a selection.
Tip #1: Managing Your Documents
All genealogy software products will help you to manage the documentation issue. You've been accumulating a lot of data (or you will be), so your software needs to help you categorize that information, as well as track your sources of information, and give you the opportunity to make notes about your data. Any genealogy applications you find should manage documentation - if it doesn't, you should remove it from your thought process.
Tip #2: Managing Your Multimedia
Another feature to keep in mind is the ability to manage multimedia. A useful genealogical program should be able to cope with cataloging and incorporating not only your paper documents (and word-processor files), but also any digital images, audio and video you may have gathered.
Tip #3: Take Advantage of the Online Community
Another clue to help you choose the suitable software for you: Before you relinquish your money make sure you have gone online and researched reviews of the software. Remember that some "review sites" are compensated to create reviews which may be very biased. You may even wish to join some genealogy forums online to find out what the people in that community think about certain software programs. Again be aware of that some people in the forums may actually get paid to promote certain software programs.
Tip #4: Choose from the "Big" Names
Some of the "big names" in genealogy applications are:
* RootsMagic: Demo version available
* Legacy Family Tree: Free basic version
* Personal Ancestral File: Free basic version
* Reunion: Runs on a Mac: costly
Tip #5: Prices
Prices for these products can range from free to expensive. You don't always get what you pay for, but as a rule the higher quality programs are also higher in cost. You must learn to look at your software purchase as an investment in your family history project.
Tip #6: Features and Ease of Use
Just as price is a factor in your decision making, there are two other things to keep in mind: features and ease of use. If the program doesn't do what you consider to be "essential", then it is worthless to you. And if the software is not easy for you to use, then you won't use it, which makes it worthless as a tool.
In the end, it is really all about getting the best features and ease of use for the price range that you determine. One last thing to keep in mind: how much is your time and frustration worth? If the software saves you time and reduces your frustration, then it has provided value to you - which will help to justify why you need to purchase it.
You've most likely been considering getting some sort of software product to aid you with your family history project. You may have realized that there is a fairly considerable supply of software products that could meet your requirements, but you don't know which ones to purchase. To add to the frustration, there seems to be new applications showing up every few weeks or months! How in the world do you sort through the options and decide which one is the appropriate selection for you?
Instead of gazing at the options presented and making a choice from there, you should think about what you want from a software product and find the one that meets those requirements. You may not find one that meets all of your requirements, and in that case you must choose the one that comes closest to meeting your requirements.
So how do you know what you need? If you're a beginner you may not even have a clue about what is available and what you should expect the software to do for you. Here are a few tips to help you get started making a selection.
Tip #1: Managing Your Documents
All genealogy software products will help you to manage the documentation issue. You've been accumulating a lot of data (or you will be), so your software needs to help you categorize that information, as well as track your sources of information, and give you the opportunity to make notes about your data. Any genealogy applications you find should manage documentation - if it doesn't, you should remove it from your thought process.
Tip #2: Managing Your Multimedia
Another feature to keep in mind is the ability to manage multimedia. A useful genealogical program should be able to cope with cataloging and incorporating not only your paper documents (and word-processor files), but also any digital images, audio and video you may have gathered.
Tip #3: Take Advantage of the Online Community
Another clue to help you choose the suitable software for you: Before you relinquish your money make sure you have gone online and researched reviews of the software. Remember that some "review sites" are compensated to create reviews which may be very biased. You may even wish to join some genealogy forums online to find out what the people in that community think about certain software programs. Again be aware of that some people in the forums may actually get paid to promote certain software programs.
Tip #4: Choose from the "Big" Names
Some of the "big names" in genealogy applications are:
* RootsMagic: Demo version available
* Legacy Family Tree: Free basic version
* Personal Ancestral File: Free basic version
* Reunion: Runs on a Mac: costly
Tip #5: Prices
Prices for these products can range from free to expensive. You don't always get what you pay for, but as a rule the higher quality programs are also higher in cost. You must learn to look at your software purchase as an investment in your family history project.
Tip #6: Features and Ease of Use
Just as price is a factor in your decision making, there are two other things to keep in mind: features and ease of use. If the program doesn't do what you consider to be "essential", then it is worthless to you. And if the software is not easy for you to use, then you won't use it, which makes it worthless as a tool.
In the end, it is really all about getting the best features and ease of use for the price range that you determine. One last thing to keep in mind: how much is your time and frustration worth? If the software saves you time and reduces your frustration, then it has provided value to you - which will help to justify why you need to purchase it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Christmas Gifts For Mom
by John Marshall
If you are reading this article, you are probably having a little difficulty figuring out what to get Mom. We understand this and hope the following information helps make your decision process easier. Here, we have picked out some popular topics for Christmas gifts for Mom and will include some of the top products and services too. This should help you decide which gifts are the best options for your mom and be able to check her off your Christmas shopping list.
Natural Products
The first category we will look at is natural products. Many Moms just love natural products for the way they feel like a breathable cotton or that it is a green or more environmentally conscious option. Year 2009 is a great year for these types of gifts as some companies like Femail Creations® and Acacia® offer some really nice options. Popular choices for natural products will be clothing, necklaces, home décor objects, and gardening objects. All these types of products are big winners so long as they are geared towards the interests of your Mother.
Personalized Gifts
A second category that is popular is Personalized Gifts. These include items that are made that either specifically include the image or likeness of the person or those that really match the interests of the person. Popular gift ideas here can include taking a digital photo of Mom and transforming it into a portrait or could include making some type of photo gift like a picture album, photo mouse, or coffee mug. These can be a great lower cost option of helping really personalize the gift for your Mom.
Pampered Gifts
A third category is pampered gifts. These can take on the form of spa treatments, massages, and similar services or it could be in the form of products like bath and body gift sets. Also, this category could include other items like comfy robes, comfortable sandals, or other similar types of products. Companies and products that could be great choices here include WaySpa®, Foot Petals®, and Auressence® gift baskets.
Women's Gadgets
A fourth category that is popular with moms are fun electronics. For Moms, this could include things like the Kindle which is a wireless electronic reading device or it could be a nice new digital camera like the Casio® EX-FC100 or the Canon® SX20IS. Both of these are nice value buys which should also be a consideration when considering electronics which can normally be somewhat cost prohibitive.
All and all, the above categories and suggestions should provide a good start to do some further research. However, we recognize that some people may be looking for more specific examples too.
If you are reading this article, you are probably having a little difficulty figuring out what to get Mom. We understand this and hope the following information helps make your decision process easier. Here, we have picked out some popular topics for Christmas gifts for Mom and will include some of the top products and services too. This should help you decide which gifts are the best options for your mom and be able to check her off your Christmas shopping list.
Natural Products
The first category we will look at is natural products. Many Moms just love natural products for the way they feel like a breathable cotton or that it is a green or more environmentally conscious option. Year 2009 is a great year for these types of gifts as some companies like Femail Creations® and Acacia® offer some really nice options. Popular choices for natural products will be clothing, necklaces, home décor objects, and gardening objects. All these types of products are big winners so long as they are geared towards the interests of your Mother.
Personalized Gifts
A second category that is popular is Personalized Gifts. These include items that are made that either specifically include the image or likeness of the person or those that really match the interests of the person. Popular gift ideas here can include taking a digital photo of Mom and transforming it into a portrait or could include making some type of photo gift like a picture album, photo mouse, or coffee mug. These can be a great lower cost option of helping really personalize the gift for your Mom.
Pampered Gifts
A third category is pampered gifts. These can take on the form of spa treatments, massages, and similar services or it could be in the form of products like bath and body gift sets. Also, this category could include other items like comfy robes, comfortable sandals, or other similar types of products. Companies and products that could be great choices here include WaySpa®, Foot Petals®, and Auressence® gift baskets.
Women's Gadgets
A fourth category that is popular with moms are fun electronics. For Moms, this could include things like the Kindle which is a wireless electronic reading device or it could be a nice new digital camera like the Casio® EX-FC100 or the Canon® SX20IS. Both of these are nice value buys which should also be a consideration when considering electronics which can normally be somewhat cost prohibitive.
All and all, the above categories and suggestions should provide a good start to do some further research. However, we recognize that some people may be looking for more specific examples too.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Family reunion photo slideshow tutorial
Create family reunion photo DVD slideshows gifts and personalized family reunion pictures albums with music are wonderful ways to add meaning to your family reunion. These gifts for families are as unique and memorable keepsake as the family itself.
Whenever we have a family reunion in our family the best way to celebrate is by sharing the love and concern among the family members and in that gifts play an important role in strengthen the family ties and bonds.
Collect all of those special pictures to give your family a beautiful DVD gift or show your slideshow at the family reunion party.
What you will need:
1. Family Reunion pictures
2. Favorite music
3. Slideshow Maker (Photo Story Platinum )Family Reunion Slideshow step 1: Add Family pictures:
Download Photo Story Platinum (which is easy to use for Family Reunion Slideshow) and install it? Once open, you will start from photo set, where you can import your Family pictures through the AddPhoto/Video button.
Whenever we have a family reunion in our family the best way to celebrate is by sharing the love and concern among the family members and in that gifts play an important role in strengthen the family ties and bonds.
Collect all of those special pictures to give your family a beautiful DVD gift or show your slideshow at the family reunion party.
What you will need:
1. Family Reunion pictures
2. Favorite music
3. Slideshow Maker (Photo Story Platinum )Family Reunion Slideshow step 1: Add Family pictures:
Download Photo Story Platinum (which is easy to use for Family Reunion Slideshow) and install it? Once open, you will start from photo set, where you can import your Family pictures through the AddPhoto/Video button.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Making the Perfect Birthday Cake
Birthday cakes are fun and easy to make. Kid's birthday cakes are probably the most fun to make. Castle birthday cakes are an enchanting and magical way to celebrate your child's birthday party. Themed birthday cakes are gaining popularity for the extra excitement and surprise they create. In today's world you can get birthday cakes in almost all types of shapes and sizes in all different flavors and decorations. Birthday cakes are sweet and delicious. Sculptured novelty birthday cakes are always a hit with children.
If you prefer making everything from scratch and baking your own birthday cakes make sure you plan it all out before starting. Try to get useful baking tips, techniques and recipes to make great cake. There are fundamentals to baking cakes that will apply to every cake you create. You know you perfected the baking the cake when the scent of the cake fills the air and it is like being in a bakery.
Try your hand at decorating these birthday cakes. Here are some tips when decorating birthday cakes, make sure you find icing that is easy to work with, that you find the correct color and writing tube to write on the cake. Find cake decorating books for a birthday cake idea which fits your needs. You can talk about cake decorating with people on the internet to get ideas. One decorating technique that I have used in the past to decorate my son's birthday cakes is to use small toys on top of the cake. Finding cake recipes from Kraft Foods along with pictures and instructions usually makes it easier and reduces stress on what type of cake to make.
What makes a perfect Birthday is the flavor of the Birthday cake. Since you are thinking cake, what is the special someone's favorite flavor for cake. Make sure your cake is very moist and light with an intense flavor. Try to shop for the birthday girl or boy favorite birthday cake flavor; this is one way to let them know you really put some thought into it. The same goes for the icing and the decorating, make sure you get something the guest of honor would like, not something you like. You can do beautiful things with fondant but the flavor leaves something to be desired. You may also want to experiment by changing the flavor of the cake mix you use too. You can also add color to the icing by purchasing food coloring and adding it to vanilla icing. This is another way of sprucing up the cake.
Let's face it, birthday cakes are special to the birthday guest of honor. The shapes of birthday cakes are a big deal; you don't just have to do round. You can go to the local craft store and pickup many different designs. The children's birthday cakes are always a huge success; they always eat the cake and often ask for more. Choices for birthday cakes are numerous.
If you prefer making everything from scratch and baking your own birthday cakes make sure you plan it all out before starting. Try to get useful baking tips, techniques and recipes to make great cake. There are fundamentals to baking cakes that will apply to every cake you create. You know you perfected the baking the cake when the scent of the cake fills the air and it is like being in a bakery.
Try your hand at decorating these birthday cakes. Here are some tips when decorating birthday cakes, make sure you find icing that is easy to work with, that you find the correct color and writing tube to write on the cake. Find cake decorating books for a birthday cake idea which fits your needs. You can talk about cake decorating with people on the internet to get ideas. One decorating technique that I have used in the past to decorate my son's birthday cakes is to use small toys on top of the cake. Finding cake recipes from Kraft Foods along with pictures and instructions usually makes it easier and reduces stress on what type of cake to make.
What makes a perfect Birthday is the flavor of the Birthday cake. Since you are thinking cake, what is the special someone's favorite flavor for cake. Make sure your cake is very moist and light with an intense flavor. Try to shop for the birthday girl or boy favorite birthday cake flavor; this is one way to let them know you really put some thought into it. The same goes for the icing and the decorating, make sure you get something the guest of honor would like, not something you like. You can do beautiful things with fondant but the flavor leaves something to be desired. You may also want to experiment by changing the flavor of the cake mix you use too. You can also add color to the icing by purchasing food coloring and adding it to vanilla icing. This is another way of sprucing up the cake.
Let's face it, birthday cakes are special to the birthday guest of honor. The shapes of birthday cakes are a big deal; you don't just have to do round. You can go to the local craft store and pickup many different designs. The children's birthday cakes are always a huge success; they always eat the cake and often ask for more. Choices for birthday cakes are numerous.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Spring Training For Your Dog
For our four-legged friends, winter means sleeping by the fire, short walks, and a slower pace to the day-to-day happenings of life. Often it means gaining a few extra pounds and losing a little muscle tone. It can also mean less time using their basic obedience commands around the off-lead park or during on-leash street walks.
Then spring hits and it is all about getting outside and having fun for both the furry members of the household as well as the two-legged, non-furry variety. How many of us humans overdo our first long walk on the first warm, sunny day of spring? How many of us look and feel as fit and toned in shorts as we did six months prior, before bundling up in sweaters and long johns? Those short days and times sitting by the fire reading a good book took their toll on our health and fitness level, and the first few weeks of spring usually come with a series of aches, pains, and injuries.
It is no different for our dogs except often, the injuries are far more serious. Easing your dog into spring can alleviate those sore, stiff muscles and help guarantee your dog does not suffer any unnecessary accidents!
Obedience Training ‘Refresher’
Why do dogs need an obedience ‘refresher’ after the long, sedentary winter? Even an older dog who has many years of training under their collar can lose their ‘edge’ when it comes to obedience if they have not used it for a while. ‘Sits’ are slow, ‘stay’ means only for a moment or two, and ‘come’ is easily ignored, at least until the human resorts to bribery. And this is all while you are still in the house!
Now add the fun and excitement of a green grass on a sunny day and there is no way your dog is going to be spot on with their commands! Even the best-trained, most obedient dog may think twice about coming when called if they are in the middle of a good tear around with their long-lost doggy friends at the off-leash park! And do not bother to try to explain that you have to get to work – most dogs do not understand the human need to leave the house and punch a clock.
Do you need to take your pooch back to class? In the case of a one or two year old dog, it is actually an excellent idea! January or February is a perfect time to ‘upgrade’ your dog’s obedience level as not only does it help prime him for the upcoming spring, it gets you both out of the house one evening a week and working together to strengthen your bond. For most people, the hectic schedule of the holidays is over and yet you are not quite into BBQ and family picnic season. Then when spring approaches, you can trust that your dog is on top of his obedience commands and already mentally prepared for the coming of spring!
Fitness for the Couch Potato
Even young dogs can become couch potatoes during the winter, usually because we become couch potatoes! Depending on where you live, snow levels and severe cold may hinder how long you want to be outside or you may see so much rain each winter that you wonder how no one ever drowns. Some of us combat our own couch potato tendencies to get soft by heading to the gym but most fitness clubs do not allow dogs on the equipment and few of us can afford a doggy treadmill.
Ease your dog into an exercise routine gradually by incrementally increasing the length and speed of each walk, much like any beginner exerciser would do for their own fitness routine.
Sometimes we have to think for our dogs – they do not know our plans! For example, are you planning on taking your dog for a long hike in an off-leash area? Keep him on-lead for the first mile or two until he calms down enough that he will be able to maintain his pace for the full distance. Taking him swimming? Take turns giving him water throws and beach throws for the first few sessions to ease him into the more strenuous swimming as rescuing your tuckered out dog is far more difficult from the water then it is on shore.
Common sense is vital during spring training your dog. Too often the number of dogs brought into veterinary emergency rooms from torn knee ligaments or hit by cars spikes during the spring months only to flatten back down again when the novelty of warm weather wears off. Make sure your dog stays healthy and injury free by double-checking that collars and leashes are in good repair, that tags are current, and that you remember to bring water on each walk or K9 first aid kit on hikes while easing him into exercise.Enjoy!
Then spring hits and it is all about getting outside and having fun for both the furry members of the household as well as the two-legged, non-furry variety. How many of us humans overdo our first long walk on the first warm, sunny day of spring? How many of us look and feel as fit and toned in shorts as we did six months prior, before bundling up in sweaters and long johns? Those short days and times sitting by the fire reading a good book took their toll on our health and fitness level, and the first few weeks of spring usually come with a series of aches, pains, and injuries.
It is no different for our dogs except often, the injuries are far more serious. Easing your dog into spring can alleviate those sore, stiff muscles and help guarantee your dog does not suffer any unnecessary accidents!
Obedience Training ‘Refresher’
Why do dogs need an obedience ‘refresher’ after the long, sedentary winter? Even an older dog who has many years of training under their collar can lose their ‘edge’ when it comes to obedience if they have not used it for a while. ‘Sits’ are slow, ‘stay’ means only for a moment or two, and ‘come’ is easily ignored, at least until the human resorts to bribery. And this is all while you are still in the house!
Now add the fun and excitement of a green grass on a sunny day and there is no way your dog is going to be spot on with their commands! Even the best-trained, most obedient dog may think twice about coming when called if they are in the middle of a good tear around with their long-lost doggy friends at the off-leash park! And do not bother to try to explain that you have to get to work – most dogs do not understand the human need to leave the house and punch a clock.
Do you need to take your pooch back to class? In the case of a one or two year old dog, it is actually an excellent idea! January or February is a perfect time to ‘upgrade’ your dog’s obedience level as not only does it help prime him for the upcoming spring, it gets you both out of the house one evening a week and working together to strengthen your bond. For most people, the hectic schedule of the holidays is over and yet you are not quite into BBQ and family picnic season. Then when spring approaches, you can trust that your dog is on top of his obedience commands and already mentally prepared for the coming of spring!
Fitness for the Couch Potato
Even young dogs can become couch potatoes during the winter, usually because we become couch potatoes! Depending on where you live, snow levels and severe cold may hinder how long you want to be outside or you may see so much rain each winter that you wonder how no one ever drowns. Some of us combat our own couch potato tendencies to get soft by heading to the gym but most fitness clubs do not allow dogs on the equipment and few of us can afford a doggy treadmill.
Ease your dog into an exercise routine gradually by incrementally increasing the length and speed of each walk, much like any beginner exerciser would do for their own fitness routine.
Sometimes we have to think for our dogs – they do not know our plans! For example, are you planning on taking your dog for a long hike in an off-leash area? Keep him on-lead for the first mile or two until he calms down enough that he will be able to maintain his pace for the full distance. Taking him swimming? Take turns giving him water throws and beach throws for the first few sessions to ease him into the more strenuous swimming as rescuing your tuckered out dog is far more difficult from the water then it is on shore.
Common sense is vital during spring training your dog. Too often the number of dogs brought into veterinary emergency rooms from torn knee ligaments or hit by cars spikes during the spring months only to flatten back down again when the novelty of warm weather wears off. Make sure your dog stays healthy and injury free by double-checking that collars and leashes are in good repair, that tags are current, and that you remember to bring water on each walk or K9 first aid kit on hikes while easing him into exercise.Enjoy!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Family Relationships – Embrace The Oddities
The nuclear family is the ideal when it comes to the American family. I don't know about you, but I've never been able to find a single family that seems to work this way. As we all know, the family dynamic is so much more complicated than that. You should savor your family. The best way to do that is to embrace the oddities!
Bob Hope told an old joke that was as funny as it probably was accurate. He was asked how he learned to dance. He said it was because he had six brothers and learned it while jumping up and down waiting for the bathroom! It is the kind of thing those of us raised in large families can certainly appreciate. This is because of the basic family size law. The more family members, the fewer the number of bathrooms!
Regardless, it can be tough to appreciate your siblings and parents when growing up. How could they be that way? Well, the simple fact is everybody has their unique characteristics and that includes you. We are all odd to some extent and this becomes particularly apparent when a small group of people lives together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for years on end. There is simply no way to hide the warts and all that long.
You can either be bitter and angry when it comes to your family or you can just accept them for what they are as you become an adult. I was once very standoff with certain parts of my family, but have seen the light in recent years. I've come to accept that people simple are they way they are and so am I. Once you can accept that and let the little things go, you'll find your family is comprised of some pretty funny people. Then you can really learn to enjoy family gatherings.
Bob Hope told an old joke that was as funny as it probably was accurate. He was asked how he learned to dance. He said it was because he had six brothers and learned it while jumping up and down waiting for the bathroom! It is the kind of thing those of us raised in large families can certainly appreciate. This is because of the basic family size law. The more family members, the fewer the number of bathrooms!
Regardless, it can be tough to appreciate your siblings and parents when growing up. How could they be that way? Well, the simple fact is everybody has their unique characteristics and that includes you. We are all odd to some extent and this becomes particularly apparent when a small group of people lives together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for years on end. There is simply no way to hide the warts and all that long.
You can either be bitter and angry when it comes to your family or you can just accept them for what they are as you become an adult. I was once very standoff with certain parts of my family, but have seen the light in recent years. I've come to accept that people simple are they way they are and so am I. Once you can accept that and let the little things go, you'll find your family is comprised of some pretty funny people. Then you can really learn to enjoy family gatherings.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Happy Family? Its Easy
Home evening family activities are the all kind of activities that can bond our family, and make us happier!
There are a lot of tasks we have to do at home. Such as cooking, cleaning, making a laundry, watching TV etc. Usually, we do those tasks at evenings, when we return from job. Those activities are very important, but we have to remember what task is the most important and try not to skip on it. The most important task, in my opinion, is investing in our family.
Why does it important to invest in our family is pretty obvious. We have to remember that our family is like a business. If we want it to work well, we have to invest! It means to help our kids with their home work, to play with them (even if we are tired), to be with our partner and to do family activities together.
Activities that are advisable for the whole family are those activities where each member of the family participates. For example, if we decide to make a dinner together, we have to make sure that everyone knows his task. Kids can arrange a table or make a salad, the adults can make a pancakes etc. It's a great way to make a good atmosphere.
We can divide activities into categories like sport, thinking games, cooking, performances etc. When we decide what activity to do today, we have to see the whole picture. It means, if we did a singing performance yesterday we will not do it today! And if we already cooked this week we will prefer to do something else.
There are a lot of tasks we have to do at home. Such as cooking, cleaning, making a laundry, watching TV etc. Usually, we do those tasks at evenings, when we return from job. Those activities are very important, but we have to remember what task is the most important and try not to skip on it. The most important task, in my opinion, is investing in our family.
Why does it important to invest in our family is pretty obvious. We have to remember that our family is like a business. If we want it to work well, we have to invest! It means to help our kids with their home work, to play with them (even if we are tired), to be with our partner and to do family activities together.
Activities that are advisable for the whole family are those activities where each member of the family participates. For example, if we decide to make a dinner together, we have to make sure that everyone knows his task. Kids can arrange a table or make a salad, the adults can make a pancakes etc. It's a great way to make a good atmosphere.
We can divide activities into categories like sport, thinking games, cooking, performances etc. When we decide what activity to do today, we have to see the whole picture. It means, if we did a singing performance yesterday we will not do it today! And if we already cooked this week we will prefer to do something else.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
To be a Good Husband Guidance
I’ve made posts on qualities in a good wife. You might think how about qualities in a good husband that a wife likes? Well, this post is the answer, it’s husband’s turn now. I found this article, and I want to share it here. Happy reading.
When you were single, you could focus on your needs entirely. Now that you’re in a partnership, it just isn’t going to work. Sometimes you have to think about the family and the marriage before you think about yourself.
A marriage is a complicated thing. Being a good husband spans a lot of territory. Sure, you need to support your family financially and raise your children with love and concern. These are two of the givens of being a good husband. But these aren’t the only duties of being a good husband.
When you talk about the interpersonal dynamics of a man/wife relationship, a lot of these dynamics involve how you communicate with one another. We send both intentional and unintentional signals to our spouse through our interpersonal communications. So a large part of being a good husband in this context is showing you are a part of the team, supporting your teammate while communicating when your need support in your turn.
1. Be Her Sounding Board
When your wife tells you her problems, she isn’t necessarily looking for a problem solver. She wants someone to listen to her and empathize with what’s going on in her life.
A husband who hears about his wife’s problems instinctively wants to come to the rescue. But most of the time, this isn’t what your wife is looking for. You need to fill the role more of a psychologist than that of a troubleshooter. Listen to her problems; show concern for those problems; show that you have empathy; but don’t always reply with “here’s what you need to do.”
When your wife comes to you with her problems, she isn’t looking for you to be her lawyer. And she certainly doesn’t need you to be her football coach, giving her fiery motivational speeches about how to beat her problem. She wants a counselor, to listen to her problems and help her deal with their emotional impact.
2. Show Respect
A major part of showing respect is to avoid the trap of being hyper-critical. Don’t criticize the way your wife dresses, cooks meals, parks the car or walks the dog. You might think you are instructing your wife, but you are actually showing disrespect for the decisions you make.
Actions are just as important as words. Don’t make decisions that normally a married couple makes together. This shows you have no respect for her opinion.
Also, try to avoid certain intonations with your wife, the kind that can be described as “talking down” to her. A woman can pick up on these as well or better than a man can. These tell her you have contempt for whatever is she’s doing, that you are treating her like a child or even your pet. Showing a lack of respect is one of the surest ways to poison a marriage.
3. Avoid Judgment
Try not to sweat the little stuff, because it has a way of becoming big rather quickly. If you judge every action or opinion your wife has, that’s going to come through in your words and actions.
Your wife is different from you. Of course she isn’t going to perceive things the way you do. She’s had different life experiences than you, not the least of which is the general experience of living life as a woman. She won’t always like what you like. She won’t behave like a man does.
When you were single, you could focus on your needs entirely. Now that you’re in a partnership, it just isn’t going to work. Sometimes you have to think about the family and the marriage before you think about yourself.
A marriage is a complicated thing. Being a good husband spans a lot of territory. Sure, you need to support your family financially and raise your children with love and concern. These are two of the givens of being a good husband. But these aren’t the only duties of being a good husband.
When you talk about the interpersonal dynamics of a man/wife relationship, a lot of these dynamics involve how you communicate with one another. We send both intentional and unintentional signals to our spouse through our interpersonal communications. So a large part of being a good husband in this context is showing you are a part of the team, supporting your teammate while communicating when your need support in your turn.
1. Be Her Sounding Board
When your wife tells you her problems, she isn’t necessarily looking for a problem solver. She wants someone to listen to her and empathize with what’s going on in her life.
A husband who hears about his wife’s problems instinctively wants to come to the rescue. But most of the time, this isn’t what your wife is looking for. You need to fill the role more of a psychologist than that of a troubleshooter. Listen to her problems; show concern for those problems; show that you have empathy; but don’t always reply with “here’s what you need to do.”
When your wife comes to you with her problems, she isn’t looking for you to be her lawyer. And she certainly doesn’t need you to be her football coach, giving her fiery motivational speeches about how to beat her problem. She wants a counselor, to listen to her problems and help her deal with their emotional impact.
2. Show Respect
A major part of showing respect is to avoid the trap of being hyper-critical. Don’t criticize the way your wife dresses, cooks meals, parks the car or walks the dog. You might think you are instructing your wife, but you are actually showing disrespect for the decisions you make.
Actions are just as important as words. Don’t make decisions that normally a married couple makes together. This shows you have no respect for her opinion.
Also, try to avoid certain intonations with your wife, the kind that can be described as “talking down” to her. A woman can pick up on these as well or better than a man can. These tell her you have contempt for whatever is she’s doing, that you are treating her like a child or even your pet. Showing a lack of respect is one of the surest ways to poison a marriage.
3. Avoid Judgment
Try not to sweat the little stuff, because it has a way of becoming big rather quickly. If you judge every action or opinion your wife has, that’s going to come through in your words and actions.
Your wife is different from you. Of course she isn’t going to perceive things the way you do. She’s had different life experiences than you, not the least of which is the general experience of living life as a woman. She won’t always like what you like. She won’t behave like a man does.
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