I) Hydrotherapy- To release the muscle tension, you can soak in a hot bath. You can add epsom salts, dead sea salts,rose petals, and lavender oil to the water.You will smell great and feel better at the same time.
2) Create a sacred space- You can set aside a small area of your home where you can go to relax. You can put a small table where you place candles, pictures, incense, flowers or a book of poems. You decide on what items you want there but they should be things that will have a relaxing effect on you.
3) Write a love poem or love letter- Write a poem or letter to yourself. We don't often stop to think about how we truly feel about ourselves. What do you love about yourself or your life? This can give you new insight about yourself and your life.
4) Pamper yourself- Go and get a manicure, pedicure, massage, or facial. You'll find that you will look and feel better.
5) Photography- Get a camera and go outdoors. Find an interesting scene like a sunrise, sunset, fall foliage, or children playing in the park.Taking pictures is a great way to show our creativity and appreciation of art.It also allows us to take the time to really look at the world around us.
6) Dancing- If you like to move and exercise, try signing up for a dancing lesson. You will learn some new steps or dances and may also make new friendships as well.
7) Painting-You don't have to be artistic to try your hand at painting pictures. All you will need is some paint and paper, brushes and some water.Try to pick a color that expresses how you are feeling at the moment and then paint what you feel. Painting allows us to express our artistic side as well as provide a great way to calm down. You can use any medium to create your own personal piece of art.
8) Bake a pie or bread- Invite a friend to share in this activity.You will discover that baking is a great way to release stress.All you will need is a recipe for either a pie or bread.Mix the ingredients, knead the dough, let it rise, and then bake. The added benefits of this activity are: kneading may release some tension,your home will smell wonderful,and you will be able to share time and a meal with a close friend. Even if you are not great at it, please try it. You will have fun.
9) Create a mosaic- Before starting this fun and creative endeavor,it is a good idea to decide where you are going to put your mosaic. Will it be on an old table or perhaps a tray? You decide. Now get some old dishes and saucers with nice patterns and break them up into small pieces and design a simple pattern. It is wise to wear gloves and protective glasses while doing this. Then start to glue them in place. You will need to use grout to finish your project. This is a great stress buster.
10) Create your own top 10 list- If you think back to your childhood days which most likely were relatively stress-free,you will find activities you enjoyed doing. Was it hiking through the woods,swinging on an old tire, flying a kite, bird watching, skipping stones on water, or swimming in a lake? Now try to incorporate these activities into your live. Feel like that kid again.
I am confident that you can come up with a great list of your own personal creative and fun things to do to de-stress.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Dancing with the Stars
Insult comic Jeffrey Ross was the first casualty of Dancing With the Stars last night. The eye-patch-wearing "Roastmaster General," who garned the lowest score on Monday's season premiere, was booted from the A-B-C show. Ross, who wore the patch because he was poked in the eye by partner Edyta Sliwinska during rehearsals, summed up his pathetic dance moves by saying, "I'm more ha ha ha than cha cha cha."
Swimsuit model Brooke Burke again had the night's highest score, impressing the judges with her Quick Step. And again old-fogey Cloris Leachman got plenty of laughs but few points. The 82-year-old actress, who pleaded with the judges and viewers to keep her on the show, received the lowest score, a 16.
The night was highlighted by a number of redemptions. Chef Rocco DiSpirito, who had the second-worst score on the first night, shocked the judges with what Carrie Ann Inaba called a "super sexy" Mambo. Soap star Susan Lucci, who mustered only a 15 Monday, improved to a 22 -- the night's third-best score. Another star will be eliminated tonight. -- James Aquilone
Dancing With the Stars leader board
TEAM
SCORE
Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
26
Cody Linley & Julianne Hough
23
Toni Braxton & Alec Mazo
23
Susan Lucci & Tony Dovolani
22
Warren Sapp & Kym Johnson
22
Rocco DiSpirito & Karina Smirnoff
21
Maurice Greene & Cheryl Burke
21
Lance Bass & Lacey Shwimmer
21
Misty May-Treanor & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
21
Ted McGinley & Inna Brayer
19
Kim Kardashian & Mark Ballas
18
Cloris Leachman & Corky Ballas
16
Swimsuit model Brooke Burke again had the night's highest score, impressing the judges with her Quick Step. And again old-fogey Cloris Leachman got plenty of laughs but few points. The 82-year-old actress, who pleaded with the judges and viewers to keep her on the show, received the lowest score, a 16.
The night was highlighted by a number of redemptions. Chef Rocco DiSpirito, who had the second-worst score on the first night, shocked the judges with what Carrie Ann Inaba called a "super sexy" Mambo. Soap star Susan Lucci, who mustered only a 15 Monday, improved to a 22 -- the night's third-best score. Another star will be eliminated tonight. -- James Aquilone
Dancing With the Stars leader board
TEAM
SCORE
Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
26
Cody Linley & Julianne Hough
23
Toni Braxton & Alec Mazo
23
Susan Lucci & Tony Dovolani
22
Warren Sapp & Kym Johnson
22
Rocco DiSpirito & Karina Smirnoff
21
Maurice Greene & Cheryl Burke
21
Lance Bass & Lacey Shwimmer
21
Misty May-Treanor & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
21
Ted McGinley & Inna Brayer
19
Kim Kardashian & Mark Ballas
18
Cloris Leachman & Corky Ballas
16
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Date night
Teen Dating: Is My Teenager Old Enough?
Parents often try to figure out the right way to make decisions by watching what other parents do. This isn't always the best way to decide what is right for your pre-teen or adolescent. Some parents would rather let their child do what they want than deal with the confrontation that might ensue if they forbid certain activities. One of the biggest decisions parents make is when to allow a child to begin dating.
Here is a great article that may help you with this decision.
Parents often try to figure out the right way to make decisions by watching what other parents do. This isn't always the best way to decide what is right for your pre-teen or adolescent. Some parents would rather let their child do what they want than deal with the confrontation that might ensue if they forbid certain activities. One of the biggest decisions parents make is when to allow a child to begin dating.
Here is a great article that may help you with this decision.
Teens dating
Teens need to learn many things while traveling through the life stage of adolescence. Help your teen learn about dating by knowing these five truths:
It is normal for a teen to be interested in dating.
While some teens tend to be interested in dating earlier than others, it is a normal adolescent life stage experience for all teenagers. Girls are more vocal about the dating interest and tend to be interested to a greater degree at a younger age, but boys are paying attention also. There is no way around it; your teenager is going to want to date. When he/she does, you’ll have to step up to the plate with some parenting skills.(Try this parenting contract for teen dating too.)
Teenagers do not know how to date.
A teen does not learn how to date in the classroom and most likely has only picked up on some of the basics, like respecting someone’s personal space, at home. But they haven’t learned the ins and outs of a give and take relationship yet. They will be learning this as they date, and ‘on the job’ type of training. You can reinforce the values that concern dating and relationships by discussing them with your teenager and modeling them with your spouse or significant other. Do not be afraid to bring up these issues. Do not feel that they are not important. Teens that are taught values are important will look for dates with similar good values. That is who you want your teen dating, right?
Teens whose parents talk to them about dating are better prepared and happier.
You want your teenager to grow up happy, so remember that happiness in life is found in the journey. While the topic of teens and dating can make the most confident parent nervous, you should do your best not to project those anxious feelings when discussing dating - and the rules and limits of dating - with your teen. Relax and have informative dating conversations that will strengthen your relationship with your teen and empower you both to enjoy this part of their life.
Your teen will need privacy.
As parents, we are not very comfortable not knowing what is going on in our child’s life. But as your teen starts to date, you will need to take a step back and not try to know ‘everything’. You may at first have a hard time and feel like something is wrong. That is normal – your parenting role is changing. Change always feels awkward at first. On the other hand, your teenager may want to chat about the experience. He/she may have some questions to ask. If so, make yourself available. But remember to try not to ‘read into’ any of the questions and begin prying.
Your teen will still need you to be ‘around’.
When you have one of your talks with your teen about dating, you will need to set up a pick up scenario. Teens are notorious for getting themselves into situations that they have a hard time getting out of by themselves. Many times this happens on dates. Therefore, let your teenager know you are available for a ride home. You will pick him/her up at anyplace or anytime, even three o’clock in the morning. You will do so without any consequences to your teenager with the understanding that everyone makes mistakes in judgment. You simply want your teen to be safe. Arguments, drinking, etc can all be a part of a bad dating experience. So, hope for the best, prepare for the worst and be there for your teen.
It is normal for a teen to be interested in dating.
While some teens tend to be interested in dating earlier than others, it is a normal adolescent life stage experience for all teenagers. Girls are more vocal about the dating interest and tend to be interested to a greater degree at a younger age, but boys are paying attention also. There is no way around it; your teenager is going to want to date. When he/she does, you’ll have to step up to the plate with some parenting skills.(Try this parenting contract for teen dating too.)
Teenagers do not know how to date.
A teen does not learn how to date in the classroom and most likely has only picked up on some of the basics, like respecting someone’s personal space, at home. But they haven’t learned the ins and outs of a give and take relationship yet. They will be learning this as they date, and ‘on the job’ type of training. You can reinforce the values that concern dating and relationships by discussing them with your teenager and modeling them with your spouse or significant other. Do not be afraid to bring up these issues. Do not feel that they are not important. Teens that are taught values are important will look for dates with similar good values. That is who you want your teen dating, right?
Teens whose parents talk to them about dating are better prepared and happier.
You want your teenager to grow up happy, so remember that happiness in life is found in the journey. While the topic of teens and dating can make the most confident parent nervous, you should do your best not to project those anxious feelings when discussing dating - and the rules and limits of dating - with your teen. Relax and have informative dating conversations that will strengthen your relationship with your teen and empower you both to enjoy this part of their life.
Your teen will need privacy.
As parents, we are not very comfortable not knowing what is going on in our child’s life. But as your teen starts to date, you will need to take a step back and not try to know ‘everything’. You may at first have a hard time and feel like something is wrong. That is normal – your parenting role is changing. Change always feels awkward at first. On the other hand, your teenager may want to chat about the experience. He/she may have some questions to ask. If so, make yourself available. But remember to try not to ‘read into’ any of the questions and begin prying.
Your teen will still need you to be ‘around’.
When you have one of your talks with your teen about dating, you will need to set up a pick up scenario. Teens are notorious for getting themselves into situations that they have a hard time getting out of by themselves. Many times this happens on dates. Therefore, let your teenager know you are available for a ride home. You will pick him/her up at anyplace or anytime, even three o’clock in the morning. You will do so without any consequences to your teenager with the understanding that everyone makes mistakes in judgment. You simply want your teen to be safe. Arguments, drinking, etc can all be a part of a bad dating experience. So, hope for the best, prepare for the worst and be there for your teen.
Dancing with the Stars
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Battleship Geriatrica
Actress Cloris Leachman wasn't the best dancer of the night, but she was the true star of Dancing With Stars as the competition series kicked off its seventh season last night. Swimsuit model Brooke Burke earned the night's best score, followed closely by a couple of pop singers -- Lance Bass and Toni Braxton. The hulking Warren Sapp was the night's big surprise. After the retired N-F-L star's energetic Cha Cha, judge Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, "Big boys can dance!"
The 82-year-old Leachman, who is the oldest person ever to compete on the A-B-C show, garnered a standing ovation after her routine. Bruno lovingly compared her Foxtrot to a battleship, saying, "You were floating around out there with the imposing presence of Battleship Geriatrica, but with a bit of a refit you'll turn into the Enterprise." She pleaded with the judges to go easy on her, even going so far as to sit in judge Carrie Ann Inaba's lap. Leachman, best known for her role in 1974's Young Frankenstein, received the fourth-worst score (16).
The lowest scores belonged to chef Rocco DiSpirito, who was told he "lacked finesse," and potbellied comic Jeffrey Ross, who exhibited bad "form." Tonight one of the 13 contestants will be eliminated based on votes by the viewers. -- James Aquilone
Dancing With the Stars leader board
TEAM
SCORE
Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
23
Lance Bass & Lacey Shwimmer
22
Toni Braxton & Alec Mazo
22
Misty May-Treanor & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
21
Warren Sappe & Kym Johnson
21
Kim Kardashian & Mark Ballas
19
Cody Linley & Julianne Hough
18
Maurice Greene & Cheryl Burke
18
Ted McGinley & Inna Brayer
18
Cloris Leachman & Corky Ballas
16
Susan Lucci & Tony Dovolani
15
Rocco DiSpirito & Karina Smirnoff
14
Jeffrey Ross & Edyta Sliwinska
12
Actress Cloris Leachman wasn't the best dancer of the night, but she was the true star of Dancing With Stars as the competition series kicked off its seventh season last night. Swimsuit model Brooke Burke earned the night's best score, followed closely by a couple of pop singers -- Lance Bass and Toni Braxton. The hulking Warren Sapp was the night's big surprise. After the retired N-F-L star's energetic Cha Cha, judge Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, "Big boys can dance!"
The 82-year-old Leachman, who is the oldest person ever to compete on the A-B-C show, garnered a standing ovation after her routine. Bruno lovingly compared her Foxtrot to a battleship, saying, "You were floating around out there with the imposing presence of Battleship Geriatrica, but with a bit of a refit you'll turn into the Enterprise." She pleaded with the judges to go easy on her, even going so far as to sit in judge Carrie Ann Inaba's lap. Leachman, best known for her role in 1974's Young Frankenstein, received the fourth-worst score (16).
The lowest scores belonged to chef Rocco DiSpirito, who was told he "lacked finesse," and potbellied comic Jeffrey Ross, who exhibited bad "form." Tonight one of the 13 contestants will be eliminated based on votes by the viewers. -- James Aquilone
Dancing With the Stars leader board
TEAM
SCORE
Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
23
Lance Bass & Lacey Shwimmer
22
Toni Braxton & Alec Mazo
22
Misty May-Treanor & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
21
Warren Sappe & Kym Johnson
21
Kim Kardashian & Mark Ballas
19
Cody Linley & Julianne Hough
18
Maurice Greene & Cheryl Burke
18
Ted McGinley & Inna Brayer
18
Cloris Leachman & Corky Ballas
16
Susan Lucci & Tony Dovolani
15
Rocco DiSpirito & Karina Smirnoff
14
Jeffrey Ross & Edyta Sliwinska
12
Monday, September 22, 2008
The latest fashions for our feet!
Fall is here so get ready for new fashions for your feet...from shoe booties to fringe. DSW calls them the lust list. They are the most lust worthy trends for fall. No matter how many shoes are in your closet, there's always room for more.
And if you're strapped for cash, don't stress. You don't have to purchase a payment plan to add designer shoe trends to your attire.
I got a chance to speak with L.A. Stylist, Kara Birkenstock about the Lust List and the latest trends.
Want to hear the whole interview? click here
And if you're strapped for cash, don't stress. You don't have to purchase a payment plan to add designer shoe trends to your attire.
I got a chance to speak with L.A. Stylist, Kara Birkenstock about the Lust List and the latest trends.
Want to hear the whole interview? click here
Genetically engineered food
Genetically modified (GM) foods are food products that have had their DNA directly altered through genetic engineering. Unlike conventional genetic modification that is carried out through time-tested conventional breeding and that have been consumed for thousands of years, GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. The most common modified foods are derived from plants: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil.[1][2]
Many major controversies surround genetically engineered crops and foods. These commonly focus on the health and safety effects on human children, long-term health effects for anyone eating them, environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction, environmental conservation, and potential disruption or even possible destruction of the food chain. The multi-national corporations and governments engaged in the genetic engineering of food claim the technology to be a boon for the human race, while many health-conscious people believe it to be a potential and/or actual disaster.
Learn more about GM foods.
Many major controversies surround genetically engineered crops and foods. These commonly focus on the health and safety effects on human children, long-term health effects for anyone eating them, environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction, environmental conservation, and potential disruption or even possible destruction of the food chain. The multi-national corporations and governments engaged in the genetic engineering of food claim the technology to be a boon for the human race, while many health-conscious people believe it to be a potential and/or actual disaster.
Learn more about GM foods.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Happily divorced ever after
By Maureen Salamon
(LifeWire) -- After her divorce three years ago, Lori Hilliard was filled with rage, pain and sadness -- until a few simple words from Mister Rogers put things into perspective.
The mother of four came across a book that featured a quote from the gentle host of TV's "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood": "So in all that you do, in all of your life, I wish you the strength and the grace to make the choices which will allow you and your neighbor to become the best of whoever you are."
"When I read that quote, something in my heart just shifted and I knew what my divorce was going to be," says Hilliard, 44, an occupational therapist for children with disabilities.
Today, she and her former husband, Timothy, 43, co-parent their children in a relationship they both say works better than their marriage ever did.
"It has been so powerful for my kids to see a functional relationship out of this. We're making the most of it," she says.
Timothy Hilliard, who lives near Lori in Lehigh, Utah, and communicates constantly with her to juggle the care of their children, including a son with Down syndrome, agrees.
"Our relationship basically runs just the way it did when we were married, except without the sex and the arguing. I can tell you, I don't miss the arguing," the marketing executive says.
For many parents, divorce is an arduous, exhausting ordeal. But it doesn't have to be. Some forge brand-new relationships that look more like friendship and aim to bury the rancor of the past.
Allies or animosity?
New York City matrimonial lawyer Nancy Chemtob says about 80 percent of divorcing couples her firm represents are parents, to whom she stresses the benefits of remaining allies even if they cannot remain married.
"It's really in everyone's best interests," says Chemtob, a founding partner of the firm Chemtob Moss Forman and Talbert. "As much animosity as there is, when they realize their common interest... it's going to make everyone's lives easier."
Of course, "happily divorced ever after" is simply not possible for everyone. Chemtob notes that one spouse's fury over the other's marriage-busting infidelity can prevent harmony from ever taking root. And sometimes a divorcing couple just can't break the discord that has simmered over years or decades.
Bonnie Russell and her ex-husband, Mark Barber, tried to stay friends after their 1990 split, but agree that their efforts failed.
"Initially it was an OK divorce," says Russell, a freelance publicist in her 50s from Del Mar, California, who was married to Barber for about four years. "But when I went for more custody, it turned into a horrible divorce."
"We tried to visit; we tried to be civil," says Barber, a 56-year-old lawyer in San Diego who ended up with full custody of the couple's only child, a daughter, who is now 20. "But this is not a success story."
Trial and error
When custody isn't an issue, ex-spouses often try to maintain a relationship focused on one of the few things they may still agree on: their offspring. Russell Wild, 52, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, says he and his former wife, Susan, 51, never lost sight of their commitment to their two children, ages 15 and 12.
The Wilds, married for 22 years, divorced in 2003 and two years later co-wrote "The Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce."
"We had seen many attempts at amicable divorce fail among family and friends," says Russell Wild, 52, a financial planner. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy. Married people fight, divorced people fight . . . you just can't let it take control of you and destroy you."
When it comes to raising their children, Wild and his ex-wife strive for consistency. "(We) are a single government, and the kids know that," says Wild. "We always back each other up."
If Travis Hill's career choice is any indication, such Herculean efforts by divorcing parents can pay off. Hill, 32, believes he became a psychotherapist because of how well his mother and father handled their split 14 years ago.
"They were very good at distinguishing the problems in their relationship from their concerns about us kids," says Hill, of Germantown, Tennessee, who now has a wife and young daughter. After the divorce, Hill's father continued to share Christmas Day with his family, as well as some weekends and other holidays. "Now that grandkids are in the picture, because my parents were able to stay on friendly terms, it's much easier."
Striving for the 'good divorce'
The pros of such an arrangement are numerous, according to Hill: from nurturing children's mental health and emotional resilience to smoothing extended family ties.
But "ultimately, it's still a divorce," he says. "Divorce is not a happy thing ... and you still have to go through the pain of what a divorce is."
Attorney Chemtob offers these tips for exes to help make a "good divorce" possible:
• Put your kids first: "The most important thing to children is that they still have a relationship with both of their parents," she says.
• Don't be petty: Make sure every discussion isn't a rehash of why you got divorced. "It's not about winning a fight anymore."
• Be inclusive: "If you'd include a friend who has nowhere to go on Thanksgiving or birthdays, why not include your ex-spouse?"
(LifeWire) -- After her divorce three years ago, Lori Hilliard was filled with rage, pain and sadness -- until a few simple words from Mister Rogers put things into perspective.
The mother of four came across a book that featured a quote from the gentle host of TV's "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood": "So in all that you do, in all of your life, I wish you the strength and the grace to make the choices which will allow you and your neighbor to become the best of whoever you are."
"When I read that quote, something in my heart just shifted and I knew what my divorce was going to be," says Hilliard, 44, an occupational therapist for children with disabilities.
Today, she and her former husband, Timothy, 43, co-parent their children in a relationship they both say works better than their marriage ever did.
"It has been so powerful for my kids to see a functional relationship out of this. We're making the most of it," she says.
Timothy Hilliard, who lives near Lori in Lehigh, Utah, and communicates constantly with her to juggle the care of their children, including a son with Down syndrome, agrees.
"Our relationship basically runs just the way it did when we were married, except without the sex and the arguing. I can tell you, I don't miss the arguing," the marketing executive says.
For many parents, divorce is an arduous, exhausting ordeal. But it doesn't have to be. Some forge brand-new relationships that look more like friendship and aim to bury the rancor of the past.
Allies or animosity?
New York City matrimonial lawyer Nancy Chemtob says about 80 percent of divorcing couples her firm represents are parents, to whom she stresses the benefits of remaining allies even if they cannot remain married.
"It's really in everyone's best interests," says Chemtob, a founding partner of the firm Chemtob Moss Forman and Talbert. "As much animosity as there is, when they realize their common interest... it's going to make everyone's lives easier."
Of course, "happily divorced ever after" is simply not possible for everyone. Chemtob notes that one spouse's fury over the other's marriage-busting infidelity can prevent harmony from ever taking root. And sometimes a divorcing couple just can't break the discord that has simmered over years or decades.
Bonnie Russell and her ex-husband, Mark Barber, tried to stay friends after their 1990 split, but agree that their efforts failed.
"Initially it was an OK divorce," says Russell, a freelance publicist in her 50s from Del Mar, California, who was married to Barber for about four years. "But when I went for more custody, it turned into a horrible divorce."
"We tried to visit; we tried to be civil," says Barber, a 56-year-old lawyer in San Diego who ended up with full custody of the couple's only child, a daughter, who is now 20. "But this is not a success story."
Trial and error
When custody isn't an issue, ex-spouses often try to maintain a relationship focused on one of the few things they may still agree on: their offspring. Russell Wild, 52, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, says he and his former wife, Susan, 51, never lost sight of their commitment to their two children, ages 15 and 12.
The Wilds, married for 22 years, divorced in 2003 and two years later co-wrote "The Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce."
"We had seen many attempts at amicable divorce fail among family and friends," says Russell Wild, 52, a financial planner. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy. Married people fight, divorced people fight . . . you just can't let it take control of you and destroy you."
When it comes to raising their children, Wild and his ex-wife strive for consistency. "(We) are a single government, and the kids know that," says Wild. "We always back each other up."
If Travis Hill's career choice is any indication, such Herculean efforts by divorcing parents can pay off. Hill, 32, believes he became a psychotherapist because of how well his mother and father handled their split 14 years ago.
"They were very good at distinguishing the problems in their relationship from their concerns about us kids," says Hill, of Germantown, Tennessee, who now has a wife and young daughter. After the divorce, Hill's father continued to share Christmas Day with his family, as well as some weekends and other holidays. "Now that grandkids are in the picture, because my parents were able to stay on friendly terms, it's much easier."
Striving for the 'good divorce'
The pros of such an arrangement are numerous, according to Hill: from nurturing children's mental health and emotional resilience to smoothing extended family ties.
But "ultimately, it's still a divorce," he says. "Divorce is not a happy thing ... and you still have to go through the pain of what a divorce is."
Attorney Chemtob offers these tips for exes to help make a "good divorce" possible:
• Put your kids first: "The most important thing to children is that they still have a relationship with both of their parents," she says.
• Don't be petty: Make sure every discussion isn't a rehash of why you got divorced. "It's not about winning a fight anymore."
• Be inclusive: "If you'd include a friend who has nowhere to go on Thanksgiving or birthdays, why not include your ex-spouse?"
Oz auditions
THE WIZARD OF OZ TO HOLD LOCAL DANCE TROUPE AUDITIONS
FOR THE NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION’S
MIAMI ENGAGEMENT PLAYING OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 2, 2008
AT THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
GROUP AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 10:00AM
AT THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER ZIFF BALLET OPERA HOUSE, PEACOCK FOUNDATION, INC. STUDIO
Miami, FL
Kids,don’t miss your chance to follow the yellow brick road! Dorothy and her
friends are seeking 12 children from an existing dance, choir or theater group to play Munchkins during the Miami engagement of THE WIZARD OF OZ National Tour, touching down at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of MiamiDade
County from October 28 through November 2, 2008.
THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by Broadway Across America – Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the PerfoRming Arts of MiamiDade County, and Florida Theatrical Association
Group auditions will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Peacock Foundation, Inc. Studio (located inside the
Ziff Ballet Opera House) on Saturday, September 27 beginning at 10:00am. All registrants must arrive by 9:45am.
Auditioning groups must consist of 12 children (plus 2 alternates) between the ages of 8 and 13 years of age and should be excellent singers and dancers with enthusiastic personalities. Munchkins are not allowed to be taller
than five feet (5’). No individual child or partial groups will be allowed to audition.
Groups must register in advance. For full audition details and to download a Munchkin audition registration form and Munchkin sheet music, visit tour’s website www.wizardofozontour.com and click on MUNCHKINLAND.
FOR THE NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION’S
MIAMI ENGAGEMENT PLAYING OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 2, 2008
AT THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
GROUP AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 10:00AM
AT THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER ZIFF BALLET OPERA HOUSE, PEACOCK FOUNDATION, INC. STUDIO
Miami, FL
Kids,don’t miss your chance to follow the yellow brick road! Dorothy and her
friends are seeking 12 children from an existing dance, choir or theater group to play Munchkins during the Miami engagement of THE WIZARD OF OZ National Tour, touching down at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of MiamiDade
County from October 28 through November 2, 2008.
THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by Broadway Across America – Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the PerfoRming Arts of MiamiDade County, and Florida Theatrical Association
Group auditions will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Peacock Foundation, Inc. Studio (located inside the
Ziff Ballet Opera House) on Saturday, September 27 beginning at 10:00am. All registrants must arrive by 9:45am.
Auditioning groups must consist of 12 children (plus 2 alternates) between the ages of 8 and 13 years of age and should be excellent singers and dancers with enthusiastic personalities. Munchkins are not allowed to be taller
than five feet (5’). No individual child or partial groups will be allowed to audition.
Groups must register in advance. For full audition details and to download a Munchkin audition registration form and Munchkin sheet music, visit tour’s website www.wizardofozontour.com and click on MUNCHKINLAND.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Iguana care
The SPCA Wildlife Care Center
Serving the South Florida Tri-County Region since 1969
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife that has been harmed or displaced; to treat and place certain needy domestic, exotic and farm animals; and to educate the public toward the co-existence with all animals.
For more details click here.
The SPCA Wildlife Care Center receives approximately 200 phone calls each day reporting injured wildlife and requesting information about animals and the environment. Trained staff informs the public about environmental concerns, wildlife problems, and ways in which people and wildlife can peacefully coexist. The Center regularly participates in public events with displays, exhibits and literature. Our Education Program reaches approximately 17,000 individuals each year.
Serving the South Florida Tri-County Region since 1969
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife that has been harmed or displaced; to treat and place certain needy domestic, exotic and farm animals; and to educate the public toward the co-existence with all animals.
For more details click here.
The SPCA Wildlife Care Center receives approximately 200 phone calls each day reporting injured wildlife and requesting information about animals and the environment. Trained staff informs the public about environmental concerns, wildlife problems, and ways in which people and wildlife can peacefully coexist. The Center regularly participates in public events with displays, exhibits and literature. Our Education Program reaches approximately 17,000 individuals each year.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Do you have a cute kid?
The Gap is sponsoring it's 3rd annual Gap casting call, looking for the counties cutest kids. Mom, dad...just click here for all the details.
The winner will appear in their winter marketing campaign.
The winner will appear in their winter marketing campaign.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Psssst!
IS GIRL TALK BAD FOR YOU?
The New York Times reports: "Dwelling and rehashing issues can keep girls, who are more prone to depression and anxiety than boys, stuck in negative thinking patterns, psychologists say. What's especially negative for young girls is the related mental hazard of "'emotion contagion' or 'contagious anxiety,' in which one person's negative thoughts or anxiety can affect another's mood, sometimes over a long period."
Do you think young girls tend to justify their bad feelings or offer one another constructive advice?
How do guys normally discuss their problems?
Do you think guys and girls communicate with each other more often now with instant messaging and Facebook/Myspace?
The New York Times reports: "Dwelling and rehashing issues can keep girls, who are more prone to depression and anxiety than boys, stuck in negative thinking patterns, psychologists say. What's especially negative for young girls is the related mental hazard of "'emotion contagion' or 'contagious anxiety,' in which one person's negative thoughts or anxiety can affect another's mood, sometimes over a long period."
Do you think young girls tend to justify their bad feelings or offer one another constructive advice?
How do guys normally discuss their problems?
Do you think guys and girls communicate with each other more often now with instant messaging and Facebook/Myspace?
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Women
10 things you need to know about 'The Women,' Hollywood's latest chick-flick hopeful
BY JULIE HINDS
FREE PRESS POP CULTURE WRITER
It's time for the next round of the lipstick wars, not in the political arena, but on the box-office battlefront.
"The Women," which opens today, hopes to follow in the designer high-heeled footsteps of "Sex and the City" and maybe walk a mile in the sun-drenched sandals of "Mamma Mia!"
Both of those female-skewing films scored box-office successes on their opening weekends. Can "The Women" make it a three-peat?
Perhaps, if contemporary audiences can embrace a comedy with an all-female cast.
And if Meg Ryan, missing in action from high-profile projects lately, can reclaim her status as America's sweetheart.
And if director-screenwriter Diane English of "Murphy Brown" fame can find enough humor in marital infidelity, a topic linked to recent painful public scandals.
That's a lot of ifs for a glamorous, fluffy romp, but it could make for a more interesting dynamic than your average chick flick.
Here are 10 things you need to know about "The Women" before you make it a girls' night out.
1. It's based on a classic film that defined girl power.
If you think Hollywood is a boys club now, imagine what it was like in 1939, the year "The Women" defied the odds with an all-star, all-female cast that included Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell and Joan Fontaine. The story (from Clare Booth Luce's Broadway hit) was edgy for its day: A rich wife (Shearer then, Ryan now) finds out her husband has been cheating on her, a revelation that plays out through the prism of the women surrounding her.
2. It's counting on the Carrie Bradshaw effect. What's the difference between a female moviegoer and a pit bull? Lipstick and buying power. The fierce devotion of female consumers helped turn the opening weekend of "Sex and the City" into a $55 million-plus triumph. The same dogged crowd flocked to "Mamma Mia!," which grabbed more than $27 million for its debut. For a Hollywood obsessed with courting men under 25 with action flicks, it was a wake-up call on the power of the purse. "The Women" might face a rougher road, because the early buzz has been mixed and it doesn't have a built-in TV fan base or the benefit of ABBA music. But it does have a savvy marketing strategy -- a trailer that's been playing before screenings of "Sex and the City" and "Mamma Mia!"
3. It had a long, strange trip to the screen. Fourteen years ago, mega-stars Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts were ready to team up on "The Women." Then the dream fell apart, the script was revised several times, the major studios lost interest and the cast became a revolving door of rumored possibilities like Sandra Bullock, Uma Thurman and Queen Latifah. After a decade of waiting, English finally got the project made by hooking up with smaller production companies and cutting the budget back to a multimillion-dollar figure that would be spare change for a special-effects blowout like "The Dark Knight."
4. It dips a toe into the culture wars. The preview dwells on the wisecracking quartet of Ryan (the wronged wife), Annette Bening (a powerful magazine editor), Debra Messing (a hippie-ish supermom) and Jada Pinkett Smith (a chic lesbian writer), who live an upscale life of shopping and spa visits. But there's another key figure with a hint of class tension -- the other woman, who, as in the original, works at a perfume counter. She's played by Eva Mendes and called "the spritzer girl" by Ryan's loyal clique. There's even a dressing-room standoff that telegraphs who's the villain with lingerie instead of cowboy hats: Ryan wears a sexy white corset, while Mendes has a skimpy black one.
5. It tackles the moms-versus-no kids divide. There can be a gap as wide as a playground between the perceptions and assumptions of mothers and their childless pals. English touches on that in "The Women" with snappy dialogue (when Messing says she wants to keep having children until she has a boy, Pinkett Smith responds, "Don't we have enough of those?") and by treating the choices of Ryan, who plays a mom, and Bening, whose character is content not to be one, as equally valid. And for the amusement of both sides of the fence, the trailer throws in a childbirth scene with Messing that may feature the longest, loudest screen scream in movie history.
6. It gives permission -- finally -- to explore the topic of cheating. During the messy unfolding of the John Edwards and Kwame Kilpatrick scandals, most people (including members of the press) felt it wasn't fair to pry into the feelings of the wives involved. But through fiction, "The Women" touches on the tough questions: How do you react to finding out your spouse is unfaithful? What's your next step? What if you find out your friend's husband is cheating? What if she discovers you knew but didn't tell her? Although this is a comedy, some of the emotions are as raw as the butter, cocoa and cream Ryan reaches for during an angry food binge.
7. It's another fashion orgy. Taking a page from "Sex and the City," "The Women" is a showcase for designer labels like Marc Jacobs and La Perla and preppy staples like Burberry. There's even a runway show thrown in for good measure. The credit for the stylish wardrobe goes to perhaps the most important man involved in the production, costume designer John Dunn.
8. It's got AARP cred. While Kim Cattrall's Samantha showed 50 is fabulous in "Sex and the City" and Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters frolicked in menopausal glee in "Mamma Mia!", "The Women" gives roles to Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman (82 and soon to be competing on "Dancing With the Stars") and Candice Bergen as Ryan's acerbic mother. "I know you don't drink in the afternoon," says Bergen after ordering a gimlet for her daughter. "But you will eventually, so why not start now?"
9. It proves Meg Ryan is ready to face the cameras. After riding high in the 1990s, Ryan's career stalled and her marriage to Dennis Quaid dissolved amid reports of her affair with "Proof of Life" costar Russell Crowe. Then she landed back in the rumor mill for speculation that she'd enhanced her lips and face with cosmetic procedures, a look derided as a "trout pout." But now Ryan is on the rebound, talking in TV appearances about how happy and centered she is as a single mom and putting forth a face that seems to have returned to a more natural, fish-free state.
10. It's a love letter to female friendships. In the 1939 movie, the women were back-biting, tart-tongued and, ultimately, insecure, because their social status and financial security depended on their relationships to the unseen men. But the remake is less about Ryan being a wronged wife and more about how it affects and strengthens her ties to the women around her. A comedy about finding out what you really want, "The Women" knows sometimes what you want most is to hang out with your BFFs.
BY JULIE HINDS
FREE PRESS POP CULTURE WRITER
It's time for the next round of the lipstick wars, not in the political arena, but on the box-office battlefront.
"The Women," which opens today, hopes to follow in the designer high-heeled footsteps of "Sex and the City" and maybe walk a mile in the sun-drenched sandals of "Mamma Mia!"
Both of those female-skewing films scored box-office successes on their opening weekends. Can "The Women" make it a three-peat?
Perhaps, if contemporary audiences can embrace a comedy with an all-female cast.
And if Meg Ryan, missing in action from high-profile projects lately, can reclaim her status as America's sweetheart.
And if director-screenwriter Diane English of "Murphy Brown" fame can find enough humor in marital infidelity, a topic linked to recent painful public scandals.
That's a lot of ifs for a glamorous, fluffy romp, but it could make for a more interesting dynamic than your average chick flick.
Here are 10 things you need to know about "The Women" before you make it a girls' night out.
1. It's based on a classic film that defined girl power.
If you think Hollywood is a boys club now, imagine what it was like in 1939, the year "The Women" defied the odds with an all-star, all-female cast that included Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell and Joan Fontaine. The story (from Clare Booth Luce's Broadway hit) was edgy for its day: A rich wife (Shearer then, Ryan now) finds out her husband has been cheating on her, a revelation that plays out through the prism of the women surrounding her.
2. It's counting on the Carrie Bradshaw effect. What's the difference between a female moviegoer and a pit bull? Lipstick and buying power. The fierce devotion of female consumers helped turn the opening weekend of "Sex and the City" into a $55 million-plus triumph. The same dogged crowd flocked to "Mamma Mia!," which grabbed more than $27 million for its debut. For a Hollywood obsessed with courting men under 25 with action flicks, it was a wake-up call on the power of the purse. "The Women" might face a rougher road, because the early buzz has been mixed and it doesn't have a built-in TV fan base or the benefit of ABBA music. But it does have a savvy marketing strategy -- a trailer that's been playing before screenings of "Sex and the City" and "Mamma Mia!"
3. It had a long, strange trip to the screen. Fourteen years ago, mega-stars Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts were ready to team up on "The Women." Then the dream fell apart, the script was revised several times, the major studios lost interest and the cast became a revolving door of rumored possibilities like Sandra Bullock, Uma Thurman and Queen Latifah. After a decade of waiting, English finally got the project made by hooking up with smaller production companies and cutting the budget back to a multimillion-dollar figure that would be spare change for a special-effects blowout like "The Dark Knight."
4. It dips a toe into the culture wars. The preview dwells on the wisecracking quartet of Ryan (the wronged wife), Annette Bening (a powerful magazine editor), Debra Messing (a hippie-ish supermom) and Jada Pinkett Smith (a chic lesbian writer), who live an upscale life of shopping and spa visits. But there's another key figure with a hint of class tension -- the other woman, who, as in the original, works at a perfume counter. She's played by Eva Mendes and called "the spritzer girl" by Ryan's loyal clique. There's even a dressing-room standoff that telegraphs who's the villain with lingerie instead of cowboy hats: Ryan wears a sexy white corset, while Mendes has a skimpy black one.
5. It tackles the moms-versus-no kids divide. There can be a gap as wide as a playground between the perceptions and assumptions of mothers and their childless pals. English touches on that in "The Women" with snappy dialogue (when Messing says she wants to keep having children until she has a boy, Pinkett Smith responds, "Don't we have enough of those?") and by treating the choices of Ryan, who plays a mom, and Bening, whose character is content not to be one, as equally valid. And for the amusement of both sides of the fence, the trailer throws in a childbirth scene with Messing that may feature the longest, loudest screen scream in movie history.
6. It gives permission -- finally -- to explore the topic of cheating. During the messy unfolding of the John Edwards and Kwame Kilpatrick scandals, most people (including members of the press) felt it wasn't fair to pry into the feelings of the wives involved. But through fiction, "The Women" touches on the tough questions: How do you react to finding out your spouse is unfaithful? What's your next step? What if you find out your friend's husband is cheating? What if she discovers you knew but didn't tell her? Although this is a comedy, some of the emotions are as raw as the butter, cocoa and cream Ryan reaches for during an angry food binge.
7. It's another fashion orgy. Taking a page from "Sex and the City," "The Women" is a showcase for designer labels like Marc Jacobs and La Perla and preppy staples like Burberry. There's even a runway show thrown in for good measure. The credit for the stylish wardrobe goes to perhaps the most important man involved in the production, costume designer John Dunn.
8. It's got AARP cred. While Kim Cattrall's Samantha showed 50 is fabulous in "Sex and the City" and Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters frolicked in menopausal glee in "Mamma Mia!", "The Women" gives roles to Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman (82 and soon to be competing on "Dancing With the Stars") and Candice Bergen as Ryan's acerbic mother. "I know you don't drink in the afternoon," says Bergen after ordering a gimlet for her daughter. "But you will eventually, so why not start now?"
9. It proves Meg Ryan is ready to face the cameras. After riding high in the 1990s, Ryan's career stalled and her marriage to Dennis Quaid dissolved amid reports of her affair with "Proof of Life" costar Russell Crowe. Then she landed back in the rumor mill for speculation that she'd enhanced her lips and face with cosmetic procedures, a look derided as a "trout pout." But now Ryan is on the rebound, talking in TV appearances about how happy and centered she is as a single mom and putting forth a face that seems to have returned to a more natural, fish-free state.
10. It's a love letter to female friendships. In the 1939 movie, the women were back-biting, tart-tongued and, ultimately, insecure, because their social status and financial security depended on their relationships to the unseen men. But the remake is less about Ryan being a wronged wife and more about how it affects and strengthens her ties to the women around her. A comedy about finding out what you really want, "The Women" knows sometimes what you want most is to hang out with your BFFs.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Buyers remorse?
The best way to stop impulse shopping is to not shop. Don't go into a store to simply look around. Don't go into a store unless you have a specific item that you need to purchase. Don't go into a store without knowing exactly how much you have to spend.
Be prepared for you shopping. Take a list with you. Estimate how much you will need and add a few dollars to that. Then leave all of your cards and your checkbook in your vehicle. Only carry in the cash amount that you have to spend.
Get rid of the catalogs. Don't sign up for new ones and ask to be removed from the ones you have. Stop shopping online.
Talking of shopping triggers, there are a lot of people that impulse shop when they are upset or stressed. Find other ways to make yourself feel better. You know that the shopping is only a quick fix that is often replaced with guilt.
You can break the habit. It just takes time and self-control. It is an easy habit to fall back into, so you have to stay on your toes. Plan ahead and think before you buy, and you will save money.
One more way I heard about. If you're thinking about buying something you don't need, figure out how much you'd have to work to pay for it. For example, if you make 30 dollars an hour, a 150 dress would take five hours to pay for. Is it worth it?
Be prepared for you shopping. Take a list with you. Estimate how much you will need and add a few dollars to that. Then leave all of your cards and your checkbook in your vehicle. Only carry in the cash amount that you have to spend.
Get rid of the catalogs. Don't sign up for new ones and ask to be removed from the ones you have. Stop shopping online.
Talking of shopping triggers, there are a lot of people that impulse shop when they are upset or stressed. Find other ways to make yourself feel better. You know that the shopping is only a quick fix that is often replaced with guilt.
You can break the habit. It just takes time and self-control. It is an easy habit to fall back into, so you have to stay on your toes. Plan ahead and think before you buy, and you will save money.
One more way I heard about. If you're thinking about buying something you don't need, figure out how much you'd have to work to pay for it. For example, if you make 30 dollars an hour, a 150 dress would take five hours to pay for. Is it worth it?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Chitty chitty bang bang
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the most fantasmagorical Broadway musical in the history of live theater, is searching for six children in the Ft. Lauderdale area to make their stage debut as CHITTY launches the First National Tour at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts November 18 through November 30, 2008.
Based on the timeless novel by Ian Fleming, author/creator of the James Bond franchise, the production features the music and lyrics by the legendary Sherman brothers, composers of Mary Poppins. The national tour also features an original script and fresh adaptation directed by Ray Roderick. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG boasts a beloved score, including memorable classics such as “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” “Hushabye Mountain” and the Oscar®nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Auditions will be held at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Abdo New River Room on Sunday, September 28 at 10:00am. Auditioning children are to arrive no later than 9:45am accompanied by a parent or guardian to signup for the audition. Auditions will begin promptly at 10:00am. Each child will be asked to sing a cappella 16 bars from one uptempo song of choice. Children should be prepared to learn and execute simple choreography as part of the audition process. No decisions will be announced at any time during the auditions. Six children will be selected for the ensemble, and they will appear as orphans in Act 2 of every performance. Two alternates will also be chosen. Approximate ages should be between 8 and 12 years old – and have the appearance of children, NOT young adults. Professional experience and headshots are not required.
The local children cast in the production and their parents or guardians will be provided rehearsal and performance information. The children will not receive any compensation, however this is a wonderful opportunity for children from Ft. Lauderdale to perform onstage with professional actors without having to ever leave town.
Based on the timeless novel by Ian Fleming, author/creator of the James Bond franchise, the production features the music and lyrics by the legendary Sherman brothers, composers of Mary Poppins. The national tour also features an original script and fresh adaptation directed by Ray Roderick. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG boasts a beloved score, including memorable classics such as “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” “Hushabye Mountain” and the Oscar®nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Auditions will be held at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Abdo New River Room on Sunday, September 28 at 10:00am. Auditioning children are to arrive no later than 9:45am accompanied by a parent or guardian to signup for the audition. Auditions will begin promptly at 10:00am. Each child will be asked to sing a cappella 16 bars from one uptempo song of choice. Children should be prepared to learn and execute simple choreography as part of the audition process. No decisions will be announced at any time during the auditions. Six children will be selected for the ensemble, and they will appear as orphans in Act 2 of every performance. Two alternates will also be chosen. Approximate ages should be between 8 and 12 years old – and have the appearance of children, NOT young adults. Professional experience and headshots are not required.
The local children cast in the production and their parents or guardians will be provided rehearsal and performance information. The children will not receive any compensation, however this is a wonderful opportunity for children from Ft. Lauderdale to perform onstage with professional actors without having to ever leave town.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Help kids eat healthy
Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow up healthy. Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are some strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:
Have regular family meals.
Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
Avoid battles over food.
Involve kids in the process.
But it's not easy to take these steps when everyone is juggling busy schedules and convenience food, such as fast food, is so readily available.
Here are some ways to incorporate all five strategies into your routine.
Family Meals
Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:
more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains
less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol
In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce your child to new foods and to act as a role model for healthy eating.
Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal — not surprising because they're trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Also, consider trying these strategies:
Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.
Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.
Keep mealtime calm and congenial — no lectures or arguing.
What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together — whether it's takeout food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it may be more convenient to gather as a group.
Stocking Up on Healthy Foods
Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. That's why it's important to control the supply lines — the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. Follow these basic guidelines:
Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of at least five servings a day. Be sure you serve fruit or vegetables at every meal.
Make it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.
Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.
Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber.
Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
Limit fast food and other low-nutrient snacks, such as chips and candy. But don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so kids don't feel deprived.
Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and low-fat milk instead.
How to Be a Role Model
The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and not overindulging in the less nutritious stuff, you'll be sending the right message.
Another way to be a good role model is to limit portions and not overeat. Talk about your feelings of fullness, especially with younger children. You might say, "This is delicious, but I'm full, so I'm going to stop eating." Similarly, parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these same negative feelings in their kids. Try to keep a positive approach about food.
Don't Battle Over Food
It's easy for food to become a source of conflict. Well-intentioned parents might find themselves bargaining or bribing kids so they eat the healthy food in front of them. A better strategy is to give kids some control, but to also limit the kind of foods available at home.
Kids should decide if they're hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they're full. Parents control which foods are available to the child, both at mealtime and between meals. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Establish a predictable schedule of meals and snacks. It's OK to choose not to eat when both parents and kids know when to expect the next meal or snack.
Don't force kids to clean their plates. Doing so teaches kids to override feelings of fullness.
Don't bribe or reward kids with food. Avoid using dessert as the prize for eating the meal.
Don't use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give kids a hug, some of your time, or praise.
Have regular family meals.
Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
Avoid battles over food.
Involve kids in the process.
But it's not easy to take these steps when everyone is juggling busy schedules and convenience food, such as fast food, is so readily available.
Here are some ways to incorporate all five strategies into your routine.
Family Meals
Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:
more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains
less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol
In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce your child to new foods and to act as a role model for healthy eating.
Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal — not surprising because they're trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Also, consider trying these strategies:
Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.
Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.
Keep mealtime calm and congenial — no lectures or arguing.
What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together — whether it's takeout food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it may be more convenient to gather as a group.
Stocking Up on Healthy Foods
Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. That's why it's important to control the supply lines — the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. Follow these basic guidelines:
Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of at least five servings a day. Be sure you serve fruit or vegetables at every meal.
Make it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.
Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.
Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber.
Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
Limit fast food and other low-nutrient snacks, such as chips and candy. But don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so kids don't feel deprived.
Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and low-fat milk instead.
How to Be a Role Model
The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and not overindulging in the less nutritious stuff, you'll be sending the right message.
Another way to be a good role model is to limit portions and not overeat. Talk about your feelings of fullness, especially with younger children. You might say, "This is delicious, but I'm full, so I'm going to stop eating." Similarly, parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these same negative feelings in their kids. Try to keep a positive approach about food.
Don't Battle Over Food
It's easy for food to become a source of conflict. Well-intentioned parents might find themselves bargaining or bribing kids so they eat the healthy food in front of them. A better strategy is to give kids some control, but to also limit the kind of foods available at home.
Kids should decide if they're hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they're full. Parents control which foods are available to the child, both at mealtime and between meals. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Establish a predictable schedule of meals and snacks. It's OK to choose not to eat when both parents and kids know when to expect the next meal or snack.
Don't force kids to clean their plates. Doing so teaches kids to override feelings of fullness.
Don't bribe or reward kids with food. Avoid using dessert as the prize for eating the meal.
Don't use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give kids a hug, some of your time, or praise.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
No white shoes!
One thing you DON'T want to buy at an After-Labor Day Sale is white clothes because of the "No white after Labor Day" rule. But where did that rule come from? We turned to AskYahoo.com and here's what they said:
Originally, the rule was more along the lines of "Only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day." Furthermore, it mainly applied to white pumps or dress shoes. White tennis shoes and off-white boots seem exempt, as are any shoes worn by a winter bride. "Winter white" clothing (e.g., cream-colored wool) is acceptable between Labor Day and Memorial Day too.
The only logical reasoning we could find cited temperature. Image consultant Nancy Penn suggests that because white reflects light and heat, wearing white would make you cooler in winter, and thus should be avoided.
But others suggest the rule stems from a class issue. Acting Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele notes that in the late 19th century and the 1950s, more people were entering the middle classes. These nouveau-riche folks were often unaware of the standards of high society, so they were given specific codified rules to follow in order to fit in.
Several sites quoted a charming refrain about G.R.I.T.S. -- girls raised in the South. This bit of folklore states, "Southern girls know bad manners when they see them," and a clear sign of bad manners is wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. Because fashions in the American South can be a little more formal than elsewhere, perhaps the no-white-shoes rule came from south of the Mason-Dixon Line? Even Star Jones (an otherwise fashion-forward Southern lady) admits that white shoes "are for Easter Sunday and not the dead of winter."
We can only surmise that the point of this rule is to ensure that people only wear summer fashions during the actual summer months. The opposite probably applies as well, but people generally don't need to be reminded to avoid wearing a goose-down parka in 100-degree weather.
But if you live in a locale with summer temperatures year-round, we can't see the harm in wearing white shoes or a head-to-toe white outfit in October. And we promise not to tell Miss Manners.
Originally, the rule was more along the lines of "Only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day." Furthermore, it mainly applied to white pumps or dress shoes. White tennis shoes and off-white boots seem exempt, as are any shoes worn by a winter bride. "Winter white" clothing (e.g., cream-colored wool) is acceptable between Labor Day and Memorial Day too.
The only logical reasoning we could find cited temperature. Image consultant Nancy Penn suggests that because white reflects light and heat, wearing white would make you cooler in winter, and thus should be avoided.
But others suggest the rule stems from a class issue. Acting Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele notes that in the late 19th century and the 1950s, more people were entering the middle classes. These nouveau-riche folks were often unaware of the standards of high society, so they were given specific codified rules to follow in order to fit in.
Several sites quoted a charming refrain about G.R.I.T.S. -- girls raised in the South. This bit of folklore states, "Southern girls know bad manners when they see them," and a clear sign of bad manners is wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. Because fashions in the American South can be a little more formal than elsewhere, perhaps the no-white-shoes rule came from south of the Mason-Dixon Line? Even Star Jones (an otherwise fashion-forward Southern lady) admits that white shoes "are for Easter Sunday and not the dead of winter."
We can only surmise that the point of this rule is to ensure that people only wear summer fashions during the actual summer months. The opposite probably applies as well, but people generally don't need to be reminded to avoid wearing a goose-down parka in 100-degree weather.
But if you live in a locale with summer temperatures year-round, we can't see the harm in wearing white shoes or a head-to-toe white outfit in October. And we promise not to tell Miss Manners.
Early storm prep
Hurricane Preparation Tips
If you live in an area that has the potential of being affected by a hurricane, the key to remaining safe is early planning.
Before the storm strikes --
Stock up on non-perishable food, medicine, baby supplies and pet food.
Purchase bottled water; 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Check emergency equipment (flashlights, battery-operated radios, extension cords, emergency generators, etc.) and purchase extra batteries.
Consider the installation of shutters over windows and doors. Depending on the design of your home, plywood works well, but stock up early.
Monitor official weather bulletins.
Keep extra cash on hand, as automatic teller machines or banks don't operate without power.
Review evacuation routes.
Arrange for safe sheltering for your pet if you must evacuate. Public shelters don't accept pets.
Keep your vehicle's fuel tank full.
Move yard items inside, such as patio furniture.
Read more tips on hurricanes, and learn about flash floods.
If you live in an area that has the potential of being affected by a hurricane, the key to remaining safe is early planning.
Before the storm strikes --
Stock up on non-perishable food, medicine, baby supplies and pet food.
Purchase bottled water; 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Check emergency equipment (flashlights, battery-operated radios, extension cords, emergency generators, etc.) and purchase extra batteries.
Consider the installation of shutters over windows and doors. Depending on the design of your home, plywood works well, but stock up early.
Monitor official weather bulletins.
Keep extra cash on hand, as automatic teller machines or banks don't operate without power.
Review evacuation routes.
Arrange for safe sheltering for your pet if you must evacuate. Public shelters don't accept pets.
Keep your vehicle's fuel tank full.
Move yard items inside, such as patio furniture.
Read more tips on hurricanes, and learn about flash floods.
Hurricane fears
The 5 Worst Hurricane Fears
By Andrea Thompson
1. New Orleans Could Get Hit Again
With the city still limping from the effects of Katrina, New Orleans residents get no rest. City and state officials have already kicked new evacuation plans into gear with the threat from Gustav. "They've learned a few lessons," said National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen.
Katrina was the costliest and one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history, killing at least 1,500 people. But while the public may focus on New Orleans, forecasters are just as worried about hurricanes hitting any coastal U.S. city. "A landfall is a landfall," Feltgen said.
Tampa, Fla., which hasn't had a major hurricane since the 1920s, is one of the cites forecasters worry about. Before Hurricane Charley suddenly changed course in August 2004, Tampa was in its crosshairs, waking up residents to the risk that hurricanes poses there, Feltgen said.
2. Oil Drilling and Gas Production Could Be Impeded
Katrina's waves and flood waters damaged some offshore oil rigs, refineries and pipelines that supply large portions of the country with fuel, and as a result, gas prices went up. With fuel prices already reaching record highs in the past year, many are concerned that any hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico could drive prices up even further.
Any offshore rigs that lie in the projected path of a storm are evacuated several days in advance and production is halted to prevent spills — rigs in the path of Gustav have already been cleared, said Cathy Landry, a spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute. Most of the rigs damaged during Katrina were older models and were retired after the storm, Landry said, adding that newer models are built to withstand very high winds and waves. "The weak links are probably out of the system," she told LiveScience.
The main causes of the Katrina-related price increases were not damaged rigs, but flooded refineries, floating pipelines pulled off their moorings, and power failures to offshore pipelines, Landry said. Since the monster 2005 season, oil companies have worked to shore up refineries and pipelines and install back-up generators to keep fuel flowing, Landry added.
While a slight drop in fuel supply, a "blip" as Landry called it, could be expected while the rigs in the path of the storm are shut down, once the storm is gone, production should resume.
3. Global Warming Could Be Making Things Worse
As Earth's oceans absorb some of the heat generated by climbing greenhouse gas levels, some scientists predict these warmer waters will fuel more, and stronger, storms.
Hurricanes feed off of the warm, moist air over tropical waters, and warmer waters can produce more intense storms, with faster winds and bigger waves. Studies suggest that warmer waters can also increase the frequency of storms, though some scientists have argued just the opposite, with projections that global warming will change wind circulation in such a way that it stifles the development of hurricanes.
Some researchers are also predicting that the hurricane season will become longer in a warming world because ocean waters are warming up earlier in the season, which officially begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. While most hurricanes tend to form in August and September, when water temperatures peak, earlier warming is bringing bigger storms to the early months of the season, the research suggests.
4. A Category 5 Storm Could Make Landfall
With the threat of more intense storms produced by global warming, some scientists are concerned that this could mean more Category 5 storms, the highest ranking on the Saffir-Simpson strength scale, with potentially greater impact to coasts.
These storms have wind speeds in excess of 156 mph and can produce storm surges of more than 18 feet.
Only three Category 5 storms have ever made landfall in the United States: Hurricane Andrew, which hit Homestead, Fla., in 1992; Hurricane Camille, which came ashore near the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1969; and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which struck the Florida Keys. (Katrina was a Category 5 while offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, but weakened just before landfall).
There is, however, no way to predict just how many Category 5 storms a given season will produce, when the next one will develop or whether or not it will make landfall.
5. People Won't Leave
More than half of the U.S. population lives on the country's coastline, and the vast majority have never experienced even a weak hurricane, Feltgen said. Many populations along the Northeast coast haven't experienced a hurricane in several generations, though the area is still vulnerable to storms.
Having little exposure to hurricanes can lead to an "It won't happen to me" mentality that means people in vulnerable areas don't have plans in place for what they will do when a hurricane strikes. In a Mason-Dixon poll taken earlier this year, more than half of coastal residents responded that they didn't have a personal hurricane plan. "And that is alarming," Felgen said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Coastal residents should plan ahead where they will go if they decide to evacuate, how to get there and what critical things they need to take with them. If they decide to stay, they need to have provisions they can live off of alone in their home for 3 to 7 days, Feltgen advised.
The call to evacuate can often lie with government emergency managers, who can face a tough decision because of the uncertainty in hurricane forecasts. Michael Metzger, an MIT graduate student has developed a computer model to aide these decisions. The model promotes evacuations done in stages to avoid congestion on evacuation routes, which was a problem in the eventual evacuation of New Orleans.
By Andrea Thompson
1. New Orleans Could Get Hit Again
With the city still limping from the effects of Katrina, New Orleans residents get no rest. City and state officials have already kicked new evacuation plans into gear with the threat from Gustav. "They've learned a few lessons," said National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen.
Katrina was the costliest and one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history, killing at least 1,500 people. But while the public may focus on New Orleans, forecasters are just as worried about hurricanes hitting any coastal U.S. city. "A landfall is a landfall," Feltgen said.
Tampa, Fla., which hasn't had a major hurricane since the 1920s, is one of the cites forecasters worry about. Before Hurricane Charley suddenly changed course in August 2004, Tampa was in its crosshairs, waking up residents to the risk that hurricanes poses there, Feltgen said.
2. Oil Drilling and Gas Production Could Be Impeded
Katrina's waves and flood waters damaged some offshore oil rigs, refineries and pipelines that supply large portions of the country with fuel, and as a result, gas prices went up. With fuel prices already reaching record highs in the past year, many are concerned that any hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico could drive prices up even further.
Any offshore rigs that lie in the projected path of a storm are evacuated several days in advance and production is halted to prevent spills — rigs in the path of Gustav have already been cleared, said Cathy Landry, a spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute. Most of the rigs damaged during Katrina were older models and were retired after the storm, Landry said, adding that newer models are built to withstand very high winds and waves. "The weak links are probably out of the system," she told LiveScience.
The main causes of the Katrina-related price increases were not damaged rigs, but flooded refineries, floating pipelines pulled off their moorings, and power failures to offshore pipelines, Landry said. Since the monster 2005 season, oil companies have worked to shore up refineries and pipelines and install back-up generators to keep fuel flowing, Landry added.
While a slight drop in fuel supply, a "blip" as Landry called it, could be expected while the rigs in the path of the storm are shut down, once the storm is gone, production should resume.
3. Global Warming Could Be Making Things Worse
As Earth's oceans absorb some of the heat generated by climbing greenhouse gas levels, some scientists predict these warmer waters will fuel more, and stronger, storms.
Hurricanes feed off of the warm, moist air over tropical waters, and warmer waters can produce more intense storms, with faster winds and bigger waves. Studies suggest that warmer waters can also increase the frequency of storms, though some scientists have argued just the opposite, with projections that global warming will change wind circulation in such a way that it stifles the development of hurricanes.
Some researchers are also predicting that the hurricane season will become longer in a warming world because ocean waters are warming up earlier in the season, which officially begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. While most hurricanes tend to form in August and September, when water temperatures peak, earlier warming is bringing bigger storms to the early months of the season, the research suggests.
4. A Category 5 Storm Could Make Landfall
With the threat of more intense storms produced by global warming, some scientists are concerned that this could mean more Category 5 storms, the highest ranking on the Saffir-Simpson strength scale, with potentially greater impact to coasts.
These storms have wind speeds in excess of 156 mph and can produce storm surges of more than 18 feet.
Only three Category 5 storms have ever made landfall in the United States: Hurricane Andrew, which hit Homestead, Fla., in 1992; Hurricane Camille, which came ashore near the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1969; and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which struck the Florida Keys. (Katrina was a Category 5 while offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, but weakened just before landfall).
There is, however, no way to predict just how many Category 5 storms a given season will produce, when the next one will develop or whether or not it will make landfall.
5. People Won't Leave
More than half of the U.S. population lives on the country's coastline, and the vast majority have never experienced even a weak hurricane, Feltgen said. Many populations along the Northeast coast haven't experienced a hurricane in several generations, though the area is still vulnerable to storms.
Having little exposure to hurricanes can lead to an "It won't happen to me" mentality that means people in vulnerable areas don't have plans in place for what they will do when a hurricane strikes. In a Mason-Dixon poll taken earlier this year, more than half of coastal residents responded that they didn't have a personal hurricane plan. "And that is alarming," Felgen said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Coastal residents should plan ahead where they will go if they decide to evacuate, how to get there and what critical things they need to take with them. If they decide to stay, they need to have provisions they can live off of alone in their home for 3 to 7 days, Feltgen advised.
The call to evacuate can often lie with government emergency managers, who can face a tough decision because of the uncertainty in hurricane forecasts. Michael Metzger, an MIT graduate student has developed a computer model to aide these decisions. The model promotes evacuations done in stages to avoid congestion on evacuation routes, which was a problem in the eventual evacuation of New Orleans.
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