Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Dried Beans
Learn to cook with dried beans for frugality, nutrition, and food storage. Many recipes and how to's: click here.
Learn to Sprout
Beans and grains are even more nutritious when you sprout them. Great way to have fresh veggies in your food storage. Click here to learn how. (This is also where you can order sprout seeds for your food storage or get sprout recipes)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Weight Loss
Many free articles and free diet plans/calorie and exercise counter and free weight loss community with personal trainers at Sparkpeople.com.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Mommy Savers
A website for mom's who want to live well for less money. Lots of money and time saving articles.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Dairy Recipes
Tons of dairy recipes for snacks and meals. Also kid activities to teach dairy nutrition.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Back to School Articles on Disneyfamilies.com
Tons of fun crafts, lunches, articles...this site is Disneyfamilies.com a whole resource for moms.
Runner's World.com
Tons of articles on how to get started on this empowering, cheap and easy exercise: running.
Healthy Living
Lots of articles on healthy living, weight management, pregnancy, women's health etc...
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Reflections of Christ
There was a 'Reflections of Christ' photography exhibit recently on display at the Mesa Temple Visitor's Center in conjunction with the Easter Pageant. The photographer was able to photograph the Pageant cast members for the exhibit; he then worked with a few other individuals to put together a 5 minute slideshow of all the images set to the hymn 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.' Just remember when you're watching the video that the photographs are real, they aren't paintings… Incredible!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Scholastic.com
they have a really great parent section with activities for kids and parents and learning.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Family Home Evening Idea Group: LDS Share
Lots of ideas in the files section of this group for FHE and church callings.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
www.Heart for home
Tons of home ideas including budgeting, cooking, menu planning, gift ideas, sewing, etc...
Group for the Cooking Challenged
LDS Cooking Challenged group with tons of recipes to make life easier
Monday, May 5, 2008
BYU broadcasting (firesides and women's conference talks)
See firesides and women's conference talks broadcasted on the internet
Virtual Sharing Stations from BYU Women's Conf.
Virtual Sharing Stations are ideas that are available on serving, teaching, and helping one another in our homes, schools, communities, and church callings—especially with ourselves
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
SuperNanny.com
This is THE most useful website I have found on parenting. It really did help me get my kids to stay in bed.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Pratt's Family Home Evening Lessons
Lots of flannel story patterns, lots of ideas and also tips on frugal living
The Enlightened Homemaker.com
Free chore charts, menu planners, parenting articles for LDS homemakers.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
bread making 101
about.com and there are links to methods and easy recipes on the right and on the bottom.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Kaboose.com
Mother resource. Tons of crafts, games, parenting articles, holiday ideas, stuff for families.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Bookfinder: Find a great book for ages presch-2nd grade
This page is loaded with info about your child and reading and at the bottom is a bookfinder where you can type in the age of your child and it will list books for you.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
BYU Education Week
Past archives with handouts from classes in years past. Really useful information and classes!
BYU Family Studies Articles
Fascinating articles from the Family studies Center at BYU about families.
Birthday Parties by age
Birthday Party ideas, they also have ideas for party games by age if you click on "parties" at the top of the page.
Children's Healthy Sleep Habits
Informative article. How much is enough, establishing bedtime routines etc...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Making Family Mealtime Happen
Study on how Family meals affect children and tips on how to make it happen.
A list of Classic books for Children
Books that have stood the test of time. Once the page has loaded, click on "Children's Classics" in the first paragraph to access the list.
How to talk to your kids about sex, by Linda and Richard Eyre
Article on Values Parenting.com website
Decorating
Decorating how to from experts on how to do it yourself, and make your own curtains etc...
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Scrapbooking
Articles on the left of this page on how to get started with your scrapbooking family history.
Bargain Baby Clothing Ideas
by, Delilah Hatch
Get Hip and trendy baby clothes for half the money. Creative ways to piece together a stylish baby wardrobe.
Get Hip and trendy baby clothes for half the money. Creative ways to piece together a stylish baby wardrobe.
Are you a hip and trendy Mama? Do you want hip and trendy baby clothes but new baby expenses got you pinching pennies? So many of the baby clothes out there are covered in cutesy kittens and ballerinas. Teddy Bears and dinosaurs. Where are all the cool baby clothes? When you do find the hip and modern clothes they also include a hefty price tag. You can have truly chic baby style and spend half the money. I'm going to show you how.
* Customize your baby's clothing. There really are great ways to turn a plain old boring onesie into a fun and funky onesie. It's a wardrobe staple. Many babies will live most of their baby lives wearing a onesie. So go out and buy a value pack full of them. Get plain white onesies and use clothing dye to make them whatever colors you want. Tie dye them if you wish. A few more great ways to customize a onesie? Buy Iron-on printer paper. You can create pretty much any design you want. Print it from your computer and iron it to the onesie! The possibilities are endless! Another really easy way to decorate a onesie is to use iron on fuse-able webbing. You can find this stuff in the sewing notions aisle of any sewing store or even Wal-mart. The stuff comes in rolls. Basically, you just iron it onto a cool fabric. Then cut the fabric into any shape you like and iron it to a piece of clothing or accessory. Viola! No sewing required.
* Go Bargain shopping. Cruise the mall and clearance sections of every store you come across that sells baby clothes. You can really find some gems this way. If any of the clothes are boring or plain than just customize them to look how you want them to.
* Shop thrift stores and second hand shops. You will save a fortune this way. Check your local yellow pages to find where the closest thrift stores are. Many are focused solely on baby's and children's clothing.
* Check Craigslist and Freecycle.org. Quite often there are people who are just plain giving away all of their outgrown baby clothes. You can acquire bags and bags of clothes this way. Sort through. Keep the best and dump the rest. And again, customize whatever is blah and boring.
* Make your own baby clothes. If you do not know how to sew then making baby clothes is really a great way to learn. You can really truly come up with some great baby fashion this way. Buy fabric on clearance and you'll really save a lot of money as well.
* Learn to crochet. Crocheting is really much easier than it looks and easy to learn. You can really create some great quality clothes this way. It's relaxing and stress relieving to boot! check out www.lionbrand.com where you can find information on how to crochet as well as many free patterns for baby clothes, bedding, and toys.
The key to keeping costs down and style high is to spend money on a few key items like sweaters, jackets, and shoes. Match some handmade, and customized items with items you bought on clearance. With all of these tips you really can put together a stylish and unique baby wardrobe on a fraction of the budget. For more information and ideas for DIY baby clothing visit www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com
About the Author
Delilah Hatch is a stay at home mom and owner/creator of www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com
Disney Princess Party Ideas
by, Cynthia Marcano
The Disney Princesses are arguably the most recognizable princesses on the planet. Every little girl dreams of being a Disney Princess and what better time to become one than on her birthday? With so many Disney Princess party supplies available, it can be overwhelming planning a party. Here are some ideas to help you plan the perfect Disney Princess Birthday Party.
The Disney Princesses are arguably the most recognizable princesses on the planet. Every little girl dreams of being a Disney Princess and what better time to become one than on her birthday? With so many Disney Princess party supplies available, it can be overwhelming planning a party. Here are some ideas to help you plan the perfect Disney Princess Birthday Party.
Princess Invitations
Invitations are hard to come by. They can be found in most party supplies or discount stores. However if you are looking for something unique, you are only limited to your imagination. For those limited on time or creativity, here are a few suggestions.
If you are on a limited budget, try finding Disney Princess clip art on the and printing your own made party invitations. Disney Princess clip art is readily available online. You can keep it simple by adding the graphic to the top and adding the details below. Its a no fold invitation. Tip: Make the invitations the size of a readily available envelope so that mailing them will be a snap.
If you have a bit more time and don't mind a little crafting, try something a little more out of the box. The Disney Princesses are most recognizable by the gowns they wear. Create a variety of invitations each focusing on one princess. On each invitation you can place one princess in her well known gown. Embellish the gown by making it 2D. Cut colored foam or fabric into the shape of the gown. Glue accordingly to the clip art. Embellish the invitation with fairy dust powder or glitter to us modern folk. Search online for Disney princess fonts and word your invitation using the official font of the princesses.
Princess Decorating Tips
A Disney Princess royal affair needs to have the royal venue. Jazzing up your party space to be princess perfect can be easy as you want to as elaborate as the princess may demand. Using pinks and purples are the common colors for any princess, but if you have a specific Disney Princess in mind, using the color of their gown is your best option.
A princess thrown is a must. A simple and affordable thrown are in your reach. Use a standard dining chair and wrap tulle on the back of the chair and tie a big bow. Measure the circumference of the chair's seat and multiple by 3 to 4. That is the width of tulle you will need for the seat portion of the thrown. Use fabric glue and pleat the top of the tulle. Allow ample time to dry. Place books or something heavy on the tulle to keep the pleat together while drying. Wrap the tulle round the seat of the chair and glue the ends together. Do not glue to the chair. Use pins to keep together at its end to allow the fabric glue to dry. The chair should have a pleated look and the tulle should reach the floor. You can also make shorter versions of the pleated tulle and than layer one on top of the other going from the bottom of the chair up. You can embellish the tulle with glitter or sequins. Do this a few days before the party.
Whether you decorate a chair or use a Disney Princess plush chair that doesn't complete the thrown just yet. All thrown need a red carpet that leads up to it. You can accomplish this by using red construction paper or a red mat and lead it up to the chair.
You can even add a tulle canopy above the chair for some extra flair.
Disney Princess scene setters are are fast and inexpensive way to transform your party space into a Disney Princess ballroom. There are also life size Disney Princess Stick ups to go with the ballroom scene setters. You can choose one or all the princesses to adorn your wall. The princess scene setters work well as wall decor and a backdrop for photos. It is an easy alternative to making a castle from cardboard and is fairly inexpensive. Its also just a matter of adhering to your wall.
Princess Party Games
There are lots of Disney Princess games that you can choose to entertain your guests.
Pass the Poison Apple - a Snow White version of hot potato
Find the Key - Cinderella is locked in the attic, find the key and set her free
Mermaid Charades - Ariel has lost her voice to Ursula. Think up popular themes or scenes from the movie and act them out.
Guess The Disney Princess Movie - Sing or play a song from the movies and have the guests guess which movie it comes from
Dress Up - While this used to be for just girls, you can now find Disney Princess dresses and Knights attire for the boys. You can also turn this game into save the princesses or for the boys, fight the dragon. The dragon is imaginary of course.
Disney Princess parties are fun and classic. Its becoming a rite of passage for every little girl to have a Disney Princess party within her lifetime. Embrace her royal spirit and create the most magical and enchanting party that she and her guests are sure to enjoy.
About the Author
Cynthia Marcano is webmaster for www.allthingsprincess.com and www.princesstreasurechest.com. Find everything princess related.
Window Cleaning - Tips To Make Your Windows Sparkle
by, Richard Legg
Whether you like it or not, house cleaning is a necessary evil that most people have to endure. Just one of those tasks is window cleaning. However, unlike the interior of your house, your windows need to be cleaned both inside and outside which can often prove difficult. The best solution is to hire professionals to clean the outside windows - particularly on upper floors of your house - but if you want to clean the interior windows yourself, here are some top tips to make them shine.
Whether you like it or not, house cleaning is a necessary evil that most people have to endure. Just one of those tasks is window cleaning. However, unlike the interior of your house, your windows need to be cleaned both inside and outside which can often prove difficult. The best solution is to hire professionals to clean the outside windows - particularly on upper floors of your house - but if you want to clean the interior windows yourself, here are some top tips to make them shine.
1) First of all, make sure to use your vacuum cleaner to clean around the edges and to remove any loose dust, dirt or even cobwebs in the corners. The more of the loose dirt you can remove now means that there is less chance to get unwanted residues smudged or smeared on the glass when you are washing it. Don't forget to vacuum around the sills also. If you have blinds installed, it is often useful to use a feather duster to remove any dust from these before you clean the actual pane.
2) Cleaning any exterior screens. Again, you can use a vacuum to clean these mesh screens. If possible, try to remove them from the window and clean them over a sink or in the bathroom so that any loose dirt will not make too much of a mess. For any heavier dirt that may be crusted onto the screen, take the screen outside and use a brush to remove it.
3) When cleaning the actual panes, make sure to start at the top of the window and work your way gradually down - this will help ensure that you don't have any drips or streaks running down parts of the window that have already been cleaned.
4) Try to use a soft cotton cloth that doesn't leave any threads when you wipe. There are also plenty of good household window cleaning detergents that you can use. However, you can achieve very good results with just soap, warm water and a soft, clean cloth.
5) Take your time when washing. Rushing the job will mean you are likely to make a mistake, miss a spot, or end up with streaking on the windows. Allow time for the windows to dry and then clean them again with a dry cloth to polish them and remove any excess water that may still be there.
Don't forget to clean the whole window as well as the frame. For "French windows" you should clean each pane individually for the best results. It may require extra time and energy but they will end up looking much better.
If your house has very tall windows you can use extendable tools with a cloth on the end to reach the high places. Alternatively you can use a stable step ladder but be sure it is secured and safe before climbing it. Don't over-reach when cleaning at a height as it can lead to a fall.
As for the outside windows, it's oftentimes best to leave that to the experts!
About the Author
Northwest Window Maintenance, INC is a Seattle window cleaning company specialising in window and gutter cleaning for both commercial and residential buildings. Get a free window cleaning estimate online: http://www.Northwest-Windows.com/
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Marriage: How to Make a Silent Husband Talk
by Angel Cuala
Wives are known to do more talking while the husband makes a good listener. But it is also unhealthy if the husband does not talk enough. Being a good provider is not sufficient to be called a good husband. You must also know his ideas about future plans for the children, house improvement and most of all, his feelings for you. Although you knew about his unique habit of silence all along since your dating days, you can try some things to change him gradually now that you are living together. Here of some strategies that might work for you:
Talk softly. Raising your voice would not make him talk. Do not attempt to perform reverse psychology. It is better to always maintain a low tone when you talk to him. There will be some times that you cannot understand his silence but you must keep your composure at all times. Whispering about sweet nothing can help trigger his attention and he may respond enthusiastically. After all, your husband is not deaf. He just prefers to be silent.
Ask for suggestions. If you have something to say, leave a question. In this way, he will start to talk and may be able to explain further. Try to ask questions that requires long answers like what if, what should be and how about. If you are not satisfied with his short answers, ask another question that relates to the first. But you must be quick in making the follow up question so that his attention will still be there.
Have a good sense of humor. Everybody has a funny bone and you must discover the ways how to find his. Always reserve a funny film or book that you can share with him. You can also make yourself look funny or perform a practical joke that he will not get offended. If he starts to laugh, then divert the topic slowly until it becomes serious. If you can make him laugh, it is easier to make him talk.
Leave letters for him. Although it is now the age of electronic mails, leaving a note in his cabinet or near the car keys can start a good conversation. He may not respond through his voice but replying through a pen is just enough to express his ideas. A man of few words does not mean he cannot write a lot. By doing this frequently, you may be surprised that one day your pen will not be needed anymore.
Schedule a private talk. Prepare a list of good topics to discuss and invite him to a watch a movie or a park where you can be alone. If you have children, ask a close relative or friend to watch over them so that the talk can be longer. However, do not insist to talk about things that he does not want to talk about yet. The more you force him, the more he will not talk. Instead, ask him gently when the right time he will be available for it.
Ask his friends. Know his close friends and office mates, and learn from them. Although they may have the same problems with your husband, they can still somehow provide suggestions that they think are effective but are hesitant to try. You can also ask them how to find the right timing, especially when he is not too busy with his work like just having completed a big project.
Actions may speak louder than words, but words are more powerful than actions.
About the Author
I am a Filipino engineer who recently found himself more comfortable in writing letters rather than numbers. For more quality articles on how to have a successful marriage, and what marriage is all about, please feel free to visit Successful Marriage Tips at http://www.whatmarriageisallabout.blogspot.com.
Family Time-The Glue That Holds Families Together
by Aurelia Williams
With our busy life styles, finding family time can be hard. Most homes these days are two income homes. Kids are booked with activities from school to church to sports. The older the children are, the harder it seems to schedule family time with everyone in one place.
Family time is an important bonding time. It helps parents stay in touch with what is going on in their kid's lives. It helps the children bond with each other and their parents. It is a significant element in families that is often pushed off to another time.
What qualifies as family time is up to your family. Not every family can enjoy a trip to Disney or fancy resort. While these are great getaways for the family, they are not the only way to enjoy time with your family. Look for opportunities for everyday family times.
Something as simple as a family dinner is great family time. Though it is often hard to schedule, do this as often as possible. If only a few times a week, it is a great time to gather your children around the table and talk about their day, what is on their minds or things that are happening in their lives or yours. Even if only one parent can be present, show the children that you care enough to share a meal with them. A bucket of chicken with the fixings, shared together at the picnic table in the backyard, is a great family time.
Find a hobby that parents and children all enjoy. It can be stamp collect or roller hockey, just something that you all enjoy doing. You can find a new activity or enjoy an older love that you haven't found the time to enjoy lately. The point is to share that time with family. It can be a hobby that is done at home or one that gets you all out of the house together.
Start walking or working out together with your kids. Most parents have goals of getting fitter. This may include walking, running or working out at the gym. Make this a family activity. Walking and hiking are great activities for the family to enjoy together. It is a great time to talk to your children while you are hiking along. It has the side benefit of sharing and teaching the kids about living healthy as well.
Institute a family fun night. A night at home watching movies, solving puzzles or playing board games is a great time for all family members. Let the kids take turns picking out the games or movies each week. Kids really enjoy these activities and doing them with Mom and Dad is even more fun.
You can turn any activity into family time, if it involves family members. Make a shopping trip a fun family time adventure. Get the kids involved. These can be bonding experiences for everyone. Show kids that you are interested in them and who they are becoming.
About the Author
Visit Real Life Guidance: Finding More Family Time. Take the 1st step to finding more family time today.
Helping Your Teen Overcome Depression
by Aurelia Williams
Statistics on teenagers suffering from depression and other mental ailments are alarming. Various studies suggest that 1 in 4 teens suffer from some sort of mental illness. Teenage mental illness, to include depression, can have dire consequences. Teenage suicide is on the rise. It is the third leading cause of death in the age bracket of 15 to 24 years. Dealing with depression in teens is an important step in reducing these numbers in our society.Many things can lead to depression. A teenager is just learning how to handle the pressures and emotions of an adult. Only 30% of teens suffering seek help. The others just suffer through and do their best to get through. Adults have difficulty dealing with many things, asking a teenager to deal with it on their own, is not be the best option.
Learning the signs of depression for our youth can be difficult. Depressed teenagers are often just seen as being a teen. Signs of irritability, fatigue, withdrawal and changes of eating and sleeping habits, are seen as normal signs of growing up and hormone surges. They are also signs of depression. Learning the difference in your teen's behavior may be key in getting them the help that they need.
Learning to talk to your teen may be your best investment in their mental health. Parents and adults in a teen's life struggle with this aspect. They often want to see the teen as still a child where the teen wants to be seen as an adult. Learning to bridge this gap and communicate efficiently may be a daunting task, but can be managed.
An adult should learn to offer support when conversing with a teenager. Let them know you are there for them. Ensure them that you are available to them at any time. Show them that you can listen without being judgmental. Don't try to talk them out of the way that they feel. Show them that you can understand and give them the help that they need to deal with how they are feeling.
Trust your own instincts. If you have a teenager that is showing signs of depression get them help. Trusting your own feelings and emotions may be what sets the teen on the road to better mental health. They may resist getting help at first. Be firm. Let them know you are there for them and willing to work with them, but insist that they find someone they can work with to help them through this difficult time in their life.
Often a teen will find it easier to speak with someone other than a parent. Consider a peer mentor for your teen. These are teens that are trained to work with others. They become a positive influence. Teen mentors can become a confidant and will be there for the teen that may be in trouble otherwise.
Teenage depression is a serious problem, but can be treated. Learn to recognize the symptoms and get help as soon as possible. Turn the teen in your life into a success story instead of a statistic.
About the Author
Aurelia Williams is a certified life coach and author of Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen. Learn how to make sense of what's going on with your teen and be able to offer them the help they need.
Here's How to Help Boost your Teens Self-Esteem
by Aurelia Williams
Here's How To Help Boost your Teens Self Esteem Many people suffer from self-esteem issues. Teens are often more effected by esteem issues. They are going through changes, both physically and mentally. This can radically effect how they view them selves and their capabilities.Self-esteem is more than how a teen views their appearance. It is how they view themselves as a whole. It could be how they see themselves in academics, sports or performance based activities. Doing well in these areas can build self-esteem, but may not be the case. Many teens that are outstanding in these fields and are judged good looking by their peers can suffer from self-esteem issues. It is in how they view themselves and their performance.
Help a teen improve their self-esteem gradually. Radical highs and lows can result in depression or other problems. Show them that they can feel good about themselves as a whole.
Self-esteem issues may be reflections of how adults around them behave. Think of your own behaviors. If you are constantly brow beating yourself your teen sees this. They notice that you only seem to point out your negatives. They will emulate this learned behavior. Start by having a healthier self-esteem level yourself.
Show them that body image isn't the key to everything. A teen that has low self-esteem due to looks, weight or other physical features may be resistant to these. The teenage years are one of adjustment. They are learning to be comfortable in their own skins. We live in a society that endorses beauty and thinness as the things to be. Teens, even those that fit this model, struggle with this. Teach teens that difference is what makes the world a more enjoyable place. Show them we don't all need to look like we belong on the cover of a magazine to be beautiful. It comes from within. This is an issue we all need to get comfortable with, not just today's youth.
Help them to celebrate their success and forgive their shortcomings. If they do well on a test give them praise. If they don't do well show them that is ok too, that they can forgive themselves and move on. Consider all areas, not just academic, sports, clubs and other activities, no matter how small should be included. Encourage them to try new things as well. Even if they fail, they are better for trying.
Learning to deal with criticism is part of growing up. Teach your child that constructive criticism is good, but always balance criticism with praise. A growing youth needs to know they do things well. This will help balance out the negative they may be getting.
Most of all be there for your teenager. A teenager with the love and support of family and friends often has higher self-esteem. If they are secure in this area, they are often more secure in other areas. Knowing that you are unconditionally accepted does a lot for a teenager.
Be aware of the signs of low self-esteem in your teen. Low self-esteem can lead to depression, eating disorders, alcoholism or other problems. Making yourself aware will help you know when your teen may need professional help.
Developing a strong sense of self and healthy self-esteem will get a person far in life. Helping your teen develop this is one of the best things that you can provide. Lead by example, give plenty of praise and show them they are wonderful worthwhile person are good first steps.
About the Author
Need more tips on parenting your teen? Visit Parenting My Teen for free tips, resources and a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to helping you parent your adolescent.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Fitting Exercise into Your Every Day Life, by Carol Wiley
You're busy. How can you fit exercise into the day? Fortunately, exercise doesn't have to be a long formal workout, and you can find dozens of ways to get more fitness into your life. Start with the following suggestions to incorporate more exercise into your day-to-day life.
1. Fitness at Work
You can exercise at the office without anyone knowing. Use the stairs rather than the elevator. Take that idea a little further and walk around as much as possible. Walk over to a co-worker's desk rather than sending an e-mail or instant message. Instead of using the bathroom on your floor, go to one a few floors away - and take the stairs.
Other ideas include doing simple exercises and stretches right at your desk, in your office, or in the bathroom. Four five-minute exercise breaks throughout the day can do wonders for you.
2. Fitness at Home
An easy way to add fitness at home is to get the whole family involved. Kids don't view exercise as work, and you can make it a special time to share with your children. Take a walk with your family before or after dinner or organize a family game of tag in the backyard.
Other ideas for home fitness include turning housework into aerobic exercise. Get the vacuum cleaner going and use your arm, back, and core muscles to move it back and forth. Load the dishwasher and maintain proper posture as you bend and straighten, keeping your abdominal muscles tight. For a quick aerobic workout, sweep the driveway as fast as you can.
3. Out and About
Incorporate fitness into your errands. When you're standing in line, contract your buttocks for a count of 15 and then release. Another good exercise to strengthen your calf muscles is to stand on your tiptoes for a count of 10 and then relax.
When you're sitting in traffic, do some arm exercises and stretches while you wait.
At the mall? Walk briskly around all levels at least twice. Or stop by the park for a walk on the way home.
You can find hundreds of options for brief fitness moments, so just take a minute to figure out what you can do wherever you happen to be.
Visit http://www.bellevuemassagetherapy.com for more information about massage, wellness, and self-care (including stretching, exercise, stress management, and more). To learn more about abdominal exercise, visit http://www.great-you.com for some great tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Wiley
Gardening Basics, by Nicholas Tan
The thing to remember while gardening is to start small. A small plant bed, about 25 or 30 feet square is perfect, is just enough room for about 30 plants. This will give you a chance to try out your green thumb and if you find that you enjoy your garden you can always expand and increase your plantings.
The next thing you will want to do is choose a site. Gardening must be done in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight. Try and stay away from large trees that will take your plants water and nutrients, and at least three feet from any fences or buildings. In hot climates it is a good idea to choose a place that will have shade from a part of the intense afternoon sun. It is possible to have a healthy garden with even ten to twelve hours of sunlight, but the type of plants must be adaptable. While soil can always be improved, a site with good soil is a plus. Avoid areas that have rocky soil, steep slopes, or areas where water stands.
Now comes the fun part: start digging. Gardening is not a clean hobby; you’re going to have to get some dirt under your nails. First remove the rocks, debris, and any grass and weeds then dig the spot up about one foot deep. Level up the dirt and add compost or minerals if the needed. If your soil is too acidic, add lime; if it is too sandy, add peat moss. Plants will thrive in neutral to acidic soil with a little added fertilizer.
If you buy seeds then plant them according to the directions. If picking plants, choose ones with green, healthy looking leaves and stems and healthy roots. Put the smaller plants towards the front of the bed and larger ones in the back. The key to a successful beginning in gardening is planting at the right time. Make sure and wait until the frosts are over before planting. If you are planting seeds the package will usually tell you exactly when you can plant them to achieve maximum growth.
Once you have started and gotten into gardening, making sure your plants receive enough water is essential to their growth. Hand watering works well if you only have a few plants. Other options include sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. Watering is more effective during the cooler parts of the day. The type of plant will depend on how much water is needed, but most require about an inch per week. During the hottest periods plants will be need watering about three times per week.
One of the most helpful things to add to a garden is mulch or compost. Just a few inches of organic mulch will improve fertility and help the soil hold moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, manure, and pine needles are all things that can be used as mulch.
About the Author
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Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Here is an article that gives lots of great tips on saving at the grocery store.
Faith Precedes the Miracle
A talk for mother written by Debra Coe, founder of "Of-Worth.com" the website that won our "Outstanding Motherhood Site" award for March.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wendy Watson Nelson, "For Such a Time As This"
An empowering talk given at 2007 BYU Women's Conference
The Grand Truths of Eternity by Virginia H. Pearce
This beautiful life changing talk was given at BYU 2006 Women's Conference.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"Losing It," by Kersten Campbell
Sometimes I lose my perspective. I am the kind of person who gets really excited over new ideas. My husband would say “nuts” but I would say excited. That is why, awhile ago when the Relief Society teacher talked about how much spirit and strength she felt when she immersed herself in the scriptures, I thought what I always think…”If a little is great, then a lot is even better!” So I decided that I would set a goal of reading the scriptures three times a day. In my excitement and fervor to seek the spirit that I so longed for, I forgot one minute detail: I have five kids.
But, true to my personality, I thought to myself. What? Details, Schmeetails! If the pioneer women could cross the plains barefoot with ten children and a handcart then surely I, with a mere five children and a washing machine to do my laundry could read the scriptures three times a day.
Ha! I underestimated my children.
“Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, moooooooom” called my four year old from her bed, just as I was sitting down in my comfy armchair to partake of the living waters.
“What?” I answered.
“I need a story. You forgot to read me a story.”
“Okay, fine.” I got up and read her a story. As I finally put the finishing flourishes on “The Three Bears,” and made for the door, I was assaulted with a barrage of questions from the next room: questions like,
“Moooooom, I’m hungry. Can I have ice cream in my bed?”
“Can you get me my blankie, Mommy?”
“Hey mom, is it true that raccoons lay eggs? ”
“Why is your face all wrinkled? Are you old?”
Finally, after an exhausting hour of fixing complaints I sat down heavily in my armchair. Aaaah.
Then I heard the screams. “Moooooooom, he kicked me.”
“Well, she was in my bed!”
“Was not!”
“Was too!”
With each “Was not” I could feel my blood pressure reaching the boiling point. This was ridiculous! Why could I not even sit down and read one minute of the scriptures, let alone three times a day? What about a mother’s inalienable rights? Isn’t one of them to be spiritually nourished so she doesn’t go out of her ever-living mind?
I prepared to give my kids a talking to. I stomped mightily down the hall, self-righteous in the thought that I must not let my rights as a person be trampled and disregarded. I had a right to obtain the spirit of God through reading the Holy Scriptures! And I wasn’t going to give it up!
Then a still small voice, mightier than all of my vehement determination stopped me in my tracks, literally. I was suddenly struck with the quiet thought: “You can obtain the spirit by serving your children too.”
Oh.
Meekly, I went in and comforted and tucked and kissed and coddled.
“Mommy?” I heard a quiet little voice whisper as I turned out the light.
“I love you.”
I don’t need to tell you that I was immediately flooded with the spirit I had so desperately been seeking.
Since then I have noticed something. That mothers are entitled to special blessings. And though we may not reach the towering spiritual standards we set for ourselves, we are involved in a holy, mighty, and sacred work that is crucial to the plan of salvation. And when we do our best, we may not reach perfection, but we cannot fail…because the Lord will make up the difference.
He will.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A Mother Heart by Julie B. Beck
Here is a link to an uplifting motherhood talk given by Julie B. Beck in 2004.
Sheri Dew: Are we Not all Mothers?
Here is a link to Sheri Dew's beautiful talk, "Are we Not All Mothers?"
"It is well with my soul"
This article was posted by Earlgirl on the Peaceable Walk blog, which won our February Outstanding Mother Site Award.
Life has been a real struggle for me lately. Once again, without realizing it, I've piled on way more than I can handle. When my world and peace began to unravel, I figured there was something wrong with me. Life stopped being fun, I was running and running. I started feeling more and more desperate. I would go to sleep dreading the morning, and wake up feeling the same way. Last week was the worst. I was in the middle of an impossibly busy day, grocery shopping. I only got through half of my list, when I knew I needed to go home. I just couldn't start crying in the middle of the store! That day, I began a total and complete flake-out. No mutual, no song practice, no karate the next day. You know what? The world didn't end- it felt soooo good! Then my husband went out of town and came back just in time to start another grueling week. I had a house guest the entire time he was gone. When life got hard, I felt so alone. I felt embarrassed really confiding in anyone. I hated the thought that anyone would judge me, and wonder why I couldn't handle life. I really wanted to be able to just smile, and get everything done that I thought I should. I kept asking the Lord to bless me with that. It makes me smile now, to realize I was asking the Lord to let me run faster than I had strength. He needed to let me buckle under the weight I'd put on myself before I'd be willing to put anything down. I'm there now, I'm plenty willing! An amazing thing happened to me this morning: my visiting teacher (who is moving out of the country today) called and told me she was bringing me dinner. She woke up at three this morning, and knew what she needed to do for me. She didn't know I'd been falling apart. I came upon this song on someone's blog today, and it's just wrapped me in the peace that Heavenly Father had to wait to give me. With this beautiful song, and a loving gesture, I feel so warm, safe, and loved. Like the song says, "It is well with my soul."
Life has been a real struggle for me lately. Once again, without realizing it, I've piled on way more than I can handle. When my world and peace began to unravel, I figured there was something wrong with me. Life stopped being fun, I was running and running. I started feeling more and more desperate. I would go to sleep dreading the morning, and wake up feeling the same way. Last week was the worst. I was in the middle of an impossibly busy day, grocery shopping. I only got through half of my list, when I knew I needed to go home. I just couldn't start crying in the middle of the store! That day, I began a total and complete flake-out. No mutual, no song practice, no karate the next day. You know what? The world didn't end- it felt soooo good! Then my husband went out of town and came back just in time to start another grueling week. I had a house guest the entire time he was gone. When life got hard, I felt so alone. I felt embarrassed really confiding in anyone. I hated the thought that anyone would judge me, and wonder why I couldn't handle life. I really wanted to be able to just smile, and get everything done that I thought I should. I kept asking the Lord to bless me with that. It makes me smile now, to realize I was asking the Lord to let me run faster than I had strength. He needed to let me buckle under the weight I'd put on myself before I'd be willing to put anything down. I'm there now, I'm plenty willing! An amazing thing happened to me this morning: my visiting teacher (who is moving out of the country today) called and told me she was bringing me dinner. She woke up at three this morning, and knew what she needed to do for me. She didn't know I'd been falling apart. I came upon this song on someone's blog today, and it's just wrapped me in the peace that Heavenly Father had to wait to give me. With this beautiful song, and a loving gesture, I feel so warm, safe, and loved. Like the song says, "It is well with my soul."
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