photo credit: born1945

Labor Day is gone, summer vacation is over, and the school buses began rolling down the streets as usual.

When I spot a yellow school bus on the road, I know that a new school year has already began, at least for some students.

Going back to school may be a lot of fun for some, especially if they are looking forward to seeing all their friends and favorite teachers, after the summer break, but for others, it could be quite an intimidating experience.

Starting Pre-School, Kindergarten, High School, or College, can be one of those trying times for many young people, in many different ways.

In my opinion, a Freshman year in High School, is a very frightening time for many students.

Here they are at “the bottom of the totem pole” once again, surrounded by older, more mature pupils.  Their social life is changing with growing interest in the opposite sex, dating, starting new relationships, which seem everlasting, in addition to extracurricular activities, part time jobs for some, plus lots of homework to keep up with.

Not to mention the importance of fashion, such as certain brand names, make up, and most of all, peer pressure.

I came across a great article on this subject, which offers very helpful suggestions on how to deal with stress at school.

You will need to go to that site to read the article in its entirety, but I will provide their bullet points:

1. Create a Schedule

2. Get Plenty of Sleep

3. Ignore the “Mean Girls”

4. Have a Healthy Escape From School

5. Don’t Procrastinate

6. Eat “Brain Foods”

7. Focus on What’s Important

8. Don’t Abuse Drugs and Alcohol

I hope you had a chance to read all about it, and found this information useful, and helpful.

I am very interested in hearing students’ opinion about their High School experience, and their suggestions on dealing with stress associated with beginning the school year.

Enjoy your school year!!

Being a grandmother (BABA in Ukrainian, or BABCIA in Polish) is such a rewarding experience, since you have lots of fun with your grandchildren, without being the firm disciplinarian you once were as a mother to your own children.

Of course, I try to follow the parent’s rules, as not to cause too much confusion for the grandchild, but I am much more relaxed with these rules, and try compromising to achieve the needed results.

Another grandma shared a link with me to a wonderful article about disciplining children, and how often parents use the wrong approach in disciplining their children, which compelled me to share it with all of you.

Also, there are several references to great parenting books, which would make a perfect gift for new parents.

Parents advisor Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.

According to her, there are patterns to behavior.

Kids do the same things when they’re tired, hungry, or getting fed up;

it’s up to adults to take note and adjust accordingly.
Ignoring a kid’s signs is one of many discipline mistakes parents make all the time.

We’re too negative.

“Don’t hit your sister!” “Stop pulling the dog’s tail!”

The number of things you tell your toddler or preschooler not to do is endless.

THE FIX: Ask for the behavior you want to see.

“Parents say ‘no’ so frequently that kids become deaf to it — and the word loses its power,”
Save the nay saying for truly dangerous situations , and focus on telling kids how you would like them to behave.
For example, instead of,
“No standing in the bathtub!”
try,
“We sit down in the bathtub, because it’s slippery.”

We expect too much from our kids.
As soon as you shush him, he does it again.  Why doesn’t he listen?

THE FIX : Play teacher.

When your child breaks a norm, remind yourself that
he isn’t trying to be a pain — he just doesn’t know how to act in the situation,
so snapping isn’t effective (or fair).

Kids are born mimics, so modeling or drawing attention to something we want them to do goes a long way.

“It takes time and repetition for kids to learn to handle themselves,”

We model behavior we don’t want to see.

When you drop something, you yell.

A man cuts you off and you call him a rude name.

But then you get mad if your kid reacts the same way when things don’t go her way.

THE FIX :  Apologize and take a do-over

We use time-out ineffectively.
When you send your 3-year-old to his room after he hits his brother, he starts banging his head on the floor in rage.

THE FIX: Consider a time-in

A time-out is meant to be a chance for a child to calm down, not a punishment.
Some kids respond well to the suggestion that they go to a quiet room until they’re chill.
But others view it as a rejection, and it riles them up.

Plus, it doesn’t teach kids how you want them to behave.

Take a “time-in,” where you sit quietly with your kid.

If he’s very upset,
hold him to get him settled down.
Once he’s relaxed,
calmly explain why the behavior wasn’t okay.

Too angry to comfort him?

Put yourself in time-out;
once you’ve relaxed,
discuss what you would like your child to do differently.
We intervene when our kids simply annoy us.
You hear your children chasing each other around the house and immediately shout.

THE FIX :  Ignore selectively.

Keep in mind that children sometimes do things that are irksome because they’re exploring new skills.
Other times, they’re seeking attention.
When safety isn’t an issue, try watchful waiting.

We’re all talk and no action.

“Turn off the TV… I’m serious this time… Really!” Your kids continue bad behavior when warnings are vague, for the same reason you run yellow lights — there aren’t consequences.

THE FIX :  Set limits and follow through.

Start with respectful directives.
If she follows through, thank her.
If not, give a consequence

We assume what works for one kid will work for another.

THE FIX:  Develop a diverse toolbox.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/7-discipline-mistakes-all-moms-make-2509433/
Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.

• Linda Sonna, Ph.D., author of The Everything Toddler Book
• Devra Renner, co-author of Mommy Guilt.
• Robert MacKenzie, Ph.D., author of Setting Limits With Your Strong-Willed Child.

Kids love coloring with crayons, but also with their favorite magic markers.  There are variety of those on the market, but some are not a safe as you might think.

As a parent you try your best to keep your children safe and healthy.

You feed them organic food, buy safe toys, and now you should read a tip about safe markers, posted by ecomii.com

Today’s Tip: Make Your Mark as  a Parent

What:

Protect your kids from toxic fumes by avoiding alcohol or solvent-based magic markers.

How:

Choose safe, water-based markers instead.  Look for seals of approval from the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI-AP), or American Society for Testing and Materials ( ASTM).

Why:

Alcohol and solvent-based markers – such as permanent markers – contain dangerous chemicals such as xylene, toluene, and acetone, and children are especially susceptible to them.

Did you know:

If safety wasn’t reason enough, did you know that water-based markers are much easier to clean up?

photo credit: redjar

Someone has brought a very interesting fact to my attention, and I am more than happy to share it with all of you.

I am often posting money saving tips, so when I read about this one, I could not believe it myself.

Can you believe that recording your favorite shows on your DVR, just to watch them later at your leisure, is a costly venture?

Actually, according to this study, running your DVR uses half the energy of an average new refrigerator, and more than an average new flat screen TV.

Unbelievable, but apparently very true!!

Please read the whole article, to find out more.

Please share your thoughts, and opinion, with all of us.

Summer is fast approaching, so does summer vacation for kids and parents, which also means many long trips by car.

Many of us have AAA, or OnStar,  for roadside assistance as needed, however there are few additional items we all should carry with us, while traveling by car.

I came across a very well put together U-Tube Video about Roadside Emergency Kit to keep handy at all times while traveling.

Please click on the link below, and I can assure you that you will not only learn a great deal, but you will actually enjoy it.  Please pass it on to your loved ones to check it out as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STNzgKKvN1o&feature=fvw

If you have any additional suggestions, or stories to share, please do so, and we’ll all be very grateful.

Happy, and safe, trails!!!

Here I am again with a great tip for you, on Living Green, saving Mother Earth, energy and money.

As previously, I found this tip on ecomii website, and thought it would do us all lots of good to apply their suggestions to our every day, “computer busy” , life.

If you are like me, you work with a computer 8-10 hours at work, and then check your email at home, read the latest news, check out other websites, or work on your own blog post.

I am sure more households now have more than one computer under the same roof, so just think how helpful this suggestion really would be for all of us.

Todays tip: Don’t Snooze on Computer Efficiency

What?
Save energy – and reduce global warming – with your computer’s sleep mode.

How?
Be a responsible technophile. Use sleep mode, and not screensavers, whenever you’re away. The forgetful type? Adjust your power settings to have hibernation kick in sooner.

Why?

Computers are energy hogs, and screensavers are worse. In fact, screensavers use a lot more energy than your computer normally does – two times as much if they are graphically complex.

Did You Know?

A desktop computer left on for a full year would release 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Okay, But How Hard Is It?
As easy as letting your computer nap during lunch

Someone shared this lovely and touching post with me, via email (original author unknown), so I needed so much to share it with all of you.

Please take  couple of minutes to read the full text, and I promise you will not regret it.

This post convinced me that actions speak louder than words, and that time is precious to everyone in a different way.

Give a hug to someone special today, and offer a smile to those who have none to give back.

THE CAB RIDE
I
arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes
I walked to the
door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a
frail, elderly voice. I could hear something
being dragged across the floor.
After
a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in
her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a
print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned
on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s
movie.
By her side was a small nylon
suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had
lived in it for years. All the furniture was
covered with sheets.
There were no
clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils
on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and
glassware.
‘Would you carry my bag
out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase
to the cab, then returned to assist the
woman.
She took my arm and we walked
slowly toward the curb.
She kept
thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I
told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers
the way I would want my mother
treated’.
‘Oh, you’re such a good
boy’, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave
me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive
through downtown?’
‘It’s not the
shortest way,’ I answered
quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she
said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a
hospice’.
I looked in the rear-view
mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have
any family left,’ she continued in a soft
voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very
long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the
meter.
‘What route would you like me
to take?’ I asked.
For the next two
hours, we drove through the city. She showed me
the building where she had once worked as an
elevator
operator.
We drove through the
neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in
front of a furniture warehouse that had once
been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a
girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow
in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying
nothing.
As the first hint of sun was
creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m
tired. Let’s go now’.
We drove in
silence to the address she had given me. It was
a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a
portico.
Two orderlies came out to
the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.  I
opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to
the door. The woman was already seated in a
wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’
she asked, reaching into her
purse.
‘Nothing,’ I
said
‘You have to make a living,’ she
answered.
‘There are other
passengers,’ I responded.
Almost
without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She
held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an
old woman a little moment of joy,’ she
said.
‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her
hand, and then walked into the dim morning
light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound
of the closing of a life..
I didn’t
pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove
aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that
day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient
to end his shift?
What
if I had refused to take the run, or had honked
once, then driven away?
On a quick
review, I don’t think that I have done anything
more important in my life.
We’re
conditioned to think that our lives revolve
around great moments.

But great
moments often catch us unaware-beautifully
wrapped in what others may consider a small
one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY
WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL
ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM
FEEL.

It has been a while since I shared some useful tips with you, from ecomii website, which I find very informative.

This one is about eating whole foods, rather than processed foods.

Please enjoy this tip.

Today’s tip: Eat Whole Foods Instead of Half Foods

What?
Boost your nutrition – and reduce food industry pollution – by eating whole foods whenever possible.

How?
Is it processed?  Labeled as “low-fat” or “enriched”?  If so, skip it, and look for pure food in its natural state.  Good examples are fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Why?
The food industry emits over 24 million tons of CO2, and a large part of that comes from processing and packaging food.  Plus,  whole foods are indisputably healthier.

Did You Know?

Whole grains can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 30%.

The cold winter days are calling for some comfort foods, and what can be better than a bowl of hot homemade soup.

This Cabbage and Sausage Soup recipe is from Nick Stellino’s site, but for your convenience I am posting it here as well.

My sister-in-law tired this recipe first, and her family unanimously approved it, so she suggested for me to try it.

It takes less 30 minutes to prepare.

The recipe makes 6-8 servings.

This soup is on a thicker side, so I added additional 4 cups of chicken broth, and increased the wine, salt and pepper accordingly.  It tastes even better the next day, as the vegetables and spices blend together.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 1/2 lbs hot Italian sausage, or chorizo, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (I used the Sweet Italian Sausage, broken up)
• 2 white onions, sliced (I used yellow onions)
• 4 garlic cloves, thickly sliced (I chopped mine)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 cup white wine (I used 3/4 cup)
• 1/2 pound green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 4 cups) – I used food processor for shredding cabbage
• 6 cups Chicken Stock (I used 9 cups for more liquidy soup)
• 6-8 sliced of toasted garlic bread (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a small stockpot, on high heat, until sizzling (about 2 minutes).
2. Add the sausage and cook for 3 minutes (I removed the sausage from casing, and broke it up while sauteing).
3. Using slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a bowl, and set aside.
4. Add the onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes to the same pan, and cook for 3-5 minutes on medium heat, until the onions are soft.
5. Stir in the wine, and cook 1-2 minutes longer.
6. Add the cabbage, the reserved cooked sausage, and the chicken broth.
7. Bring to boil.
8. Reduce the heat, and simmer with the lid slightly ajar, for 10-15 minutes, until the cabbage is tender (I cooked it for about 20 minutes).
9. Serve with garlic bread.  You can either place the bread in the bowl, and pour the soup over it, or serve the bread on the side.

TIP: Some of my family members mixed in a dollop of sour cream into their soup, for a creamier taste. If you like sour cream, you might like this combination as well.

I am told that eating cabbage and pork  on New Year’ Day, brings prosperity throughout the year.

photo credit: quinn.anya

If you lend someone $20

and never see

that person again,

it was probably

well

worth

it.

This might be a great New Year Resolution for you and me both!