Shopping with Children

When it is time to go shopping the best scenario is to have the day to yourself by hiring a sitter. However, this is not always possible and you need to have a plan for shopping with little ones. Preparation is key when shopping with small children, make sure they have had a good nap and take plenty of snacks along with you. To cut down on boredom in the store you can allow the kids to pick out one cheap toy or snack.

Kid Swap

One handy way to organize Christmas shopping is to swap children with a friend or family member. You agree to watch their children while they shop for a few hours and they agree to return the favor. This way everyone has the opportunity to leisurely shop.

Shopping Time

Waiting until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping is not conducive to a stress free trip. Try to wrap up all your shopping a few weeks ahead of time to avoid all the madness.

Online Shopping

Perhaps one of the best ways to Christmas shop for toddlers is to do the bulk of it online. Today you can order directly from many retailers, for instance Wal-Mart has the option of ordering online and having your product delivered to the store. Other great sites for Christmas shopping include Amazon and eBay, just be sure you order in plenty of time to beat the Christmas rush.

Keep it Simple

While it is tempting to want to buy your toddler the hottest toys for Christmas, you have to remember that the toy will likely be forgotten in a few days time. Spending several hundred dollars for a motorized car they will outgrow by summer is probably not the best course of action. Stick with simple gift ideas that will not break the budget.

Boy Gift Ideas

Toddler boys love things they can push around the house. Oversized plastic trucks and cars are a toddler’s best friend and they are generally a fairly cheap gift idea. They also enjoy simple crayons, coloring books, large puzzles and blocks. Kids at this age are pretty easy to please.

Girl Gift Ideas

A very popular gift idea for girls of all ages is the timeless dollhouse. For toddlers companies like Playskool have created dollhouses with rounded edges and heavy construction to stand up to the rigors of toddler play. Of course, girls of this age also love bouncy balls, moveable toys like cars or trucks and baby dolls.

Caution

When shopping for the best toddler toys be mindful of the recommended age on the package. Many toys will have small moving parts or pieces that can easily become a choking hazard. Safety is the number one consideration when purchasing toddler Christmas gifts.

Conclusion

Have a cup of hot chocolate and relax, the Christmas season is meant to be a joyous time of year. Do not let stress and money woes get you down, plan a simple but enjoyable dinner with simple gifts and everything will be just fine.

photo credit: Zach™

Not too long ago, maybe about a year now, I have become quite fond of another hot beverage. To say that this hot, delicious beverage is good is an understatement. It is way past good, even shooting for the super fantastic category. French vanilla cappuccinos are in a league all of their own. There is one particular food chain that surpasses all others in my book. I am sure that I do not even have to mention names, but if you have not tried one of theirs, you must.

While looking for a recipe that will squelch my thirst for one of these things when I cannot get out I found this (http://www.recipezaar.com/French-Vanilla-Cappuccino-264750) recipe. I cannot vouch for this myself as I have not tried it yet, but I will. From all of the rave reviews that I am seeing, however, I am getting anxious to make one.

photo credit: Ewan-M

The first and most effective way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to recognize unachievable and unrealistic expectations (unhealthy thoughts) that you may subscribe to. Our thoughts have a direct bearing over our emotional disposition and the consequences that occur in the aftermath. We often cannot change circumstances (situations, events, and the behavior of others) that occur in our lives but we do have the power to alter the way we feel and react to them by simply changing the way we think. If we would like to avoid experiencing anxiety and depressed mood during the holidays, we must take ownership and control over our own thoughts by identifying unhealthy thoughts that we may subscribe to that might be contributing to a negative emotional disposition and replace them with healthier ones.

Some may fear social rejection and judgment from others. Though others may choose to judge negatively, pondering on this thought can ultimately rob you of experiencing joy and happiness. The following are six common unachievable and unrealistic expectations (unhealthy thoughts) that are often pondered on during the holidays:

1. “I need to spend a lot of money on gifts otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – It is a shame that so much worry is attributed from the issue of money especially during the holidays. We should not feel or be made to feel that the holidays are all about external/physical gifts. The most precious gift that we can give to one another is our fellowship and love (internal gifts). No external/physical gift can replace this. Internal gifts have a longer shelf life and increase our self-esteem more than external/physical gifts.  We must keep this issue in the proper perspective otherwise we can inadvertently teach others that external/physical gifts are more precious and desirable than our fellowship and love.

2. “For gatherings, my home must always be clean and tidy otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – It is never okay to invite guests to a filthy home. But expecting your home to be constantly tidy might be an unrealistic expectation, especially when children are present. Expecting such would only cause you anxiety and depressed mood. Do not worry about the cleanliness of your home but rather focus on fellowship as this is much more important and significant.

3. “I must prepare a flawless meal for my gathering otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – The quality of meals should not be the main focus of the holidays. If food preparation is an issue, there is nothing wrong with purchasing meals from a restaurant. To go one step further, having a potluck might be a better and less expensive idea as your guests would be directly involved with the food preparation by offering a variety of foods at your gathering freeing up time for fellowship.

4. “My physical appearance must be acceptable and appropriate otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – Aside from daily hygiene, do not worry about your physical appearance. The fellowship that you can give to one another is much more important than your physical appearance. More times than not, our own anxiety over our physical appearance has more to do with how we feel about ourselves rather than how others may perceive us.

5. “I need to bring a mate to the gathering otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – If you are single, sometimes attending a gathering by yourself where couples are present might make you feel uncomfortable as you might feel that you do not fit in. Keep in mind that you are not alone as there are many people that are divorced, separated, or single. If having a mate was a prerequisite for gatherings, I guarantee you that there would be a lot less gatherings!  In addition, avoiding gatherings would only rob you of the experience of possibly meeting a potential mate.

6. “I need to pretend that I am happy during gatherings otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” - Experiencing happiness is not a prerequisite for attending gatherings. Oftentimes, life events and experiences that have nothing to do with the holidays may play a direct role in your emotional disposition. The wonderful thing about gatherings is that there are plenty of people that you can talk with. If someone asks you how you are doing or feeling, be honest with them and let them know. Do not tell them that everything is fine when it is not. Oftentimes, having someone to discuss your problems with might actually help you resolve them as well as make you feel better. Take advantage of this opportunity.

If there are any other unhealthy thoughts that you might be dealing with that are not discussed in this article, I encourage you to write those thoughts down on a piece of paper writing a healthier thought (one that you would like to subscribe to) next to it. It would also be a good idea for you to review these thoughts daily so that it becomes easier to recognize and replace unhealthy thoughts.

The second way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to establish personal and professional goals for yourself. There is a lot to be said for New Year’s resolutions. Establishing short and long-term goals is a healthy idea because they can provide you with structure by giving you something to look forward to. Goals oftentimes give meaning to our lives. Those who do not have goals often feel hopeless and helpless. Just make sure that the goals that you establish are significant and achievable otherwise they will not be effective or worth your while to achieve.

And finally, the third way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to work at giving to others. Sometimes we are fooled into believing that happiness is achieved through the gifts that we receive or the items that we purchase. Just the opposite is true. You can achieve true happiness by helping others in need, volunteering your services, holding the hand of one in despair, or just simply being there when one experiences a low moment in his/her life. Oftentimes, it is not the words that we say that lifts one’s spirit or gives one hope. But rather, it is just being there that makes all the difference in the world. At times, we feel uncomfortable because we do not know the right words to say to those who are hurting. Words are not always important. The fellowship and the love that you can provide is what the holidays are all about. Let’s not lose this perspective and let’s not give unhealthy thoughts, with all the anxiety and depressed mood that goes along with them, the ability to rob us from experiencing the joy and the happiness that we all deserve to experience during the holidays. Happy holidays to all!

About the Author

Mark Lakewood, CEO of Building Strong Families National Seminars, http://www.StrongFamilies.us, is a distinguished bullying prevention expert, author, and speaker with over 20 years of clinical experience as a family therapist.  Mr. Lakewood facilitates seminars on family and school-related issues. He facilitates the “Standing Up To Bullying” Conference, http://www.StandingUpToBullyingConference.com and the Sudden Compliance Program Webinar Series, http://www.SuddenComplianceWebinars.com.

photo credit: lanuiop

Mom jeans are the high-waisted jeans that taper at the ankle. The zippers on them are quite long, say about 8 or 9 inches. They were popular, but not very attractive unless you had a flat tummy. For one thing they tend to show your front essentials quite distinctively since they are pulled up so high. The derriere is also unattractive in these, as they tend to flatten out the curves that some women possess. They were often seen in cahoots with a thin belt.

Young girls wore them back then….us. Some of us never gave them up as fashion changed. It is true that some people are creatures of habit and we find change difficult. I finally gave up my mom jeans a few years back, but it took getting used to. I have to admit that the jeans that I wear now are a lot more comfortable. However, make sure that you are wearing the right underwear or else you will be the topic of another discussion that is quite popular.

photo credit: sam shot-put-ski

And if you’re like many busy moms, you probably constantly find yourself saying, “…as soon as I’m finished” or “maybe later…”

Well, later might just be too late. Don’t let another day pass by like this.

If you’re ready to find easy solutions to organizing your life to have more time together, I recommend picking up a copy of the “Real Life Guidance to Finding More Family Time” report.

This report was created by Certified Life Coach, Aurelia Williams, and is just what you need to get things back on track.

The report gives you practical solutions for:

- Being realistic in your family goals
- How to find balance between your work and life
- Organizing your life to find more time
- Routine and scheduling tips even the most spontaneous families can get into
- Plenty of activity ideas (never say there’s nothing to do!)

This 20-page report is perfect for the busy mom who needs QUICK and EASY help to finding that precious time with family. It’s also available instantly, so even if it’s the middle of the night while everyone else in the sleep, you can all wake up with a plan to reconnect as a family.

==>> Learn more and grab your guide here <<==

The main symptoms of the H1N1 virus are headache, sore throat, coughing, fever, stuffed up or runny nose, chills, fatigue, body aches and pains, diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. Children, young adults, the elderly and persons in a “high-risk” category are most affected by this new virus.

To help protect you and your loved ones against this virus there are steps that you can take to help decrease your chances of contracting this virus. Some simple health measures include:

• Staying home and away from crowds if you are ill.
• Avoiding people who are ill.
• Avoid touching your face including your eyes, mouth and nose.
• Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• See your physician as soon as possible if you suspect that you are ill.

A H1N1 vaccine is available for those interested in receiving one. You should contact your physician for more information.

Christmas will be here before you know it, and if you have any girls you need to shop for, it’s time to get started. Purchasing for your girls can be a bit difficult at times, trying to figure out what they’ll really like. If you want to make sure you score the best gifts for your daughters this year, here are seven tips to help you out when purchasing Christmas gifts for them.

Tip #1 – Consider Their Hobbies First of all, consider their hobbies when you are looking for gifts. Most girls like gifts that are related to hobbies that they are interested in. If she enjoys taking photos, maybe a new digital camera. Maybe she likes to scrapbook. If so, consider purchasing some scrapbook tools and embellishments. Keep it related to her hobby and she’ll be sure to love it.

Tip #2 – Keep the Gift Age Appropriate You always want to keep the gift age appropriate when purchasing Christmas gifts for girls. If your daughter is a new teenager, keep this in mind. Remember, she’s growing up. Don’t buy her something she’ll consider childish this year.

Tip #3 – Research the Year’s Top Gifts Research the year’s top gifts on the web. Each year the top gift items change. Get online and start doing some research so you know what gifts are on the top of every girls list this year. This will help you out on your search for the perfect gift.

Tip #4 – Know What’s Hip You may be out of touch with what is hip. What you think is hip is probably quite a bit different than what your teenage daughter thinks is hip. Find out what’s hip with kids your daughter’s age this year so you buy the right gift.

Tip #5 – Buy Online Consider buying online. This is a great idea for parents who are busy. You may not have a lot of time to go rushing around doing shopping, but you probably have a few minutes to get online. Most gifts are easy to find online. Have them shipped to your home and hide them for Christmas. You’ll get your shopping done in record time and you’ll make sure you get the best gifts before they’re gone.

Tip #6 – Ask Them for a List Ask your girls for a list of what they would like this Christmas. Let them know they may not get everything on their list, but it is a great option to help you get started with your shopping and you’ll be sure to get them something that they really want.

Tip #7 – Remember Their Favorite Characters Whether your girl is three, ten, or sixteen years old, remember her favorite characters when you are looking for the perfect Christmas gifts. Younger girls often love Dora the Explorer, tweens are big fans of Hannah Montana, and your teens may love characters from popular shows or teen singers, such as the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez.

We’ve taken the hassle out of finding the right Christmas gifts for girls on our blog. Visit our Best Girls Toys section today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Wood
http://EzineArticles.com/?Christmas-Gifts-For-Girls—7-Buying-Tips-That-Will-Surely-Put-a-Smile-on-Your-Girls-Face&id=3136491

photo credit: Brisbane Falling

This movie is about a couple on the brink of divorce. The husband, played by Kirk Cameron, is insensitive and self-absorbed. He is a hero in his work as a fireman, but not a very pleasant man to come home to.

The wife, played by Erin Bethea, is heartbroken and wants to end their marriage. She then begins to form a relationship with a flirtatious doctor at work, which only complicates things of course.

Cameron’s movie father tells his son to give it 40 days and hands him a book on how to save his marriage. By doing little thoughtful things each day for your partner you will strengthen your marriage. This book has a day-by-day, to-do list of meaningful and loving gestures that is giving of yourself to your partner.

During this time a very confused Cameron accepts Christ into his life. At first these things do not impress Catherine (Bethea). Eventually after realizing that her husband is changing she turns around. The ending is remarkable with Catherine coming to her husband and telling him what he means to her. She also, impressed with his change, questions him and he tells her about Christ.

Fireproof

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $28.96

Amazon Price: $16.49

This wonderful movie has an important message for couples. The power of Christ is what makes the difference.

During the Great Depression, everyone HAD to use their ingenuity to create gifts conveying their heartfelt love. Here’s some ideas to get you thinking now, during the Great Recession. You could even make a couple of these homemade gifts for each person on your list.

1.  Know a child learning Spanish?  Save several sizes of clean tin cans with unique labels in Spanish, with any jagged points bent safely down.  Fill with slightly used pens, sharpened pencils, paintbrushes, markers, and dried flowers. These make great decorative storage for your el esponol student’s desk or dresser top.

2. Write a letter to your child, niece, or nephew telling them how excited you were before they were born, about their upcoming birth. You could even frame the letter, for a gift, showing your anticipated love.

3. Print out your favorite Bible verse as a small poster. Add a label at the bottom that reads, “Mom’s Legacy Bible Verse” or “Dad’s Legacy Bible Verse.” Others, including your children, love to know what’s on your heart and in your head. Share yourself with them at this level and they will cherish your gift.

4. Give a gift of a picture of you and the gift recipient. Write at the bottom of the frame, “You are Loved.” It could be Grandpa/Grandson, Mom/Dad/You, Daughter/Mother.

5. “I love you all year long.” Write a letter about the year just ending. Make it twelve paragraphs long for each month. Tell the person just how much they meant to you each month of 2008, including a special memory from each month and a canister of homemade granola (granola takes a long time to eat)!

6. “What I’m going to Change, to Love you More.”  Write a card to those on your list, with something that you intend to change/improve, with God’s help, about yourself, in your life this year. Make it something that will make you an easier person to live with. (Now, that will be a welcomed surprise gift to the recipient, a gift that keeps on giving all year!)

7. Shine everyone’s shoes for Christmas morning. Under the tree, have everyone’s shoes lined up looking brand new. It’s an act of service that will be appreciated.  Or, give another act of service, such as car detailing. “Borrow” someone’s car a day or two before Christmas and detail it for them by hand for a Christmas morning surprise.

8. Give a gift of your professional services. Maybe you are a teacher and could offer to tutor. Maybe you are an accountant and could offer tax services as a gift.  How about a plumber, carpenter, or electrician for some home repair services? Perhaps you are a great writer and could help a family member with an updated resume.
Perhaps, you have nice handwriting and can address envelopes as a gift.

9. Regift books you have already read. Wrapping it up beautifully, adding a small letter, detailing why this book was special to you and why you want to bless them by sharing it.

10. Give each person on your list, a souvenir of your life or heirloom. Give them something of your’s, that they would enjoy having. Clean it up, fix it up, and wrap it up.

photo credit: Mr. T in DC

Because this is such a personal aspect of people’s lives many are hesitant and do not pray together. Even amongst Christian’s it was surprising to me to learn that according to FamilyLife, a well-known ministry group, less than 8 percent of Christian couples pray together. That figure blew me away. According to FamilyLife, the main reason that was cited was that they never realized that it was that important to their marriage. Studied also in this group were divorce rates in just Christian couples only. Divorce rate in this group was 27 percent in couples who do not pray together. The couples who pray together have a less than one percent divorce rate.

Praying together is a winner hands down. It is the way that God wants our relationships with our loved ones to be. Praying together takes humility, which everyone is capable of.

How To Get Started:

• Come together and discuss these statistics. Discuss the importance of this in your relationship. Both parties need to agree on this.
• Some time during the course of your day, find a quiet spot to pray together.
• Take turns praying aloud. Try not to feel uncomfortable. This is your mate who knows everything about you and loves you.
• Pray for your family, pray for yours and your mate’s walk with God, strength, courage, your mate’s struggles and your marriage.
• After both of you have prayed remember to thank and praise Him.
• Thank your mate for doing this with you.

This will likely be difficult the first few times, but will get easier. The bond that this creates, however, is well worth every bit of uneasiness. Spiritually powerful and glorious in His eyes, this is what every relationship needs.

photo credit: Daniel Leininger