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Archive for May, 2010
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
by Stephanie Arbetter
If you’re like the rest of us, only one word is on your mind right now: summer. It’s a time to kick back, turn off the brain and mark your permanent spot on the couch…or is it? If you are looking to be smarter with your summer vacation than just couch to computer and back, your search is over. Chelsea Krost has provided successful tips for enjoying an active and healthy summer vacation.
Chelsea Krost, the young teen advocate, addresses many important topics for teens on her weekly radio show Teen Talk Live, which broadcasts live on TeenTalkLive.net. Below, Chelsea lays out some essential DO’s and DON’T’s for the most successful summer yet:
DO find a summer job that suits you. Before sending out your summer job applications, figure out what interests you. “If you get stuck with a job you hate, you’re going to be miserable all summer,” Chelsea advises. Interested in working with kids? Consider a job as a camp counselors or nanny. Enjoy competition? Many retail jobs offer commission-based pay that will keep you motivated to do your best. For the real go-getter, you can even use this summer to get an internship, which can be paid or unpaid, but offers invaluable experience.
DON’T let the summer fry your brain. Use the down-time to explore different activities and hobbies. Sure, summer time doesn’t require long hours of studying and test-taking, but it can’t hurt to learn a thing or two during your time away from school. Many local fire departments offer courses to get you certified in CPR and first aid, for example. You could even take a speed reading or a cooking class at a local community college. Completing skill-enhancing programs is a great way to set you apart from others. “Extracurricular activities and special certificates are great résumé boosters, which are essential in today’s competitive age,” says Chelsea. Improving basic life skills will give you a sense of accomplishment and help keep your brain running until the fall rolls back around.
DO stay in shape by bringing out the kid in you. “Just because you’ve grown out of your childhood games doesn’t mean you can’t play outside,” says Chelsea. The warm weather allows for more physical activity than usual, so take advantage of the heat by meeting up with friends for a pick-up game of soccer or joining a summer softball league. Exercising outside is also a great way to relieve stress. For those who enjoy working out alone, a fun hike or a long run in the park always leaves you feeling energized.
DON’T let the sun get the best of your health. The new rule of sun protection is to seek the shade. Many doctors and dermatologists admit that it may not be feasible to apply sun block every 15 minutes of the day or to cover up in the scorching heat, so if you find yourself outside for more than twenty minutes without look for a tree or an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun’s damaging rays. Just one burn increases the chance of skin cancer by 50%. “Most teens don’t worry about sun damage and wrinkles, but the truth is most of the harm caused by the sun occurs before age 30,” Chelsea warns. Exercise, a moderate caffeine intake, and a healthy diet can also help prevent sun damage.
DO spend some time with Mom and Dad. “A great way to appease your parents and keep them on your good side is to spend a little quality time with them,” suggests Chelsea. While you may be enjoying your newfound independence, with a new job or a driver’s license, Mom and Dad may not be so pleased. If your Dad digs a good work-out, why not join him on a bike ride around town? You can be Mom would also enjoy your company while she gardens or tidies up the house. You may not realize it, but these small gestures mean a lot to parents. Chelsea says, “Better relationships with your parents can only mean good things for you, particularly in the curfew, allowance, and dating department!”
About Teen Talk Live with Chelsea Krost
Founded in March 2008, Teen Talk Live is a top-rated teen radio talk show that airs Wednesdays from 7-8pm online and on LA Talk Radio. The show, hosted by inspiring Boca Raton, Fla. teen Chelsea Krost, provides teens with a safe outlet in which they can voice their opinions and gain advice. Furthering the show’s message, Chelsea coined its tag line, “Our Voice, Our Opinion, Our Time to Talk.” Teen Talk Live welcomes a rotating panel of teens as well as an expert from the field in which the topic of the show is about and covers a variety of topics ranging from fashion and relationships to more serious topics such as eating disorders, drug abuse, safe driving and cyber bullying. The show continues to raise awareness for charitable foundations including SOS Children’s Villages and The Pajama Program amongst other. In addition to hosting and producing Teen Talk Live, Chelsea is a reporter for the local CBS and FOX affiliate stations in Florida, covering local stories in Florida as well as Washington D.C. and Africa. For more information and to view Chelsea’s television news segments visit www.teentalklive.net.
Tags: parenting, summer, teen radio, teens
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Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
 Peter Rabbit story book Wow! The Dallas Arboretum and Beatrix Potter, two of my kids’ favorite things, all rolled into one! You won’t want to miss out on their summer plan. We went last summer thinking we would die in the heat (we normally go in the fall and spring) but were pleasantly surprised how cool it was. There is tons of shade, the kids had a ball playing in the “water frogs” as we call the giant frog fountain and the misters in the glade near the entrance are great. So don’t let the heat stop you and your kids from spending a fun day at the Dallas Arboretum. Plus, they have some awesome deals and coupons. See below!
The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, launched its newest three-month festival, Summer at the Arboretum; Peter Rabbit’s Flower Village through July 31. Not only does the Arboretum have beautiful grounds, there are many incentives for visitors to enjoy!
“Buy One, Get One Free Wednesdays” are extended for Summer at the Arboretum with a coupon available on the Dallas Arboretum website that allows one free admission of equal or lesser value with one paid adult admission of equal or lesser value. Other discounts during the festival include $1 off admission tickets available at all Tom Thumb Stores. Free admission for all active and retired military with a Photo ID on Flag Day June 14, Memorial Day weekend May 28-May 31 and Fourth of July.
Memorial Day Fun! Garden guests will have daily photo opportunities with an Uncle Sam stilt walker from noon to 4pm , Friday through Monday of Memorial Day weekend. Guests can leave the cooking behind and enjoy All-American menu selections such as hot dogs, BBQ brisket sandwiches, baked beans, popcorn, pretzels, root beer floats and the American staple, pie-apple, cherry, blueberry, pecan and chocolate cream, at different food kiosks in the garden. These food items will be available in addition to the regular menu items available in the garden.
 Flower Village Under the canopy of the Pecan Grove, four flower houses will create a picturesque themed village bringing Beatrix Potter tales to life. The houses of Peter Rabbit and his friends, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Mrs. Tittlemouse and Jemima Puddle-Duck will create a magical experience for guests of all ages. Each flower house will be covered in lovely planting of impatiens, begonias and vinca and include a story synopsis and illustration, along with topiary characters of the stories. Live animals representing the main characters in each story will be on display seven days a week from 10am-1pm during the festival. Family Fun Mondays during the festival will include face painting and a petting zoo each Monday from 10am-2pm. During these hours garden guests can meet the duck, mouse, rabbit and hedgehog and learn fascinating new facts about the animals which these stories are based. These Beatrix Potter stories have been beloved for over a century and this festival will help share their magic with the next generation. The gardens will be bursting with ageratum, impatiens, petunias, cleome, begonias, salvia, marigolds and zinnias. As the temperatures warm, caladiums, sunpatiens, lantana, pride of Barbados, variegated tapioca, elephant ears and coleus will be added to the gardens.
For more information about Summer at the Arboretum; Peter Rabbit’s TM Flower Village, Concert in the Garden series or other upcoming events, please call (214) 515-6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.
BEATRIX POTTER™ and PETER RABBIT™ © Frederick Warne & Co.
Frederick Warne & Co. is the owner of all rights, copyrights and trademarks in the Beatrix Potter character names and illustrations.
Tags: Arboreturm, children, dallas, entertainment in Dallas, event, family, festival, Memorial Day, moms, outings and adventures, parenting, picninc
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Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
 Gone are the days when we parented on automatic pilot, blindly trusting what we learned at our parents’ knees. The world today is a complex and confusing place; and for the first time in history, the support of close community and extended family just aren’t as influential as your child’s peers… or the social expectations with which they are constantly being bombarded.
In fact, in millions of cases, the support of close community and extended family simply isn’t there! (It’s the nature of 21st century life, where people have to move far from friends and family, in order to stay employed.)
In spite of that, however, you’re committed to raising a confident, happy child… with strong values and a warm connection to family.
Independence, resilience, persistence… and a positive attitude to people and life. That’s what the Online Parenting Retreat is all about helping you instill in your child:
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/parentingretreat/
Instead of relying on advice from neighbors you’ve barely met…
…instead of spending hours you haven’t got, squeezed in piecemeal, reading manuals and parenting books that don’t really address your specific parenting concerns…
…invest in an online “getaway”, joining other committed parents and top parenting experts to learn and discuss - real time - how to help your children become the joyful, positive adults they’re meant to be.
For a fraction of the price you’d pay for a private consultation with any one of these three seasoned experts, join:
*Dr. Minette Riordan, Ph.D., Certified Parent Coach
*Alan Carson, ACPI Certified Parent Coach, (M. Ed. Health Education
*Dyan Eybergen, R.N. Parenting Coach
And thirty-two additional featured professionals!
And take a break for yourself while getting your parenting concerns met, questions answered and intensivelylearning new, important techniques, tips and communication strategies.
Sound like something you’d love to take advantage of? You can access all the workshops at NO CHARGE, or choose to register now and receive over $1,000.00 in bonuses and audio recordings, and take advantage of the “Early Bird” special pricing!
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/parentingretreat/
Yours in parenting,
Ellen C.Braun
RaisingSmallSouls.com
P.S. Like any true “getaway weekend”, you’ll find relaxation is included - you’ll be entered into a door-prize drawing at the start of each workshop to WIN FABULOUS SPA PRODUCTS — mailed to your door! There will be over thirty winners!
P. P. S. If you choose to register, and you can’t make some of the scheduled sessions, you’ll be able to catch up the sessions you missed - because you’ll receive full recordings of all sessions which you can listen to at your convenience!
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/parentingretreat/
Tags: child-rearing, Ellen C. Braun, experts, family, parenting, raising small souls, retreat, teens, toddlers
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Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
 Who knew that there was a national turtle day and a host of other national animal days to celebrate rare and endangered species. In fact, today is the International Day for Biological Diversity.
I think sea turtles are amazing, we had the opportunity to visit a rescue facility down at South Padre several years ago. The kids could see the turtles, feed them and learn about why they needed to be rescued and what is happening to them in the wild. Click here to learn about Sea Turtle Inc. and the different varieties of turtles you can find in south Texas. The photo above is of a green turtle. I was stunned by the sheer size and age of the turtles.
Last summer on our annual trek to Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia, we went for a walk on one of our favorite beaches, Cherry Hill beach. This is a great beach for collecting cool, round smooth beach rocks and is home to piping plovers, a protected species. This year we came across a dead leatherback sea turtle that must have weighed 500 pounds and was at least 6 feet long. It was quite a discovery and adventure for our kids and for us. Look how small my 10 year old son looks in comparison.
 I found out about World Turtle Day thanks to a press release from an organization called RARE, a US-based global non-profit conservation agency. Brett Jenks is CEO of RARE. Rare (www.RareConservation.org) works with its many partners in over 50 countries to protect hundreds of species that inhabit our Earth. To date, six of Rare’s ‘Pride’ campaigns have featured the endangered Sea Turtle as their mascot; hence, Rare is asking the public to join them in celebrating ‘World Turtle Day’ on May 23, as well as reminding people that May 22 is ‘International Day for Biological Diversity.’
Regarding the history of ‘World Turtle Day’ on May 23, Jenks informs us that “the holiday began in 2000 and was launched by a group called The American Tortoise Rescue, run from Malibu, California. Its intention is to highlight ways we can protect and preserve these historic, gentle, but jeopardized animals and their habitats. The U.S. Humane Society now runs surveys at this time of the year to discover how well turtles are thriving in different parts of the world. The reason this date was chosen is because May is a busy month for turtles. Many of them have recently emerged from winter hibernation and are starting their search for mates and nesting areas. “
Rare (www.RareConservation.org) is the leader in social marketing for global biodiversity conservation — with a successful track record in more than 50 countries to date. The non-profit based in Arlington, Virginia, trains and supports leaders from the world’s top environmental organizations, local grassroots groups, and governments. To date, Rare has trained hundreds of local leaders in the developing world, whose campaigns have influenced more than 6.8 million people living in over 2,400 remote communities. Rare’s goal is to be able to scale these results many times over.
For four years in a row, Rare was named one of Fast Company magazine’s ‘Top Social Capitalists.’ Rare is a lead content provider for National Geographic’s new Global Action Alert.
Tags: adventure, education, family, kids, parenting, rare conservation, sea turtles, summer, world turtle day
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Monday, May 17th, 2010
The Social Security Administration today announced the most popular baby names in Texas for 2009. Continuing a popular Mother’s Day tradition, last Friday the federal government’s top official for baby names, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced the nation’s most popular baby names.
How does Texas compare to the rest of the country? Isabella and Jose topped the list. Nationally, Isabella and Jacob were the most popular baby names.
Please go to Social Security’s website – http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ — to see the top baby names for 2009. The top five boys and girls names for 2009 in Texas were:
Boys: Girls:
1) Jose 1) Isabella
2) Daniel 2) Emily
3) Jacob 3) Mia
4) Angel 4) Emma
5) Christopher 5) Sophia
New to the website this year is an exclusive video of Chubby Checker counting down the most popular names of the past decade. Chubby also has information about a new “twist” in the law that may help an older relative or neighbor get an average of almost $4,000 of extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs.
In addition to each state’s top 100 baby names, Social Security’s website has a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2009 and a list of the top 100 names for twins born in 2009. The website also offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880.
To read about this year’s winner for biggest jump in popularity, how The First Family and “Twilight” affect baby names, and whether or not Elvis still lives, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/baby-names2009-pr.htm” www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/baby-names2009-pr.htm .
Tags: baby names, kids, parenting, texas, twilight
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Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Every time we bring new office supplies into our office in Plano, the kids think they are just for them. I have to hide my favorite pens, especially Sharpies and my Expo markers for the white boards. It never fails that on a Monday morning as I am preparing for our weekly sales meeting, I end up searching every office looking for markers that still write. The kids’ zone, as we call the space set aside just for the kids (with their own bulletin board, white board, t.v. and computer of course,) is full of Expo Markers, most of which have smooshed tips and little ink, because the girls love to play school, color and generally use up lots of ink!
I don’t begrudge their creativity, in fact, I encourage it, when it doesn’t affect my ability to get my work done. So don’t tell the kids, but I have a secret stash of Expo Markers hidden in the conference room, up high and out of their reach, along with a new eraser and some awesome spray, also made by Expo, that makes my old white boards look like new. I did ask them to test out the new markers to see what they thought. Here’s a picture of the white board they created (at no urging from me, but they seemed to grasp the nature of shameless self-promotion quite naturally!)
 North Texas Kids Rox! I grew up in the age of chalkboards and thinking colored chalk was amazing fun. I don’t miss the dust, the banging of erasers or the screeching of nails (cover your ears!). I love white boards and I love Expo brand markers. So you can imagine my glee and my greed when they sent me a box full of markers to share and try out. They have created a new set of WASHABLE, yes you read that right, WASHABLE markers for whiteboards in brilliant, neon colors. My daughter was ripping them out of my hands before I could take them out of the box!
Yes, they really do work. The colors are bright but show up great and they wash right off of clothes, hands and little faces. Plus, they are low odor which is a huge bonus! These are a great addition to any moms craft box or educational tool box. If you homeschool your kids or just have big white boards in your kitchen like I do, you will love to have a set of these awesome markers!
Buy them today at Amazon.com or your local office supply store.
Tags: color, creativity, Expo Markers, homeschool, kids, white board, working mom
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Monday, May 10th, 2010
I received the very insightful report today on the impact of the recession on moms - those of us who are working, who had to go back to work or who are looking for work. I would like to ask how you feel like the recession has impacted you, as a working mom or a stay-at-home mom. Were you working part-time and now working more hours per week?
How has your life changed in the last year due to the recession? If you are working more, how has this impacted your family?
I know we are being much more conservative with our spending, both as business owners and as a family.
REPORT: Recession Having Tremendous Impact on Working Moms
Washington, D.C. – A new report released today by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) provides an in-depth look at the Great Recession and its toll on working families. The report, entitled “Understanding the Economy: Working Mothers in the Great Recession,” concludes that mothers’ work is vital not only for their families’ economic security, but also for the strength of the American economy as a whole. Rather than opting out of the labor force, mothers increased their labor force participation over the recession.
However, the tough job market meant that many mothers had a difficult time finding much-needed employment. Until recently, job losses were concentrated in male-dominated industries like construction and manufacturing, so fathers were more likely to lose a job and mothers were more likely to hold onto their employment or quickly find a new job. As job losses slowed in the final months of 2009, women continued to lose jobs while men found employment.
The JEC report findings include:
One-third of working mothers—7.5 million—were the sole job-holders in their family, either because their spouse was unemployed or out of the labor force, or because they were heads of household.
Married-couple families where the mother was the only job-holder rose 2.5 percentage points between 2007 and 2009, from 4.9 percent of married-couple families to 7.4 percent. More than ever, families depend on mothers’ work.
For single mothers in the labor force, unemployment increased dramatically during the recession. Between 2007 and 2009, the unemployment rate of single mothers increased from 8.0 percent to 13.6 percent.
Many women, including mothers, have been unable to find full-time employment because of the weak labor market. In 2009, 3.3 million women worked part-time for economic reasons, meaning that either their employer cut back their hours or that they searched for full-time work but could only find a part-time job. Some of those part-time workers usually worked part-time but would have preferred to move to full-time work, likely because of economic hardship such as a spouse’s job loss.
“Working mothers across America continue to cope with the effects of the Great Recession. From the unemployed single mom struggling to find a new job to support her family to the part-time married mom scrambling to pick up extra hours to compensate for her husband’s layoff, mothers are strained by the weak labor market. As the economy begins to recover, women are still facing high levels of unemployment and under-employment. More families are relying on women as breadwinners, and it is imperative that we get more women back to work while we strive to close the earnings gap that still exists,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, JEC Chair. “As we work to continue creating job opportunities, we must understand and address the impact of the Great Recession on mothers as a crucial piece of the economic recovery. By doing this, Congress can deliver solutions that effectively address the real challenges faced by American families, and put more people back to work.”
The JEC report is part of a series of reports that analyzes BLS unemployment data during the latest recession to understand its impact on various communities and was prepared by the Majority Staff of the Joint Economic Committee.
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The Joint Economic Committee, established under the Employment Act of 1946, was created by Congress to review economic conditions and to analyze the effectiveness of economic policy.
www.jec.senate.gov
Tags: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, economy, family, mothers, parenting, recession, US Congress Joint Economic Committee, working moms
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Thursday, May 6th, 2010
 My friend Cheryl Webb, the “Red Shoes Realtor” who currently owns 300 pairs of red shoes and brilliantly writes them off as a marketing expense, sent out her great newsletter this week. As always it was full of fun tips. This week it focused on the meaning behind different colors of roses. What a fun thought! So be careful what you ask for and think about the roses you buy for your own mom or a mom you admire. Here’s what she shared:
Is she the love of your life? Give her a red rose to show your love!
Are you thankful to have her in your life? A dark pink rose shows gratitude!
A yellow rose tells her she’s your best friend!
A pale pink is given to a mother you admire!
Are you proud of her accomplishments? An orange rose tells her.
To show her you stand with her in untiy, give her two roses, a red and a white.
The number of roses can also be significant: A single rose stands for simplicity, a bouquet of 12 roses shows gratitude, and 50 roses shows unconditional love.
I definitely want 50 roses - any color will do!
Want to learn more about my friend Cheryl Webb, you can find her www.RedShoesCheryl.com
Happy Mother’s Day!
Minette
Tags: celebration, children, gifts, grandmothers, love, Mother's Day, parenting, roses
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