Around the 'Net - SheSpeaks

Do You Want FREE Products?

Getting stuff for free is just plain fun! For most of us, money is tight and we have to work hard for every penny. So when we get something for free – well it is like someone just gave us back a bit of that time we spent working.

But most often, people aren’t just handing out free stuff. And if they are – well, that is just a little suspicious. Don’t take candy from strangers, right?

But there are reasons companies give away their products. One of them is to get people’s reviews and opinions.

She Speaks is a new online network that does just that -- it allows women to provide companies with feedback on their products.

The bonus for you is you get to try out (and keep) products and services for free! All you have to do is fill out a quick online feedback form once you have used the product.

If you are a female, US resident over the age of 18, you can join She Speaks for FREE by logging on to She Speaks and completing a short profile.

The profile tells She Speaks about the member’s interests and hobbies. Based on this information, She Speaks targets members with products and services of interest to try (and keep) free of charge. Once the member tries the product, they can come back and let She Speaks know what they think of the product. Did the member love it or hate it? Either way, they want to know. She Speaks shares this anonymous feedback with the company that makes the product or service. The company then tells She Speaks how the members have influenced their thinking about the product and She Speaks lets the members know.

I can tell you that there are household name goods lined up for cosmetics, hair care, wine, magazines, food, snacks, etc. I've personally tried Steam 'n Mash potatoes, Ghiradelli chocolate, lipstick, and a woman's magazine. Members receive the full product (and in most cases two full products) as if they had bought it in a store. They also receive a discount token for themselves for their first purchase and either a free sample or a discount for friends (as many friends as they choose to share it with.)

As far as I can tell – it is totally safe and all it will “cost” you is the time it takes to fill in the online feedback form. That sounds pretty darn “FREE” to me!

Around the 'Net - Bless This Chick

Bless This Chick

Nice graphics that you put together like a puzzle and create. Email your new graphic to yourself in sizes for avatars on most forums or slightly bigger for blogs, etc. The graphics are available in both Jpeg and PNG formats. You get to have some fun and create a new avatar.

Lifeguard

Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

"Working as a lifeguard at a Florida resort, Ned Kelly meets a woman he is wild about, the woman of his dreams. It feels perfect in every way -- except she prefers caviar and Manolo Blahniks and he is used to burgers and flip-flops. She is a guest at a luxurious hotel and he lives above a garage. So when Ned's cousin offers to cut him in on a rich deal he's been commissioned to execute, Ned can't turn him down. The plan is simple, just a fast break-and-enter. The risk is high and the reward even greater -- $5 million. But on the night of the heist, something goes devastatingly wrong. Ned walks away from his job, his town, and the woman he's fallen in love with. Runs away, actually, knowing that only velocity and secrecy can save his life. But who is pursuing him? The FBI? Whoever sabotaged the heist? Or is all somehow tied into his new love and his oldest enemies?"

Patterson lives up to his reputation with this fast pace and hairpin-turning plot. The twists just kept coming.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Tagged

I got tagged by my friend Kim in Alaska at Scrapbook.com. You can see her blog at http://www.scrapbook.com/blogs/80091/view/73307.html. Now I have to say seven things about myself and then tag seven other people (who will then say seven facts about themselves and then tag seven other people).

1. I am a single mother to two wonderful children.
2. I don't often work for pay, but am very active in my daily life.
3. My favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
4. I am finally dating a very nice, considerate man. The first "true" man in ten years.
5. My favorite color is blue. My second choice is red.
6. I am 10 weeks shy of my 40th birthday!
7. I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise.

Go on and write something about yourself and tag 7 other people. Send a link back to here so your readers know where you got tagged from.

You're It!

QOTW - 5/13/07

In several of my groups, I post a QOTW (Question of the Week) each Sunday. I thought it would be interesting to share some QOTWs here in my blog. You get to learn more about me and, hopefully, some of you will answer so I can learn more about you, my readers.

1. Where do you live?
2. What is something unusual about where you live?
3. What is your favorite type of clothing?
4. Do you have a favorite collectible?
5. Have you met anyone from this yahoo group or any other one?
6. What is your dream vacation?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. What is something unique about you?
9. What kind of car would you drive if you could have any car you wanted?10. What are your hobbies?

1. Where do you live? Butler, PA, USA.
2. What is something unusual about where you live? This town's history includes the inventor and originator of the Bantam Jeep. The same jeep that the military drives.
3. What is your favorite type of clothing? Jeans that fit and a t-shirt.
4. Do you have a favorite collectible? Yes. I collect Noah's Arks, bookmarks, photo frames, Christmas ornaments, mangers, Americana, Angels.
5. Have you met anyone from this yahoo group or any other one? Yes, I have met several ladies from various scrapbook groups... Teresa, Brandy, Linda, Karen, Deb.
6. What is your dream vacation? I have several... I would like to see the ocean, Disney World, visiting my friends from my 12 Months of Christmas group.
7. What is your favorite food? I love food. My favorites are Italian, potatoes.
8. What is something unique about you? My first name... DawnLyn.
9. What kind of car would you drive if you could have any car you wanted? Dodge Durango.
10. What are your hobbies? Scrapbooking, photography, reading.

Professors Develop Cancer Protein

I found this article pretty exciting! I am sure most everyone of us knows someone that is battling or has battled cancer, so I thought I'd share. Hopefully, thankfully, this is another big step along the road to an eventual cure.

Oklahoma Professors Develop Cancer Protein
By Associated Press
Mon May 14, 4:04 PM

Two professors at the University of Oklahoma say they've developed a protein that can stop the spread of certain cancer cells without damaging normal cells.

Thomas Pento and Roger Harrison helped develop a fusion protein that keeps some types of cancer cells from ingesting a vital protein called methionine. The fusion protein doesn't affect normal cells because, unlike cancer cells, they can be healthy without that protein.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapies kill normal cells along with cancer cells, which often cause sickness and hair loss.

"Roger has created a mechanism that delivers these compounds specifically to the surface of cancer cells so normal cells won't be affected but only the cancer cells will be damaged," Pento said.

"So you can see it would cause a lot less toxicity and it should really be a lot more effective."

Pento is a Noble Foundation presidential professor of pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center; Harrison is an associate professor of chemical, biological and materials engineering on the Norman campus. They worked with other OU scientists, including Xiao-Ping Zang, Naveen Palwai, Megan Lerner and Dan Brackett, research director at the Health Sciences Center's surgery department.

Pento said the research started with breast cancer and expanded to include other types of solid tumors.

They found the fusion protein to be just as helpful in fighting lung, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

"It could be applicable to many types of cancer," Pento said, "but we've found that it's effective for those four types of cancer for sure."

Despite successful testing to this point, Harrison said the fusion protein will need another round of animal tests before moving on to years of human clinical testing.

Three phases of clinical tests could take two years each.

"So it could be in the order of 10 years," he said.

"It sounds so far away, but realistically, given the FDA and all the phases of testing, it could be done rapidly."

The two professors have applied for patents on their technology and plan to conduct animal testing themselves before launching their own company or licensing with a large pharmaceutical company to do it.

"If you don't patent it and get that protection, then no pharmaceutical company is going to spend the half to three-quarter billion dollars that it takes to do the clinical testing and to get this drug on the market," Pento said.

I'm Thankful For - 5/14/07

Yesterday was Mother's Day and since my children are young and I am a single mother, we don't really do anything special to celebrate this day.
Yes, I love the handmade cards Cameron made for me and the huge smile & hug I got from Cassandra. But I wanted a special day just for me.
As the day moved forward, three unexpected things happened (yesterday and today). Its these three things I write about now . . .

I am thankful for . . .

1. The pleasant and delightful call from Texas. I love hearing Cheryl's southern twang and her love in her voice for me. Thanks, Cheryl, for a truly nice surprise. Who would of thought that a member of my Yahoo group would call me? For Mother's Day?
2. The thoughtful call from my friend, Art. Art has proven not to be the most considerate person but still a kind friend. His call to wish me kind words for Mother's Day was truly caring.
3. The crossing guard, Sandy, near my children's school was so kind to me today. She bought me a small book titled, Feasting on God's Grace, and wrote a sweet note saying I was "doing a great job with my children." Her generosity brought tears to my eyes.
   

My day was special after all!

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

You Are 80% Grown Up, 20% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed. So what if you're not perfect? You accept your faults and try to fix them. People appreciate your reasoned and calm approach to life.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Stamp Out Hunger

Cans of food can be set out at your mail box or at the post office on May 12th for the nation's largest one-day effort to "Stamp Out Hunger." This is a nationwide program. Please read more at http://www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive/.

I'm Thankful For - 4/22/07

1. I am thankful for pine trees. On the way to the pediatrician's office the kids played nicely together by counting how many pine trees we passed.
2. I am thankful for political signs. I hate the waste of money and resources of seeing the same 4-5 political signs on the various street corners. Isn't one sign sufficient? Why does there have to be 4-5 grouped together? However, those same signs do represent the freedom we have in the USA and the freedom of all Americans to vote.
3. I am thankful for Nurse Karen. She makes my children feel special and cherished. Who can ask for a better nurse?
   

Written on 4/19/2007.

Golden Rule of Blogging

Let's refer to the "Bloggy Golden Rule" coined by Teresa Valdez-Klein.

“If you wouldn’t want it written about you, don’t write it about someone else. If you wouldn’t approve it in your comments section, don’t write it in someone else’s.”

Seems to me this would also apply to message boards/forums.

I challenge all bloggers to make this a "bloggy golden rule" to live and blog by.

Get to the Core of Motivation

World’s First Fibromyalgia Tissue Bank

For the first time, scientists are going to begin collecting brain and spinal cord tissues from fibromyalgia patients for research that will hopefully give them new insights into the cause of FM and new avenues of effective treatments.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) awarded a $1.4 million grant to Dr. Dianne Lorton, head of the Sun Health Research Institute’s Robert J. Hoover Center for Arthritis Research, to establish this first ever fibromyalgia tissue bank. In addition to the NIH grant, a $100,000 grant from the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association and another pilot project grant from the NIH is making this project possible.

The research will initially focus on glial cells (activated brain and spinal cord cells) to determine whether they are involved in long-term pain conditions. This in turn will allow for the development of new drugs to control chronic-pain responses.

The Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, near Phoenix, Arizona is now enrolling donors. Although tissue donation does not occur until the donor’s death, donors will be asked to visit the institute annually for an FM assessment and to complete a pain-assessment questionnaire. Those who are enrolled as donors are also entitled to priority placement on a list of candidates for participation in future clinical trials of new pain drugs. For more information about becoming a tissue donor, call 623-875-6528.

Brainstorm

Take the time to brainstorm. No complete sentences, no fixing punctuation, no adjusting the grammar; just write.

Think of one word that is important to you. It can be any word as long as it means something to you. Some ideas: love, family, friendship, marriage, parenting, focus, cherish.

Look up that word in the dictionary. Write the definition down.

Now let your mind wander and write down what you are thinking.

Here is a sample I am working on right now so you get an idea. The word chosen is family.

fam·i·ly (fm-l, fml) pl. fam·i·lies

NOUN

1. A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
2. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place.
3. All the members of a household under one roof.
4. A group of persons sharing common ancestry.
5. Lineage, especially distinguished lineage.
6. A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra.
7. A group of like things; a class.
8. A group of individuals derived from a common stock: the family of human beings.
9. Biology -- A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera.
10. Linguistics -- A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family.
11. Mathematics -- A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation.
12. Chemistry -- A group of elements with similar chemical properties.
    Chemistry A vertical column in the periodic table of elements.

ADJECTIVE

1. Of or having to do with a family: family problems.
2. Being suitable for a family: family movies.

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English familie, from Latin familia, household, servants of a household, from famulus, servant

My random thoughts are listed below:

family
single mother
son
daughter
loss of twin
oldest son given up for adoption
good mom ???
small family
deceased father
mother remarried
3 brothers
1 sister
1 foster sister
teach values
teach virtues
teach spirituality
teach right from wrong
one child gifted
one child slower
love
hugs
kisses
cuddling
loyalty
together

As you can see the mind can wander.

The Pink Dress

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello."

The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different."

I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.

The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by."

She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am." "I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- I was sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done".

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?"

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.

And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Like the story says, we all need someone.
And, every one of your friends is an angel in their own way. The value of a friend is measured in the heart.

I Believe in God

I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth. He is the one true God. He is my Provider, my heavenly Father, my comforter, my counselor, my hope, my joy, my salvation, my King. His name is God; not Ron Hubbard, Buddha, Allah, Muhammad, Dali Lama or the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I believe in the trinity of God. That He manifests Himself as God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28; 1 Peter 1)

I believe that the Bible is the absolute, perfect word of God. I believe it is written by man, inspired by God and every word from beginning to end is true. (2 Timothy 3; 2 Peter 1)

I believe God created the world, as the Bible describes, in 6 days. I do not believe in any part of the evolution theory. (Genesis 1)

I believe that acceptance of Christ Jesus as your personal Savior is the one and only way to heaven. (John 14)

I believe that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God, who manifested Himself in human form, lived a sinless life, was betrayed and abandoned by those He trusted most, and died a horrible death. (Luke 2; James 2; Matthew 26 - 27)

I believe Jesus was buried in a tomb, which was surrounded by guards and had a large stone rolled over the entrance. (Matthew 27)

I believe that tomb was empty 3 days later as Jesus had told his disciples it would be. (Matthew 16; Matthew 28)

I believe Jesus ascended to Heaven shortly after his resurrection from the dead. (Acts 1)

I believe Jesus now sits in victory at the right hand of God. (Luke 22)

I believe He is coming back. (Acts 1; Matthew 24)

I believe He caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, cast out demons and raised people from the dead. (Matthew 9; Luke 11; Mark 1; Mark 7; Luke 7; Mark 5)

I believe in Hell and I believe that God wants no man to go there. (2 Peter 3)

I believe all of us are sinners. (Romans 3)

I believe that you do not have to be baptized to go to heaven, but that baptism is an outward symbol of your acceptance of Christ as your Savior. (1 Peter 3)

I believe that nothing can separate me from the love of God. (Romans 8; John 10)

I believe that if I confess my sins to God, then he is faithful and just to forgive my sins. (1 John 9; 2 Chronicles 7)

I believe that God disciplines those He loves. (Hebrews 12)

I believe that God tempts no one. (James 1)

I believe that all sin is the same in God's eyes. (James 2)

I believe that God, as the Holy Spirit, intercedes in prayer for us. (Romans 8)

I believe in Satan. I believe that he was an angel, whose pride caused his fall from heaven. (Luke 10)

I believe witchcraft, psychics, mediums and things of that nature are detestable to God and I fear for what will happen to those who participate in these things. (Deuteronomy 18; Leviticus 20; Galatians 5; Revelations 21)

I believe that I am commanded to forgive others - over and over and over. (Matthew 18)

I believe that Jesus died to redeem the sins of every man, woman and child on earth. Every one - no matter what they believe. (1 Peter 3)

I believe that what is impossible for man is possible for God. (Luke 18)

I believe each of us is given spiritual gifts and if you do not utilize the gift God has given to you, then you are missing out on the all the great gifts God has waiting for those who do His work. (1 Corinthians 12)

I believe that when I die, I will stand before the throne of God and be judged for everything I have done in my life - good or evil - including every hidden thing. (Ecclesiastes 12)

I believe that every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2)

I believe that there are people who will twist the Bible's words to suit their own needs. (2 Timothy 4)

I believe that miracles still happen, that God answers prayer, that prayer is powerful, and even if I do not like God's answer to my prayers, He is in control.

A Mother's Creed

Her children arise up,
and call her blessed.
Proverbs 31:28

I will worry less about my children and trust God more.
I will commit them into the Lord’s care.
I will love my children unconditionally and let them know I do.
I will believe in them constantly and encourage them often.
I will pray for them daily.
I will teach them responsibility for their own actions.
I will try to be an example of godliness but will be unafraid to let them see my faults.
I will give them generous doses of laughter, interspersed with fun.
I will release them when they are grown but they will always be my own.

Thought of the Day - 3/14/07

The best way to predict the future is to create it.
~~ Peter F. Drucker ~~

Feeling Down? Stuck in a Rut?

Being in a rut can really wear us down -- both mentally and emotionally. Spring is just around the corner, and it’s a season that is perfect for new beginnings. Getting out of a rut can be as simple as getting a new haircut...or as involved as going back to school. But both start by taking that first step. So call your hair stylist. Apply for college. Begin a new workout routine. Sign up for music lessons. Or write that book you’ve been thinking about. Take that first step today. Get up, get going, and get out of your rut.

Tampontification

You probably never thought of this, but women's shelters in the United States go through thousands of tampons and pads monthly. Assistance agencies generally help with expenses of every day necessities such as toilet paper, diapers, and clothing, but one of the most BASIC needs is overlooked - feminine hygiene products.

Seventh Generation, a green paper products and cleaning products company, has a do-good attitude and will donate a box of sanitary products to a women's shelter in your chosen state - just for clicking the link. Talk about easy.

http://www.tampontification.com

The Cove

The Cove by Catherine Coulter

"The Cove seems the perfect sanctuary to Sally Brainerd, daughter of murdered Amory St. John of Washington, D.C. She's not aware FBI Special Agent James Quilnan is after he. He's got a murder to solve, and he believes she's the key. But is she really? Are you ready for non-stop romantic suspense?"

This is the first book in the FBI series. Quilnan is friends and boss of Savich so it all ties together in the next book when Savich is introduced (I've read the books out of order). I love getting to know Quilnan better. He plays a role in the other books but they are more focused on the Savich and Sherlock duo.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Blueberry Muffin

Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke

"Preparations are underway for Lake Eden's annual Winter Carnival and Hannah is set to bake up a storm at her popular shop, The Cookie Jar. Too bad the honor of creating the official Winter Carnival cake went to famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac. Hannah suspects Connie Mac is a lot like the confections she whips up on her cable TV cooking show -- sweet, light, and scrumptious-looking, but likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Hannah's suspicions are confirmed when Connie Mac's limo rolls into town. Turns out America's "Cooking Sweetheart" is bossy, bad-tempered, and down-right domineering. Things finally boil over when Hannah arrives a The Cookie Jar to find the Winter Carnival cake burnt to a crisp and Connie Mac lying dead in her pantry, struck down while eating one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins. Next thing Hannah knows, the police have declared The Cookie Jar's kitchen crime scene off-limits. She's a baker without an oven and the Carnival is right around the corner. Hannah's only alternative is to cook up a plan to save her business -- by find the killer herself... "

I am so glad I started reading this series last year. I love the Hannah Swensen mystery series. I love the characters and the small town of Lake Eden.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Empower Yourself By Organizing Clutter

Five No Nonsense Ways to Ease Stress, Depression, & Anxiety

Let's not waste another moment and go straight into five quick ways that will help you find relief from stress, depression, and anxiety.

Take regular breaks from the firing line.
Working hard without regular breaks is a great way to build up stress and tension. Make sure you have at least one 15-minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon as well as at least 20 minutes for lunch.

If you are at work, eat lunch away from your workstation. Equally, if you have a lot to deal with in your life right now, taking a day, or a weekend elsewhere, to get some breathing space will really ease the tension. Even just a day away from the firing line will enable you to get some distance from the problems and help you to gather your thoughts.

Regular exercise can help relieve stress, depression and anxiety.
Exercise releases endorphins into your system and will give you a natural energy boost. It will also provide you with a break from brooding and dwelling upon problems and troubles - but only if you perform the right kind of exercise. Avoid exercises that allow you to dwell (weight lifting, jogging, treadmills) and perform exercises that require your full concentration.

Competitive sports such as squash, tennis, badminton and circuit training are all excellent examples. It is important that you do not brood when you exercise because although you will be benefitting physically, you are still stressing yourself mentally and the stress, depression and anxiety will worsen.

Stop beating yourself up.
Self-deprecation is a huge part of stress, depression and anxiety. Each time you put yourself down, you erode your confidence and self-esteem. Never tell yourself you're useless, worthless, stupid, hopeless, boring, ugly, or a loser. Never convince yourself that other people hate you, that others find you difficult to be around and that you're better off being alone. You would never deem it acceptable to say such things to other people and you must deem it equally unacceptable to say them to yourself.

Derogatory words and phrases are powerful and they will hurt you. Accept you're not perfect and that you make mistakes - just like everybody else does - and cut yourself some slack. From this day, make a pact with me to never indulge self-deprecation ever again. It's simply not true and unacceptable.

Avoid Isolation - It increases stress, depression and anxiety.
Okay, there will be times when you just want your own company. During such times, you can fret over problems and events and beat yourself up for hours on end. Not good! Instead, use isolation to your advantage. Occupy your mind by tackling a jigsaw puzzle, a logic problem, a crossword, read a book or perform a hobby such as painting, playing a musical instrument or whatever it is you have an interest in. In this way, isolation will help you to grow instead of causing you further pain.

Avoid the TV, radio, and newspaper.
These can all supply you with a daily hit of negativity and help lower your mood. Articles often center on the negative side of life: crime, corruption, war, scandal and natural disasters and can give you a distorted view of reality. Not to mention the amount of image manipulation they subject you to. Give yourself a break from this negative drip feed and avoid them completely for one week.

You now have five, no nonsense tips to help fight stress, depression and anxiety. They are doable, drug-free and will boost your mood levels very quickly indeed. Try it!

Thought of the Day - 2/26/07

Life is short.
Break the rules.
Forgive quickly.
Kiss slowly.
Love truly.
Laugh uncontrollably.
And never regret anything that made you smile.

Labels and Box and Files -- Oh My!

Labels, and Boxes, and Files - Oh My!

This year’s press on New Year’s Resolutions has taken on a new twist: the “anti-organization” movement. The “pro-mess” proponents claim that organizing wastes time, leaves no room for individuality, and kills the creative process. Of course, nothing appeals to the media like a good controversy.

These rebels do have a point, though, if you take the wrong approach to organizing. In other words, if you set up your system from the “outside in”, (looking to containers, bins or one-size-fits-all rules to solve the problem) you’re bound to create an unnatural system that works differently than the way you work, and is therefore too cumbersome to sustain.

The philosophy behind my organizing is that in order to create a lasting system, you’ve got to work from the “inside out”. In other words, design your system around your unique way of thinking, natural habits, and goals, and it will be natural and easy to maintain. There is no one “right way” or “perfect system”. Organizing must celebrate and honor your individuality, rather than confine you or put your personality into a box.

Being organized releases rather than restricts creativity. It gives you immediate access to all the materials you need to do your work more efficiently. The key is to design your system to be simple, fun, and visually appealing so that it reflects your creative personality and feeds your style.

Divide and Conquer

In the S.P.A.C.E. Formula (Sort, Purge, Assign, Containerize, Equalize) for organizing, two of the steps offer the richest opportunity for infusing your system with your unique personality and style: SORT and CONTAINERIZE.
SORTING is an intensely individualized experience, because only you know how you think and identify your possessions. Therefore, it is crucial that you handle everything. Pick up every item of clothing, piece of paper, or collectible and evaluate it individually. As you sort, focus on the following:

Identify what is important to you—focus on those items you currently use, love and/or that make money, not those that used to be important to you, or might be important to you someday.

Group similar items. As you identify the important items you want to keep, place them on the floor or another surface in related categories that reflect your associations, not someone else’s. They only have to make sense to you. This is one of the keys of organizing from the inside out: to design a system that is intuitive and natural to you so that you can find things and put them away again without too much thought. Keep categories as broad as possible so they’ll be easy to remember and you’ll have the least number of places to look when you start assigning items a home.

Don’t put off or ignore those large piles of stuff in corners or scattered pockets of clutter that seem too intimidating. Skipping them or postponing them to “some other time” will prevent you from seeing the big picture before you set up your system. This will leave you with an unsatisfying feeling of incompletion, which will inevitably cause your system to unravel.
CONTAINERIZING is the stage where your creativity and sense of personal style can really come into play. As you select appropriate containers, keep the following in mind:

Aesthetics. Choose containers that you love. They should be delightful to use and blend attractively with the décor you’ve chosen for your space, whether it’s shabby chic, country cozy, or high tech steel.

Sturdiness. Don’t be tempted to economize. Your containers must be tough enough to withstand repeated use. If they fall apart, break, or feel flimsy, you’ll stop using them.

Manageability. Containers should be easy to handle. If you’ll be storing a lot of items in them, consider their weight when full.

Size. Make sure they are a proper fit for the number of items you will be storing, without overcrowding. Consider leaving a little room for growth—but not much.

Once you have designed your system from the inside out, enjoy the energy you will gain from your space. Your home, office, and even your schedule will reflect and support who you are, what you want, and where you are going. And, it will be natural and delightful to use.

Do Your Members of Congress Protect Children?

Last week, the CDF Action Council released its 2006 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard, which grades every member of the House and Senate based on key votes affecting children.

Find out who got a perfect score, who failed, and how YOUR elected officials rate when it comes to protecting children with their votes.

http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2006

Around the 'Net - Families.com

Families.com is excited to announce that they have merged snugglepie.com, dealagogo.com, cyberbabycafe.com and mommieforums.com into Families.com!

The combined community at Families.com now has 270,000+ members and 750,000+ posts on hundreds of family-related forums at http://forums.families.com/.

They now have the Internet's best family-focused blogs at http://blogs.families.com/ with 20,000+ entries and about 50 new entries per day.

They have a great money-saving and couponing community at http://deals.families.com/ and a coupon database with 7,000+ entries.

Members can now create tickers (http://tickers.families.com/) and counters (http://counters.families.com/) that can be customized and added to signatures or other websites. These tickers and counters count the amount of time that has elapsed since or time that is left until and important event, such as a birth, a holiday or a birthday.

As always, members can share journals and photos with family and friends at http://www.families.com/mysite. They've recently upgraded http://photos.families.com/ to integrate with MySite, so when as you add photos to your MySite, you can select a category for the photo that can be browsed in the Photos section.

They've also recently launched Families.com Local at http://local.families.com/. Go and introduce yourself on your local forum, and get to know other families.com members in your area.

Temporary Sanity

Temporary Sanity by Rose Conners

"When can a citizen become a killer? Is homicidal insanity ever a moral or legal justification for murder? What should a jury do when the facts are clear but they don't tell the real story? The charge is murder one. When Buck Hammond's seven-year-old son was raped and killed by pedophile Hector Monteros, Buck took justice into his own hands. Unfortunately, the TV cameras were rolling as Buck aimed his hunting rifle at Monteros's head. The only viable defense is insanity, bu the grieving father refuses to say he was crazy when he pulled the trigger. On the very eve of the trial, a battered and bleeding woman staggers into their office. She's in deep troulbe -- her attacker's body has just been found, viciously stabbed, and he's an officer of the court."

This is Conners second book. It took some dedication to get through the first couple of chapters but once I got engrossed in courtroom drama and suspense, it was worth reading.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3

Health Care Coverage for All Children

Last month, CDF President Marian Wright Edelman spoke to U.S. Mayors about CDF's proposal to provide health care coverage to ALL children.
Check out the webcast at http://usmayors.org/75thWinterMeeting/video/videolink.asp?video=friam04edelman.

The Associate

The Associate by Phillip Margolin

"A poster boy for the American Dream, former blue-collar boy turned high-powered lawyer Daniel Ames is on easy street as an associate at Reed, Briggs, Portland's most prestigious Law Firm. Until one man... and one case... changes everything. When a charismatic lawyer sues the firm's biggest client, a pharmaceutical company, for manufacturing a drug that causes unspeakable birth defects, Daniel believes the case has no merit. But when information implicating company malfeasance surfaces, the intrepid lawyer doggedly scrambles to find the truth -- an investigation that leads him into a vortex of greed, corruption, deceit, and murder. Suddenly caught on the wrong side of the law and in the cross-hairs of a powerful enemy, Daniel must unmask an evil conspiracy that wants to bury a deadly secret... and Daniel with it."

This is a new author for me. I enjoyed this mystery; though, I have to admit I wasn't sure the author would be able to tie up all the loose ends.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4

A Valentine for Single Parents

He's never brought you roses. She's never given you chocolates. They've never bought you a nice card or a fancy dinner. It may seem that all you do for your children, day after day, year after year, goes unnoticed. You may wonder if it's worth it. Well, they might be too young to tell you what you mean to them now. But one day they will likely take your hand, or hug you, and say the sweetest words you'll ever hear: "Mom, I know how hard it was for you to raise me on your own. Thank you. I love you." Happy Valentine’s Day.

Remember, your family first.

Deepen Your Appreciation

God's Valentine's Day Gift to You - His Word

Keep yourselves in the love of God… Jude 1:21

When it comes to focus in our lives, our Lord makes it clear that of all his commandments, "the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:1) No other topic is mentioned and discussed more in the Bible. Loving can be both a joy and a challenge.

While the world directs attention to romantic love on one special holiday, St. Valentine's Day, we believe that loving one another is a reflection of one's fundamental values. Practically applying love in and for life requires commitment, growth and sometimes help.

Love too deserves to be celebrated! We have selected a special collection of resources that can enhance the diverse aspects of love in your life, from Love for the Father to Loving Yourself and Loving Others in your life! If you're giving a gift this holiday, we suggest considering one that can have a much longer impact; and an eternal one!

The Maze

While recovering from surgery, I have had a lot more time to read and I love to read!

The Maze by Catherine Coulter

"Obsessed by her sister's death at the hands of an apparent serial killer, a brilliant young pianist dedicates her life to tracking down the murderer, only to become a target herself. Lacey Sherlock's life is forever changed when her beloved older sister's body is discovered in an abandoned warehouse with multiple stab wounds. Belinda is the fourth victim of the String Killer, the handle the media has given to the serial killer who leads his victims into a maze with a ball of twine. Seven years after Belinda's death, Lacey, now an FBI special agent, becomes a member of Dillon Savich's new Criminal Apprehension Unit (CAU), where he has programs to aid in the apprehension of serial killers. When the String Killer strikes again in Boston, Lacey immediately spots his handiwork, resulting in his capture. But did he really kill Belinda? Or was it someone closer to home? Together, Lacey and Dillion must discover the killer's true identity -- before they both become the next victims."


Coulter is one of my favorite authors, especially the Sherlock & Savich series. I love their characters, the in-depth look into their lives. It seems that Sherlock and Savich are real people with real feelings. I love it when an author can pull me in like that, as though I really know the characters as people. In this book, we are introduced to Sherlock (I've read the books out of order). This book is full of surprises and also delivers a love story.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4

Burned

Burned by Carol Higgins Clark

"At the Waikiki Waters and Playground and Resort, where Kit, one of Regan's best friends, has been staying, the body of dorinda Dawes washes ashore. Around her neck is an exquisite and historically valuable shell lei that once belonged to a Hawaiian princess. Will Brown, the manager of the resort, doesn't believe that it's an accidental drowning. Strange things have been happening at Waikiki Waters. Luggage has gone missing, food has been tainted, and tubes of suntan lotion are being dropped into the toilets. Will meets Regan in the hotel lobby and convinces here to get on the case. Once Regan starts digging she comes across all sorts of suspicious characters. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she's in. Is the culprit someone from the tour group visiting from Hudville, a town where it rains 89 percent of the time? Is it one of the employees at the hotel? Could it be Jazzy, a social climber who has a job house-sitting on the Big Island?"

I have to admit, I was very apprehensive when I started reading books by Carol Higgins Clark because I love her mother's books so much. I thought there was no way that Carol could compete in the same league as her mother. I was wrong. This is another great mystery series! I love the character of Regan Reilly. I love Clark's sense of humor and quirky characters as well as the unpredictable mysteries.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4+

Do You Know What Time It Is?

Time Zone Converter will tell you what time it is in any city around the world. It takes into account daylight saving time (DST), local time zones, and accepts dates in past or future. There is a World Clock and other time zone tools.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

2006 Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Disabilities

If you have a child with a disability - a severe learning disability (SLD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, or other physical, mental or emotional impairment - you may qualify for valuable tax benefits.

According to parent attorney Mike O'Connor, "It's likely that 15-30 percent of families with a disabled child have one or more unclaimed tax benefits."

Did you know that "tuition costs for a special school that has a program designed to educate children with disabilities and amounts paid for a child's tutoring by a teacher specially trained and qualified to deal with severe disabilities may be deducted"?

Did you know that "Special instruction or training or therapy, such as sign language instruction, speech therapy, and remedial reading instruction" may be deductible? Did you know that related books and materials can qualify for the medical expense deduction"?

Did you know that "Parents who attend conferences to obtain medical information concerning treatment for and care of their child may deduct some of the costs of attending a medical conference relating to a dependent's chronic health condition"?

In 2006 Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Mr. O'Connor provides a summary of the most significant federal income tax benefits. He advises you to print out this guide and provide your tax adviser with a copy. I agree with this excellent advice.

Download your copy of Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Disabilities by Mike O'Connor, Esq. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/tax.2006.benefits.oconnor.htm

The Power of Your Smile

Preventing Reading Difficulties and Reading Failure

Sue Heath, research editor for Wrightslaw, states, "Children do not learn to read with support. They learn to read with direct instruction. Reading is a learned skill. For many children, reading is not a skill that develops naturally as they mature."

In Preventing Reading Difficulties and Reading Failure, Sue provides the teacher with a comprehensive list of resources about how children learn to read, how to prevent reading failure, and how to implement research based instruction. These resources come from respected organizations including: * National Reading Panel
* National Institute for Literacy
* U. S. Department of Education

Read Preventing Reading Difficulties and Reading Failure
http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/read.prevent.failure.htm

For more articles about teaching reading and research based instruction, go to Doing Your Homework
http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/dyh.index.htm

Dating...

I hate feeling lonely and being alone.

I am a single mother and I haven't been on a date in over six years. Not that it was really a date, we went out once so he could call it quits; though, we stayed in often.

The man I am "seeing" now is not leading-man-in-a-romantic-movie handsome. His appeal doesn't come from the outside, but I find his solid stockiness and his receding hairline endearing. He is safe and comforting, like a favorite teddy bear. Unfortunately, I only get to see him every few months because he is so busy (translation: a workaholic). But we never go out; we just hang out at my house.

Why is it that men don't "wine and dine" women anymore? They just want companionship when they want it, on their schedule. Is it so wrong to want to be able to go out and have fun without my children?

I to have to say he does make me laugh and we can talk about anything & everything. We are still learning about each other. I love his sense of humor, his confidence, his down-to-earth style.

My Defining Moment

"Even God's smallest plan for us is bigger than any dream we could ever hope for," my father once said.

Over the years I have often wondered how people could believe that God's plan for us, as people, is greater than anything we could ever imagine if God doesn't send a miracle when we needed it most.

People talk about a defining moment in life. I've come to realize that there is no one defining moment, but instead a series of events and circumstances that define who we are. They change us little by little, leading us to something bigger or unexpected, and that is when we experience a grand moment of realization that drives us closer to our destiny.

I now know that each of us is destined for something, a purpose that often seems muddy, or vague at best. We want nothing more than to know what our purpose is, to know that we haven't just been plopped down to fumble our way through to the end, but that there's a reason for our being here. We may not discover that purpose in the way that we'd want, as time in the valley will be longer and darker than we imagined, but if we are patient or still long enough, we will catch it in fleeting glimpses. We will see tiny sparks of revelation that push us closer and closer to our destiny. There will be pain, sometimes more than we bargained for, but in the end there will be joy.

National Freedom Day

National Freedom Day celebrates freedom from slavery, and recognizes that America is a symbol of freedom.

National Freedom Day was established in 1948 to remind us that America stands for, and is a symbol of freedom for all people. The roots of this special day come directly from the end of slavery and the signing of the 13th amendment outlawing slavery.

Celebrate this day by reflecting upon your own freedoms that you enjoy by being fortunate enough to be in America. Millions of people in the world are not free.

Major Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former slave, created National Freedom Day. He believed that there should be a day when freedom for all Americans is celebrated. President Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865. So, February 1st was chosen to celebrate National Freedom Day.

On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a the bill proclaiming February 1st as National Freedom Day.

What Happened the Year You Were Born

In 1967 (the year you were born)

Lyndon B. Johnson is president of the US President Johnson and Soviet premiere Aleksei Kosygin agree not to let any crisis push them into wore Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first black Supreme Court justice The first home microwave is released by Amana Dave Matthews, Kurt Cobain, Liz Phair, Vin Diesel, Julia Roberts, and Anna Nicole Smith are born St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup Disney's The Jungle Book and The Graduate are the top grossing films One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is published Paul McCartney announces that all four members of the Beatles have "dropped acid" For the first time, Jimi Hendrix sets his guitar on fire during a concert in London Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is released The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine is published The FCC orders that cigarette ads on television, radio and in print must include a warning about the health risks of smoking

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Get Organized Now in February

Feb 1 Valentine's Day is approaching. Purchase, order or make gifts for your loved ones so you're ready for giving them on February 14th.

Feb 2 Celebrate GroundHog Day by doing your favorite outdoor activity that's in line with the current season.

Feb 3 Empty one of your dresser drawers, weeding out anything that no longer fits or you no longer enjoy. Organize the rest back into the drawer.

Feb 4 Gather all loose coins and store them in a jar. When it's full, bring it to the bank and cash it in for dollars.
Feb 5 Rid the inside of a cabinet or armoire of all clutter.

Feb 6 Donate outerwear that doesn't fit or is no longer becoming. This way, someone else can make use of it, rather than it gathering dust in your closet.

Feb 7 Broaden your horizons and visit a local store you've never been in before, such as a health food store, a gift shop or a boutique.

Feb 8 Make a double-portion meal for supper. Eat half tonight, and freeze the other half for next week.

Feb 9 Empty your purse of all trash and items you no longer use.

Feb 10 Behind on sending out thank you cards for a gift you received? Write at least one out today and mail it.

Feb 11 Buy or borrow a new book for your child, niece, grandchild, etc. Encourage the benefits of reading!

Feb 12 Complete at least 1 task on your To Do list, before you change out of your pajamas and get dressed today.

Feb 13 Do something heart-healthy, like making a low-fat meal, going for a walk or signing up for a nutrition class.

Feb 14 It's Valentine's Day. Take the day off from chores, and do something that warms your heart--or better yet, someone else's.

Feb 15 Dust off any dust that has settled on television, radio or electronics cords.

Feb 16 Empty out the Recycle Bin on your computer to rid it of unwanted files.

Feb 17 Delete all email messages that are cluttering your inbox--jokes, forwards, messages from companies you don't plan to buy from and any other messages you don't need.

Feb 18 Discard any food in your pantry that has been opened, but not eaten for months.

Feb 19 Honor President's Day by learning about a president you don't know much about. You can never be too young or too old for a quick history lesson.

Feb 20 Spend 15 minutes weeding out the thickest file folder(s) in your filing cabinet.

Feb 21 Today is Ash Wednesday. Whether you celebrate this observance or not, use today to reflect on and celebrate your beliefs and/or customs.

Feb 22 Organize all of your tools into a tool box that is sized appropriately for the number of tools you have. Otherwise, organize your tools on a pegboard so they're easily found when needed.

Feb 23 Bring your car to the car wash and get it cleaned.

Feb 24 Banish all clutter (magazines, bills, toys, etc.) from your kitchen table. You should be able to eat there, without having to clear it off each time.

Feb 25 Trade in your child's broken crayons for a fresh new box.

Feb 26 Dull knives in your kitchen? Sharpen your set, or consider investing in a better set. It's amazing how much time a good set of knives can save you in the kitchen when preparing meals.

Feb 27 Be nice to your feet. Give yourself a home pedicure, or get one done professionally. If you're experiencing foot pain, make an appointment to see a foot doctor.

Feb 28 Begin going through your spring wardrobe (yours and your family member's), getting rid of anything you don't plan to wear as the warmer weather approaches.

by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!

Thought of the Day - 1/28/07

Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts.
~~ Thomas Hughes ~~

What is Your Friendship Style?

To find the unique ways you relate as a friend, circle one answer for each question.

1.) Do you tend to be more:
a. prayerful and faith-filled
b. hilarious and playful
c. loyal and compassionate
d. creative and inviting
e. wise and perceptive

2.) What television show are you most likely to watch?
a. Touched by an Angel
b. Last Comic Standing
c. A Hallmark made-for-TV movie
d. The Art of French Cooking with Julia Child
e. Dr. Phil

3.) What holiday-related activity would you most enjoy?
a. encouraging your family to thank God on Thanksgiving
b. spraying Silly String everywhere for someone's birthday
c. delivering homemade cards to the senior center on Valentine's Day
d. baking 10 varieties of Christmas cookies for friends and family
e. reflecting on the past year and setting new goals for the new

4.) At a party, do you:
a. gently redirect gossipy conversations
b. show up in costume
c. help remove a punch stain from a friend's dress
d. bring hand-dipped candles as a hostess gift
e. break out the mini book "If … ": Questions for the Game of Life

5.) How might you spend a Saturday afternoon?
a. calling your prayer chain
b. doing a high-ropes course with a friend
c. serving at a soup kitchen
d. planning the neighborhood block party
e. writing in your journal
6.) What might your friends say about you?
a. "She sees me through God's eyes."
b. "She makes me laugh so hard I pee my pants."
c. "When I feel bad, she cries too."
d. "I'm at home when I'm with her."
e. "She knows me better than I know myself."

7.) What might you be overheard saying?
a. "How can I pray for you?"
b. "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
c. "You go, girl!"
d. "Can I borrow your bundt pan?"
e. "Now, the tornado in your dream means … "

8.) If you were a children's book, what would your title be?
a. The Velveteen Rabbit
b. Cat in the Hat
c. The Giving Tree
d. Little House on the Prairie
e. The Secret Garden

9.) Which famous person is most like you?
a. Beth Moore
b. Lucille Ball
c. Lady Di
d. Martha Stewart
e. Ann Landers

10.) What's your motto?
a. It is well with my soul.
b. Laughter is the best medicine.
c. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
d. Home is where the heart is.
e. Those who seek will find.

Tally your answers. Your Friendship Style is based on your two highest scores.


a. Soul Sister. You're prayerful and faith-filled. You avoid coming off as "holier than thou" because you're transparent about your life. Friends come to you for spiritual guidance and prayer, knowing your concern for them is rooted in God's love. At times you may grow weary of always being the anchor in your circle of friends. They're blessed by your spirit of strength.

b. Playmate. You spark up any gathering with your witty comments and prankster personality. Because you're sensitive, it may be hard for you to trust others with deep feelings. The way you help others play is a gift. You truly understand laughter is the best medicine.

c. Midwife. Others feel comfortable coming to you when they need a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. Patience and understanding come naturally to you. You're sentimental and sincere. At times you may feel depleted because you give so freely. You have the heart of a servant and nurture those in need.

d. Hostess. You know how to celebrate your friends and create new traditions with them. You have a gift for seeing how ordinary things can reflect spiritual realities. It can be easy for you to get stuck in high gear, unable to find some solitude. Friends appreciate your creativity, and often look to you to coordinate the next meaningful party.

e. Therapist. People cherish your perspective on life and love, and often come to you for advice. Friends may need to remind you of your tendency to overanalyze. Journaling, reading, and reflecting help strengthen your gifts of wisdom and intuition. Your friends benefit because you often know them better than they know themselves.


I had more C's than any other letter which makes me a Midwife. I tend to agree that this describes me pretty well. My second most answered letter was D. Not sure if I agree with this description; its not as accurate as being the "Midwife."

Transform Your Life

The Overlooked Key to Achieving Your Resolutions

What kind of New Year's resolutions did you make this year? Did they involve improving your health, fitness, nutrition or related health habits? Every year, many of us start off with good intentions, only to find that "life" gets in the way. A couple of months along we find we are no closer to achieving what we started out to do.

It's easy to justify or excuse these "failures" in a variety of ways. Maybe it wasn't a high enough priority or we are just too busy and so forth. But there's one element in all of this that might be overlooked - genuine support and understanding by the people we care about. An important part of this relationship dynamic is that we feel the person or people closest to us have faith in our abilities to do what we set out to do.

Fitness trainers see this sort of thing a lot. A person comes for training, gets going well and then starts missing sessions. When the person is asked why, the answer is usually something like "I feel that I am taking too much time away from my family" or "my wife feels that we are not spending enough time together.” I once had a spouse of a client tell me right in front of the client that the client has started to get fit many times and failed and that now he doesn't believe she can do it! I felt the client's hurt and self doubt with that comment. Certainly, the comment does not encourage her success. That's really tough.

If you are having trouble keeping fitness resolutions (or any resolutions) year after year, take a look at your family and friends. Do you feel that they are they enthusiastically supporting your efforts and believe in your ability to accomplish what you start? If not, try to think of some ways to change this situation for the better. Here are some ideas:

Recruit a support group of people who can support and mentor you to help offset some of the difficulties and self doubt you are experiencing. Your supporters don't have to be fitness enthusiasts (although your trainer is a good place to start). They can be friends or colleagues whom you enjoy. Even better, talk to people who are accomplishing goals while experiencing resistance or lack of support by their loved ones.

Communicate, communicate, communicate, and communicate again!

It's up to you to find a way to communicate the importance of your goals to your family and friends emphasizing your need for them to support you.

Tell your loved ones how difficult this change is for you and how past failures affect your self confidence in this area... and that you need them to help you!

Ask for their suggestions on how you can meet their needs and also accomplish what you want to do.

Try to find out how they feel about what you are doing - if there are fears or insecurities involved. Sometimes there can be hidden agendas such as a spouse's fear that you getting fit will cause you to change in a negative way or a child who thinks you will spend less time with them. Then, with this knowledge, together, discuss ways to make sure everyone feels secure and happy with any changes in routines etc.

You will be amazed at how much cooperation and enthusiastic support you will receive, just by asking.

Have a wonderful year!

Today... 4 Days After!

Today is the first day I can actually sit. The tumor was removed from lower back, upper butt area and I got staples back there now. Ugh! The pain medications are not working and having the kids home for what will be five days in a row is not helping. But, I am up and moving today. Hooray!

6 Reasons Resolutions Fail and How to Beat Them

Ever wonder why it's so hard to follow through with your best intentions for self-improvement? As you tie up your running shoes or prepare to step on the scale, consider these resolution roadblocks and some suggestions to overcome them.

Roadblock 1: Last-minute lists. People who make thought-out resolutions may have a higher success rate. Next year, don't wait until the ball drops to start setting your goals.

Roadblock 2: Extreme makeover. Striving for drastic changes can feel overwhelming and may even sabotage your best efforts. Instead, set a reasonable (realistically achievable) goal. And to get there, try making small (incremental) steps you can live with over the long haul.

Roadblock 3: Lack of support. Everyone can benefit from a coach--or at least a cheerleader--now and then. A little support can go a long way to boost your motivation and accountability. So share your goals, and recruit a friend to act as your personal coach. (Have you tried the "Personal Goals" area of www.EatBetterAmerica.com?)

Roadblock 4: Fear of failing. Join the crowd: Only 40% of us achieve and maintain their top resolution for a period of six months on their first try. Most people attempt a change multiple times before succeeding. (But who's counting?) So don't get discouraged--each day is a new opportunity to begin again.

Roadblock 5: Forgetting to celebrate along the way. It's important to track your progress--no matter how great or small. Write down your starting point, acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, and record how you cope with challenges along the way.

Roadblock 6: Neglecting your spirit. The majority of resolutions are aimed at changing a physical state or a behavior--for instance, quitting smoking, losing weight, or beginning an exercise program. But a positive mental outlook can help you succeed. At the end of each day, take time to remember your strengths and all that you have to be thankful for.

The Christmas Blessing

The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere

"Each of us in destined for something, a purpose that often seems muddy, or vague at best. We want nothing more than to know what our purpose is, to know that we haven't just been plopped down to fumble our way through to the end, but that there's a reason for our being here. We may not discover that purpose in the way that we'd want, as time in the valley will be longer and darker than we imagined, but if we are patient or still long enough, we will catch it in fleeting glimpses. We will see tiny sparks of revelation that push us closer and closer to our destiny. there will be pain, sometimes more than we bargained for, but as my mother promised so many years ago, in the end there will be joy." ~~ Nathan Andrews from the Christmas Blessing.

This is the second book in the inspiring Christmas Hope trilogy.

Get out the Kleenex as you read this book. This books shows how amazing it is how our paths are crossed seemingly for no reason but in the end it was due to destiny/fate.

The Christmas Blessing is an inspiring story about hope existing in the darkest places, and how love is always the greatest gift of all.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Cooking Rocks!

Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids by Rachael Ray

"Hey, Kids, here's a cookbook just for you! Real recipes you can really make yourself. Learn to cook fun and easy meals. Then eat all the cool results."

This is a fun cookbook for the kids, especially for those picky eaters. Yes, I did read it from cover to cover.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

This book is part of the Hannah Swensen series.

"When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. She figures the TV coverage can only help her already popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, face-down in Hannah's celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden's sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

All the evidence seems to point to the dad man's abused wife, Danielle, whose fresh shiner and blood-stained hand certainly provide more than enough motive and means. But Hannah's convinced Danielle is innocent and that the real killer is about to walk away with a blue-ribbon crime. Hannah's snooping into the coach's private life and not coming up short on suspects. Could Watson's harsh criticism during the judging have given on of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for murder... with Hannah landing on the "necessary ingredients" list."

I love the simplicity of this series. The books, including this one, prove to be an easy read. I love the character of Hannah. This is a fun, warm, delicious read. I like how Joanne includes recipes in each book. This book includes seven delicious dessert recipes.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4+

New Study Links Fibromyalgia to Reduced Brain Dopamine

ORANGE, Calif -- 4 January 2007 -- The National Fibromyalgia Association today announced that a new study published in the January issue of The Journal of Pain provides new scientific evidence demonstrating for the first time that there is a fundamental difference between the brains of fibromyalgia patients and healthy individuals not afflicted with the disorder.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Patrick Wood, is a nationally recognized researcher and authority on the cause and treatment of fibromyalgia. This groundbreaking study supports Dr Wood’s “Dopamine Theory of Fibromyalgia,” which proposes that people with fibromyalgia produce less dopamine—a natural chemical in the body that functions as a neurotransmitter—in the very areas of the brain where dopamine is needed to process painful bodily sensations.

The reduction in the activity of dopamine neurons, believed to result from a combination of environmental factors, including chronic stress, as well as genetic factors, serves as the strongest evidence yet that dopamine-related issues may be the root cause of fibromyalgia.

“This study provides a whole new perspective on the pathology of fibromyalgia symptoms,” says Wood.

The research study used positron emission tomography (PET) to compare the capacity of fibromyalgia patients to synthesize brain dopamine in comparison with healthy controls. A total of seven female fibromyalgia patients and eight healthy controls were recruited for the study at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where Dr. Wood serves as assistant professor and directs both the Fibromyalgia Research Program and the Fibromyalgia Care Clinic. The results of the study demonstrate that patients with fibromyalgia have significantly reduced dopamine synthesis in multiple brain regions.

“It’s all in your head!”

For years, people with fibromyalgia have been told that their illness and symptoms were imaginary, or “all in their heads!” Indeed, fibromyalgia has divided the medical community on the subject of its legitimacy due in large part to the lack of a known cause or genetic markers,.

According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, an estimated 10 million Americans are affected by the disorder. Genetic factors and exposure to chronic stress have been increasingly suspected as key factors associated with fibromyalgia. Treatment typically focuses on addressing fibromyalgia symptoms, which include widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance.

“One of the reasons fibromyalgia is considered so controversial is because we simply don’t know the cause,” explained Dr. Wood. “Our treatment of the symptoms has been sort of a ‘shot in the dark’ because we don’t really understand what it is we are treating.” However, based in the results of this study, there is reason to bring more emphasis on those treatments that may affect brain dopamine activity. “In effect,” Wood said, “we may begin to treat the source of the disorder, and not just its symptoms.”

“Fibromyalgia: Show Me Where It Hurts”

Dr. Wood’s research involving the Dopamine Theory of Fibromyalgia is featured in a recently released film entitled “Fibromyalgia: Show Me Where It Hurts,” which premiered at the National Fibromyalgia Association's 2006 National Patient Conference in March.

A trailer of the film can be viewed on the National Fibromyalgia Association’s website: www.FMaware.org.

In light of the latest results and the small initial sample size, Dr. Wood and the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) are urging further studies to determine the extent to which the lack of dopamine might be associated with the pain and other symptoms that characterize fibromyalgia.

"Further research on Dr. Wood’s Dopamine Theory could help answer questions that could directly benefit people with fibromyalgia,” said Lynne Matallana, founder and president of the National Fibromyalgia Association, the largest nonprofit association serving people with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain illnesses. Matallana, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1995, appears in “Fibromyalgia: Show Me Where It Hurts.”

For the complete text of the study, visit: http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/yjpai/current.

Inspiration Practice

Here are five ways to live each day 'in Spirit.' These daily practices will help you move toward spirituality/inspiration in your daily thoughts and actions.

1. Commit to at least one daily experience where you share something of yourself with no expectation of being acknowledged or thanked. For example, before I begin my daily routine of exercise, meditation, or writing, I go to my desk and choose my gift for that day. Sometimes it’s just a phone call to a friend, or perhaps I send some chocolate to someone I know that needs a "pick me up," or maybe I sent a book to someone who has helped me in a local store. It doesn't matter if this activity is big or small — it’s a way to begin the day "in Spirit."

2. Become conscious of all thoughts that aren’t aligned with your Source. The moment you catch yourself excluding someone or having a judgmental thought, say the words “in Spirit” to yourself. Then make a silent effort to shift that thought to a more positive thought.

3. In the morning before you’re fully awake, and again as you’re going to sleep, take one or two minutes of what I call “quiet time with God.” Be in a state of appreciation and say aloud, “I want to feel good.”

4. Remind yourself of this statement: My life is bigger than I am. Print it out and post it strategically in your home, car, &/or workplace.

5. Dedicate your life to something that reflects an awareness of your Divinity. You are greatness personified, a resident genius, and a creative master — regardless of anyone’s opinion. Make a silent dedication to encourage and express your Divine nature.

Family Minute

What are your priorities?

It’s been said that we can know a lot about a persons priorities by looking at two things: their checkbook and their calendar. If our children were to look at our calendars, what would they see? A schedule filled with dinner meetings, parties and golf outings? Or little league, dance rehearsals and school plays? We need to think about how we’re spending our time. Then on our calendars mark specific blocks of time that we will spend with our children, one on one, doing what they want to do.

Remember, your family first.

Any Time Is A Good Time For Healthy Changes

Each year, many people make resolutions for change, and each year, most of those resolutions go… unresolved. This isn’t due to people’s lack of desire for a better life; it’s just a byproduct of the reality that change is difficult. Our habits become ingrained and automatic; changing them requires constant effort until a new habit is formed. This resource can help you to make necessary alterations in your expectations, attitudes, and methods of change so that you can experience real results that last. The following ideas can help:

Think in Terms of “Goals”, Rather Than “Resolutions”
While most people make resolutions that they’re determined to keep, a better tactic would be to create goals. What’s the difference, you may ask? With traditional resolutions, people generally approach change with the attitude, “From now on, I will no longer [name a given behavior you’d like to change]”.

The problem with this is, after one or two slip-ups, people feel like failures and tend to drop the whole effort, falling easily back into familiar patterns. By setting goals, one instead aims to work toward a desired behavior. The key difference is that people working toward goals expect that they won’t be perfect at first, and are pleased with any progress they make. Rather than letting perfectionism work against them, they allow motivation and pride to do their magic. The following ideas can help you with meeting your ‘New Year Goals:

• Remember That It’s A Process: Expect to work your way up, rather than maintaining perfection and feeling let-down if you don’t achieve it immediately.
• Work Your Way Up: In setting goals for new behavior, aim for once or twice a week, rather than everyday. For example, instead of saying, “I’ll go to the gym everyday”, plan for “every Wednesday” or, better yet, sign up for a fun exercise class, and you can work your way up to more often.
• Set Yourself Up To Succeed: Set small, attainable goals, and add more steps as you complete each one. This way you gradually work your way toward the life you want and the necessary changes, but you experience much more ‘success’ along the way, rather than feeling like a failure if you don’t experience ultimate change overnight.

Have A Goal Each Month
If you’re like most people, you may have several changes you’d like to make in your life; if so, it may be a good idea to tackle one each month. This way, 1) you can focus more, as you won’t be trying to make several sweeping changes at once; 2) you can re-commit yourself each month to a new idea, so you keep growing all year and self-improvement becomes a way of life; and 3) you can build on each success, so you can first free up time before you take on a new hobby or get involved in an important cause, for example. Also, habits generally take 21 days to form. This setup enables you to devote energy to forming new habits more easily before moving on to the next, so you’re not relying solely on will-power.

Reward Your Progress
While many of your resolutions carry their own reward, changing your habits can be challenging, and it’s sometimes easier to do so if you have a little extra help. (Remember how positive reinforcement from a supportive teacher helped you learn, even though the knowledge itself was its own reward?) Providing extra rewards for yourself can help you to stay on track and maintain your motivation, even if you sometimes don’t feel like making the effort solely for the sake of the benefit the change itself will create. The following are ways you can create rewards for yourself:

• Team Up: Have a buddy who knows your goals, and encourage each other, even if you’re working on separate goals. This will provide you with someone who can give you a high-five when you deserve one, and a little encouragement when you need it.
• Reward Small Successes: Divide your goal into bite-sized steps and have a reward waiting at the completion of each.
• Align Rewards With Goals: Have rewards that are in line with your achievements (like new workout clothes for every 5 gym visits, or a beautiful new pen if you stick with your journaling habit for two weeks).

Adapted from article written by Elizabeth Scott.

Journaling Prompts

This list is a huge compilation from various sources… from friends, my magazines, from the Internet, from notes.

If any of these ideas inspire you to create a layout or a card - or an entire album - please do share with us and let us enjoy your creation.

General Journaling Prompts
• What books and magazines are you reading right now?
• What’s the last TV show you watched and why?
• If you could have a free plane ticket to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
• What’s one important value in your life at this moment?
• Who was your second grade teacher and what did she/he teach you?
• Name a character in a movie, TV show or book that you admire.
• List five things about yourself that most people don’t know
• What’s your favorite color and what does it say about you?
• How do the people in your life show you they love you?
• Have you ever wanted to change your name? If so, to what and why?
• What do you think about technology like cells phones and the Internet?
• What was the last conversation you had?
• List three dreams for your future.
• Describe your best and worst personality traits.
• How did you meet your best friend or significant other?
• What do you do for fun?
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?
• How did you spend your last $10.00?
• What’s your dream car?
• Have you ever had a dream come true and then wished it hadn’t?
• What’s the last song you listened to and why?
• How old were you when you got your drier’s license?
• How has your personality changed in the last 10 years?
• How many times have you moved in your life?
• Do you like to cook?
• Where do you shop?
• Do you ever feel bored and why?
• What’s your housework strategy?
• Have you ever owned a pet?
• What’s the last website you visited and why?
• How many times a day do you smile?
• Who are the most influential people in your life right now?
• If you could change anything about your life today, what would it be?
• Describe how your daily routine has changed from the time you were a teenager to your life as it is today?
• What’s your favorite sport to participate in or watch?
• Do you have a tattoo? Would you ever get one?
• What was on your last grocery list?
• Describe the contents of your purse at this moment.
• What’s your favorite scrapbook supply?
• What’s something you’ve always wanted to try on a scrapbook page but never have?
• Describe something unexpected that made you happy, worried or sad.
• How did you start scrapbooking?
• If you could be on one makeover show, which would you choose and why?
• Do you watch the network news? Why or why not?
• What newspaper headlines disturb you the most today?
• What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?
• What’s something your parents taught you that you’ve never forgotten?
• If you could write your own fortune cookie fortune, what would it say?
• What song lyrics best describe your life at this very moment?
• What’s in your fridge right now?
• Describe an “average week” in your life.
• Who is someone in your life you would like to make a scrapbook page about?
• What – or who - inspires your creativity?
• Do you or your children have special attachments to a particular stuffed animal?
• Which teachers have influenced you most in your life?
• Describe your relationship with yourself.
• How do you feel about your office space or work area?
• What room in your home are you “closest” to and why?
• Have you developed important relationships through your spiritual beliefs?
• How do you generally act around strangers? Has your life been blessed by their kind actions over the years?
• Are you a major fan of a particular sports team? How do you show your support and enthusiasm for the players?
• Are you engrossed in a book series? How do you feel as you wait for the next volume to be published?
• When you feel stressed or saddened, do you play a particular type of music to help calm you down? Why do you think listening to that particular type of music affects you?
• Think about the contents of your purse. Are you attached to a particular brand of gum or do you always carry your cell phone? How have these items become something you “can’t live without?”
• Do you surround yourself in the splendor of nature when you need a moment to yourself? When did that relationship start? Or, is there another place where you always go when you need to regroup? Why is that spot meaningful?
• Describe your beloved pastimes (scrapbooking, cooking, reading, knitting, etc.).
• Write about a season, month, or holiday you look forward to all year.
• Describe the most-welcomed time of day or day of the week.
• Describe an accessory you wear every day.
• Describe your neighborhood, city or country.
• Make a list of the objects you can’t help but stockpile.
• Describe an item you cannot leave home without.
• Make a list of the foods &/or treats you can’t resist.
• Make a list of the movies you watch repeatedly.
• List the lyrics of a song you can’t stop singing.
• Describe a sight that always touches your soul.
• Describe a personal trait that makes you proud.
• Describe your career choice or path in life.
• Describe your most guilty indulgence.
• Make a list of oft-uttered expressions.
• Describe a way you love to relax.
• Describe a trinket you cherish.

Valentine Journaling Prompts
• I knew you were the one for me when…
• When I am with you, I love the way you make me feel…
• You have helped me to become a better person because…
• When we are apart, the things I miss most about you are…
• I never dreamed I would fall in love with someone who…
• My favorite moments with you are when…
• You complement me in so many ways…
• The top 10 reasons I love you are…
• I admire most in you the ability to…
• My first impression of you was…
• I am grateful for the way you…
• I will never forget the time you…
• I love to hear you say…
• I love to tell you…

Belief Journaling Prompts
• What qualities or characteristics to you admire in others? In yourself?
• What are your personal convictions? Do they provide a glimpse into your personality or soul?
• Do you have a personal mission statement? What is it?
• How did your parents live out their beliefs when you were growing up? Do you still follow those same beliefs or have they changed over time?
• Is there a belief you stand by, despite the fact that it flies in the face of reason?
• How do your beliefs affect your perceptions of people or places?
• Has there ever been a time when your beliefs were questioned?
• Are your values and beliefs based on your heritage or ancestry?
• How do you illustrate your religious faith?
• What drives you to create?

The Power of One

I look at the enormity of the problem and I can't help but think, 'What can one person do?'" It's occurred to me that I used to think that way but I don't anymore. One person can do much.

One person can pray with all she's got, begging God to intervene in any situation, to pour out His power, to give her wisdom to know what she can and should do. One person can give of her time in a way that will be a sacrifice to her and of great benefit to others. One person can give money -- even a little bit of money -- and that money can be added to what others have given and then multiplied when God steps in.

One person can call attention to an issue that is usually talked about in hushed tones -- making people aware of something they may have had no idea about. One person can enter into the darkness, carrying her little bit of light, and shed great illumination where only dim shadows used to dwell. One person can touch another person's life in small ways -- with a kind word, a gentle touch, a moment of time to listen and hold and cry with. One person can take her gifts and pour them out into someone else's life, knowing that freely has she received and freely should she give.

One person can take her hurt and ask Christ to turn it into a blessing as she connects with the pain of another hurting heart. One person can move into another person's life in large ways -- with a shout against injustice, a rallying of a group to do something of meaning, a hand reaching out to draw someone out of her circumstances permanently.

Moms, we're told time and again that we as women have the ability to set the tone of our home. That our daughters will learn how to be women and mothers by watching and modeling after us, and that our sons will grow up to look for wives that mirror their mothers. We have been given not just the ability, but the responsibility, to do great good.

One life at a time. In our home. And in our world.

This year can be the year that we allow our "one life" to do a world of good for someone else's life. What can one person do in comparison to the vastness of our world's problems? Each one of us can do much! We each have so much to give! And we are called to do just that.

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for those in their distress. -- James 1:27

Adapted from article written by Elisabeth Corcoran.

My challenge to myself and to each one of you is this: go be a light in the dark in this new year.

Parental Rights Case

Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument in Parental Rights Case

The U. S. Supreme Court agreed to resolve the question of whether non-lawyer parents may represent their children in federal court. Oral argument is scheduled for February 27, 2007.

This case generated intense interest after the Cleveland Bar Association launched an investigation of these and other parents for the Unauthorized Practice of Law after the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an adverse decision in their case.

We built the Winkelman v. Parma page at
www.wrightslaw.com/news/07/winkelman.parma.htm that includes:
* Question presented
* Background information about Jacob Winkelman and his case
* Links to pleadings
* Links to amicus briefs including the Brief of the United States as Amicus Curiae
* Links to cases about non-lawyer parental representation
* Articles about the case, including the Cleveland Bar Association investigation

Links:
Jacob Winkelman v. Parma City Schools:
www.wrightslaw.com/news/07/winkelman.parma.htm

Special Education Caselaw:
www.wrightslaw.com/caselaw.htm

Can You Represent Your Child's Rights Under IDEA? by Pete Wright and Pam Wright at
www.wrightslaw.com/news/06/winkelman.cleveland.upl.htm

Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger Syndrome (AS) at
www.wrightslaw.com/info/autism.index.htm

Be an Advocate For Your Child!

Good special education services are intensive and expensive. Resources are limited. If you have a child with special needs, you may wind up battling the school district for the services your child needs. To prevail, you need information, skills, and tools. These articles will help.

* Getting Started *

In "Advocating for Your Child: Getting Started" at www.fetaweb.com/01/advoc.intro.htm you will learn about different types of advocates and what advocates do.

You'll find that advocacy is not a mysterious process. The article includes a quick overview of advocacy skills. Many of these skills will be familiar to you.

* Planning *

If you are like many parents, you are confused about your role.

In "Planning is the Key to Success" at www.fetaweb.com/01/plan.prepare.htm we give you an overview of what you need to learn and how to ensure that the school provides your child with quality, appropriate special education services. Learn about long-range planning, your role as project manager, and a recommended program of self-study.

* Tips for Taking Care of Yourself *

Because advocating for your child can be difficult and frustrating, we offer some tips for taking care of yourself at www.fetaweb.com/01/tips.takecare.htm.

Learn more about effective parent advocacy at www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.index.htm.

For more resources, check out the From Emotions to Advocacy website at www.fetaweb.com.

The Teacher Movie

This should be shown to all first year teachers in their first in-service meeting and periodically reviewed over the years by ALL teachers. This will bring a tear to your eye, so get out teh Kleenex. For all of us in education, this is why we do what we do. I so miss teaching children.

http://www.teachermovie.com

Thought of the Day

An optimist stays up til midnight to see the New Year in; a pessimist stays up til midnight to make sure the old year leaves.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Southern Cross

I LOVE TO READ!!! As I finish each book, I'll be adding the details and my score (from 1 to 5) to the blog.

Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell

"Cornwell takes us close to the sometimes zany, but always threatening experiences of big-city police, in a story of corruption, scandal, and robberies that escalate to murder. The setting is Richmond, Virginia, where former Charlotte police chief Judy Hammer has been brought to clean up the police force. Reeling from the recent death of her husband and resented by the Richmond police force, city manager, and mayor, Hammer is joined by her deputy chief, Virginia West, and rookie Andy Brazil on the most difficult assignment of her career. In the face of overwhelming public scrutiny, the trio must find the link between the desecration of Confederate president Jefferson Davis's statue and the brutal murder of an elderly woman."

I am a BIG Cornwell fan and love the Kay Scarpetta series. This book was not part of the Scarpetta series and I was a little disappointed with the flow of the book. It took me about 1/3 of way into the book before I was really engrossed in the characters (which is unusual for Cornwell).

My score from a scale where 1 is lowest and 5 is highest: 3.5