Having A Heart To Heart With Your Teenagers

By Susan Sitton

Teen years are some of the most turbulent between a parent and a child. Often, you want to impart wisdom to them, but they don’t want to hear what you have to say. After all, you “don’t know what it’s like to be a kid today.” Wouldn’t you love to have a book that could help bridge the communication gap?

Bill O’Reilly, anchor of Fox’s The O’Reilly Factor, has co-authored a book, The O’Reilly Factor for Kids, that does just that.

Subtitled A Survival Guide for America’s Families, the book is written to teenagers addressing a variety of topics.

The first section addresses people in your teenager’s life – including friends, or “so called” friends, as the case may be, who should be there when they need them and let them be themselves. There’s how your child can get along with his/her siblings and the benefits of helping others. And, they can find out how to disagree with you in a responsible way.

Next, O’Reilly tackles your teen’s private life – why it really is “uncool” to do any kind of drug, why they should wait to have intercourse, why hours upon hours of TV isn’t a good idea, and why listening to music with explicit language isn’t really enjoyable. He talks about the importance of earning and managing money and why and how to have fun. All the things you’ve been trying to say for the last 5 – 10 years. The difference is that it isn’t coming out of your mouth.

The third section focuses on school and addresses these issues: dressing provocatively, playing a sport, cheating, reading for pleasure, and respecting teachers.

Finally, the last section deals with things to think about – health, work, helping others, death…He also brings up religion and the importance God has played in his life.

O’Reilly comes out and tells the readers that “Life Isn’t Fair.” He just tells it like it is – and in a way they can understand. He uses a format that intertwines Bill’s Story with “IMings” (“Instant Messages for those of us less ‘with it’ ”).

When all is said and done, he has covered the important topics in a way that many parents would agree with. Like it or not, teenagers tune us out and we become a talking head. Take advantage of this resource to present another person’s point of view.

About the Author: Susan Sitton is the founder of http://www.DiscoveryJourney.com helping parents build character and promote a reading culture. Children's book reviews identify character trait and behavior issues, allowing parents to select books.

Happy New Year

I wish you all a very successful 2011. Thank you for supporting me in my business during 2010. I look forward to working with all of your in 2011.

Donna Loudon

Tupperware Director

Visit my website

Valentine's Day Cards You Can Make

Sometimes it is hard to find a card that says what I want it to say, so this year I decided to make my own. Here are the tools I used to make my own card.

Color Printer
Avery 3375 Half-Fold Cards
Three Valentine's Day Quotes (I posted a few of my favorites below)
A Valentine's Day Graphic (This is my favorite site for graphics. Webcreations with Jumpy

Here is a list of some of my favorite quotes. If you don't find one you like, you can always do your own web search. However, I hope you will like one of my favorites.


Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart. ~Kay Knudsen

"Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart." -Author Unknown

"Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning." -Author Unknown

"For you see, each day I love you more, today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow." -Rosemonde Gerard

"Each moment of a happy lover's hour is worth an age of dull and common life." -Aphra Behn

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -Dr. Seuss

"Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." -Robert Heinlein

"The art of love... is largely the art of persistence." -Albert Ellis

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand." - Unknown

"True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen."
-La Rochefoucauld

"True love never dies for it is lust that fades away. Love bonds for a lifetime but lust just pushes away." - Alicia Barnhart

"Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever." - Unknown

"If love is great, and there are no greater things, then what I feel for you must be the greatest." - Unknown

"Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart." - Unknown

"Within you, I lose myself. Without you, I find myself wanting to be lost again."
-Unknown

Article Written by Donna Rivera-Loudon
Donna's Websites include: Tupperware Online Store and Information Portal for Women.
Premission granted to reprint as long as her name is included as the auther a the links to her websites are keep in the credit line.

Ponytail Hair Styles

By C. Oon

Ponytail hair styles are among the easiest styles to create while still being extremely versatile. The basic ponytail involves just pulling the hair into a central area and tying it into a tail. Before creating your ponytail, however, make sure that your hair is tangle-free to prevent styling problems later on. Then use a good quality brush such as a boar’s head brush to brush the hair in the desired direction, and direct it with your fingers. Hold the base of the tail with one hand while attaching the elastic band with the other. Ensure that the band you’re using is elastic enough to prevent the hair from being ripped or pulled and take your time in creating your pony to ensure that the base is smooth.



Here are brief descriptions of some of the types of ponytails you can create, depending on where the base is located:



* In the High Ponytail, the base of the ponytail is at the top of the crown of the head.



* The Hairline Ponytail style is created by brushing the hair forward with the base of the pony at the front of the hairline. To do this, depending on how long your hair is, you may need to bend at the waist to direct the hair up to the front of the head.



* The Half Ponytail involves pulling the hair on either side of your face into a ponytail.



* The Back of the Head ponytail is created by brushing the hair back from your face and nape and tying it in the middle of the back of the head.



* In a Nape of the Neck ponytail, the hair is brushed back from your face and the tail is tied at the nape of your neck.



* Stacked ponytails are a series of small tails from the hairline to the nape.



* Dual or Behind the Ear ponytail hair styles separate the hair into two tails, with the base of the ponytail behind the ears.



There are also many options for slightly varying the ponytail to make it look more interesting. For example, you can take a small section of hair and use it to hide the band you’re using by wrapping the hair around the base of the ponytail. You can also use a tail comb to pull a few pieces of hair from the base of the pony for a light fringe around your face, or curl the tail of the pony into multiple curls with hot rollers or a curling iron. You can also play with various hair accessories from the basic elastic band to metal barrettes and even ribbons, or loop the tail of your pony through the opening of a baseball cap.



Other suggestions for varying the basic ponytail hair styles include curling the tail of the pony into a long banana curl with a medium-barrel curling iron; create multiple side ponies; and use add-on pony extensions to make it look fuller. If you are using add-ons, just make sure that the base of the pony is loose enough to accommodate the extensions.



About the Author: Are you ready to learn the best way to prevent baldness with ponytail hair styles? Visit http://www.baldness-prevention.com today for more information!



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=466781&ca=Womens+Interest

The Greatest Threat to Our Children's Health: Diabetes?

The Greatest Threat to Our Children's Health: Diabetes?!

Copyright © 2009 Kevin Kielty




Type 2 diabetes is a growing concern in the United States as more cases of the disease are being seen in children. Usually type 2 diabetes affects people who are obese and over age 40. Over the past 20 years however, doctors have seen an increase in type 2 diabetes among children.



If untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to kidney failure and eventual blindness. The effects of this disease can be so devastating, it is important to know your risks and take action right away to reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.



What Is Type 2 Diabetes?



Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin resistant diabetes, is the most common form of the disease. It accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases diagnosed each year. With type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin. With type 2 it does produce insulin but either it does not produce enough or the cells in the muscle are less sensitive to its effects.



When you eat something, the body breaks the food down into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose then moves through the bloodstream and then into the muscle and fat cells. Insulin sends a signal to the cells which tell them to open up and accept the glucose. Glucose is either used right away or stored as fat. In individuals who have type 2 diabetes, the cells do not correctly receive the signal to allow the glucose in. This causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream and keeps the cells from functioning properly. Eventually the elevated glucose levels in the system can cause damage to heart eyes and kidneys.



Risk Factors



Your risk for type 2 diabetes can be inherited. If you have a parent or sibling who has the disease you have a great chance for developing it yourself. Individuals of Hispanic, African-American, or Native American ancestry are also at greater risk as well as those over age 45. Other risk factors include having a sedentary lifestyle, excessive stress, smoking and obesity.



One of the most important things we can do to cut our chances of developing type 2 diabetes is to get more active and lose weight. Fat stored around the abdominal area make it especially hard for cells to respond to insulin. Other risk factors include a Body Mass Index of 25 or more or a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for a woman or 40 inches or more for man.



Take Action



Knowing what the risk factors are for developing type 2 diabetes is an important step to avoiding the disease. If you have a close family member who has developed type 2 diabetes, discuss it with your doctor. Find out what your BMI is and to measure your waist. If you have any other risk factors, take action today to eat better, exercise and lose weight. By taking action today you can avoid the damaging health effects of type 2 diabetes tomorrow.






About The Author:



Kevin Kielty lives in North Carolina and writes articles on health insurance. If you are looking for rate quotes on health insurance in North Carolina, visit Blue Cross Blue Shield NC (BCBSNC), also known as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at: http://www.ncinsuranceplan.com/


Read more articles written by: Kevin Kielty

Family Safety: Buying at a Thrift Store

When on a strict family budget, thrift stores are a great way to get needed items at an excellent price. I am not anti-thrift store. I shop at them myself and love finding good deals. However, I don’t believe that we should have to sacrifice our family’s safety just to get a good bargain. So I did some research on safe buying in thrift stores.

One thing I learned was that in a recent national study of thrift stores conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 69 percent of the thrift stores were selling at least one type of hazardous consumer product. Even more disturbing is that many of these hazardous products were for children.

Do you own a thrift store? I have a space in a thrift store where I sell several household and children’s items. As a thrift store owner, make sure you check everything you purchase for resell carefully to ensure that it is safe.

Do you buy at thrift stores? Check every single item carefully. Make sure it is safe.

What do you look for when checking these items? Here is a check list that covers some important items that you will want to keep your eyes out for.

Buying a Crib

You want to buy a crib that meets the current national safety standards. Also, make sure the crib is in good condition with no broken pieces or parts.

Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8” apart. If the slats are farther apart than 2 3/8” a baby can slip between the slats and strangle.

The crib mattress should fit snugly. If it doesn’t a baby can become entrapped and suffocate.

Playpens and Play Yards

Make sure the one you are buying has not been recalled. Recalls include play yards that have protruding hardware because a child’s clothing or drawstrings can get entangled in it. Rotating top rails that don’t properly lock into place can be dangerous. If a play yard collapses, it can entrap your child.

Car Seat Carriers

Again, make sure the car seat or carrier you are buying has not be recalled. Sometimes carriers that have been recalled have handles that don’t lock properly. Such carriers can release unexpectedly causing your child to fall.

Safety Gates

The whole purpose of a safety gate is to keep your child safe. Make sure the gate you are buying is a newer style. The older accordian-style gates are not considered safe. Children can strangle on these along with some other safety hazards.

Okay, this list is by no means complete. The list could go on forever. The key is to check everything carefully. Think of some of the hazards that can happen around children and check what you are buying to make sure it doesn’t pose a danger in such situations.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking Classes Online

There are advantages and disadvantages to online education. It is important to understand these in order to be a successful online student. It is also important to remember that an online education is not right for everyone. By the end of this article you should be able to determine if online education will work for you.

On Your Time

One of the biggest advantages of online classes is being able to enter your classroom when it is convenient for you. Do you work all day? Then you can log on to your class in the evening or on the weekend. Are you an early riser? You can log on to your class in the early morning hours. Your virtual classroom is open twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.

While logging into your virtual classroom at your own time is an advantage, it can also be one of the biggest disadvantages of an online course. Sometimes not being obligated to a certain day and time can lead to procrastination. Before you know it the second week of class has arrived, but you haven't started on week one's assignments. Once you get behind it can be difficult to catch up. This emphasizes two important qualities that a successful online student should have: self-motivation and self-discipline. Good time-management skills and effective study habits are also necessary.

The Professor's Lecture

In a virtual classroom your professor's lecture is written rather than spoken. There are several advantages to this style of lecture. In a traditional classroom environment you would listen to your instructor's lecture and hopefully take notes. You will then be required to do your homework assignments outside of the classroom. What happens if you are doing your assignment and can't remember what your instructor said about the subject you are studying? You can search your notes, but maybe you missed that particular point or simply didn't think to write it down. You can remember your instructor talking about the subject, but you can't remember any of the details. What are your options? You can ask some of your fellow students for assistance hoping they wrote down the points in their notes or you can wait until the next class meeting and ask your instructor.

The virtual classroom is totally different. If you can't remember what your professor said all you have to do is re-read his or her lecture. In most cases you will be able to print a hard copy of the lecture. You will be able to review you professor’s lecture without even going online again.

Your Virtual Instructor

Online instructors have the same qualifications as an on-campus instructor. They are experts in the subject they are teaching and usually have a master's degree or higher. However, if you are a person who needs personal contact you may need to do some adjusting. Some students will never actually meet their instructor and those who do may only have such contact one or two times during the course. This lack of personal contact tends to be the biggest complaint of online students.

So how does an online instructor interact with his or her students? The three main interaction tools are email, discussion forums, and chat rooms. These methods of communication will be discussed in future chapters.

Student Interaction

Online students may find it difficult to socially interact with each other. There are several reasons for this. One is conflicting time schedules. Another is the varying locations where students live. Often students in the same virtual classroom can live in different states or even different countries. While discussion forums and chat rooms provide a means for student interaction, they do not provide the social connection of an on-campus class.

The average online student is usually a working adult or a parent of small children or both. If this description fits you, then your reasons for enrolling in college courses is not likely to be social interaction. Your goal is strictly educational so you can have an opportunity to earn your degree and get that promotion you have been hoping for or move on to a whole new career or just feel good about your accomplishment. Without online courses such a goal would not be attainable. Consequently, for most online students the lack of social interaction is not a major issue.

An advantage worth mentioning here is the fact that students who tend to be shy about participating in a physical classroom are usually much more conversational in an online classroom. They tend to be more willing to post comments on the class discussion forum and are usually more prone to ask their instructor a question via email. As a consequence, a shy or timid individual can have a more positive learning experience in the online environment.

Donna is an online instructor for two colleges and she
received both her B.S. and M.B.A. via online classes. You are granted permission
to use this article on your blogs, websites, or ezines as long as the author's
name, websites, and bylines are included.

Visit Donna's Tupperware Website