All About Baby

A Simple Method for Choosing the Perfect Name for Your New Baby

2009-05-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

A person's name is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Selecting a baby's name is an important, but often difficult decision for many parents. Follow our guide for a simple process in selecting your baby's name.

Most people have some ideas for good baby names and have thought about it on and off throughout their entire lives. Remember that the other parent and people around you will also have opinions about baby names, so sometimes it is a good idea to consider these opinions. If by some chance you do not have enough ideas for baby names, then search the internet for a baby name directory.

Remember that your new child will be stuck with whatever name you give him or her for the rest of their lives. Common names are "normal" and "safe", but sometimes easily forgotten, especially when you meet a lot of people all at once. Unusual names are hard to remember at first, but once remembered usually stick to memory much better. You may want to choose a name that is easily pronounced from the spelling. When trying to pick a name, decide whether you want the child to have a common name or an unusual name.

If you want a not too common name that is easy to remember, try to think of names of people that you have never met before. For example, I've never personally met anyone named Darien, so perhaps that name is not too common. Although this method is far from scientific, it is a good way to brainstorm.

Want to avoid common names? Check out the following website that allows you the search for the most common names by year:

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

Once you have a list of names, you can move onto the second step in the process - picking the best name for the baby. It should be noted that in most cases, the two people who have authority of a new baby's name are the mother and father. The opinions of friends, family members, and other associates can be taken into account as well, but ultimately the parents should make the final decision. The name should be one that both the mother and father like. Here are some methods for selecting a baby's name:

1) The most obvious way to select a name is to just have both parents talk about it until they reach a decision. Most parents can come to agreements this way, although others may be more fixated on their own name choices. If selecting a baby name becomes difficult, try the methods below.

2) The father picks a boy name and the mother picks a girl name before the gender of the child is known (or vice versa). If either parent does not like a name, they can veto the name. For example, if the father picks "John" for the boy's name and the mother does not like it, she can veto. The father then has to pick another name. This process continues until both parents pick names that are mutually acceptable. This method works best for parents that are not too picky about names. Otherwise, the process could last a long time.

3) If you want to involve friends and family, what you will need to do is make a list of names. Choose the names that you are most passionate about and make the list as concise as possible. Have friends and family rate the names on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best (or rank them from favorite to least favorite). The parents can easily print out these surveys on paper or send the by email. Total up the scores and see what people around you think.

The reach a decision, parents must agree on a process and then follow it. In summary, following these simple steps can take the stress and difficulty out of selecting a baby's name.

Unique Baby Names

2009-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

What in a name? Erell, everything, really! Of course your little bundle of joy is the sweetest, most beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to choose a name that reflects his/her individuality, spirituality, uniqueness and all-round special-ness.

But wait a minute!

Remember that the unique baby name you choose will help define junior life - how they are viewed and accepted - for many, many years. What sounds cute and original for a 5-year-old, may not sound so funky for a 15-year-oldnd what about a 55-year old?

Time was when only celebrities could get away with unique baby names (Zowie Bowie, Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa, etc), but in the modern world, individuality is more prized than ever before, and increasingly, this starts with our names. Great idea ?but don allow a flash of a self-indulgence to condemn your child to a lifetime of problems; it reported that a Chinese couple named their child addam Sars?to mark the current world events at the time of the birth! I just hope it means something nice in Mandarin, or Cantonese!

This probably wouldn have happened in Germany, where names can only be registered if they recognizable, do not ridicule the child and are gender specific. Perhaps there is at least one Chinese child in the world, who will grow up wishing he/she were German!

So ?assuming you are not German - what should you do if you want to create a unique baby name, without creating too many problems? Here are some tips and some warnings to make the process less painful:

1. Anagrams: try creating an anagram of an existing name.

2. Father and Mother: try using derivatives of one of the parents?names, or a combination of both. Alternatively, how does the mother maiden name sound as a first name?

3. Telescoping: try dropping letters from another name or a word, until you get a nice-sounding name.

4. Spelling: an unusual spelling of a common name creates uniqueness. However, remember that your child will be condemned to a lifetime of ?that David spelt D..A..Y..V..I..D? conversations.

5. Pronunciation: another trick is to pronounce a common name in an unusual way. But this can also lead to a lifetime of corrections and explanations ?as well as teasing and accusations of pretentiousness.

6. History: do some research into names that were popular in previous eras, but have become less so.

7. Family History: are there any unusual baby names that can be used to honor family members or ancestors? But beware family politics?

8. Nature: many names come from the natural world, particularly flowers (e.g. Rose) and it a great source for unique baby names (e.g. Gwyneth Paltrow daughter Apple).

9. Geography: another useful source of great names - grab an atlas and start searching. David and Victoria Beckham called their first son Brooklyn, which many people think is a cool-sounding name. However, it reported that the choice was made because that where conception took place. Hmmm, imagine a lifetime in which your name is a constant reminder of your parents having sex! Eeeuuuuww!!!

10. Celebrities: famous people with slightly unusual names are a common source of inspiration. There are lots of teenage ylie running around the UK since Kylie Minogue arrival on the music scene at end of the ?0, and her recent resurgence, will have created a second wave of them. And I sure many little eonce have been popping up over the last few years. The only problem is that names like these very soon begin to sound a little silly and annabe?

11. Foreign Names: consider using a foreign version of a name, e.g., Pedro, instead of Peter. Or try using a name from a completely different culture.

12. Nicknames: try using a nickname e.g. Angie, instead of Angela or Angelina. However, make sure the name is will pass the ge test??see number 17 below.

13. Middle Names: a great way to accommodate individuality when naming your baby, is to combine a common first name with a unique second/middle name. The benefit of this is that your child can avoid embarrassment throughout his/her life by ignoring it of keeping it hidden.

14. Initials: when you have settled on some names, check that the initials aren embarrassing. This is an easy trap to fall into and can lead to a lifetime of misery. ina Indigo?are may be nice sounding names for your lovely daughter, but make sure your surname doesn begin with ?

15. First Name-Surname: check how the selected first name combines with the surname. Make sure the two names do not create some something recognizable, to prevent a lifetime of teasing. Also, check the rhythm of the two names; a different number of syllables in each name usually flows much better. Avoid rhyming the 2 names at all costs or your child will hate you forever!

16. The loudness test: try saying the name softly, at normal pitch and shouting it very loudly. You may be surprised at the results.

17. The age test: try to visualize your child with the name as a baby, as a teenager, as a young adult, a mature adult and as a senior citizen. A name can create completely different perceptions of the individual at separate stages of life.

18. The meaning: the final test of the name that you choose should be to check its meaning (if any). Don leave your child open to getting a nasty surprise later in life.

Whatever name you decide, don fall into the trap of self-indulgence. Remember, it not about you, it all about your child. Your grand design to celebrate the uniqueness of this new human being, may eventually lead to a lifelong, desperate desire for conformity and anonymity. Even Zowie Bowie eventually changed his name to oey?

Baby Name Meanings

2009-05-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning ho is like God?, I really proud of my name. And I think that I ?mostly - live up to the title! Of course, my mother would probably disagree; I think the phrase ittle devil?would probably pass her lips if she was describing me during many stages of my childhood.

But then, my mother has her own issues; apparently her name (Kathleen) is a Celtic name meaning ittle Darling? Hmmm, that isn the way I used to think about her during those regular occasions when she was punishing me for my ot like God?behaviour?

And that the fun of baby name meanings ?parents make naming decisions based on many, many different reasons, including family traditions, religion, culture, uniqueness and t just sounds really nice.?But ?in the Western world ?we rarely do any real research into the history or real meaning of names. So when the poor/lucky child finally finds out the meaning of his/her eally nice sounding?name, the results can be interesting, ironic, unfortunate or just sometimes hilarious.

You can have a lot of fun thinking up family/friends names, finding out the meanings and trying to make a connection between the two. For example, my eldest brother Clive is apparently  cliff dweller? which is coincidental, since he lives at the top of a very long steep hill! Or why not play the game with celebrities ?consider the following:

Badu (as in r n singer Erykah Badu): African name meaning enth born child?

Winona (as in actress Winona Ryder): Sioux name meaning irstborn daughter?

Aaliyah (the late r n singer): Arabic name meaning igh, exalted?

Hilary (as in actresses Duff/Swank): Latin name meaning heerful?

Some cultures have very interesting traditions when it comes to baby name meanings. For example, Hindu names usually have connections with very positive things such as truth, beauty, happiness, blessings, etc, or one of the Hindu gods. In the Sikh culture, girls traditionally have the middle or surname aur? meaning rincess? whilst the boys have the middle or surname ingh? meaning ion?

An African friend of mine once mentioned that many Africans are given a second name corresponding to the day of the week on which they were born. I think is a really nice tradition, but in my case, my middle name would be ondo?(born on Sunday)!! Hmmmm?

Whatever type of name you have chosen, or are thinking about for your undle of joy? its worth doing a little research into the meaning. And it never been easier, with the wealth of Internet resources and books available, including my own site at www.all-about-baby-names.com, which is jam-packed with resources, tips and information on baby names, baby name meanings and baby products.

Your search may yield some surprises; for example, the lovely-sounding name alory?is French and means ad luck? You could get round this by spelling it allory? but this means ithout good fortune?in Old German!

Alternatively, you may end up a little confused by different meanings of the same name; for example eah?is a beautiful girl name, but what does it mean? Well?

?In Hebrew it means ow?or eary one??uugghhh! ?In Greek it means lad tidings??In Assyrian, it means istress, ruler?

And a final warning: if you are planning to go for a funky, unusual-sounding name, be sure to avoid acia,??its Ugandan meaning is amily deaths ruined the home!?

For more information and advice, check out the baby name meaning resources at www.all-about-baby-names.com.

Enjoy your search and happy baby naming!

Planning your Wedding Decoration Budget

2009-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to your decorating budget it really depends on where the ceremony and reception will be on what decorations need to be present as well as what if any; themes that you are choosing.

For example, if you are planning an indoor dinner, you have to include centerpieces etc. The most common decorating choice for weddings and reception are flowers, and streamers.

While the streamers and various other decorations are generally inexpensive, the flowers can kill you. It is best when choosing your flowers for a wedding service and reception to use false flowers or paper machete flowers as they are cheap and reusable.

For those who would much prefer to use real flowers, it can be much cheaper to go with wild flowers and/or hand picked flowers. It is also a good idea to use them sparingly.

For example, rather than going all out and decorating everything with flowers just use a simple arrangement for the center of the table and place them in small vases or hand made crafts.

Of course you can also opt to keep the flowers strictly in the ceremony. Paper machete flowers re getting more and more popular as well as hand made roses that were created from tissue paper. When they are placed on green pipe cleaners or wires that are covered in green tissue paper they are quite attractive. It is a nice way to save money and spend some time with your friends and family in creating them.

When it comes to the decoration budget, this is a time when you will want the church, chapel or hall for the ceremony to cover them for you.

If that is not possible, the ceremonial decorations can be limited to those involved in the ceremony, such as their clothes. If you must, you can pin balloons to the areas where the guests will be seated or create some flowers out of tissue paper.

Streamers are always used, but there are other ways to decorate that are just as appealing. Here are some good tips for decorating at your wedding on a budget.

?A really unique idea is to use glass containers and putting baby fish in them. It is very unique and attractive, and it is also cheap because the glass containers can be purchased at Wal-Mart and even a dollar store. The fish can be as cheap as you want them to be

?Good old candle holders and candles are always a romantic addition to any wedding decor

?If your reception is at night it is nice to add fireflies to a glass container with holes for air or even butterflies during the day

?False flower arrangements in a bamboo pot are a very nice addition and keepsake for guests

?Using white Christmas lights streamed through greenery is a beautiful decoration and is one that you likely already have available

?Chocolate and candy flower bouquets are sweet accents to the d嶰or and they can be souvenirs for the guests later.

?Balloons, balloons, and more balloons are always fun

These are not the only decorations that are available but you are getting the idea. The best thing that you can do before choosing your decorations is to choose a theme first. Themes for weddings are just like choosing themes for anniversaries and birthdays. Once you can decide on a theme, you can decorate around that theme.

For example, if you are choosing to have your theme be tropical romance, you can use glass containers with sand etc. as centerpieces to your reception. Some extra and easy to afford themes include those that will be listed in the table below as well as some of the things that usually accompany them.

These are common wedding ceremonial themes that are used as opposed to the reception themes mentioned above; of course they can be used as reception themes too.

Photography Poses ?The Missing Ingredient

2009-05-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the best price on your first digital camera, and even glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take some shots of your family, or what?

Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that seem great at the time, but then upon review of the final picture are less than what you expected, let's prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's review some basic advice of the pros.

There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE which applies, regardless of whether you're using a digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or even maternity portraits. The first category is...

"Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses

1) Prepare For The Event

Prepare for the event by thinking about every photograph you want to take and what kind of photography pose or poses you would like to capture. Consider who, where, how, and the type of environment.

2) Take Multiple Photographs

Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification); which leads to...

3) Check LCD Screen

Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the background! And, my favorite...

4) Funny Phrases

Have some funny phrases handy to use just before you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words that you know your family will find more amusing than "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a fake one. The second category is...

"Location" Advice for Photography Poses

Taking indoor family photography, is very different than outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR pictures...

1) Wide Angle

You will tend to use the wide angle more often than your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people don't have to lose a limb.

2) The Flash

Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want to appear in darkness).

3) Plan "B"

If you need to be further away than your flash allows, here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), or second, move to a significantly brighter location.

4) Watch Your Background

If there are distracting features, change your settings to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The best photography pose in the world won't look right with a distracting background. And finally...

5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the background and you can't find a different location, only take the picture in such a way that the flash is NOT PERPENDICULAR to the surface, but at an angle (unless you WANT a nice photo of your flash).

Outdoor family photography has completely different issues. For OUTDOOR photography...

6) The Sun

Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results from a slightly overcast sky.

7) Shade

When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) when necessary. And, REALLY finally...

8) Beauty

If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a creative photography pose captured in a stunning environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"?

To see 5 different categories of poses with tips, scroll to the middle of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/ photography-pose.html

Article courtesy of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com where you can see some sample pictures including more photography tips.

A Guide To Successful Obedience Training

2009-05-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Showing off your dog in front of friends and family is something that I personally love to do. Having an obedient, happy slab of lab is like having an obedient happy child. Have you ever been in a supermarket only to come across a screaming baby and a blushing parent? I know I have, and my first reaction is to get as far away from the disturbing scene as possible. I have also been in the undesirable situation of being in public with an unobedient dog and I can say, I feel the pain of the frantic parent!

The term, “A happy dog is an obedient dog” is one that I really believe holds a lot of merit due to its simplicity. If you have a relatively well behaved dog, that interacts well with the family, it is fair to say that rarely will you or anyone else in that family be angry or even worse abusive towards your pet. On the other hand if your dog is not obedient to a satisfactory level, and does not interact well with the family, one can say that members of that family will have a hard time coping with the pet and this trend can only escalate only leading to the eventual departure of the pet from the family.

When teaching your dog basic obedience, it is wize to make sure that you first have an understanding of the art yourself. Like people, dogs have unique personalities none of which are the same, and it is a good trainer that will take the time to figure out the dog before trying to figure out how to best approach introducing basic obedience. Furthermore, there are many external resources out there for you to take advantage of in order to help you understand the art of training. Books, articles, Obedience Instructors, and the internet, are all viable sources that you should take advantage of when seeking advice, or just experiences from others in your situation.

Below I have listed my top ten components to keep in mind when working with your dog. I did not rank them, as they are all very important to keep in mind as they will only aid you in bonding, understanding, and interacting positively with your four-legged friend:

- Know what your doing – Before comensing any type of training, do your research first! To offen, pet owners try to do all the work their way, get frustrated and take out their frustrations on their pet. Having an understanding of the methodology behind the many types of training, will benefit you to know end. - Consistancy

– Being consistent with your approach is very very important when dealing with your dog in any aspect of life. When working with your dog try to use the same approach each time. Changing training methods mid session for example will only confuse your dog even more than he-she already is. Furthermore, set up training time at least twice a day, and keep to these times. Training time is important, the more sessions you set up the more productivity you can expect in the long run.

- Keep your sessions short – The attention span of a dog is frail at the best of times, thus it is crutial to keep the sessions short. Remember keep the sessions short but do not sacrifice content. Rome was not built in a day. - Keep training sessions fun

– Dogs as do people, like to have fun, and why shouldn’t they? Training can be fun for you and your pet! Be lively, treat good behavior, praise your dog to no end, make him feel like he is the best dog in the world, even if he’s not!

- Never punish your pet for what they don’t know! – To offen, I have seen people talk to their pet with the understanding that their beloved dog is a master of the English language, only to punish them when the desired response is not carried out. This really bothers me because it shows me that that person would rather bully their pet into submitting than taking the time to research, develop and implicate an approach to help the dog learn the desired response to certain words or phrases. (No Hungmay Kowaisa!( Did you understan that? Well you would if you researched the Korean language

- Train to your dog’s strength – As stated above every dog has its own unique personality, therefore we must identify characteristics of our pets in order to take advantage of them in our training sessions. If your pet is very lively, take advantage of that! During training sessions, be lively yourself! Match your dogs enthusiasm, when your happy, your pet will be happy and your pet will be very happy come training time. If your dog has a laid back shy personality, take this into account when training. Still be lively and upbeat as this will spark the interest of your dog, however keep in mind that due to his/her personality, displaying comprehention may take longer due to the shy nature of your dog. It is really important to make a shy laid back dog feel super great during training sessions as this can only improve your chances of continuing successful training.

- Incorperate training into your everyday routine – It can be very beneficial to perform individual obedience exercises through out the day. Simply by performing the sit exercise while you brush him, or having the dog sit while you attach his leash can help to imprint the sitting position. Keep little things like this in mind as they can only aid you and your pet.

- Be patient – Remember you are trying to teach your dog! Your dog is a non-english speaking individual, lacking house manners, behavioral skills, curticy, do I need to continue?? Take your time, play to your dog’s strength, praise, respect, keep sessions short and compact, and have fun!

- Empithize with your dog – The best example I can think of for this suggestion, is going to a foreign country and trying to comprehend what people are saying. Somebody will come up to you and start rambling on in a foreign tongue and you have no clue what they are saying. Your dog is in the same predicament with you. When you start training your dog, he-she has no clue on earth what you are saying. How is he-she supposed to respond if he-she doesn’t know what you want? As in the above example, the more time you spend in the foreign country, the more familiar you become with the language. You can apply the same principle with your dog. More training leads to more comprehention, leading to the end result, an obedient dog.

- Reward good bahavior – The best way to reinforce good behavior is to reward it. Others may disagree with this statement, but through my experience with my own dog and others around me, I have found that rewarding good behavior can only aid in maintaining that behavior. In my opinion, the best way of rewarding good behavior is through offering toys or treats. Praise is also worthy but would you rather have an icecream cone, or a good handshake I personally love icecream and would pick that over a handshake anyday. Your dog is driven by his belly in most cases, and you can achieve astonishing success by baiting your dog with the occasional russle of the treat bag

Make a Fairy Garden For Your Kids Party

2009-05-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

This project is a truly unique kids party activity, combining fun, fantasy, and learning. Kids love getting their hands dirty and learning how things grow. They will also love the idea of making a magical garden place for a fairy to live.

A miniature garden takes little space and can rest on a tabletop. Maintenance requires only a light misting from time to time and watching for fairies to come to call. Just kidding about that last part, but you never know...

Start by collecting various containers such as woven baskets, large shallow bowls or deep dish clay saucers (like a birdbath), or even discarded bureau drawers. Check yard sales for innovative ideas and inexpensive materials.

Next, supply potting soil and a selection of small plants that will reach under a foot when fully grown. Dwarf zinnias, marigolds, violets, ivy, baby's tears and sprigs of vinca are all good choices. There are many types of mosses that will work nicely too, fitting into corners and small areas easily to add texture and interest. A variety of low-growing herbs such as thyme and rosemary lend aroma to the mix as well.

Start by lining your garden container with heavy duty plastic, fill to within an inch of the top with potting soil then kids are ready to landscape the top. Let them choose their favorite diminutive plants, interspersing them with various materials to add charm and character to the fairy garden.

For example, turn a colorful plant pot on its side and submerge it halfway in the soil to serve as a proper fairy dwelling. Add dollhouse sized furniture to set in the garden, popsicle sticks to construct a fairy fence, or small flat rocks to make a wonderful stepping stone path.

A small mirror symbolizing water making a faux gazing pool. The round flat glass beads used in vases make nice accent pieces too. Tiny garden accessories like terra cotta pots and shovels give your garden a "lived-in" look.

Fairy gardens needn't be for little girls only. Boys can make a miniature dinosaur den using many of the same materials. Herbs, moss and other green plants can make a forest or wooded area in which small plastic dinosaurs return from extinction to live another day. Soil mounded to one side forms a volcano, spilling red aquarium stone lava. A construction site garden is another option for boys. Tiny rocks, stick logs, and craft stick lumber can be stacked up waiting for the big rigs to move them. Small toy bulldozers and cranes can be scattered about, among the plantings.

These whimsical gardens can go wherever your child's imagination takes them. You provide the materials, they supply the ideas and creativity. Planting and maintaining a miniature garden teaches kids about plants, caring for living things, and most all the fun of gardening.

Ten Ha-Ha-Hilarious Kids Party Games

2009-05-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Want to become the most popular kids party-giver on the planet? Keep kids cracking up with these ten tried-and-true ha-ha-hilarious kids party game ideas.

PARROT GAME

Divide guests into two equal groups, one is the Pirates, the other the Parrots. The parrots are very very grouchy and are not permitted to smile. The pirates can do anything they like to get the parrots to laugh. The parrots can only respond parrot-style - if they think they can without crackering-er, I mean cracking - up!!! You might make one of the rules that parrots must answer any questions in "parrot-speak" only. The last parrot to keep a straight face is the winner.

BABY BOTTLE GAME

Before the party, prepare a baby bottle with a new clean nipple for each guest. Fill each bottle with 1 ounce of water and make sure the water runs out of each bottle at the same rate of speed. At a signal, each contestant tries to drink the water the fastest. The first one to finish is the winner. Imagine what great pictures you'll get with this one!

SLEEPING LIONS One

player is chosen to be "it". All other players lie down and become sleeping lions. They lie flat on their backs, keeping as still and quiet as possible. The "it" person has to try to make them laugh by making funny faces but not actually touching them. Anyone who giggles is out. The last lion is the winner.

Variations: Sleeping Clowns, Sleeping Astronauts, Sleeping Pirates, Sleeping Cowboys, etc.

HA!HA!HA!

The object of this game is to keep a straight face while the other players try to make you laugh. Everyone sits in a circle. One child says, "Ha!" The next child adds a second "Ha!" by saying "Ha!Ha!". The third child adds another "Ha!" saying, "Ha!Ha!Ha!"...and so on. Any player who laughs or makes a mistake must drop out of the circle. However, those "drop-outs" can also try to make the others laugh (except by touching them or talking). The player who keeps a straight face the longest is the winner.

Variation: Have each child lie down, resting his or her head on the stomach of the next child. The last child to laugh is the winner.

POOR PUSSY

This is a tried and true game which has been popular for generations. Arrange players in a circle. except for one child who is designated "Poor Pussy". Poor Pussy kneels in front of any player and acts like - you guessed it - a pussy cat. While he or she is meowing, the player must stroke Poor Pussy's head and say "Poor Pussy, Poor Pussy" without smiling. If the player petting Pussy smiles or laughs, they become "Poor Pussy" in the next round.

Think about how difficult it is not to crack up while petting someone's head and saying "Poor Pussy"! To make it worse, Poor Pussy is allowed to do anything to make players lose their composure, including silly faces, strange purring sounds, or other catlike moves. Other players are also permitted to laugh and do whatever possible to make it more difficult for the designated person to keep their composure.

CAT TAILS GAME

Cut thin strips of cloth for each guest at least one yard long and have them put them into the back of their pants, just skimming the ground. Kids then try to step on each other's tails. They are out when they lose their tail. The winner is the last one to keep his tail!

JUNGLE KNOTS

Instruct guests to stand in a circle facing inward. To begin, everyone extends his or her right hand into the ring and takes hold of someone else's hand. Then, they do the same with their left hands. The object of the game is to see if they can untangle the "knot" by stepping over, ducking under people, or turning around. Whatever happens, they can't let go of hands!

FIRE ALARM RELAY

Prepare two sets of fire fighter's clothing, including boots, oversized jackets, hats and gloves. Mark a starting line and place two chairs across the room with an empty wrapping paper tube on each. This will be the location of the fire and the hose to put it out.

Divide guests into two teams and demonstrate the proper procedure for the game. They must put on the firefighter's clothing, run to the chair, pick up the "hose" and run around the chair with it spraying the fire, set the hose back on the chair, return to the dressing station, take off the clothes and go back to their line. The next person on their team then repeats the whole procedure until all team members have taken a turn. The team that completes the relay first is the winner.

This game can be played with any type of clothing. Match it to fit the theme of your party.

MUSCLE BUILDERS

Inflate up to 100 small balloons. Divide guests into two teams and select one guest on each team to be the "weakling". The remaining guests will be "personal trainers". Gather teams on opposite sides of the room and divide the balloons between them. The weakling puts on one-piece long johns or any other simple jumpsuit type of clothing you may have.

When you say "go", the teams of personal trainers must make their weaklings grow instant muscles by stuffing as many balloons as they can into their long underwear. Give teams one minute for this task. When time is up - and you've taken lots of pictures! - remove and count the balloons for each team. The weakling with the most "muscles" or balloons, wins. This can be done more than once with new weaklings.

MUMMY WRAP

Split the party goers into teams of three and give each team a toilet roll. Two persons then wrap the third in the toilet roll so that they look like an Egyptian Mummy. The winning team is the one who in a set time (2 minutes is good) have the neatest and most covered Mummy.

Watering Your Young Child Mind

2009-05-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

It an everyday nursery rhyme, it simple to sing with your small child, and apparently this nursery rhyme about a little child watering her garden is watering your little child mind!

Early childhood educators have identified pre-reading skills that are necessary for the learning of reading and the mastery of language. They include phonological awareness, or the awareness of speech sounds and rhyme similarities, vocabulary or knowing lots of words, and the more a child loves the enjoyment and pleasure of using language, the more success they will have in reading and writing and academic studies. Nursery rhymes, with their words of imagery, rhymes and rhythm that children find so fun, have all these qualities!

Let look at other ways that you are probably already simply, instinctively and effectively watering your child mind, and what the researchers are now saying about it.

Let look at songs and music, activities that lots of caregivers instinctively share with their children. The National Network for Child Care at http://www.nncc.org/Series/good.time.music.html explains why songs, action songs, music and rhythm are important for children. They allow children to express their emotions, channel their energy creatively, gain confidence in themselves as they coordinate their minds and their bodies together, learn new words and ideas, and learn about themselves as they explore what they like, what they like when and what they can do. Learning these physical and emotional controls, ways of expression and self-knowledge are necessary for a happy life now in childhood and in their future adulthood. This is the real reason why we let our toddlers take out the pots, pans and wooden spoons and bang them, making a terrible ruckus.

How about even simpler, even more unassuming activities, such as having fun blowing a dandelion seeds into the air. The child development psychologists Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn in their book aby Minds: Brain-Building Games Your Baby Will Love?explain that such a simple yet fun and stimulating activity will stimulate your baby brain development. The practical conclusion that these researchers draw from the latest research is that f your baby is not having fun, it probably not worth doing?

Thus, the conclusion we can draw is f your small child is having fun, then it probably stimulating your child physical and mental development? We already instinctively knew that, and so it wonderful to have researchers and experts confirming and encouraging this. Whenever my toddler pulls the toilet paper still on its roll and runs around the house redecorating it in toilet paper, I just tell myself that this is a fantastic activity for his brain, body and creative imagination.

Actually, small children are programmed to learn and to engage in activities that will develop their minds and bodies. It probably has not escaped your attention that kids will naturally invent a fun and interesting game (fun and interesting to the child) out of absolutely anything. The brain plasticity scientist Lise Eliot explains in hat Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life?that there are way too many connections in the brain and communications with the rest of the body ?billions of neurons and a quadrillion synapses at last count ?for it to be preprogrammed in genetic DNA material. Thus, babies and children are programmed to try things out and to repetitively practise them for days and weeks and months, so that brain circuitry will sprout in the first place and then solidify to become permanent. Actually, this is my own layperson description. Lise Eliot refers to it as neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and myelination. It the reason why babies kick in the womb, so that the connection between the leg-kicking part of the brain and the actual leg can be developed. It the reason why my newly mobile son never tires of playing with the toilet brush in the toilet bowl, developing and practising his hand-eye coordination and his understanding of the physical world, in this visual, audio and tactile activity of splashing water.

We all know that cuddling our babies and children is important for their emotional and psychological development. Lise Eliot gives examples in the chapter he Importance of Touch?of how touch and physical contact increases physical and brain development. Studies show that premature babies that receive cuddling and massages thrive measurably more and do better on visual baby tests. Children with various medical problems had better clinical outcomes after receiving massage therapy. Perhaps you have seen the famous escuing Hug?(such as at http://www.daurelia.com/spirit/rescue.htm or http://www.snopes.com/glurge/hug.htm), where the physical touch of her baby twin sister was responsible for the very survival of a premature baby.

Let talk about talking. The very experienced authority on early childhood development Dr Burton White gives the following advice. Allow your newly mobile child to explore your home. Hel bring things back to show you and will have a need to be fulfilled when doing that. Stop, quickly look and see what that need is, and then respond to the need. Dr Burton White says that the secret to teaching language, whether it be verbal language or sign language, is to respond to that need with language and play on that need. Dr White is the author of irst Three Years of Life?and aising a Happy Unspoiled Child? and you can see and hear him giving this advice in Joseph Garcia ign with your Baby?video. And in my house, you can see me having a conversation with a toddler about a wet toilet brush he has just brought me.

How to increase your child mathematics ability? Studies have shown that studying music statistically significantly increases children math skills and spatial-temporal reasoning abilities. The question now is why. A oday Parent?article at http://www.todaysparent.com/education/general/article.jsp?content=20030903_124111_1696&page=1 cites a brain-imaging ozart Effect?type of study that showed that the same parts of the brain were active when listening to Mozart as when doing puzzles and playing chess, suggesting that music is like warm-up exercises for the brain. Another study cited in that article goes much further, suggesting that music is more than just a cultural artifact; that our brains are actually structured for music, just like our brains are structured for speech and walking. Brain patterns were mapped and assigned musical tones to mark changes in neural activity. When played back, instead of sounding like a random sequence of notes, it almost sounded like a melody of a recognizable style of music!

o!??We hear it from those terrible-twos toddlers. Well, Lise Eliot in hat Going On In There??presents a study about the effects of parents saying o? on?and top it?on the development of their children. Research established that children that heard a larger proportion of this type of negative feedback had poorer language skills than children whose parents kept their negative responses to a minimum and instead gave encouraging, positive and dialog-inducing responses. The online games at www.KiddiesGames.com provide a fun model of this positive pattern of interaction. When the child playing a game gets something right, the friendly child character on the screen says hat right!?or congratulates the player. When the child playing a game clicks on the wrong thing, the upbeat child on the screen doesn actually say o?or rong? Instead, it explains in the same positive tone what the child playing just did and what another possible (and correct) answer could have been. The feedback is accurate and positively and cheeringly encouraging. As far as I know, there have been no studies done on the effects that toddlers saying o?to their parents have on those parents...

Can you remember all this information next time youe interacting with your small child? Let summarize it all like the current Canadian CBS Television campaign slogan ??) Comfort,

2) play with and 3) teach your child? in that order. This is how you water your child mind, and youe probably already doing it. So follow your instinct, let your child lead the way to play, go with the flow and enjoy playing with your small child. While the results of recent studies may be news to you, the recommended actions are just a reminder!

Pet Services Are A Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry

2009-05-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

There are many of us who consider our pets as part of the family, and this is evidenced by a recent statistic that states 65% of all U.S. homes own at least one pet. Along with this increase in pet ownership comes the need for services tailored for our pet comfort. And, because of this trend, pet services have grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that encompasses a wide range of services from pet supplies to recovery services aimed at returning our lost pets.

The largest industry leader is still pet supply, and companies like PetCo and PetSmart are the leading forces, providing everything from pet foods to grooming. Companies like these have evolved because their services are based on the growth of the pet population, and our need to make our pets feel like a family member. This focus has driven the industry from a single section in discount and grocery stores into a wide range of businesses that are tailored at pampering our pets.

One of the services that have grown out of this industry are pet sitting services that will, as the title implies sit for your pet like a baby sitter sits for you children. These services can range from kennels with all the amenities that will pamper your pet while your on extended absences, to small home services that sit for your pets while your at work. The cost for the services can range from a few dollars per hour for basic sitting services to a few thousand dollars for the more posh kennel services that cater to your pets?every need.

Then there are the specialty service that have become popular by their use in movies and television commercials, and the most recognized of these is the pet walking services. Pet walking services became popular in movies of cosmopolitan life in the inner city, and this service has grown ever since. Another popular service, but not as glamorous is the poopey scooper service, that effectively keeps our streets clean. And, with the recent laws that have been enacted regarding this issue, this service is becoming ever popular.

And finally there are services that have become popular with the growth of the internet; one type of service that is growing is the pet recovery field. This service helps pet owners recover their pets by providing a place to list their pet in advance, so when the lost pet is found, the owners contact information can be retrieved. One company that also includes a free pet identification tag with registration is RecoveryPets.Com and their website is located at http://www.recoverypets.com, and this enables the finder to quickly find the lost pets?owner by knowing exactly what site visit.

Because of these specialty services our pets are more pampered and secure, and if the pet ownership population continues to grow, we will see an increase in the number of services dedicated to our pets, and the continued growth of this multi-billion dollar industry.

How to Make Your Own Refrigerator Magnets

2009-05-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

There are several types of refrigerator magnets that you can make with a little effort and the right materials. Below are some ideas for making magnets for gifts or just for fun.

1. First you need to gather the needed ingredients. The easiest magnets to make are flat magnets that you print out on your printer. These magnets are great for personalized favors and gifts. You will need special magnet sheets that are designed to be printed on, which should be available at most office supply stores as well as online.

2. If you are artistic, then you can draw your own images and scan them into your computer. Or you can draw them using a paint program. If not, you can do a search for free clip art and images, which should turn up plenty of images that you can use. These images can be imported into a word processor.

3. Next, you can insert the desired text. To make sure the text is readable, insert a box with solid background into the picture. This is where you will insert your personalized text.

4. Finally, print out your magnets on your color printer. If you don't have a color printer, then you local copy shop should be able to print these out for you for a reasonable fee.

5. You can also make three-dimensional magnets by using plaster of paris and cookie or soap molds. Fill the molds with the wet plaster and insert a circular magnet into the wet plaster. Cookie cutters can also be used instead of molds.

6. Once the plaster dries, the magnets can now be painted. Other types of decorations can be used as well, like glitter. Once the paint dries, you will have a lovely keepsake item or gift that will last for years.

In summary, with a few cheap ingredients and a little time, anyone can make their own refrigerator magnets. Enjoy!

How to Save Money on Wedding and Baby Shower Favors

2009-05-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Planning on having a wedding or baby shower soon? Getting favors is a nice way of saying thank you to your guests for coming. Here are some tips for saving money when purchasing baby shower or wedding favors.

1) Buy extras off other people - Oftentimes, people get too many favors for their occasion. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry. Once the celebration is over, however, these people may be willing to sell you their leftover favors at a sharp discount. If you don't know anyone personally, then look in the classifieds in both local and national papers as well as online auction sites like ebay.

2) Buy in bulk and sell the leftovers - Sometimes you will be able to save money by buying in bulk. You can sell the extras to other people. If you know other people that are having weddings or baby showers, then you can combine your orders and benefit from lower costs and possibly bulk purchase incentives like free shipping.

3) Make your own favors - If you are crafty, then you can make your own favors. Purchase all the materials at your local craft shop or online. Since you are making them from scratch, you can customize and personalize as well. People will appreciate the effort that went into making your own favors.

4) Find a craftsman - If you find a local craftsman or artist, then there is a chance that you can get a great price from them for your favors. Another possibility is an art student that is still in school. They will usually work for less money than a full time professional.

5) Flea markets and thrift shops - Flea markets and thrift shops are great places to locate bargain items. Also check out closeouts, store sales, garage sales, and live auctions. Oftentimes, you can also negotiate prices with these vendors.

As you can see, there are many ways to save money when shopping for gifts for your guests. Follow these tips and you are sure to save money or favors and supplies for your wedding, baby shower, or any other special occasion.

How to Make Your Own Soap Favors for Weddings and Baby Showers

2009-05-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Want to make soap as a gift for your party guests? Here are some simple tips for making soap gifts and favors:

1. There are literally hundreds of different ingredients that can be used for soap making. Basically, you will need the following - soap chips or soap base, essential or fragrance oil for scent, and colorants. You will also need a soap mold and a pot to melt the soap in.

2. The easiest way to make soap is to take an already made bar of soap and melt it down. The bar will already have all the ingredients you need in it. You can then pour the soap into a mold of your choice or shape it as desired. Or you can use a cookie cutter or knife to shape it while it is still warm.

3. If you are using raw ingredients, simply pour and mix them in the mold of your choice.

4. Heating - Make sure to heat the soap slowly to prevent combustion or degradation of smell. 130'F - 155'F is a good general range, although there are slight variations depending on what ingredients you use. Try not to leave the soap unattended for long periods of time while heating.

5. Scent - You won't need too much fragrance oil to scent your soap because scented oil is generally highly concentrated and strong. 0.5-1oz of oil is sufficient to scent a whole pound of soap. The amount you use will depend on the strength of the oil, which varies based on the scent. Mix the oil in with the soap while heating.

6. Coloring - Once again, you will probably not need to much coloring agent. Add a few drops at a time and watch the color change.

7. Mold selection - You can select molds that are themed to your occasion or just use a standard bar mold. For weddings, angels, hearts, and wedding cakes are popular shapes. For baby showers, baby carriages, bottles, and Disney characters are some common themes. The soap can also be carved. If you use a standard bar mold, you can still add personalized themed tags.

8. Finishing touches - After your soap is made, seal it inside a cellophane bag, organza bag, or gift box. Add a favor charms, personalized tag, and message and you have a nice favor for your guest.

Generally, you will want soaps that are 1oz - 3oz in size. These gifts will be used by your guests and are a simple, but effective way to say thank you.

SATELLITE TV BY DISH NETWORK DEALS A BLOW TO UNHAPPY MARRIAGES

2009-05-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

You might be surprised to know that television is one of the main causes of domestic disputes in America. Either the husband is so ensnared by a NFL game that causes the wife to nag him about work around the house, or the wife is so infatuated with Brad Pitt that she grapples with the husband for the remote control. These are but a few of the instances when television spells trouble for the marriage, and when fact is actually stranger than fiction.

Hence, we MIGHT conclude that if there is a way to reconcile seemingly conflicting television habits, then it can also be a way to reconcile marital differences.

DirecTV DVR by Tivo is a revolutionary product . On one hand, you have the excellent digital quality and a splendid abundance of channels offered by DirecTV, the leader in satellite television broadcasting. On the other, you have Tivo, hailed as the invention that actually changed the face of television viewing. DirecTV DVR by Tivo , being the best thing that has ever happened to our television enjoyment, can also be more efficient than most marriage counselors in the land.

DirecTV DVR by Tivo, with its dual tuners, can record two shows at the same time. It could also allow you to watch one live feed, while recording the other. At home, the spouses no longer have to argue between watching Tom Cruise or the Hawaiian Tropic girls The wife could indulge on some masculine charms while the husband records the fascinating young ladies for future viewing.

DirecTV DVR by Tivo also promises 35 hours of storage.That means that the family can take a two week road trip to visit the in-laws and nobody will miss a single episode of their favorite TV show. Everything they want to watch will be waiting safely for their return. .

Additionally, DirecTV DVR allows users to pause a live feed, something considered impossible in the past. That means that he can freeze the game while he pays for the pizza, or she can put her show on hold while helping herself to a snack in the kitchen. Nothing has to be missed! The husband can simply freeze an NFL game to comply with the wife's wishes that he tends to their six-month old baby .

If he knows she goes gaga over the mere sight of Keanu Reeves, he could simply program the DirecTV DVR to search the schedules by the actor's name and the box would automatically record all the shows where that actor makes an appearance. that ought to earn a few brownie points!

Lastly, our happy couple could simply celebrate a peaceful evening together while enjoying the crystal clear quality of digital broadcast as enhanced by the DirecTV DVR. They could laugh and cry together, while savoring each other's company with a loving embrace. Though marriage counseling professionals might frown as they begin to lose business, DirecTV DVR by Tivo could prove to be the best thing marriage has ever seen.

From Penny Pincher to " Coupon Queen "

2009-05-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

You've heard the the old saying"Nothing in life is free" right? Well not anymore. My name is Melissa Garcia and I am a mother of two children ,Taylor my daughter and Ryan my son. I got married in 1995 and we decided to have our first child 6 months after.Thats when my husband and I decided that I was going to be a stay at home mom.

My husband bought us a computer and soon we got the internet. Boy did that open a whole new world to me! I soon started chatting with moms who clipped coupons,sent in refunds and frequented freebie boards. My husband thought I was silly. The first month I would save over half on my grocery bill, the second month I was bringing home receipts showing him how I got stuff free at the grocery store. I think he must have feel out of his chair when the third month came along and I came home and the store actually had to pay me to shop there (sitting here laughing and reminicing all these memories while writing this).

Well friends and relatives start asking how are you doing this? So of course I got them started and then eventually started my own website online! My site started out small but quickly grew to over 2,000 people now both men and women and we are growing larger everyday.

Everything is growing so quickly that even my children have stepped into help. My children set down with me and help me sort, staple & cut my coupons. They are learning the value of saving money. Of course daughter is picking up on it faster than my my son. Ryan will say mom can we get that and Taylor will say "Not unless mom has a coupon for it" LOL!! I do alot for people and Im very envolved in my childrens activities. Im one of those people who can't say no LOL and sometimes I feel stressed and under appreciated. I know there are other people out there like me and that is another reason why I started this website. Everyone I know calls me the "Coupon Queen".. My husband is so proud of me that he carries a picture around of me standing next to my free stuff!!.Why even our local news station has called me to do SEVERAL interviews which you can see at http://www.channeloklahoma.com (do a search for coupon queen) My dream now is to go on the "Oprah Show"!!!

We will be starting some coupon classes and also hope to get involved with the battered womens shelters soon!! We hope this gets you as much enjoyment and money savings tips as we do!!

ABOUT OUR SITE:

On our site you can learn how to get FREE stuff from Major companys online with no strings attached!! My mailbox is always filled with goodies. Also did you know there are online sites that will give you FREE Gift Certificates just for registering and visiting there online merchants, no purchase necessary!! I have gotten FREE gift certificates to places like, Toys r us, Target, Walmart, and TJ Maxx.

I tell people how to look for offers in grocery stores from major companies offering free stuff like FREE Movie Tickets just for sending in upc's from their products.Dont forget getting your groceries at 70 to 80% off using coupons! We show you how to get the best deals!

We also have a shoppers alert board Where people post about good deals they find online like office max offering a $20 off any $20 purchase you just pay shipping. Target is one of our favorites. We teach women how to REALLY shop targets clearance section. We are usually the first ones to find the deals as sometimes we find out about stuff thats on clereance before its even marked!!! You should see my gift closet. I already have most of my Christmas shopping done!! We help each other out when we find an amazing clearance sale like $60 karioke machine that I got for $9 or the $100 pokemon gameboys that were not marked clereance but rang up $10 or $15!!!!!

Oh and you cant forget saving money around the home. We have remedies you can make at home like Homemade baby wipes and dryer sheets.Learn how to make your household items last longer. I also talk about sweepstakes! I have won a trip to Cancun and San Antonio.I have won birthday partys for my daughter, 2 cases of cereal ,$100 in groceries and many other items!! My family and friends call me the FRUGAL QUEEN!!!!

Kathie is our Technical Liason and Graphics Coordinator and with out her I don't know what we'd do. So if you like what you see give Kathie a hollar & let her know!!!

Anyone can be a " Frugal/Coupon Queen " and we'll show you how!! And don't forget when you get all those good deals don't forget to donate to you local shelter!!!

Baby Shower Planning and Hosting

2009-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Planning and organization are crucial to hosting a successful baby shower. Below are some important topics to consider when planning:

1) Who will host the shower?

The person that plans and hosts the shower can be anyone, but is usually someone who is close to the new or expecting mother. Normally, a close friend or family member will do all the preparations, but sometimes the new mother will help as well, particularly with the guest list. Sometimes a small group of friends can plan the event together.

In the event of a surprise baby shower, planning must occur more carefully and invitations should be sent out in secret. In this circumstance, people who are not as close to the new mother will be involved in acquiring supplies and getting the word out.

2) Who should be invited?

Be sure to invite all the mother's friends and family to the event. If planning a surprise party, make sure that everyone you tell helps spread the word. A close friend or family member may know most of the mother's friends, but it can also be helpful to ask co-workers and other friends to make sure that no one is left out.

Also, men are increasingly being included in these parties. An all women's shower can be different than a shower with both men and women, so the planner should consider these things as well.

If other young children will be in attendance, then make sure to plan events for them too. Not planning for children is a common oversight that adults make when planning parties of this nature. Baby shower games are a fun way for both children and adults to celebrate.

3) Where and when should the shower occur?

The party should be held at a location that is comfortable to the new mother. Oftentimes, the most common place to host a party is at a friend's or family member's home. In this case, the mother will not have to worry about cleaning up afterwards.

Sometimes, the party is hosted at the mother's place. This can be convenient as well because the mother doesn't have to go anywhere. Friends of the mother can help with the clean up afterwards.

For larger baby showers, banquet halls or other locations can be rented. Other places include parks, restaurants, catered dining rooms, or anywhere else that might be appropriate. It is okay to plan things differently as long as the mother and everyone else has a good time.

Most baby showers occur several weeks before the baby is due. Sometimes showers occur after the baby is born, which allows the guest to see the new baby. When to have the baby shower is entirely based on the preferences of the host and the mother.

Most showers occur on the weekends. Saturday is a popular day for these parties. They can occur in the afternoon or evening, depending on various factors, like people's schedules and how much you want to spend. Generally, dinner parties are more expensive than hosting lunch.

4) What activites should be planned?

There are many games and activities that can be planned in advance to make a baby shower memorable. Baby themed games are a fun way for everyone to celebrate a new baby. Do a search for "baby shower games" on the internet and you will find many games, some of which you can purchase and some that are free.

A short speech of congratulations is also a nice surprise for the new mother. If such a speech occurs, it is usually from a close friend or family member. A good time for congratulations is before eating lunch or dinner.

Finally, make some time before, between, and after events for everyone to mingle with the new or expecting mom.

5) What kind of food is appropriate?

The food at the party does not necessarily have to be baby-themed, although that can be a nice touch. The most common baby-themed food is baby shower diaper cake. Your local bakery can also make other items like cookies and pastries in the shape of baby blocks, pacifiers, rubber ducks, and other baby items. Or you can make them yourself. Most importantly, make sure to pick food that everyone will enjoy.

If you are hiring a caterer, then be sure to ask them about their ideas and experiences with baby showers. They may have some creative ideas that you may not have thought about.

6) Decorations and party favors.

Your local party supply store will probably have plenty of decorations for your baby shower. Specifically themed decorations can also be purchased online.

Buying party favors for your guests is always a nice way to say thank you for coming. These gifts for your guests can range from themed candies to more expensive keepsakes, including personalized items. Special prizes can also be given out for game winners or other people who have been important in the mother's life and during the pregnancy.

7) During the party.

Greet the guests when they arrive and have others help out if necessary to make sure everything runs smoothly. And finally, don't forget to have fun after all the planning and preparation.

A Complete Guide For Parents To Choose The Best Toys For Their Children

2009-05-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Do you remember how it was when you where a child? What was your main activity? Was it working? Of course not. Your main activity was playing. You had no concerns. You needed toys and your parents where supposed to provide you with them. They had to find toys you wouldn’t throw away and believe me, it wasn’t easy for them.

Now you are a parent and you are in the same situation as your parents years ago. You’re looking for toys that your child will like. That’s why you must know how to choose the right toys. My parents made one common mistake: they would buy me toys that they considered wonderful. But usually, when they would give me the toy, I would either consider it too girlish or too boring. It wasn’t fun for them to see how a toy they bought for me to play with would stay forgotten in my closet.

How to find out what’s the right toy for your child?

Just watch your child closely to determine his preferred activities, skills level, preferred band(s) and movie(s), and so on. Based on these observations you can get a clue on what types of toys your child would prefer. For instance, if your child loves the movie Lord of the Rings, I bet that he’ll also like Lord of the Rings toys… ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/lord-of-the-rings-toys.shtml )

Now don’t just go into the first toy shop and buy the first Lord of the Rings toy you find. Observations aren’t enough. There are some other very important factors you must consider. Adding them into the equation helps ensure you that your child will have lots of fun with the toy you’ll choose to buy for him.

Here are the factors you must consider when choosing toys for your child:

• Child’s age – This is very important. If you buy toys too advanced for your child’s age, chances are that he might get injured. Toy manufacturers struggle to make their products as safe as possible, but if you don’t follow their recommendations, your child may suffer. On the other hand, if you buy toys made for children with age under that of your child, he will consider them too boring. The best thing is to choose toys designed precisely for your child’s age. Here are two articles that will help you choose toys for babies ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/baby-toys.shtml ) and toys for toddlers. ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/toddler-toys.shtml )

• Child’s gender – This is exactly what I said above that my parents bought me toys that I considered to be girlish. I’m a boy, but the same is with girls too. Any detail that may make the toy look as for the other gender than that of your child will make the toy undesired.

• Toys your child’s friends play with – When your child is playing with his friends, watch to find out if he manifests interest in any of his playmate’s toys. If he does, then it’s very likely that he would like to have a toy similar the one his friend has.

• Sometimes, a child tells his parents what toy he likes or wants, thus saving them from a lot of hard work. But don’t count on this. Some children aren’t very keen to talk with parents unless they really want a certain toy.

• Safety – This is the most important factor you must consider whenever you need to decide what toy you should buy for your child. Unfortunately, this is also the most overlooked one. Usually, parents forget to check if the toy they choose for their children are safe.

• Is the toy educational? – It’s a good thing if the toys you choose for your child can help him develop new skills.

And please remember that the age difference between you and your child is of at least 20 years. The fact that you liked a toy when you were a child does not mean that your child will love it too. Children from different generations like different types of toys

Make sure you offer the toy to your child in the appropriate manner!

When you offer the toy to your child, don’t do it in a “Here’s your toy. Now go and play with it” manner. If you do it this way, that toy won’t mean a thing to your child. Rather, try to make a game. Hide the toy somewhere where the child can easily find it, and encourage him to look for it. Laugh with your child, search for it together… And when the he finds the toy, don’t just let him play by himself. Get involved in your child’s play. Make that the fun of a lifetime. A parent is a child’s first and best friend.

Being a Mom - Reflections on Mother's Day

2009-05-02T08:39:00.002-07:00

Being a Mom – Reflections on Mother’s Day

Since my daughter was born a little over 2 years ago, Mother’s Day has been a very special day for me. After all, I had carried her for 9 months and spent countless sleepless nights taking care of her to earn the title “Mother”.

But this year I really started thinking about my mom. This Mother’s Day I feel a completely new level of gratitude and respect for my Mom. I have gained a much better understanding of what she went through and how much she scarified to raise me.

Let’s take a little closer look at what “Mom” did and does for you.

Pregnancy
Remember those first few months of pregnancy with the excitement, anxiousness and – who could forget it- the morning sickness? Your Mom went through all of that as well, and she did it without being able to access every conceivable piece of information about pregnancy online and without all the early tests we have now to ensure us that everything is fine with our baby.

Mom also shared the kicks to the bladder and the backaches that come later in pregnancy. And don’t forget about labor. Well, who could forget labor? Mom’s been there, done that as well. And she probably did it with a lot less medicinal help than we did!

Infancy Then the real joy of motherhood begins - no sleep for months, midnight feedings and endless diaper changes. Could you imagine surviving without disposable diapers? I couldn’t, but somehow my Mom managed to wash millions of dirty cloth diapers while taking care of me.

I am sure she also got the same words of advice from everyone around her about how to properly care for the little infant and worried about all the possible germs the baby could be exposed to with everyone wanting to hold her.

Toddler
Just like you, Mom eventually made it through your infancy and met the toddler version of you. When I recently complained about my daughter’s “terrible two’s” to my Mom, she just laughed and told me it was payback for all my tantrums when I was my daughter’s age. Did she worry as much as I did about picking the right time to wean her off the bottle, the pacifier, to get her potty trained? Did she go through all the heartbreak and crying, and - as far as potty training goes - the mess that comes with it? I am sure she did. And like any good mother, we both supported the first attempts at independence. So what if my daughter decides to wear rain boots with her summer dress? I feel sure there is a picture of me somewhere in a very similar outfit.

Preschooler
So you and your Mom finally make it past the terrible twos. By now, if not earlier, you are probably torn between kids and career. If your Mom is anything like mine, she ran into the same problem. Should you stay home and be there for the kids 24/7, or should you continue to work to be able to afford the kind of things you want to be able to give your kids? At this stage Moms also spend a lot of time getting their kids ready for school. All along you have probably been reading to your child, teaching her numbers and colors, just like your own mother did.

School
Your kids may or may not be in school yet, but even if they aren’t, I am sure you can relate to making sure your child gets to school on time every morning, helping with homework and various school projects and attending school functions. Your Mom was probably there with you every step of the way too. She shared your joys and pains. She comforted you when the other kids made fun of you, just like you will with your kids.

I feel sure you have many more special memories about your Mom that you haven’t thought about in years. Why don’t you pick up the phone and call her? Spend some time with her. If you take the time and make the effort, you will find a great friend in your mother if you are not already at that point in your relationship. Take her on a “girls-day-out”. Go shopping, have lunch and get some pedicures together. Just enjoy her company and don’t forget to thank her for all she has done for you. After all, you wouldn’t be the great woman you are today without her.

They say there is a great woman behind every successful man, but there is also a wonderful mother behind every great woman.

Happy Mother’s Day.

How to Make Personalized Candle Gifts from Ordinary Candles

2009-05-02T08:39:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a fun gift to make for any occasion, then personalized candle making may be something you would like to consider. There are many ways to make personalized candles, depending on how much time and money you are willing to spend. With just a little extra time and effort, you can make a personalized candle out of an otherwise ordinary candle gift that the lucky recipient will love.

1. The simplest way to make a personalized candle is get a normal candle at your local candle store. Even general retail stores like Walmart sometimes have candles for sale. Candles come in all shapes and sizes, but almost any candle can be personalized.

2. Anything smaller than a tea light will be difficult to personalize. For tea light candles, you can normally purchase a big bag for a low price. These candles are great as favors for guests at a wedding or baby shower. The easiest way to personalize is to use either a graphics program on your computer or a word processor. We'll stick with the Word processor since it is easier. First, draw a circle the same dimensions as the lid on the tea light, or better yet use a circular label sheet. Then select a nice font, like cursive script or Corsiva. You can enter then names and date of the event into the circle. Print out a sample on plain paper to make sure the look and size is right. Once you have the desired result, you can print your tea light label stickers. Finally, apply the sticker onto the top of the tea light.

3. For jar candles, you can create a square-shaped personalized label. Since you have more area to work with, you can download free graphics from the Internet. Search the web for "free clip art" and download the images you want. Once again print out a sample on plain paper and then print the label. If you don't have a color printer, you can go to a local copier and they can make a nice label for you. Stick the label on the jar. Now you have created a unique gift personalized just for that special person.

4. For tall pillar candles, you can get those engraved at an engraving shop (look in the phone book under engravers). The artwork and text can come in different colors. If you are artistic, you can even buy candle-engraving kits online and do it yourself.

5. How about those 1oz votive candles? For a professional looking gift, get cellophane bags and colored ribbon. Wrap the candle in the cello bag and tie it up with the ribbon. Then attach a personalized tag to the ribbon. These candles can also be engraved.

6. If you can make candles, then there are limitless possibilities. You can use different fragrances oils to create scented candles. You can use embeds for decoration. Cookie cutters and molds are also useful for designing the right shape.

In summary, you can take an ordinary store candle and make it a very special gift with just a little more effort. Your friends and loved ones will cherish these gifts for years to come.

The 411 on Natural Colic Remedies

2009-05-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences ever imaginable. Nothing is worse than seeing one’s baby in pain and not being able to help take it away. Finding relief for colic quickly becomes a top priority. There are many different colic remedies that may come to the rescue for your particular baby. Each baby is unique and may only respond to some or a combination of colic remedies. Unfortunately, parents may have to use the old trial and error method to determine which provide the greatest amount of relief for their little colic sufferer. One thing is certain, the days of waiting it out are long gone for those determined to find an answer. There is no need to suffer needlessly along with baby. If you have tried all proper feeding and burping techniques and baby is still crying, try the following list of the most effective remedies available:

1 Music / Sound - Traditional lullabies, classical music composed for infants and heartbeat/womb CDs are very popular external remedies that relax many babies suffering from colic. You can find some particularly good ones at the Slumber Sounds web site. Some parents have had great success by placing baby in car seat on top of running dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle shhhhhhhing sound in the ear can work magic, as can soft whispers and humming or singing.

2 Diet - Bottle fed babies with colic may show improvement if switched to a different formula, such as soy. The mothers of breastfed babies may have to pay close attention to their own diet to make sure that babies are not having negative reactions to certain foods. Try eliminating the following common culprits one at a time for a week to see if there are any signs of improvement for baby: dairy, caffeine, chocolate and gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beans and peanuts.

3 Gripe Water - Be sure to check the ingredients before buying a gripe water. Many claim to be natural but include artificial ingredients and preservatives. Colicky infants’ digestive systems certainly do not need any of these potential irritants. Some gripe waters are not very helpful. There is a new, very effective and safe gripe water on the market, which you can purchase online at http://www.coliccalm.com/

4 Warm Aromatherapy Bath / Massage - Add a few drops of lavender to a warm bath and follow with the soothing touch of massage. Focus massage on the tummy area to relieve painful trapped gas. You can research baby massage techniques on the web or pick up a book on the subject. A good one to try is The Practical Art of Baby Massage by Peter Walker. You can buy lovely lavender, chamomile and fennel massage oils specifically designed for baby massage on the Web. There is also a popular baby massage tool called Snukkles which may work well for you.

5 Swaddling - Babies are often soothed when swaddled or held close to a parents chest and heartbeat since they are reminiscent of the comfort and safety of the womb. Newborn babies are soothed in nurseries with swaddling. Techniques on folding soft, stretchy blankets are easy to learn. Find instructions and diagrams online or pick up a book/ magazine on the topic. A good ready-made wrap to try is SwaddleMe. It is easy to find on the Web.

6 Motion - Walking, rocking and movement are very comforting to most infants. The good old rocking chair may be all it takes. Some parents have been known to push stroller or drive around in car until baby falls asleep. Try putting baby in an infant chest carrier or sling so that your hands can be free. Walk with baby facing down across arm with hand under abdomen, applying gentle pressure. This position is often referred to as the colic hold. Many babies like to be outdoors. Almost all babies love swings. Try a combination of the above to see what helps soothe baby the best.