The Busy Saver

Road Trip With A Garmin

2010-02-21T06:08:00.000-06:00

My husband and I recently returned from a 4,000-mile cross-country road trip. As usual before such trips, I contacted the tourist bureaus of the states we were going to be traveling through to obtain maps and other trip-planning pamphlets. This trip, though, we decided to also invest in a GPS navigator. What an amazing invention! I would never travel without one again.

The unit I eventually decided on was the Garmin Nuvi 260W. It was remarkably easy to use and was a lifesaver in the big cities we traveled through. The voice prompts for upcoming turns did the job a lot better than I could have even with the most detailed maps. It even told us what side a turn or ramp was on, which was wonderful. Throughout our trip it guided us to our various destinations with easy to follow verbal and visual instructions. If we decided to take unplanned side trips, the Garmin re-calculated our route and quickly got us back on the way to our destination.

By touching the car symbol, we got the option of saving our current location as a favorite destination. This was very helpful when we knew we would be returning to a certain place later on. The Garmin made finding local attractions and extra things along our route such as ATM machines, restrooms and gas stations a piece of cake!

It was certainly very comforting to have the Garmin along on our trip. It took all of the stress out of trying to plan our route and it made our vacation much more enjoyable. We don’t want to go anywhere without ours now! I am even looking forward to using it now that I am home again. No more worrying about nighttime driving. The Garmin will tell me when my turn is coming up.

So if you are planning a long trip or just a short jaunt, I recommend getting a Garmin.

Traveling With Pets

2010-02-18T11:04:00.007-06:00

With a little prior planning, traveling with your pets can be fun and relatively hassle-free. We recently embarked on a cross-country car trip with our cat and dog. In our household our pets are part of the family and, if at all possible, they travel with us. Of course, traveling with pets does limit your vacation choices and require a little extra planning before your trip.

Before you leave, check with your vet to make sure you will not need to take any special precautions while traveling with your pet. Even though our dog does not normally need heartworm medication during the winter months, because we were traveling in the South we needed to start her on medication again before we left. Because we were also traveling with our cat we discussed trying Feliway, a natural calming pheromone. We had good results with both the Feliway spray and the electric diffuser. If your pet is not already on flea and tick prevention, you should talk to your vet about that. You will also want to get copies of your pet’s office notes and rabies certificates to take with you on your trip.

There are many web sites that can assist you in finding motels that will accept pets. Three that I consulted are:
http://www.petswelcome.com/
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/
http://www.1clickpethotels.com/

I would recommend that you also check the motel’s own web site to verify their current information regarding pet policies and prices. I also called the motel directly (not the 1-800 number for chain motels). I explained exactly what pets I was traveling with and asked if they would take us and what the rate would be. Not all motels will accept cats for instance and even motels that advertise that they accept pets will not always take larger dogs. Most motels also require that you not leave your pets unattended in your room or that you crate them if you are not in the room. So be prepared to either stop for fast food before you arrive or order food to be delivered to your room. One word of warning – even if the bed frame seems to be completely enclosed, check all around it to make sure your cat or small dog cannot get under the bed. I speak from experience!

If you are planning a longer trip of a week or a month try these web sites to find homes or apartments that will accept pets:
Vacation Rentals By Owner
http://www.vacationrentals.com/

Be sure to pack a good quantity of your pet’s regular food. Because we had planned a longer trip and weren’t sure we could find our dog’s regular brand of food at our destination, we pre-packaged several days worth of meals. We also brought along a larger quantity of her food that we could mix with whatever food we bought when we arrived. That allowed us to gradually change her to the new brand of food.

Because you need to keep your pets hydrated while you travel be sure to pack a few extra bottles of water in the car for your pets. We allowed time in our driving schedule to make frequent stops at wayside rests. This allowed us to stretch our legs frequently, our pets to take frequent “potty” breaks, and a chance for us to fill a water bowl for the pets.

If you like or need to travel with your pets, plan ahead and have fun!

WONDERFUL, WACKY WD-40

2010-02-11T12:28:00.003-06:00

WD-40 is a wonderful product. Its formulation was a long and involved process in an attempt to find a good lubricating, water repelling and corrosion prevention product. It was finally perfected in 1953 by Norm Larsen on his fortieth attempt. He called it his Water Displacement product, hence the name WD-40. I’m glad he kept trying. This stuff is really useful.

We don’t really know the main ingredients of WD-40, since it is a trade secret, but it is NOT composed of fish oil (like some people say) and it is not safe to ingest or have on your skin for long periods of time.

In this blog we’ve written about uncommon uses for coffee filters (http://www.thebusysaver.com/2009/11/uncommon-uses-for-coffee-filters.html) and about the many uses of hydrogen peroxide (http://www.thebusysaver.com/2009/08/many-uses-of-hydrogen-peroxide.html). Now we have a list of great uses for WD-40. We can't list ALL the uses of WD-40, but I will give you some interesting things that people have come up with and at the bottom of my list you’ll see a link to a website where you can find 2,000 different ways to use WD-40.

WD-40 is good for:

Protecting silver from tarnishing.

Removing road tar and grime from cars.

Cleaning and lubricating guitar strings.

Giving floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

Keeping flies off of cows.

Restoring and cleaning chalkboards.

Removing lipstick stains.

Loosening stubborn zippers.

Untangling jewelry chains.

Removing stains from stainless steel sinks.

Removing dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

Keeping ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

Removing tomato stains from clothing.

Keeping glass shower doors free of water spots.

Camouflaging scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

Keeping scissors working smoothly.

Lubricating noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

Removing black scuff marks and nasty tar from the kitchen floor.

Softening bug residue on your car which makes it easy to wipe away.

Giving a children's play gym slide shine for a super fast slide.

Lubricating gear shift and mower deck levers for ease of handling on riding mowers.

Lubricating kids' rocking chairs and swing sets which takes away their squeaky noise.

Lubricating tracks in sticking home windows which makes them easier to open.

Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

Restoring and cleaning padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

Restoring and cleaning roof racks on vehicles.

Lubricating and stopping squeaks in electric fans.

Lubricating wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

Lubricating fan belts on washers and dryers which keeps them running smoothly.

Keeping rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

Removing splattered grease on stoves.

Keeping bathroom mirrors from fogging.

Lubricating prosthetic limbs.

Keeping pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

Removing all traces of duct tape.

WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures.

Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

Is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

If you wash a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and then re-wash.

On older cars, if you spray WD-40 in the distributor cap it keeps moisture from causing problems with starting.

Removing errant spray paint droplets from cars that come too close to a painter.

Now, for a list of 2000 uses for WD-40 visit this website: http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/wd-40_2042538679.pdf. This amazing compound seems to do it all.

A Recipe for FOREVER YOUNG FOOD

2010-01-26T14:19:00.006-06:00

Years ago I used to follow the writings of a psychic named Louis Gittner. He was a butterball of a man, and he had the most amazing writings and predictions. These writings and predictions were much like those of Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet.

Over the years I lost touch with Louie, as he was called, but I never forgot his teachings about a recipe that he provided from one of his trance states. He called this recipe “Forever Young Food”. It was supposed to contain many vital proteins, vitamins and minerals for keeping the brain and body in a youthful state. Edgar Cayce also provided a recipe for a miracle food that he called “Mummy Food.”

I recently did an internet search for the Forever Young Food recipe and found others who were asking about this old recipe, but I never found the recipe online, even though I searched for a long time. I e-mailed the old hotel on Orcas Island, that some of his followers own or used to own, and where Louie retired to, but I never heard from anyone. I thought I had lost this recipe and I really wanted to have it again.

As I was sitting on my couch one day not long ago I thought of my old index card recipe file that I used to keep back in the 1970s. I've gotten away from this method of keeping track of recipes since one can find just about any recipe on the internet these days.

Sure enough, a search through my old recipe box yielded the faded index card with the Forever Young Food recipe. I'm glad to have found it again, so I’m going to share it here. I’ll also share my own version that I think is good.

FOREVER YOUNG FOOD -- a recipe provided by Louis Gittner

2 cups of peanut butter (use a ‘natural’ kind)
2 cups of raw honey
1 cup wheat germ oil
1 cup crushed ground almonds
1 cup crushed ground sunflower seeds
1 cup coconut
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 cup chia
1 cup lemon juice

Mix peanut butter and honey together. Add other ingredients and stir well. Store in refrigerator up to 4 months (maybe more).

This recipe is rich and you only need a tablespoon to get good benefits. Louie said that one tablespoon of this mixture had as much protein as one cup of meat.

Tip: I use a small food processor for chopping the almonds, sunflower seeds and coconut.

FOREVER YOUNG FOOD --my own version

1 to 2 cups of dry peanuts (not salted)
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup raw honey
1 cup wheat germ flakes
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped coconut
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 cup finely chopped dates (dried figs could also be added or substituted for the dates)
5 heaping tablespoons flax seed powder (use the powder, not the whole seed)
8 to 12 heaping tablespoons Nutritional Yeast (not Brewers Yeast or Bread making yeast)
25 capsules of Bee Pollen (take the capsules apart and just use the Bee Pollen)
1 package dried mixed berries (cherries, raisins and cranberries) – not chopped

In a food processor, chop peanuts with lemon juice, put in large bowl.
Add other ingredients and stir well.
I use a small food processor to finely chop almonds, sunflower seeds, coconut and dates.
Mixture will be stiff.
You can roll into balls or put in a container and scoop by the tablespoon for a mid-afternoon snack. Don’t eat too much. This is a very rich combination of powerful foods.

Upload a Video To YouTube in 3 Easy Steps

2009-12-29T08:59:00.005-06:00

Uploading a video to YouTube couldn’t be any easier. Follow these simple steps to upload any video to YouTube. If you haven’t compressed your file yet, read the step-by-step instructions for compressing your video file.

http://www.thebusysaver.com/2009/12/creating-video-with-movie-maker-in-3.html

1) Create a YouTube account. Go to www.YouTube.com and choose “Create Account” from the link at the top right of the page. Fill out the simple form creating your YouTube account. YouTube will send an e-mail to the e-mail address you supplied and your account will be active.

2) Go to www.youtube.com – you may have to log in.
Once logged in, click on the “Upload” button at the top right of the page.

3) Click the Browse button to find the video you want to upload. (If you followed my MovieMaker instructions, we saved the file to the desktop). Click the “Upload” button to start the uploading process.

As the video file is uploading, you can enter information (including Title, Description, Tags, and Category). You're not required to provide specific information, but the more information you include, the easier it will be for friends to find the video. Click the 'Save changes' button to save the updates you've made to the video file. Be sure to choose whether to make it a private video or to share it with the world!

When the file has finished Uploading, you will see a “Success” screen. Click the “Embed and Sharing” link to grab the URL. Copy that to share with friends.

Creating a Video With Movie Maker In 3 Easy Steps

2009-12-29T08:52:00.006-06:00

So you’ve taken some video on your digital camera and want to share it on YouTube or put it on a DVD. Maybe you want to put a bunch of videos together. Or use part of a video and delete a section.

You can do all this and much more with Windows Movie Maker. It’s quick and simple. Today I’m going to show you how to take a video and compress it, and then save it as a wmv file so you can upload it to YouTube.

Start by opening Windows Movie Maker and look at the parts of the Windows Movie Maker window.

Movie Task Pane
The Import Section allows you to bring clips onto the “Collections” area. Unless you are making a slideshow of still pictures, you will probably be importing videos from the videos folder on your computer.

The Edit Section allows you to add titles, transitions and effects. For a quick, simple video for YouTube, we won’t use any of these, but you should play with them when you feel more confident.

The Publish To section is what you will use when you are ready to save your movie.

Collections Pane
When you import videos or pictures, they will appear in the Collections Pane.

If you are working on a big project, you might have a dozen (or more) clips here. But since we are working on a simple file to upload to YouTube, we only have the one clip that we are going to work with.

The Preview Screen
Allows you to preview the changes you have made so far.

The Timeline (also called Storyboard)
The Timeline view of Windows Movie Maker shows photos, video and audio clips in the order and timing that they will appear in movie. You will drag all clips to the timeline. If you have many clips, you can manipulate where they play in the video. You can also delete sections of any clip.

But, we have one clip and we are simply going to compress it and save it in a format that YouTube can play – so we won’t worry about anything except dragging our one clip to the timeline.

Making the Movie – Step by Step

1) Import Pictures or Video
Click on Import pictures and locate the folder containing your pictures.
Select the picture files you wish to import.
Your pictures should now appear in the Collections Pane. If you have more than one picture/video, you can click on the different pictures to see them in the preview screen.

2) Drag Video to the Timeline
Drag your pictures to the Timeline.
Even though you have dragged your picture to the Timeline, it remains in the Collections Pane. Movie Maker allows you to use items more than once. Helpful when working on a big project – but not necessary for today’s lesson.
If your Timeline Pane is showing “StoryBoard” in the top left corner, simply click the “down-arrow” and choose “Timeline”.

3) Save as a Movie
We aren’t going to go in to editing today. We just want to compress this file and save it in a format that you can upload to YouTube. So, we use the Task Pane and choose “Publish To > This Computer”.

Enter a file name, and click Browse to choose a place to save your movie. Choose the desktop and click “Next”.

The next screen allows us to choose the settings. This screen is the most important screen for us. If you choose “Best Quality For Playback On My Computer” Movie Maker will not compress the file. It will be a large file size for YouTube.

Since we want to compress it to load fast, we will choose: “Compress To”. When you click that option, you can choose the compression. How much I compress a movie depends on the nature of the movie. If it starts out as a 10 MB file, and it’s simply a video of the grandkids playing pool, I might compress it by half. If it’s an important documentation, I might compress it only a little. It’s up to you. The more you compress it, the grainier and smaller it appears.

Once you have your compression set, choose “Publish”.

That’s it! It’s time to upload it to YouTube. Find the step by step instructions for uploading a video to YouTube here.

Amazon Kindle

2009-11-16T10:31:00.002-06:00

Christmas, 2009, is almost here. One of the hottest gifts this year is the Kindle Wireless Reading Device.

About 1/3 of an inch thick, and weighing less than a paperback, it allows you to carry approximately 1500 books at a time.

Like to read in bright sunlight? The Kindle Wireless Reading Device can do it - without the glare!
Get books delivered wirelessly in less than sixty seconds without a computer. The 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle without annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots!

One of the reasons I recommend the Kindle is the "Read to me" feature. Unless the books right holder does not allow it, your Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you. Great for those people who love books on tape.

Your Kindle Wireless Reading Device can download samples of books so you can download and read the first chapters without having to buy the book.

The choices are amazing - with over 360,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs. The prices are even better - New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are $9.99, unless marked otherwise.

If you don't leave your wireless access turned on, you can read for up to two weeks on a single charge.

You don't have to worry about losing your data. Books you purchase from the Kindle Store are backed up online in your Kindle book library at Amazon.com. You can wirelessly re-download books available in your library. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle.

Other features I love include:

Adjustable Text Size
Because one size doesn't fit all, you can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Kindle has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference. Now every book in your library can be large print.

Bookmarks and Annotations
By using the QWERTY keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes. You can highlight and clip key passages and bookmark pages for future use. You'll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, because Kindle remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read.

Take Personal Documents With You
You can transfer personal documents to your Kindle via USB for free at any time.

Built-In Dictionary with Instant Lookup
Never get caught without a dictionary. Kindle includes The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the definitions of English words without interrupting your reading. Come across a word you don't know? Simply move the cursor to it and the definition will automatically display at the bottom of the screen.

Free Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia, Wikipedia.org. With Kindle in hand, looking up people, places, events, and more has never been easier. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "walking encyclopedia".

Search
Kindle's keyboard makes it easy to search within a book, across your library, in the Kindle Store, or even the Web. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you're looking for, and Kindle finds every instance in your book or across your Kindle library.

Basic Web Browser
Kindle's basic Web browser works well to read simple, text-centric Web sites such as Google and Wikipedia. Need to find a movie listing or look up a sports score? Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle.

Listen to Music & Podcasts
Transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read. You can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle to your computer.

Getting a Kindle for Christmas will make anyone happy.

Zhu Zhu Pets have hit the stores

2009-11-14T10:29:00.003-06:00

Zhu Zhu Pets look like they will be the hard-to-find item this Christmas season. These robot hamsters are cute, cuddly, and can do more tricks than Lassie.

Just add batteries and they squeak and move just like real hamsters. Zhu Zhu Pets will be enjoyed by both boys and girls in a wide range of ages. Their advantage over real hamsters and other animal toys is their artificial intelligence and their lack of mess.

These cuddly little critters are completely interactive. It's almost as if they have a mind of their own! Zhu Zhu Pets are designed to act randomly and unpredictably. Since it may not act the same each time, it makes them seem more real.

The Zhu Zhu Pets artificial intelligence even allows them to recognize what room of their hamster habitat they are in and they respond accordingly. When they enter the bathroom, they make flushing sounds or teeth brushing sounds. When they enter the bedroom, they make sleeping noises and alarm clock sounds.

Zhu Zhu Pets have modes you can choose depending on your mood. In Loving Mode, you can pet them, love them, and hear them squeak and chatter. In Explore mode, they will race around and boogie across the floor.

Each Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster has its own unique personality and sounds so each will act differently.

Mr Squiggles is looking for an adventure. He would function best in the Explore Mode.

Chunk is a laid-back surfer dude. He is care free and fun and full of affection. The perfect Zhu Zhu Pets Accessory for Chunk is the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Surfboard. Put Chuck on it and watch him go!

Numnums loves food. She is cute and cuddly - loves food. She is full of love - watch her in the Loving Mode. She’ll win your heart.

Pipsqueek is a feisty petite Zhu Zhu Pet. She might be small, but she's full of energy, and she's full of curiosity - like a curious cat! Just like Mr Squiggles, she's always looking for the next adventure so you will really love putting her in Explore Mode.

Where to find Zhu Zhu Pets: You can still find Zhu Zhu Pets available from amazon.com

Zhu Zhu Pets - Pipsqueek

See this page for all Zhu Zhu Pets in stock at amazon.com

How To Set Boundaries Without Sounding Arrogant

2009-11-09T01:12:00.001-06:00

If you aren't used to setting boundaries, it can be scary to start. How do you set a boundary without coming across as arrogant? These tips can help.

Use "I" statements. The use of "I" statements takes the blame off the person you are addressing and asks for cooperation.

Examples of "I" statements are:

"I will not tolerate your making fun of me at my expense in front of other people. If you do it again, I will call you on it and then I will leave."

"I do not like when you take my car without asking. If you do it again, I will call the police."

"I'm not happy when I come home from work and the breakfast dishes are still on the table. If the breakfast dishes are still on the table again, I will take away your TV privileges."

Good "I" statements always begin with the word "I". They then state a feeling or a problem. They do not blame or accuse. They are direct and complete. They tell the other person what you will do if the problem is not resolved. Think very hard about what you will do if the boundary is crossed and be prepared to follow through. Don't make threats. Make promises.

Boundary setting may include "receptive listening". Allow people to state their feelings without fear that you will become angry. If you are extremely shy, you might be afraid that someone could "talk you out of" your boundary. This could put you on the defense. Relax. Listen to their feelings.

Some people will test your boundaries. Be firm and stick to it. If a boundary you set is tested, and you do not follow through with what you promised to do, that boundary no longer exists. It will be crossed again and again. You must be firm when you set a boundary.

What if someone wants to argue when you assert your boundary? Reassert your boundary and leave it. Take care that your body language does not come across as aggressive. Uncross your arms and do not lean in towards the person. Tell them that you will be willing to discuss their problems with them, but the boundary stays.

If boundary setting is scary for you, try practicing it in front of a mirror. People who have never set clear boundaries might feel timid to take that first step. You might want to, you might prepare to, but you never quite get it out of your mouth. It just feels too alien.

Practice in front of a mirror. Practice saying it so that it does not sound aggressive or defensive. Watch your body language so that it does not look aggressive.

I knew one woman who was so shy that when she started setting boundaries, she would plant her feet, lean in towards the person, and grit her teeth. Her "boundary" sounded more like a demand than a firm stance. Practicing in front of a mirror will allow you to make sure that you do not come across as demanding when you first start setting boundaries.

People who set good boundaries are happier. And, the people around them are happier, because they understand exactly what the rules are and are not concerned with overstepping your boundaries.

Good luck with setting boundaries. You can do it!

Sweet & Sour Broccoli Salad

2009-11-07T05:34:00.000-06:00

Serves 8; Serving Size = 1 cup

4 cups broccoli florets
1 cup chopped walnuts or sliced almonds
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar

In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, nuts, raisins and onion. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar; pour over the vegetables and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

You can use less nuts and raisins if you like. You can also substitute Fat Free mayonnaise.

This salad is easy to make and is delicious. I've received many requests for the recipe when I've brought it to pot-luck suppers.

Uncommon Uses for Coffee Filters

2009-11-04T05:45:00.000-06:00

If you are like me, you are always looking for ways to save money. Did you know that coffee filters can be used for more than just holding coffee grounds? They come in handy for all sorts of little chores. They are very inexpensive and are also very durable.

If you make sun tea, you can use a coffee filter to add dried orange peels, mint leaves or other herbs. Center the ingredients in the middle of a filter. Gather the edges and tie with a string. Drop the bundle into the jar along with the tea bags and let it brew as usual.

You can also use a coffee filter to hold herbs and spices while making soups and stews.

A coffee filter will work well to desilk an ear of corn. Dampen a filter and wipe it in one stroke from the top to the bottom of the shucked ear of corn.

Put a couple of coffee filters in your pocket when you are working outdoors or going on a hike. They work great to wipe sweat, dirt and oils off your face.

If you are taking a close-up picture, soften the brightness of the flash by placing a white coffee filter over the flash to diffuse it.

Line a serving plate with a coffee filter to keep slippery foods like deviled eggs from sliding around or tipping.

Pile nails, screws, and fasteners into separate coffee filters while you’re working, to keep them from rolling off the table.

They work great for pressing flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filter in a phone book or dictionary.

Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen a filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout. Write the name of the seed on the filter. Put the bag on top of the refrigerator (for the steady warmth).

Coffee filters can be used as disposable bowls for snacks like popcorn, pretzels, chips or crackers. You can use them to hold snacks, desserts, and messy foods such as sliced cake, tacos, and pickles.

Use coffee filters to hold dry ingredients or cut pieces of fruits or vegetables when you are baking or cooking. And there aren't extra bowls to wash! You just throw the filters away.

If you have run out of dryer sheets, you can put a few drops of fabric softener on a filter, rub the sides together, and put it in the dryer.

A coffee filter makes an excellent backing for hand embroidering soft fabrics or for machine embroidering. It is easy to tear away afterwards.

Use a filter as a liner when you re-pot your plants. It keeps the fine dirt particles from running out of the drain holes in the bottom of the pot.

Use coffee filters to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

Coffee filters are lint-free so they are perfect for shining mirrors, TV screens or computer monitors.

If you have a set of dishes you rarely use, place filters between the plates and bowls to prevent scratching.

A coffee filter put in your stored iron cookware will absorb moisture and prevent rust.

Recycle your frying oil by straining it through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

Cover foods that are likely to splatter in the microwave with a coffee filter before heating. You can even wash, dry and reuse the filter.

Save Money With A Programmable Thermostat

2009-11-01T05:41:00.001-06:00

One item in my home that I wouldn’t be without is my programmable thermostat. I love being able to get up in the morning to a warm house in the wintertime. No more forcing myself out of bed, racing to the thermostat to turn up the heat, and running back to bed until the house heats up to a bearable temperature.

Depending on the model you choose, you can program day and night temperatures and even different settings for every day of the week. In the winter you can save energy by setting the thermostat to 67 or 68 degrees while you are at home and programming it for a much lower temperature while you are asleep or away from home. The same principle works in the summertime. Set it to a comfortable temperature when you are at home and have it automatically adjust to a higher temperature when you will be away. While you can set your current thermostat manually and achieve the same result, a programmable thermostat will never forget to change the setting.

A programmable thermostat can be set to begin its cool down well before you leave for work or go to bed and return to a normal temperature an hour or two before you wake up or return from work. Remember that for best results you should keep the temperature set at its energy savings setting for long periods of time. If you need to, you can always override the setting without erasing the pre-set programming. Even though I am now retired and at home for most of the day, I still try to keep to my pre-set daytime program. Occasionally, if I am really chilled, I will cheat and adjust the temperature higher.

Years of research have shown that the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy – and money – you save. It is a misconception that your furnace has to work harder than normal to warm your house back up after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings.

When shopping for a programmable thermostat bring information with you about your current unit, including brand and model number. Different types of heating/cooling systems may require different types of thermostats. When purchasing a new programmable thermostat you need to insure that it is compatible with your current system. Although a few companies do make them, keep in mind that programmable thermostats are generally not recommended for heat pump systems. Setting back a heat pump when it is in its heating mode can cause it to operate inefficiently and cancel out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature.

The cost of programmable thermostats ranges in price from $30 to $250 depending on your desired features and the type of heating system you currently have. Utility companies or government agencies in some areas may provide rebates or incentives for installing programmable thermostats.

A programmable thermostat can pay for itself in energy saved within a couple of years. The average household spends about $1000 a year on heating and cooling bills. By using a programmable thermostat and turning your thermostat back ten degrees for eight hours a day; you can save $100 to $200 a year.

How To Choose An Online Parenting Class

2009-10-30T14:02:00.003-05:00

You might be involved in a divorce and need to fulfill a requirement for the court or you may just want parenting tips that will help you understand your children so that you can be a better parent. There are several things to consider when you start looking for an online parenting class.
Certificates of Completion

If you need a certificate of completion to fulfill your divorce requirements, then you will want to make sure that the online class that you choose offers certificates. Not all do - and some charge extra for the certificate. Also make sure that the site offers a money back guarantee for the certificate.

Parenting Class Guarantee

Don't expect them to be able to tell you which court will definitely accept an online parenting class certificate. Every court in every state decides whether to accept online certificates. And courts often change their minds about whether to accept certificates from online classes. Since there are thousands of courts across the nation, no one can be sure what today's rules are across the nation.

It's very important to make sure the site offers a money back guarantee if the court does not accept the certificate. Look for the guarantee on the home page of any online class you are considering.

Parenting Class Fees

While most are in the $50 - $60 range, you could spend much more. You will want to see what extras the more expensive classes offer that justify the additional cost. In today's economy, it pays to make sure you are getting the best deal. Paying two to three times the price for the same service just doesn't make sense.

Customer Support

Does the site offer customer support? Is there a Frequently Asked Questions page that answers most of your questions?

You might want to submit a question using their contact form to see how long it takes to get an answer. If it takes several days for them to answer your questions, it will probably take a couple of days to get support after your register for a class.

Bottom Line

Whether you need a parenting class to satisfy a divorce requirement or just want to learn how to be a better parent, there are many classes online. Look for one that suits your needs at a good price.

ParentClass.net offers parenting classes with court approved certificates of completion. Learn new techniques to make raising your children easier. Complete your court requirement fast and easy - in your spare time. You control your time. All assignments and materials are online - available 24/7. You will learn how to raise happy, healthy, well-adjusted children who are ready to live life to the fullest and turn obstacles into opportunities.

Recycle Those Old Tennis Balls

2009-10-28T17:35:00.006-05:00

Most tennis balls end up in the garbage when they stop being useful on the court. But did you know that there are many other uses for old tennis balls?

Everyone knows that old tennis balls are great for playing fetch with your dog. Or you can donate them to other playful pups at your local animal shelter.

Throw two or three (pre-washed) balls in the dryer to help soften and fluff up your clothes so they dry faster. Also, using tennis balls in your dryer cycle is great for comforters, down jackets or pillows with feathers. It helps prevent them from lumping together.

To prevent damage when hammering, cut an X in an old tennis ball and put it on the end of a hammer.

Donate them to a senior center or nursing home. Old tennis balls make great skid stoppers on the legs of walkers.

Cut a large X in an old tennis ball and push it over your trailer hitch ball to help prevent rust and nicks.

If you have young children, put them on spiked fence posts, bedposts or radiator knobs.

Old tennis balls make great massage devices. Stand against a wall and put a tennis ball behind you into the muscle along your shoulder blade. Press your back into the wall and move up and down a little bit to massage the muscles. Or you can put two tennis balls into a large sock. Tie the sock securely, then use the sock as a back massager.

You can also massage your feet when seated. Put a tennis ball under each foot and roll your feet around on them. It feels wonderful!

Hang a tennis ball from the ceiling in your garage so that it hits the car’s windshield or rear window at the correct stopping point.

To keep a doorknob from damaging a wall, cut a large slit in a tennis ball and slide it over the knob.

If the legs of your lawn chairs get stuck between the slats of your deck, put tennis balls on the bottoms to keep them where you want them.

Cut two old tennis balls in half and place each half under the four corners of your stereo speakers to act as anti-vibration pads. You can even paint them black to make them blend in.

To prevent your bike’s kickstand from sinking into the grass or dirt, cut a small slit in a tennis ball and slide it over the kickstand.

Use a couple tennis balls as arm weights by cutting slits in them and filling them with sand or pennies.

Place a tennis ball on the end of a broom and use it to clean black scuff marks from your kitchen floor. Or use it to remove cobwebs and dust from ceilings.

If you are working under the hood of your car or truck, cut a slit in a tennis ball and put it over the latch to protect your head when you stand up.

Use an old tennis ball as a stress relief squeeze ball.

How Not to Waste Money

2009-10-21T14:48:00.005-05:00

Sometimes people just seem to waste money, when a little thought and effort could save several hundred or even several thousand dollars a year. Here are some money wasters that happen all the time. We caution you to stay out of these pitfalls.

Don’t be tempted to buy things from TV Infomercials. These products are often overpriced or they may not be as useful as you anticipated. If you are offered a risk-free trial period, beware of having to pay the return costs and a restocking fee if you don't like the item once you receive it. Sometimes the same item can be purchased from eBay or in your local Walgreens store in their "As Seen On TV" section for a much cheaper price. Some good websites to visit in order to purchase common items are ebay.com, amazon.com/auctions and overstock.com/auctions. Check these sites out from time to time.

Another good way to avoid wasting money is to buy the store or generic brand when shopping. Flour, sugar, salt, spices, milk, eggs and meats are some of the items that don’t change much from brand to brand and the store brand will often be cheaper. For other items, check the ingredients. You can find detergent and pain relievers in a generic brand that have the same ingredients or formulas as the popular, more expensive brands. These generic brands are often half the price of the non-generic brand items.

Never be caught having to pay late fees. Either pay your bills online with your bank’s ebill service or calendar your bill payment dates so that you are always aware of which bills are falling due. If you do pay a bill late, call the company and request that they waive the late fee (some will do this if you have a good payment record).

Consider your gym membership. If you find that you signed up and you just can’t seem to get to the gym, call the manager of the gymnasium and work out a way to cancel your membership. If you can’t cancel, try to switch to a month-to-month plan. And then USE IT. Get a friend to join so that you have a buddy to work out with.

Anytime you are offered an extended warranty, question whether you really need it. Most extended warranties benefit the salesperson, not the person who buys the merchandise. If an item is going to fail, it quite often happens early on in the ownership of the item. When this happens, the manufacturer’s warranty will cover the cost to repair or replace it. An extended warranty is a service contract and is very profitable for the retailer, who gets a profit margin of 40 to 80 percent. If you are concerned about an item failing and not being able to repair it, set aside a few dollars a month or put away the same amount of money you would pay on an extended warranty and then use this "warranty fund" for repairs.

Think before you buy groceries or supplies in bulk. You can save up to 50% of the full price on bulk items, but you can lose 100% of whatever the purchase price was if you end up discarding stale, rotten or expired goods.

If you’re paying for storage costs when you have too much stuff, consider turning your stored items into cash. Check out websites such as Craigslist.com or eBay.com, or donate to your local Goodwill or Freecycle.org.

Make sure that your cell-phone plan is the right one for you. If you find that you go over your allotted minutes way too often, review your bills and then call your representative to see if another plan is better for you. Sometimes you can save big bucks by making a change.

While it is not considered a ‘waste money’ topic, one way to really make money is to take advantage of your employer’s matching 401(k) contribution. If you have the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan, you should take advantage of this pre-tax savings. If your employer matches your contribution, you are earning "free money" when the employer makes their matching contribution. Contact your employer’s human resources department to find out more.

If you have a favorite idea of how not to waste money, post a reply in our comments section below so that we and others can share this information.

Amazon Kindle Review

2009-10-10T10:08:00.006-05:00

Several months ago I wrote a review on Amazon's Kindle. The Kindle is the most popular e-book reader available today - and Amazon wants to keep it that way.

This week they cut the price to $259, (it was $399 in 2007). Amazon says that the increased number of Kindles being sold has made it possible to cut the price.

With the six-inch display and sixteen colors, it beats Sony's PRS-600 ($359) which has a six-inch display but only eight colors.

Other features of the Kindle include the ability to store up to 1500 books on the reader (Sony's PR-600 can only store about 350 without a memory card). The Kindle offers text-to-speech which Sony has not implemented (yet).

Sony advertises a battery life of 7,500 pages; Kindle up to four days.

While they both have built-in dictionaries, the Kindle has a keyboard for typing rather than a touch-screen.

Both will allow you to download new books wirelessly, but only Kindle offers e-mail conversion of DOC, HTML, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP and PDF files.

With the Kindle, you don't have to worry about monthly bills for the wireless access. Amazon pays for the wireless connection fee.

With Christmas coming, why not consider giving someone an e-book reader?

I've only compared the two e-book readers that I felt were the best out there. You can see and compare a much larger list here: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

For more information or to purchase Amazon Kindle, Click Here.

How To Teach Your Children Without Using Punishment

2009-10-09T01:18:00.002-05:00

Punishment causes pain. We learn best when we are comfortable. So why do some parents punish their children when their children make mistakes?

Take a look at one scenario and then we can examine the difference between punishment and discipline: Jessica is six years old. While at the grocery store, she pockets a bag of M&Ms.

Let’s examine what happens when mom finds the bag of candy after they have left the store:

Punishment
Punishment does not have to be physical. Many parents punish their children without laying a hand on them.

In this scenario, mom is going to punish Jessica with words. She leans in close to Jessica (intimidating) and demands, “How could you do that? You are a bad girl. I better never catch you stealing again. Shame on you!”

What has Jessica learned about stealing? She has learned that she should never get caught. She has also learned that she is bad and she should be ashamed of herself. Her self-esteem has dropped because her own mother is ashamed of her.

How sad that this six-year-old girl has already learned that she is not worthy of her mother’s love.

Discipline
Learning to teach our children through discipline is a goal all parents should set for themselves. It takes no more time than punishment, but the outcome is a trusting child who is not afraid to learn.

In this scenario, mom uses discipline. She sits down next to Jessica (getting to Jessica’s level) and says, “Oh honey, we didn’t pay for that. I understand that you wanted it. But, we didn’t pay for this so it doesn’t belong to us.”

If you have more time, you can open a discussion about stealing or about ways to earn money to buy that bag of candy. So many good discussions could arise from this one mistake.

Strive For Discipline Not Punishment

Avoid accusations

Never say your child is bad - no matter how bad the action was

Offer a resolution – don’t demand your child fix it

Show some understanding – don’t act like it’s the end of the world

So many of the things we learned from our parents just don’t work. You can learn how to make raising your children more enjoyable with a Parenting Class.

Eat A Bland Diet After The Stomach Flu

2009-10-07T06:45:00.001-05:00

Usually if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting, eating is the last thing you want to do. It is essential, however, to replace fluids that have been lost due to vomiting or diarrhea. You have to make sure you continually drink small amounts of water, clear flat soda, Gatorade or broth. I, personally, usually have the best results sipping on regular 7-Up that has had most of the bubbles gently stirred out. If you can’t keep even fluids down try sucking on ice chips. Once the nausea and vomiting have lessened and you are able to keep liquids down, you should try eating some solid food. You don’t want to eat foods that will irritate your stomach and perhaps restart the vomiting. What you need to do for a few days is follow a bland diet that can be easily digested.

What exactly IS a bland diet though? The definition of a bland diet varies depending on the reason you are following it, but all bland diets recommend foods that are soft, lightly spiced, low in fat and low in fiber. After the stomach flu you should gradually add soft foods like gelatin, poached eggs, applesauce (but not sliced or whole apples), bananas and chicken soup. As you feel better, other bland foods can be introduced. Try saltine crackers, toast, white rice, plain noodles, mashed potatoes, or cooked carrots. Lastly, try adding plain meats like chicken or lean ground beef with all fat removed. One bland food staple, which I even give to my cat and dog when they are sick, is browned ground beef (soak up the grease with a few layers of paper towels) and plain white rice mixed together.

Once your flu symptoms have lessened you can gradually go back to a regular diet but for a few days it would be wise to avoid milk and dairy products, greasy or spicy foods, raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, popcorn, potato chips, alcohol, coffee or caffeinated drinks.

The stomach flu usually only lasts for three to five days. What you eat and drink during the flu can help your stomach readjust faster. A bland diet is easy to digest and is well tolerated by an irritated stomach. So to help with the recovery process drink lots of liquids and stick to a bland diet.

Reducing Stress In Your Life

2009-10-05T14:05:00.005-05:00

STRESS affects everybody every day. Stress can make you more susceptible to infections, headaches, and can even cause serious health problems. Try some of these quick techniques to reduce stress in your life and improve your mental and physical health.

Try “progressive relaxation” before you get out of bed in the morning. The idea is to tense up a group of muscles so that they are as tightly contracted as possible. Hold them tense for a few seconds and then relax them. You will find that by tensing the muscles first you are able to relax them more than you would if you just tried to relax them directly. Tense your feet, then relax them. Move up to your legs, buttocks, abdomen, chest, hands, shoulders and face. Once you learn the technique, you can use it throughout the day.

Listen to twenty minutes of upbeat music every morning to jumpstart your day. It triggers endorphins to make you happy and reduce anxiety.

A good laugh reduces the level of stress hormones in the body. The effects of a good belly laugh can last a whole day. Even thinking about a funny situation can calm some people. Read funny stories or watch funny movies. Take time to laugh out loud.

Letting your feelings out is a healthy way to relieve stress. Talk, laugh, cry and show you are angry when you need to. If you don’t feel like talking, keep a journal and write down whatever it is that is bothering you. Getting things off your chest will help a lot.

Exercising regularly can reduce feelings of anxiety and help improve sleep. Even taking a five or ten minute walk to calm down when you are feeling stressed can stop the stress response.

Practice slow, deep breathing. For five minutes sit quietly and take deep breaths - inhaling for five seconds or so and then exhaling for five seconds. This not only calms you but also forces you to stretch your shoulders and loosen up tight shoulder muscles.

Surround yourself with calming fragrances. Researchers at Yale University have discovered that the fragrance of apples can not only relax a person but can actually reduce anxiety attacks. Other calming scents to try are mulled cider, lavender, vanilla, ginger or citrus.

Spending time with family and friends, even caring for your pet, can help you relax when stress becomes a problem. Having close friends and family on whom you can count provides comfort and reduces stress.

Try practicing daily meditation. It can ease stress by helping your body learn to relax. There are many tapes available on the market to help you learn to relax and meditate. I really like Doreen Blumenfeld’s Journey Into Deep Relaxation.

Using Technology to Help Save Money

2009-10-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

One of the ways to use technology to help save money is to let your fingers do the walking – on the keyboard, that is. Searching the Internet for good deals is an easy way to find bargains. Here are some of my favorites:

If you’re in the market for a new cell phone plan, try www.letstalk.com. You can select your favorite carrier, a plan that meets your needs, and your particular phone preferences. You can even choose how much you want to spend and how many minutes to use each month.

Other good cell phone bargains can also be had. For instance, if you have an old cell phone, you may be able to get cash for it. Go to flipswap.com. For long distance calls, look at Skype.com. With Skype you make your calls using your computer. You will need a computer microphone and speakers and if you add a webcam you can even make free video calls. The software is free and instructions are pretty easy on the Skype.com website.

For telephone calls to directory assistance, use 1-800-free-411 (1-800-373-3411) and save money. This is especially handy when you’re out and about and only have your cell phone and no access to a phone book. On 1-800-Free-411 you have to wait through a short commercial blurb, but it is worth it.

For technology purchases, always check newegg.com for great deals. Also check tigerdirect.com. Sometimes you can get phenomenal bargains on computers, digital cameras, TVs, appliances, software, and home theater systems.

If you’re looking for good software, look at OpenOffice.org. They have a suite of programs (word processing, spreadsheets, database management and graphics) that is compatible with Microsoft Office. Go to download.openoffice.org to download this free office suite. Open Office can be your only office suite—it can even open and edit Microsoft Office files—and it’s FREE.

For great deals at restaurants, try restaurant.com. You can enter your zipcode to discounts in your area and pay $10 or $25 for a certificate. Then print out the certificate to present to the waiter. Make sure you read through the disclaimers and other information from the restaurant before you purchase these certificates.

If you want to be alerted to great deals and bargains for your next purchase, check out fatwallet.com. Look for their Topic Alert feature and sign up to receive e-mails when there is a known sale for your requested item. Fatwallet.com is an amazing site for seeing who has codes or coupons you might want. Another website that lets you sign up for daily e-mail notices about bargains you’re interested in is bargainist.com. Bargainist.com has a variety of information about sales on electronics, clothing, groceries and other deals.

Discount coupon websites abound. Not all of them notify you or send alerts like fatwallet.com and bargainist.com, but here are a few well known websites that have great coupon deals: couponmom.com; mygrocerydeals.com; webbyplanet.com; wow-coupons.com; dealcatcher.com; dazzling-deals.com; and bogofetcher.com.

Find the best deals in your area for gasoline at gasbuddy.com, or autos.msn.com, or gasprices.mapquest.com.

Get discount "codes" for your favorite items at: currentcodes.com; promotionalcodes.com; keycode.com; rather-be-shopping.com; and shoppingcodes.com.

Shipping costs can get to be a bit much, but check out freeshipping.com for free shipping codes. Also see shipgooder.com where you can enter your zip code and the site shows the best way to send your package (using UPS, US Postal Service, Fed Ex and other major U.S. carriers).

If you have travel plans, don’t forget to check out kayak.com. Go online in the early morning hours each Wednesday. That’s when all the deals on airlines come into the airfare sites. Kayak.com looks at over 140 different sites to find the cheapest fares. Sometimes you’ll fly on several different airlines, but if cost is a concern, kayak.com is a good website to know about. Some people say that Kayak finds better deals than Orbitz or Travelocity.

If you’re not sure where you want to go, try airfarewatchdog.com. You give it your nearest airport name and every Thursday it sends you an update on cheap flights to destinations around the world.

For hotel stays, use hotels.com. Sometimes you can find great discounts. Before booking, though, call the hotel directly (not the 800 number). Ask the hotel if they can beat the price you’ve found on hotels.com. Sometimes hotels will have a lot of vacancies and be willing to cut their price even further than on hotels.com.

Have you ever tried house swapping? There is a fee for two of the well-known house swapping services. At digsville.com you pay approximately $50 (annual fee) to join their list of swappable homes. Homeexchange.com has more listings than digsville, but the cost is $100 for an annual membership. $100 is kind of pricey, but worth the cost if you find a good swap. Homes are sometimes better than hotels when you want a great vacation in a special place.

If you know of other great websites offering regular money saving deals, post a comment to this blog entry (at the bottom of the page) and let us know about your favorite bargain website.

Parenting Tips - Solve Problems Without All The Drama

2009-10-01T15:38:00.004-05:00

Many families are not good at solving their problems because they move into drama as soon as one person disagrees with another. Many families avoid bringing up important issues because they know it will escalate into full-blown drama.

In some families it is the children who blow up and cause the drama – causing the parents to lose control of the discussion. In other families, the children are the quiet ones while the parent(s) take the discussion into a drama.

Following the steps below, you can solve your family’s problems faster and easier – without all the drama.

1. Identify the problem.
Start by simply stating the problem. Remember to keep it from being an accusation.

For instance:
“You keep forgetting to take the garbage out.” (Accusation)
“I don’t like the garbage piling up in the kitchen. Can we talk about a solution to this?” (Problem solving)

2. Listen.
There may be reasons that you aren’t aware of. Allow your family to talk without fear that you will blow up at their reply. Never make fun of their reasons or their suggestions for solutions.

If you want them to participate in future problem solving, show respect.

3. Agree on a plan.
After you have made several suggestions for a solution and have listened to their suggestions, agree on one plan that will work.

If you can’t agree, don’t escalate the discussion into an argument. Table it for tomorrow. Simply say: “I don’t think we are going to reach an agreement today. Let’s sleep on this and talk about it again tomorrow.”

As I say in my Parenting Class, never tack the work “OK” at the end of your request. That only gives an opening to come up with a reason not to. If you find yourself ending your requests with “OK?”, practice requesting without using that word.

4. Appreciate efforts.
Once you have agreed on a solution, appreciate efforts. Your kids might not be perfect every time, but try to point out when they do well. If they only do part of the agreed upon solution, try to find a way to show that you appreciate the effort and find one good thing to point out, but let them know that you still expect the task to be completed.

Example:
“I see that you took the garbage out. I appreciate that. I still expect a new bag to be placed in the bin.”

Practice solving problems using this technique and before you know it, your children will look forward to problem solving with you. Why shouldn’t they? If you follow these simple instructions, your children are getting your full attention AND you are showing them respect -- something every child craves.

You can learn how to make raising your children more enjoyable with a Parenting Class.

Beware of these Facebook and Twitter Scams

2009-09-17T05:08:00.002-05:00

Along with the popularity of Facebook and Twitter come hackers and scammers that lurk on these sites with sophisticated ploys to get your identity or your money.

We’ve heard about Internet users becoming victims of malware and phishing attacks, which are bad enough, but the following Twitter and Facebook scams show that one must be very, very careful when using any social networking sites.

For instance, there is the “Tweet for Cash!” scam. You might see a message that says, “Make money on Twitter” and “Tweet for Profit”. These scams claim that people can work from home and make large sums of money (up to $5,000 or $10,000 per month) simply by ‘tweeting.’ This is an old, worn out e-mail scam that has moved to Twitter. In today’s cash strapped economy, this sounds enticing to some, but it is just another one of those “too good to be true” come-ons. Some folks who have signed up for “Tweet for Cash” have given their credit card number to pay the $1.95 shipping fee for a “Twitter Starter Kit” and then realized that their credit card was being charged a monthly fee because the starter kit was only a seven-day trial “offer” with monthly fees to keep using it.

Another scam is sent around in the form of a Tweet message that contains an image with text imbedded in the image saying “Ur cute. Msg me on MSN”. Or maybe it is an image of a sexy lady with the invitation to “chat” with her. Images are a way to get around the filters that Twitter and Facebook have in place to capture many of these social networking schemes. These types of image messages lead a person to an adult site where the victim is asked for a credit card number and then a computer robot, pretending to a be a human conducting a flirtatious conversation, fools you into thinking you are a wonderful person, when in reality you’re prompted for information that is then used for identity theft purposes.

Yet another scam takes advantage of the biggest headlines of the day such as the wide-spread concern over swine flu or who dissed Obama today. The scammer may send a Tweet about a recent death from swine flu or a story about some uprising or unrest that directs people to click on links that lead to bad sites. This type of scam might also use a celebrity death to tempt you into going to a black-listed site where you become infected with malware and viruses.

Also note that Twitterers often use shortened and misspelled words or initials in order to get around the 140-character limit of each Tweet. Some spammers use shortened URLs, where you don’t REALLY know WHAT website you’re being taken to, but it might be a malicious one if you’re not careful.

On Facebook, one of the most popular activities is reading “friend’s” comments. Watch out for phishing scams where Facebook applications might have names such as “Your Photos” and “Post” and begin with a notification that someone has “commented on your post.” However, if you click on that notification, you might be taken to a harvesting site called “fucabook.com” that looks just like a Facebook login page, but then it steals your login information and uses it to spam your friends. Always make sure that you are on an actual Facebook website and not on a malicious site that just LOOKS like Facebook (look at the URL in the browser address to be sure).

Be wary of those “Amber Alerts”. Sad, but true, there are many hoaxes out there that claim to be from someone sending around an “Amber Alert” concerning a three-year-old girl or some other child taken by a man driving a silver vehicle, blah, blah, blah. Details vary, and some even include names of the child. Please check these out with FBI.gov or Snopes.com or TruthorFiction.com. These amber alert tweets or notifications might not steal identity or give you malicious software, but if you send these around to all and sundry, and they’re not true, you are helping to desensitize others to the severity of a REAL alert.

The hackers and social networking crooks are out there with their get-rich-quick tricks and their malicious websites and identity theft scams—they’re getting sophisticated and they want your information, so be careful.

Teach Your Child To Be Self Assured

2009-09-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

In the first stage of their lives, children grew from believing they were extensions of their parents to understanding they were individuals.

They struggled with independence. They were balky without understanding why. They threw temper tantrums. They put their foot down in stubborn defiance. If you handled this stage right, they emerged as trusting individuals eager to make their own decisions and welcoming your direction.

In this second stage, they have become people pleasers. Children begin to realize that by pleasing others, they will get more of what they want when they want it. They seek rewards for good behavior. They like to share their successes. "Mommy, see what I did!" They have become outer-directed. They look for others to validate what they have done.

This is the most important time to show appreciation for small achievements. Tell your child how proud you are of them. But, let them know that you would love them even if they weren’t so smart. Avoid catching them at failure. Treat mistakes as a way to learn.

When they make a mistake, teach them how to think the problem through so future mistakes can be avoided. They will learn this lesson and use it the rest of their lives. We see so many adults who get frustrated over little problems. If they had learned to think problems through when they were a child, they would approach problems without frustration.

At this stage, children will stay out of trouble by doing what is expected of them. They want to help. They want to be just like mommy or daddy. Let them know what you want in the way of positive, helpful behavior.

Remember not to point out failures. That doesn’t mean to ignore them when they do something wrong. It means to encourage them to do things right. Show them how to think the problem through and try it again. Praise them when they accomplish the task.

There is an old saying “We attract what we project.” If your child emerges from this stage feeling like a failure, guess what he will attract? This will remain with him forever.

Show him how to succeed. Encourage him to feel proud of his accomplishments.

When this stage is over, we want a self-assured child who is proud of his accomplishments. We want a child who looks inside himself for validation, not a child who has to prove to others how good he is.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to word our praise so that he knows he should feel proud.
“You must be very happy that you finished your milk without spilling any.”
“You must be proud that you built the Lego fort so strong.”
“You must be satisfied that you wrote your name so well.”

We are teaching him to be inner-directed (looking inside himself for satisfaction) rather than outer-directed (looking for others to confirm he is good enough). We are building his confidence.

If you manage the first two stages well, your children will be well-bonded with you, and you will continue to have an important influence over their thinking and behavior. You are building a foundation of life that will make his future easier and more successful than you ever thought possible.

You can learn how to make raising your children more enjoyable with a Parenting Class.

Surviving The Terrible Twos

2009-09-09T05:33:00.007-05:00

Many parents throw up their hands when their two-year-old starts balking at everything and refusing to do what is asked of them. If you understand the phase your child is going through, you can save a lot of head-butting (and headaches).

It's Just A Phase

It may be a phase, but it's a very important one that is the foundation your child's life will be built on. In phase one, your child depended on you for everything. You fed him, you dressed him, you chose when he played and when he slept. His mood matched your mood and he was an extension of you. He did not think about the past and had no sense of the future.

At about 19 months, he started moving into the second phase of his life.

The Independent Phase

At about two years of age, children develop a need to become independent. They begin to understand that they are not an extension of their parent. They start to realize that they are an individual.

This concept is a little scary for many two-year-olds, and totally new to all two-year-olds. Some children have more powerful urges to make their own choices and can seem extremely contrary to parents who are used to a cuddly bundle of joy.

Understand His Choices

You have company coming and you ask your two year old to pick up his toys. He looks you right in the eye and says "No!", or worse, he starts crying. It may or may not develop into a full blown temper tantrum.

Understand that he must disagree with you in order for the choice to be his own. He probably can't tell you why he disagrees with you because this need for independence is new to him. He doesn't understand it. He might even be afraid of what he is feeling.

In the Independent Phase, he will even disagree with himself. You might ask him what he wants for lunch and he will tell you soup. But when you set the soup on the table, he cries and says he doesn't want it.

Don't lose your cool. Understand that his mind is developing and he is experiencing feelings that he has no control over. Make this phase easier for you and for him by learning how to guide him.

How To Help Him Through This Phase

Offer choices. It's scary to assert independence with no boundaries. Instead simply offer two or three choices and praise him when he makes a choice.

If (when) he balks, take a minute to get down on his level and talk with him. I don't mean talk to him - I mean talk with him. Make it a conversation. Tell him you understand that it's hard to make a decision, but you know he can do it. Ask him if he wants help making the decision and then point out the pros and cons. Praise him when he makes a choice.

If there are two things he needs to do, give him a choice of which he will do first. Praise his choice.

Tell Him Yes

One of the biggest breakthroughs I had with my son came when I changed the way I answered his requests. He would anxiously wait for his dad to get home so we could go play in the creek (his favorite thing to do). When he would ask if we could go play in the creek, my answer would be "As soon as your dad gets home."

I was forgetting that children think "right now". There is no past. There is no future. Everything is right now.

While I was thinking I was telling him "Yes, we will go play in the creek (later)", what he heard was "No". His reaction varied from a pout to a full-blown temper tantrum.

One day I tried a different approach. When he asked "Can we go play in the creek?" My answer was "OK! We will go play in the creek! I can't wait for daddy to get home so we can go play in the creek."

He looked at me. Then he smiled and said "I can't wait for daddy to get home. We will go play in the creek."

From that day on, I thought twice before answering any request. I learned to answer in a way that he could understand. He learned that I wasn't telling him "no", I was actually saying "yes".

Don't Deny His Feelings

He is feeling angry or scared or jealous. These are all feelings that he needs to learn to deal with. Instead of telling him not to feel them, explain that they are common feelings and help him deal with them. You will be teaching him a lesson that will mold him into an independent adult who is able to deal with feelings.

Phrases like "Don't be mad", "You're not hurt", "Stop crying", "Don't be afraid", deny the real feelings your child is experiencing. Acknowledge those feelings and teach him how to deal with them.

Help your child through the terrible two's and you will be building a foundation that will be the base for a solid, self-assured adult. An added bonus is that when he reaches the next phase of independence (the teenage years) he will be more willing to look to you for guidance through it.

Want to do more research on the terrible twos? It's easy! You can use the google search box below to search for more articles like this or to narrow down your search.

Try typing "two year old temper tantrum" or "two year old crying".

You can learn how to make raising your children more enjoyable with a Parenting Class.

Tired of Your Computer Startup Being So Slow?

2009-08-19T13:29:00.005-05:00

In today’s fast-paced life, it seems like we want everything to come to us at warp speed. We are increasingly frustrated when our computers take too long to startup. If you’re one of the many people who wish they could speed up the time it takes their computer to start, there is a little application, called StartUpLite, that makes it very easy to disable unnecessary programs that load when you first turn on your computer. Disabling these unnecessary startup programs allows your computer to breeze through the bootup process and be ready for your commands a lot quicker.

StartUpLite is free and is offered by the same company that makes Malwarebytes – see a previous blog posting that talks about getting rid of malware: "Got Malware?".

StartUpLite is a small download that you run one time. It lists all your unnecessary startup programs in a list with an explanation of what the program is, and what it does, and why it is unnecessary. If you want to accept the StartUpLite recommendations and disable all the items in the list, you can leave all the checkmarks and click “continue” at the bottom of the screen. I have found that StartUpLite is always correct in displaying which programs are unnecessary, so you can feel confident in accepting their recommendations. Now, this doesn’t remove the actual program from your computer or disable it from running when you need it. StartUpLite’s disabling process just prevents the extraneous bits of compute code from running during the computer startup process.

This program is easy to use. Simply download StartUpLite and save it to a convenient location. Then find and double click on StartUpLite.exe. Select all options you would like executed or accept the recommendations of the program, which is to leave all the checkmarks in place, and then select continue.

One reason I feel so comfortable recommending this program is that so many people have been helped by Malwarebytes’ Anti-malware program (also free). Both of these programs are easy to use and don’t require the user to be a computer geek in order to run them. The one issue I have noticed about StartUpLite is that it is not UAC aware yet. Vista users who enabled User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista need to run StartUpLite as administrator by right-clicking StartUpLite.exe, then choose "run as administrator". But this is a very minor issue.

Read more about and download StartUpLite by clicking here.