Jul
31
2008
0

How Much Do You Compare & Compete With Other Parents?

Do you ever compare your child’s behaviour or progress with other children of the same age?

It’s tempting to use other children’s development as benchmarks for your own children’s development.

For instance, you may notice that your friends’ five year old can count to 100 easily, while your own five year old struggles to count to 10. It’s easy to think, ‘What’s wrong with my son? Why can’t he count to 100?’It’s also tempting to use other children’s behaviour as benchmarks for your own child’s behaviour.For example, you may notice your friend’s daughter just loves to sit and chat after school, while your child just wants to sit in front of the TV when she gets home. It’s easy to think, ‘What’s wrong with my daughter? Why doesn’t she want to sit with me and talk about school? What’s wrong with ME?’

Comparing your child with others is a stress-inducing and, ultimately, useless activity.

BUT it’s a natural thing to do.We assess our progress in any area of life by checking out how we compare with our peers. When we were kids in school we compared ourselves to our schoolmates. We knew the academic hierarchy our classroom. Our teachers may not have graded us, but we knew who the smart kids were and where we ranked in the order of things.As parents we still keep eye on our peers. We use the progress and behaviour of their kids as benchmarks to help us assess our own performance as well as our kids’ progress. This is okay, as long as we don’t lose sight of three important aspects:

All parents should take pride on their children’s performance at school, in sport or their leisure activities. You should also celebrate their achievements and milestones such as, taking their first steps, getting their first goal in a game or getting great marks at school.

BUT you shouldn’t have too much personal stake in your children’s success or in their milestones, as this close association makes it hard to separate yourself from your kids. It also leads you to play the “compare & compete game” – i.e. by comparing kids you can put pressure on yourself and them to perform for the wrong reasons.

And certainly, your self-esteem as a parent should not be explicitly linked to your children’s behaviour or developmental levels.

Quite simply, some kids are more difficult than others……………so it takes a bold parent to hoist their self-esteem sail to the developmental or behavioural mast of their child.

“You are not your child” is a challenging but essential parental concept to live by. Doing so takes real maturity and altruism, but it is the absolute foundation of that powerful thing known as ‘unconditional love’.

Michael Grose is Australia’s NO. 1 parenting expert. He is the director of Parenting Ideas, the author of seven books for parents and a popular presenter who speaks to audiences in Australia, Singapore and the USA. Get your FREE Chores and Responsibilities for Kids Guide when you visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au
Get a hold of Michael’s sensational new book Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It at www.michaelgrose.com. You’ll be astounded when you learn about your birth order personality and how the postion in your family impacts on your life!

Written by admin in: Natural Parenting | Tags: , , ,
Jul
31
2008
0

How To Achieve Natural Weight Loss

Many diet plans can seem overwhelming to people who are just trying to lose some weight. Counting calories, attending meetings, cutting out entire food groups, or making drastic changes like vowing to live on soup alone – all of these things are time-consuming, frustrating, and/or expensive. Isn’t there a natural weight loss solution?
Natural weight loss is certainly possible, if you make healthy choices in your life. While it might not be as certain as counting calories or as fast as eliminating carbohydrates from your diet, the advantage of natural weight loss is that it is much more likely that you will still see the benefits of your lifestyle changes years later.
Some ways that you can achieve natural weight loss without making yourself miserable include:
1. Control Your Portion Size
Oftentimes, we eat far more than we’d actually need to feel satisfied simply because we’ve been trained to clean our plates. By reducing portion sizes, we can lose weight without changing the foods we eat. Try using a smaller plate, which will make portions look larger. When dining out, ask for a to-go box before you start eating, and pack away half of your meal for later.
2. Find Excuses to Exercise
A sure way of achieving natural weight loss is to increase the amount of exercise you get every day. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours at the gym or in front of a weight loss video. Increase your exercise levels naturally by walking or biking short distances instead of driving, by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or by taking strolls in the evening or on your lunch hour. Wash your car by hand instead of running it through the automat, or vacuum your rugs a few extra times a week. There are even exercises that you can do while sitting at your desk. All of these activities can burn extra calories without boredom or taking up too much time.
3. Make Sensible Substitutions
You can lose weight naturally by making smart substitutions in your cooking and meal choices. For example, experiment with reducing the amount of sugar that you use while baking. Many recipes use far more sweetener than is actually needed for great taste. Try substituting low-fat salad dressings; many taste just as good, if not better, than their hi-cal cousins. When cooking, use olive oil or fat-free cooking spray on your pans instead of butter or fat. You can easily preserve flavor while enjoying natural weight loss.
Following these tips can help you lose weight naturally without any drastic changes, without starving yourself, and without denying yourself the foods you love to eat.

If you’ve reached a weight loss plateau then check out some ideas to help. Claim your free weight loss newsletter

Written by admin in: Natural Cooking | Tags: , , ,
Jul
31
2008
0

Clean carpets and floors on the horizon…

 

STOUGHTON, MA…

As the “green” in its name suggests, Green Horizons cleans rugs and carpets without chemicals. The low-moisture process Green Horizons uses, perfected over the last two decades, is better for the environment and avoids potential damage to carpeting, carpetpads and to wood floors that can occur with “splash and dash” steam cleaners. Not to mention saving customers hours, even days’ worth of wet carpeting.

 

“When you think of carpet cleaning, environmentally friendly doesn’t exactly come to mind. You think of large machines with chemicals and steam,” said Micaela Parsons, who along with partner John McGrath, owns and operates Green Horizons. “The process we use truly is a green way to clean floors and carpeting. It has been recognized in a McGraw-Hill Book, Build a Green Small Business and our parent company is the only carpet cleaning business in New England listed in the National Green Pages.”

 

Besides recognition from green publications, the company has also received a “Best of Boston” recognition from Boston Magazine and maintains an A rating on AngiesList.

 

In addition to cleaning carpets, Green Horizons utilizes its natural cleaning process for:

 

Upholstery cleaning

Cleaning of tile & grout floors

Sterilizing of mattresses through the use of high-pressure, 300 degree live steam (enough heat to destroy dust mite allergen)

Dustless sanding & refinishing of wood floors.

 

Based in Stoughton, Green Horizons service area extends from Boston west, to the South Shore and southeastern Massachusetts.

 

“We’re even happy to travel down to the Cape, all the way to Provincetown,” said Parsons.

 

For more information on Green Horizons Carpet Cleaning and Floor Care, please visit http://www.greenhorizonscarpetcleaning.com or call 781-664-7447.

 

About Green Horizons

Green Horizons Carpet Cleaning and Floor Care is a division of Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care. In addition to cleaning all types of carpeting and rugs via a unique odorless, low-moisture, natural process, Green Horizons also offers a variety of other services ranging from upholstery cleaning to sterilizing mattresses; cleaning tile & grout floors to polishing/refinishing of natural stone floors. For more information, please visit http://www.greenhorizonscarpetcleaning.com or call 781-664-7447.

 

About Drysdale’s Total Floor Care

Drysdale’s has been recognized by several reputable publications and organizations. That includes being a “Best of Boston” selection in BOSTON Magazine, maintaining a straight “A” rating on AngiesList and being the only carpet cleaning company in New England to be listed in the NATIONAL GREEN PAGES (a nonprofit) published by CoopAmerica (coopamerica.org). Most recently, Drysdale’s was highlighted in the McGraw-Hill book BUILD A GREEN SMALL BUSINESS, by Scott Cooney, as a national leader in more healthy home services.

 

For more information on Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care and Drysdale’s Total Floor Care, visit (drysdales123.com). For details on the business opportunity presented by Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, please visit carpet-cleaningbusiness.com or contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.

 

Written by admin in: Natural Cleaning | Tags: , , ,
Jul
31
2008
0

Odd Uses For Vinegar – Natural Cleaning And Otherwise

1. Use vinegar to kill mould and mildew.  This is especially good for removing mildew marks from coloured clothes, as the other natural stain removal method for mildew (lemon juice) acts as a bleach and is best kept for whites.  Use full strength vinegar.

2. Vinegar can be used in the dishwasher as a rinse aid, as it neutralises the strong alkaline powder used by most dishwashers. Don’t add essential oil.

3. To deter flies from the kitchen, boil vinegar on top of the stove with the lid off.  Malt vinegar works best, but if members of your household can’t stand the smell of malt vinegar, it will deter them from your kitchen as well as the flies.

4. However, white vinegar with a bit of spice mixed into it and gently warmed will put a pleasant and rather refreshing scent into the air.  Not sure what else to do with vinegar with spices in it once it’s cooled down?  Use it for making chutney or pickles.

5. Vinegar contains the sort of acid that is used in very expensive cosmetic toners but costs a mere fraction of the price.  Dilute vinegar with water and apply it to your face with cotton wool or a tissue (or a soft cloth that you will wash and re-use) after cleaning your face with soap-and-water or cream, or else add a splash of vinegar to fresh cold water and splash your face with it.  Very refreshing and a great way to wake yourself up, as well as getting rid of any soapy residue, but don’t get it in your eyes.

6. If your washing machine is looking dull inside and the soap is building up a bit, run the machine through a rinse and spin cycle with a cup of vinegar inside it.  This will clean out the filters and the hoses inside your machine.  If you don’t like the idea of running the washing machine empty apart from water, put a few dingy white socks inside to soak and deodorise.  Then leave them in the machine and run a full load once the vinegar wash has finished.

7. Old stickers and decals attached to walls, doors, bed headboards and car bumpers can be removed when faded or unwanted by holding a cloth soaked in neat vinegar over them until the sticker goes a bit soggy.  Alternatively, spray the sticker thoroughly with vinegar.  This will loosen the glue and allow you to peel off the sticker.  Use a soft cloth or three to rub off the rest of the residue, then sponge the vinegar off.

8. If you need to green clean stickiness off scissors (after cutting lots of sticky tape, for example), sponge the blades with vinegar and rub them well with a soft cloth.  Dry very well to prevent the scissors from rusting.

9. Vinegar should be added to any hard candy or toffee recipe.  Use ½ cup of vinegar to 2 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of butter.  Boil the lot together for up to 10 minutes then pour it onto an oiled tray.  When it is cool enough, you can pull and twist it (be careful not to try touching it too soon – sugar gives a nasty burn), or just let it cool before bashing it with a hammer.

10. Out of baking powder?  Use baking soda and add a tablespoon of vinegar to your regular recipe.

11. To clean out a glass decanter, put about a cup of vinegar and half a cup of sand or rice inside it.  Leave this mixture to sit inside the decanter, then shake very, very vigorously.  Rinse well.  Much safer for you than the traditional method of cleaning glass decanters used by old-fashioned butlers and maids – swirling lead shot and brandy around the inside (How To Poison Your Employer 101).

Nick Vassilev is the founder of Cleaning First – a successful domestic cleaning London business,

Written by admin in: Natural Cleaning | Tags: , , , ,
Jul
31
2008
0

Outdoor Cooking Equipment, 20 Tips: Getting Things Right For The Coming Bbq Season

Some people just love eating and some people just love cooking; but when it comes to cooking and eating outside most people say, hey, I love it; but having the right outdoor cooking equipment is essentialSo lets get to it.  Summer will soon be upon us and the outdoor season beckons. Its now the ideal time to think about those barbecues you’ll be having. Whether those meals will be on the patio or in the outback its now the time to ensure that you’ve got all your outdoor cooking equipment to hand and that you’ve got a good idea about how best to go about things.Outdoor cooking comes in many guises. You and your family may prefer to use wood or charcoal because of those wonderful flavours that come from the charcoal and the smoke; or, you may prefer the cleanliness, control and  convenience of cooking with propane gas.  Whatever you prefer the market is now awash with great outdoor cooking equipment to make your cooking experience enjoyable and the results fabulous.

Now when it comes to choosing your outdoor cooking equipment a little thought is necessary as you can easily miss a trick or two and fall short when the time comes to perform!  So, here are 20 great tips to help you make the right decisions when planning this season’s outdoor cooking:

Check out the latest outdoor cooking kit at the outdoor cooking equipment store; you’ll find a wide range of outdoor cooking equipment meeting all levels of budget and there’s a long list of really tasty, simply to cook recipes, ideal for the grill, for the stove, for the boiling pot, for the fryer or for the Dutch oven; its your choice.Happy outdoor cooking and good luck getting your outdoor cooking equipment into shape.

Stephen Kember is President of Transform your Life. He is devoted to helping people to enjoy outdoor life and outdoor cooking. His latest enterprise is the promotion of great quality, great value outdoor cooking equipment from his site at: http://www.outdoorcookingequipemtstore.com

Written by admin in: Natural Cooking | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Jul
30
2008
0

Office Cleaning



Microfiber Clothes

Microfiber is a cleaning cloth made of polyester/nylon that enables you to clean almost everything with just the cloth and warm or hot water. They eliminate the need to carry around different cleaning chemicals for different uses. These cloths are a great alternative to cleaning with chemicals. It can be used to remove smudged dirt, stains and grease just by applying water to it. It can also be used to scrub dirt in appliances, cleaning of interiors of cars, glasses and windows. Apart from the fact that this cleans better than any other cleaning cloth, it is also better for your health, the environment and your wallet.

Microfiber Mop

Again, this is similar to your conventional mop. However, it is made of the same materials as the microfiber cloth and instead of applying chemicals to mop the floor, you only need to apply water to obtain the same level of cleanliness as using mop with chemicals if not better.

Vinegar

Vinegar is popular and extremely effective as a cleaning and sanitizing agent. It is economical and harmless to humans. Cleaning with vinegar is another smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals.  It is good for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, getting rid of lime deposits and for cleaning grout due to its level of acidity. In terms of cleaning, vinegar is multi-purpose. You can use to clean kitchen surfaces, mirrors, glasses and even appliances such as microwaves.

Baking Soda

Next to vinegar is Baking Soda as a natural cleaning agent. Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) as the name suggest can also be used for cooking. It’s economical and non-toxic.

Citrus Oil Solution

This is another powerful cleansing agent that is additive free. Citrus oils are not only good for cleaning but can help in getting rid of odour from a place. It can be used a degreaser because of its solvent properties. You can clean just about anything with this solution from degreasing your cooker to removing stains from carpets and clothing. Citrus solution can also be used as natural insecticides and pesticides at homes or in your offices.

The information in this text is offered by Citywide Cleaning Services – a reliable a London Cleaning Company providing  Office Cleaning Service, Domestic Cleaning, Contract Cleaning Service and Commercial Cleaning Services in and around London Area. If you feel you need a cleaning company to clean your office or homes with natural products and you are based in the London area, why not give Citywide Cleaning Service a call on 020 8507 1623 or log on www.citywidecleaning.co.uk. We are a London based cleaning company that provides quality enviromentally friendly cleaning services, commercial cleaning, contract cleaning, domestic cleaning, home cleaning, school cleaning, residential cleaning and end of tenancy cleaning services at competitive rates.

CEO – Citywide Cleaning Services is a London based Cleaning Company

Written by admin in: Natural Cleaning | Tags: ,
Jul
30
2008
0

Raw Bliss Cafe Dallas Raw Food Spaghetti


We recently had a meal at raw bliss cafe, and it was amazing!!! If you haven’t been, go there NOW. :) www.considereden.com

Written by admin in: Natural Parenting | Tags: , , , ,
Jul
29
2008
1

listoire du bifteck trop cuit ou pas assez


en fete c un bifteck ki na pas assez cuit a la poele juske la tres interessant mais en fete le pire c kil a fini de cuire o micro onde o final sa resemble a sa dc un conseil ne finissez jame de cuire un bifteck o mirco onde precison importante le bifteck ave pri feu ds la poele et ui trop duile c dangereux du cp de peur de fer tt exploser il a falu le terminer o micro onde normal enfin pas si normal ke sa … dsl pr la kalité du son on enten ke moi me c plutot marant de voir sa lol … experience tres interessante

Written by admin in: Natural Cooking | Tags: , , , ,
Jul
29
2008
0

Parents As Role Models

Most parents want their children to be like just them. The good news is that children too, at least when they are young, want to be like their parents. Parents are, after all, their earliest role models. While this makes it easy for parents to mold children’s behavior, it also confers a significant responsibility on them. Here are things you can do to become a role model for your child:

Paul Banas is a founder of GreatDad.com. He writes articles on parenting, dads and pregnancy, pregnancy care and many more topics related to dads.

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Jul
29
2008
0

The Secret Nuances of Being a Good Parent

We have been told so often about the common mistakes that parents make when raising children that very often the all important question of being a good parent is sidelined. After all, there is a subtle yet important difference between the two that should not be ignored. Many parents focus so much on trying to avoid the pitfalls of parenting that they become negligent to the good aspects of parenting.
The fact of the matter is that being a good parent comes instinctively to some people. However, the good news is that wonderful parenting is an art which can be learned and so there is no need to worry unduly about it. The first behavioral trait you will find in good parents is their complete lack of presumption. So many people feel that they know what is best for their children. The problem with such thinking is that it limits the ability to be original and deal with the problems of your children intelligently.
Having experienced the traumas of childhood first-hand does not ensure that you have all the answers in your kitty. Being a good parent means that you take the changing times into account and understand that a comparison of your childhood with that of your children can never be fair. The problems that plague and bother your child today will definitely be different from what you faced when you were a child.
Today, children mature a lot faster than we did when we were kids. For us, childhood was a relatively slow-paced affair while for today’s young generation things change everyday and keeping pace with life poses a whole new set of challenges that we as parents are not aware of. Being a good parent means that all outdated comparisons have to be dispensed with.
One of the most common problem parents’ face in present times is their children’s ever-increasing demand for expensive shoes or clothes or other gadgets which their friends possess. Many parents feel that their children are being insensitive and callous and do not wish to pamper them by giving into these demands. Being a good parent does not mean that you buy things for your child which you cannot afford to in the first place. However, dismissing all demands by assuming that your child is acquisitive is also not the right thing to do.
Try and empathize with your child in situations like these rather than being judgmental. Understand that these demands are prompted because of the possessions of other kids in school. Your child desires the same objects as he does not want to feel excluded or inferior to others. At this juncture, a practical gesture would be to talk to your child and broaden his horizon of thinking. Even if he is young, you can bring about the awareness that material possessions do not determine superiority or inferiority and what truly sets a person above the rest is his humane and sympathetic nature.
Your child might not take to this idea like a fish takes to water, as it will be a different way of looking at life for him but he will definitely value this sooner or later. Infusing this belief also does not mean that you never buy the expensive things that your child wants. Wherever you feel that the demand is justified or that an occasional spending spree is not a problem, you can be an extravagant parent. This way you are being a good parent along with having a pragmatic approach towards life.
One of the secrets of being a good parent is to watch the facial expressions of your child when he communicates with you as well as with other people around him. This will tell you a lot more than just listening to what your child says. Many children do not reveal their true feelings verbally as they have their own inhibitions. Being alert to facial expressions and gestures is a good way of accessing your child’s inner thoughts and emotions. Along with this, be a good listener to your child and devote quality time where you discuss not only his school and friends but other areas of interest that both of you have. After all, the metamorphosis of the child into a friend is the most desired gift to any parent.
Another great way of being a good parent is to participate actively in parent evenings. Your avid interest will be a great encouragement for your child to perform better and you will also get to know of his development in studies and other extra-curricular activities. Today, many parents are unable to help children with their school work as this necessitates some amount of computer literacy as well as knowledge of current teaching trends.
In case you have time on your hands as a parent, you could polish your computer skills and read up on teaching methods so that you can give a helping hand when necessary. Learning computer skills from your children might also be a good way of allowing the fun element into your relationship. There is even a possibility that your child admires your honest admission of ignorance in something that he/she is good at and takes a real interest in educating you. There are a lot of parents who feel the need to portray themselves as all-knowing and superior. There is no need to do so. On the contrary, your child will respect you all the more if you admit that there are certain things that you also find difficult to grasp rather than judging you as imperfect.
Even though being involved with your child’s school activities is commendable, being a good parent means that you have to keep your eyes open for your child’s reaction to your interest in their studies. Some children are perfectly capable of handling their curriculum by themselves and your zeal may be misconstrued as interference. In such cases, it is better to back off and provide help only when asked.
Many parents are paranoid about the times we live in and the issue of safety that has been so blatantly threatened by it. In a bid to shield their children, they try and set limits that are not age-appropriate. Children react adversely to this as they perceive it to be manipulative and controlling behavior on the part of their parents. One of the most important lessons you have to learn on the way of being a good parent is that coddling your children never works and your children will even start rejecting sensible and practical advice on your part so as to assert their freedom. So, beware of this tendency.
To sum it up, the whole crux of being a good parent is to accept your children as individuals who have their likes and dislikes as well as their strengths and weaknesses and respect them for what they are rather than what you would like them to be. Doing so will guarantee that not only are you a good parent, but your children are also great children to have.

Get Your Free Report On 16 Proven Ways To Motivate Your Child To Do Better In School…Plus, receive a “Live Demonstration Inside Our Unique 1 On 1 Online Classroom.” Go to http://www.tutorfi.com/parents/

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a 53 minute production