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Winners learn to manage their mood while they day trade stocks - to conserve energy and develop instinct for winning. Not just winning now and then, but consistently winning - day after day, every trading day. And then (like in the games tennis of golf) learning to day trade stocks at professional levels of competence and performance - with a sense of meaning, self control, and purpose. Trading with both a sense of fulfillment and a wonderful sense of feeling alive - winning.

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About the Author

Day Trader Consultant and Coach.

Creating Great Curb Appeal to the Outside of Your For Sale Home 7 Easy Ideas and Advice

No matter how beautifully decorated the inside of your home may be, if the outside of the house does not reflect what lies behind the front door, you may easily lose the sale.

Potential homebuyers frequently make a list of homes from various internet sites, advertisement listings or through a realtor that they wish to see and then drive by these homes to get a ?feel? for the property and the house. Bottom line, if your home looks unappealing from the outside there is a good possibility your home will be crossed off the list of potential purchases.

Decide to spend a weekend fixing up the outside of your home and stick to a plan.

1)Call two or three local landscapers and ask them to come out for a landscape appraisal but most importantly ?pick their brain? for ideas of how best to show your home. Explain that you are selling the home and wish only to make the most of the exterior at minimal cost to you. In some cases, you might be surprised, particularly during slow landscaping seasons that you can afford to have a professional lightly landscape your property or at least modify a portion.

For less than $500, an associate of mine had a local gardener come in and plant 12 tropical plants, 8 large flowered bushes, trim the existing trees to shape, pull the weeds, cut out sod to merge two planting beds, plant 20 small flowering bushes and throw down several bags of mulch in 2 afternoons.

She also saved a little more money by having him transplant bushes from another part of the property to the front where she planned to create a more dramatic impact. Further, his price included clean-up and removal of gardening debris, which saved her a lot of time after the work was complete. Her soil was very hard to dig into and it would have taken her twice as long to dig one hole as it did for the gardener to dig several; he was familiar with such difficult work and he had all the right tools to do it quickly. My associate only paid him to service the front beds while she saved money by cleaning up the smaller side beds on the side property by doing it herself. (The gardener even let her borrow his expert tools as long as she promised to return them the following day, which she did.)

You might be surprised at the minimal but well-worth price of hiring a professional gardener, particularly if you find a local, one-woman/man operation with low overhead. Someone starting a new business might also be less expensive in trying to build a clientele while my associate in turn offered to advertise the gardener?s services by keeping business cards on hand during real estate visits.

Consider having him/her do a portion of the work and then do the less difficult areas of your home yourself. Even if you do not have a landscaping budget, call a few local gardeners to come out for a quote just to get some great landscaping ideas you can use yourself. Most are willing to spend a few minutes of their time even if you do not use their services. Take their business card anyway and offer to send them a referral. It is all part of doing business. So consider hiring a professional gardener to add curb appeal to a tired property.

2) Stand at the curb of your property and look the land from the perspective of the drive-by potential buyer. Get in the car and drive down your street and look at the way your property compares to your neighbors. If your neighborhood is well-cared for but your property is not; where the trees are overgrown and the weeds are hiding your front door is a clear indication your home will stick out like a ?sore thumb? and you may lose the sale. If you live in a neighborhood where your neighbors? landscaping is ?so-so?, this is your opportunity to shine.

My associate explained that she once lived in a brand new home in an older neighborhood where few people took the time to landscape nicely so anything she did?add a border, plant a few bushes, and place a park bench near the front driveway with container plants, certainly looked amazingly better than the homes around her property. When the time came to sell this home, she took a ride around the block and took the position of the potential buyer. As a drive-by buyer canvassing her own street, my associate noted that the viewer would see blas? curb-appealed homes and then come upon her own, where the flowers were blooming, the green grass was trimmed, the containers were filled with flowers and the inexpensive park bench at the end of the long driveway looked inviting. So plan your landscape to stand out from the rest and if your budget does not allow for the extras, then the next rule of thumb is to just make the property look ?neat??.

3) Neatness in landscaping is important. If a property looks tidy, the impression you will give to the drive-by buyer is that the inside is neat and well-cared for as well. Even if you are not a neat person, make an effort to neaten up the exterior. Find someone who has a ?neat? eye and ask for their opinion.

Trim the grass and if you have spotted, brown grass, invest in a bag of grass seed and water frequently to encourage growth. Baby-sit the seeds and if necessary, place a barrier around the area to keep children and pets from stomping on them. Cover new grass-seeded areas with hay or grass clippings to prevent blowing away, from birds eating the seeds and to keep moisture in. Water newly seeded areas daily.

If you have time before you place your home up for sale, fertilize your lawn?it can make a huge difference in how healthy and green the lawn shows from the street. If you do not have grass, then create areas with grass. Consider removing areas covered in stone or weeds and planting with either seeds or sod. It is a big project if you have little or no front lawn so elicit help from friends and neighbors if needed. Having some kind of greenery in the form of grass makes a huge difference to a buyer. Grass is a great canvas to making other areas of your property stand out and grass appeals to many who grew up with front lawns or always wished they had one.

If you live in areas where it is impossible to grow grass, adding stone is another possibility however, be sure that stone works in that area of the country in which you are selling. Stone lawns usually fit in better in coastal properties where sand is the foundation and the cost of carting in topsoil is enormous. I often feel that all-stone frontage looks out of place in neighborhoods where lawns are more prevalent and in some cases can give the impression the homeowner really cannot be bothered to maintain a lawn. I feel that stone is not a warm product if used in very large areas and should be contained in smaller garden beds if possible.

4) Once you have the grass, fix up the existing beds. (If you do not have any beds in your property, this would be an entirely different article. This article deals with homes, which have garden beds already in place that need sprucing up.)

Garden beds help soften the hard lines of sidewalks, walkways, and the rigid angle of homes. Once you have weeded these beds, ask yourself, ?Does the design of the current beds allow them to be connected in some way across the front of the home? Do my beds flow?? The reason that I bring this question forward in a Curb Appeal article is that my associate explained to me that she used to have to separate garden beds in front of her home; one ran right across the front left-side of the home and the other ran down the side of the driveway. Both beds were disconnected from each other separated by a walkway. This separated design made the frontage look severed and harsh. So she cut out the sod from the bed in front of the house, around the walkway and made a connection to the bed nearest the driveway. It looked like one continuous snake-like bed and once planted with similar foliage the entire property looked really ?pulled together?.

In doing this she accomplished two things: 1) Softening the hard angles of the walkway, which did not have a garden bed in front of it and, 2) the property had the look of what my colleague refers to as ?fluid design?. The eye now followed a soft flow from one end of the house where the bed began to the end of the driveway where the bed ended. And?there was a small surprise at the end of that bed too, which made the design interesting and appealing.

At the end of the driveway, which is ordinarily dull space, the garden bed ended in a circular shape and she planted just a few extra eye-catching flowers there; just a nice little touch and the colors were appealing. The path up the driveway, followed around the walkway toward the entrance of the home was entirely landscaped and pulled together with like-flowers and shrubs. Not a whole lot, but it was consistent and it was neat.

5) Another lawn tip from my associate?she did not have time for grass to grow in some ugly, brown and bare spots on her front lawn and in some cases, the grass just never grew back at all. She cut around the bad areas and made a teardrop-shaped cut out on that spot and filled it in with a few container plants she had growing in the yard. My colleague arranged the containers on 3 different levels?small, medium and large and then filled around the containers with mulch to even things out. The arrangement looked very nice. One of her empty containers (she often picks them up in the dollar store or finds disposed of in construction sites), she cut in half and placed it cut-side down on the bare spot on the lawn in front of the 3 flower-filled containers. She filled the cut container with soil and threw in a handful herb seeds, namely dill and in about 2 weeks; the container flowed with pretty green herbs and ?spilled out? the container onto the ground covering the area cut out from the lawn. It made a nice presentation and was not too ?much? and at the same time hid the very worse part of our property. My friend noticed that even after I sold the home, the new owners still kept the container area as it was when she had the home for sale.

6) Another consideration when taking control of curb appeal when selling your home is to remove or trim down those trees and bushes which hide the beauty of your home. So often buyers look at photos of homes, which show a huge tree in front of the house that hides any view from the inside to the street. If you cannot see the home in a photo or in a drive-by viewing, this again reduces the chances that a potential buyer may be interested in your home. No one wants to ?guess? what a home really looks like and if there are overgrown bushes and trees hiding the house, potential buyers do not want to envision having to clear the property themselves. So be bold and trim the bushes down and if necessary, remove whatever seriously blocks viewing the home?s charm and character from the street.

7) Along the lines of seeing a home from the street is the inability to do so if you have cars parked in front that do not always need to be there. Granted, we need to park our cars but if you have the opportunity to take your car to the street or to the furthest end of your property for a few hours on the weekends or, if you have a large driveway and can move the car away from the front of the home, then take the time to do this. Buyers need to visualize the home as it would be if they lived there and anything which detracts from this thought is a non-plus for you as the seller. Weekends are usually the busiest times for drive-by house viewing so if you can move your car to a neighbor?s driveway or off your own driveway for a few hours, do so. It may make a difference in the curb appeal of your home.

Also, as a reminder, if you have any cars, boats or trailers parked in front of your home, which really do not need to be there?a car you were going to work on or an inoperable vehicle without any registration and kept putting off paying to be towed away, make a decision as whether it really needs to be there or not. Call a charity to have it towed away and donate it. Put an ad in the paper or on craigslist for a free boat or project car, but by all means, remove any unnecessary vehicles, which really take away curb appeal and make the property look more like a car dealership or a parking lot than a home.

So the main items to consider when creating curb appeal are to:

?Neaten up the property

?Plant grass or sod wherever possible ? if not possible, hide bad spots with container gardens.

?Trim and cut away trees and shrubbery which prevent drive-by buyers from seeing your property and the home to its fullest.

?Remove cars on higher drive-by traffic days and permanently remove any cars, boats or trailers, which will not be sold with the home.

?Call a landscaper for his/her opinion and talk about a quote for neatening up the property. See if you can afford at least a portion of it to be professionally ?neatened? and if not; get ideas from a professional that you can use later on your own.

Click here for your FREE Report - 450 Ideas to Help Your Home Sell Faster!!
==>http://www.michaeltrustrealty.com/

Michael Trust is a native Angeleno. Born, raised, and educated in Los Angeles, and a homeowner himself, Michael is familiar with the challenges of buying, selling and owning real estate in the Greater Los Angeles area. Michael?s blog, click here =>http://mtrust.realtownblogs.com/

His background is unusual in Realtor? circles. With a baccalaureate degree from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master?s Degree in Management from the University of Southern California (USC), and 15 years of corporate management experience in Fortune 500 type organizations, including responsibility for projects of up to $1 billion, he can help you look at your real estate transaction from a broader business perspective. Michael handles both residential and commercial properties.

Backpacks and Bullies. Is Your Child Prepared?

Backpacks and Bullies. Is Your Child Prepared?

 by: Patricia Gatto

As the flurry of Back to School activities subside, parents are left to ponder more pressing issues than notebooks, backpacks, and sneakers.

Will my child succeed this year? Will his academic and social growth meet my hopes and expectations? Have I done everything I can to make this possible?

If you haven't prepared your child for the school bully, not only could your dreams and aspirations end in failure, but your child could fall victim to the violence, and suffer long-lasting repercussions.

Make no mistake; bullying is a form of violence. Experts estimate that almost 75% of today's youth will be involved in some aspect of bullying before they enter high school. And chances are, your child will be among the statistics.

Humiliation, fear, anxiety and depression are the constant companions of a child that is bullied. It can lead to harmful, shocking and unexpected behavior from an otherwise shy or timid child.

Victims feel ashamed and tend to view themselves as failures. They are more prone to stress related illnesses such as headaches and stomachaches. In extreme cases, the victim of a bully can experience sever depression and entertain thoughts of suicide.

Lack of safety is one of the top concerns of young people, and bullying is a real and constant threat. A child's emotional development is just as important, if not more so, than academic development. In fact, a safe, healthy emotional environment is essential to academic growth and success.

How do you prepare your child for the school bully?

Become involved and make certain your school has active anti-bullying policies in place. Disciplinary guidelines, procedures for investigating and reporting incidences of bullying, adequate supervision, and an immediate plan of action to address reports of bullying are key elements to a successful program.

Teach your child to walk tall and proud and to maintain eye contact. Portraying a positive, self-confident stature will help your child cope in many areas.

Be certain to compliment your child and gently encourage changes that will bolster self-esteem. Use positive words that validate his or her rights as a person.

Use role-playing techniques to illustrate proper responses to negative situations. This will build strength, courage and provide your child with valuable emotional resources to pull from in times of trouble.

Help your child to identify role models, from sports heroes to everyday man. Discuss the obstacles and accomplishments they endured, focusing on the resilient human spirit.

Read stories together that inspire. Discuss how strength of character and perseverance can achieve a positive outcome without resorting to violence or force.

Encourage your child to keep a diary or journal, write poetry or songs. Writing provides a safe outlet for your child and creativity and self-expression are helpful tools used to work through negative issues.

If your child has difficulties making or maintaining friends, intervene - friendships are a protection against bullying. Identify children that might have things in common with your child and arrange a visit.

Encourage your child to join activities both in and out of school that will result in friendships while building strength and confidence.

But most important, don't diminish your child's concern over a classmate's taunting and teasing, it could very well lead to damaging repercussions. Instead, prepare your child for the bully by empowering him with confidence and self-esteem through your words, actions and embrace.

About The Author

Patricia Gatto and John De Angelis are the authors of MILTON'S DILEMMA, the tale of a lonely boy's magical journey to friendship and self-acceptance. As advocates for literacy and children's rights, the authors speak at schools and community events to foster awareness and provide children with a safe and healthy learning environment. For more information, please visit Joyful Productions at http://www.joyfulproductions.com

pgatto@ptd.net

Real Estate Investing 10 Tips For Your Success

Investing in real estate is not complicated as you think. It is become easy and fun when you are getting used to. I will give you 10 tips for your real estate business.

1. Think one step ahead. It is better for you if you invest in emerging real estate market. In this market the price is steadily increasing, which is very profitable to enter.

2. Getting up to date with tax rules. Taxation is very important in real estate investing. Unfortunately tax rules are changing frequently, so you need accountant with up to date taxation knowledge.

3. Inspect your property before you buy. Inspection is very important, so you should bring your checklist and ensure that your property is in good condition. You do not want another unexpected cost, right? So a proper survey would be good.

4. Check utility expenses. Confirm to your local utilities to verify recent utility expenses

5. Check property market value and rent. Do not rely heavily on financial statistics, instead always measure nearby properties sales and rent price.

6. Assemble a professional team for you. Real estate business needs specialized knowledge. Different country means different rules to play. They will be an indispensable part of your business.

7. Do not attached to your properties. Sometimes an investor attached to his/her properties emotionally, making wrong decision because of this. You need cool head, what most important is profit.

8. Make sure your property have insurance. You do not know what future risk lies ahead, so it is better to prepare the umbrella before the rain. Do not forget to investigate your insurance coverage.

9. Leverage your business by using mortgage. A smart player can acquire properties without his own money. Learn this kind of technique and your real estate business will booming.

10. Specialize. It will become easier to invest in your next properties if you have some background experience. Focus on foreclosures, condominiums, small apartment building, or anything else is good. This is a good advise especially if you just already start in real estate business.

About The Author

Leon Reinhart wrote many tips for real estate investing in his blog at http://realestateinvestingjournal.blogspot.com. Visit his blog to read his article about investment prospect in wallington nj real estate 2-family.

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Gift Ideas For Those Living In A Nursing Home

Elderly people who dwell in a nursing home have needs that are considerably different from those living in their own home, not to mention being constrained by a limited space. Nevertheless, the confines of a nursing home do not exclude these people from receiving tokens of appreciation. Indeed, there are still numerous valuable gift ideas for those residing in nursing homes. Not knowing what these people need or want is no excuse for not giving them gifts. Gifts are small tokens that express concern and care. Everyone longs to be remembered, most especially elderly people in nursing homes who do not experience the proximity of family and loved ones. Most people agree that thinking of gift ideas for people dwelling in nursing homes can be painstaking. The following ideas discussed in this article may help provide a spark of thought. These gift ideas for nursing home residents are generally practical and useful, and most importantly, these gift ideas embody thoughtfulness.

Those who reside in nursing homes are sometimes unable to shop for stationery, note cards, greeting cards, writing supplies, and postage stamps. A nursing home resident, who is fond of filling out letters and cards, may be given a gift of postage stamps, writing supplies, and greeting cards for all occasions. Furthermore, include an address book that contain with the names and addresses of relatives and friends. Bestowing a nursing home resident the facility to stay in touch with family and friends is a wonderful and thoughtful gift.

Everyone enjoys reminiscing happy moments in one?s life, and for the elderly, the past is oftentimes more revered than the present. Anyone would certainly love to receive a scrapbook or a photo album that depict valuable memories. Pictures, as the old adage says, ?are worth a thousand words,? and sending someone a gift book containing familiar faces, smiles, as well as places is something that can be appreciated and looked at again and again. If the nursing resident is a friend or a family member, make copies of photographs in your possession, and solicit photographs from other family members or from mutual friends. Select a cheerful motif for the photo album, and fill the album not only with cherished photos of family, pets, friends, happy occasions, and vacations but also perhaps, some personal notes from the people whose faces appear in the album. The recipient will surely love a thoughtful gift as this, and they will be able to relive the past with each turn of a page.

Gift certificates are popular for all occasions, and fortunately gift certificates are available for every interest and age group. A gift certificate might be a very appropriate choice to give to a nursing home resident who can go outside of the facility to have a massage, professional pedicure, manicure, or hairstyle. A restaurant gift certificate might also be considered, so the recipient can use it, for instance, to treat a guest to a meal out. Also consider services and entertainment that cater the interests or the needs of the nursing home resident, and purchase a gift certificate that they can make use of.

Lastly, one might consider making a gift basket filled with useful items such as washable slippers, cologne, lip balm, small decorative trinkets, word puzzles, magazines, or books, etc. If the nursing home resident is not undergoing a restricted diet, also consider a gift basket that includes a selection of tasty snacks or fruits.

Dranreb Earl Juanico
http://www.celebrateahero.com/othergiftidea.html

Plus Size Women Deserve Sexy Lingerie Too

If you are a plus size woman it does not mean that you should not wear sexy lingerie or mini dresses. On the contrary if you get a plus size bra and panties set you will feel more sexy and first of all more self confident. Being a plus size does not mean being ugly. In fact there are a lot of men who prefer dating a plus size woman rather than a very thin woman. A plus size woman tends to have more voluptuous forms thus a nice sexy piece of lingerie like babydolls mini dress or a lace see-through night gown can make her even sexier and with a lot more sex appeal than a skinny woman with no accentuated shapes.

There are more and more women who realize than being a plus size is not the end of the world. Thus they become more confident in their sex appeal and want to be able to wear the same designs and models of lingerie created by famous brands like Victoria's Secret, Felina, Playtex, Warner's, Wacoal or Jennifer Lopez JLO. Fortunately for them most of the online stores that offer lingerie, offer plus sizes.

Women's lingerie in larger plus sizes can be very hard to find in your local mall. Online lingerie and intimates catalog stores by far have the best selection of sexy styles, colors, and larger sizes. The ultimate goal in purchasing lingerie for yourself is that you feel sexy and comfortable with your beautiful fuller figure. Perhaps that style will be a understated baby doll silk or sheer nightie or maybe a sexy exotic lingerie costume. Learn more about the lingerie styles available in plus sizes for just about any occasion.

Now that you are decided to buy plus size lingerie that will make you feel sexy here are a few things to take into consideration. First of all you can buy it online from the intimacy of your house thus avoiding mean looks or comments. The most important thing is to buy bras and panties that are comfortable for you. You can choose any type of material you want, but there are a few tricks about the color and the design of the products. For example a one piece body will make you look slimmer. The same effect if true if you wear single color lingerie.

If you like bright color or animal print patterns make sure the bra you buy fits you perfectly and it is not tight. The same is valid for any pairs of panties or briefs. A smaller size will only make you look bigger, and a bigger size that you usually wear will have the same effect. If you are not 100 percent decided to buy plus size lingerie here are a few more motives that will convince you. First of all a man has more to see from a plus size woman when she wears sexy lingerie. Also online you can find all kinds of designs that can help you draw attention on the best part of the body.

The best part about lingerie is that no matter what size you need, you only need to buy it for your personal use and for your significant other's eyes. And for sure you know by now that he doesn't care that you are a plus size, so why not offer him some unforgettably sexy moments with you dressed in sexy dresses, babydolls mini outfits and other lingerie.

Jessica and Alan Katz own Lingerie Exposure. They do research for lingerie items that are most in demand and negotiate price so you can get the styles you want at the prices you'll love. Want to see these wonderful deals?

Available at: => http://www.LingerieExposure.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JessicaKatz

By Jessica Katz and Alan Katz

Home Appeal for Today's Market

Sellers get todays market with pricing and longer market times, but understanding that the priced-right home needs to have an up-to-date appeal to home buyers can be a daunting next level. After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn't have to do a thing, sellers need some rehabilitation to understand how they can stand out from their competition with rising inventories. Many sellers are open to a overhaul if the tips come from someone other than their agents mouth. Here is a handy list to help convince sellers that some features in their home might need some attention.

-Test all door and cabinet knobs. Replace mis-matched or inexpensive hardware for a quick update. Buyers rarely can get beyond a knob that comes off in their hand as they attempt to use a door.

-Take the time to paint walls, trim and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette which will make your home appear larger and flow better. Clean up spills from messy painters. Hire professionals to paint mullions on windows and staircase spindles.

-Slipcover mismatched furniture in a room that requires visual unification.

-Discover ways to organize day-to-day room needs. Substantial wicker baskets or square stainless steel or brass can organize magazines, remote controls and toys. Books provide a good look, but vary them by laying some down and standing some up.

-Wallpaper is considered fill-in-the-blank decorating. No two people have the same taste in this instant decorator wannabe. If it?s more than three years old, take it down and paint in a neutral color. And wallpaper boarders are out.

-Simple furniture rearrangement can bring new life to a tired space. Float sofas and coffee tables away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to anchor furniture groupings on bare tile and wood floors. Place groupings of candles and clear glass bowls filled with natural potpourri, fresh fruit or glass crystals on side and coffee tables.

-Make sure there is balanced lighting in every room for dusk and evening showings. Dimmers help set the right tone. -Polish and wax hardwood floors to brighten and blend an old finish.

-Clean every surface until it shimmers and shines. Clean can seal a deal. Don't forget the windows.

-Purchase the best quality carpet pad which can make any new carpeting cushy, and home buyers love cushy. Stay away from shag styles, buyers know it won't be around long in style cycles.

-Streamline window fashions. Heavy drapes are in the minority. Think let the light shine in when placing placing blinds and shades. Light and bright can overcome other issues with home.

-Freshen-up closets with closet organizers to maximize storage space and paint a neutral washable color. Make sure buyers can see the back of all closets and cupboards. Lighting is often overlooked feature in closets, but buyers will always turn on lights when viewing a closet, big or small. Thinning closets, cabinets, basements, attics and garages will also help your storage spaces look larger. If you can't part with items, rent a storage locker to hold items for decision making later.

-Don't forget the basement, dark, dirty and musty basements are a turn-off to buyers. Add extra lighting, paint the floor and vacuum out all the cobwebs. Organize storage areas and take the time to clean the washing machine and dryer. To spruce up the hot water heater and furnace, wipe down with a strong cleaner. Scrub the laundry tub and sweep left-over leaves out of exterior stairs and window wells. Run a dehumidifier to reduce basement moisture.

-Take a good look from the street or road at the front of your home. Look for shrubs that are over grown or dead and remove and replace with shrubs that are to scale to your home. Small inexpensive bushes send the wrong message.

-Limit yard ornaments to a favored few. Excess ornaments can make yards look busy and buyers might want them included in a purchase contract.

-Paint and refresh yard lights, flagpoles, mailboxes, window boxes, fences and trellis. Don?t forget the swing set or play equipment.

-Replace broken bricks on terraces, cracked concrete patios and steps. Eliminate trips and falls on property showings.

-Restore screens on porches and lanai?s. Dirty, rusty and ripped screens limit functionality to homebuyers.

-Don't leave pets unattended for property showings especially when you know they can be aggressive or territorial around strangers.

-Have carpets and area rugs cleaned before showing your home to potential buyers. Those allergic to animal dander and hair, even if they can't see your pet will know when their eyes and nose start to alert them to an allergic reaction. Many will not purchase a home that poses strong allergy problems.

-Pick up dog droppings in the yard. Buyers out to take a look at the roof don't want any take away.

-A barking dog or overly friendly cats can kill a showing. Be pro-active and take your pets off site for showings. Hire a dog walker to occupy pets if you can't be home.

###

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com.

The Abt Audi R8 Dream Sports Car

What separates cars from dream cars? The former basically includes cars that may be considered as necessity; you know ordinary transport that takes you from point A to point B and then back again. Dream cars however, are another story since they include the array of supercars that makes your heart flutter and transforms the road into a stage for you to show off.

The Abt Sportsline?s R8 is another addition to the selection of dream cars and is preparing to get ready to overtake the other sportscar in the battle for prestige. The design studies conducted by Abt for the Audi R8 has lead to the creation of one of the sportiest sports car that Audi?luxury unit of Volkswagen and recipient of quality VW vent visors-- has ever had?the Abt Audi R8.

Abt a Kempten-based tuner has been able to perfect an excellent serial model like the R8 down to its littlest details and at the same time be able to accentuate the R8? s racing genes. The front of the Bavarian R8 displays the signature Abt face.

The front of the Abt R8 is basically a part of an overall concept that brings about phenomenal roadholding. Its unique and beautiful rear with its four inclined arranged exhaust end pipes, together with the rear diffuser and extravagant rear wing gives the front of the Abt R8 with a look that is both classy and compelling.

The add-on parts equipped on the super sports car from Allgau-region enhance downforce and create a perfect balance of the front and rear axis. Such add-ons are especially reserved for only a few cars. The sideblades and the side skirts were especially created for the Abt R8 to enhance its aerodynamics.

The aerodynamically efficient Abt body kit also includes carbon-fiber parts that has not only enhance the looks of the Abt R8 but also display the state-of-the-art Bavarian precision work. The R8 will also sport a carbon-fiber bonnet that does not only reduce weight but also optimized weight distribution of the Abt R8.

Design and technology innovations do not only come from Maranello or Sant? Agata Bolognese but also from Kempten. The Abt R8 is going to be one striking dream car with genes derived from a top-class race car. This car is expected to challenge the likes of Lamborghinis and Porsches. And with regards to the anticipated performance data the Bavarians are traditionally discreet. But these initial data already amazes sports car fans and makes them want to drive Bavarian horses.

The Abt Audi R8 revs up 530 hp (390 kW) drawn from the 4.2 liter V8 Abt supercharger engine and comparing it with the serial model which already shows impressive performance data it means that the Abt R8 has a significant power increase of 110 hp or 81 kW. The brand new Abt R8 20-inch BR wheels are stylish and complement the R8 on the road.

The all-wheel-drive dream car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a matter of 3.9 seconds and reaches top speed of 317 km/h. Such values reflect an extraordinary super sports car that is waiting to be driven. The Abt suspension equipped on the Abt Audi R8 is adjustable in height, pressure and rebound. This suspension increases the performance and driving comfort of the super sports car and can be adapted to the requirements of its driver. The Abt Audi R8 dream car is turning into reality this coming autumn.

For more about your VW vent visors needs like , visit your trusted online source.

Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.

Helpful Tips To Make Bath Time Easier And More Fun For Both You And Your Baby

If you were like me, you were probably bathed in a sink lined with a towel, well those days are long gone.

For the first couple of weeks of your new baby's life, you won't have to worry about bathing your baby. Bathing your little one doesn't start until the umbilical cord stump falls off and all has healed. During that time you will just gently sponge bathe your baby.

Most new parents develop anxiety when it comes to bathing their newborn and rightfully so, drowning is a major cause of infant/child deaths.

Safety Tips on Bathing Your Baby:

First and Foremost, NEVER leave your child unattended in water for even a second.

Bath Water should be between 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Always test the water with your elbow or thermometer.

Do not leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub or in water under the care of a young child.

Have all supplies needed to bathe your baby within arms reach in front of you.

Supplies You need while bathing your baby include:

Hooded Towel

Washcloth or sponge

Baby shampoo

Baby Wash

Have new diaper and clothes ready

There are many baby bath tubs available today which helps make bathing your baby easier and less stressful. You will find that most baby bath tubs cost between $15.00 and $30.00 and by manufacturers such as Evenflo, The First Years, Graco and Safety First. An advantage of using a baby tub is the fact that it keeps your baby in a confined area and easier to manage.

You will want to purchase a baby tub that features:

A contour design and slip resistant padded liner which helps support and keep your baby from sliding around.

A slip resistant bottom to keep the tub from moving.

Mildew-resistant foam pad.

Made of thick, sturdy plastic.

Indented section at one end for bathing supplies.

A plug for easy draining.

Avoid bath rings and bath seats. These can tip over easily and lead to drowning.

Even though your baby may not be happy about being bathed and may squirm and cry at first, once your little one gets use to it, bath time will help create a wonderful bond between you and your baby.

Terri O. is an author and publisher of Baby Cribs. Providing helpful information when shopping for baby cribs, bassinets, cradles and crib bedding!

Back Pain And The Office Worker

Back Pain and Facts

At least 120 million working days are lost every year because of people's back problems.

Back Pain and Facts

At least 120 million working days are lost every year because of people's back problems.

10% of all major back injuries take place whilst handling, lifting or carrying.

Nearly two thirds of adults mostly in their 20's and 50's, experience back problems.

Back Pain is the single greatest cause for time off work through ill health.

Every person complaining of back pain, and any related condition, takes an average of 13 days off work.
(Shocking huh)

Unfortunately, you won't find a magic wand to cure your back problems, but you will find that you can improve or prevent a lot of problems by adopting back-friendly work habits.

Manual Handling

If you think about it, we all manually handle throughout every day of our lives, but have you ever stopped to think just how you go about it...

Do you bend from the waist (naughty),
Do you twist without moving your feet,
Do you slouch in your office chair,

How do you pick boxes, or your screaming toddler up from the floor?

If you sat down and thought about the weight you lift during a normal day, you would probably die from shock because it probably run into tons... Ha, is there any wonder you have those aches and pains?

If you must lift something...

Bend your knees rather than your back,
Keep your feet wide apart to provide stability (This is really important)
Carry objects close to your body
Bend again at the knees to put the object down
When carrying loads, try and lighten them, i.e. try and break them down into lighter smaller loads and store them in areas which are easily accessible.

How do you rate when working in an office?

Make sure your chair is comfortable and adjusted for you, (not everyone else)

Sit so your pelvis is upright
Try and ensure your thighs are at a 110 degree angle to your trunk

Ensure the lumbar support of your chair fits the small of your back so it maintains the natural S shape of your spine

Ensure the armrests of the chair touch your forearms, when your shoulders and elbows are relaxed at your side (This helps to avoid strain in your neck and upper limbs)

Ensure the seat depth allows your bottom to be at the back of the seat with a two finger gap between the front edge of the seat and behind the knees. (Ensures adequate thigh support whilst allowing movement without obstruction).

Make full use of the chair movement especially when reaching for items such as the phone

Don't slouch
Alter your position frequently when using a keyboard
Move if you are uncomfortable. (It's surprising how many people don't)

Change your posture frequently to give your muscles a break
Take frequent breaks from your desk (And no it's not an excuse for a cigarette break)

Keep your mouse and telephone as close as possible (Allowing you to remain relaxed and in a natural position at your desk)

Ensure your monitor is square on so you don't have to turn your head to look at it. (Document holders are handy)

Ensure your screen is at arms length away from your face so the top of the screen is horizontal to your eye line.

The next time you are at work again, open your eyes, and just see how much damage your office job is doing to your back...You just might be shocked.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kim is a Back Care Advisor working in the UK for a large hospital Trust. She's passionate about back Care, and can be found at www.backpain-free.com and www.nursing-hints.com

Paying for a PreInspection Can Save You Money

For years now, we?ve been recommending that home sellers pay for a professional home inspection when they list their home for sale so that both parties know the home?s strengths and weaknesses before an offer is ever made. With current market conditions favoring buyers, savvy home sellers understand that paying for a professional home inspection can help them better position their home within the current market.

The large inventory of homes currently for sale provides buyers with more options, and buyers tend to prefer homes that are in move-in condition. A professional home inspection is one more tool that a seller can use to determine how close their home is to move-in condition and to prioritize improvements and upgrades to best compete with the other homes for sale.

The home inspector evaluates the home?s major systems and provides a report identifying areas of concern. The inspector?s job is to point out both the good and the bad about a property. Then it is up to the home seller, with advice from their Realtor, to identify a strategy for improvements and positioning. A copy of the home inspector?s report, along with copies of receipts for any improvements and upgrades, can be made accessible to potential buyers.

A thorough home inspection often uncovers problems unknown to the sellers. By having an inspection up front, the seller has an opportunity to address minor problems that might seem major once a contract has been signed. Plus, the home will show at its best.

Buyers may be more interested in a pre-inspected home because there shouldn?t be any big surprises after the contract is negotiated. An uninspected home may have the buyer coming back within a week or two (following their own inspection) requesting upgrades, allowances, or price reductions, all of which are a hassle and inconvenience to both parties.

The buyer still has the option of obtaining their own professional home inspection, but there is less likelihood of unexpected surprises and a greater chance the sale will go through as originally negotiated.

Rochester, MN Real Estate agent Shawn Buryska specializes in home real estate, buying a new home, selling your old home, or helping you search Southeastern Minnesota MLS Listings.

All Realtors Are NOT Created Equal

After 23 years in sales and marketing for a major corporation, my father began a career in real estate. In his almost 20 years of listing and selling homes and property, there have been dramatic changes in the marketing of homes, particularly in the past 5 years.

In the early years of selling homes, real estate agents all seemed to use similar marketing techniques. Place a sign in the front yard, enter the listing into the Multiple Listing Service, advertise the home in the local newspaper (on a rotating basis with other office listings), host a Realtor tour, and sit at an open house (catching up on paperwork or reading.) Since agents were doing the same things, it really didn?t matter if your aunt Lucy, your brother-in-law, or the neighbor who just got her license had your listing. About the only variable in the marketing plan might be the frequency of print advertising.

Some agents started getting more aggressive in their marketing with the advent of the color copier. Producing colorful brochures of homes for sale became more affordable for agents and made them look very pro-active in the eyes of their sellers! As simple as it may sound, this began to separate the passive marketer from the more active, aggressive, result-oriented one.

Then times changed dramatically as the visionary Realtor recognized the power of technology?the Internet! The Internet has changed the way the world does business and has had a huge effect on the real estate industry, providing a global showcase for every home or piece of property for sale.

The advances in technology have changed the way real estate agents do (or do not do) business. Those who have embraced this technology are far ahead of the pack. The advantage to the seller is it is much easier to evaluate which Realtor to use by surfing the web and checking out different agent?s sites. The seller gets a good picture of the agent?s professionalism, statistics about an agent?s sales volume, a snapshot of how the agent presents homes for sale, and more. Today?s real estate marketing plan should include the use of technology and other more active techniques, such as those shown below.

What about newspaper advertising, you ask? While statistics indicate print ads are responsible for less than one percent of real estate sales, we DO continue to advertise in the newspapers. Internet marketing and advertising far surpasses newspaper advertising with outstanding results.

If you are listing your house today, you need a Realtor with a proven track record in marketing not only by today?s standards, but looking into the future, as well. If your Realtor?s total marketing plan is an open house, Realtor tours and newspaper ads, you are dealing with a yesterday Realtor.

There is a definite difference in Realtors today. Do your research. Select the Realtor with the experience, the knowledge and the vision it takes to sell a home in today?s market.

Kris Kombrink has been working in his family-owned real estate business since 1995. Specializing in Geneva, St Charles and Batavia Illinois residential real estate his team stays on top of the latest trends while maintaining superior customer. Learn more about his team at www.kombrink.com or email kris@kombrink.com

DIARIES OF A BUS DRIVER Vol. 1.4May 16th 2003

Dear friends,

What is it about buses that makes other drivers lose all their common sense! In consecutive days, I have been passed on bends in the road. The car drivers couldn't possibly have known what, if any vehicles were approaching from the opposite direction. Both were lucky. Within a minute of the second incident, on Green Dragon Lane, a third car overtook me on a straight, downhill section of road, doing somewhere in excess of 50mph. To deter such speedsters, there are 3 sets of chicanes at mini-roundabouts. This particular stunt was attempted an insufficient distance from one of these, so the driver was forced to negotiate the entire manoeuvre on the wrong side of the road. This time, the driver was almost not so lucky. Another vehicle was coming the other way. I doubt they missed each other by more than a couple of feet. This incident almost brought to life my enduring waking nightmares.

The vision I have almost overcome, is where I am driving at a decent speed and misjudge how far I am from a parked vehicle, causing a gut-wrenchingly spectacular smash. In the second scenario, a testosterone drunk dick-for-brains pulls out from behind me, while crossing into the path of oncoming traffic - a scene that unfolds several times daily. This time around, neither the perpetrator nor the victim, a bus or articulated lorry driver, can avoid a devastating crash. Car parts and flames fly through the air. Fortunately, my imagination has spared me visions of the mangled bodies.

I also have another accident to report. As seems to happen weekly, the tunnels on the North Circular Road, going under the Great Cambridge Roundabout and Silver Street, were closed for repairs that nobody has ever actually witnessed taking place. Two lanes had just merged into one on the slip road. Without enough space to get past me, another car attempted to do so anyway. Upon failing in his first attempt, he applied the old adage: try, try, try again.... until he hit me! After pounding the steering wheel in frustration and anger, I got off the bus to assess the damage, minimal, and see if the other driver was alright. He asked how I didn't see him!!!! He wanted to know what 'I' was going to do about his car. His tone was threatening, so I got back on the bus. I carry a company-supplied camera, with which I am supposed to photograph accident damage and location. Upon seeing this, the other driver cursed, rounded the cones and sped towards the waiting queue of traffic. Not a bright chap, as I would inevitably join the same queue immediately behind him. I snapped a shot of his licence plate.

Talking of not bright! My trip to the US was great. I loved seeing family and friends, and spending time with my kids was the highlight of my year. The second leg of my road trip was from Detroit to Pittsburgh - about 250 miles. We were in Ohio, about 10 miles from the Pennsylvania border, when a full grown female Deer ran up the embankment to the highway, within yards of our car. Surprising and beautiful. I said, look, kids! The Deer than full on charges our vehicle. I had a split second to react and swerved to the left, grazing the animal, which ran off, with the side of the car. Hair flew. Shit flew! Literally!! It hit the passenger window. Good thing for Sean's allergies! The windows were closed and the AC on, else Hannah would have had a face full!! Seems that Bulls aren't the only animals that attack red! We were told that this was far from an isolated incident. We were all sick to our stomachs. I called Rob, in Pittsburgh, telling him that we would be a little late. He lightened our moods with a few rather sick jokes. The time spent waiting for the Police - I had to get an accident report for insurance purposes - was almost sufficient for us to recover. I always drive past Rob's house, so called him again from close-by, asking him to stand outside it. We'll be in the maroon Honda Stationwagon with the shit on the window!

Seen and believed, but certainly not comprehended: Two Mercedes cars, one a sporty convertible, that have television screens on the dashboard. One of them had music videos on. What I want to know is, what egghead had this pea-brained idea, what corporate melon-head agreed to put them in the cars, what 'safety' commission approved it and how much did that cost in political contributions, and, last but not least, what yuppie moron with more money than sense would buy such a thing? Countries and States are banning mobile phone use for drivers, but it's OK to watch the booty-shaking flesh parade that constitutes so many videos! One thing's for sure: there'd be no shortage of people for me to sue, should I ever be involved in an accident with one of these cars!

As far as I can tell, there are only two things prone to more exaggeration than a man's penis size: Parents' estimation of how advanced their children are, and how long people have waited for a bus. On Sundays, the 125 comes only twice an hour. A man got on my bus complaining that he had waited an hour. I said that was untrue. I had crossed paths with the other bus exactly where I should have done. OK. Maybe 40 minutes. No, it would have been about half an hour ago. Oh! I must have just missed it!

There are many reasons for buses being late. People are constantly ringing the bell for the wrong stop and then just sit there saying nothing when I stop. The new buses on the 125 route have bells on almost every pole. People get on and grab the bars on their way to a seat, accidentally ringing the bell. Anyone can make a mistake, but as a public service request for all my fellow drivers everywhere, please admit to yours, if you make one. It will save a half a minute. The later I am, the more passengers I pick up (and will therefore also have to drop off somewhere) that would otherwise have missed me. This makes me later still. After all, the leading cause of lateness is picking up and dropping of the passengers. If I never had to pick up any, I'd rarely be late at all!

Another major cause is crazy schedules. On the W15, 44 minutes are scheduled for the late, late runs. This is almost impossible. I have made it just once. I was determined, and the roads were unusually clear, as it was Bank Holiday weekend. The allotted time from the Hackney Central Bus Stand to Leytonstone Station is 15 minutes. I drove 35-40mph most of the way, even briefly topping 50 along the Homerton Road. I was 2 minutes late at my first checkpoint! I made this up by the time I reached Terminus.

Along the same lines, the 125 has a round trip of 16 miles. (I originally thought this was 25 ? miles, but the new buses display kilometres.) The late runs are expected to accomplish this in 50 minutes. Supposedly, all times are based upon a top speed of 27mph. I worked it out! If there were no traffic, no traffic lights, no turns to negotiate, no roundabouts and no passengers, it would take me over 35 minutes. At an average 30mph, the time needed would be 32 minutes. But I tend to slow down for road hazards, and go considerably slower still when taking on passengers! Bare in mind, not one of these road has a limit of above 30mph and I would be expected to pay any speeding fines, and the 3 points would be on my licence!! 12 points and I'm out of a job! Not without a fight!! Letters to Mayor Ken, 'The Editor'...

If Swan Lane in Whetstone flooded...

I have to report the sad closure and removal of the 24-hour mobile tea and snack bar on Hackney Marshes, at Homerton Road. Not that I ever ate there. However, I always found it wryly amusing just how often the place was closed when I passed it - certainly more than any other 24-hour joint I've ever seen!

As a final note, I have some hope of returning both to New York and my old profession. Projects are in the works at my old employer, which I hope will result in a call in a few months. Perhaps next year, I'll be writing Diaries of an Englishman in New York.

That's all for now.

Love,

Andy

About the Author

My name is Andy. I am an Englishman who has spent most of his adult life in the United States. In 2001, I moved back to London, thinking I would remain there for the rest of my life. But things didn't go as planned. And instead of finding a job in IT, I became a bus driver. This is my memoire, written from 2003 to 2005.

Now back in Brooklyn, I have a blog I currently enjoy writing: sceneandheardinny.blogspot.com

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Back to School!

We have all seen the commercial where the parent is prancing around the office supply store gleefully filling the cart with school supplies. What they don't show you is the panic that sets in when school begins and hoards of paper pile up on the kitchen table like Mount Everest. But fear not, there are some strategies that you can begin to put in place now so that you will actually be able to eat at the kitchen table!

Start with the basics - a place for everything and everything in its place. Create a drop spot in your home where your kids (and you) can put their backpacks, keys, coats, shoes and anything else that consistently comes and goes in your home. Hooks are best for backpacks and coats. Baskets or bins are great for hats, gloves, and work papers; and a shoe rack is a must for keeping the shoes in pairs.

A school supply zone is a must. In this area you should put all the necessary school and craft supplies. Clear plastic stackable or drawer bins with labels work great for corralling paper, glue, scissors, note cards, pencils, markers, etc. Best of all, by having all the supplies in one place you will save yourself and your child time and frustration when they sit down to do their homework or project.

Create an In Box for incoming paper. Remind everyone in the family that all incoming paper, from school, work or the mailbox, must be placed here so that it can be handled. Then start the habit of emptying the bin every night before bed, taking the necessary action: trash/shed it, file it, delegate it or act upon it. Tossing, shredding and filing are self-explanatory. Delegating indicates that you give it to the person who has to read it, sign it or do something else with it. Acting upon it simply means that you will to do something now with the paper - sign it, pay it, read it or post it.

With younger children (preschool and elementary school), the amount of papers and art work that come from school is tremendous. The basic rule of thumb is: if it needs a signature, sign it immediately and place it back in their backpack or school bag; if it is a notice with an important date, mark it on the family calendar and then either file or toss it; and if it is art work, write the date on the back and display it. A great tip for hanging papers is to tie a piece of string, strung with clothes pins, between to cup hooks that have been screwed into the wall. The clothes pins can be embellished to fit the d?cor of the room. As new art comes in for display, place the old pieces in a bin.

At the end of every season group the items together and take a picture or two. Have your child stand with the three dimensional projects and the ones you particularly love so you have a photo of them with their masterpieces. Then pick a few choice pieces to keep and toss the rest (when they are not around of course).

For older children, the system is the same except they need to be involved in the decision of what stays and what goes. Scrapbooks, notebooks, storage bins or portable file holders are a great place for middle and high school kids to keep those papers, tests, ribbons, pictures, certificates and concert programs. It is important to label what ever organizing product you choose and be sure to stay within its boundaries For example, if you choose to keep school papers in a notebook, then limit yourself to a 3 binder and when it is full you need to purge before you can add anymore to it.

Create a family calendar that is visible and accessible to everyone. Let each person choose their own color for recording their appointments and activities. This way you can easily see who has to do what and when. And while we are on the subject, make sure that you plan time for being a family. These days everyone is so busy running from one activity to another - soccer, Tae Kwon Do, scouts, etc. - that we forget to make time for our family. Keep in mind, if you are stressed running your kids around from thing to thing, imagine how stressed they feel!

With a little planning and some new habits and routines, this really can be the most wonderful time of the year - for everyone!

Kathy Jenkins is a Professional Organizer based in Mechanicsville, VA. Through her business, Come To Order, she offers residential professional organizing services tailored to meet the specific needs of her clients, and operates a retail site for organizing products, OrganizedAtoZ.com. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), Faithful Organizers, and Women Entrepreneurs of Virginia, and serves as marketing director of NAPO Richmond. You may contact her through her website at http://www.cometoorderva.com.

By Kathy Jenkins

Discover More Funny Games Of Nutty Party

Wondering what type of game to select, to make all the girls laugh and enjoy the party. The following games always proved to be number one in nutty party.

Another active living-room game that was nutty enough to suit the girls was called True or false. The girls gathered in the center of the living room and were told the West end of the room was the false end and the East end the True. Sally read a list of statements which she had prepared beforehand about nut subjects. For instance, the leader read, The peanut is a nut that grows above ground. The first girls at the head of each line answered by going to the false corner of the room, which in this case was correct. Therefore, each girl won a point for her side. The second girls in each line answered the next question and so on to the end of the lines. Other nutty statements were:

The beechnut grows on the beach by the sea.
The hazelnut is a female nut.
The walnut is common in Minnesota.
The hickory nut grows on a tree famous for its wood.
The butternut comes from cows.
The chestnut is common around Christmas time.
To occupy the girls while their lunch was being prepared Sally started them on Fortune Telling peanuts.

Sally had removed the peanuts from their shells ahead of time. Into the shells she put tiny folded bits of paper on which were written such words as journey, wealth, success, 5 children, 2 husbands, and hard work. These she had hidden around the room. The girls were told that somewhere in the room was a peanut with her fortune inside. Each girl must hunt until she found one. After everyone had a peanut they opened up the shells and took turns reading the fortunes they found. Providing only one apiece eliminated that scramble that usually accompanies an indoor hunt.

These are some of the games that kept Sally and her friends busy at her Nutty Party. At the close of the fun the Head Nut of each team added up the scores each team had won, and the winning team was then given the privilege of having the losers serve them lunch. Sally lighted a fire in the fireplace and the girls squatted around on the floor to eat hot dogs and buns and drink pop. When the winners were all supplied with food the losers then received their hot dogs and sat by the fire to tell tall tales as they ate.

After the party Sally said, Gee, Mom that was a swell party.

Sally's mother was glad she had permitted Sally to have the party not only because Sally and her friends had such a good time, but she realized that Sally had learned a great deal about being a good hostess. Sally had made an effort to bring the shy girl into the games and had learned the value of cooperating with a hostess valuable knowledge that will help Sally enter adolescence with more poise and ease.

Lots of funny and interesting game brings all the girl in one accord of laughter .This is also the secret of Sally?s nutty party.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for http://www.kids-games-n-crafts.com/, http://www.tipsforcomicbooks.info/, http://www.goodbudgetholiday.info/

Breast Cancer Recurrence

One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the hree week rule. If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Dog Car Seats

This article provides useful, detailed information about Dog Car Seats.

Is your dog too short to look out the window? Chances are he's miserable, and he wishes you would buy him a booster car seat. Now is the perfect time to grant his wish because manufacturers are fast creating new models to cater to any size dog and any owner preference. Ready to shop? Here's what to look out for.

Before you get caught up in the hype of marketing, remember that dog car seats all boil down to three important must: it should be comfortable, safe, and easy to wash.

The comfort of a dog car seat has a lot to do with its booster and support features. Choose a seat that is adjustable so that your dog can comfortably watch out the window without having to get up at all. Like you, your dog is sensitive to touch, so buy a dog car seat made with breathable but durable materials such faux lamb's wool with either nylon-quilt or poly-cotton exterior. Some dog car seats even feature storage trays for dog food, water, or medicine. This is great if you travel long distances with your beloved pet.

You should likewise invest in a dog car seat with seatbelt strap slots and harnesses to hold your dog in place in case of a collision. Choose a harness depending on your dog's personality ? if it likes to be able to move around a bit, then choose a harness that is not too restricting. For added fun, you can have the harnesses personalized! Some shops embroider your pet's name on the belts for you.

Finally, choose a dog car seat that is easily washable. The seat should have easily removable covers that can be tossed into the washer and dryer or cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Try to wash your dog's car seat as often as you can to prevent dog hair and fleas from building up and ruining the fabric.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Baby Car Seats provides detailed information on Car Seats, Baby Car Seats, Dog Car Seats, Heated Car Seats and more. Baby Car Seats is affiliated with Custom Car Seat Covers.

Alaska Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Alaska

Maybe you are buying your first home in Alaska, or perhaps you?re relocating to Alaska from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Alaska home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you will need to know before buying a home in Alaska:

The median price of a home in Alaska is $144,200; however, home costs can vary widely between zip codes. For example, in the Anchorage Metro area, median home values during the summer of 2005 were $224,000. Recently, homes in Alaska have been appreciating at rates slightly above the national average. As a result, income levels in many parts of Alaska are too low to purchase a median-priced home with a conventional loan. In fact, homeowners in many Alaskan cities pay more than the recommended 30% of their incomes toward housing.

Alaska state law only allows issuance of adjustable-rate mortgages on owner-occupied residencies. Additionally, Alaska has a Permanent Fund Development program that distributes a yearly payment -- a share of the fund?s investment earnings -- to all qualified residents.

If you?re buying a home in the state of Alaska, you qualify for both federal and state FHA and VA loans. First-time home buyers qualify for Alaska FHA loans with below-market interest rates, and, depending on their income, may also qualify for down payment assistance. Alaska also has a comparable program for homeowners in rural areas.

In addition to FHA loans, the state of Alaska also offers no-down-payment loans to people of very low income, persons with disabilities, veterans, teachers, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, and nurses. These individual requirements of each of these loans vary depending on the county in which you are buying a house.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Alaska Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Pearl Talk What You Need To Know

The pearl has always been a rather prim and proper piece of jewelry classic and seeped in tradition that never goes out of style. Well things they are a changing! This year not only has the pearl is had a very glamorous make over its a front and center fashion statement! Yes, the classic strand still exists as it always will. But we warned we are seeing some vary daring looks from the pearl this season. Extra long lengths, tasseled multi strands, pearls with semi precious stone accents, pearls on gold or silver chains. The pearl has been transformed into a fun and fashionable accessory.

The glow or radiance of a pearl is the most important quality. Avoid pearls that are chalky or dull as they will be weak and may crack or peal. The surface of the pearl should be blemish free no bumps or cracks. Inspect under a bright light. Baroque pearls are the exception to this rule their charm is in their irregularities.

Pearls are measured in millimeters. The larger the pearl the higher the cost. A 6 mm pearl is going to be much less than a 12 mm pearl. The least expensive pearls are the freshwaters which mainly come from China. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Average size is around 7 mm

The best way to care for your pearls is simply to wear them. The natural skin oils keep them moisturized. Do not put them on until you are done with your cosmetics. This includes hair, facial, and perfume. The residues from these products will ruin your pearls. Do not wear your pearls in the water chlorinated and salt water will damage them. Polish with a soft cloth and never use jewelry cleaning products on your pearls.

Quality pearls are not cheap but they will last a lifetime. Freshwater pearls are becoming very affordable. Not all of us will be in the market for Real Pearls and lucky us there are plenty of options. Swarovski makes a crystal pearl that is of the finest quality and quite difficult to tell from a true pearl for a fraction of the cost and they are available in a variety of colors. There is an endless supply of imitation pearl or costume jewelry pearls on the market. These are offered in a wide variety of styles and colors. Great fun at affordable prices.

So you ask whats In Style this season? Well Im glad you asked! Pearl rings get the green flag from low settings to monster large solitaire pearls, they are all the rave. A pearl ring can go from romantic and simple to sleek and stunning. The Bib Necklace makes a very dramatic statement. A broad necklace that tapers towards the back just like a babys bib [thus the name. They range from extremely wide to as narrow as a . This style works great with a simple black dress or strapless neckline.

The multi-strand necklace is ever so preppy. They range from 12 to 18 and pearls are usually small to medium. The object of these necklaces is for every pearl to be in perfect placement. Very versatile and fashionable. The opera length necklace simply never disappears from the fashion scene. They measure 36 or longer and they can be worn as a long single lean line, doubled up, tied in a knot, wherever the moment takes you. These long strands are terrific for dressing up a pair of jeans or semi casual look.

The tassel necklace from the footloose and fancy free1920s has made a come back, and rightly so! Today tassels are often made from tiny seed pearls or irregular baroques. They range in length fro short at 16 to navel length at 36. The tassel necklace swings and sways with your movement making it a must have for those night of dancing.

This season for first time, we are seeing pearls mixed with colored gems such as amethyst, peridot, or topaz. They compliment each other nicely pearls with their soft and subtle shades mixed with semi precious gems with their vibrant and bold color. Picture it what a fashion statement!

Pearls mixed with silver is also new this season. Long silver chain dangle earrings accented with pearls, or freshwater droplets set on silver. This season the pearl is all about the color. Pearls are available in many hues but this season the hot spot is lavender and the lavender family ranging from pale iris to plum.

If you already own a beautiful classic pearl necklace its very easy to transform it into something from this season. Try adding a group of charms or pendants, fastening a vintage brooch or clip[ on earring at the bottom. You could mix various lengths or sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain. How about mixing your real pearls with your fake pearls? The options are as endless as your imagination.

Remember when you freshen your wardrobe for the spring, freshen your costume jewelry too and Make Your Fashion Statement!


About the author:
Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Real Estate for Sale in Arizona

If you are looking for real estate for sale in Arizona, you may want to check the Internet for listings or consult with a real estate broker.

If you are looking for a top custom builder of homes, the Dalton Ross Homes may just be what you?re looking for. On the other hand, La Costa Homes is a premium property found in Kingsman, Arizona. Its builders put a premium on quality. Additionally, Esmay Construction showcases quality properties. They has open floor plans and customized features with a flair for architecture. They have new homes in Kingsman, Arizona, and in Lake Havasu City along with the popular Valley Vista Gold Course.

If you are interested in a family-focused Scottsdale community, there is a modern and luxurious estate in Paradise Valley. Perhaps you are looking for a quaint ranch in Carefree or a custom house with a creatively designed golf course or even a downtown loft. You can search for these homes online with the help of agents.

Some online real estate firms offer first timers and veteran home purchasers valuable knowledge to guide them in their decision-making process. They provide real estate reports online, articles on available properties and a monthly newsletter with informative features on the Arizona real estate environment.

If you are the seller, remember not to utilize traditional methods of selling properties such as open houses and advertisements in magazines. Make sure that the agent maximizes exposure of your home to command a good price.

Since the selling strategies of properties have undergone dramatic changes, a proactive approach is necessary. These include agent-to-agent selling, marketing through the Internet, and other new techniques so your property will fetch a handsome amount.

So keep these things in mind to guide you in your search for estates in Arizona.

Arizona Real Estate provides detailed information on Arizona Real Estate, Tucson Arizona Real Estate, Phoenix Arizona Real Estate, Arizona Real Estate Agents and more. Arizona Real Estate is affiliated with Arizona Vacation Rentals.

Breakthrough Marketing Tips for Selling Houses

Home sellers who learn about marketing psychology and home staging can take advantage of unconventional selling strategies. If you're selling a home or investment house, you might need some extra help to generate a speedy, top-dollar sale. Here are three cutting edge home selling concepts to help you.

1. Marketing Psychology

Study the Internet marketing masters. Notice that effective sales letters don't list the features of a product. Internet marketers know that people buy because they want the benefits.

Structure your sales materials for your product keeping in mind what your house can do for the buyer. Instead of listing a long list of features, turn the amenities into benefits to the home buyer. For instance, instead of listing 2,050 sq. ft, 2 story, say: Spread out in huge two-story home of over 2,000 square feet. Think about your potential buyers and target your benefits to them. First-time home buyers care about privacy and easy payments. Move-up buyers care about status and luxury.

2. Home Staging for a Speedy Sale

Staged homes sell faster for many reasons. Staged homes make buyers feel at home--instead of feeling like an intruder in someone else's home. Agents love to advertise and show a staged home. Appraisers even give credit for buyer appeal.

3. Home Staging with Design Psychology for a Speedy, Top-Dollar Sale

Design Psychology takes home staging further by applying marketing psychology to interior design.

Always consider your target market and their emotional needs. First-time buyers want shelter and security, while move-up buyers desire prestige and peace. After you've cleaned and shined your home, set the stage. Add a few props, carefully selected to encourage a prospective buyer's desired emotions and paying special attention to happiness, joy, serenity, and security.

Home Staging with Design Psychology, unlike traditional home staging, brings into play:

* Market colors instead of bland white walls: market colors are selected based on the buyers' profile and proven preferences.

* Furnishings for feelings: stage a lifestyle step-up.

* Props to entice buyers senses: unlike normal home staging, you don't need rooms full of furniture.

What do home buyers want? They want a home that meets their needs. However, they'll eventually buy the home that makes them FEEL happy and one that will impress their friends, because they also want to be proud of the home they've chosen. Your choice of decorating colors, patterns, textures, and furnishings will influence the way a prospective buyer feels, and the buyer's feelings will impact their choice of housing.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

More information about Staged Homes

Learn about Home Staging from an interior design teacher. Jeanette Fisher offers free Home Staging Information and teleseminars. Find out how to profile your prospective home buyer and set the stage for a top dollar, faster sale. Sell Your Home Fast: http://sellfast.info

Dogs get more human every day

First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels upgraded from a wire cage to four-star hotels for man's best friend. Now you can even buy insurance for your four-legged friend. Everything from health insurance to third party insurance for the family pet is getting to be big business in the animal world.

Pet owners can find insurance for a myriad of pet related problems. For example, assistance in finding Fido if he goes missing; third party insurance in case Rex gets a little perturbed and bites the neighborhood bully; life insurance. All are valid reasons to consider buying pet insurance. But like insurance for your family, you should research the different insurance companies thoroughly before plunking down your hard earned money. So how do you decide what insurance company to go with and what type of insurance you are likely to need? Easyknow your pet.

Ask yourself these questions before you begin your research. What physical ailments is your pet's natural enemy? For example, German Shepards are prone to hip displasia as they get older so a good health plan is something you would want to consider.

What percentage of the dog bites reported to the police are instigated by your breed? For instance, Pit Bulls are responsible for a good percentage of dog bites in the United States, though Rottweilers and German Shepards come in a close second. If you own one of these breeds, no matter how docile and kind you believe your pet to be, third-party insurance would be a good idea.

Finally, will your dog be a show dog, watchdog, breeder or family pet? If he or she is a show dog, life insurance may be good idea. Since Fido is helping to put food on the table, life insurance would help cover those losses.

Once you have the answers to these questions, begin your research. Go to any search engine on the Internet, type in pet insurance and you will be whisked away to an unlimited number of websites that sell what you are looking for. But like insurance for your family, some of the websites can be confusing. Ask your vet what company has given him the least amount of problems. Ask other owners of your breed what insurance company they use.

There are so many insurance companies out there that offer a wide variety of insurance plans at a low price (some companies offer full coverage for as little as $9 a month) that you are likely to sign up for something you do not need. So the answer to the insurance question when buying a new pet is unfortunately the same as every other pet-related questionResearch, Research, Research. Though in my personal opinion, unlike clothes for your darling Tinkerbelle (which I think is more embarrassing for the owner than it is for the animal), or over priced training (which you can do yourself if you are willing to put in the time) pet insurance is a necessary expense. If you don't believe me, wait until the bill comes due.



About the author:
You may use this article on your site as long as the 2 URL's are hyperlinked.Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides information on pet insurance and dogs.

HEM Support Group News- July 2005Mary Nix```````````````````````````````````````````````````````
HEM SUPPORT GROUP NEWS - July 2005
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~JULY'S HIGHLIGHT
~ISSUES TO WATCH
~COMMUNITY SERVICE
~CONFERENCES
~WEB UPDATES
~HEM RESOURCES AND MORE

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JULY'S HIGHLIGHT
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This month's highlight is Valerie Bonham Moon and her website, The Military Homeschooler. Valerie Bonham Moon homeschooled her three younger children in Europe from 1990 until 1998 while her husband served there with the United States Army. She now lives near Kansas City with her husband.

Valerie's sense humor, excellent wit and wisdom are evident at her Military Homeschooler Web Site -- http://www.militaryhomeschoolers.com/ . Each month Valerie offers new information at her site and The Military Homeschooler presents a wealth of information to not only the military homeschooler, but for all homeschoolers.

Here is the interview:

Mary: Valerie, thank you for agreeing to discuss Military Homeschooling. When did you first create The Military Homeschooler website?

Valerie: The Military Homeschooler was first uploaded in September of 2003. I played around with the website program for a few months before I felt that the site was decent enough to put out in public. It's still fairly simple with no bells or whistles, but since text is so 'small' I can get more information onto the server than with a technically fancier site.

Mary: What prompted you to create the site?

Valerie:The main questions asked by military homeschoolers don't change that much, so the same answers were given out each time new members joined any of the email lists. It seemed easier to provide a URL to the information than to send out the same kind of messages each time a new person subscribed. Also, military homeschoolers have concerns that I didn't see addressed on other homeschooling sites. NHEN has good military information, but the breadth of information needed by military families exceeds NHEN's home education bounds. Parents want to know about shipping pets overseas, dealing with deployments, and whether it's better to live in government quarters or 'on the economy' (which means you live in a civilian neighborhood).

Mary: Does the Armed Forces have an opinion about those in the Armed Services home educating their children?

Valerie: No. According to the DoD Education Activity (DoDEA) in their 6 November 2002 policy memorandum on home schooling:
http://www.dodea.edu/foia/iod/pdf/02OD002.pdf,
It is DoDEA policy to neither encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home schooling their minor dependents. DoDEA recognizes that home schooling is a sponsor's right and can be a legitimate alternative form of education for the sponsor's dependents.

The services have no opinion on whether a family uses a public school system in the U.S., or the DoD dependent schools overseas, or chooses to pay for private schooling. In the same vein, homeschooling is just another educational choice.

Mary: What makes homeschooling in the military different from civilian homeschooling?

Valerie: I don't know because I never homeschooled as a civilian. What's it like?One guess as to how the two differ is that each military homeschooling parent must depend on herself for homeschooling support more often. Because families may be joining servicemembers at a remote area with few other military homeschoolers, and perhaps without even an English-language community nearby, they may need to make do with fewer resources and to improvise.

Mary: Can you point out the benefits of homeschooling while in the military?

Valerie:
* New field trip opportunities with each move
* The possibility of foreign travel
* Consistency in education because schools around the country vary not only in size,
but also in curricular content and delivery.
* No loss of learning time during a transfer from one assignment to the next, and the move itself is instructional.
* Smoothing of some of the ups and downs of military life. After a deployment a family can reintegrate the returning parent into the everyday life of the family at their own pace and can eliminate outside interruptions if they want. Also, if a parent has a job in which he or she travels often, the children can 'do school' while the parent is away, and take a break when the parent returns.

Mary: Can you point out some of the challenges of homeschooling families in the military?

Valerie:
* Moving from an 'easy' state to a 'hard' state. Military families usually don't have a yes/no choice when orders to move arrive. Servicemembers fill out dream sheets stating where they would prefer to be assigned but, as always, the needs of the service are paramount. If the service needs you to move from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, then that's what you do.
* Deciding what to keep before a move. The weight of household goods is subject to limits based on the servicemember's rank. The weight allowance is nothing new, but the addition of schoolbooks to families' household goods has undoubtedly enriched the selection of items at installation Thrift Shops during the summer PCS-season. [PCS = Permanent Change of Station, ie, a move

Mary: What is the biggest challenge a spouse faces when the other spouse is deployed?

Valerie: The problems are probably similar to those of other single parents such as finding 'alone time' when you're on-call all day, and all night. When do you take a shower? Another problem is 'logistics.' A half-inch of milk in that lonely milk carton in the refrigerator isn't going to magically become three half-gallons in the evening when The Other Parent comes home from work. Planning and scheduling can be helpful, but if a baby has you up all night long, all the foresight won't keep you from feeling wrecked the next day, while having to get up and put one foot in front of the other.

For families who will be facing deployment, a good informational website is:
http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/emotionalcycle.htm
Other deployment information is at:
http://home.kc.rr.com/milhmschlhq/militarydeployment.htm

Mary: How does having a parent in the military while homeschooling affect the children in these families?

Valerie: For Brats (as children in military families are affectionately called sometimes), military life is normal. At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis I lived away from any civilian town with jets screaming over the housing area, and having to sit in our stopped car at a 'plane crossing' (instead of a train crossing) to wait for B-52s to take off. All the dads wore uniforms. In 1977 during the military exercise REFORGER, our older son watched columns of tanks rumble down the road of the German village where we lived near the East German border. All the (American) dads wore uniforms. Our younger kids showed their ID cards at anti-terrorist checkpoints to get into our housing area in Munich during Desert Storm (and took homemade cookies to the guards) while their brother served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Ninety-nine percent of the Dads wore uniforms, and some of the Moms did, too. Except in times of crisis, military 'stuff' is background noise to Brats.

Now what all those anonymous civilians with no nametags on their clothes or houses get up to, that's a big mystery. And did you know that in civilian theaters The Star Spangled Banner isn't played before each movie, and the entire theater doesn't stand to attention? Weird.

Mary: What is the biggest challenge the children face when their parent/parents are deployed?

Valerie: Besides television news? The feeling of powerlessness to change the situation, and worry about the safety of their parent can be overwhelming for children. A surprising problem is feeling happy. One mother said that her daughter was devastated to find, after a month or so into the deployment, that she'd 'forgot' her dad and was laughing with her friends. The little girl wanted to keep her daddy in her thoughts at all times. Some children have to be told that it is good for them to be happy and have fun while Daddy is deployed, because when that child's happiness is sent to Daddy in letters and pictures, Daddy feels better. Deployed Dads (and Moms) are safer when they aren't distracted by the welfare of their families.

Mary: If they wish to, what can other homeschoolers do to support Military families who might live near them?

Valerie: Be a friend. It's the simple, everyday things that can be a pebble in the shoe that gives rise to a blister that can't heal; an everyday thing such as getting the mail. During one five-month separation while my husband attended a school in America, I remained overseas with 'twinfants' and a ten-year-old (who was old enough to be helpful, but not old enough to babysit). To do anything outside our quarters (including laundry, since the building's washroom was in the basement) I had to carry one baby, while wearing the other in a backpack. Going anywhere entailed a trek down the stairs from our 2nd-floor quarters. For errands I had to walk to the on-street parking, bundle the kids into the car, drive to where I wanted to go, find a space in the always-too-small parking lots on the installation, wrangle the twins into both their strollers if my son was with us, or, if I was by myself, wear one in the pack and put the other in the stroller, and then repeat everything to get home again. To get mail, I had the additional steps of signing-in to a controlled-access building (with stairs) - with the kids - and picking up the mail from the unit mail room. I was spared this (at least for getting mail) because a kind sergeant in my husband's office brought me the mail every day on his way home. His help was a godsend and that was one pebble out of the shoe.

Mary: Is there anything else others wanting to offer support could do to help?

Valerie: Seriously?
* Offer to mow the grass. Every week.
* Offer to babysit during the day so Mom gets out for a little while.
* Have the family's kids over to play in the back yard.
* Stop by to see if Mom needs anything from the store.
* Ask if there's any necessary maintenance work Mom needs done around the house or with the car.
* Be close enough to the family so the kids feel comfortable being left when Mom has to go to the emergency room with (the inevitably) injured child.
* Bring meals.

Mary: Is there anything others wanting to offer support should not do?
Valerie: I threw out this question to members on one military homeschooling email list and the following are some of the responses:

Laine: Sometimes the best thing anyone can do for any spouse of a deployed servicemember, not just a homeschooling one, is to talk about the weather! Sometimes we just want to chat about something OTHER than the fact our husband is overseas, and we're home trying to hold down the fort till he can come home again and do his normal duties around the house, and we won't have to do his and ours anymore--until the next deployment comes along.

Jessica: Don't show up expecting that Mom can run out for coffee at the drop of a hat. A friend may think that Mom 'needs' to get out of the house, but someone's got to watch the kids.

Cindy: Don't say, How do you do it? I could never do this. It's impossible! It is fine to say, I am impressed with how you are doing -- amazing! Positive comments are fine, along with offers of help, but don't get tears in your eyes when some child says daddy is in Iraq -- the child will notice and it does not help.

Mary: What do you feel was the best advice you were ever given about home education?

Valerie: The reassurance from all the writers in Home Education Magazine, that, Yes, you can do this.

When I began homeschooling in 1990 I was the only one I knew who was trying such a stunt. Two years into our homeschooling we moved from Munich to Heidelberg, and still there were no other homeschoolers. Slowly, though, homeschoolers arrived at the local installation and I met one, then another, and we supported each other. A group grew and, for about a year, I had homeschooling friends. Then we moved to Belgium, and I was back to being the Lone Stranger. Throughout that time my subscription to HEM kept the magazines arriving at the unit mailroom with the message that, Yes, you can do this.

Mary: What do you feel is the best advice you can share with new home educators?

Valerie: Know thy regs. Wherever you are, you will have greater confidence in what you're doing if you have a solid understanding of the rules in place around you.

Mary: What do you feel is the best advice you can share with veteran home educators?

Valerie: Pass along your collective wisdom to new homeschoolers through mentoring.

Mary: Finally, what was the benefit for your family to have the choice to home-educate available to you?

Valerie: Memories. Our eldest son was publicly schooled because I didn't hear about homeschooling until he was a senior in high school. After he graduated from high school he joined the military, just like his dad, his mom, his granddads, his grandmothers, an aunt, uncles, some cousins and probably more people in our family than I know about. He was sent to Saudi Arabia and Iraq and, through the wonders of technology, I was able to sit in my Munich living room watching the live-feed CNN broadcasts from Saudi Arabia patched into the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. [note to families with a deployed servicemember: do not try this at home - stress, stress, stress. As I sat there with his by-now-homeschooled siblings wandering around our quarters, I wondered where his school years had gone. What happened? Yes, we'd had evenings, weekends and summers together but, during most of that time, what had he done (besides go head-to-head with me and his dad during the teen-culture-wars)? Where had he been?

As I write now, his younger brother and sisters are the same age he was during the Gulf War, and I know exactly where their school years went. We had a family life, not just a passing acquaintanceship as we all grew older and became involved in activities away from each other. Just like their big brother the younger kids had friends and teen adventures, and went to rock concerts (Pukkelpop, anyone? No, nothing to do with upset tummies, it's just the name of a rock fest near the Belgian town of Hasselt).

Kids are supposed to grow up, leave and have their own adventures. That's life. But it sure is nice to really know them before they go off on their own.

Mary: Thank you Valerie, your words ring so true. I suggest folks bookmark your site for out of the country and general homeschool information, wit and humor.

Valerie: You're welcome.

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ISSUES TO WATCH ~
Access to public school programs for homeschoolers
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Homeschooler access to public school programs has been a controversial issue for many years. Recently the subject has been in the news again:

CNN.com - Should home-schooled have access to public school programs? - Jul 1, 2005 http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/30/colb.home.school/index.html

Homeschool Athletic - Rules Even though the State Supreme Court upheld the ban on homeschoolers in public school athletics, there are still are a few ways they can participate Posted 7/8/2005
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=3814

Homeschoolers seek access Charlotte Observer, NC Jun 13, 2005
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/education/11881126.htm

A-Z Homescooling offers a list of sport programs for home educators at:
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/sportsprograms.htm

And finally, here are some thoughtful articles on the subject from the Home Education Magazine Archives:

Why the Question of Homeschoolers' Playing Public School Sports Affects All Homeschoolers - This article by Larry and Susan Kaseman was originally published in the May-June 2000 issue of Home Education Magazine: http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/173.00/mjclmntch.html

One Problem... And One Possible Solution - This article, by Peggy Daly-Masternak, was originally published in the July-August 1997 issue of Home Education Magazine:
http://www.homeedmag.com/INF/FREE/freesprts.html

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COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Would you like to get involved in a community service project, but you need some ideas? Here are a few sites to visit that might be of help:
* Homeschoolers Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service - During the months of July and August, home educating families with H.E.A.R.T.S. (Homeschoolers Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service) will be gathering school supplies for donation to local children in need. Hundreds of homeschoolers throughout the United States are expected to participate in this project in their own communities. Supplies- such as paper, notebooks, book-bags, lunch boxes, and filled pencil cases will be donated, collected, and delivered. Donations will be made to benefit children in homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters, as well as through other agencies assisting children in need. Past school supply collections have found home educators hosting very creative events such as backyard fetes - and Tye Dye for School Supplies events. For more information on this project please visit the H.E.A.R.T.S. website at:
http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/SchoolSupplies.html

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H.E.A.R.T.S. is also encouraging participation in Pinwheels for Peace. Here is a link to the Pinwheels for Peace page on the H.E.A.R.T.S. website:
http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/PinwheelsforPeace.html
Homeschoolers throughout the country, under the auspices of the H.E.A.R.T.S. program, are joining the international Pinwheels for Peace project. Locally, home educators plan to create pinwheels and to plant pinwheel gardens with messages of peace at libraries, churches, and other gathering places in celebration of International World Peace Day. Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, as a way for students to express their feelings about whats going on in the world and in their lives. The Pinwheels for Peace website points out that Peace doesnt necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war, it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people. All members of the community are encouraged to join this project. For more information on participating with H.E.A.R.T.S. (Homeschoolers: Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service) in the Pinwheels for Peace project please visit the website at:
http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/PinwheelsforPeace.html
* Community Service Ideas from 4-H
* Roots and Shoots
* ASPCA

If your group is involved with a project and you'd like others to know about it, or to make it available for others to participate, email me at groups@homeedmag.com and please put Community Service in the subject line.

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WEB UPDATES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES
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Kudos and a warm welcome to Daryl Cobranchi who has joined Home Education Magazine with his blog: Home Education & Other Stuff:
http://homeedmag.com/blogs/heos/
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Like the Pheonix, VAEclecticHomeschool rises out of the cyber-ashes and becomes VAEclecticHS!

The VAEclecticHS List is the rebirth of VAEclecticHomeschool, which was a large, active list for in-depth discussion of issues affecting homeschooling, and for news about media articles and programs, proposed legislation, research, conferences and other information of interest to Virginia homeschoolers.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VAEclecticHS/
VAEclecticHS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Kudos to Noelle Scelina, Sam Weldon, Brianna Marasco, Tar Marasco, Jeremy Whitson, Jacob Whitson, Mieks Steven, Alli Steven, and coach Teresa Steven, all members of the inclusive Ohio HEART support group who recently received a TOP AWARD at toy challenge national SHOWCASE. They were one of 300 teams that participated from across the country and they went on to tie for second place at the TOYchallenge Final Judging and Awards Ceremony held on June 27 at Hasbro's headquarters in Pawtucket, R.I. with their innovative game called Trash It. Trash it is designed for those 8 and up and encourages recycling.
Again, congratulations to each of you!
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The Military Homeschooler was updated--7 Jul 05

As your read in this month's highlight, The Military Homeschooler is not just about the Military, but it also offers a wealth of information on homeschooling outside of the United States and General Homeschool Information. Read the articles, with linked references, at:
http://www.militaryhomeschoolers.com/

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CONFERENCES
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The Learning In Our Own Way Conference
August 12 - 14, 2005
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Woburn, MA
Voice: 781 - 395-8508 Fax: 781-874-1053
www.learninginourownway.com

The 9th National Rethinking Education Conference is
September 1 - 5: Labor Day Weekend
To Thine Own Self Be True
www.rethinkingeducation.com
HURRY - REGISTER by July 15 and save $20 per person!

Visit HEM's Conference Calendar at http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/calendar to find other conventions coming to an area near you. If you are having a conference, seminar or perhaps a getting started homeschooling meeting, here are some FREE resources from Home Education Magazine:
Getting Started: http://www.homeedmag.com/gettingstarted.html
Questions and Answers: http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcmhsinf.html
HEMs Free Information and Resource Guide:
http://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/mtrlst.html
Home Education Magazine Resources:
http://www.homeedmag.com/HSRSC/hsrscgn.html

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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
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August- Annette Jurczyk and her National Charter Schools Watch (NCSW) list

September- Midsouth Eclectic Homeschool Network and its founder Jeanne Faulconer

October- Shay Seaborne and Amy Wilson share the history of their grass roots victory in
Virginia!

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HEM RESOURCES, HEM BLOGS and MORE
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Home Education Magazine's Editorial Blog: The weblog of Helen Hegener, co-publisher
and managing editor of Home Education Magazine:
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/editorial/

Home Education Magazine's News and Commentary Blog: Homeschooling in the
national media, with commentary by Ann Lahrson Fisher. Also provides space for continued commentary and discussion of news items by the weblog readers:
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/newscomm/

Home Education Magazine's Support Group News Blog: Ongoing encouragement and resources for support group volunteers, including a monthly newsletter, coordinated by HEM Support Groups Liaison Mary Nix:
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/groupnews/

Home Education and Other Stuff: Cyber-charters are NOT homeschools, Daryl Cobranchi's HEM blog:
http://homeedmag.com/blogs/heos/

Home Education Magazine's Resources Blog:Learning resources reviewed and described, with space for comments by homeschoolers who use the resources, and links to the company web sites:
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/resources/

Home Education Magazine's Conference Blog: A listing of conferences, conventions and other events, with contact information and links:
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/calendar/

HEM's Online Newsletter:
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcmhemnewsltr.html

AHA Weblogs Blog - The AHA's blog showcasing homeschooling weblogs:
http://aha.typepad.com/weblogsblog/

Subscribe to Home Education Magazine:
https://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/frmorder.html

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Thanks for taking the time to read this month's newsletter. Be sure to bookmark Home Education Magazine's Support Group page, which can be accessed at:
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcmgroups.html

Listing your group on the HEM Support Group web pages is a free service provided by Home Education Magazine. To list your group, fill-in the form at
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups2.html

Looking forward visiting with you all next month!
Mary Nix
HEM's Support Group Liaison
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups.html
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcmgroups.html

Subscribe to HEM SUPPORT GROUP NEWS here:
http://www.homeedmag.com/news/

This service is available free. Read the newsletter at:
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/groupnews.html

2005 Home Education Magazine (All rights reserved). This newsletter is provided as a free service of Home Education Magazine. Readers are encouraged to forward this newsletter in its entirety, including headers and footers, to others who might also find its contents helpful.




About the author:
Mary Nix lives in Ohio where she enjoys living and learning with her family.