I’ve always been a dreamer and a planner. I remember spending my days and nights in elementary school plotting out my career, my plans to perform on stage in front of thousands of people, and of course, marrying the most popular Cardinals’ baseball player at the time. When I was in college, not a week went by when I didn’t review my degree checklist, plot out the classes I would take and update my resume like it was going out of style each day. But, my plans weren’t perfect and inevitably, the plans changed. I didn’t sing on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans and I certainly didn’t marry a professional baseball player.
Category: Newspaper Writing
Building a Bond, 12 Ways
As your eyes meet and you smile at the blessing in your arms, you know that this precious child will change your life. Finding ways to communicate your love, adoration and the need to nurture your baby often comes naturally. And many ways to bond with your little one and build a natural connection will develop over the years. From gentle caresses to skin-to-skin feeding, bonding with your baby is a blessing in disguise.
Ways to Display Photos on Your TV
Displaying photos around your home is often limiting when you have hundreds of pics you want to display. Instead of printing and framing one or two of your best shots, why not put them all display on your TV? Show off your vacation, school and family fun time photos by easily converting the files for expanded viewing.
Expert Tips to Reduce Energy Consumption
The push to go green is a win-win for your household and the environment. By turning off the lights, unplugging electronics and recycling daily, you can make a big difference in your daily energy usage and help reduce pollution, not to mention the extra effort can save you money on utilities. With just a few minor tweaks to your daily routine, you may soon see how your habits to conserve energy can motivate others to do the same. Now is the time to go green and reduce your family's energy consumption.
What a Baby Thinks
As your little one looks up at you and smiles brightly, it’s natural to wonder what is running through her mind. Is she happy? Is she learning? What prompts her to smile, think and communicate? Just as adults learn through experiences and communication, so do babies. Connecting and bonding with your baby entails paying attention to non-verbal cues and enhancing her learning so those smiles, cues and giggles continue well into adulthood. How does your baby communicate with you?
14 Healthy and Out-of-the-Ordinary Salad Ingredients
If your mixed greens at lunchtime or dinner are beginning to become boring, it may be time to reinvent your favorite meal. Adding fresh veggies, dried fruits, nuts and seeds can offer a healthy punch to your lunch, along with more exciting flavor. “Healthy and interesting ingredients are all about color and texture,” says Sarah LaCasse, executive chef for Earthbound Farm in San Juan Bautista, California. “The happiest salads have variety, combining greens with a protein, something crunchy and something sweet.” Read on to learn about 14 healthy and unusual ingredients your can add to your salad for some diversity in both nutrition and flavor.
A Little Bit of Freedom, A Lot of Faith
As a mother of two teenagers, I hear the question “Why don’t you trust me?” a lot. I get it — my kids want freedom. And yes, I do trust them. But, I’m finding it difficult to allow as much freedom as they crave, and I have to admit that I’m scared for them.
Faith: More Than Meets the Eye
When I began my teaching career a little more than a decade ago, I always found it amusing to run into my college students at the mall, department stores or even the grocery store. They seemed shocked to see me out and about and not sitting behind a desk grading papers or instructing in front of a class. One time in particular I even heard one of my students whisper to her friend: “She wears jeans?”
Games for Busy Moms to Play With Tots
The toddler years are exciting for both parents and children. As he takes his first steps and utters his first words, your little one is collecting milestones left and right. Toddlers are famous for wanting to express their independence and opinions while generally lacking the abilities to do so, says Julie Temple Stan, editorial director of Hooked On Phonics. Don’t be fooled, though. “Your toddler is a little sponge ready to soak up all of the language-rich experiences you can dream up,” says Stan. “But, juggling the needs of a busy toddler, family and work can make finding time next to impossible.” It is possible, though, to develop your tyke’s mind while navigating through your routine as a busy mom with these daily games that can help the two of you bond and your child develop his mind and senses.
5 Brunch Cocktails With Healthy Ingredients
Brunch offers the perfect opportunity to mix up healthy drink concoctions and celebrate the weekend with friends and. From nutrient-rich smoothies and organic teas to refreshing coolers and brunch classics, slide an umbrella into any of the brunch cocktails on the following slides, and you’ll be getting tons of healthy nutrients in your drink. All of the drinks can be enjoyed alcohol-free if desired.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 