Wednesday 26 December 2012

Life Lessons We Can Learn From Kids

1. Be grateful for what you can have.
2. Hold hands with those you love.
3. Celebrate the seasons.
4. Make every day the best day ever.
5. Even if it’s not fair you don’t stop trying.
6. Fight for what you believe is right.
7. If you’re bored, find something to do.
8. It’s good to dream.
9. Tell those you love that you love them.
10. Time together matters most.
11. Things don’t have to always be sorted perfectly.
12. Sometimes spontaneous days are the best.
13. Often structured days are needed.
14. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth.
15. Humming and singing can be beautiful.
16. Observe others.
17. Never by afraid to try something new.
18. Sometimes it’s best to just jump.
19. Live fully.
20. Share with others about things you love.
21. You’re never too old to play outside.

22. Forgive and move on.
23. Name calling gets you nowhere.
24. Even if you don’t feel tired, still go to bed.
25. Talk with each other.
26. Imagine all that could be, and not what cannot.
27. Look people in the eye when you talk to them.
28. Laugh.
29. Always say thank you.
30. Little gifts mean a great deal.
31. Wake with a clean slate for the day.
32. Respect your elders.
33. Give things away – don’t hold onto everything.
34. Find out more about people.
35. Make sure to tell others why they matter.
36. Some days you don’t have to make your bed.
37. Run in the rain. Or the snow.
38. Care.
39. Listen to your emotions, but don’t sit in them.
40. Be genuinely interested in others.
41. Don’t give up.
42. Love today.
43. Be free to be you.





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Thursday 20 December 2012

Cherish Your Alone Time

Being alone is somewhat therapeutic. When you don’t have enough time for myself, you may feel drained, antsy, and overly stimulated. As a result, alone time becomes very important.


It doesn’t matter what you do when you are alone, as long as you get your “me time” fix. You might shop. You might read. You might go for a run. You might take a bath. You might even just veg out in front of the TV. Whatever the activity, it gives you the time you need to get away from others and to let yourself recharge.
Being alone isn’t a statement about your relationships. Although relationships with others are a very important aspect to life and to our happiness, spending time alone is also extremely beneficial to our mental health and happiness.

Here Is Why:

1. Self Discovery
Spending time alone gives you the ability to discover things about yourself and to get a real understanding of who you are. We have grown to appreciate the art of getting to know others, but in reality, it is even more important to get to know ourselves, our preferences, and our likes and dislikes, without other people’s influences.
2. Higher Sense of Independence and Increased Self-Esteem
Being alone and getting comfortable with being alone gives you a higher sense of independence. Relying on yourself to make choices and decisions increases your self confidence, which then permeates other aspects of your life, including the times you are in the presence of others.
3. No Need to Compromise
Often, we compromise when we are in the presence of others. We usually work with one another to reach agreement on everything, from what we will have for dinner to what TV show to watch. Spending time alone allows you to indulge yourself with the things you want to do and the things you love, without any negotiation.
4. Rejuvenation for Your Soul
Getting away from others allows you to decompress and relax. It gives you a break from the “have tos” and allows you to focus on the “want tos.” It lets you address your own needs as opposed to everyone elses’ and gives you the opportunity to rejuvenate and push the restart button.
5. A Fresh Perspective
Time alone gives you the opportunity to clear your mind and weed through a lot of thoughts. This allows you to get to the heart of what YOU really think as opposed to being told or influenced by others and their opinions. It gives you time to reflect on what is important in your life and how you feel about everyday situations that need to be addressed.
6. Higher Appreciation for Those You Love
Giving yourself the ability to be alone allows you to have a greater appreciation for the time you spend with others. If you never have time for yourself, you’ll wish you did. It is important to find some balance in this, but once you do, you’ll enjoy your relationships even more.
If you find that spending time alone is challenging, try to start with a small dosage each day, even if it is for only five minutes. Each day, try to amp it up by a minute or so until you get to an hour. After practicing being alone, you will find it comes more naturally in time.




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Friday 14 December 2012

Signs That You Are In A Toxic Relationship


“Toxic” doesn’t only entail obvious damage like physical abuse, stealing, or name-calling. It also represents all the internal turmoil that results from an unhealthy relationship. Learned to recognize when you are in a relationship that was not suitable for you.
These are 5 signs that you are in a toxic relationship:

1. It seems like you can’t do anything right.

The other person constantly puts you down as not good enough They mock your personality, and you feel ashamed most of the time. You only feel pardoned when you take on the traits of the person doing the condemning or judging.

2. Everything is about them and never about you. 

You have feelings, too, but the other person won’t hear them. You’re unable to have a two-sided conversation where your opinion is heard, considered and respected. Instead of acknowledging your feelings, they battle with you until they get the last word.

3.  You find yourself unable to enjoy good moments with this person.

Every day brings another challenge. It seems as though they are always raising gripes about you. Their attempt to control your behavior is an attempt to control your happiness.

4. You’re uncomfortable being yourself around that person.

You don’t feel free to speak your mind. You have to put on a different face just to be accepted by that person. You realize you don’t even recognize yourself anymore, and neither do your closest friends and family.

5. You’re not allowed to grow and change.

Whenever you aim to grow and improve yourself, the other person responds with mockery and disbelief. There is no encouragement or support for your efforts. Instead, they keep you stuck in old judgments insisting that you will never be any different than you are now.
If you’re experiencing even just one of these signs, check in with yourself to see if the relationship is doing more damage than good. Evaluate the relationship and what it’s worth to you.
Embrace the answers that come from your intuition, as it wants the best for you—and this relationship might not be it.
Take deliberate action according to your gut feeling. You won’t be sorry.
Maybe you choose to talk about your feelings with the other person, or you decide to put more space between the two of you.
It’s important that if you’re feeling uncomfortable or unsettled in the relationship that you not wait around until the effects of the misery settle into depression. Taking any action is the best medicine.



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Monday 10 December 2012

Priceless Gifts You Can Give To Your Child

Parents share a universal hope that their children will live happily ever after, with minimal worries and the ability to be successful as adults. Every parent tries to give their child a strong moral foundation, as well as the necessary life skills to thrive and be independent.

Unfortunately, raising a child is akin to painting a picture stroke by stroke, in strange combinations of colors and hues, without knowing how the final image will appear when complete. We have our children for only a brief moment, and can only hope that our gifts to them will be sufficient to sustain, protect, and comfort them when we are gone.

The best gifts for children are intangible, though substantial; they cost nothing in material terms, but have a value greater than any treasure. There are several things every child should receive:
1. Love
Being loved unconditionally gives a child a sense of self and value that doesn’t depend upon physical looks or abilities, inherited or acquired skills, or accomplishments of any sort. Being loved as a child teaches one how to love as an adult, how to be kind and compassionate, empathetic and sympathetic.
Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence, loving and being loved is the foundation of happiness.
2. Confidence
Children need a belief in themselves to face the fears of living, to be able to commit when necessary, and to exercise restraint when appropriate. Confidence results from doing, from experimentation and accomplishment; it is the foundation of courage and self-esteem. Parents teach a child confidence by allowing for failure and encouraging him or her to try again and again. To paraphrase Parents must teach their kids to do that which they think they cannot. cff
3. Imagination
Some say the ability to dream – to see things not as they are, but as what they can be – is the greatest gift of all. Imagination is the leaven in life, the ingredient that animates the spirit and soothes the soul. Imagination encourages resourcefulness, spurs creativity, and breaks down boundaries. Encourage your child to imagine, and he or she will explore the universe and travel through time.
4. Determination
Having resolve and continuing to pursue a goal through disappointments, setbacks, and failure is found in the character of all successful people. As Ms. Sills said of her career. There are no short cuts to any place worth going.
5. Resilience
Sorrows, illness, career setbacks, and financial hardships afflict everyone. Psychologists believe that an individual’s ability to cope with stress and adversity is learned during childhood and is the product of environmental “protective factors.” By providing love and support, parents promote a child’s ability to bounce back from adversity, skills that continue to develop over his or her lifetime.
6. Discipline
The ability to postpone immediate pleasure in the pursuit of a longer-term goal is evidence of discipline. Physical and mental gifts without discipline are momentary, squandered and left to fade away; discipline, however, embeds them in the character and actions of their owner.
The hours of practice and the moments of failure and improvement are often forgotten when we see the final result. Discipline makes goals obtainable and dreams come true.
7. Hope
It seems that humans are hardwired to expect the future to be better than the past, to find silver linings in the darkest clouds. Experiments have shown that children who receive encouragement and positive feedback are more likely to succeed in tasks and adapt to difficult circumstances better and more readily than children who receive negative feedback or no encouragement. Research has also found that optimists live longer and healthier lives than those who are pessimistic.

Final Word

There are no perfect parents, and no guaranteed philosophies nor proven theories of good parenting. Every parent learns on-the-job, relying on his or her own memories as children and observations of other families. All parents do the best job they can, and hope that they’ve done enough to provide their children with the tools for a happy and successful life.



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Wednesday 5 December 2012

5 Best Supplements for Men


There are literally thousands of pills you could be taking at any one time. Here are the most important five.


Multivitamin
It's not exotic, but it is a must for everyone who doesn't get enough fruits and vegetables. (That's you, and up to 80% of other men.) Rather than megadoses of nutrients, look for one pill that provides 100% of your daily requirements for as many different vitamins and minerals as possible. (Amounts exceeding 100% are generally a waste.) And make sure you buy a men's formula, without extra iron. Excess levels of the mineral could increase your risk of heart disease (a condition called hemachromatosis).
Protein Powder
You can get plenty of protein in your diet, but protein powder has other advantages: It's convenient and generally lower in calories than an entire "high protein" meal. Drinking a protein shake after every workout speeds muscle recovery and supplies your body with the amino acids needed for muscle growth. There are two widely used proteins: whey and casein. Whey is absorbed more quickly by the body, while casein is digested slowly-providing the body with a longer-lasting supply of muscle-building nutrients. That's why many researchers recommend taking a mixture of the two to help sustain the release of amino acids into the blood for as long as possible.
Protein Powder
You can get plenty of protein in your diet, but protein powder has other advantages: It's convenient and generally lower in calories than an entire "high protein" meal. Drinking a protein shake after every workout speeds muscle recovery and supplies your body with the amino acids needed for muscle growth. There are two widely used proteins: whey and casein. Whey is absorbed more quickly by the body, while casein is digested slowly-providing the body with a longer-lasting supply of muscle-building nutrients. That's why many researchers recommend taking a mixture of the two to help sustain the release of amino acids into the blood for as long as possible.
Creatine
This synthetic version of an energy source produced naturally in the body is stored in the muscles for use during exercise. And it works! Multiple studies show that creatine does help speed recovery and the growth of lean-muscle mass after a workout. Manufacturers used to agree that new creatine users should start with a weeklong "loading phase" of 20 grams per day; however, recent research shows that this isn't necessary. You can start taking creatine at the normal dose of three to five grams per day after a workout. You can even mix it directly with your protein powder.
Green Tea
If we haven't beaten you over the head with the findings enough in the last year, here's a recap: Green tea fights fat. Animals who are given the extract in studies gain less weight and burn substantially more fat than animals getting a placebo. You can drink the tea-experts ideally recommend about eight glasses a day-or go the easier route and just take a supplement. Aim for 90 milligrams three times daily.
Fish Oil
Most guys in their 20s and 30s aren't thinking about their hearts. But if you have a family history of heart disease, you ought to start thinking about fish oil, the best protection available against the disease. Experts recommend taking at least one to two grams a day. Be aware: This is not the time to scrimp and save money. Cheap fish-oil supplements taste like fish and can leave you hiccuping herring all day. Higherquality brands are more expensive, but they have much less of a fishy taste. There are literally thousands of pills you could be taking at any one time. Forget them. These are the five every guy should be taking in order to fight disease, counteract bad genes, and simply live as long as possible.





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Friday 30 November 2012

100 Tips for Working Mum


1. Don’t try to be perfect — none of us are. Give yourself grace.
2. Be a MOM first, everything else comes second to that.
3. Lower expectations — Do not used it to see this as a negative, but sooner or later you will completely understand how important this is!
4. Ask for help — don’t be afraid or ashamed! We ALL need help!
5. Take time for yourself — The guilt train may sneaks up on you when you do this, but it is SO important.
6. Keep things in perspective — family comes first, everything else will work itself out
7. Share your struggles — having a hard time managing it all? Maybe telling someone else will make it feel like you aren’t alone. So many people keep the “ I Fine " mask on… please take it off and be transparent.
8. Let go of stress…. God is in control
9. Let go of the guilt …. Are you following God’s will for your life? That’s all that matters.
10. You DON”T have to do it all, let go of this idea and the pressure. None of us “do it all”
11. Take a mommy timeout… sometimes we all need time alone. It’s okay.
12. Treat yourself once a week! (Manicure? Coffee shop? Movie night?) 
13. Don’t compare your life to others… They don’t have a perfect life and “do it all” either. You may tend to get caught here. Don’t get caught in the comparison trap.
14. Give yourself grace — please don’t be your own toughest critic. You are doing a great job!
15. Just say “NO” — Do you over-commit? Learn to gracefully say “NO”.
16. Get a hobby — working moms need a creative outlet.
17. Be content, count your blessings, be thankful…
18. Pray, pray, pray….
19. Take your vacation days.  You need to take time to be with your family! Work will wait.
20. Remember “I can do all things through God who gives me strength”
21. In this blur of life, remember to cherish the little things… after all, our life is “only a breath”
22. Go on family vacations (even weekend getaways) and make memories
23. Take lots of photos to remember these crazy days … one day, hurried mama, your home will be quiet and empty. Treasure these chaotic, crazy, happy days!

Health

24. SLEEP — It’s very important to take care of yourself and sleep! You will be productive after a full night’s sleep.
25. Eat breakfast — it truly is the most important meal of the day. Pushed for time? Try fruit and some protein bars!
26. Rest…. easier said than done, but do find the time.
27. Exercise (when you can, but give yourself grace. The important thing is to take care of yourself)

Productivity

28. When you have a task to do, keep moving! Any progress is still progress!
29. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize… because you can’t do everything. Choose the most important things to do first.
30. Don’t waste time — procrastination will not help you accomplish anything. Just jump in and get it done!
31. Don’t think about the whole overwhelming “to do” list. Just pick one thing and focus there.
32. Keep a list of weekly goals
33. Keep a daily list of the “top 3” most important things to do
34. Delegate! Make peace with your inner drill sergeant.
35. Celebrate your progess and milestones!

Organization at Home

36. Be very organized — Do not underestimate how important this is! Organization is a beautiful thing.
37. Hire a housekeeper if possible — Truth be told? It may turn out to be the best idea.
38. Get your kids involved in chores — helps you, family time, teaches them, it doesn’t have to be perfect. 
39. Keep a daily chore list for yourself too!
40. Split jobs with your hubby — many men are happy to help. Just be thankful and don’t expect “perfection”.
41. If you can’t get it all done, just clean up the kitchen and bathroom.
42. Simplify — less “stuff” makes it easier to clean, stay organized, etc.
43. Teach your kids to pick up their own toys.
44. Don’t sit anything in the sink. Just move it directly to the dishwasher. You will thank yourself later.
45. Keep everything in the right place. You won’t have to run around like a crazy woman looking for things. Organized = calm.
46. Set up an entry area for backpacks, shoes, keys, etc.
47. Get rid of junk… If you have things you don’t use, they are just taking up space and keeping you from finding the things you really need. Don’t feel guilty, just toss it. Ask yourself if you love this object enough to pack and move it. If it’s a NO, it’ gotta GO!

Laundry

48. Aim to do one load laundry per day (evening)
49. When you do laundry, set out outfits for a week. This saves time in the morning!
50. Buy one of those handy laundry sorters –  This makes doing laundry so quick and easy!

Meals and Groceries

51. Always make a weekly meal plan — Start doing this, and you'll kicking yourself for not doing it sooner!
52. Try to grocery shop on your lunch break, if possible.
53. Slow cooker meals are your best friend. Really. You will write them love notes.
54. Quick, easy dinners are the best for busy moms. Please save the gourmet fare for holidays when you have more time.
55. Freezer cooking — This will save lots of time in the evenings.
56. Family dinners are SO important — please take time to eat with your family each evening.
57. Grocery shop with a list — this saves on expenses, allows you to shop less often, and makes shopping much quicker.
58. Make double meals and freeze the extras — chili, soup, meatloaf, bread, etc. all freeze very well.
59. Have groceries delivered — many staples can be ordered online and shipped for free to your home. 
60. Make a monthly meal rotation of your family’s favorite meals
61. Keep track of staples you are out of .
62. Eat healthy — less sickness!

Time and Routines

63. Pick out clothes the night before — the less you do in the morning, the better!
64. Train your children to do their homework right after school. It is very important not to procrastinate — raise good workers!
65. Pack lunches night before.
66. Keep a family “master calendar” and personal calendars for each individual if needed.
67. Embrace routines. Even though routines may seem boring, they require less thought and effort, which allows you to concentrate on more important things.
68. Early to bed, early to rise STILL makes a person wise. Keeping everyone on this schedule, even on weekends, is a great help.
69. Say no to lots of social events. Treasure your family time.
70. Shower in the evening and give your children baths in the evening. This speeds up the morning routine.
71. Protect your weekends! This is family time… time to rest, be silly, play, relax, and is important. Guard it!
72. REST on Sundays.
73. On Sunday night, prepare for the week (make weekly plan and lay out clothes, pack lunches, etc.)
74. Set clocks 5 minutes fast! (This little trick gets people moving in the morning!)
75. Plan everything…
76 … but be ready for everything to change. Sometimes you have to just go with the flow.
77. Try to be 10 minutes early for every appointment. Most of the time, you will actually be on time, and this is a great habit for children to learn.

Budget

78. Clip coupons at night, once a week. Most coupons come in the Sunday newspaper.
79. Set up online bill pay for as many bills as possible. This will automated tasks that may incur charges if missed or forgotten.
80. Clip coupons with your kids — they love to clip!
81. Shop online — this makes it easy to compare prices without running to many different stores. Google for a coupon code, which can give an extra discount or free shipping!
82. Buy extra gifts when they are on sale — This keeps you prepared in case of a birthday party when you are very busy.

Marriage

83. Date nights are very important! Your kids will be fine for one evening. They need parents with a solid marriage.
84. Buy a few key pieces for work and layer/mix and match to make different outfits.
85. Set budget milestones and celebrate success!
86. Create a budget – your work is important! Don’t wait the fruit of your labor! If you don’t know where your money is going, it is most likely being wasted! 
87. LOVE your husband — do you realize how important a loving husband is? Cherish him!
88. Thank your husband — two-income homes have very unique challenges. Thank your husband for all he does for your family. (… and chances are, he will do more if he knows he is appreciated!)
89. Make time to be alone together — mmm, hmm…. Smooch. Go for it. 

Kids and Working Moms

90. After school childcare can be tough. Try to think outside the box. For example, take your kids to your office after school and let them do their homework, read, plays quietly, until you are off work, ie if your are self employed or your workplace allowed for such arrangements. You'll love the extra time with them!
91. Try to take care of errands on your lunch break (without children!)
92. Do you have a flexible schedule? If possible, try to work from home one day which will allow you to throw in laundry while you work.
93. Enjoy your commute — talk to kids, listen to music/podcast, and try to make the most of what is the  most hated hour of the day.
94. Don’t get involved in office politics. Just say “NO” to the drama. No good can come out of it.
95. Very carefully weigh promotions and how they will affect your family.
96. Choose child-care carefully. Be sure to thoroughly research the people you trust with your children. Please.
97. Carpool…or not. It may be a blessing or a curse. Just try it out and see what works best for you.
98. Stay in communication with your child's teacher. Email, write notes, check in with a phone call every now and then.
99. Try to go on school field trips or eat lunch with your child on occasion at school.

Last, but most importantly….
100. View all you do (marriage, parenting, work, hobbies) as ministry and work of God.





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