Teaching Preschool Kids to Sort Laundry

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I went to a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting with our daughter and “Baby J” when I was out visiting recently. It was really fun and educational as well. The speaker talked about a good way to teach children as young as two years old to sort their own laundry. What she does is to have two laundry baskets. She has a white basket for white laundry and a colored basket for colored laundry. Children should know colors by then and with a little training, they might think it’s a fun game. What a neat idea!

What a Cool Place to Visit: St. Augustine, the Nation’s Oldest City

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St. Augustine, Florida, would be such a cool place to visit! Having been a school teacher, I love to visit places with my family that are not only fun but have educational learning experiences as well, and this city in Florida would be one of those places. Not only is St. Augustine the nation’s oldest city, but it also has the nation’s oldest street there. Just imagine all the rich history that would make the visit something the family would always remember. When someone visits historical places, it’s like a live history lesson that is actually experienced. There are all sorts of things to see and touch from the past.

Being the nation’s oldest city makes it no surprise that there are numerous antique shops to visit. I must tell you that years ago when my husband and I were first married, my mother-in-law took me on almost weekly shopping excursions in the area. We had some of our best shopping trips to antique stores, and that’s when I developed my interest in antiques. Well, St. Augustine would be an antique lover’s paradise. In fact, on October 27 and November 24, Uptown Saturday Night takes place from 5pm to 9pm. Antique stores, galleries, and unique shops remain open, and there’s live street music and refreshments. What fun!

Events in St. Augustine vary from antique shopping, workshops about antique related topics, book signings, train tours, interesting historical places, fun places for kids such as Ripley’s Museum, as well as many other events. There should be something of interest for everyone in the family!

Fiber One Granola Bars are Actually Good

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When I was out visiting our daughter and family recently, she gave me one of these new granola bars she’s been eating recently, a Fiber One bar. They have 9 … let me repeat…9 grams of fiber in them. I thought, “Hmmm, I’ll try one just to see what they’re like,” and I was expecting something with a little bit of a cardboard taste. I was really surprised at how great it tasted. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot with that much fiber, but it was really good. I buy them all the time now to have for our son to grab for a quick, fiber-filled breakfast on his way out the door. I like them for an afternoon snack because they’re satisfying with all that fiber in them and I don’t get hungry for a while. And they have CHOCOLATE in them! 🙂 They also have peanut butter bars.

🙂 So…thanks to my daughter for sharing with me!

(This is not a paid ad.)

Is Remortgaging an Option?

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I feel sorry for people who have variable rate mortgages. Interest rates are rising which may make it hard for some of them to make their house payment. And then I know a lot of people qualify for more of a home loan than they can truly afford. They might get the house of their dreams, only to find that making the house payment becomes very difficult if their situation changes or mortgage rates go up. There are people who can’t pay their mortgages, and they risk losing their homes due to foreclosure. I really think banks should rethink the amount for which they allow people to qualify. They would truly be helping people if they made the requirements for a loan more stringent. So what can people do who are caught in a bind? If the have poor credit, they could consider poor credit remortgage. For those who want protection for the future, they might consider mortgage protection.

Update on our Dog and Her Allergies

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Well, I was wrong.  It was not the flaxseed that caused our dog to smell bad every time she went potty.  Excuse the explanation, but turns out she needed to have her anal glands expressed.  She smells so much better now.  The only thing is that her allergies are still very bad, and the Benadryl and baths with dog oatmeal shampoo seem to help very little.  I’ve been reading online and I think she really does need omega-3 fatty acids…so back to the ground flaxseed.  I’m going to put that on her dog food every day and see how that helps.  Supposedly, it doesn’t help immediately but takes a little time to stop the itching.  So we’ll just have to wait and see.  Until then, she’ll still be a “conehead doggie.”  I’m thankful for doggie cones or otherwise she would have infected sores all over her body from chewing on herself.  I’ll let you know how the flaxseed works.

Insurance is a Must!

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Insurance is a must for every family, especially if there are children. We don’t like to think about the unexpected loss of a family member due to an accident, but things like that happen. We have some friends who experienced this very thing. The husband was killed instantly at work by a heavy piece of machinery. If he hadn’t had life insurance, his family would be having a really hard time right now. But thanks to his foresight and planning, his family is taken care of and doesn’t lack anything. If you don’t have family insurance, check into it and see what would work for you.

Fresh Veggie Salad

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This is such a great way to get in two or three servings of veggies. The veggies are raw which means you’re getting a gold mine of fresh enzymes which most people are lacking. Plus you’re getting vitamins straight from the food source, especially antioxidants. (Remember…cooking kills enzymes and vitamins!)

Here’s the “so very easy” recipe:

  • chop your favorite raw veggies into bite-size pieces (carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, broccoli, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, cauliflower, etc.)
  • fresh avocados, chopped
  • drizzle extra virgin olive oil on top of veggies
  • top with fresh ground black pepper and sea salt

Put in frig to chill.

Today I used red bell pepper, yellow squash, and zuchinni. It made a pretty salad and would be pretty to serve during the holidays.

Dieting Tips

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Most people probably diet at some point in their life. Everyone has to find what works for them. But whatever diet is used, there are some common things to remember:

*Drink plenty of water. Water flushes toxins out of our system and keeps us hydrated.

*Eat five or six small meals or snacks throughout the day instead of three large ones. This keeps blood sugar and insulin at a steady level. When blood sugar spikes then the body tends to store fat.

*Eat slowly and chew your food completely. Chewing food well enables the body to absorb nutrients better.

*Use smaller plates so you won’t be tempted to fill up a large plate.

*Exercise at least three times a week. A good, brisk walk is great!

*Choose your favorite healthy foods that are loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Some people want additional help in their weight loss such as hydroxycut , but be sure to check with a doctor before taking any weight loss pill.

Not all Wal-Marts are Created Equal

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I needed something from Wal-Mart. So one morning I went to a store close to where we live but they didn’t have the item I was looking for. While I was there, I used the Women’s Restroom. Later that day, I was in another area close to a Wal-Mart, so I stopped there to see if they had what I was looking for. When I got into the store, I had to use the restroom sooo bad. (and I mean bad!!) I hurried into the restroom, assuming that it was in the same spot as it had been at the other Wal-Mart store. Well, let me tell you…they do not make Wal-Marts the same. I discovered after I went into the restroom that this Wal-Mart had their restrooms opposite of how the other Wal-Mart store had them, and I found myself in the men’s room…and there were men in there washing their hands!!! I was so embarrassed (is there a stronger word for embarrassed?) and got out ASAP! A real sweet older lady was waiting for me outside the door and said, “Hon, I tried to catch you before you went in but I couldn’t get to you in time. I’ve done the same thing!” Now, I make sure I notice the signs before I enter the restroom!

This is So Cool! “Black Friday” Sales Posted Online Before Thanksgiving Newspaper Comes Out

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Our daughter always goes shopping on the day after Thanksgiving every year. She gets up really early and has her shopping list in hand as she goes to each store. One year I did a little bit of that. However, I’m not real enthusiastic about getting up during the wee hours of the morning and then having to deal with mobs of people. But when our daughter returns with all of these unbelievable bargains, it makes me want to go the next year. Next year comes around, and I decide I’m too tired to go. But I just found out some great news! We can see the Black Friday ads before everyone else who looks at the ads in the newspaper. And there are direct links to each product so we can purchase these items online on Black Friday without having to stand in line forever at stores! One really cool thing is that Black Friday also offers email alerts to let you know when the new ads have been posted. When you go to the site, it is easy to use and consumer friendly. What a great way to do Christmas shopping while sitting in front of the computer in your PJ’s and sipping a cup of hot coffee or tea. That sounds wonderful to me! I can get the Target specials without having to stand in line for a long time with a huge crowd of people. What better way to shop!

Yeah! It Rained Today!

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It was so awesome here today. It actually seemed like fall weather. I had to wear a light coat, and it seemed so good to be out running errands. It was rainy earlier, and when I first went outside this morning, the air smelled so fresh and crisp. What a nice way to start a Monday morning. The rain went away, but it was cloudy and cool all day long. The wind was a little much at times, but I’ll take the wind any day if we get some much needed rain!