If you have children, than you are fully aware of the spell-bound gaze fixed to the television and permanent couch imprints left by our kids day in and day out. With the 500 channels on television, interactive online video gaming and the cold outdoor air – it’s no wonder our kids aren’t motivated to go outside. Most of the time we find them indoors and it feels as though they aren’t even there. As a parent, this is another one of your many jobs. You can motivate them to get out, ’see the world’ (as our parents used to tell us) and enjoy time outdoors. The summer months are slowly approaching, winter holidays coming to an end and spring breaks just around the corner – you have the perfect opportunity to arrange some quality family time. That is, until you try to un-glue your kid from couch and hit the kill-switch on the tube. Their complaints of boredom are peppered with your futile attempts to entertain them. If you have the feeling ‘all hope is lost’ and are looking for a solution, then this article is for you. Following are some great ideas to encourage your children to get moving…and all them involve a little strategic negotiating. Read the rest »

We’ve all heard of the terrible twos and we’ve all seen a toddler flail themselves on the ground in the midst of a temper tantrum. What we usually don’t notice is the look of embarrassment and frustration that flashes across the face of the mother of that toddler. If we do manage to lock eyes with the mother of the toddler committing the tantrum, we quickly look away, lest she see the pity in our eyes. Some might look at that mother and feel quick to judge, wondering how she is raising a child who would flail as such…those people are not parents. For the mother of a toddler, a simple trip to the grocery store might exhaust more energy than a marathon. It’s about time we thought of some unique gifts for the mother of the toddler. Read the rest »

When friends and family members welcome a 7 or 8 pound bundle of joy into their lives, we rush out to the retail baby mega stores for that “perfect gift.” We fill our carts with clothes, toys, books and products that claim to make baby eat, sleep and poop better. We’ll drive all over town searching for miracle blankets and twirling mobiles. Maybe we should stop and consider that sometimes the most “unique gifts” are acts of kindness. When I look back at our first days at home with our 7 pound bundle of joy, I have a hard time recalling who brought our son the lion and who sung lullabies, but I can remember clearly the faces that appeared above a steaming plate of spaghetti.

When your friends bring home a baby, they are not bringing home the bacon. (Literal translation= no one in the home has time to cook!) It’s actually very ironic: At a time when parents need the energy from a good meal, they simply don’t have the energy to prepare one. If you make a meal that can be frozen and prepared quickly and easily with little effort from the parents, you are giving a thoughtful gift in the form of an act of kindness. Show up with lasagna and a note to freeze until ready, bake at 350, you have friends for life. If you think to bring paper plates and napkins so as to avoid making dirty dishes, your friends would probably take a bullet for you. Read the rest »

Christmas falls on December 25th every year. Every single year. It never changes. Then why is it that as the date rapidly approaches dads all around the world find themselves with nary a gift? If you’re a dad and you’ve found yourself in this predicament (once again), follow this guide to getting your shopping done quickly.

First, fuel up. Put gas in the car and food in your belly. You might be in for a long day and it’s possible that you might be driving all over town today. Make sure your family knows you’ll be away from the home all day. (Be prepared for your wife’s disappointed look when you tell her it’s because you’ve waited this long to get your portion of the list crossed off.) Read the rest »

Santa must have an unlimited supply of money. How else would he be able to afford gifts for all the children of the world when we struggle to purchase gifts for the dozen or so people on our list? At a time of the year when goodwill should be abounding, our debts are the only thing mounting. Below are some suggestions for how you can reduce the cost of buying Christmas years this year.

Step 1: Start shopping early in the year. Make your Christmas list during the summer and decide on your budget at that time. There may be some additional people to add as you get closer to the holidays, but chances are you already know who needs to be on your list. Now that you’ve created your list early, begin making gift purchases at least 6 months before the holiday season. If you commit yourself to purchasing at least 2 gifts a month until Christmas you won’t feel the money crunch that other shoppers feel come December. Read the rest »

Many owners choose to leave their pets outdoors most of the year, bringing them indoors when it gets cold. The pet probably doesn’t understand the need to go indoors, but the owner knows how cold the temperatures can get in the winter. Bringing an outside pet inside without a proper introduction can cause problems for the pet, the family, and the home. It may not be cold yet, but you can start getting your pet accustomed to indoor life now.

This article isn’t necessarily intended for the owner who wants to make the drastic change: bringing an outside dog to live inside the home permanently. Instead, this article addresses bringing a dog indoors during certain days or nights when the weather outdoors is too cold to bear. No, it’s not cold yet, but it soon will be. Starting training in the fall can prepare your pooch for the winter. At first, you can practice by bringing him in one night and maybe half a day during the week. Once you are sure your pet is comfortable indoors, you can rest assured knowing that, when the time comes, your home and sanity won’t be at risk. Read the rest »

Whether times are tough or you are just looking for additional ways to be frugal, the best ways to save money is by shopping. This doesn’t mean spending money every place you go, but price hunting for one that fits your budget. Where many people go wrong is by accepting the recommendations from veterinarians as an End All solution. However, these offices are businesses and as we know all to well – businesses revolve around making money. Another great way to keep your wallet fat and bills lows is to find out best bargain and even to DIY (do-it-yourself). It may take a little while to develop a savings plan, but once you have it in place, you’ll be glad you took the time and made a little effort. Here are a few ways to save a little money without cutting corners with your pet’s health.

Veterinary care: Never sacrifice veterinary care to save money! But also don’t think that just because one office prices an item (including mediation) at a certain prices that it is set. As you will hear from every dog in the park “a healthy lifestyle prevents health issues.” But it is not always the case that you pet falls ill and you weren’t taking care of them. Many times they get sick even with a healthy lifestyle. How do you save money then without sacrificing their health? There are numerous ways you can save on that dreaded trip to the vet. More than likely, you have a few veterinarians in your area. For whatever reason, you have probably chosen one specific vet that you are faithful to. The way this should be approached is that if you are loyal to a vet, then shouldn’t they be loyal to you? Many people are turning to online stores to get their pet’s medication for a lower price, which has spiked offices price matching avenues. If you think about it, a price match is the best way to keep a steady stream of income in an economy that is presently unpredictable and their earning constituents trust. If anyone knows that medications and other procedures can be expensive it is the one in the White Coat that see’s everything. Read the rest »