Great Fun Activities for Summer with the Kids

“I’m bored!”  It’s the two words every parents dread as school lets out for summer.  Fear not; I’ve put together two weeks worth of fun summer activities for kids to keep them busy, and their parents sane.

The list of summer activities ranges in cost from free to frugal, but each requires extra quality time with kids – something we can all afford to spend more on!

14 Fun, Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

Day 1. See a “one dollar” movie at the theater. Many theater chains around the country offer summer movie programs for kids where they offer a “one dollar” movie every day for a week, or on a particular day of the week all summer. Alternative: Have a movie day at home by streaming a classic from Netflix.

Day 2. Sprinkler day.  Delay your sprinklers for one day so they come a little later in the morning.  This way everyone can get on their bathing suits and have fun jumping through the sprinklers on a hot day.  But not for too long!  This is a good time to teach them about conserving water, reducing utility costs, etc.

Day 3. Attend “story time” at your local library.  My kids love to check out books on all kinds of subjects.  My son currently has three library books on swimming, pirates and going to the dentist (quite a diverse reader, huh?).  Many libraries also have a story time to encourage a summer reading program.  Stories are read out loud and the kids have a chance to interact with the story-teller and answer questions about the book.

Day 4. Set up a lemonade stand. This is probably my favorite idea because of the lessons in entrepreneurship involved. 
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Chores May be Key to Raising Successful Kids

The key to raising successful children could be making sure they help out around the house, according to a new article by the Wall Street Journal.

A recent survey found that 82 percent of parents did chores growing up, but only 28 percent require their kids to help out around the house.

One reason for the shift may be an emphasis on extracurricular activities, which may have caused making the bed to fall by the way side.

But chores may still be one of the most important predictors of future success, teaching self-reliance and responsibility, as well as empathy, according to the report.

The Wall Street Journal article suggests parents wanting to give their children certain tasks can make a game of it, propose small allowances and make sure to thank their children for helping them.

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The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving

Nobody would ever choose a smiley face as the perfect symbolic emoticon for a caregiver. Caregiving for an ailing loved one is just too stressful -- often triggering damaging emotions that can not only undermine your good work but harm your health, as well. Here's how to cope:

Caregiver emotion trap #1: Guilt

Guilt is virtually unavoidable as you try to "do it all."

What causes guilt: Guilt stems from doing or saying what you believe is the wrong thing, not doing what you perceive to be enough, or otherwise not behaving in the "right" way, whether or not your perceptions are accurate. Caregivers often burden themselves with a long list of self-imposed "oughts," "shoulds," and "musts." A few examples: I must avoid putting Mom in a nursing home. I ought to visit every day. I shouldn't lose my temper with someone who has dementia.

Risks of guilt: Caregiver guilt is an especially corrosive emotion because you're beating yourself up over faults that are imagined, unavoidable -- or simply human. That's counterproductive at a time when you need to be your own best advocate.

What you can do: Lower your standards from ideal to real; aim for a B+ in the many aspects of your life rather than an across-the-board A+.

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Tax Time Tips for Caregivers and Single Moms

Many single moms don’t realize they can use the Head of Household filing status instead of Single status.

Head of Household standard deduction and tax rate schedule are the second lowest after Married Filing Jointly and Qualifying Widow.  Higher standard deduction amount means less income is subject to taxes, and a lower tax rate means less taxes.  Lower taxes equals a higher refund.

Daycare is expensive and as a single parent one of your highest priorities.  There is a tax break for all or part of your taxes though.  First, use your company’s daycare flex spending account.  This account allows you to use up to $5,000 a year of your income before taxes to pay for your daycare.  Then you can use any remaining expense, up to $6,000 total spent, for a tax credit when you have more than two children in daycare.  This is a total win-win when it comes to reducing your taxes and taking care of your most precious commodity.

Let’s not forget the Child Tax Credits. 

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Healthy Lunches Forever: Do Lunch Right

Maximize Your Meal

Lunch is the Jan Brady of meals: stuck in the middle, usually boring and sometimes ignored altogether. But it's time to stop giving breakfast and dinner all the attention, especially if you want to lose weight. Recent research shows that lunch—including where, when, and what you eat—is a big part of the pound-shedding equation. "Getting the right type of fuel at lunch can help you stay focused for a productive second half of the day," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and the author of The Flexitarian Diet. "However, too much food or the wrong type can have the opposite effect and lead to an energy crash through the afternoon and evening." We asked the experts for their best advice to help you get the most out of your midday meal. Read on for their top tips.

Change things up. Turkey on whole wheat again? Brown-bagging the same old stuff could backfire on the scale.

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Returning to the Gym Benefits New Moms

Has the new year also brought along a new bundle of joy? New moms may be finding that their 2015 resolution to get their body back post-baby is more difficult than they originally calculated.
According to Minerals Sports Club Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor Barbara Matchett, an average woman gains approximately 30 pounds during pregnancy. She admits it's difficult “having patience and realizing that it took nine months for your body to gain the weight and it will be a process. I think the hardest part is probably fitting it in your schedule. You have a new baby that requires all of your attention, but remember it's important to find time for you, too. If you have a good support system at home, don't be afraid to leave the baby for an hour or try to find a gym that has child care. Your health is crucial so you're there to take care of your baby.”

“I think it's a challenge,” Minerals Fitness Director Betty Tobin said. “You see celebrities on TV get their bodies back in 20 days after having a baby,” she said with a laugh, saying the time frame is slightly unrealistic.

Tobin said several new moms have returned to the gym recently to work on their new physique, one only days after giving birth.

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Depression in Teens Looks Almost Nothing Like Depression in Adults

First, let's review the symptoms.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a depressed teen will experience the same symptoms of depression as adults (profound feelings of unhappiness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, relentless fatigue, etc.), but those symptoms manifest themselves in ways that can be difficult to distinguish from normal teenage behavior. Depression in teens feels the same but it looks totally different than what you'd expect in adults.


So it's vitally important that you have good communication with your teen about mental health.
Talk to them about what's normal (feeling sad occasionally) and what isn't (feeling sad constantly). Ask them if they're having any problems with bullying, social rejection, or pressure to perform well in academics or extracurricular activities. Most importantly, let them know that it can get better.

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The 5 Best Tax Breaks Uncle Sam Offers Moms and Dads

Parents are one of the best-treated groups when it comes to credits, deductions and other ways to reduce your tax bill. Here are five key tax breaks.

1. The Credit You Get Just for Being a Parent

The Child Tax Credit gives you as much as $1,000 per child to offset your tax liability, reducing what you owe dollar for dollar. To qualify for the credit, the child has to be a U.S. citizen age 16 or younger; a dependent on your tax return; and related to you by blood, marriage or adoption. You also have to provide more than half of the child's financial support, and the child has to live with you more than half the year. Finally, those whose adjusted gross income is above certain thresholds -- $75,000 for single filers and $110,000 for joint filers -- will see their credit phased out by $50 for every $1,000 in additional income above the threshold. The best part about the credit is that under certain circumstances, any unused portion of the credit can be refundable, allowing you to get a refund check even if you zero out your overall tax liability.

2. Get Help to Pay for an Adoption

If you're adopting a child, you know how costly the process can be. But the Internal Revenue Service has a substantial Adoption Credit you can take against your taxes to help you handle those costs.  

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Multigenerational Household - Is This For You?

Several of my friends are living in multigenerational households. Some of their arrangements are by design and others a result of unplanned life events. Whether it’s a college-aged child moving home to save money while job-hunting, a senior choosing to live with an adult child, or a daughter bringing a new baby to live with her grandparents, this communal living has primarily been driven by recent economic uncertainties Although multigenerational strictly means three generations under one roof, two age groups living together have similar benefits and challenges. Even as the economy shows signs of recovery, it’s clear this is a lifestyle trend that’s not going away.

The latest U.S. Census figures support that multigenerational households are continuing to grow. In 2000, 3.7 percent of U.S. households were inhabited by three generations and by 2010, that number had grown to 4 percent. Citing areas with housing shortages, single parents, and new immigrants living with relatives, census reports give detailed breakdowns of geographic locations, etc. But a recent Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends report found young adults to be the biggest driver of multigenerational living situations.

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Top Things Moms Need to Do for Themselves

Today's parents have it easy, according to those who went before us. Modern conveniences like video baby monitors, iPads, double electric breast pumps, and toys that do just about everything for you are designed to make our lives easier. But we are also living in the age of the child-centered home, where so much of what we do is dictated by our children's needs. So much so that mommy guilt prevents us from doing so many of the things we would want to do — acts that seem selfish when there are kids in the picture. "Shouldn't you be spending quality time with your kids instead of going for a manicure?" a little voice in our heads screams. "Shouldn't you be spending that money on an educational toy instead of a double latte?" it says.

It's hard to drown out the little voice, but we're here to tell that it's OK to be selfish. It's OK to do things for yourself. It's OK to do something that doesn't benefit anyone but Mom. Here are 25 things you should do for yourself (maybe not all at once, but over time) and never feel guilty about.

1. Go out with the girls.
2. Hire a babysitter so you can get some sleep.
3. Keep the "good" cookies for yourself

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10 Healthy Fall Foods.

As the temperature begins to cool, kids go back to school and college football seems just around the corner. You know what's coming: fall.

Summer gets a lot of attention for roadside farmers' stands selling everything from tomatoes to cucumbers to watermelons. True, a lot of healthy and tasty foods are harvested in the summer.
But what about the fall? This season doesn't disappoint, either.

There are so many fresh fruits and vegetables that come with the fall that it can be hard to narrow down which ones are best for you. But in this article, we'll look at 10 of the healthiest fall fares.
You'll want to consider a number of factors when evaluating whether a food is healthy, and opinions on different items are as varied as the foods themselves.

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Too Busy to Clean Your House? Read More for some great easy tips.

Mothers these days have a lot on our plates. Between work, school, family matters and keeping the house clean, it’s a wonder more women don’t go stark raving mad. It seems that there is an endless request list of things to do, and not enough hours in the day to do them.
  However, we are here to help. Don’t get overwhelmed and frustrated. Instead, carve out a few minutes from your very busy day to read this guide. We’ve got everything you need to know in this busy mom’s guide to house cleaning.

1. Clean as You Go.
Don’t let the mess build up, clean up a little at a time. While you’re cooking dinner, load the dishes you use into the dish washer right after you use them. If you notice toys, school books or articles of clothing laying on the ground, pick them up right away.

2. Teach the Kids.
It takes a lot of work to keep a house clean – don’t feel as though you must do it all yourself.

Read more: http://www.redbeacon.com/hg/busy-moms-guide-house-cleaning/#ixzz3E0qC8uhY

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Healthy Back to School Dinners Starts with Stocking the Right Foods

September means back to school. Parents and children have cleaned out closets and are ready for a new academic year with fresh school supplies.

This is also the time to think about supplying the correct nutrients to keep the body and mind working at their best. Children need nutritious breakfasts and packed lunches, and families need to eat healthy dinners at home. So this may be a good time to give your kitchen a makeover.
This is the first in a series of articles to help you create a kitchen that is equipped to prepare balanced meals for your family.

Let’s start with the pantry. It is important to stock your pantry with staple items that help you fix a quick nutritious meal at home without too much effort.

Whole grains: Whole grains such as quinoa, barley, bulgur, brown rice and oats are important sources of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Stock up on pasta made from whole grains, and use whole grain flours to make quick breads and pancakes.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/08/26/4096211/to-your-health-restock-the-pantry.html#storylink=cpy

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How to Get Involved: Childhood Cancer Month

Every year, thousands of children across America are diagnosed with cancer  an often life threatening illness that remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15.  The causes of pediatric cancer are still largely unknown, and though new discoveries are resulting in new treatments, this heartbreaking disease continues to scar families and communities in ways that may never fully heal. 

 

This month, we remember the young lives taken too soon, stand with the families facing childhood cancer today, and rededicate ourselves to combating this terrible illness.

 

While much remains to be done, our Nation has come far in the fight to understand, treat, and control childhood cancer.  Thanks to ongoing advances in research and treatment, the 5 year survival rate for all childhood cancers has climbed from less than 50 percent to 80 percent over the past several decades. 

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Tips to Get Ready for the New School Year

Move over, summer--a new school year is coming!
With the start of school, families face new organization challenges. 

School bells ring--and so do early-morning alarm clocks.
Paper piles swell as hand-outs and homework stream into the house.

Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events, and calendars fill with cryptic notes. Can the holidays be far behind?

Get organized now for the best school year ever! Use these ideas to prepare your home and family for the busy days ahead.

Ease the family into a school year schedule.

The first day of school is no time for a drastic adjustment of household sleep schedules. Instead, ease children back into a school year routine gradually. During the last two weeks of summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime. Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they'll need to rise when school begins.

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Coping with Personalities that "Don't get along well with others."

Most people get along with others. There might be the odd bit of friction between a person or two, but for the most part, most people get along.

There is a subgroup of people however, that don’t seem to get along with almost anyone. These persons tend to project blame onto others for their conflict and may also cause others to feel guilty for not meeting expectations in the relationship. Further, some of these people while feigning interest in others, are really only interested in meeting their own needs.

These people can be manipulative, self-serving and very distressing to others. If they themselves are distressed, it is only due to the reaction of others, or for others not attending to their demands. They tend not to be distressed about their own behavior. In fact, when confronted on their own behavior, they are quite unable to see a problem with themselves and treat the confrontation as a serious attack.

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What should you get your Graduate?

Here are some great gifts for your grad: 

The Heat Is On
For any kid heading off to college in the fall or setting up a starter apartment, a microwave will be a must. The iWavecube is the smallest portable one, measuring less than one cubic foot for heating up food, snacks and drinks.

Game On
With a mini foosball table, your kid's dorm room will be the place to be. This game measures just 20"x12"x4" and is easy to set up.

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Single Parent? Great Ways to Save Money

Although I've always heard single parenting was tough, I had no idea how tough it actually was (or is) until I became a single parent. It's a life altering thing to say the least and it certainly gives saving money a whole new meaning. To many single parents, saving money is no longer viewed as a hobby or something to do if you can, it becomes more of a way of life.

Fortunately, for me, I do have a knack for saving money but even I have learned a few new things along the way and I thought I would share some of these tips with you as well. Obviously, most of these would work for anyone but I'm writing this from my own perspective as a single parent and I pray it would bless those of you out there who are in the same situation.

10 Ways to Save Money as a Single Parent
1. Menu Plan: (You thought coupons be would #1, didn't you?) Menu planning is key to saving time and money. If you are a single parent, you are likely very short on time so this one is BIG. Sit down, once a week, once every two weeks or even once a month and plan your menu for every single day. Be sure to plan it around what items are on sale (check our Matchups), what items are in your stockpile and what coupons you have on hand. This way, you are planning around the lowest prices and not necessarily what your stomach is telling you.

Menu planning will also lessen multiple trips to the store, which will save you gas and time.

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How to Creatively Lower Your Food Budget

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My wife and I have three children. According to the official USDA statistics on food costs, the monthly cost for our family to eat per month assuming we use their “liberal” food plan is $1,337.80. On the other hand, if we use their “thrifty” plan, our monthly food cost for our family drops to $686.60. In other words, if we were able to move from their liberal plan to their thrifty plan, we'd save $651.20 per month.

For the most part, that switch has to do with making more sensible food choices and being more logical about what you’re buying at the store. It doesn’t mean moving from filet mignon to beans. Over the last several years, my wife Sarah and I have figured out a lot of tricks to make this work for our family. Some of them are big tricks–and some of them are small tricks. Nothing about these tactics forces you to change the food you like. It simply finds ways for you to spend less on the food shopping routines you already have.

Go as Long as You Can Between Grocery Store Visits

Every time a person goes to the grocery store, they end up buying at least a thing or two that they didn’t plan to buy. Grocery stores are simply full of temptation.
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How to Pack a Great Lunch for Work

Packing a lunch isn't just for school kids. As adults, making sure we have healthy meals throughout
the day can help improve our health and save money.

Top 5 Reasons to Pack Your Lunch

1) It's cheaper than eating out

2) You'll have extra time to enjoy your lunch break. Driving to a restaurant or going to the cafeteria (if your workplace has one) takes time.

3) Well packed lunches will have fewer calories and fat

4) You'll curb impulsive eating. Hungry decisions are often directed toward higher calorie, sugar and fat choices.

5) Your lunch will have a variety of delicious foods

What to Pack?

Planning and packing meals ahead of time will ensure you get the proper nutrition for your body. There are several strategies you can use to make lunch preparations a little easier.

• Pack your dinner leftovers from the night before
• Purchase or prepare pre-cut fruit and vegetables and put them in containers at the beginning of the week to save time
• Reserve a drawer at your workpalce to keep lunch supplies such as reusable containers, baggies, drinking bottles and utensils in easy reach

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