52 posts tagged “chocolate hills”
Parenting in today's world is scary at times. There are so many bad things that can happen to our children it's a wonder more parents aren't walking around in a constant state of anxiety. As it's summer time and vacations are in full swing before the kids go back to school, I wanted us to take a break and focus on keys steps to ensure no one gets lost.
1. Pay attention to the details - Before you get out of the car or leave your hotel room, take a minute and inventory what your children are wearing. If possible, encourage them to wear bright clothes. This will help you in a panic to be able to find them quicker. You'll know specifics instead of just a blond head.
2. Connect - If your kids are younger then hold hands or walk behind them with your hands on their shoulders. For those older kids who would be mortified to have mom or dad that close, utilize cell phones. Make sure they know your number or if they have their own phone, that you know theirs.
3. Just in case - As a family, identify a place to meet in case you get separated. Be specific about this; not just a vicinity but the exact tree, or bench they are to go to. Everyone must understand they are to stay there until the missing party is found. If everyone is wandering around you may never find each other. This special spot ensures finding one another quickly.
Resources for
Traveling with pets can be difficult and stressful, especially if it involves flying to your travel destination. Here are some recommendations for flying with cats and dogs to make it easier on both you and your pets.
- Research the policies and restrictions of the various airlines you’re considering. Each airline has its own rules and regulations for traveling with pets. You may be able to keep your pet in the cabin with you (stowed under the seat in the proper carrier) if are traveling with a cat or small animal that meets the requirements. If you’re traveling during extremely high or low temperatures, you want to ask if the area beneath the plane (where large animals are transported) is temperature-controlled. Some airlines don’t have this feature and will not carry pets during the hottest or coldest months of the year in order to protect them. It’s not worth risking the life of your pet. If the airline doesn’t have the ability to control the temperature in these areas, keep looking. If your pet will be traveling in the cabin with you, select a window seat when you book your flight so your pet won’t be jostled around by other passengers getting up and down from their seats.
- Purchase a pet carrier that meets the airline’s requirements. Airlines’ policies vary regarding the size and dimensions of their allowed pet carriers. Make sure yours conforms or you may find yourself in the undesirable position of having to make alternative arrangements last-minute at the airport.
- Make sure your hotel has pet accommodations. Call the hotels you’re considering and ask whether they allow pets. More hotels are permitting pets now than a few years ago. Expect to pay more per night as well as a non-refundable cleaning fee. Keep looking until you find one that works for you and your pet.
Resources for
American Gift Club
Are you making plans to spend your vacation time? Will you be traveling away from home? Are you trying to get everything in order before you go? Will everything be covered in your absence? Pets, mail, security, yard maintenance....everything you would normally do when you are at home. Do you want to feel like all the stress of daily home care is resolved before leaving so you can have a stress free and relaxing vacation? Maybe this article will help relieve some of that post vacation stress.
Seeing you are working harder and probably longer than you have ever did before. This may place a higher premium on your vacation time. Preparing for, going on and coming back from a vacation can prove just as tiring and chaotic than just staying home.
Haven't you earned the time off? Shouldn't you enjoy it? Whether you're going to the Caribbean, for a week or visiting family over the weekend, the key is to plan ahead. Once you have everything covered and organized, there's nothing left to do but to have enjoy yourself and have fun. Here are some things to consider when planning your vacation.
Make sure everything at home is in order so returning home is more enjoyable. Don't you think that going away on vacation should be relaxing, so when you get home from your vacation you won't immediately be stressed out again due to poor planning?
1. Do you have pets that you need to arrange care for? Do some research on pet care in your area.
2. Pay your bills, whether utilities, credit cards, house or car payment if they will be due during your absence.
3. Have your deliveries or mail held. Either have them deliver it or pick it up on your return.
4. Remope all the trash out of you kitchen, bathrooms or where ever you have trash cans then take them to the curb, nothing worse that that garbage smell when you return home.
5. Wash all your dirty clothes and make sure the washer and dryer are empty, nothing worse than that sour clothes smell.
6. Clean out your refrigerator of anything that will not be edible upon your return.
7. Arrange yard care, if you have indoor plants make sure to arrange for them to be taken care of.
8. Have someone come check on your home once in awhile or contact your local authorities/security provider and let them know when you will be gone.
Resources for
Taking vacations allows time for relaxing and enjoying yourself in being free from your everyday responsibilities at home and at the office. It is your moment to travel and explore the world. Vacations also bring unforgettable memories that will last for a lifetime. Making good memories is good for the soul. You will not only enjoy it, but also become mentally, physically and spiritually healthy.
Before giving you the importance of vacation, here are some tips on how to take a vacation:
1. Make sure you have a vacation budget.
2. Let your boss and colleagues know it early.
3. Reserve your flights and hotels early.
4. Pack light.
5. Enjoy the planning and packing as part of the overall experience
6. Leave your phone and laptop home.
Specialist Corner
Studies show that taking a vacation can lessen the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and help live a healthier life.
Experts consent that people who seize their health seriously should also learn to take vacation time seriously. Researchers from the State University of New York at Oswego conducted a survey of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57 who had participated in a large heart disease prevention trial. The results, presented last March at a meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Savannah, suggest that men who take vacations every year reduce their overall risk of death by about 20 percent, and their risk of death from heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
When the mind feels pressured and blocked with ideas, the effects on the body can be undesirable. One very important characteristic of mental health and well being is simply setting set the time to allow your mind to do nothing. It is in the method of not being hectic that one is free to reflect, deliberate, refresh and generally be grateful in the world around you - a world which you are usually to busy to recognize.
When the Doctor says Rest
When you get sick, the most common thing you hear from your doctor and peers is to get plenty of rest. This was meant exactly that. Rest, with no activities suggested whatsoever. The art of doing nothing when you are unwell drains your mind from noise and hassle of the world. As stress and depression rise, having a time for regular outings and vacations can give you some solutions to maintaining a healthy condition.
Many people plan a vacation wherein fast paced activities are planned everyday for the week. Therefore, the vacation often ends up being as demanding as the job that you left behind. A lot of people evoke the feeling of being crushed by the time they have got back from their holiday, and this is the point. In order to get the bursting health benefits of a vacation, it is important for you to do as little as possible and set aside the time to relax your mind and soul that you need to replenish so you can return home feeling rejuvenated.
Resources for
Use a great travel packing list as a key to a low-stress and happy vacation or business travel trip.
With the web there's no excuse to not use a great travel packing checklist to speed your travel packing and ensure enjoyment. Packing correctly - bringing just what you need, but not one iota extra - can lighten your physical and mental load. By carrying less you'll move around easier, yet the trick, of course, is being sure you haven't forgotten anything essential.
Tip #1: Leave home and office in good order. Make sure your home is all buttoned up before you leave and that pets and plants will be taken care off. Leave keys with a neighbor so they can access in case of emergency, empty your refrigerator and stop routine deliveries. In the office, nothing supports a successful trip than a clean desk and empty email in box - schedule a few hours of blocked out time the day before your trip to catch up on all urgent office matters.
Tip #2: Make packing easy by using a great travel packing checklist. There's no excuse for not using a travel packing list to make sure you don't forget anything essential. You can use a web search engine to search for 'travel packing list', 'travel packing tips', or 'travel packing checklist' or see the end of this article for a link to my favorite printable travel packing list. Find one you like and print it out. Use it religiously.
Tip #3: Bring the bare minimum. Nothing adds to stress and tiredness on travel like having too much and too heavy of a luggage burden. I always recommend that, once you're all packed, try carrying all your luggage for 5 or 10 minutes - say around a city block. This begins to simulate the short hauls you'll have on your trip. After your test haul, you'll be motivated to lighten up. Find items you can do with out.
Resources for
Vacation planning can get really stressful. There is so much to think about, that we often overlook some of the most important details. Especially when we're traveling with pets. Before you load the pets into the car, consider some of these tips.
Animals are like people, with distinct personalities and temperaments. If your pet is easily upset by changes in their routine, you might want to consider having a friend or family member care for them at home. If this is not a possibility, make sure during your trip to stick as close to the animal's normal routine as possible. You might also want to pack a couple of favorite toys or pillows to add more familiarity. You might consider a sweater, as well, just in case they have to be separated from you for a bit while using public transportation. Having something with your scent on it will help with any separation issues.
The first thing that should be on your agenda when planning your trip with a pet is a visit to the Veterinarian. The vet can prescribe medications that can help keep your pet calm during travel, as well check for any problems that may need to be dealt with first. You can also refill any medications they are already on so you'll have enough to take along with you. Getting current on their shots is also important, especially if you are using a form of public transportation or you are crossing state/country borders. Don't leave the vet's office without checking into one more thing: microchips. Microchips are quick and easy to implant, done with a needle right there in the vet's office. Most of the time, the animal doesn't even know anything is happening. Implanting one of these into your dog or cat will greatly increase your chances of getting your pet back if they get loose. The microchip includes your pet's name, vet information, medical information and other important facts. When a lost animal is brought into a shelter or vet office, they are scanned with a hand-held scanner that pulls up all the
information. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to mail in the forms you will need to fill out to make the chip active. Also, don't forget to ask your vet if they have any recommendations in case your pet finds itself in need of care while out of town. If your vet cannot help you, make sure to look up that information yourself. Thanks to the internet, you should not have any trouble finding listings. You are not done yet. Before leaving the Vet, make sure you ask about Heartworm prevention and flea/tick protection. This is more than just a good idea, in some places it is required to protect the local animal population. Now, you are ready to move on to the next phase of trip planning: shelter.
Resources for
I have been traveling on and off for the past two weeks. This week marks the last of our summer vacations and trips to visit family. I know first hand how being away from home can take a toll on your fitness regimen. Vacations are notorious for quickly packing on the pounds this summer. From road trips, to camping, to amusement parks, to visiting with family - each destination is filled with tempting food and drink as well as a change in our exercise routine. I have received several questions regarding the best plan to have in place to prevent a setback during the summer travel season.
Begin by considering if you would like to go into Maintenance Mode - just maintain your progress - or Results Mode - KEEP making progress. This will determine your plan of action as well as the level of commitment to your vacation eating and exercise plan.
Stay Fit Tip 1: Remember WHY you are going on Vacation. If the goal is to feel refreshed after you return, why abandon all of your healthy habits only to return feeling like you need to be a "slave" to your workouts in order to make up for all the weight you gained. No amount of eating or drinking is worth the effort it will take to remove those excess pounds. Make good choices while you are away and you will be more prepared to overcome any travel fatigue, so you return to your normal routine feeling rejuvenated!
Stay Fit Tip 2: Prevention is KEY In the long run, prevention is always better than the cure.
If you already know ahead of time that you will be practicing in some overindulgence, ,vamp up your exercise and eating habits NOW.The best part about this type of approach is that you have a deadline. This will help keep you motivated to stick as closely as you can to your FYM plan. If you have the time, begin 2 to 4 weeks prior to leaving. This gives you the opportunity to lose 4 to 8 pounds of fat - all before you leave! Allowing you more flexibility while you are away.
Stay Fit Tip 3: Meal Management Strategies The last thing you want to do prior to, during or after vacation is to not eat.If you choose to skip your meals, two wonderful things happen to your body. First, your metabolism slows down. Next since you brain thinks that you are starving it will tell your body to store any food that it does receive in the form of fat. Skipping Meals = Weight Gain! The best thing you can do for your body is to begin each day with breakfast and eat a supportive meal or snack every 3 hours. This in turn will fuel your metabolism, provide you with an abundance of energy and allow your body to burn more fat 24-7.
Resources for
Traveling is a lot of fun, but most of us have a tendency to over pack and extra luggage can really make traveling a nightmare. Fortunately, Samsonite luggage makes vacation packing a breeze and the organization in this luggage will help you to pack just what you need. The following tips for vacation packing will help you travel as light and easy as possible.
Tip #1 Pack What You Need
You need to think about your vacation and what you will really need. If you don’t have a formal party to attend there is no reason to take dressy clothes. If you aren’t going hiking then leave your hiking shoes at home. Packing everything in your closet “just in case” you might need it will make your travels more difficult because you will have too many bags, too much to keep up with, and making a decision in what to wear will be more challenging. So, before you leave consider your activities. Pack outfits for particular activities so you know ahead of time what outfit you will wear for what activity. You will enjoy traveling without so much heavy luggage.
Tip #2 Don’t Forget Your Meds
Another important tip for vacation packing is to not forget your medication. Too often individuals get off on trips and forget their medicine and then have to spend part of their vacation trying to get their drugs refilled or mailed to them. Don’t let this stressful situation happen to you not to mention a possible medical emergency because you don’t have your pills.
Resources for
Going on a vacation? Planning for that vacation is part of the fun. Packing for that vacation is the part of the planning stage that I love.
Ok, I was once a girl guide. The motto, Be Prepared still sticks with me. To be prepared for anything. On vacation, I often pull out from my bag all sorts of things when necessary. I used to carry a swiss knife with me as it is so handy, until I got sick of setting of alarms at airports and having to submit to body checks, just because of that swiss knife in my bag.
#1 Roll your clothes
Your luggage can only pack in so many things. How are you going to
pack your clothes, your kids clothes and your other travel essentials
into that one bag? How do you get your clothes in without too many ugly
wrinkles. Fold each item lengthwise, then roll it tightly. Pack in the
large items first, then stick the smaller rolls into the empty spaces.
Pack in the sock (also rolled into little balls) last as these can fit
into the smallest spaces in your luggage. Oh, and stick to fabrics that
don't wrinkle easily. Cotton polyester mix is great for a warm vacation
while wool is great for a cold vacation.
#2 Bring along some detergent
Your kids are going to run, play, sweat, get dirty over and over
again during the vacation. At least that's what mine do anyway. Every
family vacation calls for a bag of detergent. When I can find detergent
bars, I'll bring those along, packing them in only when dry, to avoid
messing up my luggage. When I can't find detergent bars, detergent
powder would have to do. Either way, every night after we get back to
the hotel, if we are going to stay in that same hotel for more than 1
night in a row, I'd wash everyone's clothes and dry them before I go to
sleep. That way, we do not run out of clean clothes halfway through the
vacation. After washing the clothes, I'd wring them as dry as possible
and hang them up to dry. To make them dry faster, I'd drape them over
the lamp shades and leave the lamps on when we go out. The heat from
the lamps would dry the clothes faster than normal. Be careful you
don't burn the clothes though. Keep the clothes off the bulbs.
Resources for
The minutes pass so slowly, time drags by and suddenly, it's here. The dream vacation is about to begin. Now for the big questions: how and what to pack. This is not a trick question and while it seems insurmountable at first, it is possible to take everything needed for a successful vacation.
Do you need a packing list?
First the bad news. You would be kidding yourself if you think there is a "universally usable" packing list. It does not exist, and cannot be created! The whole premise of a universal packing list is unworkable. If you try to make it useful for everyone, it becomes useless for anyone, because what's "essential" for one person going to one place is "useless" to someone else going elsewhere.
Second, the good news. You can easily make your own personal packing list that accurately addresses your specific needs based on your vacation destination. For any trip of more than a day, it's very helpful to make a packing list.
Organization is the number one tip in packing for an exciting vacation. In the first stage, an organized packing list will include every item that is used on a daily basis. For women that includes curling irons, blow dryers, make-up, toiletries, etc. It is best if the woman evaluates her morning routine the day before departure, to insure that each item is accounted for; she should then leave everything grouped in one area.
This "staging area" allows for her to evaluate and insure that all necessary items are accounted for; this group of items will be the last things packed before departure, as she will use them when getting ready to leave. It is only after she has completely prepared for the trip that all morning and daily essentials are packed. Utilizing this packing tip, she can be sure to prevent last minute panic attacks. Men should prepare their items in a similar fashion.
Resources for
My Groups
-
Voxaholic Updated: 20 minutes ago
-
Vox Banners Updated: 1 hour ago
-
Billion Dollar Babes Updated: 1 hour ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
