Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Isn't Back to School time also Back to Budget time?
It seems like every August we're hemorrhaging cash around here. There's football, and baseball and school pictures. The dentist, the car, tuition. I really should anticipate this better.
Since I don't, that's where you all come in. I'm looking for your best budgeting tips! Share how you save money when the going gets tight, or on a regular basis. Do you use coupons? The envelope system? Let me know in the comments!
You can also find Kendra whining on her personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family
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Disclosure: Bloggers are often provided with free products, services and "experiences" from companies for the purpose of testing and reviewing them in a blog post. Any product mentioned in the blog posts of ocfamily.com may have been offered at no cost to the blogger. |
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Have your kids gone back to school yet?
Whether you are elated at having your days back, or dreading the silence, there are a few things that you can do to make the transition back to school a little easier for the whole family.
• Start a week early on getting your kids on a regular bed time. We all know that we slack on bed time in the summer and it's really hard to get back on an 'early to rise' schedule for school. Move lights out earlier by 15 minutes each night until you've reached the desired time. Same goes for getting up. Although, in our house it's easier to just do that one like a band-aid....quick. It only hurts for a minute!
• Menu plan and grocery shop. This is so important for me so I'm not running back and forth to the store a million times because I forgot that favorite lunch box item or that last, essential ingredient for a recipe. There's lots of other things I'd rather be doing!
• Remember that you're going to have homework on the first night. It happens every year, but somehow we always forget about all of that paperwork! (Selective memory maybe?) Block out time on that first evening to get ALL of it done. You'll feel better that it's done, and some teachers even give extra credit to kids whose parents get it done on the first night.
• Back-to-school night. Is yours always in the first week? Ours is, and like the paperwork, I always forget. Pencil it in early, then even if you have to change the date it will at least be on your radar.
• This may sound silly, but if your child needs a new backpack? Buy it early. This year was the year of the Great Wheeled Backpack Hunt. I ended up at 4 or 5 different stores over several days and still had to buy it online since the only one that I could find with wheels was an iCarly, with pink trim. My 8 year old boy was not amused. True story.
• Make sure you make time to sit with each of your children and discuss their first day. Learning about their teacher(s), who is in their class, what they're reading, etc., is a great way to connect. We do this over a traditional first-day-of-school frozen yogurt. With toppings, of course!
• Start your homework routine on the very first day, even if it's just reading. It will make actually doing 'real' homework so much easier if your child knows exactly what to expect. Make sure, also, that paper, pencils, erasers, and other supplies are close by and restocked so they can get right to work.
• Make a weekly calendar to post where all members of the family can see it. I tape one to a kitchen cupboard door, at eye level, so we can see at a glance who is going where, and when. Especially helpful for husbands to glance at to see how busy everyone is and why dinner isn't on the table at 6. ;-)
And, if you're like me, you'll be humming "It's the most wonderful time of the year" even though it's not Christmas!
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Disclosure: Bloggers are often provided with free products, services and "experiences" from companies for the purpose of testing and reviewing them in a blog post. Any product mentioned in the blog posts of ocfamily.com may have been offered at no cost to the blogger. |
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I'm the mom of two active boys, ages 8 and 10. I could easily fall into the trap of "I'm too busy! I can't possibly find time for me!", especially with back-to-school, sports, scouts and the like.
The best time that I've found to exercise is when they are. Sports fields and parks are the perfect venue to get moving, and since many parents feel uncomfortable leaving younger children, you're there anyway so you may as well use your time well. Here's how I get the most out of one of my children's work outs, for myself.
1) Use the track or walking trail. Walk for a mile or so at an easy pace for a warm up, then stop and stretch. Use short walls, fences, benches or trees for balance. Continue walking, or jog, alternating if you wish.
2) Arms/Upper body: After your warm-up, stop once or twice each lap at a bench or low wall. Do incline push-ups, tricept push-ups, and planks. Begin with 5 of each (or whatever your fitness level will permit,) and work up. Keep an eye out for pull up bars, or other play equipment that can double as your 'gym equipment.' You can carry light weights if you wish to do arm curls and lifts, also.
3) Remember Your Abs. One of the best and fastest ways to burn belly flab is to stand tall and suck it in. Really. When you're walking and keeping your torso in the proper position, your body works harder. This goes for those pushups, too, especially if you're like me and don't like to lay down in the grass. Keep your abs in tight for the duration of your workout and you can save the floor work for your living room!
4) Vary Your Laps. Getting bored? Try alternating running and walking. Try a full lap of lunges. Add a high-knee step. (With abs in tight and shoulders back, bring your knee up to hip-height. Sounds easy...that is until you've done it for a full lap!) Walk backwards. Skip. All of these variations work different muscles and can be a great way to snap the 'same' out of the old circular workout.
5) Set your ipod on shuffle. You love all of the music in there, right? So why not listen to it all. When a fast song comes on, run or walk at a quick pace. When a slower song comes on move to slower, more purposeful movements.
6) Don't forget to do a cool down, stretch, and stay hydrated.
If your kids are like mine you'll easily get to do this workout 3-5 days a week. Much better than gossiping and sipping on a latte, don't you think? So get out there and show your kids how it's done!
Visit Kendra's personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family.
This post originally published on Diets in Reveiw, August 7, 2010.
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Disclosure: Bloggers are often provided with free products, services and "experiences" from companies for the purpose of testing and reviewing them in a blog post. Any product mentioned in the blog posts of ocfamily.com may have been offered at no cost to the blogger. |
Monday, May 10, 2010
Erica Blasberg, a member of the LPGA tour was found dead at her home in Henderson, Nevada on Sunday. There is no word yet on the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing.
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Blasberg, who grew up in Corona, California, enjoyed success on the junior tour as well as an undergrad at the University of Arizona. She joined the Futures Tour in 2004. Her only tour win was in the 2005 Lexus Cup, a now defunct match play tournament. Her highest finish on the money list was in 2008, with $113,000. Blasberg also signed an endorsement deal with Puma in 2006.
Her agent, Chase Callahan, was quoted Monday saying, "She lived out her dream of playing professional golf on the highest level on the LPGA Tour, allowing her to help inspire others. We are proud of Erica for everything she accomplished. This is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her. Erica would want those close to her to celebrate the life she lived. We ask that you keep Erica and her family in your prayers."
All of us at Inland Empire Family send our condolences to the Blasberg family.
A version of this article also appears on Draft Day Suit. photo
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Disclosure: Bloggers are often provided with free products, services and "experiences" from companies for the purpose of testing and reviewing them in a blog post. Any product mentioned in the blog posts of ocfamily.com may have been offered at no cost to the blogger. |
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