Back to School Disappontment?

Our back-to-school buying habits do not help kids succeed in the classroom!

Parents are buying new book bags, school clothes, tennis shoes, notebooks, pens, etc., with the mistaken belief that this will help their child succeed in school. By mid-September the clothes will be dirty, the book bag will be torn, the new pens will be lost, and the notebook will have writing all over the cover. Additionally, those ?in? sneakers will suddenly be ?out? and the new ?must have or I?ll die? pair will cost you another $125.

The back to school retail season is the second most important market for retailers ? a staggering $14 Billion is spend from mid July until mid-September to get our children ready for the new school year. Yes, it is important that our children have the right mind set for their new school year?s challenge. Certainly, they need to get off on the right foot and make a good first impression with the teachers. The question becomes ? what do parents do when the new clothes, shoes, book bags, and things become ?old?? (Old in a student?s eyes can be anything over two weeks.) What do we give our children to help them for the rest of the school year?

Our gift is to teach our children how to take more responsibility for their education. It is essential that we give them the tools they need to succeed today, tomorrow, and for the rest of their lives. How can we get kids to ?own? their education? If we show them how to set and achieve goals and how to use these principles in the classroom we will give them important life skills tools that they will use for a lifetime.

Teach Your Child:

1. No Vision = No Direction. Have them write down what they want to accomplish in the first 10, 20, 30 days of the school year.

2. Teach them not to Don?t Find Fault ? Find A Solution

3. Minimizing the Bummer Words: Show them how these six words that can hold them back from being successful - no, can?t, won?t, never, maybe, and if.

4. Coach your child that To Earn More they will have to Learn More, Think More and Do More

5. Stress the ?I?ll Make It Happen? words: yes, I can, and I will.

6. Demonstrate to them the power of Eliminating Excuses

7. Show them tangibles examples of how to set and achieve goals. Give them examples for how to use goal setting in the classroom.

8. Help them to develop a habit to ask themselves each day: ?Did I Give My Best Effort to Today?s Activities??

9. Demonstrate the importance of Helping Others

10. FOCUS = Vision + Goals + Attitude + Action

Teaching your child how to set and achieve goals will make a positive, long-term difference in their performance in the classroom, in the workplace and in life.

John Bishop is the Executive Director of Accent on Success?, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students succeed in the classroom and in life. He is the author of Goal Setting for Students? which has won three national parent book awards.

Please visit our website www.AccentOnSuccess.com for more information.

314-664-6110
jbishop@AccentOnSuccess.com
http://www.AccentOnSuccess.com

Scary Halloween Crafts

Looking for some great Halloween crafts for your Halloween party, haunted house, or just for trick-or-treaters?

A fun craft is something that can keep you occupied for hours on end especially if you enjoy it. Here are some ideas that will hopefully set you on your way in preparation for your next Halloween...

Halloween Crafts Part 1:

If you live in a house that has a wood-burning fireplace, then chances are that you have access to tree stumps or large blocks of wood. These are great for making stands for your Jack O'Lanterns. You could use a chisel to slightly hollow out the middle of the stump so that the lantern can sit stably or simply use some Blu-Tack or Velcro.

Get some small or mini pumpkins and hollow them out to use as candle holders. If open flames are out of the question, you can put glow sticks instead of candles for a different effect. You can carve, draw or paint faces on the pumpkins too. Instead of pumpkins, you could use apples as well. Ensure that you choose apples that sit well and flat or cut off the bottom to make a flat surface. Remove the stem and cut around it deep enough for the candle. It is best to use taper candles for a better fit.

Get a large pumpkin and hollow it out to use as a salad bowl or to serve fresh vegetables. Cut off the top, hollow and clean it out and let it dry in the sun. You could carve a jagged edge design on the top. Do the same with some smaller or mini pumpkins to use for dips or salad dressings.

Make a scarecrow in your front yard. You need two pieces of wood, one put into the ground and the other nailed across for the arms. Use old jeans and a shirt and stuff them with newspaper. Add some straw for effect. You can use a plastic pumpkin for the head and draw a face on it. This makes a great Halloween craft for the whole family.

Tie glow sticks to helium balloons and let them float around the house. Ensure that some string extends below so that people can easily reach them if they get stuck somewhere or simply to play with them.

Use publicly available Halloween fonts on your computer to make banners or invitations for your party. It's a fast, easy Halloween craft you can use instantly to enhance your party theme. Print them onto inkjet iron-on transfer paper and put them onto your favourite t-shirt or Halloween outfit.

Halloween Crafts Part 2. OK, Now We Are Getting Scary...

A visit to your local hardware store for some basic items and you could make your own tombstones transforming your garden into an instant graveyard. Paint them grey to resemble stone. Do not worry about the details as it will be dark, but do put on some exciting or scary wordings. By the way, your local hardware store is loaded with Halloween craft ideas.

Going trick or treating? Why not make a special jug to collect candies? Cut off the top two inches of a gallon milk jug. Soak to remove any labels. Paint orange. Once dry, paint or stick on eyes nose and mouth resembling a Jack O'Lantern. Use fluorescent paint for a nice effect. The jug can be kept for future reuse.

Using six pipe cleaners, you can make your own skeleton. Bend one pipe cleaner into two for the backbone. Twist another around the bottom of the backbone to make into the legs. Do the same for the arms. Join two pipe cleaners and twist them around the backbone leaving some space forming a ribcage. Twist the last pipe cleaner for a head and glue on some eyes. Hang with a rubber band for a bouncing effect. Your kids will love making halloween crafts with pipe cleaners. But be careful when cutting and keep them out of their mouth.

Using glue and food coloring, you can make a see through painting. Paint a Halloween image onto a piece of plastic wrap. Before the mixture dries, put another piece of plastic wrap on. Cut it out and hang it in front of a light source for a see through effect. You could also frame the plastic pictures using wood or cardboard if you want them to be longer lasting.

Halloween Crafts Part 3. The Real Scary Stuff...

Make some hand printed spiders. Apply black paint to your palm and 4 fingers leaving out the thumb. Place palm onto a piece of paper. Turn the paper 180 degrees and print again making sure the palm overlaps. Add some wiggly eyes using either paint or sticks. This is suitable for even 2 or 3 year olds.

Make your own blood. It is less expensive than buying ready made blood from the Halloween shops. It's not difficult; all you need is Karo syrup and food coloring. While you're at it, why not make some slime using glue, water and borax powder. This is an advanced Hallween craft, so take your time and be careful.

Using apples, you can make dried, shrunken heads. Peel the apples and coat with a mixture of lemon juice and salt to prevent browning. Carve out a face of eyes, nose and mouth. Do not worry about the finer details as they will probably be lost when the apple dries. You can use whole cloves for the eyes and rice grains for the teeth. Let the apples sit out in a warm place for about 2 weeks. If you don't have 2 weeks, you can speed up the drying by putting them into an oven on the lowest temperature for about 45 minutes and then to dry out naturally for the next 2 days or so. Once dried, they shrink and deform into weird and scary looking faces.

Says Angie Maroevich, You don't have to spend a fortune on commercial Halloween supplies to have a great party. There are many inexpensive alternatives laying around the house or at your local store you can use to create a Halloween theme that will impress all your friends.

About The Author

Angie Maroevich is an arts and crafts enthusiast, business owner, and athlete. Her arts and crafts articles and be found at http://www.craft-ideas-guide.com.

? 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

angie@craft-ideas-guide.com

Planning Your Move: The Day of Your Move

It is finally here, the day you have been planning for in the last two month has finally arrived and you are moving out. If you followed the previous steps of this moving guide, you should be absolutely ready to hit the road. This last part of the guide will provide you with important tips for the big day.

Moving Out

It is recommended to stay home until the last item is loaded onto the truck. Make one last walkthrough in your house and perform the final inspection before the moving team leaves. Confirm sure that every single item was loaded and that nothing is left behind. Make sure your phone is connected throughout the day. Pack your phone in one of your suitcases only after the movers left. If you instructed your utilities providers to disconnect your utilities today, verify that they followed your instructions and that all utilities have been disconnected. Before you leave the house, clean it and remove all debris that is left behind. While doing so, take another look and inspect every room to make sure that you did not forget anything. Be sure to inspect everywhere including the attic, garage, etc. Meet the new owner of your home or real estate agent for a final walk through the property and provide the new owner or real estate agent with the keys.

Working With You Moving Company

It is very important to be present when your movers arrive. If you cannot to be present while the movers are packing and loading your household content, designate a friend or family member to help out and make decisions in your absence. Make sure that with your chosen representative knows exactly what to do as it is likely that this person will be asked questions during the move. Be sure to let the movers know who your representative is. Go over all paperwork and details before the truck leaves with your household content. Verify that all the details are correct, that the price is as you were quoted for, and that the inventory list is complete and clear. Accompany the movers? manager as he inspects your content for any damages. If damages are found or documented on your inventory list, you must make sure that this is an accurate documentation as any found damages that appear on the inventory will be used as proof of items condition prior to the load in case of an insurance damage claim.

For more information visit http://www.moveeast.com Free guides are available

Jony White is a relocation consultant for California New York Express, a leading moving company since 1995.

California New York Express specializes in the New York ? Los Angeles ? San Francisco routes.

To learn more about this moving company and the relocation services offered, visit moveeast.com or call 1-888-680-7200

Summer Vacation and Your Pond

So you've got your summer vacation plans all made. You've got a checklist to remind you to stop the newspaper delivery, hold your mail, drop the dog off at the kennels, and something else. Something that you're forgetting. Oh yeah, the pond. What are you going to do about the pond?

If you're going away for a long weekend then your pond won't even miss you. Check your water levels and make all of other normal tests, feed your fish, and hit the road.

However, if you're going away for a longer period, say a week or two, then you'll need to take some extra measures to ensure that your pond stays safe and happy and that it doesn't miss you while you're gone. Here's a few more items to add to your vacation checklist:

1. Filter

About a week before you pack the kids into the SUV clean all of the mechanical parts of your filter and pumps. This includes brushes and settlement chambers and all of the pre-filter parts. You want to do this a week in advance so you can keep an eye on the resulting water quality, after the cleaning, to make sure that everything is in balance.

2. Change your water

Dump about 20-30% of the existing pond water and replace it with clean and chlorine-free water. This helps to dilute any build up of nitrates or ammonia. Fill the pond to the top to compensate for evaporation while you are gone. This is a good time to check your oxygen levels as well as perform all of your other water balancing tests.

3. Place a moratorium on new fish

This is not the time to add new fish to your pond. You won't be there to monitor their progress and there's no telling what kind of problems you will face when you return.

4. Predator Protection

Figure that your heron, raccoon, and other neighborhood predators are going to rush to your pond the moment that your taillights disappear and plan accordingly. If you do not already have natural hiding spots in your pond then cover it with a secure pond net that is made especially for this purpose.

5. Feeding

If you'll be gone for two weeks or less, feed your fish their normal amount just prior to leaving and don't worry about it again until you get back.

Your average koi can get along just fine without being fed for two weeks or less. They'll find plenty of algae and the occasional wayward bug to snack on and their metabolism will adjust quickly to a reduced diet for a short period of time.

If you plan to be gone for a longer time then your only alternatives are either having someone come and feed for you, or getting an automatic fish feeder. Fish feeders can be expensive, they can break down and stop feeding, and they are also subject to malfunctioning and overfeeding. Your best bet is a friend or neighbor.

If you are going to depend on human help make sure that you leave very explicit feeding instructions and tell them not to deviate even a tiny bit. Make sure that they know that overfeeding fish is not a treat and that they could end up killing the fish while trying to do a good deed. Also let them know that if they miss a feeding day not to feed twice as much the next time to make up for it.

Now here are some tips for when you return:

1. Check to make sure that all of your fish are present and accounted for and that they all appear healthy.

2. Perform all of the usual water tests and adjust anything that is out of balance.

3. Clean your filter and pumps just like you did before you left for vacation.

4. Resume your normal feeding schedule.

Owning a pond doesn't mean that you have to give up your well-deserved vacation. A little planning and common sense goes a long way.

About the Author:

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several other pond-related websites including www.MacArthurWatergardens.com and www.Pond-Filters-Online.com He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE 'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today.

Finding The Right Deck Plans For You

To know what idea you have for your deck, you must first find what shape you want the design to take. Upon finding the design of your dreams, proceed to make the process of creating the deck a reality. After consolidating on a plan, much thought will need to go into who will be the contractor for the start of the work to be done, and once they've started you must make certain that the work will be completed. All the time taken may not be worthwhile if a thoughtful approach isn't used.

When starting to get a grasp of what structure you would like to see attached to your home, it is always a good idea to find as many different themes as possible, but also to review the elements that will make your deck fit especially well into its' location. Once taking into regard of what will be necessary for the process of getting the materials, and finding a decent but affordable contractor, the design of the deck should be fairly easy to acquire and customize to suit a variety of your purposes.

There are many differing designs, from angular low-level decks to casually curved and contemporary curved decks, but the utility remains one of the biggest qualities similar to all deck plans.

Having the deck function on a level of use that can be harsh on the lifespan is detrimental to how well the deck will hold up, but that is mostly a case for the materials used than the structure that has been designed to accommodate the heavy use that a deck would get out of its' owner's requirements.

There are also many different places to acquire, even drawing up your own designs over the Internet, from the advice of local construction professionals to plans that could be free if looked for in the right places.

The quest for perfect plans to build a deck from can be vexing, but well worth the effort put towards the search, finding the right set of plans to make your dream come true requires persistent amounts of commitment. Once finding a deck plan to work with building will be easy.

Taking the time to understand where the placement of where the deck will be, and making sure the area is well-manicured for the beginning steps to building the deck, will go long way once the plans have been finalized. Once you have found the design which makes the most sense for you, it wise to make sure there are no changes that you wish to make, and if there are changes you should consult a professional engineer to help finalize those amended parts into the structures' plans.

Once all changes have been made to the plans that you would wish to have done, it can then be a simple effort arranging all the pieces of equipment and the necessary help, but always keep in mind your definite vision's allowances. Any structural and planning contradiction should be corrected as soon as is possible before any construction goes into production. If these items have given you any more motivation to build your own deck, be confident that you will meet your goal.

Nicky is a do-it-yourself landscape enthusiast who has written numerous articles for various landscaping books on helping individuals plan their home design projects. He has created http://www.loneoak.net which consolidates all of his knowledge into colorful illustrations with free installation tips for various deck ideas.

Santas Workshop ~Diary of an Elf ~ Day 10

Hello everyone,

Not much going on around here today. Everyone is too busy making some toys for Santa to deliver on Christmas Eve. The senior elves are still working on the wooden blocks ~cutting them into blocks and painting them with different letters of the alphabet. The novice elves started painting the doll house furniture, which takes a long time. Santa spent most of the day putting electric into the doll houses~ an overhead light in each room and the cutest doorbell at the front door. Mrs. Claus was knitting rugs, bedspreads, tablecloths, afghans for the dollhouse.

Santa tried on his red suit that he usually wears on Christmas Eve. He looked so funny ~ he couldn't even button his shirt and his belt didn't go all around him. Mrs. Claus has put him on a diet ~ no snacks, no candy, just 3 basic healthy meals each day. Santa is going around saying I'm hungry all the time!! He even tried eating some grain from the reindeer feeder, but it was disgusting.

Hey, you kids, ~ do you know what an elf looks like? He has to be under 4'9 (1.5m.) have a pair of pointed ears and have previous toy making experience. He works for Santa 10 months a year ~ 2 months vacation. He can have the left over toys on December 25th!! Not bad??

Well that's all for now. See you tomorrow. Be good!! Santa is watching you!!!

Ashlee Williams writes a daily report about the happenings at the North Pole, through the eyes of anelf. Why don't you visit her for interesting reading at: http://santasworkshop.blog.com

Surviving Holiday Stress: Your ToDon't List

The gods don?t ask for human sacrifice anymore, do they? Then why do millions of women turn themselves into burnt offerings each winter?

It hits about mid-November: Obsessive Giving Disorder. Turning ordinary women into Nurturing Ninjas. Hopped-up on hospitality hormones, they launch into a frenzy of baking, shopping, decorating, crocheting, hosting, serving, costuming, shopping, wrapping, preserving and worshipping madly at the altar of Toxic Traditions. It becomes a Superbowl of Martyrdom when every shred of selfhood disappears into the Bermuda Triangle of Holiday Obligation.

Is there a cure?

Not yet. Whatever drives this compulsion--whether it?s ancestral memories of hoarding for winter, internalized domestic programming or the ultimate holiday horror: the fear of disappointing someone--Oh my god, the pony didn?t make her eyes light up! --OGD has to run its course. A chemical, seasonal, cultural imbalance, in December it becomes the alpha motivator: The Big Dogma. BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE it commands.

SO YOU?RE SINKING IN HOLIDAY DOGMA-DOO.

?Well, maybe if I just get organized,? you say. ?Put my to-do list in order.?

Careful--that?s the disease talking.

The Holiday To-Do list has a life of its own. It grows faster than a B-Movie mutation. Forget trying to contain it. A need-meeter?s brain is a warm moist incubator for this fungus.

The only hope of surviving the Curse of Caring Too Much is to leave the monster alone and attack the lesser demons: the Beta stressors--those second-string compulsions.

You can start by turning your imagination around.

USING YOUR WHAT-IFS FOR GOOD INSTEAD OF EVIL

We?re great at imagining the family unit will go supernova if we don?t live up to our over-doing reputations. In retrospect it?s always obvious: holidays never meet everyone?s expectations. And does it matter? Are lives lost?

Imagination can be an ally when we ask:

Would the world come to an end if I made potatoes from a box?

Would the dinner table turn into Lord of the Flies if I didn?t sculpt every family pet out of marzipan this year?

Would Charlie end up in therapy for abandonment issues if I didn't crochet his name onto that videogame cozy?

Congratulate yourself every time you let go of omnipotence.

But when you?re up against Toxic Traditions, you?ll need more in your arsenal than just what-ifs.

Dogma-doers must minimize their exposure to the needs of others.

PINK EXCUSES

Remember Little White Lies? They spare the feelings of others. Pink lies spare your own as well!

Need-meeters are obligation magnets. They cannot screen out the pleading eyes or the passive-aggressive demands. Excuses that buy you a little time out are crucial because absence is an anal accommodator?s only defense.

There are three basic categories of Pink Lies:

Why you have to leave early.

Why you have to come late.

Why you have to leave in the middle.

EXAMPLES:

THE MEDICAL STAND-BY: I have: (pick one: allergies, female troubles, New Guinea Flu or if necessary: ?some kind of oozing pussy rash?)

THE BIG GUNS: ?I have to go in for a pre-surgical consultation and I won?t be able to fly out that day?

THE POOR ME: ?I made two huge pots of my favorite ginger Sherry pumpkin soup and then I set it on top of my car and drove off. Maybe next year.?

THE I?LL BE RIGHT BACK: ?I forgot to get the sour cream?No, it?s a special l kind and I am the only one who knows where to find it.? When you return after three blissful hours, bravely recount your wretched Odyssey to twenty-six 7-11?s.

THE NOT MY FAULT: My husband decided to go find his birth mother, we?re leaving for the Philippines tonight. (Always use someone else as your excuse whenever possible.)

From the banal to the sublime, migraines to court-ordered community service, the Pink Lie buys you a little separation from your demanding fans. But don?t forget you need to stay one step ahead of your internal Perfection Police.

SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE: SWEET BLESSED FAILURE

It?s important to set yourself up for failure. Yes, for failure.

For falling short of your massive potential. Not an easy task for an OGD. You must plan carefully and remain vigilant.

MAKING YOUR TO-DON?T LIST

An anal accommodator is incapable of limiting the guest list to three digits or stopping at sixteen sets of meringue cr?che figures. She cannot spend less, do less, coddle less, say yes less. So she must look for something that she can eliminate. Naturally, it will be a non-holiday related task since the whole Yule area of the brain has been taken over by MARTIAL LAW.

Ask yourself: Where can I economize my energy?

If you were devoting extra hours to anther kind of winter disaster like clearing mudslides, housing the homeless, you would probably lighten up on routine domestic chores at home. Cut yourself the same slack.

Try out this delicious TO-DON?T LIST SAMPLER

Don?t change clothes for three days.

Don?t cook anything but microwave food on Fridays and Tuesdays.

Don?t help your son with homework on Mondays.

Don?t clean the refrigerator.

Don't volunteer cupcakes.

Don?t change the sheets till New Year?s.

Be sure and WRITE DOWN your To-Don?t List

And when you have not done them, check them off proudly! You stole back a little time. That?s a rare achievement for a compulsive Dogma-Doer?truly something to celebrate! ====

Joan Bechtel @2005 All Rights Reserved

Resource Box: Joan Bechtel, award-winning comedienne, early childhood educator and author of MOTHERHOOD CONFIDENTIAL, is a Personalized Parenting speaker, helping women out of the dogma-doo to find their own personally-correct answers. For free tips: When Motherhood Tears Friendship Apart-7 way to Keep It Together, 10 Antidotes to Toxic Taboos, Guide to Creating Your Own Internal U.N. go to http://www.MotherhoodConfidential.com