Sunday, November 2, 2008

Thanksgiving: Pin the Tail On Tom Turkey

Draw a coloring picture of a Thanksgiving Tom Turkey, and have your child color it. Cut the whole turkey off of the coloring sheet. Then cut the tail feather portion of the turkey off, and glue only the turkey's body portion to a colored sheet of construction paper. Next, glue the tail feather portion to another piece of construction paper or card stock. You may want to duplicate several of the tail feather portions if more than one child will be playing the game (please do not abuse copyrights of printed coloring sheets).

Now for the fun part! Place the sheet with the turkey's body on a flat wall where the child can reach it easily. Blindfold the child and stand them in front of the picture. See how close the child can get to placing the tail feathers in the correct spot on Tom Turkey.

This game works well with all seasonal characters such as snowmen (using the hat), St. Patrick's Day (using a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow), Cupid's valentine heart (using an arrow, etc. This game works well for one, or a whole group of people for fellowship meetings. Laminate all of the game pieces so they can be used from year-to-year.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Aluminum Foil Creations

Aluminum foil creations can keep children busy and be a novice way to share family time together too. You will need to make some simple paper patterns for children to go by for the shapes of stars, balls, buildings, etc. Give the children a sheet of aluminum foil big enough to complete their creation, and then let them get started. You may want to guide younger children, or make a model of what you want them to create.

They could spray paint their model with an adult's help. Let them choose the colors, and don't be afraid to allow them to use several different hues themselves to make the project their one of a kind image.

Hanging the creation with string would allow it to be displayed for the whole family to enjoy. Make a mobile by hanging several objects together on a hanger, dowel sticks or small tree branches. Have children make a display of the planets for a science fair, or several items they can give as gifts to friends or relatives. Remember to keep used foil for recycling.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Job Searching

Most people who are searching for the perfect job can find it by using common sense avenues. First, know what type of job you would like to be employed in. Narrow the job title down to easily find ads and notices in newspapers, or to be able to tell other people what type of position you are interested in. Use updated information on your resume. Check all addresses and phone numbers from previous employers to make sure they are still correct. Companies sometimes move to new locations and change phone numbers, and you don't want a perspective employer thinking that you are too lazy to double check your resume for updates. It would lead them to believe you might slack off on doing your job in their company too.

Use top grade paper for your resume, and keep your list of references updated. An employer who calls a company to speak to one of your past supervisors, only to find they have retired or passed away, says nothing for your character either. Take an extra resume with you in case the employer takes the first resume you hand them, and then asks you to go to another area to fill out a company application. Take two black or two blue pens with you in case one of them runs out in the middle of filling out paperwork. Don't drink caffeine before the interview if it causes you to be nervous or jittery. Always print information on your application unless you are instructed to write your signature. Check out the current date before starting your interview day.

Keep a positive and cheerful, but not pushy, attitude when going to a job interview. The best rule to follow about information is to be honest, but don't give a lot more information than what is asked for. The interviewer's time is important to them, and usually a brief first meeting is intended to let them see how your appearance and personality is reflected, besides gaining information not presented on your resume. Look your best in relation to the type of business involved and the position you are applying for.

Always have at least one or two general questions concerning the job or company in mind to ask the interviewer. An interviewer usually will ask if you have any questions, and it may be in your favor to seem interested in finding out at least one or two facts about the business. Remember that all interviews should be looked at as learning experiences. Even if you don't get this position, you will gain knowledge that will help in future interviews.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Sea Salt For Reducing High BP

Sea salt has become an ingredient we are beginning to see used more often in recipes. I have been using it in all of the dishes I cook; and I have not noticed a difference in the flavor. That is a good thing. I am going to try using it in my baking recipes next. I soon will have another blog to let my readers know of this venture in baking with sea salt.

I am using about one third less of the sea salt measurement than iodized salt in my recipes. It has certainly helped with keeping my blood pressure under control, and others have told me the same. My doctor first told me to try the sea salt. I'm glad I did. It may be a matter of taste to some people, but I like sea salt. Baked potatoes are delicious when rubbed all over with a mixture of one half tsp. sea salt, a small pat of butter and one half tsp. garlic powder. This amount of the mixture will do for several potatoes. Wrap each potato completely up in a square of aluminum foil, place it in a hot oven until done; and you will really enjoy the flavor! Hint: when using the foil, always make sure the folds are pointing up to reduce the chance of juices from the mixture seeping out of the foil and starting a fire in your oven. When preparing the baked potatoes in this manner there is a crustiness on the outside that is pleasant to most people's taste buds too. This aids in the flavor of the potato skin. This will benefit people by eating more fiber from this vegetable too!

Sea salt is becoming a common ingredient found in most super market chains now. If it is not where the iodized salt is on the grocer's shelf, ask an associate if they carry the product. It may be found in the health food section of some stores. Look for it stored with the spices too.

As a test for your family, use the sea salt without mentioning the switch from iodized salt. Listen for comments on the taste of the food. Then...tell your family of the change you are making for a healthier style of eating.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Places for Families to Visit

Places for families to visit do not have to be far from home, or a hardship on our budget. Spending time together is the most important thing about excursions away from home. A visit to the zoo can be within an hour's drive, or you could set up a block party that everyone in the neighborhood could attend. Planning can be the key to having a good time as a family.

The first month of the new year would be a great time for your family to set an evening aside for planning on trips and vacations for the next twelve months. Get a new calendar, some popcorn and soft drinks, and make the activity itself one the whole family can enjoy together. This will give everyone a chance to make plans for some of the things that will need to be 'saved up' for.

Get a brochure or tour guide of your state, and plan trips and things to do by utilizing all it has within it. These can usually be picked up at state parks or from tourism centers in towns and cities. These guides will list cities and towns all around your state with places of interest and costs, restaurants, motels, and many other interesting facts. A trip to your own local tourism or chamber of commerce office will surprise you with places to visit in your own county that you may not know exist.

Children of today are losing out on some of the values that those of twenty to forty years ago grew up with in their families. Computers, cars and other items are things that children of early eras did not have of their own. Some homes had only radios to find out what was going on in the world around them back then. With computers and cable TV, we now have the opportunity to see first hand, right now what is happening 8,000 miles away from where we live.

The values and morals of yesteryear can be taught to our children today; but we need to be creative in how to work them into the busy lifestyles we now lead. Starting early by getting children involved in saving money, and planning for things they want and need, is a good way to teach them important things that will matter to them all of their lives.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year's Day 2008

Today marks a new year! New Year's Day should always be a day when we have new goals set before us. Some of the old-time things to do on this first day of the year are to eat cabbage, black-eyed peas or corned beef. A few people through salt over one or the other of their shoulders. But most of us set personal goals such as losing those excess pounds we carry around, doing at least one good deed for another person each day, or fixing a new flowerbed before spring.

No matter what you do to begin your new year, do it with a better outlook on the year as a whole. Always strive to be a good person to everyone you meet. That doesn't mean you have to treat everyone as if you have known them all of you life. But give each person a smile, even if you don't have the opportunity to say a word out loud to them. A smile will not only allow people to notice that you have acknowledged them, but it will help your own countenance as well. You never know when you may run into that very same person another day, and it would be better to be remembered by a smile than a frown.