Smart Ways of Finding Your Workout Motivation

Everyone is motivated by different things. Finding your workout motivation can make the difference between success and failure. Here are some tips to find your workout motivation.

Before and After

Are you someone who is motivated by what you see? Try taking “before” pictures and pictures as you progress. Don’t take them too often – you won’t see a change in your physical appearance right away – but try taking a set of pictures every week. Then you can look at them in sequence and appreciate your progress.

Exercise Loves Company

Some people find that having a workout buddy helps them stay motivated. Having someone to work out with makes workouts more fun – it’s social time for you and your friend. A workout partner can be your greatest fan, too, cheering you on and giving you encouragement as you need it. Also, a workout partner can hold you accountable if you are not keeping up with your commitments. And since it’s a partnership, you can return the favors.

A New Look at Goals

Everyone tells you to set goals to stay motivated. But this may not be enough to get you motivated since you have heard it all before. Try taking a new look at goals. Rather than just writing down your ideal weight or clothing size, get creative and individualize your goals.

For example, you might want to run a local marathon or participate in a walk-a-thon for charity. Maybe you want to keep up with your children on your next outing, or want to do more active things with your family. Making your goals personal may help you stay motivated.

Document

Have fun documenting your progress. Keep a scrapbook with photos, articles, and personal notes. Find some fun and motivational quotes for your scrapbook, or keep a journal that documents your workout experience.

Make It Personal

One way to make it difficult to stick with your workout routine is to choose a routine you dislike. It’s understandable that working out is, in fact, work – it can get difficult. But if you choose an activity you enjoy to get in shape, you are more likely to stick to it.

For example, if you want to take up regular walking, you might enjoy hiking in the woods or walking in the neighborhood rather than around and around a track. The same goes for jogging, running, or bicycling – doing these things on machines in the gym may not be your cup of tea. But a bike ride in a park or jogging on a hiking trail might entice you more.

Making Your Backyard Wildlife Friendly

Having a yard that is friendly to wildlife does involve certain techniques and approaches to lawn care, some of them unconventional. The perfectly-groomed, square-cornered lawn with the carpet-like grass that never gets above 2 inches tall is not, unfortunately, the ideal environment for wildlife. So you may need to re-think things a bit to make your yard attractive to wildlife! Here are some tips.

What Kind of Wildlife?

First, identify what kind of wildlife you want in your yard. Bees? Deer? Birds? Making this decision early on will help you be able to be more focused in your yard care and design. Also, another first step you’ll want to take is determining what kind of wildlife is in your area. Then you can tailor your yard to fit the needs of local wildlife.

Let It Go

It’s been said that mowing, trimming, weed-killing, and other typical yard care regimens may actually repel most wildlife. If possible, let your yard or a part of your yard simply go to weeds. You could fence it off and label it “For the Birds” or some such if you are worried about what the neighbors will think. But many sources say that simply leaving an area of your yard alone and letting nature re-claim it can make a nice area for attracting birds, bees, and small animals.

Water

No matter what kind of wildlife you want to invite to your yard, water is important. Every living thing needs it and is attracted to it. Ground-dwelling animals like chipmunks enjoy water sources placed on the ground, whereas birds appreciate water sources a bit higher up (making it safer from predators).

Make sure the containers are heavy enough to accommodate an animal’s weight on the edge, and putting a rock in the center also helps to weight the container and to provide a safe “island” in case a small animal goes in too deep. Sources say water should be no more than about 2 inches deep, and that you should empty the water container daily and refill with fresh water.

Provide Food

There are several different ways to do this. You can hang out a traditional bird feeder, invest in deer feed, or plant fruiting shrubs or other plants that provide food for foraging animals. Some plants to consider are:

* Sunflowers (many birds like sunflower seeds)

* Flowering and fruiting shrubs, like cranberries, blueberries, elderberry, and raspberries will attract birds and small animals. They may even attract bears and deer.

* Flowering and fruiting trees such as dogwood, hawthorn, and conventional fruit trees such as pear and cherry attract birds.

* Flowers such as Echinacea (purple coneflower), thistle, and black-eyed Susan appeal to small, seed-eating birds like wild canaries and finches.

You might want to invest in a notebook to record what creatures visit your yard once you begin making it more wildlife-friendly.

Top Tips for Preventing Sunburn This Summer

Your skin is tough but not invincible. The summer sun is warm but it does emit some harmful rays that can damage your skin and lead to unhealthy results. Here are some tips to keep you feeling warm but not toasted.

The Pros and Cons of the Sun

The sun provides light and heat for the earth and for our bodies. The sun is also an integral part of the workings of our body. The skin makes vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. That vitamin D in return helps to synthesize calcium.

But there is such thing as too much of a good thing. The sun emits ultraviolet rays

Teaching Your Toddler the Meaning of “No”

When teaching your toddler anything, it’s important to know their language and what makes them tick. The same is true for teaching them the meaning of “no,” which many consider a very important command. In fact, teaching your toddler the meaning of this word can keep him from getting hurt or worse.

According to pediatricians and other experts, toddlers respond better to verbal commands when they are followed up by action. When it comes to toddlers, actions really do tend to speak louder than words! Understanding that physical follow-through helps communicate the message is key to successfully teaching your toddler the meaning of “no.” It’s a good idea to note, however, that the age-old method of slapping hands to teach a toddler “no” is not generally recommended by experts these days.

What Kind of Follow-Through?

Experts recommend physical follow-through and behavioral follow-through. For example, if you say “no” to your toddler who is about to climb over a table, back up your firm “no” with physical removal of your toddler from the table. You may have to repeat this, and it’s also recommended that you redirect your toddler to something else after the “no.” Make sure you praise him when he engages in the “right” activity, and change your voice to firm and stern when you have to repeat the “no” and remove him again.

Following through regarding behavior basically means sticking with your guns. If you say “no” to an activity or toy, don’t renege on that “no.” Your toddler will learn you don’t always mean it when you say “no,” and will test each time to see if you actually mean what you say.

Positive Reinforcement

For some parents, the toddler years are complicated by a newborn baby in the house. Toddlers tend to “act up” when you are nursing the newborn or changing his/her diaper. That’s when follow-through can be just about impossible! Here are some tips.

* Feed your baby in a sling or other carrier so that you can be somewhat mobile if you have to be.

* Make baby feeding or changing time into “fun time” with your toddler. Establish a special toy or activity that your toddler only gets to do when you are engaged with the baby. Hopefully, your toddler will begin to look forward to baby care time, because he or she gets to play with the special toy.

* You can also make nursing time into book-reading time. Your newborn will benefit from the reading aloud, and your toddler can snuggle up with the both of you for story time. Again, it helps your toddler look forward to the times when you care for the baby.

* Try to have some mom-and-toddler and/or dad-and-toddler time each day, one-on-one. Not only does this give your toddler attention, but it also builds your communication and overall relationship, making “no” carry that much more weight.

Toddler and Pool Safety

One of the mistakes that many parents make is thinking they can simply keep an eye on their toddler and know his or her whereabouts at all times. While adult supervision is crucial to toddler safety, we’re all human, and no one is the perfect supervisor. And toddlers are fast! One moment you see them and the next you don’t.

In fact, some sources report that the majority of toddler pool incidents happen when an adult is supervising. Life happens, so relying on your powers of observation alone is not always enough. That’s why experts and multiple sources recommend combining adult supervision with other precautions. Here are some tips for keeping your toddler safe around swimming pools this summer.

Never Assume

If you are at a group event such as a party or family reunion where there is a pool, it may be tempting to assume someone else is watching your toddler. This can be a very dangerous assumption. Make sure you or someone specifically designated is watching your toddler at all times.

Maintain Barriers and Boundaries

Toddlers grow and change. The low fence that kept your crawling baby away from the edge of the pool may not work once she begins to walk and climb. You will need to re-evaluate your barriers constantly, updating them to keep up with your growing and changing toddler. Four feet, or 48 inches, is considered the minimum height for a toddler-safe barrier around a pool. Check locks and make sure they cannot be reached and are toddler-proof.

Alarms

If you have a doorway that leads from your house to the pool, consider installing an alarm. These are becoming more popular among parents whose toddlers can silently get out of their sight and out the door before they know it. “Pool alarms” make a loud sound that alerts parents the instant the door is opened.

Ladders and Steps

If you have an above-ground pool, make sure that all ladders and steps are blocked off or removed when no one is actively using the pool.

Rules

Have set rules for behavior around the pool. Post these rules in a visible area and make sure all caregivers – babysitters, family members, etc. – see and understand them. All supervisors who are watching your toddler should know basic CPR appropriate for young children.

Equipment

Keep pool toys away from the pool area when not in use. Toddlers often move toward toys they see lying out. Have life jackets or flotation devices available, and put these devices on your toddler as a precaution during family gatherings or any time the pool is open and in use. A telephone should be close by and easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Caring for Your Lawn during the Summer – Top Tips

Summer is a season of maintenance. The grass is up, things are green, and there are no leaves to rake yet. So it’s a time for keeping things looking good and enjoying your lawn. Here are some tips for caring for your lawn during the summer.

Not Too Short

It is not recommended that you cut your grass too short. Most sources consider 3 or 4 inches to be the best length for grass in the summer. If grass is below 3 inches, it tends to be less drought resistant. Too-short grass also gives more room for weeds to move in.

Go Easy on the Fertilizer

If your grass begins to look piqued in the summer, you may find yourself wanting to douse it with fertilizer. But this may actually harm your lawn, as hot summer temperatures and high-nitrogen fertilizers can conspire to “burn” your grass to a crispy brown.

On the other hand, fertilizing in the hot summer months may produce lots of new growth, which sounds good but actually isn’t – new growth has a hard time surviving in the heat. Sources say that fertilizing should be done early in the season with a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer.

Watering

If you have a rain gauge, set it out in your lawn at grass level where both rain and water from a sprinkler or hose will fall in it. You can make a rain gauge easily if you don’t have one: cut the narrow neck off of a plastic bottle and make marks with a permanent marker up the side in 1/4-inch intervals.

It’s recommended that lawn grass be watered about 1 inch per week in moderately hot weather, and up to 2 inches per week in severe heat. If Mother Nature is providing this much, you need not worry about watering. That’s why a rain gauge is a good idea.

If you do need to water your lawn, most sources recommend watering in the evening or early morning and not in the heat of the day. This reduces water loss through evaporation.

Keep It Sharp

Any blades you use on your lawn – mower blades, clippers, grass hooks, etc. – should be very sharp. Dull blades mash and “chew” the grass rather than making clean cuts. Grass that’s torn and mashed may not stand up to summer’s heat very well, and the rough edges might turn brown.

Mulch

Mulching is helpful for holding in moisture, improving the soil when it decomposes, and even reducing erosion. All kinds of materials can be used to mulch a lawn, from leaves to straw. Many people, though, find it most convenient to use the grass clippings themselves as mulch.

Summer Craft Ideas for Toddlers

In the summer, kids are out of school and looking for something to do. If you have a young child, then you will have your hands full. Here are some ideas for summer crafts to keep them busy.

Summer is about having fun. And, kids love to do just that. Crafts allow kids to learn skills while they have fun. If your toddler is getting ready for school in a year or two, your ideas could teach them spatial recognition, how to identify colors, how to identify shapes, and how to work independently. You may be surprised at how much your child

Summer Craft Ideas for Teens

Have you ever heard your teen say that he or she is bored? During the summer you may hear more of the same. Devise craft ideas to help stop the boredom and even create a new hobby for your teens.

You may feel that summer crafts are only for little kids, but teens can benefit from activities that engage their hands as well as their minds. During the summer, all that information they learned at school the previous year seems to leak out little by little until they are starting again when the new educational year rolls around.

Summer crafts can help put that brain to work. Here are some ideas that you can use. Maybe your kids will think of a few of their own.

Teens are older so they can handle more complex activities. Creating things from your hands give your teen a sense of pride and confidence in their abilities. Start by asking your teen about their interests. You can create or search for craft ideas on that topic.

Craft Ideas

* Jewelry

Starting Toilet Training – Top Tips

If you have a baby or toddler, you may be wondering about toilet training – when do you start? Is it bad if you start too early or too late? Should you use a reward system? These and other questions often concern parents. Here are some tips that may help you as you begin considering toilet training for your child.

Know the Signs

Read up on the signs that a toddler is ready to begin toilet training. It’s a good idea to talk to other parents in this regard, too. Bear in mind, of course, that you know your toddler best and ultimately the decision is between you and your child. Some signs to look for include:

* Interest in you and other family members using the toilet

* Discomfort with the feeling of a dirty diaper (he may ask you to change him)

* The diaper is dry after a nap

* Your toddler can follow simple directions

Approach It Together

Rather than thinking about toilet training as a big battle of wills, think of it as a mutual goal. If your child is ready, she will want to learn how to use the toilet. You, the parent, are simply helping her reach her goal. You might try talking in these terms, and look at yourself as a helper.

Preparation

Reading books and watching age-appropriate videos on toilet training can give children a boost toward wanting to learn to use the potty. Talk it up without pressure and see if your child latches on to the concept.

Invest in a potty chair if possible. Some sources recommend placing your child’s potty chair or other training potty out where he can see it. You may want to set it up in the bathroom so your child can follow you and try using his potty while you use the toilet. It may be less intimidating that way, and your child may enjoy sitting and reading on the potty just to get used to it and have a positive experience there.

Flushing

To help your child get used to flushing her waste, try dropping the contents of her diaper into the toilet and letting her flush. Training toilets or potty chairs have a removable cup or bowl – let your child see you dump the contents into the toilet and let her flush it away.

Know Your Child’s Schedule

Pay attention to when your child eliminates so that you can seize those moments for toilet training. If you know a bowel movement or urination is on the way, you can encourage your child to use the toilet when you know he will need to go.

Make It Easier

Parents have found success encouraging trips to the toilet with special books. It’s also a good idea to dress your potty-ready child in loose, easy-to-remove clothing so that you can reduce the chance of accidents.

Single Parent: How to Plan Your Summer

It can be hard managing work and kids as a single parent. During the summer, this can get even trickier. Here are some ideas to help you to schedule an interesting but stress-free summer.

Single parents are a growing breed. They manage to work and spend time with their children. Just when they think they have everything figured out, summer comes. Now, the script is changed.

Just the thought can lead to anxiety and stress. How will you pay for childcare? Can you plan a vacation? What about the other parent? Keep reading to see how to deal with these issues.

Single Parent Tips for Summer

* Plan ahead

Top Tips to Secure Your Home while on Vacation

While we all look forward to a stress-free vacation, it can be just the opposite if we are worried about the home we left behind. Here are some tips to help you to secure your property and maintain peace of mind while you are away.

One of the most frequent times for home invasions is when families are away on vacation. Thieves know that they can pilfer uninterrupted. They can not only take hundreds or thousands of dollars’ worth of items but also ruin your sense of security.

Do you best to make sure that this doesn

Saving Water in the Garden This Summer

Water is a precious resource. All living things need it, and in the summer it can become scarce. Gardens can use up a lot of water in the heat, especially if you’re growing fruits and vegetables. Here are some ideas on how you can save water in your garden this summer.

Rain Barrel

If you can invest in a rain barrel, it can end up saving you a lot of water. Rain barrels connect to your home’s downspout, filling more quickly than you might think! A rain barrel can provide hundreds of gallons of rain water that you can tap into when the rain is not so frequent. Plants also tend to thrive when given rain water.

Sunken Garden

A sunken garden is a garden that is set into the ground. Typically, a large area is dug out and the garden planted within the sunken area. Rain water collects in this natural reservoir rather than running off as it would in raised or sloped beds. (You can also put raised beds within the sunken garden.)

Drought-Resistant Plants

Consider replacing your conventional garden plants with drought-resistant ones. They require a lot less water to look attractive. Clover is a nice addition to a yard or garden. It takes little water and adds nitrogen to the soil. Both red and white clovers also attract bees.

Also, you might want to consider native plants in your garden. Natives have centuries of experience in surviving your local area’s weather conditions, and native plants tend to require much less watering and maintenance overall.

Soaker Hoses

Rather than using a sprinkler system, sources suggest soaker hoses for better water conservation. These porous hoses lie on the ground and are arranged around the plants’ bases.

Soaker hoses deliver a slow, steady supply of water directly to the roots rather than spraying water all over the leaves and surrounding area. This helps cut back on water loss due to evaporation, and it also tends to use less water since plants receive the water directly at the roots and get what they need sooner (less is wasted).

Mulch

Applying mulch to your garden helps retain moisture and keep plant roots cool.

Compost

Working a lot of compost into the garden’s soil helps improve the overall condition of the soil, which helps retain moisture and provide nutrients. Strong, well-fed plants tend to require a lot less water than those in poor soil.

Roller Skating/Blading 101

Your whole family can have fun roller skating or rollerblading. Sometimes called inline skating, rollerblades are roller skates that look a bit like ice skates – the wheels are in a narrow line along the bottom of the skate. In fact, some say rollerblading was invented to give ice skaters something fun to do outdoors in warm weather. Now, though, it’s an activity that has earned a reputation for being fun, family-oriented and excellent exercise.

What You Need

To get started rollerblading, everyone in the family needs skates and pads. Some sources recommend special socks as well.

* Knee, wrist and elbow pads help reduce injuries to these impact-prone areas.

* Helmets are essential to minimize head injuries.

* The skates should fit well without your heels and toes slipping about inside the skate. Adjustable skates are recommended for children to accommodate their growing feet.

* Socks specifically designed for use with rollerblades may be of benefit. They tend to be seamless and help your feet fit properly in the skate.

Workout

Families are looking for ways to get in shape together these days. Rollerblading is good exercise – various sources suggest you can burn anywhere from 815-915 calories per hour. Even if your family just skates for half an hour together, that’s still significant calories. And you’ll get some fun bonding time.

Rollerblading is not just a way to burn calories; some toning can take place, too. Rollerblading works the leg muscles and the muscle groups involved in balance.

Avoiding Accidents

It’s impossible to avoid all falls and accidents. However, you can make some smart choices to help minimize the possibility of accidents. For one thing, choose a safe location for your skating (more on locations below). Here are some other tips.

* Practice on carpet at first. When you move up to concrete, make sure you have someone or something nearby to break your fall if you lose your balance. Practice until you are confident.

* Wear protective gear, even when practicing.

* When you skate, stay low to the ground with your knees bent and flexible and your arms out low in front of you. This posture lowers your center of gravity and helps increase your balance.

* Take the time to learn how to stop correctly in your rollerblades.

Locations for Rollerblading

Many communities have rollerblade parks or areas. These are nice because you don’t have to worry about street traffic – a particular concern if you have children. Empty parking lots and quiet neighborhoods are also possibilities.

Quick and Frugal Summer Dinner Ideas

Most of us want to know how to prepare meals that are quick and easy on the budget. The good news is, that’s particularly easy in the summer – produce is abundant and more affordable and the weather is conducive for grilling outdoors. If you or a neighbor has a garden, produce may be free for the taking. Here are some ideas for quick and frugal dinners to take advantage of summer’s bounty.

1. Fresh Tomato Penne (serves 2)

* 8 ounces whole wheat penne pasta
* 2 cups chopped, fresh tomatoes
* 1/4 cup each minced, fresh basil and parsley
* 6 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 clove minced garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

About 2 hours before dinner, combine the tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, salt, and garlic in a bowl. Cover and let it stand at room temperature until dinner.

Cook penne according to the package’s directions. Drain and mix with tomato mixture while still hot. Top each serving with half the mozzarella cheese and toss.

Serve with crusty bread and a side of steamed asparagus or broccoli dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

2. Grilled Tilapia and Vegetables

Tilapia is one of those fish that is both affordable and low on the mercury-containing scale. This recipe is for 4 servings.

Tilapia:
* 4 frozen tilapia fillets
* Juice of 1 lemon
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Mix lemon, olive oil, sea salt, and paprika in a shallow dish. Add frozen fish fillets and stir to coat with marinade. Cover and thaw in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours, turning fish occasionally.

Remove fish from marinade and grill on well-oiled, foil-covered (with holes punched) charcoal or propane grill over medium-high heat. Cook for 5 minutes per side, or until fish flakes easily. Baste with leftover marinade as fish cooks. Discard the rest of the marinade when fish is done and serve with lemon wedges.

Vegetables:
* 2 yellow squashes
* 2 green zucchinis
* 1 large, sweet onion
* 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
* Sea salt to taste

At the same time as the fish, place vegetables cut-side-down on the oiled grill. Baste with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt during cooking. Grill for 5 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness.

3. Herbed Chicken Breasts with Fresh Corn and Tomato Salsa (serves 4)

Chicken:
* 4 chicken breast halves, skinless
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* Juice of 1 lemon
* 2 tablespoons minced, fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, or sage
* 1 clove minced, fresh garlic
* Salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken in olive-oil coated, shallow baking dish. Pour lemon juice over chicken. Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle top of chicken breast halves with garlic and herbs. Cover dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees and remove cover from chicken. Bake for 5-8 minutes more.

Salsa:
* 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
* 1/2 cup fresh, cooked corn removed from the ear (1 ear of cooked corn will yield approximately 1/2 cup)
* 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
* Juice of 1 lime
* 1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro or parsley
* 1 small jalapeno pepper, minced (more or less according to your heat tolerance)
* Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients and serve with chicken and a side of corn chips.

Homemade and Safe Playdough Recipes

Some playdough and modeling clay for children is not cheap. Even if you do find inexpensive playdough, some parents are concerned about the materials used in the playdough (artificial colors, etc.). And if you make your own, your child can participate in making it. Here are some recipes.

1. Basic Salt Dough

This is a good one to make with your children, as it does not involve the stove.

In a bowl, combine 1 cup of table salt with 1 1/3 cup of water. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water if you want to make colored dough. After the salt dissolves, gradually stir in 3 cups of white, all-purpose flour (don’t use self-rising). You may add more water or flour to get a playdough-like consistency.

Salt dough can be used to make three-dimensional sculptures, or rolled out and cut into shapes. Salt dough can be allowed to air-dry, but it does have a tendency to break down over time, especially in humid environments. To help prevent this and make it more permanent, you can bake the salt dough shapes and sculptures in a 200 degree oven for an hour or until it becomes hard. Air-dried or oven-dried salt dough can be painted.

Store unused salt dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

2. Traditional Cooked Playdough

Make sure this mixture is allowed to cool before you or your child begins to work with it.

In a saucepan, mix:
* 1 cup flour
* 1/2 cup salt
* 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1 cup water
* Food coloring (you can also mix in unsweetened, powdered drink mix to add color and scent)

Cook this mixture over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. It will eventually begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and form a ball. When it does, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.

3. No-Cook Playdough

For a playdough that you don’t have to cook, try this recipe.

In a bowl, mix the following ingredients with your hands:
* 1 cup table salt
* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 1/4 cup oil (such as olive or salad oil)
* 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
* 3/4 cup water
* Food coloring

Once you have a cohesive lump of white dough, divide it into several portions and work food coloring of your choice into each portion. Store in airtight containers (baby food jars work well).

4. Clay

Modeling clay can also be made at home. Try mixing the following ingredients in a saucepan in this order:

* 2 cups of baking soda
* 1 cup cornstarch
* 1 1/4 cups cold water
* Food coloring

Like playdough, cook this over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the clay is mushy and soft like mashed potatoes. Remove saucepan from heat and pour the clay mixture into a shallow baking pan and cover it with a damp cloth. When the clay cools, it should be the right consistency to work. This clay should be stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers and brought up to room temperature before using.

How to Plan an Adventurous Family Day Out

Who says that you have to go far away to reap the benefits of an adventure? Families can spend time together and have a great time even when they are close to home.

Vacations don