What’s Trendy in Footwear This Winter?

When it comes to winter footwear, you don’t have to restrict yourself to clunky boots that are only for trouncing through the snow and rain. Winter is a whole new fashion season, and footwear is included! So what’s trendy this winter?

First, let’s look at boots. Boots are classic winter footwear, but they need not be boring.

1. Boots + Heels

It may not be the most comfortable choice, but high-heeled boots are in the winter of 2012-2013. You’ll find variations on this theme – some high-heeled boots are knee-length, others mid-calf, and still others don’t go above your ankle. However, you probably won’t see as many knee-length boots this year as in years past.

2. Buckles

Another thing you’ll notice on winter footwear for this year is buckles. Chunky, shiny, and metallic – buckles are festooning this year’s boots. Most of the time, the buckles are across the ankle; some boots have multiple buckles from the top of the foot to the top edge of the boots.

3. Fuzzy

Fuzzy, fluffy textures are trendy this year. From suede to faux fur, the soft look is in for this year’s boots. It’s a pleasant contrast to sharp or pointy heels. Fluffy boots also tend to be warmer. But look for a lot of fur in various shades this year – you’ll be seeing it in combination with laces, too.

4. Color

Generally, neutrals are the trend this year – beige, brown, and black dominate. But there are colors making their appearance, too – winter white, olive green, and even blue and dark red are available in 2012.

5. Wedge Heels Meet Ankle Boots: The Chelsea Boot

Chelsea boots are in vogue, and you’ll see them in suede and animal prints (and sometimes both). These ankle boots have a “rock star” look that’s reminiscent of platforms, but they are casual and chic.

6. Flats

It’s not all about heels and boots this winter. Metallic flats are in, from loafers to boat shoes to ballerina pumps. Look for pointy toes, too, and patent leather. Yes, this shiny faux leather is back, along with suede and metallics. “Smoking slippers” are back, too, and can be found in bright, refreshing colors.

7. The Mary Jane

There are so many variations on the Mary Jane in 2012, from stilettos to platforms to wedge heels. They are available in catchy colors, too, and materials like suede (once again) are available.

8. Studs and Metal

This may not last long, but this winter, all sorts of shoes are festooned with shiny metal studs. Heels, flats, and boots are all sporting these embellishments. A fun trend, even if it doesn’t last!

Training Pants: Potty Training Help or Hindrance?

Whether or not you choose to use training pants when potty training your toddler is dependent on many factors. Most importantly, it depends on your individual child. While the choice is individual, training pants do have some pros and cons. (We’re talking here about disposable training pants, also known as pull-ups.)

To help you decide if training pants will be a help or a hindrance to your potty training efforts, here are some of the pros and cons regarding both training pants.

Pros of Training Pants

1. Mobility

Taking your potty training toddler on an outing is a daunting prospect, especially early in the game. Training pants offer some mobility in this respect. If you need to go on a day trip, out to eat, or even just to the grocery store, having training pants can help take away the trepidation you may feel about venturing out with your little one who isn’t fully trained.

2. Less laundry load

There’s no doubt that disposable training pants decrease your laundry volume. Laundry can pile up quickly when you have a toddler who’s having accidents often.

3. Less mess

There’s no doubt that training pants prevent messes. In large part, that’s what they’re for! Training pants mean fewer puddles on the floor.

4. Up and down

Learning the pull the training pants up and down is a key feature – that’s why they are called pull-ups. The intention is to get toddlers used to pulling pants up and down, one of the big milestones in potty training.

Cons of Training Pants

1. Waste

…and we’re not just talking about potty waste. Training pants (the disposable variety) generate a lot of waste that goes into the landfills. If you’re an eco-minded parent, then that may be a definite drawback.

2. Cost

Training pants tend to be more expensive than diapers. Some sources say that it takes more than $100 a month to keep your toddler in training pants. Even if the real numbers aren’t that high for you, there’s no doubt that having to purchase box after box of training pants can get pricey.

3. Lack of feedback

One of the things that experts say helps children potty train quickly is the feeling of wet underwear. Being able to feel the accident right away can be an incentive for learning to use the potty. With training pants, that sensation is gone and the child doesn’t feel the effects of the accident.

Top Shipping Tips for Mailing Your Holiday Gifts

If you go to the trouble to purchase a personal gift for someone who lives out of town, you don’t want that gift to get lost in the mail or be damaged. You want it to arrive on time and intact.

While there’s no way to guard against unforeseen accidents in the mail room, there are certainly precautions you can take to minimize problems. With a little planning, you’ll be more likely to have your gifts arrive intact and on time.

Here are some top tips for mailing your holiday gifts this season.

1. Don’t Procrastinate

This is tip number one, because it’s the number one thing you need to recognize! All of the other tips won’t be as effective if you’re standing in line on Christmas Eve and trying to rush your packages to their destination. Try to ship your gifts right when the holiday season begins. If you don’t want to venture out on Black Friday, mail items the week before Thanksgiving, or the Monday after.

2. Pack It Right

A package that’s been properly prepared is much more likely to get where it’s going with minimal damage. First, choose a sturdy box. Corrugated cardboard is considered best. Don’t over-fill your box – there are weight limits for each type of box material, from single-walled to double-walled cardboard. (See the UPS or USPS websites for details on weight limits.) When in doubt, go below the weight limit.

Second, pack your item with plenty of cushioning. Wrap the item in bubble wrap, newspaper, or many layers of plastic bag first; then nestle it in among your packing material of choice. More bubble wrap, packing peanuts, newspaper, and even wadded up plastic grocery bags will work. Whatever packing material you use, make sure it’s underneath the item as well as around and on top of it. The item should be immobile when you shake the package.

Before you seal it, put a mailing label on top (more on that below).

3. Tape It Up

Run strips of packing tape along every seam. This is called the “H” method – there should be an “H” on the top and bottom of your box.

4. Clear Labeling

Make sure the shipping label is clear and placed squarely on top of the box. If you can print out the label, all the better. Include a clear return address, and make sure the zip code is right on the shipping address. As an additional safeguard, put a completed label on the top of your item before sealing up the box. If the shipping label becomes unreadable, workers will cut open the box and look for the back-up label you’ve (hopefully) included.

5. Tracking Number

A tracking number provides delivery confirmation. Most carriers offer this, but ask for a tracking number when you mail your package. This allows you to follow its progress online as it makes its way to its destination.

6. Insurance

When you buy insurance for your package, the shipping covers the first $100. Everything over that and you’ll need to prove the value of the item shipped, so save your purchase receipt for the gift. You’ll need to present it if the item gets lost or damaged.

Five Tips for Reading Retention

Have you ever run into this problem? You’re having a conversation about a certain subject, and you know you’ve read something about that subject and you’d like to contribute to the conversation…but you can’t remember the specifics of what you read! You may see the same thing occurring with your child or student – he or she may faithfully read up on school subjects, but retaining that information is frustratingly difficult.

Here are five tips for improving reading retention. Hopefully, you’ll remember them!

1. Prepare Your Brain

Try taking a minute before reading something. Stop and remind yourself why you’re reading this. Is it because you’re interested in it? Is it required for a class? In other words, not unlike an actor or actress in character, you need to identify your motivation. Sometimes we read things too hastily and we don’t have the right mindset starting out. Just take a few moments to relax and identify what you’re hoping to gain from the reading.

When you prepare your brain, it’s like getting it ready to receive the information. In addition to identifying your reasons for reading, it’s a good idea to try to clear your mind of worries and concerns first. Prayer, meditation, or whatever works for you can come in handy with more pressing concerns. This helps avoid the mind-wandering problem that plagues many readers who are trying to remember what they’re reading. So try to focus and center yourself before reading, too.

2. Eliminate Distractions

If you have music or television in the background (or any other distraction – there are dozens!), you may think you can “block them out.” But if you’re not remembering what you’re reading, those distractions may be having more of an effect on your concentration than you think. So turn off phones, radios, CD players, computers (unless you’re reading on-screen, of course!), MP3 players, computer games…you get the point.

3. Take Notes

Like a good listener, being able to summarize what you just read in a few sentences will help you retain it. You can do this on paper or orally (or both), but if you’re studying for a test, writing a summary can help you review the information later. Make sure it’s just a few sentences – pretend you’re sending someone a text about the information!

4. Answer Your Own Questions

Before reading, write down a list of questions you want to have answered while you read. If you can’t think of any specific ones, go with the classic “who, what, when, where, and why.” Then, as you find answers to these questions, jot them down. Columns can work well for this (one column per question).

5. Mind Mapping

Our brains tend to really respond when we can connect something non-linear and visual to the information we’re reading. One great way to do this is by drawing a “mind map” as you read.

You begin with a key or main concept and draw a symbol or picture representing it. Then you create branches off of this main idea. The branches are color-coded to represent the various ideas that support or elucidate the main idea. If another main idea comes up, you can draw it, too. This really helps you see how ideas connect and relate to each other in the material you’re reading.

The Ten Best Beauty and Fashion Gifts

Do you have a fashionista on your gift list? Are you looking for something to give someone who loves beauty and fashion? Here are ten of the top ideas for the best beauty and fashion gifts.

1. Makeup Travel Kit

Any fashion-conscious woman on the go would appreciate a convenient carrying-case filled with travel-size makeup. These kits may be oriented around a particular facial feature, such as the eyes, or the kit may be a medley of travel-size makeup essentials (like powder, lip gloss, and blush). Regardless, these little sample kits make great gifts for the beauty-conscious.

2. Trendy Hair Care

Say goodbye to the old-fashioned, plain hair dryer. These days, you can find fashionable prints and patterns on hair dryers, elevating this hair-care essential from common to something special.

3. Hands-On

How about a kit that includes fashionable gloves and matching nail polish? You can find these in ready-made kits by major manufacturers, or put one together yourself. What makes this gift fun is that the nail polish and gloves should match in color.

4. Removable Fur Collars

The fashionista on your gift list will appreciate a faux fur, removable collar. Colorful or understated, these fluffy, soft collars tie on to make any outfit look cute and trendy. It is also a fashionable alternative to a scarf in cold weather.

5. Sparkling Compact

Makeup manufacturers have re-discovered the beauty of the glittery compact. Beauty-conscious women everywhere will love some of the trendy compacts out there, such as compacts shaped like gold coins.

6. A Sleek Take on the Hoodie

The latest fashion in hoodies is the faux leather version. It’s a unisex style, and it takes an old favorite and makes it trendy and chic.

7. Fingerless Gloves

In this day and age of texting everywhere you go, gloves without fingers can be a welcome and fashionable way to keep your hands warm while still communicating.

8. The Latest Handbag

What fashion-conscious woman wouldn’t want the latest handbag? These days, structured, sleek handbags are in style – more so than the sack-like type. Mint green is a popular color, as well as the traditional black and brown. Big buckles are also a trendy embellishment for handbags.

9. Makeup Case

Many beauty-conscious girls own plenty of makeup, and you can give her a fashionable case to keep it all together. Such a case also makes her makeup collection mobile, so she can bring it along on the road. A particularly trendy style is to go with a pattern or print that is based on the latest runway patterns.

10. Brush Set

You can find some reasonably-priced makeup brush sets at major retailers these days. Brush sets are great for those who are into makeup and beauty, and they’re practical, too.

Simple Steps to Set Up a Reading Routine

Setting up a reading routine can help encourage independent reading and a love of reading that may last a lifetime. Children in particular respond well to routines, and will sometimes do things that are part of a routine that they might not do on their own.

So how do you implement a reading routine? What does it look like? Here are some simple steps to set up a reading routine in your home.

1. Choose a Time

You don’t have to have just one time that you read each day; you may choose to have several. Here are some ideas to choose from.

* Bedtime is a traditional time for reading, and for good reason. Bedtime is generally quiet, for one thing; televisions are off, the room is dimly lit, and there’s nothing else your child needs to do. There are fewer distractions at bedtime. Also, reading at bedtime helps make bedtime more attractive. Kids who didn’t used to like bedtime may be much happier to head to bed when they know a book (or the next chapter of a book) is part of the bedtime ritual.

* After lunch is a good time for toddlers and preschoolers who take naps. Reading helps them relax, and even when they get too old for naps, you can keep up the routine as simply reading time. Afternoons are a good time for quiet time for adults and kids alike.

* After breakfast is similar to after lunch. Having just had a meal, settling down and focusing tends to be easier for little ones.

2. Choose a Place

This is entirely individual, of course; reading at a table may work best for you, or maybe lying on the couch or floor is more your style. Here are some more suggestions.

* A cozy corner or, if you have the space, a certain room that’s set up for reading is ideal. For bedtime reading, you can usually just use your child’s bed; but for daytime reading, it’s nice to have a cozy place to settle down.

* Use child-friendly furniture in this corner or room, such as a beanbag chair, pillows on the floor, or soft chairs. Make sure there’s a reading lamp or two. You might even have a snack basket and bottles of water there as well. The point is to make it inviting, and a place where you and your child like to be.

* Books should be easily accessible from the reading corner, such as in baskets or racks on the floor.

3. Choose a Book

Many parents like to let their child choose which book to read. That’s fine; it can be yet another way your child can participate in the reading routine. Here are some other ideas.

* Take your child to the library and get new books frequently.

* You could alternate – one reading session, your child gets to choose; the next reading session, you choose.

4. Involve the Family

See if older siblings can read to younger ones. This includes more kids in the routine and makes it more of a family thing. Mom and Dad should be right there, too, reading with the kids – either reading to them, or reading with them. There’s nothing wrong with having a family reading time where everyone in the family reads his or her choice of book independently.

Young Children during the Holidays: How to Find Some Quality Time

The holidays seem to “belong” to young children. So many social customs and family traditions revolve around children and the magic of the season. Still, in this day and age, the holidays can get very busy. Driving to visit family members, hosting out-of-town visitors, and covering all the familial bases can result in children doing a lot of running.

How can you find some quality time to spend with your young children amid all the busy-ness of the holidays? Here are some tips.

1. Include Them

This can be a challenge for parents. We just want to get the gift wrapping done and the food cooked, and we’d rather have the kids out of the way. But if you’re looking for ways to spend quality time with them, then all those necessary tasks are a good place to look for ways to incorporate your kids.

How about letting them make the wrapping paper? Roll out a long sheet of paper or large pieces from a drawing pad, and let your kids draw whatever they like. They can also dip their hands in finger paint and make colorful prints. Relatives love gifts wrapped in this kind of paper!

Young children can also be included in decorating and food preparation. Try to shift your focus from having everything look perfect to spending that quality time with your kids.

2. Make Decorations

Get together with your kids and set aside some time to hand-make decorations. You can make inedible dough ornaments, paper chains, swags, wreaths, paper snowflakes, and other decorations with your kids. Children especially love lights at holiday time – let them help you string them and arrange them inside and out. They can also shop with you for Halloween candy, and make a centerpiece for Thanksgiving.

3. Start a Fun Tradition

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition you remember as a child? Maybe things were different then, but you can still resurrect some of those old traditions, or start a new one. Children don’t necessarily need an elaborate, time-consuming activity; many times, the memory is what counts and simple activities can build lovely memories. For example, spend a morning making holiday cookies and give some to local shut-ins or nursing home residents. Go looking for fresh greens to cut and weave wreaths together each year.

If you are religious, see what kinds of traditions you can adopt from your faith – advent candles and calendars, Chanukah dreidel games, moon and stargazing for Ramadan, and so forth. Many religions have ancient traditions that you can draw from and modernize.

4. Do Something as a Family

You can go caroling, visit shut-ins, volunteer at a homeless shelter, participate in a toy drive, or go on a fall foliage or holiday lights tour as a family. Include your young children in these activities, and teach them something about their community and the needs of others, all while getting to spend quality time with them.

Tips for Spending Time with Your Tweens and Teens This Holiday Season

As parents, it’s often hard enough to figure out how to spend quality time with your tween or teen in general, much less during the holiday season. The holidays present a distinct challenge for families, and with blended families becoming more common, the challenges are different than ever before. Also, kids this age may find the holidays depressing and difficult, because they are leaving the magic of childhood holidays behind. It can be tough.

During this busy and sometimes emotional time of year, tweens and teens are sometimes torn between spending time with their friends and being with their families. Both types of relationships are important, but how can you find a balance?

Here are some tips for spending time with your tweens and teens this holiday season.

1. Host a Holiday Party

Hosting a holiday party for your kids’ friends can be a great way to spend some time with them. Of course, most kids this age don’t want you hanging out with them during the entire party, but the planning and decorating is something you and your kids can do together.

The quality time you spend with your tween or teen may not actually happen at the party, but there are plenty of opportunities surrounding the event for you to spend time together. You can plan a menu, grocery shop, decorate, buy or make favors, and plan activities together.

2. Family Getaway

A holiday getaway – especially if it’s to a cabin or ski lodge where there’s no cell phone reception – may be just the thing to connect with your budding young adults. Now that they are not really “into” Santa Claus and magical holiday secrets, an annual ski trip, snowboarding adventure, or fall foliage tour can be new traditions that foster family closeness.

3. Start New Traditions

As noted above, starting new traditions helps bring families together. Now you will need to shift to age-appropriate traditions, like the ski trip mentioned above or volunteering at a local homeless shelter. Other traditions might include delivering Christmas cards to nursing home residents, or holiday caroling around the neighborhood with a local group or church. These types of traditions help tweens and teens get the focus off of themselves for a while, too.

4. Participation

Now that your kids are old enough to participate in some more adult roles, see if you can get them to pitch in on a level that they will appreciate. For example, let your tween or teen pick out Halloween candy and give it out at the door, or encourage them to cook a special new dish for Thanksgiving or Chanukah.

Tips for Reconnecting with Loved Ones This Holiday Season

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration and togetherness, but sometimes that connection just doesn’t happen. The holidays end, and we’re left wondering why we didn’t make contact with our loved ones like we’d intended.

Often the best way to reconnect is to plan to do so. Just waiting for the time to present itself doesn’t usually work. So with a little deliberate thinking and planning, you can do a better job of reconnecting with your loved ones this holiday season.

Here are some tips.

1. Christmas Cards

Dust off your fountain pen and buy a box or two of Christmas cards. These days, a hand-written card is a gift indeed, and quite personal. Many families include a family “update” or newsletter in the card, and that can be a great way to keep that connection going. Photos of the family each year also help foster connections. You can send a card with photos in it (another old-fashioned treasure in this day and age of digital photography!), or have a photo company make cards out of your family photos.

To encourage a return (connection works both ways, after all), you might include a self-addressed, stamped envelope that your loved ones can send back to you. Request they put photos or a family update in the envelope.

2. Online Connections

You can use modern means to stay connected, too. In fact, today’s technology makes reconnecting with your loved ones easier than ever before. If you have a webcam, you can download Skype and have a video chat. If you have a laptop with a camera, you can even take your loved ones on a virtual tour of your home and all the decorations by carrying the laptop around while you’re connected. Far-away relatives can even join you by video chat while you open presents, enjoy a meal, or decorate your home.

If live connections aren’t possible, you can send videos to your loved ones via email or social media.

3. Open House

If you have loved ones who live nearby but you still find it challenging to reconnect during the holidays, you could host an open house. This kind of casual hospitality frees you and your loved ones up from having to do a lot of planning. Your role is to choose a day and approximate time, and then let your loved ones know via invitation that they are welcome to stop by anytime during that time.

If you hold an open house all day, there should be a window for just about everyone who’s in town. Keep finger foods and drinks out, and encourage people to stop by whenever they can.

Tips for Encouraging Your Child to Read for Information

What is “reading for information”? Essentially, this type of reading is distinct from reading for pleasure or fun (not that it can’t be enjoyable) because its primary purpose is to obtain information. Children may view this kind of reading as boring or uninteresting, but learning about a subject can be a very exciting thing to do. Besides, it’s an important life skill.

So how can you encourage your child (or student) to read for information? Here are some tips.

1. Trust Kids’ Natural Curiosity

Sometimes, adults neglect the natural curiosity in children and fail to foster it. One of the ways to encourage that curiosity is through reading for information. You just need to tie it in to that innate interest children have in the world around them.

2. Answer Questions

Children are full of questions (see #1 above!). Rather than saying “I don’t know” or not paying much attention, take that question and read informational literature (non-fiction books) to answer it. This not only helps get kids interested in reading for information, but it also shows them the process.

3. Connect the Reading to an Event

Go on a “field trip” or outing and read up on it beforehand. For example, plan a trip to a zoo and read books about zoos and the various animals that are there. Spend extra time reading about the animals your child is most curious about, and make sure you see that exhibit. You could do the same sort of thing with a local historical re-enactment, craft fair, or museum. This helps the informational reading come alive.

4. Read to Your Kids

Non-fiction books can be just as fun to read aloud and read together as fiction stories. Your local library probably has hundreds of non-fiction books for kids, with beautiful illustrations and photographs. Reading such books with your child may help pique his or her interest.

5. Connect the Reading to an Activity

In addition to events, you can connect reading for information to a variety of activities. “How to” books are great for this, as are books showing kids how to do science experiments. Books about how to make something – such as a clothespin doll or balsa wood airplane – are also good introductions to reading for information. Your participation is helpful!

Reading for Fun – Top Tips to Encourage Your Child

You know reading’s fun – in fact, as an adult, you’d probably love to have time to curl up with a good book – but how can you convince your kids or students? For parents and teachers with kids who already know how to read, the issue isn’t teaching them how; it’s getting them to use their reading skills to open up a world of fun.

It’s a visual world, and kids may think of reading as boring or uninteresting. But showing a child how wonderful reading is can be a lifelong gift.

Here are some tips to encourage your child to read…and convince him or her that reading is fun!

1. The Right Environment

Creating the right environment can help so much in encouraging reading. Whether in school or at home (depending on your school’s rules, of course), you can create a cozy reading area with comfortable chairs (beanbag chairs are always a favorite), pillows, and even stuffed animals.

At home, you could even have drinks and a snack available in this area. This kind of area should prove very attractive to your kids – but the rule is, only reading can be done there. No phones, no electronics, no games, and so forth. Creating a comfy environment gives kids an instant reward for reading.

Another aspect of the reader-friendly atmosphere is making sure that books are readily available. Nothing discourages reading as much as not being able to find or reach the books! Consider putting books in the bathroom, too.

2. Using Cliffhanger Moments

Sometimes kids who don’t like to read for fun still like it when you read books to them. Try reading a chapter or section of a book, and leave off at a very exciting part (many children’s books are written this way, but if not, you can choose a good place to stop). Then, tell your child that you can’t read any more now; you have something else to do, but he or she is welcome to keep reading on his or her own. If you’re a teacher, have extra copies on hand of the book you’re reading aloud and offer to loan them out to students to take home.

3. Read to and with Your Child

You’ve probably heard it said before, but it bears repeating – reading to and with your child is a great way to encourage them to read on their own. You don’t always have to use the “cliffhanger moments” to get them interested; just read to them and show them the wonderful world of books.

4. Regular Trips to the Library

Take your child with you on trips to the library. If he or she picks out a book, there’s more likelihood that he or she will actually read it. Also, many libraries host reading workshops and other programs to encourage reading. So get involved!

Quick Fixes: How to Get Ready for a Night Out in Record Time

Do you need to go straight from the office to a fancy dinner? Or are you going to be so busy running errands or driving your kids around that you can’t stop to freshen up before a night out? Maybe you have class tonight and can’t freshen up and change before going out afterwards. No worries – you don’t have to take a shower, wash your hair, and do a total remake to look good for your evening out.

Here are some tips on what you can to do freshen up fast.

1. Put on Your Eyes

Nothing says “night out” like smoky, dramatic eyes. But what if you don’t have your eye makeup? You can actually use an eye pencil for a quick darkening effect – smudge it along your eyelids and blend it with the day’s eye liner. You can also dab a few dots of lipstick along the bone over your eye, just below the outside of your eyebrows, and blend it in and outwards for subtle lift. If you have mascara with you, you can touch up your lashes over what you put on for daytime. But be careful – it may clump or look “overdone” if you don’t use a light touch.

2. Powder

Skin can look tired at the end of the day, and often a bit oily. Brush on some translucent powder to liven up your face, and follow with a powdered blush. Creams are often not the best thing to apply at the end of the day; they tend to create shine and produce a built-up look. But a little face powder and blush can give you a lift.

3. Go Red

If you can get your hands on some red lipstick, you can achieve a definite “evening glamor” look. It goes especially well with dark eyes, and if you do the lipstick-over-the-eyes trick, your look will be unified.

4. Take off the Flats

Did you bring your night-time going-out shoes with you? It’s amazing how a simple outfit can be transformed by wearing snazzy shoes. A nice pair of heels makes any outfit dressy, even jeans. If you have time to think ahead, why not keep a pair of neutral-colored pumps tucked away in your car or office drawer?

5. Evening Hair Styles

If you wore your hair down all day, use bobby pins (another good thing to stash away in your office or car!) to do a quick, sexy up-do. Or, if you wore your hair up all day, take it down. In the restroom of your office, or wherever you can grab a minute to freshen up, use travel-size mousse or gel to liven up your hair. Turn your head upside-down and use damp hands to give it some body. Then work a little mousse or gel into it to give it lift and volume.

Tips for Making the Holidays Special – Even When You Can’t Get Together

For many families and friends, getting everyone together for the holidays just isn’t possible. This may be due simply to distance – everyone lives too far apart – or maybe there’s been divorce and other relational difficulties that prohibit everyone getting together. And when there’s a death in the family, there tends to be a sad “hole” during the holidays where that person used to be.

The fact that not everyone can be together doesn’t mean you can’t make the holidays special for everyone, though. With a little creativity and planning, everyone in your circle of friends and family can enjoy the holidays without necessarily having to be in the same place.

Here are some tips.

1. Take Advantage of Social Media

Facebook and Skype are remarkable tools for staying in touch. For divorced parents, a video chat can let the other parent’s “presence” into their home without the awkwardness. After all, kids like to share the holidays with both parents – the fact that you’re willing to help your child connect to the other parent definitely helps your child feel special.

Family and friends who are far away can join you for holiday events, or just for an evening chat. On Facebook, you can post photos and videos for absent family members and friends to enjoy, and they can return the favor for you if possible.

2. Telephone Calls

These days, telephone calls are somewhat old-fashioned. But phone calls – especially conference calls – are still a good way to reach out and share the holiday spirit with faraway friends and family. If a group call is not an option, schedule in personal phone calls to individuals to stay in touch.

3. Personal Gifts in the Mail

Few things make absent family and friends feel more special than personal gifts. If you can’t get together, you can mail out gifts that are thoughtful. They do not have to be large; the key is for the gifts to be personal. Personalized ornaments, picture frames, and jewelry are some ideas.

4. Remember Lost Loved Ones

Rather than trying to pretend like nothing is wrong, try going ahead and actively remembering your loved one at holiday gatherings. Light a candle to remember them, set out a framed photo, and share fond memories. The younger generation often likes to hear stories about deceased relatives. This is one way to keep your loved one’s memory alive during the holidays, and help everyone feel special instead of feeling like something is missing.

Ideas for Last-Minute Edible Gifts

You want to give homemade gifts, but you just don’t have time…or you suddenly find yourself the recipient of a lovely gift and you have nothing to give in return, and there’s no time to go buy something. There are all kinds of reasons why you need to give an edible gift in record time. But what can be made in such short notice? Here are some ideas for last-minute edible gift ideas.

1. Fast Fudge

Quick and easy, this fudge will melt in your mouth.

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt:

* 1/4 cup butter

Stir in:

* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Once these are mixed, add:

* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (make sure the milk and vanilla are added on top of the powdered sugar – don’t let the liquid hit the butter/cocoa mixture directly)

Stir thoroughly, and add more powdered sugar or milk as necessary to reach a thick consistency. Press into a buttered pan, cool, and cut into squares.

Variation: Instead of butter and cocoa, melt 1/2 cup peanut butter in the saucepan.

2. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Start with crackers and build a fast masterpiece!

You’ll need:

* 2 sleeves round snack crackers (such as Ritz)
* Peanut butter
* 4 squares of chocolate-flavored candy coating (such as Almond Bark)

Make sandwiches by spreading peanut butter on each cracker and topping with another cracker. Melt coating according to package directions; remove from heat. Dip each sandwich into the coating and make sure it’s thoroughly covered. Place on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Then package and give! (Cookies can be kept at room temperature or in refrigerator once they’ve hardened.)

3. Quick Chocolate-Covered Toffee Bits

Here’s another one that starts with crackers.

You’ll need:

* 1 sleeve soda crackers, regular or whole wheat (such as Saltines)
* 3/4 cup butter
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 twelve-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate chips work, too)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet, place the crackers in a single layer. They should all be touching. Melt the butter and stir the sugar into it; pour this mixture evenly over the cookies. Spread if necessary with a rubber spatula. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Top evenly with chocolate chips; allow chips to soften and spread with a rubber spatula. Cool. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 1 or 2 hours, then break into pieces.

Packing Tips: How to Safely Ship Your Holiday Gifts

How many times has this happened? You wrap something breakable in layers and layers of newspaper, bury it in packing peanuts, and write “fragile” on the box…only to have it arrive broken.

Sometimes, such damage occurs en route and you just can’t prevent it. But the way you pack it has a lot to do with how intact the item is when it arrives at its destination. Here are some tips for safely shipping your holiday gifts this year.

1. Choose the Right Box

For the green-minded among you, it’s tempting to reuse falling-apart boxes that aren’t in good condition. But choosing a sturdy box that’s as close to new as possible is much better for your item. Remember, when boxes are shipped, they’re stacked on top of each other. You don’t want something heavier to be placed on your flimsy box, only to have it get crushed.

Size matters when it comes to boxes. If you are using a box that’s far bigger than your item, the sides may get pushed in, dented, and otherwise damaged. If your box is larger than the item, make sure you fill it with packing material.

2. Choose the Right Packing Materials

Think lightweight and shock-absorbent when it comes to packing materials. Newspaper is great for wrapping items and filling in spaces, but it is lousy at protecting your package from a fall or from being crushed. Instead, use packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Another trick is to blow air into zip-top plastic bags and seal them, then reinforce the seal with packing tape. Other ideas include wadded-up plastic grocery bags and stiff strips of cardboard.

Don’t be afraid to use what the professionals use. Save packing materials from items you’ve had shipped to your home in the past, and reuse them in your packages.

3. Position Your Item

Try not to leave any space around whatever it is you’re shipping. If it can slide or move about, it’s a lot more likely to get broken. Make sure the top can be closed and sealed; bulges are vulnerable points.

The item shouldn’t be sitting against the bottom of the box, either. If the box gets tossed onto a hard floor (and it probably will), then there’s nothing but cardboard between the item and the jarring impact. So make sure there is cushioning underneath your item as well. To give it a test, close the box but don’t seal it. Then gently shake it. Hear anything? If it’s silent, it’s safer!

4. Use the Right Language

When you mark your box, use words that are universally accepted by shipping companies and the post office, like “handle with care” or “fragile.” Use a thick, dark marker and write clearly.

How to Choose the Right Potty Seat for Your Child

It’s that time – time to potty train! You have been seeing the signs, and now you are pretty sure your little one is ready. You’re going to need a potty seat or potty chair – but which one? How do you know which is the right one to buy? Here are some things to consider when for choosing the right potty seat for your child.

1. How Early in the Game Is It?

At
the very beginning, it’s usually best to go with a small, low, free-standing potty chair. This caters to a toddler’s natural tendency to squat, and they are low enough that he or she can sit on them easily. You can also take these chairs with you to hotels or other places where you will need a familiar, small toilet for your child.

2. Simple Plastic Models

The most basic type of potty chair is a plastic seat with a bowl that fits down in it. You empty this bowl into the regular toilet and flush the waste. Then you rinse out the bowl. It’s very simple and straightforward, and usually inexpensive. These simple models are pretty mobile, too.

3. Musical Potty Chairs

Yes, there are potty chairs that play music, and they are supposed to act as a sort of reward or entertainment for your toddler. The music plays when they sit on the chair, encouraging them to do so. Some of these musical chairs are pretty fancy, with fun shapes like thrones or miniature flush toilets. If your toddler likes that sort of thing, then this type of potty chair may be just the thing. Generally, though, these kinds of potty chairs aren’t as mobile as the simpler types, and they are more expensive.

4. Dual-Purpose Models

Some potty chairs are designed to grow with your toddler. They start out as pretty much a basic chair, but when your toddler gets bigger and is able to get onto the big toilet, the potty chair comes apart. One part fits into the toilet seat to make it smaller, and the other part converts into a step-stool. This may be a good option if you just want to make one purchase, although these types are pricier in general.

5. The Potty Seat Insert

These seats fit into the opening of the adult toilet, making the hole smaller. Your toddler will need a step-stool to climb up to the big toilet, but it is the least expensive option available (unless you have to buy a step-stool, too). The insert can travel with you anywhere, bringing a familiar toilet seat wherever you go. But if your toddler has to go right now, it’s more involved and cumbersome than a sit-down model. Also, toddlers’ feet dangle from the big toilet, which can make bowel movements more difficult.

How to Choose the Right Carrier for Holiday Shipping – Pros and Cons

There are various carriers out there. Which one is best? With the holidays upon us and the need for mailing and shipping gifts, it’s a good idea to assess the available carriers to see which one is right for you. UPS, the US Post Office, FedEx, DHL, and drop shipping are the most common options available today. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each.

1. UPS

Most of us are familiar with the big brown UPS truck, and kids get excited when they see it coming. UPS means packages and holiday delivery for many. It’s not always the best option, though.

Pros:
UPS does well with packages that weigh over 2 pounds. They also succeed with delivery within 2 to 5 business days, and they have a same-day delivery option. One of the best pros, though, is that UPS delivery and shipment can be set up online. Their services are available over the internet, and you can track your packages progress using their tracking number.

Cons:
UPS may not be the fastest choice for air transport. Its strength is more with ground delivery. Also, small packages under 2 pounds may get lost, and they are also more expensive to ship than the same size package with USPS.

2. USPS (US Postal Service)

The US Post Office has been around a long time. There are post offices in nearly every community. Read on to see if USPS is best for your holiday shipping.

Pros:
There are post offices nearby in just about every location. It’s not hard to find one in your neighborhood, making it a fairly convenient option. There is also great information online regarding postage and other services. For overnight delivery, USPS is the cheaper option. Overseas shipments are also cheaper with USPS, and they provide a holiday shipping calendar on their website to help offset delays.

Cons:
USPS does not guarantee delivery dates; you have to take a bit of a chance. They also do not offer a same-day delivery option.

3. FedEx

FedEx employees drive big white trucks instead of brown ones, but their airplanes may be the best thing about this carrier. In addition, there are some pros to their ground delivery.

Pros:
FedEx is definitely the best choice for air shipping. It’s generally cheaper than UPS for delivery within 2 to 5 days. FedEx is very reliable and has delivery guarantees, and its next-day delivery option is a reliable one. FedEx does do ground delivery, and its ground service for packages over 3 pounds is cheaper than UPS and USPS. They also offer tracking of your package.

Cons:
Like UPS, smaller packages may be cost-prohibitive to ship via FedEx.

4. Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is a fairly new shipping option. The retailer does not keep items on hand, but instead has them shipped from a manufacturer or wholesaler.

Pros:
Lower cost is probably the number one pro with drop shipping. This method cuts out a lot of “middle men” because only one company does all the packing and shipping.

Cons:
Because the retailer does not keep products on hand, the manufacturer or wholesaler may sell out of products and be forced to put them on backorder. Unfortunately, drop shipping has also been a feature of work-from-home scams.

How to Choose Age-Appropriate Books – Top Tips

Choosing age-appropriate books may not seem like a big deal, but if you don’t choose books that are at the proper reading level for your child, then it may end up discouraging him or her from reading. Also, staying within age-appropriate guidelines helps children on their journey of self-discovery and understanding.

Of course, “age-appropriate” is a loose definition. What’s appropriate for some seven-year-olds is not appropriate for others. Some kids read early; some aren’t even reading when they’re seven years old.

If you have an early reader, your child’s reading level may be that of an older child’s, but the reading material for older kids may still not be appropriate for emotional or other reasons. So as you look at this list of tips on how to choose age-appropriate books, bear in mind that these are generalizations only.

1. Toddlers

The toddler years are times of great exploration and discovery. The world is new, and the basics are exciting. For this young group, great books are those with lots of colorful, simple illustrations, and things that encourage touch – lift-the-flap books, for instance, or pop-up books. Board books are good for this age, as they can stand up to little hands that grab.
Rhymes are also a good thing to read to toddlers – it helps them remember and learn about the rhythm of words. Toddlers tend to find rhymes entertaining, too.

Repetition is another appealing aspect of toddler-age books, as are topics that interest this age – food, animals, playing, and so forth.

2. Preschoolers

With a little longer attention span, books with simple plots and alphabet letters tend to be age-appropriate choices. Rhymes and repetition are good for this age group, too, and so are non-fiction books on a topic of interest. Many preschoolers love books about the habits of a particular animal they are interested in (dinosaurs, dogs, horses, etc.), or books about trucks, cars, and trains. Many preschoolers also appreciate humorous books with jokes in them.

3. Kindergarten and First Grade

Books written for this age can be a lot of fun for grown-ups to read! Kindergarten through first grade (and through second grade for many) are the ages of the picture book. Some wonderful Caldecott books exist for this age, and you can easily read several a week with your five, six, and seven-year-old.

This age still likes lively and/or beautiful illustrations, and they also appreciate humor. Plots can be followed pretty easily, with slightly more complex ones as your child gets toward second grade.

4. Grade School

Second grade is a good age to introduce chapter books (in general). Illustrated books with short chapters tend to have the most appeal for this age group, so look for a combination of chapters, simple plots, and illustrations – humor is often a hit, too. In later grade school, kids can appreciate more subtle humor and amusing puns and word plays.