Category: Well-Being

hat’s hot in fashion this season? What outfits are all the cool kids wearing? Can you show the world who you are by what shirt you put on? Let’s talk about it. First, there’s something very important that you need to know.

When you grow up you will look at what you are wearing now and roll your eyes or burst out laughing. Sure, you can wear loose pants that threaten to fall off, but when you get older, you’ll wonder why you did.

Fashion Tips for The Real You

Don’t dress to please an older, wiser version of you. Dress for now. Wear what fits the day you are living.

Here are a few points you can always keeping mind when you consider when striving to be fashionable:

Your clothes should let you live your life

Your clothes should let you live your life. You run, jump, sit, catch balls, eat, walk. Your clothes should let you do those activities. When you try on pants, walk around in them. Sit down in them. Do you still feel comfortable? If you don’t, try on a different pair. Does your new shirt let you reach over your head? If so, you’ve picked the right shirt. Does the shirt print bring out the best in your personality? If not, try another one! Fashion doesn’t matter when it won’t let you be you.

Your clothes need to fit the weather

Face it, you would look pretty silly wearing a windbreaker in a snow storm. You could also get sick. If you wear a big puffy coat on a hot day, you’ll be sticky and sweaty and might even get weak from the heat. When you dress to fit Mother Nature, you can enjoy the world. Check weather reports or listen to what your parents say about weather conditions.

Really think about the heroes and statements you wear on your t-shirts

When you wear a famous face, you tell the world that you admire this person. Beware. Many people whose faces are printed on shirts are not all that admirable. A good example is Lance Armstrong. For many, many years Lance was a hero to people. He won international bicycle races and an Olympic medal. He also fought cancer and won, which is admirable. In time, the truth came out. Lance had cheated to win his races and medals. He is no longer considered a hero or role model. So what should you do? Read up on people before wearing them on your body. Talk to your parents. Look for real heroes.

Always wear shoes you can run in

Color doesn’t matter. Style is up to you. They don’t even have to be officially running shoes. The important fact is this: If you can run in your shoes, you will have more fun and be safer. If you can run in your shoes, you can dance, play ball, quickly help a friend, carry grocery bags and move! Good shoes give you freedom.

Dress for the occasion

You wouldn’t shovel snow in a bathing suit. You wouldn’t wear a snow suit to play basketball. When you visit your grandparents or open your first bank account or visit a friend in the hospital, some fashion will make others feel uncomfortable. When you dress for the event, people won’t be staring at the funny fashion you have on. They’ll be looking at you.

What is fashion? Is it what your favorite rapper wears or what you see on the cover of magazines? Yes, but fashion is also what you put on every morning. Don’t let fashion rule you. Rock fashion yourself.

What Did Kim and Justin Give You?

There’s something fun and kind of cozy—and maybe a little snobbish—about using the same shampoo that Selena Gomez uses. You feel special using the same foundation as Kim Kardashian. You send flowers to your mom, just like Justin Bieber did.

It’s natural to feel like you are part of an exclusive, personal group of friends who Selena, Justin and Kim confide in, giving you secret insight into their celebrity lives through their tweets and posts.

Well, hold on to your tablet. Kim and Selena and Justin aren’t necessarily sharing personal information with you. They might not even really be as excited about those products as they let us on to believe. Those cozy tweets and posts might be quick ways for them to make extra money.

Advertising and Celebrity Fashion

Advertising professionals pick celebrities to tweet or post pictures about the products they are trying to sell. Being paid makes a difference.

When we see commercials on television, we know that the stars who talk about products are paid generously. We take that into account when deciding to buy what they are selling. When your friends tell you about a product, chances are that they are not being paid and really do like or use that brand of jeans or hair gel.

Social Media Influencers

Social media is a new form of communication. People feel close to the people they follow. When a social media “friend” tells you about a new movie they like or a skin cream they use, they could be telling you that because a company is paying them lots and lots of money.

How much money? Kim Kardashian, the undisputed queen of making money on social media, makes up to $20,000 for a tweet about a product. She is paid a reported $300,000 for an Instagram post.

Other celebrities that can demand huge amounts are any Kardashian, Jared Leto, Kendall Jenner, P. Diddy, Gigi Hadid, Lindsay Lohan and most sports figures—including Mike Tyson.

Legally, there is nothing wrong with making money by telling people about your interests and the items you use. What is questionable is how consumers buy products solely because a celebrity endorsing it. Is it the best product and do we even need it?

Do celebrities truly love a product when posting a picture or tweeting about it when they are getting a lot of money to do so?

Mind Your Money

The reason these big payments should matter to you is because you end up buying Kim Kardashian million-dollar earrings and Mike Tyson’s new car. When companies pay these celebs money, the companies make that money back by charging you more.

You help pay for mansions, fleets of cars, expensive clothes, luxurious trips and outrageous jewelry.

The other thing to think about is this: What did Kim and Justin give you?

Encouraging imagination is important for kids’ mental growth, especially nowadays where information and entertainment are spoon-feed over screens. One of the fun ways to put our kids’ imagination into practice is through woodworking projects. It’s a balance between creativity and cognitive skills, plus kids are able to create something unique and personal.

Whether for home schooling or working on group projects in a school classroom, these ideas will challenge kids to stretch their brains as they think about making something original using mostly wooden objects. Kids may also be encouraged to search for wooden objects that could possibly work for their woodworking projects ideas.

Train and Tracks

We know how young kids love to play with trains – and this one is super easy to make. All you need are three wooden boxes, a wooden spool, and six pasta wagon wheels. But before going ahead with the assembly, let your little ones have a little fun with paint and ask them to color the blocks.

Once the blocks are nice and dry, use wood glue to attach the pieces together. Glue on the wooden spool to be the train engines smokestack. For the tracks, popsicle sticks on a piece of cardboard would do the trick!

Personalized Boxes

Adult supervision may still be needed for some easy wood projects for kids, especially those that require power tools.

If your little one wants to create a box for storing crayons, marbles, or any other personal items, he may need your hand in building one.

The box can be any size he wants – wider, taller, smaller, bigger. The lid could be sliding too. Kids would need wood, a pencil, tape measure, sandpaper, hand drill and assorted bits, speed square, and a saw for cutting the wood into the right pieces. If you want it to be simpler, you can also use wood glue to attach the pieces together.

Play Tent

Kids absolutely love the idea of building forts in the backyard. Like many woodworking projects, although larger than the previous ones, this one is a breeze to create. Built in just 10 minutes or less, your kids will be playing with their toys or reading books under the tent in no time!

You’d need four long pieces of wood (about 42” each), a long dowel piece, fabric, and drill. Note that the drill bit should match the dowel size for a secure fit. All it takes is drilling a hole on each end of the wood, inserting the dowel, attaching the fabric, and the tent is complete!

Robot Buddy

It’s more like creating a friend than just a simple wooden toy. For this project, you’d need an assortment of wooden blocks, heavy-duty string, wood glue, drill, and a wood burning pen.

Before you drill in the holes, make sure it’s a perfect match for the string size. The string should fit snugly inside.

Drill one hole in the head block and one in each limb block. The body block needs two holes on the side and two holes on the bottom, one for each hand and foot. Once the holes are ready, fill them with glue and stick in the strings using a nail.

Assembly takes a few minutes as you have to let the glue dry as well. Don’t forget carving the eyes and mouth with the woodburning pen. After that, your kid will now enjoy the companion of his robot buddy.

Benefits of Woodworking For Kids

Woodworking is a great physical activity. It will bring some benefits that go beyond the physical of kids.

• Develop good skills creativity
• Help build a positive mentally
• Teaching patience
• Help with mature emotional and communication

Kids’ woodworking projects are some exciting projects and easy to do. Also, if you spend time working out with kids on wood projects, they will get develop skills better with time. Eventually, they can do projects without any help.

As summer approaches, or maybe it’s already here when you are reading this, it’s important to be mindful of the changes in weather and how it can greatly effect our pets.  If you have a pet that plays with you outdoors, such as a cat or a dog, summer means more time to enjoy with them.

So before school starts up again, now is also a great time to remind yourself about important facts regarding animal care for the summer and all year round.

1. Make Sure Your Pets Are Vaccinated

Summer is a time when families travel more and kids have more time to play outside in the sunshine. And if your family includes a dog, your pet will be out among other animals than usual. Also, some travel requires that your pet has necessary shots before crossing borders. That’s why now is a good time to ask your veterinarian of your animal’s shots are up to date.

2. Keep Your Pet Under Your Control

Strangers may not like your pets and could turn a great day into a big scene. Even if your pet is perfectly friendly and safe, some people have a fear of dogs and even your sweet pup runs up to say hello, the person may see the greeting as an attack. Always make sure that your pet is in your control, either well trained or on a leash. That way, everyone can have more fun.

3. Never Leave Your Pet In A Hot Vehicle

Remember that cars and trucks can kill a pet with heat. Every year people leave their dogs and cats in cars under a hot sun. Even with the window cracked, the heat can quickly become deadly. Leaving the air conditioning on when the family goes into a hamburger joint is okay, but always check occasionally to make sure that the vehicle is still running.

4. Make Sure That Your Pet Has A Tag With Information.

Your pet doesn’t have a cell phone to call home when lost, so make sure he always has his collar on. The dog or cat license from your town or city helps people return your pet if he or she runs off after a rabbit or another dog. For those pets with or without a license, also consider having a special tag made up with your phone number as well as your pet’s name.  This way people who find your pet can call you directly.

5. Watch Out For Your Pet’s Feet, Sunburns And Dehydration

If you can feel it, so can your pet! If the sun is so hot that you can’t stand on the sidewalk, then it is too hot for your pet to stand on the sidewalk. If your nose is starting to blister from the sun, your pet’s nose is in danger of a burn. If you’re dehydrated and sweating then you and your pet both need water. If you have your pet tied up, make sure there is shade and fresh water.

Happy Summer!

And remember, your pet loves you and depends on you to love him or her back.

Pet’s don’t live as long as humans, so it’s important to take care of them and help make their lives as long as possible.  For those are dealing with the death of a pet, here is how one of our writers dealt with the loss of her cat.

On the same subject, all of us with pets can take time to recognize the true value of every animal we spend time with as we care for them. They can become treasured friends that help us throughout our own lives.  Read the story of Wally and Wuzzy.

Looking For a Family Dog? 8 Best Dog Breeds For Kids

Winter break is full of fun, food, friends, and folks, and of course – brightly wrapped gifts! But it can also feel awkward. You could be spending time with people you don’t know very well or with family members you rarely see. Whether you’re still in school or already working, the holidays can be a mix of fun and stress.

Before resorting to endless scrolling to pass the time, look up games you can easily teach your guests. There’s something fun for every age and skill level. And if you’re feeling extra generous, consider organizing a little gift exchange among your friends for team holiday gifts to add some festive cheer!

Creating Memorable Holiday Moments

Now, here are a few ideas to ensure you have a joyful, memorable, and stress-free holiday break.

Plan Ahead for Smooth Sailing

A little planning goes a long way. Think about the activities or outings you might want to try over the holiday break and sketch out a basic itinerary. Whether it’s a movie marathon with friends, a cozy family game night, or some time for winter sports, having a loose plan helps everyone feel included and excited. This also leaves you room to do something spontaneous without feeling rushed!

Try Out New Group Games

Games are perfect icebreakers for holiday gatherings. Whether it’s classic charades, a trivia night, or board games, choose a mix of old favorites and new picks. Some quick and easy options for larger groups include Heads Up, Pictionary, or even setting up a DIY photo booth corner for some silly snapshots. Everyone loves sharing a laugh, and a bit of friendly competition can add excitement to the night.

Embrace a No-Phone Zone

This doesn’t mean you have to keep all phones off-limits but encourage everyone to put down their screens for a while and engage face-to-face. Suggest a “no phones at the dinner table” rule or a phone-free hour during the evening.

You could also make it fun and ask for all phones to go into a box before entering the gathering.  This encourages everyone to live in the moment and really connect.

Get Creative with DIY Crafts

If you’re feeling artsy, set up a small table with craft supplies for some hands-on fun. This can be as simple as holiday ornament decorating, card-making, or even creating friendship bracelets. You can even turn it into a contest with a prize for the most creative craft.

Plus, handmade gifts add a personal touch that makes holiday gatherings more meaningful. After all, creating fun does not have to be elaborate of expensive.  All you need is a few creative ideas for festive fun.

Give Back Together

Spread a little kindness by organizing a small volunteer activity or a holiday donation drive. Consider hosting a small food or gift donation collection and drop it off at a local charity as a group. Giving back as a family or friend group brings everyone closer and makes the season feel more purposeful. You’ll also be extra thankful when it’s time to sit down to your own dinner table.

Keep It Cozy

Finally, remember that it’s okay to keep things low-key. Wear your favorite cozy sweaters and focus on just being with people you care about. Avoid comparing yourself to others or feeling pressure to make everything “perfect.” Just relax and enjoy each moment – those are the memories that will make the holiday feel truly special.

This holiday break, focus on laughter, kindness, and connection, and let the stress melt away. With a few simple efforts to make everyone feel welcome, you’ll be set for the happiest holiday yet.  You’ll also feel recharged for when it’s time to head back to school or work.

Rediscover The Magic of the Holidays

Go back in your mind to World War 1, December, 1914. On one side of the battlefield: The Germans. On the other side: British, French and Belgian troops.

Soldiers were huddled in the cold dirt, in trenches on both sides. Late on Christmas eve night, the moon was bright and magical. Someone on the German side rose from his hole in the ground to start singing Christmas carols.

Other German soldiers soon joined in. When they were done, the other side—the Allies—sang a Christmas carol in return. Soon, the men were out of their trenches, singing carols and exchanging their meager supplies as goodwill gestures and shows of holiday spirit.

Of course, the commanders far away from the fighting did not approve of such behavior, but the soldiers there face to face with the enemy set aside their hostilities to be kind and thoughtful human beings, even in the face of war and death.

Reports on what happened the following days vary, but all agree that the front-line soldiers on both sides declared an unofficial truce. In some reports, the soldiers even played soccer on the battlefield.

Of course, sadly, the war resumed. For years to follow, soldiers fought for freedom in Europe. But in 1914 for the Christmas holidays, the soldiers set down their rifles and sang to the enemy.

Google the Christmas miracle of 1914. Then ask yourself if it truly is impossible to spread peace and goodwill for the holidays, even to people you think you hate.

Parents, learn what you can do to provide safe fun for kids during school holidays breaks.