#Win #SpaceWarriors Blu~Ray Combo Pack ~ Open to US/Canada ~ Ends June 25th ~ #WaldenFamilyTheater

How Spacey Are You?

Are you a Space Warrior? Do you use the stars to navigate your journeys instead of the map function on your smartphone? 

Take this quiz to find out whether you're destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you're happiest living here on this planet.

Mad Moose Mama is VERY pleased to offer you an opportunity to win your VERY own copy of this Family Friendly Classic...all you have to do is answer the mandatory question by doing the quiz above and letting us all know how Space Savvy you truly are~!!  Have fun and GOOD GROOVY LUCKS~!!

About Space Warriors:
Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

Starring: Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart.

Space Warriors Official Website: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/spacewarriors


And to go along with the show is the Space Warriors Blog App where you can do the following:

• Win a Family Trip to Space Camp - Watch Space Warriors on the Hallmark Channel May 31 at 8/7C for the secret keyword, then enter it for a chance to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp.
• How Spacey Are You? Quiz - Take this quiz to find out whether you are destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you are happiest here on the planet.
• Prepare for Blast-off! Space Warriors Viewing Guide - Check off the boxes as you watch Space Warriors for the most spectacular, spaciest experience.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I received no monetary value for posting this giveaway...Walden Family Theater is responsible for all prizes and is sponsoring this giveaway~!! **

Visit the Panda's at the Toronto Zoo~!!

Join the Pandas at the Toronto Zoo via their family weekend programs throughout the summer before and after Zoo hours.

Each session includes up to 25 people for an exclusive and special viewing of our giant pandas!

Sunrise with the Pandas (Morning Program)
$10.00 per person (includes HST)
Sunday June 9, 2013, Sunday June 23, 2013
Sunday July 28, 2013, Sunday July 14, 2013
Sunday August 11, 2013, Sunday August 25, 2013
8:00 am - 9:30 am

Their specially designed morning program includes fun family games held as you are guided through our Giant Panda Interpretive Centre.  Then enjoy a special early viewing of Er Shun and Da Mao complete with refreshments including Chinese inspired snacks, coffee, tea and juice.

Please note: If you plan to stay at the Zoo following the program, general Zoo admission fees apply.

Panda Lantern Parade (Evening Program)
$12.00 per person (includes HST)
Saturday June 8, 2013, Saturday June 22, 2013
Saturday July 13, 2013, Saturday July 27, 2013
Saturday August 10, 2013, Saturday August 24, 2013
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Or you could investigate the evening program, which includes a guided tour of the Giant Panda Interpretive Centre and an exclusive after-hours viewing of Er Shun and Da Mao.  Plus, light up the evening with your very own handmade lantern to wish our giant pandas good night!  Program also serves evening refreshments including coffee, tea and juice.

Please note: If you plan to stay at the Zoo before the program, general Zoo admission fees apply.

For more information, visit the Toronto Zoo website

Find us on Facebook!

CURRENT ZOO HOURS
Open daily 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Last admission one hour before closing

Admission Fees
General Admission (13-64): $28
Seniors (65+): $23
Children (3-12): $18
Children (2 and under): FREE
Prices include tax as applicable
Parking is $10 year round

Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums).

Look for this logo whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

For more information, visit www.caza.ca.

DVD REVIEW: Wiener Dog Nationals (2013)~!!

Wiener Dog Nationals (2013)

Language:  English
Genre:   Comedy/Family
Production Company:  Fromage Pictures
Run Time:  82 minutes
Directed by:  Kevan Peterson
Written by: Kevan Peterson
Story by: Gregory Gutierrez and Kevan Peterson

Fact: The Wiener Dog Nationals Movie is inspired by an actual Wiener Dog race held each year by fast food company Wienerschnitzel.

A family adopts a runt of a dachshund from a shelter. Only time will tell if little "Shelly" and her new family are up for the challenges of entering the nation's greatest wiener dog race, Wienerschnitzel's "Wiener Dog Nationals." One Nation, one race, one wiener. 

Cast:

Alicia Witt as Melanie
Jason London as Phil Jack
Morgan Fairchild as Ms. Merryweather
Marque Richardson as Dirk
Bryan Batt as Judge Brown
Caitlin Carmichael as Bridget
Chris Moss as Mr. Bright
Jim Metzler as Mr. Fleet
Laura Ann Kesling as Teresa
Brandon Tyler Russell as Ronny
Jessica Tyler Brown as Snotty Girl
Cheryl Texiera as Ms. Hampton
Scott Butler as Judge Brown's Assistant
Jeanne Chinn as News Reporter
Austin Anderson as Skip Jack

Plot:

Each year, hundreds of dogs participate in the Annual Wiener Nationals, an event that has been sponsored by the Wienerschnitzel Restaurant chain for almost 20 years.  When a little boy and his family adopt "Shelly", named after Shelter Dogs everywhere...they decide to run her in the races even though they do not hold much faith in her winning.

When Shelly places in the Nationals, the family scrapes and scrimps to get enough together to enter only to be thwarted along the way by Ms. Merriweather and her reigning Wiener dog champion, "Princess".

Along the way, they learn that Ms. Merriweather may not appear to be a decent sort and when the chips finally fall, Shelly becomes triumphant in her pursuit to capture the hearts of those around her.

We found that this is not suitable for children younger than six years of age, there isn't enough to grab and hold their attention for very long.  Though the puppies are adorable, there just wasn't enough action to follow through with the plot's development.

The dialogue was stale in some parts and the comedy delivered failed to meet its punchline.  Though the movie was charming, I feel that some people will have a hard time keeping their attention drawn to the movie.  If you love Wiener dogs, however, you will find this movie absolutely fascinating.

We here, at The Marsh, give "Wiener Dog Nationals" a 5 out of 10 stars~!!

LIKE the WIENER DOG NATIONALS on FACEBOOK~!!!

Racing onto DVD on July 5th~!!

I was provided a DVD screener to review this movie...I was not paid or compensated in any other way.  My opinions are my own as I see it~!!

Understanding How Eyes Work

Every day you look at objects, people, colours, words, numbers which all help you to understand the world. You might not often think about how your eyes work but they are an essential part of how we carry out our daily activities.

The eyes work like small round machines constantly working to help us see things. They are made up of little parts which work together and send messages to the brain. Light bounces off objects into our eyes to allow us to see them. 

What’s what?

The bits you can see: An eye is made up of several different parts. The parts you can see are the pupil (the black dot in the centre), the iris (the coloured area surrounding the pupil) and the sclera (the white area around the iris). These parts are all enclosed by your eyelids which are rimmed with eyelashes to filter out any nasty dirt or grime before it harms your eyes. In the corner of your eyes are your tear ducts. These are in charge of releasing tears to keep your eyes clean and to cry when you’re feeling sad!

The pupil acts as a little shutter to decide how much light enters your eye. If it is a very bright day, your pupils will contract (get smaller) to allow less light in. In darkness, your pupil will dilate (get bigger) to get as much light into your eye as possible. [Handy tip: Try looking at your cat’s eyes in daylight and then again when it gets dark to see how they change!]

The bits you can’t see: Over the front of your eye is a clear layer called a cornea. This layer is completely clear to allow light to pass through and reach the back of your eye where it can be sent to the brain to be processed.

At the back of your eye, there is a delicate layer called a retina (about the size of a postage stamp) which is made up of tiny cells. These cells are called rods and cones. The cone cells are found in the centre of the retina and help us to see things sharply and clearly. Rod cells are around the edge of the retina and help us to see things moving and in dim light. For example, imagine looking at a car parked outside your house. The cone cells help you to clearly see the shape of the car, the colours and windows etc. Next, imagine the car moving down the road at night. This is when the rod cells start to work. They help you to see the car in motion in the darkness.

These cells collect light signals and send them to the optic nerve, almost like a relay race. The optic nerve receives the signals and sends them to the brain to be processed and allow us to understand what we see.

Interesting facts you might not know:
1.    When an image is projected on the back of your retina, it is upside down! The optic nerve sends the signals to the brain where it is turned the right way up.
2.    All babies are born with blue eyes- ask your parents! This is because other colours such as brown and green take longer to develop. By the time you’re 6 months old, your eyes will have reached their final colour.
3.    You blink around 12 times a minute! You won’t even notice you do it but blinking helps to keep your eyes clean and moist to protect them from dust and dirt. 

It’s useful to understand how eyes work because they are an essential part of how we function every day.

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=eyes&ex=2#ai:MP900423034|mt:2|

Victoria is a blogger for glasses frames website, DirectSight.

Little House On The Prairie Marathon TODAY on INSP~!!

Life on the prairie can be a little unforgiving. Weathering blizzards, horrible plagues, and even runaway trains. And the secret to surviving all of life’s hardships? Remember to keep your sense of humor! 

Sunday, May 26th starting at 12p ET!

An Environment for Bullies~!!

An Environment for Bullies

It has become evident, now more than ever, that one of the biggest deterrent to a child learning, is the very real problem of bullying. Children cannot learn when their focus is on survival and not an upcoming spelling test. In fact, any schoolwork pales in comparison to the threat a child feels every day when he walks into the cafeteria for lunch.

The Scope of the Problem
Recent statistics reveal that nearly 3 million students every year are bullied by roughly 2 million students playing the role as bully. In fact 1 in 7 students, from the time they enter school to when they graduate some 12 years later is either a bully or has been victimized by one. Strong evidence suggest that the most common motivation behind school shootings are revenge from being bullied. A staggering 87% of school shooting and other forms of violence is believed to be because of some form of bullying! In fact murderers are twice as likely as their victims to have been bullied, and finally, an estimated 280 thousand students all across the US are bullied each and every month. You cannot draw a more direct line from bullying to the problems children’s face in the school educational system.

The New Problem of Bullying
Back when many of us were children, the problem of bullying thankfully stopped once we were safely home from school. People do not write bullying letters or throw bricks with notes attached through their victim’s bedroom windows. Unfortunately our children today are vulnerable to bullies in a much different way. Bullies now have access to our children through the internet; a practice known as cyber bullying . Children today have access to each other through various social media platforms like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Skype. Children also use basic webcams as well. While the prevalence of cell phones has also made our children more vulnerable to bullies, it seems that bullying pretty much skipped over that form of bullying in preference to online forms of bullying often called cyber stalking. Thanks to the advances of technology in our world today bullies have access to their victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can now attack their victims whenever and wherever and school administrators, teachers, parents, and police have been at a loss when it comes to preventing this enormous scourge on our society. If children cannot successfully regroup back home and get away from their tormentors, what can they do? Only 1 in 4 teachers see bullying as a real problem and therefore only report bullying a paltry 4% of the time even though a staggering 90% of children grades 4^th through 8^th grade report being bullied! Children and guns do not mix, especially when you throw bullying into the mix. Some studies even report as high as 75% of all school violence is due to bullying.

Forms of Bullying
Not everyone recognizes bullying when it is happening, and part of that is due to the fact that even though it is still very serious, not all bullying is so obvious and sticking another child’s head in the trash can in the hall. There are 4 types of bullying.

• 
  Verbal: This can be making threats, calling names, or anything designed to make another person feel intimidated and afraid.
• 
  Physical: This can be as mild as a shove in the hall or a swirly to violence with weapons or just fists. It’s the most obvious but not always the most serious form of abuse a child can be made to endure.
• 
  Social: This can be as seemingly benign as leaving someone out of games or other group activities or deliberately ignored. It can also be in the form of spreading nasty rumors about the victim. This is a very common form of bullying and can be severely damaging to the victims.
• 
  Cyber: This is using technology like chat rooms, instant messaging, instagrams, emails, and pictures to humiliate, coerce, and embarrass fellow students.

Prevention Starts in the Home
If you expect to be able to bully proof your child, you’re going to have to start before he/she begins school. The more you can do at home to create a strong independent child the better. The more you can do to build up his self-esteem the harder it will be for some bully to tear him down again. Keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and your child is important. The better a child feels about himself the less likely he will allow a bully to make him feel bad about himself. Enrolling you child in self-defense classes is a great idea. Do your research so you can find a school that shares some of your beliefs and views on handling school bullies. Any karate school you send your child too should not just teach the physical moves; that is but a part of the whole picture. Your child should be taught, and modeled respect for others and themselves. If they respect their minds and bodies the less likely they will allow others to disrespect themselves. While you cannot stop all bullying, you can lessen the damage it can do to your child.

If your child complains to you about bullying it’s important that you believe him. You can doubt all you want in your mind, but your child should only see you the protector that believes in him. Find out what is happening to your child and what he/she expects you to do about it. You may find that your child wants to handle things on his own and just wants your support. You might also find that you need to step in and exert your parental control and make sure the bullying STOPS immediately. Above all, listen to your child.

The Pain Ends Here
If you discover your child is one of the millions of victims of bullying it’s important that you send a strong message to your child. You must believe and act immediately. You can say you love and support your children all you want but you have to show it. The moment you find out, you need to make a plan of action. Many children do not want their parent’s overt involvement in their help. They do not want a knight in shining armor to swoop in and rescue them. Most kid’s school reputation could not take that much of a hit. Ask your child if he has an idea of what he would like you to do, then read between the lines. You know your child best and what he says may not exactly be what he wants. Trust your gut instinct and act on it.

Lindsay Holland is a professional blogger that provides parents and guardians with information and reviews for after school care programs and day cares. She writes for The Learning Experience, a leading after school program in Merrimack and child care center in Merrimack NH.

ACTOR/ACTIVIST LEVAR BURTON SHARES W/ PARENTS IDEAS FOR TALKING TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT AURORA

LeVar Burton, host of READING RAINBOW, believes that parents should never shield away from tough subjects, as our focus are children.  The Aurora violence was beyond our imagination.   READING RAINBOW is much more than a television show or an APP, it is a beloved and trusted channel for us to speak to people and it is our responsibility to reach children in these powerful and terrifying times.  LeVar’s message gives families a sense of calm helping us all believe that “we can get through this.”

LeVar felt compelled to write this video and film it in central park for children and families everywhere to help them communicate to their children about this senseless act of violence that tore apart mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children and parents.

Or visit READING RAINBOW’S FACEBOOK PAGE

http://www.facebook.com/readingrainbow

Thank you Levar for your words, your thoughts and your commitment to changing that which needs to be changed~!!  You are an inspiration to us all~!!

Violent Video Games to Keep from your Kids

Your child's birthday is coming up, and he has asked you for a new game for his Xbox. With a title like "Mortal Kombat," you're pretty sure that the game isn't going to be cute and fuzzy, but he has assured you that he's played it over at his friend's house, and it's just a reboot of a game from the early '90s. Games weren't that bad back then, right?

Imagine your surprise when your little angel starts playing and shreds someone in the groin and then punches someone in the head so hard that the digital skin peels right off the bad guy's face. As it turns out, the original "Mortal Kombat," released in 1992, was so violent that it was actually the subject of a congressional hearing. That hearing led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, or ESRB, which rates video games in much the same way that movies are rated in order to provide parents with an idea of what kind of content the game contains.

Many parents are less involved in their kids' lives than you are. Some are involved but just don't see the harm in violent games. In some households, preschoolers are picking up virtual machine guns and killing untold virtual thousands. Before you let your child play at another home, find out if they allow their children to play violent games like those below:

1. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II"
It's a game about war, so you might have a pretty good idea of the concept already. However, some of the options available in this game are quite a bit more disturbing than your average war game. In "COD: MW II," players have the option to play on the terrorists' side and, in a particularly chilling twist, are even given the option to mow down innocent civilians.

2. "Postal II"
This game is not about delivering the mail. Its title is a play on the phrase "going postal," used casually to indicate a person who has snapped and gone on a murderous rampage. The game is rampant with over-the-top violence including the murdering of the town's citizens, using the heads of those civilians to play fetch with neighborhood dogs and silencing your gun with dead cats. Unfortunately, it only gets worse from there.

3. "Bioshock"
"Bioshock" and its sequel, "Bioshock 2," both feature sumptuous, stunning graphics and an intriguing storyline and are at the top of many gamers' lists of favorite games. This doesn't change the fact that one of your duties in the game is to kill little girls. While the game’s developers have stated that criticism of that feature misses the point, it's still a facet of the game that you, as a parent, need to be aware of.

4. "Splatterhouse"
Like "Mortal Combat," this is a reboot of a game from an earlier era. In the late 1980s, when the original was released, the 16-bit imagery, although advanced at the time, was very limiting, and players only got the slightest hint of the inherent violence in the game. Today's gaming graphics don't pull any punches, however. One of the bloodiest video games ever made, "Splatterhouse" allows players to dismember their enemies and beat them with their own limbs, brutally decapitate them and tear them in half. Realistic-looking blood splatters everywhere and gives the game a nauseating quality.

There are hundreds more that could be waiting at a friends' house for your child to play. Check with other parents first to be clear about games you don't want  your child playing.

This childcare advice comes from NannyBackgroundCheck.com, where parents can check a nanny is safe before they hire.

The Most Important Skill for Self-Defense: Mental Preparedness

Mentally preparing yourself for an attack of any kind is the most important, and sadly neglected, part of anyone’s training. People can learn the physical moves that are necessary to protect themselves in a relatively short period of time, but it can take years to learn how to be mentally prepared to pull the trigger or strike with deadly force. Few people appreciate the importance of this skill for self-defence.

Ready or Not Here He Comes
One thing you can bet on if you are ever attacked is that your assailant is mentally prepared. He has thought through what he is going to do and psyched himself up, so to speak. He is alert and ready to ruin your day, whereas you are asleep in your bed or just walking down the street thinking of everything other than self-defense. Your attacker is like a raging bull and you are like a little fluffy white kitten with sleep in your eyes.

Fighting is not second nature to us humans. We have to be taught to go from the mindset of the kitten that is helpless to that of a tiger that is perfectly capable of protecting himself. Bottom line is you have to be able to go from your normal nice guy persona to a raging tiger in a split second; that is how you will be able to keep yourself form being injured, or worse.

The Flick of the Switch
In any self-defense situation whether you are armed or not you have to be able to go from relaxed to ready like the flick of a light switch; it has to happen that fast. So how do you learn to do that? When you go to shoot your gun for example, do not be casual about it.

You set your gun down on the table at the firing station and take a few steps back. If your gun is holstered that works as well. Take a moment to collect yourself. Think about something that stirs deep emotions for you. Think about your children if you have them. Think about your wife or husband. What would it feel like if any one of these people were violently murdered? Bask in the anger that comes to the surface. When you feel that rage you step up to the firing line and grab that pistol and shoot. If it’s in your holster draw and fire the moment you are in the firing zone. Imagine the person who killed your loved ones is standing in front of you with a gun drawn. Focus on that anger as you fire with your own weapon.

Then when you step away from the firing line take a deep breath and relax while thinking about something that gives you peace. When you step up to the firing line again make that switch to anger about someone who has hurt you or your family. Do that over and over again. Step up, get angry, step back and relax. You can do the very same thing if you are practicing martial arts. Be relaxed and calm before you enter the training area. The moment your foot steps onto the mat you get angry. You are training your mind to make the switch from mild mannered kind person to a precision fighting machine that can protect yourself and your loved ones. With some practice it becomes like the flick of a light switch. You can turn it on and off at will. If you are ever attacked you just flip the switch.

The Element of Surprise
One of the most important principles of self-defense is the element of surprise. Ever hear of someone disarming an attacker with a gun drawn? It’s not because he was faster than a bullet; it was because he did what was unexpected. Let’s take that gun example.

If someone has a gun pointed at you, you need to get within arms- length if you can. If you have determined that your assailant is going to pull the trigger you attack. You knock the gun away and strike with a deadly blow. The key here is surprise. By attacking you are doing the least expected thing. If your assailant thought there was even a remote chance of you knocking his gun away he wouldn’t be close enough for you to do so. When you attack, his brain has to go through the following steps in order for him to pull the trigger.

Acknowledge you are actually attacking him.
Sift through a number of possible responses
Decide upon the response
Act on the decided course of action
Your attacker has to do all that before you ram your finger in his eyes or crush his throat. Bottom line is you don’t have to be faster than a bullet; you just have to be faster than your opponent. Action takes fewer steps and gets a head start. Now I’m not saying go and try to disarm an armed attacker. I just want to demonstrate how effective and important the element of surprise is.

Close Cousins
I bring up anger because fear is its close cousin and it’s easy to swap one for the other. Fear causes you to hesitate or even fail to react at all. Fear makes you slow and saps your strength. You have to be able to take that fear and turn it into anger which can be your friend. Anger gives you strength and focus. Anger gives you the courage you need to do what you have to do to stay alive. Like the light switch you have to be able to flick it on and off on command. You remember that next time you step on the mat to train or step up to the firing line and draw your weapon. When you are finished training, take a deep breath and relax; your job is done.

Adam works for the Gun Safe Store AND teaches firearm safety. The gun safe store has a wide variety of gun safes and pistol safes.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Cottonelle ~ Jonathan Adler Toilet Paper Roll Covers

 Toilet paper is one of our greatest inventions, created over 100 years ago, it has truly changed our hygiene and health practices.  How many of you have just tossed your toilet paper into a cabinet or shoved it into a closet?  The bath tissue that has been servicing your bum has been "downright disrespected", that is, until now~!!

Cottonelle has tapped the creative genius of world~renowned designer, Jonathan Adler, who is known for his "cheeky and energetic designs in home décor".  This new line of roll covers are a perfect way for you to organize and affordably add a touch of creative designer flair to your bathrooms.

Adler has been putting a fresh and modern spin on every day objects for a long time and has created the paper roll covers to give people a stylish, new way to store extra rolls of toilet paper.
Made of hard, durable plastic they can easily store a roll of Cottonelle toilet paper inside.  The top just pulls off easily when a new roll is needed and even children could open the top of the canister.  

The designs are colourful, vibrant and eye~catching and look great sitting on a shelf or back of the toilet.  Guests, who are unsure of the canisters are not aware that there is toilet paper inside and you do have to explain to them what they are looking for...yes, sometimes that happens.

They also make great boxes to hold bathroom accessories in, such as hair clips and pony tail holders, razors, makeup, tub toys etc., they truly have more than one use and my daughter wants one to store all her small accessories for her toys...and I think that is also a great idea~!!  Truly, the uses of the Jonathan Adler designed Cottonelle Toilet Paper Holders are quite useful and truly spark up the room they are sitting in.

What Parents Must Know When Children Steal

A painful and embarrassing, common problem that parents encounter is when their children steal. Quite a number of criminals today began stealing from a very young age due to poverty, neglect and peer pressure. However, it is the responsibility of parents to see to it that their children are educated about what is right and wrong and most of all about stealing. Nevertheless, whatever the reason may be for children to steal, parents must approach the problem wisely and not react to natural inclination.

When grade school aged children steal, it often is due to lack of self control and this can still be controlled with parental advice and discipline. But when high school children steal, the results are usually more uncontrollable. Often, children of high school age, tend to make it a hobby and even carry the habit into adulthood.

Why Do Children Steal?
Children's needs are not met - There will be times when children feel that their needs are not being met by their parents, they tend to take matters into their own hands. Our needs are subjective, so when parents' feels that their child wants something unnecessary and their child feels differently, the child will try to get what he or she wants by stealing.

Amount of attention needed - Even if parents provide their children with all the material needs they feel necessary to make their children comfortable and happy, sometimes attention and personal care is needed instead. As a result, children misbehave and steal to get the attention they need.

Peer Pressure - Children love to experiment and quench their curiosity. This is often a problem in groups of friends who experiment with stealing. With all the excitement and desire to fit in, a child will steal to prove that he or she is brave, to show these friends that he or she belongs in the group. This is most crucial because your child must know how to choose the right friends.

What Do You Do When Your Child Steals?
The first reaction you will have when you suspect your child of stealing is to become angry and immediately confront him or her. This is something you must learn to avoid because you are not 100% certain if it is true. If stealing is done at home, you must be sure to catch your child in the act before jumping to conclusions. Never allow your feelings to dominate you and make matters worse.

Children need to know the difference between right and wrong. A firm but loving reminder of the consequences is always healthy, but never give your child the feeling that he or she cannot be trusted. If they do something wrong, they must learn to correct it. They must understand that even stealing can hurt others and it will not only affect their lives but the lives of others as well. The fact is, there is no excuse for stealing, but your child is innocent until proven guilty and once there is evidence, your child must learn responsibility such as returning whatever was stolen, owning up and apologizing. But don't condemn your child as it will only make matters worse and lead him or her into stealing again.

Teenagers Who Have a Habit of Stealing
When children grow up with the habit of stealing and parents fail to control it, the outcome can be disastrous and disappointing as they will end up being a threat to the community. Teenagers who steal have to pay the consequences with the law and this is a serious matter that must be acted upon quickly. Based on the severity of the crime they committed, their age and state the crime was committed in, they can be detained and imprisoned with large bails that will affect their lives completely.

Valerie Howards is a freelance writer and mother who specialize in theft and other criminal cases. She regularly contributes articles to a number of law firms and Bail Bonds Direct websites.

Signs of Elder Abuse

Identifying signs of elder abuse is sometimes trickier than it may seem. Elder abuse comes in all shapes and forms. In additional to physical abuse, withholding essential care is considered elder abuse as is not providing adequate nutritional intake to an elderly person in someone’s care. Financial abuse is also considered a form of elder abuse.

To determine whether an elderly person is being abused, you must consider not only the physical manifestations of abuse but pay attention to non verbal cues as well. A physical exam of any bruises, abrasions or cuts and their explanation can give you clues to what abuse is happening. Is the caregiver constantly at the elderly person’s side? Does the caregiver answer for the elderly person? Do the explanations match up to the kinds of marks displayed? Does the elderly person seem to be of appropriate weight? Ask them what they had for breakfast this morning or dinner last night. In some instances, a social worker could be of assistance to help provide meals on wheels, food stamps or other elder assistance. Large bedsores are also an indicator of poor or negligent care. Pressure ulcers, or bed sores, are avoidable but require vigilance by turning and repositioning someone frequently if they are unable to do it themselves. If you feel that an elderly person is being physically abused, contact your state department of children and families to file a report. An agent will then be dispatch to perform an investigation.

When assessing for elder abuse, attention to non verbal cues is important. How does he or she interact with their caregiver? Is the caregiver constantly hovering over them? Does he or she flinch at sudden movement of the caregiver? If so, make note of this. Although not a determining factor, flinching, along with deferring answers to questions regarding home life could be indicators of abuse.

Financial abuse is as important a factor as physical abuse. If a family member is continually borrowing money to finance their own lifestyle, not leaving enough money to provide necessities such as food or medications constitutes financial abuse. This is found a lot when adult grandchildren take up residence with their grandparents. In addition to the financial abuse, theft of necessary medications is also a consideration. Theft of narcotic pain medications occurs frequently and with doctors becoming stricter with prescribing and refilling narcotics, having pain medication available when needed is just as important as blood pressure medication or insulin.

Caring for the elderly can become a consuming ordeal. What starts as good intentions can deteriorate over time with what is called caregiver fatigue. Caregiver fatigue occurs when a caregiver is overwhelmed with the level of care and attention an elderly person needs. This develops more severe over time with incidents of verbal abuse, refusal to provide care and ultimately, physical abuse. Most times, just as in incidents of domestic abuse, an abuser regains control of themselves and resolves to “do better next time”, with multiple apologies thrown in for good measure. Over time, the incidents occur more frequently and ultimately result in outbursts of physical abuse. In some instances, the caregiver has no other source of income or place to live therefore it is important for them to keep the elderly person in the home instead of placing them in a skilled nursing facility.

Depending on the state you reside in will depend on who is legally obligated to report abuse. All healthcare workers, whether in or out of a facility have a legal obligation to report elderly abuse. In some states, members of the clergy have a legal obligation to report suspected abuse. People who report abuse in good faith are protected from prosecution if their report turns out to be untrue. However, failure to report carries a fine and jail time in some states. If you have a suspicion that an elderly person is being abuse, report it to your state department of children and families.

Pete Wise is a Content Marketer. If you or a loved one has been involved in elder abuse and neglect, you should also seek an elder abuse attorney to represent you. An elder abuse lawyer can help walk you through what legal options are available and which course of action should be taken. If you liked the article, check out his site for Denver SEO: PeteWiseSEO.com

#Crafts That All Children Enjoy

Summer is here and now the kids are here with us parents full time. Well, unless they are going to camp. Now it is time to pull out the arts and crafts to keep them entertained and out of trouble yet what is there to do? This article explains five of the crafts that your children will not only enjoy but you will find yourself enjoying as well. The best part is they work well with children of almost any age.

Gods Eye
Gods Eye is one of the crafts that seems like it has been around for forever yet it is still something that children of all ages love to do and many parents find it to be a pretty fun and unique craft as well. Then, of course there is the fact that it is very budget friendly and it is not messy either. If you are looking for something that requires very little adult guidance this is the perfect craft for you to consider introducing to your children.

Pillow
Pillows are another craft that can be fun for children of all ages. However, if you have younger children you will have to do the sewing to insure that they do not get hurt but they can assist with all of the other steps such as cutting the fabric and stuffing the pillow. Older children enjoy doing this as well. Not to mention this is a frugal way to replace the pillows in your home as well.

Coloring
Yes, we all have that artist that lies beneath us all. No matter what age your child is you would be surprised to know that they are still interested in coloring. Coloring is something that relaxes the mind and with all of the different coloring print outs that can be printed offline it is the perfect craft to occupy your child’s time while you try and get some of the things that you need to do done without interruptions.

Painting
Since it is summer why not save some money and gather the kids together and allow them to paint their rooms instead of calling in a professional. It is something that you will have to guide them on but it is a fun thing to do as a family. They can feel as though they have helped you do something great while also being able to express their personalities in their rooms as well. Many ideas can be found online as far as design wise or you can even let them do something creative such as leave their hand prints on their walls. When it comes to teenagers they may feel as though doing this is an extra chore at first but you can be sure that they will get in the mood and start enjoying themselves as well.

Book Blanket
We all know that after summer school season will be back into full effect. So, why not save money on having to buy book covers and have your child make them themselves. This is another craft that is going to require your assistance when it comes to younger children because of the sewing put they can help out with the cutting and designing process. Older children will even enjoy this because it will help them make sure that they are unique and do not have the same thing as their friends when returning to school.

Overall, these five crafts are just starting points as to the thousands of crafts that are out there for you to introduce to your children. Just make sure to have fun as a family because one day these simple, budget friendly crafts will be what you have in your memory box.

This guest post comes from freelance writer Victoria. Victoria writes on a bunch of different children’s topics ranging from crafts to party bag ideas. 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU GROOVY DADS~!!!

To ALL Daddy's~!!!  xoxo

To My DADDY~!!  xoxo

Happy Groovy Daddy's Day Ya'll~!!

All in the Family: Five Favourite Father-Son Duos

There are, of course, few bonds in the world tighter and more important that between father and son. It's no wonder, then, that such paternal relationships have often yielded careers of great achievement in all manner of fields. Whether it's in science, sports or the arts, father-son duos have conquered. So read on, and check out our selection of five favourite father-son combos.

CC via Flickr

William and Lawrence Bragg
You probably haven’t heard of the Braggs, but you really should have! While it might not sound particularly exciting, the Braggs’ contributions to our understanding of how X-rays work and their invention of the X-ray spectrometer have left an indelible mark on modern science. The pair was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915 for their work.

Charlie & Martin Sheen
Our second entry on this list couldn't really be further from the first. While the Braggs dazzled us with science, Charlie and Martin Sheen have had rather different impacts on our lives. Martin Sheen is most famous for conveying huge gravity on screen, with his roles in films like Wall Street and Apocalypse Now standing as landmarks not just in his own career, but across the landscape of cinema in general. Charlie Sheen, on the other hand, has most recently become dear to the public for his myriad eccentricities and public extravagance, with these even coming to overshadow his solid comedic work in the likes of Hot Shots and Two and a Half Men.

Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve
Both Gilles and Jacques took the world of F1 by storm. Arguably the most successful motor racing family ever. Villeneuve Snr was a fantastic and exciting driver who picked up six victories in his career until it tragically came to an abrupt halt as he was killed in the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix. He was a national hero in his native Canada. His son Jacques was just as impressive during his time behind the whele in the 1990s. Making his debut in 1996, Jacques came second in the driver’s championship but then went on to win seven races and feuding with Michael Schumacher in the process!

Will and Jaden Smith
Another Hollywood father and son pairing here, but whereas Charlie and Martin Sheen are largely looking back on their impressive careers by now, Will and Jaden Smith are still very much looking forward to future endeavours. Will Smith in the 1990s built up an absolutely blockbusting portfolio of work, including smashes like Independence Day, Men in Black and Wild, Wild West, before moving onto more mature roles like Seven Pounds and The Pursuit of Happyness. His son is just now beginning to follow in his footsteps, starring with his father in that latter film and also carving a name for himself as the lead in 2010's Karate Kid remake. Jaden is definitely one to look out for in years to come.

George H.W. and George W. Bush
We’ll end this list with a controversial entry here. The first thing to note is that this isn’t an endorsement (or indictment) of either Bush’s politics, but rather just an expression of how fascinating the pair have been to watch. President of the USA is a notoriously hard job to land, so it’s pretty amazing to see father and son walk through those same halls in such rapid succession. It’s also been interesting to watch the younger Bush try to fill the shoes of a father who, we think, everyone regards as the lesser president.

So there you have it, five of our favourite father-son combos. Who would be on your list?

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5 Most Popular Funeral Songs of All Time

Losing a loved one can be the most difficult time in your life and the last thing you should be concerned with is having the money to cover funeral expenses. Having funeral insurance can provide your with financial support to cover funeral costs, so that you can focus on the more personal touches for the day, such as the flowers that will be used, any loved ones that may wish to make a speech and what song will be played at the funeral. Funeral Insurance usually covers most funeral costs, from the flowers and the cask to the service itself. If you are having difficulty deciding on what music would be appropriate to remember your loved one who has passed and celebrate the beautiful life that they lived, the following funeral songs are very popular and appropriate for the occasion.

Never Tear us apart performed by INXS
This song was played at the funeral of INXS’s lead singer, Michael Hutchence, after his untimely death in 1997. When performing with INXS, Michael Hutchence sung this song with such emotion and passion that it was a truly moving scene at his funeral when ‘Never Tear us apart’ was performed with his fellow band members present. Since the passing of Michael, this song has been heard at funerals worldwide, a truly moving and fitting song for bidding farewell to a loved one.

Amazing Grace performed by Various Artists
If you are looking for a more traditional song to play at a funeral, Amazing Grace provides an elegant option. This song has been performed by various artists for many years and it will be easy to find a version of the song that is appropriate for your expectations.

Angel performed by Sarah McLachlan
The smoothness of Sarah McLachlan’s voice makes this song truly moving and emotional. ‘Angel’ talks about the struggles we face within our lives and about the feeling of being at peace. This song is beautiful and touching, and appropriate for saying goodbye to someone that you love dearly.

The Day you went away performed by Wendy Matthews
This song has become one of the more popular songs of all time. Although this song does not relate directly to the passing of a loved one, it relates to loss and grieving. Wendy Matthews performs this song with such grace and passionate emotion that it is one of the most played songs at a funeral, the perfect tribute to a loved one who has passed.

The Prayer performed by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli
This is a truly moving and beautiful song and upon listening to it, you will understand why it has become one of the most popular funeral songs of all time. Although this song is called ‘The Prayer’ it does not necessarily need to be used as a religious song, rather a beautiful song with well wishes for loved ones. This song is a very dramatic song, sung with such emotion by both Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

Tara Blair is an enthusiastic writer who has a passion for a number of topics including insurance, finance and economics. Tara writes for some of Australia's leading websites and she’s a regular contributor on blogs and forums. Tara says one of the most important issues for those raising a family is to have adequate insurance, she recommends that all parents have the correct type of funeral insurance to ensure money is available if anything unforseen happens.

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The Vintage Festival is the return of Groovy

This year’s Vintage Festival looks set to blow all the others out of the water. 60’s Icon Twiggy will be hosting the festival and there is no-one who could embody vintage as well as Twiggy did. Twiggy was the androgynous model who took the fashion world by storm. She graced many fashion magazine covers, ran in jet set circles with Andy Warhol and was the face of several fashion houses that were at the top of their games in the swinging sixties.

The Vintage Festival
Started by fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, the Vintage Festival is the perfect vehicle to take all attendees back in time to an era that was all about fun, creativity and innovation on so many fronts. The sheer artistry of painting and creation of music will be brought back to life when musical legends such as Sergio Mendes, Soul Casino DJ’s and Aloe Blacc make an appearance.

The Vintage Festival in Northamptonshire held on the Boughton Estate, which will be transformed into a wonderland of venerable music and clothes for the ephemeral event which runs from Friday 13th July and through to Sunday 15th July. The festival features music, clothes, food, design, art and shows that were popular during the British 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s eras.

Twiggy in all her glorious 60 years of age will be the major draw card considering her background and her look which she pioneered in the sixties will be present in much of the vintage festivals art and fashion. The fashion not only includes awesome vintage clothes but also hair and beauty salons to bring out that original Twiggy style and catwalk styles. Art & Design will show off some seriously amazing vintage and classic cars that still take your breath away on public roads.

If you’re not in the mood for art movies featuring Ealing classics and some serious sixties horrors then enjoy some of the fun activities. Take a step back in time at the Vintage Festival’s groovy roller rink. Enjoy the wicked sixties music that will take you back to flyaway hair parted down the middle, stripped knee-high socks, hot pants, North Star shoes and bright red lipstick.

Now that the middle of the 20th century is making an appearance in London’s Northamptonshire, it is time to put away the stress of the early 21st century, relax and go camping the sixties and seventies way. Get down to the Vintage Festival for an education on the cool and retro side of life.

Vida Denning is a keen writer who loves the sixties and is a big fan of designer jersey dresses from the seventies.

The Bible Bee Family Discipline Challenge

At times, it can feel overwhelming and intimidating to think about providing Biblical learning at home.  We often think we are unqualified, too busy, or that our kids won't listen.  But, we miss the greatest gift as parents if we don't disciple our kids.  Deuteronomy 6:7 is clear about our responsibility to teach our children God's Truth, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

The Bible Bee Family Discipleship Challenge provides a way to get resources and encouragement as you study with your children.  The Challenge is created by The National Bible Bee and it's ministry partners. 

Step 1:  Register your family for The National Bible Bee.  You'll receive a box on June 1st filled with everything you need to complete the challenge.  The National Bible Bee begins June 1st as contestants learn to inductively study a designated book of the Bible through the Bible Bee’s exclusive “Sword Studies” and memorize Scripture with the help of their Bible Memory cards.

Step 2:  Complete the 12-weeks of study and participate in a local Bible Bee Celebration Day near you on August 25th.

Step 3 (Optional):  If possible, report how your family is enjoying studying the Word together during the summer.  It can be a quick post on The Bible Bee Facebook page, a tweet, or a post on your blog (email us a link to your post).  Just make sure you use the hashtag #BibleBee--that way we can be inspired by each other's progress through the summer.

Prizes:  The Bible Bee comes with an amazing list of prizes for those that compete on at Nationals (visit www.biblebeescholarship.com to see the details). But, there are opportunities to win family discipleship resources throughout the summer by keeping us updated on your progress (as described above).  We have amazing gifts from our ministry parters your family including: Seeds Family Worship,Christian Focus Publications, Franklin Springs Family Media,FamilyLife, Vision Video, Worthy Publishing, Well-Versed Living, and more!