HealthandHappiness

Are you stuck indoors because of the weather? Playing in the snow is fun, but it can get very cold out there! Here are some ideas to keep the boredom away when stuck inside on a cold winter day.

Read a good book. This is a great idea any time, but especially on a cold day. Snuggling up with a book, some hot coco, and a warm blanket is a great way to spend a few hours.

Play a board game. This is a good indoor family activity. Playing board games is a great way to reconnect with your kids. The excitement will keep boredom from kicking in for sure.

Watch a good movie. Pop some popcorn and slip the movie in the DVD player. A good movie will keep everyone entertained for a few hours.

Just talk. What better time to find out what’s going on in each other’s lives, than on a cold winter day when you are stuck inside? Each family member can share something. This is a great way to get to know each other better. Often, kids and parents drift apart. Use every opportunity to strengthen the bonds between family members!

Crafts are another indoor activity that helps time pass on winter days. Crochet a scarf, do some painting, or make some jewelry. This is also a great way to get some gifts completed that you’ve been putting off.

I’m sure if you think about it, you can come up with more ideas for winter days. Use your time wisely. Take advantage of the time spent with family.

My husband left yesterday for storm duty. They are in Indiana. He said they are going to Ft. Wayne in a little while. They told them 50,000 are without power there.

His crew drove all night after working all day yesterday. Because of a wreck and one of their trucks breaking down, they didn’t arrive until 11am this morning! They let them sleep three hours. It’s ridiculous! I’m just glad they all made it up there safely.

I hope any of you that lived in the snowed in areas are safe. Maybe the snow will end soon and everyone will thaw out! I know it’s actually the ice that causes problems, so I hope temperatures rise soon!

Y’all stay safe!

Gardeners will be needing all the implements and supplies to start practicing their craft soon. Even though it’s cold now, spring will be here before we know it! Here are some ideas for gifts for the gardener in your family.

·         Cute little tools are always a hit with lady gardeners. Stores like Lowes and Home Depot have small spades and other digging tools in multitudes of colors. You are sure to find one that is just perfect.

·         Gardening aprons are another great gift idea. These offer pockets to keep tools and gloves. All gardeners need to be organized, so an apron is a great choice.

·         Buy the gardener in your life some seeds. Get a variety of seeds that you know will grow well in the soil of their area. Put the seed packs in a nice little gift bag or box and wrap it all in a pretty bow. You then have the perfect gift for a gardener!

·         Regular tools are always welcomed. Shovels and wheelbarrows get old. If you know a gardener that’s been using the same ole tools forever, get them an updated, stronger version.

·         A gift card to a store that carries lots of gardening supplies or plants is a sure winner. This way they can pick the items themselves which guarantees they’ll get what’s right.

These are just a few ideas. Walk around your local gardening center and I’m sure you’ll find something to fit your budget. You’ll be able to get the gardener in your life the perfect gift!

Sometimes holiday events are stressful. While it would be nice if all families got along, the reality is quite different. If you are part of a dysfunctional family, the holidays aren’t always fun.

Setting some rules for yourself before venturing to holiday events might help. Getting yourself geared up and preparing your psyche, is sure to go a long way toward making the holidays easier.

Here are a few ideas that might help:

Determine that you are not going to be goaded into a fight with any of your family members no matter what outrageous things they say. I know this won’t be easy, but you can do it for one night. Turning the other cheek really does work in these instances, because the other person won’t know what to do if you don’t spar back.

Get plenty of rest over the holiday season. A well-rested person is less likely to snap at others. If you aren’t tired, you’ll be better able to overlook remarks from others.

Skip events all together that are sure to cause problems. It’s better to avoid the situation than cause undue stress for everyone involved. Schedule something else the same night so you have a plausible excuse that won’t hurt feelings.

Think up interesting things to talk about beforehand. Make sure the topics are ones enjoyed by all involved at the gathering. Have your list and be prepared. It will make the whole night go smoother.

As you can see, these are simple tips that might make the holidays easier. Use your imagination, and creativity, to come up with ways of reducing the stress at holiday events. Everyone will appreciate it.

Children like giving people presents too. They often don’t have their own money with which to buy gifts however. Why not help your children make personalized gifts for relatives and friends?

Cards are a very easy gift kids can make. Take a piece of construction or computer paper and have the kids draw or paint a picture on the outside. Then have them put a personalized message on the inside. You can even add glitter or buttons and such for a more creative card.

Jewelry is another gift kids can make. Hobby stores, along with mass merchandise stores such as Wal-mart, offer bead making kits and other jewelry making accessories. It is very easy to make a bead bracelet or necklace. Many of the kits even come with instructions. Help children make their own jewelry creation for a gift.

If your kid loves to draw, they can do a picture and put it in a frame as a gift. You can even make the frame. Get Popsicle sticks and tape, or glue, them into a square. Affix the picture to the Popsicle frame, attach a loop of string to the top, and you have a handmade picture for someone. All this project requires is a little time and some glue!

Children with good imaginations might enjoy writing a poem or story for someone. Children make up whole new worlds, and putting the images and stories down on paper for a grandparent would be a wonderful gift. Make the story into book form and it’s even better!

Help your child explore their creativity. If you think about it, you are sure to come up with some more inexpensive gifts kids can make. You will all have fun in the process!

Ever since we moved to Alabama, my sinus problems have got completely out of control. I can’t go a day without sneezing, my nose running, and have postnasal drip. It is driving me crazy!

This weekend we had to go to Nashville for my husband’s schooling that is required through is company. The whole time we were up there, I had no sinus/allergy problems! It was amazing that it only took one day to clear everything up.

We came home last night. This morning I woke up chugged up, sneezing my head off, and with my throat hurting.

I think I need to move!

Did you buy any Christmas presents off eBay this year? I didn’t, but I have heard talk that many people did. Of course, people buy from eBay all the time. I can imagine Christmas is even better for their sellers.

Did you sell anything on eBay for Christmas? I have a friend who has sold a few items. She figures people bought them for Christmas presents. It is certainly a good way to make some extra cash at the holidays.

I didn’t sell anything on there either. I used to sell a lot on eBay, but haven’t done much in a while. I should go through the house and see if I have anything I think people would want.

Do you have any good…or bad…eBay stories?

Never give up! I told everyone about entering the short story contest a while back and not winning, or even making the semi-finals. I told of finding out about all the problems I still had and everything I needed to work on. Well, I’m doing that. I am going to enter the next short story contest.

This post is about not giving up with something bad happens. That rejection hurt. I worried that I would never get it, or ever win anything. Not so!

I am proud to say that I had two poems that were picked for a contest recently. The poems will be featured in a book that will be available through online booksellers. I also won $20.00.

This is very exciting, and it proves you should never give up. I could have stopped writing all together after the last short story contest. While poetry is different, it was still putting my work out there and facing rejection again. I am so glad I overcame the fear and did it! It just goes to prove that you should always keep trying.

If writing is something you love, never give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep writing!

Some people are getting snows that haven’t had it in a while. They say we might get al little here in Alabama, but we haven’t so far. I talked to my sister-in-law last night and she was very excited about the prospect!

I just hope everyone stays safe while driving. Snow is beautiful, but it’s dangerous in places where people aren’t used to driving in it. If everyone would slow down and take their time, things would work better.

Enjoy the beauty of the snow and keep those you love safe by taking extra care when driving. Take extra time to get to work and anywhere else you need to go. Watch other drivers, and stay calm.

I hope a lot of snowmen are built the next few days!

There were terrible storms here in Alabama last night. The same ones that went through Texas and Mississippi. I can’t sleep on stormy nights. One, because I’m in too much pain, two because of all the noise, and three because I have to keep track in case tornados come.

Some tornados did touch down in neighboring towns. Thankfully no one was hurt, just some structural damage.

I was up all night long because the storms were moving so slowly. I am in so much pain today!

Do any of you stay up when storms are predicted? Or do you go on to bed and hope for the best? I just can’t do it. Of course, we live in a mobile home so it’s really dangerous for us to stay if a tornado warning is issued. I have to wake everyone else up and get us out. My husband has to work and my son goes to school, so this task falls on me. I can sleep the next day if I need to.

I hope to relax and get some rest today so I’ll feel better soon. Weather watching is tiring!