Here are a few of our top choices for smoking cessation.  But the absolute best way to stop smoking is the way that helps you stop.  Everyone is different, with different cravings, stress levels, life circumstances, and a different level of nicotine addiction, so what worked for you’re neighbor, friend or even brother may not help you to quit smoking.  Don’t get discouraged, if you want to quit stick with it until you find you’re best way to stop smoking. Remember there is no magic way to be suddenly smoke free!  Take a look at some of these smoking facts and you might just decide to quit on your own.

Acupuncture: A few strategically placed needles, a couple mustard seeds taped to acupressure points in the ear.  Acupuncture helps to calm the nicotine addiction, and stimulate the body to detoxify.  Treatment over several weeks may be necessary.  This remedy may not be covered by your insurance company but it is worth every penny.

Hypnosis: Many people find that hypnosis and hypnotic suggestion eases the withdrawal associated with stopping smoking.  It will also require multiple sessions, which are probably not covered by insurance, but it has a very high effective rate.

Medications: Doctor prescribed medications such as Chantix® aid smoking cessation by shutting down the nicotine receptors in the brain.  It is used in conjunction with behavior modification and counseling support for optimal benefit. Even though that sounds like the way to go, and may very well be covered by your insurance company, it too has its drawbacks.  Like all drugs there is a risk of side effects mild to severe.

Nicotine replacement therapies: Including patches, lozenges, gum and inhaler.  Most are available now, without prescription.  Used responsibly, and according to package or physician instructions, may help to alleviate nicotine cravings, and minimize withdrawal symptoms.  But I have seen too many people using one or more of these products, and continuing to smoke thus increasing the nicotine in their systems.

Absolutely Necessary To Stop Smoking: A desire to stop smoking.  A personal commitment to stop smoking, for your health, for the health of your family.  A good support  system, with family and friends who want to see you kick the habit, and are willing to traverse the dark side of your personality while you are working toward your goal.  Will power, it will be difficult, it will suck big time, but seeing it through will be worth every ounce of will power you put into your smoking cessation program.  And last but not least, something to occupy your hands.  Many people think this is one of the most difficult parts of quitting, they just don’t know what to do with their hands now that they’ve stopped reaching for a cigarette.  Try keeping baby carrot sticks, or celery sticks or a pen or pencil close at hand to fiddle with when you want to pick up a cigarette.

Not so Much — Cold Turkey: Crumbling up the pack and tossing it in the trash is a radical move, and unless you’ve either just started smoking (thus having little nicotine addiction) or have the will power and self-control of Hercules, it probably won’t work.

Here’s to your new smoke free life.  Congratulations!

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1. Smoking Facts – Every Reason You Should Stop Smoking Today

Women frequently experience Baby Blues or Postpartum Blues which are normal mood changes due to the body’s hormone changes and the lifestyle changes that occur with the birth of a child. The symptoms are similar to postpartum depression but, the symptoms resolve on their own in a short amount of time without the need for treatment.

Postpartum depression symptoms include:

• Feelings of anxiety, fatigue, agitation, irritability, guilt and worthlessness
• Negative feeling toward the baby
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Mood changes
• Restlessness
• Crying a lot
• Lack of energy or motivation
• Change in eating patterns, eating too little or too much
• Change in sleep patterns, sleeping too little or too much
• Memory problems, including trouble focusing on tasks, and decision making
• Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Physical aches and pains, head aches, muscle and joint aches, persistent stomach problems

Postpartum depression can last up to 1 year after child birth, but usually symptoms begin to appear within four weeks of birth.  Hypothyroidism can also cause similar symptoms, and it is recommended that women experiencing these symptoms have a blood test to check for low thyroid hormones.

Some health factors may cause and increased incidence in Postpartum Depression, they are; personal or family history of depression, age (young age when pregnant), lack of support from family and friends, anxious or negative feelings about the pregnancy/baby, money and/or marriage problems, previous pregnancy problems,  substance abuse, and highly stressful life events.

Postpartum psychosis is rare about 1 to 4 women out of every 1,000 births will be affected.  It most often occurs within two weeks of birth, and requires immediate medical attention and often hospitalization.  The symptoms include; trying to harm yourself or your infant, seeing things that aren’t there, rapid mood swings, confusion.  Women with a mental health condition known as schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk of postpartum psychosis.

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Meditation is a way for you to quiet your mind, to clear out the clutter of day to day life so that you can see (think) clearly.  It allows your body to rejuvenate, and relax.  You will feel refreshed and energized.  It relieves stress and eases the tension in your muscles and joints.  It allows you to calm and center your life even in the most stressful of situations.  It allows you to connect to the spark of the Devine that lies within all of us.  It allows you to access the Universal Mind, the Akashic Records of all Souls and assists in Astral Projection.  It is also a way to reach a safe haven in those who are abused, or have been traumatized.

With practice meditation is a great tool for bettering yourself and your life.  But it most certainly takes practice.  Most people won’t be able to clear their minds the first few times they try, and may even find that the moment they attempt to clear their mind it becomes filled with everything, even the most minute  details suddenly are screaming for attention.  But with practice, you will be able to relax and center, for a short period of time, a minute or two, then 5 and so on.  When you reach a meditative state for 10 to 15 minutes a day, you will begin to see noticeable changes in your stress levels, how you carry yourself, how you react to tension, anger and even happiness.  Meditating just 10 to 15 minutes a day can literally change the way you view life.

So what do you need to get started?  The answer is quite simply a quiet place in which to meditate, where you won’t be disturbed by people, pets or phones ringing.  But in order to fulfill all the New Age side of meditation there are some things that you may find you would like to have, such as:

Meditation CD’s – tranquil sounds of the ocean, rain, babbling brooks, the forest, Zen like music of flutes etc.

A running fountain – even a small table top fountain that is moving water can be soothing and assist you in relaxing in preparation for meditation.

Chimes or a small gong – tinkling wind chimes, a small gong being struck, or finger cymbals being rung are also ways to tell your mind that it is time to meditate.

Yoga mats, floor cushions – you may find that these will be more comfortable than the bare floor..

Work out clothing – though not essential, you will need something that is comfortable to wear, and that doesn’t bind you, or you could as many do meditate in the buff.

A timer – If you loose track of time, you may find it easiest to set a timer for 20 minutes, this will give you time to relax, and to meditate for 10 to 15 minutes, and if you happen to dose off (quite common at first) a timer will wake you up.  You might want to get one that doesn’t tick as some kitchen timers do, the ticking can be a distraction.

Getting started, once you’ve decided to meditate, and you’ve found your quite space, there are only a few steps to follow.

1. Turn off your cell phone and unplug or silence any land line phones.
2. Wear something comfortable.
3. Sit in a comfortable position, this can be on the floor, on a bed, in a chair… it doesn’t matter as long as you can sit comfortably for 15 to 20 minutes.  We’ve all seen pictures of people meditating seated in a yoga position called full lotus position (with their legs crossed foot on the opposite thigh, and their wrists resting on their knees and their thumb and second finger touching) if you can sit in lotus position, and are comfortable in that position go for it, but it is not necessary to sit that way.  One of the benefits in being seated in full lotus position is that it allows the Chi energy (the living energy in all things) to flow unrestricted through you from your tail bone at the base of your spine, up through your spine and out the top of your head or your crown chakra.  Sitting in a straight backed chair with your feet planted firmly on the ground, and your head erect will have the same benefit.  Slouched or curled into the corner of a sofa may restrict the flow of Chi, but it isn’t detrimental to meditating.
4. Relax, this may take a few minutes,  I like to start at my toes and work my way up my body, relaxing every part of me, and letting the stress melt away.
5. Close your eyes, and take a deep cleansing breath, breathe in through your nose then exhale fully through your mouth.  Picture each inhaled breath as bring clean fresh energy and living, health giving oxygen into your body.  Each exhaled breath carrying away stress and toxins.
6. Quiet your mind.  Up until now this has been a walk in the park, but trying to quiet your mind is like saying to a starving man don’t think about food — all he can think about then is food.  It may help to picture a blank wall or a blank canvas in your mind.  I find that if I am particularly stressed, picturing a cluttered wall filled with sticky notes, pictures, timetables, etc. and then I have everything on that wall melt away, dripping down, until all that’s left is a clean blank wall.

Grounding.  It is essential that after meditating you ground yourself.  Grounding is centering yourself back in the here and now.  Take deep breath and hold it for a moment before exhaling slowly, place your feet solidly on the floor (doing this barefoot is preferred), picture the Earth’s energy, flowing up through the rocks, dirt, through the floor and into you, bring it up and fill yourself with the Earth’s energy.  Eating  a light meal, and drinking a glass of water will help in the grounding.

With practice, the relaxing and quieting of your mind will become easier, meditating become natural to your mind and body.  If you continue to find it difficult to relax or to quiet your mind, guided meditation may be of benefit, you can find tapes or CD’s of guided meditations or find someone to guide you through meditation.

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We will take a look at some famous inspirational quotes from around the globe.  Quotes that will stop and make you think, that may bring a tear to your eye, and even some that are truly words to live by.  It is up to you how you use this knowledge, bettering yourself, calming conflict (internal and/or external), realizing that you aren’t alone, or inspiring you to make changes in your life, your heart and your world.

What type of inspirational quotes are you looking for: Life – Love – Religion – Death – Success

Quotes for Life:

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”  Albert Einstein

“Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today” James Dean

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because  what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” Oscar Wilde

“If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything” Win Borden

“The difference between school and life?  In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test.  In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”  Tom Bodett

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you have gained, you lose something else.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”  Flora Whittemore

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.”  Erma Bombeck

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” Robert Byrne

“Life is simple, its just not easy.”  Anonymous

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  Abraham Lincoln

“I like living.  I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.”  Agatha Christie

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”  Albert Einstein

“Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise.”  Alice Walker

“The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself.”  Anais Nin

“The most decisive actions of our life… are most often unconsidered actions.”  Andre’ Gide

“Life is a process.  We are a process.  The universe is a process.”  Anne Wilson Schaef

“Wars and elections are both too big and to small to matter in the long run.  The daily work – that goes on, it adds up.”  Barbara Kingsolver

“Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of.”  Benjamin Franklin

“The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”  Bertrand Russell

“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”  Kevin Arnold

“The most important things in life aren’t things.”  Anthony J. D’Angelo

“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.”  Alex Tan

“Here is the test to find whether  your mission on earth is finished.  If you’re alive, it isn’t.”  Richard Bach

“Life’s not always fair.  Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.”  Cherralea Morgan

“If we could see the miracle of a singe flower clearly, our whole life would change.”  Buddha

“Life is like an onion:  You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.”  Carl Sandburg

“Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward us.”  John N. Mitchell

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”  Keri Russell

“Carpe diem!  Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have.  It is later than you think.”  Horace

Quotes for Love:

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live” Anonymous

“Love life and life will love you back.  Love people and they will love you back.”  Arthur Rubinstein

“In love, it is better to know and be disappointed, than o not know and always wonder.”  Anonymous

“I don’t want to live.  I want to love first, and live incidentally.”  Zelda Fitzgerald

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”  Mother Teresa

“There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved.  It is God’s finger on man’s shoulder.”  Charles Morgan

“Love has no desire but o fulfill itself.  To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.  To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”  Kahlil Gibran

“I hold it true, whatev’er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.”  Alfred Tennyson

“Love at first sigh is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.”  Amy Bloom

“If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack.  If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough.”  Ann Landers

“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.”  Antoine De Saint-Exupery

“Love and kindness are never wasted.  They always make a difference.  They bles the ne who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”  Barbara De Angelis

“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”  Bible – I Corinthians 13:4-8

“Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”  Dale Evans

“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.”  Anonymous

“Love is not blind; it simply enables one to see things others fail to see.”  Anonymous

Quotes for Religion and Faith:

“True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.”  Albert Einstein

“There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.”  Albert Einstein

“Patience with others is Love,
Patience with self is Hope,
Patience with God is Faith.”  Adel Bestavros

“Before God we are all equally wise – and equally foolish.”  Albert Einstein

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”  George Seaton

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.  I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”  Mother Teresa

“A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.”  Carl Sandburg

“True religion, like our founding principles, requires that the rights of the disbeliever be equally acknowledged with those of the believer.”  A. Powell Davies

“The problem to be faced is:  how to combine loyalty to one’s own tradition with reverence for different traditions.”  Abraham Joshua Heschel

“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad.  That’s my religion.”  Abraham Lincoln

Quotes for Death and Grief:

“Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.”  Amelia Burr

“People living deeply have no fear of death.”  Anais Nin

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”  From a headstone in Ireland

“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er fraught heart and bids it break.”  William Shakespeare

“Sorrow makes us all children again – destroys all differences of intellect.  The wisest know nothing.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”  C. S. Lewis

“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them.  The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.”  Rita Mae Brown

“Grief can’t e shared.  Everyone carries it alone, his own burden, his own way.”  Anne Morrow Lindbergh

“Even hundredfold grief is divisible by love.”  Jareb Teague

Quotes for Success:

“Take up one idea.  Make that one idea you life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.  Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone.  This is the way to success, that is the way great spiritual giants are produced.”  Swami Vivekananda

“Life is a succession of moments.  To live each one is to succeed.”  Corita Kent

“The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.  The sure-thing boat never gets far from the shore.” Dale Carnegie

“There are three ingredients in the good life:  learning, earning and yearning.”  Christopher Morley

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”  Vincent T. Lombardi

“Success is a journey, not a destination.”  Ben Sweetland

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”  Abraham Lincoln

“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”  Albert Einstein

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck sows a poverty of ambition.  It asks to little of yourself.  And it will leave you unfulfilled.”  Barack Obama

“There are no gains without pains.”  Benjamin Franklin

“Yesterday I dare to struggle.  Today I dare to win.”  Bernadette Devlin

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.”  David Brinkley

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”  George Sheehan

“Action is the foundational key to all success.”  Pablo Picasso

There is one last thought I would like to leave you with, and it is possibly the most important and famous inspirational quote of all times —Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

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So, you’re asking how to crochet a hat, well before you begin you’ll need a few supplies:  Crochet hook, yarn or crochet thread, yarn needle and a pattern.

Crochet hooks come in many sizes, small hooks for crocheting fine doilies, tablecloths, etc are numbered the finest being size 00.  For yarn crocheting the hooks are a bit larger and sized from A to K for yarns from fine baby yarn to chunky yarns.  Even larger hooks are available for crocheting loose Afghans, and rag rugs.  The size crochet hook will be determined by the pattern and by the gauge of the crochet sample.  You also have many material options in hook materials.  Steel, plastic, bamboo, comfort handles, glow in the dark hooks, lighted hooks… and if you can find one they come in whale bone too.

The yarn weight and amount needed will be determined by the pattern, if you are not using the yarn specified by the pattern, you may want to speak with the sales clerk at your yarn store about converting the pattern.

Yarn needles need only have an eye large enough to thread your yarn through, can be found in both metal and plastic.

Before you begin your project check your gauge.  Gauge is a measurement requirement to insure that the finished crocheted piece will be the correct size when it is completed. On most patterns if you crochet a 6 inch square of double crochet (dc) you will be able to verify your crochet work.  But it is always wise to check your specific pattern.  If your gauge piece doesn’t match the pattern gauge, increase or decrease the hook size to find the correct gauge.

Crochet terms you’ll need to know:

• Chain – ch
• Single crochet – sc
• Double crochet – dc
• Treble crochet – tc
• Slip Stitch – sl st
• Stitch – st
• Decrease – dec
• Stitches together – sts tog
• Main Color (yarn) – mc

Don’t know how to crochet, for easy to learn crocheting basics go to crochet.about.com/library/blbeginners.htm for step by step photo tutorial.  You can also find free crochet hat patterns on these websites:

www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.php the is a ‘Lovely Lace Hat’ on this site that would be stunning done in a metallic yarn for evening wear.

www.allcrafts.net/crochet/crochethats.htm 400+ patterns, including retro patterns from the 1917 to 1940.  Also a good source for quick crochet patterns.

www.headhuggers.org/patterns/patterns.htm this site has a some very attractive patterns

www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/index.shtml this site has not only hat patterns, but patterns for just about anything else you could want to crochet

Now that you know how to crochet a hat!  Lets get crocheting!

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Fortunately, there are answers. Learning these simple tips will not only make you a better student and note-taker, but also a better student overall. What you need to do is adopt a different, and more intense, reading strategy.

There are two basic strategies that I want to introduce to you. The first is called SQ3R, and the second is called the Cornell Method.

When you read using SQ3R, you are doing 5 distinct steps: Scanning the text, writing questions based on headings, subheadings, and vocabulary words, reading in detail, “reciting” them via oral review with friends or classmates, and then reviewing the answers before your test.

Here’s what you’d have to do: first, quickly speed read or scan the text you’re responsible for. You want to look for the types of information that are contained in the textbook, and to get a feel for where the text is going. While doing this, take every subheading or vocabulary word and write it out on a separate piece of paper in the form of a question (leave plenty of room for the answers). For instance, if a subheading says “Effects of the American Civil War on the Southern United States,” then you would write a question that asks “What were the effects of the American Civil War on the Southern United States?” Yes, it’s that easy. Once you have all the questions written down, read through each separate section, and answer all of those questions in paragraph form, in your own words. When you finish a chapter, look it over, either alone, or with friends or classmates, and then review it again before the test.

This is a lot more work than what most students would be doing, but it’s worthwhile because when you do this, you’re practically guaranteed to learn the information so well that you hardly need to study at all come the final exam.

The second method of studying is called the Cornell Method, named after Cornell University where it was first used. In this method, you divide your paper into two columns, leaving a few lines blank near the end of the page. Take notes as normal in the right hand column, and write a summary of each section at the bottom of the page. The left hand side is to be used to write practice questions based on the information that is directly opposite of it in your notes. When practicing, you can flip your notes over and then practice answering the questions. If you need clarification, you can simply turn over the page, and the answer will be right there!

Both of these methods will help you for one major reason: you’re effectively creating your own study guide while you work. Most students would do the reading throughout the semester and create a study guide only at the end, but as you work, you’re developing a list of the questions that you are likely to be asked, and practicing answering them along the way. This makes for a tremendously effective method of studying.

Both of these methods will make you spend more time reading the material, but if you learn how to increase your reading speed, then the difference will be negligible.

Now, it should be noted that these methods are not only useful for college students, or summer school students. Anyone can make use of this method of studying and reading. If you’re a parent, then teaching this to your children could significantly help their achievement in school. While many will be reluctant to do this at first, particularly because the methods seem like more work, if they use it, you should notice that they know the information much better, and will hardly have to study at all for tests and quizzes.

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So what causes this depression?  That answer depends on who you speak with, some will tell you that there is one of a million different causes, while another person will tell you that they are unsure as to what causes it.  One thing we do know for sure is that the world we live in can be a difficult place to wake each day.  As mothers, many of us know all to well what effects depression can have on a family.  Though we do not have the luxury of hiding, crying or wishing it away.  No, we instead have to be strong, we have to make ourselves be better for our kids, our husbands, our family.

One mother can carry the wait of an entire family, career and world on her shoulders when her family is in the room and as they leave, its almost as if that same woman was weakest being on the planet.  There were times when I found myself crying for hours on end and wanting to be left alone, even the idea of taking my own life came into my mind a few times, I never knew where to turn for help.  When I tried to talk to my husband he told me to get over it, he didn’t understand that it jst wasn’t that easy of a thing to get over, how do you stop feeling as though you hate everything.

I kept telling myself that I needed to get some help, if for nothing more than so I could be around for my husband and my children.  I love my family, they are my world and I didn’t want our family to crumble because I wouldn’t take the time to get the help that I needed.   Eventually, I went to my doctor and explained to her how I had been feeling, how much I had been crying, not sleeping and how I just felt like everything was falling down around me.  My doctor was able to give me some options as to what I could do to control this disease, I took her advice and went with a medication that, in a short amount of time, made my life a whole lot better.

These days I am nowhere near as emotional as I was then, I can actually sleep at night.   One of my concerns was that my prescription would make me a little loony, not that I don’t like space cadets, I just don’t want to be one.  Some people told me that the medication would have adverse effects, though in my case I have suffered from none of those.

It is a wonderful thing to know that I can now relax and enjoy life, because life is just so short.  You never realize that until you actually live it.  If any of you feel bad and  want to hide from your life, I encourage you to take the time and see your doctor, allow someone to step in and help you just as I did.  Allow yourself to live life to its fullest and never look back!

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So how do we let go of this hardship and separation anxiety?  The reality is that you can’t, but you can make sure that your child is prepared both mentally and emotionally to begin the new school year.  We as parents are crucial tools in developing our children’s mental aptitude and there is no time like the present to get started.

Most parents tend to think that you can just put your kids in kindergarten and they will learn all they need to know with no effort on their part, well that is not the case anymore.  Now days kids need to be ready for kindergarten.  Children are supposed to know their letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and even how to write their names before entering.  When we were kids, we just went to school and learned all that from the teachers.  We were able to have fun in kindergarten and enjoy it, but now the schools are often so worried about kids knowing every little thing that kids just don’t get to have the same fun that we did in school.

Looking back to when I was in kindergarten, I can remember having story time and painting, short naps and milk breaks.  We also had a lot of time to interact with the other kids, which was crucial to developing interpersonal skills.  Now kids are learning how to multiply and are doing fractions, spelling and the like.  I didn’t do any of that when I was five, hadn’t even come close to anything similar.  In fact, I don’t believe that even learned how to multiply until I was in the third grade at least.  The comment argument is that there is just  way to much pressure on such young minds in school right now,  it’s no wonder kids want to dropout and what about the parents, often working a couple different jobs just to stay afloat and still manage to find the time to teach you children the things our teachers should be teaching.

Nonetheless, this is the way of school is in many states and to truly give your child a good start in school, you have to take the time to sit down with them and teach them what they need to know.   Most kids are good with shapes and colors and most can say there ABC’s but being able to tell what a letter or a number is, might be a different story.

Flash cards are a great way to get kids started on knowing their letters and numbers.  Sure, it is going to take time, nothing ever happens right away, and it will take patients so please be patient with them.  It is so hard on a little kid to be pressured and make sure when they do something or try and do something that you give them praise for that. Try to teach them how school will be, make them as prepared as possible before sending them off to grow up on their own.

Teaching them little things like how to listen to the teacher and raising your hand before you can speak will make a world of difference in the development of your child.  Be sure to instruct them of classroom etiquate, like not talking to the other kids while the teacher is talking and so on, kids have a difficult time knowing what they should and shouldn’t do in school.

What are your tips for preparing a child for kindergarten?  Share them with us in the comment section below.

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Surprisingly, the biggest problem most people face is not getting their business started, but rather deciding what type of business they want to run. Developing ideas requires creativity and a lot of you just haven’t tapped into that right side of the brain yet. Well, now you don’t have to, because I have done all of the work for you, just check out the ideas below, there’s something for everyone, or check out our other article with some great ways for teens to make money if you are to young for these ideas.

57 Home Based Business Ideas:

Caution… this incredible list of home based business ideas may cause your brain to go into overdrive! Please proceed with caution as you discover that there is an opportunity just waiting for you.

Running Website(s) – Well this is easily one of my favorite home based businesses and of course one I take part in on a regular basis. You read a lot of fluff on the Internet about the perils of running websites, but it is much easier than they say and very cost effective to get started. Finding a niche to target will more than likely make or break your chances here, so do your research and you will be rewarded.  You could even run online directories in any niche, like helping someone find a real estate agent for example.

Landscaping/Yard Work – Landscaping can be a very profitable home based business. You can build your business to serve homeowners, businesses or even both. Some of the popular jobs would include mowing, weed eating, tree trimming, debris removal, irrigation repairs and installation and during the winter, many landscapers make their money with snow removal. If you love being outdoors and don’t mind a little hard work, owning your very own landscaping business may be the way to go. Here are some tips to get your landscaping business started.

House Cleaning/Maid Service – While cleaning up after others may not be for everyone, the job does come with instant gratification. After cleaning your heart out for a little while you can look back and say “Wow, this place looks great! What a difference my work made.” Really that is what owning your own business is about, feeling good about what you have accomplished. On top of that, cleaning businesses do make good money once you build up a list of clients. Here is some information to get your cleaning service started.

Computer Repair – If you are the tech junkie type and love working with computers, owning your own home based computer business would be a great opportunity. You can do mobile computer repairs and diagnostics along with offering training on specific programs and new computer installations. You should be able to find new customers through Craigslist, local newspapers and other forms of advertising.

Pool Cleaning Service – The best candidate for running a pool cleaning service would certainly be someone in a warmer maybe tropical climate that would allow you to maintain your company throughout the year. You would need a certain level of knowledge in the field, knowing how to change out pumps and filters, testing ph levels and things like that.

Freelance Web Designer – If you have a special talent for building websites, creating logos and graphics and love the Internet, a freelance web design business is the way to go. Have you seen the prices some companies charge to build even the most simple websites? Plus web design serves as an outlet to unleash your creativity.

Automotive Repair – The automotive business always seems to be booming and mechanics make very good money. If you you have the desire and knowledge to work on cars and trucks but don’t have the space at your home to do so, you might consider starting a mobile car repair service and take the work to them. On top of being convenient for the customer you can also charge more money.

Pet Sitter/Doggy Daycare – If you have a large enough home, no allergies and love animals here is a fun business. Imagine people dropping off their pets for you to play with and watch over while they work, then you get paid for it, does it get much better than that? The key here is advertising, office places apartment communities anywhere you can find busy people with pets. Here is some information for starting your doggy daycare.

Daycare Service – This is especially great for stay at home moms that obviously have experience taking care of their children and would like to make some money for doing it. Of course that’s not to say that you dad’s can’t do it to, just don’t make a run for it when little Timmy does a number 2. Most states will require you to have a license for this so check your local laws before beginning. Here is some information on starting your own day care service.

Selling on Ebay – The online auction giant, Ebay.com, has made many millionaires and built hundreds if not thousands of successful businesses. People sell everything from antiques to electronics to the kitchen sink(literally), and there is an ample supply of customers. If you love working from home and don’t mind offering a little customer service, Ebay might be worth a shot. Here are some tips for starting your own Ebay business.

Home Typist/Transcriber – This is a highly sought work from home job and most of the work or leads that you do find tend to be scams, junk or whatever else you want to call it. If you are a great typist and interested in starting a home based business in this field, I would suggest checking out Rat Race Rebellion for some legit opportunities.

Dog Walker – This is a particularly great business opportunity for those of you that live in large metropolitan cities, I am thinking New York right now, but there are others as well. Dog walking is pretty easy, great exercise and fun too. Aside from that, this is an easy busy to start. Try hanging some fliers in local apartment and office buildings, you can even pass them out on the street or bus to busy professionals.

On-Site Car Cleaning – A little fun in the sun anyone? This is actually something you don’t see to often, which is what makes it such a great market. People would find it a huge time saver if you came to their work and washed their care without them losing a minute of productivity. You could even setup a stand at local malls or shopping centers offering to wash their car while they shop. I would suggest getting yourself some liability insurance, should a scratch show up.

Elderly Care – Growing old is a sad part of life, but it happens and sometimes the elderly need a little help. This would be a great business opportunity for registered nurses interested in starting a home based business, though if you are offering standard care services a nursing background is not necessary. Aside from in home health care, you can also just run errands and maybe most importantly just be a great companion, which is sometimes all they need.

Property Maintenance – Have you ever wondered who picks up the garbage in a shopping center parking lot, or who straightens the signs and patches the potholes? In most cases it is a property maintenance company and they usually hit the property for cleaning and inspection in the early hours of the morning before you and I go shopping. This is a pretty easy business to start because you can simply go to local properties, look for a lease sign on a vacancy and call the number. The person who answers will usually be the property manager and then just offer your services at a great rate.

Vacation Planner – You talk about fun! Try building a home based business around arranging the perfect vacations for your clients. They pay you a fee to schedule flights, hotels, rental cars and even dinner reservations. What about a helicopter ride over the grand canyon followed by a perfect dinner at the hottest restaurant in L.A., you can make that happen. Once you get your name out there, try to cater to the rich and famous with exclusive trips and Lamborghini rentals.

Sales Representative – Chances are that you have probably heard of companies like Avon and Tupperware, but maybe you think there is no money to be made. The fact is that some Avon Reps. make a very good living selling Avon products, if you have an uncanny ability to sell anything, this may be a great business idea for you.

Business Consultant – Those of you that have a proven track record for running businesses and/or hold a college degree in the business and finances field, might consider becoming a business consultant for other less knowledgeable business owners. Consultants are usually paid very well and there is an endless supply of new customers, if you can find them.

Personal Shopper – Its important to note that in order to run a successful personal shopper business, you should not only love shopping but also have a great sense of style and current trends to really wow your customers.  Although personal shoppers don’t have to stop at clothes, you could shop for antiques, foreign specialty products like Belgium Chocolate(yummy)  and anything else people want.

Interior Designer – Do you have an eye for style and a taste for flair? Why not put your creative visions to work in your very own interior design business. While schooling may benefit you in the beginning in regards to getting new clients, it will eventually boil down to your talents and passion for the beautiful. Oh and in case you were wondering, interior designers get paid very well.

Wedding Planner – A wedding is often said to be the best day in many peoples lives and you can make that day even better and more memorable for the lucky couple and their guests.  Wedding planners often work out every detail from the beginning all the way through the honeymoon, to make a magical day seem almost effortless.  If you have style, passion and an eye for detail, maybe this business is for you.

Handyman Service – Homeowners are always looking for someone to make repairs around the house. If you have the skills and tools to fix anything, starting your own handyman service is a good idea. Repairs can range from appliances to drywall and flooring, so there will never be a dull moment.

Music Teacher – Are you musically gifted and love to teach others your extraordinary talent?  There are people out there interested in learning every instrument imaginable and you can get paid to teach them in the comfort of your own home.

Tutor Service – This job would work extremely well if you live in a college town and of course if you are really good at a certain subject, math for example.  Try advertising your one on one tutoring services on Craigslist to see if you get any hits.  You might also want to advertise in the newspaper and on college bulletin boards.

Sewing/Alterations – Can you get creative with a needle and rock that sewing machine? If you already have the know how, a sewing and alterations business may be the way to go. If your talent allows it, try going for higher priced jobs like custom wedding gowns to bring in the bigger bucks. You might consider advertising your services in the newspaper, online classifieds, website and print magazines.

Window Washer – For a while there I used to get paid to wash windows in business complexes and indoor at the local malls.  The work couldn’t have been easier and the pay was surprisingly good, often bringing in around $350 for an entire business park, which would take roughly 12 hours by myself.

Freelance Writing – I have very little bad things to say about freelance writing, in fact it was my main source of income when I started working from home. The pay was great and the work was fun and rewarding, but I will tell you that it can be difficult when you are first starting out. There is a lot of competition so finding writing jobs can be difficult at first, so just really focus on getting your name out there and make as many contacts as you can. Actually, if you just want to get a few articles under you belt you might be able to guest write on this blog.

Janitorial Service – This lands right up there with the last home based business idea of window washing.  Get yourself a business license and start contacting local property owners with your janitorial services.  I suggest calling the competition in your area to see what they are charging, undercut their prices a bit to get a few jobs and some exposure, then start pricing your work competitively.

Event Planner – You might be amazed to find out just how many people are looking for event planning services.  Imagine planning a wedding or huge birthday bash for a lucky someone and getting paid for it.

Buying and Selling Domains – A lot of entrepreneurs are making great money buying and selling domain names, since they are such a hot commodity these days.  Some people say nay, but you can still register some great domains, you should also check out the webmaster forums for plenty of great deals to get business rolling.

Pet Grooming – If you don’t mind smelling wet dogs and chasing after upset kitty cats this may be the perfect home based business for you to get involved with.  You can buy a van and offer mobile services, or simply allow people to drop off their pets for a day of pampering, while the owner gets a little peace and quiet.

Artist/Crafter – Believe it or not, I actually work as an artist in my spare time creating one of a kind golf gifts for people around the country.  But even if you don’t have the strongest artistic ability you can still make money creating and selling simple crafts at local fairs, flea markets and even online through services such as ebay.com and craigslist.org.  Pick up a crafting book from your local library and see how many cool things you can make in your spare time.

Application / Software Developer – If you have the skills in this industry, there are a lot of people looking for them!  People are making millions of dollars developing Facebook apps and various types of personal and commercial software these days.  Hmm, come to think of it, I could use a good data encryption software.

Home Inspector – Sure it takes a license in most states, but home inspectors can make some very good money and in most cases they work as much or as little as they want.  As the real estate market continues to rebuild itself, home inspectors are going to be more in demand, which means more work for those of you that get in on it.

Junk Hauler/Recycler - Do you have an old pickup truck sitting around rusting to pieces?  Why not put it to work and start making some money by hauling junk.  Collect scrap metal to recycle it for cash, haul garbage for people to the dump, and even just offer odd jobs such as yard debris removal.

Flip Websites – Setup some good website hosting, I have a great vps through Geek Storage, and start buying websites.  Build some new links to them, do a quick redesign, add a little advertising and when they make a bit of money sell them off for a large profit.  You can sell these websites in popular webmaster forums or on ebay.

House Painter – This is especially good business during the summer months, though you can offer interior painting year round.  A business license, van or truck and the willingness to work is all you need for this home based business.

Grocery Delivery – There are a lot of opportunities when running a grocery delivery business, so don’t just offer your services to the elderly. Try marketing your services to busy professionals and even college students to expand your customer base. Be sure that if beer and cigarettes are on the list that you verify their age, buying for minors will get you shut down quick.  Of course you could always recommend that they quit smoking, use these smoking facts, though that may hurt your business.

Bed and Breakfast – This is really only an option for those of you that have really nice, and spacious, homes.  Preferably out in the country with beautiful views of something other than a freeway, but if you have that and are willing to let people into your home, you can make some money at it.

Animal Breeder – Turn down the lights, play some soft music and let the love happen!  Only joking, but seriously, breeders make some very good money, have you seen the price of a pure bred puppy these days.  Besides that, there is hardly any work involved in it for you, the dogs have to do it all, you just need to set the mood.

Landlord/Rentals – Have you ever given any thought about buying rental properties for some residual income?   If you have good credit, or the funds needed to buy a rental property you can get going fairly quickly, now is a great time to own rental properties since many people just don’t have the money to buy a new home.  In fact, if you have any vancouver wa real estate for rent, let me know!

Virtual Assistant – This is a great job and one of the ways I really broke into the online working world.  I started out with big dreams of making money online, just as everyone does I suppose, but when it didn’t work out I began working as a virtual assistant for people overseas.  It was a great opportunity for me to get my feet wet, so to speak, and learn a little before moving forward with my own projects.  I was making around $3000 per month doing the virtual assistant gig, so not to bad at all.  You can usually find webmasters in the forums that are looking for a good “va”, just keep your eyes open for an opportunity.

Personal Organizer - This is one of those home based businesses that I just couldn’t do, but I might hire someone else to do it for me!   Needless to say I could use a bit of organizational education, though if you are a well organized person, why not make some money off of people like me?

Bounty Hunter/Bail Bondsmen – Now here is a fun business to get started.  Imagine getting paid to chase fugitives and kick in doors, I think I missed my calling!  Most states do require a license for this, however, depending on the state it can be really easy to get licensed.  Some states only require that you pay like a fifty dollar fee and fill out a paper, while others require a certain amount of training hours.  Check with your local law enforcement for some tips to get started.

Instructor or Coach – There are a lot of people out there that want to learn new things, probably new things that you know how to do, like playing an instrument, cooking, sewing, auto repair, boating, I mean the ideas here are endless.  If you are really good at something, there may just be a market for your gift.

Public Notary – I can’t imagine that they make a whole lot of money, but being a notary has got to be one of the easiest jobs I have ever seen.  Now you do need some licensing, but once you get that you can watch someone sign a paper, go over the paperwork and stamp it.  Sounds good to me, worth looking into anyways.

Gift Basket Business – Gift baskets sell really well year round, but even better around the holidays.  Most of the products you stock the baskets with can be bought wholesale, if you have a business license, but you could also use homemade items such as homemade soaps and perfumes to add a more personal, unique touch to each basket.  The Internet would certainly be a great way to market your baskets, but you could also place fliers in shopping centers and around town.

Become a Blogger – Running a blog is all the rage these days, heck even I run blogs, take this self improvement blog for example.  Why start a blog?  Well, blogs aren’t just for personal thoughts any more, now days it has become the “to do” thing for virtually every business we come across.  It is an excellent way to drive traffic and make money  via advertising, email marketing and many more methods.

Horse Boarding – Do you have a big open property and a stable/barn?  How about boarding other peoples horses for a while to make some cash.  There are a lot of people looking for a good place to leave their horses and they are willing to pay well for the service, maybe you could give it a shot.  Try placing some advertisements in your local feed shops and similar stores along with advertising online through Craigslist, feed and tach websites and so on.

Catering Service – Will all great chefs please step forward!  Here is the perfect opportunity for everyone who loves to cook to finally run their very own home based business.  The catering business will always be around and in fact will continue to grow as Americans find less and less time to do these types of things on their own.  There are a lot of different routes to take with this business, that might be large function/gathering catering, small scale catering(small parties etc.), a combination of both and then there are even opportunities like owning a food truck that delivers to job sites and so forth, believe it or not they make pretty good money.

Financial Consultant -People are now and always will be bad with money, numbers and anything remotely similar to these.  Your inner entrepreneur should be telling you that this is a perfect opportunity to capitalize on these types of people.  What could be better, they need help with finances and you need to increase your finances, its a match made in heaven.

Disk Jockey(DJ) – Only those who love music need apply.  Surprisingly, being a disk jockey isn’t all that easy.  There is a lot of competition out there, which means that you need to be a good dj, you have to know your music, love the nightlife and knowing one or two club promoters wouldn’t hurt either.  The best way to start in this business is just to get your name out there, post up fliers, start a website, cold call some nightclubs, try out at some open mic competitions, anywhere you can get your foot in the door, take it.

Process Server – Have you been a bad boy or girl and not payed your bills or been sued?  If you have, then there is a good chance that you have had a run in with a process server at some point.  Thats right, they are the ones that track you down and serve papers to you, they serve as a witness to show proof in court that you did in fact receive the papers you were sent.  Some states allow you to freelance this position, often paying around $20 to $30 for each paper served.  It is a great way to make some money and work for yourself.

Affiliate Marketing – Oh, affiliate marketing!  Personally, I am not a huge fan of affiliate marketing, all of my money is made through advertising and I do like that, but affiliate marketers tend to bother me sometimes with their poorly though out emaiol campaigns and marketing pitches.   But hey, what doesn’t work for one person, makes dreams come tru for another and there is no denying that you can strike it rich with this line of work.  I highly suggest that you travel around the web and learn as many tips and tricks as you can, there is more than enough information out there to get you started.

Personal Trainer – Every where you turn, you are bound to find at least one person who wishes they were in better shape, probably a lot more than only one person.  The diet and health niche is one of the most profitable and fastest growing industries out there, hence why we constantly see new diet products popping up on an almost daily basis, I mean come on people, diet spray?  It doesn’t get much stranger than that, but guess what, that stuff sells, people are willing to try anything to lose some weight and get in shape.  You don’t need your own gym to become a personal trainer, you can train your clients at the same local gym that you use, in fact the gym may pay you to train their clients.  This is a great business for the fitness oriented individual.

Mobile Photographer – If you have the skills with a camera you can bet there are people out there willing to buy your services.  Imagine cruising around to weddings and other big parties taking pictures and having a good time, sounds like a great career to me.  You will most likely want to do your own developing and own your own equipment to make the most money in this business, photo developing can get pricey.  It would be even better if you have a way to film the footage and offer a dvd of their big day as well.

Flip Houses – We have all seen the tv shows, you know the ones, Flip This House and Flip That House.  Even if you haven’t seen the shows, you have undoubtedly heard people talking about how much money house flippers are making, even in a upset real estate market.  Now, the truth is that not anyone can make money in the house flipping arena, you are going to need some skills to be truly successful.  Experience in construction and project management would be a big plus, even real estate agents would have the upper hand, but if you don’t quite have these skills just yet, don’t worry, just do your research and move forward slowly.

So there you have it folks, a whole bunch of great home based business examples to get your gears moving and the ideas flowing.  Try to build on the list, or an individual idea to make your next business unique and profitable.  Good luck and here is to being an entrepreneur!

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I was completely shocked and had absolutely no idea of what was going to happen.  I called my parents and they were pretty upset for a little bit but they got over it, just as most parents do.  I was married at the time but the man I was with left me for another woman.  I was destroyed!   I didn’t no where to turn at the time because not only was I pregnant, but now I had to deal with a jerk who could care less about me and the baby.  For those of you that have never been in this situation, it is very difficult and one of the worst things I have ever experienced.

I was crying a lot.  I ended up in the hospital six times for high blood pressure which scared me tremendously since I didn’t know if my son was going to be okay or not.  I remember my sister having to watch over me while my parents were gone just in case I needed to go to the hospital again.  Then I went to the doctor for a regular check up and he wanted me to have yet another ultra sound which showed that my son was not developing the way he should have been.  By that I mean, I was supposed to be at 35 weeks gestation and he was only measuring 32 weeks gestation, so not good.

I guess he wasn’t getting the nutrition that he needed so he was smaller than normal and the majority of the problem was being caused by my blood pressure problem.  Now, don’t go assuming that I was heavy and that’s why I had high blood pressure, because in fact I had only gained about 6 pounds during the whole pregnancy, which is not much at all.

After that I went and saw another ultra sound specialist and my blood pressure was up yet again so the doctor told the specialist to do a amniocentesis,

Amniocentesis is a prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus and is tested. The sample of amniotic fluid (less than one ounce) is removed through a fine needle inserted into the uterus through the abdomen, under ultrasound guidance. The fluid is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Different tests can be performed on a sample of amniotic fluid, depending on the genetic risk and indication for the test.

according to WebMD.

So it turned out that his lungs were good so they gave me medicine to induce labor which I hated I was in labor for twelve hours . By no means was it as bad as some labors but to me it was because I was horribly sick to my stomach.  I couldn’t sleep and was just miserable at that point. The following morning my doctor came in and checked me and found I hadn’t progressed at all so he told me that I could go on for three days like I was and hope to go into full labor or I could have a c-section so I opted for the c-section because I was so tired. C-sections are not bad at all.

They gave me a epidural in my spine so I wouldn’t feel a thing and all I did was lay there and waited until I heard my son cry.  Let me say what I said then, “you never know you could love someone so much until you look at your own child”.  I was so excited to finally see my little boy.  He was so little he only weighed 4lbs 10oz.  I considered him my little football because he was about the size of one.  Having been through all of this, I felt that I could offer my parenting advice to other parents:

• If you find out your pregnant and you smoke, you need to quit, I did.  These smoking facts should help you want to quit.

• Follow the directions your doctor gives you very closely for the health of your child.

• Nutrition is very important try to eat healthy.  I had a hard time with that but here are some ideas on how to make diet shakes.

• Make sure to take all prenatal vitamins.

• After your child is born you will freak out about a lot but don’t feel bad. Mothers all over the world do it to you are not the only one.

• When you are done feeding your baby make sure to burp them because if you don’t you are in for a lot of crying because the gas buildup in there tummy hurts a lot.

• If your baby spits up a lot and I mean like projectile vomit where it gets all over everything, make sure you tell your doctor because there could be an underlying problem.

• Sleep whenever you get a chance because if your baby was like my son he woke every two hours and I still had to get up and go to work after my maternity leave was over. It was hard but eventually he started to sleep through the night.  You might consider using some natural sleeping aids to help a little.

• Avoid pacifiers if you can because they become a security thing for some kids and they won’t let go of them . I had to take my sons away when he was two because it was impeding on his speech.

• The other thing to avoid is giving them a favorite blanket to carry around because my son is four now and he still wants to take his blanket with him places he is like Linus from Charlie Brown.

• Do not let your baby sleep in your bed because they do get used to it and you can’t get them out of your bed once you start doing it. I never listened to my mom when she told me the same thing and now my daughter keeps wanting to sleep in my bed.

• Always remember to take time out for yourself and your significant other because the health of your own relationship is important.  Of course if you are looking for someone, you can try our online dating tips, who knows maybe its your turn for love.

• Make sure that you try and just get out by yourself there is nothing like having time alone to yourself. It helps you to relax.

Just make sure you always show your children lots of love and no matter what they do they are still as precious as gold. You will never want to trade them for anything else even if you do think about it sometimes. No matter what, your children will always look up to you and love you so make sure that you show them how to be a great parent because someday they just might be a parent too.

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