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Signs that you Might be the “Default” Parent

There is a somewhat controversial article going around the internet about the “default” parent. Some people seem to relate to what it talks about. Others seem to feel that the concept does not (or should not) exist. What’s a “default” parent? Why is this concept generating online drama? Here are some signs that you might be the “default” parent in your household. Writer M. Blazoned wrote a post titled The Default Parent on her blog. It has been cross-posted to Huffington Post. It is well worth taking the time to read. The comments left on her blog are, for the … Continue reading →

Fun and Affordable Dad’s Day Gifts

He may say that all he wants for Father’s Day is a long nap, but if you have young children at home, they’ll want to give Dad more than some quiet time on Sunday. Put your kids’ energy and enthusiasm to good use by having them assist you make the following easy, affordable and fun Father’s Day gifts: POTATO STAMP SHIRT Materials: One white t-shirt Large piece of cardboard Bag of large potatoes Cookie cutters (use shapes that will match dad’s interests, including dogs, trains, stars, sailboats, hearts, balls, or letters that spell out special words, such as “love” or … Continue reading →

Medi-Cal and the Affordable Care Act

Part of the Affordable Care Act includes the ability for states to choose to expand their Medicaid program. In California, the program is called Medi-Cal. There have been problems with this program in the past. Here is a brief summary of what California is planning to do in regards to the expansion. In December of 2012, a U.S. Court of Appeals made a decision about a situation that had been going on since sometime in 2009. The state of California cut the reimbursement rate for doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who treated patients who were covered by Medi-Cal. … Continue reading →

Senator Rubio Resigns to Spend More Time With Family

California Senator Michael Rubio, a Democrat, has resigned his position. The main purpose for doing so appears to be an interest in being able to spend more time with his family. He and his wife have two daughters, one of whom has Down Syndrome. The former Senator has taken a job with Chevron. I imagine that it would be quite difficult to be a Senator and to find a way to balance that with family life. I am certain that parents, of any profession, face that same challenge. However, when a parent who is not a public figure changes jobs … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable President’s Day Fun

Having your kids home from school on Presidents’ Day may not sound like a ton of fun for busy parents, but with a few holiday-themed projects to keep them busy, the third Monday in February can be an exciting time. Rather than use Lincoln Logs to build a replica of Abe’s cherished cabin, spice up the construction by using pretzels.  All you need is a paper plate, a small, empty milk carton, some vanilla frosting, a bunch of three-inch pretzel rods, some green gum drops, and a butter knife.  To make the edible cabin, spread generous amounts of the white … Continue reading →

The First Signs of Spring

Yesterday, I saw my first sure sign of spring:  Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens replaced their Valentine’s Day merchandise with all things Easter. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use a bit of spring-like weather.  Today’s high is 16 degrees.  That’s not the wind chill; that’s the actual air temperature. And no, I don’t live in Antarctica. Even if Mother Nature is not cooperating in your neck of the woods, you can spring into the first season of the year by gathering the family for a fun day of spring-themed crafting.  You don’t need a ton of money … Continue reading →

Signs of an Unhealthy Dating Relationship

One of the more challenging issues that parents have to deal with in raising teenagers is dating.  Ideally this is something your family discusses long before the time arrives. There are a couple of reasons this is important.  The first is that expectations are known ahead of time and can be clearly explained.  The second reason is that you can begin planting this information into your teen’s mind, before they start dating.  This avoids surprises. At the same time, be ready to make adjustments along the way.  I really thought I had it set in stone what the “rules” were … Continue reading →

5 Ways to Save on Gym Memberships and Workouts

Ready to fulfill those New Years Eve Resolutions for a healthier body and a more active lifestyle? Gym memberships are a great way to make a regular commitment with professional equipment and classes that are sure to keep you on track. Here are five ways to save money on a gym membership. 1. Negotiate the Gym Fee When you are considering making a commitment to a gym membership then it is time to speak up. Tell them that you are thinking about joining but want to save some money. The health club may go ahead and waive the sign up … Continue reading →

Five Signs that You Are Living Beyond Your Means

You could be living beyond your means and not realize it. Why is this a problem? Well, when we live beyond our means, we can quickly run up debt. This debt can snowball until it becomes hard to manage, a real crisis. That is why it is so important to recognize the early warning signs and make the changes that are necessary to get your finances back on track. Sometimes it seems as though you are supporting your lifestyle and don’t have a problem paying for anything. After all, your credit cards aren’t being turned down at the store, and … Continue reading →

Learning to Mix and Match

When it comes to designing scrapbook layouts, I tend to play it safe. I am not over-the-top matchy-matchy; however, I don’t take a ton of risks either. I stick with shades that are close together on the color wheel and I don’t stray too far from traditional shapes, sizes, patterns, and paper types. My goal for this holiday season is to be a bit bolder in my page designs. My local scrapbooking supply shop maintains that orange is going to be the “hot” color for 2013. The shop’s owner just returned from a huge scrapbooking convention where gray was proclaimed … Continue reading →