Activist Gives Tips For Successful Volunteering

If volunteerism is a measure of someone’s passion, then Lisa Sellman’s knows no bounds.

Sellman, a professional dog trainer and owner of a pet care business, volunteers periodically with no fewer than 16 different organizations, with her activities ranging from working at an animal shelter to taking disabled kids on nature hikes during the summer. She is a community activist and lifelong volunteer, and she knows what it means to serve others.

"If you want to feel good, volunteer," said Sellman, also author of the children’s book The Legend of the Wolves of Gunflint Lake (www.lisasellman.com), which contains the theme of the value of community service.

"There are few ways to feel as good about yourself as volunteering. Now, I realize that many of us are wrapped up with work and family, trying to make ends meet, so the idea of volunteering can seem like it’s just another ‘have-to’ to write into the already crowded calendar. However, I know for a fact that if you do it right, it can be a great stress reliever and a source of true joy in your life."

The key to discovering that feeling is to let your passion guide you when you decide to volunteer, she added. Her tips for beginning volunteers include:

Choose Wisely – Many people get "roped into" volunteering for an organization because their boss is involved with a charity or a family member is working on a community project. Those can be rewarding ways to enter volunteerism, but only if the project is a match for your personal interests. The most important aspect to volunteerism is to find what you love, and direct your energies into a charity or community organization that matches those passions. If you’re an animal lover, work with a wildlife rescue mission or animal shelter. If you are a nature buff, there are plenty of environmental foundations that can use an extra set of hands. If sports is your thing, there are plenty of community recreation centers that need coaches for needy kids enrolled in their programs. No matter your interest, you can match it to a cause that needs help. Just pick the right one, and your volunteer time won’t be a chore – it will be a joy.

Watch Your Schedule – As much as you want your passion to direct your choice of project, you don’t want those volunteer projects to rule your schedule. Make sure you balance your volunteer time carefully so that your professional life and your family time doesn’t take a critical hit. Most organizations will take as much time as you offer them, but if you only have an hour or two each week, they’ll take that time, too. Your volunteer life should not consume your work or home life.

Have Fun – Helping others is its own reward, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. Even the most mundane task can be fun if you manage it with a sense of humor and passion for helping others.

"You don’t have to spend a lot of time as a volunteer," Sellman said. "If everyone gave even just an hour a week, every community organization in the country would be turning volunteers away, because they’d have more than enough. The key is to understand that volunteerism doesn’t have to take over your life, and that if you do it right, it will add far more to your spirit than it takes away from your calendar."

About Lisa Sellman

Lisa Sellman is a professional dog trainer and owner of a pet care business who volunteers for half a dozen charitable organizations. She believes that community service is its own reward, a message that resonates throughout her children’s book The Legend of the Wolves of Gunflint Lake. The book encourages parents and children to discuss being of service in the community and how this can lead to lives of compassion and connectedness. (www.lisasellman.com)

One-of-a-kind Website Takes the Guess Work Out of Safety Parameters for Young Kids and the Web

It’s a moment many parents are apprehensive about. Our little one learns how to navigate the mouse and becomes interested in using it. Before we know it they are online playing games, checking out their favorite websites, and will soon start interacting with friends and family via email. As exciting as this is for children, it opens a whole new world of worry for moms and dads. We give our kids helmets and training wheels while they learn to ride a bike; it should be similar with the Internet given all of its potential dangers!

A one-of-a-kind website takes the guess work out of safety parameters for young kids and the web. Zilladog.com is a guarded 100% safe Internet portal and email system that can be used at home or in schools. If you check out www.zilladog.com and it’s easy to see why kids and parents love it. Besides giving kids all their favorite games, websites, movies and entertainment at their fingertips, the site has a bevy of safety features that protect kids from predators and protects the family computer from contaminated spam, spyware, etc.

Just some of the state-of-the-art safety components include:

No links to 3rd party websites, rather only links to sites that have been reviewed by its staff of parents. When clicking on a 3rd party link in Zilladog.com you are not redirected on the Internet, rather the link opens up safely within the Zilladog.com website.

Zilladog uses a parent-approved buddy system for its email and chat service. You need to enter a parent password to approve a buddy for your child. This means when on the Zilladog.com website, your child will only be communicating with people they actually know and who have been approved by you, the parent.

The site was designed to automatically filter out inappropriate spam and unsolicited email. If you give your child an email with Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. they can easily receive a link to a contaminated virus. We all know pop-ups are widely common when “surfing” the Internet!

Now More Than Ever, Classrooms Need Parents : Teacher Offers Tips for Being the Best Volunteer Ever

As states continue to slash education budgets to accommodate declining tax revenues, schools respond by trying to squeeze even more out of their beleaguered teachers: class sizes grow, planning periods are cut, each student gets less attention.

What can we do? Project Appleseed, a non-profit public education advocate, is asking parents across the country to lend a hand in their child’s school on Nov. 17, its 18th annual National Parent Involvement Day. Not coincidentally, it falls during American Education Week, Nov. 13-19.

“Volunteers and adult assistants in classrooms make a huge difference, especially with schools and teachers under so much stress,” says Paddy Eger, a veteran teacher, parent trainer and volunteer, and author of Educating America 101: Strategies for Adult Assistants in K-8 Classrooms (www.paddyeger.com).



“With a little training and a handful of strategies, most adults can effectively assist both teachers and students," Eger says. “One hour a month or a week helping students is a small investment of time that has big returns.” 

Sometimes, however, the best-intentioned volunteers become yet another pair of hands tugging for attention on the teacher’s sleeve. Volunteers working with small groups of students, such as tutoring sessions, also risk wasting precious instructional time if they’re not prepared and don’t know how to manage the group.

In more than 20 years as a primary and intermediate grade teacher, Eger has developed a number of simple strategies that allow volunteers to both maximize their usefulness and minimize distractions to the teacher. Her suggestions don’t replace training provided by the school, since that’s tailored to the teachers’ needs, but they will greatly enhance time spent working directly with students.

They include:

If you have questions for the teacher: Schedule a meeting that’s not at a time when students are in the classroom. Do not expect to meet with the teacher unannounced for “just a minute.” Also, if the teacher provides materials for an activity, don’t expect him or her to walk you through it. Take time to read the directions and gather supplies days before your classroom visit.


Establish a consistent meeting place: If your group will meet regularly, ask the teacher before your first visit to help you establish a place that you can use every time you visit. Nothing kills an activity faster than spending valuable time looking for a place to work.


Choose your seat wisely: Don’t sit at one end of a rectangular table. Sitting in the middle seat along one side allows you to see all of the students and reach out to touch their work. It also makes you part of the group, and allows you to speak in a softer voice. For round tables, sit so you – not the students – face nearby tables or other distractions.


To help children become active listeners, don’t repeat questions: If the student says he doesn’t understand the question, ask him to repeat what he thinks he heard. If the student is still confused, ask another student to rephrase the question. Once again, ask the first student to repeat what he just heard.


Be prepared for a change in plans: Have a “pocket activity” ready in case a schedule change means you’ll have less time with the children. This is a simple game, such as a math or spelling game, or a book or news article that can be started or stopped at any time without losing its value.

Assistants, especially those who’ve taken the time to prepare, can have a big impact in a classroom, Eger says.

“Assistants provide the extra hands and help to gather materials, lead small groups, prepare enriching activities and manage day-to-day tasks,” Eger says.

“While they can’t solve all of the problems associated with drastic budget cuts, they can help ensure students feel as little of the sting as possible.”

About Paddy Eger:

Paddy Eger is a 20-year teacher from Washington State whose years as a trainer in the Parent Cooperative Education Program created the basis for her. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in elementary education.


4th Annual Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest

In addition to companionship, affection, love and company, a top benefit of owning pets includes teaching children responsibility. According to APPA’s 2011 / 2012 National Pet Owners Survey, 58 percent of small animal owners rank teaching children responsibilities as a key benefit in owning pets, followed by 44 percent of equine owners and 43 percent of reptile owners, reinforcing the idea that pet ownership is, in fact, a great teaching tool for children.

“It’s refreshing to see children not only helping to care for their pets, but learning valuable life lessons and responsibilities from them as well,” said Bob Vetere, president of APPA. “There are so many joys and benefits pets of all types bring to our lives, and they truly help instill responsibility among children from ensuring they have plenty of food and water to helping them receive daily exercise and play.”

Celebrating the joys and benefits pets bring to the lives of children specifically, APPA is currently accepting poems for its 4th Annual Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest.

“Every submission we receive for our Children’s Poetry Contest is the child’s expression of just how much their pet means to them and the happiness these companions bring to their lives,” said Vetere.

Students in grades 3rd-8th are invited to write a unique poem about a pet, what they love about them, the joys they bring, and then post it online at www.PetsAddLife.org or mail their final poem and submission form to: Pets Add Life, 661 Sierra Rose Dr., Reno, NV 89511. Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2012 at 5:00pm EST.

One student from each grade level (six total) nationwide will win a $250 gift certificate for pet products, and a “by-line” in a nationally circulated publication. In addition, the six winning students’ classrooms will each win a $1,000 scholarship to spend on pet related education.

To learn more about the Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest, and see current submissions, visit www.petsaddlife.org.

Put the “Giving” into “Thanksgiving”: Ten Tips to Help Parents Plant the Philanthropy Seed

On Thanksgiving, many Americans are preoccupied with turkeys, parades, football games, and even Black Friday sales. It seems that over time, this holiday has become more about getting things—whether that’s food, entertainment, or bargains—than about giving thanks for what we already have. (And really, that’s just a reflection of our society’s general gimme-gimme-gimme attitude.) If you’re like most parents, you don’t want your kids to grow up focused solely on themselves, concerned only with the latest video game or with how they can get their way. You want them to feel genuine gratitude for the blessings they have and to demonstrate thought and concern for others.

According to Todd Patkin, there’s no better time than the Thanksgiving holiday to help your kids become less me-focused and more thoughtful.

“In general, I don’t believe that kids act selfishly because they genuinely don’t care about others—it’s more that they aren’t really sure how to help others and give back, because they aren’t being taught,” asserts Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (www.findinghappinessthebook.com). “It’s crucial for adults—especially those of us who are parents—to start early when it comes to raising our kids with a passion for philanthropy, and Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity.”

Patkin speaks from experience—giving back to others, whether it’s in his own Boston “backyard”—near the site of the first Thanksgiving, incidentally—or in a foreign country, has become an integral part of his life. Many of the organizations with which he’s involved reach out to young people, and he says he’s amazed by how readily these children and teenagers embrace the principles behind selfless service.

“I’m convinced that the ‘me’ generation isn’t as egocentric at heart as it’s made out to be,” he confirms. “However, kids do need to be guided in a positive direction, and often, that starts in the home. Parents are the greatest influencers when it comes to developing their kids’ habits and behaviors—including cultivating a desire to give and to help others. If they see you giving back as a part of your regular life, they’ll learn that behavior and carry it with them into adulthood.”

Ready to help your child take the first steps from selfishness to selflessness? Then read on for ten ways that parents can get their children geared up for giving back:

Explain philanthropy to your kids. Before you and your kids get into the proverbial trenches, it’s important to first help them realize that giving back doesn’t just mean donating money, and that generosity is not limited to giving away things you no longer want. It’s important, especially when kids are young, to start with the very basics of why it’s important to give. For example, you might ask them, “If you did not have enough food to eat or warm clothes to wear on a cold day, wouldn’t you want someone (even if you did not know them) to help you so you got the food and warmth you needed?”

“Kids will usually do what you say they should while they’re under your roof, but they won’t continue to pursue philanthropy throughout their lives unless they understand the ‘why’ behind it,” Patkin confirms. “Explain the charity work you do to your child. Tell her why you do it and who it helps, and keep an open dialogue going in your household to help her understand what’s going on. The more questions your child has (and you answer), the better grasp she’ll have on the concept.”

It’s never too early to start (don’t wait until your kids are “old enough”). Empathy is a concept that children can learn from a very early age, so look for and take advantage of teachable moments. You can start with something as basic as encouraging small children to share with one another. Ask them to consider how they’d feel if they didn’t have a toy, and how their feelings would change if a friend gave them one, for example.

“You can find ways for children to volunteer their time at any age, all year round,” says Patkin. “Smaller children can help to sort recycling or contribute to decorating posters for a bake sale or other event. Once your kids get a little older, they can donate a portion of their holiday or birthday money to a charity, or they can choose a toy to donate to needy children. You can also involve your children in philanthropy through family-wide activities like sponsoring an underprivileged child during the holidays and helping to buy his back-to-school supplies, or going as a group to visit nursing home residents. This year, you might even volunteer to work at a soup kitchen before or after your own Thanksgiving meal.”

Make it a part of everyday life. As most parents know, you’ll probably never have as much time or money as you’d like, so waiting for “just a little more” of either is futile. When it comes to giving back, there is no better time to start than now, using what you already have! You don’t need to possess unlimited time or money to get involved—you can find smaller, simpler ways to make helping others a part of your everyday routine.

“When many people think of philanthropy, they picture big-money donations and orphanages founded in third-world countries—and those things certainly qualify,” Patkin acknowledges. “However, the everyday efforts of ‘ordinary’ people can also have an incredible impact. Just remember that since parents need to model good behaviors, you’ll need to walk the talk that you’re giving to your kids. The next time you’re grocery shopping with your children, for example, buy some extra canned goods and drop them off at a food bank on the way home in preparation for the Thanksgiving rush. Then encourage your kids to be giving during their own everyday tasks, whether that means sharing art supplies or helping clean up.”

Get kids involved in the process. The more you let your children become involved in the philanthropy process, the more they’ll be invested in what you’re doing. Bring your kids in from the beginning by allowing them to help choose which organizations the family volunteers for or donates to. They’ll feel more connected to the cause, and even the youngest members can be involved, even if it just means tagging along.

“It’s a good idea to sit down with your kids and ask them to identify a problem that they want to fix,” suggests Patkin. “If they’re very young, you might give them a few options to choose from, such as feeding people who are hungry or getting winter coats for people who don’t have them. Then you can all work on finding a corresponding organization. You might also think about volunteering to organize a charity project for your child’s classroom in order to kick off a ‘giving gang’—a group of peers doing charity work together. This will encourage the type of positive peer pressure the world needs more of!”

Reinforce the value of a random act of kindness. Giving back is not always about a charity organization, a monetary donation, or volunteering—in other words, things you schedule. Kids need to understand that having a heart for others, at its core, is a way of life, not a series of appointments on your calendar. Show them that helping someone else and not expecting anything in return can happen anytime, anywhere. (You might even use the original Thanksgiving story to illustrate the value of reaching out to others, especially those who are different from us.) In fact, it’s often the small everyday acts that give us the biggest returns in terms of fulfillment and happiness, and they are things that are easy for kids to recognize and take action on.

“Guide your kids by pointing out opportunities for them to take the initiative in engaging in random acts of kindness,” instructs Patkin. “When you’re out shopping, encourage them to help an elderly lady load her groceries into her car, and then offer to return her cart to the corral. Likewise, prompt your child to hold the door for a woman pushing a baby stroller, or whisper that he might offer the last piece of pizza to his younger brother. Soon, your kids will hopefully be taking the initiative all on their own!”

Understand (and explain) that philanthropy is not one-size-fits-all. Kids naturally have more aptitude for some activities than others. The child who’s a natural artist may be stymied and bored by the intricacies of baseball—and the same principle is true when it comes to giving back. It’s important to tailor philanthropic work to a child’s personality and interests. For example, you wouldn’t take your daughter to the animal shelter if she were afraid of dogs larger than a throw pillow!

“Just as the projects individuals take on aren’t one-size-fits-all, neither are the needs of the people these projects work to benefit,” Patkin points out. “It’s important to explain this state of affairs to your child, especially if she is younger. Talk with her about how different people and situations have different needs. Some might want a hot meal, for example, while others may want someone to listen to their problems. Some places need clothes while others benefit more from monetary donations, and so on. Help her to understand why it’s important for her to match her talents, passions, and beliefs to these needs.”

There’s no substitute for real-world experience. Encouraging your kids to earmark a percentage of their allowances or to donate some of their lesser-used toys to charity is a good start—but don’t stop there. If your children can see where their donations are going and how they’re actually helping others, the giving experience will be much more real. Consider taking a family trip to visit recipient organizations so that your children can see where the money goes.

“Visiting charitable organizations in person tends to take giving to the next level,” Patkin shares. “Whether you’re seven or seventy, you’re much more likely to stay involved in philanthropy if you can see how your efforts are actually making the world a better place. In order to keep the memories fresh, make a scrapbook of your child’s volunteering experiences. Also, you can look for real-world philanthropic opportunities that connect to your child’s interests and activities. If he has a school reading list, for example, you might tie projects into the books he’s reading. If one of them is about dogs, volunteer at the animal shelter!”

Make it a family affair. When you give back as a family, your kids will see Mom and Dad as role models. Bonus: You’ll all grow closer to each other because of this shared experience. Commit as a family to spend two days per month working with a charity or doing something to help others—even if that just means helping out elderly neighbors or volunteering at the church yard sale. You might also work together to raise money for a walk, fundraiser, or other project, then walk together on race day, or go together as a family to present the money you’ve raised.

“As with any change, start small and take baby steps,” encourages Patkin. “While you may not be ready to give up your family vacation for a volunteer trip, you can eat in one night and use the money you saved on eating out to help feed the homeless. After projects or events, always be sure to have a family meeting where you sit down with your kids to talk about what you’ve done, how it made them feel, and how it helped others. Helping your kids to acknowledge the accomplishment and the good feelings associated with philanthropy will encourage them to continue their involvement. Again, I encourage you to kick off this initiative during the Thanksgiving holiday. There are plenty of organizations that would welcome a family’s worth of helping hands.”

Help your kids to focus on how good it feels to give back. Everyone likes to feel good, and kids are certainly no exception! When they feel good about something, they—like you—will want to do it again. In fact, that good feeling will be the impetus that keeps your kids motivated to continue helping others even after you’ve relinquished oversight of their daily schedules. Help them to focus on how fulfilled they are when they are doing something to help others.

“Zero in on the warm fuzzies by talking about the excitement your kids are feeling on the way to donate that box of toys, or how happy they were when they were thanked for serving food at the local soup kitchen,” Patkin suggests. “Even more importantly, talk about those experiences fairly often to remind your children of how wonderful they were. Helping kids to acknowledge their philanthropic accomplishments and the good feelings associated with them will really encourage them to get hooked on helping!”

Make sure that your expectations are realistic. At the end of the day, kids are still kids. You can’t expect them to always want to donate their toys or to be able to sit still and pay attention through every single event or presentation. (Be honest with yourself—sometimes your own attention wanders, too!) Be conscious of your children’s ages and capabilities, and (without being too quick to exclude them from an activity or event that might not be “fun” from start to finish) keep in mind that your budding philanthropists are still kids.

“In other words, don’t let yourself become frustrated or discouraged if your children don’t immediately embrace the idea of volunteering on a Saturday afternoon—persevere even if they continue to voice their preference for staying at home for weeks to come,” Patkin advises. “Any good behavior or habit takes time to cultivate, so be very aware of how you address situations when your kids act less than perfect. You want them to relate their experience as a positive one, not one in which they let you down or were punished.”

“Ultimately, raising children who understand the value of giving back—and whose lives reflect that knowledge—is one of the most philanthropically minded things parents can do, and this holiday provides the perfect opportunity,” Patkin concludes. “Don’t forget that Thanksgiving isn’t just about ‘thanking’—it’s about giving as well. After all, the original celebrants gave their food and friendship to one another, and helping others is an American legacy I’d like to see continue. And from a parental point of view, you’ll be amazed at how rewarding it is to raise philanthropists, and how much stronger giving back makes your relationship with your kids.”

About the Author:
Todd Patkin grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Tufts University, he joined the family business and spent the next eighteen years helping to grow it to new heights. After it was purchased by Advance Auto Parts in 2005, he was free to focus on his main passions: philanthropy and giving back to the community, spending time with family and friends, and helping more people learn how to be happy. Todd lives with his wonderful wife, Yadira, their amazing son, Josh, and two great dogs, Tucker and Hunter.

The Votes Are In: Children Pick Top Holiday Toys, Goddard Schools Announce Top 10 Toys of 2011 that Encourage Playful Learning

Are you shopping for a preschool-aged child this holiday season? Look no further! Children and educators from select Goddard Schools – leaders in early childhood education – have announced their top toy picks for infants through children six years old for the 2011 holiday shopping season. The Goddard School® Toy Test is the only national toy test designed exclusively for children in the preschool age range.

After a national call for submissions, Goddard educators and children evaluated entrants based on a number of criteria, including:

• Interactive, child-initiated play focus
• Creative, social or engaging
• Appropriate for infants through children six years of age

“Our play-based FLEX™ Learning Program focuses on the value of playful learning,” said Lisa Fisher, Communications Director at Goddard Systems, Inc. “We feel that our Top 10 Toys list will serve as a great resource for parents, grandparents and other family members as they enter the gift-giving season.”

Top 10 Preschooler-Approved Toys (in alphabetical order):

· Animal Sounds Hay Ride (Learning Curve)

· Bristle Block® Stackadoos® (B. Toys by Battat)

· Citiblocs Camouflage 100 Piece Set (CitiBlocs)

· Citiblocs Little Builders Rattle Blocs (CitiBlocs)

· Count Your Chickens!™ board game (Peaceable Kingdom)

· Elemenosqueeze (B. Toys by Battat)

· Hoot Owl Hoot! ™ board game (Peaceable Kingdom)

· Little Shopper Playset (Earlyears)

· Sassy® Sensory Ball Set (Sassy)

· Soft Chime Garden (Lamaze)

For more information on the Top 10 Preschooler-Approved Toys, visit www.goddardschools.com/toys.

ABOUT GODDARD SCHOOL

Recently named No. 1 Childcare Franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine, for the tenth consecutive year (January 2011) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales), by Franchise Times, for the fourth consecutive year (October 2010); Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is expanding The Goddard School® network throughout the United States. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, GSI currently licenses 370+ franchised schools with more than 45,000 students in 34 states. With a successful system in place and dedicated franchisees, GSI is the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare and a premier childcare provider in the United States.

You Are What You Eat: Ten “Clean” Foods to Always Put in Your Shopping Cart

When you make out your weekly shopping list, are most of the foods you go for in boxes, cans, or some other packaging? Are the foods packed full of ingredients that you can barely pronounce? If so, then you and your family might not be getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. You may want to trade in those processed foods for whole foods and start eating clean, says Dr. Jonathan Wright.

“Think of eating clean as cleaning up your life,” says Dr. Wright, coauthor along with Linda Larsen of Eating Clean For Dummies® (Wiley, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-1180-0013-7, $19.99). “Just as you’d like to live in a house free of clutter, you need to remove clutter from your diet. That means throwing out the junk foods, refined sugar, additives, preservatives, trans fats, white flour, artificial flavors, and toxins that can be so prevalent in processed foods.”
 Essentially, the eating clean plan calls you to do the following:

• Eat the foods made by nature, not man.
• Plan to eat five or six meals and snacks throughout the day.
• Avoid processed foods (in other words, anything in a box with a label).
• Use healthy cooking methods.
• Eat before you become super hungry.
• Stop eating when you’re satisfied, not stuffed.
• Don’t count your calories, fat grams, or points.
• Enjoy and appreciate its flavor.

“Remember, eating clean is not a diet,” says Dr. Wright. “It’s a lifestyle. It does not include a complicated regimen that restricts entire categories of food. With fewer chemicals to deal with, your body becomes better able to concentrate on keeping you healthy.”

Read on to learn about the ten foods you should always include on your eating clean shopping list. These foods are great because they have many uses in the kitchen, they’re inexpensive, and they contain the most potent phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to be at its best.

Sweet potatoes are #1. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has ranked sweet potatoes as number one in nutrition, which is no surprise considering that these spuds are loaded with fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, potassium, magnesium, zinc, carotenoids, iron, and calcium. As a matter of fact, sweet potatoes have more than twice the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin A, more than 40 percent of the RDA of vitamin C, and four times the RDA for beta carotene. And each sweet potato contains only about 130 calories!

“Looking for great meal ideas?” asks Dr. Wright. “Bake your sweet potatoes, slit them open, and stuff them with some low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt mixed with tomatoes and celery. Or cut the sweet potatoes into slender sticks, toss them with olive oil and paprika, and bake them until crisp. There are many delicious ways to prepare sweet potatoes, but however you decide to cook them, make sure you always eat the skin! Most of the fiber is located in the skin, and the flesh right under the skin is highest in nutrients.”

Get fishy with wild salmon. Wild salmon contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, protein, and vitamin D. It’s also a great source of niacin, selenium, and vitamins B12 and B6. Eating salmon also helps prevent heart disease and diseases caused by inflammation. Scientists have recently found that omega-3 fatty acids can help slow the degenerative effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These fatty acids can also help lower the risk of depression and aggressive behavior.

“With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that many nutritionists urge people to eat foods like wild salmon twice a week,” says Dr. Wright. “Putting salmon on the menu twice a week can lower the level of triglycerides in your blood and can improve heart function. Remember, when you’re buying salmon, be sure to choose wild salmon rather than farmed salmon because the farmed fish can be high in mercury and toxic chemicals called PCBs, including lead and other heavy metals.”

Olive oil is the healthy way to dress up your food. You can use olive oil when sautéing foods, as the fat in almost any baking or cooking recipe, in salad dressings, and when frying foods. Most of the fatty acids in olive oil are omega-9 fatty acids, which are healthy monounsaturated fats that can help lower total blood cholesterol levels. Extra-virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of olives, without heat, so it’s high in vitamin E and phenols, both of which are powerful antioxidants. And it has a wonderful flavor. Use it mostly in salad dressings and when briefly sautéing foods.

“When cooking with olive oil, remember that unrefined extra-virgin olive oil has a smoke point (the point at which the oil begins to break down and emit smoke) of about 375 degrees, which is slightly above the ideal temperature for sautéing or frying food but lower than the smoke points of other oils,” explains Dr. Wright. “So use ordinary (not extra-virgin) olive oil, which has a higher smoke point up to 430 degrees, for frying and long-sautéed recipes. Save the extra-virgin olive oil for salad dressings and baking!”

Don’t avoid cruciferous vegetables. What are cruciferous veggies and what makes them so great? Well, the category includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Kohl-rabi, cabbage, kale, and bok choy. And many studies have found a link between eating these veggies and protecting the body from cancer. Specifically, phytochemicals in these foods, including sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol, and crambene, help the enzymes in your body that destroy carcinogens before they can damage your cells. As an added bonus, these veggies are high in antioxidants, which help prevent oxidation and damage from free radicals.

“The key to getting the most out of these greens is in how you prepare them,” says Dr. Wright. “Be careful not to overcook them. Because they have a high sulfur content, overcooking them releases that chemical and gives them a very unappealing taste. Steam them lightly or eat them raw to keep your body (and your tongue) happy.”

It’s okay to be a little nutty. Did you know that nuts are actually seeds? Well, it’s true; any one nut contains every nutrient needed to support the sprouting and growth of an entire young tree! The many nutrients that nuts provide offer plenty of benefits to you, too:

• Essential fatty acids and monounsaturated fats: Help lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of blood clots
• Vitamin E: Helps reduce plaque development in your arteries
• Fiber: Lowers blood cholesterol levels
• Plant sterols: Lower blood cholesterol levels

“Because nuts have so many health benefits and are so satisfying to eat, they’re a great choice for a healthy snack on the eating clean plan,” notes Dr. Wright. “The healthiest nuts include walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans. Why aren’t peanuts on that list? Well, this may surprise you, but peanuts aren’t technically nuts! They’re legumes, just like peas and beans. Also, keep in mind that nuts lose many of their nonmineral nutrients to oxidation when they’re roasted, so eat nuts raw whenever possible.”

Clean up sandwiches and salads with avocados. Avocados are a rich and buttery treat, and—as surprising as it may be—they’re very good for you! These fruits are high in vitamins E, C, and K, potassium, oleic acid, folate, antioxidants, and phytochemicals (which stop free radical damage). The fat in avocados is monounsaturated, which means it lowers blood cholesterol levels. Plus, avocados contain beta-sitosterol, which is a phytochemical that also reduces cholesterol.

“Use avocados as a sandwich spread in place of mayonnaise or butter,” recommends Dr. Wright. “Just mash up an avocado with a little lemon or lime juice and spread it on whole wheat rolls or bread. Include avocados in your green salads, eat them plain as a snack, and use them to top burgers and grilled sandwiches.”

Go green and eat clean with these leafy greens. To get the most nutrients for the fewest calories, always put foods like kale, collard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and escarole in your shopping cart. These greens are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins C, K, E, the B complex, potassium, and magnesium, as well as phytonutrients, including lutein, quercetin, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene.

“A diet rich in dark, leafy greens can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease, prevent diabetes and osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of developing cancer,” says Dr. Wright. “Eat the greens raw or cook them in soups and stews. Sturdy, leafy greens are delicious in stir-fry recipes, too. In fact, you can add leafy greens to a wide variety of lunch and dinner meals.”

Spice things up with curry powder. Curry powder is a blend of several different spices, all of which are high in antioxidants and phytochemicals. But the most important spice in curry powder is turmeric, which provides a yellow color and subtle rich flavor. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful phytochemical.

“People who consume a lot of turmeric-containing curry powder have lower cancer rates, lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease, less inflammation, and improved memory,” says Dr. Wright. “Curcumin has also been shown to slow the progress of prostate cancer. There are many delicious ways to incorporate curry powder into your meals. Sprinkle it on salads, use it in salad dressings, and add it to stir-fries and even your breakfast smoothie. You can find curry powder in mild and spicy blends, or you can make your own (just be sure to include plenty of turmeric!).”

Satisfy your sweet tooth with berries (especially blueberries). Berries are a wonderful sweet treat, and they make a delicious dessert all by themselves. Plus, they’re very good for you. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and contain phytochemicals that can help fight cancer. Blueberries, especially wild blueberries, are one of the healthiest foods on earth, with the highest antioxidant content of all fresh fruit.

“Dried berries have just as many nutrients as fresh,” notes Dr. Wright. “They’re higher in calories, though, because they have less water. Still, they make a wonderful snack when eaten in moderation. And don’t forget about frozen berries! These fruits are harvested at their peak and are often processed right in the field. Frozen berries can have more nutrients than fresh berries, which may have been shipped for miles. These fruits are also high in fiber, which can help you feel full longer and can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Add berries to green salads, fruit salads, use them to top your morning cereal, and eat them out of your hand as a tasty, sweet snack.”

Get to the root of clean eating with garlic and onions. These pungent root vegetables are good sources of allyl sulfides, which are phytochemicals that can help reduce the risk of cancer and calm inflammation in the body. These veggies are also high in polyphenols and flavonoids, which prevent oxidation and stop free radical damage. Garlic can help lower cholesterol levels, too.

“To get the most benefit from garlic, chop or crush it and let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature before cooking it,” says Dr. Wright. “Doing so helps preserve the allicin content, even after the garlic is cooked. Because the flavonoids in onions are concentrated near the skin, peel your onions as little as possible to get the most health benefits.”

“Even though these foods are the cream of the crop in terms of nutrients, fiber, and good fats, don’t limit yourself to these choices,” says Dr. Wright. “Instead, use them as a jumping off point. Experiment with new foods weekly to help you stay interested in your clean eating plan and to ensure that you’re getting as many nutrients as possible in every bite you take. Don’t be afraid to try new cuisines and new combinations, too. Combine leafy greens with curry powder, coat your salmon with chopped nuts before baking, and cook broccoli or Brussels sprouts with garlic and olive oil. The possibilities are endless!”

About the Authors:


Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD, America’s top holistic doctor, is the author of several books, publishes the monthly newsletter Nutrition and Healing (with a subscriber base of over 100,000), and hosts the radio show Green Medicine.

Linda Larsen is a nutritionist, recipe creator, and the author of 29 books.

About For Dummies®
After nearly 20 years and with more than 200 million copies printed, For Dummies is the world’s bestselling reference series, well known for enriching people’s lives by making knowledge accessible in a fun and easy way. Loyal customers around the globe agree that For Dummies is “more than a publishing phenomenon … [it is] a sign of the times,” [The New York Times]. The books span every section of the bookstore, covering topics from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel, and more. The For Dummies brand presence is further expanded with the addition of eBooks, a corporate custom publishing program, a robust consumer website, and a licensed product line that includes consumer electronics, culinary, crafts, video, software, musical instrument packs, home improvement, automotive, game, and more. For more information, visit Dummies.com. For Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

4 Things Every Parent Must Know Before Purchasing the Latest Gadget for their Child this Holiday Season

If there's one guarantee for the coming holiday season, it's that the latest electronics will be at the top of nearly every child's wish list. Last year's most-requested item was the Apple iPad, and with the long-awaited iPhone 5 scheduled to land sometime this fall, it's likely that Apple will have another lucrative mid-winter gift season. Other manufacturers of popular electronics -- Samsung, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Motorola, HTC, Nikon, Canon, etc. -- will not be far behind.

But parents thinking about microchip-laden presents need to do some homework first. There are four critical questions that you should be able to answer before giving Johnny or Jenny the latest gadget. First, what are the capabilities of the device? Second, what are the legal risks of using or misusing the device? Third, is Johnny or Jenny mature enough to understand those legal risks? and Fourth, are you comfortable with discussing those risks with your child?

The first question can be answered best by talking to salespeople, other parents who have bought the same device, and by doing some research online. The focus should be on understanding the types of information that can created by the device (photos, videos, texts, programs, etc.) and how that information can be communicated to others.

In most cases, the answer to the second question will be one of the following: cyberbullying, cyberharassment, or sexting (which in most states falls under the jurisdiction of child pornography laws). Make sure you understand the criminal laws in your state that cover those offenses and discuss them with a lawyer if you have any questions. You can't effectively discuss these risks with your child unless you understand them yourself.

Like many parents, you may be looking for a simple answer to the third question – when is my child mature enough -- but there really isn't one. Each child matures at a different rate, and you will need to carefully gauge whether your child is capable of understanding what types of behaviors are illegal. The bottom line is that he or she needs to be mature enough to not only to understand and respect the long-term consequences of violating school policy (or worse, state or federal law), but also mature enough to behave accordingly.

In many ways, the answer to the fourth question is the most important. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of discussing cyberbullying or sexting with your child, then it's both dangerous and unfair to give them a gadget that makes it possible to do either (let alone all of the other cybertraps into which children can fall). Keep in mind that a smartphone is not just a phone -- it's a world-wide publishing platform for information, and the consequences for misuse can be profound.

As parents, we put a lot of time, money, and effort into keeping our children safe and healthy. From car seats, to bike helmets, to swimming lessons, and driver education courses, we do our best to ensure that our kids don't get injured as they mature to adulthood. It's time that we starting taking similar care with the electronic devices they so eagerly desire.

About the Author:

Frederick Lane is an author, attorney, educational consultant, expert witness, and lecturer who has appeared on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, the BBC, and MSNBC. He has written six books, including most recently Cybertraps for the Young. For more information, please visit www.fredericklane.com.

Teen Tresses: Tips from the Hair Doctors at Philip Kingsley

As children start entering their teen years, their bodies go through a variety of changes, thanks to hormones and added stresses that come into play. These hormones can cause changes in hair texture. Philip Kingsley Trichologist, Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips offers advice to teens about hair care during these challenging years. By following Elizabeth’s “Teen Hair 101”, adolescents can achieve healthy and beautiful hair.

Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips Teen Hair 101

Puberty Scalp Changes:

• At puberty, the sebaceous glands enlarge, resulting in an increased production of sebum, the oily substance that lubricates every hair as it emerges from the scalp
• An excess of this can lead to greasy hair, which sometimes can have an unpleasant odor
• The solution is frequent washing, which encourages the scalp to lessen the amount of grease produced

Dandruff

• Certain yeasts can cause dandruff; medicated shampoo should be used to reduce the population of these yeasts on the scalp
• Stress can also increase dandruff; daily washing is the best to optimize the health of the hair and scalp

Diet

• Diet has an important influence on the hair, so teenagers should eat a balanced diet, with an emphasis on freshly prepared foods
• A good intake of protein is important for the body to be able to produce strong hair
• Hairs are made of a type of protein called Keratin
• It is particularly important once girls start menstruating that they have a good intake of iron rich foods, as maintaining adequate iron is vital for optimum hair growth

Hair Processing

• Hair straightening and curling irons have become extremely popular with young girls, but they can be quite damaging to the hair
• Protective serums may protect the hair, but it is best not to use the hair straightener or curling iron every day

Hair Coloring

• It is always best to have hair colored professionally in a salon, rather than attempting to color the hair at home
• After care is important to counteract the dying effect that all color products ha on the hair
• Regular use of an intensive hair conditioning treatment will help to maintain the moisture and hydrate the dry hair

New- Time and Money Saver

Launching this month - Build A Menu (www.BuildAMenu.com) is an online menu planning service that prepares weekly meal plans based on grocery store sales. The site does the work for you! Choose from weekly recipes and put together weekly menus using the Build A Menu calculator which gives a running total of your expected grocery costs – making it easy to control how much the family will spend on food each week! Just pick the store you want to shop, choose your meals and print your well organized grocery shopping list and chosen recipes.

Healthy Eating for Children During the Holidays

Over the next six-eight weeks, families will gather around the dinner table for important occasions of the year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Everyone will be cooking their special recipes for that perfect turkey and stuffing, or prime rib and Yorkshire pudding. But the big question is how to enjoy the holidays without over-indulging?

And the question doesn't just apply to adults - it applies to children as well. Christmas Cookies, Thanksgiving Pies, etc - the desserts are special, endless in sight and everyone loves to sample just a taste. So, how do you celebrate the holidays without gaining weight?

For Children:

1) Traditionally when we stuff the stockings we think about putting all kinds of candy in them. This year try and give them small gifts like a homemade coupon book with things like "one dinner alone with Mom" or "one baseball game with Dad." That way you are being healthy and creating opportunities to make memories.

2) Encourage your kids to get a group together and go caroling in your neighborhood. This old tradition is fun, and you will get a little exercise walking from house to house.

3) Include your children in the holiday baking and teach them how making small substitutions can lower the fat and calories in their favorite foods. Using xylitol instead of sugar, skim milk instead of whole milk, wheat or oat flour instead of white flour, and egg whites instead of the whole egg are some examples.

For Adults:

1) When you know you are going to a holiday party don't "save up" your calories and not eat before you go. Eating small meals throughout the day will prevent you from overindulging on too many goodies at the party.

2) Bringing your own healthy dishes to parties is a good way to insure that you will have something to eat if everything served there is laden with fat and calories. Hummus and veggies, fruit and yogurt dip, and turkey roll ups are some healthy ideas.

3) If you see something that looks too irresistible try this strategy. Take small amount and take one bite. This should keep you from the "I can't have it" mentality that makes you feel deprived.

4) Calculate how many miles you have to do on the treadmill in order to burn enough calories to compensate for your favorite holiday treat. Do the miles and eat the treat without guilt!

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE PREGNANT IN 2011? NEW SURVEY REVEALS THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE HILARIOUS OF PREGNANCY

What is it like to be pregnant in 2011? Good Books, publisher of the must-have manual for moms- and dads-in-the making, Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, joined forces with American Baby, the leading authority on motherhood for more than seventy years, to ask more than 1,000 moms-to-be about their pregnancy experiences.

The 2011 Bump Report appears in the November 2011 issue of American Baby and online at AmericanBaby.com. Among the highlights:

Top torments: Morning sickness is the #1 toughest pregnancy symptom, say 34% of moms-to-be, followed by fatigue (26%) and mood swings (16%).

Super social: 87% plan to keep friends and families fully informed throughout their labor with Facebook status updates, tweeting, photos and videos. “Millennial moms are so much more open about their pregnancies than generations before, thanks to the role social media plays in their day-to-day life” said Dana Points, Editor-in-chief of American Baby.

Hot stuff: 30% of moms-to-be say their sex life has never been better.

Sharing from the start: 56% go public with their pregnancies during the first trimester rather than following the old custom of waiting until the second trimester to announce their news.

The big reveal: 74% planned to find out baby’s sex ahead of time and to tell others what they are having. According to Dr. Myra Wick, co-medical editor of Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, “Prenatal screening has made it possible to learn a lot about one’s baby long before birth, so moms are able to share information early.”

Love connection: Although 42% of moms-to-be say that their pregnancy was a “happy surprise,” 47% say that pregnancy has brought them closer to their partners.

Booking the babymoon: 23% of parents-to-be take part in a new trend by celebrating with a babymoon, or a last vacation fling before baby arrives.

Seeing stars: The #1 celeb role model mom is Kate Hudson. Natalie Portman comes in at #2 and Jessica Alba is #3.

Divided into six main sections, Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy ($19.95/softcover) is the first of a series of parenting guides being developed by Mayo Clinic and Good Books. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy precedes Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Year (Spring 2012). The pregnancy guide is available wherever books are sold. For more information, please visit www.GoodBooks.com/HealthyPregnancy.

About Myra J. Wick, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Wick is a practicing, board-certified OB/GYN at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended Mayo Graduate School and Mayo Medical School, where she earned both a Ph.D and an M.D. Dr. Wick is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Medical Genetics. Her professional interests include prenatal genetics, the genetics of congenital cardiac disease and the long-term effects of maternal obesity. In addition to her professional experience, Dr. Wick is the proud mother of four children.

Honoring All Who Served....

Students at Roland Park K-8 School for International Studies joined together on Thursday to remember and honor the men and women who have served the United States in our Armed Forces. Even though the school gymnasium was full, a respectful silence took hold as members of the Jefferson High School Air Force Junior ROTC marched in unison for the Posting of Colors. Students learned the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and Veteran's Day as well as the history of the Star Spangled Banner in speeches presented by Principal David Burgess, Guidance Counselor James Samuelson and eighth grade student Dominique Washington.

Violin soloist Bennett Hammond, accompanied by third and fifth grade violin students and music teacher Raymond Vans Evers, gave a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner.

The musical tributes continued as the kindergarten students sang an adorable version of You're A Grand 'Ole Flag while proudly waving their handmade flags above their heads. The well-choreographed fourth and fifth graders showed off their statehood knowledge as they sang and danced their way through The Fifty Nifty United States. The entire eighth grade class, led by Dominique Washington, offered a silent symbol of gratitude to the military personnel in attendance.

Principal David Burgess welcomed guest speaker Sgt. Terry J. Willis, Jr. USAFR AFRC to the podium to share his experiences as a member of the United States Air Force. His tribute to family and friends made an impression that these students will not soon forget. Retiring the Colors brought silence once again as the Jefferson High School Air Force Junior ROTC members closed the ceremonies.

Kindergarten students drew and colored thank you cards which will be delivered to Tampa Bay area military veterans.

Gadgets That Make Holiday Travel a Breeze

Talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. But a mid-transit chat pales in comparison to the distraction of driving with one (or two!) children wailing in the backseat. Nothing increases adrenaline and quick recall of four-letter words quite like crying kids.

As parents, we can mentally cope with crying kids to and from the grocery store. But long-distance trips need more finesse. Careful preparation and a few necessities can prevent a few glitches and keep your travel going smoothly. As you prepare for holiday travels, make the most of your trip with these handy gadgets.

1. Snack Container
A signature trademark of a kid-friendly car is a Hansel and Gretel-worthy crumb collection on every surface. If you can overlook this completely annoying parenthood perk, I applaud you; otherwise invest in some creative cups. Munchkin offers an ingenious design with handles and no spill rubber top--two for under $7. Sporting a similar design but with an attachable rope (and additional solid top) is the Spill-Proof Snack Buddy Cup from One Step Ahead.

2. Window Shade
Getting on the road is tough enough; stopping to shade a sunset shouldn't be on your list of priorities. Grab a light-cutting window shade to curb the brightness. Measure your windows and buy the widest shade possible, making sure you have enough visibility in your back and rear passenger windows. Check out your options at Great Baby Products for window shade reviews.

3. Lacing Toys
Kids above age 3 (who don't suffer from motion sickness) will work on lacing boards for hours. Growing Tree Toys has a fantastic range of simple lacing activities, like necklaces and ABCs, to complex connect-a-dot boards. Bring a bucket to set in your child's lap so that she can contain the blocks without dropping them on the floor.

4. Finger Puppets
For the dramatic types in your crew, a set of finger puppets can be a space-saving lifesaver. My favorite are high-quality puppets that tell a familiar story, like Thumbelina or the Frog Prince from puppet master Folkmanis, but folks on a budget can definitely afford IKEA's popular set of circus characters or animals for just $4.99.

5. Favorite Music
Not your favorite music, mind you. Junior may not appreciate the vocal stylings of Rihanna for hours on end (and, honestly, you shouldn't either). Enjoy some traditional Disney favorites and throw in some award-winning movement songs from Hap Palmer and Joe Scruggs to keep the mood kid-friendly. Bring on talk radio when it's time for a snooze.

6. Bubbles
So what if you have to clean up the residue later! Bubbles are total fun for all ages, especially when the road seems never-ending. Unless you have an older child, mom or dad needs to commandeer the liquid and blow them toward the back. The best bubbles on the market, hands down, come from Gymboree. These bubbles float forever and the solution never dries out.

7. Barf Bag
Close to 30% of people are susceptible to motion sickness, and kids are no exception. The barfies can strike at any time--there's no guarantee that your child will or won't get sick on a road trip. Prepare for the worst by investing in a few leak-proof barf bags with fun pictures printed on the outside and show your child how to "cough" into it if his tummy starts to hurt. And bring an extra couple of towels just in case.

8. Neck Pillow
This is a tricky one. Your younger child may or may not like the feeling of something so close to her neck. Try it on short stroller trips ahead of time to practice. If your kiddo will wear it, she'll be far more comfortable during naps. Pillow companions like the Dora neck pillow attach to the straps of your car seat or stroller, making it a bit more accessible.

9. Small Baking Sheets
This ingenious idea from Family Fun keeps the ever-present I-dropped-it-on-the-floor wail at bay. Use a conventional (but smaller) lipped baking sheet as a drawing, magnetic and keep-it-all-in-one place surface. Glue one or two layers of foam shelf paper on the bottom to make it less likely to fall and affix white contact paper to the top for the drawing surface. Turn it into multiple activities by attaching magnets to buttons for checkers or bingo games. Older travelers might prefer a more sophisticated travel kit like this one from Martha Stewart.

10. iPad
No, I'm not a fan of hours of screen time for little eyes, but during a road trip this godsend is a total catchall. From apps for all ages to music and movies, the iPad is the perfect device for tiny travelers. Purchasing gift cards at a discount from sites like GiftCardGranny can help you pay for the pricey device at such retailers as Target and Walmart, who are currently offering deals on iPad 2 bundles. Then, let your kiddos learn letters with Starfall or everything nursery-rhyme cooky from Duck Duck Moose. When all else fails, strap it to the seat and watch a movie. 


About the Author:

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featured among such media outlets as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.

Grand Opening of H&M at the International Plaza Mall

There has been a lot of buzz circling around Tampa’s International Plaza Mall, as shoppers anxiously awaited the grand opening of the clothing store, H&M and H&M Kids. For individuals who have never been to H&M or even heard of it, it is easily defined as a store that gives you more “Bang for the buck!” This store has something for everyone and every budget. As stated on H&M’s Facebook Page:

“Offering fashion and quality at the best price, H&M offers a varied assortment for the entire family, including concepts for ladies, men, teenagers and children.”

Don’t get me wrong, customers will find pricier clothing articles throughout the store, but there is an abundance of selection for everyone’s budget and everyone’s different fashion styles.

Before I divulge on the grand opening I have to commend the H&M staff for how calm and collected they were with such chaos going on around them. Everyone I talked to was friendly and helpful, even with a huge crowd that was non-stop. I was able to speak with H&M representative Tony Everett, as he kindly took some time out of his big day to walk me through the kids store and tell me about some of the reasons why this store is so fantastic, and what it means for the Tampa Bay community.

When discussing what makes H&M a great place to shop for kids, Everett pointed out the unbeatable prices (one being an adorable girl’s holiday dress for only $10) as well as informing me that H&M has a “Basic & Conscious” clothing line. He stated “These items are made of 50 percent organic cotton blend,” and that, “ H&M is proud to be able to cater to the various lifestyles that their shoppers encompass.”

At the International Mall, H&M opened a kids store in addition to their regular store, providing clothing from babies to adults and to males and females. Everett explained that H&M is truly “A one stop shop for the entire family.”

As for what the opening of these affordable fashion stores means for Tampa Bay, Everett enlightened me by saying, “It means great things. The other day we had a special opening for the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay in which we were able to give them a catered, mini-shopping spree as well as donate $2,005 to their organization.” It was refreshing to see the genuine smile on his face as he spoke about that evening and the impact this store can have on our community.

Now onto the details about the grand opening and advice on how to attack this shopping spree with the least amount of stress possible:

Let me first say, if you plan on visiting the store this weekend, be prepared for lines. Lines to get in the store, to try on and to check out. If you absolutely cannot handle waiting in lines, I suggest holding off visiting the store until the weekend is over. Be advised though, the opening sales are WORTH THE WAIT! If you have even the littlest of patience, I encourage you to check it out before the weekend and sales are over.

Pros:

• $10 off purchases $50 and more coupons: People in line received this coupon, which allows shoppers to save a little (or buy a little more…). I am not sure if these will be available the whole weekend, but stapled to the receipts were also a $10 off gift card.

• Opening sales: H&M is already reasonably priced for the most part, and adding these sales on top is a shopper’s bank account dream! This is a great time to get holiday shopping done, because as stated before you can find something for everyone! Some of the sale highlights I saw were: $35 pencil skirts for $10, $35 sweater dresses for $15 and kid’s tops and dresses for $5-$10.

• A gracious return period: Why is something that every store has listed as a pro? Because you can skip the dressing room line, make your purchases and if they don’t work out, you have 30 days to return them (BIG time saver)!

Cons:

• Lines: After asking around most people said it took them about 20 minutes to get into the store. The check out lines seemed to take around the same amount of time (mid-day). Lines are expected at grand openings, so it seemed like most customers did not mind, and it was apparent that H&M did everything they could to speed it up.

• Temperature: If you go, wear layers or something breathable. This will not only help you try stuff on without going into the dressing room, but I assure you it gets a little toasty as the bodies fill up in there.

• Sales prices: Be careful when you choose the items that have the opening sales prices. Customers told me that items that were on sale racks did not always have the sales tag, and when rung up, they would sometimes register as the regular price. Before you walk away, be sure to check your receipt and make sure you are getting the sales price on the correct items.

Tips for Parents:

After speaking with multiple parents, it seems as though the key to staying sane during the grand opening weekend is to leave the kids at home. After seeing a few moms try to maneuver their way through the lines and crowds with strollers, I can confirm it does not look enjoyable for any party involved. So do yourself a favor and hire a babysitter for a few hours while you shop ‘til you drop!


For more information on H&M visit: http://www.hm.com/us/

Childhood Friends Leave Struggling Michigan Town to Fight in Afghanistan

“Deeply emotional. . . . a fine documentary by an experienced and talented filmmaker.”
— Robert Mackey, The Huffington Post

Following President Obama's announcement of executive action to help veterans of the U.S. armed forces, POV presents the U.S. television premiere of Where Soldiers Come From on Thursday, November 10th (check local listings).

It wasn’t long after Dominic Fredianelli, a sensitive, artistic high school graduate in a remote town in northern Michigan, signed up for the National Guard that his buddies started following his lead. In exchange for just one weekend of training a month, they would earn a $20,000 signing bonus and much-needed college tuition support. Before he knew it, 10 friends were in the group. They knew there was a chance that they’d be sent to war sometime during their six-year stint, but, as Cole Smith, Dominic’s best friend said, “I wasn’t really doing anything; my buddies had already joined. . . . I figured, ‘Twenty Gs, one weekend a month, let’s do it!’”
 


Thus begins director Heather Courtney’s new film, Where Soldiers Come From, which paints an intimate portrait of these friends’ four-year journey from teenagers stuck in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to soldiers in Afghanistan. The documentary will have its national broadcast premiere the day before Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 9 p.m. on PBS as a special presentation closing the 24th season of POV (Point of View). The film will stream in its entirety on the POV website, www.pbs.org/pov/wheresoldierscomefrom, Nov. 11 – Dec. 11.
 
American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, POV is the winner of a Special Emmy Award for Excellence in Television Documentary Filmmaking,an International Documentary Association Award for Best Continuing Series and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers’ 2011 Award for Corporate Commitment to Diversity.


Shooting in vérité style, Courtney focuses on three of the friends — Dominic, who takes art classes and paints large murals in the abandoned buildings that belonged to a once-thriving copper mining industry; Cole, the comedian in the group; and Matt Beaudoin (“Bodi”), who has a history of military service in his family and is proud to serve his country. They change from carefree teenagers who spend their days swimming in Lake Superior and drinking at bonfires to soldiers getting hit by homemade bombs in Afghanistan and combat veterans dealing with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd).
 


Where Soldiers Come From starts in Hancock, the friends’ and Courtney’s hometown. The director films the guys and their families in their everyday lives, revealing the economic realities that contribute to their decision to enlist and creating poignant portraits of a community and its people.


“Where Soldiers Come From is an American story about growing up and trying to change your situation without privilege or resources,” says Courtney. “It’s about the people who fight our wars and the communities and families they come from.
 
“I felt it was important to follow these guys for a long time before they ever became soldiers so that the viewer would really know them and their families,” she continues. “For these young men and their loved ones, the war doesn’t end when they come home. I hope my film can help people better understand the war at home — the one that affects the parents, girlfriends and loved ones left behind when soldiers are deployed and the one that continues when they come back and try to start their lives again.” 
 
Where Soldiers Comes From is a production of Quincy Hill Films and ITVS.

About the Filmmaker:

Heather Courtney, Director/Producer

Heather Courtney is a director and producer whose documentaries, including award-winners “Letters From the Other Side” and “Los Trabajadores/The Workers,” have aired on PBS and screened at festivals worldwide. For her most recent project, Where Soldiers Come From, she returns to her hometown in rural Michigan to follow the lives of a group of friends before, during and after their National Guard deployment to Afghanistan. Courtney was named one of Film Independent's Top 10 Filmmakers to watch. She recently received the prestigious United States Artists fellowship and has received grants from ITVS and the Sundance Documentary Fund, among others.