Unfortunately, the opinions of Mom and Dad don’t carry the weight they used to. The simple, reassuring words used to comfort them when they were younger, just don’t cut it anymore. What, then, can parents do to promote a healthy sense of self-esteem in their teens? Christina McCann, Phd, a licensed psychologist in New York state who specializes in working with children, adolescents and families, offers the following tips:

1. Accept your child for who they are. Try not to be critical, no matter what color they dye their hair or their fashion choices.

2. Go out of your way to tell your teens what you like about them. This means telling them as often as possible.

3. Spend as much one-on-one time with them as possible.

4. Write them a letter telling them what you like and admire about them.

When teens suffer a blow to their self-esteem, they may exhibit symptoms of depression. Some of these symptoms include changes in sleep patterns, low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability and changes in eating patterns. Dr. McCann advises that it is normal for all of us to suffer mild symptoms of depression from time to time. But if the symptoms affect your child’s ability to function, or last longer than a week, a trip to the pediatrician is in order.

Karen Bianchi is the mother of 4, a freelance writer and the editor of AwesomeMomsNetwork.com. She can be contacted at: kbianchi@AwesomeMomsNetwork.com

• Another time that is the best for getting a good deal is the period from July to October. Dealerships are trying to get rid of their inventory to make way for the new year models.

• Do some research online, and get some quotes - optimally along with some good rebates or incentives. Print out your results from the lowest quotes and bring it with you to your local dealer. Showing them the lower quotes might compel them to give you a better deal. If not, shop around some more.

• Visit FightingChance.com - This site has great advice, as well as incentives and rebate offers. You may be able to save thousands of dollars on your car purchase.

• A good tactic is to bring a copy of your credit score with you to the dealership. It can lower your interest rates on your car loan.

• Be suspicious of any ‘bait and switch’ tactics, such as some odd change that occurred after you initially discussed the car with the dealer. Some unscrupulous dealers will use your preference for a particular car as leverage in convincing you to stay with your choice; although, unfortunately there has been some ‘unforseen’ change in the price or deal you originally discussed. Stick to your guns and remind them that is not what was agreed. If they don’t back down,or at least give you a concession, then it is up to you if you want to accept the difference.

• A rule of thumb is to never wait until your car is broken down and you are desperate - not only are you not thinking as clearly at a time like that, but the salesman may sense your desperation and take advantage of you. On such a major decision, try to force yourself to take action when you realize your car has issues, but while it is still running.

• Do your research before going in and subjecting yourself to high-pressure tactics. Don’t fall for any deals where you are required to make an on the spot decision. This is a big commitment and you need to be on top of the game.

Jamie Snodgrass is an online marketer for many sites such as
Car Buying Tips and
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There are obvious necessities that every baby will need: bassinet or crib, diapers and wipes, clothes and blankets, and a carseat. Other than those items, most everything else may not be needed by your baby in the beginning. Clothes and blankets are easy items to overbuy. New babies grow so fast in the first couple of months that you don’t need to buy a closet full of clothes. Two changes of clothes a day, enough for a week is really all you need. One or two sleepers or pajamas a night is helpful too. A handful of blankets is all you will most likely need or use as well.

If you enjoy buying baby clothes than it might me more wise to buy clothes for when your baby gets older. You can buy a few different outfits for each stage of their first year. This way you will be slightly prepared for when your baby will outgrow current clothes. Toys can be another area new parents overspend on. Infants do not play with toys. As a parent you may shake a rattle for your baby, but the majority of your infant’s days will be spent sleeping and not playing with toys. A couple rattles in bright, bold colors is really all you need.

Other items you may want to buy, but are not needed are: a diaper pail, a vibrating motion seat, a baby swing, a baby carrier- for the parent to wear, a baby tub, baby detergent, a baby monitor, changing table, and a crib toy or stuffed animal that plays noise resembling that of being inside the mother’s womb. These are not necessities, but can be useful during the first month and beyond.

It’s easy to overspend in preparation for your infant, but it may be better to buy just the necessities before your baby arrives. Once your baby has arrived you’ll have a better idea of the other items you will also need or want.

This article has been brought to you by: http://yourheartandhome.tripod.com

Julianne Smith is a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers, with her third child due in May. She’s created her own website called “Your Heart And Home”, this website includes recipes, ideas, inspiration, and of course shopping! You can find Stuff A Friend animal stuffing kits for your kids. Also Patty’s Pretty Paper for notecards, notepads, and stationary you can have personalized. Gift Can Builder is on her site too. This is a fun gift idea for any occasion where you choose the gift can from a large selection of themes, then choose from our huge variety of fillers to make this gift truly unique. Come visit “Your Heart And Home” today!

Tea Party Ideas

Mother/Daughter Club

Start a Mother/Daughter Tea Club - Gather together once a month and use special teacups, teapots, and linens along with several types of tea and finger foods. Introduce a different theme each month that interests women of all ages: fashion, health, gardening, etc. It’s a beautiful time to enjoy each other.

Tea Break at Work

Surprise your co-workers with a tea break. Bring sandwiches, cookies, scones and a special teapot for a special break from the ordinary

Tea and Cookies

Have everyone bring their favorite batch of cookies and display them on fine china platters.

Preparation:

Start with innovative invitations. For a girls’ birthday tea party, cut out invitations shaped as teapots or send each guest a small teacup with an invitation attached or painted on the cup. Or use floral note cards or postcards.

Purchase or borrow the necessary items for your tea gatherings. You’ll need 1 or more china teapots for intimate gatherings. Cups and saucers may be matching, but create interest with a variety of patterns. For sugar, always use cubes in a sugar bowl with sugar tongs for serving. Serve milk, not cream. Have teaspoons, lemon slices in a dish with a small fork, serving utensils for cake, forks, and knives for jam.

Don’t forget the music: classical or vintage

Use candles to create ambience.

Serve a colorful variety of petit fours, scones, sugar cookies, and of course, chocolate.

Set out bouquets of pink and white flowers.

Take Polaroid snapshots of guests to add to the fun and chatter.

Ask guests to dress up complete with heels, hats, and gloves

Favors

Surprise your guests with tea party favors such as lace handkerchiefs, flavored tea, teapot cozies, , teacups, porcelain teabag holders, demitasse spoons with teapot handles, or your favorite recipes printed on floral stationary.

Tea Party Etiquette:

This is a great time to teach young ladies about etiquette. To stir your tea, swish the tea back and forth, never hitting the sides of the cup. Never leave the spoon in the cup, but gently rest the spoon on the saucer, behind the cup on the right side under the cup handle. Drink your tea by lifting the saucer and cup together, with the saucer in one hand, and cup in the other.

Tea Preparation

Fill a tea kettle with purified water and set on stove to boil. Warm up your china teapot by running hot water thru it from the faucet. This will keep your tea warmer for a bit longer. Add your teabags or tea-filled infuser to the teapot using 2-3 tea bags for 4 guests. Pour the boiling water carefully into your teapot and wait 5 minutes, then remove teabags. China Teapots are best at keeping tea warm. Surround teapot with a stylish tea cozy for extra insulation.

Elaine Kordares
Founder of The Teapot Shoppe

For a wide variety of teapots, tea party accessories by Royal Patrician, Kaldun & Bogle, Kensington, Roy Kirkham and more, visit The Teapot Shoppe on line at www.theteapotshoppe.com.

The first cause is exposure to asbestos through one’s occupation. This is very common in several different occupations. People who work in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, the manufacturing of asbestos products (such as textiles), insulation work in construction and building, and brake repair are at risk. There are also many other occupations that involve asbestos exposure. Men are often associated with higher mesothelioma risk because many of the asbestos-related jobs are often held by men.

Smoking increases the risk for mesothelioma tenfold. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs, and the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lungs beyond repair. When cigarette smoke is coupled with asbestos, the risks for developing mesothelioma and other lung cancers are increased greatly. Persons who smoke should make every effort to stop smoking in order to protect their lungs.

Environmental exposure to asbestos can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. Persons who live in neighborhoods near asbestos milling or manufacturing plants should be aware of the potential risk factors. Vermiculite, which is a non-asbestos mineral silicate, was mined at Libby Montana. It was later found to be heavily contaminated with asbestos. Many children played in the vermiculite slag heaps that were located throughout the town. These children later developed mesothelioma. There are 28 sites throughout the USA that received Libby mine vermiculite that have been selected for a community-wide evaluation of asbestos disease.

Another risk of developing mesothelioma is using products that contain asbestos. Asbestos is in a very large number of consumer products, including many that are used today. Products such as electric blankets, heat guns, curling irons, molding clays, deep fryers, slow cookers, frying pans, dry wall patch, fake fireplace logs, dry wall patch, and pipe wrap insulation could put one at risk. There are also many other products that contain, or have had exposure to, asbestos. There are many asbestos-containing products that have been banned by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Unfortunately, there are still products that contain asbestos. It is a good idea to avoid using these products if possible, in order to reduce the risk of mesothelioma.

Robert Linebaugh writes about health issues, but focuses on mesothelioma. Learn more at www.justmeso.com .

As life would have it, many opportunities soon followed that gave me the chance to put those new possibilities into action in my life. What he was asking us to imagine, was living our lives from the heart, to explore and open up to all of the opportunities life has to offer. For myself, a woman with a regimented and analytical mind, this was quite a stretch. My life had revolved around 5 year plans and long discussions with my accountant regarding the best approach for whatever I was involved in. Now some cute little brown man was suggesting I just wing it and experience my life in the moment every single day! I can tell you that this was something my mind had a very difficult time grasping.

Since then I have learned to set my intent for the bigger picture and let life show me all the possibilities that exist before me. Opportunities come all the time but I had never noticed them. My mind (frequently referred to as a “program” for its computer like qualities) immediately crossed them off the list of available strategies, not allowing me to see anything out there beyond what was comfortable, familiar and expected. As a result I found myself recreating my life in a pattern that was in perpetual repeat mode. Of course the results of that methodology have been less than successful!

Recently, a dear friend of mine was sharing how she wanted to have fun in her life but was not interested in creating an empire like another good friend had. I immediately said to her, look at how your mind, by judging an empire to be a “bad” thing, is eliminating something grand that may be coming your way. If Spirit wants to create an empire through you, who are you to refuse?

Of course the answer is that the mind is frightened at the possibility of greatness and uses the excuse of “so much work” as a justification for its fear. The truth is that if Spirit/God sends you an empire, Spirit/God will also send you the people to man that empire. If your heart and eyes are open to the magic occurring around you, you will be able to see what I am talking about. Of course when I say Spirit/God I am talking about you. You are the manifest acting on behalf of the desire of the unmanifest to create and have fun. Another way of saying this is that your higher self is directing you all the time, but rather than paying attention to your heart, you have all your attention on a restrictive, frightened, non-imaginative program that has spent its life crimping down on the expression of your creativity out of fear! Well, that said, what are we going to do about it? Get off our butts, move through our fear and create those empires with love, excitement, total abandon, and a whole lot of fun. To me this is living an inspired life, “living the will of God.” Inspired by whom? The real you as Spirit/God of course!

Dr. Sheri Rosenthal is a master Toltec teacher and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Toltec Wisdom. Having trained with don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, she currently takes students on spiritual journeys, works with personal apprentices and enjoys being extremely happy. You can reach her at info@sherirosenthal.com or at http://www.sherirosenthal.com.

Step 1: Valuing your Property

A property valuation is necessary whether your selling privately or using an agent so that you know what is a reasonable asking price for your home.

You can do this by looking to see what other similar properties in your area have sold for recently or by asking a qualified surveyor to make a valuation for you.

Step 2: Marketing Your Property

If you are looking to sell your property privately you might want to think about advertising on some of the private property sales websites.

Step 3: Viewings

If you sell your property privately, prospective buyers will contact you directly to arrange to come and see your home. Make sure that it is clean and tidy before viewings and don’t be afraid to ask your visitors for feedback.

Step 4: Offer

If you are selling your property privately, then you will need to negotiate any offers that are made. Once you have accepted an offer you and the buyer need to instruct a solicitor to sort out the conveyancing. This is where your solicitor prepares the draft contract and necessary paperwork and the buyer’s solicitor looks over contract, contacts land registry, begins searches.

Step 5: Exchange of Contracts

Once a completion date has been agreed, both parties sign the contract and the buyer gives you a deposit.

Step 6: Completion

The completion of the sale is where the buyer pays the seller through solicitors and ownership is transferred.

You write your own paycheck

That’s exactly how it is with a home-based business and being your own boss. YOU WRITE YOUR OWN paychecks! How much you earn depends on how hard you work… plus you get to keep ALL the profit. There’s NO BOSS to tell you that the company hasn’t been doing great so all you’re getting is 45 cents as your bonus, while he comes to work the next morning in a bright, shiny new Porsche!

Problem is, you then realize “Hey! Just a minute… I’ve got to put some aside for that rainy day, retirement fund, vacation, etc, etc. I’m MY OWN BOSS NOW!”. So you find the paycheck that you actually write for yourself at the end of the month has a few less zeroes in it! How’s that for irony?

It’s hard work

Having your own home based business is a lot of hard work. If you’re used to taking 30 minute coffee breaks on company time, you’re in for a real shock. Assuming you’re running a one-man show (which is usually the case for new start-ups), then you’re likely to find that there’s not enough hours to do all that you want to do, let alone have a leisurely cup of coffee!

The good thing about this is that every ounce of sweat you put into your home business will ultimately yield results. Remember, the pyramids weren’t built in a day, but when they were completed, they lasted for generations. That’s the way it is with your home-based business. You’re working hard to build a better life and future for your family that will probably last long after you’re gone.

The buck stops where you are

Whether it’s a virus that crashes your computer, an unpaid bill or a customer complaining on the phone, when you own a home-based business, the buck stops where YOU ARE! Every problem becomes YOURS. There is no computer division, accounts department or PR department to blame. It’s a bit frightening when you consider that you are the central - and probably the only person - who can keep your business going.

If you’re worried about making the wrong decisions, let me put your mind at ease - YOU WILL! You ARE going to make wrong business decisions, but don’t let it discourage you though, because even big-wig CEOs make mistakes. Will there be tough times? DEFINITELY. Tough times bring out the best in people and every mess you get INTO and OUT OF, makes you a better person - smarter, tougher and more resilient. After you’ve gone through a couple of ups and downs, you’ll get into the groove and go with the flow - that’s the way it is with business and that’s the way it is with life in general.

Different type of benefits

If you’re like me, you’ve probably grown accustomed to (and taken for granted) the many benefits of a regular nine-to-five job - free medical and dental, vacations, paid training, coffee breaks and the occasional business lunches.

I found that for me at least, running a home-based business has given me priceless benefits. Tops on the list would probably be the fact I’m closer to my family. In addition to taking care my websites and running our home catering business with my wife, I’m also the official driver, handyman and maid all rolled up into one. Even though it gets totally crazy sometimes, I love that I’m always there for my kids. Oh, they still make it a point to drive me up the wall everyday, but I’d rather be driven up the wall by them than by my maniacal ex-boss.

The Naked Truth

OK, here’s THE NAKED TRUTH about having your own home-based business - YOU SET THE RULES, YOU CALL THE SHOTS. That means you can do things anyway you want, from your working hours to your filing system to what you wear (or don’t wear!) at work. Careful though… when you set lousy rules, you’ll end up with a lousy system, a lousy business and worse, a lousy reputation. In the end, it’s going to hurt that paycheck that YOU write for yourself every month. Just because it’s a home-based business doesn’t mean that you can throw professionalism out the window. In fact, an even higher level of professionalism may be required because you’re operating independently and competing with established companies.

Of course how much flexibility you enjoy depends on what kind of home business you’re running. Since my mornings are spent taking care of my websites and writing, I don’t physically interact with people much, so I do have the liberty of working in my bathrobe or anything else I choose (I leave it to your imagination). While lost in cyberspace, I also have the liberty of snacking anytime I want, which accounts for my growing waistline. Then in the evenings, when my wife and I are busy with our catering business, I’m definitely fully clothed, complete with my tidy apron and smiling my best smile as we take care of our customers.

So What Now?

There you have it folks, my run-down of some of the basic stuff you can expect when you start a home-based business. You may earn less and have to give up some status for the first couple of years, but when you consider the big picture and take into account all the other intangible benefits, there’s nothing quite like being your own boss! As your business grows, you’ll be writing yourself bigger and fatter paychecks. Then, you can sit down to that leisurely cup of coffee, enjoying a lazy morning, while your home-based business brings in the big bucks! Care to hang up your tie and heels, anyone?

Andrew Shim is the owner and editor of PositiveMoneyIdeas.com a website which offers FREE IDEAS for those interested in starting their own freelance or home based business and PositiveTones.com, a FREE resource website for Positive Living. He and his wife run a successful home catering business. When not up to his eyeballs in veggie, meat, gravy and being official taster for his catering business, he manages his websites, writes for numerous other sites and magazines and fools around with his kids.

Baking

Many people like to broil lobster tails but it is rather difficult to keep the sections from overcooking, so it is a little safer to bake them.
-Once the lobster tails are thawed, you can brush them lightly with olive oil or butter and them put them in the oven at 400 degrees for approximately 8 to 10 minutes (you will need to cook them a little longer than this if they are still frozen).
-Once they are done, there are many different additions you can serve with the lobster tails, such as lemon slices or one of many different sauces.

Boiling

Another method of cooking lobster tails is to boil them. You will need to put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
-Add in one teaspoon of salt for every quart of water
-Once the water is boiling, you drop the lobster tails into it, which will cease the boiling for a short time. Once the boiling begins again, you will lower the heat to medium, or medium high, and this is when the timer should begin.
-For 1 to 3 ounces of meat, you will want to boil them for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. For every ounce after that, you will need to add one to two minutes to the boiling time.

Steaming

Steaming lobster tails is another cooking option that doesn’t take very long-only about five to seven minutes. You can use water as the liquid for steaming, or you can use white wine (using white wine can also double as a sauce after the lobster tails are finished cooking). It is often a good idea to stick a wooden skewer through the lobster tails, since steaming them causes them to shrivel slightly.

Broiling Large Lobster Tails

When cooking a large lobster tail, the trick will be to cook it all the way through without scorching or drying out the top. If you do cook it too long, the meat will be tough and chewy. The best way to approach broiling a large lobster tail is to first thaw it, then cut open the top of the shell lengthwise. You will need a heavy pair of kitchen shears to do this, and you will want to cut just deep enough that you do not cut the bottom of the shell. You may need to use a large knife to cut through the meat and you will then need to split the shell open. Then, you will put it in a roasting pan just underneath the broiler. Cutting the lobster tail open like this will help expose the meat to the broiler so that it will cook evenly and prevent the shell from burning or drying out.

Cooking Lobsters “Piggy Back”

Another way of broiling lobster is what is referred to as “piggy back.” This method can also be used when grilling lobsters as well. Basically, what you will need to do is remove the meat from the inside of the lobster shell for cooking. This will help the lobster tail cook more thoroughly and evenly.

-Cut the outer shell down the center, leaving the fan tail and the underside membrane both intact

-Next carefully lift the meat through the slit in the shell

-Place the lobster meat on a roasting pan (in a small amount of water to prevent drying) membrane side up.

-Then place the roasting pan and lobster tails just under the broiler. You will cook these at the same amount of time required for boiling, the only difference being that you will need to turn them over and baste them again halfway through

-You will need to do the same to remove the lobster meat from the shell if you are going to use the “piggy back” method for grilling. You will want to cook the membrane side first in grilling, as well. Then, just as with broiling, you will need to turn the lobster tail halfway through, and baste it again, as well.

Daniel Urmann is a contributor and author for the website Atantic Lobster Tails.

Another attendee to my workshop spent over $18,000 making prototypes of his products. Electrical outlet plates that light up when the power goes out. Other versions are for blind people. When the doorbell rings, a mini speaker in these outlets announce which doorbell is ringing, front or side door. Another outlet is for deaf people. The outlets flash a different color to show which doorbell is ringing.

Both attendees made the same mistake. They created a product and then looked for a market. There is a lot of competition for crafts, so what makes yours unique? What is your USP? Your Unique Selling Proposition!

The gentlemen with the electrical products, tried to sell his products to the big companies like General Electric. He couldn’t even get in the door. No one wanted to talk to him.

The secret is to find what people want or what they need and then give them what they want at at an affordable price and with excellent service. Find the need and fill it! You have to do the research up front, before you design a product or service. You might even find a niche market within the bigger market you want to serve.

Corey Rudyl, one of the most successful online marketers ever found a niche market in Ferrari emblems. Some Ferrari owners were frustrated, because kids were stealing their hood ornaments and wheel cover ornaments to use for belt buckles. The Ferrari horse emblem was a status symbol and cost a lot of money to replace. He found a manufacturer in Italy that made them at a low cost. Corey made a deal with the company and soon had a niche market replacing these emblems at half the dealer’s cost. It became a $100,000 a year niche market.

You may not ever determine which came first, the chicken or the egg, but you had better remember that market research must come first when deciding where to invest your time and money in starting a business.

Dave Roman
http://www.homebusinessguru.net/
dave@homebusinessguru.net

Dave Roman has published a home business newsletter for 25 plus years. It is the oldest newsletter of its kind. He also teaches local workshops called “Fire Your Boss - Work at Home” at local colleges, using 7 little known create techniques to create business ideas.

There is also an ebook that goes with the class that is available separately.