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Life Lessons of a (ahem) 37 year old
Happy Birthday to me! My five year old son asked me last night how old I was going to be and I told him 29. He took it pretty seriously and wished me a happy 29th Birthday this morning. He sure is good for my psyche. I took the time to reflect on 37 things I have learned this past year. Moments of reflection are so good! They help me revisit the past and put it to purpose for the future: For a slow cooker to work you must plug it in. I’m sure this applies for other appliances as well. Baby Boys grow up way too quickly and become pre-pre-teens…
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Staying Healthy: Headaches
I am a headache-victim, -survivor, -conqueror! I get allergy-related headaches, stress headaches and worst of all, migraines. If headaches affect you, get help: Make an appointment to see your health care provider for an accurate diagnosis. Become informed about your headache type and treatment options. I sometimes feel petty bringing up my headaches at regular doctor’s visits … but they aren’t /just/ headaches. They are a physical and mental derailments! To help with occasional tension headaches, try a warm shower, rest or relaxation techniques. Just closing your eyes for 20 minutes can help a lot. Some headaches are caused by dehydration. Many physicians recommend that you drink at least eight-ounces of…
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Help Your Child Feel Healthy!
The American Heart Association recommends that children and teenagers get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. My kindergartner’s teacher mentioned to me that *C* is the most in-tune and capable of learning right after some rigorous activity. She has witnessed first hand, in particular with him, how when he gets rid of pent up energy he is ready to sit down and stay on task. Occasionally, if all of the students are a bit hyper she has them do a few jumping jacks beside their desks. Then they sit back down and jump back into work. It goes to show how in-sync our bodies are. Even the brain craves motion, movement and…
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The 2011 USAA “Best Value” list is in your garage, scratch that, in your hands
USAA is at it again. When you step into a car dealership you want to be armed with all the data possible when searching for that perfect car. You don’t want to be hassled; you want some space and the knowledge that you have a force behind you. USAA has provided the 2011 USAA “Best Value” list to assist with your car shopping process. Steve Thompson, assistant vice president at USAA, captured it by saying, “Our members want the best bang for the buck with a no hassle experience”. “We’re making members’ lives easier by taking the guesswork out of buying a new vehicle,” said Thompson. “The ‘Best Value’ vehicles typically…
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Look at Something Beautiful
The simple act of pausing in your hectic day and looking at something pleasing to your eyes can improve your outlook and make you feel good: Some suggestions: Keep a picture of your spouse at your work desk Set your computer to slide show when it is idle to show some of your favorite pictures Watch the sunset if you are a night-owl or the sunrise if you are a morning-person Put a vase of spring-cut flowers on your kitchen table Find a favorite piece of art to hang in your halls or over your bed Watch for more ideas in this new series from the MilitaryAvenue Team: Staying Healthy –…
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Week in Review: March 20 – March 26, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of March 20th – 26th onMilitaryAvenue.comThe Government Shutdown and your Paycheck: Anxiety … it is never fun! We have a lot we can be anxious for: children’s needs, spouse’s safety, future plans, family finances, the list is endless… I’m sensing a lot of anxiety about the possibility of a government shut down and then ultimately the fate of the military-paycheck come mid-May. Spouses are worried how the bills are going to be paid. Service-members are wondering how they are going to meet the needs of their families. Both are a bundle of unhealthy, preventable anxiety. … Kahlua Cake: A Light Dessert: The refrigerator does…
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“The Five Minute Job”
Deb and I needed a vacation, a break from the cold of Michigan and a time to enjoy some sun … It had been a long time coming! Our vacation plans included stops in several locations to reduce the length of drive each day, to see close and extended family, visit an old PCS location with a warm spring climate, see friends from our first assignment (Indian Spring Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada – now Creech AFB) and more! We had an aggressive plan but one that allowed time with our elderly surviving parents too. Both of our dads are World War II veterans, 87 years old and like to…
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Who is your BFF?
The other day my 5 year old jumped off of the bus. A big smile on his face. A quicken in his step. I could tell he had a great day. “How was your day, honey?”“Good“Pause…“Guess what, Mom? I have a BEST friend.” “Who is that?” “*P*. He is in my class AND he rides my bus. *P* always asks me to sit by him.” Now that IS a reason to declare it a great day. The realization that you have a friend. Not just any friend… but a best friend! Who can you be a friend to today? Invite someone in the area you’ve lost touch with over for coffee. Perhaps someone…
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The Government Shutdown and your Paycheck
Anxiety … it is never fun! We have a lot we can be anxious for: children’s needs, spouse’s safety, future plans, family finances, the list is endless… I’m sensing a lot of anxiety about the possibility of a government shut down and then ultimately the fate of the military-paycheck come mid-May. Spouses are worried how the bills are going to be paid. Service-members are wondering how they are going to meet the needs of their families. Both are a bundle of unhealthy, preventable anxiety. Terry Howell at Military Advantage did a great post that you should checkout. I think it will relieve some of your stress over the May paychecks:…
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Week in Review: March 13 – March 19, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of March 13th – 19th on MilitaryAvenue.com Willard: Assisting Japan is ‘Highest Priority’: U.S. forces in Japan are engaged in one of the biggest natural and manmade disasters of a lifetime, Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard said here tonight. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, spoke over the phone from Hawaii to the Pentagon press corps about what the U.S. military is doing to help the Japanese Self-Defense Force respond to the disaster caused by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear emergency. … Emergency Preparedness: Disasters like Japan’s recent earthquake and then tsunamis are hard to shake. You may not…