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Attainable Goals and the Sky-Blue Hue of Celery
It started as a simple experiment. My four-year old neighbor was over and she had never done the ‘celery experiment’. Imagine that! So I dug in my produce drawer and pulled out two stalks. We put a piece in each cup and then added food dye to the water. Red and blue. We watched them through the day and we saw the change. We noticed how the celery was drinking the water as the celery turned from green to a shade of the color of its water. We talked about the importance of drinking and how, yes, even plants drink. Her eyes were widened at this thought. Then my mind started spinning…
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Personal Goals
New Years Resolutions. A yearly tradition. A list we come up with to make us feel good, look good but easy to forget all about come March or April. So instead of New Years Resolutions I have come with a list of Personal Goals. I make them and keep them for my work-life at MilitaryAvenue.com. It makes sense to do lay them out in my personal life; not just a way to make me feel better or look better but a means of lifting myself up. These are five of my personal goals for this year: 1. Stay in better touch with my grandparents. Send Pop an email every week. Send a letter to…
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Small Business Saturday
I am really intrigued by this idea of “Small Business Saturday”. The premise is the Saturday after Thanksgiving you go to your local family-owned, small business stores to do your Christmas Shopping. I got this ‘chain email from my mother-in-law a couple weeks ago. Usually I immediately hit delete on chains. Sorry, I get about 50 emails a day – and that is just personal. But this one caught my eye and hits right along the Small Business Saturday concept: As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the…
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Cyberspace – The Bears and Packers? The offense and defense from the LandWarNet conference – DoD Roundtable
The use of computers, smart phones, satellite tv, cable, networks, wifi, email, Facebook, Twitter, immediate communications, long distance communications ++ has become so routine we expect them to be available. When we wake up and find our wifi or other electronics not working it is not a good start to the day. Imagine losing these capabilities when we have a cyber attack? Last week I had the privilege to speak with two electronic engineers who have compared cyber war to a football game. US Cyber Command Logo It was a great conversation but a bit over the head of this non geek. Yes, I remember taking a carburetor apart on…
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“Let’s Move” How Healthy Are You and Your Military Family? – DoD Roundtable
We see it everyday! Sometimes in our own mirror, in family members, at the Exchange, at church/chapel, around town, while visiting family and at the doctor’s office: Many Americans including our children are overweight! We need to get active! The “Let’s Move” campaign is a national effort to improve our health and we need to get going! As the military order goes, “Move Out” on this one! “She said the campaign was focusing on three targets: Diet, Activity and Screen Time.” I am encouraged by the interest of our country’s leaders taking a stand because this is becoming a health care issue with record numbers of childhood diabetes, adult onset…
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Seems Comfort Is Not Immediate and Abuse is Prevalent
Music plays in my life like breezes in an open field, sometimes noticeable, often relaxing and at times bone chilling. I hear songs in the background without recognizing the words. I might know them; I did when I first added an album to a playlist, but now, they fit in. Robert’s desk was front row, front seat. Robert was Robert, not Robbie, Bob or Bobby: Robert. He would cringe when an unfamiliar person would call him Bobby. I saw it as I was the substitute teacher who was coming in February to finish the school year: 6th grade math and home room. Robert could not sit still. He would squirm;…
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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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Feeding my Brain
Today my son, *C*, jumped on the bus in his PJs. He is heading to school to enjoy a delicious breakfast of Green Eggs and Ham. Dr Seuss week is wrapping up. I just love when education is fun. And Dr Seuss sure is a whole lot of fun. *C*, my energetic, imaginative, prince. He is my second-born and wants SO much to be like his big-brother *E*, two-years older. He gets frustrated when he can’t do what his 2nd grade brother does. And sometimes this brings him down. *E* is a top-notch reader. 2nd grade and reading at the 5th grade level according to quarterly computer-tests. Teacher conferences are…
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10 Tips for a Healthy Marriage … on Facebook
A Very Happy Valentine’s Day to our military-families! I will honestly tell you hubs and I have no plans. I am a little sad about it but not terribly over-worked. It is hard with a young family to get out in the middle of the week as a couple. We certainly find time to ‘date’ each other but this Valentine’s Day does not entail a dinner out, fine dining and dancing. I am thinking it will involve a homemade pie, chocolate, wine, and most hopefully some candles, backrubs, lights down low … and a sleeping six-month old.. There is more to a healthy-marriage though then time alone. What about time…
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A Minute Out of the Norm: Dance Party!
Do you have a case of the winter doldrums? – Feeling a little low? – Kids a little on edge? Turn the music UP. – Put on your dancing feet. – Have a Dance Party! Either find your favorite CD or find a good dancing song [CC Music Factory is an old favorite :)] on Pandora and turn up the computer! Even 5 minutes of pumped energy is good for the heart and soul! Get ready for some smiles! (And not a bad workout either!) – Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.combyLeanne KocsisonMonday, January 24, 2011Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Leanne,Minute out of the Norm