Search Results for: blog summer ab care

5 Quick Activities for Self Care

Many parents are looking forward to the start of a new school year. Keep in mind that back-to-school comes with hectic mornings, help with homework, and the enforcement of a bedtime routine (that may have lapsed over the summer). It is important for parents to take a little time for self care while the kids are at school. Here are a few simple ideas to start with. The Living Self-Care website says that moms and dads that take care of themselves first will have more to offer to their children (and to the rest of the world). Self-care doesn’t have … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Crafts

Simple crafts are the perfect remedy for cabin fever.  This summer, the following easy and affordable projects have been lifesavers when it’s been too hot or too wet for my 8-year-old to run amok outside.  An added bonus:  these kid-friendly activities require very little adult assistance.  This makes them ideal to include at a variety of summer events such as family reunions, church picnics or birthday parties. Homemade Suncatcher Materials: Colored tissue paper cut into small pieces of varying shapes and sizes Safety scissors Clear contact paper Two large paper plates Yellow craft paint Paint brush Yellow poster board Craft glue Hole … Continue reading →

Shortening Summer Vacation

Know how to shut down an unruly kid in record time? Tell him that his school is shortening summer vacation. I’ve never seen a mouthy child go silent as quickly as I did last week while watching the evening news at our neighbor’s house.  Education leaders recently began serious talks about lengthening the academic year here. Of course, all my neighbor’s rowdy kid heard was:  “Next year, public school kids across the state could be dealing with a much shorter summer vacation.” The news reporter’s last three words nearly triggered an aneurysm in my neighbor’s kid. My child attends parochial … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Sanity Savers

School’s out for some kids, while others are just a few weeks away from enjoying the freedom of summer vacation. For parents, the end of the academic year brings excitement and some trepidation.  After all, most moms and dads know it’s just a matter of time before seasonal boredom sets in. To preserve your sanity in the weeks to come, consider keeping your kids busy with the following summer-themed crafts: Sugar-Free Ice Cream Cone Not only is this adorable ice cream cone sugar-free, it’s also calorie-free and drip-free.  All you need to make this cute craft are a few sheets … Continue reading →

What To Do about Neighbor Cats

I keep going back and forth on whether or not to let my cats outside.  Cole doesn’t have much interest, but Chrestomanci certainly does.  I know he’d be happiest as an indoor-outdoor cat, but I don’t know that I’d be happiest with him as one, and I don’t know that it’s worth the stress.  One day in the summer when we let him out with us, he wandered off.  He came back a few hours later, just as my husband said he would, but by then it was dark and I was very upset until he showed up again. Another … Continue reading →

Bachmann Introduces Bill to Repeal Affordable Care Act

The very first bill that was introduced to the brand new 113th Congress came from Representative Michele Bachmann. The purpose of the bill is to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The same type of bill was presented to the 112th Congress 33 times. None were voted into law. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. It is, without a doubt, the biggest set of regulations on health reform and health insurance that has ever been passed. The name is often shortened to Affordable Care Act, or ACA. Some refer … Continue reading →

Affordable Care Act Benefits that Began in 2012

Without a doubt, the most talked about, most controversial, biggest health insurance law is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is often referred to as the Affordable Care Act. Some people call it Obamacare. 2012 was a big year for the ACA. Here’s a quick review of some of the highlights. On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court revealed its decision about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Justices decided 5 to 4 that the Affordable Care Act would stand and would continue. In other words, it was declared to be constitutional. It was … Continue reading →

Affordable Holiday Fun

For most American families, Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of the summer. It’s a time set aside for picnics, parties and last-minute back-to-school shopping. Of course, the latter is no fun and the two former options can be pricey if you aren’t careful. So, what can you do to make the last long weekend of summer memorable if you don’t have money to burn? Here are some ideas: Dress-Up: This idea is perfect for young kids who enjoy imaginary play. Collect clothes from around the house that can double as uniforms. You can help your children celebrate the … Continue reading →

Insurance Blog Week in Review – July 15 – 21, 2012

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Once a week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review brings you an easy way to “ketchup” on the blogs that have been posted here in the past seven days. There could be anywhere between twelve and fourteen blogs that appear. What did you miss? Governor Jay Nixon Vetoes Law Denying Birth Control Coverage Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed health insurers to opt-out of covering birth control even if the employer and employee wanted it to be covered. Missouri already has a law that allows employers or workers opt-out of birth control coverage if it … Continue reading →

Avoid a Summer Bummer

When you’re a kid, nothing ruins summer vacation faster than being sick. I speak from experience. When I was 10 years old I got chicken pox five days after school let out for summer break. Talk about a summer bummer. Then again, taking care of a sick kid during summer vacation is no picnic for a parent either. When you’re on summer break, staying up late, traveling to new and exciting places, and enjoying life minus a regular routine, it’s easy to forgo healthy eating habits, slack on regular hand washing and avoid other good habits. This, of course, can … Continue reading →