6 Steps to a Simple, Nonmaterialistic Life

Six easy steps you can take, starting today, to live a more simple and debt-free life  Live Below Your Means Did you know that the average American spends $1.25 for each dollar he or she actually earns? Scary isn’ it? We live in a culture where living above your means is so normal, so casual, that we don’t even realize it. Create a budget and aim to live below your means, not above. Value Usefulness Over Status The clothes we choose, the cars we drive, the homes we live in and the electronics we carry sometimes are often purchased for … Continue reading

What the 50s Housewife Knew

I’ve been reading a lot lately about 50’s era housewives, including a couple of blogs that feature modern women who take on living as though they were still in that era: creating elaborate dinners that often feature gelatin and liver, getting dressed up complete with lipstick before they greet their husband’s good morning, and boiling laundry at the kitchen sink. While I am not quite ready to give up my modern appliances or attitude, there is one thing that I do appreciate about that time period. Everything got used and only disposed of when absolutely necessary. For example, a 50’s … Continue reading

Give Yourself the Gift of Love This Valentine’s Day

Most of us associate Valentine’s Day with the receiving or giving of gifts to others.  How about making this year one about giving the greatest gift of all?  I’m talking about a gift that begins with you…loving yourself enough to make some important lifestyle changes. Now that the New Year isn’t feeling so new anymore, many of us start to lose grip on the goals and resolutions we set.  The energy and enthusiasm we felt in the beginning of the year to exercise more and eat less has started to wane. In fact, some people might even be suffering from … Continue reading

The Gift of Fit Living

What is one of the best gifts you could give this holiday season?  How about the gift of health? Maybe you have been thinking about what to buy for someone you love.  Or you have been asked what you would like for Christmas.  The following are some fit living gift ideas. Let’s start with an easy one.  How about a gym club membership?  Sometimes you can get really good deals at this time of year.  You might receive a discount for the first year or three months free.   Shop around and see what’s out there. Fitness gadgets and accessories make … Continue reading

Four Terrifying Marriage Proposals

While surfing on the Internet I found a list of the “scariest marriage proposals” compiled by MSN. Given that this was just before Halloween, I thought they would have a spooky vibe. Well, I was wrong, though they were certainly scary. The four real-life marriage proposals were as follows: 1) A pilot took his girlfriend up for a ride in his small plane, pretended they were crashing, and handed his girlfriend an emergency checklist. His proposal was written on the list: “initiate ring engagement procedure.” 2) A stuntman faked a car crash and his subsequent death. His girlfriend was called … Continue reading

Detoxing your Life

The other day, I was on the phone with my best friend. We were complaining about aches and pains and how we didn’t think it could be stress because we just didn’t feel stressed. Then, we proceeded to complain about different things in our lives for the next 30 minutes. She laughed and said, “But, we aren’t stressed about anything!” Stress can affect our health – both mental and physical. But how can we detox ourselves of poisonous stress? First, ask yourself some honest questions. Do you get irritated easily? Do you always feel like you are rushing from place … Continue reading

Insurance Blog Week in Review – June 3-9, 2012

Every week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review gives you a quick and easy way to “ketchup” on all the blogs that appeared here in the past week. There can be anywhere between twelve and fourteen blogs that go up. What did you miss? What You Could Lose if the Supreme Court Overturns ACA The Supreme Court is going to reveal its ruling regarding the court case about the Affordable Care Act. Here is a quick list of some of the things you will lose if the Supreme Court overturns the ACA. The Insurance Podcast Roundup went up on June … Continue reading

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – May 13 -19, 2012

Each and every week, the Special Needs Blog Week in Review gives you a brief description of all the blogs that appeared here in the past seven days. This is a quick way to find the blogs that you wanted to read, but, didn’t have time for when they first appeared. What did you miss this week? The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on May 14, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of The Coffee Klatch. It is called “Bright Not Broken – Twice Exceptional Kids”. This is the first part of a series they … Continue reading

Dealing With A Difficult Ex

So many people have to deal with a difficult ex spouse. I’m sure none of us are the difficult ex spouse, no matter what he may say! Sometimes for reasons unknown to most rational people, an ex spouse will try to interfere with your new marriage, or manipulate you using your children, or personally attack you. What can you do that will not cause the problem to escalate? Due to the fact that you have children with this person, you need to tread lightly, just as what he does affects the children, how you respond affects them as well. The … Continue reading

When Should My Child Visit the Orthodontist?

Back when young, many years ago, a child would only visit the orthodontist when he or she was a teenager. At that point, much of the growing was done, and correcting misaligned teeth could involve a lot of pain an effort, including tooth removal and years of braces. Thankfully, technology and techniques in orthodonture have improved greatly since then. There is now an emphasis on a more gentle approach that works with your child’s natural anatomy to make needed corrections. There are devices now that can ease your child’s jaw into a more normal position as he or she grows. … Continue reading