March 15, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of The_Gut (via Flickr)
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying – no pain, no gain – right? Well, that’s not exactly true. There are lots of easy to do, low-impact exercises that won’t hurt your body or your wallet!
Even if you’re able to do regular exercises, low-impact workouts can be a great way to break a sweat without straining joints or muscles. And a lot of these can be done at home for little or no money.
Ready to get started? Here are a few of my faves:
The point is, whether your pregnant, overweight, injured or just unable to do a typical workout there are still ways to get in shape and stay healthy. You don’t have to overdo it.
Try to keep a positive mindset that you’re doing this for a healthier lifestyle. You might even find that there are a number of healthy side-effects that come with it like weight loss, improved mood, less fatigue, etc.
Posted in Health Care | Tagged exercise, knee problems, low-impact workout, weightloss | Leave a Comment »
March 15, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of Tibbygirl (via Flickr)
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish celebration and feast day. But whether you’re Irish, Leprechaun, celebrating solo or with friends and family, there are St. Paddy’s Day events everyone can enjoy.
If you’re looking for something to do with the kids or just want to feast with the best of ‘em, you can find St. Patrick’s Day parades and festivals to celebrate the day.
Of course, you can always have your own St. Patrick’s Day celebration at home too! Have the kids make decorations and help with some fun, green treats:
- Crafts and games: use recycled paper, stamps, markers, and whatever else you have on hand to make streamers, paper chains, clovers etc.
- Make a traditional Irish meal with these tasty recipes
- Throw in some naturally green yummies to spice up the menu. It may even be an opportunity to try those green eggs and ham, whether it’s in a box or with a fox – I’m sure Dr. Seuss would be proud of you for trying them.
- Add a little green food coloring to your cookies, cupcakes and other treats for a fun and cheap St. Patrick’s Day party
For the adults planning on partying like the Irish – be safe and plan ahead with a designated driver or cab. Irish pubs near you can be found here.
Posted in Education, parenting | Tagged crafts, green, recipes, St. Patrick's Day | Leave a Comment »
March 12, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of Lachlan Hardy (via Flickr)
Looking for a job, when you have a wealth of experience, is difficult enough in today’s market. But as a teen, this can seem overwhelming and impossible.
Fortunately, there are several sites, resources and networks that can help your teen find a job even they’ll get excited about.
Where to start? Here are a few places for mostly part-time and student jobs:
- The Beehive – job search sites
- Facebook – If they’re on here anyway, why not use it to job hunt? Search: “jobs”, “part-time jobs”, etc.
- Teens4Hire – database for teenage job seekers
- Groovejob – part-time, seasonal and summer jobs
- USAJobs – Federal jobs for students
- Idealist – jobs, internships, and volunteering
Along with looking for a job, there are some helpful tips you can give them before they hit the ground running:
- Put your resume together: remember any experience, whether it’s being a teacher’s assistant or babysitting, counts. Get help writing your resume, here.
- Dress the part: dressing in semi-professional attire will show your commitment. If you’re low on cash, there are a few places to go for affordable clothing.
- Write out a list of jobs you’re interested in and places to apply
- Prepare yourself for “no”: It’s competitive out there, if you’re told we’re not hiring right now – best thing to do is leave your resume and ask them to call you when they do need someone.
- Follow up! Adults even forget this important step. Sending a Thank you letter or calling to find out about the status of your application will help them remember your name and keep you in mind.
Visit The Beehive for more information about finding a job, interview tips, do’s and don’ts, and more.
Posted in Employment | Tagged job search, teens | Leave a Comment »
March 12, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of Carly and Art (via Flickr)
So you’ve cut back on costs by bringing your own lunch and sending your kids to school with a brown bag. But how much is your lunch costing the environment?
Think about all the pre-packaged snacks you throw in and how much of your lunch ends up in the trash. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve made a wise move by brown-bagging it. Now, the next step is to find ways to make your family’s lunch a little more eco-friendly.
Here are just a few ways to ditch the plastic, trash and expensive individually wrapped snacks:
- Opt for Tupperware and/or other reusable containers
- Cloth napkins and real utensils can be reused (little one’s should probably stick with plastic utensils to be safe – a spork can help keep trash to a minimum)
- Reusable lunch box or bag – check out these nifty eco-friendly lunch/snack packs. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on this either – why not make your own?! Buy a cheap lunch box and use recycled paper, stickers, etc. to have a fun craft day with the kids.
- Make your own snacks, like fruits and veggies, to avoid trash-bound wrappers
Also, if you’re at a loss for what to pack, here are some cheap and healthy lunch ideas for kids and grown-ups alike:
Posted in Living Green, parenting | Tagged cheap and healthy meals, eco-friendly lunch, green, health | Leave a Comment »
March 11, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of Pulihora (via Flickr)
Between job losses and concerns over keeping benefits and income, it can be easy to find yourself in a rage. Of course, anger is a normal emotion. But it can be unhealthy if you let it get the best of you.
It may be difficult to stay rational and calm – but it can be done.
You can’t always avoid these circumstances. So being able to recognize anger and develop healthy coping mechanisms can help you better handle the situation.
Just taking a few breaths before you speak, update your status on Facebook or send a nasty email can save you some grief and all the other emotions that generally follow anger.
Consider a few of these ways to cope with anger that can benefit your mind and body, as well as those around you.
Visit The Beehive for some healthy living tips that can also help you improve some of the factors that contribute to stress and anger like nutrition, sleep and more.
Posted in Health Care | Tagged coping with anger, economy, stress | Leave a Comment »
March 11, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of Department for Children, Schools and Families (via Flickr)
While protecting our children online is extremely important, it’s also crucial that adults monitor their own content and visibility.
You never know who is watching.
Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc. have become a common meeting place for friends, family, even business interactions. But if you’re not aware of the risks, you may be letting folks into your circle that you normally wouldn’t.
Recent stories about jealous spouses, people using networking sites to find photos of small children, and security risks that let viruses in, mean we need to use more caution. Even security settings don’t necessarily mean you’re 100 percent safe. Taking your own precautions can help you feel more secure online.
The following tips on safeguarding yourself online are intended for parents to use in order to protect their children, but it seems we can all learn something from them:
- Some information should be private: avoid sharing your phone number, address, full birth date (here’s why), SSN, banking information, etc.
- Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your site
- Only post information your comfortable with others seeing. I call this the “mom check”, it’s applicable whether your 15 or 35, in other words: would your parents approve?
- Remember, once you post something online – you can’t take it back
- Be able to recognize cyber bullying, this doesn’t only happen to kids
- Trust your gut: if it feels wrong, it probably is.
- Read and become familiar with the sites’ privacy policies
Head over to The Beehive for a helpful section on protecting your computer, identity and your family online.
Posted in Education, parenting | Tagged online safety, social networking, technology | Leave a Comment »
March 10, 2010 by Alexis Cala
Courtesy of voobie (via Flickr)
Can you go a month without spending money on frivolous things? How about a week or even a day? The 30 Day “No Spend” Challenge is an opportunity to do just that.
Are you up to the challenge?
Here’s the deal: don’t spend money for an entire month. Well, not No money. The “no spend” part means you still need to pay your bills and buy groceries, etc.
Basically, you’re starting a budget by cutting out the fat in your spending habits. You know, the extra cash you’re spending on little things here or there that add up quick. This may be your chance to weed out those unnecessary expenses and get back on track.
What do you have to lose?
That is, what do you stand to lose besides spending habits which are possibly holding you back from financial freedom?
If it’s time to get your finances under control, consider taking The Challenge and head over to The Beehive to learn more about saving and spending wisely.
Posted in Money | Tagged budget, cutting expenses, saving, spending | Leave a Comment »
