Topical Whensday: When will YOU wear a Colored Tee to Recognize Violence Against Women and Children.

Colored Tees help women affected by violence. Do you have one to donate and one to wear this Topical Wednesday in respect for women affected? The Clothes Line Project could use your donation. It is an international awareness-raising event where women affected by violence decorate a color-coded Tee shirt to be displayed as a barometer of those affected by intimate violence. Herstory: The idea for the Clothesline Project grew out of the Men’s Rape Prevention Project in Washington D.C. The men’s project claimed that while 58,000 soldiers died for the love of their country in the Vietnam war, 51,000 women … Continue reading

Mama has the Flu!

It is the time of year when visitors come to call. One uninvited guest is the flu bug. The flu bug flies in and destroys a home for a week, sometimes more. I have a family of six. The flu could set my house in a state of illness for a month. One advantage to homeschooling when the flu comes to call is you don’t need to call off school. You can work around the illness, work through the illness, or just take days off without actually missing anything. Yes, it often puts your schedule behind a bit but your … Continue reading

Diagnosing Cancer in Pets

I was chatting with an owner at the cats-only boarding facility about various health issues, and the topic of cancer came up. “How do you know if a cat has cancer?” he asked me. I was stumped for a moment, then managed to say that it was probably the same way we figure it out in humans. Biopsies and blood tests. Just to be sure, I did some research. Yeah, I’m the sort of person where if I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll find it. Cancers that present as tumors on or near the surface of the … Continue reading

Single Parenting: Who They Are

Who Are They? According to the U.S. Census Bureau in the summer of 2007, there were approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States alone. The children that they are raising total 21.2 million. This relates to 26% of children under the age of 21. Most custodial parents are, not surprisingly, mothers. Mothers total approximately 84% with the remaining 16% being custodial dads. Thirty-three per cent of these single moms have never been married and the majority of the moms being either divorced or separated. Only 1% of these moms are widowed. Of the fathers, totaling 16%, 57% were … Continue reading

Frugal Month in Review: November 2008

November to be is the beginning of two things. The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving, and then there is winter. Despite the fact that winter doesn’t officially start until next month, the fall seems to give way to the winter in November anyway. We had a day of snow already. Here is looking ahead to December and the end of the year! November 1st Frugal Month in Review: October 2008 “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot. November 2 … Continue reading

Treating Chin Acne in Pets

Don’t stress too much if your pet develops chin acne — it’s a relatively common problem in dogs and cats! One of the most common causes for chin acne is allergies. A pet may be allergic to fleas, foods, plastic in bowls, or inhaled particles like pollen and mold spores. Dealing with the allergy can make a big difference in many cases of chin acne. Treat your pet with a monthly flea/tick preventative like Frontline, Advantage, Sentinel, or Revolution. Spray your home and yard to clear up flea infestations if one is present or suspected. Eliminate plastic food and water … Continue reading

Home Week in Review: March 17 – 23

Easter is this week, and we hope each of you has a wonderful day, however you celebrate it. For some it is a momentous, wondrous occasion, which it is for me, the day my Savior rose from the grave. For others it is a whimsical day filled with candy and fun. Others may simply enjoy a day off. Our best to everyone. We started and ended this week talking about Easter, beginning with A Few Last Minute Easter Ideas and ending with Easter Bunny Questions. In between, we covered several other topics, from decorating to disaster relief. The Art of … Continue reading

Education Week in Review: September 1- September 6

September has started off with a boom! Education here at Families.com has gained a wonderful addition- Substitute Teacher’s Corner. Heather will be joining me in writing about educational topics. She will be adding hints and tips for all of the substitute teachers. Saturday, September 1 Good Behavior or Academics- Which is More Important? Each year a class takes on a particular personality or characteristic. Some classes perform better academically while others are higher in behavior. This article addresses the pros and cons of having a high academic class or a well-behaved class. New Survey Addresses Cyber-Bullying In a previous article, … Continue reading

Rosacea or acne?

I’ve always had problems with acne. It never seemed to matter what I did, I still had break outs. I kept waiting for that “grown-up” stage to hit where acne wouldn’t be a problem for me. I’m still waiting. Recently a skin condition called rosacea has gained more notice and I began to wonder if this was actually the cause of my “adult acne”. So, how does it compare and what can I do about it? Rosacea is an inflammatory response that generally affects the facial skin specifically. It looks a lot like acne, with redness, swelling, bumps and small … Continue reading

Standing for What We Believe

With the advent of HBO’s latest effort, “Big Love” many conversations are taking place around the water cooler, gardens, living rooms and parks of Latter-day saint society. With the topic came conversation revolving around standing for what we believe in and how to do it. It was not long ago that our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, addressed this very thing. I quote, “Let our voices be heard. I hope they will not be shrill voices, but I hope we shall speak with such conviction that those to whom we speak shall know of the strength of our feeling and … Continue reading