Genealogy Podcast Roundup – Week of September 13, 2011

The weekly Genealogy Podcast Roundup brings you new and interesting episodes of podcasts that focus on different aspects of genealogy. This quick list allows you to easily find the episodes that you are interested in listening to, and to find out when your favorite podcasts have updated. Genealogy Gems released episode number 117 on September 6, 2011. This episode is called “Should Your Genealogy Research Flourish?” They discuss a “picnic”, and some news about Archives.com. Some listener email is answered, and Dear MYRTLE makes a guest appearance to talk about the “fl” abbreviation, and the Pensions Quilt. African Roots Podcast … Continue reading

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

While some of us are still shivering in the cold, being blown about by frosty winds, or sighing glumly at the piles of snow in our yard, spring is in full swing in Orlando. Yup, it’s that time again; Wednesday is the kickoff of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. I have multiple family members that for whom coming to see fanciful hedges trimmed to resemble and adorned with flowers to represent multi-color Disney characters would be enough of a reason to visit Epcot this spring. The living rainbows sure to be on display at Bambi’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden … Continue reading

Beware the Green Eyed Monster: How Jealousy Can Impact Your Blended Family

I tiptoed up to the topic, believing that most of us are pretty sensitive about it: “Sometimes step parents feel…I don’t want to call it jealousy, but…” at which point Kelly, eight years into her step mom experience, interrupted, “Oh, you can call it jealous! I was definitely jealous!—of a six year old, no less!” We were talking about what can often become a defining dynamic between children and step parents, and consequently, a divisive issue for a biological parent and their spouse. It’s not an emotion many of us are willing to cop to, especially if the trigger is … Continue reading

Before or After?

It’s unofficially baby shower week here on the pregnancy blog. If you haven’t done so already, read about whether or not you should get a second baby shower and whether you have to play shower games, Monday and Tuesday’s topics, respectively. Earlier this week I was speaking with a friend about planning – you guessed it – a baby shower. Apparently someone suggested that our pregnant friend should have the shower after the baby was born, and others insisted she have it before. So which is better: before or after? I’m going to go on the record and say that … Continue reading

Mental Health Week in Review: October 9-16

We certainly got people talking in response to the article Does Your Partner Look Like Your Opposite Sex Parent? While researchers at the University of Pecs in Hungary were busy finding statistically significant links between the similarities in appearance between your father and your partner if you are a female, and alternatively, your mother and your female partner if you are a male, readers at Families were conducting their own anecdotal experiments! Thanks to all contributors, both public and private. It seems that, in general, we are mortified to think that we have chosen someone who might possibly look like … Continue reading

Dealing with Jealousy – part 1

Yesterday we looked at examples of jealousy in the Bible and the destructive situations jealousy can cause. We only have to look around us on any given day to see jealousy at work in our world, between siblings and family members, work colleagues, neighbors, film and TV stars, sportspeople, the list goes on. We might even struggle with jealousy in our lives. Where does jealousy stem from? It often stems from our own insecurities and lack of self confidence or fear. What is jealousy? According to Webster, the word jealous means “resentful and envious, as of someone’s success, achievements, advantages…” … Continue reading

Tips For Reusing Digital Elements

There is a definite perk to creating scrapbook layouts digitally. Among the cost of the items being much less, the ability to reuse items is an added bonus which I feel adds to the whole frugal scrapbooking thing. However, I was surprised to learn that many digital scrapbookers do not know how to reuse their elements and feel as if they will be creating the same layout over and over if they use the embellishments again. This causes them to purchase more and more kits of similar items that are slightly changed in appearance. This is not even close to … Continue reading

Home Week in Review: July 23 – 29

Well, once again the Home Blog started and ended the week on similar topics. Three Tips for Staging your Home offered some tips for preparing a home for sale and linked to other articles on staging tricks and techniques. Rounding out the week was “Can You Flip a House?” an article that discussed purchasing property to renovate for re-sale. Rehabbing used to be a popular term for this process but “flipping” seems to be the common description today for buying, fixing, and selling quickly to maximize profit. Staging is a good idea when flipping a home too. Moving on to … Continue reading

Concerns of Public Education: U = Uniforms

Uniform policies are a concern in many school districts. My school system does not require or enforce a school uniform policy. However, we do have a dress code policy. Many districts are concerned about student attire and placing a uniform policy into effect. Some school officials feel that uniforms would cut down on concealed weapons and drugs in the schools, especially in middle school and high school. Others believe that having a school wide dress uniform policy would cut down on social competition among the students. Students could focus more on academics than social status and appearance. However, placing a … Continue reading

Two Rival Giants Will Appear Together

Apple and Microsoft have long been rival companies in the computing world, almost from the very beginning of the birth of the personal computer. Now in the age of digital media, the fire continues to be fueled. Well, prepare for history, as the two rival giants will make a historic appearance on the same stage. Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will come together for a rare joint appearance at the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital, an executive conference that will be taking place from May 29 through May 31. Known as D5, the conference … Continue reading