Tag Archives: salt

Save Money and “Off to College”

Ah college memories. The years of eating ramen noodles heated up in a hot pot and an entire floor trying to scrape up enough money for pizza. I had to laugh when I saw one of those “off to college” commercial ads for one of the big box stores. It was a list of all of the college essentials that parents needed to purchase for their new college student. I couldn’t believe it. There were practically all of the comforts of home. Actually, there were more comforts in that dorm room than are probably in my own home right now! … Continue reading →

Would You Allow Your Child to Live in a Co-ed Dorm Room?

Given that I spent my entire freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison holed up in a girls-only dorm affectionately (though, not accurately) known as the “Virgin Vault,” my answer to the question posed in the title of this blog would be a resounding: “HELL NO!” But that’s just me. After all, there’s still a good chance that my precious daughter could end up in a convent, which would make it a moot issue. Regardless of my opinion, the subject of teens living together in the same room at college is as real as it gets for parents of students … Continue reading →

How NOT to Help Your Kid Get Into College

Here’s some news that will help ease the guilt of all you parents who desperately want to give your children a leg up on the stiff competition that faces them on their journey to institutes of higher education. So you occasionally help out with your student’s science projects or you maybe drafted a few of his research papers and had him pass it off as his own. Not good. But, definitely not as bad as what Caroline Maria McNeal did to help increase her daughter’s chance of getting into the college of her choice. The overzealous (see: desperate) mom, who … Continue reading →

Church Schools, Institute and Your College of Choice

Recently I had the opportunity to return and visit BYU again. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend and graduate from BYU, but it has been about ten years since I visited campus. I also recently had a conversation with some friends who chose not to attend a church school. I’ve known people who love the atmosphere and people who chafed while attending. It is important to realize that the church school experience is not for everyone. It is important that students apply and attend where they will be the happiest. This may mean a church school, or … Continue reading →

Pink Haired Student Gets the Boot and College Co-eds Make the Most of Bad Weather

Strep throat and the flu have been going around, but that’s not what has kept 11-year-old Natasha Rzanca out of Sawyer Elementary School for more than a week. The Michigan fifth-grader isn’t sick nor has she been suspended. Rather, the reason for her extended absence from school has to do with the color of her hair. The mini fashionista decided to dye her hair pink and now she’s dealing with the consequences of her actions. According to reports, school administrators were less than pleased with Natasha’s new look (her mother didn’t mind the color) and demanded that she remain at … Continue reading →

State College Costs Unaffordable

Public colleges and universities are often more affordable than private institutions, but according to a report by the Associated Press, even public four- and two-year colleges and universities flunk the grade on affordability. Only one state out of 50, California, actually can claim that they have affordable colleges. This is thanks to affordable community colleges. How bad are college costs? Increases from 1999-2000 are as high as 16 percent in some cases. If your income falls in the lower median, expect to pay as much as 55 percent of your income just for college tuition, books and other fees not … Continue reading →

Sneaky Sodium Cuts

A tip of the hat to the Sneaky Mama — she’s got lots of great tips for sneaking healthy stuff into your favorite recipes! I’m thinking today about sneaking something OUT of my favorite foods: salt. Cutting your added salt intake by half can make a big difference in your risk of stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. According to a study from Shiraz University in Iran, just six weeks of reducing your salt intake can lower your systolic blood pressure by eight percent. That cuts your stroke risk by a third and your heart disease risk by a quarter. … Continue reading →

College Majors and Jobs

Often when college students select a major, they are not usually thinking beyond graduation to the job or career it might lead. When I worked as a counselor years ago in a college, I met up with many seniors who were switching their majors. They realized that the major they thought they wanted as freshman, was not going to get them the job they wanted when they graduated. At the time, they felt stressed and worried about life after college. However, when it comes to college work, there is rarely any lost time. Few jobs involve only one subject area, … Continue reading →

Government Proposal on Student Loans

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With rising tuition prices, very few students attend college without some type of financial help. Government loans are one of the most common. However, they may not be as easy to obtain as they once were. It seems that once again the federal government is taking action in the issue of education. Recently Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut introduced a proposal that would stop lending institutions from picking and choosing which schools and students were eligible for loans. The proposal came about after an article was published that stated that several lenders had stopped allowing … Continue reading →

“Leave me Alone!—Don’t Leave Me!”

Parents of young children complain about separation anxiety, and then parents of older children may complain that their child is eager to have them leave and doesn’t seem to notice when they are gone. The parent of a teenager, however, experiences the most confusing phase of all—the teen who grumbles to be left alone and then turns around minutes later and complains of being abandoned! I have been quite open in sharing some of the trials and joys of preparing to send two older teen daughters off to college. It is an exciting time, yes, but it is also stressful, … Continue reading →