Sunday, August 28, 2011

Summer dog tip

I met a vet who told me to pass on the news that on hot summer days do not take your dog on hikes in the middle of the day. He has seen dogs come in for heat stroke this way. He said in summer, at his practice, more dogs die of heat stroke than from rattle snake bites. Take your dog for a walk in the cool morning or in the evening when the sun is down. Someone, not a vet, told me if your dog's tonuge is getting purple than they are getting overheated. I personally don't know if this is true or not.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Movie Review: Sister Act

Movie Title: Sister Act. Comedy. Rated PG. For older children and teens. This movie is worth renting. If it's not on your movie list, put it there. The plot is great. And it's extremely funny in places. The movie starts out with lounge singer Delores (Whoopie Goldberg) witnessing her mobster boyfriend telling his thug to shoot a man. (It sounds bad, but there is no blood and a silencer is used so it's not loud). Delores goes to the Feds who hide her out in a nunnery until they can bring her boyfriend to trial. Delores, who's as close to nun as a Frankfurter, has to learn to fit in at the convent. She even has to disguise herself and wear a habit. With her background as a singer, Mother Superior gives Delores the job of instructing the choir how to sing. The sisters learn to sing some mighty upbeat choir tunes with some words changed from oldie songs.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Make Super Easy Homemade Fruit Ice Cream

Easy Homemade Fruit Ice Cream

This Fruit Ice Cream is so good you’ll ask for it in Heaven.
Serves four to five people.

What ingredients you will need to make this Fruit Ice Cream: 5 cups of frozen fruit (Peaches, Strawberries, Blueberries. All make tasty ice cream.); one teaspoon of vanilla; half a cup of Fructose (I got mine from Whole Foods grocery store) If you don’t have Fructose you can use regular sugar but end result won’t taste as heavenly; one and half cups of heavy whipping cream.

What you need to do:
1-Put all five cups of frozen fruit in your Cuisinart. It should fill half the bowl. If you don’t have a Cuisinart you can use your blender, but be careful not to over blend ice cream. Honestly, this ice cream tastes better if you can make it in a Cuisinart. I can say this because I did a tried and true test on it. Press Pulse on your Cuisinart a few times to crush fruit. (Or blend slowly in blender.)

2-Add Fructose or sugar and vanilla. Always do this before adding heavy whipping cream. Press Pulse again. (Or blend).

3-Add heavy whipping cream. Mix again. Taste. You might want to add more sugar or more cream depending on your taste. Serve fruit ice cream right away or place ice cream in bowls and put in freezer to serve when ready.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Car Game

Car game to keep bored children occupied:
Have parent or child start a story. After a couple of minutes have them stop. Have another child pick up the story, using their imagination. After a couple of minutes have them stop. Have another child or adult continue the story. Keep going around the car. The story will get funnier and funnier.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Dog Tip for Summer

In the summer when your dog sheds more brush them every week to cut down on the dog hairs in your home. Vacuum/sweep house weekly. There are some digestible products I've read about that say when given to your dog it cuts down on shedding. One you put in their water. Ask your vet about such products.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Movie Review: The Nutty Professor

Movie Title: The Nutty Professor. Comedy. 1963 version starring Jerry Lewis. This is my favorite Jerry Lewis movie where he isn't paired with Dean Martin. Eddie Murphy stars in another version of this movie in which he plays many of the characters. But Mr. Murphy's main character goes a bit over the top when he turns into a ladies man. The 1963 version is milder. In this version, a mild mannered chemistry teacher, Julius (Jerry Lewis), has the social skills of a bumbling buffoon. He goes ape over a woman, but lacks the charisma to win her heart; or so he thinks. Julius puts his chemistry knowledge to use and creates a potion to make him suave and debonair. He calls this new personality, Buddy Love. But the potion keeps wearing off at the most inopportune times. Will Julius ever find true love?

Monday, August 15, 2011

Parenting Article: Get Your Child to Listen to You

Do you ever feel that your child is not really listening to what you are telling them? Do they focus on only one or two words or only one aspect of what you are saying? Whether you are correcting them, giving them instructions or explaining something to them it can be frustrating when your child or teen will not listen to EVERYTHING you have to say. If your child only listens to part of what you are saying they aren’t getting the full benefit of what you are attempting to communicate.

Seven reasons why children might not fully listen:
1) Your child has focus problems.
2) They are angry/upset for not seeing things their way.
3) They are angry/upset that you are correcting them.
4) They are embarrassed you are correcting them in front of a friend.
5) They think they already understand what you want.
6) They are not interested in what you are saying.
7) They do not think your idea or information has sufficient merit to give you their whole attention.

Your child or teen may not completely understand what you are trying to convey if they do not let you finish talking. Unfortunately, I have seen kids get caught up with a single aspect of a bigger picture. They hone in on it. And because of this they interrupt you with: "But Mom he started it." "You’re taking his side!" "Dad you don't understand." Or "I don't agree." What is worse, some kids will tune you out. When this occurs I suggest you take a deep breathe. And if they are upset have your child do the same. Tell them to please not interrupt you as you speak and to listen to ALL you have to say. If they refuse to do this, have them go to their room until they cool off. Then try again. Once again start off by telling them to listen to everything you have to say and not just some words. It can be hard. Kids will hear what they want to hear. Some kids more than others. You could repeatedly repeat what you are saying, but if they get fixated on only one or two words they are not grasping the entire meaning of what you are telling them. They are not getting the "whole ball of yarn" they are merely getting snippets. You want your child to comprehend all of what you are saying and why.

Advice:
This is what you can do if you have a child who often has a difficult time listening to you: First politely ask your child or teen to uncross their arms if they tend to so. But do not make an issue of it! I only suggest this to loosen them up emotionally. When a defiant person crosses their arms as you are speaking it often is a sign they are "shutting you out." They are showing you they are unreceptive. From the very start you want your child or teen to be as open as possible to what you have to say.

After this, clearly state they are to listen to ALL you have to say BEFORE they can make a response. When you do speak, cut to the chase. Do not ramble on. Also, do not put too much emphasis on your child making eye contact with you. It is more important they GET what you are trying to say. As you talk if you start to see your child getting upset or annoyed by their body language or facial expression calmly tell them to calm down. Count to seven or ten silently. If they can not control themselves or they cop an attitude, calmly tell them to take a moment or few to collect themselves in their room or another room. Later talk to them again. I propose this because you want to break their thought of not wanting to listen to your position. If you revisit the issue afresh you might have a better time of getting them, to at least, listen to MORE of what you have to say. I realize that with children with OCD they might still be focused on one or two words you had said. In fact, they might be stewing on it if they are alone with nothing to do. Try to get them focused on something else. Have them read a book or do some activity to relax them. This is as much for them as for you. Limit the negative impact their OCD can have on them.