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I am a Christian, tattoo loving, paranormal believing, pierced up, supernatural watching, vampire diaries adoring, soccer coaching, animal helping, Earth saving, twimom to 4 living a crazy life I love. I am definitely Not Everyones Mama.

Archive for the ‘The Articles’ Category

Free Captain Paul Watson @CaptPaulWatson #FreeCaptainPaulWatson

Posted by Heather Manning On May - 15 - 2012

Fight for the man who fights for those with no voice!

Images from Captain Paul Watson’s Facebook

Captain Paul Watson has been arrested in Germany and Costa Rica wants him extradited their way.

The German police have said that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is in response to an alleged violation of ships traffic in Costa Rica, which occurred during the filming of Sharkwater in 2002. The specific “violation of ships traffic” incident took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark finning operation, run by a Costa Rican ship called the Varadero. On order of the Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.

More from an update

INTERPOL has issued a statement on their website citing that they will not publish a Red Notice seeking the arrest of Captain Watson because their Office of Legal Affairs is not satisfied that the request from Costa Rica is in compliance with INTERPOL’s Constitutions and Rules. Hopefully the German courts will come to the same conclusion soon and set Captain Watson free.

How can we help? Call, write, fax, and email! Here is a link to more info.

There is also a petition set up. Sign the petition.

Facebook, tweet, and do what you can to spread the word. Time is running out! I know some of you may not agree with his tactics, but he gets the job done for those who have no voice of their own. He should not be sitting in some jail cell in Costa Rico on a trumped up politically motivated charge. Please do what you can to fight for his release.

And please be polite in your communications, inflammatory language will not help the cause at all.

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www.seashepherd.org

Thank you!

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Earth Day – Smart Recipes That Save The Planet And Your Wallet

Posted by Heather Manning On April - 19 - 2012

I thought this was an excellent set of recipes to share. I don’t have a juicer or a dehydrator yet, but I have wanted one of each for awhile to prepare those healthy things I want my children (and myself) to enjoy more easily. I have looked at reviews and could not decide which ones I wanted.

With Earth Day right around the corner it’s time to start thinking about ways that we can be a little greener. There’s more to saving the earth than putting newspapers in a recycling container once a week. One way to help the environment is to stop wasting food. Many Americans today give very little thought to the amount of food they throw away, naively assuming that there will always be “more where that came from.” In 2010, more than 34 million tons of food waste was generated, more than any other material category but paper. Food waste has significant economic as well as environmental consequences. Often, simple changes in food purchasing, storage and preservation practices can yield significant reductions in food waste generation.

Stop throwing your food –and your money – in the garbage every week. Think about it, how many times have you thrown away rotten fruits and vegetables because you did not eat them in time? What about all of those tomatoes that you grow (or buy) in the summer? No need to “hurry up and eat the tomatoes before the go bad!” With products like an Excalibur Dehydrator and an Omega Juicer you can preserve food and make sure that no part of your food is wasted.

Below are a few recipes from Omega Juicers and Excalibur Dehydrators that make the most out of food- allowing you to throw away less food, save more money, and do your part in helping the environment:

Carrot Apple Juice

Juicing fruits and vegetables is a great way to help waste less food. If you have a bunch of spinach that is on its last day, or apples that are just starting to get soft you can juice them instead of throwing them out. Don’t waste perfectly good fruits and veggies because they no longer look “perfect.” Throw them in a juicer and create delicious good-for-you beverages that the whole family will love.

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Ingredients:
5 medium sized carrots
2 medium apples

Press through a juicer, stir to mix the flavors, serve, and enjoy!
Don’t toss that “leftover” carrot and apple pulp; bake some yummy muffins instead!

Carrot Apple Muffins

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Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
**5 medium shredded carrots
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup raisins
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
**2 Granny Smith apples peeled and shredded

**For “shredded” ingredients, use the pulp from the juicer!

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°F and oil eighteen 1/2-cup muffin cups (or you can use paper muffin liners).

Into a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and whisk in sugar. Coarsely chop the pecans. Add carrots pulp and pecans to flour mixture with raisins and toss well.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir apple pulp into egg mixture and add to flour mixture, stirring until batter is just combined well. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling them three fourths full, and bake in middle of oven until puffed and a tester comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.

Cool muffins in cups on racks 5 minutes before turning out onto racks to cool completely. Muffins keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days.

Dehydrated Tomatoes

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Dehydrating is a great way to preserve food before it goes bad to be eaten at a later date. It is also a great way to preserve fruits and veggies that are going out of season (like tomatoes from your garden at the end of the summer) to enjoy year-round.

Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch thick rounds.
Place the slices on the trays of the dehydrator evenly spaced. In a 5 tray Excalibur Dehydrator you can fit approximately 30-35 tomatoes at one time.
Set the dehydrator to 110′F and dry for 15 hours.
When done let them sit on a cookie sheet for a few hours.
Use in all sorts of receives of your choice.
Put in a glass jar and store in a dark dry place.

And when it’s time to eat these delicious dehydrated tomatoes, preparation is simple. Try this recipe for quick and easy tomato and basil sauce:

Excalibur Dried Tomato and Basil Sauce

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¼ Cup Dried Tomatoes, Crumbled
2-3 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Dried Basil
½ Cup Water

Sauté garlic in olive oil – do not brown! Turn heat to low, add dried tomatoes and basil and stir to coat. Immediately add water and stir. Cover and steam 2-3 minutes.

About Omega Juicers:

Since 1985, Omega has developed the most efficient and reliable juicers available, proudly offering all styles of juicing equipment from its “One Stop Shop for All Your Juicing Needs.” Founded by industry expert Robert Leo, who spent over twenty years developing his vision and experience by listening to consumer needs, Omega remains the only company to offer centrifuge, masticating, and pulp ejection style juicers, in addition to the more traditional citrus models.

Omega offers units that are “Household & Commercially Approved” by Underwriters Laboratories. Omega products are stylish enough for the home and powerful enough for the workplace, and Omega’s track record of durability, coupled with its product confidence, allows the brand to offer up to 15-year warranties on its range of products, which includes juicers, blenders, food prep machines, drink dispensers and more. www.OmegaJuicers.com

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About Excalibur Dehdrators
Since 1974, Excalibur Food Dehydrators have changed the way people all over the world prepare and preserve food. Compact enough to fit on your kitchen counter, the Excalibur Dehydrator replaced sun drying, solar drying, and oven drying. The electrical dehydrator created a more predictable dehydration method that allowed people to dry 24 hours a day, come rain or shine. Excalibur Dehydrators are the only home appliance that incorporate the Parallexx™ Horizontal-Airflow Drying System for best performance, thermostat adjustability, speed, durability, clean-ability and versatility. Dehydrate fruits, vegetables, meats and fish for jerky, herbs and nuts in the comfort of your home.

Excalibur Dehydrators are up to 10-times faster than common round dehydrators, and are available in a variety of sizes, including commercial and non-commercial grade units. www.ExcaliburDehydrator.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Teaching Your Kids To Love Nature

Posted by Heather Manning On April - 13 - 2012

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Disney is hosting an Earth Month event, the Disney Kids and Nature Celebration, April 12-14 in Orlando – and among other things, will be addressing the relationship between kids and nature today. Lucky ducks that they are, my brother and his family are there right now!

How connected are our kids to nature?

Trips to the zoo, collecting autumn leaves, reading Ranger Rick – sound like memories from your childhood? If you’re like me, then yes, they do.

But here’s a question: do they sound like a part of your kids’ lives today?

It’s an interesting question we parents should all ask ourselves.

On that note, Disney tells us it’s convening a number of top experts on the issue this week in Orlando as part of its Disney Kids and Nature Celebration (the event also includes a day-long youth summit and the screening of its upcoming movie “Chimpanzee”), and we got some insight on the discussion. Former Ranger Rick subscribers, listen up:

According to Richard Louv, a Disney partner and author of the bestselling books Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle, every child needs nature. Not exactly a groundbreaking revelation – but certainly one that poses challenges when you look at your weekly calendar (where’d the white space go?).

Here’s some advice we can take away from his philosophy and the bigger discussion in Orlando:

1. Get nostalgic. Take a moment to talk to a grandparent – or even a peer – about his or her favorite nature memories from childhood – was it skipping stones? A favorite picture book about elephants? Drawing horses? Climbing trees? These simple memories might be enough to remind you just how easy it can be to make nature part of your own parenting style.

2. Think manageable. Connecting kids with nature doesn’t require a family trip to Yellowstone (phew). What it really takes is getting your kids curious about animals, wildlife and the outdoors – the world beyond their house and school. What do baby turtles eat? Why do leaves change colors? How do fish breath underwater? What kind of insect is that in your backyard? Hikes, museums, books and videos can all help spark that fascination.

3. Teach early lessons. Intuitively, we know kids need to learn about and appreciate nature. But what are the real benefits? For one, it’s a sensory explosion for their young minds. Reading about how birds build nests, watching a baby elephant play, touching a sheep’s coat, smelling a rose or digging a carrot out of the soil — all of this stimulates curiosity in young minds.

More important, however, is that it instills a love of nature. And if our kids love nature – won’t they be more likely to protect it.

This is huge to me. If we don’t instill a love of nature in our children, who is going to protect the environment in the future?

I am the perfect example of little things make a difference. I am probably the least outdoorsy person you will ever meet. I hate the heat. I hate freezing weather. Though I know we need insects, snakes, and the like, I don’t like spending time with them.

That rules out fishing, camping, hiking, and lots of other great outdoor activities. In the spring and fall you’ll find me outside. In the winter and middle of the summer, I prefer the great indoors.

So how do I teach my kids? We visit parks, we have a zoo membership, we rescue animals, we watch shows on tv that interest them. I find things in everyday conversation to compare to other situations.

When we rescued one of our lovebirds, it gave me an opportunity to talk to them about endangered bird species, such as the golden conure.

When we drive through town, I show them where it used to be fields and woods. We discuss what happened to the animals that used to call those areas home, how they just lost their homes so that we could have a few strip malls, more gas stations, and many many more apartment complexes, housing developments, etc. I make sure they understand yes, humanity needs a place in this world, but that we need to find a balance because we are losing entire species with our greediness.

We sit outside on our porch, in the middle of town, watching the sun and the clouds, at night we pick out constellations and planets. All of that leads to more discussion.

You don’t have to be an outdoorsman to get down to their level and give your kids the love of nature they need to sustain this Earth and not destroy what is left of it.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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Toffee Brown Ale Cheesecake Bars and more from Betty Crocker

Posted by Heather Manning On March - 24 - 2012

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‘cuz that isn’t to die for!

Toffee Brown Ale Cheesecake Bars via Betty Crocker
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 cup cold butter
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown ale beer
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup toffee bits
1/4 cup caramel topping
1 tablespoon brown ale beer

1.Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray. Place cookie mix in bowl; cut in butter using pastry blender or fork until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
2.Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugars, flour, 1/3 cup beer, the vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
3.Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked cookie base. Sprinkle with reserved crumb topping, pecans and toffee bits.
4.Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. To serve, stir together caramel topping and 1 tablespoon beer; drizzle over top of each bar. Store covered in refrigerator.
Makes 32 bars

You can check out even more popular recipes at Betty Crocker! And believe me, they look so good! There are desserts,appetizers, and main courses to drool over! You can also visit Betty Bracket to vote for your favorite recipe to win the second annual “Betty Bracket” presented by Betty Crocker and sports-loving actor and popular TV personality Mario Lopez. The voting element of the program is really creating some excitement and is something, along with the delicious recipes, your readers will enjoy!


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Mario with his favorite cooking assistant – Julio Cesar Chavez Lopez!

Why would you want to cook with beer:
· Beer has a tenderizing effect and is a perfect matchup for meat-based recipes
· Beer helps keep baked good moist and fresh, while adding a little extra puff
· The beer flavors will be enhanced in those recipes with a longer cooking time
· Craft beers are ideal as a cooking ingredient due to the quality and variety of flavors available

Head on over and get cooking up your favorite recipe!

Popularity: 3% [?]

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The Muppets Road Trip Game

Posted by Heather Manning On November - 18 - 2011

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With the holiday driving coming up, I thought I’d share this fun game that was sent to me.  I don’t know about you, but when we go on road trips, I have a list of ideas of games to play to keep the kids occupied.  The last trip was to Ohio.  13 hour drive, 4 kids?  Not a lot of fun.

In THE MUPPETS, Kermit joins Walter, Gary (Jason Segel), Mary (Amy Adams) and—eventually—the whole Muppet gang in the car for a trip of their own, as they endeavor to save Muppet Studios from evil oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). So don’t despair. The Muppets can help keep kids busy and happy with…DISNEY’S “THE MUPPETS” ROAD TRIP GAME!!!

See if you can spot:

  • 5 Kermit green cars
  • 1 Person who looks like a relative of Gonzo’s
  • 3 People who look like they just stepped off the Electric Mayhem Band bus
  • 4 of Miss Piggy’s biggest fans. How can you tell? Easy, they could be

a) Singing to themselves

b) Fixing their hair in the mirror

c) Blowing kisses to you through the window

d) Blowing kisses to themselves in the mirror

  • 2 Bumper stickers that are so funny, Fozzie Bear would add them to his act
  • 4 People wearing suits they stole from Statler and Waldorf
  • 3 Cars that are so patriotic, Sam the Eagle just might be driving them

Bonus:

  • Sing the chorus of “Mahna Mahna” or “Rainbow Connection” at a red light or while driving through a tunnel
  • Find a license plate from Smalltown, USA (or at least one that is red, white and blue)
  • Find the letters of Disney’s “The Muppets” in license plates

Popularity: 6% [?]

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Inside The Spaghetti Bowl – Frank Zaccari Guest Post

Posted by Heather Manning On November - 15 - 2011

Inside the Spaghetti Bowl I have had the pleasure of reading Inside the Spaghetti Bowl and I will share my thoughts with you on this heartwarming book with you tomorrow.  In the meantime, I wanted to share this post that Frank Zaccari wrote for us over here at Not Everyone’s Mama!

Every family goes through difficult times when a loved one becomes ill. Even though your parents have lived a long and meaningful life, it is never easy to see them grow old and sick. “Inside the Spaghetti Bowl” is collaboration with my brothers Anthony and Steve. It is the actual story of our family dealing with the failing health of our mother.

This book is a celebration of life, family, culture and tradition as we document the last eight days of our mother’s life. “Inside the Spaghetti Bowl” shares the tales about the memories, trials and sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents that allowed the family to live the American dream.

The book’s main theme discusses the unconditional love families share through the good and the bad. I hope the readers will see their own family as they catch a glimpse into my family, a family that is always there for each other no matter what the cost.

“Inside the Spaghetti Bowl” discusses specific events that shaped the lives of three generations.  It is not a self-help book, discussing how to cope with aging parents, but simply a story about putting family first.

The inspiration came from the chilling fact that we were probably not the only ones dealing with this unfortunate scenario. As the baby boomer generation ages, so do the parents who raised them.

I was flying across the country to come back to my hometown three times in three months. As I heard the stories regarding the history, traditions, culture, good times and sad times, I knew I was not the only ‘baby boomer’ facing this heartbreaking task. I hope readers see their family in this book, and it makes them smile.”

About Frank Zaccari

Frank Zaccari

A native of western New York, Frank Zaccari earned a degree in finance from California State University at Sacramento after serving as a military medic in the U.S. Air Force. He spent over 25 years in the high-tech industry holding positions from account representative to CEO, and for nearly 20 years specialized in turn-around management of companies under 100 million dollars. Upon becoming a single, custodial parent after nearly 25 years of marriage, he left an industry that he loved to buy a small business in order to be home to raise his children. He is currently the owner of an insurance agency and resides in Sacramento, California. Inside the Spaghetti Bowl is Frank Zaccari’s third book. Previous books are: When the Wife Cheats and From The Ashes: The Rise of the University of Washington Volleyball Program.

You can visit his website at www.frankzaccari.com.

Visit him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001207722973.

About Inside the Spaghetti Bowl

The book is based on the last eight days of our mother’s life. It is a celebration of life, family, culture and tradition. As my relatives came to pay their last respects, we heard so many wonderful stories about the trials and sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents so we could live the American dream.

This is a book about family and unconditional love through the good times and bad. It is about a family who is and always will be there for each other no matter what. We hope you see your family in this book and the memories make you smile.

Giveaways, Contests & Prizes!

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Join Frank Zaccari at the Pump Up Your Book Live! November Author Chat / Book Giveaway Party on Friday, November 18 starting at 8 p.m. eastern!

Frank  will be on hand to answer your questions and will be giving away a copy of his book! You could win a paperback copy of Inside the Spaghetti Bowl simply by attending the chat and asking him a question. All there is to it!

For chat details, visit the official chat page for the November authors at Pump Up Your Book Live!

Buy Inside The Spaghetti Bowl:

Paperback | Kindle Edition

Popularity: 5% [?]

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Sneaky Uses For Everyday Household Objects

Posted by Heather Manning On October - 31 - 2011

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Well if times are hard economically, it’s time to get creative and make the most out of what we have.

Inventor Cy Tymony can show people how to turn everyday objects and discarded leftover objects from around the house into valuable tools, toys, and devices that can save replace the need for new products, can save people money and reduce and even avoid needless expense.

Cy is a modern-day, real-life MacGyver – someone that people might liken to Mr. Gadget, Maxwell Smart, a mad scientist or a modern day scientific wizard — only he’s the real thing.

In grade school, he defended himself against school bullies with the help of a spring loaded shocker hidden up his sleeve.

As an adult, he teaches and dazzles people of all ages everywhere with the remarkable demonstrations of ingenuity, imagination and creativity.

His new book, Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things contains 30 new, never-before-seen, do-it-yourself inventions and activities.

He breaks new ground in the world of fashion with designs and instructions for the Sneaky Light-Up Nail, Sneaky Animated Nails, Invisible Nail Art, Sneaky Bangle and Sneaky Bangle Bag, Sneaky Headband, Sneaky Belt, Sneaky Action T-Shirt, Sneaky 3D Party T-Shirt .

Ever wanted to really stand out from the crowd? You can create your own Sneaky Light Up Nails!

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You could spend a small fortune on designer clothes or shoes or spring for expensive jewelry, but there is a sneakier way. Using a micro LED light and a couple of tiny watch batteries, you can create unique illuminating nails. Simply adjusting the position of the top nail acts as an on/off switch, allowing your nails to outshine all others.

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That’s not all. There are many, many more to choose from:

Sneaky Toys and Games (Digital Picture Frame Applications, Sneaky Vibra-Cup, Sneakier Vibra-Cup Add-Ons, Vibrating Football Game, Sneaky Portable Alarm , Sneaky Foosball Game, Mini-Foosball Game, Sneaky Invisible Signaler…).

Sneaky Science Projects (Power Devices with Your Plants, Pencil Battery, Sneaky Penny Battery, Sneaky 9-Volt Battery Trick, Sneaky Diode Power Trick, Toy Motion-Detector Adaptations, Mind-Controlled Toy Modification…).

Sneaky Uses Beyond Everyday Things (Make Batteries from Everyday Things, Sneaky Radio-Controlled Car Projects , Sneaky Flying Disc, Sneaky Mini Boomerang , Sneaky Electrical Generator, Wild, Wild Vest, Sneaky Toy Modifications, Sneaky Floating Photos… and much more.

Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things is the eighth book in the Sneaky Uses for Everyday Objects series. Over 300,000 Sneaky uses books have been sold and most projects can be completed in just minutes using common items already found around the house. Fans of all ages will use their ingenuity to turn ordinary, everyday objects into something extraordinary with the help of Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things.

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Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things

Releases November 1, 2011 

For more information visit www.sneakyuses.com

What People Are Saying

“For folks who wonder why they keep tossing odds and ends in that junk drawer in the kitchen, Sneaky Uses for Everyday things… offers evidence that technology doesn’t always have to come from best Buy, Amazon.com or Microsoft,”

-U.S. News and World Report

“Thank you Cy…for opening up the world of tinkering and creativity to a whole new generation looking to get their hands dirty with new and exciting projects.”

-NPR’s Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday

About the Author

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Cy Tymony is an amazing inventor. By reading comic books and studying science as a young boy he amazed his friends with unusual scientific projects, demonstrations and ideas. He is trained in auto mechanics, electronics, video and audio technology and computer science and has taken courses in martial arts, security and survival techniques. For decades has focused his enthusiasm, creativity and imagination on educating people of all ages and walks of life. He is the author of the Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things book series.

Cy Tymony is a real live renaissance man. He has lots of media experience. He is a wonderful and inspiring guest with a childlike enthusiasm for science and technology. His Sneaky Uses books explore the delight of finding. He has an incredible and contagious energy who delights in sharing the wonders of the human potential.

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, a science best-seller, has been featured on CNN Headline News, the Los Angeles Times, and in U.S. News & World Report. It is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Crown, Powells, Hastings, and independent book stores and online at Barnes & Noble.com and at Amazon.com

Other Sneaky Books:

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Check out the rest of the books by Cy Tymony!

Popularity: 4% [?]

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Money Habits formed at Age 6

Posted by Heather Manning On October - 29 - 2011

For the record, I am not good with money.  I am not good at making budgets, balancing anything, saving, etc.  I’m good at being frugal and I’m good at spending.  Do those two things go together?  Probably not.  Because of this, I’ve been trying to teach my kids how to be good with money.  That just because your money is burning a hole in your pocket, that doesn’t mean you have to spend it.  That it’s important to put money in your savings account.  Each of our children have savings account and none of them are happy about putting their money in it.  I received this article and thought since I struggle with teaching my children this, that others might too.  We need all the tips we can to teach this upcoming generation about being more like our grandparents’ generation.  How to save for the future, how to have money stashed away for emergencies, such as the country is in right now (loss of jobs, the economy tanked, etc).

Tips on Teaching Your Child about Money before it’s Too Late

The average American’s amount of debt is $10,000 (Money Talks News). With such a staggering number, we should take as many preventative measures as possible to avoid being buried in a mountain of debt. Surprisingly, though, your finance classes in college are not enough to nip overspending and under-saving in the bud. Our subconscious is almost completely formed by the time we are six years old, and it is around this time when most of our notions about money are formed. 

As adults, during those moments when restraint goes out of the window, we tap into our subconscious and our deepest feelings – the ones that shaped us as youngsters – come to light. For example, pretty much all of us are taught from a young age that setting personal boundaries is selfish. When was the last time your coworkers went for post-work cocktails and pressured you into going, even though you knew it was over your budget? These types of scenarios have been happening to you your entire life, and it takes practice and acceptance of these feelings to overcome these poor money habits.

ChicagoHealers.com  practitioner, Dr. Julie Murphy Casserly, CFP, provides some tips to help reflect on your own financial upbringing and find ways to outgrow your more immature money habits:

· Dig in your piggy bank. Maybe as a child you saved all your lemonade stand money diligently in an increasingly hefty piggy bank, or maybe you blew it all on candy at the grocery store. Either way, childhood experiences dealing with money can subconsciously impact your spending habits as an adult. For example if kids called you “poor” at school because your parents couldn’t afford brand-name clothes, you may justify splurging on designer clothes now because you still have that deep-rooted insecurity about being singled out when you were younger. Write down any experiences that come to your mind about money as a child so you can start overcoming these scarring situations.

· Set personal boundaries. As a child peer pressure plays a big role in how we react to situations – even if you wouldn’t normally drink before prom, your friends teasing you could be incentive to go along with it. These familiar situations are replicated in our adult life, and the only thing we can do is be aware of this and change ourselves. Next time a friend asks you out to a dinner you can’t afford, recognize your behavior patterns and hesitate before you say yes. Can you really afford this? Is it worth it? Chances are your friend will respect your honesty if you politely decline or request a less pricey alternative for a social gathering.

· A penny for your thoughts. This week, while your kids are doing homework, spend some time reflecting on your own childhood experiences with money. Did your parents encourage you to use your money a certain way? Did you have a job babysitting or mowing lawns as a kid? Journal about the things that come to mind.

· Take a personal inventory. What were some of the things you wrote down? Did you quickly spend your allowance or did you tightly hold on to it? What do you feel when you remember those childhood experiences? And how does that feeling shift when you think about how those experiences affect you today?

· Set an example. Now that you know these things about your own childhood, make sure your child has a healthy view on finances from a young age. Discuss the importance of generosity and being grateful for what you have and the fact that happiness does not come from material satisfaction.

The deep-rooted anxiety many of us feel about money is hard to kick, especially if your financial situation as a child wasn’t as sunny as The Wonder Years. So why is this anxiety so hard to let go? Most unhealthy behaviors are the result of two types of internal emotional conflict: having needs that aren’t met or having trouble setting personal boundaries. When you look over the things you wrote down, you can take the knowledge that these insecurities stem from your monetary past, which makes it easier to accept and move past it.  Whenever you feel financially insecure, take a deep breath, be thankful for what you have, and realize you’ve come a long way, baby.

About ChicagoHealers.com

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Popularity: 3% [?]

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