Hey all- sorry I was MIA yesterday- we had a freak snowstorm, and I was without power! I have it now, [Read more…]

Every parent wants to make their child’s special day the best one yet, but you don’t have to mimic MTV
guilty-pleasure show My Super Sweet Sixteen in order to do it. Most kids don’t need a crazy, over-the-
top display in order to enjoy a birthday party. There are plenty of ways to entertain your children and
their friends that don’t include renting a club, hiring an A-list band, and making a grand entrance via
stretch hummer or helicopter. Here are just a few forms of entertainment that kids of all ages are sure
to love.

1. A trip to the theme park. Whether you live near a theme park (or several) or you’re making a
long trip to visit a specific locale (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, perhaps?), this is one
birthday that your kids are sure to remember. It can be a pretty big expense, however, so you
may need to limit the birthday boy or girl to just a couple of friends (instead of a gaggle); this
will also relieve you of the burden of constant headcounts and hand-holding. But after a day of
exciting rides, photos with costumed characters, and sticky treats your child surely won’t mind
that he missed out on a room full of classmates.

2. Laser tag. For active kids, there’s nothing more fun than strapping on some molded gear and
gunning for their friends with laser-pointing weaponry. Some parents might find this sort of
sport questionable, but kids are guaranteed to have a blast playing the updated, electronic
version [Read more…]

When your kids are juggling school, homework, and myriad activities, it is not only stressful for them, but for the whole family. While you certainly want you kids to be well-rounded and prepared for everything that life could throw at them, you don’t want things to get so hectic that everyone suffers
a nervous breakdown (you included).

So when it comes to finding time to stop and smell the roses, you may just need to schedule it in. Finding a balance might not be easy, but there are definitely steps
you can take to ensure that you achieve a healthy balance in life. Here are just a few ways to create a schedule that works better for everyone.

1. Just say no. Too many activities can leave your kids tired and surly from lack of sleep and burnout. So think about ways that you cut down on the list of obligatory activities and give your kids a break once in a while. The upside is that you will also find a little extra downtime to tend
to your own needs, helping you to relax and enjoy your family during the rare moments that you have them around.

2. Prioritize. Your kids may be interested in music, dance, sports, and clubs, but that doesn’t mean they have time in a day to devote to all of them. Instead of trying to turn them into Stepford kids, have them choose one or two activities that they like the best and put in the time needed to master them.

3. Stay on top of grades. No matter what activities your children prefer, they need to know that extracurricular pursuits are secondary to schooling. So if they’re neglecting their studies in favor of after-school fun and it’s starting to show in their falling grades, then it’s time to lay down the law and say no more activities until the grades come [Read more…]

Master Lock also introduces new pink security products just in time for National Cancer Survivors Day

With more than 141 million casual gamers on Facebook

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