The Lemonade Stand!

A great way to keep your kids entertained this Summer is to have them start a lemonade stand! How exciting! Get a folding table out or if you don't have one, go to a local Lowes or Home Depot and buy one for $30. Then you'll need two chairs (in case a friend wants to help). Have the kids create a banner on large roll paper. Tell them to think big and be creative... or else their stand won't be successful. Just kidding. And of course the lemonade and cups with a cooler of ice will complete the gig. Ask twenty-five to fifty cents per cup so that kids can purchase them too (don't be like the girl scouts:). Have fun and wear sunscreen!

Another great (cheap) way to entertain the kids during the Summer is to buy a kick ball and start a game. Usually once you get a few kids going on a nice day, they all want to play. This can keep everyone entertained for hours! Also, everyone is getting exercise. Dads, of course you can have a beer out on the field!!! You da man!

Buy some flower seeds and have the kids help you plant them. If you dig the hole, they can toss a few seeds in right? It's something nice that they will remember when they see them actually grow. This can be more beneficial than you might think. I don't know how, but it could.

If you have girls, spa day is fun for them and if they can keep themselves busy for a while, that buys you some time to take a break and do what you need to do. They will need containers to put their feet in with bubbles. Towels in case water splashes. Girls will have nail polish and all that other stuff, so they can make the rest up.

Make one day on the weekend a treat day. For us we have Doughnut Sunday. On this day we all have one or two doughnuts as a little treat to ourselves as a family.

Go to the pool this Summer! This is where the fun can get a little more expensive, but it's worth it. Or if you happen to live near a creek, lake or ocean or whatever you are allowed to get into, go to it and enjoy what's around you. This gives great opportunity to pack lunches and not eat out.

Here are a few ideas to get everyone started. Enjoy!!!

www.caseyism.blogspot.com

The Lemonade Stand!

Listening is essential... but that's just my opinion

Watching coverage of the Deep water Horizon explosion frustrated me. I was getting so aggravated by people ranting on about their opinions of who's to blame, what they need to do and how they need to do it. My attitude was: what do these people know?
I've come to realize that I've been pretty opinionated myself. Obama spoke at the University of Michigan's graduation ceremony and reminded us how important it is to listen to others and to respect others. It educates us to listen to opposing opinions. We can at least get an idea of where these people are coming from and it maybe helpful to establish a compromise. He reminds us that being civilized is important. A letter from a child in kindergarten asked Obama: "Are people being nice?" Lastly, he reminds us that "we are all the government, we the people..."
Initially I let the news get to me and create tension within. Today, I now know that I actually educated myself on a topic that I knew nothing about. I feel that from now on I will watch the news with a more open mind and I will conduct more of my own research as well. Here to a smarter Government and a smarter America.


By Casey Rogers Greeley, CO

http://caseyism.blogspot.com/

Source links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcNXFz_QCVU

Listening is essential... but that's just my opinion

The ACV Experience

I had never been to the city before.
San Francisco is where I found something extremely useful to me.

Apple Cider Vinegar

I've been battling seborrheic dermatitis for about 10 years. Recently I was researching natural treatments for my condition and guess what popped up? Apple Cider Vinegar. Online it said to put the vinegar in your hair and leave it there for a half hour before washing. This type of dermatitis is basically dandruff and is generally on the scalp. But I had it all over my face. I would break out once per week and yes I had it in my hair as well. I've been using it since I visited San Francisco and the rashes have been going away quickly! I feel more confident and my girlfriend is (I'm sure) happy that I'm not complaining about my outbreaks all the time.
I believe that this rash is due to a build up of malessizia which is a yeast that grows on us as well as stress.

What I think happened:

10 years ago I started partying a lot and didn't take very good care of myself. With my bad habits and lack of proper hygiene, I think I developed this skin problem. I then thought I was becoming allergic to one thing after the other. I tried not drinking alcohol, eating meat, gluten, using certain products (this was not all at the same time, but over a course of ten years!!!), etc.

It took me 9 years to finally see an allergist (I know). No allergies. Well, I have a slight reaction to nickel, but nothing that would cause what I have. Then I saw a dermatologist, she told me what it was and prescribed steroid creams. I broke out in zits.

I was on my own again. I knew I was going to just be wasting money. Doctors in America can diagnose you, but then prescribe new crap on the market for high prices. What a joke!!! I didn't need prednisone!


Now Apple Cider Vinegar is amazing. I follow the drink recipe on the side of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar bottle. You can get Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar at your local health food stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts. I also pour a little in my bath and had applied to affected areas directly. I've been doing this for about two weeks now. I've never felt better.

Here are a couple of other things to consider:

Do a ten minute breathing exercise to relax yourself if not once, twice a day.Buy a case of water and put it by the front door or garage door. Always have H2O on you.Go outside and get a little bit of sun. Not too much though.Sweat a little or cry if you can. It is cleansing and removes toxins.
I will continue to post and let you know how things are going.
By the way, my first time in San Francisco was great!

Before and After

Forgiving the angry worker

Today I went to return a piece to American Furniture Warehouse. On my way inside, I heard a lady complaining while walking to her car. "I just don't understand why I should have to pay 300 dollars more for a bed that wasn't blah, blah, blah." I knew right away that I was going to be talking face to face with the workers that just had to deal with this lady. By the way, I'm not saying this angry lady was wrong. I'm just saying that there seemed to be a little conflict inside. Anyway, I walked in and set the semi-heavy piece down. I walked over to the service counter and the ladies were all in a commotion, but then straightened up. One of the ladies sighed and asked "Can I help you?" I said "yes, I'd like to make a return." She asked "well, what is it?" I said."It's that night stand right by the door." She asked "why?" I said "because it doesn't look good." She asked "do you have your receipt?" I gave it to her. She asked "do you have the original card?" I said "yes, do you want it?" She said "no, I'm not ready for you yet, just hold on." I didn't say anything. "Okay, now I'm ready." "Here you go, do you want to see a photo ID?" Sigh. "Well...yes." As she swiped my card, I gave her a little smile.
I knew she had to deal with that other lady walking out. I didn't say anything. I didn't care what the issue was and who was right or wrong. All I knew is that some days just don't go well. She deserved a mulligan.
"192 Dollars will go back on your card, okay?" I said okay. I did tell her to have a nice rest of her day.
Had I not seen the angry lady walk out, I would have just assumed that this girl was a bitch and I would have responded by acting like an asshole. But recognizing that a different issue probably caused her to get frustrated and act that way. It made me think about how this type of situation occurs all the time and everywhere. I'm sure the majority of the time, the people who don't deserve to be treated like this particular lady treated me, responds by getting angry themselves and maybe even complain to a manager. However, you could probably say that you treated someone unfairly just because a prior moment caused a bad feeling inside you. Just something to think about.
Next time you encounter a grumpy worker and you are on the other side of the counter, think about the worker's situation. Would you like to be working in their position? Do you think they get treated well by bosses and co-workers? Do you think they are human and get tired of arguing with unhappy customers in which they were not the ones who even sold the piece of shit to them in the first place? Customer service is hard and draining!!!
Even if the person is bent out of shape for their own issues and mistakes, it is better to not bring more negative attention to the situation. In fact, smiling and sincerely urging him or her to have a great or better day, will do better. It also will help the person think about their actions and reflection will be clearer. Maybe she will come to the conclusion that letting an angry purchaser get to her in the first place was as silly as the situation was. There are so many more things to be upset about in this World. I'll get to that on my next posting.

Forgiving the angry worker

Student's crazy parents

Tell me what is going on with parents forcing their children to go to college? I understand they are nervous that their kid is approaching adulthood during a shitty economic time, but that doesn't mean that their child will pay any more attention in class. At the same time, colleges are encouraging students to gain college credits while they are in high school. I think this is only appropriate for students who want to finish high school earlier, but not for students who are suffering in their High School curriculum and have jeopardized their graduation date. Also, are the colleges really into helping high school students or are they just wanting more money?
Everyday I get a parent or both parents coming up to me at the front counter (of a community college) and asking how to get their child enrolled for classes. Where is the child? Does the child want to come to school? I think if the child wanted to go to school they would at least show up in person to ask questions or go online themselves to gather information. I had a student show up to my counter the other day (alone). He asked if he could schedule an appointment with his advisor. I searched for him in our database and found the kid was only 14 years old!!! Yes! This kid wanted to go to school! I congratulated him for his efforts and told him if he ever needed any assistance whatsoever to please ask me.
Most parents get upset when we aren't allowed to give information about their own children to them. Especially when the parents pay for the education. I think it's a little wake up call to them.
Yes I know I'm complaining, but it does derive the question: "Are we forcing the idea of college onto our younger ones?" I don't recall my mother helping me with one thing. And you want to know something, I took some classes that didn't go towards my degree. That's because I decided to change my mind a few times about what I wanted to do. I still go to school and I'm 26. I am just now actually realizing the benefit of my education and what it will take to complete a bachelor's degree. This takes time and honestly parents, you children will do fine. Quit holding their hands while this is a time of learning! You are not helping them learn!!! Just the process of getting registered for classes is an experience on it's own, so don't deprive them of that. Be a good support, but don't make them do things that they wouldn't do themselves.

Student's crazy parents