IDEAS FOR SETTING NEW YEARS GOALS WITH YOUR KIDS!

A fresh year and some fresh goal setting with your kids! What a great opportunity to set some exciting goals for yourself, and show your children how to do the same. Children learn by example and what better example can you set than by showing them how to set goals?

Some things to bear in mind when helping your children set goals include:

• Be careful when suggesting deadlines or time limits. When we get to the age where the months seem to fly by, it's easy to forget what time feels like to a child. Remember when two weeks seemed like an impossibly long time? Be sensitive to the age of your child when talking with him about time frames.
• Have your children write their goals down – or help them with that if they are too young. Write down not only the goal itself, but also WHY it's important and what it will LOOK LIKE when it's achieved.
• As much as possible, let your children be the ones to come up with the ideas for their own goals. If you need to make suggestions, be as sensitive as you can to their age and interests. Be especially sensitive about the "size of the goal". Children need to have big goals broken down into mini-goals so that they can see progress quickly, preferably on a daily basis. A goal to learn to spell five new words a week is better to focus on than winning the national Spelling Bee!
• Work on the goal with your child – but don't take over! Make sure that your child can sense your interest and support, but be careful she doesn't think that you want to do it for her.
• Set a good example by having written goals of your own and let your children see you working towards them regularly.
• And finally, something different to consider. Why not start using "New Month" goals in your family instead of "New Year" goals? That way you and your children can have all the excitement, anticipation and motivation that comes with the New Year twelve times in 2012 rather than just once! (Adopted From kidsgoals.com)

Getting Older and Gaining Weight

We've always been told that aging is a natural process that we can't control and part of that process can often involve losing muscle and gaining fat. It's true that getting older is associated with a loss of muscle, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. We can't stop the clock, but exercise can actually slow the aging process, helping you stay fit, healthy and avoid weight gain as you get older.

Why We Gain Weight As We Age

Most people think that gaining weight and getting older go hand in hand, but the reason we gain weight isn't just about getting older, it's about how our habits change. Many of us gain weight because we:

• Become more sedentary
• Don't lift weights to maintain muscle mass
• Eat more calories even as metabolism slows down

While there are some elements we can't control, most of the weight gain that comes with aging can be avoided with a little exercise.

What You Can Do

The main reason for muscle loss (which lowers metabolism) is that we often spend way too much sitting - we sit at work, we sit when we watch TV and we sit when we play around on the computer. If we spend too much time doing that when we're younger, it's that much harder to stop doing that when we get older. It follows that being active (and lifting weights) will help preserve your muscle and increase your bone density while maintaining a higher metabolism. Before you get started, see your doctor, especially if you're on any medications or have any pain or injuries you're dealing with. Once you've got clearance to exercise, you can follow this basic approach to staying (or getting) fit:

• Cardio Exercise: Choose any activity you enjoy (or think you might enjoy with some practice) like swimming, walking or cycling and try to do that activity at least 3 days a week. Start with what you can handle and gradually add time each week until you can do 30 minutes of continuous activity.
• Lift weights: Strength training may be one of the most important parts of your exercise program. You'll build muscle and strength while also working on important areas like balance, stability and flexibility - all things that tend to decline with age. You can start with a basic Total Body Workout 2-3 non-consecutive days a week or learn more about appropriate exercise options for seniors.
• Watch Your Diet: The USDA has a food pyramid guide specifically for seniors with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables and watching your calorie intake.
• Be realistic. As you get older, it will take longer to lose weight, so it helps to focus on the process - getting your workouts in and eating as healthfully as possible. Do that and your body will respond in its own time.

If you find it hard to start or stick with an exercise program, motivate yourself by remembering what you do for your health when you exercise: you feel better, you look better, you reduce your chances of heart disease and diabetes and, best of all, you're doing what your body was meant for: moving around. (Adopted From About.com)

Recipe Of The Month: 3-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon salt, plus more for pasta water
• 1 pound large elbow macaroni
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound white Cheddar, shredded
• 4 ounces Romano, shredded
• 4 ounces Asiago, shredded
• 2 cups bread crumbs (suggested: panko (Japanese) available at most markets)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

• In large pot filled with water add 3 pinches of salt and the macaroni and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and let cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Sprinkle flour over butter and cook 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, whisking until a roux or paste forms. Add cold milk and whisk vigorously until dissolved. Cook sauce on medium-low heat until thick and bubbly. Add heavy cream, all cheeses, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper. Cook until cheeses are fully melted, stirring occasionally.
• Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture and mix thoroughly. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 by 9 baking dish and top with bread crumbs. Place in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Top with fresh parsley and serve. (Adopted From www.foodnetwork.com)

New Year's Resolutions for Dog Owners

With the arrival of a new year inevitably comes a variety of new year's "resolutions." We vow to better ourselves through losing weight, quitting smoking, stop procrastinating, and so on. But how may we improve ourselves as pet owners? What new year's resolutions should dog owners consider? Here are suggestions:

• Vow to provide your dog with the highest quality nutrition possible. This means researching the ingredients in dog food and often, thinking outside the grocery store kibble aisle. The Whole Dog Journal is a fantastic publication which publishes annual dog food reviews.
• Make it a point to ensure your dog's health through providing adequate and appropriate exercise.
• Be realistic about your dog's weight. It's scary how few people recognize weight problems in dogs and equally scary when people think their pet's obesity is funny or a joke. Obesity shortens longevity, both in dogs and people. If you can't feel your dog's ribs easily, he is too fat. Ask your vet for guidance in regulating his weight.
• Train your dog. Training is not a luxury, it is necessary not only will appropriate training make living with your dog more enjoyable for you, it will make life more enjoyable for your dog by providing him with the mental stimulation all dogs need and crave.
• Play with your dog. Play can take many forms - training, tug, fetch, food dispensing toys, nose-work games and exercises, off leash adventures in safe environments, etc.
• Keep your dog well-groomed and maintained. Mats in the fur, parasitic infestations, rotten teeth, overgrown toenails, embedded collars, yeasty ears, oozing or itchy eyes, hot spots, etc. are all unsightly and worse, uncomfortable for dogs. Routine care and maintenance can significantly improve your dog's quality of life.
• Make it easy for your dog to succeed. If your dog loves chewing on shoes, do not allow him unsupervised access to shoes. If your dog eliminates in the house, provide him with plenty of opportunities to eliminate outside by giving him frequent breaks. If your dog bites strange children, don't bring him to your daughter's soccer game!
• Vow not to get mad at your dog for your management failures. If your dog loves chewing toilet paper and you leave the bathroom door open, it's your fault, not his, that the toilet paper is now strewn throughout your house in 7,986,235 pieces. Simply clean up the mess and next time, close the bathroom door!
• Be appreciative of how wonderful your dog is. One of the biggest elements of successful training is looking for desirable behaviors and reinforcing them with something your dog likes and appreciates - a treat, a butt scratch, a game of tug, the opportunity to go for a walk. Never miss an opportunity to thank your dog for good behavior.
• Make time for your dog. This may mean rearranging your schedule. It may mean going out in the cold or rainy weather to give your dog a walk. It may mean spending less time on Facebook & more time playing, training, and exercising with your dog.
• Be a responsible - keep identification tags on your dog, make the annual veterinary appointment, clean up after your dog, respect leash laws, etc.
• Keep learning and improving as a pet owner. What does your dog love? What stresses him out? How does he communicate his emotions through body language?
• Help a less fortunate dog at least once this year. Remember that not all dogs are as lucky as yours. There are many ways you can help less fortunate dogs by making donations (leashes, collars, food, toys, etc. or cash) to a local shelter or rescue, volunteering at a local shelter or rescue, organize fundraisers, take pictures of adoptable pets for pet-finder listings, become a foster parent, etc. (Adopted From www.dogster.com)

Vitamins For The Mind! - Help You Remain Motivated During A Challenge

At one time or another most people face a variety of challenges. At times these challenges can effect work motivation, enthusiasm levels, and the desire to act on goals. Learning how to turn challenges into stepping stones for achieving goals is a necessary life lesson. This article will discuss steps that can help you to remain motivated while dealing with a variety of challenges.

• Shine a Light on Your Challenge - Write down your challenge on a piece of paper and examine it by asking yourself the following questions: Why am I allowing this challenge to prevent me from reaching my goal? Is the goal still something I really want to achieve? Am I willing to give up other things to achieve this goal? Every goal requires a cost. If I decided I wanted to become an Olympic runner, I would have to give up unhealthy foods, several hours a day for exercise and training, and my free time to compete in championships. Making a list of what you have to give up to achieve a goal helps you to be clear about what sacrifices have to be made to achieve your goal. If you are not ready to make the necessary sacrifices then that goal may not be the right one for you. Take the time to step back and decide what you really want. This reflection helps to improve motivation and the ability to create realistic goals.
• Think of Fun Ways to Beat a Challenge - Sometimes people just get into a rut or feel stuck. Looking at a challenge in a different way may help you to get unstuck. Asking yourself the following questions may help: List 10 fun ways to beat the challenge (no matter how ridiculous). List 10 intelligent ways to deal with the challenge? How would (fill in the name of an admirable/famous person) tackle this challenge? How can dealing with this challenge make be a stronger and better person later on? If I can’t tackle the problem or change it (for example – cancer) can I alter my attitude about it?
• Break a Challenge into Simple Manageable Tasks - If a challenge seems completely overwhelming try breaking it into simple step by step tasks. For example, a person may decide to write a book, but become completely unmotivated due to overwhelming feelings about the goal. That person could get motivated by setting smaller goals. For example, a good goal would be to write 5 pages a day for 2 months to complete a 300 page book. Breaking a goal down into simple tasks can help to improve work motivation, enthusiasm levels, and the desire to act on goals. Be Kind to Yourself - Learn to reward yourself for both small and large achievements. Make a list of goals and next to each goal add a list of motivational rewards. Then reward yourself upon achieving each goal. Rewards don’t have to be expensive. They can be anything from a manicure, to a weekend of golf, more time with friends, to adding $5 to $50 to a savings jar for a dreamed of material item or vacation.
• Step Back and Look at the Larger Picture - The last step to remaining motivated during a challenge is to step back and see the larger picture. Look at your current challenge and imagine it as just another moment in a precious yet relatively short life. Think back to other challenges that you have made it through. Gratitude also helps. Being thankful for what you do have helps challenges to seem relatively small when considering what challenges other may be facing.

In conclusion, work, motivation, enthusiasm, and a desire to act on goals can be encouraged even during challenging times through simple steps that help us to see our challenges differently. (Adopted from http://selfimprovementmotivation.org)

Ways To Organize Your Life

For all of you super-busy people I have put together some handy tips to help you organize your life and keep your sanity.

• Notables: Keep a small notebook and pen handy, wherever you are, to jot down ideas or appointments or things to do instead of trying to remember them later on.
• The Telephone: Set a time limit to each phone call and make sure you tell your caller. That way you save yourself the stress of trying to end the phone call and it also helps the caller to condense the information they want you to hear.
• In Waiting: Use waiting time at the dentist, meeting with your boss or while waiting for your roast to cook to catch up on reading or planning, or use the time for tidying up, filing or other tasks.
• Control Bug: Delegate the tasks you have no time for.
• Help Wanted: Be sure to offer praise to a subordinate, co-worker or to a member of the family for any effort you've noticed - they'll be happy to help you when you're bogged down.
• Don't Put It Off! If you procrastinate, you'll only get stressed out when you think about that hateful "to do" item on your list. You'll blow it out of proportion in your mind and it will become almost impossible to accomplish. Make sure you tackle the largest or most disliked job first, dividing it up into manageable tasks.
• Group Effort: Save time and footwork by collecting everything to bring with you to complete errands or to distribute in each room of the house instead of making too many trips. Make a fast list while planning out your route and be sure to plan each stop along the way so you don't have to backtrack and lose time.
• Schedule Fun Time! Make sure you include some personal time for YOU. Allot some time in your agenda. Make an appointment for yourself and keep it, even if it's only a leisurely 20 minute bubble bath or a 15 minute walk in the fresh spring air!
• Once and Only Once: Each piece of paper should be handled only once. Read it and file it, redirect it to someone else, schedule it or toss it. Don't add it to an ever-ending pile on your desk in hopes that you'll get to it eventually.
• Systems Engineer: Too much time is wasted every day on searching for things. Find a system that works for you and your lifestyle and apply it. Use it religiously and you'll find new time slots you never thought you had! (Adopted From www.about.com)