Monday, November 14, 2011

Keeping Your Teens and Tweens In The Holiday Spirit


Young children anticipate Christmas with wide eyed wonder, but how do you keep your teens excited over the Holidays? The belief in Santa has long passed, but kids are never too old to experience and share the Holiday Spirit. Teenagers naturally break away from the family and assert their independence. Let them use their self-expression and independent nature to add to this year’s celebration.

Engage in Church Events – As busy as you are at home, the church can always use an extra pair of hands during Christmas. Teens, who enjoy the arts or have good organization skills, can help with one of the Church productions. Whether it is helping organize the Christmas potluck, assisting with the kids’ choir concert, or helping making costumes for the nativity play teens can use their talents to engage.

Donate clothes – Teens are still finding out who they are. As a result, they try on different styles and looks while they figure out how to accurately express themselves. One of the most popular gifts for teens is apparel or money they usually use on to enhance their wardrobe. They can use this opportunity to go through their closet and pull out whatever they no longer want or need. Let them pack everything up and donate the rest to charity.
Volunteer – Teenagers have the habit of being self-absorbed, even during the Holidays. Volunteering will help teens take the focus off of themselves and contemplate a greater purpose. There are many charities to choose from. They can work at a soup kitchen, volunteer with a kids group or help at an animal shelter. Making a difference will increase their self-esteem and make them much more positive and thankful.

Put Them in Charge – Include your teens by showing them you appreciate their taste and trust their judgment. Make them completely responsible for a special Christmas project. Let them put together all the Christmas music to play during the festivities or plan the games for the Christmas Eve party. Put them in charge of designing this year’s Christmas card. Whatever you chose they will play an integral role in the celebration.

Help Younger Siblings – Teenagers may not experience the same excitement for Christmas activities that they did when they were younger, but they can enjoy them in a new way. Plan for them to take their younger siblings to the mall and shop for the parent gifts. Teens can also help them make personalized Christmas ornaments or help bake the cookies while the younger ones decorate. This way they can take a lead role in the activities.

Share Story time- Christmas is a time for caring and sharing. Pour two mugs of hot chocolate and have meaningful conversation with your teen. Tell them about a personal childhood Christmas story you never told your teen. Start the conversation then sit back and listen. Ask them about the first Christmas they remember, what they plan to do with their friends during Christmas vacation, and what traditions they would like to continue when they have their own families. It is a great way to build a family bond, share traditions and cultivate the Christmas spirit.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Pacquiao Vs. Marquez This Sunday November 12!


The country is once again excited to watch the Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3 this Sunday, November 12, 2011 Time: 9PM Eastern Time or 6 PM Pacific Time.

We are hoping and praying for Manny Pacquiao's another victory in his boxing rematch with Juan Miguel Marquez. May the pound-for-pound boxer win again, may there be another victory for Manny in this Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 bout!

Surely this match will stop time in the Philippines this Sunday, where the streets will be almost bare and the Filipino people will keep their eyes glued to the boxing match on television. And most of you Pinoy netizens would subscribe to Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 video live-streaming to watch it. Wah, I sure wish we have cable TV or we could get a pay-per-view offer to watch the Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 live telecast. I heard from my hubby and my son that watching Manny Pacquiao's fight live in the ring is filled with cheers and excitement, how I wish I could experience it someday too!

God bless Manny, may you make our country proud again!



Sunday, November 6, 2011

Congratulations To The Philippines' Miss World Pageant First Runner-Up!

Our country the Philippines is again cheering for our Miss World Pageant candidate Gwendoline Ruais for winning First Runner-up in the recent Miss World Pageant 2011 in London, UK.

Seems that the Philippines' bets are getting better and better in each international beauty pageant. Gwendoline Ruais now joins the Philippines' representatives like Shamcey Supsup, Venus Raj andCarlene Aguilar in making our country proud!

I also congratulate the Miss World Pageant 2011 winner from Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, whom I think has a striking resemblance to Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria. I am awed as well especially reading her life story as an orphan. A very much deserved congratulations to you too, Miss World!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Amish Recipes - 65 Tried and Tested Recipes

Thanksgiving and Christmas is quite so near and planning meals for the coming holidays are on the way. I'm sharing this traditional 65 Tried and Tested Amish Recipes which hopefully may help you in planning the holiday meals. These recipes are mostly done from scratch, yet you may improvise or alter as needed.

Here are a few ones... Enjoy!

Book Description:
Many of the great breads, cookies and dishes that my grandmother used to make, were actually Amish recipes! I thought everyone should try these great recipes, so I have put together a collection of 65 of my favorite Amish recipes in an easy to use eBook that anyone can afford. Here is what I have included:


Cakes, Bread, and Muffin, Corn Fritter Recipes:
AMISH BREAD STARTER
AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD
AMISH COFFEE CAKE
AMISH LEMON SPONGE
AMISH PUMPKIN BREAD
AMISH MUFFINS
AMISH CORN BREAD
AMISH POPPYSEED BREAD
AMISH YEAST ROLLS
AMISH CORN FRITTERS
FAMOUS AMISH FUNNEL CAKES
AMISH APPLE CAKE
AMISH BLUEBERRY CAKE
AMISH ROLLED OATS CAKE
AMISH SHORTCAKE

Cookies
AMISH SNICKERDOODLES
AMISH PUFF COOKIES
SOFT AMISH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
DROP AMISH COOKIES
AMISH OATMEAL COOKIES ....Much more..

SOFT AMISH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 lg. eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda (place in the milk)
1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips or butterscotch chips
Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and milk with soda. Mix together
and add baking powder. Gradually add flour and stir well. Stir in chocolate
chips or butterscotch chips. Place on a greased cookie sheet about 1
teaspoon of dough. Bake at 400 degrees until the edge is lightly brown.

* * *

AMISH ROLLED OATS CAKE
1 c. oats
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
TOPPING (use on warm cake):
5 tbsp. oleo
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. milk
Mix oats and boiling water; let stand 20 minutes. Cream together
shortening, sugar, eggs, vanilla and add cooled oats with dry ingredients.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Boil 7 minutes. Add 1/2 cup coconut
and 1/2 cup nuts.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Ghost Story Of 2003 Hammersmith London

Photobucket

Switch on the tv these days and you wil find most shows and human interest segments featuring ghost stories or halloween-ish topics. leading videocd rental stores also feature horror and suspense movies on their shelves. You can bet on my children -and hubby too - of renting those movies despite my protests.


To be very honest, I'm a teeny-weeny bit scared too of encounters like that. I never was a fan of scary movies as a child. Thank God I've never experienced seeing one - or i would really scream out loud and go nuts! I heard you can go "mental hospital -crazy" when you see one!


But I've experienced odd encounters before- only fleeting visions that resemble white light or just thin air. I won't even realize at that time until hours later that it was a spook. I usually encounter those incidents in my house or in a place I frequent - a light suddenly shuts off, a faucet turns on, a white spirit just passing by to go under the stairs, glasses moving for a toast (no, I'm not kidding , although THAT is funny). If I remember any more I'll leave it as an answer to a comment later.


My most odd experience occured when I worked as a salon receptionist in London in 2003. It happenned at the Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith where you can find Skinsense Salon.



A tired-looking lady dressed up in a scrubsuit, er, hospital gown- came in to book for a massage. I still remember her name. It was Alpa Dodia Zidane, kind of unusual. She asked for an appointment slot in two days because she says she will be needing a massage that bad.


Good that I found her a vacant hour in two days. As is required, I asked for her contact number. She just looked at me clueless so I quickly added that we need it to contact her for any cancellations or rescheduling. She went, "Okay, if that happens just call me on 5th floor South wing. They know me there." Always to please and not wanting to upset customers, I just took note of it and said "Ok, thanks, see you then..."


Her scheduled appointment came, she didn't show up. So I called on the hospital switchboard to connect me to 5th floor. Her name wasn't on their roster. The 5th floor receptionist whom I phoned asked me if I was sure she worked there, so I quoted the client's exact words "They know me there."


"That's odd." she said, "Wait, could you come up here to 5th floor south wing, please."


I went, took the lift to 5th floor. But hey, I was with two other people on the lift going to 5th but the blasted thing took us all the way up to 11th floor and back to where we wanted to go. I thought to myself, seems to be malfunctioning.


Finally met the receptionist on 5th. She was actually smiling at me. "Oh, I found her name on the roster. She doesn't work here, she was admitted last week and released two days ago" What! I frowned, impolite of her not to cancel, she must pay a cancellation fee for this. I asked, "Is that so? Where can I contact her, do you have a number?"


The lady smiled, "No...no, you don't understand - she died two days ago when she booked with your salon" Say what? er...


Waah! I'm not taking that lift anymore! I'll just take the stairs, thank you!

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....

Pulled your leg, didn't I? Of course the story isn't true! I was just kidding as one of my old old pranks in 2004, but the story was close! Yet it was made up out of the salon small jokes when clients don't show up :))

Bookmark and Share

HOW TO TELL A GREAT STORY - In 7 Easy Steps, An Absolute Beginner To Storytelling Can Transform Plain Stories Into Great Stories. Your Family And Friends Will Love, Admire And Cherish Your Stories - Even If You Have Never Told A Story Before.

 

P*J Ebooks Copyright © 2009 Fashionzine is Designed by Ipietoon for Bie Blogger Template
In Collaboration With Teen Celebrities