Gift shopping isn’t always our strong suits- even when it comes down to shopping for Father’s day. Father’s day (and Mother’s day) are two holidays that you start seeing tons of sales for in advance. So what exactly are people shopping for each year for dad? What kind of Father’s day gifts are being bought for the dad who loves sports? What on earth do you buy a dad who loves cars (that is actually in your budget and not cheesy?) Take a look at these stats. Maybe you’ll get some fresh ideas.
Father’s Day Shopping In The U.S.
A Family Tale: Learning About Your History
Image by Mikey G Ottawa via Flickr
Fascinating tales of the past from around the world fill countless books and capture our imaginations. How many tales could you tell just by delving into your own family’s history? The study of family history, or, genealogy, is a tradition that goes back centuries, and it’s uncovering stories of your own history that make it an exciting family adventure.
Genealogy 101
The easiest way to begin your own genealogy is to start with a basic family tree, or, pedigree chart. Starting with you, write in all the names of your relatives that you can remember. Whether you start exploring your father’s side of the tree or your mother’s is up to you; but after you’ve filled in what you know, it’s time to find out what you don’t. Take a look at all the ways you can flesh out your own family’s story:
- Talk to relatives. Family members can be great resources for genealogical information. Your cousin may know names you don’t, and your great-grandfather may have fascinating stories to share. Bring a tape recorder and a notepad and interview your family members.
- Look through your home. Marriage and birth certificates, obituaries, family bibles, old photographs—anything that can provide names, places, and dates will help you delve deeper into your familial past.
- Take it online. Online you’ll find extensive genealogy databases where you can search for family names and records.
- Use software. Genealogy software will help you keep track of and organize all your information.
So, are you related to someone famous? Was a relative a witness to a historical event? You’ll never know until you begin your family’s story
Rewards for Losing Weight
It’s no secret that the modern lifestyle has led to increased obesity. The problem has gotten so bad that many doctors refer to it as an epidemic. Setting a rewards system for losing weight, however, might encourage you to make major changes in your lifestyle so that you can lose weight.
Image by skampy via Flickr
Image by skampy via Flickr
Set Goals and Celebrate Them
In order to reward yourself for losing weight, you will need to establish a few goals. For instance you might reward yourself for
- Getting one hour of exercise every day for a week.
- Losing ten pounds.
- Avoiding dessert for a month.
- Replacing high-calorie, high-fat snacks with fruit for a week.
Reward Yourself for Meeting Your Goals
Create a list of rewards that appeal to you. That way, you can choose something that feels like a true reward whenever you reach one of your goals. If you have a hard time deciding what type of goal to set, then use a service like Canada 411 to browse various restaurants and entertainment options in your area.
A few examples that you might want to consider include
- Going to a movie
- Taking a weekend trip out-of-town
- Buying yourself something you’ve wanted such as clothes or jewelry
- Throwing a party
Now that you have made a list that includes your goals and your rewards, you can consult them whenever you need a little extra motivation. This makes it easier for you see what you get for all of your hard work and sacrifice. Whenever you need a little boost, just pull out your lists and think about what reward you will get next.
Renew Your Interest in the Game of Poker
The massive media craze surrounding poker has created an increase in the amount of public interest in the game. The problem is that to enjoy the game of poker one must travel to a casino and many people don’t like casinos. Many people believe casinos are overcrowded, noisy, smoky, and stuffy feeling as well as a terrible choice for food and drinks. Casinos also have limited parking available to casino guests. This dislike for casinos has caused many people to feel as if they are missing out on the wonderful game of poker. Luckily, there is a solution for those who can’t stand casinos, and it’s just a matter of making one small purchase of a few poker tables, which can come with a number of added benefits for those who purchase them.
Tighter Family/Friends Bond
Purchasing your own poker table can allow you to create stronger bonds with your friends or family members because it allows you to create your own poker nights. Poker nights are a great way to form bonds and strengthen relationships, because it gives you a chance to share in a similar interest. The time you share while playing the game of poker allows you to create stronger bonds.
Ability to Truly Enjoy Poker
It can be hard to enjoy the game of poker when you are surrounded by the noise and smoke of the casinos. When you purchase your own poker table you’re able to truly enjoy the game because it is in your own home and you’re surrounded by friends and family members. Many people have reported that after getting their own poker table they found a renewed interest in the game of poker.
If the large casinos have taken your interest in poker away, try creating poker nights at your own home to renew your love of the game.
Don’t Send Me to a Nursing Home…
Image via Wikipedia
The good thing is that much care can now be given in-home. Much depends on the seriousness of a patient’s health condition. It all basically revolves around mobility.
Providing care to your loved ones is an act of compassion, and the physical strain can be alleviated by occasionally receiving assistance. Prevention is important, too, as is avoiding falls and taking the proper medications at specified times.
Loved ones can remain on their own and still lead a satisfying lifestyle. There are senior apartments and assisted living facilities available. In most modern assisted living facilities, patients must be alert and AMBULATORY. Here, medical care, a watchful eye, daily activities and“outings” are available. Meals are well-structured, diet-friendly, and regularly scheduled. A warning here – many of the senior assisted living facilities mimic high-end resorts, and the costs are astronomical….
If a person is totally disabled, however, the situation changes dramatically. 24-hour care is required, since the individual is unable to attend to basic human functions and needs. One year of skilled nursing care today averages $75,000! This can very well deplete a loved one’s funds in a hurry.
Temporary “nursing home” or “skilled nursing” care is now a common intermediate recovery arena for middle-age and even young adults. Following a serious operation or situation requiring a brief period of intense physical rehabilitation, patients recover in a “nursing home” and re-learn or refine skills that may have become impaired.
As great and refined it has become, modern medicine’s costs have skyrocketed. The toll it can take on one’s assets is mind-boggling. The question arises in regard to purchasing and investing in long-term care planning…. This in itself is quite costly.
Lifestyles of the Amish
The Amish, or Amish Mennonites, are members of the Christian church who formed a subgroup that is devoted to simple living. The two primary principles of the faith are the rejection of Hochmut, meaning pride and arrogance, and the reverence of Demut, meaning humility, and Gelassenheit, meaning calmness and composure. The Amish are extremely devoted to their faith, and their faith and beliefs play a major role in the lifestyle they follow. They have an extremely traditional way of life that differs from the modern-day life most Americans are accustomed to.
Education
Amish children are educated up to the eighth grade. Most Amish children do not go to high school, and a very few number of Amish go to college. They have chosen this education system because they believe that is all the schooling the children need to prepare them for an Amish lifestyle.
Use of Modern Technology
While the Old Order Amish generally reject technology, many Amish today have come to accept some forms of technology. Individuals may ask the bishops in the community to use a particular technology. In general, though, the Amish allow technology for medical purposes. And while they continue to use horse and buggies, they will opt to hire vans or drivers to take them to grocery stores or other destinations nearby.
Relations with the Outside World
The Amish have limited contact with the outside world. Some Amish communities have become popular destinations for tourists; Amish generally prefer to be left alone, but most have come to accept the influx of tourists.
The Polygamist Lifestyle
Polygamy is a controversial lifestyle choice that typically involves a man marrying more than one wife. Polygamy is often associated with the Mormon faith; Mormon polygamy was said to have begun with Joseph Smith, Jr., who, in 1831, announced he had received a revelation that Mormon men should practice plural marriage. Then, in 1852, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young, acknowledged plural marriage as a legitimate practice. However, the LDS Church denounced polygamy in 1890, and continues to this day to support laws against the lifestyle. Although polygamy is still legal in some countries, the LDS Church excommunicates any member who practices polygamy.
However, after the LDS Church began supporting laws against polygamy, splinter groups of the faith began to form. These churches are known as Mormon Fundamentalist, and many within the faith continue to practice polygamy today in Utah and neighboring states.
Although polygamy is commonly associated with the Mormon faith, it frequently occurs in other religions as well. For instance, in Buddhism, marriage is not considered a religions sanction, so in some areas of the world, polygamy is a common practice for Buddhists. Polygamy is also allowed in the Islam faith; the Qur’an states that men can have up to four wives.
Polygamy has become more exposed in recent years in popular culture. For instance, the HBO show Big Love depicts a fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah who practice polygamy. The TLC reality show Sister Wives, which features a polygamist family with one husband and four wives, also gives viewers a glimpse into the polygamist lifestyle.
How to Propose Marriage in Two Steps
Proposing marriage should be a once in a lifetime moment that both people involved will treasure for the rest of their lives. But making that moment special, memorable and unique is a monumental undertaking. Everyone remembers their proposal and if you wish your proposal story to be one that any woman would be proud to boast of then just follow these two steps.
First and foremost get a fabulous ring. This is not an easy task. A fabulous ring to one woman is an ugly disaster to another. The key is really knowing the style of the woman you wish to marry. Many men can be somewhat style challenged so it is key to get guidance when you are looking to buy a ring. Unless your future fiancée has singlehandedly told you what ring to buy then you should consult her discreet family and friends to make sure you are headed in the right direction. Also make sure to go to a reputable jeweler or engagement ring website such as engagement.jrdunn.com to ensure that you get the highest quality product. With a good jeweler you know you will receive the best advice to make the right purchase.
The next step is to make the actual proposal memorable. Again, this will have a lot to do with your girlfriend’s style and the dynamic of your relationship. You may wish to include both your families in the proposal as long as you are pretty sure she’ll say yes. If you are playful and adventurous you may wish to write it in the sky or take out a full page ad in the local newspaper. If she is a book lover get her a customized book which asks her to marry you through a story or surprise her with a proposal in poem.
Regardless how you choose to pop the question remember that this is a once in a lifetime moment to be treasured and enjoyed by both of you.
Enjoy Vegas for a Day or a Lifetime
Las Vegas, Nevada is a pretty amazing place to visit or live. Not only is there a lot to see and do, there is a sort of energy that is absolutely unparalleled anywhere in the world. Whether you want to visit for awhile on vacation, check out the sites, and experience the fast paced life it is renowned for, or if you are considering moving to Vegas, you have a lot of great reasons to give it some serious thought. After all, not many cities can be both so small and so big and offer you so much.
For one thing, Las Vegas is not as expensive as you might think it would be. While it might not be the cheapest town, you do not have to stay in a high end suite in a casino hotel or live in a decadent mansion in the desert. When people think of Las Vegas, they tend to envision living it up, so they naturally assume that life has got to be very expensive there. But when you actually look into some Las Vegas apartments, you start to see that they are actually affordable, accommodating, and conveniently located. Plus, there is also the advantage of having so much to do, whether night or day. Vegas is full of exciting activities, from high quality shows, the hottest nightlife, delicious dining, shopping, gambling, and more.
Las Vegas is also a city booming with a lot of jobs. And just because you might not have the body to be a showgirl or the muscles to be a bouncer does not mean your job opportunities are limited. There are all sorts of jobs in many different industries, from construction to technology, that do not even directly involve casinos. If you are thinking of moving there, attend a job fair and get the full scoop of what jobs are available for you.
The Relationship With Your Teenager
For many parents the baby stage was not the hardest and the terrible twos no longer seem that bad, that is because they have teenagers. If anyone remembers their own teenager years, you will probably remember them as some of the toughest years of your life. Many parents who struggle with their teenagers are struggling because their teenagers want to be considered an adult while still acting like children. The best thing that you can do to strengthen the relationship with your teenager is to try to connect with them.
When teenagers are making bad decisions they are usually making them for two reasons. First, they want to impress other people. Second, they think they are invincible. When you are young your friends and what other people think of you means a lot. If they are making decisions that you do not agree with, rather than flying off the handle and forbidding the action, try to talk to them. Listen to why they feel that they must dress a certain way, talk a certain way, or participate in something. See if you can reason with them and get to see that being their own person is more important.
When you are young you do not often think of the consequences of you actions. That is because you do not have the life experience to see how things will effect you for the rest of your life. Teenagers often believe themselves to be invincible. Yes, they hear about people going to jail, getting aids, getting in a car accident or getting pregnant, but they do not think that it will happen to them. It is not their fault that they think this way. They have always had someone there to protect them. The best thing you can do is warn, show them as much of reality as you can.
