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Avoid Back-to-School Morning Battles - Tips on Getting Your Kids Out of Bed

Is this your typical morning "wake up kids" dialog?

"Well, aren't you on the ball today! Holy moley, you're dressed already. What a great kid." (smiles, whistling, high fives ensue) If it is, then read no supplementary and congratulations.

Matching Family Pjs

If it's more like this...

Time to wake up! Sweetie, get up... Get up, please. C'mon now, up, up, up. You're going to be late for school.... (5 minutes later) Don't make me come in there. Get...up...Now.

Do you indubitably need that? Every. Single. Morning. No one does. It's not only stressful on moms & dads, but reconsider how minute miss cranky bottom's day goes when it starts with a yelling match.

Here are tips on how to wake up your heavy sleeper with less fuss:

Bedtime:

1. First, get them to bed at a decent hour so they get sufficient sleep. Agreeing to the National Sleep Foundation, 3 - 5 year olds need 11 to 13 hours per day, 5 - 12 year olds need 9 - 11 hours per day and after 12 years old we're finding at about 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours a day, although late teens want a minute more, even if they aren't getting it.

2. There is always that bedtime/wake time adjustment when vacation hours turn to school hours. About a week before the big adjustment, start planning earlier morning activities that force them on track.

3. No matter how old your child is, get them into a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends.

4. A bedtime disposition is principal to good sleeping habits. Light snack, bath, Pjs, brush teeth, read a story, make sure the room is quiet and comfortable, into bed, lights out, nighty night and you're out.

5. Make sure they know what time they are supposed to wake up. This helps them 'set' their natural alarm clock (circadian rhythm) to eventually wake up on their own, or at least start waking up closer to the appropriate time.

6. Tv stays Off at bedtime. They'll get a great night's sleep without the background noise. In fact (and I didn't know this until I found it on the National Sleep Foundation's site) even watching Tv close to bedtime has been associated with bedtime resistance, mystery falling asleep, sleep anxiety and sleeping fewer hours. They suggest retention both the Tv and the computer out of the bedroom completely.

7. Step them away from the Coke. Or anyone else with caffeine in it.

Wake-up:

1. Make waking up fun! When they're little, put some pizazz in the morning routine. First turn on the light and, with a big smile, say, "Wake up, you silly goose!" or something equally endearing. Then, without waiting for a reaction, go directly into a made-up song, a goofy dance, a smothering of kisses or a gentle tickle. When their feet hit the floor, turn on their popular music. If they are lollygaggers, then challenge them to a timed dressing session. Here's a good one... "If you're ready in xx minutes I'll let you pack your own lunch (or something else that needs doing, like laundry...kidding)". As every parent knows, bribery works too. Mix it up.

2. If you don't wake them yourself, the right alarm clock is Key to getting off on the right foot. I suggest the Sonic Alert clocks that let them wake up to sounds, a shaking/vibrating bed, flashing lights or all three. For heavy sleepers, try the Sonic Bomb. There's even a heart shaped one called the Sonic Boom Sweetheart Alarm Clock for your minute princess. There is something for everyone. I use the Sonic Shaker movable Vibrating trip Alarm at home and it gradually vibrates my pillow when it's time to wake up. Perfect for those sensitive to noise.

3. No Snooze function is allowed. Never use it. Tape it up so it can't be used, anyone it takes. Snoozing just makes you more tired and grumpy.

4. If they tend to wake up and go right back to sleep, put the alarm clock on the other side of the room. They'll have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. Possibly you put it on the bathroom counter, so they can start their day from there.

5. Let in the morning light. Don't make them wake up in a cave. It's tough when you're getting up before the sun comes up, but even a minute bit of light helps.

Hopefully these tips can help you avoid the morning wake-up battles, and the whole family can get the day off to a great start.

See all of the Sonic Alert products to find the most favorable alarm clock.

Avoid Back-to-School Morning Battles - Tips on Getting Your Kids Out of Bed

Furniture Store Online Vs sell Store - Weighing The Economics

"I like to sit on the sofa to see how it feels on my bottom before buying it from the furniture store." - retail Store Customer

"I enjoy the easy convenience of immediate price comparison and easy to find online coupons when buying from my beloved online furniture store." - Internet Customer

Matching Family Pjs

These are the two most tasteless statements made by the opinions of the different kinds of citizen that prefer to buy something at the local store compared to those that like to browse and shop on the internet. Of course, nothing can ever replace the real feeling of sitting on the chair that you are going to buy or knocking on the wood of the cabinet to make sure how solid it is, and a lot of citizen enjoy that experience. But that feel comes at a cost, and for those of you that don't mind to sell out that feel then there's time and money to be saved. With the year over year growth of the percentage of consumers buying online, the economics keep that store operation and tasteless sense because everybody can use an extra buck or two to spend elsewhere and more time to spend with loved ones rather than the stranger that is coughing next to you in line.

I all the time keep going to the store and browsing around because it is an feel of ambience that you will never get when clicking on a photograph online. But that should absolutely be thought about as a luxury and unhurried experience, because I am sure many of you are busy and have a allocation you have in mind when shopping. In this description I will try to give you some background and true economics of buying furniture online so you are customary with the pros and cons of not going to your local store, and additional be able to address the cons to keep a case that you should shop online for furniture more often than many think.

The money. One of the most key things to buying an item is to make sure that the price is right. And I can assure you that the pricing is mostly lower when buying from an online furniture store. Take for instance a dining room set that you find at the local big box retailer or house owned furniture store. They usually go for about 00-00 for a dining room set with 4 chairs, 2 arm chairs, and a table. You can just see it in the Sunday paper ads or the mailers you get from fellowships like Easy Life or Levitz (which is going out of business, by the way). Just fast go to Amazon or Google and you will be sure to find a dining room set with more choice and styles to meet your needs for less than half he price you pay at the local store, you find smaller dining sets at less then 0 up to perfect formal dining room sets at 00 average. And better yet, you can go from store to store to assess the pricing just by a click of a button and with the local store's catalog in front of you to match up the pricing right at the ease of your den dressed in your Pjs. So now you may ask "what about the shipping?", since it does usually cost a few hundred dollars to ship a dining room set, it's not worth it so you drive to the store and get it yourself, but that takes up a lot of your time.

The time. Time does cost you not only money but also time away from family, friends, loved ones. So think about the drive to the store and using your own truck or rental truck to pick up and move the items into your house. That is a days worth of driving, moving, hauling, etc. Yes, furniture market do deliver, but they still payment you and also payment to put things together. You can order online with in home delivery just as easy for 5 or more, and a lot of the items you buy in bulk have free shipping included. Let alone the savings on internet prices less the cost of shipping still gives you a lower price than buying from the store, you probably have to drive to a few market to assess pricing which takes up even more time. I know of new home owners that slave to get their home furnished driving tens of (even hundreds of) miles from store to store for 6 months trying to find what they need to fully yield their home, and this not only takes away from your time but also so much stress is added in this scavenger hunt you created for yourself when you decided to "go to the local store." So put together the gas money, the time you've lost, the rental truck, moving, and putting things together, that should at least have cost you the same amount as the shipping the online furniture store would have charged you by clicking that checkout button. But of course, you are buying something that is thousands of dollars and you positively want to see it and touch it before you buy because you can't tell the potential of an item from the photograph or zoom ups of the items.

The quality. What if the upholstery is too hard? Or the size won't fit? What if I have to return it because the color was not right? These are all hard pressed questions that challenge both the buyer and the online furniture industry. But you have to comprehend that everybody (both retail store, online stores) is sourcing from the same people. Even if they buy from different wholesalers that contribute their business, it's the same builder in Canada, China, Vietnam, etc. That makes the items. You are buying essentially the same items made by the originating citizen whether you buy from the store or you buy online, and you're buying the same quality. So how can you be sure then if the item is what you want? Well, there are many things that can bolster your buying confidence, such as:

1. Email or call the online store and ask them questions about the color or potential of the item, and where it's made;

2. Find out the builder name, and I can certify you will hear the same name that supplies the local store (you can also call the local store to find out what brands they carry);

3. Check if the items have warranties, because a good warranty means they back up an item of quality;

4. Product ratings by customers are sometimes displayed on the Product page. Read straight through them and get a feel of what they say and if they have comments that address your concerns about buying that furniture item.

All in all you can do your due diligence before production that big speculation into your furniture and decorating your home, and the same level of potential checking can be done at the ease of a phone call and/or an email just as you would driving from store to store to compare.

Furniture Store Online Vs sell Store - Weighing The Economics

Feng Shui Guidlines for warehouse Spaces

Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storehouse solutions such as shelves above doors and in corners, hooks on the backs of doors, and peg-board or tools and small appliances. They are masters at maximizing every quadrilateral inch of a closet with bins, baskets, shelf dividers, and many hanging rods. What they don't realize is that, from a feng shui perspective, these techniques can cause as many problems as they solve.

For good feng shui, it's important to leave some of your storehouse space unused, for doors to open all the way, and to aim for optical simplicity. As you work toward achieving the organizer's dream of a place for all and all in its place, keep these guidelines in mind:

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  • Spaces that are fully full block the flow of "chi" (vital energy) into your home and your life. Full file drawers block the flow of new business; full bookcases block the flow of new data and knowledge; a full bedroom closet can block your potential to attract a new relationship, and so on. Wherever possible, keep 20-25% of your storehouse areas available for new ideas, relationships, and opportunities to flow your way.
  • Storage units hung from the ceiling create oppressive energy that presses down on whatever is underneath them. whatever stored overhead can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and overwhelm. A pot rack hanging over the stove is carefully especially bad because it "weighs down" your finances.
  • Shelves over a door, or on a wall beside your bed or desk have a similar oppressive effect, and can lead to headaches, poor sleep, lack of energy, or muddled thinking.
  • A hook on the back of the bathroom door is fine if all you hang on it is a summer-weight robe and Pjs. If the hook is piled with three terry robes and a few extra towels, so the door no longer opens all the way, that's a feng shui no-no. Never use hooks on the back of the main door to your home or on bedroom doors; it is valuable that these doors open freely and completely, with nothing stored behind them. (That means removing whatever stored on the floor behind the door as well.)
  • Vinyl-coated wire shelves on the inside of a door can be a good way to keep lots of small items tidy; however, they should only be used on closet, cabinet, or pantry doors.
  • Avoid under-bed storehouse if you can. If you must use this space, use it for extra bedding and for soft, seasonal clothing such as sweaters. Never store any kind of sharp objects, data (books, videos or Dvds, paperwork), or exercise equipment under the bed; you may have issue sleeping or feel exhausted no matter how much rest you get.
  • As much as possible, store things where they are accessible but out of sight. Peg board and open shelving create optical clutter, so limit these to the garage, workroom, or pantry where they won't work on the energy of the rest of the house.
  • Be thoughtful about how much stuff you display in a room. Filling the den with knick-knack shelves so hubby can have his entire collection of sports memorabilia on display creates optical overwhelm. From a feng shui perspective, it's best to invest in fulfilled, storehouse such as drawers and cabinets and have only a few treasures on display at a time. Turn the choice every three to six months, and with each rotation you'll rediscover old favorites. By displaying fewer items at a time, you'll unquestionably enjoy and appreciate your collection more.
  • Another common question is family photos and snapshots scattered lavishly throughout every room and wall in the house. go for a dozen of the best ones, frame them attractively, and create a mini-gallery on one wall in one room or hallway. Store the rest or put them in albums. (Okay, okay, you can stick a few on the fridge, too!)
  • Aesthetics are as important as functionality in feng shui. Holding earrings and small jewelry in an ice-cube tray or egg carton works, but it's cheap-looking, cheap-feeling, and will drag your energy down every time you use it. It's okay to be budget-conscious, but appearance counts, too. A small plastic storehouse box is more curious than an ice-cube tray and you can get one at your local discount, craft, or housewares store for less than three dollars. They even come in pretty colors so you can pick one to match your bedroom décor.

With these easy guidelines in mind, you can pick storehouse solutions that will keep your space tidy and create good feng shui in your home. For even best results, remember to get rid of clutter before you put things away. Why waste time and money finding clever storehouse solutions for stuff you can do without?

Copyright © 2003 Stephanie Roberts

Feng Shui Guidlines for warehouse Spaces

Matching mom Daughter Christmas Pajamas Begin a breathtaking family Holiday Tradition

Matching pajamas for moms and girls is a special and unique idea, especially at holiday time. Mothers and daughters love to snuggle up in their matching pjs while reading together, watching Santa and Rudolph Christmas specials on television, baking holiday cookies and decorating the tree. There is nothing quite as gorgeous as experiencing the love in the middle of a mom and a daughter. For Dads, purchasing matching mom and daughter Christmas pajamas as a unique gift idea for all the women in the house proves to be an easy one-stop shopping palpate that fathers enjoy.

If this is Mom's first Christmas as a mother, this year is especially foremost to her and her new baby. She will cherish all the memories of that first Christmas with baby. Capture those special moments with plenty of pictures with the new mom and newborn wearing matching outfits. You can often find cool holiday outfits for men, too, production this tradition a fun one for the whole family. Don't forget grandmothers and grandfathers. Often family traditions have been in the family for generations starting with grandma and grandpa.

Matching Family Pjs

As your family grows, this is one tradition that grows with you. Each year there are new fun holiday designs available in sizes for men, women, boys, girls, teens, baby and infants. Have a family dog? No problem! Many Christmas pajamas are available in doggie pjs, too. Or you can craft and easy matching puppy outfit with a colored bandana. Wearing matching pajamas for the whole family makes a unique and special Christmas card. Dream all your friends and relatives far away looking all of you enjoying each other together in such a fun way!

Whether you are looking for a new family holiday tradition or wearing matching holiday pajamas are a tradition that has been nearby for many years, it is a fun one and growing in popularity. The store for matching mom daughter Christmas clothing and for the whole family has grown over the past any years with the quiz, for this unique family holiday gift.

Matching mom Daughter Christmas Pajamas Begin a breathtaking family Holiday Tradition