Swiss Mocha

The Eight-Cow Woman

2010-01-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

There once was a town where men paid the dowries for their future wives in cows. The highest dowry that a man had ever paid a father for his daughter's hand in marriage was four cows.

One father in the town had a daughter who was very plain and unattractive, and most of the townspeople doubted if she would ever find a husband. However, one day a rich, successful rancher who owned many cattle saw the woman and fell in love with her. He went to the girl's father and began negotiations for the dowry. Everyone expected him to ask for a bargain, because no one had ever made an offer on her before, but he said, "I will pay you eight cows." They were shocked! But even more shocking was what happened next.

That homely girl became the most beautiful woman in town. Because her husband valued her, she began to carry herself differently. She stood straight and tall. She dressed well. Her whole countenance changed because of the value placed on her by someone who loved and cherished her.

As a man, your goal should be to make your wife feel cherished like this "eight-cow woman." Go after your wife as if she were the best catch in town, because she is, to you. Bless her in any way you can, and watch her flourish under the nurture of your love. If she likes gifts, give her gifts, and give her the kind she likes. Does she like flowers? A dinner out in a nice restaurant? A hike in the woods? A new ring? Or does she just want uninterrupted time every night to be alone with you?

"Love your wife as Christ loved the Church."(Ephesians 5:25)

The earth can save itself. I am worried about us!

2010-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

2010-01-03T03:02:00.000-08:00

No matter how you look at it, a good night's sleep is necessary for physical and mental well-being. The following tips will help you to not only fall asleep, but will ensure your night's sleep is peaceful and fully restorative. Be sure to read the entire list for some tips that may surprise you.

1. Exercise, ideally everyday. This positive stress will tire out your body in a good way -- just be sure not to exercise too close to bedtime (within three hours), as it could keep you up.

2. Drink a cup of relaxing tea, like chamomile.

3. Stretch a bit before you lie down. You can literally stretch out some of the "kinks" and tension of the day.

4. Wear earplugs or an eye mask. If you can hear noisy traffic or see lights from outside,earplugs and an eye mask can give you the silence and the darkness that are ideal for sleep.

5. Create a relaxing bedtime routine. Take a bath before bed, brush your teeth, get into your PJs and turn on some soothing music that will let your mind know it's time for slumber.

6. Once you are in bed, listen to a relaxation CD like the Sleep Easy CD to help you "shift gears" and relax into sleep.

7. Don't drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages near your bedtime.

8. Keep to a regular schedule that includes a standard time to go to sleep and wake up.

9. Make your room "sleepable." A very dark, cool room is best for sleep.

10. Get a handle on your stress. It is the number-one cause of sleep problems, according to sleep experts.

11. Put the kibosh on work before bed. If you work or do other mentally trying activities too close to bedtime, you may have a hard time relaxing for sleep

Catching up

2009-12-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

Has it been two years? I swear it was too fast or did I lose sense of time? was it another dimension? Anyway, I will pick it up from here again. Several times I felt like writing about things that touched me(the wrong way too) but again, time!! After running after life, meeting expectations, being judged, running running (nopes, I didnt lose any weight either) I am beginning to realize that it is nothing. Just nothing. I;ve decided to stop and stare. I want to live. Strange life IT you. It is a monster! Tempts you with a a handsome pay cheque soon after you graduate (with a non-sense degree)and later completely sucks you up. I am almost into the hold of quick sand, in my last attempts to break free!

Coastal Andhra....at its best :)

2007-08-22T03:39:00.000-07:00

Godavari - by the sunset (above)

Mighty, endless, blissful Godavari

Konaseema

Kadiya poo lanka - Kadiyam (above)

Pictures worth a thousand bucks!

2007-06-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

When my Cannon SD400 shot some rare, beautiful, spectacular frames....

The Alps! Need I say more?

Before the dawn broke and after the night fell, I was lost in the sheer pristine beauty of this sight... blissfully unaware of my loneliness...

(A park across Premier Travel Inn, Basildon. )

A bird's eye view of Kanbay Software India Pvt Limited, Hyderabad.

( I worked here for a cppl of years )

Flying back home- the eastern route...
India's coastline and the Bay of Bengal

Greek Business Etiquette

2007-06-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

I lived in Greece for a couple of weeks and I must admit that its a very beautiful country. Blessed with Mediterranean climate, I was pleasantly surprised to see orange trees on the roadside!!

Relationships & Communication
• Greeks prefer to do business with those they know and trust.• They maintain an intricate web of family and friends to call upon for business assistance since they can be confident of their trustworthiness.

• Nepotism is not viewed negatively and it is very common for relatives to work for the same company.• Greeks prefer face-to-face meetings rather than doing business by telephone or in writing, which are seen as too impersonal. • It takes time to develop relationships: this can be done in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings. • Never say or do anything that can be construed as challenging the honour or integrity of a business colleague.• Under no circumstances should you publicly question someone’s statements. • Greeks do not like people who are pretentious or standoffish.• Although business is relaxed, it is also serious. Acting informal before a relationship has developed is considered discourteous. • If your Greek business colleagues become quiet and withdrawn, you may have said or done something to upset them.
Business Meeting Etiquette
• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, although it is often possible to schedule them on short notice. • Confirm meetings one day in advance by telephone. • Many businesspeople eat lunch between 1 and 3 p.m., so this is not the optimal time for a meeting.• Quite often it is not until the third meeting that business is actually conducted. During the first meeting your Greek business colleagues will want to get to know something about you as a person. The second meeting is used to develop trust and mutual respect. By the third meeting, business may begin. • Have printed material available in both English and Greek. • Meetings are often interrupted. Several people may speak at the same time.• Greeks will deviate from agendas. They view agendas as starting points for discussions and will then follow the discussion to the next logical place.• Although some business people speak English, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter.
Business Negotiation
• Forming a personal relationship is critical to developing a successful business relationship. • Companies are hierarchical. Greeks respect age and position. • Business is conducted slowly. You will have to be patient and not appear ruffled. • Demonstrate how your product or service enhances your colleague’s reputation. • Do not lose your temper or appear irritated during business discussions. • Greeks are skilled negotiators. They quite enjoy haggling. • Decision making is held at the top of the company. • Imposing a deadline on reaching a decision may end the negotiations. • Contracts are often quite simple since the personal relationship dictates that accommodations will be made on either side should the need arise.

Business Etiquette - United Kingdom

2006-08-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Appearance

Business attire rules are somewhat relaxed in England, but conservative dress is still very important for both men and women.Dark suits, usually black, blue, or gray, are quite acceptable.
Men's shirts should not have pockets; if they do, the pockets should always be kept empty. Additionally, men should wear solid or patterned ties, while avoiding striped ties.
Men wear laced shoes, not loafers.
Businesswomen are not as limited to colors and styles as men are, though it is still important to maintain a conservative image.

Behavior

Always be punctual in England. Arriving a few minutes early for safety is acceptable.
Decision-making is slower in England than in the United States; therefore it is unwise to rush the English into making a decision.
A simple handshake is the standard greeting (for both men and women) for business occasions and for visiting a home.
Privacy is very important to the English. Therefore asking personal questions or intensely staring at another person should be avoided.
Eye contact is seldom kept during British conversations.
To signal that something is to be kept confidential or secret, tap your nose.
Personal space is important in England, and one should maintain a wide physical space when conversing. Furthermore, it is considered inappropriate to touch others in public.
Gifts are generally not part of doing business in England.
A business lunch will often be conducted in a pub and will consist of a light meal and perhaps a pint of ale.
When socializing after work hours, do not bring up the subject of work.
When dining out, it is not considered polite to toast those who are older than yourself.

Communications

"America and Britain are two nations divided by a common language" George Bernard was once quoted as saying. In England, English is the official language, but it should be noted that Queen’s English and American English are very different. Often times ordinary vocabulary can differ between the two countries.

Loud talking and disruptive behavior should be avoided.
One gesture to avoid is the V for Victory sign, done with the palm facing yourself. This is a very offensive gesture.
If a man has been knighted, he is addressed as "Sir and his first name" example: Sir John.
If writing a letter, the envelope is addressed "Sir First name and Last name" example: Sir John Roberts.

Think out of the box and ask the right questions

2006-08-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

(Source: www.financialexpress.com)

"As I think about what IIM-Ahmedabad did for me, I recollect one of our marketing classes. We were reviewing a case study on marketing pens. I had spent long hours the previous evening doing various clever analyses around the costs of the products, different marketing approaches, impact for the management, brand creation etc. Wanting to make the most of this invested time, I was contributing maximum “CP” (Class Participation). In response to every fancy analysis I presented, the professor kept asking me the same question: “So what?”

While I did come out of this (and other!) marketing classes mentally exhausted, as I look back, this is what I think IIM-A taught me most effectively—to think outside the box, to think about higher level issues, to constantly assess everything with a “so what”. And it was not just the marketing classes, but all our courses, whether finance or economics or strategy or organisational behaviour. Our professors used the case methodology very effectively to impart this higher and more important skill. And I will be frank—I may not have realised the significance of this less tangible, but more broadly applicable skill during my time at IIM-A. At that time, I was probably focusing more on mastering the technical skills, getting the best grades and being among the gold medalists!

don’t, however, want to minimise the importance of the basic skill set that IIM-A imparted—the understanding of business concepts and frameworks, the ability to quickly grasp the facts and analyse a situation, conducting financial analyses, applying principles of economics, etc. These skills certainly helped me a lot in the earlier part of my career, to be a good analyst, and to build the foundation for my future professional growth. However, without the ability to ask “so-what”, I would not consider myself an effective senior executive today.

This was the entire premise on which we built Pipal’s delivery model. Research can provide just data and information or it can take the information to the next level by addressing the “so what”. Custom research is at the end of the day shaped by client demand, and if clients want just information, we are happy to even deliver just information. I always encourage my teams to ask the “so what”. For example, one of my clients wanted us to look at a company as an investment opportunity. We could have laid out the facts (for example, revenue, net income, costs, growth, strategy, operations, organization), but then the client would have had to do the rest of the work to analyse the facts to establish whether it’s a worthwhile investment.

We do not claim to advise clients on whether they should make an investment or not, but we can certainly analyse the available information to reach some credible conclusions, for example, has the company invested behind its stated strategy, has the company achieved its targeted numbers in the last few quarters, in what areas is it behind competitors or ahead of competitors, are the industry dynamics supportive of the company’s model. Once the client had all these analyses and so-whats, they could focus on the investment decision itself rather than the underlying analyses. Another key skill IIM-A taught me is people management. The softer courses such as Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management were considered the “easy” courses for scoring As, but you realise the significance of these skills only after entering the workplace. This becomes particularly important in a services business like research, where you can share work samples, client testimonials etc, but clients will do business with people they feel comfortable dealing with—that said, by no means are those client relationships going to grow in the absence of quality service delivery!

To share one of my recent experiences, we almost lost out on a large client situation, had it not been for the strong relationship I built with one of the key decision makers. This enabled me to place Pipal in a winning situation with this client. The same holds true on the internal side as well. Even if team members are competitively compensated, senior executives also need to maintain motivation by continually offering challenging professional opportunities and recognising individual contributions.

While I have written in detail about the “so-what” skill, the technical capabilities and the people skills that IIM-A builds, there are several other key contributions IIM-A made to my life — professionally and personally. The network you build with other students, alum and professors is unparalleled. So is the IIM brand name that opens doors and ensures a jump start to your professional career—for me, it was the opportunity to work with an esteemed firm like McKinsey right out of campus and then ICICI Bank and now Pipal. The demanding nature of the course makes you a stronger person, better able to deal with stress.

In sum, I would not be the same person that I am today, had it not been for my two years at IIM-A. It changed me as a person, built skills that will stand the test of time and forms the foundation of my professional career thus far and I am sure, even for many more years to come. "

—The author is director, client services & head of financial services sector, Pipal Research

Dance Slow...

2006-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done!
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower

Hear the music
Before the song is over.

French Society, Culture and Business Etiquette

2006-07-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

General Etiquette & Protocol Guidelines

Meeting Etiquette

• The handshake is a common form of greeting.
• Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks, once on the left cheek and once on the right cheek.
• First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait until invited before using someone's first name.
• You are expected to say 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' (good morning and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or Madame when entering a shop and 'au revoir' (good-bye) when leaving.
• If you live in an apartment building, it is polite to greet your neighbours with the same appellation.

Gift Giving Etiquette

• Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is considered unlucky.
• Some older French retain old-style prohibitions against receiving certain flowers: White lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals; red carnations as they symbolize bad will; any white flowers as they are used at weddings.
• Prohibitions about flowers are not generally followed by the young. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of conservatism.
• If you give wine, make sure it is of the highest quality you can afford. The French appreciate their wines.
• Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a French house for dinner:
• Arrive on time. Under no circumstances should you arrive more than 10 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained.
• The further south you go in the country, the more flexible time is.
• If invited to a large dinner party, especially in Paris, send flowers the morning of the occasion so that they may be displayed that evening.
• Dress well. The French are fashion conscious and their version of casual is not as relaxed as in many western countries.

Table manners:

• Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• If there is a seating plan, you may be directed to a particular seat. • Do not begin eating until the hostess says 'bon appetit'.
• If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
• Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible and not in your lap. • Finish everything on your plate.
• Do not cut salad with a knife and fork. Fold the lettuce on to your fork. • Peel and slice fruit before eating it.
• Leave your wineglass nearly full if you do not want more.

Business Etiquette Basics

Relationships & Communication

• French business behaviour emphasizes courtesy and a degree of formality.
• Mutual trust and respect is required to get things done.
• Trust is earned through proper behaviour.
• Creating a wide network of close personal business alliances is very important.
• If you do not speak French, an apology for not knowing their language may aid in developing a relationship.
• It is always a good idea to learn a few key phrases, since it demonstrates an interest in a long-term relationship.
• The way a French person communicates is often predicated by their social status, education level, and which part of the country they were raised.
• In business, the French often appear extremely direct because they are not afraid of asking probing questions.
• Written communication is formal. Secretaries often schedule meetings and may be used to relay information from your French business colleagues.

Business Meetings Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.
• Appointments may be made in writing or by telephone and, depending upon the level of the person you are meeting, are often handled by the secretary.
• Do not try to schedule meetings during July or August, as this is a common vacation period.
• If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation.
• Meetings are to discuss issues, not to make decisions.
• Avoid exaggerated claims, as the French do not appreciate hyperbole.

Business Negotiation

• French business emphasizes courtesy and a fair degree of formality.
• Wait to be told where to sit.
• Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.
• Business is conducted slowly. You will have to be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol.
• Avoid confrontational behaviour or high-pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive.
• The French will carefully analyze every detail of a proposal, regardless of how minute. • Business is hierarchical. Decisions are generally made at the top of the company.
• The French are often impressed with good debating skills that demonstrate an intellectual grasp of the situation and all the ramifications.
• Never attempt to be overly friendly. The French generally compartmentalize their business and personal lives.
• Discussions may be heated and intense.
• High-pressure sales tactics should be avoided. The French are more receptive to a low-key, logical presentation that explains the advantages of a proposal in full.
• When an agreement is reached, the French may insist it be formalized in an extremely comprehensive, precisely worded contract.

Dress Etiquette

• Business dress is understated and stylish.
• Men should wear dark-coloured, conservative business suits for the initial meeting. How you dress later is largely dependent upon the personality of the company with which you are conducting business.
• Women should wear either business suits or elegant dresses in soft colours.
• The French like the finer things in life, so wear good quality accessories.

Business Cards

• Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions without formal ritual.
• Have the other side of your business card translated into French. Although not a business necessity, it demonstrates an attention to detail that will be appreciated.
• Include any advanced academic degrees on your business card.
• French business cards are often a bit larger than in many other countries.

Business Culture and Etiquette

2006-07-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Business with international clients requires more than just technical acumen. Etiquette, manners, and cross cultural, or intercultural communication have become critical elements required for all International and Global Business executives, managers, and employees. As international, multinational, transnational, multi domestic, and global business continues to expand and bring people closer, the most important element of successful business outcomes may be the appreciation and respect for regional, country, and cultural differences - known as cultural diversity.

In a series of articles, I'll explore the basics of cross cultural etiquette and write about greeting styles, art of formal gift giving, raising a toast, dining table etiquette and more....keep reading...

Herez your cuppa - Swiss Mocha

2006-06-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Swiss Mocha Coffee Mix

1/2 cup instant coffee
1 cup sugar
1 cup instant dry milk powder
1/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup vanilla flavored instant pudding mix (optional, but very good)

Measure all of the ingredients into a clean, dry bowl. Use a fork to combine everything evenly. If you are ambitious, you can powder everything in a blender. I don't always do this because I am lazy. You do get really impressive results from it though, and it is easier to do than one would expect. Transfer the mixture to an air tight container.

To Prepare: Measure 3 or 4 tablespoons into a coffee cup. Fill it up with hot water (about 3/4 cup) and stir to dissolve.

This is a very sweet and chocolaty coffee. It is almost as good as hot chocolate for curling up with on a cold winter night. If you decide to make it a bed time snack, then you might want to use decaffeinated instant coffee, instead of regular. The vanilla pudding mix makes your homemade mix dissolve better in water. It also gives a pleasant vanilla flavor to the coffee that marries perfectly with the rich chocolate.

Perceived Value

2006-06-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

Plain and simple: people tend to want what they cannot have! When things are hard to obtain, they seem more valuable! One example is collector's items. The more rare something is, the more people think it is worth. It's called "perceived value."

It really starts on the inside. If you value yourself, it will show, and others will value you more, too. If you value yourself, you will be focused on your own goals and activities - and less focused every waking minute on some guy. A lot of girls I know spend enormous amounts of time in thinking about a guy in their life, and not in adding value to their own lives by learning and growing. If you spend all your time reading women's magazines, watching TV, or gabbing with the girls, you're on a fast track to becoming one boring, boring person.

It's not about being self-absorbed or selfish - it's really about self-respect. The greatest gift you have is YOU. What you do with this gift will affect not only you, but literally thousands of people. Whether you believe it or not, you are important. People know you and are aware of you - your presence is known. Your image is out there. You are somebody - right now.

Da Veggie Code!

2006-06-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Are you excited about the new Da Vinci Code movie? You’re not alone. More than 40 million people read the thrilling novel, which revolves around the hidden messages in Leonardo da Vinci’s art. Da Vinci’s paintings and inventions are world-famous, and he is widely considered a genius and the ultimate “Renaissance man.” Although people everywhere enjoy his art, humans aren’t the only ones who love Leonardo—animals are big da Vinci fans too. Why? Because da Vinci was an outspoken vegetarian. He once proclaimed, "Time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.”
Numerous other brilliant and compassionate people throughout history have refused to eat animals. From mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras to peace activist Mahatma Gandhi and from Albert Einstein to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, history is full of great thinkers who decided to extend their circle of compassion to animals by leaving them off their plates.
Watch PETA’s fun “Famous Historical Vegetarians” e-card starring the beloved Nugget, and send it to all your friends.

Related links:
www.bluecrosshyd.org
www.petaindia.com
www.peopleforanimals.org

Disciplining your toddler.

2006-06-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

No doubt about it, toddlers are a handful! At times, it will seem like they can be in two places at the same time, and be headed for trouble in a third one yet. Many a parent can recite nerve-racking stories of toddlers perched on top of the bookcase, or of a fall that resulted in an mergency room visit. Setting limits and maintaining some kind of control are difficult tasks with toddlers because they are so independent, yet have so few skills to communicate and solve problems. The key to disciplining your toddler includes love, under-standing, and quick thinking!

Understanding toddlers:

Toddlers are limited in their ability to communicate. Like babies, they still like to be held, talked to, and comforted, however, toddlers can say a few words, which can mean many things. “Cup!” may mean “Hand me my cup,” “I want more milk,” A toddler, with this limited capac-ity to communicate, is therefore very hard to understand.
Sometimes, toddlers do things that drive parents crazy. They reach out and grab things(like eyeglasses). They are rather clumsy and awkward with gestures; a loving pat often turns into an accidental whack. A spoonful of peas may wind up on the floor rather than in the mouth.
Toddlers are also very possessive. “No,” and “Mine,” are favorite words and they are quite willing to hit or bite to get (or keep) a favorite toy. In fact, toddlers may spend as much time carrying around and protecting toys as they do playing with them.
They have very little skill at pacing themselves and can be happy one minute and cranky the next. Much of this behavior depends on the new skills they are developing. The same toddler who screams for an unreachable cookie may lead or drag you to the jar and point at another time. Learning to do things in a socially accept-able way is a big step for a toddler.

How can parents help?

One of the most important things a parent can do is to establish a safe environment. “Toddler-proof” your home by locking up dangerous chemicals and medicines, covering electri-cal outlets, and storing breakable objects up high, especially if your toddler is a climber! You also may want to take a close look at toys and how your toddler uses them. A safe place to play and appropriate toys to play with will save you from saying “No” and make your job as parent much easier.
Establish a routine. Toddlers need naps and rea-sonable bedtimes. Small stomachs need nutritious snacks and meals frequently. Growing bodies need time to run, jump, and play every day. Riding around all day in a car seat, sleeping in a stroller, and eating fast food is OK once in a while, but if it’s happening often you may want to rethink your schedule. Taking care of basic needs can go a long way in preventing a cranky, whiny child.
Distract. This works especially well with very young children. When a child is doing something unac-ceptable, try to call attention to another activity—perhaps playing with another toy or reading a book together. The goal is to temporarily distract the child from the current problem. For example, if a child wants to play with breakable knickknacks at a friend’s home, perhaps you can distract him or her with a stuffed toy. Since young children’s attention spans are so short, distraction is often effective.
Redirect. If your toddler is throwing blocks, hammering on tables, or drawing on books, remove the materials while saying something like “Blocks are for building, not throwing.” At the same time substitute another appropriate toy for the material you just took away and say “If you want to throw something, throw the bean bag into the basket.” By redirecting the activity into a more acceptable situation, you let children know you accept them and their play, and ou channel a problem activity into a more acceptable activity.
Ignore. The goal in this strategy is to have the child stop the undesir-able behavior by not paying attention to it. This can be effective in some situations with older toddlers. Withhold all attention, praise, and support. Without the desired attention, children even-tually quit whatever they’re doing. This takes patience.
Set a good example. Toddlers love to imitate their parents. If you want your toddler to treat the dog kindly or have good eating habits, be sure to demonstrate how to do it. Re-member also to talk about what you do. Even though toddlers may not fully understand everything you say, they will begin to understand that there are reasons for doing things a certain way.
Help your toddler understand “sharing” As was mentioned earlier, sharing is not something that toddlers do very well. They usually find it difficult to share because they don’t really understand what ownership means. They may think sharing a toy is the same as giving it away. It is very common for a toddler to give someone a toy, but expect it to be given right back. Older brothers and sisters sometimes have trouble understanding this. Sometimes it helps to explain that your toddler is just “showing” her brother the toy. If your toddler does share, give praise, but respect the need to protect treasures.
Is it ever OK to spank?Toddlers often respond well to physical action when you need to discipline them. Touching themon the arm, taking them by the hand, picking them up, holding, or restraining them are all goodways to get their attention. Spanking will also get their attention, but doesn’t do a very good job of teaching them how to behave. In fact, it generally distresses children so much that they can’t pay attention to your explanations or directions. It’s hard to reason with a screaming,crying child. Some parents who frequently slap a toddler’s hand are dismayed to find their toddler slapping back. Or worse yet, slapping and hitting others. Spanking and slapping canquickly get out-of-hand for both parents and children. Most reported cases of abuse involveloving, well-meaning parents who just lost control. Studies show that children who experienceor witness a great deal of spanking, slapping, or hitting are much more likely to becomephysically aggressive themselves.

Toddler needs guidance if you understand the reasons for his or her behavior and know your options.

Walk of Life...

2006-06-18T00:52:00.000-07:00

Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes burns stored fat and can build muscle to speed up your metabolism. Walking an hour a day is also associated with cutting your risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and stroke. Isn't it time to work 1-hour walks into your busy lifestyle? Read on...

Walking Schedule - How to Walk for Weight Control

Long Day: Warm up 5-10 minutes at easy pace. Stretch. Walk at target pace for 60 minutes. Slow to easy pace for 5 minutes. Finish with gentle stretching.

Long Easy Day: Warm up 5-10 minutes at easy pace. Stretch. Walk at target pace for 30 minutes. Slow to easy pace for additional 30 - 90 minutes. Finish with gentle stretching.

Day Off: When walking for weight loss, you should take no more than 1 to 2 days off a week.
Alternate these days to fit your personal weekly schedule.

Example: Day : Workout - Time at Target HR
Sun.: Long Day - 60 min.
Mon.: Day Off - 0 min.
Tue.: Short Day - 30 min.
Wed.: Short Day - 30 min.
Thu.: Long Day - 60 min.
Fri.: Short Day - 30 min.
Sat.: Long Easy Day 30 min.

Feeling Worn Out: If your walking workout leaves you feeling sore or worn out the next day, take a day off. If this happens each day that you walk, check your heart rate to be sure you are not overdoing it, and drop back to 50% or less of your target heart rate and cut back on the number of long days in preference for short days.

Get going and starting losing...for good!

I love you Dad

2006-06-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

My daddy is the center of my small world,
the focus of my affections,
the star that lit my life, shining bright.
Shining still in my heart.

The years have led me here,
weathered with maturity and responsibilities,
and I see more clearly now.
The hardships, burdens of love,
and all the small sacrifices he made for me,
for our family.

He created stability, a place to call home.
All the photographs I browse through
of a child long forgotten, scarcely remembered
smiling, so happy and so loved.
The mere thought of becoming that role model
is enough to send me cowering, afraid...
looking for guidance.
Turning to my father and my more for support,
advice, wise counsel, and for approval.

Grown up, I see differently now...
A new perspective of a man I have always known.
My heart is full, my emotions overpowering
just in the certainty of that bond.
He's been there for me through all the conflicts
helping me over the rough, ragged stones
of growing up.

My respect for him is unending,
faith is unbound, and love is unquestioning.
Even in the midst of all my imperfections, he is lenient,
ignoring the pitfalls, the downfalls, the shortcomings,
he just accepted me as I was, as I am.

The sheer purity of it leaves me awe-struck
and it lifts me up, it holds my head a little higher,
it keeps me in balance,
harmonizing with the world around me
beautifully, like an inspired masterpiece from the soul
of an honest man.

I am honored to know him, to love him, to be of him.
He's my hero, and I am his daughter, his little girl.

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Happy Fathers Day Nanna, I love you, today and always...
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