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| AUGUST
2001 | |
| Summer's
nearly over -- how the heck did that happen? For most of us, this is the time
of year when we prepare to send the children back to school. Here in Calgary,
if the predicted teacher's strike doesn't happen, they'll be back to classes in
less than a month. We're continuing with the online version of
the newsletter. This allows for better formatting and easier reading then a text
email. This month we have a special section from a new Country
singer, Jon Michaels. He wrote a song to honour his mother called "Single
Mom". Make sure you follow the link to hear the free online version of it.
Also, try to get a chance to find Jon's CD. He sent me a copy and I play it at
the office all the time now! Also this month, we're pleased
to bring you an article from the Sheffield School of Design. They sent ideas on
decorating children's rooms and squeezing two kids into one room. It's a must
see. Our online polls have been a fun exercise. Be certain
to read this months results on our poll about monitoring your child's internet
usage. Look also for the new poll in this months "Ramblings" on back
to school. As usual, I'd like to take this moment to welcome
all of our new subscribers and bid a 'welcome back' to our returning ones. |
| |
| AUGUST'S
RECIPE | |
| Chicken Yum Yum
(ok, give me a break, the kids named it!)
| 1 package | Chicken Pieces (drumsticks,
thighs, breasts, whatever you want and in what quantity you want) |
| 1 can | Cream of Mushroom Soup |
| 1 package | Dry Onion Soup Mix |
| 1 can | Mushrooms (optional) |
| 1 large | Sheet of foil |
- Mix the undiluted cream of mushroom soup and dry onion soup mix
together
- Place chicken on one or two large pieces of tinfoil
- Cover
with Sauce
- Seal the foil packages well
- Cook at 350 F for 11/2
hours (the longer you cook it -- up to 3 hours -- the more tender the meat will
be!)
- Open packages, throw away foil for easy clean up, and enjoy!
| | |
| How
to squeeze two kids into one room! | |
It goes without saying
that most people want to give their kids the best of everything. And at times
like this when the economy is flush, with more working people having more expendable
income than we've seen in a few decades, many parents are taking every opportunity
to bestow upon the their little ones all the attributes of the good life. From
private schools to new clothes to flat-screen digital TVs, spending on kids has
exploded in huge ways in the last few years. Pair that with interior design and
decorating being industries whose fates are intimately linked to the ups and downs
of the economy, and it only adds up that decorating for kids is currently all
the rage.
©1-800-434-IKEA
 Whereas once upon a time it was considered going all out to have
a matching football-themed bedspread and curtains in a kid's room, now entire
sets of sheets, duvets, curtains, rugs and even wall hangings all featuring the
same Powerpuff Girls or N'Sync motif can be acquired for a song
at places like Kmart and Bradlees. And any respectable wallpaper outlet will have
not just a few, but a vast selection of kid-themed patterns, as well as the all-important
matching borders. (FYI, wallpaper borders are now a very big deal in the
kids' decorating world.)
But with so many options now available, it
can be hard to know just how far to go with it all. Or even where to begin, for
that matter. It's always an option to go out and get all-matching everything and
cover every surface of the room with all one theme, be it flowers, gorillas, The
Little Mermaid, or Mack trucks. But all but the most die-hard matching maniacs
out there, including the kid who's obsessed with whatever it is, will most likely
find such an environment more than a little overwhelming.
The best strategy
to use when you're about to begin decorating a kid's room, just like when you're
designing any other space, is to keep in mind what the room will be used for first
and foremost–then get into what it will look like. Ask questions like these: How
many kids will be sleeping there? If it's just one, do you expect that he or she
will have to share sometime in the next few years? Will the bedroom be his or
her main space for play as well as sleep, or will there be a separate play area?
Is he really into arts and crafts, which would mean the floor and work surfaces
should be easy to clean up? Is she likely to get very tall and need a double bed?
All these questions are much more important than whether to paint the walls powder,
shell or rose pink. Not that color isn't important, for it most definitely is.
But function should be your first consideration.
That having been said,
let's take a look at the usual basic elements of a kid's room: - a bed
with a good mattress
- bedside table with a lamp
- desk with a chair and lamp
for homework
- surface for art and play (can be the floor)
- a mirror
- places
to store hanging and folded clothes
- storage for books, toys and games
©1-800-434-IKEA
 A bed with a mattress
that provides good support is extremely important. Kids' bones are still growing
and solidifying at a fast rate, and spending long sleeping hours in bad positions
can lead to or exacerbate serious posture problems. Different cultures have different
ideas what constitutes support and what constitutes torture–sleeping on a Japanese
futon (the kind you find in Japan, not our cushy American version) feels like
sleeping on pavement to your average westerner, but many Japanese find our much
softer beds overly indulgent and worry about their backs. It's all a matter of
preference, but most doctors around the world agree that too soft is a big no-no.
Use your best judgement, and keep in mind that in the world of mattresses, you
usually get what you pay for. Skimping on a cheap mattress for your kid now just
might cost you more in medical bills later.
A bedside lamp is also important,
if only because it's really nice to be able to turn on a light without getting
out of bed–especially if you're afraid of the dark, which most kids are at one
point or another. It's also nice to have a close light for reading bedtime stories,
and a table underneath it is handy for a glass of water, a nightlight, or any
favorite books.
And just like it's good for you to have a home office
area if you ever work at home, it's a good for a kid to have her own place to
do her homework–a place that's just for study, with ample light for reading and
writing and a comfortable chair that provides good back support. Sure, homework
can be done at the kitchen table, and often is. But providing a place that is
just for study, separate from the rest of the house and in the child's own space,
is a good way to convey the message to him that homework is something that should
be taken seriously and consciously made a priority.
If the room is also
the child's primary play area, you'll want to keep this in mind when considering
the flooring. Granted, children have played on bare wood floors for centuries
with no problem. But something softer like cork, or soft rubber tiles that come
in bright colors just for kids (available at many carpet and tile stores) will
hurt a bit less when they fall and will go easier on their knees when they're
kneeling. While it's far from necessary, it's something to consider. And if the
kid loves to make a mess, rubber flooring is an even better idea, since it easily
wipes clean.
And speaking of wiping clean, a popular trend right now
is to cover the lower half of one wall with blackboard paint (available at most
paint and hardware stores) so the kids can draw with abandon–and it also saves
paper. If something so permanent doesn't appeal to you, a real blackboard hung
on the wall or propped on an easel will serve the same purpose. ©1-800-434-IKEA
 And while we're talking about permanence, that's another important
thing to consider when decorating for a kid. It's nice to really do a room up,
but bear in mind that kids' tastes often change pretty rapidly. That Barbie motif
she likes right now at age nine will seem childish once she hits twelve or thirteen
and wants to be Jennifer Lopez, so you might not want to invest in something as
permanent as Barbie wallpaper. The same goes for colors. Many little girls
go through a lavender phase, but get sick of it after a few years.
Some
people don't mind making frequent major changes, but for the rest of us, it's
often wiser to stay somewhat basic with the features of a room that take the most
time to change, like the walls and carpeting. Classic colors like pale blue, pale
green and yellow can be dressed up with accessories–lamps, area rugs, sheets and
curtains, toys–featuring the kid's favorite cartoon characters, pop stars or what-have-you.
And in the case of older kids, they'll probably cover the walls with posters anyway.
When choosing furniture, many people find that regular grown-up furniture
is just fine for kids. A full-size wood dresser or bookshelf, from another room
in your house or bought new, can be livened up with a fresh coat of paint in white
or a bright color–and the child will never outgrow it. But there are more and
more furniture stores catering just to kids, with brightly colored plastic (read:
hard to break and easy to clean) furniture and even traditional pieces scaled
down to kiddy-size. Pottery Barn has a whole catalog of undersized furniture,
most of it also available for adults, including a leather club chair (weird...)
The upshot is this: Treat a kid's room like any other room in the house,
but keep in mind that the person you're decorating for will be going through drastic
changes in his or her tastes and mindset over a fairly short period of time. Flexibility
is key, for the more effort you put into everything tying together in one theme,
the more work you'll have to do to change it as the child grows up or gets a sibling
to share the room with. If that sounds like fun, then have a blast! But for those
who'd rather take a more practical approach there's a wealth of accessories out
there, in a variety of themes ranging from Pokemon to Peter Rabbit,
that will help you make the perfect haven for the little pride and joy.
–Holly McWhorter Reprinted with permission
from the Sheffield School of Design Web site at http://www.sheffield.edu |
| |
| SINGLE
MOM - THE SONG | |
 Life
songs, love songs, thoughtful and fun songs -- these are what circle from the
life and times of Jon Michaels. The spiral began in California, winding up the
rough and rocky West Coast "road tour test." Jon began by paying his
dues in clubs, bands, groups and the usual fare. From there, he did a lot more
than just dream of becoming a singer/songwriter. He followed that dream to Nashville
in 1990 to appear on the popular TV show, "You Can Be a Star," where
he placed second. In the green hills of Tennessee he found not just a home,
but a heaven for his first love -- song! Jon made inroads into the Nashville establishment,
which is filled with some of the greatest writers, producers and singers on the
planet. He recalls his early days there with an all-knowing smile, "Everybody
hits this town saying, "Wait until they get a load of me!" "I
was no exception. I soon learned that this town makes you take a number and wait!
In the process of waiting, I honed my craft and made lifelong friends. On just
about any night, you can go out and hear the most amazing writers. That gives
you plenty to write up to!" In his strong, smooth baritone, Jon croons
songs that ring of truth and beauty -- tales of forgiveness, love lost and love
found. With his trusty, well-tuned six-string guitar, he not only gives freely
of himself –- he IS his music. He has been wowing them in Nashville for some
time now, and can currently be found in various locations across the country,
helping other songwriters through seminars sponsored by NSAI and the Nashville
Songwriter’s Guild. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity
to take in one of his live performances (or for those who can’t get enough),
he has just released a CD entitled "Jon Michaels Live from the Douglas Corner
Café." In a world full of smoke and mirrors, if you’re ready
for a little heartfelt reality check, then check out Mr. Jon Michaels. He co-wrote
a song with a wonderful writer name Kim Tribble called "Single Mom" which he thinks
you'll really like. You can hear the song by clicking the links below.
I hope you enjoy it and
if you would like to hear other songs please visit his
music page. He is currently promoting his new CD "Jon Michaels Live from
Douglas Corner"
On August 8th, @ 10pm Eastern. Jon will be performing
"Live: on the "Writer's Block Radio Hour "Listeners can tune in via the Internet
by going to wdvx Writer's Block
Hour Be certain to tune in and hear him live! | |
| 
| RAMBLINGS | |
| As I mentioned above,
back to school is just upon us. By the time the next newsletter comes out most
school aged children will be happily scrubbed in their new clothes and attending
a new and exciting year. As a Single Parent I found it was harder to budget
for back to school than it was as a married parent. Clothes, books, lunch boxes,
shoes, back packs, school fees, bussing fees...the list seemed impossible and
endless! Do I have any miracle suggestions for cutting the costs? Sadly,
no. Some coma sense helps though. If your children stay for lunch this
should be your mantra "buy bulk, Buy Bulk, BUY BULK" Everything from
bread to sandwich meats to good ol' peanut butter is cheaper in bulk. I like to
go right to the bakery or bread outlet to buy "day old" bread for 39
cents a loaf. In my opinion, the stuff on the shelves at the Grocery Store is
probably a day old by the time they stock the shelves but is well over 4x the
cost. I'm lucky that I have a freezer so I can buy a dozen or two loaves at a
time often bringing the price down even further. When it comes to luncheon
meats I buy it in large amounts. I'll buy a kilogram of the cheapest cooked ham
or bologna but have the deli put it in 4 or 5 smaller packages suitable for freezing.
School fees can be spread into monthly payments over the course of a year.
If coming up with all of it at once seems impossible, send a pile of post dated
cheques that you can manage. It's important to note that here in Alberta (and
I'm certain over most of North America) they can not refuse a child schooling
just because his or her parents can not afford the extra fees. If you honestly
can not afford it at all, do not allow yourself to be bullied into giving up grocery
money. If need be, call your local politician and explain your situation. They
will help you get through to the school board. As for clothes, well that's
always a hit in the pocket book. Try your best to buy a few things that work well
together or take a day to wonder the thrift stores. If you have the time to search
through the junk, you can often find amazing bargains that don't look like thrift
store clothes. This months poll will deal with the costs of back to school.
For those who took part, last months poll ended up as follows: What do you
use to monitor your children's internet usage?
| Kids don't use it | 18% |
| Lock the computer | 4% |
| Stay in the room | 36% | | Software | 14% |
| Nothing | 28% | Well
folks, that's it for another month. As usual, if you have any suggestions or contributions
let me know! We're always up to suggestions and recipes sent in also have
the chance to be included on the website. Jill Lassaline, editor
Single
Parents World | |
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