just4moms.netExciting News Every Mom Should Know…

A foster care course for African cultures is proving a success.

CIVIL war, hunger and exile robbed Samuel and Rebecca Atem of happy childhoods. each fled southern Sudan as children, lost a beloved parent, and ended up in squalid refugee camps in Kenya for about 16 years.

But the couple, who met in the camps, also saw how families with barely any resources looked after the orphaned and lost children. ”My father took care of many children in our village, not only my family, and our relatives but children he didn’t know,” Mr Atem, 29, said. ”And in the refugee camp, before he was killed, our compound was full of children.”

So it seemed logical, now they are safe in Australia and married, with a one-year-old daughter of their own, for the Atems to become foster carers.

Advertisement: Story continues below

They are among a handful of Sudanese carers to graduate from a special foster care course run by Community Services that aims to provide culturally appropriate carers for Sudanese and other African children removed from their families here.

Just over a month ago, two sisters aged 10 and eight, came to live with the Atem family in their two-bedroom flat in Fairfield.

Fifty-one children from African backgrounds entered foster care in NSW in 2010-11, and though that represents only 1 per cent of children entering care, the removals have been controversial and the impact on the community traumatic.

Juliana Nkrumah, the founder of African Women Australia, said the issue came up frequently in community meetings. ”African communities are saying it is their stolen generation,” she said. ”Parents make mistakes out of ignorance and not enough is done to help them.”

A 25-year-old mother from Sudan who, within two years of arriving, had seven children removed by Community Services because of neglect, told a community worker: ”I kept them safe through bullets and mines but I lost them in Australia.”

A spokeswoman for Community Services said the parents received ”the same level of support as other families, though it may be a little more targeted to their unique needs.” Where children were assessed as being at high risk – or at risk of significant harm because of domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, lack of parenting skills, or other issues – the families could be referred to an early intervention program. If children were deemed unsafe, they were removed.

Echo Morgan, the manager of the multicultural services unit in Community Services, said harsh discipline was a main cultural difference and parental mental illness was also an issue. ”It’s important to bring to the parents’ attention that they must not hurt or neglect them,” she said.

When the girls arrived at the Atem flat, the older child misbehaved at first. she had already spent some weeks with Anglo foster carers. she wanted to watch television all night, refused to eat and was tough on her younger sister. But with routines quickly established, the two girls have settled well and dote on baby Amou. the hope is they may be returned to their parents.

Mr Atem, a factory worker and community pastor who studies at Moore Theological College, said parents could not be blamed: ”They need help and if children cannot stay with them, I have to open my house.”

Mrs Atem, 26, said: ”I see helping children is a good life because I have been helped.”

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Last week’s Play Date: taxes!

A year and a quarter after it was born, Secret Play Date has helped me find movement in so many things, it’s hard to even list them.my relationship to thinking big.my relationship with play, for its own sake.my relationship with projects that seem too ambitious.That’s just a sampling.but the thing I’m most grateful for right now is:

I can Secret Play-Date my taxes!

That’s right.Usually the thought of tax time makes me want to hide.Tons of anxiety.Last year, I Play-Dated getting all my tax stuff together to send to the accountant, with the support of my Society friends who cheered me on, lots of deep breathing, and soothing music.

This year, I remembered.And it was much less scary.again, I got to Play-Date it with my Society pals, and it always helps to know I’m not alone.again, I alternated getting stuff together, filling out forms, etc, with drawing and collaging.

And I got it done.

It’s still scary, but much less so, and I have hope that next year will be even easier, as long as I remember I can Play-Date the scary stuff.

Today’s Play Date.I’m still not sure.It’s actually Monday as I write this. I know that I won’t be alone for part of the afternoon, so I plan to Play-Date undisturbed in the morning.maybe I’ll have Play Practice.maybe I’ll alternate drawing with organizing projects and schemes.the one sure thing is that I’ll be Play-Dating Tuesday morning.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

You can check in here in the comments or on the Secret Play Date page on Facebook to let us know how you’re doing, and give a yay for the people who are joining in.

You don’t have to share, though.you could note it in your journal, or whisper it to the cat, and still feel the glow of being part of a group that does things a little differently for an hour every Tuesday.

And if you’re not sure where to start, there’s always the Secret Play Date DIY Kit.Could you use a little Play-Dating today?

And pssst: you can still Play-Date and check in with us, even if it’s not Tuesday anymore.

As if it’s not already hard enough to get anything done on a Friday…

A new Easter Egg in Google search results allows you to fight an onslaught of little Google “o”s, usually with disastrous results. well, maybe I just suck at the game.

Typing Zerg rush into your search bar will produce a search page that immediately comes under attack. your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to destroy the “o”s by clicking them with your mouse before the green bar associated with each level turns red. the attackers will comes from all directions – top, bottom, sides. and it’s really pretty hard. This guy is a lot better than I am – but to be fair it’s early.

If you don’t want to do battle, you can always click on the X at the top right of your results to stop the attack. There, you’ll also see a stat counter for how many you’ve destroyed vs. how much damage they’ve done.

Once the search game is over, you can post your score to Google+.

Real-time strategy (and other types as well) gamers will know why Google made their little Easter Egg on the term “Zerg rush.” the Zerg come from the game StarCraft, and the “rush” (or Zerging) is now gameing-speak for “sacrificing economic development in favor of using many low-cost and weak units to rush and overwhelm an enemy by attrition or sheer numbers,” according to Wikipedia. Basically, to bum rush the hell out of someone.

So go ahead – protect your search results before it’s too late.

Font Size:

Have you ever taken your car to the auto shop and felt like you were scammed after wards? so is the case for many individuals who don’t know much about how their cars operate. But this Saturday, all of that could change for you.

Jay’s Auto Repair is holding a free clinic to educate women about their car’s basic parts. They’ll also learn how to protect themselves from unnecessary repairs and maintenance, which the shop says can translate to serious cash savings.

Jay’s Service Advisor Greg Reissmann says there are so many basic principles that go into fixing your car which most women just don’t know about and should. That’s why they’re hosting the Ladies Car Care Clinic this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at their shop.

Reissmann also says they will reveal a $20,000 savings secret to those in attendance. To sign up for the class and for more information visit their website at www.jaysauto.net.

It can seem impossible at times to achieve weight loss goals. a common pitfall for new exercisers is that they overdo it and then the pain the next day keeps them from continuing. how do you determine the key to successful weight loss?

In order to effectively drop pounds, you must first understand your goals. What results would you like to see from your weight loss? Do you want to drop a few sizes? is a certain weight the one you are after? are your primarily interested in improving your health?

The weight you lose weekly should be charted. Keep a diet journal so that you can make a note of your weight loss. Keep all of your diet information in the same book. In order to remember your daily intake, write down what you consume. The fact that you are writing it down will decrease the likelihood that you will desire it.

When you let yourself go too long without eating, you will naturally crave foods that are high in calories and fat. This is a primal instinct that is hard to eliminate. You can avoid these complications by planning ahead and bringing those foods with you for your meals. Prepare lunch in advance rather than eating junk food on the go. when you make your own lunch, you can control fat and calorie content, which is often high in restaurant meals. In addition, you can also save money!

A truly great weight loss plan will focus on both diet and exercise. Clear your schedule for a few hours a week to enjoy some fun workouts. Finding the exercises that you enjoy will help you push past those old excuses about not having enough time. Do you enjoy spending time with your friends? then you could play a game of basketball with them, or some other sport you like. are you a wild one? Try taking salsa lessons! are you happiest when you are basking in the glories of nature? Go on a hike in the great outdoors or explore your local park.

The first and most important step is to get rid of all the unhealthy food from your home and vow that it’s not allowed back in. Stock your pantry with only healthy food that’s good for you so that it’s all you’ll have to eat. The more difficult it is for you to eat junk food, the less likely you are to eat it.

Weight loss programs are more likely to be adhered to when you have a support network of family or friends cheering you on. your friends can help to encourage and motivate you if you ask for their aid. your friends can give you a much-needed lift when your are out of motivation. Turn to your friends for moral support when you want to open that bag of potato chips! Surely, you would be willing to help them stay motivated, too!

There is more information available about visit them here see Vanna J. Deangelis’s site there’s a lot of details not covered on this page, find those details on Author’s web blog to locate more.

According to Tuesday’s 2012 Business Town Hall Meeting the financial state of Inver Grove Heights is stabilizing. 

Hosted by Mayor George Tourville and City Administrator Joe Lynch, the presentation began by detailing the operating budget of the city—$17.79 million in 2012—and showing that the current budget is just 0.2 percent higher than that in 2011. 

Lynch then provided a chart of the city’s total expenditures over the past three years, which were $34.88 million in 2010, $35.01 million in 2011 and $35.06 million this year. 

“We’ve tried to do a good job of keeping expenditures down,” Lynch said. “We’ve seen less than a 0.5 percent increase over a two-year span.” 

Property values in the city, however, do not appear quite as promising.  

In fact, the city’s total property value—also called total taxable market value—decreased 5.4 percent in 2011, 2.3 percent in 2012 and is predicted to drop another 5 percent in 2013. 

Businesses in Inver Grove Heights have also seen their share of struggles over the past few years. 

The number of businesses and the number of jobs available in IGH have both decreased—albeit only slightly—between Q4 2010 and Q3 2011.

“The economy has had a significant impact on businesses in Inver Grove Heights,” Tourville said.

That said, however, the business outlook for the future looks bright. 

Commercial/industrial construction has grown from $0 in 2010 to $6.68 million in 2011. between the new Target Store and expansions to Mauer Chevrolet and Cameron’s Warehouse Liquor that number in 2012 will exceed $10 million.

For other businesses seeking to build, the IGH Economic Development Association in 2011 reconstituted its loan program for small businesses. Existing businesses can receive up to $25,000 toward expansion. 

Moreover, Mayor Tourville announced Target is scheduled to open its doors in mid-July and, by Dec. 1, three other sites adjacent to it will be completed and ready to build upon.

“There are multiple restaurants looking at the (sites). Ink is not on paper but there has been a lot of interest,” Tourville said.   

MISSION, KS, Apr 19, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –(Family Features) Your skin is delicate, so why would you use harshchemicals to pamper it? according to the Environmental Working Group(EWG), the average woman applies 200 chemicals to her skin each day.But no matter what skincare issues you may have, you can turn tonatural remedies and products to help revive the look of your skin,without damaging it with harmful substances.

Inspired by her grandmother’s natural approach to skincare, LexieMasterson, former actress, model and sister of Mary Stuart Masterson,founded Clairvoyant Beauty, an all-natural and vegan line ofaromatherapeutic products based on the skin-soothing recipes hergrandmother cooked up in the kitchen. Masterson has built upon hergrandmother’s knowledge, updating her products to incorporate newdiscoveries in skincare science. “I wanted to provide women with amore natural alternative to taking care of their skin, without usingharsh chemicals,” Masterson explains.

with this in mind, Masterson shares the following tips for dealingwith common skincare issues, naturally:

Dry Skin For dry skin, Masterson turns to rich avocado. “Theunsaturated fatty acids soften your skin, while stimulating naturaloil production. Apply to clean skin for 15 minutes before rinsingwith warm water,” explains Masterson.

It’s important to treat your skin with a moisture-rich product daily.look for one that contains essential fatty acids (EFAs), like thosein avocado, such as the Clairvoyant Beauty Balancing Rosehip Oil &Hibiscus Facial Serum. Rosehip Oil is a rich source of omega-3,omega-6 and Vitamin F, and its Vitamin C is high in gamma linoleicacid (GLA). Hibiscus, with its natural astringent and antioxidantproperties, blends perfectly with the rosehip oil, creating asynergistic combination for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Oily Skin to reduce oil production, Masterson recommends whipping upa mask using strawberries, an egg white and honey. “The strawberries– rich in salicylic acid — are great for treating acne and thehoney hydrates the skin, while delivering antibacterial properties,”explains Masterson. to make, add 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries, oneegg white and 2 teaspoons of honey to a blender and mix. Apply toyour face and neck for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

For deep cleansing that doesn’t strip the skin, try ClairvoyantBeauty Detoxifying Clay Cleanser with DMAE, a natural anti-agingnutrient derived from fish oil that extends the life of cells andinhibits cross-linking of proteins, giving the skin a toned and firmappearance.

Irritated Skin “For red, puffy skin, turn to cucumbers, which aremildly astringent, and yogurt, which delivers key nutrients such asprotein, calcium and vitamins to soften your skin,” suggestsMasterson. to alleviate irritation, Masterson mixes 1/2 cup plain,organic yogurt and 1/2 cup grated cucumbers in a blender. Apply themixture to your face for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

For a daily dose of skin benefits, try Refreshing Cucumber FacialToner by Clairvoyant Beauty. the natural salt, enzymes and vitaminsin cucumber stimulate cell growth and strengthen connective tissues.this toner is completely natural — made from the juice of realcucumbers — so the skin drinks in the veggie’s long list of healthybenefits with just a few spritzes daily.

to learn more about the all-natural and vegan products and skincareregimens from Clairvoyant Beauty, visit www.ClairvoyantBeauty.com ,where five percent of your purchase will be donated to the RainforestAlliance.

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate this and other food andlifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com .Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestylecontent for use in print and online publications. Register with noobligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features,accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web contentsolutions.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1953885

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com

SOURCE: Clairvoyant Beauty

mailto:wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com http://editors.familyfeatures.com/

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, inc., All rights reserved.

We don’t say of all time with a light heart, but truly, these are the worst wedding photos of all time. Did a child take them? an elephant? a ghost? every single one is godawful in its own godawful way.

An unlucky UK couple will have to rely on these hilariously terrible snaps to conjure memories of their special day, taken by a photography firm that’s now out of business. the Telegraph reports the pictures “were also taken without flash because one of the photographers complained about being epileptic.” the ol’ epileptic photographer card! a likely story.

So then, which is the absolute worst of the worst?

Is it this mushy celebration of white fabric poltergeists?

A group shot with nobody looking in the same direction?

An awkwardly distant shot of the couple looking like they’re celebrating a divorce?

This cake-cutting noise fest?

Or the bride exiting the room near some fire extinguishers?

At any rate, the album is either the most shocking display of photographic ineptitude we’ve ever seen, or a masterwork of trolling. at least the worst part of their marriage is out of the way. [Telegraph via PetaPixel]

“It's a birthday party for a hunk of wood and sand, but it's also a reminder how much fun we had creating it,” said Dan Smith, general coordinator of Operation Playground back in 1991 and '92. “With so many people having worked for a year to plan 'the …
See all stories on this topic »

Font Size:

If you’re always on the lookout for ways to get dinner on the table fast, quick-cooking brown rice can be a nice addition to the menu. It’s smart to choose brown rice over white. It’s healthier because it’s a whole grain that provides fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients not found in white rice. And Consumer Reports says you can even get those benefits with faster-cooking brown rice.

Testers evaluated eight that can be prepared in 1 to 12 minutes. they compared them with a regular, longer-cooking brown rice that takes almost an hour to cook. with some quick-cooking brown rice, the convenience comes at a price. Consumer Reports did the math, and shaving 40 to 50 minutes off your prep time using some of the rices will cost you up to about $1 per serving.

The good news is the quick-cooking rice was about as tasty as the longer-cooking rice. the best in the tests was Trader Joe’s Organic. it is al dente when heated in a microwave for 3 minutes, as directed. And sensory panelists described it as having moderate grain flavors and tasting slightly toasted.

If you don’t have Trader Joe’s nearby or you want something on the go, try “Minute Ready to Serve Natural whole Grain.” It’s among the most expensive, but as the name says it cooks in just 1 minute, in its own ready-to-serve container.

Consumer Reports also tried six chicken-flavored rice mixes that take 20 to 30 minutes to prepare. Though quality varied, there were several worth trying, including ones from near East and Zatarain’s.