Stool Fairy

Beating the SATs

Suzy — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:16:09 +0000

Are you ready to take your SAT exam? Almost everyone is a little nervous about this important test. What should you do to prepare? Relax and find out…GET READY

- Make sure you have everything you need. It would be best to do this the night before. You will need your admission ticket, a photo ID, plenty of sharpened #2 pencils, and a good working calculator. You may want to pack a high energy snack to munch during break time.

- Dress in layers. You never know if the test facility will be warm or cold. Be ready either way. You want to be as comfortable as possible while taking the test.

- Make sure you know where you are going. Consult a reliable website for directions. Use a handy GPS system. You may find it helpful to do a dry run a day or two before the exam. This way you will know exactly how to get there as well as how long it could take. Allow for traffic and give yourself extra time.

- Arrive about 30 minutes early. This leaves you enough time to check in, make a bathroom stop, and arrange your test area.

TAKING THE TEST

- Take a deep breath. Relax, it will help you focus.

- Answer the easy questions first. Get them out of the way. Mark off the more difficult questions and return to them later. Getting stuck on them will only waste time.

- It’s OK to use your test booklet. It’s yours, so mark it as much as you want. Think of it as scratch paper. Just make sure you can understand what you write.

- Keep track of time. Don’t be a clock watcher, but keep an eye on it. It can help you determine how best to use your time.

- Remember to return to the questions you skipped. It’s OK to guess, as long as it’s a thought out guess. There’s always a chance that it could be a right answer, especially when it’s a multiple choice question.

MATH

- The math test will have two parts. One will be multiple choice, the other will require more direct answers.

- As always, answer the easy ones first. Save the problems that require a lot of calculation for later.

- Try to answer all questions. Remember, an informed guess is better than no answer at all.

READING COMPREHENSION

- Read the entire passage before you answer the questions. If you are having a tough time reading everything, focus on the first and last sentences of each paragraph. Most of the information should be covered there.

- Remember that all the answers are there in front of you. Scan the text and you’ll find the answers.

THE ESSAY PART

- Don’t let this part worry you. You have 25 minutes. If you break down the time you will be fine. Allow 5 minutes to gather your thoughts, 15 minutes for the writing itself, and 5 minutes to review what you have written.

- Focus and be interested. If it interests you, it will be easier and more enjoyable to write.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

- You can start preparing anytime. Be sure to study vocabulary words, English grammar, and anything that you know will be covered in the math section.

- Ask your teachers for study guides and tips.

-Check the internet for tutors in your area. Example search: Los Angeles SAT tutor

- Don’t forget to use the internet and check your local bookstore for books that will help you prepare.

Think of taking the SAT as an adventure. Once you beat it, your future will begin.

How Your Future College Athletes can Save Money on Their Textbooks

Suzy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:03:17 +0000

Textbooks are among the more expensive requirements for a college education. Athletes have a particularly difficult time affording textbooks, as they have to purchase athletic equipment as well. Athletes should apply for scholarships in order to save money on their textbooks. Scholarships allow a student to pay for tuition, books, and any academic supplies they require. By applying for scholarships, an athlete can easily obtain the money they need to cover the remaining cost of their textbooks. In addition, athletes have a much higher chance of obtaining scholarships if they obtain one through sports.

Grants are much like scholarships, as the government accommodates students with financial assistance to go to college. Grants are just as effective as scholarships and can easily help an athlete save money on their textbooks. However, for an athlete, scholarships may be a choice more suited to their abilities. If an athlete receives a scholarship offer for their athletics, part of the money received may go towards the payment of books. A benefit to a grant is that you may receive both a grant and a scholarship. The combined funds of a grant and a scholarship may be enough money to pay off textbooks.Purchasing used textbooks also helps athletes save money on their textbooks. Used textbooks may be lacking in quality aesthetically, but the information inside is still viable for academics. Used textbooks may be purchased online or from other students who do not require their textbooks anymore. A benefit to purchasing a used textbook is that they are in abundance and you will most likely find the discounted textbook you require. Used textbooks may also be found when students throw them away after their semester of schooling. Although this is an unconventional method to saving money on books, it can be an easy way to obtain the textbooks you need for free.Ordering textbooks online can also help an athlete save money on their textbooks. By purchasing textbooks online, students have an opportunity to use discount code with most websites. A discount code will usually take a percentage off the final price, allowing an athlete to save a decent amount of money. Other events such as promotions may occur in which students may purchase a textbook and receive another at a lower cost.

Four Great Educational Games for Children and Teens

Suzy — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:20:01 +0000

As Christmas approaches, there inevitably are those school age children on your gift list that you may need help choosing a gift for. Surely there are games that are age appropriate, educational, within your budget, and shockingly fun. Let’s take a look at the top three educational games that may also fit some of the other criteria.

Of course as we consider games for kids, we have to choose whether to buy digital media games or physically present games that actually require social skills. Let’s go with the latter, because even though a gift card for a download is easy, it is no fun to wrap. And the deciding factor for me is hearing a child laugh across the table while playing a game. That is infinitely more desirable than seeing him holding his mobile device and be disengaged.Let’s also choose the 8 to 16 and over category for games. It’s a little more challenging, sure, but the research has just been done for you. Here are the top three picks for different reasons:1. Qwirkle – Made by Mindware, this is a strategy game. Players arrange tiles by matching colors and shapes. While this may sound like a game your average 3 year old could play, it actually is much harder than it sounds. It requires much strategizing and logical thinking. Cost ranges from $18 to $22.2. Rory’s Story Cubes – This game by Creativity Hub actually forces children to use creative thinking. They roll cubes with images on them and must create a story using all of the images. There are 54 images on 9 dice for millions of image combinations. I can hear the laughter with this game now! Rory’s Story Cubes sells for about $8.00.3. Perplexus Epic- For the kids who prefer the hands-on games, this game by PlaSmart is a 3D maze in a transparent sphere. The child must maneuver a steel ball through 125 various obstacles in the sphere. There is an entire Perplexus series, ranging from the Perplexus Rookie, to Perplexus Original to the most difficult, Perplexus Epic. The Perplexus series range in price from $16.99 for the Perplexus Rookie, to $32.99 for Perplexus Epic.

4. Wall Street Survivor – This game is an online based investing simulator. I recommend this game for the teens that are nearing the age where they should be learning about the concepts of saving money. It is helpful when your teenager can get a hands on experience investing money into the stock market dealing with real bullish and bearish markets. This stock market simulator is extremely effective as it mimics the trends real traders face when they do decide to invest money.

These four games are awesome choices for the kids in that “hard-to-buy for” age, but if you can tie them to a chair long enough to start any of these three games with them, it will be time well spent.

5 tips moms need to follow for their daughter’s wedding

Suzy — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:23:46 +0000

A wedding represents a very special time in a woman’s life; she has found someone she loves dearly and is ready to settle down and begin a family. Though this one day event is a joyous, exciting celebration of the love two people share, it can be one of the most stressful events to plan. As a mother, it is natural to feel a sense of responsibility and strong desire to help your daughter through this momentous occasion. However, motherly assistance, no matter how good the intention, could invoke even more stress on the bride to be. Below are some tips moms can use when helping their daughter plan a wedding.

1. Be A Good Support System
A good support system is not someone who tries to take over the wedding planning, nor is it someone who is overly critical. Remember, your daughter wants everything to be perfect on her wedding day, and she has her own idea of what perfection is. Your job, as a mother, is to let her know you are there to assist with whatever she needs, be a sounding board for her ideas and provide a shoulder to lean on during stressful periods.

2. Discuss Wedding Budget
It’s important to know if the couple will need you and the father to fund the entire event or a portion of the event. If a portion, ask how much of that portion is your responsibility. Additionally, if the couple will be funding it themselves, but you would still like to contribute, let them know how much you will be contributing. This will be a huge help to them because before she can make her first planning phone call, she must first know her financial restrictions.

3. Help The Bride Choose Her Dress
This is the biggest day of her life, so of course she wants to look and feel gorgeous. Try not to offer your opinion too much; she has her own personal style. Instead, try to help her pinpoint the look she’s going for by asking probing questions. For example, “remember you said you wanted something that was simple and classic, do you think this dress meets that criteria?” Remind her that she will look gorgeous in whatever dress she chooses.

4. Help The Bride Choose Her Bridesmaids’ Dresses
You may not realize this but choosing bridesmaid dresses are just as important as the actual wedding dress itself. You can help your daughter tremendously by gathering the sizes of her bridesmaids. After that figure out if she’ll need any special orders for dresses such as: junior bridesmaids dresses or maternity bridesmaids dresses.

5. Volunteer To Be the Main Point of Contact
If you have the time to filter phone calls and take messages, this will be a tremendous help. She will need as many personal assistants as possible. Vendors, friends and family will be calling, asking redundant questions, so you being the point of contact will take that weight off her shoulders.

6. Mail Thank You Cards
It’s good for the bride and groom to write their own thank you cards, but you can certainly mail them and check it off on the registrar to make sure they didn’t miss anybody.

These tips will undoubtedly take some of the stress and tension away from your daughter as she prepares for her special day.

Winter Activities Families Can Do Together

Suzy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:02:59 +0000

Winter is the perfect time for families to get together and have some fun. No matter what age you are the magic of building a snowman, sledding or skiing down a wintry slope never gets old. Whether you prefer the warmth of your own home or the winter wonderland outside, there are plenty of fun and exciting activities for families to do together in the wintertime.

Ice Skating

Ice skating is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy together. Whether on a frozen pond or an indoor skating rink, ice skating is a great activity for parents and children alike. Ice skating is an excellent form of exercise and is a fantastic way to get out of the house on a snow day. Skaters on outdoor rinks should take caution of thin ice and other hazards, although this is not a concern for indoor rinks. No matter where you go, ice skating is sure to be fun for all ages.

Sledding

Sledding is another great winter activity that families can enjoy together. Simply get a sled, find a snowy hill and slide away! Be sure to supervise children when sledding and keep a close eye out for hazards like trees or rocks along a sledding path. A winter activity that never gets old, sledding is great fun for both parents and kids of all ages.

Build a snowman

Who hasn’t heard the legendary tale of “Frosty the Snowman?” Parents and kids can build their own version of Frosty and even entire snow families. Make sure to bundle up with hats and winter jackets before heading out to build a snowman. The iconic snowman consists of three large snowballs as well as some coals for a mouth, a carrot for a nose and a black top hat. Of course, families are free to build their own snowmen however they see fit. A fun activity that brings the whole family together, building a snowman is one of the best outdoor winter activities.

Skiing

Skiing and other winter sports are a great way for families to spend time together and bond. There are countless ski resorts all across the country that offer slopes for skiers of all levels. These include Aspen Ski Resort in Colorado, Blue Mountain Ski Area in Pennsylvania, Killington Ski Resort in Vermont and many others.

Indoor Activities

Being snowed in isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Staying at home with the family is a good time to bond. For example, you could get some magnets and some small toys from a store. From there, you guys can get together and make some customized magnets from scratch.

For families who dislike the cold, winter is the perfect opportunity to stay inside and make some Christmas cookies and other tasty winter treats. It’s a great way to spend time with your kids and make something yummy.

Whether you prefer to stay inside in winter or venture outside, there are plenty of fun activities the whole family can enjoy together.

Saving Money When Shopping

Suzy — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:01:14 +0000

With the state of today’s economy, most of us are trying to save, scrimp and budget our families’ finances. But how can we make the most of what we have? With the price of necessities such as groceries and household goods continuing to rise, how can we save money while shopping for our families?

We all know about the typical money saving tips such as coupon clipping and shopping sales. What many people do not know, however is that there is so much more to coupon shopping than sitting over your Sunday paper cutting coupons for hours. There are now quite a few different websites that offer both printable coupons as well as e-coupons that you can load onto your store shopping card. One great benefit to these online options is that oftentimes, they are “stackable” with store coupons, making the savings that much greater.

Another way that families can save a significant amount of money on their shopping is by doing a portion of their shopping online. There are many online retailers that offer significant discounts for everything from cat food to clothes as well as very reasonable and sometimes free shipping. Another way that you save by shopping online is kind of a hidden benefit, your gas bill will shrink when your groceries get delivered to you. With the price of gas these days, who doesn’t want to fill up a little less?

When looking to save money on food bills, many families would benefit from joining a food share program. For a small monthly fee (usually $20-$50) you family could walk out with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries. Oftentimes, these groceries include delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables. This is a lesser known, but equally great way to cut your monthly expenses.

The bottom line is; there are many ways that families can save on their shopping trips. You just have to want to be creative in your thinking and willing to put time and effort into it. Your wallet will thank you.

Most Popular Family Vacation Destinations

Suzy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:58:22 +0000

There are many wonderful places around the world to visit, but what are the most popular family vacation destinations? Well, that would depend on what you and your family enjoys doing. Let’s take a few minutes and explore some great places to travel based on different interest types, shall we?

If you enjoy and want to learn US history, there are many fascinating places to visit, but you would definitely want to check out Boston, which played a big part in the formation of the United States. You’ll definitely want to check out the Freedom Trail, which offers tours or self-guided exploration. The trail is marked with a red line throughout the city and along the way, you will visit sixteen official sites that held historic importance. Another great location in the US to visit would be Washington DC. Here, you would certainly need to visit the Smithsonian, which includes free admission to twenty museums, galleries, and zoos. You can also visit other famous sites such as the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial, just to include a few.

If you and your family enjoy adventure, there are many places throughout the world that will give you the opportunity to explore, thrill-seek, and challenge yourselves. Central and South America is home to undiscovered lands, rain forests, great hiking, mountain climbing, zip lines, and so much more. If you are looking for adventure for you and your family, you are sure to find it here.

Nature and farmland? Well you definitely need to check out Kentucky and all of the major cities within the amazing state. Specifically, you should check out Louisville as it has many major attractions such as the Kentucky Derby Festival which begins with the Thunder Over Louisville–a major fireworks spectacle. Often times people find themselves looking into homes for sale in Louisville.

How about art and world history? Take your family throughout Europe. There is so much history and art to be discovered. Ancient Rome is one of the most fascinating places that I’ve ever seen. Enjoy the art and dining and Paris. Make your way to the UK to explore Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland.

An all-inclusive vacation is sought after by many families. There are some extremely affordable all-inclusive destinations on a relaxing beach throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. You may also find some fun-filled cruises throughout this area that are also very affordable.

However, if you want the ultimate family vacation, I truly believe that every family should visit Walt Disney World in Florida at least once in their lifetime. You may have heard the term, “Disney Magic”, and there’s good reason for it. Walt Disney World features around thirty hotels, four theme parks, and two water parks. You can also get meal plans that include meals, snacks, and drinks. You will enjoy rides, attractions, great dining, fantastic shopping, shows, and events unlike anything else. It is a wonderful way to pull a family together and ensure that everyone is enjoying their vacation.

As you can see, there are many wonderful ideas and places to choose from. We are honestly just scratching the surface here, but if you are looking for a family vacation that the entire family will enjoy, I would recommend a few things. Talk about it with your family. Find out what’s important to everyone and you’ll probably see a common theme. Based on that common theme, you can set out for that perfect family vacation together.

How to Teach Your Kids to Share

Suzy — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:56:48 +0000

Teaching your kids to share is important because it shows them they should care about others. This may be difficult to do because children have a tendency to be possessive of their things. The attachment makes them feel safe and secure. It’s a natural part of the development process. As children grow older it becomes easier for them to share.

Many children become attached to a particular toy or blanket. Don’t force your child to share their favorite item. It’s important to respect your child’s attachment. You can help your child pick out the toys they want to share and put their favorites away. Another idea is to ask the parents of a playmate to bring over their child’s toys. Your child may realize they can’t be selfish with their toys if they want to play with their friend’s toys.

Kids tend to copy the behaviors of their parents so let them view you sharing things. You can also create opportunities to encourage giving. For example, give your child a treat and ask them to give some to another person. Make a fun game out of it. Never yell at your child or expect too much because understanding the importance of sharing takes time. At school, the tutors there should be promoting an open and sharing environment. Unless you’re homeschooling your children, they will pick up habits from class.

Encouragement with emotion often helps children let go of their things. Always give praise to your child and tell them how nice they’re acting when they let other children play with their toys. It will make them feel good because you’re giving him positive attention. You can also ask an older child to give or share something as soon as they can. This is a way to help them know they have control over their things.

Sometimes when kids show their favorite objects it gives them reinforcement to eventually let go of them. Don’t let teaching your children to share turn into constant stressful situations. Sometimes it’s best to let children fight over a toy and not say anything unless they start hitting each other. The action of sharing usually always gets better by the time a child goes to grade school.

How to Teach Your Daughter To Use Makeup

Suzy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:54:53 +0000

Have you been dreading the day your baby girl is grown enough to start wearing makeup? It can be a big step in both of your lives. She is slowly venturing into womanhood. You are taking the first steps in letting go of the baby in your daughter and embracing the woman she is becoming. This can be an emotional time. However, it can also be a great bonding experience when you decide how to teach your daughter to use makeup. There are a couple of really fun ways to accomplish this.

To make sure you daughter learns the proper techniques and how to apply makeup to look natural, taking her to a department store makeup counter is one option. They will teach her the basics on how to apply different products that are age appropriate and how not to go overboard. Many young ladies tend to go heavy on makeup if they do not have lessons which cause them to look clown-like. Also, she will be able to see the cost associated with high quality makeup products and nail art polish. This will help to give her an appreciation and a respect on how to treat her new makeup. An added tip is to have her spend her allowance to purchase the makeup to cap the lesson.

Another option is to hire a makeup artist to come to your home. This can be really fun if a whole growing-up themed girls only party is made of it. Check with her friends’ parents to see if there are any other girls at the point of wearing makeup before planning the party of course. Along with the professional lesson in makeup application, there can even be talks of other young women issues such as dating and menstrual cycles. This can make bringing up these sensitive issues much easier. For that New York hair salon stylist looks you can take a look at Styleseats.com’s database of professionals.

So, what had been a long awaited event on how to teach your daughter to use makeup can actually bring you two closer together. You will be sharing a rite of passage with her that can lead to lasting memories. You will be giving her the skills of knowing how to enhance her natural beauty without caking on beauty products. Furthermore, the experience can open the door to talk about more delicate issues that will affect her life.

Handling Naughty Kids During Road Trips

Suzy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:51:02 +0000

Handling naughty kids during road trips is not the easiest thing to do. However, there are a few things people can do to handle kids who misbehave on road trips.

One of the things that work great when kids misbehave is pulling over the vehicle and telling the kids to behave. Telling the kids that the vehicle is going to stay park until they can behave. The kids may still misbehave for a few minutes but once they realize that the vehicle is not going anywhere, then they will most likely start behaving. If they do not behave after pulling the car over, then the car absolutely needs to remain parked until the kids start to behave themselves.

Having sweets on hand is a good way to handle naughty kids on road trips. If kids start to become naughty, then that is when a person wants to tell the kids that if they behave right away and stay behaved for the duration of the road trip, then they will get some sweets. This little tip works almost every single time. If kids refuse to behave, then they should be punished once the destination is reached.

Threatening naughty kids with punishment upon arriving at the destination is one of the most common ways to handle naughty kids while on a road trip. A good form of punishment to threaten naughty kids with is not being able to go anywhere for 2 or 3 days. No kids like to be grounded and threatening them with it usually always makes them behave right away.

Giving kids games to play while on a road trip is a good way to keep them from misbehaving. Toy figurines such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is always a favorite among young boys. The TMNT comics are also a good way to combine both education and fun purposes. Playing the silent game (who can stay the quietness the longest) is yet another good way to handle bad kids while on a road trip.

These are all the best ways to handle naughty kids on a road trip. There are many other ways but the above ways are what people should try first.