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7 Communication Secrets for Parents of Elementary Aged Kids

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
clean room

Learn effective ways to communicate with your younger children.

At the end of January, I covered 7 communication secrets for parents of teens and received some great feedback from our Social Moms readers. I was talking with a friend yesterday and she asked for similar advice, but this time she needed tips for talking to her elementary-aged child. It's definitely important to start early. If you communicate well with your kids when they're younger, it makes talking with them as teens and young adults quite a bit easier. Changing your communication ... Continue Reading

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Filed Under: Raising Kids Tagged With: , , , ,

3 Bathing Suit Trends for 2013 and How to Wear Them This Summer

May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Beach scene. Playa de la Teresitas. Tenerife, Canaries

2013 swimwear includes ruffles, retro, and color blocking. Choose your trend today!

It's time to talk bathing suits ladies ... please don't cringe. The summer weather is rolling in and your kids are going to ask for some pool time soon, whether you're ready or not. Maybe some talk of the 2013 bathing suit trends will have you ready to shed those winter clothes, sit poolside and start soaking in those sun's rays. Fashionably, of course. Before we talk trends, one thing to always remember is to make sure you pick a style that you are comfortable with. There's no point in ... Continue Reading

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3 Ways to Wear This Summer’s Hottest Colors

April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
summer colors

Incorporate Pantone’s 2013 colors into this summer’s wardrobe!

The Pantone color report for Summer Fashion 2013 has been released and the colors are absolutely amazing. From coral and teal, to yellow and purple - these are the colors you should be looking for when you shop for those new summer ensembles. The great thing about these colors is you can wear them alone or pair them together. If you've been on Pinterest at all lately, you've most likely seen the huge coral and teal (or turquoise) trend that's very hot right now. What do I think about ... Continue Reading

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Social Media: How It’s Stressing Out Our Teens

March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Girls with laptop

The latest social media apps can stress out your teens and leave them with a deflated sense of self-worth.

Are your teens on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? If they are, there's a good chance that it's caused them stress or anxiety. For something meant to connect us with others, social media seems to have the exact opposite effect on teens. According to mental health consultant Stefanie Weiss it can even make them feel isolated and lonely . Social Media and Self-Worth With many teens accessing social media on a daily basis, it's a place they are increasingly turning ... Continue Reading

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4 Ways to Wear The Shift Dress: Spring’s Stand-Out Silhouette

March 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
shift dress

Four ways to wear the shift dress this spring season.

If you're wondering what this season's go-to dress style is, it looks like the shift is definitely it. Because of its clean lines and simple design, you can go really bold with your accessories - whether it's a bright shoe or stacking bangle bracelets. A shift dress is also easy to layer if the spring weather is playing tricks on you. If it's just a little too cool to completely bare those arms, adding a cardigan or blazer is the perfect layering tool. The main feature of a shift dress is ... Continue Reading

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Dora vs. Batman: Does Watching Positive TV Improve Your Child’s Behavior?

February 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
kids tv

Studies analyze the importance of limiting the type of show your child watches on TV.

We've all heard the saying 'You are what you eat' and it's natural for parents to encourage their kids to eat healthy. But what about 'You are what you watch?' Should parents encourage their kids to watch positive TV programs that don't include any violence or sarcastic comments? Does what they watch make a difference in their behavior?  One study says it does, but the results seemed short-term. Positive TV Programs and Healthy Eating A recent study by the journal Pediatrics, involving ... Continue Reading

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7 Communication Secrets Every Parent of a Teen Should Know

January 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
middle aged mother and teen daughter

Learn to communicate with your teen through asking questions, listening, and solving the problem together.

Teenage drinking. It's a subject many parents of teens don't like to think about - or even discuss with their kids. Some parents assume that if they don't have a drinking problem, and don't have any alcohol in their home, their kids will be fine. But, according to a recent study, teenage drinking rarely has anything to do with the parent's drinking habits. So who influences whether our kids will experiment with drinking or not? Their best friends. Samuel Kuperman, from the University of Iowa, ... Continue Reading

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How To Accessorize Your Closet Full of Jeans and T-Shirts for Fall

October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
fall accessories

Here are some fun ways to make any fall outfit looked pulled together with a few statement accessories.

There is something about fall fashion that just makes me absolutely giddy. I honestly get this excited feeling in the pit of my stomach when I feel the first chill in the air. Why is that? Because to me, that chill in the air means boots, scarves and fall colored handbags. (It also means a big bowl of soup, but that’s for another article.) Did you know you can have a closet overflowing with jeans and t-shirts, but create different and very stylish outfits every day with a few basic ... Continue Reading

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3 Ways to Transition Your Halloween Décor to Fall

October 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
pumpkin apple fall harvest

Transition those pumpkins and fall leaves from Halloween decorations into Thanksgiving ones.

Before you know it, Halloween will have come and gone and it will be time to dust away those cobwebs on your Halloween décor (literally) and transition into fall. Since Halloween is only for one night, I tend to go light on the Halloween themed décor and instead focus on items that will carry over through to Thanksgiving. If you like to go all out and almost create a haunted house in your front yard, you'll most likely be packing it all away early in November. But, there might be a few ... Continue Reading

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5 Outdoor Decorating Ideas for Halloween

October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
halloween decor

Check out these fantastic outdoor decorating ideas for Halloween.

With Halloween creeping around the corner, it’s time to start taking down those summer outdoor decorations and replacing them with Halloween decor. Whether you go all out spooky or with a more traditional harvest look, there are some fantastic outdoor decorating ideas for Halloween. As I’ve been browsing online for a few ideas for my home, I’ve seen some of the most creative outdoor Halloween decor ideas that are not only simple to pull off, but they look amazing and will wow your ... Continue Reading

Filed Under: Crafts, Entertaining, Holidays, Home & Food Tagged With: ,
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