Jill stood up, and put the butt out into the ashtray, then cleared the smoke from her face. She looked towards the stairs to the basement and then walked towards them. Her heart pounded beneath her chest, and a single tear ran down her face. She reached for the cold hard brass knob. As soon as she opened the door the stench of death filled her lungs. She took each step into the unknown, in her mind she was praying for help. In her heart she was dying with him. She reached the bottom of the stars and found Lenard shivering in his chair.

“Come on baby…” she said, and reached out her hand to take his.

“No, I have to stay down here. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“This isn’t hurting me Lenard, it’s killing me. Please, come up to bed with me.” he saw the look in her eyes and could no longer tell her no. He longed for her and felt so very alone, and afraid. He took her hand and the went upstairs to their room, and lied down on the bed. She covered him with the sheet first, then the bedspread, and then dug into the closet for her grandmother’s quilt. She opened it up and placed it only over him, then crawled into the bed and under the covers with him. He was getting much to week to argue and so he let her hold him. He could feel the tears running down his back, but said nothing. She could feel his cold clammy body and could smell death on him, it was like lying in bed with her own dead husband, her best friend, her lover, the father of her child, her everything. (I’ll go to the grave with you my love, she thought.)

Unaware of the hours that passed Jill awoke to the sound of the ringing phone. She opened her eyes, (the pastor), she thought. She slipped out of bed and hustled herself down the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible.

“Hello!”

“Jillian, hey what’s going on? I got you message, it sounded quite urgent. Is everything alright my dear?” She told him of the things that had been going on ever since that fateful day in the hospital. “Remarkable…And you’ve been dealing with this all on your own?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Oh my dear. Listen I’m gonna see what I do, and I’ll be there with reinforcements, okay?”

“Thank you pastor.”

“Hold on Jillian, trust in God..”

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH” Lenard called out from the upstairs.

“Oh no, that’s Lenard!”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” It didn’t take more than an hour and the pastor arrived. Fully reinforced with two other big burly men from the church and one slender, gray haired woman. They came with all they had to ward off the evil. Crosses, blessed water, blessed oils, their very own tattered bibles, and the most important thing of all, they brought God with them. Jill could feel the the presence of the lord as they arrived, a light, an energy unlike any other. Lenard felt it too. They stood in the living room, fixed to floor like statues, that had been purposely placed there in their precise locations. They discussed they’re plan, and they could hear Lenard crying out from the upstairs bedroom. He howled in pain, for they’re very presence was causing an uprising beneath his flesh. He could feel the fingers of one and the elbows of another moving about as if he was intended to give birth to evil any moment. And yet he knew he would surely die before such things would come about. The demons would kill him, they would never be allowed to be released. God had never allowed such things before and Lenard knew he wouldn’t allow it this time either.

He was very afraid. He cried out to the Lord for his mercy, to send back to the depths the thing that came came along for the ride on that fateful day at the hospital. How did it hitch it’s ride, he did not know. How did it get to him where he went. He did not know that either. He felt as though it had to have happened while he was reentering the world, at that very moment when he was merely standing in a doorway and no longer close to the light, neither was he close to the darkness though, still in the the most dangerous alley of the spiritual realm, the one farthest from God, and closest to the world of the living. God is everywhere, Lenard told himself, but in this place, in this dangerous alley way, it was there that it was possible. He agonized over his own thoughts. What would become of his child, of his wife. Without him, how would they be whole, how would they ever be safe. How would they survive. He felt responsible for them, in so many ways, for he had to begin with, but then he brought them back, and for what, to do this to them. He hated himself. He loathed this beast that cowered beneath his flesh. All he had to do was to allow the sadness to take over. To let himself succumb to it’s power, and he would be finished. His blackened eyes teared up, and his ears rang, as they came for him. One by one, each step clapped against the floorboards like the executioner sharpening his ax. He was off to the gallows, to be removed from himself and hopefully would find his way back again just one last time, without the beast. The door flew open and there stood Jillian, the pastor of the church, two large men and a tiny, rail of a woman. They had bibles in their hands, and Lenard knew, the time had come, the rope was lowered, and the only thing he could do now was kiss his wife goodbye, tell her he loved her, and fight like he never had before. For all that was good and right in the world. For his own, for his destiny. It was time to leap.

When I was 15 I denied that I still loved the Backstreet Boys, sported a wholly unflattering haircut, and kissed older boys I tried to convince myself weren’t douchebags. I dreamt of being a spy.

Olivia Bee is 15 and shooting beautiful, dreamy photographs. Amazing, right? What were you like at 15? xo, m

Okay guys, I think it’s pretty safe to say that we all smell something pretty fishy about the new kid in class. I mean, don’t get me wrong, on the surface he seems cool enough – Billabong board shorts, carries a skateboard, can quote Harry Potter with the best of them – but something about that guy just doesn’t seem right.

Maybe it’s just the fact that he’s almost TOO cool, you know? Like maybe he’s trying too hard to be perfect. I mean, sure, we ALL sit in our chairs backwards so we can rest our arms on the backrest – that’s just the chillest way for us youths to get our relaxin’ on. But seriously, he pulls that trick EVERY time he sits down.

And once he’s in that super relaxed position, he’s always saying weird things like, “Yo homies, let’s rap,” and “Being a teen is the raddest!”

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure no REAL kid has ever said either of these two phrases in real life. And I mean EVER! But then again, maybe he’s just saying those things ironically – you know, like when we say things are “bad” when they’re actually good?

Also, the dude talks about homework WAY too much. At free period he’s always saying, “Yo let’s get our learn on and work some math problems.” Or when we shoot hoops, he’s saying things like, “Now, if I scored two 3-pointers and two slam dunks, how many more points would I need to beat you by double digits?”

It’s like he WANTS us to do good in school – which is weird because up until now, I was under the impression that it was cool to be an underachiever. But then, here comes this super cool kid who spews lame phrases that make him sound just like Principal Coates, and all of a sudden I don’t know whether I should start applying myself or not.

Speaking of Principal Coates, that kid sure looks an awful lot like him. Now that I think of it, if you just removed the super cool backwards baseball cap that he wears all the time, the two could be TWINS!

Which begs another question: why does the new kid have a mustache? We’re in the 7th grade for Christ sakes! Even if he was mature for his age, you gotta admit that beautiful thick plumage above the new kid’s upper lip is a little suspicious.

Also, one time, we were all ogling Madison in that super tight tank top she was wearing, and the new kid walks up and says something like, “Man, I would respect the STUFF out of that. Buy her flowers, treat her right, and not have sex with her until marriage – cause I don’t want those STDs, know what I’m saying.”

Now does that sound like something a 13-year-old boy would say? Or does it sound like something a PRINCIPAL would say if he was trying to peer motivate us to be good, wholesome teens?

I don’t know, maybe I’m just making mountains out of molehills here. The new kid says he comes from Canada, so maybe everything is just ass backwards up there. I guess I shouldn’t go jumping to any conclusions.

But I can promise you one thing – I am going to be watching him like a hawk this weekend when we go over to his house to listen to him rap about the “Importance of Proper Hygiene” and write thank-you notes to our mothers “just because.”

——

If you liked this, then other humor blog posts you may enjoy include:

• Dr. Skeletron, Will You Hang Out With Me At School?
• Tourist Brochure For Tranquility Farms Hippie Commune
• 10 Signs Your Roommate Is A Serial Killer

At some point in our country’s crazy history, we somehow forgot how to love people with whom we disagree. Once upon a time, our nation’s people were able to support a president that they did not vote for. People were able to share opinions without fear of causing controversy. They could speak without worrying about being politically correct. They could write without getting hate mail… because they realized that all they were offering was an opinion, not a fact. Their experiences, trials, and passions led them to shape an opinion. And at one point, that was (more or less) okay.

However, something changed. Hate and fear and anger caused opinions to become dangerous. Now people with unpopular opinions are shamed and ridiculed. “How DARE you think that!?” or “Who does he think he is?!” This is usually accompanied by a laundry list of why the offender is in the wrong and whipping supporters into a frenzy. Somehow, people entered into the mentality of , “If you are not for us, then surely you must be against us.” But that may not be the case. Maybe if the parties took the opportunity to talk, they would realize that they are more alike than different. Maybe they wouldn’t need to be in conflict with one another.

It’s too bad, really. It’s too bad we cant say, “I don’t agree with you, but I still love you and support you” and treat one another in a compassionate way.

Did you know Great Ormond Street Hospital has also launched The Children First health website!

The site includes all sort of information at age appropriate levels, including juniors (4-6) , kids (7-11) , teens (12-18) and parents.

Its purpose is to provide one site that is accessible to everyone where they will able to receive any sort of health information.

This site is PACKED with information and advice that touches on all subjects, from everyday ailments to serious illnesses and hospital life. The articles are updated constantly to provide you with the most current and clinically proven information.

Explore today and learn some healthy living tips!

I will never be able to understand how we started punishing children as if they were adults. Check out this article: Imprisonment Unto Death for Children! PLEASE read the article before voting. You will see more on this subject.

Related Articles: Kids Fresh Meat for Adults in Prison

2270 US Prisoners were sentenced as children to Life Without Parole

“You’re beautiful just the way you are,” says a mother’s boyfriend as he’s about to shave a 13 year old Jasira’s pubic hair. Clearly, there are mixed messages between words and deeds as the adult tells her not to tell her mother and the  confused but anxious-to-be-appreciated Jasira stands in her bathroom and stares into the distance.

hey girls. here’s some hot stuff to make your mouths water. and make you squeal. and make you smile like mad. JADHIHBNUYGSUTFSUGBISOAI.

that’s my honey. his name is Tom Sturridge. no, you cannot steal him from me. the others, yes. him, no.

David Cook. *squeal. i’ve loved him since AI.

William Moseley. ♥ i melted when i saw his pictures. OHMYGOSSHHHH.

Adrian Grenier. heeeheehyummyum.

Alexander DeLeon. ’nuff said.

Devin Oliver. (: (: (: (: (: i don’t like his band, I See Stars, but i love him.

Max Thieriot. (: i have this picture of him on my wall. (y)

Fernando Torres. AMAGAD.

yeah. well i think that’s more than enough for today. hahah.

Let me hold you, baby just breathe.

♥

This shoot was fun and relaxed.  These girls have a little experience with modeling so they were easy to photograph. Look at those beautiful eyes and smiles!

If it had been anyone besides Mr. Nico, my logic would have kept me away, that’s for sure. Because between the two of us, we’ve got more baggage than you’d find at any given moment at LAX.

Friday was a perfect snapshot of our baggage-laden-ness. I went to see him at his sister’s, and in the driveway was Nicole’s car, which he’d driven down in, and in front of the driveway was his ex-wife’s SUV (she’d dropped by to say hello and show off her baby). Soon enough we got away from those cars, but then there was my ex calling me on my cell phone . . .

More baggage than LAX.

But it’s more than just our exes. It’s our past with each other, too.

I’ve written about that past a bit before, back when Mr. Nico was simply K. and I had no intention of anything ever happening between us. He had a history of, well, running. I understand now that that was because he was young and stupid, and he’s not the running type anymore . . . on the contrary, as his exes’ current ties to his life indicate, he is just the opposite of a runner.

Yet I still find myself waiting for him to run. He’s been so quiet the past two days, and I find myself flashing back to him and me when we were sixteen . . . and I dug up an old journal entry I wrote back then.

We’d been together for months, and stayed together even after I’d moved away. I planned a surprise trip to come back, and here’s what happened (please forgive the childish cliches):

March 16: I arrived in home. I was very happy. It was like I never left there. I meant for my trip to be a surprise, but somehow everyone knew. At about 5PM I got to Nico’s house. It was great. Like I’d never left. Wonderful, perfect, passionate. Everything. Exciting! Dream come true.

But later that night I stopped by, and things were a little different. Something just didn’t feel right.

Saturday: I stopped by just to hear him talk to his friend. Fun. He really got on my nerves.

Sunday: I called Mr. Nico and he was acting like an idiot. That night I stopped by.

He wouldn’t get near me. It was like I had the plague. I guess I finally mentioned something being wrong. He said yes. He said, “This doesn’t get you out of going to prom, though.”

“What is this and what does it get me into?” That question was never really answered.

He did say that kissing me Saturday was like kissing his sister. Great. I said I had to go a little while after that. No, I think I got up & started walking toward the car & he asked me where I was going–then I said I had to go. 1/2 way to my car, I kissed him–my final attempt to change his mind. It really didn’t get me anywhere. He held me and apologized over & over. I was getting huge tears in my eyes and hoping that they didn’t reflect in my voice. I pulled away and went towards the car. I had to get out of there before he saw my tears. Standing at my open car door, I said boldly, “I love you, Nico.”

He, like a stupid 2 year old, said, “Yeah, sure, you’re just saying that.” That got me SO mad. I got into the car and even before I got out of his cul de sac I began to cry SO hard. I can’t remember exactly the last time I cried so hard.

Ahh, teen angst–nothing like it. Most of the time I forget that those teenagers were him and me; it was so long ago and we’ve changed so much that I barely recognize them as Nico and Demi. But then there are times, times like today when he’s so freakin’ quiet that I wonder if he’s actually alive, that remind me of that stupid boy who pulled away from me over and over again.

I’m smart and cautious to a fault, so smart and cautious that I would have never even considered getting involved with someone that I co-own so much mutual stock in baggage with that we could over-take the Samsonite empire.

But it’s Mr. Nico. The one who knows how to make me laugh and think and love all at once, the one that I would never be able to lie to because he knows me so well. If it had been anyone besides Mr. Nico, my logic would have kept me away, that’s for sure.

Vitamin D has become a hot topic over the past few years and it’s no wonder.  Low vitamin D levels have fertilized our blossoming rates of cancer, auto-immune diseases and more. Many physicians now test for and treat patients with vitamin D deficiency. You may have a friend, parent, sibling or grandparent who’s been prescribed vitamin D.  Or your doctor may have suggested you to start taking it.  But how much do you really know about the sunshine vitamin?

Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D, the latest book with up-to-date research on this remarkable nutrient will be available online and in bookstores in December 2009.  Just in time to learn that your vitamin D levels are dropping. And why is that?  Take our quiz and put your knowledge of vitamin D to the test.

Vitamin D Quiz

And people, this is a good ol’fashioned quiz so please get out a pen and paper and number 1 to 15.     The answer key and results at the end so no scrolling ahead!

1. Whenever I expose my skin to the sun, my skin will synthesize vitamin D.    YES/NO

2. It takes about 10-15 minutes of exposure to noon-time sun to get my daily dose of vitamin D.  YES/NO/It Depends

3. Vitamin D will wash off my skin if I shower too soon after being in the sun or a tanning bed. YES/NO

4. A vitamin D winter refers to the winter season and is the same for everyone. YES/NO

5. Teenagers are at risk of being vitamin D deficient. YES/NO

6. A healthy adult uses as much as ______ IU of vitamin D each day.  (a) 400 IU    (b) 600 IU   (c) 2,000 IU   (d) 5,000 IU

7. A calcium/magnesium supplement should be taken with your vitamin D supplement. YES/NO

8. It’s best to take vitamin D with a fatty meal.  YES/NO

9. Parent who put sunscreen on their children whenever they are outdoors are putting them at risk for life threatening diseases. YES NO

10. Sunscreen with an SPF of 8 will still allow vitamin D synthesis in my skin.  YES/NO

11. Light white cotton clothing will still allow UVB penetration and vitamin D to be synthesized in my skin.  YES/NO

12. UVB rays penetrate glass.  YES/NO

13. Tanning beds that block the burning rays are the best choice for making vitamin D.   YES/NO

14. Survival rates from cancer related surgery is dependent on vitamin D levels.   YES /  NO

15. Optimal levels of activated vitamin D can halt tumor growth.     YES /  NO

ANSWERS

1. No.  Not if you live at a Northern (or Southern) latitude during a vitamin D winter.
2. It depends. If your skin type is 1 or 2 it will typically take you 10-20 minutes to get your daily dose, but if you skin type is 3 or higher (up to 6), it could take you up 3 hours to acquire the same amount.
3. Yes. Pre-vitamin D is synthesized in your skin and is found in the oil glands.  If you shower before the pre-vitamin D has been absorbed and converted to vitamin D, it will wash off and your vitamin D levels will not rise.  It typically takes a few hours for the absorption process.
4. No.  The vitamin D winter is related to latitude and is determined by the distance the sun must travel through the atmosphere before reaching the ground (and your skin).
5. Yes.  In fact, everyone who is not getting a dose of sunshine or an adequate supplemental dose of vitamin D is at risk of being deficient.
6. 5,000 IU
7. No.  Magnesium interferes with the absorption of vitamin D and should not be taken within a few hours of vitamin D.  A calcium supplement (without magnesium) can be taken at the same time as vitamin D.
8. Yes. Taking vitamin D with a meal that includes oil, like a salad dressing, will help with absorption.  Additionally, vitamin D has a sedative effect, similar to being in the sun, so evenings are a great time to take it.
9. Yes. If you’re not providing your children an adequate supplemental dose of vitamin D, keeping them away from sunlight puts them at risk for a number of childhood illnesses.  In fact, the practice of slathering sunscreen on children is also in direct relation to the dramatic rise in childhood diseases of autism and diabetes.
10. No.  Even an SPF of 4 will block all the UVB rays from making pre-vitamin D.
11. No. All clothing, including light white cotton, blocks all vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
12. No.  Even though your skin gets warm under a window, no vitamin D synthesis is occurring.
13. No.  Most tanning salons promote the beds with ‘non-burning rays’ which are UVA rays, but UVA rays cannot synthesize vitamin D.
14. Yes.  In fact, it’s been found that survival rates for cancer related surgery are dependent on the season of diagnosis.  And why is the season important?  Because vitamin D levels are typically higher during one season compared to another due to that pesky vitamin D winter.
15. Yes.  And vitamin D doesn’t just halt tumor growth, it can reduce tumor size as well.

How did you score?

0-5:  Hmm.  I think you better get your vitamin D levels checked right away.

6-8:  You either (a) don’t need to worry about vitamin D because you live near the equator, (b) you’re quick to pick up on the bits and pieces you’ve seen online or heard at the water cooler, or (c) you’re mildly good at taking random quizzes.  And the bad new?  (a) doesn’t have a problem, but b and c won’t raise your D levels.  And there’s no better time then right now to get current.

9-12: Great job.  You know more than most people do about what a power house vitamin D truly is.  So, you’re getting your daily dose right?!

12-14:  You’re up on your stuff.  Are you the one we spotted reading research articles at the coffee house?

15:  Congratulations, you must be one of our venerable vitamin D researchers.

For anyone who’s not at the vitamin D scientist IQ level, don’t worry.  There’s a lot of information on vitamin D that no one knew about except for those brilliant researchers; factors that each individual needs to consider to improve their vitamin D status and reap the benefits of this powerful hormone.  Yes, that’s right.  Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all, but really a very powerful hormone that can act on over 200 genes in the body, but only when it rises above specific serum levels in the body.

Pick up a copy of Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D and learn how to become powerfully healthy.

Last year I took my daughters and step-daughter with me for their first-ever experience of Black Friday.  They had so much fun that they decided it had to become a tradition.  This year was a little different.  Mack had a terrible head cold and didn’t feel up to coming with us, and Juju, my step-daughter, chose to sleep over at a favorite cousin’s house.  Since we were down two in numbers, we invited my 13-year-old niece, “Mad-dog” to come with us.  This was Mad-dog’s first Black Friday experience.  She says it won’t be her last. 

Here are some of the highlights from our experience this year:

*Getting to spend time with Huh, Hoob, and Mad-dog standing in line at Target from 3:00 a.m. until the store opened at 5:00 a.m.  We spent the time joking and visiting.

*Making friends with the strangers in line around us.  Learning that the guy behind us was from Canada.  Hearing the hilarious stories of others who had already visited some stores.  Wondering how on earth someone could show up wearing shorts and flip-flops.

*Receiving a coupon for IHOP (Buy one entrée get one free) from one of our new friends in line.

*Seeing friends from our neighborhood as they arrived to stand in line.

*Receiving free re-usable bags from Target as we stood in line.  (I believe this was their way of combatting “line jumpers.”  Anyone who didn’t have a bag wasn’t getting into the store until the end of the line had entered)

*Once entering the store, laughing hysterically as we ran like crazy people on the hunt for the GPS unit we were trying to get. (Not a must-have item, we just needed something to hunt for so that we could experience Black Friday.  If we hadn’t gotten the GPS, we would have still had fun).  Hearing Mad-dog say, “This is funny,” as she was running behind me through the store.

*Finding the GPS unit and the Flash drives we were looking for.  Adding a digital picture frame, blanket, and a Christmas gift for Yawlin (I can’t type it here in case he reads my blog in the next few days) to our haul.

*Helping out my sister and her husband by finding the bike they wanted to buy for their youngest son (Mad-dog’s little brother).

*Laughing as we tried to cram the un-assembled bike into my car.  We got the box in, but it forced Hoob and Mad-dog to ride in a cramped style.  We decided to take the bike and the rest of the stuff to our house before going to breakfast.

*Using our IHOP coupon that we’d received from our new friend in the Target line to buy breakfast.  Running into those same friends at IHOP as they were using their coupon.

*Listening to Hoob’s contagious laugh as we drove home after IHOP as she laughed at a funny she’d made up.  And when I say contagious, I mean contagious.  We were all laughing hysterically when we finally pulled into the driveway.

*Taking a two-hour nap after returning home at 8:00 a.m.

*Stopping at my mom’s after dropping Mad-dog off at her house and eating Thanksgiving left-overs (I love my Mom’s sweet potatoes!).

*Taking another nap by the fire after returning from my mom’s house.

And the best part?  The girls still want to keep Black Friday a tradition.  Mack hopes to be able to go next year, and Mad-dog says she will continue to join us. 

Maybe next year we can talk my sister into going with us.  And maybe Hub and Shroom and Yawlin and my parents and my other sister and my brothers…

(c) 2009, Christiana Lambert

And, so we give thanksgiving that somehow we all survived that bitter month and those that followed, even if scars remain, some visible and some hidden beneath the surface. The world has rotated another year and we are back, much better prepared to believe in the light.

Yet, somewhere out there, there are others who walk a path into the darkness and question where the light went. Their journey is either just beginning or, perhaps, they have gotten lost in the shadows.

Last year, when our daughter ended up in Children’s Hospital the week before Christmas, we hadn’t had time for much of a hopeful mood, let alone for decorating or shopping for Christmas. Advent was as dark as it had ever been in our home. Our family was leading a one-day-at-a-time (or hour) existence.

Children's Hospital, (c) 2009, Christiana Lambert

Once she was in the hospital, we were definitely in the proverbial “deer in the headlight” mode, just trying to figure out the hospital’s program for helping her get better, along with making twice daily trips to visit her. There wasn’t much time to contemplate the financial costs, but even though we thankfully had a maximum out-of-the-pocket expenditure, suffice it to say the healing was not going to be free.

Enter an invitation to visit the Snow Pile, Children’s annual event where families with hospitalized kids go to “shop” for those kids, as well as for siblings. Part of me thought we didn’t need such help, but that wasn’t really true. Getting healing for your child is priceless, but even middle class families with insurance are stretched when using high deductible health care plans. Besides, who has time to shop at such a time?

My daughter didn’t know about the event and my husband had to work, so I showed up early on my own to do my “shopping” before visiting hours. So far I haven’t been able to convey well enough the experience to my other family members—that “shopping” trip remains for me a glowing light in a time of deepest winter.

(c) 2009, Christiana Lambert

Then I went back to the hard tasks of visiting and meetings, but with a lighter feeling in my heart. I promised myself I wouldn’t forget. Somehow we had to help with the program in future years.

Fast forward a year (not really!) and I hadn’t really figured out how to help. When I called, I found out this year’s event is already filled with volunteers. But, what they need (frankly, what they need every week of the year, not just during the Snow Pile) is blankets for the patients.

Well, what my son needed to do was some service hours for his civics class at school. So, yesterday he did the excruciating work of standing in line at Joann Fabrics, waiting to buy polar fleece. Really, that may be the toughest part of the project, especially for any man in my family! The fabric was on deep discount, so we bought enough for eleven blankets—he’s got five done so far.

Sometimes when you’re stuck in darkness, it helps to know that someone who doesn’t even know you or your family is blanketing you with love. Charlie Brown’s friend Linus had it right—we all need something to hold onto that reminds us of hope—especially when we’re busy waiting for the light’s return.

Washington Park Sunset, (c) 2009, Christiana Lambert

There are so many people that have acne, becoming acne free would be a great dream. Many people have issues with Many people have problems with their skin follicles, whiteheads, and blackheads. Just recently it was believed that acne had been caused form poor hygiene, or eating poorly. However this has become clear that it is not the case.

One of the causes of pimples is not having enough fluid in your system. Acne can be reduced by being certain that you drink at the least 8 eight ounce glasses of water every day. This helps your digestive and circulatory systems and helps your body be in great condition. If your body has the right amount of hydration you will have the ability to ward off infection such as the bacteria found in acne.

Using oil based cosmetics is a huge factor in the cause of acne. Acne that is caused from cosmetics is usually found in those people that do not have acne conditions except when they use cosmetics. This is a form of acne that will not have any scarring effect but it is repulsive just the same. If you experience this type of acne quit using the product that is causing the problem.

To get completely free completely rid of acne and to be pimples free you need to clean often. There are many blends that are readily available but you need to be sure that you pick one that is not rough. Any blend that has salicylic acid can be an aide that is vigorous against treating blackheads and any acne that is not aggravated.

The best preventive measure is to keep your hands off of any zits. By popping or squeezing you make breaks in your skin, this lets any bacteria in to infest your skin. Anyone that deals with acne needs to stop this terrible habit.

If you are searching for the best acne
treatments around, don’t put it off any longer. We
specialize in cystic acne treatment, and can help you look better in days!

Last posted to:
Tips to Use to Get Acne Free

Other sites worth checking out:
Finding Love Online During the Holiday Season
financialfreedomnow
Avoid These Three Bad Diet Mistakes
E-Cigarette_Direct

Recently, the hardest things I have been faced with have involved admitting to feelings.  I’ve begun to hate them and find them to be an annoying hassel.  So, I have simply chosen to keep to myself… mostly.

This is one of those, “I like you but you like somone else” moments. What do you do with something like that?

Easy pie: Place the third party in a box and send them half way around the world. Holes are optional.

Which I’m not going to do, I’m tired of people getting hurt because I’ve admitted to having feelings for someone. Being a teenager is lame. Everything is just tossed up into the air and we watch as the world crashes down in hopes that it all falls into the right place.

I’ve really got nothing to do but wait… and flirt shamelessly.

Jealous? Thought so.  But I don’t know why…

PS: I like you. More than I had planned.

I want to be a teenager again.  They are completely blameless and nothing is ever their fault.  When I get angry, it is not because one of my teenagers has done something wrong.  According to them, it is because I am in another one of my “MOODS”.  Well, guess what?  I am in another “MOOD” today because YOU:

• Left the laundry basket at the bottom of the stairs last night and walked upstairs without it.  You came down this morning, took out just the clothes you wanted to wear today, went back upstairs, (leaving the laundry basket at the bottom of the stairs), got dressed, and then went out…..
• Gave the dog a bath, but neglected to let the dirty, hairy water out of the tub.  When I calmly told you that I should not have assumed that letting the water out of the tub upon completion of the dog bath was implied….. and that next time you should finish the job by cleaning up,  you looked at me like you were astonished that I would correct you and said, “chill out”. 

blah blah blahasdfkh;ilw

asdgmnawefoasdalskjd asdf asjkf asd as fs;f jsd f sfsf Check it out at Christ The Rock’s Web page.

Or, the Focus page: Register here

We’ll be returning to regular articles next week! In the interim, this is a wonderful discussion of how a volunteer project/organization can grow. Watch the video, or read the short writeup below. The video is 25 minutes, but highly entertaining and informative.

Synopsis:
Dave Eggers, a writer, heard a lot about the challenges of teaching in city schools from his teaching family and friends. In particular, they stressed the need for one-on-one attention to help students with their English and writing skills.

Eggers and his colleagues came together to create a unique tutoring center in San Francisco – located in a pirate supply store and connected to a magazine editing office – that offers free one-on-one tutoring. The project has grown to help thousands of kids each week, host daily writing field trips, run an in-school writing lab, and guide students in writing and publishing books. The tutoring center model has been replicated in Brooklyn, L.A., and other cities in the U.S.

The volunteer core has likewise grown, starting with 12 and quickly growing to 1,400.

This project has led to a website, Once Upon A School, which challenges and guides individuals and groups in to engage with their local public schools and create positive change.

“It can be fun. That’s the point of this talk – it needn’t be sterile. It needn’t be bureaucratically untenable. You can do and use the skills that you have. The schools need you. The teachers need you. Students and parents need you. They need your actual person. Your physical personhood and your open minds and open ears and boundless compassion. Sitting next to them, listening and nodding and asking questions… Some of these kids just don’t plain know how good they are. How smart and how much they have to say. You can tell them. You can shine that light on them one human interaction at a time. So we hope you’ll join us.”

For more information on projects to support your local public school, check out: http://onceuponaschool.org/

For more TEDtalks, check out: http://www.ted.com/index.php

Know a great volunteer or volunteer organization? Leave me a comment or email me through this link to let me know!

by Danielle Koprowski

It is my opinion that children only learn from us in one way, modeling. A powerful question to ask ourselves is “What am I modeling for my children?”

Are they learning from me how to stay calm under stress? Are they learning how to treat the people with compassion? Are they learning to be flexible? Are they learning the importance of self-care?

What am I modeling for my chlildren is a great question, but if you want real results that make a difference in your life and your child’s life ask yourself this, “What can I do today to model to my child the kind of person I would like them to become?”

Keep asking that until you get an answer. When you have the answer, Do it. (Without action all the mental understanding, plans and ideals are worthless.)

So, What Can You Do?

Danielle Koprowski
Free To Be Parenting Support
ACPI Certified Coach for Parents
www.freetobeparenting.com

for the past two nights, Asila was in my dreams. hahahahahahah. it sounds extremely lesbian-ish. whatever. anyway, both nights, we were always eating and buying sweet stuff, like froen yougurt and candy. the only type of candy that i remember is gummy bears. duh.

♥

(well just to be right, my honeys are Darshee, Serena, Jackie, Lenny, Haemy/NUTTYMUTANT, Diena, Azfar, Aaron and my Ghostbusters partner. hinthint.)

my lovely, deary, awesome, possum, hot stuff best friends,

i know i can be a real pain in the ass when i wanna be. (: but then you’re my friends so that’s why you always stick with me. and i know sometimes i embarass you but you put me through the same things too. (not all of you.) BUT THEN AGAIN, what are lovely, deary, awesome, possum, hot stuff best friends for anyway? the answer’s obvious and if you don’t know it, you’re a very dim dimwit. so here’s a post to tell all of you that even if i sometimes don’t show it, i do appreciate all of you and love you and all of you mean alot to me. (: and i’m sorry for all the things that i’ve done that hurt you or you don’t like and i never said sorry for. I’M SORRY. do forgive me. but anyway, through thick and thin, i’ll always have yer back. ♥

so much love you won’t believe it,
TASHAMINGY. (:

p.s. i do mean everything in that picture. it says everything i was too lazy to put in words.

You wrote your number on my hand but it washed off in the rain.

♥