The Circle Blog !

When I was little, my father always told me that money doesn’t grow on trees. He must have said this to me at least once a week – whenever I attempted to ask for something. As I started to grow up, I realized that he was right. However, for my 30th birthday, I got a bit of a kick out of proving him wrong. My husband decided that I deserved a shopping spree and instead of getting me a gift card, he took a much more creative approach. He bought a tiny little tree and planted it in a beautiful pot. He painted dollar signs all over the pot and made it look incredibly unique. On the branches, he took fishing line and strung up tiny little letters that were written on small blocks. All of the letters spelled out Happy Birthday. The best part was that each of the little blocks had holes in the top that he used to tie the fishing line for hanging on the branches. He took a lot of time to make little scrolls to also place into the holes. Each scroll had a dollar amount written on it. After I was done opening all of
the scrolls, as well as melting from the creativity he had shown, my very own money tree had given me $500 for a shopping spree. Everyone at my party thought that it was the most wonderful and unique gift and idea that they’d ever seen. He could’ve just given me the cash or a gift card, but he spent a great deal of time in making that money tree. Truth be told, that money tree was the best gift that I’ve ever received. I still have it sitting in my house, though it has grown quite a bit over the years. Every so often, when he gets a bonus and thinks that I deserve to buy something for myself, he’ll turn it back into a money tree and decorate it with some bills.

I’ve seen a lot of people give a money tree as a gift for all different occasions. Most of those individuals spend extra money just to have money decorate a tree. With some time and a small amount of your own creativity, you can create your own money tree. Of course, in today’s society, a lot of people just don’t have the time or allow themselves to take the time. So, if you want to give a money tree as a gift, you can find some wonderful ones that companies will personalize for you. In fact, if you can think of a special reason to give one to someone else, they can make it possible.

Sure, some people think that giving money as a gift is impersonal. Perhaps it is. However, who doesn’t appreciate getting money as a gift? You can be boring and place it inside of a card. Or, you can be creative and win some points by presenting the recipient with a money tree. I guarantee they will smile a lot brighter than simply handing them cash. Not to mention the fact that they will probably always remember such a unique gift, even years later.

It used to be that plus size women were excluded from fashionable attire that didn’t carry their sizes and relegated to the frumpy aisle. Times have changed, and now there are clothing businesses that cater exclusively to the plus size women. Stores like Torrid and Lane Bryant carry women’s clothing that’s far from size 0 and still trendy. Women’s plus size clothing is now a market in its own right.

Perhaps it’s a development influenced by the influx of positive plus size women role models that have come into the spotlight like Mo’Nique, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, America Ferrera and Beth Ditto, who contradict the thin body ideal that the media perpetuates. They deliver the message that you can be “full-figured” and still be beautiful. Plus size women don’t have to be ashamed of their bodies, and they should love themselves the way they are. And they should be able to wear pretty clothes just like all the other women out there. It’s about time women’s plus size clothing hit the market.

But even though plus size is gaining acceptance, it still clashes with the prevalent idea that thinness is desirable. The billboard aren’t all going to be replaced with plus size models anytime soon, and being overweight still carries stigma in our society. Some reject the concept of plus size solely on the grounds of superficiality and our culture has reinforced certain ideas about attractiveness that are ingrained in us throughout our lives wherever we go. Others point to the health issues of being overweight, especially at a time where obesity and diabetes are becoming alarming epidemics. It’s a positive thing to encourage all women to accept themselves no matter what body shape, but the fact remains that certain body shapes are more prone to risks of cardiovascular disease and strokes than others. Maybe it’s okay to be happy and satisfied with being a little overweight, but where do you draw the line at the point where it’s not okay anymore? The issue of plus size brings all the factors of cultural standards of beauty, self-esteem and health into conflict.

One matter of contention is the normalization of being overweight. Women’s plus size clothing can be seen as a positive, inclusive development in one perspective, and as a permission of dangerous health risks in another. There’s a valid point here, but it also assumes that plus size women are responsible for their being overweight, and while this is often true, it’s not always the case. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this case, but surely we can all agree that all people regardless of shape and size deserve the right to be clothed? There’s room for women’s plus size clothing in the market.

When you need work, you need to make sure you are doing all you can to find the right job. If you skimp on your job search, you may end up taking a job that you don’t want just to get the bills paid. The more thorough of a search that you do, the more options you will find. When you have more options, you have more from which to choose. Wouldn’t it be great to get three or four great job offers rather than just one so-so one? When you do a local job search, you have to think outside of the normal venues for finding a job.

Most of the good jobs you will find won’t be listed in the classifieds. Your local job search might first lead you to the paper, and you should definitely look there. You may also do a local job search online, and you may find things there that are not in your local paper. However, you should know that some of the best jobs are not listed in either place. You may have to send your resume out to every company that you might want to work for. Often the good jobs are not advertised at all. You have to do the legwork, but it may well be worth it.

A big part of your local job search should include networking with those in your line of work. Quite often this is how you find the best jobs. Those who work in your field often know of job openings before they even open, and they might be able to give you a lead or even recommend you. Networking can be hard to do when you are new in town, but you have to make it a part of your local job search if you hope to find the job of your dreams.

Another key to a good local job search is to be persistent without being overbearing. You can’t just send out resumes and sit back and wait for the phone to ring. There might be ten other people with a resume that looks just as good as yours. You up your chances of getting an interview if you do a follow up call. There are always people with your qualifications doing a local job search, so make sure you stay one step ahead by selling yourself effectively without going overboard. This might take some practice, but you have to learn how to do it for the very best jobs out there.

Though my 10-year-old Toyota Camry has served me well over the past decade, I think it’s finally time to trade it in for a newer model. The vehicle already has more than 100,000 miles on it, and is beginning to experience some maintenance problems. Since it’s so old, I figure it would be a waste of money to keep making all these minor repairs. I might as well put that cash towards a down payment on an upgrade. But as it’s been a very long time since I’ve been in the market for a new vehicle and now that I have kids to consider, I need to check out the latest car safety ratings before making a purchase.

I know that car safety ratings probably aren’t the first things people think of when shopping for a new automobile, truck, or SUV. Instead, most folks are more concerned with sticker price, options, and mileage. Granted, these features are important too, but as a parent, I’m more worried about how my vehicle will hold up in the event of a crash. By reading car safety ratings and reviews from independent sources, I can get a better idea of which manufacturers, makes, and models are worth spending my money on.

There are a few trusted sources to go to for car safety ratings. The first is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The NHTSA is a government organization whose goal is to “save lives” and “prevent injuries” in automobile-related crashes. One way they do this is by setting minimum quality standards for manufacturers and providing car safety ratings for consumers. The NHTSA rates the way different cars hold up in different areas after a crash. These areas include: frontal driver, frontal passenger, side driver, side rear passenger, and rollover. A single rating can be from one to five stars, with five being the best or safest.

Other trusted sources for car safety ratings exist as well. These are usually consumer-oriented organizations or automobile magazines, and are typically published once a year to account for all the new models. Because the manufacturers like to make frequent design and structural changes to entice customers to upgrade more often, it’s important for shoppers to read the latest car safety ratings that are available instead of relying on older information. The most recent data can usually be found online for free, so there’s no excuse for not checking.

I’ve been researching new car safety ratings online myself, and am happy to see that the Camry is still getting five stars in all categories. Even though my decision is not final yet, I’m leaning towards sticking with Toyota here. After all, they make reliable, affordable, durable, and safe cars, which is precisely what I want for my family.

Many people have become aware at what a terrible disease diabetes is. Thousands of people die every year from diabetes-related illness and complications. Diabetes can affect anyone, and, as of today, there is no cure. Most people know all of this, but they still struggle with some of the basic information about diabetes, such as what causes diabetes and how to prevent it. Here is so basic information about what causes diabetes and some advice on how you can change your life today to make it much easier to prevent diabetes.

First of all, not all of diabetes is created equal. There are actually two types of diabetes, and what causes diabetes varies with both. Diabetes itself is directly related to a chemical your body naturally creates called insulin. What insulin does is assist your blood in carrying sugar (used as fuel by cells all over your body). Without insulin, blood sugar levels skyrocket, causing a variety of serious, and in some cases, fatal results.

If you are a grown adult and do not yet have diabetes, you cannot get the first type, Type 1 diabetes. What causes diabetes in children? There is a genetic disorder. Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, and is generally the more severe of the two types of diabetes. If you do not already have type 1 diabetes, you will most likely not get it. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a malfunction in your liver; it no longer is able to produce insulin. There is no cure, but regular insulin shots.

The more common type of diabetes that can be prevented is type 2 diabetes. This is also commonly called on-set diabetes, meaning it is something that is developed over time. In this case, prolonged and excessive blood sugar overwhelms the body’s ability to produce insulin and that part of your liver “breaks”, and this is what causes diabetes for most people. Scientists are working on a method to “fix” your liver, so that it can begin producing enough insulin again on its own, but until then, type 2 diabetics must also take regular insulin shots and closely monitor and restrict their diets for sugar.

An unhealthy diet is the main culprit in what causes diabetes. An excess of processed sugars, found in cookies, cakes, soft drinks and other “junk food”, as well as a non-active lifestyle are the main problems. To prevent diabetes, you should work hard to have better cardiovascular health; regular exercise and a better diet. Knowing what causes diabetes is simple, and, now that you do, there is no excuse for you to not take steps today to improve your health and reduce your risk at getting diabetes.

In the last couple of decades, homeschooling has enjoyed ever-increasing popularity, as an alternative to public and charter schools. There are several reasons why homeschool programs have proven so successful. The ‘pioneers’ of homeschool curriculums came from educational professionals, most with a teaching background. They conducted pilot programs to compare the progress made by children learning at home as opposed to those attending public schools. It was found that home schooled children attained better grades, a more in-depth understanding of the materials covered in the curriculum, in less time spent on course work. Children in homeschool programs also tended to be more likely to go on to college, particularly when they were schooled at home over a number of years.

A number of books, authored by these teachers, served to spread the word to the public, who, up to that point, were growing increasingly disappointed in the results of public school education. As the SAHM population grew, so did the rolls of homeschooling parents. If you’ve not yet considered why homeschool might not be a good choice for your situation, read on to see some of the many benefits kids derive in the homeschool environment.

Homeschool curriculums abound and are accredited as equal to conventional education programs. The Department of Education usually mandates the county to administer your local homeschool program, approve of materials and coordinate periodic testing. In addition, home schooled kids have the option to go on field trips to various sites and activities within your locale, affording them opportunities for social interaction with their peers.

Now, on to some other reasons why homeschool programs are so successful:

1.Unlike public schools, in the home school setting, you are able to provide one-on-one instruction, geared to your kid’s personality, attention span and other personal and unique characteristics. This is especially valuable when you consider that a shy child, in a class of 30 of his peers, may be reluctant to ask questions. If your kid is the gregarious type, you, as a parent, are familiar with the tactics your kid might use to be disruptive and can easily get that kid back on track.

2.Another reason why homeschool programs are both popular and productive is that you are given a great opportunity for quality time with your kids, something every parent desires. Children are just as eager to spend that personal time with you, even if it’s class time!

3.With drugs and violence in public schools on the rise, you are able to provide adequate supervision of your kids and, to a far greater extent, avoid these problems.

4.You have the freedom to schedule class hours. Let’s say you’d like to enroll your kids in a swimming class, or a martial arts class, which fulfills their P.E. requirements. If the class you choose is given three days a week, meeting at 10:00am, you can work that right in to your regular class hours. Rather than doing jumping jacks or playing baseball, which your child may not enjoy, you can encourage a lifelong interest in a form of exercise and fitness that fits them individually. This also allows for necessary social interaction with other kids.

5.If you’d like to incorporate religious instruction into your school day, you have the freedom to do so.

6.With one-on-one instruction, it’s a fact that kids learn faster. This means you have more time in which to present more materials of a greater variety. When the math lesson is finished, let the kids go online and play some of the math games relevant to the lesson or area you’re currently covering. This is yet another reason why homeschool programs excel, by providing a more thorough understanding of any subject. You can schedule an afternoon at the library to enhance a history lesson, bringing home a bedtime story book, just for fun.

7.Computers and the net are great teaching tools! Give your kids a homework assignment which requires research on the net. Not only is the assignment completed, but you can use the opportunity to teach them important researching skills.

The points covered above are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enumerating why homeschool programs make good sense. When you choose to homeschool, every day you’ll discover new reasons why homeschool programs deserve applause!

Our bodies are much like finely tuned machines. Every part of our body has a job to do. If something goes amiss there are signals that tell us that. It may be a pain, a bruise or an allergic reaction. Whatever it is, it is a message that says that something isn’t the way it should be. For anyone who has ever sneezed or gotten a rash because of an adverse reaction to something, they know how important it is to determine the root of the problem.

Hay fever afflicts millions of people each year. When the temperature warms up and spring begins, the number of people sneezing with runny and itchy eyes increases. You’ve also probably noticed that there are more commercials on television for medications that help with an allergic reaction to dust and pollen. If you’ve been diagnosed with seasonal allergies you know how frustrating they can be.

Allergies vary from person to person. Some kids who find themselves allergic to pet dander, certain foods and dust, may actually outgrow some or all of those as they mature. The same is true of children who are allergic to penicillin. As they grow, their body chemistry changes and what was once an allergic stimulant might not be anymore.

The best and most efficient way to determine what you are allergic to is to visit a specialist. This is someone who is skilled in testing people, just like you, for allergies. After a brief consultation, the patient is administered a series of tests to see what causes an allergic reaction.

This is actually vitally important for people who have serious allergies. Some individuals can actually die from their reactions to certain substances. Anaphylactic shock is the most severe type of allergic reaction in which the individual’s body begins to shut down. The throat may be become swollen, it is almost impossible to breathe and if left untreated, serious harm and death can occur. That’s why it’s smart for those who have allergies, or for parents of children with allergies to have the tests done.

It’s not uncommon for families to share the same reactions to certain substances. If one of your parents were allergic to cats or dogs, there’s a fairly good chance that you’ll have that same allergic reaction. Food allergies also tend to run in families, so if you are a parent with a very severe allergy to nuts, make certain your kids are checked before they eat peanuts.

Although it’s inconvenient and frustrating at times to struggle with these types of reactions there are many methods of effective treatment. After diagnosis, it’s a good idea to sit down with your doctor to talk about a treatment plan that will work for you. Then you can get out and enjoy life without having to worry too much about your allergies.

Pumpkins are one of those great versatile items that can brighten up any and all celebrations, not just Halloween as most people associate with it. The beautiful thing about pumpkins is that they’re soo easy to work with; all you really need is a simple knife, a pumpkin and your imagination – right?? Not so, folks, as too many time people start without having a plan or exact design in mind, or know how to create the effects they want, which is where carving instructions come into play.

While it may seem to some of us redundant to look for carving instructions for something as innocuous as a pumpkin, it’s pretty much the case that if you’re not doing this on a regular basis you probably don’t have the developed skill sets needed to do this in a timely and finished manner that could stand the test of both viewing and the resultant ridicule when your carving looks awful after you finish. Here’s where s simple set of instructions, that can be found for free over the internet usually, can save you from all that mental grief – no one wants a sad looking pumpkin out there on their doorstep, do they?

Most often, the carving instructions will take the form of a step by step guide to where you cut, how deep, exactly where to place your knife of dowel to cut with, and all other manner of information to allow you to carve with authority. Failing that, most stores closer to the holiday itself will sell small and dirt cheap carving kits with all the tools you need to use including detailed guides as to how to use the tools themselves to make your carving from. As with most things, you get what you pay for, and these tools and guides are going to be basic, and usually in bad English, but they do get the job done, and are better than nothing, as long as you’re not expecting to go into a competition anytime soon with that exact pumpkin.

The main thing to remember is that it’s all about fun, and enjoying the time spent with family. So it may seem that your world will fall apart if your carving instructions don’t make you the new Salvador Dali of pumpkin carving, but they’re really aren’t that many people out there with the skill sets needed to become competition grade carvers, so why worry? Eat some more candy, and get ready for pie!

Everyone takes for granted how important it is to have a healthy heart. Everyone seems to agree that there a number of things in general you should do to be “heart healthy”. But what does that really mean? In what ways can you actually change your diet and lifestyle to make a difference when it comes to heart and cardiovascular disease? Risk factors are just that: factors. There is a number of different combinations of things that have to happen to heighten or lower your chances of contracting such diseases. Here are the main cardiovascular disease risk factors that you need to know, and also, what to do about them.

First of all, know that not all cardiovascular disease risk factors are changeable. Some can’t be changed. For instance, age is a major factor; very few cases of heart disease are contracted under the age of 35, and the majority are among people 55 and older. That said, these unchangeable cardiovascular disease risk factors only make the ones that you can change all the more important.

One of the most potent cardiovascular disease risk factors is cigarette smoking. Regular smokers of tobacco products have two to four times the risk of contracting heart disease as non-smokers. That fact alone should really make you consider quitting as soon as possible.

High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol are related cardiovascular disease risk factors. In fact, most of the other cardiovascular disease risk factors are intertwined. For instance, obesity is a common symptom among those with heart disease. Obesity usually stems from a inactive lifestyle and a diet high in fats and processed sugars. This combination of a poor diet and lack of exercise is also the chief causes of high blood cholesterol (and subsequently, high blood pressure). In other words, the easiest way to avoid cardiovascular disease risk factors is simple and twofold.

One: you should immediately change your diet. Remove as much fat as possible, stop or substantially decrease the amount of red meat, butter and other dairy products from your diet. Eliminate the pre-cooked meals, processed foods (frozen meals and packaged cookies), and fast food from your menus. And start jogging, walking, bicycling or other activity. The more vigorous the workout, the most the risk factor is decreased, but even a daily thirty minute walk can go a long way in reducing your cardiovascular disease risk factors.

One of the hottest items to hit the market in recent years is the air purification system. There are many different models to consider on the search for the right unit for your home. These different models in the air purification system offer a range of features and a pretty vast price range. You are certain to find something that meets your needs as well as your budget.

Research can help you come to a decision. Reading reviews and browsing through the many different types of products available can be very time consuming. You may want to make a few considerations that can help you weed out some products that won’t meet your expectations. Your air purification system should meet your personal needs.

One of the best items on the market today is the BlueAir. I really love this air purification system for a number of reasons. The first and most important aspect as far as I’m concerned, is the motor. The BlueAir system is silent. I don’t mean that it’s quiet. I mean that you can’t hear the thing running at all.

The silent nature of the BlueAir is the top reason that I love this air purification system. Some units are downright loud. Others are quite tolerable for normal folks. However, I am easily distracted by sounds and I find that the quieter the equipment is, the better I am able to get through my day.

You can also rest assured that the BlueAir product is not going to put strain on your electric bill. This air purification system cleans the air. It runs silently and it doesn’t cost much to run at all. What more could you ask for? I guess that you could ask for more; like easy maintenance.

I’m not crazy about anything technical in the least. I have no background as a handyman and I most certainly avoid touching stuff like my furnace and tankless water heater. However, I am more than happy to change the filters on my air purification system. Change up is a breeze and I love seeing how well the unit is working.

Having an air purification system has been a life-changing experience for me. I can get a good night’s sleep without worrying about pet dander, pollution and smoke. The BlueAir cleaning system has left me peace of mind knowing that I am doing all that I can to make my home as healthy and happy as I can.