Friday, August 22, 2008

Jackson Day

Saturday, September 6th, Jackson Township will hold it's annual Jackson Day beginning at noon with the Jackson Day Parade. This year's theme is "Support Our Troops". At 1 pm all the vendor and food booths will open, along with games and rides for the kids. The first band will begin playing at 3:30 pm. Great impersonators will be on hand, too, like Bon Jovi, rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, and Madonna.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Trop Rock Festival

The Trop Rock Festival will be held Saturday, September 21st, from 1 - 7 pm at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. Tickets are available at newhopefoundation.org. Proceeds will benefit New Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Marlboro which provides treatment for alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Potty Training Tips

I just read my umpteenth article on the experts advise for potty training. And it's the usual:

---take your kid shopping for fun underwear
---get your kid a personalized potty chair
---play musical potty chair as a game to get the kid to sit on that chair
---get the kid some new books to read on the bowl
---read your kid a children's book about the bear who finally went to the potty or whatever
---create a routine around potty time
---and the one I keep hearing over and over: set up a sticker chart.

Now......that all sounds lovely, especially if you have the PERFECT CHILD. But I have found that a sticker on a chart does SQUAT (no pun intended) to motivate my precocious little boy to use the toilet. Even poop jokes (which he LOVES) don't help.

So, if you're a mom like me who's in this predicament, I have one word for you:

Bribery.

Yeah, that's right, I'm THAT mom. And I don't care!!! It works!!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Latchkey Child Safety Tips

Louie Delaware, The Home Safety Guru, has created his Latchkey Child Safety tips. Here are some of them:

1. Remind your child, once they get home, to quickly close and lock the door.
2. Have them call you once they are inside the house to let you know they are safe.
3. If your child comes home to a door that is open, a window that is broken, or a ladder against a wall, tell them to not go in and instead go to a neighbor's home and call you.
4. Instruct them to not answer the phone unless they know who it is. If they do answer it and the person asks for their parent, instruct them to tell them that their parent is home but can't come to the phone.
5. Tell them to never open the door to someone who they are not familiar with. If someone does ring the doorbell or knocks, tell your child to be quiet until the person leaves, or, if they have to, have them talk through the locked door telling the person that their parent is home but can't come to the door.
6. Have a printed list of emergency contacts posted somewhere where your child can easily see it.
7. Make sure your child knows all of the phone numbers where you can be reached.8. Make sure that dangerous items are under lock and key, like alcohol, firearms, and poisons.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Job Hunting Myths

According to staffing firm experts, here are six common job-hunting myths:

Myth #1: You should keep your resume to one page; any longer, and hiring managers won't read it.
TRUTH: Most employers won't throw out your resume because it's too long, especially if it's interesting to read. But most execs polled say it takes just one or two typo's to remove you from consideration for a job opening.

Myth #2: It's pointless to request an interview with a company that isn't hiring.
TRUTH: Many employers will grant you an "informational interview" if you show genuine interest in their company. Although it probably won't result in a job offer, it can help you network and find out about future opportunities with the company.

Myth #3: If you've applied for a position and haven't heard back, it's safe to assume the position has been filled.
TRUTH: It's not uncommon for hiring managers to be so busy that it takes them as long as two months to contact you after posting the ad. Take action to see where you stand. Most executives say you should contact hiring managers after submitting a resume whether by e-mail, a phone call, or personalized letter, within two weeks of submitting a resume.

Myth #4: The most qualified candidates always get the job.
TRUTH: Employers, in addition to taking into consideration education, skills, and experience, also depend on intuition when making a decision. Some of the other things taken into consideration: your ability to get along with the rest of the team and your personality.

Myth #5: There's no room for salary negotiation in today's job market.
TRUTH: Demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace supply. Researching how much those with similar qualifications are being paid will help you negotiate a reasonable rate.

Myth #6: When times are tough, take the first job offer you get.
TRUTH: An extended job search can put pressure on you to accept any offer that comes your way. But in the end that can cause you more stress than happiness. If you're already in a job you hate, don't go from one bad job to another. Hold out, if you can financially, for a position with maximum appeal.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to the South Wall 11-year-old All-Star team! They won the State Little League title for their age group, beating Pennsville. They went undefeated throughout the tournament. The boys played with heart and determination. Good wishes from everyone in Wall!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"We HaveTo Talk..."

Lou asked a panel of his male co-worker friends, most of whom are married or in committed relationships, how they think it's best to breach the topic of "Honey, there's something we need to talk about" so that it doesn't sound like the wife/girlfriend is getting ready to yell at him or make him feel 'wrong' about something. Here's what the guys say are good ways to approach "the talk":

5. Make it matter-of-fact instead of dramatic. Don't resort to histrionics or crying or get all serious like "we must sit here with no interruptions, or cry and say "let me finish" if the guy interrupts.

4. Ask the guy's opinion on how the problem can be solved so he doesn't think you already have your mind made up on how this is gonna go down.

3. Start with a positive. Compliment your man on something he did RIGHT or does WELL before getting into a problem you have with the way he is.

2. Establish a reward. Tell your man that if he does THIS for you, you'll give him THAT, or do SUCH AND SUCH for him.

1. Do it in an email or note. Then maybe you'll both have a chance to express yourselves prior to a sit-down conversation, paving the way for a smoother meeting of the minds once you DO have the talk.

My question to you, girlfriends, is what do you think of the mens' ideas? Please feel free to respond at louandliz@943thepoint.com. Do you have your own ideas on the best way to approach a conversation that you're dreading? What's YOUR advice to the men on how it should be handled?

Monday, August 4, 2008

Dial-A-Breakup

Now you can dial your breakup!

A free new phone service called Slydial makes it easier to bypass awkward moments by not actually having to talk to anyone! Slydial lets you connect directly with another person's cell voicemail, bypassing the ringing process that usually results in someone picking up on the other end.

The co-founder of the company says he came up with the idea because everybody has gone through the scenario where they've called someone and just hoped they got voicemail so they didn't have to have a conversation they'd rather not have! Users call (267) SLY-DIAL and are prompted to enter the person's cell number that they want to call.

After playing a short advertisement (unless you pay a subscription fee or 15 cents per call to skip ads) Slydial puts you directly into the voicemail of the person you want to leave a message for but don't want to talk to!

I haven't tried this myself, but I LOVE the idea!!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Saturday, September 27 is the 2nd Annual Avon Walkathon for the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation.Bring the whole family. No preregistration required. Music, food, and fun for all!

There's a one mile, three mile, or five mile walk to raise funds for ovarian cancer research. The walk is sponsored by Prime Woman Magazine at the Avon Boardwalk Pavilion. Registration begins at 8 am. For more information, visit primewomanmag.com