Clay and Jessica Walker Share How They Care for Caregivers

More than 65 million people in the United States act as a caregiver for a loved one. One of those caregivers is Jessica Walker — wife of multiplatinum country music recording artist Clay Walker.

Clay was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or RRMS — a lifelong and unpredictable disease — at a pivotal time in his life. He was 26 and had just finished his fourth album, and his oldest daughter had just been born.

Approximately 400,000 Americans have been diagnosed with MS, and the majority of people with the most common form of the disease, RRMS, are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. Common symptoms reported in RRMS include episodic bouts of fatigue, numbness, vision problems and spasticity or stiffness.

Jessica and Clay have partnered with Teva Neuroscience and Clay’s non-profit organization Band Against MS, on the “Share How You Care” campaign to shine a spotlight on the important role of family caregivers.

Clay’s hectic schedule means he has to take a proactive role in managing his disease. A big part of that is made possible thanks to the help of his wife, Jessica. As a caregiver, she makes sure the family sticks to a routine and eats a healthy diet and that Clay takes his RRMS treatment as prescribed. In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, Jessica and Clay hope to empower caregivers by sharing what caregiving means to them and encouraging others to share their caregiver stories.

Jessica knows that the word “caregiver” doesn’t have one definition, so there is not one-size-fits-all advice. However, there are some helpful tips that she sticks to in her role as a caregiver:

* Stay in the know, and learn as much as you can about your partner’s illness.

* Communicate and keep an open dialogue.

* Have a daily plan to reduce stress.

* Treat your partner like your partner; you don’t need to baby them — you need to try to be there for them. And most importantly,

* Have your own support system in place because it is important to take time for yourself.

For more on Jessica’s caregiver tips and to participate in the “Share How You Care” campaign, submit your own caregiver story or that of a loved one by visiting www.BandAgainstMS.org.

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By: Lee Dobbins

If you want to add another dimension to your bedroom but it is too small for a separate sitting area, you can create a lounging area in less space by simply using floor pillows.
Not only will this create interest in a boring corner, but the pillows can help add to the design elements already in the room.

A floor pillow is simply a large cushion that can be used for relaxing on.
They are great for sitting on to chat with friends or reclining on when reading a book or watching TV.
They are taller than regular pillows and make great foot rests as well as decorative accents.

The color combinations and the patterns used in floor pillows almost fit any decoration, any style.
They come in a variety of fabrics as well.
Wool, cotton, polyester and chenille are the primary material used to make floor pillows and floor pillow covers.
These pillows are plump, soft, comfy and fun – a perfect look and use for any bedroom.

Floor pillows can also be custom made.
You can get them to match your other fabrics and furniture which will help give a sense of completeness to the room by repeating fabrics throughout it.
They lend a casual look to the room when used in a bedroom but you can get a more formal looking pillow if you prefer that type of look.
These pillows are generally sturdier and firmer and do not flop.
They are more rectangular or slightly squarer and used primarily for seating purposes only.

Floor pillows with removable covers are great for the bedroom.
The covers can be taken off to change the look or to be washed.
These floor cushions usually have zippers but may have other types of closures such as Velcro or snaps.

Since they need to be more durable than regular pillows, floor pillows are filled with tougher stuffing.
This is to ensure that the shape of the pillow does not get distorted easily.
One type of floor pillow that is seeing a resurge in interest are ban bags.
These are great for sitting purposes, for playing, for lying and mould to ones posture easily.
Bean bags are capable of being refilled and are washable.

Floor pillows are a great choice for the bedroom since they are soft and fluffy, like your bedding and bed pillows.
They are decorative by nature and can add a little pizzaz to your room while not taking up too much space.
They make excellent, inexpensive alternatives for extra seating as well as add an element of whimsy to your bedroom décor.

Author Bio
Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs And Decorations Bedroom Designs And Decorations where you can find more tips on decorating your bedroom.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com – Free Website Content

Creating memorable holiday stockings for the whole family should be fun and simple. Once the big gifts are out of the way, stuffing stockings can be a breeze.

Stockings are a perfect way to give small, creative gifts. Don’t limit yourself by thinking inside a small, sock-shaped box. Some of the most thoughtful and sentimental items are pocket-sized and make perfect stocking stuffers.

Create stockings bursting with jelly beans, mobile phone accessories, DVDs, framed photos, movie passes or amusement park tickets. Save money on all your stocking stuffers by shopping at discount stores, like Dollar General.

Dollar General offers a wide assortment of gifts that are ideal for stockings. Not to mention, it has a great selection of holiday items that cost only a dollar.

Here are a few tips to help you create a fun stocking:

1. Take advantage of discount prices. You can buy a variety of fun items at discount stores, especially for kids. For instance, Dollar General has stockings, candles, pens and pencils, notepads, cards and toys that all start at one dollar. For young adults and teens, there are arts and crafts, scrapbooking items, make-up, lotion, digital cameras, chocolate, games and more.

2. Stick to a theme. If your creativity is already shot when it comes to holiday gift-giving, brainstorm stocking themes to get your gears turning. Does your 12-year-old love sports, books or wildlife? Maybe your son loves videogames, or your daughter loves dance. Either way, there’s probably a hobby or interest that you can base the stocking around. Once you establish a theme or pattern, it’s easy to find related gifts that family members will love.

3. Include one big item guaranteed to please. For each family member, save one of their home-run presents for their stocking. It doesn’t have to be huge or expensive, just something you know they will adore. Perhaps a nice piece of jewelry, a tech gadget, concert tickets or a prepaid gift card. If you splurge a little on one gift and get a variety of other goodies at discount prices, you’ll still have a personal, memorable stocking at a great value.

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Humans aren’t the only creatures seeking warmth and shelter during winter’s harsh temperatures and snow. Many pests make their way indoors and invade our sacred space in search of food and hiding and nesting spots, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Mice, one of the most common winter pests, can enter homes through openings as small as the size of a dime. Once inside, mice are capable of chewing through walls, electrical wires and baseboards and breed at alarming rates — producing as many as a dozen babies every three weeks. Signs of an infestation include scampering sounds at night in walls and ceilings, droppings found in undisturbed places and damaged or partially eaten food.

While mice and rodents in general are the more rampant pests in winter, other pests such as spiders, ants, cockroaches and sometimes even nuisance wildlife find their way inside homes, posing a variety of risks to humans. Whether it’s health risks such as Salmonella and allergies from cockroaches, painful and itchy bites from spiders or other diseases and property damage from rodents and wildlife, NPMA’s experts encourage homeowners to take precautionary steps to keep these pests out of their homes this winter.

“A few simple maintenance measures can go a long way in keeping unwanted winter visitors out of homes this winter,” advised Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. “If your home has experienced any sort of damage from storms or just regular wear and tear, now is the time to take stock and make the necessary repairs.”

* Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the structure, using caulk and/or steel wool.

* Screen vents and openings to chimneys.

* Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.

* Replace loose mortar and weather-stripping around the basement foundation and windows.

* Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.

* Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house; keep shrubbery well trimmed.

For more information on household pests or to find a pest professional near you, visit www.pestworld.org.

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Cool weather means it’s time to finalize outdoor chores and cozy up for the long winter ahead. It also urges pesky insects to head indoors seeking food and warm places to hibernate. What can the smart homeowner do?

Experts say the record-breaking summer heat has created a bumper crop of bugs. Ohio State University entomologist David Denlinger predicts, “If the warmth stays into the fall, insects will continue to do well until frost comes.”

Unwelcome pests, like silverfish, spiders, earwigs, flies and ants, are typical fall party crashers. But in the late ’90s a new pest appeared: the brown marmorated stink bug. First spotted in Pennsylvania, stink bugs are now in 38 states.

“In September and October, when plants are harvested and food sources dry up, stink bugs switch gears and seek shelter indoors,” says Dr. Qing-He Zhang, lead scientist and director of research at Sterling International, makers of eco-friendly RESCUE! insect traps. “It’s important to break the lifecycle now so they don’t survive the winter months.”

To protect your home from pesky bugs, industry experts share these simple eco-friendly tips:

1. Clean up brush, and keep mulch and firewood piles away from the house to avoid creating habitats for critters and insects.

2. Seal cracks, crevices and holes with caulk or weather stripping around potential entry points, including pipes and utilities. Repair loose roof tiles and screens. Inspect windows and basement foundations, and repair loose mortar.

3. Clean cupboard shelves of loose grain and starch-based and sugary food, and place food in sealed containers or plastic bags.

4. Check where stink bugs hide: warm, dark spaces like baseboards, exhaust fans, ceiling tiles and drapes. Pick stink bugs up with a tissue, and flush them down a toilet. When threatened, stink bugs emit a foul odor, so dispose of any vacuum bags immediately.

Zhang explains, “Once you see the bugs clinging to the side of the house or screens, this is a signal that they are ready to get indoors, and more may be coming. The RESCUE! Stink Bug trap uses non-toxic pheromone attractants that lure stink bugs, intercepting them before they reach the house.”

5. If ants are your problem, try herbs. Briscoe White, herb expert and owner of The Growers Exchange, says bay leaves, cinnamon and cloves repel ants. Sprinkle dry crushed herbs around doors, cabinets and windowsills to create a natural barrier. Plus, peppermint and spearmint deter moths, too.

For more help battling bugs, visit www.rescue.com.

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Janie Bryant, the Emmy Award-winning costume designer for AMC TV’s “Mad Men,” knows what it takes to make clothes look great.

Not only does she contribute to the visual representation of the entire cast, she brings a 1960s glamour to the period show that makes real people scour vintage shops to look like Joan Holloway and Don Draper.

Sure, audiences love the characters and their drama, but the beautifully authentic wardrobe stole the spotlight from the start. In her role, Bryant sketches, designs and fits the costumes for each character, which includes custom-made items and rebuilt vintage gems.

“One thing I’ve always been passionate about is how important presentation is to having great style. Looking pressed and polished is often just as important as what you’re actually wearing,” says Bryant, which explains why she released a fabric care guide of useful clothing advice.

“The best way to pull off that look is to know how to take great care of your clothing. [The Mad Men] era is all about being wrinkle-free and permanently pressed.”

Take a look at some of Bryant’s fabric care advice:

* Some fabrics are vulnerable to water spotting — like acetate, silk and suede — so be careful when applying perfume or body spray. Delicate garments like these tend to require dry cleaning, or hand-washing, and low-heat settings.

* Beware of “pilly” clothing that looks worn out, such as nylon and acrylic. If fabric is susceptible to pills, it’s best to launder, dry and iron at low heat. You may consider laying these items out to dry, especially sweaters.

* Although cotton remains the world’s most popular fabric, it is prone to wrinkling. The majority of cotton clothing can be machine-washed, but items with embellishments or accents should be turned inside out or put in a delicates bag.

* If wrinkles attack, use a fail-safe. Bryant trusts Downy Wrinkle Releaser so much that she advises you to have a bottle at home, in the office and in any overnight bag. Just spritz clothing, shake and gently pull to release stubborn kinks.

“On or off the set, the clothes that I work with and wear always need to look their best,” Bryant says. “Not only does Downy Wrinkle Releaser work well on the vintage fabrics I work with during the day, but all the modern fabrics found in stores today. It’s a must-have for people who need to look neat and pressed and those who need to be out the door in a flash.”

For more information, visit www.downywrinklereleaser.com.

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Accepted by more institutions than any other graduate admissions test, the GRE revised General Test now provides more options and opportunities for test takers. Here are five reasons why there’s never been a better time to take the GRE revised General Test.

1. It is the one test that applicants can take to apply to more than 3,000 graduate and business schools worldwide. GRE scores are used for admission to master’s, MBA, Ph.D. and fellowship programs.

2. Considering business school? Nearly 900 business schools worldwide now accept GRE scores for admission into their MBA and other graduate business programs. MBA applicants around the world are now taking the GRE revised General Test with its test-taker friendly design, new ScoreSelect option, free services, and more advanced degree opportunities. Plus, the GRE revised General Test is less expensive than other graduate admissions tests used by business schools.

“Accepting GRE scores is a win-win for both students and the graduate program,”said Harvie Wilkinson, Director of MBA Programs for the Gatton College of Business at the University of Kentucky. “The student now has more options, and with that, the business school becomes more diverse; with different backgrounds working together, better projects are able to be produced.”

3. The ScoreSelect option, available July 2012, helps individuals approach test day with more confidence, knowing they can send the scores they feel reflect their personal best. Now GRE test takers can decide which test scores to send to the institutions they designate.

4. The GRE revised General Test features a flexible, friendly design for a better test experience. Features include “mark and review” to tag questions so students can skip and return later and the ability to change answers, all within a section. An on-screen calculator is provided for the Quantitative Reasoning measure.

5. Test takers can prepare for the GRE revised General Test using free and low-cost tools available at www.ets.org/gre/prepare. These include: POWERPREP II software featuring full-length practice tests, GRE Math Review, The Official Guide to the GRE revised General Test, ScoreItNow! Online Writing Practice, and more.

The test-taker friendly design, new ScoreSelect option and more advanced degree opportunities mean it just got easier for students to start their future now with the GRE revised General Test. To register, visitwww.ets.org/gre/registernow.

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The pace of daily life can be hectic, and when certain personalities collide, sometimes people disagree.

Sound familiar? It’s impossible to navigate the world without ever running into conflict with another person. But carrying grudges can be destructive to your emotional and physical wellbeing. In 2009, researchers at the Department of Psychology at Medical College of Georgia published a survey, which revealed that those who don’t forgive can experience more pain disorders, heart disease and stomach ulcers.

“Holding onto negativity causes harm to the one who won’t forgive,” says Dr. Matthew B. James, president of The Empowerment Partnership, and a teacher of an ancient Hawaiian spiritual science, called huna.

Refusing to forgive can have widespread effects too, it can create chains of resentment throughout entire communities. “When you point a finger at someone to blame them, there are always three fingers pointing back at you,” says Dr. James.

But letting go of old hurts isn’t easy. Dr. James suggests that grudge-bearers take the following steps to seek true forgiveness:

* Tell the other person that you forgive them. Don’t say that you will “forgive, but not forget” — the goal is to release negative feelings.

* Ask the other person to forgive you. Ask for forgiveness even if you believe that you did nothing wrong. “Saying, ‘I forgive you; please forgive me, too’ brings the other person into the picture and gets them actively involved,” says Dr. James.

* Have a conversation. Create enough space for you and the other person to say everything that needs to be said. Stay calm and speak in normal tones, even if you don’t like what you hear. At the end of your talk, you should feel relieved to have gotten your thoughts and feelings into the open. Give and ask for forgiveness once more.

* Move on. Ask yourself what you have learned from the situation, and use it to make better decisions in the future.

“To forgive and to never forget is to never forgive in the first place,” says Dr. James. “We owe it to ourselves to experience true forgiveness.”

For more advice or to learn about Dr. James’ teachings of huna and empowerment, visit www.huna.com or www.DrMatt.com.

NewsUSA

By: Bill Carmel

Cuckoo clocks are unique creations that are centuries old.
The first cuckoo clock was produced back in the early 18th century in Germany’s region known as the Black Forest.
Clock making in this area of Germany dates back to the early 17th century, almost a full hundred years before clockmakers and craftsmen produced the very first cuckoo clock.
The father of cuckoo clocks in believed to be the German clockmaker, Franz Anton Ketterer, although there are a great many stories and lore revolving around this unique timepiece.

This early clock was thought to be inspired by a Bohemian design from the late early 1600s that came to Germany from a peddler from the modern day Czech Republic.
This method of selling timepieces made the cuckoo clock even more famous, as clock makers all around the Black Forest area of Germany.
In the next three centuries, peddlers would travel all around Europe selling these charming timepieces, further influencing different areas of Europe with the unique sound of the cuckoo clock.

Although the first cuckoo clocks were made of wood, they are a great deal simpler in style than the intricately decorated and heavily carved creations that are usually thought of to be cuckoo clocks.
Instead of just the case being made of wood, early Germany clockmakers made every piece of the clock from wood, including the gears and other working parts.
This is one of the reasons why these early clocks have fallen into disrepair or are completely lost.
Furthermore, many of these early clocks were painted with watercolor paints, which do not have the potential to hold their pigments over time and are easily removed by simply cleaning the clock with a damp cloth.

Although these early clocks were more primitive than their modern day counterparts, they included the famous cuckoo bird instead of more traditional chimes to mark the hour.
Native to Asia, Africa, and Europe, the cuckoo bird is a unique bird that lays their eggs in the nests of other birds, which in turn rear the cuckoo’s young as surrogate parents.
This bird was commonly grey in color, although the female features a vibrant tuft of red feathers atop her head.

Also like today’s clocks, the early cuckoo clocks were decorated in schemes that showed families, military motifs, or hunting scenes.
In the late 1800s, the production of cuckoo clocks became industrialized and began production for customers all over Germany, Europe, and the rest of the world.
Soon, the cuckoo clock became immediately synonymous with Germany life and style, making the timepiece an incredibly popular souvenir.
Three of the more famous clock makers in Germany began making cuckoo clocks, namely Theodore Ketterer, Fidel Hepting, and Johann Baptist Beha.

Unlike the industrialization in other parts of the world where large, noisy, dirty factories took over the countryside, the cuckoo clock factories were generally much smaller and housed in cottages where entire families would contribute one specific part of the clock.
Each individual was trained in one aspect of clock making or decorating, with one family member working on the actual clock, another working on the case carving, another on painting the decorations, and another to completely assemble the piece.
Over 13,500 men, women, and children worked in making cuckoo clocks during this period of time in the Black Forest village of Triberg.

Today, the cuckoo clock has made its way all over the world.
Still made in many of the same traditions, the most historic cuckoo clocks are still produced in the Black Forest region.
Whether you choose to decorate your home with a clock that houses the tiny bird or want a true German souvenir to remember your trip, a cuckoo clock is the perfect addition to any home.

Author Bio

Bill Carmel specializes in Cuckoo Clocks www.u-cuckoo-clocks.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com – Free Website Content

Although educators and administrators continue to debate the actual value of tests and examinations, testing has become an intrinsic part of the American education system.

Neither students nor parents can escape the reality of exams, and continuing academic success largely depends on managing test anxiety and learning how to adequately prepare for exams. But, that’s not the only factor. Doing homework assignments and participating in class help testing proficiency, too.

“Make sure your child completes homework assignments and class projects,” says Richard Bavaria, Ph.D., senior vice president for education outreach at Sylvan Learning (www.SylvanLearning.com). “Because tests reflect overall achievement, the more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will do well on tests.”

Here are some other test-prep tips for both parents and students from Dr. Bavaria:

* Know the target. Make sure that you understand exactly what is being assessed, how it is being assessed (types of questions) and how it will be graded.

* Use a study process. Test preparation and studying should be an ongoing process. Ideally, students should spend 15 minutes per night studying content from each school subject, in addition to any nightly homework.

* Use strategies to manage test anxiety. A little test anxiety can be helpful, but too much can have an adverse effect on test performance. In order to manage test anxiety, make sure to be prepared, and use breathing and visualization techniques to work through the process.

* Follow test instructions. While taking a test, make sure to pay close attention to test- and question-specific instructions. Circle key words to make sure that all responses/answers address all parts of the question. When in doubt, ask the teacher to clarify.

* Use a process to organize schoolwork and a study area. Being organized helps students access all materials when they are needed. A clean, quiet study area also helps students focus.

* Support learning preferences. Identify learning preferences, whether auditory, tactile or visual. Keep them in mind when studying to help with difficult subjects.

* Use appropriate strategies to address different question types. Knowing what types of questions will be on the test helps determine what and how students should study. Find out what kinds of questions will be used, be it multiple-choice, short-answer, true/false, matching or essays, and prepare appropriately.

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