In My Kitchen

I often hear from women that the kitchen poses a problem for them. With many of us who are juggling careers and family, it's always a time sensitive issue. When do you shop, plan, cook, serve, and how do you keep it interesting?

Many years ago I had to simplify my kitchen to make it look more complex. Is this an oxymoron or what?

Let me explain. My husband's job required that we entertain often. I love having people in my house, therefore it was never an issue. The issue only presented itself when my significant other would call me at 5 p.m. profusely apologizing that we will have 10 people for dinner at 7 that evening. He would than usually add that the guests are Japanese, Taiwanese or visiting from somewhere in Europe.

The first couple of time were nothing less than stressful and challenging. Yes you can order take out, but you can never claim it your own. With different cultures that I was exposed to it was painfully obvious that when you invite people over for dinner they look forward to a home made meal. Besides, ordering out is pricey and unpredictable.

After several hick ups, I developed a pretty easy system that was implemented by me and passed down to my friends. Now with much experience I can easily serve gourmet dinner for 12 within 2 hours notice.

Here is how.

It's all in the ingredients. Most of us can cook up some kind of concoctions as long as we have the right produce in our refrigerator and kitchen cabinets. For those of us that were blessed with "Trader Joe's" a small chain that I watched grow nationally over the years, makes my life and the life of my friends much less hectic when it come to making a nice dinner.

Whose Job is it Anyway?

My children were very social from an early age. At first, I arranged the play dates and made sure everyone showed up on time. But as the children got older and their friends began to show up at my doorstep on their own, I soon learned that if I didn't enforce certain rules I would lose control of the household. With my husband traveling 50 percent of the time, it was a lot of kids and only one of me.

I expected every child to ring the bell, regardless of whether our door was open or not. I also expected every child to say hello and introduce themselves if I didn't know them. When I began kicking kids out who walked in without saying hello, I quickly became known as the wicked witch of the west.  

At our house, it was definitely "my way or the highway." I refused to let anyone visit unless they followed our rules, which included eating in the kitchen, washing their hands and behaving in a normal manner. Needless to say, I didn't make a lot of friends in the neighborhood. I even had several parents call, outraged that I didn't let their child in the house just because they refused to say hello. Those who "got it" practically lived in my house, and now call me "mama Yana." Those that didn't are still not allowed in.

As our children's friends morphed into teenagers, I was the one who took out their piercings and cautioned that tattoos are permanent. I was the one who held them when they cried over breakups. My husband and I were the ones who took care of them when they showed up at our house drunk and sick because they were too afraid to go home. When their parents threw them out, it was our house they lived in. And it was me they listened to as I lectured day after day, sounding like a broken record, endlessly repeating the values that had been instilled in me.

When they went off to college and came home for winter or summer break, it was our house they rushed to right from the airport. They couldn't wait to fill us in on their latest accomplishments, and my husband and I took great pride in watching them learn to take responsibility for their own lives. Of course, some of them stumbled in the process, but with time they picked up where they left off and started over. It was hard watching them make bad choices and then pay a heavy price, but it was all part of growing up.

With our three older kids, I never got tired of repeating right from wrong. I never lost my enthusiasm for pointing out that "this you do and that you don't." But somewhere along the line my patience and persistence got worn down.  Now I feel like it's someone else's turn.

Recently we took a trip with our kids and their friends, most of who had grown up in our house and knew the rules. However, our youngest daughter brought a friend that she recently met. The difference soon became obvious.

The trip was full of fun and laughter, with all the older kids picking on me as I used to pick on them. They recalled how I drove them mad with all my rules, and how they were petrified of my husband and me. It warmed my heart to see how they had turned out, as I felt they were all our kids and that I would do anything for them.  

The next day, however, I realized that my daughter's new friend was not blending well within my perfect picture. She was not accustomed to cleaning up after herself or helping out with chores (one of my cardinal rules), and her demeanor did not fit well within our family.  

That night I told my husband that I was upset we brought her with us, that she was interfering with our synergy. My husband, the saint, reminded me that she was "new," and that we needed to teach her as we did the other kids, that it would take time, and blah, blah, blah.  

Before he could finish his sentence I abruptly proclaimed, "I'm done! I'm sick and tired of preaching and lecturing. I'm tired of being the wicked witch. And I'm tired of constantly pointing out right from wrong."  

The good thing is, I no longer have to do these things. Our kids are well-behaved adults, and our job is done. So do I really need to do this again? Do I even want to? The answer was apparent before I even asked the question. Absolutely not!  

I asked this 10 years ago, and now I'm asking again: when are parents going to start taking responsibility and teach their children the basics of good manners and appropriate etiquette? Why do I have to be the one to keep pointing out that "please," "hello," "thank you" and other common courtesies should be part of everyone's disposition?  

In our society, courtesy and respect seem to be in very short supply. Not to mention an appalling lack of manners. It didn't used to be this way. But unless someone teaches them, the younger generation cannot learn these important life skills on their own.

So I ask you again, whose job is it anyway?

I Have a Confession to Make

I haven't exercised in three months. Work, family, and other commitments quickly overwhelm me in the morning. By midday I know I have to do something physical, but by then I'm showered, dressed and in no mood for the gym.

Twenty years ago I could of gotten away with it. Sure I still would of gained a few pounds from the lack of movement, but stiff joints were not an issue back then.

I have psoriatic arthritis, which means that I can't afford to miss a day of stretching and replace it with a day of kvetching, but guess what???? That is exactly what I have been doing. A few days ago, when I couldn't get out of bed in the morning, I made a promise to myself: first and foremost, I would actually get up and head for the gym. This way I would not be completely absorbed by emailing, reading and replying to private messages-only to realize six hours later that half of the day is gone and I'm still in my PJs.

So first thing this morning I got myself up and found that I could, in fact, sweat (never an easy task for me) on the elliptical machine. After 30 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of weights, I felt great. I could have done more, but I always believed in: 

1.  Start Slow:  Getting back into shape and exercising regularly is no easy task.  The key to a successful start is to make it enjoyable and accomplishable.  You don't need to dive in head-first with sky high expectations of yourself.    

2. Warm Up: One of the most important parts of the workout that is frequently skipped and ignored-Not anymore!  Getting muscles warm and blood flowing decreases your risk of injury and will make your workout more enjoyable.

3. Schedule Workouts: Incorporating exercise plans into your daily planner will increase the likelihood that you will follow through and stick to exercising.  Treat your workout time as you would any other appointment.  Making it a habit to be at the gym on time will create regularity and therefore increase the chances that you will continue going.

4. Forget About Weight Loss: Getting healthier by working out should be the top priority.  Additionally, working out will be far less enjoyable since losing weight is not an instant process; the numbers on the scale don't always reflect progress.  Weight loss will come over time if you keep at it.

5. Reward Yourself: Reinforcing the effort to exercise will only strengthen your motivation and make the process easier.  Allow yourself to enjoy a pat on the back for the hard work.

6.  Write it Down: Use whatever method you want: Twitter, email, your journal, Facebook; there's nothing more motivating than public pressure.  Get some positive feedback, keep yourself elevated.

7.  Set Goals: Knowing your goals and going about the right way to reach them will help keep you exercising.  Are you looking to burn fat?  Build muscle?  Enhance your cardiovascular capacity?  Figure out what you're looking to achieve and get a strategy in place.

8. Make it Fun: By no means is the gym the only place to get your workout done.  Hiking, taking up tennis, jogging in the early morning with the quiet and sunrise-whatever it takes to make the experience enjoyable.

9. Fuel Up and Hydrate: Working out on an empty stomach is never a good idea, but you shouldn't eat right before either.  Having a banana or half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich an hour before exercising should do the trick.  Drinking plenty of water is also a must, but again, be careful not to drink too much before going so you won't have a stomach full of water while you're trying to work out.

10.  Get a Workout Buddy: Take someone at approximately your level of fitness and commitment and make arrangements to meet up and work out together every week.  This will help you to keep going and decrease the likelihood you'll cancel or skip your work out.  

It's not impossible to get back on the exercise horse, or so to speak, even after years without exercise.  It's never too late to start getting healthy again, and there's never been a better time to start than now with summer right around the corner.  So, will you join me at the gym? I really could use some company.  

Puppy Air

Several weeks ago my girlfriend was traveling to Vegas on Midwest Airlines. To her great surprise a man was boarding the plane with a dog.  

After exchanging a few words with the boarding passenger, she was appalled to find out that the furry animal weighing at least 40 pounds and carrying his own ticket would be sitting next to her.

She left the boarding line to call me to vent. After listening to her rant all I could say was, "from now on Midwest Airlines will be my first option to fly". Not finding my response funny, nor sensing any sympathy in my voice, she told me that I and the "others" have lost our minds with our love for dogs. She went on to tell me that it isn't right to make other passengers on the plane share a cabin with animals, and bla... bla... bla....

When she hung up I couldn't help but have mixed feelings. Sure I love my little Stoli, and when I want to travel I expect the airlines to accommodate me. I even expect my friends to welcome me with open arms in their homes if I chose to bring my little bundle of joy, but is that really fair?

Sure you can blame it on America's pet obsession but we are no different than other countries that embraced animals everywhere, even inside restaurants. And can you really blame the airlines for trying to capitalize on the trend?

Midwest Airlines may be much more lenient with their pet policies than other airlines, but to stay in competition with air travel even Southwest Airlines who were among the last to jump on the bandwagon of allowing dogs on the plane are now doing so with dogs under 20 lbs.

Airlines transport hundreds of thousands of pets in cargo each year, but most pet owners consider this a cruel and unusual punishment and choose either to leave their pets at home or forgo flying all together.

Federal Aviation Administration doesn't post restrictions on whether animals can be in the cabin area, however, airlines must allow service dogs for the disabled on board. The cost of flying your pet can range from $75 to nearly $300 each way. It's a hefty price to pay, but when you love your dog, you will at least consider it, and some of us will even buy the ticket and contribute to the airlines. Some airlines are even letting you rack up frequent flier miles for your pet.  

Midwest Airline offers a fourth trip free to your pet after three flights. JetBlue and Continental offers pets miles on the pet owners account.

So what about all the people who have allergies? Or who don't want to travel with pets on board? Frontier Airlines is their answer. Last year Frontier banned pets from the cabin area after officials said pet allergies are common among travelers.

So back to my mixed feelings and a question at hand, "Is it fair to other passengers?" The answer is probably no, but airlines are trying to make a buck, and animal lovers are enjoying the ride. Unless more people like my girlfriend are going to have a fit and complain, we will all need to get used to sharing a seat next to a furry animal. The good news is they will not be chewing our food- after all the cut backs airlines are no longer serving meals.

What do you think? Would you have a problem flying with a dog that isn't yours next to a seat near you?

Organize Your Home in 15 Minutes a Day in Two Weeks Or Less

For the last few years Thursday's have been my favorite day.

Every time I walk through my front door to find my house immaculately clean I find myself automatically distressed, content and happy.

Now, don't get me wrong, my house is usually clean. However, we have so much "family traffic" that unless you have someone cleaning up through out the day every day, it's impossible to have it always looking spotless.

We usually have at least 10 people at our dinner table, and at least that many teenagers in and out of the house on a daily basis. With access to a cleaning lady only once a week, this system is imperative in up keeping a clean and vibrant household.

That's where my "Get Organized System" comes in.

Follow these simple steps only 15 minutes a day to have your house organized in 20 days or less. No one plans to fail, we just fail to plan.

1.Make a plan of what needs to be done for the next 14 days.

Write down what supplies you will need such as boxes, containers, trash bags.

2. Start with the highest trafficking area such as your kitchen counter.

Most of the stuff on the counters gets there because we are too lazy to put it in the proper place to begin with.

For the next 15 minutes examine your counters and see if anything can be put away or tossed, such as junk mail, or stuff you no longer need. Don't save it,

TRASH IT.

If you can make your counters clutter free, every time you walk into the kitchen you'll have a feeling of accomplishment.

If your counters are clean, skip to the next day.

3. The Hidden Drawer.

We all have them and they are usually filled with mostly junk that we haven't used and need to toss.

For the next 15 minutes go through each drawer and after you are done tossing all the junk, arrange everything neatly.

Continue to the next drawer until every drawer in your kitchen has been done.

This is a great exercise to do with your teenage kids. I remember once I had three of them doing different drawers, and we were actually done with all of them in half in a hour.

4. Don't forget the cupboards.

Your cabinets need order too.

It's always a good idea to keep your shelves organized by a certain product.

For instance you should have shelves separately for:

Canned goods.

Pasta and Rice.

Cereals and Breakfast Products

Oils and Spices

Keep in mind that you need to organize your shelves in the order

you use them. Place the most frequently used items in the most conveniently used shelf.

5.Now it's time for your Fridge Door.

I love my kids too, but enough with their projects, notes, and all kinds of phone numbers plastered all over the fridge door.

Strip everything from your fridge door and watch your kitchen shine.

This is also a good time to check your freezer and throw away old frozen meats, poultry, etc.

Inside the fridge you should have everything that you will use. Get rid of anything that has been there for over two or three weeks that haven't been used.

6.Your Medicine Cabinet requires attention.

I keep my meds in the kitchen; so I'm attributing this task to go along with my kitchen chores. If your med. cabinet is in your bathroom, skip to the day that we are focusing on the bathroom cabinets.

Going over your medicine requires attention. Check all of the expiration dates on each bottle, and toss the ones that expired.

Check to see that your first aid kit is in tack and make sure you have enough band aids, Neosporin and sun screen on your shelf.

7.Laundry Room.

I'm not sure why, but my kids just love to throw things in the laundry room and shut the door.

Laundry Room is your next destination.

Buy different color bins that stack on top of each other and can be easily pulled out. Store things neatly inside them, such as detergents, rags, and soaps.

Pretty bins and neatly stored items make your laundry room a place you actually want to visit.

8.Your Front Entry.

When my children were small, they would come through the door and throw their back packs all over the front entrance, immediately making the house look like a mess.

It took me a while to find out how I can prevent this from happening, the following method works really well.

Make your child feel special, assign a color to each family member

Buy Nice Looking Bins to place by the door. That way when they get back from school everything going inside their bin.

At this point I would recommend buying everything for that child that has to do with school in the same color. If you find a green notebook laying around the kitchen table, you no longer have to ask everyone who's it is. It can now go back to that green bin by the door.

The best thing about these bins is that they are light, and can be picked up and moved out of site during a dinner party or if you are expecting guests.

9.The Bathroom's.

This drill has to be applied in every bathroom of your home.

Go through drawers and toss everything that's old and spoiled, or not going to be used.

Wiping shelves with baby wipes always makes my cabinets smell fresh.

Your make up drawer needs your attention. Many make up products such lipstick, mascara and liquid foundation go bad quickly and need to be changed frequently to maintain healthy skin.

10. Bills, Holliday Cards and & Reminders.

With on line banking available by every bank, it has never been easier to pay your bills and keep track of everything that's going on with your finances. If you haven't done so already set up your on line banking account today.

1. Buy an expandable filing folder from Staples with dividers for every month. (This is where you keep your paid bills, so when the tax season comes around all the bills are sorted by month and are very easily tracked) Buy another folder, and every time you get a bill in the mail, it goes inside that folder.
2. Every month on the 1st and the 15th, pay all the bills from the bill folder, and file them in the other folder under the appropriate month. Simple enough, right?
3. Birthday's, Anniversaries and Special Occasions. Let's Face it, everyone likes to feel special-it's part of our human nature! Why not develop a personal system that remembers birthdays, family and friends wedding anniversaries and a schedule that sends
4. I have a special folder that is dedicated to all of the warranties for appliances in our home. Within that folder is a calendar that outlines annual check ups, filter replacements, batteries, etc. It also has all of the phone numbers of the people I use to service my appliances, plumbing and repairs.

11. Now you are ready for every room in your home.

Remember it should only take you 15 minutes a day to access and re-organize. If it cannot be done in fifteen minutes break it up in a few days.

Don't go to the next room until the room that you initially started is done.

Trash/Charity/Other

I would imagine that by now you have a pile of "stuff" that you don't know what to do with. This is the time you separate this "stuff" into three piles. Give away to charity, to someone you know can use this, or simply trash the pile. Package accordingly and MOVE IT OUT, remember to always have MOVEMENT; you need to clean it up and take it out.

12. Bedrooms.

Time to declutter your bedside tables and everything that's on top of them. Are you really reading these three books at the same time?

Do you really need two bottles of lotion on your bedside table?

Choose only what's necessary and put the rest away in the appropriate cabinet, drawer in your bathroom, or hide it in the lower shelf in your nightstand.

Remember not to clutter.

13. Closets.

1. Begin with your closet, and do not get overwhelmed.
2. One area of the closet at a time. Start with the shirts, progress to pants, then jackets, etc.
3. Set aside clothes that you haven't worn in two or more years, because chances are that you are not going to wear them. And about these jeans...if you haven't been able to get into them for the last 5 years, give them away or throw them out. If you happen to loose that weight again, you will reward yourself with a new, in style pair. You deserve it.
4. If you are planning to have more kids and would like to store kids clothing, make a box with a label on it describing for example, Girls Clothes ages 7 to 8. That way when you need to locate a box you don't have to go through all of them.

14. Family Room.

The coffee table is not a storage space for your old magazines. Leave one or two on the table, and take the rest to your car to read while your kids are playing soccer, or while you are waiting for an appointment. After you read a magazine, discard appropriately.

This whole process should not take more than two weeks, but should organize your house and put you in a better mood.

This is also a great way to engage your children to help you with keeping the house neat. If you follow this method several times a year, you'll never have to blush again by opening a messy drawer.

Women Over 40 - The Top Threats to Long-Term Dieting Success

It goes without saying that yo-yo dieting sucks. Especially for women over 40, many of who have tried everything and are tired of constantly watching their figures. We've all experienced the joy and elation that comes with a temporary drop in weight, only to realize over the next couple months that you're back to your old habits-and pant size.  Here's a list of what may be repeatedly threatening your hard-earned slim figure, and ways you can fight back.

Problem: Lack of social connections and feelings of attractiveness and sexuality.

Consequence: Women have the tendency to use food as a crutch in emotionally rocky times, which means over-eating and aiming for junk foods-which nixes the possibility of keeping weight off indefinitely.

Solutions: If you're lacking social contacts, extend your circle of acquaintances.  Also reconnect with your current friends and strengthen existing ties.  Most of all, learning to value your personal life and taking time out for yourself can be incredibly rewarding.

Problem: Not getting enough sun.

Consequence: You're missing out on getting the many physical and emotional benefits that the sun provides.

Solutions: Make an effort to go outdoors every day.  Too little sunshine triggers cravings for sweets, so take an afternoon walk instead of a stroll to the kitchen candy drawer.  In the winter, take a trip to the tanning salon.  You can fool your body into believing it was soaked in daylight, giving you what you need even if the weather conditions don't permit.

Problem: Excessive alcohol consumption.

Consequence: Alcohol is double-edged in its health dangers; not only is it high in calories but it stimulates hunger.

Solutions: NEVER drink when you're feeling depressed or having a bad day.  Drink in moderation and only in social situations-and never drink when you're alone.  Or simply abstain from alcoholic beverages altogether.

Problem: Hormone replacements and Medicament side effects

Consequence: Hormone changes that come with age make losing and keeping off weight much more difficult for women over 40.

Solutions: Keep a close eye on how your body reacts to hormone supplements and Medicaments.  If you suddenly gain weight, consult your doctor immediately.  Weight gain is a common side-effect of medication so try to get as much information about drugs you may be taking or looking to take.

Problem: Errors in Nutrition.

Consequences: After 40, a woman's body begin to store fat much more efficiently, so poor eating habits can be extra costly.

Solutions: Be aware of what you are eating and try to be portion-conscious.  

The best foods to aim for are fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and lean meats. Read nutrition facts or even buy a calorie-counting guide for unprocessed items. Knowing what you are eating can be the key to permanent dieting success. Making a more long-term lifestyle change will be most effective in keeping weight off. Simply cutting out certain fatty foods won't do it; there is a whole learning process behind getting and staying fit. The most important part is learning to be self-analytical. Figuring out what triggers your over-eating will be the first step towards reigning yourself in. So put the crash dieting books in your local library's donation bin and get on track to slimming down-this time for good!

Self Esteem Was in My Jeans!

Did you know that it's possible to get your self-esteem back with a pair of jeans?

It's true!

If you're a woman suffering from "an over 40 syndrome", your groove can be fully restored simply by obtaining the right pair of jeans. And if you have a loving and devoted daughter, you don't even have to go shopping for them.

Before I tell you how I came to this conclusion, I have a confession to make - I don't like to shop. With my Type A personality, I have absolutely no patience for schlepping from one store to the next, trying on clothes and hoping to make them all match and look good. It's fun for the first 15 minutes, then I get frustrated and bored. Shopping for a size four, six or even eight, might be different. But shopping for my size (10 - 12) poses challenges that I just don't care to deal with.

By now, many of you have heard that I had shoulder surgery, a relatively minor operation that came with a "bitch of a recovery." Not being able to take pain medication, I was incoherent half of the time. As a result, I made the dumb decision to step onto the scale two days after surgery. Thank goodness my daughter was standing next to me. Otherwise I would have fallen off the scale and broken every rib in my body on the hard tile floor.

I couldn't believe my eyes! Twelve freaking pounds up? Where did they come from in such a short amount of time? Is that even possible? I understand I had surgery. I know about fluid retention. And I even understand the delicacy of my age and the Fabulously 40 syndrome. But come on, people. Twelve pounds?

I'm not exactly a twig to begin with. So even if it was just water retention, 12 additional pounds made me look like a close relative of Shamu. So in addition to my physical pain from the surgery, I now had this emotional upset around my new "weight issue."

Of course, my husband and children assured me that everything would turn out okay and that I would return to normal in a few days. Nevertheless, I felt teary and sad, and even called my mom to complain. She thought I was insane for getting on the scale and proceeded to tell me so. (Mom, I'm looking for solution here, not a lecture...)

Transformation It used to be that my daughter shopped for clothes in my closet. But lately, our roles have reversed. She doesn't hesitate to get "upfront and personal" about what clothes I should buy, and she often brings me outfits from her closet that she thinks I need to wear.

So the day after my trauma on the scale, my daughter marched into my room, dumped a stack of jeans on my bed, and insisted I try them on. My arm wasn't working and I couldn't squeeze into a pair of jeans for the life of me, so she agreed to let me wait a day.

The following day rolled around and I gathered my courage to face the pile jeans. Slowly I began packing myself into the jeans, and as I did, an amazing thing happened. One by one, each pair looked better than the one before. Shocked, surprised and very pleased, I wondered, "Had I somehow shed the extra poundage as quickly as it latched on to me?" I jumped back on the scale and discovered that not only had I lost the 12 pounds put on after the surgery, I had somehow managed to lose three more.

Now ladies, I don't care if it's surgery, water retention or whatever -- 15 pounds in four days is a lot. But as I stood in front of the mirror, it quickly became irrelevant because I looked great in those jeans! In no time at all, my smile returned, my self-esteem shot sky high, and I felt so good that I just had to write about it.

I mean, who knew that so much self-esteem could be found in the jeans that reside in your daughter's closet. Heck, I may even take up shopping. Either way, it brings a whole new meaning to being Fabulous after forty.

The Vintage Dolls Of The Remco Company

Remco was a doll company which was founded by Sol Robbins in the 1940s and was short-lived after it was acquired by Azrak-Hamway International Inc. in 1964. Subsequently in 1997, the company was acquired by Jakks Pacific which overtook the operations of Remco and Child Guidance from Azrak-Hamway International. There is not much information about the company but it had made quality collectible toys which even include The Beatles and other celebrity doll characters.

Remco dolls' size ranges from 5 inches to as tall 20 inches. Its first doll collection was the Littlechap Family which consisted of four fashion dolls that wore Hollywood style outfits and were a bit bigger in size than the Barbie. Remco also marketed the dolls through Sears catalogues.

Then they introduced the 5-inch Heidi and Jan dolls that were marketed with pocketbook made of plastic cases. The dolls also featured a voice box which says "Hi" when a button located in her tummy is pushed. The dolls also came with a set of wardrobe and accessories. It also launched a version of Heidi and Jan which had the winking and growing features. The Pocketbook series also had other characters namely Billy, Herby, Hildy, Pip, and Spunky.

Soon after, they launched an animal fashion doll line with the characters TV Jones and Pussy Meow. They came in plastic cases which looked like television sets. The animal characters also came with their own set of costumes. Other animal characters were Ellie Elephant, Hana Hippo, and Patsy Panda. The 5.5-inch finger puppets named Finger Dings were also introduced which were composed of vinyl head, torso, and arms. Since these are finger puppets, it did not come with its own legs since your two fingers will serve as its legs once you insert them in their leotard leg costume.

In 1964, the company manufactured the 5-inch tall plastic or rubber body doll with rubber heads and mohair wig for The Beatles. Each of the character has an instrument in their hands which were painted black with gold edges and highlights. This doll set is not only sought after by doll collectors but also by fanatics of The Beatles. Nonetheless, Remco also came up with other celebrity dolls such as The Dave Clark Five, Jeannie of the "I Dream of Jeannie" hit TV show, and Laurie Partridge of "The Partridge Family."

There were also other popular toys and dolls created by Remco which includes Tippy Tumbles, Li'l Winking Herby Hippy, the crying baby doll named Sweet April, and also the singing 20-inch doll named Mimi. The Remco dolls are great to collect since their vinyl dolls were mostly created with the image of entertainment personalities.

Collecting Vintage Composition Novelty Dolls

Doll collectors who are interested in starting a vintage novelty composition doll collection, one name stands out to be one of the best in this field. The composition dolls of Ralph A. Freundlich which was previously known as the Jeanette Doll Company are definitely a worthy batch to acquire. The company started making dolls in 1923 until it filed for bankruptcy 1945. Ralph A. Freundlich started its operations in New York City and relocated it in 1934 to Clinton, Massachusetts. The composition doll types that were manufactured include celebrity doll, mama dolls, military dolls, baby dolls, and fairytale character dolls.

Most of the dolls, however, are not marked and may be hard for some collectors to identify which dolls were made by the company. A book published by Doll Collectors of America, Inc. entitled "Doll Collectors Manual 1967" contained photos of the operations that occurred in Freundlich's Clinton factory and would also be a nifty addition to the doll collection.

Nevertheless, here are some of the dolls that were produced by the company Ralph Freundlich to help collectors identify and acquire some of their creations:

1) Trixbe (1932) - This 9.5-inch tall was made of all composition which was jointed in 5 sections. It had painted blue eyes, molded painted yellow hair, and painted facial features.

2) Little Red Riding Hood (1934) - The doll measured 9 and ¾ tall and was still made of all composition body parts. It had molded painted hair and painted facial features and had a bent right arm. This series is not complete without the other famous characters of the story namely Big Bad Wolf and Grandma.

3) Three Little Pigs (1935) - Still an all composition doll, it stood 9 ¾ inches tall and came with a bent right arm, molded painted hair and were still jointed in 5 sections.

4) Goo Goo Eva (1937) - The dolls come in versions of 19, 20, and 27 inches tall and had a composition head with molded painted yellow hair and a pair of big rounded eyes. Its pupil can roll around and it had a tiny closed mouth. It was one of their doll models which had doll body, limbs, and arms made of cloth. It also had an African American version named Goo Goo Topsy.

5) General Douglas MacArthur (1942) - Patterned after the famous general of World War II, the 18-inch tall doll was made of all composition parts with had painted facial features, molded military hat, and wore a military green uniform. The doll also had a hang tag which are similar to the other soldier dolls with the title of Frank Loesser's song "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition."

Children and Illness: The Main Reasons That Kids Miss School

Many parents can probably relate to having a child who seems to be sick all the time. Often times, parents find themselves wondering why their kids get sick so often. They may even feel like their kids are sick more often than other people's children. The reality, however, is that most kids get sick several times a year, particularly when they are younger.

Regardless of whether your kids are in daycare centers, school, or with other child care providers, it is important to remember that children, in general, are carriers of a variety of infectious illnesses that are easily passed around. The illnesses that most commonly cause kids to miss school are discussed here.

Stomach Flu

Also known as viral gastroenteritis, the stomach flu can develop after coming into contact with someone who is already infected with the virus or after eating or drinking food or beverages that have been contaminated. This is one of those illnesses that simply must run its course because there are no known treatments.

The most common symptoms of stomach flu are vomiting and diarrhea, so it is important to ensure that kids stay properly hydrated while they are sick. They also need to get plenty of rest and should return to a normal diet very gradually.

The Common Cold

When kids cough or sneeze without covering their mouths and noses, infected droplets cause the common cold to be a rapidly spreading menace. Of course, there are still no cures for colds, so the best thing parents can do for their kids is help them get through these unpleasant periods of time. Keep in mind that as a general rule, cold medications are not recommended for children, particularly very young ones, so only use them if suggested by your doctor.

When kids have a cold, the best things to do are give them plenty of fluids and let them get a lot of rest.

Sore Throat

Viruses cause most sore throats, and they are usually accompanied by a cough and a runny nose. If a fever is present, however, it is important that you take your child to the doctor right away, as it is possible that strep throat could be the culprit. Strep throat has to be treated with antibiotics, so do not delay calling the doctor if even just a small fever is present.

In addition to making sure children with sore throats get plenty of rest, they should also try to drink lots of fluids and get as much rest as possible. It will be particularly helpful for them to give their voices a break, so encourage limited (or no) cell phone use for a while.

Ear Infections

These are also caused by viral infections. In many instances, ear infections start out as colds and gradually develop into an infection as fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Because these are viral in nature, antibiotics do not help to clear them up any sooner, so the best thing to do is wait them out.

It usually only takes a few days for this type of infection to clear up. In the meantime, contact your doctor to find out his recommended course of treatment, which may include pain relievers or ear drops.

ADHD Teens: What the EF! Executive Functions Skill: Goal-Directed Persistence

Executive functions (EF) skills are skills required to help perform or accomplish everyday life tasks. These skills are controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain just behind the forehead. The frontal lobes are the last areas of the brain to fully develop. Executive functions skills begin to develop in infancy and continue to mature into early adulthood.

Goal-directed persistence is an executive functions skill. It is the capacity or drive to follow through to the completion of a goal and not to be put off by other demands or competing interests. (Dawson, Peg, and Richard Guare. Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention. 2nd. The Guilford Press, 2010. Print. )

You may not realize that you have used goal-directed persistence many times. You used it when playing with toys (i.e., LEGOs®), learning to make your bed, brushing your teeth, playing a sport, finishing a long-term project, etc. Remember when you were learning to tie your shoes? You wanted to tie your shoes all by yourself. They were steps to be learned. The steps had to be performed in a certain order. You willingly practiced over and over. You persisted until that one special day it all came together and you tied your shoes all by yourself!

Even after you were first able to tie your shoes by yourself, once in a while frustration would set in if tying your shoes didn't always happen on the first try. In spite of this frustration you stuck with the task that you completed it. You able to rely on your memory and self talk to get to the process of successfully tying your shoes.

When a teen has difficulties with goal-directed persistence, it can be hard for them to:

• complete a homework assignment
• finish a chore
• read a novel
• start a task
• stick with a task that is boring (to the teen)
• get back to a task if they get interrupted (by themselves or others)
• delay gratification (i.e., save money over a certain period of time for something specific)

We can help our teens strengthen their executive functions skill of goal-directed persistence by using the following strategy, PERSIST:

Purpose of goal

Establish steps to goal

Reward yourself as steps are accomplished along the way

Schedule time to work on steps to goal in planner

Increase effort when a step is challenging