I don’t like using the start of the calendar year to make resolutions. I never have. That is why I won’t be making any New Year’s Resolutions. Unlike Calvin in the comic strip here, I don’t think I’m perfect. There are a few things that I could improve upon. That is why I’ve decided to set…

I started this tradition two years ago when I wrote the post Top 9 albums of ’09 and continued it last year with the Top 10 Albums of 2010. So I guess I need to compile the Top 11 Albums of 2011. The problem is that I listened to a lot of mix tapes and podcasts this…

I’ve always wondered about Christmas trees. The entire idea seems quite ridiculous. Cut down a tree, bring it inside, and adorn it with shiny things. Why do we do this exactly? Well, here’s a great poster that might shed some light on the subject (pardon the pun) There are a lot of interesting facts and…

Is that true? Do beautiful girls need to hear that they are beautiful? And if so, how do we do that? I’ve wanted to compliment women before on their beauty but I’ve often been afraid of the reception I’d get. I don’t want to make someone feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to put forth unwanted…

It really annoys me when a store goes out of business, everything gets cleaned out, the store is left vacant, and the owners fail to do this one simple thing. I can’t tell you how many times I have been driving and noticed a store that I’d like to visit. Sometimes, the store is inside…

Welcome to another edition of Teaching Tip Tuesday! Today, we welcome Amber Barnes to the community of teachers who read, contribute, and enjoy this weekly series. There are over one hundred useful tips, tricks, and lesson plans in the archive. If you have something you’d like to contribute, please contact me. Teachers helping teachers is…

I love peanut butter. I always have. As a kid, I refused to eat anything else for lunch. It had to be a peanut butter sandwich. My mom always threw an apple in my lunch box, a granola bar, a few cookies, and a thermos of juice. That was all I needed. Now that I am an adult,…

Choosing and preparing healthy lunches that your kids will actually enjoy can be quite a challenge. They have to be easy to make, portable, healthy and tasty? That’s a tall order. Fortunately, your children aren’t likely to be gourmands who need a lot of variety for their palette, and a few basic lunch ideas can…

DOPEfm.mypodcast.com has been our podcast provider now for years. We have hundreds of shows . . .  dating all the way back to November 2008. It’s been comforting to know that the shows are online and accessible at any time. Unfortunately, I got this email earlier this month. We must regretfully inform you that effective…