What Steven Cousley Does

Children’s Birthday Parties Should be Fun for Kids

Latest research reveals that an average of 95 percent of American kids under 10 years have celebrated a birthday party and can tell you outrightly that kid’s birthday parties should be fun for kids.

But how can a kid’s birthday party be fun and exciting?

Here is a list of some kids birthday party ideas from party experts and ecstatic mothers that can surely make your kid’s birthday party is a success.

 Allow a kid to plan a party for kids.

Do not take this idea literally and leave a child to plan alone for the party, instead, what it means is that to get a child involved in the planning process. A child’s concept of fun is a primary ingredient in planning for a successful party, especially since they are the main focus of the party itself.

Do away with the concept of making your own rules for the party or aiming to have the house remain clean even after the party. But with a child involved in the planning process, not only will you get good ideas for kids to enjoy, but you can also get that bargaining edge and get their cooperation for things that you may want to keep in order during the party.

Plan for a manageable childrens birthday party.

Try to limit the number of guests by considering the ratio of child –to –adult ratio, especially when trying to manage the party itself. Do take note that children are an active and restless lot and having some adults along, especially parents of the guests, may prove helpful in times of disorder and active play.

Also you may try to plan for kids birthday party activities involving parent and child, that way, everybody in the party can also have fun.

Childrens Birthday Party Themes

Popular themes, be it favorite characters of the birthday child from a cartoon show, a book or a comic hero – it will create a more interesting and creative way to celebrate the party.

Kid’s birthday parties themes are intended to be fun and creative, so decorating the house with a themed backdrop or guests asked to come in costume, could be a fun and exciting way to drive interest among the kids and have them enjoy activities as well.

Kids birthday party activities

Kids enjoy it most when they are preoccupied with activities and games that will keep them moving around and have them spend their energy on the games and activities, rather than have them sit down and get bored for the whole duration of the party.

Keeping the party to a maximum of one hour should be enough, since you will also need the time to tidy up after the party. Think about it, the shorter the party time, the less mess you will likely clean up after the party.

Plan for more activities, instead of just having enough party games during the event. If you have time for 3 games, make it a point to think of two more events as a contingency plan.

There are certain activities that may be too tiring to conduct after a previous one, so with a contingency event ready, you may be able to make the necessary changes whenever necessary.

Remember to Have Fun!

After all, this is the ultimate end for any children’s birthday party, so make the most out of it and enjoy.
Kid’s birthday parties should be fun for kids.

6 Reasons to Buy Whole Life Insurance or Term Life Insurance
Securing quality term or whole life insurance coverage is
important, especially if there are people in your life
whose financial stability depends on your income. Many
financial experts even consider life insurance to be the
foundation of sound financial planning. Find out six
reasons why you should purchase whole life insurance or
term life insurance to protect your family and loved ones.

1. Income for Dependents
If people in your life depend on your income for financial
support, having a whole life insurance or term life
insurance policy in place will protect them in the event of
your death. Life insurance can replace your income for your
dependents so they aren’t left bearing the financial burden
of an income lost through death. This applies most often to
parents with young children, but is also applicable to
couples if the death of one partner would leave the
survivor financially stricken. If your parents, adult
children, or siblings are your dependents, life insurance
can also provide replacement income to benefit them. And,
if your surviving spouse or domestic partner’s government
or employer-sponsored benefits will see a reduction after
your death, having life insurance to replace your income
can definitely be useful.

2. Coverage for Final Expenses
Funeral and burial costs can be expensive, but your life
insurance can cover the costs. Carefully planned life
insurance will also provide funds to cover mortgages and
other expenses. Debts and medical expenses not covered by
health insurance can also be covered by your life
insurance. Life insurance offers protection to the
dependents you leave behind, since it can sometimes be
utilized as a cash resource.

3. Create Inheritance
Life insurance can allow you to create an inheritance for
your immediate relatives or heirs. Even if you don’t have
any other significant assets to pass onto your surviving
family or loved ones, you can create an inheritance by
naming your heirs as beneficiaries in your life insurance
policy.

4. Pay Estate Taxes
Rather than leaving your surviving family to take a smaller
inheritance or do away with some assets, have a quality
life insurance policy in place so the benefits can pay
estate taxes. Some life insurance plans provide tax free
cash that can be used to pay estate taxes and death duties.

5. Create Source of Savings
Your life insurance can become a sort of savings plan since
some types of insurance can create a cash value that is
available for withdrawal upon the owner’s request. Another
benefit of this “forced” savings plan is that the interest
credited is tax deferred, and if the money is paid as a
death claim, the interest can be tax exempt (www.iii.org).

6. Make Charitable Contribution
By naming a charity as a beneficiary of your life
insurance, you can make a larger contribution than if you
donated the cash equivalent of your policy’s premiums.
Donating a term life insurance policy allows you to deduct
the cost of the premiums from your taxes. And, if you
donate a whole life policy, you can deduct the cash value
of the policy and the cost of the whole life insurance
premiums. In both cases, after you die, the charity you
select gets the insurance policy proceeds.

Plan ahead and ensure that you have a quality life
insurance plan in place to protect your family.

—————————————————-
Ryan Patterson is president of US Insurance Online, based
in Austin, TX. He graduated in 2000 from the University of
Texas with a combined business and computer science degree,
and started US Insurance Online in May of 2005 with fellow
entrepreneur Jim Waltrip. Visit
http://www.USInsuranceOnline.com for help shopping for
insurance and for free insurance quotes.

History of Mother’s Day

Although the dates may vary, most countries around the world have a special day of the year for a celebration of motherhood. In the United Kingdom the day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday, and may also be known as Mothering Day. Most westernised countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. Other countries may use a different day, depending on local traditions.

In the UK, the practice is believed to have Christian origins and started in the 16^th century. It was a day chosen for all Christians to visit their mother church, which resulted in families being reunited with their mothers annually. It’s believed many apprentices and servants were released for the weekend to have time for visiting families.

In the United States, the day is believed to have it’s origins after the American Civil War. Julia Ward Howe wrote the “Mothers Day Proclamation” as a call for peace and unity for women against war. However Ward failed in her attempt for formal recognition of a Mother’s Day for Peace. In 1907, Anna Jarvis began her crusade for a formal day in recognition of women, with the first such day being held in the state of Virginia on the 10^th May, 1908. From there, the custom caught on and quickly spread to the states and then to other western countries. In much of the world this special day for women has become heavily commercialised.

Gift Ideas For Mother’s Day

In recent times, Mother’s Day has become a time for pampering the family matriarch. Breakfast in bed is a common practice followed by gift giving. Common gift ideas include flowers, chocolates, jewellery and perfumes. Some other gift suggestions are as follows

• a gift hamper, put the hamper together yourself for a more personal touch

• fashion accessories, such as handbags, scarves or shoes

• scented candles or incense

• a special experience such as a balloon flight, bungee jumping or skydiving

• a visit to a spa or beauty salon

• appliances

• a professional massage

Whatever gift or method of celebrating is chosen, most of us only have one mother. This is their special day, make it one to remember

I’ve just discovered another piece of quality Wayne Carey related “journalism”. Be warned folks, there are no startling revelations, just a piece based on sloppy research. This particular story appeared in “The Daily Advertiser” and is attributed to journalist Sally Post. The Advertiser is the local newspaper in Wayne’s home town Wagga Wagga. The story is based on the now famous Andrew Denton “Enough Rope” interview. You can read the Sally Post article at this link Carey tells his side.

After reading the Advertiser story, I have to wonder if their journalist even saw the Denton interview. If they did, it seems to have gone way over their head. Sally makes the ridiculous claim that Wayne saw little of his father between the ages of 6 and 13. She somehow manages to quote Wayne as saying “I moved from Adelaide back to Wagga when I was 13 and didn’t see much of my mum after that”.

For the sake of Sally Post and others interested, here is a link to the transcript from the Enough Rope interview. Please read the whole thing. Andrew Denton “Enough Rope”

Now Sally, as you apparently hail from Wagga Wagga, you should have no trouble confirming these few simple facts. Wayne commenced his football career with North Wagga Saints Under 10’s in 1979. He played in the junior ranks in Wagga for several years, representing NSW in the Under 12’s. That doesn’t seem to gel with the story you have written Sally. The facts (as revealed by the Denton interview) are that Wayne lived with his father in Wagga between the ages of 7 and 13. He then returned to Adelaide. Sally Post, you have it backwards.

Oh, and one more thing Sally. Wayne does not have a sister named Kelly. You might have that confused with a different story.

It’s fascinating how fate (if you believe in such things) apparently dumps things right in your lap just at the appropriate moment. I suppose that itself could be a bit of joke by the higher power/s. Over the past couple of days I’ve had some online correspondence from a blonde cousin that I’ve had no contact with for well over 30 years. She was responding to one of the other articles posted on this blog. Today one of the mailing lists I subscribe too sent me this good blonde joke, entirely at random. Well, I was amused, but that’s just my opinion. Here’s the joke :-

A blonde went out to her mail box and looked in, closed the door and went back in the house. A few minutes later she went out and looked in the mail box again. She did this several times and her neighbour who was watching her said “you must be expecting a very important letter today the way you keep looking into your mail box.”
The blonde answered, “No, I am working on my computer and it keeps telling me that I have mail.”