10 FRIENDS EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE

 

10 FRIENDS EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE

1. The Style Guru – Everyone needs someone to help them figure out what exactly qualifies as appropriate attire for that “black-tie optional” wedding. Girls need a second pair of eyes to confirm that overpriced outfit makes them look 10 pounds lighter. And guys, whether you know it or not, you do need that metrosexual friend to tell you those jean were outlawed in the 90’s and it’s okay to drop a hundred bucks on the ones you should be wearing.

2. Mr./Ms. Fix It – That book shelf looked awesome in the store but you neglected to read the fine print that said “self-assemble.” Who ya gonna call?… your buddy that actually reads the directions or your girlfriend that buys all her furniture at IKEA because she thinks putting it together makes a fun Saturday afternoon!

3. The Good Time Gal (or Guy) – You know that one perpetually single (but never alone) friend who always knows what’s going on in town on any given night of the week. Who better to call when you’re board and itching for something to do? And this life-of-the-party friend will never let you show up alone either!
4. The Health Nut – For the moments when you suddenly decide to use your gym membership and clean the “ready-in-minutes” delicacies out of your freezer and off of your waistline, you know you can count on this friend to pass on some recipes and tell you how to turn on the elliptical machine without looking like an idiot.

5. The Listener – Everyone has had one of those days when you just need to vent and everything seems to get better. Call the friend who can calmly listen and offer advise or at least tell you that you are, of course, right!

6. The Do-It-Yourself’er – There are times this friend might make you look bad or like a slacker, but they sure are nice to have around when you need those pants hemmed at the last minute… or are attempting to bake a cake from scratch to impress your sweetie.
7. The Culture Guru – This friend keeps you up to speed on the latest and greatest… be it the art exhibit in town, where the up and coming bands are playing, or the best places for wine tastings. Not only does this friend keep you in the loop but after hanging with them, you’ll sound like you know what you’re talking about too.

8. The Health Professional – Yet another sinus infection welcomes you to spring. You know what it is you get it every year, but your doctor still wants 3 hours of your busy day and your $50 co-pay. This is when it helps to have a friend with the power to call your prescription in!

9. The Legal Adviser – We all need legal advise at one point or another. Maybe you have issues at work and you’re not sure how to handle them… or maybe you had a little too much fun last Saturday night. This friend has got your back, and they love to talk law… ego boost for them, free advise for you!

10. The Travel Buddy – There’s always one friend in the bunch who is always on the go. You don’t know where the funds come from but they are always taking off to explore a new place. Whether you join them for a trip or tips on the best restaurants at your vacation destination, everyone needs this friend around when it’s time to escape from reality for a while!

HOW TO RAISE AN OLYMPIAN

 

HOW TO RAISE AN OLYMPIAN

Set a good example
It may sound obvious but kids learn what they see everyday. When they see you setting goals and working toward them, they will learn to do the same. Let your kids see how passionate you are about what you do everyday… and if you aren’t passionate about what you do, find something to be passionate about!

Subtly seek out your child’s strengths
Keep your eyes open for early emergence of talent and skills, but don’t force it. Expose them to lots of different activities without enrolling them in an overwhelming array of classes and activities. Let them be themselves and see what passions of their own begin to evolve.
Don’t let kids give up
Encourage them to keep reaching for their goals. Olympic parents have had to support their children through victory AND defeat. At one point or another they will undoubtedly need to be reminded that their success depends on the ability to get back up and keep going.

Keep their egos in check
On the other hand, there will also be times they need to be reminded that no matter how successful they are still human beings. Remind them that you are proud of them but no matter how many victories they see, they still have to do their chores! Successful athletes at any level are often put on a petal stool by the team, friend, and even the community… it’s up to you, the parent to keep it in perspective!

Believe in Your Child
If you don’t, who will? There will be coaches and teachers along the way who may not have the best things to say about your young athlete… but if you stand behind your child their confidence will grow. With confidence comes increased effort and eventually success. If you believe in them, they will learn to believe in themselves.
“You don’t have to raise gold metal winners to be a successful parent. As long as you encourage kids to seek their highest potential and support them wholeheartedly along the way, you have done your job.”

~ author of Mom-In-Chief

ROMANTIC GESTURES GONE WRONG

Did you Valentine's Day not go as expected??  Check out these Romantic Gestures Gone Wrong:

Mixed Emotions
Like an astrological anomaly, on Valentine’s Day 1981, I found myself dating three different guys. I thought I would be so clever and send each of them a box of homemade heart-shaped brownies with a note tucked inside the box. The flaw in my plan was mixing up the inside notes and the outside addresses. By February 15, I didn’t have to worry about juggling three guys! ~Mary

Caught Red-Rose Handed
One Valentine’s Day, I decided to sneak out of work early and surprise my boyfriend with dinner. My boss thought it was a great idea and decided to do the same. We left work together and since he had full hands, I offered to help and he handed me the roses he was taking to his girlfriend. As we walked out laughing, my boyfriend showed up to surprise me at work. He was convinced that I was slipping out early with my boss. He through the flowers in my face and moved out the next day. ~Kathy

Bubbling Over with Romance
For Valentine’s Day my husband surprised me with a stay at a nice hotel. Our room was complete with a fireplace, Jacuzzi and a balcony overlooking the waterfall. We poured champaign in our glasses and bubble bath in the Jacuzzi to begin our romantic evening. Within seconds we were enveloped by a wall of suds! We spent the rest of the evening gathering suds in a sheet and tossing them into the waterfall. The next morning we went to eat at the waterfall cafe… there was our mountain of suds at the bottom of the waterfall! ~Marta

What a Rock!
Many years ago my husband Josh and I lived in an apartment with a balcony off the master bedroom. One night, he took our dog for a walk while I watched TV in the bedroom. Shortly after he left, I heard what sounded like a gunshot… I started screaming! Josh came running in to calm me down. He said he’d always wanted to try tossing a rock at the window, like a scene from Romeo and Juliet. We kept the rock. ~Joanne

Mistaken Identity
One Valentine’s Day, I went to where my boyfriend’s car was parked at his job. Armed with a marker that wrote on glass, silly string, and balloons, I proceeded to mark his vehicle with words of my undying love. I waited all afternoon for his phone call. When he got home I asked him how his day at work had been. He said that a strange thing had happened to a woman’s car in the parking lot! ~Barbara

Real or Fake?? Either way it sucks...

This video shows one of those guy proposes at the sporting event moments. This huge N.Y. Rangers hockey fan supposedly proposed during the Rangers game on Valentine’s Day. I say supposedly because a lot of these are faked by the home team, so they can shock their crowd. Fake or reality? You decide.

Things Guys Wish Women Knew About Men

Shaunti Fledhahn, author of "For Women Only:  What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men," offers these things guys wish women knew about men:

1) Men would rather feel unloved than inadequate or disrespected

2) A man's anger is often a response to feeling disrepected by his lady

3) Men feel the burden of being the provider for their family

4) Muffin making means more than just muffin making

5) Men enjoy romance but doubt their skills to be romantic

6) Men want their wives to know how much they love them

Do you know anyone with really bad habits at the office?

 Do you know anyone with really bad habits at the office?  What your bad habits are really saying from a CareerBuilder.com article:

• Bad Habit: Missing deadlines. What you think: "If it's only a little late, it doesn't mean anything." What it really says: Your colleagues and boss can't count on you. What to do: Don't view deadlines as negotiable. Remind yourself that people are counting on you to do your job well, which includes completing tasks on time. Even if you just barely missed the deadline and everything turned out OK, you probably caused your teammates a lot of anxiety and extra work, which they won't forget.
• Bad Habit: Dressing unprofessionally. What you think: "I'm the office free spirit with a quirky sense of style!" What it really says: You don't take the job seriously. What to do: You don't have to be a boring dresser to be professional, but you shouldn't look like you're about to go clubbing or strutting down a runway. Take a cue from your co-workers to see what's considered acceptable in the office.
• Bad Habit: Not being punctual. What you think: "As long as I get all my work in, nobody cares." What it really says: You think your time is more important than everybody else's. What to do: Stick to the schedule. Everyone in your office would like to sleep in a little or leave early, but they don't because people rely on them to be on time.
• Bad Habit: Checking your e-mail, playing games, shopping. What you think: "I'm discreet." What it really says: You're not doing your job. What to do: Keep the fun stuff to a minimum. Most employers don't mind if you check your e-mail every once in awhile or read your favorite blog for a few minutes in the morning. They begin to care when you minimize that game of Scrabulous every time they walk by your desk. You're being paid to work, not play.
• Bad Habit: Gossiping. What you think: "I'm just saying what I heard." What it really says: You can't be trusted. What to do: Sure, everybody gossips a little here and there, but it shouldn't be your livelihood. Eventually you'll gain a reputation for not keeping anything confidential –whether it's a personal matter or work-related. Plus, your chattering could end up hurting somebody's feelings or reputation.
• Bad Habit: Being negative. What you think: "Everybody complains." What it really says: You're the person to avoid. What to do: It's natural to grumble about work once in awhile. If you gripe and moan when you're asked to do anything, however, people will not only get annoyed, they'll wonder why you don't just quit. Keep in mind that work isn't always fun; keep the complaints to a minimum.
• Bad Habit: Trying to be everybody's best friend. What you think: "I'm just sociable." What it really says: You don't know how to set boundaries. What to do: It's not uncommon for friendships to develop at work, but don't expect it to happen with everybody. Unless you have reason to do otherwise, treat your superiors, colleagues and subordinates like professionals, not like drinking buddies.