Pick Your Pet Wisely – Sure he’s cute, but that doesn’t mean he’s the right pet. Visit with a trained Adoption Counselor or breeder and find out all you can about his individual personality and the characteristic traits of his breed. If possible, meet his parents. Then decide if this particular pup is the right one. If not, keep looking!

Train AND Socialize Your Pet – A well trained dog is more reliable. In addition, give your pet the opportunity to get used to lots of different people, places and things. This process called socialization will help your dog to feel at ease and therefore less likely to bite.

Neuter Your Pet – It’s a fact. NEUTERED DOGS ARE LESS LIKELY TO BITE! And, your dog will live a healthier life.

Give Your Pet A Proper Home – Whenever possible, DO NOT chain your dog. Provide adequate fencing to keep your pet in – and others out! A crate inside the house or a doghouse in the backyard, will give your pet a private place to “get away” from stressful situations.

Keep Your Pet Healthy – A sick animal can be unpredictable. Keep vaccinations up to date and take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.

Next Tuesday we’ll talk about tips to keep a dog from biting you!

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Linked up with Random Tuesday Thoughts

Need a minute, Mom? God ahead and take it. But read this first to find out how to grab “me” time and get the most from it.

Pick your priorities.

Your time is limited, so choose what you really want to do. Whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a cup of tea or exercising, give this time the same importance as the time you spend taking care of your children.

Block out one afternoon just for you.

Then, get out of the house. Because sometimes you need time to think and enjoy the company of yourself. (And sometimes it’s about enjoying the company of a friend.)

Feeling guilty? That’s a good start.

Although there’s nothing wrong with taking time for yourself, don’t be surprised if you feel guilty at first. Try thinking about that feeling for awhile; then let it pass. Not only will this time help you feel more refreshed, but being more relaxed is good for your children, too.

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Have you ever thought about what you should do with the unused medication sitting in your medicine cabinet? You need to be sure to go through them and check the expiration date so you will know which ones you need to get rid of. It’s not a good idea to flush them down the toilet, pour them into the sink or randomly throw them in the trash. Here are some steps you can take in order to dispose of unused medications properly. This applies to over the counter medications and will help keep our planet healthy.

• DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain.
• To ensure protection of people and pets: a) Pour medication into a sealable bag. If medication is a solid, crush it or add water to dissolve it. b) Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, or a similar material to the plastic bag. c) Seal the plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.

Hat Tip: www.smarxtdisposal.net and www.nebraskameds.org

Last Week: Screen-Free Activities With the Kids

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Turn off the TV, and…

1. Make paper bag costumes and have a parade.
2. Design a poster for a local contest in your community.
3. Discover your community center or local park activities.
4. Blow Bubbles.
5. Mark and color on a calendar.
6. Build a fort in the living room and camp out one night.
7. Research your family history and draw a family tree.
8. Invent a new game and teach it to your friends and family.
9. Make a sign to tape across the TV during TV-Turnoff Week.
10. Play hopscotch, hide & seek or freeze-tag.
11. Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt.
12. Play board games with family and friends.
13. Clean-up or redecorate your room.
14. Make puppets out of old clean socks and have a puppet show.
15. Write a play with friends. Perform it at a nursing home.
16. Construct a kite. Fly it.
17. Go on a family trip or historical excursion.
18. In the snow, go sledding or make a snowman.
19. Create a collage out of pictures from old magazines.
20. Shoot hoops with friends. Play a round of H.O.R.S.E.
21. Make a friendship bracelet.
22. Draw pictures of members of your family.
23. Tell stories around a camp fire.
24. Plan a slumber party.
25. Bake cakes or cookies and invite friend for a tea party.
26. Construct a miniature boat and float it on water.
27. Write a letter to your grandparents. Make a special card.
28. Create sidewalk art with chalk.
29. Everyone!!! Have a huge party to celebrate being SCREEN-FREE!!!

Last Week: Screen-Free Activities in Your Community

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Turn off the TV, and…

1. Organize a community clean-up or volunteer for charity.
2. Become a tutor.
3. Join a choir. Sing!
4. Start a bowling league.
5. visit and get to know your neighbors.
6. Start a fiction or public policy book group.

Last Week: Screen-Free Activities On the Move

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Turn off the TV, and…

1. Go roller skating or ice skating.
2. Go swimming. Join a community swim team.
3. Start a community group that walks, runs or bikes.
4. Organize a game of touch football, baseball or softball in the local park.
5. Go for a bicycle ride.
6. Learn yoga.
7. Play soccer, softball or volleyball.
8. Play Frisbee.
9. Workout.
10. Go dancing. Take a dance class.

Last Week: Screen-Free Activities Around Town

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Linked Up w/ Random Tuesday Thoughts

Turn off the TV, and…

1. Attend a community concert. Listen to a local band.
2. Visit the library. Borrow some books.
3. Visit a local bookstore.
4. Visit the zoo.
5. Visit the countryside or town. Travel by bus or train.
6. Attend a religious service.
7. Walk to work or school.
8. Attend a live sports event.
9. Look for treasures at a yard sale.
10. Try out for a play. Attend a play.
11. Collect recycling and drop it off at a recycling center.
12. Learn to play a musical instrument.
13. Go to a museum.

Last Week: Screen-Free Activities Outdoors

Now it’s your turn – drop a tip in the jar!

Turn off the TV, and…

1. Learn about native trees and flowers in your area.
2. Plan a picnic or barbecue.
3. Go bird watching. Learn names of local birds.
4. Walk the dog. Wash the dog.
5. Plant a garden. Work in your garden.
6. Take a nature hike.
7. Feed fish or birds.
8. Watch the night sky through binoculars; identify different constellations. Observe the moon.
9. Learn to use a compass.
10. Take photographs and then organize them into an album.
11. Do yard work.
12. Go Camping.
13. Take an early morning walk.
14. Climb a tree.
15. Watch a sunset; watch the sunrise with a friend.

Last Week: Screen Free Activities at Home

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Linked Up w/: Random Tuesday Thoughts

Turn off the TV, and…

1. Listen to the radio.
2. Write an article or story.
3. Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
4. Write to the President, your Representative or Senator.
5. Read a book. Read to someone else.
6. Learn to change the oil or a tire on a car.
7. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
8. Make cookies, bread or jam and share with a neighbor.
9. Read magazines or newspapers. Swap them with friends.
10. Go through your closets and donate items to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local rummage sale. Have a garage sale.
11. Start a diary or journal.
12. Play cards.
13. Make crafts to give as gifts. Try a new craft.
14. Do a crossword puzzle.
15. Save money! Cancel your cable TV!
16. Learn about a different culture. Have an international dinner.
17. Teach a child some of your favorite childhood games.
18. Study sign-language.
19. Write a letter to your favorite author.
20. Cook dinner with friends or family.
21. Make cards for holidays or birthdays.
22. Play chess, bridge or checkers.
23. Play charades.
24. Have a cup of coffee and a conversation.
25. Repair or refinish a piece of furniture.
26. Make a wooden flower box.
27. Wake up early and make pancakes.
28. Read a favorite poem.


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Linked Up w/: Random Tuesday Thoughts

My tip for Tuesday’s Tip Jar is if you want to have Butterflies fluttering around your house this summer all you have to do is plant flowers that attract them.

Every year I head on over to Walmart and pick up these large canister of Zinnia seeds. I scatter them in my garden in front of the house and they grow and bloom all summer long.

Butterflies come from all over to visit my Zinnias.

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