10 Simple Ways to Say, “I Love You”Written by Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes
Word Count: 285 Copyright 2004 Nine Twenty Press URL: We’re teaching our kids to be consumers at an early age. Look at number of superhero and product endorsement Valentines on store shelves. We, as parents, are sucked in by media to believe that we need latest, greatest gadget or fad for our kids. Share your love by giving of your time, not your pocketbook. What can you give your kids instead? Here are 10 simple suggestions: 1. Slip a handmade valentine or a simple note into your child's lunch box. 2. Take a walk together in woods or your favorite park. 3. Jot down a line from your favorite poem. Share it with family members. 4. Kiss your kids goodnight. 5. Read a chapter book together. 6. Have family dinnertime together. 7. Turn off TV. Have a pizza night and rent and watch a movie together. 8. Have a picnic in park after soccer game instead of stopping for a fast meal on way home. 9. Have each family member write down one reason why they appreciate every other family member. Write your reasons on a tag and use ribbon to attach them to a batch of your favorite cookies. Let every family member find his own special cookies.
| | Hot or Not -- Trends for Prom 2004Written by Blake Kritzberg
Prom: it's loaded with expectations. For some, it's merely a dance. For others, it means that first great step into adulthood, while savoring one's position at top of grammar-school food chain. And for some, it means a night of pure Cinderella magic. Combine all this with a youth-oriented culture, and you have an event that demands a serious fashion plan. So what fashion forces are driving Prom 2004? The answers are: curves, glamour and loads of color. "Prom 2004" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as most dresses tend to follow Fall 2003 styles. This make sense: prom dresses are high-ticket items, and retailers need a chance to test out trends in shopping malls. (Hair is more adaptable, so prom hair is more attuned to present). As for fashion in general, it's still reeling from ultimate anti-fashion incident: 9/11 attack. You may recall that industry stopped in its tracks. Major fashion shows were cancelled, or scaled down to a roomful of attendees on folding chairs. "Can fashion still matter?" was question no one could ignore. But of course, fashion didn't die. As always, it reflected newly-altered world view. "World views" contain many interlocking strands, as does fashion, but strong themes emerged and are still in play. Here are some of best-articulated trends in Prom 2004: // The Solidarity Uniform Dressy, formal looks from 30s and 60s. Think Hollywood glamour, and Jacquie Kennedy. Beneath this trend is new focus on attending family events and dressing up for them. Expressing 30s are curvy, Screen Siren prom gowns: smoky mermaids in luxurious ruched satin, and Latin-style ruffles and trains. Reviving 60s are Grace Kelly/Jacquie-O A-line skirts, sometimes tea-length, with crinoline slips. These classic beauties are updated with simpler, more natural hair and makeup, not to mention some mod-style colors (bold black and white, bright red, or submarine yellow). Gloves and a small shiny pocketbook are must-haves, but for 2004, you don't have to stick to ordinary colors! Timeless prom queen gowns are fully *au courant* as well -- no amount of beading, boning, crinoline or shine is over-the-top, so enjoy license for glamour. Perhaps this is right year to indulge in a delicate tiara! You'll be surprised by number of strapless gowns on offer. Every one of these "solidarity" gowns lend themselves to classic strapless glamour. // The Eastern Bloc
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