Salsa

thinking of making a big batch of your favorite salsa to can and store on your shelves at home??

Before beginning, remember that you really should use a recipe tested and approved for canning. Certain ingredients lower the acidity of the overall food product.. which can result in unsafe canning.. which can lead to serious illness.

Many of the University co-op websites publish their researched recipes. check out these great recipes from WSU Here

How to Can Chicken

If you have ever had to buy canned chicken, you have probably thought about canning your own. Commercially canned chicken is expensive and hard to find in larger quantities. so... get those pressure canners out and try canning some of your own chicken.

Visit this website for step-by-step instructions

A word about canning jars

Canning jars come in all kinds of convenient sizes to serve your individual needs 4oz Jelly

8oz Half-pint

16oz Pint

32oz Quart

The size of jar you choose will largely depend upon what you are canning and who you are canning for. When I can beef chunks for stews, I use a quart size jar because I have a large family. One quart size jar makes enough stew to feed my family of 6.

When I can chicken, I use pint size jars because we use chicken for a variety of recipes, some calling for small amounts some for larger. By using the smaller jars, I reduce waste.

Remember: Jars can be purchased with either a wide mouth or regular mouth. The one you use pretty much depends on your personal preference. Keep in mind that some foods are more easily placed in and removed from wide mouth jars.

Do not use jars from commercially prepared foods such as mayonnaise and peanut butter because they were made for single-use only. Glass home canning jars offer a deep neck and wide sealing surface to assure a tight seal. Always visually examine canning jars for nicks or cracks. Recycle or discard any damaged jars.

Most jars can be purchased with the lids and rings already in place. When re-using jars, you will need new lids each time to ensure a proper seal. These can be purchased seperately for a very low cost . Rings can be reused.

Be sure you know if you have wide mouth or regular mouth jars before going to purchase replacement lids.

Before getting started

Other than your pressure canner with all it's parts, you will need a few other tools.

Lid Lifter

Canning Funnel

Jar Lifter

Jar Wrench

Kitchen Tongs.

All these tools can be purchased seperately, or, together in one big convenient kit.

A Few more good ideas

Gauges: Check dial gauges for accuracy before use each year and replace if they read high by more than 1-2 pound pressure. Gauges may be checked at most county Cooperative Extension offices. Replacement gauges and other parts for canners are often available at stores offering canning equipment or from canner manufacturers. When ordering parts, it will be helpful to know the model number of your canner.

Gaskets: Handle canner lid gaskets carefully and clean them according to the manufacturer's directions. Nicked or dried gaskets will allow steam leaks during pressurization of canners and should be replaced. Keep gaskets clean between uses. A lid which is difficult to remove after cooling may indicate a gummy, or dry gasket and is reason to replace it.

Step by Step Instructions

These are general instructions. Some foods may have more specific instructions. Please check the canning guide that came with your canner.

1. Put 2-3 inches of hot water in canner. Place filled jars on the rack, using a jar lifter. Fasten canner lid securely.

2. Leave weight off vent port or open petcock. Heat at the highest setting until steam flows from the petcock or vent port.

3. Maintain high heat setting, exhaust steam 10 minutes, and then place weight on vent port or close petcock. The canner will pressurize during the next 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Start timing the process when the pressure reading on the dial gauge indicates that the recommended pressure has been reached, or when the weighted gauge begins to jiggle/ rock.

5. Regulate heat under the canner to maintain a steady pressure at or slightly above the correct gauge pressure. If the pressure reading goes below the recommended pressure, you must bring the pressure back up and start the timing process over again from the beginning.

6. When timed processing is completed, turn off the heat, remove canner from heat (if electric range), and let the canner "depressurize" at room temperature. (dial needle moves back to "0" or no steam sounds when weight is gently nudged). Do not force-cool the canner. Releasing pressure from a partially opened vent or placing the canner under cool water will result in under-processing. It may also cause unsealed jars and loss of liquid from the jars. Quick-cooling can also warp the canner lid of older model canners.

7. After the canner is depressurized, remove the weight from the vent port or open the petcock. Wait 2 minutes, unfasten the lid, and remove it carefully. Lift the lid away from you so that the steam does not burn your face.

8. Remove jars with a lifter, and place on towel or cooling rack, if desired. Do not set on a cold surface or expose to breezy conditions.

Processing Times and Pressures

To ensure the safety of food processed in the pressure canner, use processing times listed for scientifically-tested recipes (dated 1988 or later) and adjust for altitude using the chart below. Keep in mind that failing to follow proper processing times and pressure recommendations may result in spoiled food (mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms) and possibly fatal food poisoning.

STEAM-PRESSURE CANNER ALTITUDE CHART
The steam-pressure method is used for low-acid foods. Normally, the pressure given for low acid foods in canning guides is for weighted-gauge canners at altitudes at or below 1,000 feet above sea level.

For weighted gauge canners- Altitude 0-1000 ft. set to 10. Above 1000 ft, set to 15

For dial gauge canners- Altitude 0-2000, set to 11; Altitude 2000-4000, set to 12; Altitude 4000-6000, set to 13; Altitude 6000-8000, set to 14; Altitude 8000-10000, set to 15.

Pressure Cooker vs. Pressure Canner

How can I be sure I have a pressure canner not just a pressure cooker?

Older model pressure canners (made before 1970) were heavy-walled kettles with clamp-on or turn-on lids fitted with a dial-type gauges. A vent port, in the form of a petcock or counterweight, and a safety fuse were also present.

Modern pressure canners are lightweight, thin-walled kettles and most have turn-on lids. They usually have a perforated metal rack or basket with handles, rubber gasket, a dial or weighted gauge, an automatic vent/cover lock, a vent port (steam vent) to be closed with a counterweight or weighted gauge, and a safety fuse.

Note: When purchasing a used pressure canner, make certain all parts are accounted for and in good condition. It is nearly impossible to find replacement parts for older models


Pressure canners are not the same thing as pressure
cookers, and it is important to understand the difference.

Pressure cookers or pressure saucepans are used to rapidly cook
meats, vegetables and other foods for a family meal. But they may
not maintain adequate pressure, and they heat and cool too quickly to
use them to safely pressure can foods.

Pressure canners have either dial or weighted gauges. Pressure canners are
necessary to safely can foods such as meats and vegetables that are low in acid.
Pressure canners and pressure saucepans come in a wide variety of sizes.

Pressure canners may hold up to 22 Quarts of canned food, and are able to process food at
pressures up to 25 pounds. Some popular brands of pressure canners are Mirro,
Presto, and All American.

Pressure cookers usually hold no more than 4 to 6 Quarts, and they may, or may not, have a way to regulate the pressure. Some pressure cookers come equipped with a weight to cook at 5, 10 or 15 pounds of pressure, while others have no way to regulate pressure settings, or simply have settings of ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’. Pressure cookers do not come with pressure gauges, and they cannot be safely used to can foods.

What can I preserve using the pressure canner?

What Foods Are Typically Processed/Preserved Using a Pressure Canner and Why?

Low acid foods require a higher temperature when processing than can be reached by placing them in jars immersed by boiling water. To kill harmful bacteria (such as those associated with botulism) use of pressure canning ensures the safety of the preserved produce. Foods such as red meats, sea food, poultry, milk, and all fresh vegetables, with the exception of most tomatoes, fit into the low acid group since they have an acidity, or pH level, of 4.6 or higher. The temperature which must be reached and maintained (for a specified amount of time) to kill the bacteria is 240 F. This temperature can be reached only by creating steam under pressure.

Pressure Canner

Meet the pressure canner. By the end of this month.. it will be your best friend.

Why Choose Pressure Canning to Preserve Food?

Pressure canning is a safe and economical method of preserving low acid foods which has been used for decades, especially by home gardeners and others interested in providing food storage for their families where quality control of the food is in one's own hands. Home food preservation also promotes a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. Further, the guess-work is taken out of being able to provide a safe food supply at home when guidelines for operating a pressure canner are followed exactly, scientifically tested/approved recipes are utilized, and high quality equipment, supplies and produce are used.

Web Shopping

Today's Assignment

Use caution and be educated when shopping for life insurance on the web

Many companies now sell life insurance on the Web, as well as give free quotes and advice.

The key to buying on the Web is to shop by price and by the company's rating. Several agencies, including Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best, rate insurers on their claims-paying ability. Stick with companies with low prices, the term you want, and a top rating.

Here are some sites that sell the policies of multiple companies:
- Insure.com has quotes from over 90 companies and plenty of detail on the policies available.
The site also supplies ratings for the insurers from the major rating agencies, such as A.M. Best.

- Insweb has some pretty good worksheets and advice, lets you save quotes for later retrieval, and lists an 800 number.

- Accuquote has over 1,600 policies in its database. But you need to fill out a lengthy form to get a quote. The site is an independent service.

Your Health can affect your premium

Today's Assignment

Start today to improve your health and decrease your insurance premiums

The cheapest rates, known in the business as select or preferred, go to those who are in good health and who have a family history of good health.

If you take heart medication or are grossly overweight, you may pay 50 percent more than preferred rates.

If you smoke, have a risky occupation, or engage in risky sports like skydiving, you'll pay even more for life insurance.

If you fall into one of these more expensive categories, it pays to shop around. One company may charge much more than another, depending on how it estimates the risk of your condition (that's called underwriting). This is where a knowledgeable agent may come in very handy.

Internet and phone quote services aren't set up to deal with nonstandard policies.
Why, some people might ask, should I tell the insurance company about negative information that will raise my rates? Well, even if you somehow get around the medical tests and other checks done before the policy is issued, it doesn't pay to try to fool the insurer.

Insurers may investigate suspicious claims. If the company finds out you've lied, the claim may be denied, or your heirs could be tied up in court for years.

So there's a good case to be made for getting a policy early in life while you are still in good health. However, it doesn't make much sense to buy one until you have dependents.

How Long do I need life insurance?

Today's Assignment

Determine how long you will need to be covered. Consider the following:

Agents like to talk about policies you can keep throughout your life. What they sometimes won't tell you is that you don't need life insurance coverage throughout your life.

The secret to buying a policy with the right term is figuring out how long you need to be insured. You start by estimating when your children will be out on their own and no longer in need of your financial support.

So if your children are 3 and 5 now, you'd probably want a policy that covers you at least until the youngest is 22, so that's about a 20-year term. But this depends somewhat on your age as well.

Say you also want to cover your spouse for your lost income until what would be your normal retirement age, 65, and you're only 35 now. Then you would want a 30-year policy.

Keep in mind that insurance gets very expensive as you leave your 50s. So you may pay more to cover yourself until 65, even if you lock in a level-premium, 30-year policy when you are 35. Coverage past age 70 or so may be unattainable.

Life insurance is not a substitute for a retirement plan. You want to plan so that you'll have enough to live on when you retire, and you won't have to keep paying insurance premiums.
There are exceptions, however. People who start families late in life, or who have complex estate-planning issues, may well have a need for life insurance beyond the customary retirement age.

One more thing: Steer clear of so-called mortgage insurance policies, which pay off the balance on your mortgage if you die. The problem is that you are paying for a steadily declining amount of coverage, as you pay down your mortgage. It's best to include the mortgage payments in your calculations when determining how much coverage you need.

How Much Life Insurance do I need?

Today's Assignment

Consider the following when determining the amount of coverage you need:

There is no simple answer to how much coverage is enough.

Some financial planners say you need enough insurance to replace five to seven years of your salary. If you have young children or significant debt, you should bump up your coverage so you have enough to replace as much as 10 years of your salary, they say. That would mean a person making $50,000 a year should have anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000 worth of coverage or more.

Remember, the sole purpose of life insurance is to replace your income in case you die, so that your dependents can maintain their current lifestyle.

Factors to consider include whether the surviving partner will have child care expenses if one partner is out of the picture. Do you have other assets on which to draw? Will your children be out of the nest soon? These, and many other factors, influence the decision on how much coverage you need.

Buying a whole-life policy doesn't necessarily mean you are fully insured. Because of the investment component of whole life, the policies are much more expensive than term. Don't simply buy less coverage, as it defeats the purpose of buying insurance in the first place: to cover dependents.

Next, you've got to figure out how long you need the policy

What you need to know about term life insurance

Today's Assignment

Keep in mind the following when purchasing term life insurance

Buy enough term coverage to fill your needs.
Life insurance is no place to skimp, especially with rates at historic lows.

Match the term of the policy to your needs.
You want the policy to last as long as it takes for your dependents to leave the nest - or for your retirement income to kick in.

Buy when you're healthy.
Older people and those not in the best of health pay steeply higher rates for life insurance - so buy as early as you can, but don't buy until you have dependents.

Tell the truth.
There's no sense in shading the facts on your application to get a lower rate. Be assured that if a large claim is made, the insurance company will investigate before paying.

Use the Web to shop.
Buying life insurance has never been easier, thanks to the Internet. You can get tons of quotes - and avoid the pushy salespeople.

Life Insurance - your best interest

Today's Assignment

Is whole life really in your best interest?

Insurance is sold, not bought.
Agents sell the vast majority of life policies written in the U.S. because the life insurance industry has a vested interest in pushing high-commission (and high-profit) whole-life policies.

Whole life is expensive.
Policies with an investment component cost many times more than term policies. As a result, many people who buy whole life often can't afford an adequate face value, leaving themselves underinsured.

Whole-life policies are built on assumptions.
The returns quoted by the agent are simply guesses - not reality. And some companies keep these guesses of future returns on the high side to attract more buyers.

Keep your investing and insurance strictly separate.
There are better places to invest - and without the high commissions of whole-life policies.

What you need to know about life insurance pt1

Today's Assignment

Determine the type of life insurance you wish to have

There are term policies, or pure insurance coverage. And there are the many variants of whole life, which combine an investment product with pure term insurance and build cash value.

Short term health insurance

Today's Assignment

If you cannot afford the more traditional, comprehensive health insurance, consider a short term alternative

Short-term health insurance is meant to protect you against accidents, injuries and illness. These are policies do not cover existing or pre-existing health conditions. Short-term health insurance does not provide for routine care such as an annual physical but instead is meant to help you cope with a health crisis.

Short-term health insurance is typically less expensive than a traditional, comprehensive plan. Of course, the short-term plan is less expensive as it covers only those situations which arise out of unexpected accident, injury or illness. You will find that most plans provide for hospitalization but may or may not cover needed home care services or medications. You need to review any plan to know exactly what you are buying.

Short-term health coverage is most often available for a period of 6 – 12 months. It is not designed to be a long-term solution to your health insurance needs. Some policies are extendable after one period but your premium may be increased.

In some situations, the purchase of a short-term policy may limit your ability to obtain comprehensive insurance at a later time. Don’t let any insurance agent or salesperson pressure you into taking out a short-term policy until you know how these policies may impact your access to other coverage programs in the future.

When shopping for any insurance, it’s best to check out the plan as well as the company selling the plan with your state insurance commissioner’s office. Believe it or not, there are companies selling “fake” policies to unknowing consumers. You may find only when it’s too late that your policy is not valid in your state or that the company has folded due to federal investigation or lawsuit.

What is a Health Savings Account?

Today's Assignment

Determine if your family would benefit from a health savings account

Health insurance pricing is complex, and it varies between carriers, but in general, your premium is higher when you have a low deductible. Individuals or families who are heavy users of medical services may do better by keeping a low deductible, to avoid constant outlay. But if you are reasonably healthy, it is often advantageous to take an insurance policy with a higher deductible. The HSA works hand-in-hand with a high-deductible policy, allowing you to put money, up to your deductible amount, in a special tax-deferred account. You can use funds from that account for all of your deductible expenses, and certain other healthcare expenses that are not covered by your policy at all. For example, you can use your HSA to pay for prescription or over-the-counter medications, even if your health insurance plan does not have a prescription benefit. It can also be used to pay for dental or vision care. Money in your HSA cannot be used to pay your insurance premiums, but it can be used to pay for COBRA coverage if you become unemployed. If there are funds left in your account at the end of the year, you can roll it over to the next year. Older "flexible spending accounts" work like an HSA, but if you do not use the money by the end of the year, you lose it. HSA funds stay with you, and any money in your account that you do not use, continues to earn interest.

To qualify to purchase an HSA, you must have a qualified, high-deductible health insurance policy that meets the IRS guidelines. Your insurance carrier will tell you whether or not any given policy complies. The policy must have at least a $1,000 deductible for individuals, or $2,000 for families. You can contribute up to $2,650 a year to your HSA if you are single, or $5,250 if you are a family, but only up to the amount of the actual deductible. There are no income limits, and you can still have an IRA at the same time as an HSA. In case of a financial emergency, you may withdraw the money out of your HSA for non-medical use, but there will be a 10 percent penalty if you take it out before you are 65.

Spending money from your HSA is easy. Your provider will usually give you a debit card or checkbook tied to the account, which you use to pay for your healthcare services. Alternately, you can pay for services out of pocket, and then pay yourself back out of the HSA. Of course, don't forget to save your receipts showing that the expenses were legitimate.

You can set up your HSA through your insurance carrier if they offer it, but even if they don't, you can still have an HSA through a third party such as a bank or other financial institution. The benefits are substantial. Your monthly premiums may be half what you would otherwise pay for a lower-deductible policy, and you also gain a major tax break. There's no question, healthcare is expensive no matter how you cut it--but the HSA plan helps to make it a little more manageable.

What Health coverage do I need?

Today's Assignment

Determine the best type of health insurance for your family

Fee-for-services health insurance. As its name indicates, fee-for-services health insurance is a basic indemnity policy. In short, with fee-for-services health insurance you make a claim when you need to, and your health insurance provider then deducts this sum from your pre-agreed health insurance sum. The upside of fee-for-services health insurance is that you can visit any healthcare provider you want and then you make a claim – although you should read the health insurance policy carefully as some types of treatment are not covered.
The major downside of fee-for-services health insurance is the cost, which traditionally is very high. Unlike other types of health insurance which have come on the market since the conception of fee-for-services health insurance, premiums can be high and the only way to reduce this high premium charges is to increase your deductibles. However, careful consideration does need to be given to increasing your deductibles as this can lead to you being left with a hefty bill if you need hospital treatment.

Health Maintenance Organization health insurance (HMOs). HMOs are a more recent addition to family health care insurance and are popular because they’re the cheapest – in premiums - type of health care insurance you can purchase for your family. Obviously, whenever you buy cheap insurance you usually find that you have certain restrictions as to exactly what you can do – and HMOs are no different in this respect, so you have to be careful. In particular, HMOs usually designate certain healthcare providers who you are allowed to visit and if, even in the case of an emergency, you visit a healthcare provider who is not approved by the HMO, you’ll be left to pick-up the entire tab yourself.


Other types of health care insurance. In response to the high costs associated with fee-for-services health care insurance and the restrictions of HMOs have come other types of health care insurance. Notable in this are schemes such as Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), which, again, involves a network of particular doctors you are required to visit. However, where PPOs differ from HMOs is that you may be able to claim for some reimbursement if you visit a healthcare provider outside of the network of PPO healthcare providers – depending on the health care policy your family have.

So if you are looking for family health care, please make sure you give special thought to this and make sure that you are not one of the 40 million Americans today walking around with no health care insurance in the eternal hope that nothing unexpected happens

Shopping for Health Insurance = pt 5

Today's Assignment

Check for licenses

Call your Better Business Bureau to learn if complaints have been filed against the broker or company. Check with your state insurance commissioner’s office to be certain that the broker and company is licensed to operate in your state. Be sure you’re buying a legitimate policy and not a scam.

Taking charge of your health means taking charge of your health insurance. Shop with your eyes open and your hands on your wallet.

Shopping for Health Insurance -pt 4

Today's Assignment

Bypass the broker and buy directly from the insurance company

You may be able to save between 3 – 10% by doing so. Contact your state commissioner’s office for insurance to learn which companies will sell directly to you.

Shopping for Health Insurance-pt 3

Today's Assignment

Check out who the broker represents

Does your broker represent only one company or does the broker sell the plans of multiple companies?

Shopping for Health Insurance pt 2

Today's Assingment

Know the pros and cons of each plan

A major medical plan will typically have higher rates than a short-term plan however if you develop any health problems during the time of a short-term plan then you’ll have the problem of pre-existing conditions either forcing you into higher rates or placing you in the position of not being able to buy coverage

Shopping for Health Insurance

Today's Assignment

Get multiple quotes

Either visit the offices of insurance companies locally or use the web to compare rates, benefits and policy terms. Don’t take out any insurance plan until you review at least three plans. Consider comparison shopping with at least two to three brokers

Ways to Keep Homeowner's Premiums Down

Today's Assignment

Find ways to reduce the premium on your Homeowner's policy

Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs
The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.

Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer
Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverages from different companies.

Make your home more disaster resistant
Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be retrofitted to make them better able to withstand earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.

Improve your home security
You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums.

Seek out other discounts
Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For example, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner, too. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere

Shop Around

Today's Assignment

Looking for a new homeowner's policy? Or better deal on an existing policy?

It will take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your friends, check the Yellow Pages or contact your state insurance department. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org) has information to help you choose an insurer in your state, including complaints. States often make information available on typical rates charged by major insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer complaints by company.

Also check consumer guides, insurance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. So in assessing service quality, use the complaint information cited above and talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs.

Check the financial stability of the companies you are considering with rating companies such as A.M. Best (www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor’s (www.standardandpoors.com) and consult consumer magazines. When you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.

All About Homeowners Insurance

Today's Assignment

Learn the 4 types of coverage for homeowners

Property Damage Coverage
Property damage coverage helps pay for damage to your home and personal property. Other structures such as a detached garage, a tool shed, or any other building on your property are usually covered for 10% of the amount of coverage on your house.

Personal property coverage will pay for personal property including household furniture, clothing, and other personal belongings. The amount of insurance coverage is usually 50% of the policy limit on your dwelling. The coverage is also limited by the types of loss listed in the policy. The coverage only pays the current cash value of the item destroyed, unless you purchase replacement cost coverage. Your homeowner's policy also provides off-premises coverage. This means that the policy covers your belongings against theft even when they are not inside your home.

Personal Liability Coverage
Homeowner's policies provide personal liability coverage that applies to non-auto accidents on and off your property if the injury or damage is cased by you, a member of your family, or your pet. The liability coverage in your policy pays both for the cost of defending you and paying for any damages the court rules you must pay. Liability insurance does not have a deductable that you must meet before your insurer begins to pay losses. The basic liability coverage is usually $100,000 for each occurance. You can request higher limits that are available for an additional cost.

Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payment coverage pays if someone outside your family is injured at your home regardless of fault. This includes payment for reasonable medical expenses incurred within one year from the date of loss for a person who is injured in an accident in your home. The coverage does not apply to ypu and members of your household. The medical payments portion of your homeowner's policy will also pay if you are involved in the injury of another person away from your home in some limited circumstances. Medical payments coverage limits are generally $1,000 for each person.

Additional Living Expenses
If it is necessary for you to move into a motel or apartment temporarily because of damage caused by a peril covered in your policy, your insurance company will pay an amount up to 20% of the policy limit on your dwelling for these expenses. If you move in temporarily with a friend or relative and do not have any extra expenses, you will not be paid any addditional living expenses by your insurance company.

How Much do I Need?

Today's Assignment

Figure out how much Auto Insurance you need

­While it is dangerous to be underinsured, having too much insurance can be an expensive mistake as well. Without insurance, your property is put at risk in an accident that is your fault. The minimum amount of insurance required in your state is seldom enough.

State law may require as little liability coverage as $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5000 property damage. About half of the states require $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Half of them require $10,000 in property damage coverage. If you can afford it, buy more than the minimum. After all, $10,000 for property damage may not be enough if you hit a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz.

The more assets and income you have, the more insurance you need. Most insurers recommend liability coverage of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage if you have assets to protect, such as a house. Some insurers also recommend a $1 million "personal liability umbrella" policy issued in conjunction with homeowner's coverage. State Farm reports that such coverage averages $270 a year, but the amount varies significantly depending on location and other factors. An "umbrella" policy could protect a family from financial ruin in a major lawsuit.

Like buying a car, there is no single best solution when it comes to buying insurance. Rates vary widely. Surveys suggest that you could pay anywhere from $500 to $2000 annually for the same coverage from different companies. Shop for insurance by consulting two or three of the largest insurers, such as State Farm and Allstate. Then, contact one or two independent agents who can quote premiums from more than one company. In addition, there are direct-marketing companies, such as GEICO and Progressive, which do business over the phone rather than through agents and offer some of the lowest rates. Ask for an itemized list of coverages and costs.

"We're price-competitive," said spokesperson Dick Luedke of State Farm, whose rates dropped somewhat during 2004. But with so many factors involved in setting rates, it's wise to check several prospects.

In 2004, the average price of auto insurance nationwide was $871, according to the Insurance Information Institute. They expected that the cost of auto insurance would rise by 3.5 percent in 2004, which would be the smallest increase in four years.

Don't forget the Internet. Many companies now offer online quotes, and insurance shopping on the Web allows you to compare rates from multiple providers in the comfort of your own home.

Who ARe You?

Today's Assignment

Find out how the factors you can control the least have the greatest impact on your insurance costs.

Your age, gender, and driving record are key factors that affect your insurance premium.

Single males under the age of 25 pay the highest rates. Statistics show they are involved in the most accidents, so insurance companies charge young men higher premiums than women of the same age. Married men, who statistically have fewer accidents, pay less than single men. A handful of states do not allow rates based on sex or age, but that prohibition has tended to result in higher rates for women, not lower rates for men.

If you are convicted of moving traffic violations or of causing an accident, your premiums will likely go up, no matter what your age. Drivers with clean records -- no tickets, no accidents -- pay the lowest rates.

Where you live also plays a big role in how much you pay. Urban areas, with their greater population densities and heavier traffic, get higher rates than rural areas. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average insurance expenditure in mainly urban New Jersey -- traditionally the most expensive state -- in 2002 was more than double that of North Dakota, a rural state with the lowest average premiums. High costs in states such as Florida, Massachusetts and New York are attributed to growth in fraud and theft.

In most states, too, insurers set rates by zip codes. If you live in a major city like Chicago or Los Angeles, you will probably pay more than if you lived in a nearby suburb.

What are you Driving??

Today's Assignment

Learn how the kind of car you drive influences your auto insurance premium.

Insurance premiums are based partly on the price of the vehicle, which affects the replacement cost if it is stolen or "totaled" in an accident. How expensive the vehicle is to repair -- including parts and labor -- can also affect the cost. In addition, surcharges may apply to vehicles that are frequently stolen or involved in accidents.

Industry-wide information on injury claims, collision repair costs, and theft rates by vehicle model is available from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). You can write them at 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201. HLDI is affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

According to HLDI, the lowest injury claims are from large vehicles -- cars, pickup trucks, and sport-utility vehicles. Small 2- and 4-door cars have the highest injury claims. Small cars also are among the highest in collision costs, along with sports cars.

If you have your heart set on a sporty vehicle, you'll probably pay dearly. Insuring a high-performance car can easily cost two or three times the insurance amount for an ordinary model.
Sport-utility vehicles, the hottest market segment, often have higher insurance rates than mid- and full-size cars, but some SUV models are relatively cheap to insure. SUVs are "hot" for other reasons: They are among the most frequently stolen vehicles, and they are more expensive than most cars. Cadillac's Escalade is currently the most popular model sought by thieves, but it's followed by the Nissan Maxima sedan. SUVs also can cost more to fix after an accident if the 4-wheel-drive system is damaged.

However, insurance companies set rates based on their own experience. If Company A has more collision and theft claims for a particular vehicle than Company B, then A will charge more for the same coverage. It all boils down to a company's actual experience with a particular vehicle or category of drivers. That is why it pays to shop around for insurance.

What does that mean???

Today's Assignment

Know Your Auto Insurance Coverage Types­

­What is your car insurance actually insuring?

Although you're buying a single insurance policy covering a specific vehicle, a number of components make up the final cost:

Bodily injury liability: Covers injury and death claims against you, and legal costs, if your car injures or kills someone.
Property damage liability: Covers claims for property that your car damages in an accident. Because liability coverage protects the other party, it is required in all but three states.
Medical payments: Pays for injuries to yourself and to occupants of your car. This is optional in some states. In "no-fault" states, personal injury protection replaces medical payments as part of the basic coverage.
Uninsured motorist protection: Covers injuries caused to you or the occupants of your car by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers. "Under-insured" coverage also is available, to cover claims you may make against a driver who has inadequate insurance. In some states, as many as 30 percent of drivers are uninsured.
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your car up to its book value. Collision coverage carries a deductible, which is the amount per claim you have to pay before the insurance takes effect. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium. While it is legally optional, a lending institution or leasing company usually requires collision coverage.
Comprehensive (physical damage): Covers damage to your car from theft, vandalism, fire, wind, flood, and other non-accident causes. Comprehensive also carries a deductible

Save Money on Auto Insurance

Today's Assignment

Ask your insurance agent about any safety features that can lower insurance costs. For example, antilock brakes or an alarm on a car will lower your auto insurance premium (A premium is the cost of the insurance, usually payable monthly, quarterly or yearly).

Reduce your Insurance cost

Today's Assignment

Find out if your insurer offers a discount by having multiple policies with them ( e.g. having both auto and home owners or both you and your spouse's vehicles with the same company)

Theme for September: Family Insurance Needs

An essential part of financial success is ensuring that your family’s insurance needs
are met. Families may experience many unexpected events in life. Insurance is one
way to prevent devastating financial consequences for the family when these
unexpected life events happen.

What types of Insurance will my family need?

There are four main types of insurance that families need:
• Automobile Insurance
• Home Owners Insurance
• Health Care Insurance
• Life Insurance

Stay tuned during September for details regarding each of these types of insurance....

Freeze with ease

Today's Assignment

learn how to freeze your foods properly to extend storage time.

Click HERE for Tupperware's guidelines

Three Month Supply

Today's Assignment

Watch this great You tube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqUSUx_mZyA

Food Storage for College Students

Today's Assignment

Motivate that college student in your life to get their own food supply!!

Click HERE for a spreadsheet to make it easy!

Toiletries

Today's Assignment

Work on accumulating 3 month supply of toiletries.

Here are some suggestions for 1 person:

Shampoo/Conditioner - 3
Body Wash or Bar Soap - 3
Deodorant - 2
Lotion - 1
Razors - 3
Toothpaste -1
Toothbrushes -1
Dental floss - 1
Chapstick - 1
Shaving cream - 1
Feminine items - varies
Facial tissue - 1
Toilet paper - 12

What about cleaning supplies

Today's Assignment

Make a list of cleaning supplies you use on a weekly basis. Determine what you would need for a 3 month supply and start purchasing.

Here is a little help from Prepared LDS Family:

How to store Brown Sugar

Today's Assignment

Learn how to keep brown sugar from hardening after the bag or box is opened

To avoid dried-out and hardened brown sugar, store it in a cool area in a covered and airtight container once the box or bag has been opened.
One way to soften hard sugar is to place a fresh apple slice, the peel of half a lemon, or a slice of bread in the sugar overnight. The sugar will absorb the moisture from the apple, lemon, or bread and rehydrate, making it soft again.

Secrets

Today's Assignment

check out these great dairy food storage secrets

Dairy products have the shortest storage lifespan, which is notated by an expiration date. This tells shoppers how long they have before the product is no longer good for human consumption and should be discarded.
Milk, cheese and butter can be tricky to properly store and is not advised because of health issues. However, dairy products can have an extended lifespan beyond the expiration date by following these dairy food storage ideas.

When buying dairy products in bulk, pick the products in the back or very bottom of that product section. The expiration dates are further ahead in weeks than the same products right in front or the middle of the section.

Storing dairy products like milk, cheese and butter can be prolonged for freshness beyond the expiration date, if frozen. Freeze milk directly in the carton or plastic containe. Cheese and butter products can be placed in a freezer safe freezer bag and stored in the freezer for later use.

When it's too hot to grow your own

Today's Assignment

check out the GREAT deals at the Superstition Ranch Market in Mesa, Arizona on Main Street just east of Greenfield. See something you want a ton of???? Ask... they often sell by the box.

When is it in season?

Today's Assignment

Print out a produce seasonal calendar for your local area. Eat produce fresh in season and purchase extra to preserve. Click HERE for Arizona's calendar.

Join a Co-op

Today's Assignment

Join a local produce co-op. For information on Arizona or Utah co-ops, click HERE. These provide excellent resources for bulk produce to can at home.

Pick Your Own

Today's Assignment

visit a pick your own farm in your community for in-season fruits and veggies to can at home. Click here for Arizona farm info

One More...

Today's Assignment

check out emergency essential's website HERE... if you can't buy it from these people.. chances are you don't need it for your home storage.

Might As Well

Today's Assignment

While you still have your wallet open.... check out honeyville farms store in Chandler, Arizona at 33 South 56th Street Suite 1, Chandler, AZ 85226

Best Kept Secret in Gilbert Arizona

Today's Assignment

Scoot your fanny to FOODWISE in Gilbert, Arizona located on the Northeast corner of Lindsay and Williams Field Road. You will think you have died and gone to foodstorage heaven. If you don't live close enough... check out their website HERE

Shop Your Little Heart Out

Today's Assignment

Take that list of missing pantry items you made yesterday and hit the grocery store. Purchase at least 3 items on the list ( look for items on sale at your favortie store). Repeat this assignment weekly until your pantry is stocked!!!!

Welcome Back

Today's Assignment

Take Inventory of your pantry. Make a list of things you need to add to your stock.

Click HERE for all the things you need for a well-stocked pantry

Hiatus

Hiatus will continue til I am back from camp- See you next week.

Gospel Study on the Internet

Gospel Study
Utilizing the Internet

1. www.lds.org: Access the scriptures, lesson manuals, Proclamations, Church magazine archives, General Conference archives, church news and official statements regarding church doctrine.

2. www.ldsgospeldoctrine.net: Gospel Doctrine lesson material

3. www.speeches.byu.edu: BYU Speeches on a variety of gospel topics

4. www.mi.byu.edu: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for religious scholarship

· Describe and defend the Restoration through highest quality scholarship
· Provide critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) to scholars and lay persons around the world
· Build bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts
· Provide an anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies

5. www.byustudies.byu.edu
BYU Studies is dedicated to publishing scholarly religious literature in the form of books, journals, and dissertations that is qualified, significant, and inspiring. We want to share these publications to help promote faith, continued learning, and further interest in our LDS history with those in the world who have a positive interest in this work.
6. http://www.lib.byu.edu/sites/mormonstudies/
Use this guide to facilitate your search for articles, books, biographies, diaries, manuscripts, dissertations, family histories, photographs, films, music, art, and more concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

7. www.ldsliving.com
Sunday Lesson material for all auxiliaries

The Morning Fifteen

Today's Assignment

The Morning Fifteen

Use the first fifteen minutes of your morning as a period for education. If you find yourself too groggy, you might want to wait a short time. Just don’t put it off later in the day where urgent activities will push it out of the way.

Follow Your Intuition

Today's Assignment

Follow Your Intuition

Lifelong learning is like wandering through the wilderness. You can’t be sure what to expect and there isn’t always an end goal in mind. Letting your intuition guide you can make self-education more enjoyable. Most of our lives have been broken down to completely logical decisions, that making choices on a whim has been stamped out.

Start a Project

Today's Assignment

Start a Project

Set out to do something you don’t know how. Forced learning in this way can be fun and challenging. If you don’t know anything about computers, try building one. If you consider yourself a horrible artist, try a painting.

Unlearn Assumptions

Today's Assignment

Unlearn Assumptions

You can’t add water to a full cup. I always try to maintain a distance away from any idea. Too many convictions simply mean too few paths for new ideas. Actively seek out information that contradicts your worldview.

Teach It

today's assignment

Teach Others

You learn what you teach. If you have an outlet of communicating ideas to others, you are more likely to solidify that learning. Start a blog, mentor someone or even discuss ideas with a friend.

Put it into practice

Today's Assignment

Put it Into Practice

Skill based learning is useless if it isn’t applied. Reading a book on C++ isn’t the same thing as writing a program. Studying painting isn’t the same as picking up a brush. If your knowledge can be applied, put it into practice

Get involved in your child's education

Getting Involved in Your Child’s Education

Research has shown that when parents become involved in their child's education, the student performs better than if the parents remain distant. There are many right and wrong ways you can get involved more in your child's education. Try a few of these ideas to make a significant improvement in your involvement.

1. Ask questions. The best way you can get involved with your child's education is to ask him or her questions. However, you need to try more than just the typical, "What did you do at school today?" Try asking more specific questions about lessons in certain subjects. Do not accept "nothing" as an answer to your questions. Rephrase the question or try a different one to get a response. If your child is resistant to this type of questioning, give it some time, but don't give up!

2. Talk with the teachers. Teachers may not always have the time to contact you about your student, especially if your student is doing well or even satisfactory. They are often too overwhelmed with problem students to be able to take time to give glowing reports as much as they would like. However, if you make the initiative to contact them and ask for a progress report or ask what you child is learning in class, the teachers will be glad to oblige with a response. It is also common for teachers to maintain websites or other online resources for you to keep up with homework assignments, projects, and lessons.

3. Volunteer to help at school. Yes, you are busy. Everyone is busy nowadays. Try to take time out of your busy schedule to volunteer at your child's school. Take a day off of work to chaperone a field trip or volunteer to organize a bake sale for the Booster Club. This will give you the chance to interact with other parents and network with teachers and administrators. It will also show your child that you do care about them and their education.

4. Offer to help with homework. This does not mean to do your child's entire science fair project. You can, however, help them search the internet or books for project ideas and even help color the volcano. This is a great way to bond with your child and also keep up to date with what is going on in his or her classes.
Your "new" plight to get more involved may be met with some resistance at first. Keep trying different questions and techniques until you and your child find an arrangement that suits both of you.

Make New Friends

Today's Assignment

Get More Intellectual Friends

Start spending more time with people who think. Not just people who are smart. But people who actually invest much of their time in learning new skills. Their habits will rub off on you. Even better, they will probably share some of their knowledge with you

Make a List

Today's assignment

Keep a “To-Learn” List

We all have to-do lists. These are the tasks we need to accomplish. Try to also have a “to-learn” list. On it you can write ideas for new areas of study
. Maybe you would like to take up a new language, learn a skill or read the collective works of Shakespeare. Whatever motivates you, write it down.

Why Bother?

Today's Assignment

Think about why it is important to put learning as a high priority in your life

Continous learning is NOT about continually taking courses -- it's about developing skills in reflection and inquiry -- it's about learning how to learn so that your life's experiences become your own learning lab. The concept of continuous learning has become quite prominent over the past five years. Organizations are changing rapidly. Therefore, it's difficult to find any approach to doing anything in organizations that doesn't soon become outdated. The concept of continuous learning has become important because it places priority on noticing, adapting and learning from change.

Summer Reads to stretch the mind

Great LDS Reads for the Whole Family

Adults
· The Scriptures
· A Marvelous Work and Wonder
· Jesus the Christ by James Talmage
· The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
· Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith
· The Messiah Series by Bruce R. McConkie
· The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt


Teens
· The Scriptures
· Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series by Chris Heimmerdinger
· The Forgotten Warrior by Kathi Peterson
· Saving Kristen by Jack Weyland
· Anything by John Bytheway
· The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey




Kids
· The Scriptures
· Believe and You’re There series by Alice Johnson
· The Story of the Walnut Tree
· Daughter of a King by Rachel Nunes
· The Nephiteologist: My Journey in the Lands of the Book of Mormon by Timothy Robinson
· In the Garden by Caralyn Buhner
· The Trap: A Story to Help Teach Children Modesty and Protect Them from Pornography by Karmel H. Newell, illustrated by Dan Burr
· Kids on a Mission series by Stan Bessey

Home Improvement

Today's Assignment

Learn how to do those projects that need completing around the house

For FREE How-to classes, click HERE

Understanding Art

Today's Assignment

Visit the ASU Art Museum for a FREE lesson on art appreciation

Click HERE for more details

Between the pages

Today's Assignment

Read a good book- one that makes you think- one that you can LEARN something from.

For good clean fiction, check out THIS blog it also has great links to other fun reading sites.

Free College Money

Today's Assignment

Find ways you can receive FREE money towards your college education

Click HERE for more information

Babysitting Training

Today's Assignment

If you have a child of babysitting age, enroll them in a safe babysitting course

Call the Mesa Fire Department 480-644-2508 to arrange class. Class members must be 12 years and older.

Self- Defense

Today's Assignment

Take a class to learn how to defend yourself.

Click HERE for information on FREE self-defense class

Resume Writing Tips

Effective Resume Writing
Here are some tips for effective resume writing.

First A Few General Resume Writing Tips

Your resume writing should be succinct, clear and easy to read. No resume writing that is overly flowery, with hyperbole and superlatives that exaggerate your qualifications. Your resume writing should include lots of organization - bullets, lists and italics that make important points stand out, and plenty of white space.

Make sure that when you do your resume writing you catch all the grammatical and punctuation errors and all the typographical mistakes as well. There is nothing that will get your resume thrown on the junk pile faster than a grammar mistake or a misspelled word. No matter what experience you list or what qualifications you clarify you probably won't get the interview if your resume writing indicates you are sloppy or a poor communicator.

Your resume writing should be focused and powerful. If you don't want to state an objective (which, by the way, if stated, should be very specific) you should at least clarify a job title or industry somewhere up front. Your name and contact information might be immediately followed by "nursing professional," centered on a line by itself, for example.

While your resume writing should certainly be honest and factual you also want to stand out and put your best job search foot forward with the use of powerful words. Starting each sentence with a powerful word is one good way of making yourself unique. Some powerful words are "accomplished," "launched," "managed," "tackled," and "coordinated." See the powerful action in these? This type of resume writing makes you look proactive, strong, focused and determined.

Writing Your Qualifications

Resume writing is first and foremost about stating your qualifications and experience, of course. Here are some tips on writing this section of your resume.

You should always list the positions you held in reverse chronological order. In other words, list the most recent job first and the job you held first is last on the list when you do your resume writing. Those jobs that you held years ago and probably were more entry level than your later positions don't need much detail.

Where your resume writing should be more detailed is in the explanation of your most recent jobs and the ones whose responsibilities and achievements have the most relevance to the position for which you are now applying.

There is no hard and fast rule, when resume writing, about whether to begin each job with the job title or the name of the firm. Just decide on which will most impress the potential employer, and then start with that - and make it bold. Once decided, however, your resume writing must be consistent.

You should never start one job with the job title but the next with the name of the firm. If the firm is not well known it might be wise to parenthetically explain what the company does and is. Your dates of work should come last, and be italicized. There is never any reason, if you were employed more than a year, to include the months. All you need to state are the years of employment.

It is perfectly acceptable, when resume writing - and, in fact, is encouraged - to include volunteer work that is relevant.

America's Got Talent

Today's Assignment

Register for a dance, drama, music or art class at the Mesa Arts Center

Click HERE for class descriptions and meeting times

Gospel Study

Today's Assignment

Check out THIS great website that offers an amazing amount of research and study on the LDS Sunday School lessons each week.

Education Week

Today's Assignment

Make arrangements to attend this year's BYU Education Week August 17-21

Click HERE for more information

Study

When we have knowledge and wisdom, we are better able to discern truth from error and make good choices. Education and literacy are also keys to personal growth, preparation for suitable employment, building strong families, service in the Church, and making a meaningful contribution to the society in which we live.

Today's Assignment

Choose a topic you have always wanted to know more about. Spend 1 hour researching and studying this topic.

Stay Tuned....

Tomorrow starts a new focus: Literacy and Education.

Henry Eyring 1964

" ..We are going to do everything more and more using our heads and less and less using our arms. Any young man or woman who is so ill-advised at the present time, if their mind is good enough to let them, to not go to the Brigham Young University, or one of the other state universities and get training is a very brave person. I mean, it is almost guaranteed that unless they are much smarter than the people who go to college and get the training that way, they will have a subservient position in the community. Society needs us to go ahead and get training if we possibly can, if we are able to."

Grains

Today's Assignment

Learn more about grains and how to incorporate them into your diet

Click HERE for help

Food Pyramid

Today's Assignment

Make smart choices from the food pyramid

http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/resource/MyPyramidBrochurebyIFIC.pdf

Stop the Aging process!

Today's Assignment

Incorporate more antioxidant rich foods into your diet.

For a list of the highest ranked antioxidants, click HERE

Health Goals

Today's Assignment

Set a goal that will lead you to living a healthier life.

According To former General RS President Barbara B. Smith, our goals should include:

1. To obey the Word of Wisdom;
2. To maintain proper weight and endurance through regular exercise, adequate rest, and a balanced diet;
3. To improve or maintain personal and home sanitation;
4. To practice preventative measures to preserve good health;
5. To learn and practice home health skills.

Don't Let Good Intentions Backfire

Today's Assignment

Send your kids the right message about nutrition!

http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/health/100599hth-brody.html

10,000 steps a day

http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html

Smart Snacking

Today's Assignment

If you must snack, choose a healthy, low calorie snack

1/2 c. sugar-free Jello and two Tbsp. reduced-fat whipped topping
two handfuls of chocolate raisins
1/2 an apple spread with 2 tsp. peanut butter
1/2 c. orange juice (Try it frozen!)
1/2 c. fat-free, sugar-free instant or packaged pudding
whole wheat toast with 1 tsp. sugar-free spread
non-fat yogurt (artificially sweetened)
single serving of apple sauce
1 serving of many varieties of Campbell's soups
a Fudgesicle
6 saltine crackers with 2 tsp. of peanut butter (My personal favorite!)
half a turkey sandwich using reduced-calorie bread, mustard, and veggies
mock S'more: reduced-fat Graham cracker, topped with a jumbo marshmallow and drizzled with chocolate syrup
50 Calories

Increase activity

Today's Assignment

Look for ways to increase your activity level doing daily household chores

Clean out your closet or the garage, re-arrange your furniture, scrub the floors, clean our the gutters, change your bed linen, vacuum, wash your windows, sweep your porch or sidewalks.

Give up the caffeine

Today's Assignment

Eliminate caffeinated beverages from your diet~ caffeine actually increases cellulite- probably by impairing circulation and lymph flow.

Eat more Avacado

Today's Assignment

Eat an avacado today~ then make them a regular part of your diet.

Avocados are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. They also supply even more potassium than bananas and are a strong source of beta-carotene. Scientists also believe that avocados may also be useful in treating viral hepatitis (a cause of liver cancer), as well as other sources of liver damage.

Breast Health

Today's Assignment

Perform a breast self-exam. Contact your doctor if any abnormalities are found.

For instructions, click HERE

Sun Smart

Today's Assignment

Protect your skin from the summer sun

If you are planning to spend a lot of time outside this summer, whether it's lying on a beach, playing a lot of sport or simply working outside for long periods, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce the risk of over-exposure:

check the UV level before you go out; this is a more accurate way of finding out how strong the sun is than using the temperature as a guide

on particularly hot and sunny days, spend time in the shade between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm when the sun is at its peak

use a good factor 15+ sun-tan lotion that protects you against UVA and UVB rays even if you think you have relatively dark skin

wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes

keep a T-shirt or loose top with you to cover up every so often

Disease Prevention

Disease Prevention

The Best Way to Prevent Disease is to practice good health habits

· Eat a balanced diet. Be sure to eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products. Include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, and beans.

· Drink lots of water and go easy on salt, sugar, alcohol, and saturated fat.


· Exercise on a regular basis and get plenty of rest.

· Get a flu shot to help protect you from seasonal flu.


· Make sure that your family's immunizations are up-to-date.

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

· Stay home if you get sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them

Quality, not Quantity

Today's Assignment

Focus on the nutritional value of what your children eat, not how much they are eating.

Do not despair over your children's nutritional shortcomings. The biggest problem most kids have is not lack of nutrients. Instead, it's an overload of calories. Parents spend too much energy trying to get children to eat more. Kids won't starve themselves. When they are hungry, they will eat."

Sweetie

Today's Assignment

Cut back on, or eliminate altogether, sugar sweetened beverages.

"If you reduce you intake of beverages, particularly sugar-containing beverages, it's a simple but easy way to help maintain your weight. You can avoid additional weight gain, or if you are on a diet, it's an easy, simple way to help you achieve your goals,"

What's Your Rate?

Today's Assignment

Get a good heart rate monitor

A good heart rate monitor can help guide you to go faster or to slow down the pace no matter how you feel. This way you can achieve the greatest aerobic benefit from the time invested.

Go Dancing

Today's Assignment

Go Dancing!

Learning to dance can be a fun, social, local and friendly way to enjoy low-intensity physical activity and skill learning,"

Smile~

Today's Assignment

Make an Appointment to see your dentist. Schedule regular check-ups every 6 months.

Weight control

Today's Assignment

. Lower your weight to the lower end of the body-mass index for your height.

Even more important, banish belly fat, which acts like a ‘hormone pump’ releasing estrogen into the bloodstream as well as raising levels of other hormones. This is strongly linked to colon cancer and probably to cancers of the pancreas and endometrium (lining of the uterus), as well as breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Bad Habits

Today's Assignment

If you are a smoker, begin a smoking cessation program

For helpful information on smoking cessation, visit THIS website

Five

Today's Assignment

Resolve to eat 5 fruits/vegetables every day

Update your immunizations

Today's Assingment

Review your immunization records and see your health care professional for ones you are lacking.

For immunization schedules, click HERE

Prevent the spread of germs

Today's Assignment

Reduce or eliminate illness causing germs in your life

Clean your home regularly, especially places where germs could live. Prevent insects and animals from getting inside our homes.

Protect food from insects and animals by keeping it properly covered. Where possible, refrigerate perishable foods.

Wash foods carefully to remove as many germs as possible.

Properly dispose of human and animal wastes, since insects and rodents are attracted to them.

Wash your hands before eating, after using the toilet, after changing soiled diapers, and so on.

Brush your teeth after each meal.

Always cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.

Wear shoes, sandals, or other foot coverings.

Eat properly and rest. Eating proper foods and getting enough rest can help us avoid or overcome illness. Germs are less able to infect a healthy body

Get a physical

Today's Assignment

Schedule a physical with your health care professional

A Health Care professional can recommend practices specific to you to optimize your individual health.

Theme for June

On to the next topic of provident living....... Physical Health.

We have a group meeting at the Lazona Ward building in Mesa Tuesday June 2nd 7pm where we will be covering epidemic and pandemic influenza information and preparedness. Hope you can join us. e-mail me if you need directions to the building.


Healthy bodies help us meet the demands of life. Parents must keep themselves healthy and use wisdom and good judgment in caring for their children and teaching them good health practices.
Many resources have been provided so we can maintain good health.

The Lord expects us to use these resources to prevent and cure illnesses that afflict us and others. This requires that we use modern medical practices and exercise faith, prayer, and the power of the priesthood.

If we do these things, and it is God’s will, the sick can be healed.

President Brigham Young taught: “Then let us seek to extend the present life to the uttermost, by observing every law of health, and by properly balancing labor, study, rest, and recreation, and thus prepare for a better life. Let us teach these principles to our children” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 186).

Parenting

Parenting

In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Church leaders declared, "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live."
Good parenting, while very challenging at times, offers great potential for happiness. Parents can experience great joy by building a strong, loving home environment and teaching gospel principles, which can help their children lead righteous, happy, and productive lives. (See 3 John 1:4.)

The Lord has commanded parents to "bring up [their] children in light and truth" (D&C 93:40). This includes teaching them to understand the doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 68:25) and to love their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This teaching should take place primarily in the home, with Church classes and programs supplementing and supporting parents' efforts.

Parents can teach their children formally during family home evening and other family gatherings, such as daily family prayer and scripture study or at mealtimes. Teaching opportunities also come in unplanned moments as parents and children spend time working and playing together. Whatever the setting, the Lord will guide parents as they prayerfully seek to rear their children in love and righteousness.

How to be a good parent

Slow down. Babies and children live in a different time frame from adults' - usually a much slower one. Keep this in mind as you talk to your child, care for her and go about your day together.

Observe your child. You'll be amazed at how well you'll get to know your child by sitting back and watching. This focused awareness will help you better understand moods, abilities and temperament. Listening is important, too.

Stay optimistic. Optimism is contagious; so is negativity. Show your child through your behavior how to overcome minor setbacks. Children emulate their parents' attitudes and habits, so it will help if you have a positive outlook.

Accept and acknowledge your child's feelings and desires. Let her know it's OK if she feels sad, scared or angry. You can say, 'It looks like you're sad because your friend went home' or 'It seems that you're mad because I put the ball away.'

Tell your child your expectations. Children won't always comply right away, but they need to understand clearly what a parent expects: 'I want you to put on your sweater. We're going outside,' or 'I want your feet to stay off the couch.'

Set appropriate limits. Even when you acknowledge a feeling or desire, you must make a child aware of appropriate behavior and rules: 'I can see you're mad at your friend because he took the toy from you, but I won't let you hit him. Hitting is not something we do in our family. What else can you do?'

Wait. Let your child do as much as she can on her own - learn to walk, put on her socks, resolve conflicts with her friends. Anxiety or the desire to help often tempts parents to rush in and solve the problem for the child. A better response would be to wait and see what your child can manage on her own. She might surprise you.

Behave genuinely. Just as you accept your child's moods, though not always his behavior, it's OK to have a sad or angry thought yourself and express it appropriately: 'I'm really tired right now but I'm listening to you.' A parent's genuineness prepares a child for life.

Nurture yourself and your marriage. Make arrangements to have some guilt-free time to take care of your own needs. Plan a date with your partner and forget the kids for a while. You'll be a happier person and a better parent.

The Savior cherished His relationships and interactions with children. As we seek to view our children as He does, we can be filled with charity toward them. The insights we receive through prayer will help us respond appropriately to their needs and challenges. It helps to remember that parenting is a fluid, dynamic process. It can take time to see the results of our efforts. What works today may not work next year or even tomorrow. And no parent handles every situation perfectly. When we fall short, it is important to apologize and try to do better. After all, parents are growing and learning too. With the Lord’s help, parents can provide appropriate love, limits, and latitude that will enable their children to reach their full potential as sons and daughters of God.

Be a Joiner

Today's Assignment

Join networking, social action, conservation, and special interest groups that meet on a regular basis. These groups offer wonderful opportunities for finding people with common interests – people you like being with who are potential friends

Sunshine

Today's Assingment

Get a dose of sunlight . Sunlight lifts your mood, so try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day. This can be done while exercising, gardening, or socializing.