Car crashes are the leading cause of death for those ages 3 to 33, and nearly 80 percent of accidents result from driver distractions of just three seconds — like handing a child a sippy cup! Getting organized helps — you’ll spend less time searching for missing cell phones and dropped bottles and more time with your eyes on the road.

Feeling overconfident
Think it's mostly men who drive like maniacs? Think again. According to a University of Minnesota study, while women tend to say they're pretty tame drivers, once behind the wheel they drive just as aggressively as men.

Of course you want to be in charge while you drive, but cockiness can lead to accident-prone maneuvers, such as tailgating, blocking another car from your lane, and speeding. Be honest about your driving skills. Do you know evasive moves for avoiding an accident? If not, contact your state's department of motor vehicles for a list of approved defensive-driving courses — some of which you can take online. A bonus: Many insurers offer policy discounts if you complete the course.

(source: today.mnsbc)

Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation
Tires leak naturally and need the occasional check. Figuratively speaking, underinflated tires suck up gasoline. Under- or overinflated tires wear out sooner, and deliver the same emergency maneuver handling as marshmallows. You probably aren't going to check tire pressures monthly, but how about twice a year?Furthermore, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Your owner's manual will have a recommendation on both pressure and rotation periods.

(source:editorial.autos.msn)

Compared to the family trucksters of a generation ago, modern cars require about as much maintenance as a toaster. This is a real liberation from the oil, lube and tune merry-go-round that ruled not so long ago.

Curiously, many people haven't adjusted their thinking to keep pace with new car maintenance schedules. The preoccupied still run their daily drivers without service until the dash warning lights burn out, while over-achievers fret about running synthetic oil more than 2,500 miles without a change.

Although maintenance intervals are now more widely spaced, even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives. Whether yours is the latest model or you paid it off years ago, the trick is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive.

Surprisingly, the answer to what maintenance is required is hiding no farther away than the glove box. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule — in the owner's manual or in a separate maintenance log book — that details that vehicle's needs. A few minutes assimilating these requirements will help you avoid the following common car-maintenance pitfalls.

See what are the mistakes in the next post.

(source: editorial.autos.msn)

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for those ages 3 to 33, and nearly 80 percent of accidents result from driver distractions of just three seconds — like handing a child a sippy cup! Getting organized helps — you’ll spend less time searching for missing cell phones and dropped bottles and more time with your eyes on the road.

Chatting on your cell phone

It's tempting to use free minutes to arrange a playdate, but talking on your cell in a car is even worse than driving drunk. In a recent University of Utah study, the group using cell phones in a simulated environment had three accidents, while those who were inebriated had none. Why? Talking on a phone slows your reaction time (drunk drivers tend to be more aggressive, but they're not impaired the way cell-phone users are).

You're not off the hook if you use a headset. It doesn't matter how many hands you have on the wheel if you're not focused on the road. And while dialing a number is twice as dangerous as talking on the phone, we spend so little time dialing and so much time gabbing that they're equally risky, says Charlie Klauer, Ph.D., senior research associate at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, in Blacksburg.

So:

• Don't talk on your cell, unless you absolutely must.
• If you need to make a call, keep it short. "The longer you're on the phone, the higher your risk goes up," says Klauer. A quick "Hey, I picked up some tacos and I'm on my way home," is okay. But "So I told her that I couldn't find the report, but she just walked away like she didn't even hear me, and then I was like, 'Well, I guess I'll have to write an e-mail to somebody's supervisor!' " is not.
• When your phone rings, let the person leave a message, and call her back later. Or look for a safe spot to pull over so you can return the call.

(source: today.mnsbc)

Hi readers.

Our children needs our help to really "open up the world of ideas," according to child psychologist Robin Forman, PhD. His renewed joy in discovery will transfer to his schoolwork, so you'll boost his academic achievement, too!. Here isthe 10 tips to do it. We post it one by one. Enjoy.

Provide him with play opportunities that support different kinds of learning styles -- from listening and visual learning to sorting and sequencing. Fanjul recommends supplies that encourage open-ended play and "do more than one thing," such as blocks -- your child will develop his creative expression and problem-solving skills as he builds. He'll need lots of unstructured play time to explore them -- although sports activities and language clubs are valuable experiences, too many scheduled activities can add "too much stress" to your child's life, and distract him from exploring the pleasures of learning at his own pace.

Wait for the next tip.

(source: lifestyle.msn)

Hi readers.
Our children needs our help to really "open up the world of ideas," according to child psychologist Robin Forman, PhD. His renewed joy in discovery will transfer to his schoolwork, so you'll boost his academic achievement, too!. Here is the 10 tips to do it. We post it one by one. Enjoy.

Show enthusiasm for your child's interests and encourage her to explore subjects that fascinate her.

If she's a horse nut, offer her stories about riding or challenge her to find five facts about horses in the encyclopedia. Make sure she has the tools she needs -- since Feinberg's daughter "loved looking for sea life" at the beach during family vacations, he bought her little nets so that she could catch crabs and minnows. Now, she's a marine biologist.

Wait for the next tip.

(source: lifestyle.msn)

Hi readers.
Our children needs our help to really "open up the world of ideas," according to child psychologist Robin Forman, PhD. His renewed joy in discovery will transfer to his schoolwork, so you'll boost his academic achievement, too!. Here is the number 2. We post it one by one. Enjoy.

2. Encourage him to express his opinion, talk about his feelings, and make choices.

He can pick out a side dish to go with dinner and select his own extracurricular activities. Ask for his input on family decisions, and show that you value it. "One of the things valued in school is class participation," says Feinberg, and "having practice at home expressing his feelings" is "good for self-esteem and self-confidence." He'll be more likely to engage with the material he studies if he's comfortable asking questions and drawing his own conclusions.

Wait for the next tip.

(source: lifestyle.msn)

Hi readers.

Our children needs our help to really "open up the world of ideas," according to child psychologist Robin Forman, PhD. His renewed joy in discovery will transfer to his schoolwork, so you'll boost his academic achievement, too!.

Here isthe 10 tips to encourage our children do it. We post it one by one. Enjoy.

1. Fill your child's world with reading.
Take turns reading with your older child, or establish a family reading time when everyone reads her own book. It's important to show her that "it's not only a school task," says Ted Feinberg, Ph.D, assistant director of the National Association of School Psychologists. Demonstrate how important reading is to you by filling your home with printed materials: novels, newspapers, even posters and placemats with words on them. According to Stephanie Fanjul, director of student achievement at the National Education Association, "Children can learn to read by living in an environment that's rich in words."

Wait for the next tips.

(source: lifestyle.msn)

Seriously consider this question: Are you really ready to buy a home?

It's an expensive, long-term commitment. If you change jobs or the neighborhood declines, you can't quickly get up and go. Selling a house can take months and cost lots -- likely 10% of a home's value -- in agent fees, closing costs and moving expenses.

• Do you plan to live in your new home at least three years?
• Are you financially prepared? Steady employment, a good credit score and a 20% down payment are needed to obtain the best
  mortgage rate.
• Is it the right time to buy? If area homes have experienced huge appreciation over the past five years, prices are bound to return to a more affordable level. Check out the home prices in your area.
• Don't count on your home to be a great investment. Historically, the stock market outperforms real estate as a hedge against inflation.

(source: articles.moneycentral.msn)

Hi readers.

As you may know that bedroom is the place where wespend half of our lifetime. So, it's important for us to make a nice bedroom arrangement. So, the design of the bedroom is important to us. With a good touch, bedroom can be designed as a romantic bedroom. Here is the tip to do that. Enjoy.

1. Set the mood with lighting.

Lighting is key to setting the right mood — you should always have at least two lamps with textured shades in your bedroom. The textured shades will help diffuse light throughout the room, creating a much more flattering effect than overhead lights (which create shadows in all the wrong places).

2. Mix textures on the bed.

Mixing textures like a silk bedspread, sateen sheets, down pillows and a faux fur throw is a great way to set the mood by creating a tactile and sensual bedroom. Think about what feels great against the skin, and avoid anything that is rough or scratchy.

3. Incorporate warm and rich colors.

Vibrant, warm colors create a flattering space, as well as give you the biggest bang for your buck. Do not be afraid to accent window treatments or accent art pieces in ruby red and burnt orange. Make sure you avoid bright blues and greens, as these colors do not flatter skin tones and create a cold environment.

4. Add a spicy and romantic scent.

Smell is often the most overlooked element in interior design. Vanilla and cinnamon scented candles are a perfect way to spice up your bedroom — not to mention they'll cast the romantic glow of flickering candlelight.

5. Keep your in-laws and exs out of your bedroom.

Remove any framed pictures of your parents, in-laws, friends, exs and even children. Your romantic bedroom should only have pictures of you and your partner in a simple frame next to the bed. After all, you don't want to stare at your mother-in-law while feeling romantic.

6. Bring in a plush rug.

Bring in a plush rug that feels amazing on your feet. And if you have enough space, bring in a large plush rug to create extra floor-space for a change of scenery.

7. Keep flowers in elegant vases in the room.

Fresh flowers always add the element of romance, so keep a simple glass vase of flowers on the nightstand. Avoid large, overpowering arrangements that feel like you're at a funeral.

8. Conceal distractions.

If you have a TV in your bedroom, consider concealing it out of sight in a piece of furniture — the less distractions the better.

9. Keep work out of the bedroom.

Avoid bringing work into the bedroom. But if you absolutely must, have a nice storage box to tuck away at a moment's notice. Seeing work in the bedroom will quickly kill any romantic moments.

(source: shopping.msn)

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