Enjoy Carving A Pumpkin

I am surprised how many people I talk to that have missed out on some of the most foundational experiences of childhood. I love counseling couples and families and helping them find creative ways to spend family time together and to enjoy the smallest things in life together. So as I worked with a family last fall, I suggested that they spend the upcoming Saturday doing nothing but carving pumpkins together.

I was astounded and a little bit frustrated when the three children looked at each other and then to their parents without the slighest clue of what I was suggesting. They had never carved a pumpkin. But not only that, these children had also never even purchased pumpkins for their front porch during the harvest season. Their parents laughed with a bit of embarrassment and tried to justify the situation to me.

I wasn't interested in hearing excuses about why the kids were deprived of such a normal and fun childhood experience like choosing and carving a pumpkin. Instead, I just wanted to hear these parents verbalize a commitment to their children to spend Saturday rectifying the situation. In any family therapy session it is important to not look backward too far but instead to look to what can be improved for the future.

So spending time carving a pumpkin is simply a metaphor for the fact that families need to spend time together. Our culture is surrounded by families who are literally falling apart from the insides out, and I think that lack of time spent together is one of the most significant and solvable problems attacking families. Taking an afternoon to carve a pumpkin, bake cookies or go for a hike is something that all too many families see as a foreign concept.

If you have or are planning to have a family of your own, then make a commitment now to make family time a priority. Let it be important to you to spend time with the people that you love the most. Go to a pumpkin patch and each pick out a special pumpkin to spend time carving. Or walk through the park and stop for hot chocolates. Whatever you do, just be intentional about spending time together and about getting to know each member of your family in fun situations. Your life, the lives of your family, and our world will all be better as families really take seriously the need for good family time.

Have a Field Day with Field Paint!

Spring is the time that flowers start to bloom and the temperature continues to rise higher. All the snow on the ground melts, and trees regain their leaves. That’s right; it’s almost springtime. Now is the time to start painting your fields for all of the upcoming spring sports.

So, how do you choose the right paint for the job? Well, we have a few suggestions to help you out.

1. Stick to Water-Based Paints

Solvent-based paints could kill the grass or put harmful chemicals into the water supply. The best paints are water-based paints. They will not damage the grass or pollute the local ground-water supply. They are VOC-compliant and free of lead hazards. And, you can wash the paint off easily, which is very convenient for fields used for more than one sport.

2. Get More Paint for Your Buck

Do you know how much paint you’re getting from each can you use? Most people don’t. Always make sure you find out before you purchase your paint. Krylon’s Line-Up brand of athletic field paint boasts one of the longest lasting cans of paint on the market. Each 20 oz. can is good for about 300 linear feet with a 4” thickness and a very impressive 600 linear feet with a 2” thickness.

3. Look at Color Charts

Some teams have trouble finding the right color for their logo. Never buy paint without trying to find the best color match possible. It’s a lot easier to do than most people think. Choose a brand that offers a variety of colors, and look at each of them on a color chart. For example, Line-Up field striping paint comes in thirteen (13) different colors, including Turf Green to cover up any mistakes, and their color charts are readily available online.

4. Make Sure the Paint Fits Your Machine

Don’t you just hate it when you buy a can of paint and your machine or wand isn’t compatible with the nozzle? That doesn’t have to happen to you. If you already have striping equipment, buy paint with universal tips. If you don’t have a striping machine or striping wand, purchase them along with your paint. Some stores even offer free machines with your paint purchases.

5. Don’t Free-hand Your Field

Good brands of athletic field striping paint offer stencil kits. Make sure you get one so your numbers always look neat and crisp. Stenciling is very easy to do, and it makes a very big difference in the appearance of your field.


It’s easy to make your field look great. Just keep those five tips in mind the next time you purchase your athletic field paint. Your team will thank you for it when they notice the difference.

Give Someone A Bird Bath

Ever since I can remember I have loved buying special gifts and presents for the people in my life. I love nothing more than surprising someone I care about with something I know they will love. I try to match potential gifts to people that I know would really enjoy the gift, for there is nothing worse than giving or receiving a gift that just doesn't match a personality. I recently gave a bird bath to my father for his birthday and I quickly realised that it was the perfect gift.

My father has loved everything about birds since I can remember. We were always reading the latest books or magazines on species of birds and on the noises they made, the foods they ate, and where they were most likely to migrate to and from during the winter. My father was constantly quizzing our entire family on different bird noises. He even bought a tape that was supposed to help you learn your bird noises and be able to distinguish them from one another. I had never seen my father own a bird bath, however, and I decided before his last birthday that it was about time to add that to his collection.

He was so overwhelmed by my gift of the bird bath that tears came to his eyes. He thanked me for getting him something that he truly loved and he said that it would be something he treasured for as long as he was able to enjoy his birds. I felt with his thanks the feeling I always get when I am able to bless a loved one or friend with a gift that is truly them and that they will honestly love.

If you are looking to give a great gift to give a bird lover in your life, then look no further than getting a great bird bath. A bird bath is the perfect gift for bird lovers because it allows even more birds to come near their home and to make friends with them. You can find great deals on a bird bath and most gardening or home improvement stores. You can even do an online search to learn more about potential places and kinds of bird baths to give as gifts.

Don't rush into making a bird bath purchase unless you have to. If you have time, take it and look around at a variety of places for the perfect bird bath. They come in many styles and many price ranges. Search until you find something great and then enjoy the look on your loved ones face when they unwrap a gift that they'll love forever.

Gearing Up For Ice Hockey

If you are ready to hit the ice and start playing ice hockey you need to know about the basic equipment that is essential to your game. The very basics include your stick, your skates, pucks and protective gear. There are different types of equipment for hockey which you can choose based on your preferences. Starting out, it is a good idea to buy used or at least inexpensive equipment until you discover your personal preferences.

When choosing a hockey stick, your height needs to be considered. If the stick is too long or too short, you will put unnecessary stress on your body when trying to use it and your performance in the game will be affected as well. If you visit a hockey equipment shop, the experts there can help you to determine what type of stick is best for you.

Buying skates for hockey is the easy part. When you purchase skates make sure that they fit well and have sufficient support for your ankles so you won’t easily sustain injuries or rub blisters on your feet. Pucks aren’t really anything special although you may find that you favor one style or brand over another. They are relatively inexpensive, so trying different types of pucks shouldn’t be a problem.

For protective gear you definitely need a well-fitted helmet with a mouth guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads and knee pads. A jockstrap and protective cup is also fundamental for your protection in the game of hockey. Protective girdles that cover the main part of your body are also a good idea as are hockey gloves. Neck protectors are also available for hockey players.

When you are dressed out in your hockey gear you should be protected, but sometimes protective clothing feels uncomfortable and some types may interfere with your mobility. If you feel like you can’t move you might want to try different types of protective gear, but for your safety, don’t give it up entirely. Unnecessary injuries can be prevented by using protective gear. You’ll eventually find the right mix of equipment, clothing and gear that will make you feel both comfortable and safe on the ice. As you get more familiar with the game and what it entails, you have a better idea of what you like and don’t like and you’ll be able to select higher quality gear that suits your needs and preferences for the game of hockey.

Choosing Hockey Sticks For Your Best Game Play

Hockey equipment is required for all players who step onto the ice but some differences exist regarding the hockey equipment utilized by different leagues. Players’ hockey equipment generally consists of skates, shin pads, gloves, hockey pants, sticks, and helmets. The hockey stick tends to be the most vital, apart from your body protection. Choosing hockey sticks that suit you best is important. If you choose the wrong sticks you could end up playing badly or even doing yourself an injury. So how do you work out which hockey sticks are right for you? Here are some helpful tips. Firstly, when standing in your skates, your stick should reach your chin. Some defence based players prefer a longer stick to give them more reach when they're defending. If you can, buy your sticks a little long and have the shop cut them down. This is far better than having a stick that is too long or too short. Most people tend to find they have to have their stick customized to give them their optimum comfort. You can work out what length you need by looking closely at the wear of the tape on the bottom of your stick. If the tape is worn down near the toe, then you should probably consider a longer stick. If the tape instead is worn near the heel, then you should probably consider a shorter stick. Ultimately you should try sticks at different lengths until you find one that's got a comfortable weight and feel for you. When choosing hockey sticks you should also consider weight and blade size. Most players recommend wrapping both the stick handle and the blade with a layer of tape. This is done to assure both a tighter grip on the handle and so that the puck does not slide off of the blade as easy as normal. If you are new to the game and have yet to tape your stick then we recommend that you do this early on. As outlined above, it will help you measure your game. Different curves will affect the way you stick handle and shoot the puck too. Again, when you're starting off and new to the game, it is a good idea to try different curves until you find one that feels comfortable. Like with all sports equipment, the best idea is try out a few different hockey sticks so that you find one that conforms to your style.

Scoring & Winning

The objective of any game is not to only have fun and get a dose of physical activity, but also to find the best ways to score and win with the game. If you are playing the game of volleyball, you will want to be sure to be in tune with the techniques that you can use in order to meet your objectives. This will allow you to progress and get ahead of your opponents, leading to the final score. The most effective way to score is to make it impossible for the imposing side to hit the ball. This can be done in a variety of ways, and through different types of hits. Spiking the ball straight to the ground or finding an open space on the opposing side are easy ways to score. You can also get the ball close to out of bounds in order to help your team score. Every time that the ball hits the ground on the other side of the net, you will gain one point. Every time you gain one point, you will also gain the serve of the ball. If you don't have the serve at the time, you will rotate the players clockwise in order to even out the court. The first team to score twenty-five points will win. If there is a tie or close game, then it will be the team to reach two points after the twenty-five points is reached. If you are playing matches, it will be fifteen points that will need to be reached, playing to whoever gets the best out of five. If you are looking for an enjoyable way to get physical activity, while adding in extra physical activity to the day, then working towards scoring and winning volleyball is an easy way to reach the goal. By knowing exactly where to send the ball when it gets over the net, you can easily jump up in points to win your game.

Rafael Benitez: Napoli appoint Spaniard as manager

Napoli have appointed Rafael Benitez as their new manager on a two-year deal.

The 53-year-old's spell as interim Chelsea boss is coming to an end and he will replace Walter Mazzarri, who has joined Napoli's Serie A rivals Inter.
Napoli finished second in the Italian league last season and have qualified for next season's Champions League.

"I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli," said Spaniard Benitez.

"I understand the history of the city and how the club forms a fundamental part of the culture and traditions of Naples.
"I must confess that I am extremely excited because I can share my passion for football with the fans of Napoli; it is proven that they are very, very special.
"I look forward to experiencing each and every one of the fans of Napoli and their strong support for this project that we will begin."

Read More : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/
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