GIFT GUIDE & RESOURCES

Preventative Measures Can Save PetsTake preventive measures to protect your pets this holiday season. Being aware of these top five dangers could save you a trip to the veterinary emergency room.No. 1 Holiday Tinsel and OrnamentsTinsel, while not toxic, is very attractive to pets, particularly cats. The shiny, dangling decoration reflects light and can move in the slightest draft — appearing to come alive to watchful critters.The problem with tinsel is that once it’s consumed, it can cause serious injury to your pet. If not caught in time, this foreign body ingestion could actually be fatal as it twists and bunches inside your pet’s intestines. Immediate veterinary care is required. In addition, bright and colorful tree ornaments can attract your pet’s curiosity. Place glass, aluminum and ...

by Alicia Wanek | Staff WriterGetting passionate about calculus? Could it really happen? In this day and age, with the focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), kids need these skills in a way our generation didn’t. Jay Veal and his mother Gloria at INC (It’s Not Complicated) Tutoring are passionate about math and science, and their approach to helping your student be a successful learner offers a refreshing change from traditional programs.“The one thing that sets us apart is our holistic view of a student,” says Gloria Veal, Principal Program Manager of Communications & Public Relations for INC. Whether your student needs help reaching grade-level mastery of a subject, or whether your goal is to accelerate his learning in a certain STEM subject, INC looks at the way...

Does NO Mean GO? Learn how to establish boundaries kids can live withby Dr. Sandy Gluckman | Contributor“Boundaries” – a word that is like a red rag to a bull for parents as well as kids. By definition, a boundary in the parent-child relationship marks the point between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. When we say, “That’s it! You just crossed the line,” we mean that the child’s behavior has become unacceptable according to our expectations. Setting boundaries is a fundamentally important skill for raising children. Yet it is one of the parenting skills that so many moms and dads struggle with.There are numerous significant benefits to having healthy boundaries, two of which are:1. With clearly communicated and agreed boundaries there should be less stress and conflict because there i...

June is national Men’s health monthChances are you get your car tuned regularly, never skip an oil change, and have a weekly date with the car wash. But are you taking such good care of yourself?“Dads are often so focused on their kids they forget to take care of themselves,” says Dr. Gregory Moran of Carrollton-based Family Medicine Associates of Texas. “Our busy lives and work schedules often prevent us from seeking routine preventive care, but it is the key to reducing the risk of illness and disease. Unfortunately, many diseases are far advanced by the time you have symptoms.”See your doctor to determine which tests you should have and how often to have them, but in general, the medical exams suggested below will help keep you a finely tuned machine.In Your 30sAnnual physical exam by y...

2015 HANDS-ONLYCPR FACT SHEETWHY LEARN HANDS-ONLY CPR?Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs – is a leading cause of death. Each year, over 326,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States.When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby.According to the American Heart Association, 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.Most Americans (70 percent) feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR or they’re afrai...

Scoring higher on college entrance exams is all about the prep.College entrance exams. The mere thought can evoke terror in the heart of the most confident student. Fear not, says Varun Tewari, owner of Victory Step Test Prep, an educational company with locations in Dallas and Plano. “The ACT and SAT are boring, so half the battle is making it through the test,” Varun says with a chuckle.Victory Step provides exam preparation for the ACT and SAT, academic tutoring for grades 6 through 12, and prepares college students for the GRE and GMAT exams. Students receive one-on-one tutoring at their home or in small classes at one of Tewari’s locations. CBS News ranked Victory Step as one of the Top 5 Best Test Prep and Tutoring Companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.Tewari says Victory Step stan...

The Road to Substance Abuse: What Drives Your Teen?The second in a three-part series on teen substance abuse, this article focuseson why tweens and teens are drawn to drugs and what parents can do to stop it.By Karen Brodsky | Staff WriterYou brought into the world the most perfect baby. You gave her everything and nurtured her to become the most perfect toddler, child and teen. So, why on earth would she start using alcohol or drugs? The answer may be closer to home than you think.In some cases, it’s their own parents’, friends’ and other adults’ alcohol habits that teens emulate. According to Pam Blankenship, Executive Director of CARE (Chemical Awareness Resources & Education), a non-profit, confidential resource for families of substance abusers, “Teens tell us the number one attra...

What’s Coming Down the Road?Making the Best Plan for Tomorrow Requires Asking the Right Questions TodayBy Alicia Wanek | Staff WriterIused to second-guess myself all the time. Whether when I drove off the lot, signed the last document, or shook someone’s hand, I started to worry if I had made the right choice. But I’ve finally learned that if I’ve done my research and asked myself all the right questions first, I can walk away with confidence. The decision to make sure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone certainly qualifies as an important life decision. But if you have someone to ask the right questions, you can have the peace of mind to know that your policy will be the right one for you. Bobby Davidson, local independent agent, offers what he calls a “360 review” to exam...

Reflecting Back onYour Teen Years to Sharpen Your Parenting SkillsDoes your 11 year-old whine about not getting to use social media? Is your 16 year-old asking for permission to stay all night at the prom after-party?In the age of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and ‘how-to’ guides for time-outs, many of us thought that parenting through the early years was going to be the hard part. It is a rare parent who spent the pregnancy planning for how to handle the teen-to-adult years. But this is when the stakes get even higher and parents have the opportunity to have as much, if not more, influence over their children’s lives. Contrary to popular belief, the older your child gets, the more your child needs you. Parenting is a lifelong process that merely begins with childbirth.Were we any...

Ways Kids Can Cash-in This Summer: Real Money Making Ideas for Pre-Teens and TeensBy Kimberly Blaker | ContributorAn important aspect of helping kids develop into responsible adults is teaching them the value and rewards of hard work and earning their own money. Through this they gain self-esteem, come to understand the real value of a dollar, and become more thoughtful in the way they spend money. Share the list below with your pre-teen or teen for a broad range of ways they can cash-in this summer.The grass is always greenerWhat better way to soak up the sun, get fit, and make spare cash all at once, than mowing lawns? Create some fliers, and be sure to mention that you live in the neighborhood. (Don’t forget your phone number!) Include your fees based on yard size, keeping them below th...