Welcome to the January 31, 2013 edition of carnival of the vanities.
Carter White presents 35 Valentine’s Day Inspired Party Ideas for Kids posted at Babysitting, saying, "Valentine’s Day is a day to tell those who you love or like how you feel about them."
Denise Young presents How to Know if You Can Trust Your Child’s Teacher posted at Au Pair Care, saying, "Leaving your child in the hands of another for the majority of his day requires a healthy measure of trust if you’re going to be able to have any peace of mind at all as you go about your own day."
Steve Jackson presents 10 Easy Car Repairs You Can Do Yourself at Home posted at Housekeeping, saying, "These 10 car repairs and maintenance tasks are actually quite simple, even for beginners."
MITCHELL MORRIS presents 30 Blogs with Sample Scrapbook Pages posted at Full Time Nanny, saying, "Scrapbooking is a hobby that has been around for hundreds of years. It has evolved considerably since it first started with people saving newspaper clippings and writing poems in their books."
Diego Brown presents 10 of the Best iPhone Apps to Keep Handy for the Kids in Your Life posted at National Nannies, saying, "While Apple’s powerful iPhone device is so popular that it’s almost ubiquitous, it’s still a bit on the pricey side for most parents to present as a gift to their children."
Hailey Jones presents 30 Blogs with Tips to Actually Cut Your Grocery Bill posted at Nanny Websites, saying, "Feeding your family on a tight budget, especially when money doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to, can be a frustrating and even downright frightening proposition."
Sharon Moore presents Do You Have The Personality To Be a Successful Nanny? posted at Nanny Jobs, saying, "To be a successful nanny, you have to have a certain education and experience level, as well as a certain temperament."
Jennifer Saksa presents Where You Download From Matters posted at NCH Software Blog, saying, "Software download sites are a dime a dozen, but not all download sites are created equal. Downloading directly from the developer will ensure you won't get any unwanted toolbars or extras from the third party download site."
Laura Anderson presents Expert Insights with Early Intervention Specialist Bambi Rosario-Wyatt posted at eNannySource, saying, "Bambi supports families and helps enhance the development of the children she works with by providing specialized services."
Joe Taylor presents How to Keep Safe While Walking Home at Night posted at Live Out Nanny, saying, "If you’re forced to walk home at night, one of the best and most effective ways of ensuring that you reach your destination safely is to have a companion along for the journey."
Sydney Bell presents 30 Blogs for the Novice Photographer in You posted at Longhorn Leads, LLC, saying, "Like everything else, photography has changed and grown since the first camera was invented in 1840. Technology keeps evolving and growing, and now even amateurs are able to produce some professional looking results."
Kevin Giffin presents 9 Things Parents Should Know About Cats and Kids posted at Summer Nanny, saying, "Common advice for parents considering a new pet dictates the addition of a kitten when children are still young."
Jessica Clark presents 10 iPhone Apps for Recording & Editing Audio posted at Kenney Myers, saying, "Here is a list of 10 interesting applications that I have looked into recently for recording and editing audio."
JJ Semple presents Kundalini and Pop Culture posted at The Kundalini Consortium, saying, "Dedicated to the scientific exploration of human energy potentialities, such as kundalini, Nirvikalpa, neuroplasticity, energy healing. How and why these biological phenomena function, their effect on the individual, and on individual and collective consciousness."
Carter White presents 10 Reasons Why Dad’s Should Have Date Night With Their Daughters posted at Babysitting, saying, "The first relationship that little girls will form with a member of the opposite sex is the one that they have with their father."
MITCHELL MORRIS presents How to Nanny for a Divorcing Couple posted at Full Time Nanny, saying, "Working for a couple going through a divorce can be especially challenging for a nanny, however it can also be exceptionally rewarding."
Diego Brown presents How to Be Sure Your Child Behaves on the Bus posted at National Nannies, saying, "The viral video of an elderly bus driver being mercilessly bullied and tormented by the kids on her bus threw kids’ bus behavior into a harsh spotlight."
Dan Robinson presents How to Gain Your Teenager’s Respect Naturally posted at Aupair Jobs, saying, "As a child approaches adolescence, the natural exploration of boundaries and the need to assert his own independence often leaves his parents feeling as if all respect between them has dissipated."
Theresa Torres presents How to Increase Credit Limit posted at CreditDonkey.com Tips, saying, "Whatever your reason for wanting to increase your credit limit, here's what you need to know to increase your chances of getting approved."
Dani Blanchette presents Deadly & Awesome Animals of Colombia posted at Going Nomadic, saying, "Venomous, strange animals + sometimes factual description + lots of photos = Funny and slightly unnerving blog post"
Frances presents Alive posted at Ramblings of a Teenager, saying, "A poem inspired by the foggy morning air of December that relishes in the joy of being alive. The morning that inspired me is pictured as well."
Natalia presents What happened to women? | Live, Love, Laugh posted at Live, Love, Laugh.
Michael presents Why Did My FICA-OASDI Taxes Increase in 2013? @ Financial Ramblings posted at FinancialRamblings.com.
Paige Martin presents Home Buying Process - Step By Step To Buy a New Houston Home posted at Houston Real Estate Blog, saying, "Step by step guide to buying a new home. Tutorial, 1st time homebuyer kit, diagram with tips and resources to buying a new home with the least amount of stress."
Jessica Clark presents 15 Blogs that Talk About the Power of Prayer posted at Kenney Myers, saying, "Millions of people pray every day for a variety of different reasons. Prayer has the ability to help people feel more grounded as they communicate with a higher power."
Peter J. Buscemi presents What Should be in a Marketing Plan : Four Quadrant posted at Four Quadrant, saying, "There are many formats as there are marketing plans, as there should be, as each is created from a unique environment and is focused on providing results that are specific to an organization at a point in time."
Laura Anderson presents Expert Insights with Lifestyle Photographer Becca DuVal posted at eNannySource, saying, "Anyone who has tried to capture a photo of their infant or toddler knows what a challenge that can be; never mind trying to get one decent family photo, which can prove to be both an all-day and very frustrating affair."
Daniel Long presents 15 Blogs about Sending Flowers posted at hireananny.com, saying, "While Valentine’s Day is easily one of the busiest days of the year for a florist, it’s certainly not the only reason people buy flowers."
Shelby Martin presents 4 Ways Families Can Start the New Year Off Right posted at GoNannies.com Blog, saying, "Setting goals and making new commitments can benefit both you and your family."
Christine Kane presents 10 Tips for Parents Hiring a Nanny Through a Placement Agency posted at Nanny Agency, saying, "Full service nanny placement agencies offer parents an easy way to connect with pre-screened caregivers and get expert guidance throughout the hiring process."
Tim Hall presents 10 of the Coolest Moms on TV posted at Summer Nanny Jobs, saying, "Whether they’re still reigning on continuing shows or live on only in syndication, there are some television moms that were so cool that they’ve become part of the cultural landscape forever."
Caleb Hill presents How to Break the Sense of Entitlement in Your Child posted at Nanny Classifieds, saying, "Raising children in a reasonably privileged household and ensuring that they have all of the opportunities that privilege affords them without creating a false sense of entitlement is difficult to do."
Kaitlyn Johnson presents Using Baby Sign Language to Connect with Your Infant posted at Newborn Care, saying, "As your infant gets older, she will start to understand her own feelings and needs better, but she still won’t be able to effectively share them with you yet."
Hills L presents What happens if I breach my Premises Licence Conditions? posted at Hills Licensing, saying, "When a Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate is granted offences can be committed if the premises are operated outside the licensable activities granted."
Michelle Brown presents 10 Tips for Organizing Children’s Clothing posted at Nanny, saying, "Keeping your own closet organized and clean can be a daunting task, but keeping your children’s clothes neat and organized is a completely different ball game."
Denise Young presents 40 Blogs with Examples of Hand Made Cards posted at Au Pair Care, saying, "Purchasing greeting cards at the store has gotten more and more expensive, and many people are opting to take card making up as a hobby instead of shelling out the extra money."
Pool Spa presents Hot Tub Pump-Replace or Repair? posted at Go Pool and Spa, saying, "You know the saying, "it's what's on the inside that counts"? We it's very true when it comes to the inside of a hot tub! A hot tub can look amazing on the outside with all the bells and whistles but if the inside isn't measuring up, it will be no good to you."
Brittany Martin presents How to Ask Tough Questions During a Nanny Interview posted at Nanny Interview Questions, saying, "The nanny interview is your opportunity to really get to know a nanny you’re considering hiring."
Cherry Liu presents 10 Things Never to do Alone posted at House Sitting Jobs, saying, "There are some activities that can provide a rush of self-reliant satisfaction, empowerment and fulfillment when you complete them on your own."
Short-Hairstyles presents Short, Stylish Hair Can Re-Charge And Re-Invigorate Your Life posted at Blog Short-Hairstyles, saying, "A new hair cut can help you achieve this state. It is perhaps one of the best ways to build up your self-confidence, and step out into society with the feeling that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to."
Lisa Williams presents 10 Strategies for Teaching Your Child to Read posted at Become A Nanny, saying, "The sense of pride and accomplishment that kids feel the first time they read a book all by themselves is something that neither you nor they will forget."
andy h presents Your Guide to Choosing the Right Domain Name posted at Hostman Saving, saying, "Choosing the right domain name is very important. Unfortunately, it usually isn’t given enough thought. Because they are readily available, webmasters buy them without much consideration. Certain elements have to be assessed beforehand though."
Kevin Giffin presents 25 Blogs with Spring Break Ideas posted at Summer Nanny, saying, "The week of Spring Break typically falls in March and was created to give students a break from their studies before coming back to finish out their school year strong."
Sharon Moore presents How to Give Feedback to Your Nanny posted at Nanny Jobs, saying, "Ongoing and honest communication is crucial to having a successful nanny/family relationship and a big part of that communication puzzle is giving your nanny feedback on her performance."
Brittany Harris presents 5 Things NOT to do With Your Infant Car Seat posted at NannyPro.com, saying, "While infant car seats certainly serve their purpose in keeping children safe and making transporting young babies to and from the car convenient and easy when they’re used properly"
Kaitlyn Johnson presents How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Baby’s Room posted at Newborn Care, saying, "One of the first things on many parents’ to-do list, however, is to paint the nursery walls the perfect shade that creates a sanctuary for their little one."
Arianna Lee presents 20 Blogs with Easy Weekly Meal Plans for Families posted at Part Time Nanny, saying, "“What’s for dinner?” is easily one of the most asked questions in a home. If you wish you had a quick and easy answer to that question, then these 20 blogs are for you."
Alaina Moore presents 8 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Medications for Kids posted at aupair, saying, "Health care costs are soaring higher every year, and as they do many American workers are watching their health insurance coverage simultaneously diminish."
TherapyDoc presents The Myths of Happiness and Life Hacks posted at Everyone Needs Therapy, saying, "Everyone thinks that a source of happiness should be-- marriage, work, kids. Guess what? It doesn't work that way."
Olivia Lewiss presents Proper Etiquette Rules for Any Child, Perhaps Yours posted at Hire a Nanny, saying, "Teaching children to confidently navigate the sometimes complex world of etiquette can be a difficult task, but instilling courtesy and good manners will help them better manage society as they get older."
Jeff Moore presents Ways to Teach Your Child to Call 911 posted at Babysitting Jobs, saying, "Preparing your child to act calmly under unthinkable circumstances is a scary and disheartening responsibility, but it is an essential one."
Shelby Martin presents 4 Ways to Help Your Child Overcome His Fears posted at GoNannies.com Blog, saying, "Fear is a primal emotion that is essential for survival. Children fear things because they are small people in a very big world that they understand very little of."
Laura Anderson presents Ways to Motivate Your Nanny to Provide Exceptional Care posted at eNannySource, saying, "Managing a household employee isn’t easy. Trying to conduct a business relationship in an intimate setting can be tough."
Steve Jackson presents 10 iPhone Apps for Tracking Household Expenses posted at Housekeeping, saying, "In the world of mobile devices, few are as popular or as versatile as Apple’s powerful iPhone."
Kaylee Adams presents What To Do When Your Nanny Quits Without Notice posted at Find A Nanny, saying, "It’s hard to feel optimistic about finding a reliable caregiver after your nanny quits without notice."
Carter White presents The 9 Most Unusual Parenting Books for Sale posted at Babysitting, saying, "For every parenting philosophy, there’s a book out there to support it or to point out its perceived shortcomings."
Lisa Williams presents 30 Blogs Filled with No Cost Family Fun Ideas posted at Become A Nanny, saying, "The collective wisdom of bloggers from around the world can help you find ways to keep your brood entertained while spending time together as a family unit, even when you can’t afford outings or nights on the town."
Jessica Clark presents 30 Blogs Featuring Flash Mob Ideas posted at Kenney Myers, saying, "Whether you’re looking for a way to make a difference, brighten someone’s day or simply to set the stage for the next big viral video, a flash mob can be the answer."
Arianna Lee presents 15 Blogs about Zentangles posted at Part Time Nanny, saying, "If you like to doodle then you may love to zentangle! Zentangling is an art form where you take a basic shape, divide it into sections and then fill the sections with a pattern."
David Leonhardt presents Hagrid moonlights posted at A Ghost Writers Blog, saying, "I can’t really tell you how these bedtime stories began. One of my daughters is a huge Harry Potter fan. One day, she stumbled upon Potter Puppet Pals on YouTube...and now it's come to this!"
Michelle Brown presents 15 Blogs With Ideas for Nail Art posted at Nanny, saying, "People have painted their nails for thousands of years as a way to express themselves and to easily accessorize any outfit."
Denise Thompson presents 10 Toys Only Marketed to Girls posted at Find A Babysitter, saying, "The strategic marketing behind toys is culture based and consumer driven."
Alaina Moore presents How to Make a Dipped Fruit Arrangement at Home posted at aupair.org, saying, "Dipped fruit arrangements are an exciting and edible alternative to traditional flower bouquets for centerpieces or gifts."
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of the vanities using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.