The John Tesh Blog

New Uses for Old Things- that will save you some time, too!

Pretty cool to get some new, or "Oh!  Hadn't thought of that!" use from things you probably already have at home, and save yourself a little time in your day, too!  Real Simple shines the light, so get ready to dig through your catch-all drawers for what you need:

1.

Slow Silver Tarnishing with Chalk

Original Purpose: Drawing the lines for a rousing game of hopscotch.
Aha! Use: Slowing the tarnish on your good silver. Tie up a few moisture-absorbing pieces in cheesecloth and store them with your cutlery.
Reward: Shinier flatware that reflects well on you in no time flat. Now here's an idea.  Go ahead and do this, then wait until your spouse goes to clean the silver before your next special dinner.  How about that for an unexpected surprise?

2. 

Organize Linens with Binder Clips

Original Purpose: Keeping your morning briefing in order.
Aha Use: Restoring order in the linen closet. Store sets of napkins clipped together and they'll always be ready to set the scene at dinnertime.
Reward: No minutes wasted searching for elusive matching colors.

3.

Clean Your Dishwasher with Lemonade Kool-Aid

Original Purpose: Quenching your thirst.
Aha! Use: Cleaning lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher. Pour a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid (the only flavor that works) into the detergent cup and run the dishwasher while empty.
Reward: The citric acid in the mix wipes out stains, so you don't have to.

4.

Use WD-40 to Remove Crayon Marks

Original Purpose: Greasing a squeaky wheel.
Aha! Use: Removing crayon from almost any surface: plastic, metal, TV screens, freshly painted walls. Just apply a small amount and rub away with a clean cloth.
Reward: The living room won't look like a romper room after little Sammy's visit.

5.

Use Eggshells to Clean Bottles and Vases

Original Purpose: Playing a central role in the chicken-and-egg debate.
Aha! Use: Cleaning the hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases. Drop some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl.
Reward: Shells that scrape off the gunk you can't get to, so you can save your elbow grease for the dinner dishes.  Well...I guess that's a bonus.

6.

Remove Adhesive with Mayonnaise

Original Purpose: Key tuna-salad ingredient.
Aha! Use: Adhesive remover that banishes old stickers from mirrors, glass, and bumpers. Apply a generous helping to persistent adhesives and coax off with a flexible putty knife.
Reward: Unstick sticky surfaces without the noxious fumes, or the cost, of the commercial stuff.

7.

Laundry Bag as Dishwasher Item Saver

Original Purpose: Saving delicate unmentionables from getting stretched in the spin cycle.
Aha! Use: Keeping mini Tupperware lids, baby-bottle caps, and other small items from falling through the dishwasher rack.
Reward: No more diving for treasure on the floor of the dishwasher.

I'm thinking about sticking some stickers around the office walls for awhile, just so I can have a go at the mayo trick!  Have a super Monday-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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10 Tips for Reinventing Your Home- Go ahead- it's worth it!

Now that homeowners no longer obsess about how much their homes have increased in value in the past week, they're reacquainting themselves with the joys of home ownership from a new, healthier perspective.

Recognizing that larger is not necessarily better and that less can actually be more, many homeowners are looking for ways to make the homes they're in more useful, comfortable and enjoyable.

Here is Jay MacDonald from Bankrate.com with the ideas that may help you make the house you're in your dream home:

1. Show your true colors. "Paint is the cheapest and most powerful thing you can do to put your personal stamp on a home," says Barbara Corcoran, a New York City real-estate agent and NBC's "Today" show real-estate expert. "Paint your home the colors you enjoy living with, the colors you feel happiest within."

2. Ditch some stuff. "You probably have more stuff than you need. Get rid of some of it," says James Gauer, author of "The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes."

3. Start simple. Find the simplest remodeling solution within your home's existing footprint before considering expanding its size, says Marc Vassallo, co-author of "Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live."

4. Dine in a booth. "I've yet to see a small living/dining room where a free-floating dining table and chairs really works," Gauer says. "A dining banquette against the wall looks and feels luxurious and comfortable while taking up considerably less space."

5. Check out books. "Put a wall of books in any room and it's cozy and inviting," Corcoran says.

6. Consolidate doorways. "Attempt to locate all the doorways to the kitchen on one side of the room and eliminate any that are not absolutely necessary," Vassallo says. "This leaves the rest of the kitchen for continuous countertop and appliance arrangement while limiting the flow of foot traffic through the work area."

7. Plan your furniture first. "Never buy furniture without first laying out a furniture plan," Gauer says. "Chances are, that sofa you're eyeing is too big and will just make your living room feel crowded."

8. Let there be light. "The right lighting can make a heck of an improvement,"  Corcoran says. "Throw in task lighting to make tasks easier, mood light to make a room sexier. And don't forget dimmers! I can't imagine lighting without them."

9. Add a column. "Create a more open floor plan by removing a wall and replacing it with a new support beam and columns," Vassallo says. "Columns allow for differentiation of places with minimal view obstruction."

10. Dare to be modest. "Modesty requires us to arrange our homes first and foremost to suit the real needs of our private lives with no thought to public display, to eschew the showy and unnecessary and embrace the appropriate and suitable," Gauer says.

Selling your home right now just may not be in your cards.  That's why we have a great cliche to fall back on, "Love the one you're with."  Weekend's upon us?  Got a little spare time for a little reinvention?  Could find yourself falling in love- with your home- all over again.  Have a great weekend-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

The 10 Worst Germ Hot Spots

You may scrub your toilet and counter tops until they shine, but Prevention magazine has listed some scary new bacteria breeding grounds that require just as much attention. Germs (the catchall name for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms) are everywhere--at home, in the office, even in your car. Luckily, about 99% of them can't harm us. But the other 1% can be annoying, uncomfortable, or downright scary: Most of these pathogens are either viral or bacterial and can cause everything from a runny nose to a potentially life-threatening infection.

We've heard in recent years some of the most obvious places that germs propagate--the doctor's office, the soles of your shoes--but many more germ-friendly locales are completely unexpected yet no less dangerous. We uncovered a host of surprising new spots where germs like to lurk, and offer easy solutions to keep you and your family safe and healthy.

1. Forget the kitchen sink- try the kitchen faucet!
That metal aeration screen at the end of the faucet is a total germ magnet. Running water keeps the screen moist, an ideal condition for bacteria growth. Because tap water is far from sterile, if you accidentally touch the screen with dirty fingers or food, bacteria can grow on the faucet, explains microbiologist Kelly Reynolds, PhD, an associate professor of community environment and policy at the University of Arizona College of Public Health. Over time, bacteria build up and form a wall of pathogens called biofilm that sticks to the screen. "Eventually, that biofilm may even be big enough to break off and get onto your food or dishes," she notes.

Keep It Clean: Once a week, remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution--follow the directions on the label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using.

2. The garbage disposal- might not be disposing of germs!
Bacteria from last night’s dinner could end up on today’s food and utensils if you’re not careful. That raw chicken or spinach you're rinsing for dinner is often loaded with harmful bacteria, which can make the young, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system seriously ill. In fact, there are often more than 500,000 bacteria in the kitchen sink--about 1,000 times more than the average toilet has. Although the metal part of the disposal produces ions that can help kill germs, they still love to grow on the crevices in and around the slimy rubber stopper. That means your disposal can become party central for bacteria, contaminating whatever touches it--dishes, utensils, even your hands.

Keep It Clean: At least once a week, clean the disposal's rubber stopper with a diluted bleach solution--soap and water aren't enough.

3. Your welcome mat? Very welcoming, but not of what you want.
It serves to greet not only your guests but also all the bugs on the bottoms of their shoes. In fact, one study found that nearly 96% of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. "The area near your front door is one of the dirtiest in the house," says Reynolds. Once bacteria plant their stakes in your mat, anytime you walk on it, you give them a free ride into your home.

Keep It Clean: Spray the doormat once a week with a fabric-safe disinfectant (such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray). Leave shoes at the door, and avoid resting bags and groceries on the mat, too.

4. Vacuum cleaner
It’s all in the bag—including spreadable germs. "Vacuums--including the brushes and bags--are like meals-on-wheels for bacteria," says Charles Gerba, PhD, professor of environmental biology at the University of Arizona "You suck in all this bacteria and food, creating an atmosphere for growth." A recent study by Gerba and his team found that 13% of all vacuum cleaner brushes tested positive for E. coli, which means you could spread it around the house each time you use the appliance.

Keep It Clean: Change your vacuum bag frequently, and do so outdoors to avoid the cloud of bacteria that filters into the air. (Vacuum bags that feature antibacterial linings are best, and are available for many major brands.) Clean the cavity of a bagless vacuum with diluted bleach and let it air-dry.

5. Dish towels
You know a sponge can harbor nasty germs, but dish towels are just as dangerous. A recent study of hundreds of homes across the United States found that about 7% of kitchen towels were contaminated with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the difficult-to-treat staph bacteria that can cause life-threatening skin infections. Dish towels also rated tops for dangerous strains of E. coli and other bacteria. We often use towels to wipe up spills, says Reynolds, then reuse before washing them, which spreads germs.

Keep It Clean: Stick to paper towels to clean countertops, and save the dishrag to dry just-washed pots and plates. Change towels or launder at least twice a week in hot water and bleach.

6. Car dashboard
This is your vehicle's second-most-common spot for bacteria and mold. Here’s why: When air—which carries mold spores and bacteria—gets sucked in through the vents, it's often drawn to the dashboard, where it can deposit the spores and germs. Because the dashboard receives the most sun and tends to stay warm, it's prime for growth. (The number one germ zone? Food spills.)

Keep It Clean: Regularly swipe the inside of your car with disinfecting wipes. Be more vigilant during allergy season—about 20 million Americans are affected by asthma, which is caused in part by an allergic reaction to mold.

7. Soap dispensers
About 25% of public restroom dispensers are contaminated by fecal bacteria. Soap that harbors bacteria may sound ironic, but that’s exactly what a recent study found. "Most of these containers are never cleaned, so bacteria grows as the soap scum builds up," says Gerba. "And the bottoms are touched by dirty hands, so there's a continuous culture going on feeding millions of bacteria."

Keep It Clean: Be sure to scrub hands thoroughly for 15 to 20 seconds with plenty of hot water--and if you have an alcohol gel disinfectant, use that, too.

8. Restaurant ketchup bottle
Eww. Those condiments on the tabletop are grimier than you think. It's the rare eatery that regularly bleaches down condiment containers. And the reality is that many people don't wash their hands before eating, says Reynolds. So while you may be diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries.

Keep It Clean: Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of the bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help--they're porous, so microorganisms can walk right through, says Reynolds.

9. Refrigerator seal
Do you scrub the inside of your fridge? It’s not enough. A University of Arizona survey of 160 homes in three US cities found that the seal around the fridge tested positive 83% of the time for common molds. The mold can spread every time the refrigerator door opens--exposing anyone who's susceptible to allergies and potentially contaminating the food.

Keep It Clean: Wipe fridge seals at least once a week with a diluted bleach solution or disinfectant.

10. And finally- something dear and quite near to you every day- your cell phone
Drop your cell any place that’s convenient? Read this first. Several studies on cell phones and PDAs found that they carry tons of bacteria, including staph (which can cause skin infections), pseudomonas (eye infections), and salmonella (stomach ailments). Many electronic devices are sheathed in leather or vinyl cases, which provide plenty of creases and crevices for germs to hide.

Keep It Clean: Use a disinfecting wipe a few times a week, and be conscious of where you rest personal items.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Saying yes to back-to-school; no to impulsive back-to-school overspending

It's hard to say no- generally speaking, as parents, we don't want to say no.  You've probably been there- "Everyone has those jeans!" "I'll look stupid with this old phone!"  They wear us down!  But to the rescue- the support you need for staying your ground- here's some great "putting have to's in front of want to's" advice from makinglifebetter.com's Lian Dolan:

Before you hit the stores

Don’t make it about money; make it about responsibility. Think about it: even if you had all the money in the world, would you buy your daughter $250 jeans?  Probably not. Teach your children that the goal is to purchase what they really need, not what they simply want. Spending wisely and eliminating wasteful purchases is an earth-friendly, family-friendly policy. Use this shopping experience to establish good, lifelong financial habits. And don’t forget: be a role model yourself.

“Shop” at home first. Dig through desk drawers and closets, and you’ll probably discover half the items on your list: colored pencils, crayons, forgotten shorts, and books from older siblings. Throw last year’s backpack in the washer, add some cool patches from your summer travels, and voilá, new backpack! Money saved is money earned. The more you find at home, the more money you’ll get to spend on new items.

Delay, delay, delay. Wait a month to buy those gotta-have-it purchases, and the desire might just disappear. Ask your kids: Can you get one more season out of those cleats? Do you need the new sweater today when you won’t be able to wear it for months? How about that new phone for your birthday? Buy the minimum now and supplement later, if needed.

Checkout Lane Tactics

Stick with your budget. Obvious, but not always easy! Set a reasonable budget for the must-have purchases. For teens and older tweens, this may mean handing over a set amount of money for clothes or new electronics and letting them choose how to spend it. One designer item or several sale items?  Resale shop or department store? Give them the purchasing power, and let them live with their choices.  Look at it as providing an opportunity for natural consequences that don't really have the power to do any damage to your child, even if it doesn't take away his disappointment.  Expect more from your son or daughter!  You’ll be surprised at the thrift when it’s their money, or the ability to make better choices the next time around.

No negotiations. Once the budget is firm, no wheeling and dealing.  This, my sometimes weak-willed friend (we all are at times!) means that now's the time to remain firm. If you tend to cave, try a cash-only policy when shopping. That would be much better than simply promoting to your child that whining will eventually get them their own way.  And if the kids try to work that magic they have, that they’ll pay half for more expensive items, don’t agree unless they have the money on hand. No IOUs!

I do believe this:  you'll all be better off for setting limits, and sticking to them...hard as it may be to do when you son just has to have the turbo-charged backpack that doubles as an iPod charger.  Cool.

Three Ways to Simplify Your Money Management

It's not your imagination, nor or you turning into some sort of old 'fogie' for believing that managing your money is a lot harder than it used to be.  It is getting harder.

You have to make a lot more decisions than folks did a generation or two ago, and be much more up on your financial toes than your grandfolks perhaps did.

Instead of one health plan, you may need to choose from half a dozen- if you can afford coverage at all. Instead of an employer-provided traditional pension, you have to manage your own 401(k) and figure out not only how much to save but how to invest- without losing it all.

Instead of a single credit card with a relatively low rate- all that was available to most households in the 1970s- you probably have a wallet full of options, all with different rates, terms and due dates to monitor.

Fortunately, technology is riding to the rescue. I love the advice from MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston, and she's rounded up- again!- totally-make-great-sense tips for having an easier time managing your finances.  Used properly, it can help you stay on top of your  money with minimal effort. Liz spells out these tips in her book "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life", and could go a long way towards helping you streamline your financial life:

Simplify and de-clutter

Use direct deposit. This should be a no-brainer, but many people who are eligible for direct deposit of their paychecks don't ever sign up. Perhaps it's an irrational fear of electronic transactions holding them back, but they should get over it. Direct deposit is easier, faster and safer than running around with a live check in your wallet.

Get true overdraft protection. Real overdraft protection links your checking account to a savings account, line of credit or credit card. Money is drawn from one of these sources if you write a check or initiate a debit card transaction for more than you have in your account. The annual cost is reasonable -- $20 to $50 is typical -- and you may pay another small fee anytime you use the overdraft.

What you don't want is "courtesy overdraft" or "bounce protection" that many banks and credit unions automatically offer their customers. That "service" can cost you $30 to $40 every time you make an over-limit transaction, and those fees can add up quickly. Take as example someone who racks up more than $200 in bounce fees buying songs for an MP3 player; because of an overdraft- even by a mere dollar!- each 99-cent tune could trigger a $30 fee. Be very careful navigating around overdraft protection; in the end, your bank will profit from the "courtesy" extended toward you.

Consolidate your accounts. Clutter isn't limited to the tangible stuff in your home. You also can create financial clutter when you have accounts all over the place. Too many accounts make it harder for you to adequately monitor your money, and you may pay more account fees than if you were able to maintain higher balances in fewer accounts.

For example, you could:

• Roll 401(k)s from previous employers into your current plan or into an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Combine IRAs as long as they're the same kind and they're all yours. You can't combine yours with a spouse's, for example, or combine regular IRAs with Roth IRAs -- at least not without serious financial consequences.

• Combine taxable brokerage accounts. If you have different goals for the various accounts you have now, you could consider maintaining separate accounts but at least consolidating them with the same brokerage house.

Trim your credit cards. The more cards you use, the more due dates and interest rates you're forced to monitor. If you pay off your balances in full, consider carrying just one card in your wallet, with another at home as a backup. If you're carrying credit card debt, consider leaving all your cards at home. Don't close accounts, since that could hurt your credit scores, but stop using them until you've retired your debt.

Consider two checking accounts. Consolidation isn't always best. If you have trouble figuring out how much money you can spend and how much needs to be reserved for bills, consider a two-account system.

Folks who utilize a two-account system typically have their paychecks deposited to a checking account at a brick-and-mortar bank -- often one that offers free checking if you use direct deposit. They have a second checking account they use to pay bills. If they can't get the second account free from their bank, or their bank doesn't have free online bill pay, they use an online bank, such as ING Direct, that offers fee-free checking and bill-pay services.

Next, they total all their bills for the year, using the previous year's bills as a guide, and divide the result by the number of paychecks they get each year. They set up automatic transfers so that this sum is whisked every payday to the second account.

Some go further by setting up automatic payments for most or all of their bills. Others prefer to control when bills get paid using the online bill-pay system that comes with their second account.

This two-account system takes a little effort to set up and monitor, but done right you'll eliminate uncertainty about whether you can cover your bills. What's left in the first account is the cash that's available for spending on clothes, eating out, etc.

A schedule for success

Set up a high-yield savings account. Saving for retirement and paying off credit card debt need to be the first and second priorities for most folks. Once you're on track there, though, you should consider building up an emergency fund, and today's high-rate online savings accounts can help you accomplish that. Accounts offered by ING Direct, Emigrant Direct and HSBC Direct, among others, are FDIC-insured and offer attractive rates. They typically link directly to your checking account at your brick-and-mortar bank. Set up automatic transfers so you don't have to think about saving -- you just do it.

Create alerts. Banks, brokerages and credit card companies will send you e-mails to alert you to all kinds of events: when your checking account drops below a certain level, for example, or when your credit card payment is due. Get online access to your accounts and explore the possibilities.

Move your due dates. If you have too many bills falling due at the same time, see if you can shift some to another time of the month. Many credit card companies, for example, will allow you to pick your own due dates.

Create a bill calendar. Even if you have e-mail alerts, you still should have all of your bills' due dates mapped out on a calendar. This can be a calendar on the wall, on your desktop or on your phone. The only requirement is that it be a calendar you look at daily. You're responsible for paying your bills even if you don't receive a statement, and this calendar can help make sure you don't wind up paying unnecessary late fees or inadvertently ruining your credit. (A single skipped payment on a credit account can knock nearly 100 points off your credit scores- what a big YUK.)

Pick the no-brainer options. If you really love picking individual stocks or researching the heck out of your mutual fund choices, go with that. If you want an easier route, though, seek out funds that do the heavy lifting for you. "Life cycle" and "target date maturity" funds not only choose the investments but re-balance them regularly so you don't have to mess with figuring out how much of your 401(k) to put in stocks and how much in bonds.

Don't procrastinate -- aggregate

Monitor your money. People who wait for their statements to arrive in the mail typically catch fraud later than those who monitor their accounts online, according to Javelin Research & Strategy, an online research firm. Real-time access to your accounts can help you prevent overdrafts and over-limit fees, too. You can try bouncing from site to site to check all your accounts, but you have better options.

Your bank may offer account aggregation, which allows you to view accounts held at other institutions. If you're comfortable having your transactions aggregated online, you can use sites such as Wesabe, Mint and Yodlee.

Many people would prefer personal-finance software programs like Microsoft Money and Quicken. These programs, which live on your computer rather than online, allow you to automatically download transactions and keep track of your finances while providing some powerful financial-planning software. Recent updates have vastly improved cash-flow-forecast features, which can show you in advance when your checking account is about to run on fumes. (Microsoft is the publisher of MSN Money.)

Each of these 10 options requires some upfront effort on your part, but after your systems are in place you'll be able to stay on top of your money in just a few minutes a week. If that isn't a worthwhile goal, I don't know what is, and what if you could have a little more "me-time", instead of "bill-time"?  Sounds pretty good.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Help your kids survive their "back to school" nervousness!

It’s back-to-school time, which could mean for your child time-to-get-nervous time about the new school year. They're worrying about things like who’ll be their friend, what class they’ll be in, and if they’ll be teased for their new braces, haircut, or because they grew six inches over the summer. So, here’s how to help your kids survive the back-to-school nerves, courtesy of Family Circle magazine:

• Worry #1: The new kid. If your kid’s worried about going to a new school, don’t say, “You’ll feel better once school starts.” That just invalidates their feelings. Instead, say something like “I understand why you’re nervous. So, let’s take it one step at a time. Why don’t you make it a point to introduce yourself to one new person a day and sign up for one new activity a week?” When kids have a game plan, they’re much less likely to be nervous about the unknown.
• Worry #2: Wrong class, wrong teacher. Kids look forward to getting the teacher they want, and sharing classes with friends. It’s a huge deal if they don’t get what they want. The fix: Don’t rush to make changes. Look at this as an opportunity for your child to expand their social network. However, after several weeks, if they’re still desperately missing their friends, or having teacher issues, schedule a meeting with yourself, your child and the teacher to discuss the problem.
• Worry #3: Tech trouble. A lot of kids will show up with high-tech cell phones and laptops with Internet access, which can be big distractions, as well as tools for cheating and cyber-bullying. So, before school starts, tell your kid: “We both know it’s easy to use cell phones and laptops to create drama, spread gossip and humiliate people. So, I reserve the right to check your text messages, email account and Facebook page. If I see you giving out personal information, pretending to be something you’re not, or sharing embarrassing information, I’ll take your tech away until you can earn back my trust. If other kids are using the Internet to embarrass you, come to me and we’ll work out the problem together.”

Chances are great that your child is well equipped to have a terrific school year, but it  may take some adjustment time.  So what else can you do to help soothe your child's anxieties about a new school year?  Listen.  Many times, kids don't want your advice- but they might want you to listen to them expressing their thoughts- without judgement.  Also, be an active listener.  When your child does open up, repeat back to them only what they've just said so your kid knows that you are listening to them, and exercise a lot of restraint to keep yourself from offering up that unsolicited advice! 
John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Summer vacation- over already? Help your kids survive "back to school"!

Yep, it's summer, and as twisted as it sounds, that SHOULD mean back-to-school prep for parents to avoid the inevitable nervous breakdown that comes with waiting until the last minute on absolutely everything. Let's learn more from MSNBC's Kids and Parenting:

Make a well-visit appointment with your child's pediatrician if summer camp paperwork didn't require an up-to-date health and immunization record and one is needed for school. Schedule eye exams and dental appointments. Everybody's trying for the same appointment times, so planning ahead pays off. Bring along necessary forms for the doctor's signature.

Athletics programs may require a physical on a short cycle, say only six months old, and many doctors will do a special "sports physical" covering less ground if it's not time for an annual, Vozza said.

If your child is entering a new school, you may still be recovering from the admissions and registration process, but you need to watch your pile of summer mail for any back-to-school correspondence from the PTA or teachers. Also, make sure you've notified the people you've listed as emergency contacts.

Sure, for-ever it's been suits and beach covers, but now you've got to make your kids focus on school clothes.  If they need to sign off on fall wear, shopping early makes sense for the best selection and helps to avoid sizes selling out.

Clean out your child's closets before you shop for back to school, or the old and beat up will be buried under the new and pristine. Begin sorting through closets before school begins, or soon after, and remember that the weather is usually still warm for a few weeks after classes start, Vozza said.

Have you registered your child for fall sports and made enough copies of required documents to cover sports, school and after-school obligations? Have you signed up for the onsite afterschool program?

Buy new cleats, sports uniforms, helmets, karate, ballet or gymnastics clothes, ice skates, inline skates or other equipment they've outgrown or might need, like tennis rackets. Does anything need to be monogrammed?

Confirm the sitter if that's your after-school childcare plan. Confirm daycare and ask for a list of required items. Confirm bus routes. Angela Gifford at Mom4Life.com also suggests making carpool connections, something that shouldn't wait until the last minute if you're depending on sharing pickup and drop-off responsibilities with other families.

Any idea how to outfit a dorm room these days? CollegeView.com urges a check of the school's Web site for what's not allowed before shopping ensues (toasters, air conditioners and space heaters are often prohibited). Download the school's checklist and make contact with roommates to divide up common appliances and decor, like rugs and coffee makers.

Some useful items that might fly under your radar because you're preoccupied with pricey computers and other high-tech gear: No stain, good-stick tak to hang posters, closet extenders like hanging shoe and sweater storage, reusable shopping bags, a hand vacuum, sewing kit, collapsible hamper, first aid kit, small tool kit, strong magnetic clips, clothesline or drying rack.

Has your new college kid ever cleaned the bathroom? This might be a good time to introduce him to the cleaning supplies aisle. Does he know how to do laundry? Hit the bank for a few rolls of quarters if that's what school machines take.

On the computer front, consider signing him up for an offline data storage service for easy and safe backup as he takes on more work in college.

The first things to go out the window as soon as Summer vaca hits are any hint of a sleep schedule and getting going early in the morning. While there's no need to maintain those regimens over summer, rebuilding them in the fall takes time.

Two or three weeks before school begins, start nibbling away at bedtimes and your back-to-school, out-the-door drills.

"Make a list for kids to follow and tape it to their bedroom doors, so they know exactly what they have to do without you asking," Vozza said. "Things like brush your teeth, make your bed."

The list can include lots of other things that don't apply to the laid-back summer: Putting shoes and backpacks by the door, picking clothes out the night before.

And...ready or not- you're off- everyone in the family!  Next week- we'll tackle the sometimes predictable headaches and tummy aches early in a school year masking the real culprits:  fear and nervousness. 

Have a great weekend-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Thought a refinance wasn't possible, or worthwhile, for you? Maybe, but maybe not.

Here's a story- let's say a couple go to refinance the mortgage on their bigger city townhouse, but their appraisal comes in too low. Think they're simply out of luck?  Not necessarily.  Thanks to a new government program, a low appraisal might not kill the deal. WalletPop helps lay out exactly why you should take a second look where you may have thought you didn't have a good deal.   This couple, who have owned their townhouse for 5 years, turned out to be quite able to proceed with the refinancing, and very happy this government program is in place.

Appraisals have always been key to refinancing. Traditionally, the mortgage amount could not exceed the property's current market value. Those with Adjustable Rate Mortgages stuck with unaffordable mortgage payments, or those tempted by historic low interest rates have good reason to want - or need - to refinance their loans. Luckily, the federal government has introduced programs to help.

The Obama Administration's Home Affordable Refinance Program, launched early this year, allowed refinances for those whose first mortgage was as high as 105 percent of a comparable market analysis (CMV). A July expansion now allows participation by borrowers current on payments, but up to 125 percent "underwater." This especially helps those in down markets, such as Las Vegas, where about two-thirds of current mortgage holders owe more than the worth of their homes. Nationwide, 4 to 5 million homeowners whose mortgages are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac might reach more affordable monthly payments through the program, which falls under the broader Making Home Affordable initiative.

Those with government-based Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans also have new refinance opportunities thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The revised single-family loan limits now reflect the higher loan limits set by the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 or the Housing and Economy Recovery Act of 2008, all determined by county or metropolitan area. Effective through the end of 2009, those limits range from $271,050 to $729,750 and permit FHA to insure loans on amounts up to 125 percent of the 2007 area median house prices.

Additionally, this past May, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act removed some administrative and technical hurdles that made last summer's HOPE for Homeowners Act so difficult to implement that most people didn't bother trying. The bill helps homeowners with FHA or USDA rural housing loans to modify or refinance their mortgages.

Jorge Gomez, president of the Illinois Association of Mortgage Professionals (IAMP), says, "In theory, [new loan limits] will open up many new opportunities for people to refinance." Still, borrowers with a second mortgage may not benefit, since the law doesn't require second lien holders to comply by subordinating their debt.

Regarding the program for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, Marve Stockert, executive director of IAMP, urges anyone who can't sell their home to use it, "because this type of program may not come around again." Home Affordable Refinance expires on June 10, 2010.

Dan Milstein, CEO of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group in Ann Arbor, Mich., notes that while "extra room in terms of value will be helpful in the refinance process," the true impact of the change from 105 percent to 125 percent "remains to be seen." Besides the second mortgage issue, he explains that loan guidelines remain the same, with verification required for all information. There's a slight increase of getting an appraisal waiver, but full appraisals are often still required for these transactions.

The people best suited for these programs, says Milstein, are homeowners "who originally had 20 percent or more equity in his or her home and then lost that equity not due to increased borrowing, but rather to the slump in the housing market."  If you've run into credit trouble, your refinancing task may become much more problematic.

The bottom line: The refinancing rules are changing everyday. Don't let an initial stumbling block, such as a decrease in your home value, hold you back from attempting to refinance. Be proactive and investigate how new stimulus programs might help you lower your interest rate and save on your monthly mortgage payments.

Pay off your home sooner, with a lower interest rate and possibly a lower monthly payment as well?  Sounds like reason enough to dig in a little to find out exactly where you stand.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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9 Power Foods to Boost Your Immunity- and keep you healthy!

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  Pretty good saying that's been around a long time.  So sure, go ahead with your apples.  But take a good look at these foods from Prevention magazine, which hold some pretty surprising nutrients to help keep your immune system on guard.

Right off the bat, let's think COLOR! You can ensure your body and immunity run smoothly by rounding out your plate with plenty of colorful servings of fruits and veggies, plus 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, at the very least. The following ingredients can add extra flu-fighting punch to your winter meal plan.

1. Yogurt
Probiotics, or the "live active cultures" found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs. Although they're available in supplement form, a study from the University of Vienna in Austria found that a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt was just as effective in boosting immunity as popping pills. In an 80-day Swedish study of 181 factory employees, those who drank a daily supplement of Lactobacillus reuteri--a specific probiotic that appears to stimulate white blood cells--took 33% fewer sick days than those given a placebo. Any yogurt with a Live and Active Cultures seal contains some beneficial bugs, but Stonyfield Farm is the only US brand that contains this specific strain.

Your optimal dose: Two 6-ounce servings a day.

2. Oats and Barley
These grains contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities more potent than echinacea, reports a Norwegian study. When animals eat this compound, they're less likely to contract influenza, herpes, even anthrax; in humans, it boosts immunity, speeds wound healing, and may help antibiotics work better.

Your optimal dose: At least one in your three daily servings of whole grains.

3. Garlic
This potent onion relative contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks; the garlic takers were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week have a 30% lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50% lower rate of stomach cancer.

Your optimal dose: Two raw cloves a day and add crushed garlic to your cooking several times a week.

4. Fish
Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines-proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Your optimal dose: Two servings a week (unless you're pregnant or planning to be).

5. Grandma was right- Chicken Soup
When University of Nebraska researchers tested 13 brands, they found that all but one (chicken-flavored ramen noodles) blocked the migration of inflammatory white cells-an important finding, because cold symptoms are a response to the cells' accumulation in the bronchial tubes. The amino acid cysteine, released from chicken during cooking, chemically resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine, which may explain the results. The soup's salty broth keeps mucus thin the same way cough medicines do. Added spices, such as garlic and onions, can increase soup's immune-boosting power.

Your optimal dose: Have a bowl when feeling crummy.

6. Tea
People who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink, in a Harvard study. The amino acid that's responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea--decaf versions have it, too.

Your optimal dose: Several cups daily. To get up to five times more antioxidants from your tea bags, bob them up and down while you brew.

7. Sweet Potatoes
You may not think of skin as part of your immune system. But this crucial organ, covering an impressive 16 square feet, serves as a first-line fortress against bacteria, viruses, and other undesirables. To stay strong and healthy, your skin needs vitamin A. "Vitamin A plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of skin," explains Prevention advisor David Katz, MD, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, CT. One of the best ways to get vitamin A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene (like sweet potatoes), which your body turns into vitamin A.

Your optimal dose: A half-cup serving, which delivers only 170 calories but 40 percent of the DV of vitamin A as beta-carotene. They're so good, you might want to save them for dessert! Think orange when looking for other foods rich in beta-carotene: carrots, squash, canned pumpkin, and cantaloupe.

8. Go ahead- have your Beef
Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional shortfalls among American adults, especially for vegetarians and those who've cut back on beef, a prime source of this immunity-bolstering mineral. And that's unfortunate, because even mild zinc deficiency can increase your risk of infection. Zinc in your diet is very important for the development of white blood cells, the intrepid immune system cells that recognize and destroy invading bacteria, viruses, and assorted other bad guys, says William Boisvert, PhD, an expert in nutrition and immunity at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.

Your optimal dose: A 3-oz serving of lean beef provides about 30 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for zinc. That's often enough to make the difference between deficient and sufficient. Not a beef person? Try zinc-rich oysters, fortified cereals, pork, poultry, yogurt, or milk.

9. Mushrooms
For centuries, people around the world have turned to mushrooms for a healthy immune system. Contemporary researchers now know why. "Studies show that mushrooms increase the production and activity of white blood cells, making them more aggressive. This is a good thing when you have an infection," says Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, MNIMH, director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine in Washington, DC.

Your optimal dose: Shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms appear to pack the biggest immunity punch; experts recommend at least ¼ ounce to an ounce a few times a day for maximum immune benefits. Add a handful to pasta sauce, saute with a little oil and add to eggs, or heap triple-decker style on a frozen pizza.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Prescription Drug Abuse Has Become A Huge Problem Among Teens

Parents- here's a wake-up call for being on the alert, when it comes to your teen.  There’s a potentially deadly drug in your medicine cabinet, though you may have obtained it legally. The problem is prescription drugs, and according to NBC News, they’ve fast become a huge problem. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says nearly 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. That’s more than the number who are abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and inhalants combined. This isn’t just a problem among adults: Almost one in five teenagers abuses prescription drugs. Although parents might warn their kids about pot or alcohol – they’re least likely to warn their kids about abusing prescription drugs.

Although prescription drug abuse is a problem in every state and province, it’s a really big problem in Kentucky. Kentucky led the nation in the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes last year, and almost 500 people died in Kentucky from prescription drug overdoses. Law enforcement officials in Kentucky say prescription drug abuse is an epidemic among teens because they’re highly addictive. It starts out as a party drug, then kids start doing it every day, and it takes compete control of their life. At the height of addiction, people will pop 50 pills a day.  Your state, likely, has its share of the problem as well.

So how are people getting the prescription drugs? People are buying pills over the internet, kids are stealing them from their parents and grandparents, they’re getting them from street dealers, trading them in school, and three million doses are stolen from pharmacies annually! It turns out, Florida has become notorious as a destination for addicts and drug dealers from around the country. They’re drawn to the many pain clinics in Florida – some of which dispense hundreds of painkillers at a time after only a hasty medical exam. If YOU think someone you know is abusing prescription drugs, they need to get help. Addictive behaviors are things like lying, hiding pills, obsessively counting them, making unnecessary emergency room visits and constantly “doctor shopping.” Parents, make sure your kids DO NOT have access to your prescriptions. If you – or someone you know – needs help, go to the website for substance abuse samhsa.gov. 

This is such a sobering set of thoughts to put here on this page- prescription drug use, sadly, has taken a place alongside so many other issues that parents and mentors alike must look at, and behave, proactively- or immediately be reactive if the situation calls for it.  I wish it wasn't the case, but I hope that if there is a family dealing with prescription drug abuse, hearts are courageous, and minds are open to the difficult steps that must be taken to stop this problem in its tracks.  Thanks for reading-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.