Yuck! Is summer over? Saturday looks more promising but I’m afraid that I have to find my umbrella for real.

A blogging community for West Coast Women features Olympic Fever post (read here). Interesting perspectives on the events and a good summary. I like controversial stuff….

Here are 5 tips from blogher.com that will help your child eat healthy snacks:

• It all starts when you write out your grocery list. Only write down healthy snack foods that you will buy. Set a precedent from the beginning and…
• Don’t give in at the grocery store. This one is especially hard for those of us who take our children to the dreaded grocery store. It’s almost as if everything is working against us in this environment. Kids can tend to be cranky and, if your kids are like mine, point and grunt at all the food they want. But, take heart and BE STRONG! Stick to your grocery list! Don’t buy chips, coke, etc… They will just end up in your pantry and your kids will want to consume them later on.
• Stay away from fruit juices. Most fruit juices are nothing more than concentrated sugar water. Instead grab some 100% Orange Juice or milk.
• Sneak healthy food into the meals they eat. That’s right. Slice some carrots and add it to their favorite meal. Or, put some peas into that can of soup.

And the hardest one of all…

• Model good snacking habits. If you want your kids to grow up loving fruits and vegetables, you’re going to have to ‘love’ them as well.

Feeling blue today? Visit Friday Funny here.

Read about Emergency Disaster Services Kick-off Event on Friday, September 26, 2008 here.

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This is my son’s contribution to the blog. >.<

!!! September issue is available to download right now!!!

For those of you who wonder about the next Clayton Voice issue, it’s coming! Check back tomorrow and you should be able to download your September issue from this website before anybody will get it in mail.

I would like to welcome our neighbour Matthew Birch into our blogging community. Visit his blog (here) for the interesting tips and articles on finances and managing your money.

“Canada came home with 18 medals from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, matching the mark for the second most medals earned at a (non-boycotted) Summer Olympics. Some people are saying that this was a very successful outing for Canada, despite going about a whole week without winning a single medal. In the end, things turned out just fine, but could Canada have done better?” In this article BlueFur is asking about your opinion on corporate sponsorship. Read more here.

(photo courtesy of Hbc)

Todays ‘back to school’ tips “How to STOP Nagging and START Guiding” are courtesy of Solutions Organizing. Don’t forget to enter the contest.

~Are you constantly tripping over books, clothes and toys in your child room?
~Are you for ever nagging him or her to clean their rooms and they tune you out?
~Do you get frustrated with lack of cooperation from your kids and clean their rooms yourself? Nobody wins this one.

Here are a few practical tips to help your stay sane and for your little darlings to get their rooms functional and beautiful.

~Add a second tension rod at a lower level. The lover rod allows your child to hang his clothes within his reach and it can be used for shirts or pants later on, when your child is tall enough to reach the top closet rod.
~Invest in some hanging over the door shoe racks to store their small toys and crafts.
~Use open shelves and containers instead of toy box to store his or her toys. They will have a better view of their belongings and easy access.
~Label Everything!

I couldn’t resist to share with you today’s Ellen Show. Just watch it and you will get a great workout just from laughing hard.

Good morning everybody!
Today is my deadline for the September issue of the Clayton Voice. I can’t believe that it’s already been one year since I’ve had this idea and put together my first Clayton Voice. Since then I met so many wonderful people in the neighbourhood and built so many friendships. I feel blessed. It’s hard work and sometimes overwhelming but I love what I do and hope you like it too. Thank you for all your support and warm letters and letting me know that what I do makes a difference. It keeps me going.

Please celebrate with us by sending a quick comment.

I found this cool video for you. It’s a bit loud but it’s pretty amazing what Bobcat operators can do.

A Bobcat Square Dance performance at the North American 50 Years Unleashed Bobcat Road Tour, in Cloverdale, BC, July 12, 2008.

I found a few stories to share with you this Saturday.

Vancouveropoly - this is something to share with board games lovers. Read Rebecca’s story here.

Unforgettable memories. More and more people are bringing their digital cameras everywhere they go, but far too many are focused on just one feature of these cameras. Check out what Derek Semmler has to say about what determines picture quality. Forget the megapixels.

For our local businesses an important tips from BlueFur Blog. Read about approaching a different demographic here.

And for all parents of teenage kids more back to school tips.

Parents want their kids to do well in school but teens often experience a period of time when their schoolwork suffers.

• Parents can be an important source of support for teens. Encourage your teen to talk to you or another adult about what is bothering them.
• Upheavals like a change of school, social problems, increased responsibilities, worries about the future, or changes in the use of alcohol or drugs are common issues related to poor performance that may need to be addressed.
• Stay involved in your teen’s school experience by attending parent-teacher events and school activities (e.g., school performances, plays, and athletic events).
• Help out with your teen’s class projects – don’t take over, but try to provide assistance. Both parents and teens can get frustrated so consider rotating which parent is involved and use shorter helping sessions.
• Be supportive instead of critical. Focus on positive efforts to overcome problems.
• If particular school subjects are the problem, talk to your school about a plan of action that may include a tutor (family friend or hire privately), or accessing extra resources.

I wouldn’t expect too much from the weather this weekend. But stay positive and remember, there is life beyond clouds and rain.

The place to be this weekend is International Festival on Saturday, August 23, 2008. This is an outdoor event that showcases our multi-cultural society in a fun and entertaining environment. FREE ADMISSION and Fun for the whole family! More info here.

Another local event this Saturday from 10am to 2pm is Safer Communities Day with many family activities and a free lunch. Check this out.

Don’t forget to enter Solutions Organizing contest. There are 3 attractive prizes to win and the contest will be closed soon. Read more.

I have a mission for you. Go for a walk in your neighbourhood with a camera and send me some funny or interesting pictures to share on this blog.

Debbie is looking for volunteers to help with the Sept 14th Paws for a Cause walk. It runs from 9am to 2pm, at Crescent Park in South Surrey. Read more

And we are looking for a volunteer bin keeper to save our garbage bin in the park. More here.

Remember that the Clayton Voice deadline is just around the corner- Monday, Aug 25th.

Please read this important ALERT!

Have a great weekend!

Photo: Anna/August08/Clayton Heights

A free family event! Activities include: Bike Rodeo, Car Seat Safety Inspection, Water Safety with mascot “Buckles the PDF”, Block Watch, Vision Googles, Identity Theft and Child DNA Kits, Fire Department and RCMP.

Free Hot Dog Lunch

Saturday, August 23, 10:00am-2:00pm, George Preston Recreation Centre Parking Lot, 20699 42 Avenue

Back to school can be tough. Here are some tips to help manage the stress.

Routines

Going to school means getting into new routines with no more late nights or late mornings.

• Find a set bed-time that lets your kids feel well-rested in the morning
• Practice the back to school routine a few times before the first day (e.g., go to bed, get up, dress, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and be out the door by 8am).
• Have your child help prepare what you can the night before (pick out clothes, pack healthy lunch your child likes, pack school bag, etc).
• Talk to your child’s school and find out what the routines are. Help your child to understand what is expected – practice new or difficult skills at home before school starts.

Transition to High School

The transition from elementary or middle school to high school is difficult for many kids.

• Help your teen find out as much as possible about the high school he or she will be attending.
• Find out if your teen’s high school has a buddy or mentor system.
• Talk with your teen about his or her expectations and concerns. Keep in mind your teen’s experiences may not be the same as your own.

Yesterday in one of my emails came this quote: “The problem in my life and other people’s lives is not the absence of knowing what to do, but the absence of doing it.” Isn’t it true? I’m not sure what holds us from the action in our lives, but the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘comfort zone’. We don’t know how much we miss in our lives until we actually step out of that zone and break the silence. When was the last time you did something out of your comfort zone? …..What about starting with the little things, like sending an email that you were planning for a long time and talking about things that matter. You can do so much more than visit this blog daily. This website is here to create an opportunity for action. So if you are still holding on to your idea of starting something, connecting with people or speaking your opinion we are anxious to hear from you.

photo: Anna/Aug14.08/Derby Reach Regional Park