Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Innocent Spouses - Relief from Taxes

Historically, tax issues arising from bad marriages fell into the category of “better or worse” for marriages. The IRS granted no innocent spouse tax relief, but has changed its views.Tax ReliefWhen a marriage has problems, finances are almost always one of the elements that contribute to the strife. This can be particularly true where spouses file a joint tax return, which the both sign as tax. . .

Become Your Feline Friend's Best Buddy With A Great Cat P...

Providing your feline friend with the right cat pet toy will make cat ownership more rewarding.Many cats spend their days in home environments that are often lonely, and non-stimulating.Without an outlet for pent-up mental and physical energy, some cats can become stressed, or even destructive. Luckily, you can help minimize these tendencies by enriching your cat’s environment with stimulating. . .

Back-to-School Closeout Shopping on the Web

What are your kids wearing back to school? How do Fubu, Nike, Reebok and RocaWear sound? Expensive? Not when you know the secret that people all over the country are learning – the secret that unlocks prices like Nike shirts for $8.95 each. Two piece Jimmy boy’s jean sets for $10.50. Girl’s Meow! Tank tops for $5.98.Put the car keys down. You won’t find these prices in your local stores. All ov. . .

Your Wedding Photographs

Photographing Your WeddingOne of the biggest decisions (among the many) you have tomake concerning your wedding day, will be the photographer.You want put these precious memories in the hands ofsomeone you can trust. You will be taking a big risk ifthe photographer is no someone you know to be professionaland who will guarantee the results. The official weddingphotos are most likely the bes. . .

Packing For The Movers

You’ve chosen a new home, selected a mover, and now comes the task of packing for the move. There are 3 important things you should remember that will save you a lot of time and frustration later: • Collect all the materials (boxes, tape, paper) you’ll need to pack. • Don’t put packing off until the last minute. • Stay organized! Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need to pack efficiently: •. . .

Life Balance: Mastery or Myth?

Do a word search for life balance on Google, and it turns up over 98 million references. That is one hot topic!Is life balance even possible in modern society? Amid the material wealth of the industrialized world, the struggle for balanced living has reached pandemic proportions. Never before in history have we had so much and enjoyed so little.We long for balance yet take on more commitments. . .

Involving Your Baby In Christmas Celebrations

The Christmas holiday period is a time when, for millions of families, the daily routine is likely to change, sometimes drastically or sometimes just a little. If you have a new born, or very young, baby in the house, do not believe that they will not be aware of what’s going on just because they are lazing around in their crib sleeping most of the time. They will be aware of differences in the. . .

Daddy Moves To An Apartment

Divorce is hard, there’s no question about it. Not only has your marriage ended but, most likely, your lifestyle is undergoing some drastic changes also. This is especially true if you are forced to leave the place that was home to you and your family. Depending on your particular situation, you may find that moving into an apartment is your only option. Many times it’s hard to think of an apar. . .

Visit Family Without Backsliding!

You know all the growth you've done since your last family visit? And those vows concerning different ways you'll behave with them this time? Well, here's the catch: no matter how good your intentions, you may be at risk of kissing some of that great progress good-bye, at least temporarily, when you're with your family. Here are some tips for greatly reducing that possibility! If visiting famil. . .

Choosing Your Diamond Shape

Choosing the shape of your diamond jewelry is one of the key elements in determining the overall appearance of your ring or other diamond jewelry. There are many shapes and variations from which to choose, but first off do not confuse "shape" with "cut". A diamond's shape is just that: the outward appearance of the stone, whether it is round, oval etc.; while the cut refers to how the diamond i. . .

Take Control of the Silver Bell Blues

Are you feeling like you need to be of good cheer but you are not? Well, you are not alone. Over 19 million Americans suffer from depression each year. The holidays tend to make matters worse. Before you reach for that antidepressant. Ask yourself three things:1) Why am I so sad?2) Did I feel like this last year or is this new?3) Should I see my doctor?For question number one, get a pen an. . .

Prevent a Fire in Your Home This Christmas

If you have decided to keep a live tree in house always, remember that special fire safety precautions need to be taken. Real trees can pose a serious fire hazard, especially if the tree becomes dry. It only takes a matter of seconds for a Christmas tree to catch on fire; it spreads rapidly and is almost impossible to put out. When selecting a tree, try to select a fresh tree. Look for one t. . .

Wedding Planner

Each and every year around 2.5 million weddings take place nationwide. This means that the number of weddings that will take place in your immediate area is astounding. Your wedding plans are going to be affected by number of factors, because many more weddings will happen at or around the same time as your wedding.If you want even the tiniest little detail to be taken care of at your wedding, . . .

Baby Shower Thank You Poems - Special Gifts From Your Heart

Where are the cutest baby shower thank you poems? Don’t you know the best thank you poems lie somewhere deep in your imagination? Yes, you, even you can write baby shower poems for the guests - the greatest gift to thank for their coming for the arrival of the little one!And be relax, don't be surprise, that writing a thank you poem isn't that hard. You can write a poem to express your appreci. . .

Your First Home

You’ve been living in that small apartment for a few years now. You have both worked hard and saved when possible. After talking it over, the two of you decide to buy your first house.Now what do you do? Drive around your city. Decide which areas you would prefer. Are you going to be concerned about the school district? Is it important how convenient to shopping you are? It might be impo. . .

Mother Love

Scientific studies conclude something mothers everywhere have always intuitively known – that the unique love they have for their offspring is vitally important to their development. A mother’s love and nurturing even directly impacts the biological development of the child's brain and central nervous system. In effect, mother and child are “hard-wired” for mutual love. The brain is like a te. . .

This Christmas Time Could See A Rise In Online Fraud

Imagine the scenario: you’ve just had a nice Christmas. Your kids are all happy when returning to school to see their friends and tell them what santa brought them. You’re happy, because although you’ve spent a lot on the kids, you’ve kept a nice amount of savings to do you over the cold and often depressing January that follows. Then, when you try to pay your bills that month you’re hit by a b. . .

A Case for Blotter Art

There are moments in our past that shape our vision. Going through my childhood photo albums, I catch a glimpse of Anna in the early grades, a quiet girl who, if she were still alive, does not know how even in grade 4, she was pointing the way to freedom of expression. There is a lesson here that comes in handy for parents and grandparents.I have often wondered if Anna’s life might have taken a. . .

The Best Christmas Ever: Remembering Christmas With Emily

There is nothing to compare to the wonder and magic that a child experiences at Christmas. When my sons were small, there were many such moments. The look of awe on their faces the first time they spied the brightly lit tree surrounded with presents, their first gingerbread house and cookie day, to name a few.Thankfully, the last several years I have experienced more such moments with my grandc. . .

Thrift Store Shopping Tips

If you are tired of seeing the same old clothing styles at mall department stores and boutiques, it may be time to add a little spice to your wardrobe. Rather than looking just like everyone else, thrift stores offer access to unique items not found anywhere else- at least not in the last twenty or so years! Not only are thrift store clothes relatively inexpensive, but they can also be ultra hi. . .

Connecting the Past and the Present: Healing Abandonment ...

Many people I work with in therapy or in my writing-as-healing classes discover stories that surprise them—stories about the mistakes they felt their parents made, power imbalances in the family, or stories about physical or sexual abuse. The darker stories are often a surprise: when writers sat down to write, those issues were not directly on their minds, but deep, revealing stories erupted fr. . .

Last Minute Gift Idea - Sleek and Chic and Strangely Func...

Usually I'm pretty good at planning presents for the holidays, normally finishing shopping by Thanksgiving. But last year I found myself shopping until a few days before Christmas. Not my favorite thing. I needed one more gift, it was for my brother Dan. Now, not only is he very selective in the things he likes, he also already has two of everything. He's never been easy, but usually I can come. . .

Child Development And Teaching Autistic Children In The E...

Most parents ask themselves this question, "What can I do to help my child develop, to grow, to be the best that they can be?” “What should I teach?” “Do I have time to teach?” The answer is a simple one: give your child as much play-based quality time as you can spare. Teaching Autistic children on a daily basis, I have found repetitive stories seem to work very well, Most children prefer . . .

Abandoned Again—How We Repeat Our Childhood in the Present

The woman on the couch looks up at me miserably, tears in her eyes, as she tells me about her most recent bad relationship. “I’m sick of choosing guys who aren’t there for me. They seem great, they want me, they tell me how terrific I am, then either they have an affair, or turn on me once we are involved, getting that cold look in their eyes. I can see they don’t care after all. I can’t stand . . .

Apartment Locators

When you do a search on a Search Engine for "apartments" you are going to come across two types of Website resources; apartment locator sites and apartment database sites. Which is the best for you? Well, that depends on what your needs and circumstances dictate. It also has a great deal to do with your privacy comfort level.The Apartment Locator Site:If you are relocating to an area of the cou. . .

About Rental Insurance

Many renters don’t stop to think about what happens if there is a fire, someone breaks in and steals their new TV or stereo, or a visitor slips and falls on their property. The sad truth is; you will be responsible! While your landlord has insurance that covers the actual building, that coverage does not include your personal property or liability for injuries which occur in the space you rent . . .

A Checklist For Moving

MOVING! The very thought of it can send chills down our spine and can cause us to break out into a cold sweat. Experts say that any kind of "change" creates "stress". Moving, (and especially if we are relocating to a new city or state), represents a huge change and naturally brings a great amount of stress along with it. This can be a double whammy, because stress can lead to a lack of energy a. . .

Apartment Search

When you are apartment hunting, prepare a rental search plan. Be sure to know in advance what you want in an apartment and what you can live without. Decide in advance what areas of the city you could consider living in and make a list of apartment buildings within that perimeter.Be sure to consider how far and how convenient it will be for you to travel to your job or your school or your famil. . .

Making Sense of Diamond Grading Specs!

Anyone wanting to make an informed purchase of diamond jewelry needs at least a cursory understanding of the Four C's. These are the standards by which diamonds are graded, and ultimately determine their value. They are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. What follows is a brief description to acquaint diamond shoppers with these essential benchmarks.CARAT WEIGHT - Contrary to popular belief,. . .

On Standby

Firemen are on duty twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They are always ready to answer any call. Whether it is a minor call for assistance of someone who has locked themselves out of their home - to a major calamity where people no longer have a home to go to anymore. These heroes are always on standby - awaiting the call to serve. As both a husband and Christian Life Coach, I am c. . .

3 Little Known Tips for Buying a Birthday Gift

Be honest- are you one of those people who waits to the very last minute to buy a birthday gift? Me too. Let’s just say that both of our lives are so busy that we usually don’t have time until the last minute to do the shopping that we need to. Fear not: the advent of the internet revolution allows a lot more flexibility and now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Ecommerce allows 24 hour real. . .

How To Choose A Christian Counselor

Christian therapy as a profession is relatively new, having been practiced only over the last few decades. While many in the Christian community adhere to a strict code of Bible-based, scriptural, prayer-focused means of helping individuals, additional methods have proven beneficial. The fear many have who are consider Christian counseling is that they would jeopardize their faith or somehow be. . .

Slide Shows - Great Gift Idea for Everyone and Every Occa...

Very often when gift giving time comes around; birthday, anniversary, graduation day, wedding day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Pastor Appreciation Day, etc… we tend to run to the stores and purchase the typical items. For her: Jewelry, chocolate, flowers, books, perfume, photo album books and boxes – which I received for my last birthday - even cooking appliances. F. . .

Popular Ways to Congratulate the New Grad

Gifts for the GraduateBesides the traditional rites of spring, spring flowersblooming, baseball starting, grass sprouting, there is thecelebration of a child's high school graduation. Shoppingfor a gift for the graduate is never easy, and depends onwhat they are doing after high school. Many times a son ordaughter is off to college, or the military, while many maybe entering the workforce or g. . .

Hoo to Create Valuable Quality Family Time

Many people in the world today find themselvesworking 60-80 hours each and every week. Losingconsiderable quality family time, enabling themthe time to truly enjoy their lives. Many parent arestuck leaving their children to day care facilities,rather than being home to raise them their selves.There never seems to enough hours in the day toenjoy life to the fullest.It is firstly most important t. . .

Scrapbooking - As A Fun Family Project

Working together to create an album of fond memories, is a fantastic way to spend a rainy afternoon or a cold winter's night. Scrapbooking can become a favorite family activity. Whether it be a recent vacation, sporting event, birthday, holiday, or various other occasions, using your pictures to put a scrapbook album together is a perfect way to display your photos, while spending quality time. . .

Traveling For Thanksgiving - Keeping Kids Busy

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering the family, but how do you keep kids interested while in the car or sitting in airports? Have them keep journals.Thanksgiving TravelNothing beats getting your extended family together for Thanksgiving. It is a great time to catch up and laugh about old times. The only aggravating thing, of course, is actually traveling to meet up. There are already stories o. . .

Introduce Your Kids to Your Favorite Classic Toys

Remember toys without batteries? Without buttons and video screens, that involved physical activity? Toys that engaged the child's imagination? This holiday season, think about introducing your children or grandchildren to the toys, games, and books that excited you when you were a kid.For young children, toys that they can manipulate will entertain them while they develop essential dexterity s. . .

Why Does Santa Bring Gifts?

The history of Christmas and in particular the reasons for the giving of gifts are not known for certain, but several things are known for a fact. The traditions of Santa Claus and giving presents at Christmas time began long before the birth of Jesus Christ, although it really depends on where in the world you live as to how you believe the whole tradition started.The giving of presents at Chr. . .

Water Safety: Swimming Pool Hazards and Children

Before you open your swimming pool for the season, or ifyou are thinking of having a pool installed, you shouldreview the basic safety procedures. Even if you have hadthat pool for a number of years, your family should reviewthe procedures to make sure that children don't becomevictims of a water tragedy. Especially where children areconcerned, it only takes a moment for something to go wrongan. . .

Money Management Skills for Kids

I have a confession to make. I had no money skills growing up whatsoever. My parents lived paycheck to paycheck, and my mother frequently agonized over how to buy groceries for the week. Because of our financial situation, there was rarely money for "extras" - going bowling, vacations, toys, books. Heck, we barely had money for necessities like clothes. When I was fifteen and old enough to work. . .

How Do I Know Whether Or Not I Will End Up Saving Money W...

To save money, you must live in your house longer than the "break-even period" – the period over which the interest savings just cover the refinance expenses. The larger the spread between the new interest rate and the rate on your existing loan, the shorter the break-even period. The more it cost to get the new loan, the longer the break-even period. But be careful. The break-even period is no. . .

Toddler With Communication Difficulties

Does your toddler or young child have problems with their speech? Are you a child who has a stutter/stammer? In this article I write about communication and speech problems in childhood.The type of speech impediment I am going to concentrate on is stuttering. I myself had a stutter from the age of four and it was after eighteen years and at the age of twenty-two, that I finally managed to overc. . .

Enjoy Working Your Garden with the Right Gardening Tool

Nearly every gardener has some type of gardening tools. In fact, it is nearly impossible to have a garden without the necessary garden tools. What kind of gardening equipment you use will obviously depend on the size and extent of your garden, what you are able to handle, if you want to spend a lot of time in your garden or get it done quickly, and finally, how much money you are willing to s. . .

Christmas Gift Ideas - Give Joy In A Simple Idea

What is a simple small act of giving during Christmas that does not cost much can leave behind memories that can last a lifetime to a loved one.I remembered many years back, when I was a small kid of 10 years, one of my aunt who was a devout christian and who celebrated Christmas gave me a christmas present. It was a big sized book that I could read, on the story of a pirate on the high seas. I. . .

Bidding And Buying On EBay: Bonus Or Bogus?

You're undoubtedly heard about people getting great deals on items they bought through eBay. If you're a bit envious and ready to try your hand, here's your chance to learn more. Exactly What Is An eBay?It's an online auction website, in fact the biggest one in the world. You know how an auction works -- someone puts up something they want to sell and then buyers come along and place bids on it. . .

Give the Gift of Self esteem for Christmas!

A kind word to boost our self-esteem and Christmas cheer will be more than welcomed by all. While shopping for that special gift, choose something that will send a self-esteem thought. To show someone appreciation and love, is itself a true gift. When we give, we feel good in ourselves, so in actual fact we are receiving at the same time.It is definitely moving in on us like a wonderful winter . . .

Devotion: One Mother’s Perspective

As I gently wake in the morning to the sun’s first subtle peek through my dark bamboo shades, I turn onto my left side and a smile quickly overtakes the corners of my mouth. My senses are filled with my precious child, peacefully slumbering, and perhaps dreaming of a day filled with new discoveries and adventures. Moments such as these offer me a sense of contentment that all is perfect in the . . .

Helpful Tips When Burying or Cremating the Remains of Fam...

Helpful Tips When Burying or Cremating the Remains of Family MemberWhen an individual passes on, there are many decisions that must be made. One important decision concerns the remains. There are many different options for families of individuals who have died. The two most common ways to handle the remains of a loved one is to purchase a casket and bury them or have their remains cremated. . . .

Where Can a Funeral Casket Be Purchased?

When an individual passes away, they are generally buried in a casket. Funeral caskets can be purchased directly from the casket makers or from a funeral home. Typically individuals purchase a casket from a funeral home. Funeral homes, also commonly referred to as funeral parlors, are designed to help families cope and arrange a memorial service for their deceased loved one. Depending on th. . .