Spotlight on: Baby Showers

Rexanne's Web Review
Web Sites & Insights

Issue #42 - April 15, 2001

Brought to You By: Rexanne.com

 Email Rexanne

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Welcome All Newcomers! 

Happy Easter! Hope you're all spending the day with family and loved ones. I am cooking for 12 today ... not so tough. ;-) 

Mother's Day is May 13th this year, less than a month away. Yikes! Time to peek into the splendors of Internet offerings for that special holiday. Have a browse through my Mother's Day site for graphics, e-cards, gifts, flowers, food and cooking sites, kid's links, other super Mother's Day sites and home pages.

My condolences to those who have had to donate to the US government this tax season. Think of the positive ... you made enough money last year to be able to donate! :-)

Here's what our readers have to say this week:

Reader's Comments:

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Pam wrote about our parenting topic, convicting children, in the last issue of our newsletter:

"I agree with you 100%! There is no way a child of 12-years-old should be tried as an adult. A child of 12 is NOT an adult."

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Lisa wrote about The Hugs and Hope Club link in last week's newsletter:

"My daughter has had eight surgeries in her 2 1/2 years. While we are lucky that the longest stay in the hospital was a week, we see many kids and parents who spend months at a time. People think that children receive many treats in hospitals. Actually, they really only come during the holidays. A card or a treat is a big deal. Once the children get home, many of the cards and treats stop as well from those who know them. I remember how special it was when a card from a girl scout troupe came on my daughter's food tray. She was too young to notice it, but it really touched me." 

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Another Lisa wrote about a link from last week's newsletter:

"The Woman's History site is wonderful. My 15-year-old and I have just started studying woman's history and were grateful when we received your newsletter containing this informative link."

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Auntie Babe wrote:

"Haha - your April Fool's joke made me choke on my coffee. Good newsletter, keep it up."

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Daysi wrote:

"I got Lapascaped Gastrol Bypass surgery on November 6 and I have lost a total of 71 pounds! I will really appreciate if you let your readers know about it. Believe me, it's the best thing I have ever done next to having my daughters. I feel so HAPPY!"

Wow Daysi. Good for you! If any readers would like to discuss this surgery with Daysi, she has been gracious enough to offer her email address: Daysi22@aol.com - Please put "Rexanne" in the subject line to ensure that Daysi opens your email. 

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OK, here's the scoop:

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Quote of the Week:   There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  - Edith Wharton

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This Week's Web Review is Sponsored By: The Party Works

The party works is a Super birthday site with classic themed partyware and merchandise for children's parties, including Barney, Precious Moments, Blues Clues, Little Mermaid and so much more. 

Check out their too cute for words Portrait Cakes - Have anyone's edible picture printed on a birthday or anniversary cake. 

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Parenting & Family Topic of the Week: 
A Reader's Advice on Back Talk

Relating to a past issue on back talk which can be read here: Rexanne's Web review - Issue # 40

We have some amazing readers in our newsletter family. :-) Our very own Wilma wrote the most beautiful and inspiring email in reference to my plea for ways to deal with back talk from our adolescents and teenagers without resorting to abusive or ultra-punitive measures. Her words were eloquent, real and made so much sense that I've decided to devote the parenting topic this week to her excellent approach to this age-old problem. Read on ... 

"I would like to respond to your plea for an alternative to punitive measures used with teenagers who show disrespect. (Give me a moment while, with trembling knees, I step up on the soap box.)

If we could rewind life's tape all the way back to the beginning and observe our interactions with our offspring (and if we had the courage to do so) my feeling is that we would see exactly where we began sowing the seeds of disrespect we, as parents, reap during our children's teenage years. Parents who have respectfully listened and responded to their children, who have treated their children's needs with dignity, reap that same kind of interaction. Far too many parents, many without realizing it, treat their children as property. We don't own our children. We are their role models and their caregivers for a brief time, then we lovingly let them go with the assurance that we have done our best to help them become the best that they can be, using all we have taught them during their youth. This may sound to some as a harsh indictment of parental guidance. 

We often respond as has been modeled to us by our parents, and if we experienced negative and punitive parenting we need to recognize it and take advantage of the opportunity to do differently with our own children. We also need to recognize the difference between disrespect and the normal rebellion, which is a stage of development necessary for our children to become independent. If the pattern of response in a family has become negative the good news is that it can change. The change can begin immediately by the parent showing willingness to take the first step of modeling a positive approach, of focusing on praise of good behavior when they observe it. The unwanted behavior will fade away in time. Children are not happy with their disrespectful behavior and will flourish when they see they no longer need to resort to it."

Wilma ... your words hit home with me and I'm sure will impact other readers as well. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and good sense!

For more advice on respecting our children, here is an excellent article: Raising Happier, More Obedient Teens


Have an opinion about this topic or a story to share? Please send it:  My Opinion 

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Food & Cooking Site of the Week: Cooking With Judi

Cooking with Judi is so much fun and is home to so many buried recipes, you'll be surfing through her terrific site for hours. Not only will you find some wonderful family friendly recipes from Judi's kitchen but you'll discover cool music files, great links that will take you all over the 'Net and back, plus recipes for Native 
American dishes, Judi's award winner's recipes and links to Elvis memories, including his favorite recipes. Weren't you always curious about how he liked those PB & banana sandwiches made? ;-) 

My favorite find on this site is the Fried Salmon Cakes recipe which you'll find in the Dinner section of the Recipe section in Judi's Recipe Section which you'll find a link to on the main page ... geesh! LOL! Unfortunately, Judi chose to design her site using frames which makes it slightly difficult to book mark a favorite recipe or page but her warmth and generosity shines through which makes it very bearable and worth the struggle. 

Bon Appetit!

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Kid's Site of the Week: Golden Books Fun Factory

Here's a wonderful site for the littler munchkins among us. Golden Books Fun Factory is filled with great online games, word puzzles, math fun, e-books and a whole lot more. 

Go on ... give up the computer for awhile! ;-)

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Tip or Trick of the Week:
Reader's Tips

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Martha has a few great tips to share this week:

"On a day when the kids can't seem to find anything to do, have them make butter! Pour some whipping cream into a jar (with a lid) and let them shake away until the butter forms. Add salt to taste for salted butter."

"Wrap play dough and clays in aluminum foil to keep them moist for future uses." 

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Sylvia sent in this awesome idea:

"Cover the bottom of the potty chair with coffee filters. When junior is finished using it, dump it all into the toilet and flush. Keeps the potty clean so you don't have to wash it out each time."

Wow ... sounds like a great idea, Sylvia. Thank you! Does anyone know if coffee filters are flushable? Might want to ask a plumber first. 

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Got a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send it here for possible publication in one of the next issues:  Tips 

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Freebie of the Week:  FreebieClub

Want to win free cash every day? Try the newest freebie site on the Internet today, FreebieClub.com. Of course it's loaded with free loot: great vacations, magazines and samples galore. Check it out and pass it on ... it's worth it! 

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Weekly Time Waster:  Face Memory Game
Because life is supposed to be fun!

Think you still have enough brain cells left to remember all the details of a random face displayed on the screen? HA! This is the ultimate memory game ... and it'll drive you crazy! :-) Trying to remember if the face had curly, straight or wavy hair on either side of its head and which eyes were staring back at you is a lot tougher than it seems. Good Luck!

Feed the kids first ...

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Featured Site of the Week: Carole Moore - The Humor Writer

The Humor Writer, Carole Moore, is a wonderfully funny lady/wife/mom who is willing to brighten your day by exposing her not-so-pretty side and her family's peculiarities. "Rather humorous little tidbits, when you aren't living them yourself (or maybe because you are)."

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll relate. Get to know Carole Moore online and I promise you'll feel like you've made a new friend. Drop her an email after you've read about her sagas of parenthood. She needs all the breaks in the routine she can get, and be sure to mention you found her in Rexanne's Web Review! 

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The fine print: This newsletter is copyright - 2000 - in its entirety. Please pass it on, but also please leave it intact. :-) 

You are receiving this email because you sent a specific message asking to be placed on the mailing list for this newsletter. If you wish to be removed from this list, see the unsubscribe notice above. This is NOT SPAM, nor will you ever see a recipe featuring SPAM in this newsletter! ;-) 

I have personally checked out the links provided here but they could possibly lead you to any number of  bizarre and/or offensive sites. Surf at your own risk. The DIRECT links on this page are all family friendly unless stated otherwise. While this newsletter is family friendly, it is not necessarily intended to be read by children. Parents should always monitor their children while they are on the Internet. 

All material on these pages: Copyright: - 2000-2001