How Your Personality Affects Your Health

Could your personality kill you—or might it make you live longer? Could it give you heart disease, or protect you from illness? Could it push you toward or away from doctor appointments? Personality traits play a distinct role in determining how healthy we are, psychologists say. "Everything is related to everything else. How stressed or angry you are, and how you interact with the world, is contingent in large part on your personality style," says Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. "And that is going to have an enormous impact on your health."

Here's a look at common personality types and traits and how each can help or hurt your health (sometimes both):

Hostile
One of the aspects of the impatient, hard-charging Type A personality that is known to increase heart disease risk is hostility. Hostile people eat and smoke more and exercise less than other personality types, says Redford Williams, head of behavioral medicine at Duke University Medical Center and author of Anger Kills. They're likelier to be overweight in middle age and have higher cholesterol and blood pressure. Williams's past research suggests hostile people are also more likely to develop irregular heart rhythms, and to die before reaching their 50s. Most of these problems can be traced back to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as increased inflammation in the walls of the coronary arteries, which leads to a greater risk of heart attack.

No personality is set in stone, however, and Type A's can be taught how to take the edge off their hostility. Hostile heart patients who attend workshops that teach coping skills, for instance, have a lower incidence of depression and healthier blood pressure than Type A's who don't go. The key, Williams says, is learning how to communicate more clearly and how to control anger and other negative emotions. He suggests asking yourself four questions when you get angry: Is this issue truly important? Is what I'm feeling appropriate to the facts? Can I modify the situation in a positive way? Is taking such action worth it? Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can damp hostility with a layer of calm.

Impulsive
Because Type A personalities are defined by competitiveness, a drive to succeed, and a sense of urgency, they are prone to take risks and act without thinking, neither of which is likely to improve health. Non-Type A's can be impulsive, too. Such people are often not as well-grounded as others, says Robin Belamaric, a clinical psychologist in Bethesda, Md.: "They'll look at an opportunity that comes along and say, 'Hmm, that sounds like fun,' whereas another, more thoughtful person, will say, 'I'm going to pass, because I'm not sure it's the best idea.' "

Relaxed
If you're a Type B, you roll with the punches. You're relaxed, take life a day a time, and handle stress without cracking. That translates to a higher quality of life and lower likelihood of heart disease—less anxiety strengthens the immune system. The more we chill, the better off we are, says Miller: "You don't want to get locked into a stressful, tense state of mind." Over the long term, he adds, relaxing and managing stress effectively will lengthen your life, help your heart and gastrointestinal system, and just make you feel better overall.

Extrovert
People who are outgoing, involved in their communities, and have strong social connections reap health benefits. An analysis of 148 studies published in the online journal PLoS medicine in July found that on average, adults enrolled in a study with many close friendships were 50 percent likelier to survive until their study ended than were those with few friendships. And a 2009 study published in Perspectives in Psychological Science suggests that social support leads to improved coping skills, healthy behavior, and adherence to medical regimens. Bonding with others also reduces stress and improves the immune system—so making friends and getting involved becomes, in effect, a well-being tonic.

What drives at least some of the health benefits goes beyond biology, Miller says. "It may have to do with the fact that when you're around people, you think, 'Oh, Martha has gone for her mammogram—that reminds me, I should, too.' "

Eager to please
People-pleasers—Type C's—are conforming, passive, and want to accommodate. That can be a good thing when it comes to patient compliance: They're more likely to take the right medicines in the right doses at the right times, for instance—once they see a doctor, that is. Making and following through on appointments can be challenging for Type C's, who tend to accept their fate as inevitable and fall readily into hopelessness and helplessness. That means others must push them to take care of themselves. "They may be less likely to maintain their health on their own," Belamaric says. "If they develop a problem, they may just complain about it, hoping somebody says, 'I have a good doctor, I'll make you an appointment.' "

Some Type C's may be so mired that they don't seek medical attention—even when it's clearly necessary—and slough off preventive behaviors, like watching what they eat. "If they get a serious diagnosis, they may be passive, throw their hands up, and say, 'Well, there's nothing I can do about it, anyway. If it's my time, it's my time,' " Belamaric says.

Stressed and distressed
Type D's—D is for distressed—dwell on negative emotions and are afraid to express themselves in social situations. Compared to more optimistic sorts, a Type D may face three times the risk for future heart problems, according to a recent study in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Type D's also face a higher likelihood of compulsive overeating and substance abuse. "If you're a person who is prone to depression or anxiety, or if you're overly self-critical, there's more of a chance of turning to gratifying behavior to feel better," Miller says.

Optimistic versus pessimistic
Optimism "heavily influences physical and mental health," concluded a study published in May in the journal Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health after researchers followed more than 500 males for 15 years. The rate of heart-related deaths was 50 percent lower among optimists than among pessimists. "Optimists have a higher quality of life, and they may be more resilient in the way they deal with stress," Miller says. "So if a problem comes along, they're able to handle it better, and they become less symptomatic." Glass-half-empty types harbor little hope for the future and tend more toward depression and anxiety disorders.

But there's a catch for those at the extreme end of the optimism spectrum: They think of themselves as impervious to risks. Extreme optimists who smoke are the best examples. They believe they won't develop lung cancer. Why give up smoking to prevent a nonexistent risk?

The "self-healing personality"
That is the name Howard Friedman, a professor of psychology at the University Of California-Riverside, attaches to people who are curious, secure, constructive, responsive, and conscientious. These traits translate to enthusiasm for life, emotional balance, and strong social relationships. "Positive emotions buffer hormonal responses to stress," says Friedman, who studies the relationship between personality and longevity. Self-healers, he says, "have healthier behavior patterns: more physical activity, a better diet, and less smoking and substance abuse."

-US News

Does Nutrition Affect Mental Health?

What Effects Does Nutrition Have On Mental Health?

It has been an enduring belief that nutrition plays a significant role in the state of mental health of an individual. But is this true or not?

Mood Swings

Recent as well as previous researches have proven that nutrition (or the lack of it) does have effects on how a person's brain functions, moods and behaviors.

Say for example, a person who has skipped a meal is observably weak, out of focus and irritable. This case worsens when extended to a certain period of time when the person becomes severely moody and indifferent to the demands of his environment thus showing decreased speed in reaction time.

These behaviors occur due to the lack of nutrition supply to the brain. The brain requires high energy and nutrient supply. It comprises, in fact, 20% to 30% of all the energy consumption of the body during rest periods. Thus, any change in diet or nutrition level of the body directly reflects in the mental functioning.

The Redirection Of Energy

Chronic energy deprivation, such as the case of malnourished people, results to the eventual shutting down of the body by decreasing its activities and redirecting all its energy sources towards the systems that require higher energy supply.

This results to altered levels of activities, changes in hormonal levels, lessened immune system efficiency and transport of nutrients and oxygen to certain body parts, all of which could directly or indirectly influence mental health.

People with extremely low nutrition are more likely to become sad, depressed and emotional as compared with those who have adequate nutrition.

Malnutrition In Babies

Newborn babies and fetuses are also susceptible to brain damage if they are subjected to lack of necessary nutrition. The type and degree of damage is dependent on the severity of malnutrition. Also, malnutrition among babies has proven to produce low level of intelligence, cognitive defects as well as functional abnormalities.

Malfunctioning Neurotransmitters

Protein, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins all have individual effects on the brain. Lack of supply of these necessary nutrients result to alterations in the activities of the neurotransmitters, a chemical component in the brain that transmit one nerve impulse from one nerve cell to another.

Malfunctioning of the transmitters could influence a person's mood, thinking and even sleep patterns. Additionally, deficient levels of nutrition may result to nerve cell damage that could disrupt cognitive and mental functions.

Amino Acids

Neurotransmitters are partly made of amino acids, the building block of protein. Trytophan for example, makes up the neurotransmitter serotonin. If the required amino acid is lacking, the functions of the neurotransmitter could not be executed affecting the normal functioning of the brain.

In case of deficient protein consumption and failure to supply the necessary amino acid to make serotonin, the body would experience low mood and perhaps, aggression. On the other hand, diseases that could cause the build up of certain amino acids could lead to brain damage thus affecting the mental health of an individual.

Dietary Fats

Mood regulation could also be associated with the sufficient intake of dietary fats.

Some studies have yielded inconclusive results on the correlation between serotonin level and intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, a certain type of fat found only in white fish to stress and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder(a mood disorder having the representations of both mania and depression).

Directly or indirectly, nutrition has an effect on mental health. Changes in the nutritional intake of a person could lead to alterations in the mental health and vice versa.

-HealTalk.com

Stretch!

Many Americans consider stretching to be placed on the back burner or gotten around to only if all other “more important” exercises have been completed with time to spare. Even others, namely men, have grown up with the misconception that stretching is purely a feminine activity that need not be practiced by themuscle-strengthening male species. The truth is: stretching is at the top of the list when trying to achieve optimum health and mobility. In a basket full of positive physical activities, stretching should be carefully added in a handful of times. Stretching before and after exercise will dramatically increase the benefits your body reaps from getting up and moving about to begin with. There are a few things to remember when considering the effectiveness of stretching.

Perhaps even before performing the actual stretches, it is important to become familiar with the why behind the what. The following can help clarify why stretching is such a valuable exercise within itself. While most exercises put the body at risk of numerous injuries such as tears in the ligaments oftendons, muscle strains, bone fractures, and fatigue, stretching acts in the opposite way. It improves muscle balance around joints and increases the fluidity and range of motion of these surrounding tissues. Stretching also effectively warms these soft tissues up to help prevent such injuries listed above. Stretching also helps increase blood flow and provides increased amounts of much-needed oxygen to all areas of the body. Added benefits are proven to include improved muscle tone, nicer physique, decreased muscle stiffness and cramping, enhanced flexibility, lessened back pain, better overall posture, improved circulation, greater muscle efficiency and ultimately a heighten total body performance. On another level, stretching directly aids in stress management and mental clarity.

There is no question that stretching is directly responsible for a plethora of physical, and even mental benefits; however, it important to perform this activity properly in order to prevent adverse effects. The when and how are very important when engaging in this activity. First of all, it is important to stretch before and after physical exercise. Stretching before the physical exertion of athletic activities, whether it be strength trainingor cardiovascular, is crucial because this is what warms the body up and prepares it to handle the pressure of what’s to come. It is equally important to stretch upon completing your routine exercise in order to relax the stressed muscles and elongate the soft tissues around the joints. Stretching after exercise should quickly follow, performed within ten minutes of completion so as not to let the body cool off. On the other hand, stretching should not commence without at least five to ten minutes of warm-up prior to the start of your exercise. Stretching while the muscles are cold, especially for someone who is not naturally athletic, can lead to adverse affects similar to the injuries stretching is intended to prevent. Even a brisk walk, exaggerated movements,jumping rope or slight jog will warm the body up enough in the beginning to stretch before working out. Also, contrary to what many people have learned, stretching should not be done to a particular count. It should be held until the muscle begins to feel relaxed inside the stretch to ensure maximum results.

It only takes an extra ten to fifteen minutes to stretch properly. Finding the time to stretch shouldn’t be nearly as difficult as actually creating a healthy habit to execute this exercise on a daily basis. But once you are able to discipline your mind and body into practicing this regimen, you will no doubt feel more energized while simultaneously being less burdened by aches and pains. Of all the exercises we push our bodies into, stretching should be at the top…well, the beginning…of our list.

Farmers' Market Picks

Six high-fiber, vitamin-packed foods that deserve a place on everyone's plate.

Whether you're buying because the food is healthier, because it tastes better, or because it's good for the environment, you can't top the produce from a farmers' market. Once you've got your tomatoes, berries, and corn, consider picking up these other fruits and veggies.

Zucchini

How to choose them: Buy smaller ones; bigger zucchinis tend to have seeds that taste like wood chips.

How to store them: Zukes last for up to a week in the fridge. Be sure to toss them in a paper bag first.

How to eat them: "People call zucchini the great pretender because it adapts to nearly any recipe," says Christine Gerbstadt , M.D., R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Cut the squash lengthwise for a dipable, low-cal snack, or to toss in a stir-fry (cutting it in round slices can leave the center vulnerable to falling out). Raw, it's great in salads. You can also grate it and mix into scrambled eggs, casseroles, even bread or cake.

Rhubarb

How to choose them: "Look for firm, evenly colored red stalks," says Gerbstadt. For convenience, she prefers rhubarb with the greens already cut off.

How to store them: Covered rhubarb will last up to two weeks. If you have spare stalks, dice them and freeze for later.

How to eat them: Although this tart vegetable is most commonly used in pies, you don't have to bake anything to enjoy it. Try a few thin raw slices in salad. Or to make a sauce for chicken or fish, just dice, mix with a bit of water and a sweetener (brown sugar, honey, or a sweeter fruit, like berries), and simmer until the mixture is thick.

Blackberries

How to choose them: Look for firm, dark-colored fruit. You should also always check to make sure that the carton bottom isn't super juicy. If it is, the berries are likely to be moldy or to spoil soon after purchase.

How to store them: Never soak in water; just rinse lightly, drain, and let dry in a colander. Eat within a couple days or they turn to mush.

How to eat them: Devour plain or with Greek yogurt. You can also toss them in salads or cereal, or snack on them instead of candy. For a low-cal, mixer-free cocktail, smash them into a glass and add lime, Equal, and liquor.

Collard or Mustard Greens

How to choose them: Look for large, whole dry leaves without any brown edges or unusual odors.

How to store them: Keep for a few days at most.

How to eat them: Think spinach, but with a lot more bite. The big difference: These greens almost never come prewashed so you'll need to soak 'em in a bowl of cold water and then rinse until clean — just don't do it until right before you're ready toeat. To cook, boil for 20 minutes, or until tender. "Tradition calls for a little bacon or ham flavor, but soy or turkey bacon will work well too," says Gerbstadt.

Crenshaw melon

How to choose them: Pick a melon that has a yellow skin (a greenish tint is ok if you don't plan to eat it for two or three days). Unlike its cantaloupe and honeydew cousins, it doesn't give when you squeeze it, and you can't smell it. The best way to know that a Crenshaw melon is ripe is to choose one that's already been halved and wrapped — you know that it has been tasted for freshness.

How to store them: if uncut, you can keep it in the fridge for about a week; a cut melon will last a few days in the fridge.

How to eat them: Enjoy fresh-cut slices or cut them up and put them in fruit salads or platters.

Edamame

How to choose them: these young soybeans can be sold in the shell or pod, or already shelled (like peas). If you're buying it fresh, avoid soft shells or darkened edges.

How to store them: Edamame will last in the refrigerator for about two to three days after defrosting.

How to eat them: Boil the soybeans in a couple of inches of water for 15-20 minutes, then drain. It's a great snack alternative to chips, and a delicious addition to salads. Edamame is also a unique addition to a multi-bean salad, perfect for summer BBQs

-Men's Fitness

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Behind three of the most misunderstood letters in the medical alphabet.

There have been television specials, investigative reports, and criticism of the odd condition known as OCD. If you're unsure what obsessive-compulsive disorder is all about, read on to get a breakdown of what makes this condition so confusing.

O (Obsessive)

Everyone has obsessions. Some are obsessed with success, others with their good looks, and still others are obsessed with certain pop or movie stars. For many with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the obsession they hold takes over their lives. Individuals who suffer with OCD include can be obsessed with a variety of issues, including the following:

• cleanliness
• fear of disease or blood
• fear of certain foods
• fear of environmental hazards
• keeping clothing, cutlery, or other items in perfect order
• saying things with the perfect words and intonation
• remembering significant (and insignificant) events
• personal safety
• fear of being responsible for flood, fire, or other catastrophic events
• fear of losing information, objects, or people
• certain colors
• other thoughts or objects

These obsessions manifest themselves through worry. Lots of worry. When these obsessions go too far, they often turn into a need to act. And that brings you to the next letter in OCD.

C (Compulsive)

Because of the intense obsession that accompanies OCD, the OCD sufferer has a compulsion to do something about it. Without this compulsion, an individual with a certain obsession cannot be classified as suffering from OCD.
Depending on the obsession, the compulsive action can be nearly anything. An individual who obsesses over personal safety may lock and relock a door 5, 10, 20, or 30 times in a row to ensure it is locked properly. A person obsessed with avoiding illnesses may never shake anyone's hand and may avoid leaving his or her house in an effort to stay away from germs that may result in illness.

Someone who is obsessed with sound may spend hours tweaking the volume and various levels on a stereo in an attempt to get a song to sound just right. Regardless of the obsession, the resulting compulsive action can be very intrusive, preventing the OCD sufferer from being able to live an active, happy life.

D (Disorder)

The D in OCD makes it clear that this condition is not a normal part of life. Whereas it is natural for someone to want to be clean, it is out of the ordinary for someone to wash his or her hands multiple times an hour. And while there's nothing wrong with wanting to avoid getting hit by a car, spending all of your waking time thinking of ways to stay out of the path of oncoming traffic is not healthy.

Since OCD is indeed a disorder, it should not be dismissed as something that is simply in an individual's head. Instead, it should be approached as a medical malady that requires medical attention by a highly trained specialist. With the use of behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and medication, individuals with OCD can come to grips with their conditions and learn how to better live with OCD and fend off the obsessions and compulsions that make up OCD.

OCD Vs Quirks

Nearly everyone has strange little habits that could appear to be the result of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Your best friend has to have CDs lined up in alphabetical order. Your son wants the peanut butter spread perfectly even on the bread. And you insist on washing your hands before and after going to the grocery store.

However, none of these indicate OCD unless you, your best friend, or your son become anxious about the CDs, peanut butter, or hand washing to the extent that none of you can perform other activities until the CDs are lined up, the peanut butter is just right, and your hands are washed. Until then, you're all just a bit quirky, which is perfectly normal.

DIet Over The Edge

How to recognize when your diet has gone too far.

Losing weight is no easy task. In fact, if you're going to lose weight, you have to be exceptionally dedicated, not allowing anything to get in your way. However, your desire to trim up can occasionally come at a price. Sometimes your dieting can become so extreme that your body becomes deprived of the basic vitamins and minerals necessary for functioning during daily life.

Want to keep a tight reign on your diet and make sure it's not going too far? Make sure you don't experience these signs and symptoms of a diet gone wrong.

Mood Swings

Even when you're not dieting, if you don't eat, you probably get a little agitated. It's normal, as not getting enough of the right foods will put anyone in a bad mood. In the event you're undergoing an intense diet that robs you of the stuff you need to keep going strong, you'll wind up with regular mood swings that can be rather severe.

Lack of Energy

As you probably know, your energy level is directly proportionate to the amount of energy-filled foods you consume. Stop eating fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich lean meats without substituting these foods for other items and your energy level will plummet.

Half and Half. An amazing 50 percent of all American women are on a diet at any given time.

Muscle Loss

At the same time your energy level drops, so will the amount of muscle in your body. While a low- or no-carbohydrate diet will probably result in some weight loss, it comes at a cost. In order to maintain muscle, your body needs a certain amount of carbs, and robbing your body of all carbohydrate intake prevents your body from being able to maintain muscle.

Urinary Tract or Kidney Infections

Crash diets come in all kinds of forms. While many of the consequences of a crash diet can be overcome fairly quickly, crash diets that are maintained for a long period of time can put stress on your kidneys. The end result could be multiple infections in the urinary tract or kidneys.

Constipation

Nearly every diet encourages you to eat less of something. Some simply reduce your overall intake, while others focus on a specific type of food. Unfortunately, if you cut out fiber or other elements that are essential to good digestive health, you'll wind up with constipation or other complications of an unbalanced diet.

Frequent Illness

Cut back severely on the foods you eat and your body won't have access to vitamins and minerals necessary to keep your immune system strong. When your immune system is compromised, you put yourself at a much greater risk for illnesses ranging from the common cold to the flu to pneumonia and beyond. But dietary deficiencies don't just result in physical ailments. They can also result in depression and other mental health issues.

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a physician or dietitian immediately. Be open about your concerns and be willing to make changes necessary. Since your dangerous dieting may be tied to other issues, you may require more than simple dietary changes. But by using the same determination that helps you say "No" to unhealthy foods, you can beat other underlying issues.

Trust Your Friends

If you're dieting on your own, you may find yourself being questioned on a regular basis. "Come on, one little bite won't hurt." "Are you sure you don't want some?" Often, these questions are asked by family and friends who are impressed by your will power and are interested in testing it.

However, if your loved ones begin to express concern about your diet, you should pay attention. If their questions begin to call into question whether you're eating enough to maintain your good health or if they are constantly talking about how skinny you are, your diet may have gone overboard. Speak with your physician or a dietitian to get it back on track.

Kissing (or Kicking) Unwanted Pounds Goodbye

Got some extra pounds hanging around? With the right steps, you can get rid of them and get on with a thinner, fitter life.

Pounds, pounds, go away, come again another day! If only losing weight were as easy as singing this simple rhyme over and over. Though shedding unwanted pounds is a good deal harder than that, you can do it. Do the following four action items and you'll get rid of those unwanted and unsightly pounds faster than you can say fad diet.

Don't Binge

You've had a rough day and the only thing that could possibly help you feel better is a tub of ice cream. Or so you think. In actuality, gorging yourself on super double chocolate chip ice cream isn't going to do you any good right now or in the future. If you want to get rid of weight, you're going to have to learn self-control. When you're by yourself and feel hungry for something unhealthy, find something else to do. Pick up a good book, call a friend, or drink a glass of water. If you're especially intent on losing weight (which you must be if you're reading this article), follow the next tip.

Be Exercise Minded

In the comfort of your own home, it's easy to eat whatever you want whenever you want. Learn to identify what causes you to want to eat unhealthy foods or unhealthy amounts of food. Then, begin to modify your behavior when you come face to face with the trigger. If coming home from work is usually followed by an hour on the couch, bonbons in hand, redesign your post-work routine around exercise. When you first get home, don't hit the couch. Hit the closet for a change of clothes, and then get to the gym or go for a walk around the neighborhood. Changing your mindset takes time and dedication, but putting exercise first on your to-do list is vital to taking off excess pounds.

Deny the Treats

Many dieters feel they're obliged to a cake or cookie now and then to celebrate their small victories. Unfortunately, this good idea can often become a trap, as the treats become more and more common. Just remember that every time you're offered a special treat, you have the option of accepting or denying the offer. Force yourself to say "No" 10 times more often than you say "Yes," and the special treat will actually be a special treat instead of an everyday necessity. By doing this, you'll also watch your weight slowly and steadily decrease.

Sweat It Off

For the best chance at losing weight, you're going to have to sweat. While a quick set of push-ups during lunch break will help your body a little bit, you're not going to get the results you seek without making yourself sweat. No matter if you choose to walk or run for miles on end, participate in a local spin class, join a kickboxing class, or work out with free weights or elliptical machines, you need to sweat. If your workout leaves you dry, you're not pushing yourself hard enough to lose weight. Increase your workout intensity and prepare to become the thinner, healthier you that you've always wanted to be.

Something Extra Needed

If you've been working to stay fit and eat healthily but you just can't seem to get rid of extra pounds, it may be time to stop going at it alone. Instead, contact your physician, dietitian, and personal trainer to find out what specific steps you can take to begin dropping unwanted extra pounds from your body.

In the event you've never interacted with a personal trainer, be ready for the shock of your exercising lifetime! It is your personal trainer's job to make sure you work harder than you've ever worked in the gym. Follow your personal trainer's rigorous recommendations to the letter, and you'll be utterly exhausted. Of course, you'll also be on your way to losing the extra pounds you've picked up over the years, and shedding pounds is well worth a little sweat and soreness - right?

A Year Of Fun Crafts For Kids

How to keep your kids crafty every season of the year.

"Mom, I'm bored! There's nothing to do!"

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. But that's about to change. No - you don't have to force your children to polish all the door handles in your home. It's craft time! Go find a handful of creativity, a couple of glue sticks, and some crayons, and prepare to make a mundane day memorable with these easy and cheap craft ideas for all seasons.

Spring: Rocky Ladybugs

Want a cute companion to keep you company this spring? How about a homemade ladybug?

You Need: Smooth stones that are round or oval-shaped, black acrylic paint and other colors you choose, black permanent marker, plastic wiggly eyes, glue.

1. Wash and dry your rock.

2. Paint your rock your desired color. (It may take two or three coats.)

3. Paint a black circular shape at one end of the rock. This will be the ladybug's head and should take up about 1/4 of the rock.

4. Using the marker, draw a black line down the middle of the ladybug's body from the back of the head to the end of the body.

5. Paint small dots on the left and right sides of the ladybug's body.

6. Glue wiggly eyes on the front of the ladybug.

7. Allow to dry and laugh at your cute new friend!

Tip: For long-lasting paint finishes, spray entire ladybug with acrylic paint sealant when finished.

Summer: Ice Cream

What better craft could you and the kids make than one that cools you off on a hot day and tastes delicious?

You Need: Pint-size plastic food storage bag, gallon-size plastic food storage bag, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 cup milk or half & half, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 6 tablespoons rock salt, ice.

1. Fill the large food storage bag halfway with ice and pour rock salt on ice. Seal bag.

2. Place milk, sugar, and vanilla in small food storage bag. Seal bag.

3. Place small bag in large bag and reseal large bag.

4. Shake for five minutes or until mixture becomes ice cream.

5. Remove small bag, wipe salt and ice from top of small bag, open small bag, grab a spoon, and enjoy!

Fall: Leaves of Wax

Ah, the beautiful Fall landscape. Why not save some of those beautiful leaves so they can be enjoyed year round?

You Need: 5-10 leaves, wax paper, iron, ironing board, small towel.

1. Place your leaves in a large, heavy book for a few hours.

2. Cut out two pieces of wax paper. (Size depends on how large or small you want your artwork.)

3. Remove pressed leaves from book and place between the two pieces of wax paper. Place towel on top.

4. With iron on high, apply iron to the towel, which is on the two pieces of wax paper with leaves between.

5. Allow to cool down and hang your project in a window, use it as a bookmark, or hang in a frame.

Winter: Snowman and TP

Nothing says winter like snow. To bring a little bit of the cold stuff inside, try building a few snowmen that won't melt!

You Need: A used toilet paper roll; black beans; glue; white, black, and orange construction paper.

1. Draw two circles on the white construction paper (one should be larger than the other). These will be the snowman's body, so don't make them too large or too small.

2. Draw a small top hat on the black construction paper and cut it out.

3. Draw a small triangle (snowman's nose) on orange construction paper and cut it out.

4. Glue the two circles on the toilet paper roll, one above the other. Be careful that the larger circle is on the bottom and doesn't go beyond the bottom of the toilet paper roll, as this will make it difficult for the snowman to stand up.

5. Glue black beans on the snowman for eyes, a mouth, and coat buttons.

6. Glue the orange triangle nose on the snowman's face.

7. Glue the hat on top of the snowman's head.

8. Place your snowman anywhere that could use a little seasonal cheer!