• Use no more than two fonts. Using three or more fonts can make a flier look jumbled, busy, and hard to read.
• Consider using a stylish font for your headings – script, bold or even artistic sorts of fonts.
• The main text areas of your flier should be in normal, easy to read fonts. This doesn’t mean you have to stick with the boring Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman fonts! Look through your font list and experiment with different ones. Examples: Tahoma, Bookman, Garamond, Tw Cen, etc.
• Please, please, please for the love of all that is good in this world – don’t use Comic Sans on any sort of flier (or document, email, etc.). This font had it’s heyday, but those days are long gone!
• If you will be sending your flier to someone via email, either: A) ensure they have the fonts you have used or B) save the file as an Adobe PDF. If you don’t have the ability to create PDF’s, just do a Google search for “free PDF creator.”
• Watch those colors! There is no need to make your headings and text all different colors. Decide on your heading color and make it consistent throughout. Consider keeping your main text black or a color that will complement the flier.
• Make sure your headings are larger than your main text, as this will allow them to stand apart.
• Don’t use ALL CAPS in your flier’s main text, instead use bold, italics, underline, etc. for emphasis.

• What are your dreams/goals? Get them out of your brain and write them down!
• What obstacles do you have which might get in your way? Is there a way around them? (Not having enough time, too many things in the closet)
• Is your goal something that you feel very strongly about, that you truly believe in, and are ready to commit to?
• Take your obstacles in mind and set a date. If you don’t have a deadline, the goal may never be met.
• What are the steps you must take in order to make the goal happen? Write those down too. Break the steps down into small, doable chunks.
• Is there someone close to you who can share in this experience who can help to keep you accountable?
• How will you determine if the goal has been met or is only partially finished? It must have a definitive ending point and be measurable.
• Create a document which outlines your goal, deadline, measurement as well as a bulleted list of your action steps.
• Tape this document wherever it will be seen on a regular basis, whether it be next to your computer on the fridge, etc.
• Make sure that your accountability “buddy” follows up with you on a regular basis to see how things have progressed.
• Once you have processed through all of your action steps and have met the goal, it’s time to celebrate! It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to see something through from start to finish!

Example: Closet Reorganization

Deadline: Two Weeks

Measurement of Completion: I will be able to walk through my closet without stepping on anything and will be able to easily find the items I’m looking for.

Possible Obstacles: Not having enough time, possibly needing to consult with a closet professional, not having the financial resources to properly reorganize the closet.

Action Steps (in a bulleted list): Research closet systems, empty closet, decide which items to donate/keep/throw away, wash any clothing which was on the floor, purchase closet system which best meets the need as well as any necessary storage containers.

We can all commit to spending a small amount of time each day getting in some physical activity, but not enough of us actually do it.

For those of us who spend our days in an office in front of a computer, there are some ways that we can get fit without having to leave our cube! While some activities will require us to get up from our desks, others allow us to sit right where we are! There is some benefit to small “bursts” of physical activity, especially the kinds that help us increase our heart rate.

As always, be sure to consult with a physician before starting any new exercise routine.

At your desk…

• Get some two-pound hand weights – while you’re surfing online, do some curls or raise them above your head
• Hold your legs out straight in front of you – hold for a few seconds
• Put the palms of your hands on your armrests and lift your bottom up (be sure to test the strength of your armrests first!)
• Perform neck rolls – from left to right and tucking your chin down to your chest
• Put a foot on your desk, with your leg bent at the knee – push forward a bit, until you feel the stretch in your leg
• Buy a “pedal exerciser”, which is basically a bike for under your desk – they cost about $50 and keep your hands free

Away from your desk…

• Do some jumping jacks or run/walk in place
• Bend one leg back and try to touch your bottom
• Put both hands on your desk and perform “desk push-ups”
• Do some lunges or one-legged squats
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park farther away
• Instead of sending that email, go to the person directly
• Bring your lunch to the office, then use the remainder of your time taking a walk – and bring a friend!

The guidelines below are not hard and fast rules, but rather a culmination of suggestions from multiple sources. You should determine your best action based upon your personal situation.

Note: If you are ever in doubt, consult with a financial professional.

Permanent Records

For any records which are to be kept indefinitely, make sure they are stored in a safe spot.

• Birth/Death/Marriage certificates, adoption papers, etc.
• Wills and Powers of Attorney
• List of assets
• Deeds, mortgages which have been paid off
• Passports
• Owner’s manuals for equipment and appliances (keep unless item is discarded, sold or given away)
• Income tax returns, including the supporting documentation (W-2’s, 1099’s, etc.)
• Retirement documents
• Insurance policies, including home, auto, life, disability, health, etc.
• Personal health records

Six Years or More

• Bank statements (seven years)
• Canceled checks
• Credit card statements (seven years, if in relation to business expenses)
• Receipts for home improvements (keep until six years after the home is sold)
• Receipts for major purchases (keep until item is discarded, sold, given away or the item is no longer under warranty)
• Tax return documents

Two to Five Years

• Insurance documents (retain for four years after the policy has expired)

One Year or Less

• Pay Stubs (discard after a year, once you have reconciled the totals with your W-2)
• ATM, debit and credit card receipts (discard after reconciling with your bank or credit card statement – special situations may warrant keeping receipts longer, especially if it was a major purchase)
• Utility bills (retain for a year, unless you need to keep them for business-related expenses)
• Credit card statements (retain for a year, longer if you need for business expenses)

Additional Resources

• http://www.sycamoreweb.com/newsletter/news_042304.html
• http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/130464/how_long_should_i_keep_my_personal_pg2.html?cat=3
• http://www.irs.gov/publications/p552/ar02.html#en_US_publink10008614

One day last week, I received a Sears credit card statement in the mail. I was just a little puzzled by this, considering I didn’t apply for a Sears card!

Upon opening the statement, I found the words were all in Spanish, which was definitely a sign that it was not mine since I don’t speak Spanish (well, except for the two years in high school, but I certainly wouldn’t be able to hold a conversation with someone!).

Luckily, the dollar amount was pretty low, well under $100.

So it did happen. I called the 1-800 number and the representative was very helpful. She closed the account immediately and put me through to one of the credit reporting bureaus. There will now be a 7-year alert so that this should not happen again if someone tries to apply for credit in my name. There will also be a 5-year block on my receiving pre-approved credit card offers (score!).This doesn’t stop someone from using my information on accounts that I personally hold (at a restaurant, grocery store or if my purse gets stolen), but it will stop the new accounts from being opened.

All in all, it’s a happy ending, but I’m still left puzzled as to how someone obtained my information. I know all the ways that it can happen, but I guess I just want some closure and know for certain. You’re required to give your SSN to your care providers, when you get a mortgage or a new credit card, or when you take college courses. This is where our information gets hacked – dishonest people are everywhere, and some of them have positions where they have very easy access to this information!

It’s ironic that a few months ago I wrote an article on this very subject for a local resource website called www.springfieldmoms.org. You can click HERE to read the article.

Below are some tips for activating the emergency response system.

• Is the scene safe? You cannot effectively help someone if you become injured yourself. Before ever stepping into the scene, make sure that the environment is safe for you.
• Remain calm. The 911 dispatchers are accustomed to receiving frantic phone calls and will do their job no matter what. However, you remaining calm will allow them to more effectively do their job of assessing the situation and responding appropriately. Do whatever you need to do in order to calm yourself down, as difficult as it may be at the time.
• Who, What, When, Where. The dispatcher will ask a number of questions about what happened. They will ask things like: What is your location? How many people are injured or sick? Is the person conscious? Do you know CPR? Is there an AED onsite?
• Be patient. It is easy to become frustrated with the dispatcher while they are asking what seems like endless questions. Just keep in mind that while you are answering the questions, they are dispatching responders to your location “behind the scenes”.
• Stay on the phone. The dispatcher will want to keep you on the phone while responders are en route to your location. They are on the line to ensure that you remain calm, help the person in need, and confirm that the responders arrive.
• Let EMS take over. A whirlwind of activity will happen once the responders arrive. This is your moment to tell them what happened, if you know, and step aside to let them do what they do best.
• What about cell phones? Many families are choosing to forgo landlines in place of cell phones. It is estimated that about 50% of 911 calls are made from cell phones, and that rate is likely to rise. It is extremely important to know your exact location when calling 911 from a cell phone, as calls are not traceable. Your location will be tracked using GPS, but that doesn’t always pinpoint to the exact location.
• Don’t program your phone with 911. It is very easy to inadvertently dial a number from your phone book. Dispatchers receive a number of misdials, and it makes their job more difficult. If you do have your phone programmed, be sure to lock the screen when not in use.
• If you’re on the highway. In Illinois, you can call *999 from your cell phone for assistance if you or someone else is in an non life-threatening accident. You will need to give the dispatcher the closest highway marker. You’ll want to give the dispatcher as much information as possible – are any lanes blocked, how many are injured, do any vehicles need to be towed, etc.
• Inactive cell phones can still call 911. If you have an old cell phone that is no longer under contract, you can still use the phone to call 911.

A few other important aspects of storing olive oil are temperature and light. Olive oil stores best in a cool, dark area. Don’t leave the bottle next to your stove, as that area will get a lot of warmth.

Olive oil has a low smoke point, which means that it’s not advisable to use for frying foods. It is more suitable for sauteeing or frying foods that cook rather quickly. If you have foods to cook which will take more than ten minutes or so to cook all the way through, you might be better suited using a canola or other plant-based oil.

Just remember, even though it’s oil, you don’t necessarily have to cook with it. You can use it in a pasta salad, dip bread in it, or create a cooked pasta dish with olive oil added at the end.

Here is a very simple pasta salad recipe, which is a family favorite!

Using a package of mild italian salad dressing, prepare according to directions but using olive oil and balsamic vinegar. You can use a little less oil if you’d like. Prepare a box of tri-color rotini pasta according to the directions on the box – cook until the noodles are al dente and put in a colander. Spray the pasta with cold tap water so the noodles don’t get mushy. Cut up your choice of vegetables – we usually use cucumbers and tomatoes. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve! Be sure to add the dressing right before serving, as it doesn’t taste as good if it’s been sitting around.

The American Heart Association is beginning a large-scale ad campaign to promote “Hands Only CPR“, an initiative which started in 2008 to encourage people to just do something in an emergency situation. This initiative was started because not enough people perform CPR when it’s really needed – maybe because the bystander can’t remember all the steps, or even out of fear of performing mouth-to-mouth breaths on someone they don’t know.

Less than 1/3 of people who suffer a cardiac arrest at home, in public or at work get the help they need. But YOU can help improve these odds.

There are TWO steps involved in Hands Only CPR. If you see an adult suddenly collapse,

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Start immediate CPR compressions

Spread the word to your friends, family, anyone you know.

To learn more about Hands Only CPR, click HERE.