Kristen's Guide Updates (Blog Archive Last 50 Posts)
Content Updated on 3/10/2010
Archives for Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009
How to Allow Yourself to Have True Happiness
Posted: 2010-02-17
I am a happy person. When everything in life is going along as I've planned, I'm happy. When things fall apart, and I know that my life will never be the same, I'm still happy.
I wasn't always a happy person. I didn't always understand what happiness was, so instead of being happy, I tried to chase happiness. It wasn't until I learned about true happiness that I finally became happy.
Happiness isn't about the things that happen to you or the things that you do. Being a happy person is a state of mind, and you can become happy right now.
To learn more about true happiness, visit
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/true_happiness.asp
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Kristen's Guide is now available in multiple languages
Posted: 2010-02-10
If you prefer to speak a language other than English, you can still read all the articles on Kristen's Guide. Kristen's Guide is now using Google Translate. Just go to http://www.kristensguide.com and select the language of your choice at the top right corner of the page. Then, browse as usual.
Supported languages include
Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Catalan
Chinese
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
French
Galician
German
Greek
Haitian Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Spanish
Swahili
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Welsh
Yiddish
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Kristen's Guide Is Now on Facebook
Posted: 2010-01-29
You can now become a fan of Kristen's Guide on Facebook, where you can make suggestions for the site and get updates conveniently on your FB home page. Plus, you can meet other Kristen's Guide fans just like you. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristens-Guide/305553156154 and become a fan (Facebook account required).
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Neglected No More
Posted: 2010-01-20
I'm afraid I've been rather distracted by the complications of life, and as a result, Kristen's Guide hasn't been updated since October. The guilt and shame is bubbling up in me as I realize how long it has been, the longest I've ever gone without tending to my site. Thank you to my nearly 500 loyal readers who continue to subscribe to my free updates via email and news feed. I truly appreciate your patience, and I assure you that I'm going to end the neglect.
The goal of Kristen's Guide has always been to help people make their lives a bit easier, a little less stressful. Sometimes this comes in the form of getting organized. Sometimes it comes in the form of getting motivated. And sometimes it comes in the form of finding answers to frustrating questions. The ultimate goal of decreasing stress in one's life is to make that life a bit happier. I firmly believe that happiness is the reason for living, the reason for looking forward to the future. It is with this perspective that I plan to focus the future of Kristen's Guide on understanding what helps us experience happiness and improving our lives, so we can experience happiness more often. I hope all of you will gain something beneficial, something that makes your lives a bit easier and a bit happier, from these future articles and printables.
I truly love to hear from my readers. If you have suggestions for the site, topics you'd like to me to write about, or printables you would like me to see, PLEASE send me a message to tell me about it by going to http://www.kristensguide.com/Contact_Me/contact_me_comments.asp
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Two New 2010 Weekly Calendars/Planners are Ready
Posted: 2009-10-19
Number 2 and 3 on my list of most requested items is up. The 2010 Weekly Planner (a basic, simple design) and the 2010 Weekly Planner for Value-Focused Tasks (to help you focus on your priorities).
If you were waiting for them, come and get 'em at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/calendars.asp
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New 2010 Calendars 1 Month per Page
Posted: 2009-10-13
Another printable calendar is ready. (I'm trying to produce them in the order of popularity.) Here is one of my most requested ones, the simple 1 month/page dated calendar for 2010.
Get it at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/calendars.asp
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More Stuff to Do in the Portland-Metro Area
Posted: 2009-09-14
For those of you in the Portland/Vancouver Metro area, this update is for you. I've updated my favorite stuff to do, all within a day's drive from home. Perfect stuff for entertaining the kids, taking that special someone out on a date, or just having a good ol' time with some friends.
Check it out at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Travel/Oregon/portland-metro.asp
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Come and Get It! 2009-10 Weekly Student Planners / Calendars / Schedules are Ready
Posted: 2009-08-31
For those of you who were waiting for the 2009-2010 weekly planners for students (yes, teachers, homeschoolers, students, and counselors, that means you), they're here!
- One week per page
- August 2009 - August 2010
- Weeks start on Monday
- Daily schedules from 6am to 9pm
- Room to write down assignments for each class or activity every day (one version is blank and one version has math, science, language arts, and social studies filled in with room for more subjects)
- Back of each page has room for writing down goals, to-do items, and notes
- Clean design to reduce distractions
Get them at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/student_schedule.asp
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Yay! I'm no longer obese... just overweight.
Posted: 2009-08-02
In May of 200 I was 183 lbs. Today I'm a 163 lbs. I've lost 20 lbs. in 2 1/2 months, and I'm going to lose 20 more. My BMI is now in the overweight range, so no more "I'm obese" shame for me. It won't be long before I'm just at a plain ol' healthy weight. :-)
Learn more about how I've dropped the pounds at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Health/Weight_Loss/Weight_Loss_Journal/
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Escaping Depression: Updated
Posted: 2009-07-10
I've been talking to several people who are battling depression about my experiences in overcoming it. My conversations with them helped me realize that I needed to update my Escaping Depression article to help answer some of their most common questions, which I'm sure other people have as well.
If you know somebody who is dealing with depression, or are dealing with it yourself, give it a look and let me know what you think.
Escaping Depression: How I Succeeded in Getting Out of Depression
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Managing_Emotions/escaping_depression.asp
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Which Free School Printables Do You Want? Submit Your Suggestions
Posted: 2009-07-09
It's time for me to put together the school-related printables for 2009-2010.
I've had many requests by teachers, students, and parents for new education related printables. The most popular request so far has been for new student schedules and homework planners, so I'll be working on those first. If you'd like to suggest changes to a current design or suggest a completely new design, please let me know. I hope to have all the new designs done by August.
To give me your suggestion go to
http://www.kristensguide.com/Contact_Me/contact_me_printable.asp
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How to Start Jogging: Updated by Popular Demand
Posted: 2009-07-02
By popular demand, I've updated one of my most read articles: How to Start Jogging.
I'm amazed by how many people send me emails about it. You guys have inspired me. When I first wrote it, I had no idea how many people were like me, thinking they could never be joggers or even just hating jogging because of all the pressure to go further and faster and endure exhaustion and pain. That's just not my style. If I don't enjoy it, I don't do it.
I admit, I slacked off. I stopped jogging about a year ago, but after my successful month of weight loss from walking, strength training, and healthy nutrition, I decided it was time to step things back up to the jogging level to strengthen my heart and lungs. I'm adding jogging again to my daily walks, and so far I've been pleased with the results. (Even bought myself a new pair of jogging shoes. :-)
So here's the updated article for all of you non-joggers who are thinking about getting into the jogging habit:
How to Start Jogging
http://www.kristensguide.com/Health/Exercise/how_to_start_jogging.asp
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The Weight Loss Journal Is Back
Posted: 2009-06-27
It has been nearly 2 years since I stopped focusing on my weight loss efforts and quit my weekly weight loss journal entries, but about a month ago I started again.
I didn't want to write about it, not another "I'm going to do it" entry then end up failing for one reason or another. It has been one month since I started and I've lost 9 lbs. so far. Since so many of my visitors are also on the same journey to better health, I decided it was time to start publicly writing about it again, time to help somebody else get motivated instead of just focusing on myself so much. So here it is, how I started dropping the pounds again. I hope it helps some of you get started again as well.
Read my latest weight loss journal entry at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Health/Weight_Loss/Weight_Loss_Journal/2009_june.asp
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Should I Circumcise My Son?
Posted: 2009-06-20
If you are planning on circumcising your baby boy, ask yourself one very important question: why?
I repeatedly consider this topic whenever somebody asks my opinion on the matter, and then I spend time debating the advantages and disadvantages of the circumcision procedure.
Recently one of my site visitors reminded me that I had an article about it that was in need of updating. So today, I updated it with my latest and greatest debate points in the "should we circumcise infants" argument.
Here it is...
http://www.kristensguide.com/Family/Babies/to_circumcise_or_not.asp
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What Is the Meaning of Life? Here's my answer...
Posted: 2009-06-18
As we go through life, we often forget why we're doing what we're doing. I've been getting lots of emails lately from people asking questions like:
What is it that we've been working toward?
Why are we putting up with things we hate?
Why try harder?
Why bother to go on?
Why isn't my religion giving me a sense of fulfillment?
What am I supposed to be doing with my life?
So I decided it was time to revise some of my articles and write some new ones to help give them (and anyone else who's interested) some answers to ponder.
Here is my first response, the meaning of life, as decided by lil' ol' me.
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/meaning_of_life.asp
I hope it helps you through your day, and stay tuned for future articles on this topic. There will definitely be more.
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Evil Redirect Ads
Posted: 2009-05-29
A sneaky way that some browser hogs get you to look at their site is by putting redirect code in the ads or comments. The redirect code automatically redirects you to another website, something totally unaffiliated with the one you're looking at.
This is what I recently discovered was happening with one of the ads on Kristen's Guide. I'm doing my best to get rid of the bugger, but it doesn't happen every time, so it's difficult to troubleshoot. To fix this, I need you, my subscribers, to help me.
All I need you to do is visit KristensGuide.com. After the page finishes loading you should be looking at the Kristen's Guide home page. If you suddenly find yourself redirected to another website, please let me know. Just send an email to me at feedback@kristensguide.com (since the contact forms on the site may not be working because of the annoying browser hogging spam bug).
Thanks so much to all of you who help me out. I truly appreciate it.
(I know. I know. The easiest way to get rid of the problem is to get rid of all ads on the site, but hey, if I did that, I couldn't pay the bills.)
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Get Outside and Play
Posted: 2009-05-12
So your kids are have decided to stay inside playing video games, watching TV, and chatting online all day instead of running around outdoors and getting some healthy exercise and fresh air. Maybe they just need to be inspired to get out. Maybe they just need some ideas to help spark their creativity and sense of adventure (in the real world, not the digital one). And maybe, just maybe, it can be a fun bonding experience for the whole family.
(And if you don't have kids, no problem, take your inner-child outside to play.)
Need some ideas to help you get started? Here they are...
Outdoor Places to Go with Kids & Getting Kids to Play Outside
http://www.kristensguide.com/Family/Fun_Kid_Stuff/outdoor_activities.asp
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Garden Therapy: It helps everything! (almost)
Posted: 2009-04-07
So you're wishing there was a magic wand that can give you better health, more energy, more money, the dream home you're always wanted, and better relationships. Plus, you want it to help your kids to get a better education and grow up in a clean environment with a green future. And on top of all of that, you want to get rid (or at least reduce) of your depression and anxiety.
No problem!
Go start a garden. It's the wonder drug, the magic spell, the quick fix to help you have a happier life. And it's right outside your window. Whether you have your own yard outside your front door, a community garden down the street, a small dirt patch in front of your apartment complex, or just a window box, getting in touch with your inner gardener can change your life.
Learn all about why you need to get out and start a garden today. Check out
Why You Should Grow a Garden: The Benefits of Gardening
http://www.kristensguide.com/Gardening/benefits_of_gardening.asp
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More Motivation to Lose Weight
Posted: 2009-03-19
The weather is getting nice and you're losing those winter excuses to avoid exercising, but maybe you still need a little extra motivation to get started.
If you're thinking about losing weight or wondering if you should really worry so much about being overweight, here's something to help push you into a health-conscious-fitness-loving mode: the desire to live a longer, better life.
What's the alternative? Bad stuff, and none of it pretty. I've put together a list of all that bad stuff for you. Prepared to be scared (and motivated to get to a healthy weight). See the list at...
Complications of Obesity: Why It's Bad to Be Obese
http://kristensguide.com/Health/Weight_Loss/complications_obesity.asp
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How to Write a Resume
Posted: 2009-03-12
I've been working hard on compiling the most useful information for the job seeker's section of Kristen's Guide and for anyone putting together a resume.
Here's what's available so far...
Part 1: What is a Resume and Why Do I Need One?
http://www.kristensguide.com/Business/Employment/resume1.asp
Part 2: Gathering Your Information
http://www.kristensguide.com/Business/Employment/resume2.asp
Part 3: Figuring Out the Best Structure for Your Resume
http://www.kristensguide.com/Business/Employment/resume3.asp
Part 4: Getting the Words Right
http://www.kristensguide.com/Business/Employment/resume4.asp
Still to come...
- Making your resume look good
- Sample resumes
- Cover letter tips
- Reference letter tips
- How to handle the interview
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New KG Section: How to Get a New Job
Posted: 2009-02-12
My heart goes out to so many people who are losing their jobs and facing financial crisis. I wish I could hire them all, so they can continue to support their families, but, of course, I can't. No single person can.
However, I may still be able to help.
- I've applied for jobs, so I know what it's like to do it.
- I've worked in management positions and had the duties of sorting through resumes of potential employees, conducting interviews, and ultimately deciding who would get the job.
- I used to be a professional resume writer (i.e. people paid me to write their resumes).
- How to write a resume
- Resume writing worksheets
- Sample resumes
- How to ace an interview
- How to find a new job (e.g. where to look, how to get your name mentioned to employers, etc.)
- A handy-dandy job search tool
Check out the new Employment Section at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Business/Employment/
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New Look for Estimates/Quotes Worksheet (and Better for Notebooks too)
Posted: 2009-02-02
The next time you're calling around to get estimates/quotes for your latest project, try using the new and improved Estimates/Quotes Worksheet & Log. You can keep all of your quote information on one handy organized sheet of paper instead of dozens of Post-Its and scraps.
I've replaced the color with a soft gray (to ease your colored ink budget and reduce strain on your eyes). I've also switched it from landscape orientation to portrait, so it will be easier to read and write on it when it's tucked away in your household notebook.
Print it today, put it in your notebook, and it'll be at your fingertips when you need it.
Get it at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/phone.asp
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New 1 Year Calendar Grid Printable Is Ready
Posted: 2009-02-02
If you like tracking your accomplishments, you should definitely try out the new one year calendar grid printable. There's one square for every day of the year, and there's just enough space to enter short information (e.g. distance traveled, weight, allowance earned, etc.) or for checking off days when you complete your goals.
You can also use it for planning key events for upcoming projects, meeting times for groups, or anything else your heart desires. If you want to get fancy, you can even use colored pencils or little star stickers to color code your entries (go wild).
It has 1001 uses all on one page.
Get it at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/calendars.asp
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Essential Safety Skills Every Child Should Know
Posted: 2009-01-26
It is job of parents to protect their children, but since we can't lock our kids in a padded fortress and keep them from using pencils out of fear that they'll poke their eyes out, it's up to us to teach them how to protect themselves.
There are basic skills that every kid needs to know. What surprises me is how many parents I talk to who insist that their children have these basic skills, but in reality, when tested, their kids only have a fraction of them, and in an emergency, this lack of knowledge and skill can have dire consequences.
Don't just assume that you're children know how to get out of a burning building through the window. Have a fire drill, and find out if they can really do it. Don't assume that you're children know that they shouldn't talk to strangers. Try having a trusted friend approach your kids while you're lurking from the shadows, and see what they do.
It's better to find out now what skills your kids already know and what they need to learn rather than finding out what skills they lack when they really need them.
See the list essential safety skills for kids at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Family/Parenting/Empower_Children/essential_safety_skills.asp
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2009 Year on One Page Calendar is Ready
Posted: 2009-01-23
You can quickly look at all the dates for the year on one easy-to-read printable page that fits perfectly in your household notebook or on your bulletin board with the 2009 Year Calendar.
Get it at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Printables/calendars.asp
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