3 Kids and Us

Wearing Your Story on Your Wrist: The History and Evolution of the Charm Bracelet

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640px-Gold_charm_bracelet

Nobody thinks about wearing a story on their wrist when they wear a charm bracelet. But, this little piece of jewelry has a rich history. The next time you eye one in the store, or you’re thinking about what to wear for a night out on the town, consider this:

From 4500 to 2300 BC

Charm bracelets date back to Neolithic times, when men selected an unusual piece of bone shell, stone, or wood, and transformed it into something they could wear. Usually, this meant placing it on a leather thong.

From 2300 to 700 BC

During this time, charm bracelets were known as amulets or talismans. They were associated with magic, mystique, and spirituality. Early charms during this period were made from lapis lazuli, rock crystal, and semi-precious stones or gems. The Babylonians are believed to be the first people to wear charms on their wrists from around 700BC.

In Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt is inherently mysterious. We often associate the Egyptians with intelligence and ingenuity. During this time, Pharaohs and the wealthy adorned charms. The first recognizable jewelry appeared in 3000 BC, and were worn on the head and neck. Classic symbols and charms like the Ankh represented the force of life. The Eye of Horus was said to protect its wearer in life and death, especially the afterlife.

From 750 BC to 475 AD

During the Roman Empire, an amulet or charm bracelet was used to signify one’s own life. For example, early Christians wore the “ichthys” (a symbol of the fish) to signify that they were followers of Jesus Christ.

The fish symbolized the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus on the Jordan River.

From 1066 to 1485

During this time, English Kings, Queens and knights often wore amulets and charms as protection. The period is known for its belief in witchcraft and wizardry. A lot of people during this time were concerned about magic and mayhem that could befall them by their enemies. People of this time hoped that charms, prayer, and incantation would save them and protect them.

From 1300 to 1600

During the Renaissance, lucky charms and amulets weren’t as popular. This was the dawn of the age of reason and the Enlightenment. Books, science, and math were replacing mysticism and superstition.

Charms were remnants of an uncivilized past. But, gemstones and charms still retained importance among the wealthy, since it signified their family name and lineage. To the masses, however, they did remain somewhat popular as there was very little in the way of education and superstition was still a part of many people’s lives.

Industrial Revolution – 1750 to 1900

During the industrial revolution, only wealthy individuals could afford custom jewelry and charms that were made during this time. However, it wasn’t long before technology advanced to the point where precious metals could be mined efficiently, allowing the middle class to own and wear charms which, only a decade ago, would have been unaffordable.

The shift actually began in Britain, spread to most European countries, and eventually to America.

1945 to 1950

By the end of World War II, soldiers were ready to come home. But, they didn’t want to come home empty-handed. So, they purchased handmade jewelry as souvenirs for their loved ones and family. Local craftsmen would carve wooden or metal souvenirs as gifts. Often, these gifts were replicas of common items in the local area.

Soldiers would also have “dog tags” made for them and, over time, this gave way to small celluloid or acrylic charms packaged in cereal packets, gumball machines, and packets of sweets.

Today

Today, we enjoy all sorts of charms and bracelets. You can buy sterling silver charms and charm jewelry from commercial operations like Bedbathandbeyond.com and your local jeweler.

From vintage pieces to modern and contemporary, charms and bracelets have been a part of not just American history but of world history. Today, you can wear a story on your wrist – something that, at one time, wasn’t possible.

What’s your story?

Molly Powell is a stay-at-home Mom who discovered blogging several years ago. She writes on a range of topics usually revolving around family life and the home in some way.

2016’s best family-friendly attractions in Australia

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Although we’ve recently covered some global destinations as far-flung as New York and Paris, sometimes it’s good to cover things a little closer to home.

So if you’re looking to get out and about with your family in Australia this year, here are some great kid-friendly options that can provide surfing inspiration, illuminating ideas on our cities, and even give some tips for the Wimbledon betting over in the UK later in 2016.

City attractions

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Although the great Australian summer is coming to an end, there are many great city events that provide a good deal of family fun. The Adelaide Festival in particular looks tempting as it features Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo that is a hands-in interactive theatre featuring lots of fun dinosaur puppets alongside the festival’s music and arts treats that run from 26 February to 14 March.

And all Australians should definitely visit Sydney’s Vivid Festival that illuminates those dark winter nights with an amazing show of light, colour and music from 27 May to 18 June. The festival will also be tying in with Taronga Zoo’s centenary celebrations and all kids should definitely enjoy seeing some illuminated chameleons

Sporting fun

2011_Australian_GP_pit_lane

Australia’s definitely not short of sporting attractions. And the Formula One season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 20 March and provides a great chance to get out there and join in the glamorous celebrations.

Many kids will have been inspired to pick up a tennis racket after the Australian Open, and the Hot Shots youth tennis course can help them on their way to sporting glory. And as many will be asking can Andy Murray bounce back from the Australian Open, adults can keep up with his progress and the likes of Australian stars such as Nick Kyrgios thanks to Coral’s website that features all of the top news and tips from Wimbledon and other great sporting events.

At the beach

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But for those families who are seeking to take advantage of the last warm days of summer, they should definitely get down to Surfest which is already underway in Newcastle and will encourage the little ones to learn to enjoy live on the ocean waves.

Or for something a little more extreme, then the Cooly Classic in Queensland offers the chance to appreciate ocean swimming with a special 1000m Junior Giant option for the kids on 3 April.

So whether your planning ahead to the Wimbledon betting options with some sporting inspiration, or merely watching the city of Sydney become illuminated in weird and wonderful colours, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Australia over the upcoming months!

Family Stories and Successes: Tips and Tricks for Scrapbooking Your Past

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Victorian Child's Scrapbook.
Victorian Child’s Scrapbook.

Scrapbooking is big. Huge. So, here are some of the more fun ways to preserve your family’s stories, successes, and even unusual events.

What Kind Of Memories Do You Want Immortalized?

Think long and hard about the types of memories you want preserved. We all have painful memories that we’d rather not remember, but there’s more than just happy memories in our lives too.

It might be easy to come up with photos and keepsakes from times when we were having fun. Try to also come up with memories of challenging times – not necessarily negative, but challenging.

For example, have you, or any of your family members, ever competed in an event before? What was that like?

Do you have any photos that commemorate it? By including these in your scrapbook, you’ll not only be able to look back and laugh, you’ll be able to look back on all of your hard-won victories.

Getting Organized – What To Do And What To Avoid

Get organized. As you start accumulating photos and materials, try to work towards organization of life events, time periods, and “moments.”

You could also divide photos and keepsakes into groups – piles with people, places, or even by family and friends.

This will ultimately help you make sense of your scrapbook as well as help you find things when you need them. Most people choose themes for their book, which is another great way to organize your scrapbook.

What Themes Should You Pick?

Themes can be tricky because everyone has a different idea about what the best themes are. Even so, themes can make your scrapbook much more memorable. It can also help you relive specific memories.

For example, let’s say you want to relive a particular Christmas when you were young. Or, maybe you want to relive all of your Christmases. Making a scrapbook oriented around that theme will let you focus on just the things you want to remember or relive.

Getting Supplies

What kind of supplies will you need? That depends on your scrapbook. But, in general, you’ll need an album, adhesives, scissors, and journaling pens.

The album should contain acid-free pages or allow you the option to add them. It should also have PVC-free sheet protectors so that you can protect your pages and photos. As for the size of the book, it all depends on you and how big you want it. Most scrapbooks are either 8 ½ x 11” or 12” x 12”.

There are a variety of adhesives you can choose from too, but look for ones made specifically for scrapbooking.

Get straight-edge and decorative edge scissors so that you can cut photos into interesting shapes and crop out any unwanted areas.

Finally, get yourself some journaling pens – acid-free, permanent pens for writing down important names, family memories, dates, and even just for doodling and stick figures.

Printing Your Scrapbook

If you want a more formal scrapbook, download some templates from the Internet, stock up on ink from StinkyInk, and print your scrapbook after you’re finished scanning in all of your photos and keepsakes.

While it’s common to create a “live” scrapbook that’s not printed or made from copies photos, many people are finding that copying photos allows them to preserve the originals for future use, while also allowing for creative use of the copies.

John Sollars started Stinkyink.com in 2002, a printer cartridge supplier in the UK. He knows a thing or two about printing and he enjoys sharing his ideas and insights online through blogging.

How to Prevent Your Kids from Cold and Flu During Winter Season

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kids with flu

One of the hardest feelings for any parent is to see their child suffering from sickness including a common cold and flu. And during winter season, this is indeed one of the main worries of moms and dads too.

In this article, we will share some tips on how to protect your children and prevent them from having cold and flu this winter season:

Tip 1: Wash hands – teach your kids to make it a habit to wash their hands – before and after they eat and every time they use the bathroom. Kids are playful by nature – they love to run around, climb everywhere, and pick up whatever that calls their attention. And because of this playfulness, it is easy for them to pick up bacteria and viruses. Washing their hands will kill off germs and bacteria and prevent sickness like flu or cold. Rubbing hands with alcohol gel, commonly called hand sanitizer, will also keep bacteria and viruses away. These Custom Hand Sanitizer are available at your local store or pharmacy.

Tip 2: Flu vaccine – seasonal flu vaccine is also effective to prevent cold and flu. Children ages 2 to 9 need two doses of flu vaccine if it is their first time to receive it. The first dose improves their immune system while the second shot given 28 days or more after the first dose serves as their protection from flu.

Tip 3: Dress warm – Rhinovirus that causes common cold replicates better during cold weather. And since the body’s immune system weakens as the temperature drops, it is more common to catch cold during winter season. You should keep your kids warm by dressing them with appropriate, thick clothes that will keep them warm most especially when going out of the house.

Tip 4: Drink lots of fluids –it is also a good practice to drink lots of fluids especially water everyday. Drinking water will flush out the toxins in the body.

Tip 5: Drink vitamins – make sure to give them vitamins every day to boost their immune system. In case they’ve already caught the virus, be sure to give them medicine immediately. Codral cold and flu capsules or tablets are perfect for adults and children 12 years old and above.

Tip 6: Avoid sharing cups and utensils – you should prevent your kids from sharing cups and other utensils even with family members. Colds can easily spread through shared cups, towels, and other things so it is best to be safe and use their own set of things.

Tip 7: Cover mouth and nose – instruct them to cover their mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough. This is both to prevent spreading and acquiring the virus.

Tip 8: Avoid crowded places – during the cold and flu season, it is advisable to stay away from crowded places like public playgrounds, malls, and parks where viruses and bacteria are rampant.

Tip 9: Eat healthy – you should also make sure to prepare healthy meals for your kids so they get enough nutrients to strengthen their immune system. Avoid junk foods and fast food meals.

Tip 10: Rest – lastly, you should make sure the kids get enough sleep and rest to keep their bodies strong and healthy so they don’t get sick or infected easily.

Protect your kids from symptoms of cold and flu. Follow the tips discussed in this article so you can feel at ease knowing that your kids are protected. Also, be sure to take care of your own health so you do not catch cold and flu virus and infect anyone in your household especially your children.

Pocket money, Making it Work for Your Family.

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Pocket money is a great way to reward your children, teach them about the value of money and can give them a sense of pride in their possessions when they’ve bought something with their own money. Problems can arise with pocket money however, such as how much do you give? How often? And when to increase it or take it away. Having been through this with my 3 I want to give you a few tips on how best to manage pocket money.

Set Out the Ground Rules

  

When you first start giving pocket money to the kids it is important that you sit down with them and lay out some rules about how it will work. Firstly, I wanted to remind my kids that this is not free money just because you’re my child, the money must be earned, chores, good behaviour, good grades, a kind act, whatever it is that you want to see from your child, let them know that as long as you see it, the money will be there. Let your kids know that you will also refuse to give them pocket money if you see bad behaviour or an unwillingness to pay attention to the rules that you have set out. Even more important is that once you’ve established the rules, you must enforce them, this way your child will fully understand what they have to do to get the money and teaches them that hard work has its rewards.

Another important part of setting out the rules is giving your child guidelines on what the money is to be spent on. Now, there is no need to be draconian with this but remember that the purpose of pocket money is not only a reward but a way to educate your child in learning the value of money. With this being said I always felt it was important that my children didn’t waste their money. What I did with my 3 was ask them to tell me what they were going to buy with it before they spent it, I very rarely told them that they couldn’t buy what they told me but I would always have a conversation with them about it. Doing this just gives your child the opportunity to think again about their purchase and means that they are less likely to make rash purchases.

When to Increase

  

If you are like me and have more than one child then it is important that the pocket money situation remains fair between, in my case, between all 3 children. I began giving them money at the same ages and increased pocket money at the same ages as well. My 13 year old would hit the roof if he thought he was only receiving the same as my 11 year old. Keep it fair and you won’t have any worries. Something that also worked better than I imagined was my savings bonus scheme. I told all of my children that for every penny or pound that they had saved by the end of the month, that I would match it for them. I honestly didn’t think any of them would really save much but for them it became a sort of game, they would battle it out for who could save the most. I strongly believe that this will help them in the future in saving money when they begin to earn.
I know some parents who don’t like to give pocket money and prefer to just buy things for their children when they have been well behaved. I don’t disagree with this strategy but for me I think that pocket money not only rewards your child but truly teaches them the value of money and how to manage their money for the future.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!