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MELANZAugust 2005 Monthly Magazine
Eastern Traditions For Life In The West www.MelanzOnline.com
Getting Getting Getting Getting Getting ReadyReadyReadyReadyReadyFor MyFor MyFor MyFor MyFor My FirstFirstFirstFirstFirst Day Day Day Day Day OfOfOfOfOf
411 On Underground VegetablesStress & Emotional StabilityPuerto Vallarta -Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity!Islamic Art Exhibit At Fort Worth Museum80 Summer Business Ideas For Kids
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Inspiration
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Let your childrengo if you want tokeep them.Malcolm Forbes
The whole purpose of education isto turn mirrors into windows.Sydney J. Harris
Education is an admirable thing,but it is well to remember fromtime to time that nothing that isworth knowing can be taught.Oscar Wilde
”“
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CONTENTS
features
Getting Ready For My 13First Day Of School
Children react differently to goingto school for the first time. AnnieGhazi lays out a plan to prepare forthis day for parents & kids.
Stress & Emotional 19Stability
You have the power to control youremotions. Learn ways to deal withstress and your emotions.
The 411 On Underground 08Vegetables
We eat ’em almost every day. But howmuch do we really know about under-ground vegetables?
departments
From the Editor’s Desk 05
Spice it up: 07Makhani (Butter) Chicken
HomeDecor: 11What Is French Country?
Leisure: 21Walking The Thin Line:Episode 5
Family: 30Back To School Shopping Tips
FinanceABC: 3180 Summer Business Ideas ForKids by Biz4Kids.com
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 23Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity
Freedom, adventure, & escape.. aperfect travel destination south of theborder.
Islamic Art Exhibit At 28The Fort Worth Museum
Great treasures of Islamic Art are ondisplay at the Kimbell Art Museum inForth Worth, TX.
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From the Editor’s Desk
MELANZEastern Traditions For Life In the West
PublisherMELANZ Magazine
Managing EditorAnnie Ghazi
Nutrition Section EditorRoohe Ahmed, MPH / RD
Travel SectionSonia Laflamme ([email protected])
Naeem Randhawa ([email protected])
LivingWell EditorSara Ghazi
Family SectionShehla Merchant
Finance SectionChristian Erickson
That’s LifeAthar Zia, MS
ContributorsImran Randhawa, Nikhat Qureshi, Dr. Iffat
Farooqui -BDS, Syed Faiz Qadri -M.D., GerhardtWagner -PhD, Syed Pirzada Sattar -MD, A.
Rehman, Syeda Akhtar
Subscriptions / Advertising InquiriesMain Office
Tel: (714) 757-0786
Southern CA / Orange County RepChris Janumala (714) 717-0111
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 5172 Lynnwood, WA 98046.
Email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2005 Melanz Magazine. Reproduction ofany part or the entirety without the written permissionof the publisher is strictly prohibited. The publisherassumes no responsibility for unsolicited content,articles, photographs, or illustrations. The views/opinions expressed by the writers/editors are notnecessarily the views of MELANZ / and/or its partners/owners and accordingly no liability is assumed by thepublisher thereof. All the stories and their charactersare fictional unless mentioned otherwise. Forhealthcare, finance, and family counseling issuesplease refer to a related professional. MELANZ doesnot offer solutions to your specific problem and noneof the articles should be taken as a solution by thereaders. MELANZ is not responsible for errors oromissions. MELANZ/its partners/owners are notresponsible for checking the accuracy of informationprovided by the advertisers. Advertising copy, logos,and artwork are the sole responsibility of individualadvertisers, not of MELANZ. Printed in USA.
Parenthood is often mistaken as superiority, something thatauthorizes full control and a certain level of status. Yet, it seemsmore like a privilege, a God given responsibility that we have tostrive to fulfill.
Parenthood many times feels like a chore, continually binding usto someone or many little someone’s. Yet it’s, more often than not, arelief from all the other expectations, we as adults, are bound to.
In one of my favorite books, “Seven Habits of Highly EffectivePeople”, author Stephen Covey talks about growing difficulties,for one of his sons, in school. Academically, socially, and physicallytheir son was doing poorly. Covey and his wife tried many differentways to build his confidence and be supportive, but soon learnedthat by being so protective they were sending the wrong message:Son you are weak, you can’t do this on your own. As the realizationsettled in, the couple took a different approach which includedchanging themselves and analyzing “the lens from which they sawthe world.” Soon they challenged themselves to allow their childto grow without “measuring him against social expectations.”
We live in a world of pitied glances and tsk tsks, especially whenit comes to bringing up our children; it’s mainly why we feel likeparenthood is a chore, therefore, we enforce our authority. We don’twant to let others down. Our children, thus, get lost in the mesh,left in front of the television then buffed and shined beforeappearing in public. I’m just as guilty for misguidedly bowing tosocial agenda. Attempting to change ourselves seems almostfictional, an insensible joke perhaps, but what if it’s a need…inorder to appreciate our role as parents? And what do we do now?Pray… and probably try our hardest to be parents first and socialfigures afterwards.
Always,Annie
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Badami TrufflesNext Month, Only In MELANZ
www.MelanzOnline.com
Spice it up
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Ingredients2 medium onions, thinlysliced2 cups yogurt1 cup cream6 ounces unsalted butter,softenedSalt to taste1 tsp cumin powder1 tsp ground turmeric1 tsp chili powder2 cloves of garlic, crushed2 tbsp ground almonds6 boneless chicken breasts,skinned, cut into bit sizepieces1/2 tsp saffron, soaked in 2tablespoons milk1 tbsp vegetable oil1 tbsp cornstarch1/4 cup water1 tsp cilantro, chopped
UtensilsLarge casserole dish, mixingspoon, food processor, largepot, serving platter.
Directions1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a largesaucepan over medium high heat. Sautéonion until soft and translucent.2. Place in a food processor with yogurt,cream, butter, salt, turmeric, chili andcumin powder, garlic and almonds.3. Grease bottom of casserole dish withadditional butter; then place the chickenpieces in a single layer in it.4. Pour the paste from the food processorover the chicken and set aside in a coolplace to marinate for 1/2 hour. Preheatan oven to 350F.5. Cover the casserole with a tight fittinglid or a sheet of aluminum foil and placein oven for 30 minutes or until thechicken is cooked and the butter hasrisen to the surface of the sauce.6. Pour contents of casserole dish into alarge pot. Place pot on low heat onstovetop. Add the saffron and mix gently.7. Mix together cornstarch and water,then stir into the sauce. Cook for 5minutes or until thickened.8. Remove from heat and place inserving dish. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoywith Naan or rice!
Makhani (Butter) Chicken
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Nutrition
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411On Underground VegetablesBy Roohe Ahmed, MPH / RD
Lurking underground, amongst dirt and the creepycrawlers are the root vegetables. The abovedescription doesn’t exactly make them sounddesirable, BUT many of the common vegetables we useon a daily basis are actually those grown underground.Here’s the 411 on root vegetables….Although it’s summer time, root vegetables aretypically at their peak in the winter months, thereforethey are mostly used in soups, stews, casseroles—warmdishes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantageof them anytime. What are these root vegetables?Amongst the many they include: rutabagas, turnips,parsnips, beets, carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes, ginger.Some may not sound so familiar, but there are manythat we Desis use on a daily basis, such as garlic, onions,and ginger. Then there are those that we may neverhave used such as rutabagas and parsnips, but whynot give them a try? After all, most root vegetablesconsist of the same general properties such as beingstarchy and thick, therefore providing consistency towhatever you use them in.
BeetsYou can’t miss seeing beets. So brightly colored,that when you boil them, the water is left that brightmagenta. If you have a dish that you feel needs asplash of color, add in beets, or if your table toplooks boring, change it up a little by tossing someboiled or raw beets onto a salad—it will definitelymake your entire meal stand out.
Beets are native across a wide area ranging fromBritain to India. They are especially high in naturalsugar and just by roasting them in the oven; youcan definitely notice an increase in sweetness.Beets contain calcium and anti-oxidants, which helpto fight free radicals, and thereby reduce risk ofcancer, and are also high in fiber.
Nutrition
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CarrotsOur friends, the carrots. Usually the only vegetable thatyoung children will eat, after potatoes (think French fries).Carrots were originally native to Afghanistan but were alsoknown to the Greeks and Romans. In the wild, the carrot’soriginal color is actually white, but is orange in color dueto cultivation by the Dutch in the 1700’s, and was broughthere by the colonists. Carrots are a member of the parsleyfamily and are related to parsnip, celery and fennel.
Carrots are rich in vitamin A and phytochemicals such ascarotenoids. Large carrots have ten times more carotenoidsand vitamin A than the baby ones do, so while the babyones may be cute, you may want to use the large ones attimes; shred them and toss over a salad, rice, soups, or justeat plain.
And as Desis know all too well, it can make a fantasticdessert (Gajar ka Halwa). But watch it—the ghee (oilchurned from butter) is not much of a turn on for ourarteries….
Turnips“Turnips…” Just the name can potentially cause a child (oradult for that matter) to cringe and wonder at the originationof its name. However, turnips have been cultivated for about4,000 years, and have been a staple food for much of thepoor in both Europe and Asia. Today’s cooks may add themto one-pot oven dishes or stir-fries, as well as mash or puréethem for a pleasant change from mashed potatoes.
Turnips, which are part of the mustard family, containvitamin C and phytochemicals, which as we know, help tocombat cancer, heart disease and DNA damage.
Nutrition
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ITS ALL ONLINE >>> www.MelanzOnline.com
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How to select, store, and prep the rootveggies?The above listed root-veggies do not by any means represent the whole variety of root vegetables. Perusingthe produce section, you find just as many vegetables grown underground as those grown above ground.When selecting these vegetables, choose root vegetables that are smooth and firm, with a bright color.The best carrots are young and slender, and large carrots have more flavor than baby ones. Both parsnipsand turnips are preferable young, when they are small and sweeter. Although parsnips are available year-round, their peak months are in fall and winter, after the first frost. Beets are also best selected at this timeof year.
Store carrots in a plastic bag in the vegetable bin of a refrigerator, but try to keep them away from producesuch as apples, which release a gas that can give carrots a bitter taste. Although turnips can be refrigerated,tightly wrapped, for 2 weeks, they do best in a well-ventilated, cool area. Parsnips and beets can also berefrigerated in a plastic bag for up to two weeks.
When you are ready to use these vegetables, of course thoroughly wash them. You need to only rinsecarrots, but older ones should be peeled before cooking. Turnips and parsnips should be washed, trimmedand peeled before using. When beets are ready to be oven roasted, their skins should be left on to avoiddamage to cells and retain the rich color.
While to some these vegetables can be, well, boring, their health benefits and versatility make them greatplayers in the kitchen and on your table top. Right now your grocery cart may be full of all the greatsummer produce (watermelons, mangos, berries, etc…), but try to throw in these root vegetables andexperiment. Bon appetit!
HomeDecor
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In today’s modern world, elements in a room are screaming for design inspiration. Not toolong ago, people sought these inspirations by exploring distant lands and historicalarchitecture. After years of travel and surveillance, people brought back French Countrydesign. This flourishing statement entered the US market as one of the most authentic andappealing ways to uplift the interior of a home.
What Is French Country?
HomeDecor
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When you give-way to renovating,add a personal touch with FrenchCountry design, which suggests thedepiction of rural France: a mix ofcozy nooks and home cookedcreativity. To unmask this rusticstyle, consider the fact that it canfit into almost any room and createa wide array of impressions;whether it’s the barn style look youprefer, to the facade of a grandeurchateau.
Within a French Country layout,you’ll notice the importance ofincorporating natural materials,such as carved wood details, wovenchairs, plastered walls, or naturalstone floors. Before the advance intechnology, the French like manyother European nations createdtheir living space from hand. Butbecause the French were intenselyartistic and swayed by beauty, theywent to lengths to symbolizesplendor in every inch of their livesand homes. The living room’s focuswas almost always the fireplace andis still included in today’smimicking design.
For those who plan on using thedesign elements from FrenchCountry, consider using rusticfurniture such as large harvest styledining tables, carved wood-work,and armoires to encase pottery andlinens. Gathering large groups ofpeople for dinner and work wascommon; therefore large tableswere customary centerpieces nearthe kitchen. In your country retreatinclude accessories that implyhomemade: woven baskets,wrought iron, ceramics, carvedwood tile, and old oil paintings.
French Country soothes the souland can be brought to life in anyhouse you want to call a home.
C o l o r C o r n e rFrench Country Colors Cobalt Blue Deep Russet Reds Brilliant Yellows With a Mix of Natural earth tones and gold
Cover Story
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S C H O O LOn a scale from 1 to 10, one being the worst and ten being the best, you hopethat the experience of sending kids off to school is above a six. It’s an emotionaltug-of-war sometimes, sending children to a place outside of your boundaries,away from sight. But the shear excitement that dances in their eyes makes thetransition to kindergarten, all worth while.
Kindergarten is a wonderful experience and opportunity for children to finallysettle into what’s normally called: reality. It’s the initiation of accessing greaterknowledge, experiencing vast changes, and acquiring multiple responsibilitiesand roles. It’s finally time for them to let go of your finger and walk on theirown, in a new terrain. Yet the process is not always easy for you, the parent, orher, the kindergartener, to move up that first step in the ladder. Parents havenumerous questions about schooling and how to survive the first phase. In thefollowing we’ll try to address some of the most important ones, in reference tothe transition to Kindergarten.
Getting Ready For My First Day Of
By Annie Ghazi
?Cover Story
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HoHoHoHoHow do I mentally and phw do I mentally and phw do I mentally and phw do I mentally and phw do I mentally and physically prepare mysically prepare mysically prepare mysically prepare mysically prepare my child fy child fy child fy child fy child for his for his for his for his for his fiririririrst yst yst yst yst yearearearearearof school?of school?of school?of school?of school?Children are initially aware of the idea of school, but they cannot comprehend the physicalexperience of attending class and fulfilling its obligations. Sudden surprises in the form of routinechange are also very difficult for kids to adjust to. Therefore use the months prior to as practice.Gradually change bedtimes; incorporate a certain time for play and a certain time for study.Structure the day as if the child were already going to school; remind them of the changes thatare developing in a positive light. For instance, discuss with him about his future opportunity tomake new friends and learn new information.
Occasionally give your child a tour of his new school. Have him visit his new class and newteacher. Guide him through the new environment and discuss his new role as a student. This isalso a good time to explain precautionary methods by visiting the nurse’s office, explainingcrosswalks, and who to talk to when he needs help. Allow children to gain an acquaintanceshipwith their teacher, explaining their authoritative significance. Children cannot completely graspthe concept of leaving home and mom until they’ve actually started school, but being informedabout the upcoming changes in his life will generate acceptability to the transition.
It’s the night befIt’s the night befIt’s the night befIt’s the night befIt’s the night before her fore her fore her fore her fore her fiririririrst dast dast dast dast day of kindergary of kindergary of kindergary of kindergary of kindergarttttten. What do I do ten. What do I do ten. What do I do ten. What do I do ten. What do I do to help hero help hero help hero help hero help hersesesesesettle in tttle in tttle in tttle in tttle in tomorromorromorromorromorrooooow?w?w?w?w?Children have a very keen sense of a parent’s emotions, especially stress and anxiety. Though she may findthe minor alterations in schedule insignificant, your reaction or pre-reaction to an upcoming event willconvey the ultimate message of “good” or “bad”. After all, you’ve been her role model this entire time, youare all she knows. So reduce your anxiety first. Don’t reflect your apprehension towards the transitionalphase (school years). As the saying goes, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Well ifyou can’t express a sense of calmness and joy, don’t express the mere opposite either. Too much excitementmay well send your child off to hide under the bed too.Rather, spend this time with her to induce more preparation. Invite her to make her school snack and helppick out a nice outfit. Gather the necessary belongings with her for her special day. Allow your child to feelthat they are going to be accomplishing something, rather than feeling something horrible and frighteninglies ahead.Remind the child of her new schedule and that once she’s in her class, it will be time for you to leave for awhile and for her to spend time with other kids under a different authoritative figure (teacher). Don’t stopthere though, alleviate her stress by informing her that you will return to pick her up and bring her home.Consider adapting a few activities after school ends, such as the following suggests:> Come home, put away things> Wash up, eat lunch> Review what happened at school> Allow play for 1 hour> Return to a form of study (revising what they learned)
In a study done by Wilfried Griebel and Renate Niesel (1999), parents also assumed a change in roleexpectations, once children entered school. “Parents acted as the school’s agents at home. They tried togive a positive representation of school and the teacher at home to keep the children motivated for working.This is considered to be an important way of preparation for transition to school (ibid, 1999).”
Cover Story
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Separation AnxieSeparation AnxieSeparation AnxieSeparation AnxieSeparation Anxietytytytyty. What is it? And does m. What is it? And does m. What is it? And does m. What is it? And does m. What is it? And does my child hay child hay child hay child hay child havvvvve it?e it?e it?e it?e it?It’s the first day of kindergarten, Aisha walks into class with her son Abdullah and all of a suddenhe freezes. Suddenly Aisha’s trying to detach her anxiety-ridden five year old from her leg. Alleveryone can hear is, “I don’t want to stay, please don’t leave me Momma!”
In an utterly heart-wrenching moment such as this, you’re doubtful about his readiness for school. Well, he definitelyis.
Separation anxiety is when a child is in an unknown environment with unknown people and feels very vulnerable.
At this point he knows of only one secure place, and that is with his parent. Though not all children go throughseparation anxiety exactly at this time or in this way, they do cross paths with it, sometime if not many times intheir life. Since this is the most visible reaction and at a most crucial transition period, parents should know: it hasto be addressed.
Is it normal?Is it normal?Is it normal?Is it normal?Is it normal?Most definitely. Anxiety is one of the various ways we as humans cope with experiences outside of our comfortzone and to children who are entering the school years, the only comfort they know is with their parents and mostlikely mom. So entering a new arena without this protective shield will cause great stress for young dependents.
HoHoHoHoHow do I deal with it, especially now do I deal with it, especially now do I deal with it, especially now do I deal with it, especially now do I deal with it, especially now that ww that ww that ww that ww that we’re already at school?e’re already at school?e’re already at school?e’re already at school?e’re already at school?When your child reacts this way, don’t leave him to fight the battle on his own just yet. Remain in the classroomwith him; if necessary allow him to stay in your lap. Gradually the child will observe and explore his newenvironment. He will recognize his peers at play and their interaction with the teacher. Soon he’ll remove himselffrom you (maybe not too far) and begin adjusting on his own. If he’s not playing with others, that’s fine. Once yousee that he’s happily absorbed into an activity (without you), consider discussing your departure with him. If he’sokay with it, relay that his teacher will be his caregiver and that you will return at an allotted time. Removeyourself from the classroom immediately after this. If he refuses to let you go, stay. It may take more than a day orless than an hour, but when he’s ready to say good-bye, abide by it.
A few don’ts: Don’t sneak out! It will break his trust in you and increase the anxiety. Don’t stay, if he’s okay with you leaving! Trust goes both ways. Trust him to
be a bit more independent, even if it’s hard on you. Just as adults, children’s mindsallow a small window of opportunity to take the leap. During this transition, he willround-up a bit of courage and tell you to go, but this courage can dissipate just asfast, closing off this opportunity to be independent. If you stay he may retract to hisdependence and make situations worse.
Cover Story
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What about mWhat about mWhat about mWhat about mWhat about my (the parent) fy (the parent) fy (the parent) fy (the parent) fy (the parent) feelings? I’m stressed, upseeelings? I’m stressed, upseeelings? I’m stressed, upseeelings? I’m stressed, upseeelings? I’m stressed, upset, and anxioust, and anxioust, and anxioust, and anxioust, and anxiousabout all these changes.about all these changes.about all these changes.about all these changes.about all these changes.
It’s Sunday night, you’ve prepared her things, put her to bed, and ran a list of all the things youneed to do tomorrow, yet you can’t help but feel as if your child’s being taken away from you.Then the guilt rides in for not feeling happier about her first day of school. Are you completelyand utterly the worst parent in the world?Absolutely NOT!!!
Feelings of loss of control, loss of intimacy with the child, anxiety about her independence, and anguish overnot knowing what’s happening in her life all the time, are all owed to you. This transitional phase is not only asignificant life-altering event for her, but also a time in your life where you have to learn to let go. And lettinggo of someone who you’ve cared for constantly and watched over protectively, is down right difficult.
Jerry McClelland, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, wrote in her own study of mother’sexperiences when sending children to kindergarten, “I anguished over his entry into kindergarten becausethe state, through the school, began to exert a lot of control over him in contrast to the control my husband andI had been able to assert over his care earlier…. I did not like the fact that the kindergarten teacher’s authoritycould supersede mine under certain conditions (1995).”
Is the wIs the wIs the wIs the wIs the waaaaay I’m fy I’m fy I’m fy I’m fy I’m feeling normal?eeling normal?eeling normal?eeling normal?eeling normal?It couldn’t get more normal than this. As McClelland mentioned above, we give up some of our rights upon ourchildren and allow others to make informed decisions about what they should and shouldn’t know or do. We’vealso been able to protect them from certain negative life experiences that now have an open invitation to bebluntly available and we aren’t there to supervise. All these years you’ve witnessed each moment in herdevelopment and now you won’t be able to experience all her new achievements or help her in every decision.“Children’s independence is scary.” The absence of children is felt immensely, especially for stay-at-homeparents. This feeling is common and should be understood as a way to cope with new changes.
What’s important to also realize is that a parent’s fears and concerns may be attributed to their own childhoodexperiences. For instance, if you had a traumatic injury during your first year of school, you may fear that yourchild is in an unsafe environment and want to protect her from injuries. At large kids fall, get hurt and get overit and may never have to experience a major injury.
HoHoHoHoHow do I reliew do I reliew do I reliew do I reliew do I relievvvvve me me me me my anxiey anxiey anxiey anxiey anxieties and fties and fties and fties and fties and face the face the face the face the face the facts?acts?acts?acts?acts?Allow the unfamiliar to become familiar. Interact with the school and teacher before the school yearbegins. Educate yourself about the rules and regulations within the school. Get involved with yourchild’s education. Attend school activities and work on school projects with her. Know that this separation is a major step in the process of your children growing up. Know that the first day will be hard on you. Visit the class when you feel the need, by dropping by a few minutes before the end of the day. Have consistent dialogue with the teacher about the class and your child. Get ready for change in your own routine. Other than different pick-up and drop-off times, family
life in general will be converted into a stricter atmosphere, busier schedule and require more effort onyour behalf.
Cover Story
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What changes should I be eWhat changes should I be eWhat changes should I be eWhat changes should I be eWhat changes should I be expecting inxpecting inxpecting inxpecting inxpecting inmmmmmy child as the months go by child as the months go by child as the months go by child as the months go by child as the months go by?y?y?y?y?Children usually feel that their experiences of school arevery different from what they initially expected. As wementioned before, children’s idea of school is not specificor concrete. Their vague interpretation of school comesfrom their inexperience to the actual event.
Once in school, children realize they must do certain things,whereas before they were allowed to do things they wantedthemselves, and this change isn’t favored. Children won’tfavor homework as much either, as this ties them toresponsibilities that were nonexistent before.
You may also notice more conflict between yourkindergartener and younger siblings, because the school-aged child feels that younger ones don’t have as manyconstraints as they do, therefore act out of jealousy.Your daughter has now been attending kindergarten forover 5 months. One afternoon, she sits struggling with aproject, when you try to help she pushes you away. You mightthink, “Where is she getting this rude behavior from,” butin fact it’s a sign of independence. Children adapt toexperimenting techniques, independently, at an early age,but during the school-years, developmental tasks are morestructured, requiring the child to think in-depth. Her missionnow is to do the thinking without your help and this isconsiderably a very important strategy for plain ol’ growingup. Your job is this: stand out of the way and permit her thespace she needs. If she doesn’t overcome the obstacle, shewill come to you, provided you are easily accessible.
The answers are… notcookie cut-outs nor are theyuniversal. In any culture,under any circumstance theparent’s ultimate challengeis to be consistent, involved,and willing to live a greaterportion of their life for theirkids and not forthemselves. This is howsuccess will be trulyattained.
LivingWell
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Stress& Emotional Stability
By Sara Ghazi
Stress makes us most vulnerable toacquiring bad habits such as overeat-ing, smoking, and drinking, this is whyit is so adverse to our health. Splurgessuch as these can be the temporaryrelief of stress, but will catch up withyou quickly. Therefore, it is imperativethat we learn to deal with stress andour emotions, and learn to channelthem in the right direction. Manypeople like to think of life as 10%what happens to them, and 90%how they react to it—which bringsabout a very important point thatmany of us fail to realize: we havethe power to control how we feel.Emotions are the product of ourbehavior, thoughts, physiology,and spirituality. Balancingthese aspects of one’s life canlead to emotional stabilityand a stress-free life. Afterall, emotions are ourprimary source of energyand motivation.
LivingWell
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There is no formulaic solution to figuring out one’semotions, but there are steps we can take in orderto channel our emotions in the right direction. Forexample, for some, being stuck in traffic can bethe most frustrating experience ever, but forothers, traffic is quite fascinating, and a wonderof life. Here are a few simple strategies on how tobegin to manage your emotions, and minimizestress:
Identify the Cause:What event provoked this emotion?
What Part of Your Body is Reacting?If you’re feeling pain or discomfortsomewhere, recognize that area and rate theunpleasantness.
What are You Thinking?What thoughts are evoking these feelings?Recall what you were thinking and what leadyou to feel emotional.
Sense Your Spirit:What is most revealed by this emotion? Whatis most hidden? This may help you realize thatyou have low-self esteem or you are tooarrogant.
There are many ways people learn to managetheir emotions and stress, but everyone canuse some tips on how to live a stress-free life…
1. Throw something away everyday:Having more means having more to do.Throwing away old clothes, will save space andwill make your life simpler.
2. Plan ahead:This is a no-brainer, planning ahead (likecalculating how much time it will take you to getto work if you have to get gas and run errandsbefore) will leave time for error, and allot timefor everything you need to do.
3. Learn to say “no”:There are those of us who are too nice, and can’tsay no when someone asks for a favor.Prioritizing your life will help you realizewhether or not you have time to help others.
4. Change how you respond to difficultsituations:Be positive, not negative. Learn to be patientwith others, and channel your negative energyinto positivism.
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“So did you tell your parents?” Ajayasked, completely astounded bythe incident he just heard.“No… no one else knew… untilNadeem told Seema, of course.”“What happened afterwards?”Ajay was impeccably intrigued andcurious.Still distraught from the currentsituation Shiraz stuttered,“Sometimes I feel as if I’m beingfollowed. Maybe it’s just me.”“Did you ever inquire about thatplace again?” Ajay asked.“You know after returning toKarachi, I asked a couple of myfriends from Punjab about thatplace, but no one knows about it.”“So you told them about theincident?”“No way man. Actually I askedthem to go to that gas station to seeif they could find a momentouswatch I left there. To my surprise,one of my friends went and foundno gas station!” Shiraz paused,“This matter is stressing me out alot. I will go to Pakistan forNadeem’s wedding and won’tcome back until this matter isresolved.” The sun settled behindthe buildings, leaving the horizona blushed pink. They were so busytalking that they didn’t realize somuch time had passed by. Shirazstood up and switched on thelights. “Man… its time for prayer,do you want to wait?”“Sure I can wait. Afterwards we’llgo to my place. Mom is saving ussome dinner,” answered Ajay.Shiraz quietly stepped past thekitchen and headed towards thebathroom, to wash up. As the door
WALKINGTHE THIN LINE
EPISODE: 5
By A. Rehman
shut behind his friend, Ajay stoleaway to the nearest corner andflipped open his cell phone in oneswift move. Ajay moved the curtainslightly and scanned the streetbelow, as the he waited forsomeone to answer.“Hi, it’s me. Yes he was there,” Ajayconveyed in a slightly whisperedvoice. “I don’t know if he has it… Ican’t ask him, he’ll get suspicious…Okay, okay, I’ll try.” Ajay slid hisphone back into his pocket andstrolled back to where he wassitting, calmly regrouping hisposture. A few minutes later Shirazcame out of the restroom. Ajayquickly stood up and suggested,“Buddy, why don’t you come by myplace around seven-thirty. I have topick up a few things for mom, soI’ll head out right now.”Taken aback a bit by his suddenchange of plans, Shiraz plainlyanswered, “Okay. See you at 7:30.”
* * *
The street was nearly empty, whena dark stretch limo came into view,pulling to the curb nearside a high-rise apartment complex that hadbeen built fairly recently. Thedriver quickly veered around thecar to the back passenger sidedoor and showed the way to a smallbearded man of medium built. Hislong coat draped around a vestedsuit as he stood confidentlynodding off to his driver, “Thankyou Nawaz. Please come back in anhour or so.” Striding calmly to theentrance, the man allowed thedoorman to let him in. The flush
lighting inside, shone two menadjacent to a long corridor, thatlooked up at the sound of footsteps.“It better be good,” the man saidbarely glancing at the men whorushed to his side.“Thank you, sir, for coming on suchshort notice. Please come with me,”responded the taller of the twodark-suited men. The elevatorpulled itself up to the 67th floor,while the men stood listening to thehumming of soft classical music. Asharp bell sounded, and theelevator doors swung open to alarge, lavishly set, penthouse.
“David, welcome and thank you forcoming over,” remarked a rathertall, overweight man, whose voicesat heavily behind his large mouth.He stood awkwardly near a neatlyset dining table, balancing part ofhis weight on a slender velvet-backed chair. The dim lights hid hisalready sunken eyes, but gave wayto his size by stretching a largeshadow in front of him.“Hello Chaudry. You look tired,”David said as he walked towardshis host. Chaudry waved his handsignaling the two guards to leave.“So what’s the big news, Chaudry?”Chaudry returned his glancetowards his guest, “Please have aseat. There is good news. We foundthe kid. Lucky for us, he’s still inManhattan.” Chaudry pulled achair back across from David andfocused his hands outward to keephis balance while slowly seatinghimself. A young woman walked inswinging a tray and placed itscontents in front of the two men, >>
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“Enjoy.”David’s eyes followed the girl intothe kitchen corridor, and thenshifted towards the linen cloth thatsat atop a gold trimmed plate, “Youdid well, but it took you six months.I’ve waited too long.” Chaudryplaced a tray of finger-foods nearDavid’s hand, before shoving ahandful his own serving of cheesecrisps down his throat. “So does hehave it?” David looked awayannoyed by the man’s grotesquemunching.“Umm, mmm, I don’t know yet,”Chaudry said swallowing the lastof the morsels in his mouth. Hestood up and rolled his fingeraround the room, thoughtfullylooking for something. With anexpression of aha, Chaudry walkedpast the elevator, disappearingbehind a desk. David nibbled abite of his chocolate torte, carefully.He glanced back towards his rightat Chaudry, who strolled towardshim with a file tucked under hisarm.“Here it is,” said Chaudry handingDavid the folder, “The kid’s nameis Shiraz. Shiraz Mir. His father,Jamshaid and mother, Nabila Mir. Ihave their addresses; pictures ofthe family are what you’re lookingat now. All their movements fromthe past 8 years or so.” Davidskimmed through the information,then returned to the photographs.Chaudry breathlessly sat back andtook a large gulp of his coffee, “Thekid is 24 now. No family here. Hisparents are still in Karachi. Hisphone records indicate numerouscalls to a relative of his, Nadeem.”
“Hmm,” David looked up at hisassociate, “Is he keeping it here ordid he leave it in Pakistan?”“David, we just found out it washim. He gave a proper descriptionof the place. I am sure he has it, butI don’t want to scare him off yet. Wedon’t know where it is. Besides, thekid is smart. He has an idea he’sbeing watched.”“We’ve already waited too long forthis. I can’t waste anymore time onthis. I want it, ASAP,” David orderedcoldly.“The situation is delicate. Let mefigure out where he’s hiding it. If hefinds out we’re on his tail, he’llmake it harder for us. He’s planningon going to Karachi soon. Said hewants to resolve the matter now.”“Just get it Chaudry,” David didn’twant to waste another second withthe man. He tilted slightly to pullout his cell phone and told hisdriver it was time to head back.
* * *
It was still some time before he hadto meet Ajay, so Shiraz decided toreturn his mother’s call. Afterreconfirming that things were finewith him Shiraz clarified that hewas overloaded with work and wasstressing out because of it. Afterlong efforts of convincing, Nabilagave her son reprieve.
He still had an hour before dinnerat Ajay’s and decided to meet withGary. Shiraz swung his backpackonto his shoulders as he shut thedoor behind him. Shiraz enjoyedtalking to Gary, since he had an
expanse of knowledge on BusinessLaw, and since he was just a fewblocks down, Shiraz would havejust enough time to sit with him andget back before seven-thirty. Hestood thinking about this near theelevator, when all of a sudden hegot the feeling that someone waswatching him. He looked downeither side of the hallway, but noone was around. “I’m just beingcynical,” he murmured.
An hour later, Shiraz quicklywalked through a small crowd ofpeople towards Ajay’s home. As hereached a hundred feet ahead ofthe crowd he past, that quiveringsense arose in him again, raisingthe hair on his neck. Was someonefollowing him? “I think I’m goingcrazy.”
After dinner, Shiraz remarkedabout the great food and felt moreat ease. Half an hour later hewalked back to his place. The clocknear his bed ticked ten o’clock ashe entered the apartment. It was along day, but Shiraz wasn’t readyto sleep. He dropped his backpacknear the entrance and pulled hisnightstand away from the wall. Withthe tips of his fingers, Shiraz pulledat a piece of the wall that had beenclearly cut out with a sharp object.As he pulled out the rectangulardrywall piece, Shiraz looked intothe small compartment and pulledout a notebook. Shiraz opened thebook to a marked page. At thebottom of a list, he scribbled, “AjayDesai must go.”To be continued....
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Puerto Vallarta– Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity!
Story and Photos by Naeem Randhawa
Somewhere between the take-off from MexicoCity Airport and Aero México flight 603’s touch-down in Puerto Vallarta, there’s a drastic shift inmood and color among the anticipating vacationbound passengers. I’m part of that shift, fromwork and life’s everyday tensions to that welcom-ing immediate sense of freedom, adventure andescape. Isn’t this why we all vacation?
When you choose a vacation, you want to invest inone that is truly rewarding, a destination that leavesyou with something to bring back. After all, you can’tget away as often as you’d like so choose wisely!Puerto Vallarta is one of those smart destinationchoices – for many reasons. It’s been referred to asthe Jewel of the Mexican Riviera, the Technicolorpanoramic sun-drenched beaches being just onereason. Puerto Vallarta doesn’t have the pre-packaged run-of-the-mill vacation treatment thatmany other places often deliver. It doesn’t have youhustling and bustling around schedules for your nextactivity or leave you worrying about whether you’regetting a good deal for your hotel or meal.
What it does have are picturesque sandy beaches,easy-going locals who greet you with a smile, dozensof unique activities from which to choose, some ofthe most sumptuous food you’ve ever had, greatrestaurants and hotels, and plenty of relaxation andserenity!
My taxi arrived at the Casa Magna Marriott PuertoVallarta Resort. On the way to check-in, the walkwayand terraces are lined with lush local flora, aidingthe work-to-play transition. Continuously voted asone of the world’s best resorts every year by trademagazines like Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel andLeisure, the hotel’s reputation is well deserved.
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All the rooms in the beachfront resort provide breath-taking views of the ocean and the majestic SierraMadre Mountains in the distance. Upon arriving in myroom, I put my bags down, opened the doors andstepped out onto my private balcony. You breathe inthe atmosphere of the surroundings – beachgoerswalking the beach, hotel guests dipping in the grandpool below, the fresh air drifting in from the Pacific,vacationers parasailing, local fishermen in thedistance coming into the harbor, a mariachi bandperforming near the beach. The laptop remainedclosed for the rest of the evening!
You can find a variety of restaurants at The CasaMagnaResort with ambiance and a selection of cuisines. Idined at the Mikado that evening. FeaturingTeppanyaki cooking, this restaurant offers Japanese(including sushi), Thai and Chinese dishes. The chefsserve at the table and perform some fancy cutting,dicing and slicing acrobatics while preparing yourfood. Be brave and volunteer and they’ll let you try acouple of moves. The restaurant is a fine diningexperience with contemporary decor, including a wallof colorful hand made origami, a mini indoor gardenand pond.
The others restaurants on the premises include LasCasitas, a poolside grill serving Mexican dishes; LaEstancia, which features a variety of dishes includingsteaks, seafood and Mexican fare; and ChampionsSports Bar, an American sports themed restaurant.With all these choices, you may never have to dine offproperty!
If your will and determination hold out, you can getyour game on in any of the resort’s three lighted tenniscourts, work out in the health club or just relax in thespa and get a full body massage. Also, stop by for thenightly cigar rolling demonstrations by LeopoldoPonce. Having learned the trade from his father, Ponceenjoys sharing the finer details of the technique ofcigar rolling and happily answers questions from thecrowd. I’m kicking myself for not buying more of thosecigars; my supply ran out a whole lot sooner thanexpected!
All the rooms in thebeachfront resort providebreath-taking views of theocean and the majestic SierraMadre Mountains in thedistance.
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Old Town Square- Plaza Principal
Take a ten minute taxi ride to stroll into the old townsquare or Zócalo and go shopping and sightseeingfor the afternoon. Walking through narrow stone-paved streets, you can hunt for deals on clothing,ceramics and other souvenirs. Silver is big here, asin most Mexican destinations but be prepared tohaggle if you’re shopping on the street.
The Plaza Principal with an impressive brick andmortar cathedral and a beautiful restored crown atopits tower is facing the square and at the center of thetown. When I arrived, a local Mexican couple whohad just gotten married was surrounded bycelebrating family and friends and a mariachi band.The crowd spilled into the street, and a shiny yellowCadillac from the 60s waited for the newlyweds. Inthe midst of this quaint setting, I intently tried not tolet the Domino’s across the square ruin the vividmoment!
Local Art
There is a vibrant artist community in the area. Ijoined an art walk hosted by a local artist and galleryowner. We walked along the Malecón or boardwalk,observing and photographing over half a dozenreally elaborate copper sculptures, including bronzedolphins, a leaping humpback whale and some verylarge sculptures that attract many visitors. The localartists use very bright contrasting and vivid colorsin their paintings and you can visit the gallery andbuy some of these paintings and sculptures. Theprices are definitely a bargain considering thequality and amount of work that goes into each piece.
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Activities for Everyone
One of the surprising things about Puerto Vallarta isthe number and variety of activities offered. Planningfor the trip, I researched the Internet but did not findnearly the amount of offerings that are actuallyavailable. Besides the multiple choices of beach andwater activities like parasailing, boating and boattours, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, dolphin andwhale tours, and a “pirate ship” tour, there’s plenty todo on land as well! You can go horseback ridingthrough the jungle and mountains, ATV off road, hitthe links at a championship golf course, visit the oldset from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie Predator, take a treetop canopy tour, and sightsee in nearbytowns.
I decided to grab some goggles, tie on a handkerchief and jump on an ATV to go touring through thejungle! Wild ATV Tours provide all you need to know to handle your bike. They run through the safety drilland make sure you’re set to go.
The exciting ride starts with you following the guide as you curve out of town into the jungle. When youhave more than a dozen ATV’s driving in a line, spitting up dust, you really begin to appreciate thehandkerchief covering your nose and mouth. Although the ride is controlled, you do get to pick up somespeed; I got my need for speed and got my vehicle up to 68 km/hr! Ah— what’s the point of throttle if youain’t gonna use it! In the middle of the ride you arriveat a river and everyone turns off their machines toenjoy the surrounding lush jungle and cold water.
Canopy Tours
Thrill seekers will find plenty to do. I followed up theATV tour with a canopy tour the next day with CanopyTours de Los Veranos. Located south of the beachresorts, this company provides transport by oldmilitary-style, colorfully painted shuttle buses fromdowntown to their base locations. Canopy Tours is thelargest canopy tour company and offers the thrill ofriding zip lines from treetop to treetop through thejungle for any age, whether you’re eight or eighty!
Originally started in Costa Rica, this eco-adventureuses a system of pulleys, tether lines, and treetopplatforms accessed via winding stairs. The activity issafe, and navigation and guidance is provided stepby step by well-trained guides. Along the path, theguides will point out local trees, plants, flowers, andthe abundant birds, providing explanations and the >
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background of each. The tour starts with some babysteps – a couple of short zip lines to build someconfidence and to teach the simple techniques. Onceyou shed your initial fears, you start anticipating morespeed and more incline. A total of 15 cables, with thelongest being 350 meters across, complete the tour.Zipping along at 30 mph over treetops and staring atthe trees, rocks and streams below is a blast you won’tsoon forget. At the end of the tour, the company sellspictures and videos taken of your Tarzan yells and wildride.
How to Get ThereAero México, Mexico’s largest airline, flies into PuertoVallarta via Mexico City from its 17 gateway cities inthe United States. Aero México Vacations offerspersonalized vacation travel packages and works in
conjunction with top-rated hotels, restaurants andtravel providers throughout Mexico. Contact them toreview their package deals for savings to Mexicandestinations.
Puerto Vallarta is a destination that will leaveyou wanting to return again and again. TheCasaMagna Marriott is a family friendly resortinviting you to bring the clan with you onvacation. The ATV and canopy tours willsatisfy your need for an adrenaline rush, andthere are plenty of beautiful beaches andsightseeing and shopping opportunities aswell as the chance to soak up the local culture.Consider Puerto Vallarta, the Jewel of theMexican Riviera, for your next vacation.................................................................................Go to www.MelanzOnline.com For a list of Tour andLodging places.
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Know YourNeighbor
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Palace & Mosque
By Sonia Laflamme & Nikhat QureshiPhotos by Imran Randhawa
Islamic Art From The Victoria &Albert Museum In Fort Worth, TX
“God is Beautiful and lovesBeauty” as narrated by theProphet of Islam (pbuh).
This Hadith (saying of Muhammad,the messenger of God) makes merealize that Muslims have not onlybeen inspired, but have also beenencouraged to integrate beauty intotheir everyday lives. From artisticallydesigned architecture (palaces,mosques, public areas) to everydayitems such as rugs, lanterns,ceramics, jewelry boxes, and more.Art is a cultural and religiousreflection; perhaps the mostaccessible expression of Muslimcivilization. Through the brilliant useof color and the wonderful balancebetween design and form, Islamic artcreates an immediate visual impacton its viewer. This not only invites acloser look but also beckons theviewer to learn more about its origin.
Today, the beauty and legacy ofIslamic art is alive and thriving insuch Middle Eastern countries asTurkey, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, India,Egypt and Morocco. Outside of theMiddle East, the Victoria and AlbertMuseum (V&A) in London has one ofthe most important and renownedIslamic art collections in the world.The V&A is currently undergoingrenovations, so the Kimball ArtMuseum in Fort Worth, Texas wasgranted an extraordinaryopportunity to host the collectionand present this magnificent Islamicart collection to the American public.It is providing an important window
to showcase the history of a religionand a culture that is often in the newsbut still so misunderstood in theWest. The exhibition is organized forviewing in five different sections:
“The Written Word”, is a sectionhighlighting calligraphy in theQur’an (Muslims holy scripture andGod’s Divine Message). The art ofcalligraphy was developed in earlyIslam, and the form has createdbeautiful styles and designs usingArabic scripture. It is considered thenoblest and most distinctive form ofIslamic art because of its associationwith the Qur’an.
The “Courts and Courtiers” sectionof the exhibition introduces art madefor the secular realm of the rulingelite. Islam discourages artists fromproducing figures and animals in art– as this is attributed to being adivine act, so there is not anabundance of this type of art work.Featured in the exhibit are worksfrom two royal courts that flourishedin the 16th and 17th centuries, thecourt of the Ottoman dynasty thatruled in Istanbul, Turkey and theSafavid dynasty in Iran. Due to thedifferences between the twodynasties, their art developed in verydifferent paths. Safavid art oftenshows human and animal figures ontiles and textiles.
The “Mosques, Shrines, andChurches” section presentsbeautifully crafted works created forreligious establishments. A veryimpressive piece of craved work is a
20-foot high pulpit (minbar) made inthe 15th century for a mosque inCairo. Solid wood was in short supplyin Egypt, so this piece was made upof hundreds of carved pieces ofwood, brought together much like ajigsaw puzzle with in-laid pieces ofivory throughout the piece.
Jews and Christians, who arerespected as “peoples of thebook”,under the Ottoman rule werefully integrated into the Islamicsociety. This is reflected in the exhibitwhich shows a bible and challis,crafted by Islamic artists. Christianswere inspired by the beauty ofIslamic art work and commissionedIslamic artists to decorate theirchurches, reflecting the religioustolerance that has characterizedIslamic culture from its beginnings inthe 7th century.
Know YourNeighbor
“Ottoman patronage” section considers the impact of Islamic rulerson artistic style. In the 15th century, the sultan Mehmet invested in theproduction of ceramic ware for his court, which paved the way for a newmaterial, fritware, created by Iznik potters in Turkey. Fritware is whiteceramic made of finely grounded pebbles and sand that resemblesChinese porcelain. It is considered one of the highest achievements ofIslamic art. This decorative Mosque lamp is unique, made especially forThe Sulieman Mosque in Turkey; it is the only one that has survived.Traditionally, the colors used where pale blue and white, from Chineseporcelain, but Iznik potters were innovative and experimenting with newcolors, as can be seen by the red colored glaze on the lamp.
The display of “Artistic Exchange” the final section includes works ofIslamic, European, and Chinese art. The Middle East was at the center ofthe vast international trading system, until the 16th century and so Islamicartists influenced and were influenced by international art.
One such influence was Chinese porcelains which arrived in the MiddleEast in 8th century. In an attempt to reproduce and improve it, Islamic artists developed lusterware, a kind ofpottery with an overglaze finish containing copper and silver or other materials that give the effect ofiridescence. Chinese porcelain was white and decorated with a pale blue floral pattern (pot on left). Thisblue and white vase (pot on right) shows the influence of Chineseporcelain on Islamic art. The Iranian potters recreated the white and bluevase, but painted them with a distinct Iranian floral pattern.
This new lusterware pottery was then traded with Europe whichinfluenced European potters to adopt Middle Eastern styles. Theintermingling of cultures is reflected in other works as well, such as inlaidmetal wares, silk velvets, and ivory and wood carvings.By walking throughthese sections in the exhibition, observing all the magnificent pieces, Iwas filled with inexpressible feelings about the Muslim artists’ innovativeskills in arts and crafts. These artifacts, invite the West, and all of us, toexplore and learn about the Muslim’s glorious past and their acquaintancewith the arts and sciences.
Today, the Islamic world remains a vast land stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with an importantpresence in Europe and America, by using the power of expression through their art Muslim artists againhave a role to play, signifying Islamic purpose, values and identity, and show the world that Muslim artistssketch spiritual strength, and spread it, in attempting to follow the beauty of Allah and by evoking theHadith “God is beautiful and he loves beauty”.
The great treasures of Islamic art of the V&A museum are on display atthe Kimbell Art Museum from April 3 to September 4, 2005. Dr. TimothyPotts, director of the museum, comments, “The refurbishing of the V&A’sIslamic galleries has provided a unique opportunity to bring a broadselection of the museum’s most beautiful and important works to theUnited States. The result is a spectacular panorama of an exotic and stillunderappreciated civilization that has had long –standing artistic andpolitical relations with Europe and the rest of the world, each culturegreatly enriching the other. Individually the works are outstandingmasterpieces; together, there could be no better introduction to thesublime beauty and pervasive spirituality of Islamic art.”
For more information: Kimbell Art Museum Online: www.kimbellart.org
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Big Families… not so big spending wallets… where to begin? Shop successfully: Keep this list of shopping tipswith you as you rummage through the supply aisle.
Back To School
$hopping TipsBy Annie Ghazi
GATHER The List: Teachers handout supply lists before classes begin,via mail or the semester prior to. Gothrough your children’s closetsbefore you settle for what they wantfor the school year. Write downnecessities first and negotiate onamenities second.
MAKE 3 Budgets: Onefor supplies, one forclothes & accessories,and one for unexpectedschool shopping duringthe rest of the year.Don’t back out on theset limit, no matter whatthe kids say.
SHOP After The Season: The bestsummer sales are before summerends. Spread out the clothes spendingthroughout the year. Don’t purchasethe entire year’s stock of clothing andshoes right now. End of winter saleshave the best prices for winterclothes.
EARLY Morning Rush: Isalmost non-existent. Forbasic supplies andnecessities, kids don’tnecessarily have to go withyou. Purchase these itemswhile people are still atwork and stores are stillorganized.
PURCHASE DurableClothing: Attire that islong-lasting will align verywell with the familybudget. Don’t save a buckif you know it will bereplaced in a month, butdon’t spend the extra buckif you’re just getting it forthe fad and it’ll fade out ina week.
GREEN Means Business: Usecash rather than credit and debitcards. The numbers add up andyou’ll lose track of your budget.Plus, kids will see the moneygoing from your hand or theirsand spend wisely. In the end youwon’t owe anyone an extra centand still have money in the bankfor other occasional spending.Put away actual cash for theyearly spending budget as wellto avoid depending on the nextpaycheck for last minutepurchases.
STAY For Hours Not AnEntire Day: Spend a fewhours shopping ratherthan leaving at dawn andreturning way after dusk.Exhaustion can lead toexcessive spending andworthless products. Andyou still won’t haveeverything marked off onyour checklist!
ONE For All And All ForOne: Combine the use ofclothes and accessories forkids. Purchase items thatchildren can share, ratherthan buying duplicate pairsof items that can bealternated.
FinanceABC
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80Summer BusinessIdeas For Kids
By Christian Erickson, Biz4kids.com
Summertime blues? Thinking ofwhat you should do during the hotmonths? A summer business is agreat idea! If you think the onlybusinesses for kids are baby-sittingand lawn care, think again. Biz4Kidshas put together the “Biz4Kids 80List” of youth business ideas. Someare pretty typical and some arerather unique. Finding a businessthat will suit your needs and turn aprofit is the first step.
What makes a youth business agreat business? Obviously, differentpeople will give different answers.It's impossible to account foreveryone's interests and personal-ity traits -- including bad habits --and how they might fit into a par-ticular business. What makes agreat business opportunity is mucheasier to gauge. How much do youget paid? How much fun and inter-est will the business provide? Whatkind of skills and tools do you need?
How much you get paid is deter-mined by need. How much dopeople in your market need whatyou have to provide? If you are con-sidering selling birdfeeders orcleaning up dog mess, determinethe level of “need.” Do people wantbirdfeeders? How many peoplekeep yard dogs? Conducting mar-ket research will help you deter-mine if your business idea willmake money in your market and thenumber of potential customers.
You must also consider what you
want to do. What will you enjoy doing? How often will you do it? If an-swering these questions is tough,consider what you really don’t wantto do. Most often the businesses thata youth can start and run centeraround activities that adults do notwant to do, which is why they arewilling to pay you. It might bemessy such as a washing trashcansor it might be monotonous likepainting a fence. Your work is a re-flection of who you are and if youare unhappy it will show. Happybusiness owners are the most suc-cessful.
As you discover the market needand your level of interest, you’ll alsoneed to determine if any specialskills or tools are needed for thisbusiness. Create a start-up budgetand determine how much money itwill cost to get the business started.Where will you get the money?
Answering these questions is onlythe first step in starting a business.Starting with a creative process cer-tainly helps and using the “Biz4Kids80 List” might help. Don’t be boredthis summer…have fun and makemoney!
When considering abusiness…
Answer the question: Whydo I want to do THIS as abusiness?Remember that you must set goals
and reach those goals. Doingsomething you enjoy will certainlyhelp you in that quest.
Put together a plan onpaper.It can be as detailed or as vague asyou wish but the important part isgetting this plan on paper. Whenyou write things down, good thingshappen.
Determine how you willmake a profit.Consider the cost to start the busi-ness. Then set prices, stick to thoseprices and collect the money owedto you.
Provide outstanding cus-tomer service.Sounds obvious but too often busi-nesses forget this concept and losebusiness as a result.
Find a mentor to help youalong the way.This can be tougher than it soundsbut finding an older, more experi-enced person to guide you is veryvaluable. It can be a parent, acousin, a Scout Master, anyone butmake sure this person understandsyour goals and reason for startinga business.
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Biz4Kids.com 80 Business Ideas ForKids on next page.
If you think theonly businesses for
kids are baby-sittingand lawn care,
think again.
8 0 S U M M E R B U S I N E S S I D E A S B Y BIZ4KIDS.COM
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1. After-the-Storm Cleanup Service2. Arts & Craft Sales3. Auto Detailing - wax and all4. Be a Mother's Helper5. Be a Party Clown6. Bicycle Courier Service7. Bicycle Repair Service8. Car Washing9. Carry Trash cans / Recycling bins to - from curb10. Clean Patio Furniture11. Coat Check Service at parties12. Collect Mail and Paper for people on Vacation13. Create and Sell Address Labels14. Create and Sell Personal Stationary15.Create and Sell Stepping Stones for Yards16. Create Neighborhood Cook Book with Neighbors’Favorite Recipes17. Create Neighborhood Coupon Book18. Decorate and Sell Coffee Mugs19. Decorate and Sell Picture Frames20. Design and Sell Mouse Pads21. Design, Create & Sell T-Shirts22. Disc Jockey for a party23. Document / Junk Mail Paper Shredder24. Dog Mess Cleanup25. Entertainment for Kids Parties26. Face Painting27. Fence Painting28. Garage Sales Assistant29. Genealogy Researcher30. Grocery Store Shopping Assistant31. Holiday Decorator Assistant32. Host a neighborhood kids flea market33. Housekeeper/Cook for Elderly34. House-Plant Watering and Care35. Lawn Care36. Lemonade Stand Owner / Operator37. Mailbox Design38. Maintain Bird Feeders39. Maintain Cemetery Plots40. Make and Sell Candles41. Make and Sell Gift Baskets42. Make and Sell Gift Wrap43. Make and Sell Greeting Cards44. Make and Sell Jewelry45. Make and Sell Scented Soaps46. Make Family Calendars47. Make Stress Relievers48. Make Yard Signs49. Mall Shopping Assistant50. Neighborhood Yard Sale Coordinator51. Organize Garage52. Package and Sell Compost / Manure53. Paint Addresses on Curbs
54. Paint, Decorate and Sell Indoor Flower Pots55. Paper Delivery56. Personal Computer Training57. Pet Sitting58. Pet Walking59. Photographer60. Pick Up and Delivery Service61. Picking Up Sticks & Pine Cones62. Pool Maintenance63. Provide Dance Lessons64. Publish a Neighborhood Newsletter65. Rake Leaves66. Recharge Batteries67. Research & Pricing Service - finding the best deal68. Run Day Camps69. Selling Bird Houses70. Selling Things on Ebay71. Sidewalk and Driveway Sweeping72. Store Front Cleaning73. Swimming Lessons74. Tutoring Service75. Typist76. Vending Machine Owner / Operator77. Video Taping78. Window Washing79. Wrapping Gifts80. Write a Neighborhood Phone Directory
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