Organize Big Tape Rolls With Twine and a Carabiner

QUICK TIP:  Use a carabiner and some twine to keep your big tape rolls organized.

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Dad: YOU Can Keep Your Teen From Smoking

Everyone says establish your relationship with the kids when they're little if you want to have an easier time managing them when they're older, right?

Well here's a new study from England's Cardiff University School of Medicine that documents an example.

According to this three year study, it was their father's influence (or lack thereof), more than any other factor, that tipped the scales toward smoking or non-smoking for teenagers.

Communicative Fathers Help Reduce Teenage Smoking...

It's Cinnamon Toast Time!

Cinnamon sugar sprinkled on toast is a fantastic way to sugar-up the kids' morning (yours too)!

All you need is refined sugar and loads of cinnamon.

Place the sugar in your container.  Dump in a lot of cinnamon - really - you'll need quite a bit, but don't go totally overboard because too much and it'll taste too "spicy". 

Use a small whisk or spoon to stir the b'jesus out of it.

Add the concoction to buttered toast.  The cinnamon/sugar will absorb the butter and turn dark. 

The cinnamon/sugar/butter blend will also stiffen the toast a bit and make it easier to use your cookie cutter.

Yum!

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Dad Is Primarily Responsible For Child's Confidence Building Exploratory Behavior

Here's a new study from the University of Montreal that examines 'activation theory' as a complement to the well known 'attachment theory'.

Activation theory examines parental influence on a child's exploratory behavior and defines an optimally stimulated child as one that is exploratory yet respective of rules.  According to the theory, optimally stimulated children are more self confident.

The author of the study suggests that fathers are largely responsible for activating a child's exploratory behavior while mothers are usually greater contributors to a child's feeling of attachment and that both of these phenomenon complement one another in a well developed child.