Articles written by Lauri Jean Crowe

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About me - Lauri Jean Crowe

Lauri Jean Crowe is a single-mother of two boys living in Michigan. She spends her time parenting, gardening, writing and creating works of art. Her freelance writing can be found peppered across the web on such varied topics as herbalism, gardening, traditional

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Hobbies & Games > Board Games Finding board games for the whole family: 1 of 26
With family members of different ages and interests, creating a family game night can be a real challenge. Every families choice of games will be unique, so rather than recommend games our family enjoys, I will help you learn how to play the game. To avoid pitfalls, setting a few guidelines at the start can be helpful:SET ASI... More..
Personal Finance > Investing Basics How to teach your children about making investments: 2 of 23
The key to teaching your children about making investments is to teach them wisdom - unfortunately, that's something that have to learn for themselves, but you can teach them to save. By establishing a savings account from an early age, you are helping teach your child about the value of money. You can start an UGMA account (... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Culture & Community The possible link between video game violence and children's behavior: 4 of 41
As a mother of two boys, I've seriously looked into the link between video game violence and the behavior of children. What I've found is that the "experts" pretty much think it's a crap shoot and that the act of playing the games alone is not the main issue at hand. Parents who sit with their children while they p... More..
Food & Drink > Cocktails Drink recipes: Gimlet: 1 of 9
What is a Gimlet? Traditionally speaking a gimlet is a tart, yet sweet, alcoholic concoction created of the clear spirit gin and lime juice. A Gimlet at its most basic contains only these two ingredients. However, over the years many variations have evolved from the Vodka Gimlet to the Fuzzy Gimlet and even the Tequila Gimlet... More..
Education > Homeschooling Top 10 things homeschooled children and parents get to do while everyone else is in school: 5 of 41
I homeschool my children. Why? All the perks that lead to a better overall development for my kids: 1. Family Relationships - if your kids attend traditional insitutionalized school they are away from home for anywhere from 6-8 hours of the day where they are surrounded by people who are not their family. Although external r... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Teen Challenges Deciding when your teen should get a credit card: 2 of 14
As a parent, for me to give my teen a credit card, the following would have to occur. As a teen is still under my roof and should not have the type of expenses one might need a credit card for (which is non-perishable items) - so the credit card would be for emergencies only, unless the teen is very, very financially fit. ST... More..
Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) Guide to buying antique furniture: 1 of 6
If you are seeking to update your decor by looking into the past, nothing beat antique marts and vintage furniture. However, it's easy to get swindled in the antique buyers market, so first you need to do a little research to get the most bang for your buck. What's Your Style and Era? Know the look you are trying to capture... More..
Education > Homeschooling Strategies for homeschooling children of different ages: 2 of 11
Homeschooling children of different ages can be a snap if you remember your resources, and build on them. Parents new to homeschooling often forget their largest resource is their older children. Having already learned what their younger siblings need to know, they can contribute to the teaching of the younger students as men... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Environment (Other) What is more important: Alternative fuels or affordable food?: 3 of 16
Are alternative fuels or affordable food more important? It's simple. This is not a question of financial cost, although money does always end up being the bottom line for businesses. It is also not a question of who is standing on the soap box at any given minute. This is a question of sustainability and stepping up to take ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Board Games What to consider in choosing quality board games: 1 of 5
In order to find quality board games you need to look for three important elements to the game: playability, durability and aesthetics. PLAYABILITY Playability entails how entertaining the game is. Things to consider are whether the board game will hold interest for multiple age ranges. Does it have different possible outcome... More..