Articles written by Roberta Velyn - Page 3

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About me - Roberta Velyn

I identify first and foremost as a mother of three married to a father of three. We each have a child living abroad, so hope to do some traveling in the next few years.

I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan (Canada) and attended a one-room school through grade

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Family stories and memories: 37 of 204
I had invited my parents and my brothers and sisters to celebrate my daughter's birthday on a blustery Sunday afternoon. The house was small, but it was too nasty to be outside, so there were about a dozen of us crowded into the living/dining room and several conversations were going on simultaneously in close quarters. I he... More..
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) Affordable birthday party ideas for young children: 4 of 22
This isn't a list of affordable birthday party ideas. It's the story of the most memorable children's party I've ever experienced, and since it was really inexpensive, maybe it will spark an idea for you. When my children were in elementary school it was school policy that if birthday invitations were to be distributed at sc... More..
Home & Garden > Home Interior Feng shui tips for the bedroom: 3 of 15
The ancient Oriental art of Feng Shui can be used to create a space "that reflects your own values and aesthetics, that supports your personal ambitions, or that simply reminds you of your dreams." (Feng Shui Revealed by R. D. Chin, page 2) How appropriate for the bedroom! Bed Location & Ch'i Chin tells us that "major pi... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Real estate marketing tips: 2 of 10
Whether you're listing your property with a real estate agent or trying to sell it yourself, the first step in marketing is to prepare the property for viewing. Your preparation should include repairs and touch-ups that make the property look its best, inside and out. 1. CURB APPEAL: First impressions can cause a prospective... More..
Business > Project Management How to motivate your project team: 1 of 5
Motivation can make a mediocre group shine. As project manager, it's your job to bring out the best in the people you're leading. Assume that your group has the necessary skills (or can acquire them) to do an exemplary job, and set your sights on glory. You can make this a productive team where everyone gladly shifts other r... More..
Home & Garden > Cleaning (Other) How to clean a shower curtain: 1 of 5
It's a shower curtain, right? If it can't be machine washed it doesn't belong in my bathroom! Most shower curtains (even the cheapest vinyl liners) can be washed with your regular laundry and will come out looking like new, at least a few times. Just think of your shower curtain as another piece of laundry. If it's lightweig... More..
Relationships & Family > Divorce Psychology Questions to ask yourself when you are considering divorce: 5 of 24
"Oh, dear, what am I doing?" That was the question I asked myself as I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror from the back seat of my parents' car on the way to my wedding. It was a question I should have asked months earlier, before the invitations were sent out. It's a question I asked myself many more times durin... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) Tips for supporting your parent in the loss of a spouse: 2 of 9
Dad passed away in the fall, just a few days after suffering what the doctors called a catastrophic stroke. He was unconscious from the time of the stroke until he took his last breath in hospital the day after we agreed to have all life support removed. Mom was stoic throughout, leaving the hospital only to shop for somethi... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Developmental Stages Countdown to no more diapers: Best potty training tips: 10 of 42
Potty training doesn't have to take weeks or months; it can be done in an evening. Don't believe it? Let me tell you how. At some point a toddler begins to show an interest in toileting. The timing varies considerably from one child to another, but the signs are the same whatever the age. The child who's ready to give up dia... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Video game reviews: Farm Town on Facebook: 1 of 4
It begins with an invitation from a Facebook friend to accept a Farm Town gift and send one back to help out your friend. Why not? You click on the request and find that you must register for the game in order to complete the request. Simple enough: answer a few easy questions and you're in the game. You select hair color an... More..