Articles written by Mary Grundy

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About me - Mary Grundy

I was born in Canada and raised for the most part in the Northwest Territories. Four years ago my kids, my partner and I moved to Scotland. The people are lovely, but if I hear "Ach, but it's a dry cold," one more time...
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Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: What my garden taught me - the hard way: 2 of 88
I purchased my first home in the middle of February 1995 in northern Canada. As you would expect the yard was buried under several feet of snow. I didn't really begin to consider the gardening possibilities or the toil that lay under the white stuff, until sometime in late April as it began to recede with the spring sun and r... More..
Education > Adult Education Adult students: Tips for organizing your time: 1 of 25
I have been both an adult student and a teacher of adults. As part of my teaching schedule, I used to run a course in personal life management. I learned as much as I taught in those sessions. Perhaps the biggest lesson for me and for my students was in effective, thoughtful time management.Something I modeled for my class wa... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values How to become a better person: 12 of 192
My partner often says he wishes he'd known me when I was younger. I tell him that he wouldn't have liked me very much. Looking back at the person I was, I can honestly say that I wasn't a bad person, just not the woman he knows and loves so much.With no hint of arrogance, I can declare myself a better person than I was in my ... More..
Relationships & Family > Romance & Sexuality The sex appeal of bald men: 1 of 14
A bald man holds both universal and individual appeal to a woman who is not prejudiced against his follicular challenges. Confidence is the key to sex appeal, and a man who has no hair to hide behind must be confident in showing himself to the world.On a subconscious level, facial symmetry appeals to us, even when any differe... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Problems Parents Face What to do if your child isn't doing well in school: 1 of 11
Most teachers will say that the biggest contributing factor to school success is parental involvement. This is not an abdication of responsibility, but an acknowledgment that even outstanding teaching is no substitute for positive parenting. As long as you are committed to forming a team consisting of you, your child, and his... More..
Home & Garden > Home Interior How to avoid clutter in your house: 4 of 41
Before you begin, make sure you have a clear idea of what clutter is annoying you most. My personal clutter bug is paper, but books lying on tables I can live with. Decide what you need to sort out specifically, rather than looking at "all this clutter" and getting overwhelmed in the starter's blocks. These suggestions will h... More..
Personal Finance > Mortgages & Home Loans Advantages of prepaying your mortgage: 2 of 13
Most lenders will allow customers to prepay mortgages in some form without penalty. Savvy borrowers will take advantage of these options and save themselves thousands without having to try too hard.For example, taking a bi-weekly payment option alone can drastically reduce the term of a mortgage. Without making any other prep... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt Overcoming post-holiday debt: 2 of 12
Post-holiday debt is a daunting and terribly common mountain many of us will face this year. It is true that avoiding debt is the best way to deal with debt, but too many will be past the point where that advice will be useful. If you are already facing the New Year with financial trepidation, you aren't alone, but you don't ... More..
Travel > United Kingdom A local's guide to Edinburgh, Scotland: 1 of 6
Ask any Edinburgh local to recommend a good pub, restaurant, or cinema, and he will happily tell you all the top spots within a half-mile radius of his front door. Edinburgh is a city of small communities within a large municipal boundary, and most of our residents identify strongly with neighbourhoods first, the city second.... More..
Education > Homework & Testing Assessing the trend toward increasing parent involvement in homework: 4 of 23
I am both a teacher and a parent. My stance on homework has always been a bit of a trend bucker. Homework shouldn't cause undue stress on children and parents who are already overloaded, but sadly, it often does. Teachers are under pressure to complete ever expanding curricula and parents are under pressure to help their chil... More..