Ask Bonnie

For children with food allergies,classroom birthday celebrations can be an isolating and even dangerous event when the classroom is contaminated with allergenic foods or when an impulsive child is tempted to sneak a bite of a food that could harm him or her.

However, there are many fun and healthy ways to celebrate that don’t involve food.

1 Polaroid picture with class
2 BD child is the Line leader for the day & gets to wear a special hat or crown
3 Decorate one table in cafeteria -once a month all bd kids get to eat there
4 Special birthday seat–bd child gets to sit by the teacher for the day or close to a friend
5 Teacher/Parent buys autograph book and each student & teacher writes something nice about the child.
6 Bubbles (outside?)
7 Extra recess
8 No homework for the day
9 Lunch with teacher or parent
11 Treasure chest full of trinkets for kids to pick
12 Birthday child brings in a wrapped gift to share with the class (game/activity)
At the end of the school year it can either be donated to the classroom or the birthday child can take it home.
13 Fish bowl of teacher prizes (no homework, extra recess, playtime in the morning or afternoon, freeze dancing) Birthday child gets to pick from the fish bowl.
14 Child brings safe pet or plant for the classroom.
15 Piñata filled with trinkets rather than candy
16 Gel pens
17 Whistles
18 Postcards (local ones/zoo/museum etc)
19 Mini address books
20 Containers (fancy boxes, bags, baskets)
21 Magnets
22 Wooden building sets ($1 ea at Michaels Craft stores often on sale for 40% off)
23 Decks of cards (2 or 4 for $1 at the Dollar stores)
24 Chalk
25 Stickers/Tattoos
26 Treasure Hunt around the classroom as an activity.
27 Post-it notes (little kids love these)
28 Mini picture frames (cardboard is fine!)
29 Band aids (latex free) Kids love the girly and superhero type.
30 Play doh (less than 50 cents each for name brand)
31 Show & Tell for Birthday Child -share favorite things or baby pictures.
32 Birthday child donates book or musical instrument to classroom
33 Parent/Grandparent comes in to read a book or play games with children

source: Gina Clowes

Ask a group of guys what turns them on about a woman, and you’ll sometimes get the predictable answers: full lips, full bosom, full booty.

These are a few quick-and-dirty biological imperatives that will turn many a man’s head. But a lot of women fulfill those requirements already. So what makes certain women boy magnets, and leaves others spending Saturday nights watching Saturday Night Live skits?

As always, men are more complicated than a lot of people give them credit for, and when it comes to turn-ons, the masculine gender has plenty of surprises up their metaphorical sleeve. Here, some of the ways to effectively rev the masculine engine:

1. Standing Tall

Don’t get me wrong: it’s not that we want a woman who can balance a beer tray on her head. It’s what good posture says about her. A woman who stands tall typically a) dresses well, b) exercises often, and c) is confident about her body and what it’s good for. And if she’s proud of her figure no matter what shape or size, that makes men take notice, as well.

2. True Grit

Men know that women cry. Men know that women can get hurt. Men want to be there to help whenever they do. But there’s something insanely attractive about women who can bite their lips, buck up, and grit out some of life’s twists, turns, sprains, and pains.

Note: Before you throw e-daggers my way, I’m not suggesting that it’s not OK to cry or that women shouldn’t seek proper attention when they’re in pain, either physically or emotionally. (Nor am I saying that lots of men don’t need to heed this advice as well.) I’m simply saying we’re often drawn to partners who can walk off life’s minor insults.

3. Baseball Caps

When we were growing up, we used them to show our team allegiances. In college, we used them to hide bed head. Past the age of 30, we mainly wear them to cover our bald spots. But no matter what team we root for, we like a baseball cap the most when it’s worn by a woman. The look sends all kinds of messages about the kind of woman she is: sporty, strong, comfortable kicking back, Sox fan. (All the better if it’s a Cubs hat - she’s an optimist with a great sense of humor.)

4. Software Savvy

Maybe it’s a giant sexual metaphor, but women like men who know hardware, and men like women who know software. Show a guy a woman who knows her way around systems, networks, and connections, and he’ll be dazzled by her smarts - and appreciate her talents.

There’s something sexy about a woman who can click a few buttons and get something working exactly the way she wants it to. (That is, as long as the buttons she pushes aren’t his.)

5. Sexy Shampoo

Men typically are stereotyped as needing visual cues to feel attraction. While it’s true that men need their share of eye candy, they also are mightily turned on by the olfactory sweets, as well. Perfume and body lotion are nice and all, but the smell of her freshly washed hair that’s nestled up under the chin on a Sunday morning is a reminder of all that’s good about relationships.

6. Understated Underwear

Slinky and small lingerie works for anniversaries, birthday surprises, honeymoons, and other seduce-me moments. But the look that makes men feel both comfortable and excited is when she’s wearing boxers (waistband rolled) and a thin-as-can-be T-shirt that’s neither too tight nor too big. Call it supreme sexiness in the understated. The same effect can be achieved by wearing his old dress shirt and a pair of panties.

7. Dirt and Sweat

Of course, men like to see their women dolled up for a night out. But many men appreciate the exact opposite: The woman who hikes, bikes, mows the lawn, hacks trees and branches, and otherwise pulls her weight. Seeing the dirt, mud, sweat, and occasional road rash is something that stokes our primal side.

8. A Few “Duh” Moments

Men like smart women (see “software savvy,” above). But there’s a small part of a man’s brain that wants her to have an occasional dollop of ditziness. Why? Because if she can show that she may not know everything, it reinforces something deep inside a man that he’s needed, that he’s trusted, that he can be there to help.

And it says that when we screw up on occasion (and we will, oh yes, we will), she’ll understand. Hypercompetence is something we just can’t compete with. And ultimately, this game isn’t about competition, it’s about crossing the finish line together.

by David Zinczenko

Vermont Nut Free Chocolate Company was founded by the mother of a little boy with a peanut allergy. Our entire selection is completely safe for those with any tree nut or peanut allergy but can also be enjoyed by anyone who loves fine chocolates.

We are committed to providing you with quality chocolates that are safe for those with any nut or peanut allergy. Our gourmet chocolate truffles, fruit creams, mint creams, caramels, raisin clusters, chocolate bars and novelty items are made in small batches the old fashioned way from the finest nut free ingredients.

All of our centers are hand made from scratch in our own nut free facility and then individually dipped into premium chocolate before being hand packed and shipped fresh to you.

For the convenience of those who are concerned about other food allergies, we would be pleased to provide a complete list of ingredients used in production upon request. Please note that we do make some products that contain eggs and/or dairy products in our facility on shared production equipment.

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates has complete wholesale programs available for retailers. We also offer wedding, Christening and other special events favor packages with or without personalized packaging. Please contact us regarding your special event and let us help you to make it even more special.

When visiting Vermont, be sure to add our factory store and gift shop as one of your destinations. We are located in the Islands Industrial Park in Grand Isle, VT on U.S. Route 2 in the Lake Champlain Islands. Click here for driving directions to our store.

We are always working on new products and flavors to add to our line. We would love to hear your comments about our products and also any suggestions on items or flavors that you would like to see made available.

We believe that you will find our chocolates to be among the best tasting that you have ever experienced.

10 Island Circle
Grand Isle, VT 05458
1-888-468-8373
Phone/Fax: 802-372-4654

www.vermontnutfree.com

• Food allergy occurs in 6 percent to 8 percent of children under the age of 4 and in 4 percent of adults. The risk is greatest for a child born to parents who are both allergic.

• Peanuts and nuts that grow on trees cause most cases of severe food allergy reactions.

• Proteins in peanuts and a few other foods can produce an abnormal immune response in susceptible people. The person generates an antibody that stands ready to interact on the molecular level with the specific protein. When it is present in the body, cells are activated in sites such as the nose, throat, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract. The cells release chemicals such as histamine that cause the reaction.

• Reactions to food substances trigger roughly 30,000 episodes annually of anaphylaxis, a condition that can include itching, fainting and even death.