Ask Bonnie

Shown Above: progression of dragging pants, pants shortened with zakkerz, and pants with high heels

What is a zakkerz?
zakkerz (n.) a temporary pant roll-up wrap used to hold pants that have been rolled up to a shorter length for flat shoes.

zakkerz come in two lengths:
zakkerz original — magnets close on the roll-up.
Best suited for lightweight flimsy fabrics that need extra hold on the roll-up.

zakkerz long — magnets close above the roll-up holding single pant layer.
For medium to heavyweight fabrics, jeans, and Capri roll-ups.

Who needs zakkerz?
Our clothes are an investment.

If you have pants that have been hemmed for high heels but want to wear them with flat shoes or sneakers, then you need zakkerz.

If you would like to be able to go walking during your lunch break, then you need zakkerz.

If you are tired of dragging your pants through rain puddles and snow, then you need zakkerz.

What are zakkerz made of?
zakkerz are flexible fabric strips that contain specially designed strong magnets.

A set includes 4 zakkerz – use 2 per pant leg.

How do zakkerz work?
Roll pant leg up to desired length, then wrap zakkerz around bottom of pant with one end of zakkerz inside pant leg and other end outside pant leg. The magnets bring the two ends of the zakkerz together – holding the roll-up in place.

zakkerz will hold your rolled pant legs in place when you need to temporarily shorten them without damaging your pants in any way!

www.zakkerz.com

Dos and don’ts for raising a confident kid.

A positive sense of self is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. Children with high self-esteem feel loved and competent and develop into happy, productive people. To help build your child’s positive self-image as he grows, consider these dos and don’ts.

Do give children choices. Giving children choices — within a reasonable set of options preselected by you — makes them feel empowered. For example, at breakfast you might offer your child the option of eggs or pancakes. Learning to make simple choices while he’s young will help prepare your child for the more difficult choices he’ll face as he grows.

Don’t do everything for her. Be patient and let her work things out for herself. For example, it may be faster and easier to dress your preschooler, but letting her do it herself helps her learn new skills. The more she meets new challenges, the more competent and confident she’ll feel.

Do let him know no one is perfect. And explain that no one expects him to be. The way you react to your child’s mistakes and disappointments colors the way he will react.

Don’t gush or offer insincere praise. Kids are masters at detecting insincere praise or baseless compliments. Praise your child often, but be specific in your compliments so your words don’t ring hollow. For instance, instead of reacting to your child’s latest drawing with, “Wow, that’s great. You’re the best artist in the world,” try something like, “I really like how you drew the whole family. You even included details like Daddy’s beard.”

Do assign age-appropriate household chores. Give children responsibility for tasks such as setting the table, walking the dog, and folding laundry. They’ll increase their feelings of competency and bolster their problem-solving skills.

Don’t draw comparisons between your children. Instead, appreciate each one’s individuality and special gifts.

Don’t call children names or use sarcasm to make a point. Never belittle your child’s feelings. When you get angry take a short break so you don’t say anything you’ll regret. And keep in mind, you can dislike a child’s actions without disliking the child. Be sure to illustrate the difference to your child.

Do spend one-on-one time with your child. Whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat or taking a bike ride, try to schedule some alone time with your child at least once a week. This is a great opportunity to talk about what’s on her mind and to cement the bond the two of you share.

source:Kristen Finello

Once those lazy days of summer arrive and the schedule is packed with swimming, camp, and family vacations, it can be a challenge to find time for learning. But you don’t have to let your child’s reading skills grow cold once school’s out. There are plenty of ways to make reading a natural part of your summer fun!

Explore the library. Visit your local library to check out books and magazines that your child hasn’t seen before. Many libraries have summer reading programs, book clubs, and reading contests for even the youngest borrowers. With a new library card, your child will feel extra grown up checking out books.

Read on the road. If you’re going on a long car trip, make sure the back seat is stocked with favorite reads. When you’re not at the wheel, read the books aloud. Get some audiobooks (many libraries have large selections) and listen to them together during drive time.

Make your own books. Ask kids what they like best about summer – maybe it’s baseball, ice cream, or the pool. Then have them draw pictures of it or cut out pictures from magazines and catalogs. Help them paste the pictures onto paper to make a booklet and write corresponding text. When you’re done, read the book together. Keep it on the bookshelf and reread it when you need to fend off the cold-weather blahs!

Keep in touch. You don’t have to go away to write about summer vacation. Even kids who are staying close to home can pick out postcards and use them to tell friends and relatives about summer adventures. Ask a relative to be your child’s pen pal and encourage them to write to each other regularly.

Keep up the reading rituals. Even if everything else changes during the summer, keep up your child’s reading routines. Read together every day – whether it’s just before bedtime or under a shady tree on a lazy afternoon. And everybody loves to read at the beach. Just brush the sand off the pages. It’s no sweat!

People who are enchanted with your home the moment they walk in are most likely to buy the home, and at a fair price.

Here are some tips to help maximize the appearance of your home:

* Turn on the lights to create a warm glow and remove the shadows.
* Make sure the windows are clean and open the curtains or blinds.
* Keep the kitchen and baths clean and sparkling. Don’t leave dishes in the sink.
* Remove all clutter, make the beds, and pick up toys.
* Pack away items that may detract from a buyer’s ability to mentally move into your
home such as family pictures or teen posters.
* Make the closets look bigger by packing up the clothes you are not using.
* Create a relaxing atmosphere with soft music.
* Make people feel at home with homey scents such as freshly baked cookies or bread
or good potpourri.
* Check for pet odors and keep pets safely out of the way when your house is being
shown.
* Clean out your basement and garage and neatly stack boxes you have stored there.
* Add charm and appeal with fresh flowers and plants.

Set the stage to show your home to its best advantage.

Written by: Amy Givoni
(561)361-8555