Go&Explore: New border rules take effect

Quick reminder: If you're traveling to Canada or any other by-land or by-sea ports of entry to the United States, alone or with the kids, starting today, you'll need to carry more paperwork to get over the border. Here's the lowdown:

--Ages 19 and up: Carry a birth certificate and photo ID, like a state-issued driver's license.

--Ages 18 and under: Carry a birth certificate.

For a complete list of acceptable travel papers, visit www.cbp.gov.

And plan ahead -- passports will be required for these border crossings starting in June 2009. For more information, visit the Department of Homeland Security or www.travel.state.gov.

News&Buzz: 10 tips for 'Heartache Leave'

In learning of Japan's Hime & Co.'s decision to offer its employees "heartache leave," celebrity family law attorney Stacy Phillips, author of Divorce: It's All About Control -- How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars, says the new perk is a sensible addition to other leaves of absence such as sick and maternity leave.

Hoping other companies will follow suit to aid their workers in processing their grief after a bad breakup, Phillips offers the following 10 appropriate unisex activities in which to engage during the one- to-three-day mourning period. They include:

1. A sleepover with your best friend(s) -- You are never too old!

2. Target practice at a shooting range -- How cathartic.

3. Shop until you drop -- Women, shoes; Men; ties.

4. Surf the Internet -- There are lots of reputable dating services.

5. Box -- Don't forget to affix his/her picture to the bag.

6. Watch every movie available on Pay Per View -- Pick dramas. Grab Kleenex. Cry it out.

7. Paintball -- Pets are off limits.

8. Hire your shrink for the day -- The company insurance should pay for it.

9. Stay in your pajamas/favorite sweats -- No answering the door/phone. Sulk.

10. Spa Yourself -- Clock out, clock in there, and don't leave until your "leave" is up.

Phillips contends that a breakup is one of life's hardest and stormiest events to weather, but those releasing hurt, frustration and/or anger once it has happened have a better chance of moving on.

"A break up is a loss, a death," Phillips says, "and processing the five steps of loss according to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross -- denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance -- takes time." While one to three days may not be adequate for everyone, Phillips says, it's a start. "Employers are moving in the right direction."

Source: PR Newswire. Visit Phillips at ControlYourDivorce.com.

Get a head start on college financial aid

Nearly 2 million college students miss out on free money annually because they don't fill out federal forms for financial aid, which is awarded based on need and merit. Don't be among them -- with tax season upon us, it's an ideal time to send in financial aid forms for yourself or the kids.

'Don't pay more for college than you have to," says Martha Holler, spokesperson for Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs.

Fill out federal forms for scholarships, grants and low-interest student loans online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. or get hard copies at high school guidance counselor's and college financial aid offices. Save yourself some time, too, by doing them simultaneously with taxes.

Sallie Mae's College Answer Web site also has a checklist to help you gather documents needed to complete financial aid forms and a free scholarship search that provides access to an award database containing more than 2.8 million scholarships worth in excess of $16 billion.

Jane's Giveaway: Hannah Montana DVD

Our very own film reviewer extraordinaire, Jane Boursaw, is giving away two copies of the new Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (rated G and green-lighted by Jane for ages 7 and up) over at her Film Gecko blog. To be in the running, click here and add a comment. Good luck!

Poll says divorcees having little sex

Forget the sex, if you’re a divorcee. A new online poll asked 10,000 divorced women how much sex they have per month, and a surprising 55 percent said ... none.

"It might have to do with self-esteem and confidence issues," First Wives World co-founder Paul Lambert, told the New York Post. "But most of all, there's the trust issue. Your window of opportunity for sex is very small, and you're busy with children or career. It seems all the stars have to be lined up perfectly.”

Another 22 percent of divorced women said they were “lucky” to get sex one to three times a month. Thirteen percent reported sex three to six times a month. And 11 percent said they had more romps per month “than they’d admit to.”

Been There: Jacqueline Kennedy

If you bungle raising your children,
I don't think whatever else you do
matters very much.

—Jackie Kennedy Onassis
Former First Lady, Former Single Mother

The How of Happiness 2: Optimism

Positive psychology guru Sonja Lyubormirky’s new book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want reveals the University of California professor’s research-based tactics for taking control of the 40 percent of happiness and joy within our control. Here, we'll share her advice in an ongoing series:

THE HOW OF HAPPINESS
Step 2 - Cultivate Optimism

By Sonja Lyubomirsky

All optimism exercises involve changing the way we see the world. It takes hard work but if you persist at these strategies they will become a habit.

—Try to identify your pessimistic thoughts and replace them with more favourable viewpoints. Ask yourself, "What can I learn?"

—Think about what you expect your life to be in one, five or ten years from now. Visualize a future where everything has turned out the way you wanted.

—The more you rehearse optimistic thoughts, the more natural they will become. With time, they will be a part of you and you will have made yourself into a different person.



The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Penguin Press HC
Hardcover
Dec. 27, 2007
ISBN-10: 159420148X
ISBN-13: 978-1594201486
available from booksellers everywhere and Amazon.com

We're Boomerang-Proofing Our Kids

Junior's far less likely to return to the roost if he's raised by a single parent or has lots of education, a recent study by Statistics Canada says.

Men raised by single parents are 43 percent less likely to boomerang — move back home after moving out as young adults — than men reared in two-parent families. Women raised by single parents had a 23 percent lower risk of returning. (Growing up in a step-family didn't affect men, but women raised in step-families were 26 percent less likely to return home as grownups.)

Children from affluent two-parent families were most likely to return home as grownups.

The study doesn't say why single parent and step families are more resilient to boomeranging, but its authors speculate that lacking resources in lone-parent families or tensions in stepfamilies may be at play.

That could be. But there's got to be more going on here—maybe single parents are role modeling independence and self-sufficiency, day in, day out?

Anyone care to speculate?

Body&Soul: Ease their growing pains

By Lori Hall Steele

Your 4-year-old wakes up crying in the night saying his legs ache like crazy. You rub them and soothe your child, but should you give him medication? Should you call the doctor?

Chances are, your child is experiencing growing pains, a normal occurrence in children. A recent study of confirms what parents have long suspected: Bones really do grow at night.

Ninety percent of bone growth in a University of Wisconsin study of sheep happened while they rested. “When the animals were sleeping or laying down, they were growing rapidly. When they were standing, they’d stop growing,” says child orthopedic surgeon Ken Noonan, who conducted the study with Norman Wilsman.

Growing pains in children occur in the lower extremities—around knees and ankles, especially—but not in the arms and upper body, which leads researchers to believe that compression in cartilage around weight-bearing bones may halt bone growth. At night, when children are off their feet, the growth can resume.

“This might be the cause of growing pains,” Noonan says. “Kids who are really active during the day, jumping around like monkeys, may have more compression.”

This doesn’t come as news to parents like Lisa Brinkley, whose 13-year-old daughter, Nicole, would wake in agonizing pain on and off last year. The pain usually began in evening, a time when Nicole likes to read, play on the computer or watch television. She’d complain of general aches. Later that night, she’d wake up crying hard and in severe pain.

Brinkley began asking Nicole what had happened during the day, and inevitably she’d had gym class or another intense physical activity. “In the beginning I’d say ‘sweetie, you’re just probably sore from soccer or kickball,”’ Brinkley says. “But it was way too over the top. There’s a difference between sore and excruciating pain.”
Brinkley took Nicole to the doctor, who ruled out Lyme disease and advised her to give Nicole Motrin or a similar pain reliever to ease the aches.

No one yet knows why some children but not others experience growing pains. Deeper sleepers may not wake up, and children with higher tolerance of pain may snooze through aches. Pains may not be so severe on days without lots of physical, on-their-feet activity.

Growing pains are episodic—there may be one or two incidents, or a couple months of them. Pain usually begins in late afternoon or evening, and is most often localized at or below knee level.

“When Johnny’s had a soccer tournament and played 14 games, parents can take comfort in knowing that if he wakes up in pain, it’s probably growing pains,” Noonan says.

EASE THEIR PAIN
Growing pains concentrate in muscles, rather than joints. Most children report pains in the front of their thighs, in the calves, near ankles or behind the knees.
Though there’s no cure for growing pains – and no way to tell when they’ll strike, or how severely, growing pains can be comforted by:
--Ibuprofen and acetaminophen (never give aspirin to children under 12).
--Gently stretching the area
--Massaging the achy area
--Applying a heating pad
And don't forget the hugs and snuggles.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR
Pain that lasts through the day, that’s progressively getting worse, that’s not relieved by massage or pain relievers—all are signs something more might be going on and it’s time to see a physician. There are other conditions with similar pains — sports injuries, Lyme disease, juvenile arthritis, rheumatic disease and fibromyalgia among them.

A prime indicator that it’s growing pains is whether you child wants to be touched. With growing pains, children usually feel better if they’re massaged, held and cuddled, while with other medical conditions, kids may dislike being handled because touch and movement can increase pain. Something else might be happening if your child experiences:
--Persistent pain
--Swelling, redness, rashes
--Fever
--Weakness, fatigue
--Appetite or weight loss
--Easy bruising
--A limp
--Uncharacteristic behavior, including acting rundown

Lori Hall Steele, founder of You&Me Kid, is an award-winning journalist. Contact her here.

Paula, Patron Saint of Widows

Saturday's the official Catholic feast day for Paula, patron saint of widows, and in that spirit, here's warm tidings to all widowed parents out there. For the lowdown on Paula, check this post on the fourth-century woman by Thomas Craughwell, author of Saints Behaving Badly(Doubleday, 2006).

Time&Money: Secrets of the Super Shoppers

By Lori Hall Steele

When it comes to saving on groceries, we all know the drill—scan the weekly flyers for deals, stockpile bargains and clip coupons. We know! And we're doing it! (Okay, some of it.) But the grocery bill keeps nudging up, up and up.

What to do? How can we outsmart rising grocery costs? Well, the nation's super shoppers (mothers of many and frugality queens, among them) have ways to beat the system and lower their grocery bills by anywhere from $100 to $500 per month. Think that's impossible? Then meet Tawra Kellam, who scores gallons of milk for 90 cents and saves herself about $5,200 a year on groceries, compared to other similar-sized families. And this Kansas mother of three doesn't bother with coupons. "They're too much hassle," says Kellam, editor of LivingOnADime.com, a thrift site. "It's not how much you save; it's how much you spend."

Kellam and other super-shoppers have some simple practices that help you spend as little as possible (and we do mean simple—as easy as changing which day you shop). We’ll share those tips with you in upcoming weeks and months.

Today’s tip comes from Kellam:

Stalk The Markdowns— Kellam regularly buys meat for 99 cents a pound. The secret? Ask your grocer when they do markdowns on meat, dairy, bread and produce—most likely it's a set schedule—and do your shopping then.

Stores often slash prices as items near expiration dates or to make way for incoming stock. (Meat remains good for five days after its expiration date, or it can be frozen.) Some stores do daily markdowns at a set time. At Kellam's local grocery store, vegetables and meat are marked down early every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So she shops then. "I got bagged lettuce for 99 cents—regularly it's $3.29. How can you beat that?" asked Kellam.

Markdowns often ring up at 50 percent off the original price, so it's possible to save $5 to $20 a week on meat alone using this strategy (That adds up $270 to $1,040 a year—or more.)

Check for markdowns at farmer’s markets around closing time, when farmers are trying to eliminate fresh and often organic produce so they don’t have to lug it home. Kellam once nabbed 50 green peppers for $1. She diced and froze them, then grabbed a handful as needed.

From a story that originally appeared in Woman's Day. Lori Hall Steele, founder of Youn&Me Kid, is an award-winning journalist who writes for national publications.

News&Buzz: More Singles Seeking In Vitro

Northern California is reporting a sharp rise in female patients using assisted in vitro fertilization to become single parents.

"One in 10 of my patients is now a single woman," said Susan Willman, reproductive endocrinologist at the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Another indicator of the single-parenting-by-choice trend: sperm donation use. In 2005, about 60 percent of the customers of California Cryobank, the nation's largest sperm bank, were single women and/or lesbians, as compared with 40 percent in 1998, MSNBC said.

"More single women are coming to us to say they feel the time running out on their biological clocks," Willman said. "That's coupled with a number of medical advances that make IVF more attractive to single women, especially those who've delayed parenting for career reasons."

Among those advances in recent years, Willman says, are doubled chances of a successful IVF pregnancy compared to a decade ago, improvements in freezing embryos and eggs, and more creative financing options for IVF treatment.

Births by choice to single mothers remain on the rise. According to a Centers for Disease Control report, nearly 40 percent of American babies in 2005 were born to single mothers, up from 35 percent in 2003. Teen pregnancy rates, meanwhile, continue a decades-long decline.

For more information, visit the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jane's Review: The Game Plan (DVD)

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 3 out of 4 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements.
Theatrical Release: Sept. 28, 2007
DVD Release: Jan. 22, 2008
Genre: Family, Comedy, Sports
Runtime: 110 minutes
Directed by: Andy Fickman
Cast: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Joe Kingman), Madison Pettis (Peyton James), Kyra Sedgwick (Stella Peck), Roselyn Sanchez (Monique), Morris Chestnut (Sanders).

SYNOPSIS: A rugged quarterback learns he has a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Now he has to figure out how to juggle football practice and parties with bedtime stories and Barbies.

Sex/ Nudity: None, but Joe is shirtless in many scenes and insinuates that he scores with the ladies.

Violence/Gore: Lots of football violence and slapstick comedy (Joe bumps into ballet dancers and knocks them over, Peyton causes him to spatter a blended health drink all over the kitchen).

Profanity: None.

Which Kids Will Like It? Ages 7 to 14 who like sports, physical comedy, or tough-guy-turns-softie stories. Also, since Madison Pettis is a regular on “Cory in the House,” fans of that show and/or the Disney Channel will like it.

Will Parents Like It? Yes. There’s nothing new here, but it’s a cute movie with a good message about what’s truly important in life (family).

DVD Extras: ESPN’s SportsCenter: The Rock Learns to Play QB; Bloopers With Marv Albert; Drafting “The Game Plan”; The King in Search of a Ring; Deleted Scenes; Peyton’s Makeover Madness. Available subtitles/audiotracks: English, Spanish, French.

REVIEW: Like so many movies that have come before it (think Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier"), this one follows a pat formula: Tough guy gets thrown into a situation with kids and learns life lessons, such as 1) family is important; 2) fame and fortune aren't everything; and 3) it's ok to let down your guard.

Joe Kingman (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is a star quarterback who parties hard, earns a big paycheck, and plays the field in both sports and romance. But his livin'-large lifestyle gets an overhaul when 7-year-old Peyton (Madison Pettis) shows up at his door claiming to be his daughter. Will Mr. Big-Shot Football Player step up and take responsibility? Or will he pass the buck to someone else?

We know where this is going right from the beginning. It's the "how we get there" that's the question. In Joe's case, he doesn't want to mess up a good thing. His team is on the cusp of a big championship, and he's wanted it for a long time. But how can he focus on that while learning how to be a dad? Bedtime stories, ballet lessons, and Barbies are all new to this muscle man.

And Peyton's girlish antics aren't going over so well. She decorates his trophy football with rhinestones, puts a pink tutu on his bulldog, and turns his workout pool into a giant bubblebath. Joe's uber-intense agent, Stella (Kyra Sedgwick) is no help, since she doesn't have a clue about parenting and is only interested in how much money Joe can earn.

After a series of misadventures involving young Peyton, Joe discovers there's more to life than a big bank account, mega endorsements, and thousands of adoring fans. It's the Disney plot we all know and love – even if we've seen it a thousand times.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.

Been There: J.K. Rowling

"Single parenthood is not all stress and hardship. My flesh-and-blood daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me, including my fictional son. Jessica has been a constant source of pride, joy and motivation since the day she was born, but I don't want her to grow up in a society that tells her that her upbringing is second rate..."

—J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter series author,
former single mother

Step 1: The How of Happiness—Gratitude

Positive psychology guru Sonja Lyubormirky’s new book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want reveals the University of California professor’s research-based tactics for taking control of the 40 percent of happiness and joy within our control. Here, we'll share her advice in an ongoing series:


THE HOW OF HAPPINESS
Step 1: Show Gratitude

By Sonja Lyubomirsky

There's a lot more to gratitude than saying "thank you." Emerging research shows that people who are consistently grateful are happier, more energetic and hopeful, more forgiving and less materialistic. Gratitude needs to be practiced daily because it doesn't necessarily come naturally.

—Think of three to five things each day for which you are grateful but usually take for granted, from the mundane (your dryer is fixed) to the magnificent (your child's first steps or the beauty of the sky at night).

—Acknowledge one ungrateful thought each day, such as "my sister forgot my birthday" and substitute it for a grateful one – "but she's always there for me."

—Think of someone who has been important in your life and tell them in a letter, phone call or visit.



The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Penguin Press HC
Hardcover
Dec. 27, 2007
ISBN-10: 159420148X
ISBN-13: 978-1594201486
available from booksellers everywhere and Amazon.com

Survey: Abuse, money prompt most divorces

Women divorce over abuse; men divorce over sex, a new GfK Roper poll commissioned by divorce360.com says.

Women are more than twice as likely as men (48 percent vs. 21 percent) to divorce because of verbal or physical abuse, the poll says. Men, in turn, are more than twice as likely as women (22 percent vs. 11 percent) to cite sex as the cause for their failed marriage. Overall, those polled said they divorced because of:

--Abuse: 36 percent
--Money: 22 percent
--Someone new entered their life: 18 percent
--Sex: 16 percent
--Disagreements over how to raise their children: 13 percent
--Boredom: 12 percent
--Whether to have children: 6 percent
--Religion: 4 percent
--Money: 22 percent

The poll surveyed 1,569 people and has a 2.6 percent margin of error.

Bedtime tips from nanny to the stars

Celeb nanny Dee Rule, who’s wrapping up her new book The Baby Schedule Ruler, says consistent daily routines (baths especially) along with patience, persistence, love and imagination are keys to getting a little one to sleep through the night. Here, she shares her top tips for bedtime bliss:

-- Get your newborn on a routine early: This is a huge key to success. A routine schedule – say, dinner, bath, reading and lights out -- and persistence will send a clear message to the toddler or child: It's sleep time.

--Take care of yourself: Parents can feel less stress by doing what they love. The infant or child will pick up or feel if you're depressed or down. They'll communicate frustration with excessive cries.

--Swaddling: This can be a godsend for many a tiny wiggler.

Top Brit celeb single parents: Geldof, Fergie

Singer-activist Bob Geldof and royal Sarah Ferguson topped the list of celebrity single parents that British single parents could most relate to, according to a poll released today by SingleParentFun.com.

Geldof is father to three girls, ages 24 to 17, including Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom and Little Pixie. Fergie is mom to the princesses Beatrice, 19, and Eugenie, 17.

Other celeb single parents who ranked as relatable included TV host Gail Porter, pop singer Mel B and reality show star Jade Goody. Respondents rated celeb single parents highest for their “triumph over adversity,” having good relationships with their kids, and being good role models.

The poll also revealed that:

--Perception of single parents: 83 percent felt the public’s perception has changed in a positive way over the past 10 years;

--Dating: 40 percent said they don’t date; 56 percent said they wouldn’t consider dating because their children wouldn’t be happy about it; and 58 percent said their longest relationship as single parents had lasted less than six months.

--Assistance: 58 percent said the British government could do more to support them financially; 31 percent felt more should be done to better childcare access.

--Employment: 93 percent felt that holiday firms do not cater enough for single parent families.

--Travel: Expense is an issue for 58 percent when arranging holidays and day trips; 13 pe cent said that they didn't go on holidays with the children as they found it too lonely and 14 percent said that any kind of trip with the children was just too stressful to do alone.

--Me time: 22 percent of those polled said they got one to two hours per week with only 15 per cent getting a day to themselves. "We were surprised to find out just how little 'me time' single parents get due to the lack of support structure available,” SingleParentFun.com founder and single dad Gary Spicer said in a press release.

Eat&BeMerry: Hot Chocolate, Marshmallows

To warm up after sledding, shoveling or just as a sweet treat at night, try these warm delights.

Hot chocolate
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
Dash of salt
3 cups of milk

Heat chocolate and water in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in sugar and salt. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring constantly, for 4 minutes. Stir in milk; cover and heat through but do not boil. Just before serving, beat with hand beater until foamy. Makes six servings
—The Ithaca (N.Y.) Journal

This hot cocoa mix can be blended and stored in an airtight container for at least a year. You can use either hot milk or hot water to make the beverage. Make multiple batches to keep on hand or give as gifts -- and be sure to get the kids involved in mixing it up.

Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2-1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend evenly. Store in an airtight container. To make 4 servings of hot cocoa, heat 4 to 6 cups of water or milk. Add about 1/4 cup of powdered mix to each mug. Pour in hot water or milk and stir to combine.

And if you're really feeling ambitious (and own a candy thermometer) go all out, and make your own marshmallows:

Martha's Marshmallows

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Let it stand 30 minutes.

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees (firm-ball stage). Immediately remove pan from heat.

With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

Generously dust an 8 x 12-inch glass baking pan with confectioners' sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out.
—Oprah.com

Go&Explore: Upcoming single-parent trips

Thinking about a spring or summer getaway yet? Single Parent Travel's latest newsletter lists a slew of upcoming group trips for solo parents and kids, including:

--March: Rocking Horse Ranch
--July: White Water Rafting on the Colorado River
--July: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise
--July: Harry Potter Journey
--August: 7-Night Alaska Cruise
--August: Beaches Turks & Caicos
--August: Beaches Sandy Bay

Have any great ideas for spring break (at home or away)? Let us know -- we'll be writing about it soon.

Attention early filers: Taxes delayed for millions

If you're among early tax filers, heads up: Millions of us claiming certain credits -- daycare and tuition among them -- must wait until Feb. 11 to send returns as the IRS scrambles to incorporate late tax-code changes from Congress.

Five forms related to the alternative minimum tax, approved in late December by Congress, are affected. They include tax credits for:

--Education
--Child- and dependent-care expenses
--Mortgage interest
--Residential energy use
--First-home purchase in the District of Columbia

The IRS expects up to 4 million taxpayers who typically file early will have to wait. "We regret the inconvenience the delay will mean for millions of early tax filers, especially those expecting a refund," acting IRS Commissioner Linda Stiff said in a statement.

If you're expecting a return, the delay could mean you won't get it until late February or early March.

If you file any of the five forms before Feb. 11, expect the IRS to reject your return and request it to be refiled. But if you need to speed up your return, here's some advice from various experts:

--Those who claim child care expenses may be able to do an end run by filing Form 1040 vs. 1040A. You also may file returns without credits to get partial returns, then file an amended return later.

--Electronic filing will expedite your return.

--Tax software makers should supply updates to forms. Paper forms sent by the IRS, however, will not include the updates. Get updated forms at www.irs.gov or from an IRS office, post office, library or a tax professional.

Jane's Review: High School Musical 2

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: G
DVD Release: Dec. 11, 2007
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Family, Teen
Runtime: 111 minutes
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel

SYNOPSIS: The teen fun continues in this sequel to 2006’s “High School Musical.” School’s out, and the gang spends the summer working at the Lava Springs Country Club, owned by Sharpay’s parents. But things get awkward when Troy tries to further his career by hanging out with the rich folks. Gabriella says she doesn’t know him anymore..sniff… It’s Disney, though, so you can count on a happy ending, along with loads of catchy new songs.

Sex/ Nudity: Mild flirting and a few kisses.
Violence/Gore: None.
Profanity: None.

Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 8 and older who loved “High School Musical” or who enjoy innocent teen movies or Disney Channel shows.

Will Parents Like It? Yes. As with “High School Musical,” there’s very little objectionable content here. All issues are resolved, and lessons are learned about the importance of friends, staying true to yourself, and standing up for what you believe in.

Special Features: This “Extended Edition” includes a sing-along feature, rehearsal cam (watch the dance rehearsal footage along with the movie), High School Karaoke (sing the lead vocals with help from optional on-screen lyrics), music videos, and a never-before-seen music sequence.

REVIEW: Riffing off the 2006 tween fave, “High School Musical,” this sweet flick brings back the entire cast for more songs and fun. School’s out for the summer, and Troy (Zac Efron) needs to build up his college bank account. So Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), hoping to score some points in the romance department, gets him a job at her family’s posh country club.

Imagine her chagrin when Troy manages to score jobs for the rest of the East High gang, including girlfriend Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), buddy Chad (Corbin Bleu), and Gabriella’s friend Taylor (Monique Coleman).

Snooty Sharpay realizes she has to kick it up a notch. So she tempts Troy with influential friends, a coveted basketball scholarship, and a fast-track to the high life. Troy’s torn between his dreams for the future and his high school friends. It doesn’t help when he gets preferential treatment from the club manager (Mark Taylor).

Ok, so the storyline probably bears little resemblance to real teen life. No drugs, sex, bad language, or gang warfare in this movie – and that’s a good thing! What a pleasure to watch an innocent movie that still has plenty of teen angst and clique issues.

The songs and choreography are even better than the first movie, including the high-energy opener, “What Time is It?,” Troy and Gabriella’s duet, “You Are the Music In Me,” the hip-hoppish “I Don’t Dance,” Troy’s golf-course solo, “Bet On It,” and the ensemble finale, “All For One.”

My 10-year-old daughter particularly loved Sharpay’s poolside tune, “Fabulous,” and Gabriella’s tearful “Gotta Go My Own Way.”

Disney Channel fans: keep an eye out for Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) as an extra!

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.

Play&Do: Get them moving

Are you and the kids already feeling like shut-in pets thanks to winter? Time to shake it off, then. Some ideas to get the blood moving:

Dance Dance Revolution
This indoor hit has everyone shakin' their groove thing -- a great winter tonic for 5 and up, as you're guided through steps. Uses various game systems or TV plug-and-play.
Get it: $35 and up. Read reviews to choose an age-appropriate version.

Hyper Dash
This electronic tag get kids 5 and up scurrying around, and teens and adults report they're having a blast as well.
Get it: Around $25 from Wild Planet. (Warning: Amazon's been charging up to $90, so shop around.)


Folding Trampoline
Save those bedsprings and instead let the knee-high crowd do their nutty bouncing thing safely -- holding a bar, so they don't boing into the ceiling. Good for up to 77 pounds.
Get it: $115 from Playfair Toys.

Teens in single-parent homes fuel blogosphere

Kids from single-parent homes are fueling the teen blogosphere—they're 68 percent more likely to be creating content than their peers from dual-parent homes, a new Pew Internet survey says.

Some 42 percent of teens living in single-parent homes shared their writing in a blog, compared to 25 percent of teens in dual-parent households, according to the survey of 900 parent-teen pairs.

The study also said teens who blog or engage in social networks tend to be well-adjusted. They’re more likely to participate in sports, music, part-time employment and other extracurricular activities.

Girls are leading the teen blogosphere – 35 percent of those surveyed blogged, compared to 20 percent of boys. Teen boys, however, were more likely than girls to post videos online (19 vs. 10 percent)

Feeding the spirit: Altar your abode

By Lori Hall Steele

Since ancient times, homes have been holy havens — Mayans and Toltecs built altars to deities, Egyptians displayed household gods like ferocious-looking Taweret and Mexican altaristas (altar builders) bedecked the Virgin of Guadalupe with bright flowers. Buddhists, Hindus, and Santerians also worship at home altars.


Until recently, however, many Americans shied away from such down-home manifestations of faith. Not so anymore. Sacred spaces are being created in homes from coast to coast, with closets, corners, and bedrooms converted to prayer and meditation spaces-—places that often serve as soul-quieting antidotes to modern stress.

Make your own sacred space — even if it’s in a nook — by first clarifying your intentions, says San Diego spiritual coach Kamala Devi. What do you want? A place to pray? A safe haven for peace and quiet?

From there, you’ll need to think about a few things:

Location: Altars can be in bedrooms, attics, backyards, closets, or corners of rooms. Shy away from high-traffic and work areas.

Direction: Religious traditions like Vastu and Wicca suggest altars should be north- or east-facing, while Muslim altars, which are generally sparse, face Mecca (east-southeast for most of the United States).

Surface: Pretty much anything will work—a tabletop, dresser, or corner shelf. Often altars are covered with fabric, and some religious traditions prescribe particular colors or materials.

Objects: Candles, flowers, and images that are sacred to you—a cross, Buddha, Hindu gods—adorn altars, often along with objects that are personally symbolic. Devi brings new objects—a love letter, herbs, inspiring quotes, candles—to her altar.

Initiation: A prayer, burning sage, sprinkling salt water, or ringing bells can initiate your new sacred space.

Using your altar: Pray, meditate, daydream, write in a journal, or practice yoga.

Tell the kids what you're doing, and see if they want to participate -- this teaches them to carve out time and space for calm, quiet reflection. Tweens and teens can make their own prayer or meditation space in closets and corners in their rooms.


This story has appeared in a number of publications, including The Chicago Tribune, Utne, Yes! and Washington Times. Lori Hall Steele, publisher of You&Me Kid, is an award-winning journalist who writes for national publications.

News&Buzz: Pamela Anderson files for divorce

Former Baywatch princess Pamela Anderson is off again, filing for divorce from third husband Rick Salomon, who she wed two months ago.

Anderson spent New Year's Eve in Vegas with sons Brandon, 11, and Dylan, 9, children from her first marriage to rocker Tommy Lee. As Anderson partied at PURE, the kids waited for the ball to drop on 2007, she told FOX News.

"My kids came, too, and they're staying in their hotel room having hot chocolate, watching the fireworks and trying to stay up until midnight," she told FOX.

And her hopes for the upcoming year?

"There is so much I want to do next year work-wise, but focus is on family," she said.

12 get-organized habits for 2008

Over at Flylady.net, where Marla Cilley acts as a personal online coach to untold thousands, there's a nest full of get-organized ideas.

Among them are 12 monthly to-do's to bring peace and tranquility to your home. Practice them over and over for 30 days (each) and they're bound to catch. Here's the rundown:

--January/Shining your Sink: Clear the sink nightly, treating it like the epicenter of the storm in your home. From this, all good things arise.

--February/Decluttering for 15 minutes a day: Make it a habit to run around, sorting and tossing, particularly in areas where stuff accumulates (your hot spots!

--March/Getting Dressed to the Shoes: Not a few hours after coffee, but right when you get up, and be sure to do hair and makeup, something especially key for those of us who work at home or stay at home with the kids.

--April/Making your Bed: Okay, so you're dressed to your shoes, ready to rumble. Quick-like run through the bedroom. Look at the bed like it's the sink -- another eye of the storm. Once tamed, everything else can follow.

--May/Moving: Flylady's big on self-care and with good reason: If we're not operating on all cylinders, neither will our homes. So give yourself 15 minutes a day to move it -- yoga, a brisk walk, a bike ride, etc. Just do it.

--June/Drinking Water: Make it easy to stay hydrated by finding a system that works for you, whether that means refilling a water bottle that stays on your desk or (like me!) placing a pitcher of water on the desk or coffee table every day.

--July/Swish and Swipe: Eeew! The toilet! Flylady sees this as another epicenter, and to keep it in check, suggests routines swipes. See her web site for details.

--August/Laundry: Keep clothes from becoming monstrous with routine load-switching, folding and putting away.

--September/Before Bed Routine: Crucial for those with busy routines (and small fries): lay out clothes, check calendars, load the launchpad (office stuff/backpacks), and get yourself to bed on time for a good night's sleep.

--October/Paper Clutter: Deal with incoming paperwork as it arrives; toss the rest. Be sure you have good systems in place to handle bills, schoolwork, etc.
--November/Menu Planning: Think ahead about what you're having for dinner, lunch, snacks.

--December/Pampering: Take time out to renew your spirit, body and soul, even if it's just 15 minutes a day.

Sign up, and Flylady will remind you repeatedly every day by email of routines and habit, but expect loads of mail.

Basics, finance top single parents' '08 concerns

Meeting basic needs and achieving financial stability were top concerns of 2008 for 44 percent of single parents polled by About.com.

Here's how single parents rated top concerns for the coming year:

--Meeting basic needs: 25 percent
--Achieving financial stability: 19 percent
--Raising well-adjusted, happy kids: 17 percent
--Resolving child support issues: 9 percent
--Legal issues pertaining to custody: 15 percent
--Finding relational happiness: 13 percent

Fifty-two people took the online survey.

Jane's Review: The Water Horse

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for some action/peril, mild language and brief smoking.
Theatrical Release: Dec. 25, 2007
Genre: Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Runtime: 111 minutes
Directed by: Jay Russell; based on the children’s book by Dick King-Smith.
Cast: Alex Etel, Emily Watson, Bruce Allpress, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox, Eddie Campbell, Carl Dixon, Priyanka Xi
SYNOPSIS: With a nod to the Loch Ness Monster, this movie tells the story of a
young boy, Angus, who finds a mysterious egg on the shores of a Scottish loch during World War II. Soon enough, the egg hatches a lizard-like creature that looks to Angus for love and guidance. But when the beast gets too big to contain, Angus must make the decision to free it into the loch, all the while hiding it from the grown-ups – except for one handyman who comes into his life at just the right time.

Profanity: None.

Sex/ Nudity: An older couple flirt, dance, and kiss, as amused children look on.

Violence/Gore: Things get pretty wild towards the end when soldiers fire at the giant beast with rifles and cannons. The beast retaliates by snapping at humans, picking them up in its powerful jaws, and swinging them around in the loch. Also, when a dog mysteriously quits barking off-screen, we assume it was eaten by the beast. Adult characters fight both verbally and physically.

Which Kids Will Like It? Ages 9 and older who love fantasy adventure movies like Eragon and The Golden Compass.

Will Parents Like It? Yes, it’s a sweet family story that ties in history (World War II) and legend (the Loch Ness Monster) with the power of love and family. Grown-ups will love the lovely Scottish manor, beautiful scenery, and Celtic soundtrack.

REVIEW: Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel) is a young lad living in Scotland during World War II. He and his family, including mother Anne (Emily Watson) and sister Kirstie (Priyanka Xi) are the caretakers of a grand old manor complete with meandering staircases, four-poster beds, and a library filled with dusty books.

In his father’s workshop -- adorned with magazine clippings, maps, and war-related items -- Angus eagerly marks off the days when his father will return from the war.

One day, during an outing on the shores of a nearby loch, Angus finds a mysterious, barnacle-encrusted item, which he takes home and hides in his father’s workshop, only to discover that inside is a brilliant blue egg, out of which hatches a creatures that’s a cross between a seal and a lizard. Angus names him Crusoe after “Robinson Crusoe.”

At first, Crusoe is a cute little guy who loves playing in the bathtub inside the house. But he grows at an incredible rate, tripling in size each night until he can’t fit in either the bathtub or the fountain in the courtyard.

With the help of Kirstie and a handyman named Lewis Mowbray (Ben Chaplin), Angus sadly releases Crusoe into the loch. Mowbray wonders aloud if it’s a legendary creature called a water horse. He explains to Angus that there can only be one in the world at a time, and before dying, the beast lays an egg for another to take its place.

Meanwhile, the war rages on. The Royal Army sets up camp in the house, pointing their cannons at the loch and any German subs that might be passing through. All of this is told in flashback, by an old man in a current-day pub to two young people listening in rapt attention.

The story meanders pleasantly in the first half of the movie. We get a sense of the era and characters – mainly, Angus, who needs a reason to live while his father is away at war. Crusoe offers that reason, as well as a lesson in letting go.

I love this movie because everything fits together seamlessly: beautiful Scottish scenery complete with abandoned castles, dark-grained interiors of the grand manor, a family struggling during World War II, and a lovely Celtic soundtrack.

The computer-generated beast is very life-like, and the action gets a little scary for kids (and, ok, adults). For this reason, I don’t recommend it for kids younger than nine. That said, my 10-year-old daughter and I really enjoyed this movie.

REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel: Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels: Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels: Something to talk about.
Four Reels: You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.
And be sure to check out Lori and Jane's Hollywood style blog, Ruby Shoes.