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We have all seen carwash fundraisers where kids stand on the corner with big poster board signs that say carwash and they are trying to attract cars into the parking lot to get in line to get washed so their nonprofit group can make lots of money.

Sometimes this works very well, but it is also important not to let the kids stand in the street because that can be dangerous and one of the parents will get totally upset. Worse off if a kid gets hit by a car, will we all know the problems with that and the lawsuits it can cause.

Car wash fundraiser signage strategies are very important to attract customers off the street to get a carwash. There is a right way in a wrong way to do it and common sense will dictate the right way. Unfortunately we are dealing usually with teenagers and teenagers sometimes do not use much common sense.

Because poster board signs are hard to read from a traveling car it makes sense to have gigantic bold letters that say carwash and there will not be very much room for much else besides that lettering.

Many groups wish to put the name of their group also on the sign, but all this does is make the writing smaller so no one can see what it says. When designing carwash fundraiser signage, please take this into consideration so you can make more money for your nonprofit group.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Being a mother is quite an adventure I dare say.

Its a challenge too.

No body on this earth has made me discover the emotions within me like my twin teenage daughters. I have gone from feeling such tender and exquisite love to hostility.

I remember the discipline with which I was raised. It wasnt overly strict but my dad did give me hidings when I refused to listen or give him back chat. It didnt stop me from keeping my mouth shut, in fact it just made me angrier that kids were treated like inferiors, like they didnt know anything. How often did I hear, Im a lot older than you and you have no experience.

Two twin girls aged 13 going on to 25 is well, to say the least daunting at times. I have to get into real self discipline so I dont succumb to their level to get my point over in an argument.

Oh my, what a reflection of myself when my kid, stands there with hand on hip lecturing me about which washing powder to use to get a stain out of her white blouse. She says things like, Mama you really should watch more TV so you can see whats going on in the world.

I never watch TV. But I do watch myself and I do watch my girls and its amazing how much of myself I recognise in them. I always know what part of my thinking and personality needs fine tuning just by watching them. That hand on hip thing, is from me. That disapproving tone of voice also comes from me.

What is even more frightening is when I realise I am being like my mother! The other day I caught a glimpse of myself in the bath room mirror whilst nagging my kids to hang up their towels and clean up after a shower. How many times have I made silent vows to myself to not nag? I remember what it was like having a nagging mother. It did not help, not one bit. In fact the more she nagged the more I didnt care about wet towels on the floor.

I remember exactly those moments when I was thirteen and my mom just seemed to be the perfect square. I recall thinking to myself I will never be like that. And what do you know? There is me in all my mothers glory.

Ive noticed what works really well is to give compliments. Even if your child is standing in front of you rolling eyeballs and looking totally bored say something like, Hey I forgot how lovable you are when you do that. I mean remember when they did all those things when they were 2. You thought it was cute then. Now just because the child has grown and speaks for it self you think its cheeky.

When my twin girls were born I couldnt wait for them to begin talking. I was so excited to find out what was going through their heads. I remember the first time they saw a naked man they named his private parts a swing bum! And they used to call me Mamela because my best friends name was Pamela. And the names for my parents were so apt. They called my Dad Big Papi and my mom Baby Mami Papi. I have no idea where they got that from, but it was very cute and heart wrenching.

Kids are so wonderful and uninhibited. To experience more joy just give them more love even if youre itching to say something mean. I know its not so easy to adore them every moment of the day, especially when they come home from school with friends you dont really approve of. The best way to deal with this is to love the friend and treat it like your own. I treat all the kids that come here like my own. Ive seen everything from the good mannered to the absolute uncouth. I know that even the uncouth got some of that from home and cant help it. And some of them well you know, its cool to be that way.

Im always glad that my children feel so comfortable in their home that they have no qualms about introducing square me to the coolest of the coolest. That way Im always in the big picture. I get to see whos who in the zoo, and that is priceless knowledge for any mother with teenage kids trying out their own way.

Claudia Apfelthaler loves life. She learnt about the law of attraction the hard way. Now she is a happy Mother, Author, MLMer, Internet Marketer and Adventurer. She owns the website http://www.richbeyondwords.com which is full of tips and mind expanding resources to help you get the most out of life.

Bring a breath of fresh air to town bathrooms with a breezy beach-house theme, or create a soothing mood inspired by the natural colors and textures of the seashore.

The beach-house bathroom is a foil of gentle contrasts. Clean lines and a restricted color palette create a fresh, uncluttered look. The colors of sun, sea, and sand are naturally an influence. The style is low-key, romantically rustic, and simple. And the way you put the colors together should reflect these qualities.

Take the cool blues - deepest marine to palest aqua - for inspiration, and choose from the yellows - vibrant sunshine yellow and sand-gold to cream - to provide a contrast. Using white as a foil, you can blend colors to express quite different moods. Opt for a bright and summery seaside atmosphere with strong color brights - use deckchair stripes on furnishings and tiles. Alternatively, choose the sun-bleached looks of a beach cabin - soft whites, muted blues, light sandy-grays, and pale yellows - and echo the weathered tones of driftwood and pebbles with limed and color-washed wood and stone effects.

Creating the Look

For a fresh, airy, coastal mood, paint walls and ceiling white, or in a pale to mid-tone matte latex. A change of texture - tongue-and-groove paneling or plain tiles - will add interest below wainscoting level. A darker color will "ground" the scheme and suggest sea and sky. Choose strong contrasts such as marine blue and white, or go for a subtle distressed or color-washed finish. Pale colors and close harmonies will create a gentle, ethereal look.

Beach-house style has a period feel but it is easy to integrate modern features. Select a simple bathroom suite in white or cream, or a clean-lined retro-style design. Panel the bathtub to complement the wainscoting area, or with natural or whitewashed pine. Otherwise install a freestanding, curtained bathtub. Site a shower cubicle behind a divider "wall" - this can be tiled on the inside and paneled on the other - or screen the shower area with a marine pattern shower curtain or a plain or striped glass panel. If stripped, limed, or painted floorboards are not available, choose vinyl flooring in a coastal color, or cover existing flooring with wooden decking. Natural fiber matting and cork tiles also work well. Stone tiles, quarry tiles, and mosaics enhance the rustic look - make them warm with cotton rugs.

Style Pointers

WALLS

Atmospheric color: soft white, neutrals/aqua/ blue latex/tiles/ tongue-and-groove paneling; stenciled marine motifs; aqua color mosaic details.

WINDOWS

Curtains/simple: pale/white semi sheers; tab-headed, cased, basic gathered styles; eyelet/laced calico panels; improvised driftwood/painted wood curtain rod.

Blinds/shutters: natural wood slatted blinds; roll-up cane; painted/distressed wooden shutters.

FABRICS

Naturals/stripes: rough/smooth/loose weave linens; muslin; waffle cottons; toweling; striped cottons; marine prints.

FLOORING

Natural/rustic: stripped/painted/limed boards; wooden decking; stone/quarry tiles; cork.

Rugs: woven grass/rush mats; nubby cotton weave/rag rugs; wooden boardwalks/cork mats.

BATHROOM FITTINGS

Period style/white: simple, wood paneled bathtub; old-fashioned freestanding bathtub; matching basin; low-key modern styles; traditional cross head brass or chrome taps; see-through shower panels/marine motif/striped shower curtain.

FURNITURE

Weathered wood: country-style cupboards/chest/chair/shelves in limed, distressed, color-rubbed wood, iron frame/wicker.

LIGHTING

Simple/period: glass/metal fishermen's brass lantern; turned wood sconce candelabrum/candles.

ACCESSORIES

Marine/weathered: shell or driftwood mirror frame; porthole shaped mirror; rustic shelves; wooden bath rack; rustic style/period glass containers; cane/wicker laundry basket; color coordinated/striped towels; sea sponges; natural objects - pebbles, shells, starfish; model boats; carved wooden seabirds.

2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Want to learn about other types of Home Decorating Styles? Visit the Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network (http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/) now to see some excellent articles and photos, plus be sure to get signed up for our free Home Decorating Tips Letter Too!

"There is only one problem with common sense; it's not very common." - Bryce's Law

We've got some very bright and ambitious young people joining the work force now but they are coming at a very different time in the business world. Thanks to technology, we now live and work in a much faster paced society than what I joined just three short decades ago. It is also a much more competitive environment due to changing economic conditions. True, the Greatest Generation has basically moved along, but the Baby Boomers are still firmly in place and are not inclined to retire any time soon. This means the class of 2007 will be competing not only with people in their 20's, 30's and 40's, but also with people in their 50's and 60's who cannot afford to retire.

This got me thinking about how well we are preparing the next generation of workers. Are we really training them to succeed or are we setting them up to fail? Sure, they might be well educated in their professional area of expertise, but I am finding a remarkable number who lack basic street smarts. Somewhere between the safety of home and school, and the bitter realities of the real world, a void exists in preparing our youth for adulthood. In a way its like being a parachutist for the first time, except you are being pushed out the door with no instruction on what to do. This can be very traumatizing to young people who tend to be overwhelmed by the responsibilities of adult life.

In school, students were only concerned with attending class, absorbing the material, eating and their social life. But now in adulthood, they suddenly have to face such things as insurance, taxes, housing, transportation, banking, investments, retirement accounts, health care, nutrition, paying bills, corporate cultures, etiquette, dress, career development, business ethics, office politics, networking, employment, management, etc. Oh yea, and Work. They may have been adequately trained for their profession, but nobody is preparing them to make the transition into adulthood.

The parents haven't prepared them. If anything, they have sheltered their youth from reality for far too long. For example, many kids today have not had to mow a lawn, clean a dish, push a broom, or hold a part-time job. Instead, they were free to concentrate on their homework and video games. In other words, parents have failed to instill the concept of simple responsibility and the value of a dollar. A lot of parents today are "hands-off" meaning they are content to let others raise their children for them, be it a relative, a nanny, a coach, or a teacher, thereby providing them with some free time to rest and relax.

The teachers haven't prepared them either, but in their defense this shouldn't be in their job description. Instead, they should be concerned with teaching academic subjects, such as math, literature, languages, science, etc. However, since a lot of parents have dropped the ball, teachers have been forced to become surrogate parents, something they are not necessarily trained in or suited for.

Ultimately, this means today's corporate managers are inheriting a generation of naive young people with unbridled enthusiasm who are having difficulty adapting to the corporate world. Many of this generation seem to believe they are uniquely different, that the old established rules of today's corporate culture no longer applies to them; that corporations must adapt to them, not the other way around. Such naivety can be dangerous and lead to their demise as reality sets in.

To overcome this problem, perhaps we can help our youth by devising a new type of curriculum that would teach such things as:

• Personal Organization - e.g., managing finances, insurance, housing, transportation, etc.

• Adapting to the Corporate Culture - how to understand the culture and adapt to it. This would include discussions on business ethics, and studying change.

• Professional Development - teaching concepts of craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and basic business skills.

• Social Skills - how to effectively communicate and socialize in an office environment.

• Do's and Don'ts in the Workplace - discussing the realities of employment, company policy manuals, and other legal issues.

• Management 101 - teaching basic management concepts and rules to help "newbies" fit into the corporate culture.

Actually, none of this is new. We have all had to learn it through the School of Hard Knocks. However, if the next generation is to ever have a chance in today's fast paced world, we have to jump-start this process for them. Otherwise they will have difficulty surviving. Basically, what is needed is just some simple parental advice.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith.

Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida. You can find his work on the Internet at: http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com

Copyright 2007 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.