I love advice columns and am a loyal reader of “”Wayne And Tamara”" , and “Dear Abby”, I wanted to share one with everyone. I also listed their website below.

Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at
www.WayneAndTamara.com.

Product Name: Senseo Coffee Machine Gift Pack
Rating: 10
Where to buy: Senseo HD7890/75 Coffee Pod System with Holiday Gift Pack–PARENT

Description:  A single serving coffee maker that is a lot like an espresso machine.  It brews 1 to 2 cups of coffee in matter of seconds.  The gift pack comes with coffee machine, coffee pods (filters with coffee included), two pod canisters and a thermal coffee mug.  For fresh brewed coffee every single time you want a cup of coffee.

I am the ultimate coffee drinker.  I drink coffee almost all the time including the hot summer months.  It’s my biggest down fall.  The bad part of this is that I’m always drinking old coffee.  I think for some reason I always have to make a full pot of coffee and I can never drink it all before it starts to taste old.  I went on the hunt for a coffee maker that would suit my needs and this is what I found.  I won’t be without it. 

It’s so simple to use and fast.  I can brew a single cup of coffee in less than 30 seconds.  By using their special coffee pods I get wonderful tasting coffee that’s hot and ready to go quickly.  The coffee that comes with this pot is really good.  It doesn’t have that bitter after taste like some coffee can have.  They also have lots of other flavors including dark roast, french vanilla and even cappuccino.

This coffee machine is like an espresso machine in the way it makes your coffee.  When the coffee is finished brewing you have a nice frothy top and very hot coffee.  It satisfies my coffee cravings and believe me I have some cravings for coffee.  I’m like a crazy woman if I don’t have that cup coffee with me, especially in the morning.

I also like the slim feature of this pot.  It sits on my counter right next to my regular coffee pot (which I only use when I have more than a few guests) and takes up very little space.  It also comes in 4 different colors so you should be able to find a color that will match any decor. 

There is also a standby water reserve and that’s why it makes a cup of coffee so fast.  The reserve can hold up to 5 four-ounce cups of water at a time.  It’s easy to clean too.  Just take it apart and put it in the dishwasher.  Yea it’s dishwasher safe.  How can you beat that? 

I love this coffee maker for my own personal use and even when I have a couple of friends over.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  You can buy the extra pods and store them in the canisters to keep them fresh until your ready to use them.  If you are as fanatic about coffee like I am, try this little coffee maker.  It’s a pleasure to use and the coffee is unbeatable. 

Criticism:  The only real complaint I have is that the pods are a bit pricey, but for the convenience and the flavor I’m happy!
 

1 ½ C. granulated sugar
¼ C. butter or margarine
1/8 tsp. salt
1 ½ Tbsp. cocoa
¼ C. milk
1 ½ C. quick cooking oatmeal
½ C. shredded coconut
½ Tbsp. vanilla
1 C. chopped nuts

Directions:

Mix sugar, butter, salt, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal, coconut, vanilla, and nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool until firm.

Parents often dread or outright hate potty training.  Teaching a child to use the toilet after he has gotten accustomed to using a diaper seems like a impossible task.  But many parents claim that elimination communication potty training, or EC for short, is less stressful and more effective than traditional methods.

What is Elimination Communication?

EC has been used in many cultures for centuries.  It is simply the practice of learning to recognize the signs that your child needs to use the bathroom, and taking him to the toilet when you see them.  It is generally started before six months of age, but some parents start later than that.

Each child has his own individual way of communicating that he is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.  It’s up to the parents to pick up on these signs.  Some things to look for include passing gas, grunting, squirming, or a serious look on your child’s face.  Your child may do some or all of these things, or he may give cues that are unique to him.

Once you’ve figured out the signs, you can start taking the child to the potty when you see them.  Parents often develop signs, either verbal or visual, that let the child know that they are in a place where it is acceptable to eliminate.  If he does, some praise will reinforce the behavior and make him more likely to continue with it.

To Diaper or Not to Diaper?

One reason that some parents choose the EC method is because it can reduce the need for diapers.  While you will probably need some backup in the early stages, the possibility of not having to buy diapers or fill up the landfills with them once the child starts using the toilet is quite appealing.  Some parents find that using cloth diapers enhances their children’s success with elimination communication due to the fact that they can feel the results of elimination.

Some parents choose not to use diapers at all when practicing EC potty training.  Many of these parents claim that their children rarely have a bowel movement in their underpants.  It is often necessary, however, to use a diaper when on the road or away from home.

The Debate About EC

Some experts feel that elimination communication potty training is inappropriate due to the fact that it is started at such a young age.  They claim that because children under two years old do not have fully developed muscles, they cannot control their urination and bowel movements.  There are also psychologists who argue that early toilet training can cause problems later in life.

EC supporters claim that it is not damaging to the child because he is not pressured into going to the toilet on his own.  If done correctly, EC puts the caregiver in charge of getting the child to the toilet when he needs to go.  The child will realize what is going on and start going to the bathroom on his own when the time comes.

Elimination communication sounds unusual to some parents, but it is an easy concept to implement.  It has the potential to make potty training easier and less stressful, and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.  Once you’ve deciphered the signs that indicate your child needs to go to the bathroom, the hardest part is over.

Wanna no more? visit: Elimination communication