Dec 11, 2012

Take Breaks Often When Skiing With Kids


Take Breaks Often When Skiing With Kids

Little guys work very hard when skiing, and will probably need frequent hot cocoa breaks. Ski schools may offer a "full day" lesson for small children, but the lessons are generally broken up into two smaller increments with "down time" in a kiddie play area.

For parents on the slopes with preschoolers, it is a good idea to stop for a hot cocoa break every few runs. If a preschooler still naps, then don't continue skiing through nap time. The result will be an over-tired child who will be frustrated by skiing! Keep the child's schedule as close to the routine as possible, and stop skiing when the child is showing obvious signs of fatigue or frustration. Remember, the point is to keep skiing fun and enjoyable for everyone out on the slopes!

Get Waterproof Ski Pants

Children should never ski in jeans. Denim is extremely cold and heavy when it becomes wet, and the fastest way to hypothermia is a small child wearing wet clothing in freezing weather. Get the appropriate ski clothing, including ski bibs, ski pants, or a full ski suit.

While a full ski suit might sound like the ideal solution, be aware that these suits might be difficult for a child to remove during the young preschool (and potty training) years. Ski bibs might be easier for the child to handle, and will keep the child warm and dry- as long as an appropriate ski jacket is layered on top of the bibs!

Kid's Ski Jackets

A proper ski jacket should be waterproof, fit well, and have layers to keep a child warm. A cotton jacket has no place on the ski slopes: find something with Gortex or other waterproof shell. Columbia, Spyder, and other ski clothing manufacturers make quality ski clothes for children. Try on the jacket (and all other ski clothing) prior to the ski trip to make sure it fits appropriately!

Jackets with a removable shell are a good idea for ski areas which have a great variation in temperature. On a sunny, warm, "bluebird" day, the child's coat can be thinned down to the shell or fleece layer, and bulked up again for a colder day.

Tipping Ski Instructors

Parents often wonder if ski instructors should be tipped after a day of instructing little ones. The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" Ski instructors spend anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours with little ones, instructing them on the basics of skiing. In addition, ski instructors help the children with their gear, fetch hot chocolate, and take numerous little preschoolers from the ski run to the "potty run." It is customary to give a tip - the dollar amount will vary dependent on the area. In a smaller, more rural town, a $10 tip may be just fine. In a well developed ski program with specialized children's ski instructors and a six hour program, a $20 tip is more appropriate. All tipping is strictly voluntary, but please remember the time and effort instructors have put into teaching children to love the sport of skiing!

Keep Fingers Warm When Kids Ski

Older preschoolers and elementary school children may prefer gloves for skiing, as the individual fingers allow for more dexterity. For younger preschoolers, however, stick to ski mittens. They are warmer, allowing the fingers to create a pocket of warmth within the mitten shell. Young preschoolers also have difficulty isolating fingers into gloves, so mittens are easier to put on and take off. Snowstoppers manufactures mittens and gloves with a sleeve, preventing a gap between the jacket and mitten.

Oct 23, 2012

Tips On Waterskiing


Water skiing is a popular water sport which is usually played during summer where most people head to beaches to relax. This sport is similar to ice skiing. You will stand on a board or ski (either single board or two boards, one on each foot) and be pulled by a string or you pull yourself against the sticks you are holding. The only difference is that ice skiing is done in mountain snow while water skiing is done in open water. Water skiing is open for everyone, whether you are a professional or a beginner.

When you water ski, you will need to have the following: ski life jacket, ski boots, ski bindings, ski gloves, and of course the skis or boards and the boat. You need to secure yourself with an inflated jacket or life vest which is approved by the coast guard. Just in case you lose your balance and get tossed in the water, you will be able to float. Choose a pair of ski boots that you can wear comfortably and that it will not cause sprain on your feet. Wear the ski bindings after you put in your ski boots. The bindings are adjustable for there are different shoe sizes.

When you wear it, wear it fit and tight; and you must be comfortable with the fit. The next most important thing you need to have and wear is the ski. To have this done, ask for help from somebody while you sit in the swim platform. Once you have worn the skis, take a hold at the towrope handle and float in the water. Try to relax yourself while you float with the help of the life jacket as the driver moves out the rope. And just prepare yourself for the exciting and fun ride. Once the driver is done with the rope, you position by bending your legs and extending your arms fully, while the elbows are like that of a chicken wingsposition (elbows outside the knees).

The skis should be positioned ahead of you, such that you are stand is tilted; and the rope in the towrope handle you are holding should be between your legs or skis. Now, you have positioned yourself perfectly. It is the right time to master yourself on how to maintain the balance as the boat tows you. Always keep your knees bent for the knees will maintain the balance. If you stand straight and the wave hits you, you are weak and will really fall to the water. As you keep your knees bent, you also need to keep your back straight.

Do not slouch. Keeping the back straight makes you balanced and gives you relaxed posture. But if you slouch, there will be too much weight and stress carried on your back so you will lose the balance. Extend your arms fully so that when you lose grip on the handle, you will have enough space to move your arms towards your chest. If you don't do this, you will fall hard backwards. Always keep the weight on the center of the ski if you want to maintain balance. If you put more weight on one foot, you will turn and stumble. And always keep the skis together so that it won't split and have your legs go on opposite directions.
Now that you have the knowledge of the basics of water skiing, you may try doing the skiing with style and have some tricks. This may be hard to achieve at first but consistent practice will be the key.

Oct 19, 2012

Jackie Kennedy Gloves - Return to Fashionable Gloves



Jackie Kennedy's iconic brand lives on even today. Her death on May 19, 1994 marked the end of a great era for fashion conscious females. And while Michelle Obama is often referred to in the same breath, the romance of the Camelot Princess remains with us even today.
Her Beauty Her Style Her Fashion Forwardness Remain Forever with Us & Her Gloves
Jackie's beauty, concern for the welfare of her children and her fashion forwardness remain with us forever. The mystique and allure of Jackie extends from female to man and across the continents.
The brand she carefully crafted with the extreme care to her clothing and her jewelry set the stage for the American Camelot royalty. Was she different from everyone else simply because of her position - definitely not. Jackie set the standards for fashion.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis July 28, 1929 - May 19, 1994
Sadly Jackie departed us in 1994, after being diagnosed a year before with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer.
Jackie Kennedy's iconic brand lives on even today. Her death on May 19, 1994 marked the end of a great era for fashion conscious females. And while Michelle Obama is often referred to in the same breath, the romance of the Camelot Princess remains with us even today.