Category: Product Review

Ducks on Trucks and all over Farms

Fall means occasional trips to a farm where families look at the animals living there. While visiting the farm, there may be apple picking and some treats like candied apples or cider donuts.

There are plenty of things to do when you’re on the farm. When The Oppressed was younger, she liked to visit the animals and feed some. She liked trying to get the loads of hay over the rail down to the animals who saw the food and waited not so patiently for it. The hay usually didn’t have a chance to reach the ground before it was snapped up and munched up by the four-legged creatures.

Visiting a farm means animals, food, tractor rides. Farms mean jobs for some people. It can also mean getting some fresh eggs or local honey. Not many people who visit a farm leave empty-handed.

Puck and a Duck on a Truck

Some people want to see as many animals as they can when they visit a farm. Some people got to see a specific animal. Scott Selsor has written a children’s book about a boy named Puck who wants to see a duck on his fifth birthday. That is the subject of a book Written by Scott and his sister, Crista Selsor Stubbs titled “Duck on a Truck”. In the book, Puck’s mother has an idea and takes him to a farm to see a duck. What better place to see a duck than a pond on a farm?

Cover of the book 'Duck on a Truck' featuring a cartoon duck with a bright yellow background.
“Duck on a Truck”

Puck’s mother drives him to a farm to see the ducks, but when they get there, there aren’t any ducks to be found. Puck needs a little patience. The ducks may not be where he expected them to be, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any ducks.

Patience doesn’t just mean looking for ducks. It also means being patient when sitting in the car getting to the farm. Puck is anxious and impatient. He wants to see the ducks and wants to get there fast. His mother reassures him they will reach the destination, but it’s going to take a little time.

We all need to be patient from time to time. On Christmas Eve, children are impatient. They want Christmas to come right away and see what Santa Claus brought them. If there is a day trip, our Miracles of Christ are anxious to get there. Traffic is going to add for that anxiety, and it that anxiety may even hit whoever is driving the family. When the children are waiting for the day of a special event or occasion, I remind them it’s going to come eventually, and fretting over it isn’t going to make it come any faster. If we are going somewhere, I assure them we’re going to get there, but worrying about it isn’t going to help us get there faster. For me, getting there is as much fun as the destination. I tell my children that when we need to take a lengthy drive.

Having Patience, Having Fun

It’s not always easy when we need to teach our children patience. There was a time I wanted to take my children to Valley Forge one day. My hope was to look at the soldiers’ quarters, the officers’ quarters, and the museum. I wanted to see how the Continental Army spent that winter and how they survived and were able to face the British Army that following spring. My children had no such patience, and they wanted to do something else. There have been other times when I have been more successful when trying to teach and instill patience in my children. That day at Valley Forge wasn’t one of them.

Farms can be fun. Heck, I even wrote about a farm once. You may see something you planned on seeing, or you will see something unexpected. Puck saw some things in places he didn’t expect to find them. Were they ducks? I’m not telling. Don’t want to ruin the surprise.

Scott’s book is fun. It takes the subject of going to a farm and seeing different animals, an activity enjoyed by all ages, and shows how the animals can be found in unexpected parts of the farm. Sometimes you have to look, and sometimes you don’t have to look too hard because they will be right there in front of you.

Imagination, Adventure, and Your Kids

Kids are always using their imagination. They’ll use clothes, toys, or even empty paper towel rolls when they are creating and living in different worlds. Lucky for the adults, the dangers faced by our little heroes remain far away from us. Zicky’s family isn’t so lucky, and they have to face the wrath of vermin and even snakes.

Kids love to use their imagination. Sometimes daddies and mommies will see their little Miracle of Christ playing in their room or in the backyard running around by themselves or with friends. Lucky for the rest of the family, the dangers faced are usually vanquished before the child returns from playing.

The Oppressed would play in her room when she was younger. Usually, she would be hosting balls in her room wearing Disney Princess gowns. Sometimes I would attend these balls.

The Boy would run around the neighborhood with the rest of the Fruit Loops. Who knows what was running through their heads when they were traversing the neighborhood playing in various backyards.

Kids and Their Imagination

The Boy also attended parkour classes. Again, what was running through his head as he went through the exercises? Was he performing for an Olympic event? Was he trying to evade enemy forces on a daring rescue mission? I would always ask about these classes on our way home. He would just shrug and say things were “okay” and nothing happened.

You see a lot of stories where a child’s imagination takes them into a different world, and sometimes that world will merge with the world their daddies and mommies live in. Darin Cape is letting people know about a little boy named Zicky who travels between worlds fighting a rat king and his minions, making sure they don’t cross over into the world inhabited by the people he loves. His graphic novel, “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King” tells of the adventures of Zachary (called “Zicky” by his family) and the dangers he faces every day.

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

Zicky is able to move between worlds using a ring. The Rat King knows about this ring and wants it so he can invade Zicky’s world. Unfortunately, Zicky is captured by the rats and their king. Zicky’s archnemesis, Zooky works with the rats to learn Zicky’s secrets and steal the ring so he can infiltrate Zicky’s world.

Zooky enters Zicky’s world and takes on the appearance of the family’s little Zicky. Zooky sets up operations in Zicky’s room and the attic, preparing the rats for an ultmate takeover. In between missions, he has to play a soccer game. Zooky would rather be somewhere else, so he comes up with a plan to leave the game early.

Zicky must find a way to get back to his world and save his family, who is suddenly dealing with a mysterious rat infestation. Zicky’s sister finds a dog who somehow fits into the sudden invasion of Zicky’s imposter and the rats. The family is trying to find out what is wrong with Zicky, why there are rats all over the house, and why is Zicky keeping cheese in his room, especially when there are rats in the house.

In addition to the rats, there is also a tickle robot. Zicky plays with the tickle robot sometimes, but Zooky has more sinister plans for Zicky’s friend. It doesn’t look good for Zicky. He needs to save his family, but Zooky always seems to be one step ahead the entire time. The Rat King has dispatched an “expendable” rat to help vanquish Zooky’s family. The expendable runs into Zicky. What will happen to Zicky’s family?

Kids are always using their imagination. They’ll use clothes, toys, or even empty paper towel rolls when they are creating and living in different worlds. Lucky for the adults, the dangers faced by our little heroes remain far away from us. Zicky’s family isn’t so lucky, and they have to face the wrath of vermin and even snakes.

Cape’s work follows a boy through parallel worlds. It’s a book that boys and girls will enjoy reading. It has an element of sibling rivalry that both children and adults will be able to relate to. The adventures Zicky faces are exciting, and the additional elements of an imposter infiltrating his family adds another layer of excitement. This book is great for children up to the fifth grade. They understand balancing play with work and naps. They also know what it’s like to be in the middle of something important, then be torn away from it by something not so important. This book is fun to read, either to your children or they can read it to you!

Helpful Information for Trustees and Successors

Sometimes, we deal with the unpleasant news of a loved one passing away. I have written on the series of books by Pat Henning and how they can help surviving relatives navigate their way through the minefields of taxes, property maintenance, and other responsibilities…

I will receive a commission if you buy a product through links in this article.

I’ve said a lot about things coming up when you are trying to do your job or deal with a problem. This is something that happens a lot to daddies and mommies. It’s hard enough to do a job or help your child with something without an emergency happening along the way.

Sometimes, we deal with the unpleasant news of a loved one passing away. I have written on the series of books by Pat Henning and how they can help surviving relatives navigate their way through the minefields of taxes, property maintenance, and the responsibilities that come with being the executor of the estate. In this final installment, Pat’s fourth book explains what happens if you are named successor trustee. His book, “The Successor Trustee Handbook”, will prepare you if the time comes to step into this demanding role.

The book is an effective read for the trustee and their successor. His book, “The Revocable Living Trust Handbook” talks about the duties and responsibilities of someone who is in charge of a trust. “The Successor Trustee Handbook” addresses what happens if the original trustee can no longer serve in that capacity.

Some readers may be reviewing the role in advance because they have been named as successor trustee and want to be prepared. Others may pick up this handbook only after receiving a phone call, walking into a parent’s home to sort through papers, or realizing that they now need to act.

“The Successor Trustee Handbook”

This book should be required reading for those waiting to step into the role of trustee and those who are already serving. For those who are already in the role of Trustee, the book will remind you of the benefits of consistent and accurate record keeping. For those currently on the bench, Pat’s book will help them prepare for the moment they need to step into the role.

There are reasons a trustee will need to step down from their role. They could become ill, incapacitated, they could be burnt out from the added duties, or they could die themselves. Whatever the reason, it is important the successor is prepared when this happens and the original trustee can no longer serve in this role.

Professional headshot of a man with a beard in a navy suit and red tie, standing confidently with arms crossed in a modern office setting.
Patrick Herring

Like the other books in this series, Pat talks about the importance of record keeping. This will help the trustee keep accurate records of the trust and the property in it, but it will also help them if a relative isn’t certain things are being handled in an honest way. Another important point is to focus on the tasks at hand and not be distracted by in-fighting or impatience. There will be potential heirs who will have questions about property or money. There will be conversations they “had” with other relatives that they feel will entitle them to use of a house, a car, or some jewelry. If something is meant to go into a trust, it goes into the trust and stays in the trust.

The trustee and their successor would do well to maintain thorough records. If this becomes overwhelming, it would be alright to hire a professional, an attorney, a CPA. This move could also be helpful if disagreements over property and money escalate into potential legal problems. It’s already emotional enough when dealing with a sick or dying relative. No one needs a rift in the family to make things worse.

Like Pat’s other books, this release contains bite-sized tips at the end of each chapter along with checklists to help those manage the family trust. Both of these helpful tools can help the trustee and their successor make sure they are on top of everything necessary for a well-maintained trust.

A practical trustee mindset can be summed up in four words: slow down, verify, document, then act.

Neither the trustee nor the successor should rely on memory when handling the trust. Bills and account credits will come in on an almost daily basis. In addition to their own daily life and job, these additional pieces of information can add to confusion and make it more difficult to manage the trust. The sooner information is documented and the more thorough it is, the easier it will be to manage the trust.

It is important to select a proper person for the successor. This is a duty that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Property in the trust is valuable and there are other items that could hold sentimental value. Both of these property types can make for contentious conversations between family members. Both the trustee and the successor can be caught in the middle of difficult and awkward conversations and situations. It is the trustee’s job to maintain neutrality and make sure the trust is being handled and run properly.

“Trust administration usually ends in stages, not all at once.”

If things become too confusing, it’s not cheating or a sign of defeat to hire a professional. This not only makes your job easier, but it will also show that you want what is best for the trust. If you are burnt out, ask the successor to step in. Again, this is not giving up. This is making sure the trust is getting the top care and attention possible. If you are the trustee, it is also important that you are being taken care of. If this responsibility comes at the expense of your physical or mental health, it is not worth it, and you should look to someone else to take over. This not only helps your health and sanity, but it can also be the best move for the greater good.

Patrick Herring’s series will help all members of the family when it comes to protecting assets and making sure the most secure and protective measures are being utilized. These books will not make the stress of property management and decision-making go away. There is nothing that can do that, but these books do contain the information necessary to ensure property and assets are protected and stay in the family.

Do you Need Help with a Living Trust?

Continuing my series on using legal documents to protect your estate and your family, I’ll take a look at Patrick Herring’s “The Revocable Living Trust Handbook”. This book, the third in the series, looks at what a revocable trust does and doesn’t do, as well as what it can do and what it can’t do.

Patrick’s book takes the reader inside the world of trusts and protecting your money and assets in order to take care of your heirs after you have passes away. With all of the talk today about trusts, it can be a little confusing when it comes to options you and your family have. Patrick’s book will cut through the noise and try to simplify things for you when you are in the middle of estate planning.

Funding a Revocable Living Trust

…Funding is often the difference between a trust that works in paper and a trust that works in real life.

Patrick Herring

One of the most important parts of setting up a trust is making sure it is properly funded. Someone passing away doesn’t mean the bills stop coming in. Property maintenance and everyday finances continue, so it is important that bills are still paid and the property is taken care of, especially if the house is to be sold. Letting the house fall into disrepair can make for more problems down the road if it is to be sold.

Patrick’s book takes the reader through the proper steps and channels when setting up a trust. One of the most common misconceptions of trusts is that creating the legal document automatically moves assets into the trust. There is more to it than that. Signing the trust creates the document, but moving assets for expenses and heirs is another step that requires further action.

Trust funding does matter, but every asset can be handled differently. Stock portfolios, bank accounts, and retirement accounts are just some of the assets that must be examined when it is being placed into the trust. Who you want to have these assets is another aspect of the trust that must be looked at. Relationship dynamics can change. People you were close to may have moved away or don’t share a close relationship with you anymore. People you thought would have what you worked for could die before you.

Avoiding Complications

There is a lot of important information in Patrick’s book. The basic things that will help you when planning a trust is that setting up a trust doesn’t automatically protect your home, car, or other assets. Creating a trust can avoid probate, but as Patrick writes, “Avoiding probate doesn’t mean avoiding all work after death.”

Throughout this occasional series, I have mentioned how important it is to make sure everything is prepared and accounted for. This will make sure things can be as painless and easy as they can possibly. Emotions can be running high during this time, making sure everything is in place and obligations are met and paid for can help make things easier. Records need to be understandable in this type of situation, they do not need literary prose or anything to make them look pretty. They just need the family to understand them so final wishes can be honored and complications can be minimized.

A trust funding checklist is useful not because it’s complicated, but because it keeps you from assuming everything is still in place when new assets or new paperwork may have changed the picture.

How to Deal with Grief and Other Challenges Estate Executors Face

When a loved one dies, there are a lot of responsibilities to go around. A home must be cleaned out. It’s important to make sure bills are being paid while the home is being prepared to be sold. There are also funds and personal effects to be dispersed. Where these funds and keepsakes are, and how they are to be accessed and distributed is a necessary and sometimes challenging task. It can also be a thankless one, and it falls on the executor to handle this.

Being an executor comes with additional duties and responsibilities. The family is mourning the loss of a loved one, and they have questions for the executor about the estate and its contents. The executor of the estate is also mourning the loss, but now there are questions to be answered. If you are the executor, it is up to you to answer those questions. If you can’t answer people’s questions, you need to find answers.

Are you the Executor of an Estate?

If you are the executor of an estate and you have questions about your title and responsibilities, you can find what you’re looking for in Pat Herring’s “The Executor Handbook”. Herring is the author of “The Estate Planning Handbook for Beginners” which was featured on this site earlier this summer.

Serving as executor is often one of the most demanding responsibilities a person will ever take on for a family member or friend.

“The Executor Handbook” explains what is expected of an executor in plain, easy-to-understand language. There are a lot of difficulties and challenges for an executor, even if you have done it before. One of the biggest challenges to handling an estate is fielding questions from relatives who want to know when assets will be disbursed. People don’t realize there is a process to an estate being opened and a careful inventory must be taken of what is included in the estate. If the executor is lucky, it will be easy to find everyone named in a will, locate them, and give them what the will dictates.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There may be heirs who have passed away, moved away, or don’t speak to the family anymore because of a falling out. All the while, there are other people who are anxious to lay claim to something that is in the estate. The executor must remind them of the importance of the will and funds as well as other property must go to people the will names.

How to Properly Maintain the Estate

Part of maintaining the estate includes dealing with informal agreements that were in place while the decedent was alive. These agreements may include use of a vehicle. If the vehicle is part of the estate, it must be held to as little use as possible to ensure its condition who whoever is slated to receive it through the will.

Some relatives will as about mementos and keepsakes. These seemingly insignificant items that aren’t worth much in an open market may hold enormous sentimental value. However, the executor must remember they are in charge of the estate and must be sure that everything is in its proper place until it determined what is to be given out and what is not. If the executor agrees to give something away and then realizes it was meant for someone else according to the will, that could make for some problems down the road.

Money is possibly the biggest example when it comes to sources of conflict in an estate. Relatives may approach the executor for small “loans” or try to pressure them into releasing some funds sooner than they should. The executor should resist these “requests” for two main reasons. First, they don’t know who is legally entitled to the money. Second, part of the money may need to go toward the upkeep of the property while the estate is going through probate. The executor must make sure each payout can be accounted for. This means record-keeping. Thorough records can help the executor keep track of where the money has gone. It can also provide an explanation if there are questions about money that seems to be missing.

Records provide clarity, and clarity reduces conflict.

Executors will face challenges and questions from multiple people. This can lead to difficult discussions and some disagreements. It is important for the executor to understand their obligation is to the estate and the final wishes of the decedent who made out the will. As mentioned before, what seems like a simple request can lead to trouble down the road with bookkeeping and making sure everything is accounted for and final wishes are honored. As Herring says in his book, “Fairness isn’t the same as pleasing everyone.”

Patrick Herring

“The Executor Handbook” is what’s needed to avoid trouble and confusion for executors and their families. Herring offers tips for those who have been faced with questions and difficult moments and conversations. Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard. Needing to explain to family why they can’t just take something from a house can make grief harder. When it comes to wills, estates, and their executors, an informal conversation no one else was party to won’t be good enough if someone wants something from the house, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem. Also, the argument of “It’s what they would have wanted” won’t hold up in a court that looks for ironclad proof and documentation of an estate. That is the job and function of a will. Making sure the will is properly handled is the job and function of the executor. It’s not an easy job, but Herring’s book can help take some of the stress away. 

The Estate Planning Handbook for Beginners

In addition to making sure everything is in place, it’s important to make sure you have communicated those wishes to the proper parties. If you want someone to take care of your children should something happen to you, make sure those people they are the chosen guardians. It’s bad enough trying to deal with a family emergency without finding out you’ve been charged with caring for little ones.

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As Wife likes to say, “Life is what happens when you make plans.” Even if you don’t make plans, life will happen. All you can do is try to prepare yourself, and hopefully, you’ll be ready for the next challenge Life throws at you.

Daddies and Mommies are busy. We have our regular jobs, and then there’s the cooking, shopping, getting to practices, games, school plays, and doctor’s appointments. Parenting comes with a lot of responsibilities. We want to take care of our families.

Taking care of the kids can take on a lot of different meanings. There are the obvious tasks: meals, health, clean clothes. As our kids get older, though, we are taking care of them in different ways.

Taking Care of Your Family

We want to take care of our families, especially our children. You can only do so much for your own Miracles of Christ, but whatever it is you’re trying to do for them, you want to make sure it’s done right.

Part of making sure things are done right includes ensuring your family is taken care of after you leave this mortal realm. You may have this under control already. Some of the more prepared Daddies and Mommies have things taken care of. Important things like wills, deeds, powers of attorney, and trusts are just some of the things you should have when it comes to making sure your final wishes are honored and your loved ones are getting the assets you’ve worked hard to attain and keep while you were on this planet.

This can seem like a daunting task to some. It’s not always easy making sure things are in working order. However, this isn’t something that needs to be done all at once. If you take these tasks on one at a time, these problems will solve themselves. As I once heard someone say, if you take care of the little things, the big things will fall into place.

The Estate Planning Handbook for Beginners

Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way, the title is long, and the subject matter is dry, but what’s inside is priceless information that will help you and your family.

Patrick Herring (photo: Harner Legal Forms)

Patrick Herring is someone who knows about getting things taken care of. Patrick has spent over twenty years helping clients deal with the pitfalls and hurdles of making sure money and other assets make it safely to the next generation. He’s a lawyer, but believe me, I’ve met some lawyers who are decent people.

Patrick has written “The Estate Planning Handbook for Beginners: A Plain-English Guide to Protecting your Family and Planning Ahead with Confidence”. Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way, the title is long, and the subject matter is dry, but what’s inside is priceless information that will help you and your family. It’s bad enough when emergencies or surprise losses in the family occur but making it worse is when there is no contingency plan, or there was a plan, but you don’t know where instructions and final wishes are stored.

Estate planning doesn’t begin with mastering every legal detail. It begins with a few clear decisions.

There could be other problems when it comes to managing your final wishes or what to do in case of an emergency. Relationship dynamics can change. Relatives can have a falling out with each other. Couples can get divorces. People can remarry. Relatives you were prepared to trust with your life’s work or your children could die before you. Ther are many things that can happen as you get through this thing called life. It’s not enough to file documents and forget about it. You need to have periodic reviews of everything to make sure everything is in working order and things can be as turn-key as they can possibly be when an event happens and paperwork needs to kick in.

This includes making sure everything lines up. If one form says something, but another form says something completely different, it could cause complications when your family is trying to handle everything. Worse, it could also cause some conflict between family members if there are to different sets of instructions regarding the same episode.

A Great Plan. Does your Family Know?

The question isn’t how many documents are in the folder. The question is whether the documents, the asset setup, and the decisions behind them all tell the same story.

In addition to making sure everything is in place, it’s important to make sure you have communicated those wishes to the proper parties. If you want someone to take care of your children should something happen to you, make sure those people they are the chosen guardians. It’s bad enough trying to deal with a family emergency without finding out you’ve been charged with caring for little ones.

Having old documents isn’t the same as having the right documents.

You also need to let people know where things are stored. It’s important to know what needs to happen in case of such emergencies. When you are explaining your final wishes to relatives, make sure they know where things can be accessed when it’s time. This will make things easier for your next of kin and also for yourself.

It’s not easy when you need to take care of your family, but having an updated plan that everyone is aware of can make it a little easier when the family is blindsided with news of an illness that leaves a loved one incapacitated. If everyone knows the relative’s wishes for such an event, it won’t make it less painful, but it will make it easier to deal with shout the moment arise.

Dealing with these things isn’t fun. Talking about these things isn’t pleasant, but if you can make things a little easier for your family when a crisis emerges, take comfort in knowing you are helping them make a difficult time a little easier. Patrick wants to help you alleviate these difficulties. His book can do just that. 

Wedded World Sydney 2026 Showcases Latest in Destination Weddings

For Wedded Wonderland, the event represented more than a showcase. It served as a powerful acquisition and booking platform, connecting high-intent couples with trusted venues, suppliers, destinations and luxury brands. By bringing together both sides of the celebration economy, Wedded World created opportunities for meaningful business relationships, qualified leads and future bookings that continue long after the event concludes.

Sydney, Australia – June 2026 – Wedded Wonderland, the global luxury wedding and celebrations booking platform, announced the successful conclusion of “Wedded World Sydney 2026”, held at Crown Sydney on May 27-28. The fourth global edition of the event welcomed more than 300 engaged couples, 100+ luxury exhibitors, international tourism and hospitality partners, and a global digital audience spanning the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and North America.

Bringing together leaders from the worlds of weddings, travel, hospitality, fashion and luxury experiences, Wedded World Sydney demonstrated the growing influence of Australia’s celebration industry and its increasing appeal as a destination for high-value weddings and events.

A Global Industry Icon Takes the Stage

Preston Bailey speaks at Wedded World Sydney.

One of the defining moments of Wedded World Sydney was the Australian appearance of internationally renowned event designer Preston Bailey, whose portfolio includes celebrations for Oprah Winfrey, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, royal families, Fortune 100 executives and some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Bailey’s participation marked a significant milestone for Australia’s luxury wedding and events sector, offering attendees direct access to one of the industry’s most influential creative minds. In addition to giving valuable insight into the evolution of luxury celebrations, Bailey also highlighted the growing importance of creativity, storytelling, and guest experience in modern events.

“Anything you dream, we can create. The celebration is the canvas and there are no limits,” Bailey told attendees. He also went on to describe Wedded World Sydney as, “incredibly well organized (and) incredibly well conceived.

“This (was) a very ambitious event, and it delivered on every level. I am impressed.”

A Curated Luxury Experience

Designed as an immersive showcase rather than a traditional wedding exhibition, Wedded World Sydney featured:

  • Exclusive VIP Experiences, including a luxury yacht showcase featuring internationally acclaimed Filipino designer Francis Libiran and his team from the Philippines, presenting couture menswear and womenswear collections against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
  • A Live Runway presenting leading couture collections from Paris, London, Manila, Barcelona, Melbourne and Sydney.
  • Beauty World, showcasing luxury beauty, wellness and styling brands
    Cultural Ballroom Experience boasted premium hospitality, travel and lifestyle activations
  • Bespoke consultation experiences through the Wedding Atelier
  • Global livestream engagement across the Wedded Wonderland platform reaching over 100 million

Francis Libiran at Wedded World 2026

The event reflected the changing nature of modern weddings, where celebrations increasingly blend travel, hospitality, fashion, entertainment and content creation into highly personalized, multi-day experiences.

By The Numbers: Australia’s Celebration Economy

Wedded World Sydney arrives at a time of significant growth for Australia’s wedding and celebrations sector.

  • More than 120,000 weddings take place across Australia each year
    Australia’s wedding industry generates an estimated $4 billion annually.
  • The sector supports more than 15,000 wedding and celebration businesses nationwide.
  • Average wedding expenditure in Australia now exceeds $35,000–$38,000 per celebration, while couples engaging through the Wedded Wonderland platform invest an average of more than $150,000, reflecting growing demand for luxury, cultural and destination-led celebrations.
  • The broader celebration ecosystem, spanning hospitality, tourism, retail, beauty, transport and events, contributes billions of dollars in economic activity annually.
  • Globally, the destination wedding market is forecast to experience strong growth over the coming decade as couples increasingly seek experience-led celebrations in unique destinations.

These trends are reshaping the industry and creating new opportunities for destinations capable of delivering premium experiences, world-class service, and memorable guest journeys.

Australia’s Opportunity

Australia’s combination of iconic landscapes, luxury accommodation, exceptional culinary experiences and world-class event professionals positions the country to benefit from the continued growth of destination weddings and luxury celebrations.

Wedded World Sydney brought together tourism partners, hospitality brands, venues, planners, stylists, designers and suppliers to showcase the breadth of talent and capability that exists across the country.

For Wedded Wonderland, the event represented more than a showcase. It served as a powerful acquisition and booking platform, connecting high-intent couples with trusted venues, suppliers, destinations and luxury brands. By bringing together both sides of the celebration economy, Wedded World created opportunities for meaningful business relationships, qualified leads and future bookings that continue long after the event concludes.

Industry Leaders Reflect on the Event

“The vision behind Wedded World has always been to build a bridge between consumers and industry,” Wedded Wonderland Co-Founder Wendy El-Khoury said. “Couples come to discover extraordinary experiences, while suppliers, destinations, hotels and brands gain access to a highly qualified audience actively planning celebrations. By bringing both sides together in one ecosystem, we’re not only driving bookings and business growth. We’re helping showcase Australia’s capability as a global leader in luxury weddings, celebrations and event experiences.”

Co-Founder Nicholas El-Khoury added, “The celebration economy sits at the intersection of travel, hospitality, luxury and events. Wedded World demonstrates the value of bringing those industries together while creating meaningful connections between couples, brands, destinations and suppliers. The opportunities for growth, collaboration and international engagement have never been stronger.”

Beyond The Event: A Global Platform

At the center of Wedded Wonderland’s global ecosystem is a platform designed to connect couples with trusted venues, suppliers, hotels, destinations and experiences around the world.

For exhibitors and partners, Wedded World Sydney represented more than two days of engagement. It provided access to an international audience of couples actively planning high-value celebrations and seeking premium experiences across multiple markets.

“The vision behind Wedded World has always been to build a bridge between consumers and industry.”

-Wendy El-Khoury

As celebrations become increasingly international, platforms that facilitate trusted cross-border connections are playing a growing role in the evolution of the industry.

Wedded Wonderland: What’s Next after Sydney

Following the success of Sydney, Wedded Wonderland is preparing future editions of Wedded World across key luxury celebration destinations throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The global event series will continue to connect leading destinations, tourism organizations, luxury brands and hospitality partners with a highly engaged audience of couples seeking extraordinary celebration experiences around the world.

Wedded Wonderland is currently inviting expressions of interest from tourism boards, hotel groups, luxury brands, airlines, venues and destination marketing organizations interested in participating in future editions.

Wedded World is Coming to Melbourne

Wedded Wonderland is proud to announce that Wedded World is coming to Melbourne, bringing Australia’s most prestigious luxury wedding showcase to a new city, a new audience, and a new chapter in the story of the country’s celebration economy.

Wedded World Melbourne will unite the finest venues, suppliers, and luxury brands with the country’s most discerning couples, in a format that has already proven, in Sydney, that Australia belongs on the world’s luxury celebration map.

Couples, suppliers, and industry partners are invited to register their interest now by visiting weddedwonderland.com/wedded-world.  Partnership inquiries can be sent to partnerships@weddedwonderland.com.

Wedded Wonderland was founded in Sydney in 2011 by Wendy and Nicholas El-Khoury and is a global luxury wedding and celebrations platform connecting couples with premium venues, suppliers, travel experiences and hospitality partners worldwide. Through its events, content ecosystem and booking platform, Wedded Wonderland supports the growth of the global celebration industry while helping couples discover and book extraordinary experiences.

Wedded Concierge is a personalized, white-glove service connecting the world’s most discerning couples with a curated network of leading venues, suppliers, planners, and luxury experiences across every major celebration destination globally. From the first enquiry through to the final farewell, Wedded Concierge manages every detail with the precision, discretion, and creative vision that extraordinary celebrations demand.

Toothbrush Toys Timer Provides Brushing Guidance and Fun!

To make sure your children are spending the right amount of time brushing their teeth, Toothbrush Toys also have a line of timers. The timers feature characters and play music to accompany your child as they brush their teeth, keeping them engaged and ensuring their chompers are getting the proper care.

Every day I make sure my Miracles of Christ are up and ready to face the day. Some of these mornings are easier than others. Thankfully my responsibilities when it comes to getting children out the door has been handed over to the children themselves. Gone are the days of getting children dressed, making sure their teeth are brushed and getting them into the car for a day of academics.

Same Job, Different Responsibilities

Now I just go from room to room, knock on a door and make sure The Boy and The Oppressed are vertical. I take a seat downstairs and make sure I see them walk out the door. They’re gone. On their way to the bus, and I can continue with my day.

It’s easier now than it was when I was changing diapers and having to decide what to dress the children in and what baby food to serve while cooking dinner for me and Wife. There are other things that are harder now, but the general itinerary and letting the children get themselves to the bus stop and then school is nice. It gives me a little extra time in the morning to get things done.

“Brush your teeth, comb your hair, shine your shoes.”   – My grandfather

A lot of what my children do at the beginning of the day has its foundations from me working with them and teaching them what needs to be done. Parenting isn’t easy. It seems there is always something that needs to be done or an issue that needs to be attended to. That’s why it’s important to teach your children the basics in the morning. Getting dressed, eating breakfast, bathing, brushing your teeth are all part of facing the day, getting out there and doing what needs to be done.

Children Need Help

I tried to help my children when it came to personal hygiene. As they got older, they would bathe themselves, but I would stay in the bathroom while they showered. I would give them cues from the other side of the curtain. Shampoo. Now conditioner. Leave that in while you soap up. Okay, now rinse. Everything out? Good. Towel off when you get out.

Brushing teeth was another thing I worked with the kids on, then I gave them more responsibility as they got older. I did everything I could for them when it came to oral hygiene. It’s important your child’s teeth are taken care of. Dental bills can get expensive, and it’s important that your children are healthy. That means eating healthy, and it’s tough for your children to eat when they don’t have teeth.

There’s more to brushing teeth than kids think. Again, that’s where us parents come in. We need to make sure they’re doing it right. Right amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush. Toothbrush doesn’t need replacing. Right amount of time being spent cleaning the chompers.

Daniel Tiger Makes Brushing, “an Adventure”

If you want to make sure your darlings are spending enough time polishing their pearly whites, you should see what the good people at Toothbrush Toys have. Toothbrush Toys likes to, “make brushing an adventure.” There are times a lot of parents would like to cut back on the adventurous days and moments, but I think you’ll like this adventure.

California-based Toothbrush Toys combines oral care with fun. Their products encourage your children to brush their teeth with toothbrushes that are also toys. To make sure your children are spending the right amount of time brushing their teeth, Toothbrush Toys also have a line of timers. The timers feature characters and play music to accompany your child as they brush their teeth, keeping them engaged and ensuring their chompers are getting the proper care.

Brushing to the music.

I received one of these timers, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. This timer features Daniel and his mother, who sing while your child brushes every morning and night to, “brush off the germs and make the teeth all bright.”

We put the timer in the bathroom and used it when my granddaughter needed to brush her teeth. The music was fun and engaging for her. The timer lights up while the music plays. This could be distracting for younger children, but with some encouragement, your child can be reminded the timer is there for them to brush their teeth, and they can still watch the flashing timer while they brush.

More Timers, More Fun!

There are other timers available, including Zoonicorn and English Tree. The music and characters displayed will make your child look forward to brushing their teeth. The songs are simple enough; you just might have them humming along while they are singing. Most important, your child is doing their part to keep their teeth healthy. It’s important to instill habits that will serve them well throughout their life. Healthy teeth are important, and the Toothbrush Toys Timer can help them do just that.

Some people like to do things with a little background music. Some people like to have background noise. The Toothbrush Toys Timer can provide something for your child to brush their teeth to. The fun music of Daniel Tiger (or whoever you choose to have accompany your child) will give them something to look forward to when it’s time to clean your teeth. Of course, having clean, healthy teeth can be it’s own reward, but your children don’t always see that right away.

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Helping You and your Children through Life

If you’re interested in what Kepler is sharing with his family, he has written his contributions to the future of our country and is ready and willing to share it with you. Kepler has written “Raising Tomorrow”. Inside the book is 208 pages of wit (not wisdom. Remember no parent knows what they’re doing.) to help and inspire parents to talk to their children. As Kepler said to me, “Raising Tomorrow invites parents to slow down, sit with their kids, and start the kinds of meaningful conversations that actually shape character—and last a lifetime.”

Another school year is coming to a close. The Miracles of Christ are counting down the days to their freedom. I’m checking the liquor cabinet to make sure I have enough to see me through summer.


Stories and Lessons Abound


It’s been another year filled with exciting stories and life lessons. Some days have provided a little more excitement than I would like. Parenting isn’t easy. Any parent knows that, but sometimes Life feels the need to send us a little reminder from time to time.


I love when fellow Daddies and Mommies reach out to me with a little tidbit or anecdote. It’s nice to see who I’m in the boat with. You might also know there are people who reach out to me with their own collection of stories, products, and services. Sometimes it’s something that can make your life easy. Sometimes it’s something to enjoy with your own child or it can be something for a daddy or mommy to use and enjoy, something to give them a break for a moment or two on the parenting journey.

“Raising Tomorrow”

 Kepler Knott is a fellow participant on the parenting journey. I say this site has parenting humor, not advice. No one knows what they’re doing anyway. Kepler knows what I’m talking about. He, like other parents, knows how hard it is to raise children and guide them through the struggles and trials of life. Kepler talks to his daughters whenever he gets the chance. These chances could be when his daughters are coming to him with a problem or just when he has something to impart to them. Hopefully his children are listening to what he has to say. He has a lot to share that can help them in life.

Kepler Knott and his Book

Kepler Knott

If you’re interested in what Kepler is sharing with his family, he has written his contributions to the future of our country and is ready and willing to share it with you. Kepler has written “Raising Tomorrow”. Inside the book is 208 pages of wit (not wisdom. Remember no parent knows what they’re doing.) to help and inspire parents to talk to their children. As Kepler said to me, “Raising Tomorrow invites parents to slow down, sit with their kids, and start the kinds of meaningful conversations that actually shape character—and last a lifetime.”


… [T]hese days it seems we are all so worried with why and how we are different that we forget the things that make us alike and (should) hold us together.
– “Raising Tomorrow”



“Raising Tomorrow” is divided into 16 chapters. Each chapter focuses on a different part of life. Throughout the book, Kepler invites you to sit in on a conversation he is having with his daughters. His conversations cover just about everything you see, hear and read about. There is even a chapter titled “On Politics”. This important chapter doesn’t endorse or condemn an ideology. Instead, it warns his daughters about the heightened rhetoric that has taken over the United States and the civil discourse that has waned and deteriorated with each election cycle. Honestly, you don’t need to be a parent to read and learn something from this chapter.


Kepler’s book warns his daughters about boys. Boys are an interesting species to observe. I have a preteen boy myself, and I’m lucky if his responses are than a grunt or a one-word answer. The crew he hangs with is also something to observe. There is always a story to hear. The days lived and led by these young men are certainly entertaining.


All Parents have Been there


“Raising Tomorrow” will have you nodding more than once as you read. It has a lot of useful, anecdotal information that you can share with your family. Kepler is the father of two daughters, but there is plenty for parents of boys that is useful and helpful, and I’m not just taking about the chapter “On Boys”. Kepler’s life lessons learned at work, at home, and in the military have laid a foundation that prepares him for life every day.

Note to self: it’s important to have a Plan B.
 – “Raising Tomorrow”

Some days parenting are harder than others. There can be difficult situations and touchy conversations. As parents, we try to get out in front of these situations so a conversation isn’t more difficult or awkward that it might be. From school, to religion, to relationships, “Raising Tomorrow” makes great points and offers openings at various times to talk to your children, daughters and sons alike, about their lives and whatever challenges may appear on the paths they choose. It’s not always easy getting your kids to listen, but at least you can say you did what you could to help them on those paths.

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Winston and Friends Show what Pets can do Around the House

Things don’t go as planned for Winston. Luckily, Rollo sees something is bothering him and explains he already does things for his family. Our pets don’t realize (or don’t care) that they contribute to their household just by being friends and companions. Cats rest on out laps when we’re sitting reading or watching television. Dogs can sense when we’re feeling down and come up to us to cheer us up. There are many things our pets can do to cheer us up after a bad day.

Daddies and mommies know I do a lot of writing about the animals in our house. Like our children, some of these stories provide a little more excitement than we would like. If it’s a mess in the house or a special trip to the vet, or a combination of the two, Kitty and Doggie have provided some adventures that leave Wife and I collapsing on our bed at the end of the stay, staring at the ceiling.

Our Pets Help in Different Ways

People have pets for companionship. It’s a far cry from the good old days when dogs would be used for hunting out in the fields or warning residents of visitors to the village. That being said, Doggie does get a little excited and boisterous when someone approaches our door or, God forbid, walks past our house.

Kitty does protect our house. Members of my household may not agree with this irrefutable statement of fact, but I know what I see when Kitty and I are hanging out. Her services have prevented mice from infiltrating our home and other rodents from pillaging our fruit and vegetable gardens.

Animals provide protection and companionship. My family is grateful for the many gifts they provide us, and we show our appreciation in return with food, shelter, and the occasional gift and/or treat.

A Children’s Book about Dogs and Cats

If you are a pet owner, or just someone who loves animals, you should see the works of Gloria Kundig and Caroline George. These animal-loving ladies have written children’s books about a dog named Winston and his cat friends, Rollo, Rooney, and Kaia. These books are great for you to read with your children or for your children to practice reading on their own. I tried many times to have The Boy read to me, but according to him, it was always better to have it the other way around.

The Cast of Characters

  1. Winston – A Dachshund
  2. Rollo – A British longhair cat
  3. Rooney – A British shorthair cat
  4. Kaia – A ragdoll cat

Winston and his African Adventure

One day, Winston and the cats are out in the backyard enjoying the sunshine when Winston came across an old map. The excited dog galloped to his feline friends to show them what he found laying in the yard. It was a map of Africa. The friends packed treats and toys and made their journey there. The friends encountered jungles and savannahs and met new friends who lived there. Winston and the cats also learned about bravery from a lion. The four domesticated animals marveled at the stripes on a zebra and the speed of a cheetah. All the while, there was fun and games and new friendships.

Winston and the cats returned home and told the humans about the fun they had in Africa, the games they played and the things they learned. Their time with the new friends allowed them to learn about a new place and the animals who call that new place home.

A Quest to Find his Purpose

“Your family loves you, and you already do a lot for them.” – Rollo

There is another story about Winston shared by Gloria and Caroline. In this story, Winston sees his humans working around the house cleaning and making sure everything is orderly. Winston wants to help the family. He wants to be able to contribute, but this mission isn’t as easy as he first thought it would be.

Winston wants to weed the garden, but he ends up pulling flowers out of the garden. He wants to make something yummy for the family. Unfortunately, Winston finds out he’s not a great cook. He then tries to clean up around the house. This doesn’t end well. Here’s a hint: How do dogs clean themselves?

Things don’t go as planned for Winston. Luckily, Rollo sees something is bothering him and explains he already does things for his family. Our pets don’t realize (or don’t care) that they contribute to their household just by being friends and companions. Cats rest on out laps when we’re sitting reading or watching television. Dogs can sense when we’re feeling down and come up to us to cheer us up. There are many things our pets can do to cheer us up after a bad day.

Winston’s books contain a lot of self-discovery and adventures. As I mentioned before, they are easy enough to read on their own, or you can have fun reading these with your children. You can also use your imagination. What do you think your children would do if they had the chance to explore in Africa?

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Adventures can Happen Anytime

Parenting is an adventure. Mommies and Daddies know that. Sometimes, it’s a little more adventurous than we would like it to be. The fun adventures are usually on vacations that families take together. Other adventures can involve trips to the emergency room. That’s never fun.

Adventures with my family can be one day or stretch out for more than that. On some days, we have a plan, but things take an unexpected turn.

If there is a vacation, we will plan that. If it’s a one-day adventure, it might come to us in the moment. Whatever it is, excitement and adventure seem to be around the corner from us.

Claire the German Shepherd

If you haven’t met Claire the German Shepherd, allow me to introduce you to her. Claire is the main character of “Adventures of German Shepherd and Egret” by Claire Kroft. Our German Shepherd is looking for new adventures and maybe someone to accompany her on the adventures. An owl suggests she talks to the Egret. The Egret, Adam, flies in and introduces himself to Claire. Together, Adam and Claire go to the Summit of Adventures. There are many animals at the Summit of Adventures. Each of them is working on a new experiment that will improve life for everyone around the world.

Learning through Adventures

After chatting with the animals, Adam and Claire spend the next day talking to individual animals. The German Shepherd and Egret learn about the different experiments, including a virtual reality tour with a bear. After that was a podcast where animals discuss their goals for the experiments they are perfecting.

Claire and Adam

My family’s adventures don’t revolve around inventing or designing. Our time on the road is spent checking out locations and landmarks we haven’t seen before. Trying to improve ourselves and our home and community is usually done when we are home.

Learning new things and putting new techniques into practice can be an adventure in itself. That is the point of Claire’s book, and it’s a great point. Throughout the book, Claire and Adam meet new friends and are introduced to new ideas and projects that can improve the world. While these ideas are imaginary, they can provide a launch point for children who want to make their community a better place.

Improving the World However You can

My family and I do what we can to make things around us better. You may do the same. If you’re teaching the children how to make their corner of the world a better place, they would enjoy reading “Adventures of German Shepherd and Egret.” Claire’s book could unlock some ideas that are waiting to be released from their brains and put into action by them and their friends.

Claire is not only an author. She is also the founder of Stealth, a software development company dedicated to helping companies grow their clientele in an affordable way. In addition to Stealth, she also runs Claire-ified. Claire-ified offers Chief of Staff operations for startup founders.

In her book, Claire takes her expertise and uses it to pen the story of Claire and Adam, who explore the deep tech facets of the world together. This is not Claire’s first writing attempt. She has also been published in NATE Magazine.

Parenting and Play: Exploring “The Boy, The Cube, and The Elf”

It’s not always easy keeping an eye on our children. Sometimes, our children will need to keep an eye on us. They need something, a ride a snack, or help with homework. When that happens, they will be around looking for us. Nico and Maddie are looking for Nico’s parents. We all hope they’re alright. A little adventure is fun, but an adventure spanning across galaxies can be a little more than what our heroes bargained for.

“The Boy, The Cube, and the Elf”

Some people call it procrastination. Some call it “Side Quests”. Whatever it is, there is usually something that prevents us from accomplishing something during our day. Luckily, it’s not every day we get sidetracked, and if we do get sidetracked, the interference we experience isn’t too difficult to overcome.

Daddies and mommies know it’s not easy navigating their way through life. On some days, something comes up. It can be an illness or another emergency that requires us to get our Miracles of Christ. It can be a trip to a store for a needed part of a project or something for dinner. There is something that comes up needing our attention and action.

Being a Parent

Part of being a parent means looking out for our children and making sure they’re alright. We take care of our children physically, emotionally, and psychologically. We provide food, shelter and clothing. We are responsible for their schooling, and we hope they are well mentally and psychologically.

On occasion, there is a turning of the tables. Sometimes it’s the children who take care of the their family instead of the parents. In “Home Alone”, a boy is tasked with protecting his family’s home against burglars. While this is a more amusing reversal of roles, there are times when children must assume caretaking roles for their family.

Brent Golembiewski

No parent wants their child to assume caretaking roles for their family. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Brent Golembiewski writes about a boy who finds himself needing to find his missing parents in his book series “The Boy, The Cube, and The Elf”. Brent’s book follows Nico, a boy who finds out his parents are missing. He must travel the realms of outer space to find his parents. Are they even alive?

Nico, Maddie, and Adventures

One day, Nico finds a hole blasted through a wall of his home. This is a big enough problem if the home wasn’t in outer space where the environment isn’t exactly safe for humans without protective equipment and oxygen. Joining Nico is an alien named Maddie. Maddie knows Nico’s father but won’t tell him how. This is just one of the things about her that annoys Nico throughout the story.

The human and alien must put their differences and annoyances aside and work together. There is a giant enemy named Marduk. Marduk might know why Nico’s father is missing. He could even be the reason his father is missing. Together with a group of aliens, Nico and Maddie must face Marduk and deal with an angry dragon as they speed across the universe to find out what happened to Nico’s father.

Side Quests get in the Way

Brent’s book is about a boy who needs to help his father. Usually, it’s the parents who are taking care of (and sometimes searching for) the children. Our Miracles of Christ require a lot of care and patience. When school is out, The Boy is out and about with the Fruit Loops. Who knows what they’re up to? Chances are they start off doing one thing, then they’re off on another adventure. Much like Nico and Maddie.

Nico is off to find where his parents are, but events in outer space will take them on a side quest. This other quest might need to be done so they can figure out a part of their other mission, or it’s the result of space monsters attacking our heroes or their ship. The ship, by the way, doesn’t seem good enough for Maddie, but it is a good ship, and it just might need a little TLC, which Nico is happy to provide. Maddie isn’t so convinced about “The Silent Sprite”, but she’s a good ship, and Nico is confident in her capabilities.

It’s not always easy keeping an eye on our children. Sometimes, our children will need to keep an eye on us. They need something, a ride a snack, or help with homework. When that happens, they will be around looking for us. Nico and Maddie are looking for Nico’s parents. We all hope they’re alright. A little adventure is fun, but an adventure spanning across galaxies can be a little more than what our heroes bargained for.

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“Pro Gamers Guide to Healthy Habits” Teaches True Success

His book features a gamer name Brian who is committed to being, “the greatest gamer in the entire world.” Unfortunately, Brian isn’t very good at gaming, so he is prepared to practice all day and into the night to sharpen his skills and achieve his goal. As a result, he sleeps too late and misses half the day. In order to get energy, he eats candy and energy drinks. The sustenance is loaded with sugar. It gives him bursts of energy, but he soon crashes and he feels worse than he did before he ingested all of the sugar.

I grew up with video games and spent afternoons, evenings, holidays and vacations playing some form of them. This experience with video games came in handy when I worked retail. People came in looking for a console or a game to buy as a gift, and I was able to help them with their purchases.

Today, there are a lot more options for kids than there were when friends and I were running and jumping for high scores, but that was okay. The games we had were enough for our delusions of grandeur. Also, a special thank you to the good people at Nintendo for allowing us to download these games onto Nintendo Switch. Replaying these games are a great way to spend some time when I need to escape my Miracles of Christ.

Video Games are Fun

Video games are fun, but it’s important to keep everything in moderation. Too much of a good thing, and it stops being a good thing. Video games are a great example of that. While it’s great to unwind and decompress with a little of your favorite console, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t take up your whole day, or your whole life.

If you’re a parent, you already know this, and it’s very possible you have spoken to your child about this more than once. Video games are fun, but there are other ways of having fun, and trying those other ways can help you child develop healthy habits.

Brian Saviano knows what you already know, but your children haven’t quite learned and understood yet. Gaming can be fun, but it’s also important to do other things in your life. It’s important to have a social life outside of electronics and outside of your home. Social interactions are important.

Brian’s Obsession with Gaming

Photo: progamersguide.com

Brian has written “Pro Gamers Guide to Healthy Habits”. His book features a gamer name Brian who is committed to being, “the greatest gamer in the entire world.” Unfortunately, Brian isn’t very good at gaming, so he is prepared to practice all day and into the night to sharpen his skills and achieve his goal. As a result, he sleeps too late and misses half the day. In order to get energy, he eats candy and energy drinks. The sustenance is loaded with sugar. It gives him bursts of energy, but he soon crashes and he feels worse than he did before he ingested all of the sugar.

He feels sick when he crashes. Too much sugar is bad for you. Brian’s pet parrot, Pauly, reminds him how much sugar was in the candy he ate. No wonder Brian felt sick.

Brian is sick from the sugar he ate, and he feels bad because he regrets sleeping late and missing half the day. He really wanted to be a good gamer, but it’s not worth it if this is how he’s going to feel. Brian needs to make changes to his lifestyle.

Healthy Habits are Important for Kids

Gaming is fun, but it’s not fun if you’re in front of a screen all day. It’s not fun if you’re eating junk food the whole time. Spending your day on a couch isn’t healthy. For kids today, there are a lot of options when it comes to gaming and screens. These make it easy to lose track of time. As parents, we need to make sure there are other things to balance that out. Part of our jobs as moms and dads is to keep our children healthy. This includes monitoring screen time and making sure they get plenty of exercise.

If your child is spending too much time being sedentary, “Pro Gamers Guide” is a great read for them. It will explain why it isn’t a good idea for them to be on their rear ends all day. It will also illustrate the negatives of not being active and how much they will like being on their feet and going outside to interact with other human beings. There’s nothing wrong with gaming. It’s a lot of fun, but there are other ways of having fun. Brian’s book shows you those ways and how your children can accomplish them.

“Pete’s Beat” Teaches Confidence through Music and Practice

Pete loves music. He loves playing drums. Luckily, he had enough encouragement to continuing practicing his drumming from someone who saw his talent and potential. It’s important to help kids when they are practicing and ensuring they don’t get discouraged. It could be easy to feel frustrated with something and walk away from it permanently. Whatever it is my children are working on, music, homework, putting together an arts and crafts project, I try to encourage them as much as I can. If they are discouraged or frustrated, I have them take a break and rest their brains before going back to it for another try.

Photo: Red Barn Publishing

Some people try to find their rhythm when it comes to music. Others try to find their rhythm in the grand scheme of things. Some feel they need to fit in, and if they do, they’ll be able to find their rhythm. It’s common, especially with kids. No one wants to feel left out. It’s not always easy finding your way. Along the course of life, people will try things. It could be literature, art, music, cooking. People will try different things or new hobbies. It’s a great way to let out your creativity. Plus, it gives you the chance to try something new, and you can meet new people.

There are plenty of things that can hold people back when it comes to trying things. One of the biggest things holding people back is the fear of failing when they try something. Trying and practicing is how people get better at things, but it can take a while to get good at something. Sometimes, the biggest thing that is holding you back is YOU.

Read “Pete’s Beat”

Your child can learn a lesson from Pete when it comes to trusting yourself and your talents. Pete is a young drummer and the main character in Matt Robinson’s “Pete’s Beat”. The book is illustrated by Scott Hubeny.

Pete is an aspiring musician who is always practicing his drumming technique. He is practicing at school using pencils, at the dinner table using his fork and knife. He’ll practice on his bed using a pillow for his drum, practicing away using his bare hands.

“By the end of the month, Pete had tried so many instruments that he was not sure which to play next. All he knew was that he had yet to find his own beat.”

-“Pete’s Beat”

People notice Pete’s work and encourage him to practice and play more. Pete lacks the confidence to take further steps with his playing. It’s a common thing with children and adults alike: Their lack of confidence holds them back. They don’t think they’re good enough, so they stop practicing, and they are stuck in that rut.

Always Encourage your Children

Between sports, academics, and music, I try to encourage my children to do their best. Practicing is how you get better. It’s not just with my own children, but also the children I coached in sports. Work on your game, your art. Practice. Continue to study your niche and sharpen your skills.

Circle Man (That’s his name) notices Pete’s talent and he encourages him to be confident in what he has and share his skill with the listening world. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but sometimes the only thing holding you back is you yourself.

The book talks about people being brave enough to try, confident enough to out themselves out there, and it also talks about a love for music. I love music. I’m not talented in the musical instrument category, but my children are. The Boy is a trombone player. The Oppressed played a tuba. When both Miracles of Christ were in elementary school, they played recorders. I knew a little about recorders thanks to “The Legend of Zelda”.

Lessons in Music and Life

“Everyone can play. All you need to do is find your own beat!” – Circle Man

Pete loves music. He loves playing drums. Luckily, he had enough encouragement to continuing practicing his drumming from someone who saw his talent and potential. It’s important to help kids when they are practicing and ensuring they don’t get discouraged. It could be easy to feel frustrated with something and walk away from it permanently. Whatever it is my children are working on, music, homework, putting together an arts and crafts project, I try to encourage them as much as I can. If they are discouraged or frustrated, I have them take a break and rest their brains before going back to it for another try.

In addition to the story, “Pete’s Beat” also has a glossary introducing music novices to the key terms in the book. There are also puzzles to do to help the reader learn more about instruments mentioned in the book and other instruments in the world of music. Not only does the book show what a little encouragement and practice can do, the puzzles make for a little break from practice.

“The Hyena who Laughed so Hard” by James Croft

A lot of people like to laugh. Some people need to laugh after a tough day at work or school. Some people, like the elephant, are grumpy and don’t want to laugh. Laughing is good for you. It makes you feel better. The monkey had an idea to see who could make people laugh the most. What could be better than to find out the funniest thing people can do? And what was it that made the hyena laugh his pants off? I’ll give you a hint: There’s an elephant sleeping under the tree.

Dads know that their humor isn’t always appreciated by their children. Sometimes their best jokes can fall victim to indifference. It’s a shame, really because I’ve told some great stories and jokes, but they only get eye rolls from my miracles of Christ.

Honestly, it was easier when the cherubs were younger. You find a Looney Tunes cartoon, and you and your child can sit back and enjoy yourselves for a little bit. Sometimes you can find a movie everyone can enjoy. The funny movies will make you laugh, and that’s why I like them so much.

Our pets can make us laugh. When our four-legged friends are little, they need a little time to adjust to their new surroundings. Kitty was relegated to a room on the first floor. She was a little thing and our house was big. We didn’t want her to get overwhelmed or lost. That would be bad. As she got older, we let her explore a little more and more. Now, she is all grown up and she patrols the home and the yard making sure the bipeds of our home are safe. Sometimes, I like to aim a laser pointer at the floor and watch her try to move her paws as fast as she can and catch the dot. She’ll look under her paw to see if the dot is there. It’s not. It’s next to her moving across the room again. This amuses me. Simple pleasures for simple minds.

Children can also make you laugh. It can be something they did or something they said or the way they used to say something. Sometimes they can tell you a story and that will make you laugh.

“The Hyena who Laughed so Hard his Pants Fell off”

“The Hyena who Laughed so Hard…”

You hear a lot about hyenas and how much they like to laugh. James Croft has written a book about a hyena spending a day on the savannah with his friends. His book, “The Hyena who Laughed so Hard his Pants fell off” tells the story of a hyena, a monkey, and a stork. Three friends who decide to have a contest to see who can make everyone laugh the hardest.

Everyone thinks this is a great idea. Everyone, that is, except for a grumpy elephant who just wants to rest under a tree. The antics of the other three animals make everyone laugh except for the elephant. He gives the other animals a piece of his mind. The monkey, hyena, and stork don’t understand what the problem is. They are laughing and having a good time on a hot day in the savannah. What could the problem possibly be?

What made the hyena laugh his pants off? Here’s a hint: There’s an elephant sleeping under the tree.

A lot of people like to laugh. Some people need to laugh after a tough day at work or school. Some people, like the elephant, are grumpy and don’t want to laugh. Laughing is good for you. It makes you feel better. The monkey had an idea to see who could make

people laugh the most. What could be better than to find out the funniest thing people can do? And what was it that made the hyena laugh his pants off? I’ll give you a hint: There’s an elephant sleeping under the tree.

Croft wrote this book to offer an exploration into friendship and humor. It’s not a comfortable day in the savannah, but three friends still find a way to enjoy themselves and have a good time.

Dad Jokes

“I think the real reason is they don’t want to admit my superior humor and entertaining skills.”

We’ve all heard about “Dad Jokes” and how they sometimes make Dad laugh and nobody else. I like to tell these jokes because I love the groans and eyerolls the Miracles of Christ give when they hear them. It annoys the children, but I think the real reason is they don’t want to admit my superior humor and entertaining skills.

Making laugh is fun. It’s something I enjoy doing. This book is a fun book to read with your children because it shows that any time of any day can be fun. And if you have a day where you don’t feel like laughing, you just might laugh anyway. Laughing is fun and it makes your day easier. The hyena, the monkey, and the stork understand this. Read this book and your child can understand it too.

There are all kinds of things that can make us laugh. Movies make me laugh. The Three Stooges make me laugh. Cartoons make me laugh. I loved watching “The Animaniacs” when I was a teenager. Your children will find different things that will entertain them, and these things will change as they get older. Sometimes, there will be one or two things that will stay with them their whole life. When I took The Boy to school, he and I would watch Heckle and Jeckle or Deputy Dawg until it was time for school. He has since moved on to watching amine. Oh well.

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“Somewhere Over the Rainforest” by Andrew Keith Slayton

When I was younger, people asked if I had pets. I told them I had a brother and a sister. If you ever met them, you wouldn’t say I was lying. I wanted a dog for a long time. That desire was tempered a bit when I was attacked by a dog.

Wife and I had a dog when we first moved into our house. The dog had behavioral issues, and we were expecting our first child at the time. This resulted in the difficult decision to give up the dog. We weren’t sure our new baby would be safe. Another dog would come to join our family, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Boy told us he would like a cat. He was fond of them when he was a smaller lad. We lived with our neighbor for a time when our house was being renovated. Much to his joy and pleasure, our neighbor had two cats. The more playful of the two was named Vero, and The Boy loved playing with her.

Renovations were complete at our house, and we were able to move back home. Not long after moving back in, we celebrated The Boy’s birthday. On this particular occasion, he received cat food and kitty litter for his birthday. He was puzzled about the gifts, and it took him a while to realized what said gifts were going to be put towards. His face lit up when he was told we were getting a cat. That was when Kitty joined our family.

I’ve written about kitty a few times. Same for doggie. Lovie found a post online for Doggie during Coronapalooza. She convinced the family to get her. We sat in a room, all of us wearing masks, and became acquainted with what would become the latest four-legged addition to our family.

She isn’t a bad dog; she just needed to be reminded that the bipeds called the shots at this house. I would come downstairs in the morning, and she would jump off the couch. She knows the couch is off-limits, and I would hear her scurry when I made my way downstairs.

There are animal people, and there are people who aren’t animal people. Either way is fine, and people on both sides have their reasons.

Adventures in the Rainforest

Photo: Andrew Keith Slayton

I was introduced to a book about animals. The book, “Somewhere Over the Rainforest” by Andrew Keith Slayton, follows a boy named Oliver who can communicate with animals like Jasper, a raven. This gift comes in handy when he befriends a stray dog named Scratch. The two immediately become best friends and go everywhere and do everything together.

“You know what they remind me of? Us! They make me think of how we, too, are all different from one another – yet we all get along famously without so much as a fight or argument amongst ourselves, like so many animals do.”
– Oliver Wendell Applegate

Animals who live in the rainforest are also able to communicate with Oliver. This comes in handy when animals are captured for a zoo owned by Barnaby Vandenburg, a ruthless tycoon who has plans for a zoo holding rare animals from rainforest. Vandenburg hopes the rare and little-known animals will be enough of a draw to lure paying customers to a one-of-a-kind zoo he is building. The animals are captured by poachers who hold them until the animal’s holding areas are complete.

Scratch learns of the captured animals and breaks them out of the holding area. Vandenburg finds out about the dog and is furious. He convinces the local police to take Scratch and punish him for breaking and trespassing on private property. Oliver’s father, Grayson, does all he can for Scratch, but his checkered past and questionable business practices won’t make that easy, and Vandenburg knows it.

Photo: Andrew Keith Slayton

Pets Basic Needs

Taking care of animals isn’t an easy job. Dogs need to be let out or walked when nature calls. Animals need to be fed. This requires time and money. It would be easy if we could communicate them in a way they could speak to up and we would understand them. Unfortunately, we all don’t have Oliver’s gift, so we need to rely on other methods of communication, like Doggie ringing a bell hanging on the door to tell us she needs to go outside and do her business.

Photo: Andrew Keith Slayton

Kitty has a box for that. I clean the box out every week. She’s grateful for that. She doesn’t specifically say so, but she and I are so close I know she is. Again, this requires a little extra effort on the humans’ part, but it’s a necessary one when you’re taking care of pets and trying to keep the house clean and tidy.

Pets need food, exercise, companionship. Having a pet requires a lot of work and effort. Walking Doggie is something I like to do because it gets me out and exercising. It’s also good for the dog.

“All of you are our planet’s future. You must remember, your future depends on what you do today for tomorrow.”
– Chief Kayakoma

Andrew’s book teaches us a lot about the rainforest and how we can take care of the world we live in. He also talks about animals and how we can help them. There are a lot of animals who eat bugs and other pests. Food we need can grow in forests or on farms. It’s important that we keep air and water clean. “Somewhere Over the Rainforest” tells the story of a boy who is faced with saving himself and his friends from tight squeezes. Along the way, he learns from animals and native tribes how the environment and people work together for everyone’s benefit. It’s a book you or your child will enjoy reading. Not only are there exciting chapters inside, but it will teach you about the rainforest and the benefits it has for everyone with two or four legs.

Photo: Andrew Keith Slayton

Wonder Juice Brings Refreshment Closer to Home

Wonder Juice offers cold-pressed, all-natural beverages that promote hydration and wellness. The drinks, available in various flavors, are free from added sugars and water, making them a healthy choice for all ages. They can be enjoyed any time, especially during cold and flu season, while helping maintain proper fluid intake.

Display of various Wonder Juice bottles surrounded by fresh fruits and vegetables including watermelon, lemon, cucumber, and chili peppers.
Wonder Juice is made with all natural ingredients.

Sometimes you want something more than water when you’re thirsty. What you drink will depend on the time of day or if you’re eating a meal. I drink coffee first thing every morning. After the gym, I’ll have some water or a sports drink. Said sports drink will go with me on my bike rides.

I usually have something to drink when I am out doing errands. It’s my way of staying hydrated. Hydration is important to staying healthy. I heard about a way of making sure you’re drinking enough fluids. If you need to empty your bladder, remember the saying “White is right”.

Proper Hydration is Important

Wonder Juice is the cold-pressed juice brand that turns wellness into a refreshing indulgence.

There are plenty of reasons for making sure you have something to drink. As mentioned before, you need to make sure you have the proper hydration throughout the day. Also, it’s important to have something with you at mealtime so you’re not choking on what you’re eating. For me, it’s coffee in the morning, and tea at night, especially during this time of year. It’s cold and flu season, and Daddy has children to take care of.

The Wonder of Wonder Juice

Because I’m always watching my figure, I’m rather careful about what I put in my body. Work is an obvious exception to that regimen, but we can get into that later. I’m looking for healthy things to drink so I don’t get dehydrated. If you’re looking for a new drink to try while getting ready for Christmas and trying to avoid colds, flu, and stay healthy, check out the products of Wonder Juice. Wonder Juice beverages are natural and cold-pressed. They taste good and some of them, like the Lemon Basil Jalapeño, have a little kick to them. I tried that one. It was good.

Wonder Juice beverages can be enjoyed anytime you’re feeling thirsty. Or, if you’d like, they can be used as part of a recipe.

A child standing with their back to the camera, holding a bottle of Wonder Melon cold-pressed juice.
The Boy models a bottle of Wonder
Melon, which earned Wife’s approval.

Children don’t usually gravitate to healthy drinks. They tend to look for drinks like soda (tonic in Massachusetts) or juices like fruit punch. Wife and the Miracles of Christ tried Wonder Juice’s offerings. Wife called the Wonder Melon better than any watermelon juice she’s ever had. It was only mildly sweet. That’s good for Wife, who doesn’t like drinks that are overly sweet.

Cold-Pressed Juice with No Added Sugar

If you’re looking for something new to try while getting ready for Christmas and trying to avoid colds, flu, and stay healthy, check out the products of Wonder Juice.

The good people at Wonder Juice pride themselves in providing cold-pressed drinks without added water or sugar. They don’t need any more sugar and you’ll realize that when you sip it. The Boy says it has a good amount of natural sweetness. Everyone in the family liked what they had to drink.

The Kids Like Wonder Juice

Lovie had Beet + Berry. She said it tasted great. Like The Boy, she liked that it was sweet, but not too sweet. Her favorite parts of the drink were it being low-calorie and having a natural, straight to the point ingredients list.

As I said before, I like to have something to drink while I’m running around doing errands. I don’t want to drink too much soft drinks, because those calories can add up. Something natural that’s good for you can be a bonus when you’re trying to stay healthy and hydrated. you don’t need to be at the gym to replenish lost fluids. Everyone should be looking for ways to stay healthy and take care of themselves.

Speaking of staying hydrated, there are guidelines to how much you should drink. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should be drinking 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids every day. Women need 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) every day. Wonder Juice can help you reach those goals with their delicious, healthy drinks.

Christmastime is here. You’ll be drinking a lot of different beverages this week. Some of them might not be the healthiest choice you could make. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if there’s a chance you might feel guilty about some dietary choices you make the night before, a bottle of Wonder Juice might assuage those feelings of guilt. If you are interested in trying one or more of their delicious beverages, you can check the company website to see where you can purchase them. They just might be the recovery beverage you need after a workout or a late night at a Christmas celebration with the family.

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