Every spring school children across America bring home notices about the upcoming Dove Family Film festivals. For approximately six weeks, selected movies are shown for free to children 12 and under and for only $2 for adults. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see some age appropriate family movies without denting the family budget.

However the Dove Foundation, who sponsors the film festivals, does so much more than offer free movies. The Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote and support the creation, production and distribution of wholesome family entertainment. The Foundation, which doesn’t operate under commercial pressures, awards a blue and white Dove Seal to any movie or video that is rated “family-friendly” by its film review board. The review board is made up of parents who have been trained to evaluate each film or video based upon Judeo-Christian ethics. To date they have approved over 3,000 videos and movies.

That amount of R-rated movies that have been released since 1968 is staggering. Of all films released since then, 60% have been rated-R. Parents are fervently seeking high quality, wholesome entertainment options for their families. They don’t want their children exposed to all the unnecessary sex, violence and anti-family values that runs rampant at the movie theaters and on their own entertainment centers. Now, because of the Dove Foundation, there is a reliable indicator to identify movies that are safe for family viewing. The Dove Seal makes it easy for customers to recognize titles that are safe for family viewing.

In addition to the film festivals and the review board, the Foundation also has a Children’s Hospital Dove Movie Channel. The goal of this channel is to provide Dove-approved movies to hospitalized children. Day-time television is loaded with soap-operas and talk shows which are not geared toward the younger audiences. This Hospital Movie Channel is free to hospitals and provides a welcomed break for kids who have nothing to do all day long between treatments, therapies and surgeries.

Steve Allen, comedian, author, composer and former “Tonight Show” host says it best, “There is no doubt that our entire culture is experiencing a moral breakdown. People can get more family-friendly movies on film and television by supporting the Dove Foundation.”

Don’t forget to look for the blue and white Dove Seal of approval while browsing the video stores! Also, if you’re interested in reviewing the Dove evaluations for a particular movie, visit http://www.dove.org.

Mention the word “moving” and you’ll most likely receive a barrage of negative comments and opinions: “It’s a nightmare.” “My moving company held my items hostage and ripped me off.” “My friends all avoid me when it comes time to move.” “I hate moving!”

With careful planning and a little bit of advanced research, your move does not have to be a struggle. Follow these 7 steps to a smooth move.

STEP ONE - DO YOUR HOMEWORK

NEVER choose a moving company at random from the phone book. Instead, ask your family and friends for referrals. Which local moving companies have they used recently? Were they pleased with the service? Was the pricing fair?

Once you have a list of recommended movers, check to see if they are all registered with your state’s Department of Transportation. All reputable moving companies are registered with the DOT, and will have a current certificate of registration — you may also call your DOT to verify the registration.

Check with your local chapter of the Better Business Bureau to see if any of the movers on your list have complaints against them. If they do, read through the complaints to determine if there is a consistent pattern, or if the complaint was a one-time problem.

Armed with this information, trim your list down to the top three candidates and call each moving quotes. Make sure they give you a “binding” quote that cannot be adjusted up dramatically after the move is completed. Get these quotes in writing to protect yourself, and then make your choice based on the total price as well as your comfort level with each moving company’s customer service level.

STEP TWO - PACK CAREFULLY

If you pack in a careless manner - just tossing your things into boxes and then taping them shut - you can expect to find a lot of broken items at your destination. Take the time to wrap fragile items individually, pack them tightly together to avoid shifting during travel, and use quality boxes. Those used banana boxes from the supermarket aren’t going to protect your items as well as brand new shipping boxes purchased specifically for your move. Go ahead and spend the extra hundred dollars to pick up a nice collection of moving boxes from your local warehouse superstore — your belongings will thank you.

STEP THREE - LABEL EVERYTHING

Label each box with the room the items came from as well as the name of each major item inside. When you get to your new home you will be faced with a sea of boxes, and detailed labeling will save you hours of searching. Proper labeling will also help the moving company place your items in the proper room of your new home so you have less work to do after they leave.

STEP FOUR - EVERYTHING IMPORTANT STAYS WITH YOU

Do NOT pack medications, contact lenses, jewelry, laptop computers, passports, mortgage papers, or anything else that would cause you great distress if they were lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep all of these items together in a box or two that always travels with you in your vehicle - NOT on the moving truck. Include some bottled water, snacks, cell phones, and any other items you may need within arms reach. Your move will go much smoother with some careful forethought.

STEP FIVE - TRIM DOWN, SAVE MONEY

Moving is an excellent opportunity to trim down your belongings. As you pack, set aside the items you no longer use on a daily or weekly basis, including clothes that are worn or no longer fit. Sell everything you can at a garage sale and then donate the rest to charity. Do not just pack everything and tell yourself that you’ll sort through it at the new house - you’re paying for every box moved, so why move junk? You may find that the proceeds from your garage sale will cover the entire cost of the move!

STEP SIX - ACTIVATE UTILITIES IN ADVANCE

So your belongings are stacked neatly in your new home and you’re ready for a nice meal. You go to turn on the stove, but nothing happens! You forgot to get the utilities turned on! You make some calls with your trusty cell phone, but find out that it will take a couple of days to get everything turned up.

With proper planning, this will never happen to you. Call the phone company, the electric company, the cable company, etc. TWO WEEKS prior to your move-in date and get the process started. By the time you move in, everything will be in working order and your life will be a lot less hectic.

STEP SEVEN - SUPERVISE EVERYTHING

Always be on hand during the moving process - both during loading and unloading. Never assume that your instructions will be followed. Watch and direct your moving company on both ends of the process, and always make yourself available for any questions or problems that may arise. If you’re off doing other things, you may be in for a big surprise when you get back.

Also, make sure to tip your movers for a job well done. Tip each mover individually to insure that each of them is rewarded in direct proportion to the job they have performed. You should make it well know up front that you will be tipping based on speed, careful handling of your items, and careful treatment of the walls, paint, and floors of your new home.

If your moving company did a good job, keep a few of their business cards available for your friends to begin their own moving process.

Enjoy your new home!

Let your fingers do the walking… Remember that Yellow Pages Ad Campaign? Excellent advice if you’re shopping for auto insurance. Shop around and do it yearly. Don’t just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Below are a few suggestions to help you get cheap auto insurance.

Insurance agents really have a lot of leeway. They can price match and they can offer many discounts. There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will save you a bundle. For example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a $50 deductible to a $1000 deductible, you’re inline for a huge premium savings. If you don’t think you could come up with $1000 out of pocket, then change it to a $500 deductible; you’ll still save a sizable amount on your annual premium payment.

You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth $1000 or less, yet they continue to pay $250-$450 every six months (total $500 to $900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on their old vehicle.

However, if they have an accident and totaled their vehicle, the insurance company will only pay them the wholesale value of the vehicle. The amount they would receive could be $1000 or less. A vehicle that old just needs the insurance that protects the other person in case of an accident.

Another method to save more on your insurance is by combining your vehicles and other insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a multi-car discount (if yours doesn’t, it’s time to switch companies). Further, many will discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them.

There are a few other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious, but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums.

Don’t just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. Your insurance bill should be an automatic trigger for you to make a few phone calls to see if you can save even more money on your auto insurance premiums.

Every vehicle should have certain emergency assistance items on hand at all times. Should you be involved in a break down or other emergency, the items you have in your car can save your life.

Always have a spare tire and jack that are in proper working condition to allow you to get back on the road in case of a flat tire or damaged tire. Carry jumper cables in your trunk in case you accidentally run your battery down by leaving the lights on or other items in the car. These items should be in the trunk of your car at all times.

It is a good idea, if you live in areas where cold weather occurs, to always carry a blanket or two in your trunk as well in case you are stranded without being able to run the car engine for heat. If you do run a car engine for heat, be sure to allow the fumes to escape and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning which can kill a person very quickly.

Carry a basic tool kit in your trunk that includes screwdrivers, wrenches, and a socket set suitable for your vehicle, and other items. Spare fuses should be included in case a blown fuse prevents your lights from working. A tail lamp or even a headlight is not a bad addition if you are traveling extensively. If you are mechanically inclined, you might include a set of belts and hoses as well.

At all times, you should have a set of flares in your vehicle to alert other drivers if you break down in a place where you might present a hazard. This can save someone from hitting you, saving both your life and theirs.

Inside your car, preferably in the door storage area of each front seat, carry a tool capable of cutting throughout the seat restraints. Special tools are made for this purpose but a strong knife can work in a pinch. This can allow you to exit a car that has been in a collision before the fuel tank can explore or to escape the vehicle if it is underwater. Be sure the same tool can also be used to break the glass to exit the car if the windows will not go down.

Add a general first aid kit to your car and you are ready to go anywhere safely. Always use common sense if you break down or have an emergency. Use your cell phone to call for help before exiting the vehicle if possible and always stay out of traffic.

When it comes to drugs and alcohol….either one is bad enough, but not always both are involved. Alcohol is the more accepted of the two in society and can be the main cause of problems in a marriage or any relationship.

While both can have the same consequences. Most of the time you only hear about how it’s the male that has the drinking problem, however sometimes it is the female ,either way the effects it has on the families are still the same. With everyone’s situation being different the effects of alcohol or drugs take it’s toll over time with usually the same results.

One of the many ways the person involved has a huge effect on the family is the fact that they are very irresponsible, not only with the normal family functions but also with employment.
The majority of society has had some form of a alcohol or drug related experience with a person whether they be a spouse,friend,employee or even an employer.

Most families try to work things out, especially when children are involved which is not always the best route to take. The children are then exposed to the yelling and screaming and even further violent behaviour that usually comes with an alcohol and drug related incident.

Depending on which stage the relationship is at, one can be in a very irrational state of mind thus becoming unpredictable and creating unstable situations in the family environment.
Even with repeated arguments there can still remain love for one another. Once the love is lost from either of the spouses there is a slim chance of ever retaining the love that was once there.

From then on the relationship has the possibility of becoming very unstable. The drinker can stay in denial which is the common term for people with drug and alcohol addictions.
Again everyone’s situation can differ, some still stay together while others separate which is not always easy but usually the better choice.

If a person with the problem decides to seek help through various services offered for drug and alcohol addictions, AA or NA, that is not always the cure for the relationship or the addiction. It might be a step in the right direction but a long road to recover especially if other family members have had the same problem throughout their lives, which is usually the way they have been brought up.

One of the problems with a person that has the drinking problem is the fact that only the person with the problem can help themself. There is nothing anyone can do until the person is willing to help themselves. When they are trying to get clean they are always vulnerable around others that drink and do drugs. Sometimes they fall back into the normal pattern they are so familiar with.

At that point deciding to separate or divorce may be best for all involved. It may be a good thing in the long run. The children can grow in a better environment and can see the difference between the one parent that is clean while the other continues to struggle through their everyday life. Hopefully when the children get older and have grown to see what happens with addictions it will have a strong influence when they become of age and begin to explore in the social world.

Once the children enter their teen years they are more likely to understand that drug and alcohol addictions are diseases not just bad behaviors. Children with parents who have drug and alcohol addictions are at a much higher risk of falling into the same lifestyle.

Drug rehab support groups such as Al-Anon and Alateen are available for them to help understand the disease. Most schools even have a D.A.R.E program (Drug And Alcohol Resistance Education) which can also offer guidance if the cycle is ever to be broken.

As with any disease, drug and alcohol addictions will worsen if left untreated and the children sometimes might feel that they are betraying the parent if they seek any kind of support group.
They must realize that it is still possible to love their parents equally and not feel disloyal when seeking help.
Love and support are very important but they must also think of their own well being.