Free Books: September is for Readers and Pirates, Arggg!

Welcome to September!  This month, we can celebrate our love of reading.

Read-a-New-Book Month
Perhaps you did some light summer reading over the summer and now that it’s back to work, back to school, and who’s got time to read?

Well, frankly, you do!  September is Read-a-New-Book month.  I am an avid and fast reader and for me, this is easy. However, some of you may limit your reading to vacation because you don’t have time.  I don’t have time either!  My list of books of to review are next to my bed and in the bathroom, and I do read them.  However, I have discovered a fabulous  new trend: podiobooks!

What is a podiobook? Simply stated, it’s a book that is delivered in podcasts. If you are a fan of genre fiction (i.e., scifi, fantasy, romance), there is plenty out there for you! The beauty of this is that you can subscribe (often for free, but sometimes there is a fee) and get the book in increments. I love this idea!  Here are some of the podiobooks I’ve read or am reading and love:

• Goblin Market – Fantasy
• Trapping a Duchess – Period Romance
• Playing for Keeps – Superhero Scifi
• Dreamer’s Thread- Fantasy
• Little Brother – Scifi (not free, but worth the cost)

If you are listening to an audio broadcast, remember that the authors put a lot of sweat and hard work into their content.  In fact, most of the podiocasts out there are full, theatrical productions.  Consider donating to the authors and promoting the ones you really like, just like you would for a book.

If you prefer your book on demand, you can go to the follow places to download audio content.  (Note that some are subscription based)

• Podiobooks.com
• Audible.com
• Audiobooks

If you prefer to download free books and are looking to catch up on your reading list or read new content online, you can check out the following:

• DailyLit
• The Gutenberg Project

Library Card Sign-Up Month
Lots of people don’t have library cards but I’ve learned the value of having one, even if I don’t use it much.  My library is quite small, but it feeds into the larger Allentown library.  The beauty and use of a library can be summed up in two words: free books.  For a writer like me, it’s critical.  I need to read the genres I’m writing in and finding the books at the library saves me a lot of trouble and cost.  Not only that, but I can apply the 50 page rule without feeling cheated. The 50 pages rule means I’ll read up to page 50, if I don’t like it by then, I’ll stop reading.

Remember, you also get valuable referencing at the library.  While you can search for plenty of things online, researching at the library expands your resources.  You can also search for your library online and see if they have what you need. Finally, remember that you can get movies and music at the library, too.

Talk like  a Pirate Day
And if none of those things interest you, Saturday is “International Talk like  a Pirate Day“.  No, I’m not making this up!  Simply replace your laughter with “hardee har har”, you expletives with “Arrrrrrg!”, and “ya know?” with “savvy?” Don’t forget to alert your friends and wish them a happy “talk like a pirate” day!

Or, visit the library, get a card and rent  “Pirates of the Caribbean”, lol!

What audiobooks do you love? Any sites you can recommend to download books? And, more importantly, will you talk like a pirate on Saturday?

Fashion Week: 9 Tips for Fashionable Bargain Hunting!

Fashion Week officially began on Sunday, September 13th.  Fashion Week is dedicated to designers launching their fall lineups, and is the start of the fashion season.

For parents, September is back to school as well, and so by the time Fashion Week rolls around, we are done shopping for the kids and ready to shop for ourselves.  (If you have daughters, you can enter my awesome Fashion Week giveaway for kids into fashion over at Mom Blog!)

The problem?  Tight budgets.  Sure we need new winter clothes and shoes but there is this “crunch time” between buying school gear and holiday shopping that makes it rough to pick up some nice stuff for yourself.

However, there is a way to do affordable shopping. You have to be smart, creative, and not afraid of coupons.  Here are some smart shopping tips to help you spruce up your wardrobe:

1. Read your receipts. You’ll notice that a lot of receipts from stores ask you to take a survey in exchange for something. Often it is for a contest entry, but I got one last week that entitles me to a time-limited discount at the same store.  You often have a small window to do it, so always check!
2. Email lists. Start giving out your emails when you do shop.  Set up a special email at Gmail or Yahoo so that you can avoid spam. My personal favorite email list is Kohls.  They give you points toward coupons as you shop and registered users get additional coupons in your email.  Not only that, but you’ll be alerted to the best sales.
3. Reward points. Yesterday, I got an email from Borders Rewards and discovered that they are good towards various stores – like Shoes.com, who had free shipping at the time. Combined with a $10 coupon, all I had to do was search shoes and purchase.  I saved a pretty penny. Check all the places you are signed up for and all your credit cards for reward programs. (Note that the Borders program is just a free sign up-can’t get easier than that!)
4. Shop it to me. My co-blogger, Terra, over at Journey in Parenting blogged about this one. I signed up and it’s awesome!  They email you daily with deals and sales for the brands you select. Careful, it’s a big list.
5. Discount stores. They just opened a Ross near us.  Have you ever been to one? This was my first visit and my husband walked in and out with a pair of $100 dress shoes for 30 bucks.  A good discount store  goes a long way to saving money.
6. Shop carefully. I went to exchange a shirt I accidentally bought 2 of for my daughter and realized she needed more pants.  As I perused the leggings, I went for the neutral color. Turns out, it was not on sale, even though it was exactly the same except for color. And believe me, almost all of them were colors a kid could wear year-round.
7. Clothes and shoes from last season. You can’t get away with this too often, but some basic pieces will work year-round, like certain accessories. Be creative.  Flip flops make perfect slippers and for $3, why not?
8. Good Will and consignment shops. I’ve heard great things about a Good Will store a few miles away, and nothing about a nearby one.  Finding a good used clothing shop like this does depend on your area. If you are near an upscale area, you’ll get better clothes and bigger bargains.
9. Shop online. Go online and find out not only the deals, but what competitors or outlets are carrying the same brands.  Shop online from catalogs you get – they will often give you better deals, such as a discount.  Also, if you can’t find what you want in the store, tell them and they may give you a free shipping coupon to buy it online.  Children’s Place did this for me when they ran out of raincoats.

Good luck! Share your best bargain hunting tips here, so I can get those much-needed fall and winter clothes without breaking the bank!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Commemorate 9/11 with a Day of Service

9/11 is a difficult day to commemorate. Those of us who were New Yorkers at the time look back on that day as marker of pain, difficulty and trauma. Americans look back on that day as a reminder that nothing is secure or sacred.

On that day, we all lost something: trust. We lost trust in our government to protect us. We lost trust in the motives of people we don’t know. We lost trust in the designs of people whose opinions differ from ours.

This loss of trust has been exploited over the years, in my opinion, by people on both sides of the political fence for their own gains. Eight years later, we’ve arrived at a place where Americans can barely talk to each other in a civil manner about the things that matter most to us, much less arrive at a decision to make this country a better place to live.

Can we get back this valued trust?

I say we can, but the only solution I’ve ever seen that works in restoring trust is generosity. The principle is simple: if you want something, you have to give it first. I’ve seen countless psychologists, philosophers and preachers teach on this idea and, after battling my own selfish agenda, I’ve seen it work when I’ve actually had the courage to put it into practice.

You can witness it on a small scale in your own life. Do you want to stop arguing with your spouse? Then stop your mouth from saying toxic words next time you talk. Do you want to stop screaming at your kids? Then take a step back and calm down before you open your mouth again. Do you want opportunity to come knocking at your door? Then go out and bring blessings to someone else.

It sounds too simple, too naive, and too idealistic. I am a person who believes what I see for myself and I’ve seen this work. I swallow words I want to say back to my husband, and the argument never gets started. I cut down screaming at the kids and they are more compliant. I give when I can and the floodgates of abundance have opened to me.

As Americans, let’s start to restore a sense of trust by planning how we will commemorate tomorrow. Start with the people you love or reach outside your comfort zone. Go to 9/11 Day of Service and pledge to help someone else.  It can be as simple as sending a card to a lonely relative or watching someone’s kids so they can have a day off.  You can donate to a charity that is doing something amazing, like saving children from the sex trade or helping people in underprivileged countries get animals and seeds to start a self-subsistent life.  You can volunteer locally to clean up a park, donate food and supplies to our overseas troops, or bring some food to a shut-in.

If you still can’t think of anyone you can help, go to 9/11 Day of Service and search for local volunteer opportunities.

Let’s make this country a great place to live again by reaching out and helping our fellow man (and woman!)

What will you do to commemorate 9/11?  Who will you serve?

Are You Courteous?

Did you know that September is National Courtesy Month?  I think when people think of “courtesy”, they think of it as a dead art form, usable only in polite society.
That is absolutely not true!  Courtesy is defined as both “excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior” and “a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression”.  You’re probably thinking, “Well, I do that all the time!”  So do I!

Don’t I?

Those of us with kids have a harder time hiding from the fact that more often than we’d like, we can be downright rude. Children are a clear reflection of all our inconsiderate attitudes: impatience, ungratefulness, selfishness, and disrespect.  They picked up all those lovely habits from our own obnoxious, and often loud, behavior!

Imagine if people were consistently more considerate of others. What if everyone always used their signals when turning or changing lanes?  The result would be less accidents, less road rage, and less aggravated drivers. What if people patiently waited their turn when the check out person had a hard time or needed an override? We’d all be less stressed. What if we started saying “hello”, “thank you”, and “excuse me” whenever it applied? We’d all be more cheerful and the day would probably go more smoothly. Why should you be courteous to others? Because we won’t have a polite society until we make it so.

This month we can challenge ourselves to make a difference. Turn your back on the anger and hatred coming out of the television and off the radio and stand up for politeness. Let’s end this sense of “me first” and “me only” that’s hanging over our country by being more courteous.  Here’s a cure for some of those “evils” I listed above:

• Impatience: When you’re impatient, often it’s because you think you or your goal are more important than anyone else.  Life-threatening situations aside, it is possible that you are the cause of your own impatience, which won’t do anything but raise your blood pressure (for example, if you’re stuck in traffic). When you’re in the situation, breathe deep, put on relaxing music, and pray or quote quote calming mantras. If this is a situation you run into often, plan a way to avoid it. For the traffic example, you can research an alternate route, check traffic patterns before you leave, or plan your drive when traffic is quieter if possible.
• Ungratefulness: Because we live a “me-centered” world, when someone does something for you, anything, it really is cause for gratitude.  Saying “thank you” goes a long way to mending differences and building relationships.
• Selfishness: It’s almost incomprehensible to me that rampant selfishness still exists in an economy like this, but it does.  It’s time to learn that less is more. If you’re hung up and stressed out because you can’t maintain the upkeep on your stuff, maybe it’s time to let some of it go. Find ways to have fun that are more inclusive of your family and family and require less money or upkeep. Lending a helping hand is a great way reduce our own sense of self-interest and it can really boost your enjoyment of life.
• Disrespect. If you can’t be bothered to be civil to someone, you are disrespecting them. Watch disrespectful children (and yes, mine are sometimes too), and you have to suspect if they got it from their parents. Simple courtesies like a greeting, holding the door for someone, letting someone with few items ahead of you in the store, and so on show that you care. Watch it come back to you as well!

For a more formal discussion on proper etiquette in all kinds of situations, here are some great resources:

• Emily Post: oldest and best
• Etiquette Hell:Aunt Fifi: best picture ever!
• Tanner’s Manners for kids.

I DARE YOU: If this article made you feel guilty, take the September challenge and spend the rest of the month practicing being courteous. Share your triumphs and challenges

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Throw an Affordable Labor Day Party with Coordinated Couponing!

Welcome to another Labor Day, another summer season unofficially ended. Kids are back to school and next week, work takes on an intensity that it lacked all summer. This weekend is the last chance for a summer celebration.

What will you do this Labor Day?  I’m working for some of it.  After all, it is called “labor” day, thank God I’m doing labor and not going into labor, lol…

Other than that, some friends are having a barbeque.  What’s great about my neighborhood is that when a party or gathering is thrown, everyone is expected to pitch in.  This is a great way to save money this Labor Day: have a potluck party and let your guests bring tables, chairs, games, and what they want to drink.  They’re more likely to help clean up, too, if they bring their own dishes. Remember to coordinate your food so that not everyone brings dessert.

Labor Day Couponing 101

Save costs on your Labor Day event by using coupons.  Here are some tips on how to start couponing

• Check out all your local grocery stores online before and after Sunday.  Most stores will allow you to enter your zip code, select the store, and view the last sales flier.
• Make a list of what you will need including food, decorations, booze, clean up stuff, etc.
• Check out all the best couponing sites, like Coupons.com (currently running juice, cereal, and sweet rolls coupons), Freebies4Mom (more Pillsbury coupons), and Frugal Coupon Living (lists of grocery deals sorted by store).  Note: don’t be afraid to use CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, etc.
• Check the sites of your favorite brands. You can sign up for first-time freebies at places like Coffee-Mate.com.  Search the site for a “promotions” section. I recommend creating a special email just for this, so you can spam-proof it.
• Make sure you have a card for every store you shop at.
• Get together with your guests and share coupons you’ve saved, including in-store coupons.
• Plan who will go where. Maybe you don’t shop at a particular store and don’t have the card. Or, maybe your neighbor is on her way to a store and can compare prices while there.
• Double coupons are your friends! Do your homework on this one.  We have a particular store that doubles them, but the one closest to me only doubles up to $1.  Another branch that I frequently pass doubles them up to $2.
• Take advantage of special offers. A local store is giving away free gourmet coffees and free birthday cakes for kids this week, and I just happen to know someone with a birthday!

If’ you are planning a Labor Day event, don’t forget to have enough of the following on hand:

• Paper products. That includes toilet paper and paper towels, the two I always forget.
• Dishwasher soap and sponges.
• Other cleaning fluids for big messes.  You are going to clean up before guests arrive anyway, right?
• A charged camera.
• Plenty of seating.
• Aspirin, bandages, antacid, etc.  Never had a party where someone didn’t need this type of stuff.

Don’t forget to put away the things you don’t want the kids (or drunken adults) messing with, load up some tunes on the iPod, and you’re all set!

I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day celebration! Share your tips, recipes, coupons and favorite coupon websites with us too.

Welcome to Better Breakfast Month!

Today I saw a commercial came on, selling what amounts to sugar, fat and carbs as an excellent breakfast for school kids.

Are they kidding? Do they think that parents don’t know any better?

Now is the perfect time to start feeding our kids a healthy breakfast.  September is “Better Breakfast Month” and better breakfasts for your kids starts with better breakfasts for you.

I’ll admit, I’m a breakfast snob.  I don’t think I’ve missed breakfast more than 5 or 6 times in my entire life, no exaggeration! I love breakfast foods and in my opinion, there are only two kinds of breakfasts: healthy and not healthy.  I have had more than my share of non-healthy (can you say “donut”?). I am trying to fix this, but it isn’t easy.

For my money, the best breakfast is  Kashi cereal, with berries and nuts. You get fiber, whole grains, protein, calcium, and antioxidants in your first meal of the day.  Score! If you want to try Kashi, but are nervous, here are two great promotions they are running:

1. Download a coupon for Honey Sunshine from Kashi.
2. Get a free sample of Kashi cereal.

Sadly, my best healthy breakfast got ruined because they no longer carry my favorite brand of Kashi cereal at any of my supermarkets. (I wonder why?)  Another reason is my 3 year old.  She loves fruit for snacks, desserts and breakfast.  I’m lucky if there are any berries or bananas left in the morning to put into my cereal!

For my kids’ breakfasts, it’s a little trickier, kids being fussy at times. I let Zoe eat her fruit (she doesn’t like French toast or pancakes) and give her a piece of toast with butter and cinnamon and milk with Ovaltine. No protein, alas, but 9 times out of 10, she’ll eat before leaving for preschool.

As for Amelia, she likes French toast, so I cough up the extra bucks and get either Omega-3 or organic eggs. And yes, I whip up a full breakfast daily.Amelia takes her French toast with cinnamon and butter.  Neither of my children like syrup, so we don’t have the excess sugar.

As school starts with an earlier bus schedule than ever before and two girls to prepare, including one 6 year old entering her first “full” days of school, I’m on the hunt again for easy, healthy, and protein-filled breakfast ideas.  I’m hoping to phase out the regular bread products and use a healthier version at some point, and get more proteins and vitamin-rich food on the table.  Zoe loves eggs, but cooking up two entirely different breakfast entries on a school morning might kill me!  I am a working mom, after all. I did read that soy is full of protein and I can try substituting that, but I’m not sure the kids would eat. Would I? Never tried it.

I could go back to using  peanut or putting a mild cheese on the toast, rather than butter.  That would work well, and if I can get some seasonal fruits or spreads onto Amelia’s French toast, I might have figured out this breakfast thing at long last!

Then all I’d need to do is try it myself.

Take the challenge: Drop the pop’em in the toaster, sugar coated junk and find easy, healthy protein-laden food for your kids to get a great start in school.  If you have breakfast solutions that fit the bill, please share them here!  Got coupons? Share them too!

Celebrate National Bowling Week (and get a Free Bowling Coupon!)

Saturday, August 29 to Friday, Saturday5th marks National Bowling Week.  This is the perfect time to get the family together and enjoy a night out for this sport.

I love bowling, but it wasn’t always so.  The first time I went bowling was for a birthday party for a dear friend when I was in my late 20s.  She thought I’d be jazzed, but she was shocked to find I’d never gone before. I was terrified. How on Earth did you bowl??  I tried rolling the ball between my legs and it only managed to roll in the gutter.  The only consolation was that there was at least one other person there far more terrible than I was.

A short time later I was dating my husband and we discovered a local bowling alley. During one of our first summers together, we had half-day Fridays and the lanes were empty.  I’m betting that he talked me into it, but it turned out to be great fun. First thing I had to do was stop rolling the ball between my legs.  I can’t count how many times I “dropped” the ball down the lane, often into the gutter. Every loss just meant another round of beer, and somehow, I managed to learn to swing my arm.  Halfway through the summer, we discovered “Rock ‘n Bowl”, where the lanes replace the bright overhead lights with disco-type lighting and play cool music.

Soon we were hooked, spending hours at the lanes, but I never did learn the proper way to bowl.  To this day, I cannot walk while swinging my ball, but I manage to do “alright”.  It’s hard to score when you can only handle an 8 pound ball, but I still do get my share of strikes and spares.  So you see, there is hope for the president’s bowling skills, lol…

We dropped the ball on bowling after we had kids, but we still play it on the Wii, quite frequently.  We just got the upgraded sensors for the controllerswhich improves the feel of video bowling, but it’s still not like the real thing  You can, of course, keep yourself from getting rusty with with Wii bowling.  I think (and hope) I’ve mastered my form on it and I’m eager to see if it affects my game the next time I bowl in person.

The kids love it too.  Sometimes we take the girls for mini-bowling at Rascals, which is like a Chuckie Cheese except they also serve beer and have a bigger menu. I really should take advantage of some of the local lanes and bring the kids, and this is the perfect time to do it. During National Bowling Week, you can get a coupon for a free game.  You can also search for lanes near your zip code at that same site, but check your phone book too – I noticed one of the small lanes near my home was not listed.

Are you a good bowler or not-so-good?  Are you willing to try, or would you rather bowl on the Wii?  I’d love to hear your bowling tales, especially if they involve your kids or romance!

Holiday of the Week: Be Kind to Humankind!

August is a fantastic month for reaching out to others, it seems!  August 25th through August 31st is “Be Kind to Humankind Week”.  Once again we have the opportunity to reach out and help others.  Over at the official site for this event, BK2HK.org, they have a list of activities to do each day, such as “Forgive Your Foe” Friday or “Speak Kind Words” Saturday.

This celebration was started in 1988 by Lorraine Jara.  She read a news article about two young men whose rowboat over turned.  Two women came to help them.  They did not have a motor boat or radio and yelled around the river for help.  Unfortunately, other boaters passed them by, refusing to assist. By the time they were finally rescued, one of the men had died.  Jara was so disturbed by the story that she decided to do something and created this event and website.  Read the full story at the website.

I have to say that one of the most impressive things about this story is how Jara took her strong feelings and did something about it.  How often do we see, hear or read about something that moves us to tears or anger or pain, but just let it slide?  What do you do when your heart is moved by tragedy or other events?  Do you reach out and help that person, by donating or sending an encouraging word?  Do you use your networks to assist people in distress or just motor by?

For those of us out and about on the web, like at Twitter or Facebook, reaching out is as simple as a click of the button. And finding people who need help is even easier.  Here are some ideas to get started helping others online:

1. If you have a blog, why not use it as an opportunity to help out worthy causes that move you?  It’s not hard to do.  Most causes will have a badge that you can put up with a link to a donation site.  Or, you can write a dedicated post about that cause.
2. At Twitter: If you have an account, do a Twitter search for “donate”.  You’ll find the most recent people looking for help in real time.
3. At Facebook: You can also search for “donate” or do a more targeted search, such as typing in the word “cancer”, to bring up a list of causes or groups.
4. At LinkedIn: Start looking at questions and answering them. This is a very easy way to help someone in need of advice, guidance or information, and it doesn’t cost you a thing.

A word of warning: When you are reaching out, beware of scams.  Look into the background of the group or organization that is asking for a donation and find out their history. Google them with the word “scam”.  Note that established charities will not spam you, however, they may request you to run a post on your blog.

Enjoy your week and be kind to humankind!

Now is your opportunity!  What causes do you support or want to share with us so that we can all have a chance to be kind to humankind this week?

Be an Angel Day: Who will you help?

Saturday, August 22nd, is “Be an Angel Day”. This is a chance to spread your wings and help out those less fortunate than you.

I had a discussion tonight with someone who doesn’t agree with the concept of helping others, especially when times are tight. “We have to take care of ourselves and our children.”

While that comment is technically correct, I respectfully disagree. We have to take care of all those around us. It does start at home, of course. Take care of yourself, then your family, and then your friends and neighbors.

But once you’ve done all that, there are still more people to help. Why? Well, it’s simple. I’ve been working really hard to reach out and help in little ways, if not big, and here are some of the benefits of giving that I’ve seen:

• It feels good. There is an old episode of “Friends” where Joey and Phoebe argue whether there ever really is such a thing as altruistic giving.  Joey contends that selfishness is always at the heart of giving, and Phoebe cannot seem to prove him wrong.  To give is divine, yes, but it feels good too.  Just helping another can make your whole day, especially if you are thanked for it.  Try it and see.
• It brings you a good reputation. In business and in life, people like to be around a giver.  If you are known as having a generous nature, people start to flock to you and not necessarily to get a handout.  There is something literally attractive about a generous person.
• It all comes back to you. You’re not supposed to give to get, but the more I give, the more I do seem to get.  I’m not talking about objects, or cash value, although that has happened.  I mean the more I open to the door to generosity, the more good stuff just seems to happen all around me.
• It eradicates pride. You find $50 on an empty street.   You start thinking about those sexy shoes, or that new video game you couldn’t afford 5 minutes earlier. But then you think, do you really need it?  Couldn’t this money better serve a family who’s home has burned down, or a child in desperate need of medical equipment, or an elderly person who’s had their water turned off?  Now, just apply that same thought process to the money you “find” in your bank or Paypal account and watch a little bit of pride disappear.
• It shapes the world into a better place. Doing a little good here and there often gets paid forward, without the good Samaritan even knowing.  If you’re tired of the hysteria, yelling, and uncivil behavior of late, spread a little good will and pass it on.

The really great thing about “Be an Angel Day” is that it’s not “Donate to a Charity Day”.  Being an angel is as simple and easy as bringing cookies to a neighbor, asking who’s in need at a local house of worship or community center, or blogging about someone in need.  Send a card to someone who’s lonely or go to Soldier’s Angels and help out one of our men and women in uniform. The possibilities are limitless and the karma is all good.

10 Ways to Be an Angel has a wonderful list of activities for the truly inspired.  Or start early and plan some charity for Christmas.

Take the challenge: this weekend, be angel. Who will  you help?  Share your stories, so my readers (and I!) can help too.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Stay Safe if Your Airplane Crashes

Tomorrow, August 19th, is the official observation of National Aviation Day in America.  It coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, of the Wright brothers, who are often considered the fathers of aviation.  They invented the airplane and  built the first ones that would stay aflight.

I wonder what the Wright Brothers would think if they could see how far air travel has come since that first flight with people back in 1903?  They’d probably applaud the ingenuity of the innovators who came after them and be shocked at the precautions we have to take to stay safe.

And staying safe if your airplane crashes is actually something you can do.  I just heard a report that said most airplane crashes involve no deaths and few injuries, and don’t even make it into the news.  Most injuries and fatalities occur due to smoke or fire, so if your plane gets in trouble at a reasonable altitude, you can survive.  Here are some tips on what to do:

• Read the safety information card. I know that info card is a joke, but if the cabin was depressurized, or you needed to exit the plane into water, would you know what to do?  It takes a few seconds of your time and could save your life.
• Only sit in the exit row if you can open the door. When I was younger, I had no idea that you needed to able to open this door and I can’t explain why flight attendants let me sit in that space, since I’m very petite and  not very strong.  If you sit by that mid-plane exit door, be sure you can open it.
• If your plane crashes, get off. One of the biggest issues is people blocking the aisle because they try to retrieve their gear.  If the plane crashes, you can replace whatever you’ve brought on board – just move.  And, if someone falls in the aisle, help them up.  It’ll help clear the plane faster.
• Stay calm and alert. Don’t drink or get over-medicated.  Those of us flying with kids can’t imbibe and have to find creative techniques to alleviate boredom and stress.  Find other ways to occupy your time (bring videos on your iPod, bring a great big book of Sudoku, bring a page-turning novel, or write your own).
• Don’t panic. One year, we landed in a storm in New York, and my husband freaked out because he couldn’t see the ground until we actually touched down.  Panic is contagious and before long, you could feel the fear up and down the aisle.  Now, my husband takes anxiety medication before getting on the plane.  If you suffer from severe flight anxiety, consult your doctor before your trip to find solutions and techniques on how to fly without suffering a panic attack.  Anxieties.com has also published a page on “Fear of Flying Relaxtion Tecchniques“.
• Get the facts. One great way to alleviate fear of flying is to learn how an airplane works (basically it works like a ship, only on air rather than water).  Another is to read up on statistics.  Do you know how many planes fly per day successfully?  I tried to look this up and the numbers is SO large it involves complex math and yet, relatively few accidents.  If you are flying, here is a great resource to track flights all over the country.

If you have any tips on making air travel safer, more comfortable, and less frightening, please share it with us. Meanwhile, stay safe and enjoy your trip!