Daughter’s first year has gone by fast

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 14 April 2009 13:56

If you’re walking by the Just house Thursday evening, you might catch the strains of the ever-popular song “Happy Birthday” being addressed to my daughter. My baby girl is turning 1.

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It’s hard to believe 365 days have passed since Brad and I made the pre-dawn trek to Newton Medical Center to begin my daughter’s birth day. She’s been a precious joy in our lives ever since.

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I’m counting on my daughter to provide all the entertainment for her party. Family members never tire of asking her, “What does a kitty say?” Her response is a high-pitched “eeeowww” every time. She also knows what a fish “says,” and can imitate a puppy.

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Family members also enjoy...

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Saving money can be a good feeling

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 17 March 2009 13:58

In addition to vibrant colors, delicate patterns and fresh silhouettes, a new trend this spring is quickly becoming a wardrobe staple—and not just for fashion gurus. And all this little-black-dress trend costs is the practice of frugality.

The media call it many names—thrift, penny pinching, economizing—but the goal is the same: saving money. I have enjoyed all the money-saving tips presented on local and national news broadcasts, particularly those geared toward practicality.

Enter the Coupon Mom (aka Stephanie Nelson). For Nelson, the nickname Coupon Mom isn’t just a promotional gimmick. She is a wealth of money-saving knowledge and was recently featured on “Oprah” and NBC’s “Today Show” (and probably others, but...

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Women's minds: Unwanted pop-ups

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 17 February 2009 13:51

Reading books is not a love my husband and I share. However, a couple years ago he agreed to read a set of books that had piqued my curiosity. I came across the books while cataloguing for the Tabor College library, and decided they would be an interesting, if not enlightening, read.

In this particular case, I judged the books by their inviting covers and intriguing titles: “For Men Only” and “For Women Only,” written by a husband/wife duo of Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn.

The Feldhahns conducted national surveys and focus groups, coming up with impressive amounts of data to back-up statements about men and women.

As a chronic overachiever, I felt compelled to read both books. (Of course, part of what drove me was the desire to...

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Finding 'me time' benefits everyone

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 20 January 2009 14:08

I’ve always been a sucker for the TV sitcom.

As a kid, I would take a bath early on Friday night, get in my jammies and settle in for ABC’s TGIF—a full lineup of kid-friendly sitcoms including “Step-By-Step,” “Full House” and “Family Matters.” My sister and I would sit in our bean bags and laugh at yet another escapade resulting in Steve Urkel’s nasally “Did I do that?”

In college, I remember studying the rhetoric of popular shows and realizing the humor of a sitcom often comes from exaggerated, negative stereotypes stemming from gender, race or relationships.

Because I was engaged and married while still in school, I took a personal interest in dissecting sitcom relationships—particularly that of Debra and...

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