Although it's been quite a while since I myself was a child, I can still remember battling periods of self-doubt and uncertainty.  A child's confidence level can make all the difference between success and failure and the scars they receive as a child will often plague them throughout adulthood.

Instilling an unwavering sense of confidence in your children is perhaps one of the greatest gifts you can give as a parent.  Here are a few suggestions for rocketing your child's self-assurance into the stratosphere!

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I'm literally amazed these days at how good camera phones are.  I can remember a few years back having a point-and-shoot camera that didn't take the level of quality photos that my iPhone does now.  Because camera phone technology has come so far, people are finding new and inventive ways every day to take advantage of it.

One such invention is from a company called StandScan.  They've invented a portable folding stand that allows you to turn your smartphone's camera into a portable document scanner.  The uses for this item are truly endless!  Keep reading to learn more!

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From R2-D2 to Transformers to Wall-E, kids are obsessed with robots.  So what could be more enticing than turning a tape dispenser and on old eater bottle into a functioning robot?

The irresistible Recycled Robots book and kit shows kids how to use their imaginations and old toys to design and build their very own robots!

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When your child is 4-years-old, the holidays are truly magical.  Riley believes in Santa Claus wholeheartedly and can't wait for Christmas Day to arrive.  To her, the elves are a wonderful group of friendly folk that help Santa prepare for Christmas Eve all year long.

So when I happened across a company that makes tailor-made holiday videos for children, I had to check it out for myself.  Would a Santa video from the Portable North Pole be all I hoped it would be?  Keep reading to find out!

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Christmas shopping has changed so much for me over the last few years.  I used to pound the pavement and stand in line after line, battling both the traffic and the crowds everywhere I went.  Thank goodness those days are over!  Visiting a mall a few weeks before Christmas is a sure fire way to suck the holiday spirit out of even the jolliest soul.

Now, I shop 100% online in the comfort of my home.  There's nothing like putting on some classic Christmas tunes, snuggling up under a warm blanket with a hot cup of coffee, and then opening up my laptop and shopping.  Of course, online shopping is also fraught with concerns, such as shipping costs and delivery times.  Want to know my tips for shipping holiday gifts without losing your sanity?  Keep reading to find out!

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Losing weight and improving my health are always on the 'ol "to-do" list and with the New Year quickly approaching, I'm giving these topics more and more thought.  Although I'm not what you would consider overweight, I would like to lose about 10-15 pounds, especially in my belly area.

I'm also not known for my healthy eating and am always on a quest to do better in that department.  Thankfully, the folks behind the "For Dummies" series of books has written the perfect guide combining proper diet and nutrition aimed solely at losing that belly.  It's called Belly Fat Diet for Dummies and I couldn't wait to dive in and learn more!

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