We all have that dream trip in the back of our minds. Perhaps they have even registered on a Bucket List of places to visit before we die? While dream trips are in our dreams because they are harder for us to take -- budget and kids seem to put a stop to those dreams -- there are certainly some once-in-a-lifetime experiences that the entire family can enjoy. When saving up for that big vacation, consider saving for one that will leave a lifetime of memories.


1. Go on an African Safari.

Who hasn't thought of someday taking on an African safari and bonding during a technology-free exploration of the African plains filled with wild zebra, giraffe and lions? These days, tour companies are making it easier for families to enjoy safaris together in settings as simple as mobile tents to "glamping" excursions to thatched-roof lodges. Most safaris will not allow children younger than 6, which is OK, you want your child to be able to appreciate what they will see and have the patience and ability to stay silent when it comes to animal sightings.

"We know that grateful kids are happier & more satisfied with their lives"
explains Hoftra University psychology assistant professor Jeffrey Froh in an article this week in The Washington Post.

"They report better relationships with friends and family, higher GPAs, less materialism, less envy and less depression, along with a desire to connect to their community and to want to give back."

That's not all. It's also believed to boost immune systems and lower blood pressure over time.
In a Temple Univeristy study, patients with hypertension lowered their blood pressure just by calling a "gratitude" hotline everyday.

If it's that effective on adults with health problems, imagine what announcing the good things in life at early age can do. In a study of early adolescents, Froh found that kids who journaled daily about their good fortune, over a period of two weeks, were less prone to depression and more satisfied with their lives overall. And that optimism and satisfaction made them more likely to take care of themselves physically in the long-term."

It has been many years since attending my last class in school. The most notable and formative years, however, were from grade school through the end of high school, while passing through the gauntlet of tests, homework, gym, dating, and a myriad of social and academic challenges.

Being so far removed from the rigors of attending school, you would think it would play a small role in my life but that is not the case. During times of stress I still dream about being late for a class and running around the halls trying to find the right classroom. Or, another dream is that of running out of time and trying to remember the combination to my locker. But, my most nauseating dream has me sitting at a desk in a class where I have no idea what is being taught, knowing the teacher is about to ask the class a question and praying she won’t call on me.

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known to the medical science. However, increasing age in women and female hormones play a part toward it. The chances of your developing breast cancer increase as your age increases. In the United States, If a woman lives to be 80, she will be approximately one in every seven women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

If breast cancer has happened to anyone in your family, odds for your developing it are high and if your mother, father or sister has had breast cancer your odds are higher. Furthermore, certain genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 carried by women also play a role in the development of breast cancer. It will be wise to be tested for these genes if there is a strong history of ovarian or breast cancer in your family. Inheriting particular mutations or changes in one or both of these genes results in a much greater risk of developing breast cancer.