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There's more to medieval clothing than tunics and boots. For example, do you know what kind of undergarments were worn back in the day? Can you pick out real medieval jewelry from the fake junk jewelry popularized by books and movies? If you're looking to create the most authentic medieval costume that you can, here are just five accessories to bring your ancient ensemble to life.


1. Belts

Belts served multiple purposes back in medieval times. Not only did they keep the wearer from embarrassing themselves whenever they bent over, but they also provided transport and storage space for blades, swords, pouches and everyday necessities. Your medieval outfit won't be complete without a belt, so start looking today. Pay attention to length and material type.

2. Corsets

Ladies, you probably don't want to hear this, but corsets are essential for certain kinds of medieval fashion. The good news is that modern corsets have come a long way in breathability and functionality. Many of them look rustic but have all of the conveniences of 21st century design, including room to inhale and exhale.

3. Armor

Medieval armor comes in many shapes and sizes, so you'll need to do some research to make sure that you're getting the details right. For example, later centuries may have had different chain mail designs than earlier ones, or a particular country might have had a special way of tempering their breastplates. It's the little things that will make your armor authentic.

4. Jewelry

Women wore necklaces, earrings and head scarves. Men wore chains, pendants and amulets. Royalty of both genders wore circlets and gemstones. Jewelry can elevate an average medieval outfit into something truly extraordinary, so don't be afraid to experiment with colors, cuts, clasps and chains.

5. Underthings

If you want to be authentic down to the skin, consider medieval underwear. This is another area where you'll need to do your homework to get the details right, but depending on the time period, you might need everything from a petticoat to a bum roll. Only by embracing everything about the past will you create a genuine piece of medieval fashion.

These are just a few essentials for the authentic medieval costume. Whether you're roleplaying at a renaissance festival or dressing up your children for a school performance, use these accessories to give their outfits that extra "oomph."

• Boost self-confidence. Begin the conversation by telling your middle-schooler that you're proud of her and the person she's becoming. Identify specific instances where she was mature (think, doing the dishes without being asked, or watching a younger sibling), and tell her how much you admire that behavior. By working to raise her self-esteem, you make your tween less likely to turn to alcohol as a way to fit in or feel better about herself. Additionally, knowing you respect her makes her respect you in turn, and take your words seriously.
• Talk often. It can take a lot of repetition before your message about your tween doing her own laundry sinks in—and an anti-alcohol message is no different. Work towards creating an ongoing dialogue with your tween about drinking, rather than a one-time conversation, and speak "as frequently as you have an opportunity," recommends Sue Scheff, a parent advocate, author, and founder of Parent's Universal Resource Experts, Inc. "If there is a reason for it—if there is a conversation about it, expand on it—don't run from it." It may feel awkward at first, but have patience: the more you chat freely, the less forced it will feel.
• Use a movie. Since getting a middle schooler to open up can be tricky, try starting the conversation by bringing up a book or movie she's familiar with. Ask about how your child thinks the characters onscreen handle themselves while drinking, such as during the party scenes in Mean Girls. Keeping the conversation about popular culture makes your tween feel less vulnerable, and more willing to openly share her opinions and thoughts.
• Share your story. If you or a family member has ever battled alcohol abuse or addiction, you may have struggled with whether or not to tell your tween. According to Scheff, the best approach is typically an honest one, especially if you're dealing with a tween who's thinking about trying alcohol for the first time. She explains, "If you have a family member that has battled with addiction, alcoholism or similar issues, there is nothing like firsthand experiences (especially those people that are related to them) to help them understand how harmful this disease can be and in some cases, deadly."
• Act it out. Role-play with your kid to act out how she can respond to real-world situations where she might be offered alcohol. If you're not sure where to start, you can again try referring to scenes from a well-known movie, or have your tween be the director and let her stage the scenarios. Regardless of which situations you choose, make it a point to teach several different ways to say no to drinking. Popular ways to say no include, "I'd rather have a soda," "Can't, I've got a test/game tomorrow," "My parents would kill me!" or plain old, "No thanks."
• Find role models. Direct your tween towards positive role models to counter-act any peer pressure she feels to fit in by drinking. Find an adult in a field that interests your kid (think sports, music, or drama) who has spoken out against teen drinking or alcohol abuse. Recently, for example, superstar speed skater Apolo Ohno partnered with The Century Council, a leading activist group against underage drinking, to spread the word on the dangers of teen drinking and to promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Offer resources. Give your tween an outlet where she can go for answers to questions that she feels uncomfortable asking you or other adults. Since most thirteen-year-olds practically live online, it's a good idea to find a few websites that offer accurate information in a format you're comfortable with. For tweens, Scheff recommends The Cool Spot, an informative website that discusses the dangers of alcohol and ways to beat peer pressure.

Aujourd'hui, nous avons été surpris de lire une histoire inhabituelle sur le Huffington Post sur un père en Floride qui a été arrêté pour fumer du cannabis provenant de graines de cannabis dans la salle d'accouchement de l'hôpital.

Le père âgé de 28 ans, attendait dans la salle d'accouchement pour sa femme. Il a commencé à se sentir mal à l'aise et nerveux au sujet de ses futures responsabilités en tant que père. Afin de calmer ses nerfs, il a décidé de fumer du cannabis de graine autofloraison.

Une infirmière qui passait par là qu'elle a attrapé une bouffée de son père en train de fumer. Elle a immédiatement appelé la police qui ont questionné le père, ont confisqué son vaporisateur de cannabis et l'ont arrêté.

The stereotype of the cutthroat, pushy Little League coach is all too familiar to most people. Why, some parents ask, should I subject my child to competitive team sports if that’s how it goes?

For one thing, the news. Today’s generation of children is fighting the worst obesity epidemic in history. Giving kids an excuse to exercise is reason enough to consider team sports. But calories aside, team sports have other benefits to kids—social, emotional and physical ones.

Here are some things that team sports teach that go well beyond scoring, batting, shooting and winning.

Ego Checks

Any parent knows that a child can be extremely egocentric. But that “my way or the highway” attitude will have to stay in check on a team sport. When a kid sees that everyone gets to play, they hopefully start to think about the group as a whole, and not just themselves. Even better, they learn to be happy for other player’s successes because they see how it benefits the team.

Positive Mentors

A dedicated, thoughtful and skilled coach can have an amazing impact on children. In fact, sometimes your child will respond better to an objective coach than he will to his own parent. When kids have early, positive experiences with coaches, they continue to seek out and learn from mentors who can help them with school, jobs and other interests.

The Three P's

Just as they must practice spelling, math and any other skill, kids need to learn that being part of a sports team requires the three P's … practice, patience and persistence. Whether it’s showing up to practice when you’d rather be home with Legos, waiting your turn on the sidelines, or doing the same drill over and over again, the three P's of team sports translate into important life lessons.

Another Reason for Family Time

Playing catch in the yard, heading down to the local soccer field for some drills … these types of outings with your kids can mean a great deal in our busy parenting culture. While the official reason may be practicing for the team, an even greater benefit is the time you get to spend together. Sometimes, in between dribbling and lay-ups, an important truth is revealed or an opportunity presents itself to teach a value.

Did we also mention that by practicing drills with your child and running up and down the sidelines to cheer them on, you might get into better shape, too? Score one for the family team!

By: Lucy Rector Filppu - Education.com

Geosciences continues to be a growing field. With more governments and populations looking to be
proactive for events such as earthquakes, potential volcanic eruptions as well as situations with man-made products like dam examination, geoscience institutes are looking for the advanced equipment for geophysical resistivity and IP imaging systems. There are plenty of manufacturers in the United States that focus on these types of items, but one of the best out there is Advanced Geosciences, Inc.

Their site offers the most versatile set of products for those involved in the geosciences. This includes earth imagers, resistivity meters, and induced polarization instruments from AGIUSA.com. The company's main product is the SuperSting. Complete with WiFi access, the SuperSting provides the lowest noise levels and highest accuracy in today's geosciences market. There's even a Smartphone app that can be used to remotely monitor the SuperSting.

Other products sold by AGIUSA.com include the PowerSting High Power External Transmitter, which increases resistivity and induced polarization in the SuperSting, and the Swift Multi-Electrode System, which enables automatic earth measurements. The company's underwater product, the SuperSting Marine, allows for consistent resistivity profiling (CRP) and comes with a tow cable to transport the equipment.

On the imaging side of the company, AGIUSA.com sells both a 2D and 3D version of their EarthImager product. Both available for Windows systems, EarthImager provides real-time visuals in less than one minute. The 2D and 3D versions of the product display inversion of surface and borehole resistivity while also providing IP data, terrain correction, and CRP. The EarthImager allows for printing of images and comes in a demo mode for further examination.

In addition to the products mentioned, AGIUSA.com offers a catalog of resistivity software, manual cable sets, electrodes, and spare parts for the MiniSting and Sting R1. Products cannot be purchased on line. Instead, customers need to contact the company at the phone numbers provided at the top of the website for additional information. International customers can contact AGIUSA.com's headquarters in Madrid. The company does accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express for purchases. More information on the company and what they offer is obtained from either a downloadable brochure or sending a query via the websites Information Request link.