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Marina Orievsky

Taking Time To See The Good

It's easy to get caught up in our daily routines-- everyone is in a hurry. For example, I wake up at 5am and I'm not home from work until 6pm. It's always a hurry-up-and-wait scenario. When you're ...

12 Things To Know Before Freshman Year of College

1. Leaving friends who are going to other schools is not easy. While it’s important to stay in touch with your high school friends, be open minded to getting to know your college peers. &nbs...

Just Like My Father

I was not an easy kid; I know that very well.  My parents really had their work cut out for them, especially by the time I hit my teen years—attitude for days. My dad and I argued quite a bi...

Parenting Lessons Learned and Advice to Consider

I am not a parent. While I may I have ideas about what kind of parent I’ll be someday, I know that I really can’t plan on being any kind of parent. As the saying goes, “There is no such thing a...

Lessons in Spring Cleaning

A couple of weekends ago, I decided to finally clean out my closet. This was, not at all, how I wanted to spend my weekend. Weekends are for relaxing and doing things you actually want to do. I sup...

Maintaining Good Habits During National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month!  Nutrition is something we should focus on year-round, but that's not news. There are plenty of excuses for not eating as well as we should, or not getting ...

The Value of Real Face-Time

I have a horrible habit. I'm addicted to social media and technology of all kinds. The first thing I do when I get home, even before I've taken my shoes off, is open ...

Trying New Things: Wisdom From My Father

Throughout high school, I didn't always agree with my dad, but I should have written down every piece of advice he gave me. That doesn't mean I needed to take every piece of advice, but the things ...

The 18 Point iPhone Contract One Mom Wrote For Her Son

Mom-blogger, Janell Hofmann, gave her teenage son an iphone for Christmas, but the phone came with this contract:  1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t...

5 Steps for New Years Resolution Success

New years resolutions serve two very important purposes: they motivate us and provide us with positive change.  Some of my past new years resolutions have been to eat healthier, spend more tim...

Giving Memories for Christmas

Every Christmas, I used to get my grandmother the same gift. I'd find a nice frame, put my most recent school picture inside, wrap it up and put it under the tree. I'm sure she caught on to my plan...

I Am Thankful

The older you get, the less you need a day to remind you to give thanks. I was always taught the value of the things I already had and perhaps that's something all kids need to learn. My family ...

Tips for a Safe Halloween

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays.  After my family moved to the United States when I was four, every year, my mom looked forward to helping me plan my costume. ...

15 Things I Wish I Knew When I Applied to Colleges

Applying to colleges is, for most, a nerve-wrecking experience. For me, senior year was spent procrastinating, followed by tears and the fear that I would be a barista for the rest of my life. I kn...

Maybe I Was a Bully Too

As a girl in the 7th grade, I wanted what every other girl wanted-- to be popular. 7th grade was my year to make my comeback in the social spotlight, especially since my braces came off over summer...

How Two Award-Winning Authors Are Improving Literacy with Pen Pal Buddies

        Did you have a pen pal growing up? Did you go on adventures through reading and writing? Two award-winning authors, Cameron  Davison (Lil Boo) ...

Back to School: Tips for Simple Success

It's always hard to get back into the swing of things. I enjoyed school, but just like every other kid, my countdown till summer started on the first day back to class. Each school year, I told mys...

Growing Up, Eating Right

Up until I was about fourteen, my immigrant grandmother lived with us. She made sure I was always well fed while my parents went to work. I wasn't a picky eater...  unless it looked funny. Egg...

Advocating Bullying Awareness

 This is an image from Advocating Bullying Awareness. What do you think about this? Post your comments below.   "Like" Advocate Bullying Awareness on Facebook

Fat Kid Rules The World- Interview with Julian Gavilanes

 While the issue of bullying is nothing new, there has been a wonderful, overwhelming sweep of activism against bullying in movies and the news lately. I was personally never bullied. Maybe, o...