I realize I am not a teen, though sometimes I feel like one. 🙂 However, when I had the opportunity to try the Etsy Master Class for Teens in exchange for a review, I jumped at the chance.
I have been trying to get going on Etsy for a few months now. And I had tried previously with no success.
This was why I was excited to learn that I could take an Etsy Master Class to help me do better on Etsy.
I must say that this class will most definitely help your teen (and you if you are creative) get started on Etsy.
And if your teen has beautiful handmade products, she (or he) will be successful at selling them.
All of the tools and directions are included in the Etsy Master Class for Teens. Your teen will not only have their store up and running by the end of class, but will have a better handle on the business side of things.
A full 70 plus page workbook is included with the class. This workbook will help your teen sort out new ideas, brainstorm, plan, and glide easily through the process. The workbook complements the videos.
If your teens have never set up a store before, they can use Abby's link and get 40 free listings. That alone is worth 8 bucks. Which reminds me. Of course, the class can be used by more than one person. So, every separate store set up by a unique individual, as long as you use Abby's link, will get 40 free listings.
Some Highlights:
In the first module – Abby gives you a background of where Etsy came from, how long they've been around, how it works, etc.
She recommends several excellent books, one of which I read and found enormous value in. The book, “My Story Brand,” helped me to sharpen my focus and to gain further insight into how to reach my readers and better assist them.
She provides an outline for how to set up your Etsy store as well as 40 free listings, like I mentioned before.
Abby provides guidance and worksheets (click here for a sample) to help with keyword and tag research (as well as defining what these terms mean).
There is help on how to determine the best price for your products; how to create profit margins, etc.
You will receive extensive advice on creating better photos, including where to go to get the best lighting, the best tools to use for great photos, and more.
Help with creating a logo (which I used and now am very happy with).
A log sheet for keeping track of time spent and work on class.
Up to 1 full unit of high school credit can be obtained, depending on your state's laws, and how much time your teen spends on the class. There are forms to fill out to help with recording keeping for this.
Direction on how to use keywords, tags, and how to determine price is included, and will provide valuable insight on how to market your product so that people actually see it on Etsy.
Abby also provides assistance with creating logos. I found this section particularly helpful because I had been struggling with finding the right look. After going through the section on logos, I actually found a logo I like and will probably stick with. That was very satisfying to me!
Another helpful topic was her section on photos, lighting and photography.
As you know, I take a lot of pictures. However, many of the pictures are not up to the best standards. This is because my husband and I lack experience. After gaining wisdom from Abby's experience with photography, my husband, especially, is well on his way to making outstanding pictures.
After going through this awesome class, I decided Etsy is not the right platform for my products because they are all digital.* However, I most certainly did not waste my time. I learned many valuable skills and insights that I am applying to my blog and other areas of my life. My husband also completed parts of the master class and learned as well.
Also, when my son is in high school. I plan to have him work through this class for high school credit. So that's three people taking the class for the price of one. When you consider the fact that an unlimited number of people in your household can take the course, the value seems even greater.
To give you a little tiny taste of the course, here is a brainstorming sheet to get your teen started. AND last but not least, here is a 20% off coupon available through me only.
The code is homeschooldietmom and will only be available for a limited time.
Not ready for Etsy? Want to try to make some extra cash selling on Ebay? Well Abby also has a mini-course that you can take (or your teen can take) to learn how to sell on Ebay. Click here to check out the EBay mini-course now.
(Post may contain affiliate links. Though I might make a small commission from these links, it does not affect the cost to you. I only recommend products I use personally or believe will help you).
After decades of thinking all fat is bad fat and causes us to get fat, it turns out that not all fats are created equal. Some of them are actually good for you and you need to consume fat to stay alive and healthy. Certain vitamins can only be absorbed by the body if consumed with some sort of fat. For example, vitamins A, D, E, and K require fat to be absorbed by the body.
And there are various parts of your body, including your heart that need fat to run smoothly and stay healthy.
At first glance it makes sense to cut fat from your diet when you want to lose excess body fat. That’s been the basis behind every single diet from 1950 to 1990. It lead to the development and sale of countless low fat and fat free foods that still populate our grocery stores today. The idea of eating low fat has become deeply ingrained into our collective cultural conscious. The only problem is that it didn’t work.
Yes, you can lose weight on a low calorie, low fat diet.
Plenty of people have done it. But it takes a lot of willpower, and the vast majority of people can’t stick to it long term. They end up giving up and gaining more weight back then they lost in the first place. Our bodies are genetically engineered to crave fat. It’s what keeps us going, keeps us warm, and keeps up our energy levels.
While fat does have a lot more calories than the same amount of carbs or protein, it takes a long time to digest fat. It keeps us full and satisfied much longer than any other type of food. Does that mean you should go on a bacon and butter diet with a sprinkle of deep fried foods? Of course not. First off, we need to strive for balance and shouldn’t compensate for our past low fat diets that only made us fatter by overindulging in fats. Balance is the name of the game when it comes to healthy weight loss. Secondly, not all fats are created equal.
There is Still a Lot to be Learned About Fats
While there is still a lot to be learned about fats and the role they play in the many chemical process that take place in our bodies, we know that some fats are better for us than others. I’m sure you’ve heard of saturated fats, unsaturated fats, trans fats, and mono-unsaturated fats. Stay away from mostly man-made Trans Fats. There’s been a big push in this direction and it’s a good thing.
The main fats you want to increase are mono-unsaturated and Omega-3 fats. These types of fats will help lower your bad cholesterol and increase the good one. They will help your body repair itself and run at its best. Think of it as high performance fuel for your body. You can find these healthy types of fats in avocados, almonds, coconut oil, peanut butter, peanut oil, canola oil olives, and olive oil for mono-unsaturated. And you will find lots of omega-3s in fatty fish such as salmon and canned tuna.
The most important lesson I want you to take away from this post is that fat isn’t bad for you. Some sources of fat are better for you than others, but overall, it’s not the enemy we so long thought it was.
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NOTE: My family currently uses the omega-3s and vitamin D products below. They are the best quality I have found, and the least expensive, comparatively speaking.
First of all, yes, I received a free copy. And yes, I was asked to review the product. However, I want to make one thing clear. I only give positive reviews when it is deserved.
So, now for the review. “God and Snow, 5 Things Snow Teaches about God” has a target audience of 8 years plus. And some of the exercises are pretty challenging. In fact, I had to peak at least once at the answer key. However, I think that younger audiences will also benefit from this precious book. Numerous lovely pictures fill the book. And the author uses allegories to drive the point home. Note that the book is in black and white, which means opportunities to color, something that littles usually enjoy.
A variety of fun activities fills the book. For example, visual snowflake matching, hidden pictures, completing text messages on a phone, and bible journaling.
Lesson titles include, “Jesus Makes us White as Snow,” and “Snow Reminds Us that God made Us One of a Kind.”
And you can't beat the price of “God and Snow.” The print version is currently only $6.97 on Amazon, which in my opinion, is a steal.
Visit the author, Corine Hyman, at the site below:
This is a quick summary of why you need folate, also known as vitamin B9, in your diet. Folate is important for healthy fetal development. It is important in preventing heart disorders, sperm abnormalities, and birth defects. Folate also helps build muscles, and is needed for red blood cell production. Below are 5 reasons why you need folate. (This post may contain affiliate links).
1. You Need Folate for Healthy Fetal Development
Folate is important for healthy blood in adults as well as unborn babies. Thus, folate sufficiency reduces the risk of folate-deficiency anemia. Macrocytic anemia is another name for this type of anemia. “Macro” means big, “cytic” refers to cells. Thus, “macrocytic” literally means large red blood cells.
2. Red Blood Cell Production and Prevention of Anemia.
Anytime anemia is present, it means there is not enough oxygen being transported through the blood. This results in fatigue for the already born person. Anemia causes mental retardation, learning disabilities, and increased risk of infection and growth retardation. Thus, folate insufficiency during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects in the unborn child.
3. Folate Prevents Birth Defects
Studies show that sufficient folate intake during pregnancy reduces birth defects by 50%.
4. Prevents Heart Disorders
Homocysteine is an amino acid that, when it is too high, leads to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Sufficient folate in the diet reduces harmful homocysteine levels in the blood. Thus, folate reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing homocysteine levels in the blood.
Folate has also been shown to reduce the thickening of the arterial wall. This is another way that folate reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
5. Folate Fights against Chromosome Abnormalities
Folate fights against chromosome (think “genetic”) abnormalities in sperm. This means that it is possible to reduce the risk of birth defects even before conception by assuring you are eating enough folate-rich foods. This applies to men as well as women.
Originally I only intended to write about 5 Reasons Why You Need Folate. However, I found another good reason. (And there are more, but this is just a quick summary).
6. Folate is important for Healthy Muscles
Muscles are made stronger and bigger with the help of folate, which is required for the conversion of arginine to nitric oxide (NO). So, if you or anyone you know, is trying to strengthen and grow your muscles, a folate-rich diet will help with this process.
Below is a delicious recipe that is rich in folate, vitamin B6, iron, vitamin a, vitamin c, and fiber.
What exactly is vitamin B6 and why is it important? And if it is so important, how do I know which foods are high in B6? If you have asked or are asking any of these questions, you have come to the right place! Here are 6 reasons you need vitamin B6. (Post may contain affiliate links).
Vitamin B6, also known as “pyridoxine,” is an essential nutrient. Pyridoxal phosphate is the name for the active form of vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 acts as a “co-enzyme” in many reactions in the body.
In case you don't know what an enzyme is, it is a chemical in the body that gets things done. For example, lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar in cow's milk. Other examples of enzymes are lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fat. (Lipids are the technical term for fats). And amylase, which is in your spit, breaks down starch. Most of the time, if the word ends with “ase,” and it's connected to the human body, it is an enzyme.
So, vitamin B6 is essential for enzymes, such as lactase, lipase, and amylase, to work properly.
Vitamin B6 is also important in the synthesis of neurotransmitters (think transmission of nerves). Low amounts of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, are implicated in various mental health issues, including depression and ADHD.
B6 is necessary for hemoglobin synthesis. Hemoglobin is the molecule that carries oxygen through your blood. Low hemoglobin leads to anemia.
So, iron is not the only nutrient that is important for healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B6 is necessary as well.
Vitamin B6 is an important co-factor in the body's production of other important nutrients, such as the essential mineral selenium. A co-factor is a “helper” for proteins in the body, and is similar to a co-enzyme.
B6 is important for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in turkey and other foods. Niacin is another important and essential B vitamin. (vitamin B3)
Vitamin B6 is important for glucose metabolism.
Gene expression requires sufficient vitamin B6 in order to work correctly. (Think sufficient B6, reduced mutations/problems in the gene).
This is 6 reasons why vitamin B6 is important.
Why is Vitamin B6 inadequacy so common today?
Vitamin B6 is low in the American diet. This is because of low intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
What Foods are High in Vitamin B6?
Vitamin B6 is found in whole grain breads and cereals as well as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Specific examples of foods high in vitamin B6 include:
Bananas, pistachios, chocolate, avocado, whole grain breads, whole grain pasta. (B6 is found in the highest amounts in the germ). Also, green leafy vegetables, milk, fortified cereals, red meat, eggs, and turmeric.
Click here to receive a FREE table on foods high in vitamin B6 as well as a table of foods high in Folate.
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