“Smile.  It confuses people.”   ~ The Joker

It’s almost April Fools’ Day, and no, you don’t have to be an infamous super criminal to take your penchant for pernicious pranks to new heights this April 1st.

You may have already planned a hundred ways to prank a pal, confuse a co-worker or flummox a friend, but have you stopped to wonder how all this April foolery got started in the first place?

And why April Fools’ anyway?

We wouldn't want to let the holidays go by without giving you some tips on how to make the most of this beautiful season. So without further ado:

• Take some time each day to disconnect from the internet and connect with your loved ones.
• Pick a day and declare it a snow day! Take a break from everything. (And if there really is snow, make a snowman!)
• Don't forget to cozy up to a fire. If there's no fireplace to be had, there's always a video!

One of the best parts of the holiday season is making it special for the kids. Sure, with these craft ideas they may find out what’s in their stockings, but it’s a chance to create holiday memories that they'll cherish as adults. Mostly what they'll remember is the special time that their parents spent with them, despite mom and dad being busy with work and trying to get everything together for the holidays.

Creating crafts and decorations means that there's a keepsake to treasure for years to come. Crafting is also a great way to teach your child skills that they may enjoy for a lifetime, as well as keeping them busy when your schedule is full.

Do you worry about weight gain when the holidays come around? Think about this: if you gained 5 pounds each year after indulging at holiday parties and family dinners, you could be 25 pounds heavier in five years.

Here are 5 ways to make sure those delicious meals and snacks don't lead to unwanted weight gain:

Autumn marks the time when the foliage becomes a virtual kaleidoscope of beautiful colors—reds and oranges, yellows and golds. Even browns, pinks, purples and blues are known to appear. It’s a beautiful time of year in many parts of the world, but it’s also fleeting. If you're thinking of making a fall color pilgrimage this year, it pays to take a little time to discover when the leaves will be at their peak colors.

When you look at a September calendar and note that the first Monday says “Labor Day,” do you find yourself reflecting on the triumphs of the labor movement, the dedication of our unions or the challenges of the American worker through history? If you’re like most of us, the answer is probably not. Labor Day means the end of summer and time to go back to school. It means the last chance to have a memorable weekend.

In short—it's time to party.

Here are some ideas to help you celebrate this annual end of summer holiday:

Back to school time can be stressful for parents and students alike. The approach of autumn means students need to get back into that education mindset, and there's no time like the present to get started on the new school year. (Psst… there’s a parallel here for us as business owners so don’t be too quick to dismiss this, whether or not you have kids!)

Take a field trip. Ever have that dream where you’re late for that big test because you can't find your classroom? To make sure that dream never becomes a reality, visit your school at the first opportunity to get the layout of the land. If possible, meet the teacher and get an idea of what his or her expectations are for the new class.

It doesn't matter that you're no longer a school child—the prospect of summer can still get you excited about the prospects of adventure: family reunions, school reunions, vacations, day trips, sports, you name it. But nothing can spoil a great time in the hot weather more than… well, the hot weather.

Here are some tips for taking care of yourself and your family this summer:

If you’ve gone through the supermarket or drug store lately, you’ve probably come across a display ad for Calgon soaps. Most of these ads feature attractive young women with dreamy expressions on their faces and the catchphrase: “Calgon! Take me away!”

And if you’re like many of us, the ad probably inspires thoughts of a well-deserved vacation. The cold weather many of us are facing, the deadlines and the pile of work we have waiting for us back at the office, don’t help turn our thoughts away either.

So what type of vacation will it be this year?

You may have heard a friend talking about meditating and being mindful, and perhaps dismissed the topic, believing it to be some new-age stuff involving crystals and chanting and what-not. Mindfulness and meditation are about freeing your head of mindless chatter and becoming more focused and relaxed. If you’re having trouble sleeping, find yourself easily stressed, or are having problems getting your work done because you're easily distracted, meditation could help.

Meditation can take many forms, such as concentrating on emptying the mind completely. Mindfulness is simply a form of meditation. It means existing in the present. Many driving mishaps happen because we are thinking of other things, while being mindful means we are focused on the task at hand. Other thoughts may come into our head, but we let them go and concentrate on what we are doing.

If you've lost a loved one or have dealt with a tragic event, the holidays can often serve as yet another reminder of the loss. We can feel as though there's nothing to celebrate, or feel survivor's guilt. These are normal parts of the grieving process, and it's not unusual to feel the need for some kind of support at this time of year.

Just as there are many types of grief, there are many different types of support resources available. It's important to feel that it's okay to grieve, talk, cry, be happy or sad, and to live a full life, even though you are grieving.

“Investment in travel is an investment in yourself.”   ~ Matthew Karsten

What does your calendar look like for the next few months? If it’s like that of many small business people, it’s pretty hectic, with more projects and deadlines than there are hours in the day. Maybe it’s time for a vacation.

I don’t have time for a vacation, you say. Well, maybe you do.

I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy… I will never forget seeing what love can heal…”

        ~ Steve Maraboli, motivational speaker and author

We promised to never forget the events of September 11, 2001, but how much do you remember? The young children of 2001 are entering college this fall—and many have no idea what 9/11 signifies.

How do you deal with stress? Do you just roll with the punches, or do you find yourself sick with worry? While there are many things that happen that we have absolutely no control over—traumatic events like disasters or violence or the death of a loved one— many of the things that cause us stress are the result of our own doing or thinking. Public speaking, for example, is probably the most prevalent fear, but it can be overcome with preparation, training, and practice. It's up to us in how we deal with our fears and other stressful situations.

“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill.”

― Harper Lee

Summer is that time of endless possibilities—three whole months when adventures of any sort could happen. Even better, summer is when so many great memories are made, and luckily those memories don't have to be expensive!