Mommy Blog, Tips & Ideas
Happy Mom!
Five Things Mom and Dad Can Do WITHOUT the Kids
Jul 8th
Being a couple is a wonderful experience. You go out, watch television or basically do whatever you want, and it’s usually together. However, once children come into the mix then everything seems to change. Now you may be lucky if you even speak to each other alone before you fall asleep at night.
It may be difficult to find the time to be alone together, but it is important for the relationship and for the family that you make the time. Call up a friend to sit with your children (or that will let your children come stay with them) and offer to switch up the services on a regular basis. You can also seek the services of grandparents where it is available. By avoiding a sitter you will be able to take time together without having to break the bank. Here are five suggestions for things to do together – without the kids.
1. Take a day trip together. Check with your church or local clubs to see if they have any tours or events scheduled that the two of you might enjoy together. Be sure that you will have plenty of time to talk and enjoy each other’s company. Try to stay away from talk about kids, finances or home repairs.
2. Have a romantic dinner. Go to one of those places that will turn down the lights and that has candles on the table (and doesn’t even HAVE a kids’ menu). Take your time and enjoy each other’s company. Take the time to share a little dessert at the end of the meal.
3. Have a couple’s night out. You’ve heard of mom’s night or girl’s night or boy’s night. This is the same thing only with several couples instead. You can go to one couple’s house and play cards or just hang out, or you can go to a local restaurant and let someone wait on you for a change.
4. Go to a dance or take a dance lesson together. Ballroom (or couple) dancing is becoming more popular every year. Many dance studios host free (or inexpensive) dance parties during the week to try and encourage people to take their classes. You may also be able to find great dances listed in the “things to do” section of your local paper. If you prefer to take classes then you might want to look at your local community college or community center for inexpensive classes.
5. Get a room. It can be nice to rent a room (even if it is in the same town) at a Bed & Breakfast or nice hotel – with lots of in-room amenities. Just get away from the normal routine to a place where the two of you can truly be alone.
Making time for each other without the kids doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. It only takes a little creativity to bring back the feelings and emotions you both had when you first started dating.
Finding a Hobby Helps Your Home
Jul 7th
Children change everything. If you don’t already know that then you probably don’t have children. Women who have had a hobby for years will find themselves giving it up because of the children. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do things for the children and things for ourselves anymore.
However, although the schedules might seem hectic and the time might seem fleeting, it is important that you find time for yourself amidst all the chaos. A hobby is a great way to relieve stress in your life and help you refocus on the things that are most important to you.
Having a hobby will also give you the chance to build a support network. It is likely that you will be able to find others that also enjoy the same hobby. By meeting together on a regular basis, you will build friendships and bonds that can help you through times ahead.
If you have a hobby that you have given up or if you just want to start taking time for yourself, then here are a few tips to get you on the right path.
1. Give yourself one day each month to focus on your hobby. Plan to attend a lecture, event or even a conference that is centered on your hobby. If you don’t feel comfortable doing a whole day once a month then make it a few hours – but it’s still a good idea to get away for a whole day at least once or twice a year.
2. If you are limited in space or resources, then find a hobby that doesn’t require much of either. If you like to garden then join a gardening club. Often the members will be thrilled to share their extra plants with other members (particularly new members). If you like to read then consider a book club. You can check out the books from the library and not have to invest any of your own income. There are usually a number of different groups and organizations that are always eager to find new members.
3. Include your family some of the time if you just don’t feel good about being away (or if you have more than one hobby). It is not just a chance to break out of the normal routine, but it is also a chance to bond as a family (try out letterboxing, square dancing, or other group activities).
Taking up a new hobby (or renewing an interest in a previous hobby) does not mean that you are abandoning your family. It means that you are making yourself the best you that you can be, so that you can be MORE for your family in the long run.
Scrumptious Mother’s Day Breakfast Ideas
Jun 3rd
Mom’s work hard all year long. They cook the meals, keep the house clean, and care for the children. Some moms are involved with their children’s activities and others work a full-time job on top of their household duties. Creating a special mother’s day breakfast is one way to show mom a little appreciation.
Everyone can help pitch in to make Mom a scrumptious breakfast on Mother’s Day, even the little ones. You don’t have to serve an elaborate meal for it to taste good. In fact, you can probably find many items at your local grocery store, some of them pre-made.
Does Mom love pancakes but hates the time it takes to make them? Some grocery stores have packages of pre-made plain or blueberry pancakes which can be fixed in a jiffy. Warm up the syrup, add some berries or other fruit on top, sprinkle them with powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream and Mom will think you’ve spent a long time creating this delicious meal. Finish it off with juice, coffee, or tea.
Every mom likes to splurge a little on Mother’s Day. Spend some time with the children in a local donut shop and allow them to pick out donuts for breakfast. Maybe they can pick out pretty donuts for Mom or simply choose her favorite flavor. Place them on a pretty plate and serve them to her in bed with hot tea or juice. It’s only one day a year, maybe she won’t feel too bad about going off her diet.
An omelet and fruit platter is another scrumptious Mother’s Day breakfast you could prepare. Find out what type of omelet Mom likes best and then be sure you have those ingredients available. Some options are onions, green peppers, ham, turkey, bacon, chopped tomatoes, and cheese. For the fruit platter, choose fruits which are in season – strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, or pineapple may be available.
Don’t forget to make breakfast a feast for the eyes as well as a feast for the tummy. Start out by picking a bouquet of flowers, either from outside or from a florist, to place on the table or tray if you’re serving breakfast in bed. If breakfast is being served at the dinner table, plan to serve breakfast on a fresh tablecloth, with pretty cloth napkins, and pull out the fancy dishes.
Have the children make home-made Mother’s Day cards to place on the tray or table. They’ll be the perfect accompaniment to these scrumptious Mother’s Day breakfast idea. Remember, anything your children do for Mom will be appreciated.
Sit Back and Let the World Go By
Jun 2nd
At some point in your hectic life, you may feel like screaming “Stop the world, I want to get off!” Life can come at you in a blur at times. It’s at those moments you want to sit back and let the world go by.
Taking time to refresh yourself is extremely important in today’s hurried pace. Rather than trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses,’ why not make a change to your life for the better. Learn to step back on a regular basis and enjoy a day of peace and quiet.
* Do you like to read but never find time to do it? How long has it been since you’ve simply lost yourself in a book? Set aside time each week to do just that. Give yourself permission to spend a couple of hours delving into the newest novel by your favorite author. Or go back and re-read one of your favorite books. Curl up with a cup of coffee or hot tea and allow yourself to get lost in the pages. You’ll feel refreshed and more ready to face your busy schedule once you’ve taken a break.
* When was the last time your family took a vacation? How about a long weekend where you could get away from your normal schedule? If you live close to the beach, setting aside time to enjoy the sunshine and the sound of the waves may be just what your family needs to get rejuvenated.
* Take a walk during your lunch hour instead of hurrying to eat and get back to work. Take your full allotted time so you can relax a little bit before rejoining the rat race. Spend some time sitting on a bench watching the people passing by. Enjoy the warmth of the sun and the fresh air. You’ll be amazed at how awake you are when you return to work.
* Head to the gym when you feel the pressure and stress of a busy schedule getting the best of you. Not only will exercise strengthen your muscles, it will also help reduce the effects of stress you may be feeling. Does this mean you have to spend hours at the gym to get these benefits? Of course not. However, a minimum of 30 minutes three days a week is recommended to get the most benefit.
* Take the time to do some research on the internet to see if there are meditation retreats in your area. What’s a meditation retreat? They are short trips to facilities which are known for being quiet. This could be a convent or monastery but could also be a campground in the mountains. The point is to take the time away from your stress-filled days to reconnect with your own hopes and dreams by spending time in meditation.
When your world is going crazy and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to breathe, getting away to sit back and let the world go by can be what you need most. Give it a try! Use one of the above ideas to help you step back from your hurried life and bring back a sense of peace and sanity.
Frugal Ways to Spoil Mothers on Their Special Day
May 30th
Moms do so much for the rest of the family throughout the year. It’s nice to make Mom feel special at least once a year. Listed below are some frugal ways to spoil mothers on their special day.
Even if all of the children aren’t writing yet, a handwritten note or letter will be cherished by every mother. Have the children write a short paragraph explaining how special she is. If they can’t write, have them dictate what they want to say. Be sure to write it down verbatim so Mom knows exactly how they feel – even if what they say is funny. This gift is one of the most frugal since you probably already have everything you need at home.
Rather than taking Mom out for lunch on Mother’s Day, why not plan a fun picnic. You can either have it at a local park, the back yard, or even indoors if the weather isn’t co-operating. Spread the blanket out on the living room floor and you won’t even have to contend with ants!
Springtime is a great time to fly a kite because it is often windy and warm. It probably won’t matter what type of kite you fly as long as you have fun doing it. Make your own kit or pick one up at a discount or dollar store. Then go fly a kite together as a family.
Balloons don’t have to be expensive. Find one nice Mylar balloon and several plain ones in Mom’s favorite color. Ask the clerk to blow up the plain ones (often they’ll do that for free but you may have to pay a little bit extra) and make a bouquet of balloons. Then write a special Mother’s Day message on the plain balloons. This is a great way to personalize a message without breaking the bank.
Create a day spa in the privacy of your own home. Set up candles around the bathtub, find some nice bubble bath, play soothing music and let Mom have time to enjoy the peace and quiet. If possible, before she’s ready to get out of the tub, toss some towels in the dryer for a few minutes so they’ll be warm when she uses them. She’ll definitely feel spoiled and pampered.
Find a favorite book shared by Mom and the children. If the children can read, have them record themselves reading the book. This idea can also be used with children who are small; instead of having them read, give them specific words they can say while you read the book. Mom will love having this memento of her children’s voices, especially when they get older.
Make a coupon book she can use at a future date. One hour of time alone is a good coupon, and vacuuming or ironing could also be offered. A back or foot massage is always appreciated, but she may enjoy the coupon for a breakfast in bed most of all. Use your imagination. Think of things the children could give her and then a few from you.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make Mom feel valued. In fact, any of these frugal ways to spoil mothers on their special day will probably do just fine. Of course, anything you give that comes from the heart will be treasured because she knows it came with love.
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