All Things For Mom - Making Life Simpler

Choosing the Right Vacation for Your Family

kim — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:22 +0000

What Flavor is Your Vacation?

Not long ago, one of our writers, Allison, who works as a travel agent for Fairytale Journeys and writes the blog Magical Memory Planners, posted a question on her Facebook fanpage. She asked us what kind of vacation we preferred – beach, mountains, theme parks, etc. – and the answers were interesting to read. They didn’t reflect the actual place that the person wanted to visit as much as they did the type or flavor of vacation each person desired. For example, some people said they preferred to be outdoors in a place with a lot of activities available while others said they would rather lie on a warm beach without distraction. Overwhelmingly, it was the pace and not the place of the vacation that determined its flavor.

Taking Care of Your Heart – Women’s Heart Attack Information You MUST Know

kim — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:21:42 +0000

You’d know if you were having a heart attack…right? Probably not. Most women wouldn’t and, even if they suspected a heart attack, most of us would wait at least 30 minutes before calling for help in the hope that the symptoms would subside! Coronary artery disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. One in four of us will die as a result of a heart attack or stroke and many times the death could have been prevented if we and even our doctors had immediately recognized and treated the symptoms. Getting appropriate treatment within an hour after the heart attack begins cuts your risk of dying by 50%.

Speech Delays - One Mom's Story

kim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:00:57 +0000

It was an early spring day, two years ago, when my husband and I checked into the hospital to welcome our second daughter. There were other plans in store for us that day as we heard the doctors exclaim, “It’s a boy!” So, instead, we joyously welcomed a beautiful little boy into our family and began our journey.

Protecting Your Child from the Culture - Society's Not the Parent

kim — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:47:17 +0000

There have been some amazing technological advances in the last thirty years — even the last five years. Compare the bulky computers of the 80’s with the ultra-thin MacBook Air, the cumbersome car phone with the sleek smart phone, the PacMan to the Wii, the walkman to the iPod….the perm with — well, the NON-perm. Our kids will never know a world without Facebook, GPS, and Google.

Of course, there are many good things about technology — like Skype, for example, where my parents read books to their grandkids even though there are 100 miles between them. But the advances society has made are not all positive, and parents need to take care, now more than ever, in filtering how their kids are influenced.

Understanding Your Partner – The Five Love Languages

kim — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:53:46 +0000

In your relationship with your spouse, have you ever felt like you were speaking a different language? You buy him a gift and he thanks you with the same enthusiasm he would use if you showed him the color swatches for new kitchen curtains. Or perhaps you tell him over and over how much you love him and what a great father he is and he smiles at you the way he does when little Mikey hands him a paper with a giant scribble on it and declares it’s a tree. Maybe you are the one who is frustrated. Why can’t he just get you something you really want for Valentine's Day? Why is he doing yet another house repair project when he could be spending some time with you?!

Exercise During Pregnancy…Oh, Yes You Can!

kim — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

For many of us, that little plus sign is the green light to do everything we’re “not allowed” to do. We fall off the wagon with our eating because, after all, we are “eating for two” and we decide that exercise is off the list because we don’t want to “hurt the baby” or ourselves. Hold up, Mama! We’ve already dispelled those myths in our last pregnancy article so back the truck up and hear me when I say that, unless your doctor has told you explicitly that you should rest, you can and should exercise during pregnancy even if you’ve been a champion couch potato up to this point. It’s good for you and the baby.

I heard that collective moan. Relax, I’m not asking you to be marathon mom. I’m just suggesting that you get the blood flowing. Exercising during pregnancy can provide several benefits for you and baby. However, before you start, you must have the okay from your midwife or obstetrician. If your pregnancy is high risk in any way you will want to take extra caution with exercise. That doesn’t mean you get to skip exercise altogether (unless you're on bed rest), it just means that you need to be smart about it.

Baby Food Recipes for the Beginner

ellen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:30:00 +0000

Now that you have mastered the simple purees after reading Making Homemade Baby Food is Not Just for Martha Stewart, you are ready for some new combinations! As with all food for your baby, make sure everything in the recipe is something you have already fed your baby or that your baby is the right age to begin the new ingredients. Check wholesomebabyfood.com for lists of when to introduce each solid food or consult your pediatrician. Most of these recipes would be considered Stage 2 recipes, that is, more suited to a child 7-8 months and up.

Public Policy - Helping Your Child Manage His Behavior in Public

kim — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:12:13 +0000

I am in awe of the moms in the grocery store who push a cart full of groceries in front of them while pulling a cart full of kids behind them. I’m not there yet. I prefer to leave the kids at home while grocery shopping — even if that means I’m picking up milk and eggs at ten o’clock at night.

Every mom has a different attitude when it comes to how her kids behave in public. Some prefer the “Whatever” policy and let their children rant and run wherever they please, wreaking havoc in Aisles 2, 3, and 4; some moms choose the “Reward/Punishment” route, promising candy bars for good behavior and a 6 pm bedtime for bad behavior; still other moms use the “What-do-you-want-to-do?” method, where they offer sweet Susie a choice in everything — from which cereal is purchased to which aisle to go down next; and then there are the moms who just drag their kids, kicking and screaming, all over creation — and Costco.

Party Décor: Fun with Paper Plates

kim — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:29:59 +0000

I’ve been known to pull out the paper plates a time or two when I’m feeling too lazy to clean up the kitchen, but my favorite use for paper plates has nothing to do with cooking.

I love using paper plates as party décor! Not only are they incredibly cost-efficient (you can get packs of 20 for $1 at the dollar store and Wal-Mart), but they come in virtually any color, and the possibilities are endless!

All you need is a little bit of imagination, and you can create something with paper plates to go with almost any theme!

Rekindling the Romance - Has Anyone Seen My Prince Charming?

kim — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, your thoughts are turning to roses and hearts and plans of a romantic candlelit dinner with the man of your dreams...or maybe not. For many women, it seems that once the first baby arrived, the mortgage payments came due and your husband got that big promotion romance sprouted wings and headed for warmer climates where googly-eyed newlyweds sip champagne in palm tree-draped lagoons. Do you miss the man who first captured your heart? You’re not the only disillusioned Disney princess. We all know that romance is not the same thing as love but does that mean we should give up on ever finding romance with our spouse again? Certainly not! We just need to adjust our expectations, take some initiative and find a new normal.

Before you schedule the babysitter and make reservations for that passionate night of rekindling the spark, we have some work to do and it begins with a long, hard look in the mirror. No, I am not suggesting that you need to lose weight, go shopping for a new outfit or get your hair cut. I’m talking about asking yourself some difficult questions regarding how you might be contributing to your own marital doldrums. "But", you protest, "I want romance and my husband is clueless!" Is he...really?