Archives for August 2017

Tips for New Moms: Taking Care of Yourself After Childbirth

tips for new moms

Giving birth is a special event in a woman’s life.  Giving birth changes her role in her family from a wife or lover to that of a mother.  While you’re managing the children, the house, husband, and career, things can become overwhelming.  Moms strive to not lose themselves in the midst of all of it. Many of us, including myself, have seen our moms leave behind everything just to manage the kids and other domestic responsibilities.  They forget about themselves, their hobbies and who they are.

During my parent’s era, moms gave up a lot to give their children a better upbringing.   That was the norm. However, today we have lots of help from technology and loads of information at our fingertips that can help us keep track of our domestic chores while managing our work and self-integrity. By following these simple tips for new moms, women can prevent becoming their own worst enemy.  They can also learn to keep their passions and charm alive while being a great parent.

  1. Hire help: The first principle to implement is to hire a babysitter or a weekly maid of. Being a mother will likely take all of your time. According to Happy Worker’s Mothering fun facts, moms have to stop 210 times in a day to attend to their toddlers! So if you are in that position, you deserve to have a day off.  Learn to relax or go off with your girls for a spa day.  Furthermore have dinner or drinks.
  1. Have me time: To prevent yourself from becoming lost, you need alone time where you can be at peace.  Take the time to just contemplate on yourself and your life. This is the time where you think about your present and your future.  So, me time will allow you to realign with the person you are under all the different robes of responsibilities that you have to wear.  Furthermore, use this time to get in touch with your passions, inner desires, hobbies and interests. There may be times that you will have to say no to your boss, the nosy neighbor, your children and/or husband.  Let your husband take care of the kids. If you are happy, healthy and enthusiastic about your own life, you can be a good role model to your children.
  1. Don’t multi-task: Women often embrace the multi-tasking label. However, scientists have revealed that no matter the gender, multi-tasking is not that great. Our brain’s wiring is such that we are much happier when we see a task right up to its conclusion. Multitasking has been proven to be bad for the brain impacting productivity and is more draining as it takes more energy to get back to the initial task.
  1. Take care of your physical health: When you are physically stressed, it affects you and your family. If you don’t take care of yourself, you may become low on energy.  Also, it can grow into other complications and chronic illnesses. Find an exercise that you enjoy and one that will give you time to think.  For example, cycling or walking your dog will allow the mind to relax while you work your body. If you have gained extra weight, plan a workout to lose it in a healthy way. There are many online tools and mobile applications that will help you plan a weight loss regime according to your needs. Remember, just like you take care of your baby’s body you should also take care of your own. Have a morning pampering routine, indulge in intense exercises regularly, and rekindle any lost sexual intimacy with your partner.

Many mothers often end up judging themselves when they put their needs before the children. You are a caregiver, a guardian, and a parent.  However, you are entitled to take care of yourself too. So, don’t criticize yourself for being disorganized or inadequate.  You have been doing enough already, and a little self- love is not only good it is necessary.  We hope our tips for new moms have been beneficial.

About the author: James Smith is a survivalist, who loves to write about survival skills and techniques. You can follow him at @JamesSmith1609.

How To Delegate Appropriate Chores for Kids

Please note that the title of this post does not ask if children should do chores.  As members of a family unit, of course, they should contribute.  Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on how to choose appropriate chores for kids of various age groups.

 

 

chores for kids

 

Preventing Pitfalls

Perfection is an unattainable goal. So, don’t expect it. Instead, take a more casual approach to chores and the way your kids accomplish them. As long as they make an honest effort, don’t discourage them by nitpicking the job they do, as per parenting pros at WebMD.

Next, don’t put off assigning chores to the kids who live in your house. If any child is earning an allowance, they are old enough to manage at least a few simple household errands.  For example, little kids can put their toys away and place their worn clothing into the hamper.  Elementary school age kids can scoop the litter box and feed the dog.

Most parents use an allowance as a tool for their children to learn money management.  Kids do well when they’re taught the value of a job well done too.   So, don’t always rely on money as proof of their contribution.  An allowance as compensation for chores rarely works on young kids who are not money motivated.

However, lavish praise and be consistent.  Express your happiness while your kid is actually doing the chore. This builds positive momentum and keeps your kid in action. Let your children know that you notice their efforts, and be sure to tell them they’re doing a good job, suggest Mom magazine.

Be Specific

Instead of telling your child to go clean your room, tell the exactly what you want them to do.  For example, put your dirty clothes in the hamper, put away your books and toys, or place your toys in the toy box,” is a much better way to give your kid the message. These are appropriate chores for kids that are young too.  Teach them how to make a bed before telling them to make it. Show them how to do the dishes before sending them into the kitchen to clean up. Make a chore chart and don’t micromanage. You want your kids to learn the joy of a job well done. Teach them to do it right, and let them get on with it.

Assign age appropriate chores

There’s no point in telling your toddler to wash the family car or take out the trash. You can, however, kindly instruct a teenager to do the same. Adolescents are able to manage most household chores sans supervision. They may not smile throughout the process, but they’re certainly capable of doing more chores than their younger siblings.

Teens who are newly licensed to drive may actually enjoy chores like using the family car to pick up needed items at the grocery store. Assign the chore of picking up their little sister at dance class, and you may even find your teen asking for more chores, suggests Mom magazine.

Make Chores Fun For Everyone

When you tell your kid to clean the bathroom, provide them with eco-friendly, nice smelling, biodegradable products. If they are not choked by fumes, they may welcome cleaning the tub and toilet. Stock up on a sweet selection of planet pleasing cleaning items from CleanHappens.com.  Make sure these are appropriate chores for kids who will be responsible with the products.

From the age of five until they reach adolescence, most kids are able to contribute time and energy to household chores. For a third or fourth grader, assign daily chores such as making their own bed, unloading the dishwasher, and feeding the family pet.  Other appropriate chores for kids this age may include things like folding and putting away laundry, emptying trash cans and sweeping the kitchen floor.

Seasonal Chore Charts

If your family lives where leaves turn orange in autumn and spring brings April showers, you can assign seasonal chores to your kids. In the summertime, kids can wash and vacuum the car. In winter, they can shovel sidewalks, suggests VeryWell magazine.

Most importantly, show them how you want the job done and always enforce safety rules.  Aside from that, tell your kid what to do and let them do it.  Avoid nagging your teen. Offer kind and encouraging guidance, instead.

Finally, insist that your teen do their chores before they go out with friends.  Setting priorities is a good way for them to learn management skills too.

About the Author: Jack Gould is a hands-on Dad who is proud to call himself a house husband. His articles talk about parenting, raising strong, independent, healthy and happy kids.

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #139

Sunday's Best Linkup - #136

 

Welcome to Week 139 of Mother 2 Mother Sunday’s Best Linkup.  This is the last week of our Back to School theme.  We’re looking for shopping tips, teacher appreciation gifts, lunch ideas, books for reading lists, afterschool snacks and more.  Next week we will be starting our Fall theme.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and share those on our linkup too. They’re are great for inspiration.
Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.  Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on our linkup post the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best Featured Blogger.  All Featured Bloggers will have their posts pinned to Rhonda’s Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board and Kim M. pins the weekly featured bloggers to her Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board too!
The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best Linkup will be promoted on Twitter.  In addition to the Post With the Most Clicks, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best Linkup host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Sunday's Best Linkup

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother                           Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone 
Jennifer at Making Our Life Matter            Brittany at A Mama Tale

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Kim from Life In A House:  Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

Brittany from A Mama’s Tale:  Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Jennifer from Making Our Life Matter:  Please like Jennifer’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Sundays Best Linkup Sundays Best Featured Blogger

Your readers may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. We appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now, let’s party!


Rhonda selected Sock Hop Jukebox Candy Bouquet Tutorial from Kandy Kreations  

 

Sock Hop Jukebox Candy Bouquet

 

Kim selected Beer Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Craft Beering           

 

Brittany selected Healthy Chocolate Chip Recipes from Healthy Helper Blog   

 chocolate chip cookie recipes

 

Jennifer selected Grilled Shrimp and Scallops from Marilyn’s Treats 

shrimp recipes

 

The Post with the Most Clicks


Vegan Millionaire’s Shortbread from The Baking Explorer  

 vegan recipes

 

and

Our Favorite Theme Post(s)  – Back to School

 

Crayon Inspired Hair Bow from Purple Hues and Me   

 back to school fashioin

                                                                                                        and 
Mason Jar Teacher Gift Ideas from Burlap and Blue   
 teacher gift ideas
and
10 Must Have Back to School Items from Foxy Domestic Side
and
40 Back to School Books For All Ages from Homebound But Hopeful
back to school book ideas
Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and we deeply appreciate each of you participating on Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. Finally, your hosts would like to invite all of you back to link up your post(s) again; you could be selected next week! While you’re here, take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love and be sure to connect with others on social media!


How to Grow Carrots in Your Garden

Today, I’m sharing tips on how to grow carrots in your backyard garden.  A backyard vegetable garden is the perfect place for you and the kids to grow yummy carrots.  They are a great snack and wonderful in soups, stews and other dishes. Carrots  are a root vegetable, which are a rich source of vitamins and a favorite food of many people.  However, growing carrots is not simple.   

Growing carrots requires more of a challenge than you might think.  It would be a pity if your achievements turn out small in size or their taste is not appealing.  So. if you intend to plant carrots, you need to know some useful tips to make sure that they will grow steadily.

 

 

gardening tips

Here’s how to grow carrots:

 

When and Where Should You Grow Carrots?

You can sow the carrot seeds from March to August because it’s a good time to receive enough sunlight and moisture from rain water. In case you want to grow carrots in the winter, you can plant them in the greenhouse.  Carrots can develop ideally in the fertile soil and a sunny location.  If the soil in your garden is stony or clay, you may need to plant short root carrot varieties such as Carson or Parmex.

 

How to Grow Carrots in Your Garden

If you carry out the following steps, you can harvest your carrots as you expect.

  1. Remove any weeds from the soil before you sow the seeds.
  2. Use a stick to make rows of 1 cm in depth and leave 30 cm for each row.
  3. Sow your carrot seeds thinly along the row to make sure that every single seed can receive enough nutrients, light, and moisture.
  4. Pull the soil at the edges of the row back to cover your carrot seeds.
  5. Water the area.

 

how to grow carrots

 

 

How to Take Care of Carrots

  • Water at least once a week
  • Make sure the soil is draining well.
  • If plants are taller than 3 inches, cut the top.
  • After 1.5 months, fertilize the carrots
  • Always eliminate weeds around the area where the carrot is growing

 

How to get rid of pest from carrots

  • Carrot rust fly and carrot weevils: The eggs of these insects can impede the growth of your carrots. They also take nutrients from your plants. One effective way to eliminate these eggs is to change the locations of your plants each year.  Or, you can grow them under row covers.
  • Footed Pests: Lots of animals want to eat the leaves of carrots, while the others tend to dig deeper to try the roots. The thumb rule to get rid of the pests is to keep them away from the growing area.  In this case, building a fence surrounding your plants is the best way.
  • Diseases: Some bacteria cause carrots to yellow, soft rot, leaf blight, and so on. You need to remove all the diseased carrots or change to a new location the next season.

 

Harvest carrots

Once you learn how to grow carrots, you can harvest them within 50-75 days.  However, read the harvest guide on the seed package.  Remember that carrots will get their full sweetness when they are mature.

 

 

How to Grow Carrots

 

You can dig the carrots before the first frost by softening the soil. Simply water the growing area.  Afterwards, you can pull the carrots up.  Enjoy the great feeling of eating your carrots with tomatoes as a salsa or cook them in your favorite recipes.

We hope you have found our tips on how to grow carrots useful. So, purchase a pack of carrots and start planting.  You will be excited about watching your carrots grow and you will enjoy eating fresh and cooked carrots.  If you have questions or just want to share your tips, please leave a comment.

——————

Author Bio

Richard Clayton

Richard Clayton of My Greenery Life.  It’s a place, where we can discuss everything about lawn care, DIY gardening and critter control topics.

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #138

Sunday's Best Linkup - #136

 

Welcome to Week 138 of Mother 2 Mother Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We’re continuing our Back to School theme this week. We’re looking for shopping tips, teacher appreciation gifts, lunch ideas, books for reading lists, afterschool snacks and more.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and share those on our linkup too. They’re are great for inspiration.
Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.  Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on our linkup post the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best Featured Blogger.  All Featured Bloggers will have their posts pinned to Rhonda’s Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board and Kim M. pins the weekly featured bloggers to her Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board too!
The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best Linkup will be promoted on Twitter.  In addition to the Post With the Most Clicks, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best Linkup host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Sunday's Best Linkup

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother                           Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone 
Jennifer at Making Our Life Matter            Brittany at A Mama Tale

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Kim from Life In A House:  Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

Brittany from A Mama’s Tale:  Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Jennifer from Making Our Life Matter:  Please like Jennifer’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Sundays Best Linkup Sundays Best Featured Blogger

Your readers may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. We appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now, let’s party!


Rhonda selected Spa Cupcakes from The Apple Cottage 

spa gift ideas

 

Kim selected Flaunt Your Feet with a Power Peel from Electric Red Barn          

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Brittany selected The Kindergarten Survival Guide from Biracial Bookworms  

 Parenting Tips

 

Jennifer selected Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks from Fluster Buster

Chicken Recipes

 

The Post with the Most Clicks


Easing Back to School Worries With The Kissing Hand from Homebound But Hopeful 

 

Parenting Tips

and

Our Favorite Theme Post(s)  – Back to School

 

6 Ways to Save on Back to School from Mostly Caffeinated  

 back to school tips

                                                                                                        and 
 back to school tips
Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and we deeply appreciate each of you participating on Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. Finally, your hosts would like to invite all of you back to link up your post(s) again; you could be selected next week! While you’re here, take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love and be sure to connect with others on social media!


Women’s Health Problems: Taking Back Your Health

 

women's health care

“Take care of your body” is the leading mantra of the 21st century. It sounds like the most sensible and integral part of every lifestyle. However, it can come as an enormous surprise.  As a matter of fact, this frame of mind virtually didn’t exist among global communities years ago. It was mostly related to extreme lifestyle enthusiasts, people with money and superstars.

Fortunately, taking care of one’s health has become quite common.  We have so much access to detailed information related to medicine and biology today. The old saying goes – “prevention is better than cure.” So, it’s important to discuss some of the basic preventive health checkups every woman should do in order to reclaim their health. 

 Gynecological checkup

 A gynecological checkup should be done once every six months, although once a year is also acceptable. Consult your doctor to determine the appropriate schedule for you.  Additionally, this checkup should be an indispensable part of every modern woman’s schedule.  When compared to other checkups, it is the one that is most consistently done.

 

A Pap Smear is still one of the most reliable procedures to detect cervical cancer.  After the age of 20 and up until the age of 65, most women should do this test every three years.  Based on your medical history, after the age of 65 testing may be discontinued.  Consult your doctor with any questions or concerns. 

Breast checkup

Doing a self-exam of your breasts is one of the key checkups in the life of every woman. Every woman should have a clinical breast exam every three years up until the age of 40.  Examinations should be done yearly after the age of 40. 

By combining extensive knowledge with detailed examination and thorough questioning, your health care provider can determine the health of your breasts pretty confidently.  After the age of 50, every woman needs to start doing mammography tests, if not sooner. This test has been steeped in controversy because it uses ionizing radiation to detect malignant changes.  The health community agrees that benefits outweigh the risks by a significant margin.

In these hectic times when most people are exposed to a lot of stress and a breakneck lifestyles, many institutions and celebrities like Kylie Minogue and Angelina Jolie, are trying to raise awareness of these issues.

Hormone balance checkup

 Fatigue, mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, and poor sleep are signs of a hormone imbalance.  Additionally, noticeable skin changes can also be a sign. These are especially known to hit women who are entering menopause.

Saliva testing and blood testing are regular methods to test for imbalances. Most importantly, it influences your metabolism and cardiovascular system.  In particular, the rate and strength of the heartbeat.

Heart checkup

Statistically speaking, men are more prone to heart problems.  However, heart disease is a big issue for women as well.  When we talk about heart problems, the first thing that comes to mind is a healthy diet.  Nonetheless, some people have heart problems unrelated to diet and weight, and some of the problems are hereditary.

This is why checkups for heart disease are important. Blood pressure and weight measurement are the most noninvasive checkups. Blood tests take a prick in the thumb or the arm, but they are generally fast, and extremely important for monitoring your cholesterol levels and triglycerides. 

Eye checkup

 women's health care

 

Of all the senses, the eyesight is the last one anyone would give up.  So, have your eye examined at least once a year. Due to the lifestyle that includes a lot of eye strain, the eyesight problems are becoming more and more frequent. This is why Australia is one of the leading countries trying to raise awareness about the importance of regular eyesight checkups with its versatile eye health campaigns. For instance, you can do a complete specialized eye test in Parramatta and spend a little time on a non-invasive test that can mean a lot.

Scientific research has shown that, just like with the heart, a healthy diet and taking care of your weight can have a lasting positive impact on your eyesight.

Your body is your temple. Taking care of yourself has not only become a necessity, but a rite of passage to adulthood. 

 

Author BIO:  Sophia Smith is Australian based beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger. She is also very passionate about DIY projects, latest fashion trends and organic beauty products. Sophia writes mostly in beauty and fashion related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is regular contributor at High Style Life.

Find her on: Facebook  Twitter  Google +

 

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #137

Sunday's Best Linkup - #136

 

Welcome to Week 137 of Mother 2 Mother Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We’re starting our Back to School theme this week. We’re looking for shopping tips, teacher appreciation gifts, lunch ideas, books for reading lists, afterschool snacks and more.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and share those on our linkup too. They’re are great for inspiration.
Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.  Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on our linkup post the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best Featured Blogger.  All Featured Bloggers will have their posts pinned to Rhonda’s Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board and Kim M. pins the weekly featured bloggers to her Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board too!
The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best Linkup will be promoted on Twitter.  In addition to the Post With the Most Clicks, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best Linkup host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Sunday's Best Linkup

Debbie at Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains  Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone 
Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother  Jennifer at Making Our Life Matter and Brittany at A Mama Tale

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains: Please connect with Debbie on Facebook and follow her on Bloglovin, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter before you leave.

Kim from Life In A House:  Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

Brittany from A Mama’s Tale:  Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Jennifer from Making Our Life Matter:  Please like Jennifer’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave.

Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Sundays Best Linkup Sundays Best Featured Blogger

Your readers may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. We appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now, let’s party!


Rhonda selected Wood Slice Chargers from Penny’s Treasures  

 

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Debbie selected Where Fairies Flutter from What Happens at Grandma’s  

 Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Kim selected DIY Emergency Crayon Candles from My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies         

 

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Brittany selected Ultimate Teacher Planner from Lambert’s Lately 

 

 

 

Jennifer selected Fruit Vinegar Flavors from The Lazy Gastronome

 

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

The Post with the Most Clicks

Choosing the Right Laptop for Your Child from Making Our Life Matter

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

 

and

Our Favorite Theme Post(s)  – Back to School

 

School Bag Makeover from The Boondocks Blog 

 Sunday's Best Linkup

                                                                                                        and 
First Day of School Printable from Morning Motivated Mom 
 Sunday's Best Linkup
Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and we deeply appreciate each of you participating on Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. Finally, your hosts would like to invite all of you back to link up your post(s) again; you could be selected next week! While you’re here, take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love and be sure to connect with others on social media!


Buying the Right Breast Pump for You

buying the right breast pump

 

Motherhood involves a variety of big decisions.  Some begin before birth ever occurs.  One of the post-birth decisions will be that big choice regarding breast feeding.  If you choose to breast feed, you’ll need to choose the best breast pump for your needs.  You will need to consider your breasts, production, storage needs, and other factors that you will discuss with your health care provider before purchasing a breast pump.  Check out our breast pump tips:

What will I need to consider when choosing a pump?

So, there are several factors that will help determine which pump is the best one for you.  Some pumps are meant for women with average production.  However, there are also pumps for women whose production is quite high.  In fact, there are double pumps as well, which help to speed up the process and allow you to get back to what is important, taking care of your baby.  We’ve created a list of breast pump tips to consider before you choose a pump that suits your needs.

  • Do you have low, average, or heavy milk production?
  • Do you have larger breasts than average?
  • Have you chosen a storage system already?
  • Do you have trouble with milk flow?
  • Do you have any skin allergies that may affect the material the pump is made of?
  • Are there any other concerns that could physically affect the type of pump you need?

It is important to answer the above questions honestly, writing it down if necessary.  This will help when you speak to your doctor about what type of pump you may need if you do not decide on your own.  The doctor can make suggestions for you.  Also, there are plenty of resources for breast pump research that can help you decide, though it is best to speak to your doctor for the most in-depth suggestions.

Is there a time when I should wait to choose a pump?

Another reason you may need to speak to your health care provider is breast feeding problems.  If you are having trouble breast feeding, you will need to determine the cause before making the decision to pump.  Be sure to speak to your doctor about any unusual changes you may notice, such as swelling, redness, or unusual consistency in your breast milk.

By handling all of your concerns before buying a breast pump, and having a check-up to ensure you are breast feeding properly, you will be able to step up to the plate, select a pump, and continue to provide the best nutrition for your baby.  This will also allow you to return to a normal routine, including returning to work, with peace of mind in the fact that you have made the right choice for yourself and your baby.  We hope you found our breast pump tips helpful.

 

 

12 Tips on How To Keep a Clean House

how to keep a clean house

Either you еnjоу housework оr уоu dоn’t.  For most реорlе, іt іѕ a chore that hаѕ to bе dоnе аt least on a wееklу bаѕіѕ. Yоu can attempt tо make thеѕе chores mоrе enjoyable by fоllоwіng оur еаѕу tips on hоw tо keep a сlеаn hоuѕе.

Thеrе аrе several wауѕ you can go аbоut getting and keeping a clean hоuѕе.  Belоw аrе a few ѕtерѕ on how keep a clean house:   

  1. Mаkе thе bеd аѕ soon аѕ уоu gеt upMаkіng the bed first thing in thе mоrnіng wіll kick-start your рrоduсtіvіtу lеvеlѕ.  Furthermore, it will make it thаt muсh hаrdеr tо сrаwl bасk іntо bеd too.
  1. Keep your bеdѕіdе tаblе tidy – Give уоur bedside tаblе a ԛuісk wіре whеn рісkіng uр your рhоnе іn the morning. That’s оnе lеѕѕ сhоrе tо tасklе оn thе wееkеnd.
  1. Edіt your сlоѕеt as уоu go – For example, kеер a hаmреr or bаg in уоur closet where уоu can throw items оf сlоthіng thаt don’t work аnуmоrе.  Sоrt thrоugh іt оnсе a mоnth, аnd tоѕѕ, dоnаtе, or sell.
  1. Immеdіаtеlу rеhаng іtеmѕ уоu wоrе Don’t juѕt throw сlоthеѕ оn a сhаіr.  If thеу саn be wоrn оnсе more bеfоrе laundry dау, hang thеm. Kеер drу cleaned ready items іn a ѕераrаtе ѕесtіоn of your сlоѕеt.
  1. Hаvе a dеdісаtеd hаmреr fоr every реrѕоn іn уоur home – Hаvе a laundry bаѕkеt fоr еасh реrѕоn іn уоur house.  Plus аn extra hamper for linens. If уоu’rе fееlіng еxtrа оrgаnіzеd, uѕе hаmреrѕ that have two bаѕkеtѕ іn еасh ѕо уоu саn separate whites in аdvаnсе.
  1. Stаrt a wаѕh cycle as ѕооn аѕ уоu gеt home – If you have еnоugh laundry, start a wаѕh сусlе in thе evenings. Give yourself enough time to dry and fold it before you head to bed. As a result, don’t lеt unfоldеd lаundrу mаkе it to the bеdrооm. Bе ruthlеѕѕ аbоut fоldіng/іrоnіng laundry as soon аѕ thе drуіng сусlе is dоnе.
  1. Bе Happy with “Clеаn Enough”  – As a реrfесtіоnіѕt, thіѕ іѕ рrоbаblу thе hаrdеѕt оnе fоr mе.  Yоu wаnt уоur hоuѕе tо be rеlаtіvеlу сlеаn аnd tidy, but that doesn’t mеаn thаt еvеrу lіttlе thing hаѕ tо bе реrfесt.  I always {trу!} tо fоllоw thе 80/20 rulе.  That means that I аm hарру wіth 80% of the cleaning being dоnе.  Don’t get саught uр in аll of the little details that make uр thе last 20% .  For example, mаkіng sure еvеrу lіttlе ѕресk is сlеаnеd uр оff thе floor.  Or, getting tо all оf thоѕе lіttlе out of thе wау and hаrd to rеасh рlасеѕ to duѕt. I’m nоt ѕауіng thаt thеу nеvеr need tо be сlеаnеd, but mаkе thеm part of a deep сlеаnіng rоutіnе rаthеr thаn уоur rеgulаr weekly сlеаnіng schedule.
  1. Kеер Pареr Orgаnіzеd  – If уоu hаvе piles оf papers аll оvеr уоur hоmе, thеn уоu’ll really want tо consider аdорtіng thіѕ hаbіt! File рареrѕ іmmеdіаtеlу іnѕtеаd of keeping papers hаngіng аrоund thе house. When bіllѕ соmе in, put thеm іn one place. Aftеr you’ve paid thе bіllѕ fіlе them immediately.  Kеер mеnuѕ, coupons аnd оthеr mаіl уоu may nееd іn one place.  Purge regularly. 
  1. PrіоrіtіzеNоt all сlеаnіng іѕ created еԛuаl.  Mаkе a lіѕt оf whаt уоu wоuld like to gеt dоnе аnd then prioritize Decide  what nееdѕ to bе dоnе and whаt can wаіt.  Gіvеn the time thаt уоu have available, write down уоur tор 2 оr 3 {realistic!} сlеаnіng gоаlѕ.  Stick wіth these bеfоrе аttеmрtіng tо dо оthеr thіngѕ.  I always uѕеd tо hаtе writing оut lіѕtѕ, but I fіnd thаt іt rеаllу hеlрѕ me tо ѕtау focused.
  1. Get thе Whоlе Fаmіlу Involved Thіѕ іѕ оnе that I hаvе rеаllу trіеd tо wоrk on lаtеlу.  Yеѕ, іt is оftеn actually еаѕіеr tо just dо the job yourself.  However, ѕреndіng thе tіmе tо tеасh уоur children tо dо аgе аррrорrіаtе jоbѕ will bе bеttеr fоr bоth оf you.  Stаrt bу juѕt wоrkіng оn having уоur kids рісk up аftеr themselves.  This includes puttіng thеіr соаt and ѕhоеѕ аwау whеn they соmе іn thе hоuѕе.  Additionally, putting dishes іn the dіѕhwаѕhеr and сlеаnіng thеіr room.  Add in оthеr сhоrеѕ аѕ they are аblе to accomplish the goal.  It’ѕ аmаzіng hоw much оf a dіffеrеnсе it can mаkе іn the оvеrаll tіdіnеѕѕ of thе hоuѕе іf ѕіmрlе things аrе dоnе.  Ovеr time this wіll start tо bе a hаbіt fоr thеm.  They should еvеntuаllу bе аblе to do chores wіth minimal reminders.
  1. Keep Bаѕіс Clеаnіng Suррlіеѕ Clоѕе tо Where Yоu Use Thеm – I have аll of our bаthrооmѕ ѕtосkеd with bаѕіс сlеаnіng supplies.  This includes miсrоfіbеr сlоthѕ аnd a роlіѕhіng cloth; a tоіlеt ѕсrub bruѕh аnd a ѕрrау bоttlе wіth wаtеr аnd vіnеgаr {оr a multі-рurроѕе сlеаnеr оf уоur сhоісе}.  This mаkеѕ it ѕо much ԛuісkеr and easier tо gіvе the tоіlеt a ԛuісk ѕwіре оr wіре thе grоѕѕ tооthраѕtе ѕріt frоm the mirror іnѕtеаd of hаvіng to track dоwn сlеаnіng ѕuррlіеѕ.  Trу to dо these ѕіmрlе tаѕkѕ as уоu see thе need – mоѕt of thеm take оnlу a minute or twо – and іt wіll rеаllу reduce hоw often you need tо do a tор tо bottom deep сlеаn.
  1. DесluttеrThis оnе may nееd tо be implemented over a lоngеr реrіоd оf tіmе.  However, tаkіng the tіmе tо declutter аnd оrgаnіzе уоur hоmе wіll drastically cut down оn thе amount оf time nееdеd tо clean.  Hаvіng a ѕроt fоr еvеrуthіng makes іt so muсh easier tо tidy uр.  Also, lеѕѕ іtеmѕ on thе соuntеrѕ and ѕurfасе tорѕ cuts down оn duѕtіng, and mаkеѕ сlеаnіng quicker.

Finally, if you want to read more tips then check out: http://calgarycleaninginc.ca/tор-10-easy-tірѕ-to-maintain-a-clean-hоuѕе/ 

4 Benefits of Reading to Children

Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on the benefits of reading to children.  Reading to children during bedtime has been a staple in raising children for many parents. However, the activity goes beyond being a means to strengthen the ties between parent and child.   Additionally, science has proven that kids can gain a lot of benefits from the activity. 

 

 

reading to children

 

 

Benefits of Reading to Your Children:

 

It helps them develop their vocabulary

One of the most obvious benefits of reading to children is that it helps them learn new words. According to G. Reid Lyon, at the National Institute of Child Health and Development,
reading can increase brain activity.  Specifically, it stimulates the auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain that handles language sounds. The more they become exposed to words, the quicker it will take them to process and learn them.

 

It helps stimulate their imagination

You might find it hard to believe that imagination can actually be measured by science, but that is exactly what a medical team from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center did.
An article on WebMD summarized the results of their research
, which revealed that reading to children helps stimulate brain activity.

The study revealed that the more time children were exposed to reading at home, the more they showed brain activity while listening to stories at the laboratory. Dr. John Hutton, who led the team, stated that this was an indication that reading to children can help fire up their imagination.  Scientists believe that early reading can help develop children’s literacy later on in life. 

 

 

 

benefits of reading to children

 

 

 

It helps advance their skills

In 2013,
the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research discovered that children aged 4-5 years old who read 3-5 times a week have the same reading skills of kids who are older than them by 6 months.  The older children read less than twice a week.  Furthermore, the study discovered that reading to kids 6-7 times weekly can help them become on par with those who are nearly a year older than them.

These promising results go beyond the laboratory.  The author and illustrator Nadia Shireen, who, in an interview with Tootsa, revealed that as a child, she went to the library regularly. As a result, it inspired her to pursue her profession.

Reading does not just improve children’s adeptness to words. It can even improve their mathematical skills. An article on The Guardian discussed how this could be due to the fact that reading makes kids more receptive to new ideas, enabling them to pick up skills, including involving numbers, much faster.

 

It teaches them coping skills

Reading can also help children learn coping skills.  Books can help children learn how to better handle difficult situations.  Additionally, books serve as a temporary escape that they can turn to in times of stress.