Mom Writes Stuff

Instilling a love for reading in your children may seem as unattainable as winning the lottery.  Pulling them away from that video game in exchange for a paperback is almost like a shot in the dark.  Is it still possible to get them to enjoy reading?  Yes, it most definitely is.

First of all, as a parent, you must set an example to your kids.  If you want to get them to do something, show them that you yourself are doing it.  So, if you want them to start reading, stop spending hours surfing the net for rv loans, and start burying yourself in a good book.  Teaching by example still wins wars in whatever day and age.

Fill your home with good reading material.  Be it magazines or thick paperbacks, keep a worthy selection of books on different topics.  It would help to tap into your kids’ interests.  For instance, if your teener is into basketball, get him books on his favorite player.

Reduce TV time, and spend more time reading.  Show your kids that reading can be fun and interesting too.

The key is in luring them into the habit of reading.  If they realize that reading isn’t all about academics and boring theories, they will sooner or later develop in them a liking to it.

Tags: how to get kids to read, kids and reading

Every little girl dreams of growing up to marry the man of her dreams.  Although not everyone will get the chance to have a dream wedding like Kate Middleton’s, one’s wedding is no less a memorable and special experience.  If you’re one who’s about to tie the knot, try to think about these health considerations before you get married:

Pap smears.  If you’ve never seen a gynecologist, now’s the perfect time to do that.  Get those yearly Pap smears and exams to make sure your body is in tiptop shape to get pregnant.  Sooner or later, you and your hubby will want a little bundle of joy.

Your period.  Nothing can be worse than having your period on your honeymoon.  If you find out that your period is due on your honeymoon, talk to your doctor about using contraceptives to help delay your menstruation.

Remember, your health is more important than your precious collection of Morgan silver dollars.  In order to successfully fulfill your wifely duties, you have to be in the pink of health.

Time flies so fast that our kids seem to grow at lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, your toddler is suddenly a tween. In between growth spurts are a multitude of memories which you would do everything to preserve. Since we live in fast-changing times, we have to keep up with technology when it comes to saving those precious memories of your kids growing up. It no longer seems fashionable nor practical to save those printed photos on those bulky photo albums. Now, there are more techie options available.

Since most, if not all, of the photos we take nowadays are with a digital camera, it becomes more convenient then to save them electronically. You have the option to burn them to a CD and do some CD replication, if you want to hand these out to friends or relatives.

If you want to share those photos with family overseas, you can simply upload them to any free online photo album. There’s shutterfly.com and kodakgallery.com, to name a few. Anyone- with your consent- will be able to access those memories from anywhere in the world.

With your digital photos, you can even create digital scrapbooks and likewise share them online. There are a lot of digiscrapping resources on the internet. It’s pretty easy to learn and addictive too.

Memories are meant to be saved and shared. With the many options at your disposal, choose the one which you are most comfortable with, and your memories will certainly last a lifetime.

Tags: saving memories

It should come as no surprise that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.  If my hubby wanted one of those Tourmaster motorcycle jackets for Christmas, I’d give it to him without so much as batting an eyelash- that is, if my budget permits.  If my kid wanted to go on a Disneyland tour, I’d waste no time in packing our bags and flying off to meet Mickey and the gang.

This is where the value of gratitude comes into the picture.  Whenever I do something big or small for any member of my family, I can almost feel my heart do cartwheels when they say a simple “thank you” to me.  Any form of gratitude elates my spirit and only motivates me to do more things for them.

This post may be a little too early for Thanksgiving, but there’s never a set date to show our thanks to the people we hold most dear to our hearts.  Whenever the opportunity presents itself, say thanks to whoever has gone the extra mile- or inch- for you.  A grateful heart makes for a happy family.

Tags: family thanksgiving, grateful heart

It’s a long Halloween weekend, and I am looking forward to meeting up with old friends: one is a dentist who spends most of her time looking for discount dental supplies, another is a struggling entrepreneur, trying to carve a niche for herself in the food industry.

It’s been ages since we last saw one another, as we each have our own daily troubles to keep us preoccupied.  W e hardly have the time to catch up on each others’ lives.  The days of endless chatter on the phone and long stretches of hours together over coffee are long gone.  A gazillion other responsibilities have taken over the simple joy of girlfriends convening to talk about hunky men and figure-flattering jeans.

It’s always important to touch base with who you are- apart from your husband, kids and the seemingly insurmountable household chores.  As much as you can, try to carve out some time for yourself.  If you can’t physically be together with your girlfriends, try to at least call them up or send them a text message.  Don’t even think about posting on their Facebook wall, as nothing can be more impersonal.  It is pretty easy to be insincere online, believe me.  If your schedules allow you to, mark off a day to meet up at a nearby restaurant, even for just a couple of hours.

Friends are there for a reason.  They help remind us who we are- that we can still be sexy and fashionable despite our mommy duties.  Value them, as they are truly indispensable in this ever-changing world.

Tags: friendship moms, women friends, women friendship

Cool and fashionable clothes to keep us warm for the holiday season are within our reach. Good quality clothes, shoes and accessories from as low as £10 up to £200 can be found at Gray and Osbourne online shop. I can always count on this shop for classic designs that don’t go out of style. The cold winter season calls for over shirts, blouses and jackets that you can mix and match with a few splashes of color.

Some good fashion finds that I found on the net include a berry-colored frilly front blouse from Gray and Osbourne (£79), Anise satin sash blouse (£90), and Betty Barclay ¾-sleeve blouse (£99). The blouses can be paired with bargain trousers like Michele Classic Comfort trousers which can be bought for only £35, Gelco slim leg cotton trousers (£69) and a new design of Frank Lyman Jersey trousers that are available for £99. For outer wear you can check out the Gelco mock suede jacket (£150), Passport long line jacket (£175), and Betty Barclay knitted reversible jacket (£160)

There are more reasonably priced clothes, shoes and accessories that can be found in the site. If you’re on a tight budget just remember great fashion finds and bargains await the shopper who patiently surfs the web.

If you find that your efforts at counting sheep have proven to be futile, and you still are tossing and turning in your bed, the problem may not be that pea underneath your mattress.  Your sleeplessness may be caused by this one needless emotion: worry. 

Almost all of us worry several times a day.  Whether it’s about the fact that you’re knee-deep in debt, or you’re worried about your present romantic relationship, we all have our troubles.  A certain amount of worry may be inevitable, but if it constantly permeates our entire being, then that’s a red flag.

Some causes of our worry may have palpable solutions.  If it’s money you worry about, you can come up with ways to cut down on expenses, for instance.   Some worries, however, are borne out of fear of the unknown… fear of the uncertainty of the future.  There are just some things which we have no control over.

What makes worry detrimental to our mental and physical health is it zaps the energy out of us.  It wastes our time thinking about what has yet to transpire.  Instead of acting on the present, we expend all our energy thinking and thinking about what is to happen.

A better alternative would be to simply accept the things which we cannot change and just let God be in control- because He is.  Whatever it is that’s troubling you, it too shall pass.

Tags: worrying

If you feel that your kids are spending way too much time online, spending hours scouring the web for the best youtube video downloader, then it’s time to get them on their feet and out the door.  Everyone does need a little sun on their cheeks, and a breath of fresh air rejuvenates the spirit.  If it seems extremely difficult to convince your kids to get out of the house, here’s what you can do:

Go on a picnic.  Pack your favorite snacks, sandwiches and drinks and head off to the nearest park.  Bring along a few board games to pass the time.  A ball or Frisbee will also come in handy.

Roadtrip rules.  If you have no destination in mind, just gas up and go on a roadtrip.  Cruise along and enjoy the sights of new places which you and your family have never been to before.

Ride your bikes.  Drive off to a safe biking destination and bike with your family.  You’ll be burning calories and bonding with them at the same time.

Backyard fun.  If you don’t feel like going too far, you can have fun right in your own backyard.  Engage your son in a little backyard basketball or play catch with your little girl.

The possibilities are endless.  Test the limits of your imagination, and come up with things to do with your family outdoors.

Tags: family activities, family bonding

You can hardly contain your excitement as your best friend breaks the thrilling news to you:  she and her boyfriend are finally engaged!  You should know well enough not to get the couple a run-of-the-mill gift.  What you want is to get them a personal engagement gift.  You’d want to make their engagement a special event, and mark that with something which they will also remember you by.

First think about what they would like (what they need can come later, as a wedding gift). Consider any hobby which the couple may share. If they’re into sports, get them personalized memorabilia, perhaps. If they are both wine connoisseurs, why not get them personalized wine glasses? You may even ask the couple’s family for suggestions, since they would know best.

Choosing engagement gifts need not be a herculean task. Just tap into your knowledge of the couple’s personalities, and you’ll be fine.

Just because you’re a busy mom who looks after your family’s welfare 24/7, that doesn’t mean you no longer have the right to look good- even as you sleep.  Occasionally, it doesn’t hurt to reward yourself with sexy lingerie or figure-flattering teddies.  When looking through a wide range of teddies lingerie shops have to offer, do consider the following tips:

If you want to make your legs look longer, go for a sleek or body-hugging teddy.  They come in a high-cut panty design.

If you want comfortable sleepwear, choose loose teddies.  If you’re a little full-figured, you can go for a two-piece, camisole style teddy which provides a bit of tummy control.

If you have full breasts, try not to pick those bare-back teddies, as they provide little support for your breasts. 

Looking good makes you feel good.  If anything, that’s what we moms need- a mood pick up!  Teddies can give you that.  Just be sure to choose well, carefully inspecting the quality of the fabric.

Tags: choosing lingerie tips