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I told her he was at the dentist having oral surgery. She said, "Oh, so they're just gonna talk about it?" READ MORE
Smart Mom
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Solution of the month It’s summertime and that means lots of barbeques and picnics with friends and neighbors. Instead of bringing the same old veggie tray, here’s something fun and different to bring to your next summer party. On the morning of your gathering, brew up a large pitcher of sun tea and let it soak for a while. When you’re ready to go, fill up several medium-sized Mason jars with the warm tea, leaving room in the top for ice, and place the lids on tightly. Find some fun festive ribbon to tie around each one and attach a colorful straw. Fill another jar with lemon slices and one with sugar cubes and place all the jars in a bucket of ice. Now everyone at the party will have their own glass of summer iced tea and the hostess will love you for it! Wayward bits If you’ve got stray LEGOs or roaming puzzle pieces in the bottom of the toy baskets or threatening to take over every corner of your house, here’s a great way to corral them. Use one of those free-gift-with-purchase cosmetic cases you’ve accumulated and store all wayward bits and pieces in it so you know just where they are. You can also use the small, clear plastic cases that you get with your child’s new bedding or underwear and include the directions or photo from the toy’s original box. __ Priorities building traditions Pancakes on Saturday morning – made by dad, Make- Your-Own Pizza Night, and watching cartoons together on Sunday mornings…kids live for that stuff, and that’s the stuff memories are made of. Traditions such as these cultivate a connection between immediate family members and between generations, and build on your family’s character. Because such traditions have meaning that is unique to an individual family, they create feelings of warmth and closeness, and build a sense of identity that help you, your spouse and your kids feel connected. In an ever-changing world, these traditions will give your family a sense of security – something they can count on, look forward to and remember into adulthood. This summer, don’t wait for a birthday or holiday to start a tradition. Make it a priority to start something new that’s unique and special to your family. Watch the sunset from a hilltop and then roll down the hill together – your kids will remember it, and their kids will too! Real Solutions for the Real Challenges of Today’s Moms Parents-to-be are over the moon for babymoons _ What do you get when you cross moms and dads-to-be seeking one last “hurrah” with a niche-seeking travel industry? The Babymoon – it’s one of the hottest trends in the travel industry today and a hit with expectant couples hoping to take advantage of the precious time they have together before “baby makes three.” Most dual-income couples today are working hard and many are tempted to work right up to the delivery date. However, as is evident in the babymoon surge over the past two years, these travel-savvy parents-to-be are taking time to step back, relax and appreciate the magnitude of what is about to happen. They are choosing to spend a little of their disposable income to rejuvenate, reconnect and psych up for the work that lies ahead. Because it is a specialized market, the travel industry has created a very relevant selection of luxuries in these babymoon packages. Offerings include: unlimited complimentary in-room movies, late check-out, vegetable and fruit trays served daily, couples massages and various spa treatments, cravings bags, cigars and sport massages for dad-to-be, and non-alcoholic cocktails. Many of the typical honeymoon resorts are offering packages for their transitioning parents-to-be segment, but one quick way to filter through all the travel content is babymoonfinder.com founded by a new mom. This site allows you to choose from a list of packages, make reservations and begin getting ready for your trip! _ Our Time We all know it intuitively: The cornerstone of family life is our relationship with our spouse. But finding time to nurture this bond is difficult to say the least. Just like maintaining the cadence of a busy family, the secret is in the scheduling. Without carving out specific chunks of time for each other, it just doesn’t happen – other seemingly more important priorities creep in. Here are a few ideas to keep this key relationship in the spotlight _ Regular check-ins Take time to relate thoughts, share experiences and review the next day or week schedule each night. This check-in time lasts no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. It may sound simple, but with everyone in the family running in different directions, it can be easy to skip the “So, how’s it going?” Weekly date Make a date every week for dinner or an afternoon lunch. This is time when you can talk about the bigger picture or just enjoy each other. Try hiring a baby-sitter for a standing night or consider swapping with friends to trade off your date nights. If you’re kids are school-age, a weekday lunch can be a nice treat instead. __ Pockets of time Take advantage of little bits of time during the day to steal a moment or two with your spouse. Set the timer on the coffeemaker and get up 15 minutes earlier to enjoy a cup of coffee together before everyone heads in different directions; or pop in a movie for the kids and cook dinner together on the weekend – ask each other some of those curious questions you asked during the dating days! Vacations A week or long weekend from the kids with your spouse can rejuvenate your marriage and your energy to be great parents. Have fun with the planning phase by exchanging ideas for new locations or arranging some surprises for each other. Ask relatives or a close family friend well in advance so that you can put your mind at ease on your trip while your kids have time to build other relationships as well. Shimmering Eyes Love the look of a little shimmer around the eyes, but wary of looking as if you’re trying too hard? Sue Devitt E-Z Eyeshadow Shake (rattle) and roll takes on a whole new meaning with this revolutionary eye shadow. Coat eyes in a just- right shimmering color with this pigment-rich formulation by simply giving the handy-sized bottle a shake, and rolling the soft color onto the eyelids. Blend with fingertips and layer for added intensity. And now that you’ve got that (fake) sun-kissed glow going on, your eyes will really stand out! Bambari is a shimmering taupe and goes well with any eye color and will make you look awake even if you’re going on five hours of sleep! _ $18 at Sephora sephora.com Looking & Feeling Your Best Growing tired of your flip-flops, but don’t want to entertain the idea of socks and running shoes? Here’s a great alternative. The RYKA Versa Mary Jane-style sneaker is a cross-trainer constructed for runners (and moms on the move) and are comfy, even without socks. The mesh material makes it cool enough for mid-summer and the style is chic enough to take you right into fall. _ Available for $59.99 at ryka.com, these shoes will keep you looking sleek and hip from the playground to the market and all those places in between! |
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