Busy Mom's Tips

Boticca: Individuality for All

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:05:00 +0000

This is a featured post for Boticca.com

Boticca.com is the best website to find the latest styles and unique trends. Boticca's unique designs ranges from posh bags and belts, to a fantastic array of beautiful jewelry. The site allows users to navigate around the thousands of style options with ease, enabling users to fully immerse themselves in Boticca’s unique style. Boticca picks designers from all around the world to populate its site with unique styles not found anywhere else. The excitement starts on the very first page, with their imaginative motto, “I’d rather wear a unique store.” With so many completely unique designs on the site, the adventurous customer can find any accessory they need to express their personal style.

Boticca Rings

Boticca offers the best place on the web to find designer accessories. The jewelries found on the site, especially the rings, are some of the most unique accessories found on the web. Rings by designers like Gisele Ganne and Orno Jewelry are of the best quality, and express all of the originality one would expect from world class designers. All of the rings are completely unique and present the best the style world has to offer. Boticca’s unique design’s show impeccable style and fashion sense. As one of the best fashion buying sites on the web, Boticca offers so much style and quality on one, easily navigable site.

Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser is a revolutionary invention in home maintenance. You can make your home smell great and save on your electric bill at the same time. That's because the Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser doesn't plug into the wall. It sits on a coffee table, nightstand, or even on the floor and dispenses new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist into your home.

The interesting design of the oil dispenser allows it to fit in nicely in the homes of those who are more fashion-oriented. The old Glade® plug-ins took power to function, and those could charge up your electric bill. These new oil dispensers last for 30 days and they don't require electricity at all. You also don't have to worry about the oils staining or ruining carpets or other pieces of furniture. These dispensers are designed not to allow for spills, even if they get knocked over.

These great Glade® Expressions™ Oil Dispensers would make great additions to any home. They look great, smell great, and offer economical solutions to other cleaning methods. Children, guests, your parents, and your friends will love to visit your home due to the pleasant smells and eye-catching models of oil dispensers. There are a few different designs to choose from, and Glade® will probably make more in the future. Choose a great Glade® Expressions™ Oil Dispenser today and reap the rewards of a clean home.

Additionally, Glade® Expressions™ has a fragrance satisfaction guarantee. Fill out this form. There is also a coupon for $1.50 off any Glade® Expressions™ products that can be used at Walmart.

Busy Moms & Vacation Preparation

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:13:00 +0000

For busy mothers, the idea of going off on a family vacation can be a very appealing one, but is also often a stressful proposition. Of course you want to show your family a good time, and you want to enjoy some time away with your husband and kids. However, it takes a lot of preparation to organize a family vacation, and there are some things that need doing that you may not always think of in advance. For example, have you considered how best to prepare your home in a way that keeps it secure in your absence? This is definitely something that you need to give some thought to.

When you are at home, you have probably reached the point at which your security is second nature. Most of us lock our doors at night, put our garage doors down, and set our alarm systems when necessary. Otherwise, we know how to deal with emergencies or dangerous situations as they come – we are prepared to call 911 in the event of a break-in or a fire, for example. However, when you are not home to perform this preparation and vigilance, the steps you take before your vacation will be the ones that keep your home safe.

To begin with, while planning a vacation out of town, you should make sure that your security system is up-to-date. This means testing your smoke detectors and your alarm, and updating any other security features you may have, such as video cameras, motion sensors, etc. You may also want to place a sign in your front yard indicating that your property is protected by a security system, and by that point your home will be about as secure as possible in the event of criminal activity or an emergency.

For the most part, the steps outlined briefly above will keep your home safe, even in your absence. However, the human touch of home security is an important one, so it can never hurt to bring in a little bit of help. If you feel comfortable with the idea, you may want to hire at least a part time house sitter, and at the least you should let your close neighbors know that you will be out of town. This is important because they can keep their eyes on your home, and even pick up your newspapers, etc., so that your home does not appear to be unoccupied. Once you set up your security measures – ideally by bringing in support from your neighbors and by activating an up-to-date security system – you should be more able to focus on planning and enjoying your vacation, without worrying about home!

- Samantha Cohen is an online writer for Home Security System, and has contributed to multiple sites in the fields of home improvement, family protection, and real estate.

10 Guest Room Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:21:00 +0000

When was the last time you updated your guest room? With winter starting to wind down this can be a great spring cleaning project that once complete will come in handy in the warmer months. Why?

During the winter people mainly make visits around the holidays. When the weather’s warmer it’s easier to travel and the chances of family and friends dropping by more often is very likely.

Also, when the guest room is ready and prepped it allows whoever is staying over at your humble abode to enjoy every minute.

So, in the spirit of creating a cozier environment for potential company here are a few guest room essentials, a check list of sorts, worth taking into consideration this spring:

Fresh linens: Other than a simple bed no stay is complete without clean linens and things. Put a few sets in a sealed container to stay fresh and ready for use.
Cleanliness factor: Clean sheets and pillow cases are one thing; a clean room is another. Make sure it’s vacuumed, dusted, and aired out at least once a week. Also, if you’re planning any DIY jobs like repainting the ceiling the smell of paint or other chemicals may persist longer than you’d like so do the work early enough in the season so fumes don’t linger.
Bathroom accessories: Always make sure the guest room bathroom, even if it is being shared with the rest of the household, has shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and all the appropriate accessories readily available and easy to find.
Temperature: As some professional heating contractors in Phoenix, AZ will tell you desert temperatures can often be quite cool at night, even during the warmer months. Alternatively cooler states like New Hampshire can get quite hot. Whichever climate you live in a working heater or air conditioner can be a savior for guests when temperatures fluctuate drastically.
A rug: If the room is carpeted, great. If not a small rug or two is a nice addition. Even if the floor is made from hard wood and not cold stone it’s nice to have the option to stand on a semi furry surface.
Decorations: If it’s a holiday like the 4^th of July, the guest’s birthday, or simply a special occasion celebrate it by putting a few decorations around guest room. Even small gestures such as flowers or candy are nice additions.
Entertainment: Chances are you already have WiFi working in your home but if the internet can only be operated on a secure network leave the password written on a card on the night stand. Also, make a television available so after a long day guests can unwind by watching a movie or late night show.
Small fridge: Guests don’t usually like to raid the fridge in the middle of the night so in order to give them more independence set up a small fridge with a few basic staples such as milk, some bread, veggies, a few hard boiled eggs, and other condiments for their convenience.
A closet or dresser: If guests are only sticking around for a night that’s one thing but sometimes they’ll stay for a week at a time. Rather than having company live out of a suitcase for the duration give them the option to unpack in a closet or dresser. Even a second hand piece will do just fine.
Touring guides: Sometimes hosts can’t always entertain because of work or other responsibilities. For situations like these provide a stack of information and tour guide books about your area for guests to look through so they can choose how to occupy their time until you’re free.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs for pros across the U.S. like Greensboro carpenters and Arlington,TX, remodeling contractors.

Making Time In Your Busy Day For Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Guest post by Alex Summers

As a mom, you probably realize that you have a 24-hour job that is among the busiest in the world. Between caring for your kids, preparing dinners, cleaning around the house, shopping for food, running errands, and going to work, it often seems as though your tasks are relentless and never-ending. Your obligations are all important and none can be abridged or given up, meaning that you find yourself often rushing from one thing to the next.

This regularly leaves many moms cutting back on an all-too-important commitment: their commitment to themselves. Every person needs some time to and do their own thing every once in a while. Every person also needs to be able to look out for their personal health and wellness. On a physical level this means making time to go to the gym.

You may be wondering: How can I make time to workout when I’m already so busy with family and work obligations? While this is certainly a valid question to ask, there are many ways to balance your fitness needs with all these other activities. After all, a workout doesn’t need to consist of several hours at the gym. It can instead be done in a much more time-efficient manner.

Here are a few tips:

-Running is the way to go. If you’re trying to get the greatest workout benefit in the shortest amount of time, there’s no better way to make it happen than by going for a run. Running burns calories far quicker than any other activity. It is also convenient and easy to do; all you need is a pair of shoes and a nearby sidewalk.

-Work exercise into your routine, not around it. Many people approach their exercise need by trying to work it around their other obligations. Perhaps a better attitude is to integrate your workout into your regular daily tasks. For example, you can bike to work instead of sitting in your car and eating away at your day. You can also do exercises in your office while on your lunch break, in the kitchen while dinner is cooking, or in the living room while the kids watch TV before bed.

-Have a repertoire of at-home exercises. There are numerous exercises that can make your sweat, sculpt your body, and be accomplished without a gym membership or any special equipment. These exercises include plank hold, stair running, situps, pushups, wall sits, squats, and calf raises. All of these can easily be done whenever you have a free moment at home.

-Make the commitment. Some busy moms simply need to make a commitment to an exercise schedule. Once they do that, working out becomes just one more obligation that they can find a way to successfully juggle. The best way to make a commitment is usually by incurring an upfront cost. Instead of buying that amethyst ring you’ve been eying, spend the money on a gym membership and see if that gets you exercising more often.

These are just a few of the many ways that a busy mom can fit a workout into her high-powered life. Amidst all the time spent looking out for your children and your family, it is always important that your personal needs do not go neglected. Making time for a workout stands foremost among these.

Looking For A Pediatrician

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Looking for a pediatrician can seem like a daunting task. Where should the search begin? How do you choose the right person? It is important to find a pediatrician during the final months of pregnancy.

When looking for a pediatrician, starting in the yellow pages, newspaper ads or fliers is not the way to go. A good place to start is by asking friends and family for recommendations.

Be sure to ask them why they chose this pediatrician and how long they have been with him/her for. Once you have narrowed down a list of potential pediatricians, perform a quick background check on them. You can check with the Federation Of State Medical Boards to see if there have been any serious disciplinary actions or peer review against the pediatrician. Always go on an interview with potential pediatricians. Be sure that both spouses go to the interview.

Feel free to ask anything that comes to your mind. Find out is the practice has more than one office. Also inquire about Saturday or Sunday hours for sick patients. While on the interview check out the office and be sure that it is clean and that there is a separate waiting area for sick and well children.

Be sure that you are completely comfortable with the pediatrician that you choose. There must be open communication between the pediatrician and the parents.

Easy Weigh Loss Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:17:00 +0000

Guest Post by Jeanne Boniello

Now that 2012 is in full swing many people are allowing their new year’s resolutions to fall to the way side. One resolution that many people have is to get healthier by losing weight.

Losing weight can be easier than you think if you follow a few simple weight loss strategies. First, start by keeping a food diary. Most people eat three meals a day but also spend time throughout the day snacking. Keeping a food diary will allow you to see exactly what you are eating. Something seeing in black and white everything you eat throughout the day can put things into perspective. Also, keep an exercise journal. Exercising is an important part of weight loss and general health. Keep a record of what type of exercising you are doing and for how long you have done it. This is a great way to see how well you are doing and offer some positive reinforcement.

The next simple strategy is shop smarter. The chances are if we have it in the house we are going to eat it. Never go to the food store on an empty stomach. When we are hungry, we are less likely to make healthy food choices. When you shop, take a list with you. Also, shop around the outside aisles of the food store. The outside aisles tend to have meat, produce and dairy. These are fresh and health choices. The inner aisles tend to be filled with processed, high calorie foods.

Finally, drink plenty of water. By drinking 8 glasses of water every day, you keep your body hydrated and feeling fuller longer.

Follow these easy weight loss strategies and become a healthier you!

A Valentine's Day Treat

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:10:00 +0000

Guest Post by Jeanne Boniello

Start Valentine’s Day off with a fun and romantic surprise….breakfast in bed! This is the perfect way to show your spouse that you appreciate them ,and it is also a great activity for get the kids involved in. Kids love to help cook in the kitchen and serve their parents food. Here is a delicious recipe to try this Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup milk

2 eggs

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon butter, softened

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon milk

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cocoa. Stir in milk, eggs and butter until mixture is smooth.

2. To make hard sauce: stir together softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Sauce should be fairly stiff.

3. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot with hard sauce.

These delicious waffles can be served with syrup or even ice-cream for a special treat. Be creative and enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

Make A Valentine’s Day Mailbox Out Of A Shoebox

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:25:00 +0000

Guest Post by Jeanne Boniello

This Valentine’s Day, one great way to collect and store all of your child’s Valentine’s Day cards is by making a mailbox out of a shoebox. This is a simple and fun project to do with your child this time of year.

You will need the following to create your shoebox:

Shoebox

Red or Pink Wrapping Paper

Scissors

Glue

Stickers

Other Decorations, such as lace, ribbon, glitter

Begin by having an adult use a utility knife to cut a 1-inch by 6-inch slot in the top of the shoe box where the valentines can be dropped in. Next, wrap both the bottom and top of the shoebox separately with some red or pink wrapping paper. Use the utility knife to cut a line in the wrapping paper where the top slot is. Fold back the wrapping paper and tape it to the inside of the top. Use your stickers to begin decorating your shoebox. Next, glue on the other decorations that you have collected to make your shoebox special. You can cut lace to line the sides of the mailbox or use glitter to make hearts. Be creative! While your shoebox is drying, encourage your child to create his/her own hand-drawn valentines for family and friends.

Save Time With a Crock Pot

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Guest Post by Jeanne Boniello

If you are like most moms, making dinner can be very stressful and time consuming. Once the kids get home from school, there is never enough time to make a great dinner. Between homework, errands and extracurricular activities, who has the time to create a delicious meal? One great way prepare a wonderful meal for your family and save time is by using a crock pot.

Crock pots are very simple to use. Once the food is put into the crock pot, you just turn it on and in a few hours it is done. There is no need to constantly stir or watch over the food. Many meals can be prepared in the crock pot ranging from soup and stews to chicken dinners and casseroles. There is a crock pot meal to satisfy everyone's taste buds. Meals can be prepared before the kids even get home from school. All you have to do is get your ingredients ready and place them in the crock pot. Generally the food will cook in four hours on high and eight hours on low. The other great thing about the crock pot is the simple clean up. Disposable liners can be purchased and used when making food in the crock pot. Once you are finished eating all you have to do is throw out the liner and you are done. There are no pots and pans to clean.

Whether you own a crock pot or are considering buying one, they are a great way to save on cooking time and create a delicious meal the whole family will love. Here is a crock pot recipe to try for your family:

Chicken and Rice Wraps

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time in Crock Pot - 7 to 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high

Ingredients:

2 cans cheddar cheese soup

1 cup water
2 cups chunky salsa or picante sauce
1 1/4 cups uncooked regular long-grain white rice
2 pounds boneless chicken breasts cubed
10 flour tortillas (10 inches in diameter)

Directions:

Mix soup, water, salsa, rice and chicken in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Spoon about 1 cup of rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. Fold tortilla around filling.

Manage the finances of your family – Teach your kids money management

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:52:00 +0000

Guest post by Jason Holmes

If you are a mom, then you have a lot of responsibility towards your family. Looking after your kids and also managing the finances can be quite stressful. This is even more pronounced if you are working. It is a good idea to keep your expenditure under control so that you don’t end up in debt. Debt management is not easy to do and if this gets added on to your list of responsibilities then life can get quite difficult for you. Thus you should know beforehand how to manage the finances of your family and decrease the everyday cost so that you don’t end up in debt. Here are some ways in which you can reduce the expenditure of the family.

Buy second hand items when possible – You shouldn’t shy away from buying second hand items just because someone else has used it before you and they are not brand new. There are a lot of such items which look as good as new which people are selling off because of some reason or the other. You should grab the opportunity to buy such items. Usually items like furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances are the items which wouldn’t make much of a different if you buy it second hand, but of course they need to be in good condition.

Distinguish the needs from the wants – As the person who runs the family, it is very much important for you to distinguish the needs from the wants. Your children might ask for things that are not needed and surpasses the family budget by a great deal. You should explain them the concept of budgeting. This will help them in future too.

Reduce your visits to the mall – This is vital if you want to decrease your monthly expenditure. The more number of times you will visit the mall, the more time you will have to check out items on display that you feel like buying but don’t actually need. In order to avoid this you should make a list at the beginning of every week listing down the items that you need and visit the mall just once a week in order to buy those.

Have fun together – A considerable amount of money goes behind entertainment in every household. Movie tickets and popcorns cost a lot, not the mention the price of the fuel required to drive to and from movie halls. Instead of this, you can hire DVDs and sit and watch with family. You can also organize small parties in the backyard with friends in some weekends which will be much less costly than going for weekend trips. Consider visiting a financial advisor such as Jim Potter to show the kids first-hand the importance of money management.

Teach your kids money management – This is very important for their future too. You can give your kids a certain amount of money at the beginning of every month as pocket money and ask them to manage their personal expenses for the month with that money.

The above tips can be quite helpful if you want to manage the finances of your family efficiently.

Jason Holmes is a regular writer with Debt Consolidation Care and is also a contributory writer with other financial sites. His expertise is woven around various aspects of the debt industry and with his e-books he tries to impart to people the different situations and simple solutions to get out of difficult situations. Some of his works include e-books like 'Credit Score The Quintessential Therapy for a Happy Pocket', Take Creditors and Collection Agencies to Small Claims Court' and, My Story- From Depression To a Smile'.

Uses for WD-40

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Guest post by Jeanne Boniello

WD-40 has been a multi-problem solver for over 50 years. Here are some of uses of WD-40:

Remove lipstick stains.
Remove dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
Remove stains from stainless steel sinks.
Remove all traces of duct tape.
Remove road tar and grime from cars.
Remove splattered grease on stove.
Loosen stubborn zippers.
Untangle jewelry chains.
Keep scissors working smoothly.
Lubricate noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
Lubricate tracks in sticking windows and make them easier to open.
Lubricate wheel sprockets on tricycles, bicycles and wagons for easy handling.
Lubricate and clean guitar strings.
Lubricate rocking chairs and swings to eliminate squeaky noises.
Lubricate and stop squeaks in electric fans.
Restore and clean chalkboards.
Restore and clean padded leather dashboards in vehicles.
Restore and clean roof racks on vehicles.
Keep rust from forming on saws, saw blades and other tools.
Keep pigeons off the balcony.
Clean and remove love bugs from grills and bumpers.
Spray on umbrella stems to make them easier to open and close.

Be sure to have some WD-40 at home. You never know when it will come in handy!

An Easier Way to Care for Your Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:58:00 +0000

As we age, we all become concerned with the signs of aging as our faces begin to show wrinkles and sun spots. While we all know that taking excellent care of our skin is a must if we wish to stop or reverse the signs of aging, we don't always have the time necessary to complete a three to five step facial care process in the morning and evening. There are kids to be clothed, fed, and seen off to school, every errands to run, and meals to prepare and stories to be read at night.
However taking care of your skin doesn't always mean that you need to sacrifice a solid hour in the morning and a night. Simply switching your current makeups and facial cleansers to organic makeup and facial cleansers and creams can do wonders.

Traditional facial products come riddled with additives and chemicals. That burning sensation you get sometimes after cleaning your face? Yeah, that doesn't mean that your facial cleanser is working. It means that it is irritating your face which can lead to dryness, redness, and additional breakouts. Continual use of products which cause dryness and additional breakouts can actually increase the signs of aging – something no one wants from their skin care products.

Organic skincare products, however, don't have the parabens, harsh chemicals, or alcohol that is found in traditional products. While many believe that they lack of these additives may result in a less-effective product that is quite contrary. Not only do the products work well to clean your face, but they also restore your skin to a healthy glow by naturally adding needed vitamins and minerals to your skin – the same vitamins and minerals which reduce the signs of aging.

Most natural skin care products don't require any additional steps to care for your skin either. You can still practice you same quick routine – all you have to do is switch your products from traditional to natural.

So if you are looking for a way to refresh your face, don't look into chemical peels or expensive and unnatural skin cremes. Simply make the switch to natural skin care products. They generally cost about the same as traditional products, and natural products aren't tested on animals and many even come in earth friendly, biodegradable packaging making them a better choice for both you and the environment.

Activites to Beat the Holiday Boredom

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Now that the holidays are here and the kids are home from school, we are scrambling to find things for them to do to keep them occupied. Hearing “I’m bored” is a common phrase in many households. Keeping our children from getting bored and staying out of trouble can become very pricey.

There are many creative and free things we can do with our children at home while they are on their holiday break:

Family Talent Show: One great activity is to put on a family talent show. This is a fun activity is perfect for all ages and has endless possibilities. The family can individually or as a group show off their talents to each other or even extended family members. Creating a “set” and making costumes is also part of the fun of the talent show.

Watch Home Movies: What children don’t love to watch themselves on television? Get out home movies and some popcorn and enjoy watching yourselves!

Baking: All children love to bake. Not everyone is able to make elaborate cakes and pies, but we can all make simple cookies and cupcakes. Children love to help with measuring, pouring and mixing of the ingredients. They will have fun rolling our dough and cutting cookies into shapes.

Have fun with your children over the holiday break. Remember; our best memories are the ones we spend with our families!

How to Host a Child Friendly New Year’s Eve Party

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:27:00 +0000

Many families with young children find themselves at a loss when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations. The city crowds can be loud and dangerous and staying home can be lonely and boring. If you have young children chances are that many of your friends do too. Hosting a child friendly New Year’s Eve party is a great way for everyone to have their cake and eat it too.

Planning

Invite all your close friends who have small children. Invite any family and friends that you think may be spending New Years Eve alone. Make it clear that the party is for families either by stating it directly or by using a kids theme or listing activities for children. This way everyone who turns up will not be expecting a boozy all nighter.
Put all your precious ornaments and expensive appliances away. Leave the Canon cameras out for those exciting party snaps and cover any carpets or furniture you do not wish to mourn for the next day. Kid’s have all kinds of messy accidents and more so when they are out at a party.
Prepare the spare bar fridge for the overflow of food and drink. Westinghouse fridges have a great range of smaller fridges if your existing fridge just won’t cut it.
Plan the decor to match the theme or just make it kid friendly. The party isn’t all about the kids; the idea is to set a tone that everyone will be comfortable with. Decorate with glitter, streamers and balloons. Define an area for the adults and an area for the kids by clever design work. Put lots of streamers and balloons in the room that has the TV and game console in it. Hang lanterns, scatter scented candles, play ‘grown up’s’ music and set up the BBQ in an outdoor space where the adults will naturally gravitate.
Children can be fussy so ask parents to bring an item or plate of something that their children like. More money can be spent on food because alcohol will be kept to a minimum, if consumed at all. Buy plenty of finger foods, salads, bread and meat for the BBQ. Provide a couple of bottles of champagne for those who wish to have a glass to bring in the New Year. Do not overload children with too many sugary choices, it may just cause a sugar spike and the crash may happen just when the adults are enjoying themselves.

Activities

If you live in a place where a view of the fireworks is possible either from your home or walking to a nearby park then make this the focus of the night.
Hand out party poppers, whistles and streamers for throwing in the lead-up to the midnight countdown. This gives children an indication of the need to pace themselves and that the party is leading to something exciting. Having the children make their own confetti will keep them amused also. Provide paper, glitter, coloured pens and pencils and encourage them to get creative.
Have someone dressed up and reading Tarot cards for a section of the night so the adults have an idea of what the New Year has in store for them. This can be done as a joke or seriously, if somebody has the expertise. Face painting is always popular with the kids however only offer this for a limited time only, otherwise the make-shift make-up artist misses the party.
Keep your eye on the clock and be sure to get the whole party counting down to midnight. Make as much noise as you like because it’s New Years Eve!

Saying Goodnight

As a good host it is important you don’t let anyone drive home who may be over the legal blood alcohol limit. A taxi may be extremely difficult to acquire so it may be a good idea to have a spare room or fold out couch available just in case.

Decorate for the Holidays with PartyLite and Party with Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

There's nothing like the beautiful glow of a candle or the warm sweet scent that emanates from burning candles. PartyLite offers a wide selection of candles, candle warmers, home decor accessories and reed diffusers that will redecorate and refresh every room in your house.

PartyLite also offers you the option of having a PartyLite party.

What a great way to get your friends together for fun and good times. In fact, as the hostess of a PartyLite party are so many free products you can earn. Just by inviting your friends and neighbors, you can really redecorate and refresh your home at little to no cost. Also if you registered by December 15th, you were automatically entered into the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes where you could have possibly won 1 of 5 $500 PartyLite gift certificates. Wouldn't that be great to win!

Visit PartyLite Facebook page to get updates on monthly special offers for party hosts and guests.

Also PartyLite's Winter/Spring 2012 catalog just came out on December 16th. So be sure to grab one of those as well.

If you love candles as much as I do, then you definitely want to take advance of this great offer. Have an after Christmas party with your friends as a great way to unwind and enjoy great company.

Maintaining family budget to enjoy a debt free Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:41:00 +0000

The main way to avoid Christmas debt is planning the holidays much ahead of time and following a proper budget so that you can save money for the holidays. But, this time too if you had been busy with your work and your household, and if you had not been able to plan ahead, you can still try and avoid incurring debt during Christmas. You should never think of using credit card during the Christmas or else you will end up deep into debt and then you may have to opt for debt consolidation.

Avoiding debt during Christmas

In order to avoid falling into debt during the Christmas, you will be required to:

Check your inventory – You should check your inventory, your closet, and some other places where you store items and so on. This can help you save lost of dollars on various kinds of items like Christmas stockings, gloves, decorative items and so on.
Bring out your creative side – You can lower costs of buying gifts by becoming creative. You can try to make some terms of your own and present it to your near and dear ones. There are even websites that provide you the steps that you can follow to make different kinds of gift items of your own.
Avoid buying for yourself – As it is holiday time, it is quite obvious that you will be receiving gifts too. So, it would be wise for you to avoid buying any gifts for yourself. This will help you save some more dollars too.
Use old unused gifts – In order to further save money and avoid debt during Christmas, you can use old gift items to forward it to people. There must be various such gifts that you have stocked up just because you didn’t like it. So, why should you just let these lie and rot; better use it as gifts this year. However, remember to avoid making the mistake of gifting same old thing to a person who had given it.
Maintain list of guests – You will have to maintain the list of the guests whom you are going to invite or have started to invite. Make the dinner according to their liking in order to avoid confusion and extra expenditure during the Christmas party.
Buy items only as per your requirement – Make a list of the items which you don’t have and are really required for the Christmas. Buy those items only in order to avoid spending more than you can afford to buy. It is better to stay within your affordability and avoid using credit cards to purchase items during Christmas.

Another strategy that can help you in avoiding debt during Christmas is couponing. You can use the coupons to lower costs of your shopping during the holidays.

Jason Holmes is a regular writer with Debt Consolidation Care and is also a contributory writer with other financial sites. His expertise is woven around various aspects of the debt industry and with his e-books he tries to impart to people the different situations and simple solutions to get out of difficult situations. Some of his works include e-books like 'Credit Score The Quintessential Therapy for a Happy Pocket', Take Creditors and Collection Agencies to Small Claims Court' and, My Story- From Depression To a Smile'.

Strategies for a Pleasant Car Ride With Children

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Guest post by Jeanne Boniello

If you are planning on going away for the holidays with your children, the thought of a long drive can be extremely stressful. With the help of a few simple strategies, your holiday drive can become a pleasant experience.

Children are constantly asking “are we there yet?” and “where are we?”. One easy way to dodge these questions is to give each child his or her own map. The maps will give them the exact location of where they need to go. Children will be able to figure out where they are and how far their destination is. Giving children a “car allowance” is another great way to distract them in the car. Allotting each child a set amount of money for the day will allow the child to think about how much they want to spend at each stop and what they really want to buy.

Arming yourself with an array of free car games can be a great way to distract children when they are getting restless. Play “looking for license plate”. Try to find a license plate for each state. See who can find them the fastest. Have a bubble blowing contest. Tell jokes. See who has the funniest joke. Don’t forget about singing. See who knows the most lyrics to each song.

Driving with your children should be a bonding experience, not a stressful one. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks and enjoy your ride!

Affordable Home Decorating Tips for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:13:00 +0000

With the winter holidays just around the corner, you may have been trying to figure out just what to do to make you home really shine. Maybe you have family coming to town or you have a holiday party to prepare for, but you may feel like you can’t do anything new because, let’s face it, funds can be tight this time of year. The good news is that there are lots of quick, easy, and affordable things you can add to your home décor to really make your house special this season.

Candles

Candles can be a very inexpensive way of decorating your home this holiday season. Not only will they look absolutely beautiful, but they will also make you home smell amazing. A few tea candles on your mantle will draw attention, and they can be found at most home decorating stores. For an even more inexpensive option, try pillar candles and decorate them with thumbtacks, ribbon, or pushpins to spice them up.

One thing you should keep in mind with candles is safety. There are so many fires around the holidays, and you don’t want a tragedy affecting you during this season. Try to light candles only in the room you will be in. Also, set an alarm each night to remind you to extinguish all of your candles before you go to sleep.

Use Different Colors

You don’t have to use the traditional holiday colors to decorate for this season, especially if those colors don’t go along with the color scheme of your home. Consider using yellow poinsettias to make a room look festive, as long as it goes along with the other colors in the room. You could also try reusing last year’s decorations by painting them new colors. Spray paint old ornaments or natural things like pine cones to match your new color scheme so you don’t have to buy completely new decorations every year.

Sweet Decorations

Everyone knows the old trick of using popcorn and cranberries to make a garland and hanging candy canes to decorate the tree, but you can go far beyond that. Stringing together colorful wrapped treats is another way you could make a creative garland. You could also try filing a few vases and glass bowls with your favorite sweet treats and spreading them throughout your home. You’ll just have to make sure they stay well stocked for your guests to enjoy later.

Use Those Christmas Cards

You probably get lots of different holiday cards from your friends and family with pictures of your loved ones, but you have no idea what to do with them. Get an inexpensive picture tree to show off your favorites. Not only will your friends and family see that you appreciate their annual holiday greeting, but the rest of your loved ones can enjoy the pictures and updates as well.

Use Bows

Ribbon is very inexpensive, and you can use it in so many different ways. Tie a bow around the napkins on your table to make a beautiful place setting. Place small bows in the bare spaces on your tree. Make a larger bow to use as a tree topper, or make an even bigger bow to hang on your front door. The possibilities are truly endless.

There are hundreds of other inexpensive holiday ideas you could try. All you have to do is look for inspiration and get creative.

Jenna White is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about secured creditcard offers.

Get Festive Holiday Eyewear at Zenni Optical

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our homes, downtown, and at the mall. So why not include your accessories into the holiday mix as well? Zenni Optical offers a wide selection of eyeglassesin frames to suit your every mood.

In fact, Zenni Optical has frames in festive holiday colors. This pair here on the left is the one I have selected that will totally complete my holiday outfit. Not only will it match my outfit but it's fun too.

Zenni Optical has such great, affordable cheap eyeglasses that with all the money I am saving I will be able to buy my children that gaming system they have been wanting.

Visit Zenni Optical on the web and take a look at all of the their holiday selection. Post a comment below letting me know which ones you would like to have. With eyeglass frames this affordable, you will be able to get a pair to match all of your wardrobe.

Don't let the holidays get you down. Save some money at Zenni Optical and have a little extra cash to spend on someone special or even yourself. Shhh, I won't tell.

Happy Holiday for me and Zenni Optical.

Organize Your Holiday Decor for Quick Decorating Next Year

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Taking down the holiday decorations isn't nearly as much fun as decking your halls. However, taking the time to store and organize your decorations carefully will make it easier to find everything quickly, easily and in good shape next year. Here are some tips to make the job easier.

Keep Your Ornament Boxes

Store your ornaments in the box it came in. It usually includes a form fitting piece that protects the ornament. If you no longer have the box, then wrap each item in tissue paper and then put the wrapped ornament in a plastic bag to keep glitter contained.

Divide Your Ornaments

Use cardboard dividers to keep your ornaments from bumping into each other. You can make your own partitioned box using cardboard dividers that come in wine cases. Check at your local liquor store for any they no longer need.

Store in a Safe Place

Your decorations will last longer if you store them a place that is free of dampness or extreme temperatures. Damp basements can ruin decorations and attics can have extreme temperature changes. Store decorations in a water tight plastic container with a packet of desiccant which helps keep moisture away.

Sprint 3-Day Sale 12/12 - 12/14

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Need a gift idea for your son, daughter or significant other. Why not get them a cell phone? Now is the perfect time to buy a cell phone because Sprint is have 3-day sale from 12/12 through 12/14 where new subscribers will receive Android™ powered EVO 4G devices. Additionally, Sprint is waiving the activation fee for new lives of services and shipping is free. What a deal!

I own an Android device and I absolutely love it. In fact, I have an EVO. I shopped around and did my research before deciding to go with an Android device. Even though certain other brands are popular they don't offer the same functionality or power that an Android can.

Getting a cell phone for your son or daughter will give you piece of mind to be able to contact them at a moment's notice. In fact, these phones come with GPS installed on them so that you will be able to see where your child is. This is a great tool if for some reason they are late returning home.

Tis the season to spread the holiday cheer and what better way than having a new cell phone under the tree. They will be happy and you will have some piece of mind this holiday season.

How to Save Money When a Child Arrives

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Let’s face it; having children is an expensive endeavour. It makes sense that the cost associated with bringing a new human into the world is astronomical as some major purchases such as food, clothing and a crib are unavoidable. If you have budgeted for the arrival of your first child you may be feeling a bit strapped for cash; so, here are a few ideas as to how you can save a little extra without skimping on the necessities.

Baby Clothing

Especially if you live in a cold climate, there is no way around the need to put clothing on your baby. In the first few years of your child’s life, you will need to acquire new outfits for him or her constantly, as these are the years of very rapid growth. Buying second-hand and trading with friends are great ways to avoid breaking the bank for new outfits every few weeks. There are some great high quality brands of baby clothing out there such as Marquise and Bonds, so even if the clothing has exchanged hands a few times, it will still be in good condition. When you are finished with the clothes, you can donate them or give them to friends. You can even make a small return on them by dropping them at a baby consignment store and have someone sell them for you.

Maternity Wear

There is no need to spend an arm and a leg on clothing you will only wear for a few months. Check out one of the many second hand shops that carry a variety of maternity clothing to choose from. When you are finished with them, be sure to donate them back so that someone else can benefit!

Diapers

Buying disposable diapers is one of those hidden costs that add up over time. Babies go through a massive amount of diapers in their first few years of life, and you will find yourself constantly going to the store to buy more. By using reusable cloth diapers instead, you will not only save a small fortune but you will also be doing a favour to the environment at the same time.

Toys and Books

From the baby to the toddler stage, your child will want lots of toys of a large variety to play with. You can provide this at a minimal cost to you just through buying toys second-hand. Trading with your friends is also a great way to totally update your child’s toy collection at no cost to you. The same is true for children’s books: as your child gets older, they will want to read new and different books. Used books are great as children’s stories never go out of style and timely classics will get circulated over and over again!

There are plenty of ways you can save money when your first child arrives; you just need to be creative. Make connections with other parents with young children and create a network of sharing and passing along baby items, and watch your savings grow!

15 Household Uses For Vinegar

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Guest Post by Jeanne Boniello

Vinegar has been around for thousands of year and has many uses around the household. Here are 15 of them:

Clean the shelves of the refrigerator with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water.
Clean windows by spraying with vinegar and wiping with a newspaper
Clean your eyeglasses with wiping them with a drop of vinegar.
To clean soap scum from the bath tub, wipe the tub with vinegar and rinse with water.
Remove stubborn stains from the toilet bowl, spray them with vinegar and brush vigorously.
Clean stainless steal by wiping with cloth dampened with vinegar.
Sooth a bee bite by applying vinegar to the affected area.
Relieve sunburn by lightly applying it to the affected area.
Brighten colored fabrics by adding ½ cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Clean rust from tools by soaking them in vinegar overnight.
To soften a paint brush, soak in hot vinegar and rinse in warm water.
Keep fleas away by adding a little vinegar to your pet’s drinking water.
Get rid of fruit flies by putting out a small dish of vinegar.
Kill unwanted grass on the driveway by pouring vinegar on it.
Kill weeds by spraying vinegar on them until they starve.

Learn How to Get a $25 Applebee's Gift Card

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays are fast approaching and will be here before we know it. Wouldn't it be great to win a gift card to your favorite restaurant or store to help with that holiday shopping or to get a little something for yourself? Of course, it is. Well, Gilbert the Gift Card Machine is giving away over 100 gift cards a week leading up to Gift Card Weekend January 6th - 8th, 2012.

Entering couldn't be easier. All you have to do is "like" Gift Card Weekend on Facebook and be entered into the daily drawings between December 10th through the 18th for a $25 Applebee's's gift card. But wait it gets better! For everyone friend you invite that also "likes" Gift Card Weekend you will receive an extra chance at winning. You should check the Gift Card Weekend Facebook page often because they are giving away gift cards all month long to some cool places. Here are just some of the great places you could a win gift card to:

JcPenny
Regal Cinema
Subway
Sephora
Applebee's
Bass Pro Shops
Adidas
Bucca di Beppo
Lowe's
Spa Finder
Marriot
Giant Eagle

Don't wait only longer. Visit the Gift Card Weekend on Facebook and "like" their page to be entered into the daily drawings. Then tell all your friends about it. You'll be glad you did!