Mommy Ramblings

November 2, 2018 · 3:22 am

Helpful Tips For Working Mothers on Balancing Work and Family Life

In today’s day and age, a two income family is not just a choice, but a necessity in many cases. With so many women in the corporate workforce full-time, we must address the issue of trying to balance work and family life. Some days we can find ourselves questioning if we truly can achieve a healthy balance. If you are stressed out and looking for help, the tips below may help restore some sanity to your hectic life.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

Managing your home includes many different tasks. Keeping your home clean and organized should not fall solely on your shoulders. Every member of the household should be sharing in that responsibility. If you have divided up the household chores, but still feel like you are having to hound others to stay on task, it can really make things stressful.

You might want to make use of professional home cleaning services or hiring a housekeeper on a weekly basis. Another helpful option is to consider renting a storage vault if you need a place to store your off-season decorations and other things you don’t currently need at home. The less stuff you have around, the easier it will be to organize what’s left. You will be amazed at how much more efficiently things will run with all that extra space.

Delegating responsibilities to others will give you more time to do the things that matter, like spending quality time with your family and friends.

Make Preparations

If you don’t want to be rushing to work in the morning, get in the habit of making sure everyone lays out their clothing the night before. Prepare lunches at night too, and plan your meals for the week so, you can shop more effectively. Electric pressure cookers let you cook delicious meals that used to take hours in about 30 minutes. Create a family message center so that everyone is aware of upcoming events, school meetings and activities.

Create A Family Message Center

Create a family message center with a calendar, cork board and white erase board or chalkboard. This will help keep important dates of events, appointments, school meetings and activities where everyone can see them. Enter dates in your smart phone or planner. Knowing what is coming up will help you from being caught off guard and missing important events or appointments. Don’t forget to schedule in some family fun time!

Celebrate Your Child

Sometimes it simply isn’t possible for us to be physically present at our child’s special event. While it is upsetting to have to miss your child’s concert or soccer game, sometimes there is no other choice. If you do have to miss an important event, show your child you love them and wish you could be there with a special note or little gift. While it is not a substitute for you being there, it will let them know how much you love them and how you wish you were there. You might be surprised at how much emotional support your child can gain from a small note.

Make Use of Technology

If you have to be away on business or are working late, you can record a video of yourself singing or reading a favorite bedtime story for your kids to watch. A phone call to catch up or even a Facetime video can really help you stay connected. Make use of the technology at your fingertips. Something as simple as hearing your voice can be so comforting to your child.

This is a collaborative guest post, the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

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Filed under Family, Health, Home & Garden

Tagged as Family, kids, life, mothers, Time Management, Working Mothers

October 31, 2018 · 9:50 pm

Tips For Planning a Fun Beach Vacation in Phuket with Kids

No matter how experienced a traveler you are, and regardless of how many miles you have trekked as a solo traveler, traveling with kids is an entirely different ball game. It takes planning way beyond your standard travel planning, and you cannot pack as light as you otherwise would. In addition, you have to be very particular about choosing your travel destinations. Interestingly, no matter how well planned your trip is, you should never expect everything to work exactly how you imagine when you are traveling with kids.

If you are planning a vacation with your kids, a beach getaway may be the perfect choice. Beaches are not only meant for sun worshipers and honeymooners, they can be a fantastic destination for kids, since they love sand and water. Phuket would be a great place to head to, since it is renowned for its beaches and is family friendly. You wallet will be happy too, since Phuket is affordable. Here are some tips that will help you pull off a memorable beach vacation in Phuket.

Plan in Advance

Planning is essential and it cannot be stressed enough that when traveling for kids, this is something you just cannot skip. Plan your itinerary, make a list of supplies that you want to pack and consider your children’s sleep and meal patterns when making your travel plans. Remember that once you arrive, everyone will need to adjust to the time zone change, and how that will affect your sleep schedules.

When traveling changes in times are not the only thing your kids will need to adjust to. Changes in their diet must be considered, especially if you have picky eaters. Finding out about what types of food is available and taking along some foods they like is important. If you have an infant who is still on baby formula, make sure to pack enough as it probably will not be available in Phuket. Scheduling a visit to your child’s pediatrician is imperative, as they can advise you of any important medical issues when traveling abroad.

Do Not Compromise on Accommodations

As a solo traveler, you might not be as finicky about your lodging. In the past you might have accepted almost any type of room or even a bunk at a hostel to crash for the night. However, it is different with kids, and you should not mind paying slightly more to get a proper hotel room. This does not mean that you need to book some extravagant suit at The Hyatt, but it should be something clean, comfortable and with the necessary amenities at the very least. You can find many three star resorts that will easily fit your budget while providing you with comfortable accommodations so you and your family can rest easy.

Phuket Beach Vacation

Say No to Long Day Trips

Your focus on a beach vacation should be on relaxing and chilling out, rather than being in a rush with exhausting schedules. Day trips sound fun, but they can be a nightmare with kids, especially with the younger ones. Most Phuket excursions will require you to leave very early in the morning, travel long distances, explore the area and be back later in the evening. The whole schedule is very rigorous for younger children who need to rest, nap and eat on time. It is certainly not something to pursue unless you like dealing with cranky, tired children. If you are taking long excursions such as the Koh Phi Phi tour, consider making it an overnight stay rather than a day trip, so your kids can rest and relax.

Phi Phi Island Tour

This is a collaborative guest post. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

How to Help Kids Be Internet Awesome #BeInternetAwesome #ItsCoolToBeKind

I was compensated for this post as a blogger who is part of the Forward Influence Network. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

As the month of October is coming to a close, I think it is important to remind ourselves that it is National Bullying Prevention Month. Let’s hope that we carry the message through every month of the year, because bullying, especially on the internet, is prevalent.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all did our part to spread some kindness online. There is something about the ability to hide behind a computer screen that brings out the worst in some. Online bullying and hateful behavior is real, and it can cause real hurt and have devastating consequences.

Be Internet Awesome:

Be Internet Awesome (BIA) is Google’s free multifaceted program designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety, so they can explore the online world with confidence. You can find the program in both English and Spanish and consists of an ISTE standards aligned curriculum, ready-made Pear Decks for each lesson, Interland – an adventure-packed online game about digital safety and citizenship – and plenty of resources for educators and parents.

BIA will help families and students to learn how to make choices that disempower bullying behavior and create healthy, productive spaces to interact.

Some Important Facts About Bullying:

28% of students have experienced bullying personally.
71% of students have witnessed bullying directly.
Only 20% – 30% of students notify adults about bullying.
Over 50% of parents are concerned about their child being bullied.

If you are an educator, you should check out the teacher curriculum online. A family guide is coming soon, in the meantime, the Interland games covers each of the 5 areas for Internet awesomeness shown below. It will give you vocabulary and talking points to help you have family discussions that help build a strong foundation for your kids’ safe, successful use of the Internet. The ability to have honest and open-minded conversations with your kids is the most important tool to keep them safe online.

In the curriculum you will find helpful ways to open up family dialog that will help you encourage one another to step up and become “upstanders”. Upstanders are people who help the person being hurt when they see something hurtful happening, and help turn negative situations into positive ones.

You can play Interland with your kids and put your kindness skills to the test at g.co/KindKingdom, but don’t stop there. Learn more about how you can Be Internet Awesome at g.co/BeInternetAwesome and tell your kids’ teachers about the online curriculum so they can introduce these activities in the classroom.

I implore everyone to help make a positive difference and to start today by spreading kindness online. It is an easy thing to do, and it can make a real difference. Let me know how you are spreading online kindness in the comments. Together we can make the Internet a kinder place. Won’t you join me?

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Filed under kids, Resources, Social Issues

Tagged as #BeInternetAwesome, #ItsCoolToBeKind, Bullying, Google, Upstander

October 30, 2018 · 8:11 pm

The Best Tourist Destinations in Victoria, Australia

If you are visiting or living in the great city of Melbourne, you should take advantage of all that Victoria has to offer. With just a few hours of driving, you can reach Victoria and all that it has to offer like, scenic coastal drives, beautiful gardens, amazing Australian wildlife, delicious food, rejuvenating mineral springs and so much more.

All kinds of accommodations can be found in Victoria. Beyond the traditional hotels you can opt to stay at rustic cabins, quaint bed and breakfasts, beachside lodging, mountain retreats, farm stays and many other awesome places to hang your hat.

Below you can check out some of the most popular destinations in Victoria for nature lovers, romantic trips or getaways with family and friends.

Daylesford & Hepburn Springs

Want to experience ultimate relaxation? Check out Daylesford and Hepburn Springs – Victoria’s famed Spa Country. You can choose from more than one hundred natural spa treatments that are sure to leave you well-replenished, or just enjoy the rejuvenating powers of immersing yourself in naturally occurring mineral springs.

Mornington Peninsula

You’ll find this paradise just over an hour from Melbourne, but you’ll feel like you’ve traveled a world away. Strewn along the coast are quiet Victorian seaside towns, lovely sheltered beaches, fancy wineries as well as local markets. Here you can spend your days lounging by the beach in the pleasant Sorrento or Portsea. Enjoy tasting local wines and gourmet cheese in Red Hill. In Mornington Peninsula everything you want is at your fingertips.

The Dandenongs

Located a mere hour from Melbourne, The Dandenongs is a paradise near the city. Lavish foliage, abundant gardens, forests of tall ash trees, and quaint towns are the charms of Melbourne’s concrete jungle. There’s more to do than just enjoying the nature here. It’s possible to visit here via ferns and gullies on the historic Puffing Billy. Be sure to visit the region’s most famous establishment, Miss Marple’s Tea Room for a delicious taste of scones and tea.

Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley is a real foodie haven in Victoria that’s renowned for its world-famous wineries, beautiful accommodations and fine restaurants. Yarra Valley is a renowned weekend destination both for Melbourne’s visitors and residents. Go out for a stroll, take photos of the rolling vineyards of the valley while on a hot air balloon ride. You can also get up close and personal with wildlife such as dingoes, wombats, platypuses and kangaroos at the Healesville Sanctuary. Don’t forget to savour exquisite meals matched with the some of the region’s best red and white wines to complete your gourmet experience.

High Country

Take in the majestic snowy peaks, pleasant heritage towns, rolling countryside, and superb wineries all while breathing in the fresh alpine air. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Victoria’s High Country. Sample creative cuisines in Milawa and Beechworth or spend an afternoon sipping wines in Rutherglen. Relish in the amazing scenery by biking or horseback riding through mountain trails. In winter, you can ski or snowboard down the slopes of Mount Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.

Victorian river trips

Want to fully enjoy Victoria’s natural wonders? Here you can find some of the best river scenes in the world where you and your travel companions can enjoy a plethora of activities. Check out the list of river trips from DriveNow and have a fun weekend break at Victorian Rivers. Take some time to relax riverside under the sun or swim through unspoiled waters nestled by nature and wildlife.

There you have it! Don’t forget to plan your itinerary in advance to maximise your stay. While you’re at it, it’s best to book your personal transport in advance so you can avoid lines, traffic, and even visit locations that aren’t normally reached by public transportation.

This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

Glass Vs Acrylic Fish Tanks. Which One Should You Buy?

When you are looking for a fish tank, the first choice you need to make, is whether you want glass or acrylic. Acrylic tanks are more expensive than glass tanks, but they do last longer. Glass is more affordable, but it probably will not last as long. If you are not sure what to choose, check out our glass vs acrylic comparison below to decide what is best for you.

Scratch Resistance

Glass tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks. To scratch a glass tank you would need to use something hard with a good deal of force. On the contrary, acrylic tanks can scratch easily. With an acrylic tank, a cleaning pad that has sand or gravel on it, can scratch and blemish your tank walls.

Acrylic tanks may even get scratched during shipping from the manufacture to the store. Acrylic is much more delicate than glass. With an acrylic tank, you need to be careful about the types of cleaning solutions and products you use. Make sure all products are safe for acrylic surfaces.

If you do damage your acrylic tank, the good news is, they are easy to clean and repair. Kits to repair and polish acrylic aquariums are readily available. Never use any abrasive chemicals in an attempt to repair your tank.

Lightweight

The dense nature of glass means that acrylic tanks are much lighter, glass tanks are generally 4 to 10 times heavier than acrylic. If you plan on having to move your tank frequently, you might be better off with an acrylic tank.

An acrylic tank will put less stress on whatever is supporting it. Even though acrylic tanks are lighter, the water and aquarium decorations will add weight. Still, there is no doubt that moving an empty acrylic tank is easier than moving a glass tank.

Durability

Since glass is weaker than acrylic, it is more prone to breaks and cracks. If something crashes into the tank with force, it can crack or even worse, break. In most cases, a crack can make the whole tank useless. A leaking tank can damage any electronics stored under the tank as well.

On the other hand, you need much more force to break or crack acrylic. While light impact will not break an acrylic tank, it will probably scratch it.

Flexibility and Distortion

Since glass is dense and rigid, trying to create non-rectangular tanks is very difficult. Thus, buying a non-rectangular tank, is expensive. Since glass has a different index of refraction than water, light gets bent four times when passing through the tank. This means the image that gets reflected back is distorted. So colors, position and size will not be as true.

Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means, when you look at the fish in an acrylic tank, light has only been bent once or twice. This makes the fish look true to their actual size and color.

Conclusion

As stated above, acrylic tanks cost more and are easier to scratch, but they don’t chip, crack and break like glass tanks. Glass tanks are more resistant to scratching but are heavier and have more distortion than acrylic.

You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons when comparing glass and acrylic tanks. While both tanks can create a beautiful aquarium, your own needs should help you decide between glass vs acrylic aquariums.

Regardless of which construction you choose, be sure you create the best possible environment for you fish to help them thrive. Tanks require regular cleaning, proper filtration and water testing. Fish and other aquatic creatures need proper nutrition and a healthy habitat. With some planning and research, your new aquarium can add beauty and tranquility to your life.

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.

1 Comment

Filed under Home & Garden, Pets

Tagged as Aquariums, Glass vs Acrylic, pets

· 3:42 am

“How Do You Take A Bath?” Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

If you are looking for a fun picture book, How Do You Take A Bath?, really fits the bill. You will smile and laugh as you follow elephants, pigs, monkeys, hippos, and more in this charming read-aloud from veteran author Kate McMullan. Perfect for fans of Five Little Monkeys Jump in the Bath, How Do You Take A Bath? is a fun and educational picture book that brings together adorable baby animals and bath time.

How does a pig take a bath? It sinks in the mud! What about a chicken? It thrashes about in dust! And a cat? Why, it licks itself clean, of course! Sydney Hanson’s adorable illustrations toggle neatly between animals in nature grooming themselves and humorous depictions of children attempting the animals’ bathing tactics. By the end of the book, the child finally makes his way to the bathtub, no mud baths or lick baths about it!

Check out my video review of this book:

The book’s fun, rhyming prose makes it perfect for storytime and provides the facts to back it up for science discussions. With How Do You Take a Bath?, teachers looking for a classroom read-aloud and parents searching for a new book about bath time need look no further!

Giveaway:

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of How Do You Take A Bath?! Thank you Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

How Do You Take A Bath? Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Blog Tour, Books, Giveaway, Home & Garden

Tagged as Blog Book Tour, Books, giveaway, Penguin Random, review, Sweeps

October 27, 2018 · 4:17 am

Celebrate Halloween with PJ Masks- Free Activities, Printables and Recipes

Halloween is almost here, and if you are looking for some fun recipes, printables and activities for your PJ Masks fans, I have just the thing. There are so many fun things to do like activity sheets, games, coloring pages, cupcake recipes, even PJ Masks pumpkin carving sheets you can print. Check it all out HERE!

If you head off to Walmart you can pick up these fun PJ Masks items to make it a Hero of a Halloween for your little hero. Halloween Treat buckets in Gekko, Catboy or Owlette shapes are easy to hold and sturdy to carry all those yummy Halloween goodies.

Put a smile on everyone’s face with PJ Masks Halloween Greeters. How much fun are these little heros? He is so adorable, my kids love him.

Of course, we can’t forget the PJ Masks Halloween Costumes.

There are lots of other PJ Masks treats you can pick up like lollipop rings, bandages, swirl pops, stampers, party favors, push pops and more!

Let me know what you think of the activities and printables and all the great PJ Masks merchandise available.

Have Sweet Dreams in California Design Den Sheets – Giveaway

How much do you love the feeling of crawling into bed at night into soft, fresh sheets? I certainly do, it feels amazing after a long day. California Dream Den makes their sheets from 100% long-staple, pure cotton with a 400 thread count so they are dreamy soft!

I just love my king size sheet set in Mod Spa color. The tranquil green coupled with the uber softness makes an irresistible combination. They come in so many colors and prints to suit just about any decor. Check out my video below to learn more about these amazing sheets:

We think a set of California Design Den Sheets makes a perfect gift this holiday season, so you can find them on Mommy Ramblings’ Holiday Gift Guide.

Giveaway:

California Design Den is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a set of California Design Den sheets in the size and color of their choice (subject to availability)! Thank you to California Design Den for the review sheet set and for sponsoring this dreamy giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

California Design Den Sheet Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Home & Garden

Tagged as Bedrooms, California Design Den, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Sheet Set, Style

October 24, 2018 · 1:28 pm

“Into The Jungle: Stories For Mowgli” Book Giveaway

I just adore books, especially beautiful books filled with exciting stories. I love to read them aloud with my children. Recently, I received Into The Jungle: Stories for Mowgli, and it is definitely a book that is both beautiful, and filled with exciting stories.

Written by Katherine Rundell, this wise and witty companion to Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 classic is likewise a series of connected stories about the man-cub Mowgli and his adventures among the animals in the Indian jungle. It includes all the original favorites like Baloo and Bagheera and gives female characters, like Mother Wolf, a more prominent role in Mowgli’s upbringing. The timely theme of the possibility of understanding and empathy across species, cultures, and genders will resonate with contemporary readers.

Check out my video below for an in-depth look at Into The Jungle: Stories For Mowgli:

We have added Into The Jungle: Stories For Mowgli to Mommy Ramblings’ 2018 Holiday Gift Guide.

Giveaway:

Candlewick Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of Into The Jungle Stories For Mowgli! Thank you to Candlewick Press for the review book and for sponsoring this exciting giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.

Into The Jungle: Stories For Mowgli Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide

Tagged as Books, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Into The Jungle, Stories For Mowgli, Sweeps

October 23, 2018 · 11:49 pm

Give Plastic Bags The Boot and Use Reusable Mesh Bags Instead

If you are trying to cut down on your use of plastic, you are not alone. In fact, some states are already banning the use of plastic drinking straws and plastic grocery bags. Our dependency on disposable plastics is polluting our planet and endangering our wildlife. Did you know that seabirds and mammals are dying because they are ingesting plastic waste? Most plastics are not biodegradable, so they are a real threat to our environment.

It can be hard to cut plastic completely out of our lives, but there are some easy ways to make a difference. One of those ways, is to stop using disposable plastic grocery bags. If you are already bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, good for you! Let me ask though, are you using plastic produce bags? If so, you will love how easy it is to pack reusable mesh bags inside your shopping bags.

Mesh bags are washable and they are good for much more than produce. They are available in a 12 pack which includes 3 small bags, 6 medium bags and 3 large bags. Great features like drawstring, toggle closures make the bags perfect for packing, storing beauty products, toys, craft items and so much more. Check out my video review of them below: