Tips for Keeping Control

June 21, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

Being a mother of two children very close in age, can sometimes make me pull my hair out! Haley and Amberly are 18 months apart. It seems like that are fighting all the time and over any

little thing.

Over the past few weeks, it seems like it has gotten worse. Everytime I turn around, I am hearing squeals, screams, cries and hits! Since they are so close in age, they like the same stuff. They want the same stuff and they do not under any circumstance want to share with each other!

Am I the only mom with this problem?

What am I suppose to do? I came up with a few tips to help make my day, yes MY DAY, go a little bit smoother!

I want to suggest an easy tip. Buy two of everything, but realistically that is just not possible for me or my family.

When Haley and Amberly are at the peak of their fight, (this is when they are both screaming on the top of their lungs) I do this:

Haley! Amberly! Sisters are not suppose to fight! (This gets them to stop.) I then explain how sisters are suppose to be best friends. (This sometimes works!)

I do this "Goggles" with my hands. I then start to look around the room and declare I am looking for the right choice! I say "I see Amberly not making the right choice & I would love to see her make the right choice with her sister". This ALWAYS works for some reason.

Teasing is becoming a huge issue between these two children. Haley will tell Amberly she is an "X" and Amberly will freak out. I don't understand it. I don't understand a 5 and 3 year olds problems! o.O t

Tip on teasing: I tell them both that teasing is not allowed. It is bad behavior and hurts feelings. That we do not want to hurt each other's feelings. I am still working on this with them!

How do you help reduce your children's fights?

Jennifer Clay is a mother to 2 little girls, ages 5 and 3. She is the owner of www.jennifersdeals.wordpress.com She is a full-time homemaker and is attending University of Phoenix to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration. She loves finding deals, coupons, & awesome products to review and giveaway on her blog. She is fun, loving and caring and tries to find the best deals and products for her readers. She loves to read and write about anything she things will be interesting.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips

Loro Parque

June 21, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

On my family holiday in Tenerife with my husband and two young kids, we were having a fantastic time – the weather was lovely and the beach was great! But after a few days of relaxing in the sun, we wanted to do something different which the children would really enjoy. We’d heard good things about a place called Loro Parque, which is a wildlife centre in the north of the island and we found loads of companies that did excursions there so it was really easy to get to. The kids were so excited and when we got there it was like an amazing tropical paradise! I was really impressed with the range of exotic animals; they had hundreds of parrots as well as tigers, gorillas, chimps and sharks.

We were walking around the park for a while, which was beautiful and very nicely set out with gorgeous plants and wild flowers everywhere. The themed areas, like the Australian Katandra Treetops were a great idea and the children really enjoyed exploring the jungle paths along the treetops and trying to spot the wild birds. Around lunch time we went in search for somewhere to eat which can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare when you have a hungry, young family to please. But at Loro Parque we found so many options – I had to drag my husband away from the tasty looking BBQ grill and we settled on a nice little café called Bambu Bar where the menu was both child and parent-friendly and there was a play area for the kids so my husband and I could sit back for a bit with a coffee and everyone was happy.

After lunch we went to see one of the shows. Our only complaint about the Park was that there were too many things to see, we just couldn’t fit it all in. There were sea lion shows, dolphin shows and parrot shows. In the end we decided on the Orca show and we all absolutely LOVED it, it was fantastic! Luckily it was such a hot day because after that performance, we were soaked – a warning to anyone that wants to go, don’t sit near the front if you’re not prepared to get splashed!

The zoo was just amazing, it was definitely the highlight of our holiday to Tenerife and the kids couldn’t wait to tell their friends about all the things we’d seen. The park was so clean and well kept, and there was so much going on I would definitely come back next time and would recommend it to anyone.

Filed Under: Family Time, Fresh Coffee

4 Mistakes small business women entrepreneurs should avoid

June 21, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

When it comes to starting your own business, mistakes are bound to happen. If you make mistakes while starting a business, you may fall into debt problems for which you may have to look for suitable debt solutions. Experiences can be a great teacher and when you’re learning from the experiences of others, you can save your time, money and frustration, too. To start your own business, it is very essential that you understand the basic necessities of the business that you’re going to establish. This will help you reach a good platform for your hard-work and dedication.

4 Mistakes made by women entrepreneurs

This article will help you know 4 mistakes small business women entrepreneurs should avoid.

1. Choosing the wrong business – This is the most common mistake made by women entrepreneurs who have newly joined business. Since they are new in the business, they do not know which business is suitable for them to earn profit. As such, they may fall into debt problems for which they may require suitable debt solutions. It is advisable that you consult an advisor who can guide you the best as to which business is suitable for you.

2. Not protecting your own ideas – This is another mistake mostly faced by women entrepreneurs. Women tell about their ideas among friends and family out of excitement not knowing that this is one of the biggest mistakes they are making. Anyone can take your idea and gain a lot of profit from it in their business. So, it is essential that you protect your ideas and do not discuss it with anyone else.

3. Choosing a wrong business partner – Business partnership is a very delicate matter and it must be handled properly so that the business runs smoothly. Choosing a wrong business partner will spoil your business completely and you’ll never be able to achieve success. To avoid this, you should choose a partner only after interviewing him/her thoroughly and then include him/her in your business.

4. Not planning properly – Before starting your own business, it is very vital on your part to plan your business properly and follow it. Often it is found that women start a business without proper plans from before and as such, they fail in their business. To avoid such a situation, it is always better that you think before what you need to do exactly for your business so that you can achieve maximum success in your business.

Thus, it is advisable that you look into every detail in your business and then start your business venture so that you can avoid the common mistakes. This will help you avoid debt problems and help you reach high peak of success in your business venture.

Filed Under: Business Nook, Fresh Coffee

6 Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen!

June 21, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

No one would disagree that the kitchen is one of the most important areas in every home. It is where you prepare and store consumables and food. Come to think of it. You are actually spending much to replenish your kitchen supplies. Thus, if you could save on kitchen costs, you could surely save a lot to cover all other important expenses in your household.

Saving on costs in your kitchen would not be limited to reducing food expenses. Aside from slashing spending on food, you could still opt for other means to save money. Here are some practical kitchen ideas that could help you attain your goal of trimming down costs.

1. Contrary to common notions, using a microwave oven could be less costly compared to cooking on a burner. In general, microwave ovens could use about 70% less electricity as opposed to using an electric stove. Thus, learn how to use it for steaming vegetables and cooking rice.

2. Use just enough amount of water when boiling for specific purposes. Fill your kettle with only the exact amount of water you need, i.e. a cup or 2 cups. Use lids on pots used on the stovetop. Doing so would help attain faster boiling and quick cooking. Thaw food out prior to cooking so that it would take less time to cook. To correctly and effectively thaw food, put it in the fridge hours before cooking.

3. Decide what you would get from the fridge before you open its door. We often open the fridge before we decide what to look for and take. It is a wasteful practice especially if you are conscious about use of electricity. Opening the door of the fridge would let cold air from the inside to go out. In the process, the machine would use more electric energy to bring down the temperature again.

4. Set the fridge to the right and appropriate temperature. There is no sense setting temperature too low if there is no need to do so. It could consume more electricity. Also make sure it has ample space at the back for proper and effective ventilation.

5. Run the dishwasher only when full. It is not practical to use it to do only a few dishes. On such a case, have the patience to do the dishes by hand to save on electric consumption. If you need to use the dishwasher, it would be more strategic to use it late at night when electricity tariff is much cheaper. Be on the guard to turn the machine off upon reaching the drying cycle. It could let the dishes dry naturally.

6. Turn off kitchen lights when not in use. We often leave the lights on especially during night. This should also apply to all other areas in the house. You would be surprised how much you could save on your electric bill.

You could save on kitchen costs if you know how to do it effectively. By being fully conscious and mindful about how you use kitchen appliances, you could trim down energy consumption, which is taking more of the household budget for basic expenses.

Andrew is a keen cook, who spends a large amount of time in the kitchen. When he is not cooking, Andrew is writer at australianlendingcentre.com.au

Filed Under: Fresh Coffee, Home Tips, Organizing Tips

Privacy Concerns for Mompreneurs

June 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

I have notice many bloggers and online entrepreneurs who seem to live very open lives online. By this, I mean they seem to share too much personal information without regard to the fact that anyone and everyone is reading what they are writing. Running an online business is great, but we certainly need to be mindful of personal safety at the same time. As I began my journey of running an online kids boutique, I suddenly realized there were several more factors to consider with regard to privacy. With that in mind, here is some advice for moms out there who want to maintain some level or privacy.

Register Your Domain with Privacy. I was surprised when I realized that the information I used to register my domain was so openly available. Many use their home address and cell phone numbers; no wonder we get so much spam.

Be Careful When Telling Personal Stories. When you are telling a story from the heart, it’s easy to slip in tidbit of personal information about your kids without thinking about it. Sadly, there are people out there who live to prey on our kids, and they wait for these opportunities. Don’t ever mention you church, synagogues, or child’s school by name.

Limit Your Personal Social Media Connections. If you have a blog or a website, you should have a corresponding Facebook Business Page to promote it. I do not recommend connecting personally with all of your fans as they will have access to more of your personal and private information. If you don’t really know them, do not accept them as a personal friend on Facebook or any other Social Media website.

Never Connect With Strangers through Location Based Applications. This includes apps such as Foursquare and actually Facebook Places because these apps actually tell people where you are when you check in and you don’t want people you don’t know to be able to track you, or have your personal information (such as your home address) and then know that you are not home.

My goal is not to try to instill fear in anyone, but just to remind us all that the world we live in is very connected and as Internet Entrepreneurs we need to be cautious of how all of these things work. I’d love to hear your thoughts and get some feedback, so feel free to comment below.

About the Author:
Inspired by her children, Valérie Susskind combined her passion for fashion and her Marketing MBA and founded TreZ’Unique, an online kids boutique clothing store in 2009. Valérie was born and raised in Paris, France where she was surrounded by haute couture fashion. She has since moved to New York and earned her MBA at the NYU Stern School of Business after which she spent 5 years marketing cosmetics and fragrances for luxury brands.

Filed Under: Business Nook, Business Tips, Fresh Coffee

5 Activities to Plan a Great Family Weekend

June 15, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

One of the primary responsibilities of parents is to provide opportunities for family bonding. Family routines, however, can become boring when the same activities occur week after week. Taking a family weekend trip to break the boredom, often costs more money than the trip is worth. By planning simple activities before the weekend arrives, you can ensure your family will have the bonding experiences it needs and be within your budget.

Creating wonderful family experiences is important. It is also important to realize these moments can build a child’s confidence, increase their school performance and help improve their peer relationships. Happy fun-filled family experiences shape a child’s future.

Here are five family weekend activities that can help create family bonding experiences.

Stay-at-Home Vacation

To make this feel like an official vacation, schedule a start and end time. Make it forbidden to do any chores. This means beds are not made, the vacuum is left in the closet and the weeds are left in the garden. With the free time remaining, plan an activity out of the house for each day. Like any vacation, document the experience by taking photos and videos. Show them at the end of the vacation for a few chuckles.

Local Attractions

Local attractions will sometimes offer family discounts, especially on holidays when children out of school. Zoos often offer family discounts. Children can interact with zoo animals in a petting zoo. Children’s museums and discovery centers gear many of their exhibits and activities for the entire family. Exhibits are often interactive and educational. Be sure to take pictures and videos to show later for some comic relief.

Backyard Camping

Camping in the backyard is an inexpensive activity most children love. This is a great way for young children to experience camping without exposing them to some of the more uncontrollable elements of camping, such as uninvited wildlife. If you are lacking camping equipment, check with your local outdoor gear store. They often rent tents and sleeping bags at a very low-cost.

Backyard Miniature Golf

Construct your backyard miniature golf course with items you already have in the backyard. Water hoses, lawn furniture, the doghouse, fence lines, patio boundaries, kids swimming pools and anything else that comes to mind. Let your children design and construct the course. You can buy inexpensive golf equipment at a used sporting goods store. For even more fun, invite friends and neighbors.

Backyard Movie

With a used projector and bed sheet, you can create an outdoor movie theater. Start with old home theater gear you may have retired. Consider showing outdoor movies as a regular family activity and complete the theater with surround sound speakers and a popcorn machine. There are even more ways to enjoy your outdoor theater than just watching movies. You can show sporting events or use your Xbox system, Wii or PS3. By doing online research, you can usually find deals for inexpensive used backyard movie gear.

If for some reason the carefully planned activity takes a different direction, just relax and enjoy whatever happens. Remember your goal is to create opportunities for each family member to feel good about themselves and closer to each other. With planning and creativity, you will be able to transform the typical boring family weekend into one that enriches the entire family.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she always wears her designer eyeglasses when she spends time in the sun with her family and she also finds great deals and coupons, at Savings.com, for everything she needs to plan a great family weekend.

Filed Under: Family Time, Fresh Coffee

A Parent’s Guide to Financing College

June 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

While the costs of a college education continue to rise, a college degree remains a very worthwhile investment for the earning and career potential it provides. Just because college tuition is rising does not mean that college is unaffordable. Parents of current or prospective college students have a wealth of resources available to help cover the cost associated with higher education.

Grants and Scholarships

Overall, grants and scholarships are similar in nature; both provide funding for a specific purpose and do not need to be repaid. Grants and scholarships are the best kinds of funding for college students, and they should be the first avenue of funding that parents should consider. These funding sources are available from a wide range of sources, both public and private.

1. Federal grants. The federal government provides grants for college students in the form of Pell grants. Pell grants are awarded based on need, and the calculation for this type of funding takes into consideration parental income level, other children in college and the cost of tuition, among other factors.

To have the best chance of obtaining federal funding, parents should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. If the family has experienced exigent circumstances that affect the ability to pay for college, parents should discuss these matters with the college’s financial aid office.

2. College scholarships. In addition to federal funding, colleges administer scholarships to incoming and current students. The amount of scholarships available and the requirements for obtaining funding vary widely. While completing the <a href="http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/">FAFSA</a> and college financial aid application will likely be all that is need to be considered for college grants and scholarships, some majors and academic departments also offer funding that may have separate applications.

3. Other Sources. A plethora of other sources of grants and scholarships exist. The first source of outside funding should be a parent’s employer, community organization or other affiliation. Many colleges also provide a list of scholarships. Also, students can apply for scholarships based on career goals, geographic location, special skills, writing ability and disability, minority or veteran status.

Loans

Few college students obtain a degree without taking out loans; however, education is a solid investment. Sources of college loans include

Federal loans. The federal government offers a couple of loan programs. Some loans are available to students, and others can be taken out by parents. The government caps the amount that families can borrow, but the interest rates are lower than private loans. Many financial institutions and private companies offer college loans.

When considering college loans, parents should carefully consider the loan amount, repayment terms and interest rates. One good thing about many college loans is that they do not have to be repaid as long as a student is in classes.

Other Sources of College Funding

Many families finance college through a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and other sources of funding, such as the following

Federal Work-Study. Another type of federal funding is federal work-study, a need-based program that provides grant money in exchange for student work on campus.

On-campus Employment. In addition to federal work-study, many campuses offer work opportunities for students. While the pay for these positions may differ from the pay for off-campus jobs, campus offices are more likely to work around a student’s schedule.

Fellowships and Future Employer Funding. Specialized programs in certain fields are available that pay for all or part of college expenses. These programs may be provided by state schools districts in return for some years of service upon graduation. Another source of similar funding is through military programs.

Many funding sources exist for college students; the key is to research and apply early and use all resources available.

Filed Under: Financial Tips, Fresh Coffee

Mocha Monday-June 13th

June 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Check out our Mocha Monday Vlog and celebrate with us. We appreciate any feedback or suggestions you may have. Do you vlog? Interested in doing some vloging for Mommies Cafe? Let us know!

Filed Under: Fresh Coffee, Mom Confessions Monday

Java Mama-Holly Reisem Hanna

June 13, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Holly is the owner of The Work at Home Woman she specializes in finding resources to support woman who want to work from home or those that are looking for tools build a stronger business. Make sure to stop by her site or connect with her on her social profiles