Best Mother of the Bride Dresses to Choose

June 9, 2021 By Anne

It’s not every day that one of your children gets married, so on that special day for your daughter, you want to look elegant and express your style regardless of the season.

Thankfully, the mother of the bride’s dress etiquette has evolved over the years, so the days when the bride’s mother was expected to wear traditional and “modest” outfits are long gone.

There are many ‘mother of the bride’ dress options available, so it may be hard for one to make a pick. Wanting to stand out on your daughter’s big day is not wrong. However, there are different factors that affect the outfit choice and in this article, we will explore a few and also guide you to pick the best available option.

What Should The Mother Of The Bride Wear

Elegance and grace embody the outfit for the bride’s mother, but there are so many styles out there, and it is difficult to decide whether to wear a short or long dress, what sleeve will be most appropriate, the type of neckline, etc. You will need a guide to lead the way to the most fitting outfit for your daughter’s wedding.

Take Tips From The Wedding theme.

You can take a cue from the bride and the groom since they set the wedding tone. Your outfit should be in sync with the theme of the wedding. For example, you can choose to wear a floral dress with equally matching accessories for an outdoor beach wedding. You can ask the couple early for the theme of the wedding and them look the part.

Borrow Colours From The Wedding Party

As the bride’s mother, your dress should not be contrasting with the wedding colors; rather, it should complement the colors of the wedding. You can take a cue from the venue colors and also the bridal train. So it is best to wait for the bride to decide on her bridesmaid’s dresses and colors and pick a color that compliments and does not necessarily match their colors.

Remember to stay away from any color that the bride is wearing. She is the star of the event and should be allowed to stand out from the crowd.

What Should The Mother Of The Bride Wear

Whether you choose a tea-length dress, a long dress, a lace material, or silk, you can find the best mother of the bride dresses for every season here.

Length of the Dress

The length of the dress a bride’s mother wears is a personal choice and does not have to be the same for both mothers of the couple. Although, most mothers prefer to wear similar lengths to create uniformity, especially in pictures.

Tea Length Mother Of The Bride Dresses

A knee-length midi dress is a perfect fit for summer weddings. It can be both elegant and very practical. You have ease of movement while maintaining elegance. You can shop for polished and elegant tea-length dresses for all sizes at AW Bridal.

Long Mother Of The Bride Dresses

Style and color are what make a long dress suitable for formal weddings. You have options of a maxi dress, a long-fitting dress, or a free-flowing ankle-length dress. The style may also include slits and beautiful embroidery.

V-Neck Dresses For The Mother Of The Bride

This age-old neckline carries an air of sophistication and can be styled in different manners that still portray the highest level of grace worthy of the mother of a bride.

Things To Remember

Apart from the tips mentioned above, there are three major things to remember when you embark on a dress search as the bride’s mother.

Speak with the mother of the groom before embarking on a dress search. It is quite normal for the bride and groom to wear matching colors and outfits.
Start your search for your dress early enough. Most people will advise that the mother of the bride begins to search for a dress at least three months before the wedding date. This is to give ample time for eventualities that may arise concerning your dress without having to face disappointment.
Searching stores for your dress shouldn’t be limited to just department stores. You can also search bridal stores because, in recent times, bridal outlets cater to the bride and her dress needs and cater to other important people involved in the wedding, including the bride’s mother and bridesmaids.

Conclusion

Societal norms often pressure mothers to conform to certain styles and standards of dressing. Still, with modern-day dressing modes and etiquettes, mothers of the bride can now embrace their style while maintaining gracefulness, elegance, and poise.

While mothers assist their daughters with various aspects of the wedding preparation, they often forget that they are a vital part of the ceremony and forget to prepare accordingly.

You can search online bridal stores such as this to quickly find a style that suits you. Bridal stores like Cocomelody have a variety of dress choices for the mother of the bride.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Healthy Eating: 4 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy During COVID-19

May 12, 2021 By Anne

The COVID-19 pandemic is yet to end, and although countries continue to take measures to curb the spread, there’s a lot more you need to do as an individual to remain healthy. Among the practices, you need to adopt healthy eating for you and your family. As you continue to stay indoors and observe COVID-19 protocols, seek information on ways to keep you and your family safe. Do the following to enhance maximum health with good nutrition during COVID-19.

Pixabay – CC0 License

Plan your meals

Planning meals seems like a hectic and boring chore, but it is essential for maintaining good health. Most times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a tendency to over-purchase goods due to panic. Many of the food products end up being unhealthy choices or spoil when they overstay. Planning your meals helps you be more careful with your daily food choices. Use your plan to purchase what you need by checking what you already have in your pantry and foods that can go bad fast.

Prepare homemade meals

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, when you’d experience the daily hassle of commuting to work, school, and back home, there was less time to prepare meals. The go-to option was mainly takeout, which in many cases ended up being unhealthy food choices. Now, when you’re spending more time with family indoors, prepare healthy meals. One of the challenges of being home is the lack of activity, hence a more sedentary lifestyle. Take advantage of information from the internet to experiment with different healthy recipes such as spicy miso ramen for better health.

Handle food with caution

Food safety is a vital prerequisite for healthy eating and food security. As you strive to provide a nutritious diet for your family, ensure you practice safe handling and food hygiene to avoid contamination and disease. Diseases that result from food lower the immune system, putting your family at a greater risk of acquiring the coronavirus. Some of the food hygiene practices you can embrace include:

Maintain a clean kitchen and utensils.
Clean your hands thoroughly with running water and soap before handling food.
Clean the raw food products with safe water.
Cook food thoroughly.
Keep raw and cooked meals separate from each other.

Use delivery services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more advisable to stay indoors. As such, some people may not be able to go grocery shopping, and most local stores no longer allow walk-ins. Although it is best to prioritize homemade meals, you can still use delivery services for particular meals and ingredients. Delivery services may offer a safer option where there are contactless payment methods and practice safe handling of food. However, ensure that you make healthy food choices with less sugar and salt intake and cut down on alcohol and cigarettes.

Bottom line

Healthy eating is a choice you should make daily, especially during moments like this when your immune system is at risk. Make use of the time with your family to prepare healthy, homemade meals together and encourage your kids to eat. Plan meals prior, use delivery services, handle food with caution, and most importantly, enjoy quality family time during meals.

Anne

Why more families are moving to Florida than ever before

April 29, 2021 By Anne

When we think of Florida, it’s not difficult to imagine the sun-drenched sands of Palm Beach, the prestigious Golf and Polo Clubs of the Gulf Coast, the water-front lifestyle of Fort Lauderdale, the glamour of the Miami nightlife and of course the world-famous theme parks at your fingertips throughout Orlando. It’s some of these factors alone that see almost 1,000 people moving to Florida every day. But, aside from the glitz and glamour of the sunshine state, it’s famous oranges and its food scene, NASCAR history and the enchanting Everglades – what else is bringing families from across the country, and even the world, to the state of Florida to live permanently?

More families than ever before are heading to the sunshine state, let’s explore some reasons why, below.

There are numerous regions and areas to choose from

Whether you’re looking for distinct residences in the Boca Raton area, or you’re looking for a community with a more relaxed lifestyle such as Lighthouse Point, Florida has a region to suit any and every lifestyle. As Florida is an incredibly diverse state, with contrasting landscapes, communities, and styles, you’ll have no trouble matching your criteria to your dream home and region. Whether it’s schools and education that’s important to you right now, or you want to live in an area that has leisure and entertainment at its heart, the volume of choice means families and individuals alike are more likely to find their dream home in the Sunshine State.

Florida properties are family-friendly

Did you know that you can get a lot more for your money in Florida? You may be impressed with what your savings can get you here. Properties in the sunshine state are also incredibly spacious, and designed with families and entertainment in mind – what’s more, your dream home could be within walking distance of one of Florida’s glorious beaches or boast its very own swimming pool. Pools are considered mandatory for many residents! So, if you’ve always wanted to teach your children to swim, there’s no better way to learn.

Perpetual Sunshine

Of course, the climate in Florida is perhaps its biggest draw. And the heat isn’t just great for those wanting to top up their tan, health benefits of persistent sunshine and heat can ensure a higher quality of life and an improved mental state. The tropical climate in Florida is occasionally punctured throughout its rainy season, May-October, however, these sudden downpours are short-lived, offering relief before sunshine reigns supreme once again.

And finally, it’s a paradise for growing families

You could be forgiven for thinking that Florida was founded with families in mind, and it’s easy to see why. From its revered education system to its iconic ice cream parlours, Disney World discounts for locals, outdoor pursuits and pro-sports, entertainment everywhere you turn, cultural diversity, water sports that get the whole family in the water, and its friendly, laid back culture make Florida the perfect home for growing families.

Will you be making the move?

Anne

Don’t Let The Sun Set On Your Family Evenings

January 6, 2021 By Anne

Everyone’s surely agreed that working parents deserve medals. You super mums and dads are quite literally burning the candle at both ends, and for the most part, you’re doing an amazing job. In fact, you’re effectively working two full-time positions!

That’s no easy task. In fact, with just a set number of hours in the day, it can often seem like an impossibility. Inevitably, that means that some things fall by the wayside, and those compromises tend to happen at home.

The sad fact is that it’s all too easy to slip into time-wasting habits that mean the time you do get to spend with your kids isn’t as valuable as you’d like. That’s nothing to beat yourself up about, but it might well be something you’d like to change.

We’re sorry to say that we don’t have a time machine, which would really be the best solution. What we do have is a few organization pointers that mean your evenings can be as productive as your workdays, just in a different way.

Image by Nathan Dumlao: CC0 License

1) Eat earlier

Meals form a large part of any family evening, and so they should. Research has shown time and again that making an effort to uphold family mealtimes is a fantastic way to implement positive food patterns. What’s more, there’s nothing quite like a natter around the table for catching up. That said, if you aren’t careful, said mealtime can take up what feels like the entire evening, leaving you with little time to unwind with the family.

The solution here is simple, and it comes down to moving that mealtime forward a little. After all, if you don’t eat until seven, you’ll likely spend the evening until that point in the kitchen. Then, before you know it, the kids will head to bed. That’s terrible news for your home life, and it simply doesn’t need to happen.

By instead moving mealtimes forward, you ensure that you can kick back in the living room with everyone else. And, all you need do to make that possible is think about making family mealtimes more efficient with options like pre-planning, meal prep, and even a cheeky freezer selection sometimes.

Let chores wait until tomorrow

Chores are the enemy of any parent, working or not. Add a day job to the equation, and it’s not surprising that many of us turn our attention to basics like polishing, vacuuming and more once the sun sets. The trouble is that, if you’re cleaning the house, you aren’t spending time with the kids. And, it doesn’t take a genius to work out which priority should take precedence.

Of course, that’s not to say you can scrap chores altogether. Aside from posing a fair few health risks, a dirty house is bound to do your head in within a week of throwing caution to the wind. Rather, changing the time in which you tackle chores could work wonders.

The fact is that you don’t need to do all your chores in the evening. Some things, such as vacuuming, will obviously need to wait until everyone’s awake. For the most part, though, waking up an hour or even half an hour before everyone else each day is all it takes to get this right. That way, you get a headstart, have a clean house, and still have your evenings free to enjoy the family you work so hard to keep happy.

Take tech out of the equation

Technology has done a lot of great things for our lifestyles, especially with regards to learning and communications. But, it’s not unusual for families to waste their quality evenings staring at a screen. Luckily most parents do realize the damage this can cause their kids, but it’s surprising how few extend that thinking to their own usage. Just like that, you’ve got a situation where parents are glued to their phones instead of their families.

To get the most out of your evenings, it’s therefore worth putting a tech ban across the household after a certain time. That’s not to say that you should scrap tech altogether, but something like an ‘only before mealtime’ rule ensures you don’t miss out on each other. With that mealtime moving forward, you’ll especially be able to feel the benefits here.

Set aside a drawer or storage container in which to dump all those phones at this point, and make sure to switch off televisions or laptops. It’s amazing how long your time together will feel without these distractions in place. A word of warning, it might feel strange for everyone at first, but you’ll soon start to find a few more wholesome evening activities to keep you entertained.

Focus on things you can do together

Speaking of keeping yourselves entertained, the last pointer on this list is to find things that you can do together. An evening of disjointed activities is simply never going to lead to the satisfaction of a quality evening well spent. Rather, you’ll fall into the trap of living in the same household while barely communicating with each other.

Make sure that doesn’t happen by forever finding activities that you can do together. There are many options you could choose here, and each is bound to be worth your while. Reading is an obvious top choice, especially when you consider the importance of reading aloud to your child on an educational level. Equally, something like a good board game, or even a programme you all love pre-tech watershed would work wonderfully. You could even get stuck in with some family crafts and learn new skills together, a sure way to strengthen those bonds.

You aren’t alone if you’ve been letting your evenings pass you by without some much-needed family time. We all get into bad habits now and again, and your busy lifestyle is almost certainly to blame. But, it isn’t difficult to make the most of family evenings at last. Simply implement these pointers, and watch your time at home grow into something spectacular.

Anne

5 Easy Ways to Streamline Your Life

October 13, 2020 By Anne

Pexels

From easy recipes to saving money, working moms are always looking for ways to streamline their busy lives. Below, we’ll discuss 5 ways moms can simplify their days, improve their finances, and free up more time for the things (and people) they love.

Carpool Ride-Sharing

If every day feels the same, it might be time to look for ways to switch things up! What mom wouldn’t love to have a few mornings or afternoons to herself to take care of errands or get in an extra workout? If you have school-aged children and are feeling more like a chauffeur than a mom – you’re not alone. Reach out to the parents at your child’s school and see if anyone would like to join a carpool ride-sharing group. With several parents rotating shifts throughout the week, everyone can get more done! This can also be a great idea for your child’s sports teams and events.

Go Green

Saving money doesn’t have to be complicated. One of the simplest ways to improve your finances is to consider investing in renewable energy. Solar panels can drastically reduce your energy costs over the life of your home. There are plenty of solar companies to choose from. Shop around and see what savings are available by finally joining the bandwagon and making the switch!

Meal Prep

Using Sunday afternoons to prep meals for the week is a great timesaver. It takes a bit of practice, but it’s well worth the effort. Prepping meals can mean a few different things. Some people are satisfied by simply writing out the meal plans for each day of the workweek. This prevents mental fatigue, bickering among the kids, and last-minute grocery store runs. Other moms do actual cooking in bulk on the weekends, and carefully divide up portions to be used throughout the week. Chili, soup, chicken, beans and rice are all great options to prepare in bulk and divy out as the week goes on.

Morning Workouts

Remember all that free time you gained from joining a carpool or rideshare for the kids? Don’t just waste that precious time scrolling on social media and drinking coffee – get up and move! Working out in the morning sets the tone for success. Get more work done throughout the day with a clear head, strong body, and plenty of post-workout, feel-good chemicals. Did we mention your clothes will fit better?

Bulk Shopping

It’s believed that one of the key ways people can improve their spending is through bulk shopping. If you can afford it, buying items in bulk can save you tons of cash. When you purchase items from bulk shopping stores, you’re often saving 15-20% over the normal retail price you’d pay on a per-item basis. Bulk shopping comes with some drawbacks, like more plastic waste – so be sure to be conscientious and recycle whenever possible. Hate big box stores? You can find places that sell bulk items online.

Start implementing these practices today, and watch your finances, free time, and fitness improve dramatically!