Tips for Meeting the Challenges of Being a Working Mom

April 12, 2018 By Anne

Whether you are a single mom working to support a family or a married mom with a job, sometimes the challenges of being a working mom can set you on the brink of despair. Not only do you need to keep up with the duties at work, but you need to make sure that your family is well cared for. This usually means you are on the go every hour of the day with little time to rest and little-to-no time for yourself. If you are faced with more challenges than you fear you can handle, the following advice might prove handy one day.

Set a Schedule and Stick to It!

You have probably heard it said a thousand times that kids need structure. Well, mom, this may come as a shock to you, but you need structure too! There is no way to eliminate stress if you are always running around like a chicken with your head cut off. If supper is set for 6 PM, don’t let up. Make sure everyone is around the table at dinner time so that you can plan your evening ahead.

You now know how much time you have to clear up the dinner mess, get the kids in the bath, and lay out everything needed for your morning routine. It may sound a bit military, but it pays off in the end. A few minutes off-schedule may not upset the balance, but do your best not to vary too much or too often. Both you and your kids will find life so much easier to deal with when you know what to expect.

Lighten Your Load

Have you ever felt boxed into a corner where there is nothing left to do but cry? It could be the bills have gotten out of control, one of the kids is down with the flu and you can’t miss work, the washing machine finally goes on the blink and every which way you turn there is a problem. This is the time you step back and take a deep breath.

You know that laughter is the best medicine for what ails you, so give yourself a healthy dose. Visit sites like Funny Quotes where you will soon forget what ails you. Believe it or not, there is healing power in laughter and sometimes, that’s just what you need. It’s hard to be frustrated and stressed when you put your problems on the back burner long enough to put a smile on your face.

When All Else Fails…

Finally, when all else fails, remember, you are not alone. There are parenting groups you can join, if for nothing else than letting off steam. Whether you choose an online forum or a support group in your local community, sometimes it just helps to get it off your chest.

There are countless other moms out there who hold down a full-time job and share the very same frustrations you do. Some may have even found innovative solutions to the problems you are now facing. Even single moms don’t need to walk through the challenges of being a working mom alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice. It’s out there, so go and get it!

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!

Gift Ideas for Your Child’s Graduation

March 30, 2018 By Anne

Finding a good gift for graduation can be an overwhelming task, and a gift that is both useful and thoughtful can be hard to come by. Below is a list of 14 graduation gift ideas for the upcoming graduate.

Money

This is the most popular gift to give graduates around the world. Writing a check and giving it to the graduate is often the easiest way to give. In fact, this is one of the most wanted gifts by graduates.

Gift cards

Another option to writing a check is giving a gift card. This ensures that the money is being spent on something useful. Grocery store gift cards to gas gift cards to clothing cards can all come in handy, whether it’s for the high school graduate heading to college or the college graduate heading into the professional world.

Tablet

This can make a wonderful gift, especially for a high school graduate, as it can help with the college load. This can condense textbooks and notebooks from each class. Notes can be taken, tests can be studied, and digital textbooks can be downloaded all on to a tablet.

Laptop

Any graduate can use a laptop computer, but especially high school grads who are college bound. These devices can help with note taking, papers, projects, and much more. The convenience of a laptop as opposed to a clunky desktop computer is one of its most alluring benefits.

Dorm Room Furnishings

Giving the gift of furniture or decorative items for a dorm room can help the high school graduate save money for when the big move comes around. Bulletin boards, posters, bookcases, trunks, decorative items, picture frames, and much more can be a great idea for any graduate.

Watch

An old standby for a good graduation gift is a watch. Watches can be engraved to make the gift extra special for the graduate. Whether for the high school or college grad, a watch is a sign of a new level of maturity and responsibility. As an added bonus, it can help the grad be on time for class or a new job.

Gift Basket

This is something akin to a care package. For graduates who are about to make a big move, a gift basket of necessary items can be a tremendous help. Pack anything from dryer sheets and laundry detergent to toothpaste, soap, shampoo, floss, lotions, disposable razors, and many other items the graduate may not think of.

Clothing

Often times graduates heading to college want to look part of the other students on campus. A gift that can help with the fitting in process is clothing. Maybe the graduate has a favorite television show or music group or movie that is popular, and there is apparel designed for that specific interested, such as this popular Game of Thrones hoodie.

Camera

Graduation is one of those times when everyone wants to remember the memories being made; giving the gift of a camera can be a good way to capture those moments. Phones are popular for this, but instant cameras are gaining in popularity once again.

Headphones

Headphones can be a great addition to a graduate’s repertoire. Studies have shown that listening to classical music can help a person retain information, making it a good option when studying for tests or getting ready for interviews. It also helps students to tune out distractions that could make studying harder.

Bike

Bikes have become a good suggestion for gift giving when students are heading off to college. It is a great form of exercise and is a very efficient way to traverse the campus or run errands.

Prepaid Phone Cards

This is a good way for students to stay in touch with family members or friends all over the world. Graduates find this helpful if the cell phone being used is on a restricted plan.

Backpack

A brand new backpack for a brand new schooling adventure is a good gifting idea. Giving a quality pack to the college-bound grad can ensure that heavy textbooks, laptops and tablets can be transported safely around campus.

Mini Toolbox

A small toolkit can be a lifesaver for any student living away from home for the first time. A toolkit can be helpful with minor repairs or assembling furniture. These types of toolkits can be found at any hardware store.

15. Light Up Shoes
Light ups shoes are once again back in style. These days they glow in 7 different neon LED colors, light up with multiple flashing settings and are also USB rechargeable with a 6 hour battery life. No doubt, a pair of ‘Light Ups’ certainly make for a cool gift for high school graduates.

Anne

4 Critical Tips To Prepare Your Kids For Your RV Trip

March 27, 2018 By Anne

Photo Credit

As a mother, even if you’re looking forward to your next family RV road or camping trip, you’re most certainly not looking forward to preparing for that trip. And as the mom of the family, the bulk of the preparation may fall on you.

Here are four critical tips to prepare your kids for your RV trip:

1 – Have Them Pack One Bag Each

RV’s may come loaded with lots of storage space, but that doesn’t mean that space is limitless. Here’s a word of advice: give each of your kids a backpack, and tell them that they can bring whatever they want. But there’s just one condition: everything they bring has to be able to fit in that backpack. This will be one of the best things you can do to help save space.

2 – Bring Your Tablet

If you’ve got a long way to go to your planned destination, chances are pretty good that your kids are going to get bored along the way. To this end, keep your tablet(s) fully charged before the trip so they can keep themselves entertained during the long drive. Have games and movies ready to go, and plan your trip accordingly so you can re-charge the devices during stops.

3 – Brace Yourself For Rainy Days

Even if the weather forecast is bright and sunny for the week of your RV vacation, you must still prepare yourself for a rainy day.

To this end, bring proper rain gear and a variety of indoor games and activities to keep your kids entertained while it’s raining outside. Sticker books, card games, crafts, crayons and paper, and so on will be the usual suspects. At the same time, only you know your kids, so bring what yu think is appropriate.

4 – Give Your Kids Responsibilities

Even though preparing for an RV trip is likely going to be stressful for you, it will be the direct opposite for your kids. Not only will they be excited at the thought of the future trip, they can also have fun helping you get ready for it to.

This is why you will want to keep them involved in the planning process somehow, and the best way to do this is ultimately to give them responsibilities such as giving them tasks to do before and during the trip, going shopping for food with them (and allowing them to pick food items), and sitting down around the dinner table to plan out the trip together as a family.

Also ask your kids for their input on places they would like to visit the most, and they should be more than willing to tell you want they think.

Getting Ready For Your RV Trip

What’s important to remember when preparing for your RV trip is to keep your kids fully involved in the process with what you pack, what you eat, what you’ll do, and so on.

Anne

The Avenues Mall TO HOST “MUPPET BABIES”-THEMED DISNEY JUNIOR PLAY DATE Event

March 13, 2018 By Marijean

The Avenues Mall TO HOST “MUPPET BABIES”-THEMED DISNEY JUNIOR PLAY DATE Event

The Avenues Mall invites the community to a “Muppet Babies”-themed Disney Junior Play Date event. Aimed to entertain and delight children ages 18 months to 3 years old, the event will take place on March 31 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Premiering March 23, Disney Junior’s reimagined “Muppet Babies” chronicles the hilarious playroom antics of the young Kermit the Frog, Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and brand-new Muppet Baby, Summer Penguin. Under the watchful eye of Miss Nanny, the Muppet Babies use their imaginations to embark on countless adventures that take them to the farthest corners of the universe and demonstrate to young viewers the power and potential of imaginative play.

During the “Muppet Babies”-themed Disney Junior Play Date event, families will participate in a variety of activities including a Color Bingo Game, craft projects, balloon art and more. The fun starts at 10 a.m. near Center Court behind Starbucks. This event does not include live character appearances.

In October 2017, Simon announced its exciting new family programming collaboration with Disney Junior, which includes the Disney Junior Play Dates, ongoing events taking place throughout the year at 100 shopping centers across the country. The Disney Junior Play Dates events will be featured throughout the year and include on-mall activities around Holiday, Easter and other seasonal celebrations.

About The Avenues

The Avenues is Jacksonville’s premier family shopping destination. A multi-level indoor center offering 1.1 million square-feet of shopping, The Avenues is home to 5 anchor stores including Belk, Dillard’s, Forever 21, JCPenney and Sears, plus more than 150 of the most exciting specialty retailers in Northeast Florida. Discover your favorite shopping and dining destinations including Aldo, BoxLunch, Buffalo Wild Wings, bareMinerals, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Brookstone, Crazy 8, Foot Locker, H&M, LOFT, LUSH, MAC Cosmetics, New York & Company, Sketchers, Victoria’s Secret and more. The mall is conveniently located off I-95 at the intersection of Philips Highway (US1) and Southside Boulevard. Visit us Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 – 6 p.m. For additional information, please visit www.shoptheavenues.com or call 904-363-3054.

About Simon

Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Mary Poppins Returns

March 6, 2018 By Anne

In the sequel, which arrives in theatres this Christmas, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS stars Emily Blunt as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure; Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London; Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; and Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. The film also introduces three new Banks’ children played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.