The Break-Up Bible: 10 Commandments Of Amicably Ending A Relationship

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

The Break-Up Bible: 10 Commandments Of Amicably Ending A Relationship

Image via thinkstockphotos.com.au

Breaking-up is not an easy thing to do. The emotional, mental and physical toll it can take on the involved parties is enough reason to put off ever having ‘the chat’ in the first place. The following 10 tips are designed to help you get through the process, without the vitriol or doom.

1: Do The Right Thing

When the time comes to have the all-important conversation, tell the truth.

Make sure you make an effort to listen to how the other person feels and to respond in a sensitive, direct way. Keep the conversation civil (as civil as possible) and keep it realistic. If you’re intending on making a clean break, don’t lead the other person on.

2: Keep It Professional

Once you’ve made the decision to separate, it’s time begin untangling yourself from your former partner.

This can be a tricky process (especially where there are children or significant assets involved), so it’s wise to arrange for the help of a trusted professional.

An excellent way to simplify the process is enlisting a family lawyer in Melbourne. A qualified family law specialist can help you navigate the legalities involved in dissolving your relationship, while ensuring a trouble-free settlement for you and your former partner.

3: Turn Down The Heat

A barbed remark can appear from nowhere in the heat of the moment, causing further damage between you and your former partner. To stop this from happening, write out and outline what you would like to say beforehand, and then stick to your talking points. Keeping yourself in-check is a useful way to create mutual respect and productive dialogue in an otherwise tension-filled process.

4: Neutral Mutuals

This point can not be emphasised enough: don’t poison mutual friends against your former partner.

Keeping any mutual friends neutral is important if you’re ever likely to attend the same gatherings as your former partner, or if you keep a similar social circle. When speaking of your relationship to mutual friends, keep your comments free of vitriol or spite (no matter how tempted you may be to speak otherwise).

5: Take Your Time

While it may be tempting to try to heal yourself by moving on quickly, jumping immediately into another relationship can be a bad idea for many reasons. First of all, it can send the wrong message to your former partner. They may assume that you don’t respect their feelings, or that you’re trying to hurt them.

If and when you do decide to become involved with another person, consider whether it’s necessary to let everyone know immediately. Details like these are best introduced slowly, and with sensitivity for any feelings it might bring up between your former partner and yourself.

6: Space & Time

Giving your former partner space and taking space for yourself is another way to help create an amicable environment.

Do not force your way into their private space without an invitation. If you know that they enjoy being at the gym at a certain time, wait until later to go, The same goes for other social routines. Make your own way.

7: Disconnect & Reconnect

Resist the urge to track or stalk your former partner on social media. It may be the ideal time to take a sabbatical or temporarily deactivate your accounts if you can’t control the urge to sneak a peek.

Why not try instead to take the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family. Invite friends to enjoy a meal or a drink, and visit your relatives. Some human contact can help to reinstall and reset your mind into your community outside of your newly-ended relationship.

8: Child’s Play

If there are children involved, make sure to include and explain to children how they will be affected by any changes. As with mutual friends, don’t succumb to the temptation to be negative about your former partner in front of your children.

9: Be Present

A simple way to make sure you’re not fostering any resentment in your former partner is to conduct any important conversations in-person.

Face-to-face communication is the most respectful, immediate way to have a conversation with someone you’re in a relationship with. When the time comes to dissolve this relationship, there’s no reason why this too shouldn’t be handled face-to-face.

Above all else: don’t be the person who initiates a break-up via social media or digital messaging. It’s cruel, and won’t be easy forgiven or forgotten.

10: An Even Split

Finances, bills and other regular payments may also need to be carefully meted out.

Make sure to agree to split these evenly, and to create a payment schedule. If it’s possible, transferring shared accounts and bills to a sole account holder may help when one party has to find new living arrangements.

It’s not impossible to amicably end a relationship. With enough care, sensitivity, and mutual respect, you can maintain a sense of trust and friendship with your former partner, making your life (and theirs) less complicated in the future.

Marijean

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

4 Reasons to Visit Canada in the Summer

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

When you see pictures of Canada, they are normally ones with snow covered mountain tops which evoke that winter feeling. Yes, Canada is a popular place for travelers to visit in winter, but the fun doesn’t stop once spring rolls around. In fact, it is a year-round destination that has plenty to offer whenever you decide to land in this diverse, enticing country.

With that said, and as the title spotlights, this article will be focusing specifically on the summertime in Canada. After all, it is the direct opposite of winter – so it is the ideal way of pointing out why the country isn’t just a one-off seasonal stop each year. Read on for four reasons to visit Canada in the summer.

Warmer weather for exploring

Firstly, it is important to start with the most obvious aspect of visiting in the summer: the warm weather. While Canada is a popular place to visit in winter, that doesn’t mean every traveler is comfortable with going on holiday during cold temperatures and snowy conditions. If you are in that situation, going during the summer is the perfect solution – the snow might not be so prominent (you’ll still find it atop the most elevated mountains), but everything else that makes Canada so special remains.

Countless things to do

UNESCO World Heritage sites, 42 national parks, museums, wide-open spaces ripe for exploring, wildlife to observe – there’s so much to do in Canada, that you will probably regret not booking a longer trip! As for summer-specific things, you obviously have the chance to participate in more outdoor activities. While hiking is still possible during the winter, the summer allows you to do things like biking, rafting and playing a round of golf in comfort.

Affordable prices

Perhaps surprisingly, Canada is a country that is amongst one of the most inexpensive places to visit on the planet. Sadly that doesn’t include airfare if you are traveling long distance, but the price of entering attractions, going to festivals, and so on is usually an inexpensive affair.

Plus if you are keeping a close eye on your finances, why not book a self-catering accommodation option like Tremblant Sunstar in Mont-Tremblant? That way you can cook in your very own kitchen, helping to avoid eating out for every meal during your journey. If you’re traveling across the country, the option of camping is also a possibility – which is not something that would be all that viable during those freezing winter conditions.

Summer festivals

During the summer months, there are plenty of Canadian festivals to choose from. Of course, festivals rarely pop up during the winter months, however, when the sun and warm arrives so does the music, art and culture.

When it comes to these annual festivals and events, there are many of them that are suited for visitors of all types. This is an ideal point if you’re traveling as a family. Plus these shows and celebrations are diverse in what they offer, with everything from the well-known Montebello Rockfest music extravaganza to Freezer Burn – the latter being a Burning Man-sanctioned, artistic expression of freedom.

Marijean

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

Color Me Mine Studio Opens at Avenues Mall on August 30th!

August 25, 2017 By Marijean

Color Me Mine at The Avenues Mall, Jacksonville, FL

The highly anticipated Color Me Mine Paint-It-Yourself Ceramics Walk-in Studio soon opens on Wednesday August 30, 2017 at The Avenues Mall, Jacksonville, FL. Grand opening is planned for Saturday September 23, 2017.

This walk-in studio will boast well over 400 ceramic items to choose from, including Disney licensed pieces and many other Color Me Mine exclusives, a Design Center featuring 22,000 images and over sixty colors to paint with! Customers will design and paint their pieces however they like. Staff members will be ready with painting tips, tricks, and techniques. Color Me Mine is a perfect outing for families, date night, or even solo. It’s great fun to relax and paint, and even more fun to take the glazed and fired work of art and enjoy it forever!

Color Me Mine is great for birthday parties, showers, handprint keepsakes, fundraisers, Scout events, school programs, and much more! It’s a great way to spend quality time while creating gifts and masterpieces that will last a lifetime. Everyone’s an artist at Color Me Mine!

For more information about Color Me Mine at The Avenues Mall, please visit: www.jacksonville.colormemine.com and on Facebook.

For groups of less than 6 – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!

About Color Me Mine Inc.: Color Me Mine is the leader in the paint-it-yourself ceramics industry with 136 studios franchised throughout the world. Each location is an upscale art-as entertainment studio offering unfinished ceramics and other craft media. Customers enter a relaxing environment, choose one of 400 unfinished ceramic pieces, and spend an hour or two painting it to explore their own artistic vision.

Marijean

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

Star Wars Fans Invited to “Find the Force” as Unprecedented Augmented Reality Event Sweeps the Globe for Force Friday

August 25, 2017 By Marijean

Star Wars Fans Invited to “Find the Force” As Unprecedented Augmented Reality Event Sweeps the Globe for

Force Friday II

Fans to reveal a new The Last Jedi character via social media

New product line for Star Wars: The Last Jedi launches globally at 12:01 AM September 1

More than 20,000 retail locations worldwide will become home to

augmented reality Star Wars characters from September 1-3

Following the global phenomenon of Force Friday in 2015, Disney and Lucasfilm today announced Find the Force, a global augmented reality (AR) event rolling out on Force Friday II (September 1) to commemorate the worldwide launch of new products inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The pop-up AR treasure hunt aims to unite fans around the world in the battle against the dark side in a unique three-day event at over 20,000 retail locations across 30 countries. As fans turn up to take home new The Last Jedi products, they will have the opportunity to activate a unique augmented reality experience featuring Star Wars characters, including fan-favorites and new surprise additions from the film.

“Force Friday II is a major milestone in the countdown to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars has always championed new technology, and we are excited that augmented reality will allow fans to experience the universe in a whole new way,” says Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm.

From September 1-3, retailers around the world will invite fans to Find the Force by taking part in an AR treasure hunt. Here’s how it works: first, download the Star Wars App, which is your one-stop-shop for all things Star Wars (those who already have the app will need to download the latest version). Then, visit any one of 20,000 participating retail locations to find a graphic that contains the Find the Force logo. When you scan the graphic using the Star Wars App, you’ll reveal a character, who through augmented reality, will appear in the room with you. You can then take photos, record videos, and share the experience on social media. Come back each day to reveal new characters

(15 in total across the program’s three-day run). Click here for more information: www.starwars.com/findtheforce.

“Force Friday II puts fans right at the center of the action using augmented reality to bring our characters to life like never before. The technology theme continues in the Star Wars: The Last Jedi product line, which is our most innovative yet – we can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store.” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.

Fans can download the latest version of the Star Wars App (v. 2.3 or higher) beginning Aug. 24 for an early look at the new Porg characters in AR before the AR treasure hunt goes live at retail.

By sharing photos or videos featuring the in-store AR characters on Twitter or Instagram using #FindtheForce and #Sweepstakes throughout Force Friday II weekend, fans in select global markets can participate in a sweepstakes for the chance to win the ultimate fan experience: tickets to the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere in December.

No Purchase Necessary. Enter sweepstakes between August 31, 2017 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT”)/3:00 p.m. British Summer Time (“BST”) and September 4, 2017 at 2:59 a.m. PT/10:59 a.m. BST. Open to legal residents in 50 U.S. + D.C., Canada (excluding Quebec), Australia, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, France, South Korea and Chile who are 18+ or the age of majority in their place of residence, whichever is older. Limit 15 entries per person. There is 1 Grand Prize available to be won (ARV: US $4,500). Grand Prize winner must travel to Los Angeles, California USA on or about December 12, 2017. Visit starwars.com/findtheforce. for Official Rules including details on how to enter, additional eligibility requirements, prize descriptions and limitations. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Pty. Limited, Level 5, Chapel Street, South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia.

More information about Find the Force and a how-to video is available at www.starwars.com/findtheforce.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in U.S. theaters on December 15, 2017.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Teaser Trailer:

About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company’s stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises four main lines of business: Global Licensing, Disney Retail, Publishing and Digital Media, and Games, Apps, and Labs. The segment is home to world-class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations and bring the magic of Disney into the daily lives of families and fans around the world.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.

Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.

Like STAR WARS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies/

Follow STAR WARS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starwars

Follow STAR WARS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StarWarsMovies/

Follow STAR WARS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/starwars

Visit the official STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI website: http://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-viii-the-last-jedi

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens in theatres everywhere December 15th!

Marijean

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

Your Child will Love LightHeaded Beds by Lifetime (Review and Giveaway)

August 21, 2017 By Marijean

I have a 6-year-old son, and lately he has been going through a phase of needing is light on to go to sleep. He can’t fall asleep unless the tv is on a timer or I leave the hall light on. The problem with this is I usually always forget to turn off the hall light when I fall asleep, and end up waking up in the middle of the night to do so. i was contacted by company LIFETIME with their really cool product called LightHeaded Beds.

I was SO excited to review one of their beds because I knew Anthony would love falling asleep to a cool image that lights up! Let me tell you all about this bed!

HOW IT WORKS

One Bed, Endless Possibilities.

Kids grow up fast and their interests are always changing. Their dreams and interests change from damsels and dragons to pop stars and sports idols.

With a LightHeaded Beds, kids will never outgrow their dreams. The soothing, warm glow of the backlit headboard, with its interchangeable HeadLightz graphic, makes bedtime a fun time. And as your children discover new interests, LightHeaded offers them countless options to match their endless imagination.

It’s easy to get started… just choose from thousands of unique images from our online gallery or use your own photos and artwork, and your LightHeaded bed will grow and change along with your child’s dreams.

Light It Up, Dim It Down.

Getting children ready for bed can be a major challenge. Some kids just want to stay up late and read. Others are afraid of the dark. LightHeaded Beds put you in charge of bedtime: a remote control dimmer and timer lets parents set the brightness and the duration of the light, to help kids feel even more comfortable in a bed they can really call their own.

So, what makes this bed so different from other bed models? This one is unique! This bed comes with a backlit headboard that you can use interchangeable graphics and images. Is your child afraid of the dark? Does you child want to sleep with a nightlight or closet light on? Good news, they can fall asleep in their very own bed that has a light! This bed comes with a remote control dinner with timer, and you can set how bright you want the light to be, and how long you want it on for. Just put your child to sleep, turn on the light and you are all set.The light is an LED light and plugs right into the wall outlet. No need to worry about batteries.

I was able to review a full size Canterbury Model with choice of Image. There are 3 finishes to choose from (black, white and brown chestnut) I chose the chestnut since it would match my sons furniture he has. You can also choose to add a trundle option for an additional cost. It didn’t take long for me to get the bed once it was ordered, about 4 days. It came in 2 large boxes, and took my husband a few hours to assemble. All you need to assemble is a screw driver. All of the other pieces are included.

One cool feature about this bed is that you can use it with a box spring or without, and no tools are needed to adjust height. I was happy to hear this since I just purchased my son a brand new mattress and box spring.

This bed comes with a graphic included, the one I received was a Dolphin image. I also ordered my son a custom image. It’s a red spider webs background with his name on it. He really loves it!! There are so many possibilities and options of different graphics. You can even customize your own with your own photos! They are super easy to slide in and out of the headboard, and even the footboard has a storage compartment for your extra ones! You will never lose them. Since your bed will arrive will arrive with a graphic the company chooses, you can take your time to browse the site for the perfect Image to order afterwords. Your bed will also come with a $20 gift coupon towards any Image purchase! There are so many varieties of images, and you can even custom make your own with your own pictures!

In conclusion, My son and I absolutely love LightHeaded Beds! This is such a great concept and will really help with children having fears of the dark. I love how you can purchase different images and even customize them. This is perfect since as your child gets older, he/she will end up liking different things and may not always like the original image you purchased.

Use coupon code MommyHasToWork for 25% off your order!

To order your own LightHeaded bed click here!

To follow on Facebook click here!

To follow on Instagram click here!

To follow on Twitter click here!

GIVEAWAY

Would your child LOVE one of these cool beds? Enter to win a FREE twin size bed in your choice of finish, plus your choice of image! U.S. residents only, giveaway ends on 9/6/17.
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*I received the mentioned bed in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.