Mommy Has to Work

Mary Poppins Returns to be released in Theaters in 2018!

March 20, 2017 By Marijean

MARY POPPINS RETURNS will be released in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2018!

I am beyond excited to share with you the first glimpse of Golden Globe® winner Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in MARY POPPINS RETURNS, the all new sequel to Disney’s 1964 film MARY POPPINS.

Directed and produced by Rob Marshall, MARY POPPINS RETURNS also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters with Colin Firth and Meryl Streep.

The film, which introduces three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson, also features Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury. The film is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep). The film is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The screenplay is by David Magee based on The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman writing all new songs and Shaiman composing an original score.

Marijean

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

Preparing your kids for being independent

March 20, 2017 By Anne

As the kids grow up, it can be hard to figure out how much independence to give them. When are they old enough to walk to their friend’s house on their own? When do they get to choose their own haircuts and clothes? Then there’s also handling the teenager that wants to be an adult before their time. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to the process but there are some things that you can work on to ensure that they are prepared for the greater independence and responsibilities in adolescence and then adulthood.

Learn domestic tasks – While many parents feel that kids should have weekly chores to complete, such a tidying their rooms etc. what is perhaps more important is that they understand how things actually work when they are at an appropriate age. For example, learning how to use the Hoover, the washing machine, taking the bins out – all of the essential jobs they will need to be able to do in later life. It is more important to educate them in how to do each task rather than concentrate on them performing one regular task, if it means they are clueless at how to do the rest.

Educate them on finances – One of the key responsibilities they will face when they leave home is managing their own finances. Young adults who have not spent time understanding the value of money or the consequences of taking out credit can quickly end up in financial trouble. People can apply for credit cards at 18, so many are tempted to take credit out to buy things like clothes or even a car, without having enough budget to cover the monthly repayments.

Teaching them how to budget their income and outgoings well before they get to 18 will help to prevent this scenario. Obviously, all kids are different and some wouldn’t even entertain the concept of borrowing money but it helps to provide them with the facts before they start making their own decisions. Interest rates can just sound like irrelevant numbers when they have their eye on a big purchase, so talking to them about how much it would cost after the interest, compared to buying outright might be an eye-opener.

Travel arrangements – It can be tempting to provide lifts on demand to your kids but when they get to the right age, they should be thinking about travel arrangements themselves. Get them acquainted with using public transport and teach them the basics about cars when they are thinking of learning to drive. Learning to drive will give your kids a whole new level of independence and whilst it can be scary for a parent, it is a natural process of growing up.

You can help them to stay safety conscious by showing them the essentials of checking and maintaining a car well before they even start learning to drive. Additionally, you can help them to revise for their theory test using websites like toptests.co.uk.

The best that you can do for your kids is provide them with the knowledge they need to become more independent, even if you don’t want them to grow up too quick.

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!

Elderly Support Systems – Finding the Balance Between Freedom and Safety

March 20, 2017 By Anne

Caring for an elderly person – be it a relative or a friend – in their home requires a fair amount of preplanning and work to ensure that you are striking the right balance between freedom and safety. Every elderly person has a right to respect, care, and choice, and it’s vital that you ensure that everyone’s needs are being met in the safest and most respectful way. One of the most important parts of being human is the desire to be heard, the freedom of expression – to tell one’s story – and when you invest the time and consideration into choosing the right kind of home care packages you will reap the rewards of a safe and happy environment. You want to ensure that there is sufficient freedom for personal expression, while staying safe.

Indeed as the Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Home Care states, every person has the right to freedom and respect, and to be treated fairly. A person’s rights don’t reduce simply because they need home care – regardless of their physical or mental frailty – or their ability to fully exercise their rights. A positive and supportive environment should be fostered no matter what – and this short piece is here to help you find the right balance between safety and freedom. Care for family understands the challenges which occur when caring for the aged, those living with a disability and those requiring an extra pair of hands be it for their young ones.

Safety in home care

One of the most important parts of in-home care is ensuring that both the carer and the recipient of care are being safe. Whether you are practicing safe lifting when moving into and out of the shower, or if you are making sure you are vacuuming ergonomically – it’s vital to stay safe. Some of the most common injuries endured in home care include:

Vacuuming injuries taking place from pushing or pulling a vacuum, using a poor posture when you’re vacuuming or moving furniture around
Mopping can cause injuries to your body due to similar issues as listed above
Showering clients or relatives – making sure you are using the right posture
Moving elderly clients/relatives – make sure you use a sling or hoist if you need to!

Freedom in home care

It’s important that the kind of care you’re providing is conducive to enough freedom that the person being cared for feels that they have their civil liberties. You can speak to your client or the elderly relative for whom you are arranging care and speak to them about what they value and what is important. Too often you’ll see people who just don’t speak up when it comes to their care and they end up missing out on what they want. It’s vital that the lines of communication are open with the people you are caring for, so they can get the best from their in-home care experience.

Other things to consider

If you need to talk to your relative about the possibility of investing in something, like an in-home lift or some ramps for the home, then perhaps this is a conversation to have. There is a great deal to be gained from being able to stay in your home, and it’s often the case that a few simple modifications can have a huge effect for the accessibility and enjoyment of the home.

Just remember that you can always maximise the freedom of both the relatives who are caring for their elderly relatives and for the person getting care, by investing in in-home care aid. When you have in-home care help you can ensure that you are getting professional care at all times when you need it the most. We all have a right to live as freely as we can given our particular set of circumstances, so why not make the most of what is available to us?

Anne

Pink Zebra’s New Spring/Summer Line with Easter Special

March 18, 2017 By Marijean

I first found out about Pink Zebra almost a year ago. I was intrigued but wanted to know what makes this better than any other wax candle melts product? I received some samples from my friend and was immediately hooked. I have since done a few reviews on their product line and now became an Independent Consultant myself! I want to tell you about Pink Zebra’s new Spring/Summer scents and their current Easter special!

Pink Zebra offers a whole line of home decor candle products, along with a Soaks line, which is liquid fragrance, and a jewelry line. Today I am going to focus on the Sprinkles.

What are Pink Zebra Sprinkles?

Pink Zebra’s Sprinkles are made in the U.S. from Soft Soy, a proprietary blend of soy wax and paraffin wax, to capitalize on the best performing components of each ingredient. They burn cleaner and longer than other wax melts. The sprinkles are safe for humans and animals in case of accidental ingestion. They are perfect for using in our custom glimmer candles, simmering lights warmers, and simmer pots. Sprinkles come in 3.75 oz jars for $9 or 16 oz cartons for $28.

What I love most about the sprinkles is I can use as much or as little as I went depending on my mood. If I want just a bit of fragrance I won’t put in many sprinkles. If I want a good amount of fragrance through out my home I will use more. Plus you can customize your own fragrance! I love mixing sprinkles together to see what kind of scents I can make. I love to mix Buttercream Cupcake together with Fresh Sweet Strawberry to make a “Strawberry Shortcake” fragrance.

You can use these sprinkles in a Pink Zebra simmering light, simmering pot, candles with wicks or any warmer you may have at home! The new spring scents are out and they really do smell fabulous!

Right now Pink Zebra has a special going on! You get 3 Speckled candles with wicks and 2 jars of sprinkles for only $27. Tropical Rainforest is brand new for Spring and is a nice clean scent, and Woodland Iris is brand new and only available with this special. This special is good for a limited time only, and only until supplies last. You can use the below link to order and check out more of the great products we have to offer! This special would make a great Easter gift!!

Check out my website to place an order: http://www.pinkzebrahome.com/mjpz

Connect with me on Facebook for specials: https://www.facebook.com/mjspz/

Feel free to email me with any questions! marijeanl@icloud.com

*I am an Independent Consultant with Pink Zebra. All thoughts are my own.