Mommy Has to Work

“SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME” IN THEATERS NOW AND SWINGS ONTO DIGITAL SEPTEMBER 17 AND ON 4K ULTRA HD™ COMBO PACK, BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK AND DVD ON OCTOBER 1! #SpiderManFarFromHome

September 5, 2019 By Marijean

“No endgame for Spidey—he’s flying higher than ever!” – Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

THE BIGGEST SPIDER-MAN MOVIE EVER

COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION WITH
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL SHORT, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ALTERNATE AND EXTENDED SCENES AND MUCH MORE!

The billion dollar blockbuster, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, comes home on Digital September 17 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD on October 1 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. From Spider-Man: HomecomingDirector, Jon Watts, comes a global adventure for everyone. SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME is now the biggest Spider-Man film of all time!

Tom Holland returns as everyone’s favorite web-slinger in SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, the next chapter after Spider-Man: Homecoming. Our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plans to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks! Spider-Man and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) join forces to fight the havoc unleashed across the continent but all is not as it seems.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME stars Tom Holland (Spider – Man: Homecoming) as Peter Parker, Samuel L. Jackson (Spider – Man: Homecoming) as Nick Fury, Jon Favreau ( The Lion King) as Happy Hogan, Zendaya (“Euphoria”) as MJ, and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as Mysterio.

The Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, and 4K Ultra HD release arrives filled with bonus materials for the whole family including a special short, alternate and extended scenes, gag reels and Easter Eggs! Additional special features include Teachers’ Travel Tips with Mr. Harrington and Mr. Dell and interviews with the cast and crew focused on stunts and location in The Jump Off and Far, FAR, From Home. Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU in Stepping Up and get a closer look at the special chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland in It Takes Two. Fans will want to dive into The Ginter-Riva Effect, Thank You, Mrs. Parker and Now You See Me features for more character focused details. The 4K Ultra HD also features Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME is directed by Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers and based on a Marvel Comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The film is produced by Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal. Executive Producers are Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Rachel O’Connor, the late Stan Lee, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME has a run time of approximately 129 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.

Bonus Materials Include:

New Original Short, Peter’s To – Do – List: Peter has a few errands to run before he can leave on his class trip.

Teachers’ Travel Tips: Mr. Harrington & Mr. Dell present a few tips on how to traverse the European continent.
Stepping Up: Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU, the ways Tom Holland transformed the character of Peter Parker, and what the future holds for Spider-Man.
Suit Up: The suit doesn’t make the hero – but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter’s different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.
Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film’s illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they’re also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.
It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.
Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!
The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.
Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei’s reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.
The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.
The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.
Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.
Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!
Select Scene Pre – Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the film
Gag Reel & Outakes
Never-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended Scenes

CAST AND CREW
Director: Jon Watts
Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Rachel O’Connor, the late Stan Lee, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach
Producers: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal
Screenplay By: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers
Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Tony Revolori, with Marisa Tomei and Jake Gyllenhaal

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spidermanmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spidermanmovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiderManMovie/
Hashtag: #SpiderManFarFromHome

Marijean

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

What Are the Best Ways to Save on Travel?

September 3, 2019 By Anne

When you’re a mom, the responsibilities of travel planning may fall on you. You want a great family vacation that will allow you all to enjoy your time and one another.

You want to build memories with your family as a mom, and the rigors of busy everyday life may not allow for that like a vacation will.

At the same time, vacations are expensive, particularly when you’re traveling with kids.

You may want to balance getting the best experience and maximizing your time with staying within your budget.

The following are some general tips that can help you save money on family travel.

Look for Packages

If you’re going somewhere that has a lot of attractions and you want to do several of them, start looking for vacation packages. An example is Myrtle Beach.

If you’re planning to travel to Myrtle Beach, there are a lot of different family-friendly attractions, but the ticket prices can add up quickly.

Look for a Myrtle Beach vacation package which might contain multiple discounted tickets to different attractions and in some cases may also include discounts on lodging and accommodations.

What’s great about packages is the fact that not only can you save money, but these packages can also make it easier to plan and organize your trips, since they can offer a built-in itinerary.

Be Strategic with Flights

If you’re going to be flying to your destination, there are a lot of ways you can save money on flights. One is to use a travel rewards credit card and accrue miles. Look for a card that lets you earn miles on everyday spending such as groceries and gas.

Some airline cards will only offer generous rewards when you’re spending with the airlines themselves, but others will give you competitive rewards for regular purchases.

As well as using miles or airline points for flights, there are other ways to save money.

You can take the evening flights, which may be cheaper, for example.

If you’re traveling with kids, this may actually be better than daytime flights because your children are more likely to sleep.

If you can be flexible with your dates, you might also be able to save money.

Be cautious of budget airlines too.

Sometimes they can be a good deal for family travel, but not always.

Once you factor in all the added fees, budget airlines may end up costing more than traditional carriers.

Saving Money on a Cruise

A cruise, in general, can be a good family-friendly vacation that’s also budget-friendly.

With that being said, there are certain ways your expenses might start to add up on a cruise, and you should be aware of them so you can avoid these extra costs.

For example, excursions when you’re in port, aren’t included in the price of a cruise, and you pay for them later. They can be outrageously expensive, particularly if several people in your family are going.

One option is to avoid the excursion altogether and enjoy the quiet of the boat when everyone is off it. Another is to book your excursions outside the cruise company. This can save you quite a bit, and the companies you can buy from are generally the same ones the cruise company uses.

You can also book a car and serve as your own guide in the ports.

Look for Favorable Exchange Rates if You’re Going Abroad

If you’re going out of the country, when you’re selecting a destination, you should think about the exchange rate because you can save quite a bit if it’s favorable compared to the dollar.

Of course, with that being said, don’t go to a dangerous country for the most competitive exchange rate.

There are a lot of places where you can find smaller differences in the exchange rate, and you can still save around 30% on the cost of your trip.

Use a Cashback Website

A cashback website is something you can use as part of your booking process, so you get something back for the cost of your booking. There are certain browser plugins that will automatically identify any cashback opportunities when you book anything related to travel.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of perks like free breakfast options in a hotel because you end up saving quite a bit each day. Even if you choose a hotel that doesn’t offer free breakfast, you may be able to contact them directly and negotiate to have it included with your stay.

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!

Pets & Mental Health

September 3, 2019 By Anne

In recent years there has been an effort, care, and research going into ways to improve our mental health. Learning techniques that you can take care of yourself, nurture yourself and help those around you that might need support too. Pets have long been hailed as a way to lower stress levels, and get people more active – so surely it makes sense that they will have an impact on mental health too? Cats and dogs are the most common family pet. They like to be stroked, walked and are great listeners. Many people have photos, and dog pop art is a great way to celebrate your relationship with your pet!

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

Love

We feel a deep sense of love for this family member. We feel like they know what we are saying, and we understand how they are feeling too. The bond is deep and hard to break. The internet is awash with people who actively seek cut cat videos or dog photos when they need to be cheered up – and thousands send responses of pictures of their beloved pets. There is a saying that you can judge a man by how they treat someone who can do nothing for them. Technically, pets only bring their personality to the table, and you have to do the rest – and we do it gladly. They are a source of endless, deep love.

Judgement Free

Imagine being able to share the worst thing you’ve ever done, thought or seen – and instead of wondering about the person’s response, you’re going to be snuggled and loved anyway. This is an excellent way for kids to be able to talk about their feelings or what they are going through without feeling like they will be told off too.

Happy Hormones

You can hug a human that you love for at least 2 minutes, and your ‘feel-good’ hormones will start to kick in. Within 15 minutes of petting a dog, you can have the same. And those 15 minutes go by in the blink of an eye.

“levels of serotonin, a hormone in humans that helps fight depression, rise dramatically after interaction with live animals, specifically dogs.” (University of Missouri-Columbia study).

Those happy hormones help combat stress levels, and over time, you will notice a difference in yourself.

Therapy

There are, perhaps not surprisingly, a lot of people suffering from mental health conditions. From anxiety, BPD and depression a more. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults suffer from some type of mental health issue. And that is no small number. Many studies have found that people who own pets have lower rates of depression, feelings of loneliness and anxiety. That is not to say buying a dog, or a cat is a cure, but getting a lifelong friend that needs you might just be ideal.

You can, in many cases, register your pet as an emotional support animal. You’ll need a letter from a registered medical professional, it helps protect you and your pet. It is important to note that you shouldn’t ask people to treat your pet as an ESA if they’re aren’t though.

Anne

How To Get Your Home Ready To Sell

September 2, 2019 By Anne

Planning on selling your home? This can be a stressful, emotional, and challenging time, especially if this is a home that you and your family have made many happy memories in. However, you can eliminate some of this stress by opting for a quick sale at https://webuyhousesinatlanta.com/smyrna/ for example. You will always want the process to be quick but, equally, you will want to make sure that you get maximum value for the property. It means that you need to take a few steps to get the home ready for a sale before putting it on the market and these steps can both speed the process up and help you to negotiate a higher sale price.

First, you need to take care of any minor repairs that need doing. It may seem counterintuitive to work on a house which you will not be living in soon, but people will be less inclined to purchase a home that they know needs work. Additionally, any minor repairs would allow a potential buyer to negotiate a lower price. You should be able to recoup the cost of the work in the added on sale price, or you may even be able to do the work yourself.

Install A Metal Roof

The roof is often an overlooked part of the home, yet it is also the most important as the first line of defense against the elements. A metal roof is a brilliant alternative to a shingled roof because it is energy efficient; it reflects sunlight; it is more durable and low maintenance. You will want to search for Minneapolis metal roofing contractor, or similar roofing professionals in your area, to carry out this work for you so as to ensure the best results.

Improve The Curb Appeal

People often form a first impression of a house from the curb, so it is worth taking a few steps to improve the curb appeal. There are many excellent ways to do this, including:

Painting the front door
flagpole installation
New door furniture
Tidying the front garden area
Plants
Exterior lighting

Neutralize The Home

When people visit a home, they need to be able to envision themselves living in it, which can be hard to do when each room is filled with personality. While a little character is helpful, you will want to neutralize the home by opting for a muted color scheme, removing items like laundry and pet items and removing any bold decorative items which could influence someone’s impression negatively.

Deep Clean

Similarly, the home needs to be clean in order to make a good first impression on any visitors. This means that you need to perform a deep clean before any visitors come over and declutter to make it easier for people to envision themselves living there. It is also worth taking steps to improve the fragrance (particularly if you have dogs!). You can do this with:

Air diffusers
Air fresheners
Flowers
Scented candles

Tidy Up The Garden

You should not forget about the garden as this can make or break a home. It is easy to neglect the garden during the winter months, but if you are showing your property during this time, your guests will want to be able to see how the garden could be used. It means that you should tidy up the backyard, make space for socializing, paint the fence and take any other steps to spruce up the area.

Upgrade Home Tech

Home technology has developed an incredible amount in the last few years, and upgrading your home tech could make a property much more enticing to a buyer and allow you to set a much higher asking price. There are many useful tech upgrades to consider, including:

Video doorbell
CCTV cameras
Smart locks
Smart thermostat
Intruder alarms

Hire A Professional Photographer

Once your home is ready to sell, it is a smart idea to hire a professional photographer. It is amazing the difference that this can make in terms of advertising your property online and helping you to secure more viewings, so for this reason alone, it is an important step to take. People first look at photos of a property when they are browsing properties online so these pictures should be high resolution and portray your home in its best possible light.

These are the main steps that you need to take to get your home ready for a sale. This can be an emotional time, and you will want to make the process as smooth as possible while maximizing value for the property. This can take time and, in some cases, a little bit of cash, but this will all be worth it in the long run.

Anne

Two Ways You Can Acknowledge That She’s Older

August 29, 2019 By Anne

Unfortunately time has not slowed and your baby girl has become a teenager — and you’re not quite sure how to grow with her. On one hand she’s still a child, your child, and she needs to follow your rules. You certainly will not buy her space jam e-liquid and allow her to vape in your home, but you can’t keep treating her like a kindergartener either. What can you do as a parent to acknowledge to your baby that you understand that she’s almost an adult?

Let Her Experiment

Clothes, hair, jewelry or shoes — it seems like every day your teenager comes home with some weird new trend. The human brain does an awful lot of development in the teenage years, so do what you can to help her find her way. Instead of forcing her to wear the clothes and accessories that you choose for her, allow her to express herself.

If she wants to dye her hair purple, buy her a package of wash-out dye to see how she likes it. Her hair will grow back, so why not let her indulge?
One day she might look like a Disturbed roadie, the next she might look like a Catholic schoolgirl. Don’t give her too much grief about her ever-changing appearance. She’s trying her best to find her own style, just let it be.
Allow experimentation — but also draw boundaries. She might think that her neon-pink corset from Hot Topic is appropriate schoolwear, but if you don’t approve then you have every right to tell her she needs to change. You might be sympathetic, but you’re still her parent.

Extend Her Curfew

Of course school needs to come before socialization, so if she has homework due then it’s a different story. However, if she has always proven herself trustworthy and honest in the past, why are you clinging to the “MUST BE HOME BY 7:00” rule?

Make exceptions. Sometimes movies run late, traffic happens and she might be late. As long as she is checking in with you and being honest about her location then you have no reason to doubt her.
If you’re not comfortable extending her curfew by hours all at once, start small. Stretch it by half an hour every week.

She will always be your little girl, and you wish that you could slow down the hands of time and keep her paused at the age of dimples and Barbie dolls. Show her that you understand she’s a teenager now, and let your rules grow with her.