MommaWannabe

What Husbands And Wives Should Ask Each Other

MommaWannabe — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:01:45 +0000

John Gray couldn’t have been more correct when he said that Men are from Mars, and Women are From Venus. With so many things we don’t understand about each other, it feels as if we live in totally separate planets. It’s this “misunderstanding” which leads to a plethora of conflict between husband and wife.

Oftentimes, mountains turn into molehills. Little issues suddenly turn into full-blown wars of sorts, that even the most expensive presents for wife just won’t appease her. It’s communication which is the key to the success of most, if not all, loving relationships. More than talking, we should master the art of listening. This one too is a two-way street.

When we listen, we should put all judgment aside and be fully absorbed in what the other person has to say. Here are some things which husbands and wives should ask each other:

What can I do to make you feel more secure and loved? This is probably something men should ask their women more, as women are quite the more insecure ones when it comes to relationships. More than a truckload of interflora gifts for her, we women need constant reassurance of our man’s love for us. If your man asks you this, let him know clearly how you want to be loved. Tell him which signs of affection endear you the most. Men don’t read signals that easily, so we do need to be specific.

What mutual goal do you like us to accomplish? Husbands and wives should periodically check in with each other as to where they’re going with their life goals. If they’re not on the same page, then that spells trouble.

What attribute would you like me to develop? This isn’t about having your partner go through a major personality overhaul. It simply means asking your significant other if there are certain facets of your personality which need a little tweaking. Ask him or her what you can do to help with his self-improvement goals.

Loving relationships flourish when there is active communication between husband and wife. Nurture this, and you will be nothing short of amazed at the results.

Pinterest Follow for Ipod Shuffle Giveaway

MommaWannabe — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:56:50 +0000

London’s family-friendly attractions

MommaWannabe — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:22:57 +0000

The summer months are almost upon us and it’s a time of the year when many families plan vacations abroad to cities like London, so here are a few suggestions if you fancy heading to the English capital.

Step aboard HMS Belfast

Floating on the River Thames in the shadow of Tower Bridge is a unique floating museum in the form of HMS Belfast. It has nine desks for you and your family to explore so you can find out what it’s like to live and work on board a piece of maritime history. This attraction is currently closed, but will be back open again on May 18 and is well worth visiting a visit when it does reopen its doors next month.

Spend a few hours at the Science Museum

The Science Museum remains a firm family favourite and is a real gem of a London attraction. It’s free to enter, which is always a welcome bonus for cash-strapped parents, and features numerous fascinating exhibitions covering everything from space travel to how the Chilean mine rescue successfully managed to rescue the 33 trapped miners in 2010. There’s something for everyone and plenty of interactive displays to heighten the whole experience.

Go to an undersea oasis at the London Aquarium

Located right at the foot of the London Eye is the London Aquarium, complete with its new attraction the shark reef encounter, which allows you to walk through a glass walkway and get up close and personal with 16 sharks. The aquarium itself is set over three floors, contains 14 different themed zones and is home to thousands of different weird and wonderful creatures. Book online in advance to get discounted tickets.

Step back in time at the Natural History Museum

Another free London attraction popular with adults and kids alike is the Natural History Museum, which can handily be found right next door to the Science Museum. This is absolute manna from heaven for kids with a thirst for knowledge as there are four huge themed zones (red, green, blue and orange) to roam around and learn about the wonders of planet earth and all manner of the animals that have lived throughout the ages. Spending time at the Natural History Museum is real must.

Hit the West End

Shows in London’s West End represent a great way of helping to bring those family favourite films such as Lion King, Matilda and Wizard of Oz to life and a trip to the theatre can create memories that last a lifetime. Lion King tickets and tickets to see the other notable West End productions are pretty easy to get hold of online and could be the perfect birthday present or surprise treat for your little ones.

Scale The Monument

The Monument offers visitors to London a cheaper alternative to the London Eye when it comes to getting a bird’s-eye view of this fabulous city. It is set back from the River Thames slightly and offers a stunning vista on the Houses of Parliament in the distance and other attractions such as St Paul’s Cathedral. There are 311 steps to negotiate to get to the top so it may not be suitable for young children.

How to Get Along With Your Mother In Law

MommaWannabe — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:48:41 +0000

I just wrapped up an hour-long internet chat session with an old friend who now lives oceans away. Being the dutiful friend that I am, I patiently listened as she ranted on about her mother in law. She was just telling me about how her MIL kept pressuring her to look for the best Edinburgh electrician to sort out their fuse box problem at home. My friend rambled on about how Googling “manchester electrician” left her feeling hopeless and only hating her MIL more.

I guess we all have our horrible mother-in-law stories to tell. I, for one, have had my share of unpleasant encounters with the MIL. I have to admit that there were times when I wished I knew witchcraft, just so I could put her under a spell of some sort. I wanted to wrap her around my finger and play her for a fool. I was that desperate (and evil), yes!

Then I realized that although it will take much effort on my part to like her, I must do it. If you find yourself nodding in agreement with pretty much most of what I’ve written here so far, then you would take the same measures I have to develop a fondness for your mother in law.

If she tends to habitually order you around as if you didn’t know anything, you can just politely smile. If she gives you advice on how to run the household, just nod. You will still have the final say when it comes to household matters, anyway.

If things get out of hand, and you can no longer stand her constant criticizing, you should be able to open this up with your husband. Talk to him when you’ve simmered down, not in the heat of the moment. Before you let him know how demoralized your MIL makes you feel, just assure him that you love him, and that you love your MIL as well. Your hubby should take it from there, and devise ways to make things smooth sailing between you and his mom.

No matter how much you loathe our mother-in-law, do remember that she’s the mother of the man you love (well, assuming you love the man you married!). As much as your guts can muster, you do have to maintain a loving and pleasant relationship with her- if only for the sake of your man. At the end of the day, being in good terms with her will give you peace of mind- and a good night’s sleep.

Choosing Bedding for a Baby Crib

Momma Finally — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:37:01 +0000

You visited countless stores and websites, pored over pictures and changed your mind half a dozen times before you finally decided on the perfect baby crib for your precious little one. Now it is time to select bedding that is just as ideal. If you thought there was no end to the infant furniture available, just wait until you start shopping for sheets and blankets. Beginning with a list of considerations can help you narrow down the choices before you even start shopping.

Considering the style of your baby crib and other nursery furniture can help you choose bedding that complements the décor. For example, if you have primarily traditional furnishings, you might want to choose sheets, bumpers and other linens that lean toward classic, such as a quilt or seersucker design. If your nursery scheme leans toward modern, you can select something trendier. Of course, there is no law against being eclectic. Look for a style that speaks to you.

Your newborn’s gender is likely a major influence on your choice of baby crib bedding. You probably would not select a glittery pink butterfly set for a boy or a dinosaur collection for a girl –although you certainly could, if you wanted to! If you are waiting to find out your baby’s gender or are planning on multiples and want to stick with a single theme, you can always opt for a neutral arrangement such as teddy bears in beige and brown or a French toile design.

Finally, you will want to consider the size, fabric and price of the bedding you buy. Most cribs are a universal size, and so sheets are as well. However, there are times when you may require a special size, such as if you purchased a round crib or had your baby crib custom made. These special circumstances will have an effect on the bedding you select. Fabric should be soft, hypoallergenic and easy to care for and the price should, of course, fit your budget.

Once you have contemplated all of these factors, you will be well armed to take on the baby boutiques, child super stores and new parent websites to find the ideal set of bedding for your tiny new sweetheart.

Alone, But Not Lonely

Momma Finally — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:59:28 +0000

Solitude is probably one of the luxuries a mother craves for on occasion. Moments when you can just be by yourself and play diva bingo online without having to worry about changing nappies or washing feeding bottles are precious and few.

I have to confess that whenever I get the chance, I do sneak in a game on Costa Bingo. If I’m not online, I listen to music from my youth. Vanilla Ice and Cece Peniston become my friends for a fleeting moment.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a hot cup of cofffee with my best girl friends, or a stroll around our garden with my husband, but there are just times when I want to be by myself. I feel I get to know myself better when I’m alone, in the silence of the turmoil of my thoughts. Now, that sounded quite contradictory, didn’t it? How can turmoil be silent? Anyways…

Why is it important to be alone at times? Whether you’re a mother to a troop of 8, or a yuppie on a mission to make his first million before the age of 30, you do need to touch base and occasionally reflect on who you are. Oftentimes, it’s difficult to do that when you’re in a noisy bar with half-naked girls dancing on a pole.

In this busy and crazy world, we tend to lose ourselves in the rat race. We allow our jobs, and the people around us to dictate who we are, that we lose the very essense of ourselves. And then, we wonder why we’re so stressed out about everything!

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Carving out some time for yourself shouldn’t be that hard. In the midst of your busy schedule, you should be able to squeeze in a quick glimpse of your favorite soap on TV. Being a loner on occasion isn’t at all that bad…

How to Get Your Man to Give You Flowers

Momma Finally — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:05:14 +0000

A wave of calmness always comes over me whenever I talk to old friends. Similar to a dose of Prozac, whatever loneliness I feel at the moment simply melts away when I start chatting with good friends. I just got off Skype with a long-time friend who now lives in the UK, and we got to talking about Mother’s Day. In the UK, Mother’s Day 2012 will be celebrated on Sunday the 18^th. She went on to tell me how she got her florist to decorate her house for a little get together on that day. And then my thoughts diverted to flowers- and how I very much wanted to get a bunch on any day.

If you’re man is someone who doesn’t have a single romantic bone in his body, getting him to give you flowers may prove to be a seemingly insurmountable challenge. I have come up with a few ideas which might be of valuable help to our mission:

Make subtle references. As you and your hubby are having some coffee on the front porch, you can say something like, “I just got off the phone with Mary, and she just got the surprise of her life when she got flowers from her distant boyfriend delivered to her door. Isn’t that sweet of him?”

Go on the internet. Take a breather from your online work, and go on the website of Interflora flowers, making sure that your computer monitor is highly visible when your hubby passes you by. If he doesn’t seem to take notice of it, try calling him and showing him the website, saying something like, “Wow, will you just look at these beautiful flowers delivered by Interflora. They’re absolutely enchanting, aren’t they?”

If those tricks don’t work, maybe it’s time to throw in the towel and just admit that your hubby wasn’t etched from the romantic mold. He may have other ways of showing how he loves and cares for you, and maybe you- or rather we- should accept that.

Look after Your Kids before They Are Born

Momma Finally — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:45:11 +0000

As a parent, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You have to make sure that your kids are taken care of and that your spouse has the resources to do so if you pass away. If you don’t yet have children but plan on having them in the future, you may want to take a few steps to prepare for them in advance. By getting started early, you may be able to provide a higher standard of living and security for your kids in the future. In this situation, there are a number of different steps that you can take to provide a better life for your kids.

Insurance Policies

One way that you can potentially help protect the interests of your children is to buy life insurance. Life insurance is a contract that will provide a lump sum payment if you pass away while the policy is in effect. If you are interested in buying a policy, you should have a look at life insurance quotes from some of the providers in your area. Check with an insurance broker as well as individual insurance companies when getting quotes.

When buying a life insurance policy, you need to consider the different types of policies that are available. If you want to provide for your kids over the long-term, you may want to avoid a term policy, as these may not provide benefits long enough. Whole life insurance and universal insurance may be better options to consider as they provide permanent coverage. These options also accumulate a cash value over time as you pay your premiums. This cash value could later be tapped to provide money for your kids in some capacity. You can use the cash value in these policies by taking out a policy loan or by cancelling the policy at some point in the future.

Trust Fund

Another way that you could provide for your children advances by setting up a trust fund. A trust is a legal arrangement in which you set aside assets for your kids to gain access to in the future. With this type of arrangement, you draft a trust document and appoint a trustee to oversee assets. Then you transfer assets into the possession of the trust. These assets could be securities like stocks and bonds, cash or physical property. You can set the terms of the trust fund to provide access to the property once your kids reach a certain age or when you die.

Designate Caretaker

When you have kids, you should also spend some time designating who will take care of your kids if you pass away. This can be done by creating a will and naming a legal guardian for your kids if you die while they are younger than 18. You can also choose an adult to handle their inheritance for them until they are legally old enough to take possession of it.

Planning Ahead

While many people put off the process of estate planning for their kids, doing it now can take a major burden off of your shoulders. If you want to make sure that your kids are always provided for, take these steps now because you never know what tomorrow could hold.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Online

Momma Finally — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:09:33 +0000

It won’t be long before you start stressing yourself out again, grappling for ideas for Mother’s Day gifts. Just like anything else, it pays to do things as early as possible, to avoid the rush. When you do things the last minute, your body pays the price for all the undue agitation.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of hitting the malls for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, you can instead opt to shop online. There are a wide range of gift ideas to choose from, and they also come at reasonable prices.

On amazon.com, for instance, they have a plethora of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from. Just type in “mother’s day gifts” on the search bar, and you’ll get a whole lot of results. Take for example this adorable gold-plated heart pendant which sells for only $19. It has the message, “A Mother Holds Her Child’s Hand For A Short While And Their Hearts Forever” engraved on it. If that doesn’t tug at a heartstring, I don’t know what else will!

If you can’t afford to book your mom in a spa, maybe getting her a bath and body gift set. It comes in a warm lavender scent which is sure to relax her, even at home.

Whatever you feel like giving your mom for Mother’s Day, you’re sure to find something online.

Hump Day $50 Giveaway

Momma Finally — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:14 +0000

Thanks to the 27 wonderful bloggers listed below, it’s time for Hump Day $50 Giveaway once again. This week’s task is for Facebook Page likes which is super easy to do. Feel free to visit all the wonderful blogs below once you’re done entering the giveaway. You can log on to Rafflecopter via your Facebook account, or your name and email (just make sure you’re Facebook is opened so you can easily like the pages).

Once you’ve liked the page (Like button turns gray), leave your Facebook Profile Name (not a Business/Blog Page) on the space provided for Extra Info after doing the task so we can verify your entry. It would be best if you enable us to see the pages that you liked in your info tab so we can announce the winner ASAP.

On the first mandatory entry, please write Momma Finally referred you. You must complete the first 2 tasks before the others are enabled.

Thank you very much and good luck. By joining this giveaway, you agree to the Terms and Conditions on the bottom of the form. Contest is open all-day Wednesday, from February 15th, 12:01am EST to February 15th,11:59pm EST (February 15th, 1:01pm Philippine time to February 16th, 12:59pm Philippine time).

Write Momma Finally on entry #1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For a chance to win an additional $50, head on over to Mommy Coupon Swappers and write Mommy Coupon Swappers in entry #1. Good luck!