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More Creative Ways to tell Your Husband that You are Pregnant

April 28, 2008 By

Thinking up creative ways to tell your husband that you are pregnant is always fun. There are endless unique ideas of how to tell him that you are expecting and they make the occasion so much more memorable. Take the time to tell your husband that you are pregnant in one of these creative ways and you’ll have a great story to tell your child when they grow up.

Paint Job
Make a quick run to the hardware store to pick up blue and pink paint swatches. Tape them to the wall in your future nursery and when your husband gets home bring him into the room and ask him which color would look better in this room.

Shop-a-holic
Does your husband know you for always coming home with new shopping bags? This time come home with a new maternity outfit, try it on and say, “How do you think this looks on me? Of course it doesn’t fit quite yet, but in another nine months it will!”

Baby Blog
Are you two habitual bloggers? Starting a new blog to chronicle your pregnancy can be a great way to keep long distance friends and family up to date. Make your first post a picture of your positive pregnancy test then make sure to send the link to your husband first to let him know of your new adventure!

Grocery List
Call your husband at work and ask if he wouldn’t mind stopping at the store on his way home. Tell him you need some; saltines, ginger ale, decaf coffee, pickles and ice cream, non alcoholic beer, prenatal vitamins etc… If he still doesn’t get it add to the list some Parenting magazines, diapers, and baby food.

Vacation Time
Get out the calendar and tell your husband that you were hoping he could take a few weeks off in about nine months. Tell him you have a luxurious stay at your local hospital booked, complete with sleepless nights and regular bouts of spit up on your shoulders scheduled.

Rearview Mirror
If your husband is the first to leave for work sneak into his car and hang a pair of baby booties off the rear view mirror.

Pink and Blue Dessert
Ask your local baker to frost a few sugar cookies with pink and blue icing (if you don’t have time to do it yourself) and bring them on a plate to your husband after dinner. Let him choose if he thinks you are pregnant with a boy or girl.

Prayer time
If you and your husband say a nightly prayer together make sure to slip in a, “Bless our growing baby” and wait for the happy exclamations from your husband.

Kiss the Baby
Before your husband gives you his good night kiss tell him to ‘make sure to kiss the baby goodnight too’ and point to your belly.

However you may tell your husband about your pregnancy, it is sure to be a memorable moment for the both of you. Enjoy the nine months ahead!

About the Author: Kendra Spencer is the editor of Shopping For Two, a website devoted to bringing new and expecting moms the best advice and cutest baby products available. Check out her line of pregnancy announcing t-shirts .

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Orlando – More than Theme Parks

April 28, 2008 By

Florida. Just the name evokes a mind picture of swaying palm trees, sugar sand beaches and balmy evenings. While Florida does have palm trees and beaches in abundance, as a Mom, when you hear “Florida” you probably think Theme Parks and Summer Vacation!

The major concentration of theme parks in Florida is in and around Orlando. Just so happens, Orlando is my hometown.

So, if you’re planning a summer vacation and you’re thinking you might like to visit, I’m here to give you some ideas of places to visit outside the theme park world.

You Mean Orlando Isn’t Just Theme Parks?

We have our fair share of mega-resort entertainment with the Disney Resort area topping the list. There’s also Universal Orlando, Sea World’s growing family of parks including Discovery Cove (if you want to swim with dolphins, this is your park) and the newly opened water park, Aquatica.

But, I want to talk to you about my hometown and the hidden gems you’ll find here.

Small Town Charm Spread Around

Orlando has grown by leaps and bounds since the early 1980’s so when I say Orlando I mean Metro Orlando. The Metro consists of several small town communities exuding small town charm along side the picturesque downtown skyline.

Tucked away in quaint Winter Park, FL you’ll find Park Avenue, a street filled with all sorts of shops both big name and locally owned. Less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando and almost like a European village, Winter Park is great for an afternoon of shopping while peeking into the alcoves for more shops and quite places to sit and ponder.

Winter Park is also home to the Morse Museum of American Art which houses a rather large collection of Tiffany glass. There’s even a chapel designed for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. At $3 admission with kids under 12 free, it’s a great bargain.

There’s also a boat tour through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes that, as their website says, “guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing
sub-tropical flowers. Breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores are also a key feature of the scenic cruise.”

Not far from Winter Park, in downtown Orlando is Lake Eola Park. Originally a sink hole, Lake Eola is a great place to spend the afternoon with the family. Here, you can rent swan-shaped paddle boats or electric gondola boats; walk the .9 mile circular sidewalk; enjoy a picnic lunch with the kids and play on the playground. Throughout the year the park hosts a farmer’s market, concerts, art festivals and an awesome Fourth of July Fireworks Display.

A little farther away is the 110-acre park known as Gatorland in Kissimmee (say…kiss-im-e). I have fond memories of Gatorland. Growing up, my grandfather would take me there to see the monkeys. (Yep, monkeys at Gatorland!) He used to be a zoo keeper and when his zoo closed his favorite monkey was sent there to live. I used to be afraid the snakes would drop out of the trees on my head…but I digress.

Gatorland is a wonderful place to experience Old Florida and see the gators and crocs up close. (I’m not sure if they still have monkeys.) There’s even Gator Gully Splash Park for kids of all ages to get cooled off during our hot, humid summer afternoons.

On the other side of the city (but still only 20 minutes from downtown Orlando) is Wekiwa (say..wa-ki-va) Springs State Park. Perfect for the active family, Wekiwa offers the natural setting of undeveloped Florida. There are 13 miles of trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding. You can paddle a canoe or kayak (rentals available), swim in the cool springs (remember, hot, humid summer days) and pack the picnic basket for lunch. If you’re into camping, Wekiwa has a full facility campground for $20 + tax per site per night or primitive (tent) camping for just $4 + tax per person per night.

Nature Not Your Style?

If you’re not into camping or outdoor adventures, how about some exploration at our many malls? We have outlet malls galore here! And the Mall at Millennia is a not miss if you’re into shopping. Orlando is also home to one of only two IKEA’s in Florida and it’s right next door.

Closer to the theme parks and attractions you’ll find the opulent Gaylord Palms Resort and the International Drive area.

The Gaylord Palms Resort is situated under a roof that contains “four and a half acres of glass and steel” and has a “lush landscaped setting”. From May 2, 2008 to August 28, 2008 they are hosting a Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge where you can win $10,000.

They also host several events throughout the year including The Best of Florida Christmas & ICE! and The Best of Florida Live where Old Florida comes alive with gator feedings, sunset celebrations ala Key West, Sand Sculptures and more. One of the best features, in this Getaway Mama’s opinion, is the fact that there is a La Petite Academy® Kids Station offering supervised activities for children (ages 3 – 12) right at the resort.

International Drive has attractions, shopping, dining, entertainment, lodging and more. Located near just about everything, including the theme parks, International Drive is an ideal area to stay in the midst of it all. The I-Drive (as locals call it) area even has its own 50 Ways to Have Fun on I-Drive ideas.

Some highlights include: Monkey Joe’s, a really cool indoor playground where “kids come first”; Sky Venture Orlando for indoor sky-diving; and the I-RIDE Trolley so you can just park your car and go.

Haven’t Planned Your Summer Getaway Yet?

Orlando is a place where you could vacation again & again and still have not seen everything.

If you haven’t yet planned a summer trip, why not consider Orlando?

Go ahead – bring the kids when they get out of school and visit the theme parks but don’t forget to come back to visit the real Orlando.

Did I forget to mention that we’re only 45 minutes to Daytona Beach and 1 ½ hours from the Gulf Coast Beaches? We’ll save that for another time.

Tracy Roberts is a Home-Based Travel Planner and Owner of Above All Travel. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and four children ages 16, 11, 2 ½ & 3mos Their love of traveling and being together has them taking family vacations several times each year.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Travel

Tired of the Dark Under Eye Bag Lady Syndrome?

April 28, 2008 By

Do you look like a bag lady these days? Have those dark circles completely taken over?

It’s hard to look your best when you’re tired and your allergies have flared up again. But day after day the puffiness under your eyes continues to swell. You begin to feel helpless as those under eye shadows start to darken into a deep, rich blue giving you an old haggard look.

Whatever are you to do as the bags become larger and more pronounced with each passing day until you feel like you look like the Queen of Bag Ladies.

It is not necessary to carry around all that unsightly baggage you know.

How can you quickly reduce under eye puffiness? In a word, ice. That’s right, ice! Simply by apply a cold compress to the under eye area for five minutes several times a day for two to three days will help to reduce the swelling. Be prepared to be amazed at the difference you will see.

Why do those big, puffy bags under your eyes develop in the first place and why do they just keep getting worse over time?

There are a variety of reasons for dark under eye bags but the major reasons include fluid retention, inadequate sleep, allergies, and, of course, heredity. The puffiness is a result of the under eye area becoming a natural collecting spot for fluids that haven’t yet been absorbed into the body.

The good news is that under eye puffiness is not typically a difficult issue to resolve and is usually just a temporary although admittedly a rather unattractive problem. Who likes to look like an old hag?

As a quick fix to help reduce under eye puffiness, wrap an ice cube in a soft cloth and apply to the under eye area for five minutes to reduce the swelling. You will see an immediate improvement.

Better yet, make yourself a nice cup of tea using two good quality green tea bags. Squeeze out the moisture from the tea bags when you are done, place them in the freezer and use the tea bags as a compress a few times a day to help reduce the under eye puffiness.

Whether you use one of those chilled gel masks, cucumber slices, or just a cool damp cloth, the key is to reduce the swelling. The general rule of thumb is to apply the ice five minutes on and then give the area a rest for five minutes. Reapply a cold compress throughout the day as necessary for the first few days and then once or twice a day thereafter.

After you ice the under eye area, gently tap the surface of the under eye area to help stimulate the fluid to disperse. Another trick is to raise the head of your bed so that when you sleep, the fluid doesn’t collect under the eye, which causes the swollen eye bags. Of course, it goes without saying that getting sufficient sleep each night is an important factor in treating dark, puffy under eye bags.

If you have developed dark circles as well try using a super Vitamin K treatment twice a day for a few weeks and watch those dark under eye circles begin to disappear. Vitamin K cream is typically used to treat skin discoloration and bruising. Vitamin K is one of the few remedies for effectively treating the minor bruising caused by broken capillaries under the eyes.

Being proactive is a helpful strategy too. As soon as any swelling starts to occur, reach for the ice right away and begin to treat the swelling before it gets out of hand.

If you are prone to dark circles, use a preventative approach by dabbing some vitamin K under the eyes as part of your daily skin care regime. It will help treat the discoloration as it occurs so that it will quickly diminish the haggard appearance that dark circles create.

Now that you have armed yourself with an array of effective strategies and treatments to banish those unsightly under eye bags, it is time to say goodbye to the bag lady syndrome for good!

Article by: Sue Dolan is a researcher and instructor for The Skin Care e-Learning and Resource Center. Learn all about Anti-Aging Skin Care at The Skin Care e-Learning and Resource Center which provides education on anti-aging skin care while focusing on skin rejuvenation strategies, techniques, treatment options and resources for aging skin care issues.

Grab your free copy of Hot Mama Makeover and start feeling sexier and more confident.

Filed Under: Beauty & Style

99 Powerful Freelance Telecommuting Tips: Final Installment

April 21, 2008 By

This is the fourth and final installment in the Guest Blogger Series from Nell Taliercio.

76. Make sure you perform virus, spyware, adware etc. scans regularly

Make sure you’re protecting your computer from all those nasty bugs. The last thing you want to do is spread your computer’s bug to a client’s computer. Perform all the necessary scans and use good virus (etc.) software to keep your computer and your client’s computer running smoothly.

77. Keep all receipts for items purchased for your business

This will help you at tax time. Some of the items you use for your freelance business can be deducted on your taxes. Keep the receipts so that you can list those items on your tax returns for that year.

78. Always stay in touch with your past clients

Those clients may not have any more work for you to do right now, but who’s to say they won’t think of you in the future? Send them an email once in awhile just to say hello or send a holiday greeting. Even if they’re not in business any more they might know other people that could be looking for someone with your services. Keep in touch, so they can remember you.

79. Ask for referrals

If a client expresses that they are very pleased with your work, consider asking them to refer you on to other people. Some freelancers offer special discounts to those who refer your business to others. If a client is pleased with the work, they can be a testimonial to the person whom they are referring to you.

80. Make sure a client is well aware of all the terms of hiring you

This will include the pay of the project, how they are supposed to pay, when they pay, if there’s a late fee and any other special requirements you may have. Be sure it’s all laid out for them, so there are no arguments later when it comes time to pay you. Some freelancers use contracts that the client must sign before a project is started.

81. Learn that you can say no to your client

It’s normal to be desperate to get the work and bring in some income for the family. Sometimes some projects just aren’t worth your time and effort. If they aren’t or you simply can’t meet the client’s expectations for a project, go ahead and say no to them and explain why. Sometimes compromises can be made to where it will be worth more to you, but it won’t happen if you don’t try.

82. Make sure you’re charging what you’re worth

The price you charge for your services should be worth your time, effort and resources that are put into the outcome of the project. Don’t undercharge yourself too much, as this only puts you in a cycle of large efforts for low pay. This hurts your business as well as others, so charge a price that says you’re worth it.

83. Come up with a niche for your business

You should decide on a niche for your business. This will lead to your target market, which will make marketing your business much easier to do. When you can focus your marketing efforts in one group, you will get more results. Niche marketing will bring the clients to you.

84. Organize your all of your office

This not only includes the cluttered desks and filing cabinets, but what most people don’t think about is organizing their computers. You should go through your files at least once a month, and get rid of what’s not needed and put related files together in one area. Make things much easier to find to free up some memory space.

85. Be sure to add a blog to your Virtual assistant website

Blogs are an excellent way to provide regular, fresh content to keep the search engines indexing your business site. It also adds some interest to the business site and helps keep potential clients there browsing. The longer they’re at your site, the higher chance you have for getting their business.

86. Learn as many skills you can to provide as many services as you can

The more services you can offer a client, the more work you could get. Clients like to save money, so if you can offer them everything they need without them having to hire more people to get it all done, the better off the both of you are. Some services that don’t need special training that you could add to you service list are blogging, writing and article submission.

87. Starting your business and don’t know where to get clients?

Start with the freelance bidding sites. This is a good way to get the ball rolling. You can gain new clients, while gaining some experience at the same time.

88. Tailor your website to your niche

If you’re targeting those in the legal field, your website should have a legal theme to it. It gives you more credibility and makes you more believable when you show your experience in the legal areas. If you have legal experience, but have graphics of solar planets on your site, your business doesn’t come across as believable.

89. Help out other VA’s when you can

If you’re plate is full of clients, and they’re still contacting you for work, refer them to fellow VAs who are in need of work. They can reciprocate the favor in the future when the tables are turned. Don’t think of it as losing potential work, but gaining some networking points instead.

90. If you accept checks in your business don’t fall for the counterfeit check scam

One scam that’s hitting all businesses is the one where a client “accidentally” overpays the amount invoiced to them. Then they ask you to send back the overpaid amount. Don’t do it. The check they sent is probably not any good. If this happens, send back the check they sent you and ask for a PayPal payment or money order for the exact amount of the invoice.

91. Periodically, have special offers for your VA services

This helps keep your clients happy with your business. They can save a little money now and then and still receive the same quality services they have always been provided. Keep them happy and they will keep the business coming your way.

92. If you have been business for awhile, revisit your rates

If you’ve been providing good quality services to your clients, take another look at your rates. You may just be due for rate raises. Raise your rates a little and let your current clients know of the rate change well ahead of time, so they have time to budget it.

93. Make sure you list all the services you plan to provide on your website

Some smaller services like blogging is not thought of when someone is looking for someone to assist them with their business. If a client sees that as a service that you offer, they may realize it’s a service they need. List everything so that clients can see what all they might need help with.

94. Join Virtual assistant online communities

You can network with other VAs for advice on different aspects of your business. You can also find other clients to market your services to. These sites will give you tips, tricks and resources to boost your VA business to a higher level.

95. Get to know your software programs well

You may have used Microsoft word or excel many times before, but do you know everything the programs can do? Learn them well by using tutorials or spending time playing around with the programs. Impress potential clients with your advanced knowledge of your software programs.

96. Starting a VA business, but don’t know what to put on your site?

Check with other VA websites and see what services they have to offer and how they set up their site. Of course, you don’t want to copy them, but their websites can give you an idea of how to get yours set up and going. You can also see what kind of extra items that they provide on their site so you can get an idea of what you want to do with yours.

97. Consider getting a professional website done

A website is an important tool for your business. The way it’s set up can make or possibly break your VA business. Avoid anything that can be costly to your business by having your site professionally done.

98. Provide some of your rates on your website

Don’t leave possible clients in the dark by not having some of your service rates on your website. Not everyone wants to have to contact you to find out what you charge for different services. If it’s a special service or for rush services, then it’s acceptable, but for most of your services, provide rates where the clients can see them.

99. Be sure all your skills and experience are listed somewhere on your business site

Someone wanting to hire you will want to know that you can do the job for them. They want to know that you have the skills needed to get the job done right. If you don’t have them listed on the site, how are they going to know? List them and some personal information along with a photo to let a client get to know you.

About the Guest Blogger: Nell Taliercio has been championing the cause of telecommuting moms for several years. She is a respected leader in the work at home community. Learn more about Nell by visiting the websites of The Answer Lady network.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Biz eBook’sGuide to Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business – Step-by-step instructions, resources and inside information to start and profit from your own virtual assistant business from home.

Filed Under: Home Business & Telecommuting

How to Be Important in the Life of a Child

April 21, 2008 By

I’m sure everyone’s heard the phrase, “Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a daddy.” The same can be said about mommies. I’ve never been blessed with children, unless you can call my 2 puppies my children. I’m a mom by love.

I have a special relationship with my cousin’s granddaughter, Sam, that nothing can break. Even though her mom was involved in her life, she was being raised by her grandfather. Sam had always had a special place in my heart and I would drive 80 miles to spend at least one weekend a month with her. I felt she needed some girl time and her grandfather needed a break. During the summers my vacations turned into our vacations. She became, as she liked to call it, my travel buddy.

The school always made a big deal about Mother’s Day. She always made a gift and card for her mother but she might or might not see her that day. We decided we were going to make our own special day and call it Cousin’s Day. We picked a day in June and it was our special day to spend together. It really was no different than any other time we were together but it was a day just for us.

One year we were on vacation and she was talking about families. She wanted a mom and dad in her life like her friend’s had. She had an aunt and uncle who she would spend weekends with occasionally and she told me that she sometimes pretended they were her real mom and dad. She then told me that I was like having a mom, without the dad because I’d done more with her than her mom ever did.

When she was 13, I got married and moved out of state. My husband and I took her out to lunch and a movie and we told her we were moving. I felt she deserved to hear it from me. She was such a special part of my life I couldn’t stand the thought of her hearing it from someone else.

The things I’ve learned from Sam:

Honesty: A child needs you to be honest with them. They need someone they can trust. You don’t have to tell them everything but don’t make things up and lie to them. They can see right through it.

Keep promises: To a child a promise is something definite. If you break a promise, it’s the same to them as lying. I was very careful not to say “I promise” when I wasn’t sure. I might say, “This isn’t a promise, it’s a maybe” and it meant plans could change.

Quality is better than quantity: Make the times you spend together special. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just playing Barbie or Candy Land is enough for them. Camp out in the living room or have a picnic in the backyard. It’s not what you do that matters it’s that you did it with them.

Let them help in the planning: When planning special time together, let them feel they’re a part of the entire process from beginning to end. Ask their help in planning. You can usually word things and talk a child into doing things a certain way but make them think it was their idea and they had a hand in planning. When Sam and I went on vacations she decided when we ate and what music we listened to. I planned the route and where we stopped for the night. When we stopped for gas, she had the job of cleaning the windows. It was her vacation too.

Ask their advice on things: If you go shopping, ask their advice on which shoes you should buy or which purse. I’d pick a couple I liked and asked Sam for her opinion. I could usually talk her into picking the one I wanted but she felt important. She’d even brag to other’s that she helped.

Sam is now 18 and we’re still close. We haven’t seen each other in 4 years but we email and talk on the phone. We both have pages on Facebook. I hear all about her boyfriends and school. She’s turned into a wonderful, beautiful young woman and I couldn’t be prouder of her if she were my own child. But I guess in a way she is. She’s not my daughter by birth, she’s my daughter by love and love is so much more important.

About the Author: Denice Landry is a Registered Respiratory Therapist who lives in Alabama with her husband and two dogs. She loves to blog and is passionate about teaching adults and children about asthma and lung diseases. Her blog about lung health is Sneezes and Wheezes and her blog about everyday life is Weekly Beef.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Filed Under: Parenting
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