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Don’t Neglect Yourselves, Mom

May 26, 2008 By

I am a mother of two. I used to think my children ruled my world and my body. I used to think that the world revolves around my children and they deserve every single second of my time and every single cent in my bank account.

Not that I don’t think so now, but as a mom, I can tell you that if moms everywhere in the world continue to dedicate their entire beings to their kids, the future will have loads of happy and well-raised children. However, there will be a lot of moms who lack self-confidence, are unhappy with the way they lived their lives, and is discontented with the way they feel about themselves. Future Moms will feel regret. Future moms will lose their own identity. Future moms will feel dysfunctional in social surroundings.

No, motherhood does not signify the end of yourself, just because you had your kids. In fact, motherhood is something that enhances and celebrates your womanhood. You’ve done something that is STILL exclusive (naturally) to women. No man will ever be able to give birth and nurture children the way we do.

But because of the overwhelming emotions, feelings and concern that we have for our children, we might forget to tend to ourselves. And that’s unhealthy for mothers, regardless of race, religion and culture.

I strongly encourage all moms to be with ‘themselves’, without the kids for 30mins – 60mins every single day. Moms could do something impulsive, like go shopping without the kids. Moms could go for a facial. Moms could visit the gym. Moms could call a friend for a talk. Moms could pick up a good book and read it in the bath! ANYTHING you want to do!

As a mother, I encourage you to dedicate some of your time and financial resources on finding and connecting with yourself on a daily basis. The method could be different because one method may work for one mother and yet, it doesn’t work for the other. So, find the right method that helps you spend some time with yourself.

If you don’t, you’ll feel tired and resentful about being mom. And when you’re at that stage, it’s hard to snap out of it and you’ll end up mistreating, not only yourself, but your kids and your husband too!

How did I know? Simple. It happened to me. I snapped out of it and I hope that those who are in the same position can snap out of it too. Don’t stay in the trance for too long.

Pamper yourself, you deserve it….yes, even though you’re mom, you’re still a human being…you’re still a woman!

Article by: Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from home. She designs apparel and premium items at All Mom Stuff and is the author of “Raising little magicians”, and the popular “The Lance in freelancing”. More information can be found at Marsha Maung.com.

Filed Under: Stay At Home Moms Tagged With: , , , ,

Green Living Made Easy

May 19, 2008 By

As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet, people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations. Green living involves every aspect of our daily lives – from driving to work to mowing our lawns.

Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from implementing those earth-friendly changes. There are many ways to ease into this practice and still help save the earth’s environment.

Air pollution is a major problem for some cities. A lot of it comes from the factories, but that’s not the only avenue contributing to global warming. Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutants into the air.

When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you’re multiplying the amounts of pollutants being emitted by each car that’s destroying our ozone. If you want to save the environment, you can start by either car pooling, walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that don’t do as much damage.

This small change can bring much relief for the environment for future generations. There are many ways to adapt green living into your life by taking a look at your home. What kind of bulbs are you using?

The standard bulbs we use only contribute to higher electricity bills and more carbon dioxide. If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save the environment while saving on your electric bill.

Make sure to seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep any cold drafts from blowing into the house, which can cost you more money. Make sure the house is well insulated to help cut down on those costs in the wintertime. The less the furnace or heater has to run, the better off everyone will be.

Take a look at your appliances. Are they devouring too much energy? If they’re older models, the answer is probably yes. While some of the changes are in the appliances that you use, other ways to go green involve your own habits and actions.

Do you open the oven door several times to check and see if something is done? The harder an appliance has to work, the harder it is on the environment. If you keep opening the oven door, the temperature will drop almost 25 degrees. It will then have to work harder to get back to the original temperature.

Recycling is an excellent way to save our environment. Try to buy as many products as you can that can be recycled. Avoid the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam cups. The less trash that has to be burned – or buried into our soil – the better off our planet will be.

These small changes may seem like they couldn’t help much for the environment, but they can help tremendously. Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Get involved with the environment and start to make a difference in the practice of green living for our earth.

Article by: Tiffany Washko is the editor of Nature Moms. After working several years in corporate healthcare marketing and public relations, she took time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead her to a new passion, natural family living and writing about environmental and political issues. She currently works as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist.

Filed Under: Green Living Tagged With: , ,

The Keys to a Happy Retirement

May 19, 2008 By

Retirement is something that most people look forward to. The chance to take a break, to have all the time for yourself, to enjoy life after many years of hard work is indeed a very inviting prospect. However, financial instability makes the future of retirement a little bleak.

The Bleak Reality of Retirement

For many retirees, having an investment and savings can make a big difference when retirement arrives. In fact, recent surveys show that retirees today are only counting on their personal savings for support. Although the government gives Social Security, not all companies or employers provide traditional pensions for their employees. According to the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, in 2003 there were only 19% of workers who have traditional pensions to support them. This percentage continues to decline as more and more employers cut back pension plans for their employees.

Faced with this reality, it is clearly important to make the necessary preparations early in life to have reliable personal savings in the future. Investing in insurance, dividend-paying stocks, government bonds, corporate bonds, real estate, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), immediate fixed annuities and retirement plans are great options on saving funds. This way, a retiree can have assurance that he will have the financial support he can rely on with or without a traditional pension.

Simple Living

Another thing that retirees need to carefully consider is the fact that they need to watch out their spending. Without a regular source of income and only their savings to support them, it would be very difficult if this support system will fall short. Thus, tempting as it may be to splurge or buy expensive things, this habit should be avoided. Simple living is the key. A retiree has to realize that having the necessities for daily living should be enough and there’s no need to live extravagantly even when he seems to have the resources.

Does this mean that retirees cannot earn a living anymore? Certainly not. Being an employee isn’t the only way to earn a living. There are other things that retirees can do, even in the comfort of their homes to give them additional budget. For example, freelance writing is a popular profession these days. With all their experiences in life, they can share so much through their writing and get paid at the same time. Other options can be vegetable gardening, making art works or crafts, or turning any hobby that they enjoy doing into a small business. Aside from getting extra income, doing activities that they enjoy can give them the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Keeping A Positive Spirit
Financial matters are not the only important things in life. Of course, there’s nothing more important than our health and well-being. Retirees are prone to an inactive lifestyle and depression. That is why adequate exercise and a healthy diet are crucial. It is a proven fact that people who eat well and who have enough physical activity are more resistant against sickness and depression.

Keeping a positive spirit is also a tremendous help not only for the mind but for the body as well. Cultivate your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being will keep you happy as you enjoy the fruit of your labor on your retirement.

Article by: Liz Roberts is a loan consultant with NewHorizon Finance and has been providing consumers and business owners with home loans financing since 1989. For years she has helped people with home loan problems especially pertaining to home mortgage loans and bad credit home loans.

Filed Under: Money & Finance Tagged With: , , ,

The Dangers of Using Non-Organic Cosmetics

May 19, 2008 By

Cosmetics have been a part of women’s lives, in some shape or form, for many centuries. Whether it was an ancient Egyptian applying cat-like eyeliner like Cleopatra, a Victorian woman applying rouge for a pink glow against her pale skin, or a modern day woman applying a coat of lip gloss while stopped at a traffic light, cosmetics play a part in many of our daily lives.

Our skin absorbs much of what we come into contact with. Take for instance the patches that people place on their skin to stop smoking. When you use non-organic cosmetics, you are exposing your skin to many harmful chemicals, all of which can be absorbed into your body. A few common cosmetic ingredients include:

Lanolin: This is a by-product of sheep’s wool, and can cause irritation due to the residue of any pesticides the sheep came into contact with

Artificial Colors and Fragrances: Many cosmetics contain both artificial colors and fragrances. These ingredients can also create skin irritation, as well as eczema and dermatitis.

Hydrogenated Oils: Hydrogenated oils are oils that have been processed and heated to an extreme point, which changes the chemical make up of the oil. You may have heard about hydrogenated oils and food safety, as hydrogenated oils can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease. When these oils come into contact with the skin through cosmetics, they can clog up pores and create acne.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate: This foaming agent is found in many skin cleansers. It can strip your skin of it’s natural oils, causing skin to be red, dry, and irritated.

Petroleum: This substance is often added to cosmetics as cheap filler. Our bodies cannot absorb it, and it ends up leaving a layer of film on the skin. This prevents our bodies from eliminating toxins through the skin, and instead, the toxins are trapped inside.

For years, people have been using these products without thinking about any side effects. As more scientists and doctors begin studying the effect these products have on our health, more information is being released. It’s always a good idea to research any products you have concerns about.

There are other options out there; you do not have to settle for the mass produced cosmetics you find in department and discount stores. You can take action by seeking out natural and organic cosmetics that do not contain any harmful ingredients.

You may be surprised at how great your skin looks, and how good you feel when you stop using products containing harmful ingredients.

Article By: Elizabeth Ashe.
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Filed Under: Beauty & Style Tagged With: , ,

The Rewards of Being a Stay at Home Mom

May 19, 2008 By

The decision to be a stay at home mom, versus going to work, is a difficult one for most moms. After holding a precious baby in your arms for the first time, a natural motherly instinct is to never want to let that wee one out of your sight. The ability to be a stay at home mom is a wonderful opportunity that allows you to truly experience child rearing to it’s full potential. You are the caregiver of your children, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The life of a stay at home mom is one of the most rewarding lives one can leave. Not to say that a working mom’s life is not rewarding, yes there is a place for all of us in this world. Those who rush out to a 9-5 job and then come home to cuddle with the kids, help with homework, cook dinner and do laundry.

Some of the benefits of staying home are obvious, more time with the kids, no need for a babysitter or daycare, the ability to make all the decisions surrounding your child’s care. Then there are those you may not realize at first, no need for fancy clothes, less expense on items such as gas, lunches, and other things that surround the life of a working mom.

Stays at home moms also enjoy the company of their children all day long. Being with kids can be make you feel younger, and put you in tune with your younger days in a heartbeat. You can spend your time baking cookies, or building forts, maybe even creating animals with Play-Dough. You can also be your child’s first teacher, and teach them the basics of life, sing songs and enjoy nature. Many moms enjoy the challenge of teaching their babies their first word, to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, or to recite their ABC’s and 123′s.

The life of a stay at home mom also includes many times many other responsibilities as well. As a stay at home mom, your spouse often times has expectations of what you will accomplish in one day, including, cleaning, laundry and meal preparation. It can be quite the task to juggle it all, but it can also be a job that will leave one feeling most accomplished at the end of the day.

Charissa Bear is the owner of Moms Inc, a wahm site full of telecommuting job resources and home based business ideas for stay at home moms.

Filed Under: Stay At Home Moms Tagged With: ,
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