The World @ My Fingertips

Are you concerned about the ever rising inflation rate? Prices keeps going up, but salary is not. I can understand how difficult it is for some families to make ends meet. I’m lucky as i’m still staying with my in-laws and everything is provided for. But that doesnt mean i dont have to save up for rainy days.

When i go out shopping, i try my best to check out the best buy area first. I do save a lot more if i can find what i find there. I seldom buy “new arrivals” as those items do not have a discount. I know i can always use my cashback credit card for instant discount, but i can live without those items.

In a way, i’m lucky as i earn in USD, and not RM. Each dollar i make online, i get to save 70% of it. Personally, i dont think now is the time to invest in properties or buy expensive items like cars. I’d rather earn more so that i can invest in bluechip stocks should their value drop one day. Meanwhile, i’ll continue to work harder so that my family can have a better future.

My sis was over this evening. She brought with her some gifts for the kids and also something for me. My brother-in-law just came back from a business trip to Italy. Isnt he thoughtful. My sis took leave from her company to accompany him there. She’s never been to Italy before. It’s her first time there and she told me that i must go there if i ever get the chance, lol. I think that’s pretty remote for the time being as my kids are still so small. I dont think they’ll enjoy it much. I was going through the photo albums she brought with her when i saw the watch my brother-in-law was wearing. Sis told me it’s an Anonimo watch which he bought there.

I told her Father’s Day is just next month and we still havent come up with what to buy for him this year. I suggested getting him an Anonimo watch and she says okay. I found a website selling these elegant anonimo watches and asked hubby to help me choose one for my dad. Since both my sis and i will be buying this together, money is not the issue here. Hubby says to get dad a sporty looking one since he doesnt have one like that. I agree with him. Well, if you havent bought your dad a gift for Father’s Day, you may want to check out the site too. Do wait till the last minute to buy him a gift, ya.

I dont understand why Janice wouldnt want to send her mom, who’s afflicted with Alzheimer’s to a nursing home. She says her maid can take care of her mother. Says she doesnt feel at ease with her mom at those places. Come on, man…. gimme a break. A maid can only do so much. Apart form the daily household chores, she still has to care for 3 whiny kids. How can a maid take care of her frail and ailing mom? Moreover, Janice has to go overseas every now and then. What if her mom suddenly fall ill during the time she’s away from the country.

Maybe Janice doesnt know that there are places like Philadelphia assisted living facilities. Maybe she’s worried that her mom will be left alone holed up in a room all day long. Maybe she’s worried that the place does not have skilled nursing facilities. Maybe she’s worried that the environment may not be safe enough. Maybe she should stop worrying and go check it out for herself.

My kids love to play with toy trucks. I took them out to the mall the other day and let them choose their own toys. Gordon wanted a jigsaw puzzle. Good also. He can sit down quietly and play for hours on end. He can be very patient, just like me.

Malcolm on the other hands loves toy trucks and cars. He has lots of toy cars already and i thought he’d like a toy truck this time. And i was so right. He really had a hard time choosing one. So, hubby helped him out and got him these. Nice, eh.

I think what i’m gonna do this Mother’s Day is to take my parents out for tea. I’ve not been doing that since my baby was born. He now 22 months old and can sit down in the high chair and eat by himself a little. Though clumsy, it’s time he learn to feed himself. He seems to enjoy it very much and i’m sure given another few weeks, he is well on his way to spooning rice into his little mouth.

Mother’s Day is on this 11th. Have you thought of what to buy for your mom? If you havent, let me tell you flowers is the safest bet. You may want to add a gift basket to it but that’s entirely up to you. Flowers are usually costly during celebrations like this. So, if you want to save some money, then buy wholesale flowers. The link will lead you to a site where you can do just that.

Although a newborn’s arrival into the world can be a joyful occasion, it can also bring a lot of stress…not just for the parents, but for family and friends as well.

Baby showers are the perfect example. While they’re used to celebrate the arrival of a brand new life into the world, they have the ability to also be stressful for the person hosting the occasion. If you’re planning to throw a baby shower for a friend or a relative, and you’re not sure exactly how to start organizing it, this article provides some tips.

Ideal time for a baby shower?

The ideal time to throw a baby shower is on the weekend, preferably mid-morning to late afternoon. Why? Because people work during the week. Also, think about having the baby shower later on in the mother-to-be pregnancy, around 9 weeks before the birth is best.

A baby shower can also be held after the birth of the child. This is the best plan if the mother-to-be is having complications with her pregnancy.

How many people should I invite?

One normally invites anywhere from 10 to 20 people to a baby shower. What one should also take into consideration when inviting people, is whether or not the location of the baby shower can accommodate only a few or a massive group of people.

How long should a baby shower last?

A baby shower generally lasts about two to three hours. That should be enough time for everyone to mingle, the presents to be opened, and food eaten. Also, take into consideration the mother-to-be is more easily exhausted.

Who should pay for the baby shower?

The host/hostess should pay for the baby shower. A baby shower is perceived as a gift from the host to the bride. It is not unusual or wrong for the host to ask family or close friends to help out monetarily. So, if you need some financial help, do not be shy in asking family and close friends. What is not acceptable is asking the mother-to-be for monetary help.

Should I throw a surprise shower?

If you are thinking of throwing a surprise shower, you may want to rethink. Surprise showers can cause the host all kinds of problems, namely making sure the mother-to-be arrives at the shower on time. The best plan is to throw a baby shower that the mother-to-be is aware of because she has the ability to offer much needed recommendations to the host.

Do you need to send out invitations?

Yes, one needs to send out invitations for a baby shower. It does not have to involve fancy stationery. One can go to any greeting card store and buy invitations at a reasonable price. It is also important that you send out the invitations a few weeks in advance, preferably three to four weeks.

Can I have games at the baby shower?

Games are indeed very popular at baby showers. However, baby showers are primarily about the food, drink (non-alcoholic), presents and conversations. So while having games at a baby shower is fine, do not feel pressured to have them. If you do opt for games at a baby shower, be creative and make sure the games center on the baby and mother-to-be.

When should the presents be opened?

The presents should be opened after food has been enjoyed and games played, if you decide to have them.

Themes

In today and age, a lot of baby showers have themes. There are advantages to a theme orientated baby shower. It can certainly make the shower easier to organize. You can make up your own them theme or use some already established popular baby showers themes, which include:

Tea celebration, which can be fun.

Book celebration, where everyone brings books as gifts for the baby and mom.

Diaper party, where the baby shower centers on gifts that deal with the bare necessities like diapers or baby bottles.

Have you ever gotten mad at your child? Be honest. No one can answer that question with a “no” and really mean it. When you’ve gotten angry, have you said things you didn’t necessarily mean? Things that may have been hurtful and degrading?

Let’s face it – it’s not uncommon to say things that you don’t really mean in the heat of an argument. The problem is that when you say these things to your children, it really hits home and makes an impact.

#1 – Words Can Hurt Let’s say you’re fighting with your brother or sister. One thing leads to another and before you know it you’re calling your sibling a not-so-nice name and storming out of the room. No big deal, right? After all, siblings fight and sooner or later you both get over it.

Now change the scenario and instead of you fighting with a sibling, it’s you fighting with your child. One thing leads to another and that not-so-nice name is directed at your child. Think it won’t leave a permanent emotional scar? Guess again.

#2 – Your Opinion Makes an Impression As a parent, each and every thing you say to your child about personality, character and intellect really does affect the way your child views themselves as a person. If you call your child dumb, he’s really going to think he’s dumb. If you call her ignorant, she’s really going to think she’s ignorant. The harm may not be apparent on the surface, but deep down inside you’re planting the seeds of self-doubt and low self esteem in the character of your child.

It’s human nature for a child to look to their parent for guidance. If a parent is constantly criticizing a child, that child is going to suffer because of it. Does that mean you should be singing their praises even when they’ve done something wrong? Absolutely not! But remember – it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

#3 – Outbursts Don’t Teach Proper Communication or Self Control You can tell your child that you’re disappointed in their behavior without calling them a name or degrading them as a person. If you’re angry with your child, don’t let a word fall from your mouth without first considering how it’s going to sound when he or she hears it. If it sounds like a personal attack, rethink the way you’re approaching it and word your thoughts differently. If you want your child to grow up knowing how to properly communicate and show their disappointment or displeasure, you need to be the one to set the example.

By communicating with your child in a calm, rational and non-confrontational manner, you’ll be able to get your point across without doing any damage to the emotional development of your son or daughter.Copyright (c) 2006 Pat Brill

Pat Brill is co-founder of SilkBow.com which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. SilkBow is the perfect place for the perfect gift. To contact Pat, email her at pat@silkbow.com.

Antidepressant pills usually work quickly, but they are expensive and come with side effects. Because of this, people all over the world are choosing herbal remedies in order to avoid the side effects of prescription drugs. The popularity of these herbal medicines has grown considerably in the last 10 years. Kava is one of the strongest antidepressant herbs. Hundreds of clinical trials found that kava is far more effective than most of the traditional drugs. In addition, it is also one of the safest medicines to take with no side effects. But of cos, you may want to check with your doctor if it’s right for you or not.

With hundreds of different models, it’s hard to choose the right one. Factors such as your location and lifestyle will influence your decision. Do you need audio/video or audio only? 40 MHZ or 90 MHZ? Read on to find out.

The baby monitor is a wonderful invention that allows you to listen for your baby’s cries or movements without actually going into their room. Baby monitors are very useful when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. You can hear his cries when he needs feeding or changing. Baby monitors are also very helpful during the day when your baby is napping. They give you the freedom to go on the opposite end of the home, hang out laundry, etc.

Usually, a baby monitor is used by placing the transmitter close to your babies crib so it picks up his sounds. The receiver is then placed in the area that you’ll be in, such as next to your bed. Many brands of baby monitors are able to run off of batteries, this way they are portable and can be carried on your belt. Some models even have night vision cameras and lcd monitors so you can see your baby. This gives you added comfort knowing exactly how your baby is doing.

Movement sensors are another option. These work with a pad that’s put under your baby while they sleep. If no movement is detected, an alarm sounds. Some monitors even grant you to monitor your baby’s temperature while they sleep.

A monitor with more than one receiver can be handy as well. This way, one unit can be stationary and the other portable. The monitors can then be switched when the portable’s battery get low.

Sometimes you can’t hear your baby’s cries or movements due to noise or other children. In this case a monitor wit a sound activated light is handy. You know immediately when your child is moving because the monitor will light up.

There are very few drawbacks to baby monitors. Sometimes, the signal of other baby monitors can be picked up if they’re in close enough range. This also works the other way around, so always be aware of conversations when your monitor is on if your concerned about privacy. Sometimes cordless phones can interfere with the reception on your monitor as well.

Monitors with low battery indicators are also handy. If you use the batteries most often this is a good choice. When the low-battery light comes on it gives you plenty of time to replace then before they die completely.

When trying to decide on what bandwidth is ideal for you, first consider where you live. If you live in the country a wider bandwidth (up to 90MHZ) is great for superior clarity. If you live in the city where there’s a lot of interference such as cell phones, other baby monitors, portable phones, or cement walls, a lower bandwidth (40MHZ) might be a better option.

Regardless of what monitor you choose remember to always follow the manufactures instructions. Never put a baby monitor directly in your baby’s crib or where your baby can reach it. The cord can get wrapped around their neck. Hopefully, this great invention will make parenting just a little bit easier. Good luck!