9 Practical Apps for Busy Moms

“Busy moms”… these days, is there any other kind? Whether you work away from home, fight traffic and come home at the end of the day to confront dinner, laundry, helping with homework, baking 30 cupcakes for your child’s 3rd grade classroom and packing tomorrow’s brown bag lunches – or you are a stay at home parent constantly on the move caring for little ones, laundry, cleaning, cooking, car pool, play dates, team practice and shuttling to and from tutors and piano lessons – whew! You are a BUSY person!

Fortunately, we have the miracle of the iPhone and Android, with apps that can not only help us organize and schedule the details of our lives – but help us locate that much needed afternoon latte before we collapse. In fact, today there are apps for almost every conceivable need, from locating a restroom for your toddler to creating grocery lists.

Hey – you didn't think apps were just for games, did you? Well they have those too!

Real Simple Recipes ($4.95, iPad compatible) This app not only asks you what you want to make: poultry, fish, meat, ice cream, vegetarian – it asks how much time you have, and then gives you easy to make recipes to match your criteria.

Cook This – Not That! ($7.99, iPad compatible) An extension of the bestselling book, this app offers easy to follow recipes along with a shopping list to make your after work or post-soccer practice market run a whole lot easier.

Fooducate – by Fooducate, Ltd. (Free, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android OS 2.2 and up) This app was created by dieticians and healthy food conscious parents and is like having your own personal dietitian go shopping with you.

Using your iPhone camera, you can scan UPC bar codes and ingredients panels to find out which items contain excessive sugar and fructose corn syrup content, trans fats, confusing serving sizes and questionable food colorings – and it offers suggestions for alternatives.

Evernote– (Free, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Palm WebOS, Windows Phone; Desktop: Mac, Windows and Web; Desktop: Mac, Windows and Web) Named one of the top 10 Must have Apps by the New York Times, Evernote helps you organize your whole life across every device you use. You can create to-do lists, record voice reminders, take notes and photos and share your Twitter and Facebook posts with family, friends and colleagues; make grocery lists, organize and save recipes, plan a trip itinerary and keep track of tickets and passports and save bills, contracts and receipts.

SitorSquat– Bathroom Finder – by Densebrain (Free, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch (iPad as an iPhone app). Need a restroom RIGHT NOW? This app shows you where to find one almost anywhere in the world, either by map or a list of shortest distance. It includes reviews and ratings so you can choose the cleanest and best maintained restroom near you, as well as locations that have changing tables, are handicap accessible and have tampon and condom vending machines. SitorSquat is invaluable for those with kidney problems, bladder dysfunction, diabetes etc. - or toddlers.

Snapfish (Free online photo storage and sharing, iPhone) Forget to buy invitations to your child’s birthday party? No worries. Snapfish mobile lets you upload a photo to make a postcard invitation and they will even stamp and mail them for you, for a small fee - all from your iPhone. That’s one thing to check off your to-do list!

smart-ICE Lite (In Case of Emergency) (Free basic, by EMS Options, LLC. The free app version provides storage of personal information, such as allergies, medications, emergency contact list and current medical issues. The advanced version offers additional features, including one that allows you to record a voice message to alert EMS providers with important information on your medical history, such as diabetes, heart condition, etc. It also can sound an alarm to help them find you, and sounds an alarm to notify EMS personnel that you have an iPhone with this app.

iPeriod – by Winkpass Creations, Inc. (Free, menstrual calendar) Provides visual calendar to track and view your menstrual cycle at a glance; predicts ovulation and fertility; remembers your last period dates and gives reminders for self breast exams – and much more. Recommended by Forbes, Popular Science, Glamour, GLO.MSN.com, the Harvard Crimson and Mommy Too! Magazine.

Mom Maps– New Media Parents, Inc. (Free, iPhone, Android) Looking for a new place for your child’s play date? Kid-friendly restaurants? Museums? Mom Maps will show you what’s available in over 28,000 locations across the country and in the UK and Paris, France - and show you how to get there. You can bookmark your favorites, read reviews by other parents, submit your own reviews and ratings – and share it all with family and friends via email or Facebook.

From planning a meal to finding a place for a child’s birthday party - or the nearest restroom – these apps help make life a little easier and less stressful for busy on-the-go moms!

These tips were contributed by SImpleItalianCooking.com, a website featuring free Italian recipes. The site also provides reviews of kitchen appliances used in Italian cooking and reviews the best meat grinders for the best value or where to buy a gelato or ice cream maker without having to take a trip to Italy! Busy moms need time saving tips for everything they do, from iPhone apps to easy and simple recipes where quality of life isn't sacrificed, but enhanced!

Link Your Giveaway Thursdays Feb 23-29

Do you have a giveaway going on? Link it here to my Linky, every Thursday.

All you have to do is type in the name of your site, the name of the item you are giving away and the date the giveaway ends. Then add the direct link to your giveaway.

I have a Giveaway Linky Directory, if you have a giveaway linky and you would like me to add you to my list please send me an e-mail: momsmiscadventures at yahoo dot com. Also, please send me an e-mail to update your linky. Be sure and check out my giveaway linky directory.

I am updating my Giveaway Directory. Click on this link to add your meme or giveaway linky. Memes and Giveaway Linky List

Be sure and check out my Food and Health Carnival on my other blog, every Thursday.

Gift Ideas for any Occassion

 

Are There Any Safety Concerns For Playgrounds?

Image by reiner.kraft

For children, summer time means sipping on some lemonade, relaxing from a long year of school, and having some fun at the park on an outdoor playground. Children get the chance to go crazy and see who can swing the highest, run the fastest and climb the highest on a jungle gym. For kids, the playground becomes a proving ground to test their growing bodies; improve their social skills and the perfect place for exercising. As adults, playgrounds raise some safety concerns, and park and school supervisors constantly monitor the equipment to ensure it is safe and working as intended.

Slides

As a child sits atop of the slide, his heart starts to race in anticipation of the small amount of G-force he’ll experiences. Of course, slides also raise safety concerns because of the sudden changes that can cause a slide to break. For instance, some slides may not be as stable or as durable as they once were, making for a bit of concern. As a school or park supervisor, you always want to inspect the slide to ensure it is tightly secure and does not contain any cracks, especially in aging plastics. For a preschool playground, you want to be sure the slide contains guardrails to prevent the young children from falling, and that each slide is height appropriate.

Swing Sets

“Let’s see who can swing the highest.” Every child has uttered the words at some point to a friend. Before rubberized chains, kids swung with regular metal chains that caused head injuries and bruised fingers. Today, rubberized chains provide safer alternatives, and every swing set should include these safer alternatives.

Another feature you want to look for are rubber seats. Before rubber seats, plastic seats dominated the playground landscape, as did the minor head injuries that accompanied the seats when a child was hit with one. Rubberized seats weigh less and can be found as the main type of seat at most public parks for their safer usage.

Miscellaneous

Never buy a school playground with elevated platforms that do not have guardrails. Any height of 2 and half feet or taller should have guardrails to prevent major head injuries to young children. For safer playgrounds, you might want to buy ones that have angled ladder steps rather than vertical ones. An angled latter make it easier for children to climb and harder for them to slip.

Remember, child safety begins with the adults in charge of building and maintaining a playground set. Inspect the grounds often to ensure no damage comes to the equipment and that materials are in working condition.

Call (877) 777-3700 and let ParknPool help you choose great playgrounds and playground sets for you!

How Moving Affects Your Kids

Moving is obviously a long, tedious and usually stressful process for everyone involved, but a lot of times kids in the family tend to get overlooked in the moving process. Adults get so caught up in the fact that they have so much to do to prepare for the move that they often don't think to ask their kids how they are feeling about the move and if they need any help packing.

Believe it or not, moving can at times be even harder on children than it is on adults. There are certain things to consider before you pick up your entire family and move them, so some of them are outlined here. It's also important to understand how a move will affect your children socially, emotionally and psychologically.

Psychological Impact

Studies show that children who move often have a high risk of suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a type of anxiety disorder. PTSD is most commonly seen in people who go through serious, life-changing occurrences, such as a domestic violence case, rape, a prison stay or even war. What children experience after a move is obviously a less serious case of PTSD, but they can show many of the same symptoms as those who go through these traumatic events.

After a move, children will often shut down and become emotionally distant, thinking back to their old house and their old friends and their old lives. They may wake up from nightmares in which they flash back to their old surroundings and wake up panicked and not knowing where they are.

A common reaction in children is the general attitude they gain toward "normal" children's activities. After a move, they may tend to shy away from new kids and new settings in their new town that would have been considered normal at the old home. They often seem to turn off their emotions entirely or they will display outbursts of anger or frustration at their parents.

All of these are symptoms of PTSD, and while they are on a lower level than found in people who suffer major traumas, they are still serious symptoms for parents to be aware of. Pay attention to how you child reacts to a move and help them adjust in any way you can. Tips for doing this will be discussed shortly.

Children may also show an outburst of rebellion over the general idea of a move. You are literally uprooting their entire lives and they have absolutely no say in it whatsoever. Children may throw tantrums and make the process as difficult on their parents as they possibly can to show their protest. This is more common in older children approaching their teenage years than it is in the younger kids. Teenagers don't enjoy being told what to do and the fact that they have no say in the matter only agitates them.

Social Impact

For those teenagers who tend to rebel, moving can have a huge social impact on their lives. If they have only ever lived in one place for their entire lives to this point, they'll be hesitant to leave behind their social circle that they worked so hard to build all those years.

It's also important to consider how starting in a new school will affect your children when you move. Consider the timing of your move. Teenagers tend to get anxious when there is a lot of attention on them, so moving during the middle of a school year may not be a great idea because they'll have to deal with the attention of being the "new kid." If you think this may become an issue, consider moving during the summer. Your child will blend in with the crowd as everyone gets settled back into the school year on the first day of school and won't stick out as the new kid so much.

Younger kids, however, seem to enjoy the attention a bit more. It depends on your child, though. Some kids would do better in a new home if they're given a chance to adjust to the home itself before going back to school, so moving over the summer or over a holiday wouldn't be a bad idea.

Think about what you are doing to your kids - if they have close friends that they've known forever in their old town, it will be a sad day for them when they leave. Let your children know that you understand what they are going through (after all, you'll likely be dealing with similar feelings) and do whatever you can to insure them that they will make new friends at their new home.

Emotional Impact

It's hard for anyone to leave behind something that they've become so accustomed to as a home, but keep in mind that children tend to feel emotions much more strongly than adults, especially in situations such as moving. They've probably become overwhelmingly attached to their house, their room, everything they have at home, and you are uprooting them and introducing them to something entirely new.

Children may cry or throw tantrums, but it's important to understand why they are reacting the way that they are and acknowledge how they are feeling. Talk through what might be making them react so emotionally and support them in understanding how they feel. Listen to what they have to say and take into consideration the factors of moving that make them the most uncomfortable. Think of what you can do to make the process a bit easier on them.

They'll also probably miss their old home a lot once they're settled into the new home. Have open conversations about where you used to live and make sure you help your children stay in touch with the friends that they made there. This will help them grieve over the old home properly while still keeping them as close as you can to their old lives. If possible, plan visits back to see old friends and any family members you may have left behind when you moved.

The Solution

The best thing you can do as a parent or guardian is understand your children and listen to what they say and pay attention to how they react to a move. Your children should not just be pushed out of the way so you can get everything you need done for the move. They should play an important role in the process.

Try to involve your kids in any conversations about moving. The fact is, you're taking them to a new home no matter what, whether they like it or not, so they won't have much say in the conversation, if any, but they'll feel more comfortable in knowing that they were at least involved in the planning and the decisions.

Don't just inform your children that you are moving. Sit them down and have a conversation with them about it, no matter how young they are. Explain the reasons for the decision and let them know that they are expected to help in the move.

Get Them Involved

Involving your kids in the actual moving process can be one of the best ways to avoid any harsh, immediate changes that trigger severe reactions. Let your kids pack up their own things - don't just invade their rooms and start taking their things away. Let them help you pack up the main rooms first, then allow them their own time to pack up their own things.

Ask your kids if they want to be involved in the actual moving day itself. A lot of times young kids will get overly excited and will just get in the way on moving day, and older kids will rebel the move altogether. If they want to be involved and they want to help, let them, but if they would rather go do something fun for the day while the adults move, arrange something for them ahead of time.

They can stay behind with a friend or family if you're moving far away or you can arrange an activity for them in the new town - maybe if you have a big yard, buy a new volleyball set for them to play with while you move everything into the house (just an idea). If you do have a long journey, consider buying your kids something to keep them occupied on the drive so they don't dwell too much on leaving their old lives behind. Keep them distracted with something fun and exciting, like a new toy or some new music.

At the New Home

Make unloading your children's rooms a top priority when you arrive at the new home. Children of all ages will appreciate having their own bed in their new surroundings, and maybe even some familiar pieces of furniture or some familiar decorations. You don't have to unpack everything for them right away, but try to move in as much of their rooms as possible before any other rooms.

Lastly, if you notice your child acting strangely after the move, especially if they're displaying signs of PTSD, call a doctor or therapist and get them some help right away. The most important thing will be to let your children know that you're there for them and you understand how hard a move is on them. Don't just expect them to take everything all in at once and be totally fine with it - it will take some time, and the best thing you can do for them is give them the time to adjust while spending some quality family time together in the new home.

Jade Evans is a freelance writer and enjoys moving around a lot. She has moved her family with a man and a van many times before, so everyone in her family is used to it by now, but she has seen children who have a harder time dealing with it than others, and this is her advice.

Family Friendly Videos to Indulge Your Bug Captivated Child

There are two types of children, those who are afraid of bugs, and those who adore these crawling little creatures.

Surprisingly enough, a number of children’s television shows today feature animated bugs who sing, talk, and dance. From a dancing spider to a singing beetle, these videos will surely tickle the imagination of your little one.

Whether your child loves or hates insects, these kid friendly videos can teach them a thing or two about growing up.

1. The Magic School Bus: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs

1994

Children of any age never get bored when riding in Ms. Fizzle’s magical school bus, where they can be transported anywhere and everywhere whether by land, air, or sea. This television program embarks on a special field trip that is both highly entertaining and educational. From discovering the worlds of the butterflies to seeing how ants work, this show is sure to captivate your child.

2. A Bug's Life

1998

Produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney pictures, this mega blockbuster movie centers around Flick, an ant who goes off in search of help to save his oppressed colony. A Bug’s Life is a touching story about hope, love, and friendship all wrapped in a funny, witty, and colorful assembly of all kinds of bugs. Children and kids at heart will surely find joy and excitement in watching Flick and his group of unlikely circus friends take on the mean and oppressive gang of grasshoppers.

3. Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids

2003

From the celebrated storybook writer David Kirk comes the Miss Spider book series, which was later turned into a film. Animated with bright colors and interesting characters, Miss Spider’s sunny patch kids captures the heart of both parents and children.

4. Bee Movie

2007

This wonderfully uplifting movie is Jerry Seinfeld’s first venture into scriptwriting, and was one of the biggest hits of 2007. The story of Bee Movie revolves around a young bee named Barry (Seinfeld), a fresh graduate who is eager to start his first job at Honex making honey. Through a turn of unexpected events, he ends up in a court battle against mankind and ends up winning. Not bad for a small bee!

5. Go Diego Go!: It's a Bug's World

2008

From the makers of Dora: The Explorer comes the spinoff Go Diego Go! Diego is a brilliant 8-year old animal rescuer who goes through many adventures to save his animal friends. With the help of his buddy Kicho’s magical flute, the two friends were shrunk down to pea sized creatures, allowing them to enter into another world where bugs rule.

6. Sid The Science Kid: Bug Club

2009

From the inspired collaboration of the Jim Henson Company and the KCET channel in Los Angeles comes a 30 minute computer animated series dubbed Sid, the Science Kid. Specifically created to target preschoolers and encourage them to be more inquisitive about their surroundings, Sid helps young kids explore and answer many of the why’s and how’s that baffle young minds.

Movie time is always a great way to bond with your little ones, and with any of these DVD’s, you are sure to be just as entertained as they are.

Carla is a writer for BedBugs.org, and a bug fan all her life. When she is not educating others on real pest threats through bed bug bites pictures and bed bug rash pics, you can find her at home with her two not quite as bug obsessed children.

Link Your Giveaway Thursdays Feb 16-22

Do you have a giveaway going on? Link it here to my Linky, every Thursday.

All you have to do is type in the name of your site, the name of the item you are giving away and the date the giveaway ends. Then add the direct link to your giveaway.

I have a Giveaway Linky Directory, if you have a giveaway linky and you would like me to add you to my list please send me an e-mail: momsmiscadventures at yahoo dot com. Also, please send me an e-mail to update your linky. Be sure and check out my giveaway linky directory.

I am updating my Giveaway Directory. Click on this link to add your meme or giveaway linky. Memes and Giveaway Linky List

Be sure and check out my Food and Health Carnival on my other blog, every Thursday.

Gift Ideas for any Occassion

 

Link Your Giveaway Thursdays Feb 9-15

Do you have a giveaway going on? Link it here to my Linky, every Thursday.

All you have to do is type in the name of your site, the name of the item you are giving away and the date the giveaway ends. Then add the direct link to your giveaway.

I have a Giveaway Linky Directory, if you have a giveaway linky and you would like me to add you to my list please send me an e-mail: momsmiscadventures at yahoo dot com. Also, please send me an e-mail to update your linky. Be sure and check out my giveaway linky directory.

I am updating my Giveaway Directory. Click on this link to add your meme or giveaway linky. Memes and Giveaway Linky List

Be sure and check out my Food and Health Carnival on my other blog, every Thursday.

Gift Ideas for any Occassion

 

Raising a Child To Understand and Value Money

A child has a great capacity for learning during their pre-school years. They can learn to count, write their name and learn the value of money at the early age of just three years old. Starting when a child is full of wonder and wants to learn is the best time to introduce the importance of making wise decisions with their money. They can learn how much a dollar is and how many dollars it takes to purchase small items when you are out shopping.

Saving for the future

As the child begins to enter school and now is exposed to the world of wants, you can start with simple things such as teaching them with an allowance. For picking up their things, making their bed and completing their homework, they earn money on a weekly basis. Before the money is first handed out, advise the child the importance of putting away some of his earnings for something that may be needed later on. Instill the concept of saving money at the beginning of all monetary lessons. In this case, the child must take a portion of this allowance and place it in a piggy bank.

By establishing a savings at an early age you are teaching your child invaluable habits for the future. You can show your child from time to time how much he has saved, by emptying out the piggy bank and counting up the money. As the child grows older those early habits will remain a part of his dealings with money. He will refrain from spending all of the money he has earned and will continue to place a portion of his money into a savings account for something that may arise in the future, such as a car for instance.

Mistakes must be made

Some tough lessons can be taught at an early age too. By allowing your child to spend their money all at once, they will soon come to understand that if they want to purchase something else, they have to save up. Children often buy on impulse. The thrill of being handed money and then going to a store, most of these children will pick up as much as they can and spend their entire piggy bank’s worth of money.

By not bailing out your child when they now desire something else and has no money, they will learn early on that their haste has prevented them from purchasing what they wants. This is an important lesson in teaching children that not only does money go quickly, but also it is not easily earned. By allowing a child to make these mistakes early on, it teaches them a valuable lesson for the future. They come to respect the work that goes into making money and as a result, are more careful with how they spend it.

Borrowing and Interest

It is important that young adults learn to spend within their means. By now, most parents have taught them the value of money and the importance of saving. The problem is that now the expenses are larger. Consider that new car he wants to purchase. While you can be proud of your children for saving some money over the years, you certainly do not want to see him throw it all away in a single outing.

Showing your child how to lower the bar a notch or two and still get a great vehicle without emptying the bank account is teaching them the art of shopping around. By purchasing a car within their means they is able to afford the gas and repairs that go with it. These are things that you should be able to discuss with your child since they has been exposed to the concept of money over the years.

Credit Worthiness

One thing that many parents do not share with their children is the importance of establishing credit – good credit – at an early age. Granted, credit cannot begin to be built until the age of 18. However, learning how to be responsible with money early on can help avoid the pitfalls of bad credit in their adult lives. Sit down with your children during their teens and explain to them what happens when they start taking on loans and credit cards. Instill the importance of paying bills in a timely manner and not biting off more than they can chew. Their future finances depend on you.

By starting your children off with the importance of handling money responsibly they will grow to know that savings and budgeting are a part of their lives that is meant to be taken seriously.

Guest Post: This post was written by Ella Davidson of Coupons.org. Coupons offers coupons and deals for a wide-variety of retailers. The site also strives to provide premiere couponing tips and tricks to empower consumers.

Link Your Giveaway Feb 2-8

Do you have a giveaway going on? Link it here to my Linky, every Thursday.

All you have to do is type in the name of your site, the name of the item you are giving away and the date the giveaway ends. Then add the direct link to your giveaway.

I have a Giveaway Linky Directory, if you have a giveaway linky and you would like me to add you to my list please send me an e-mail: momsmiscadventures at yahoo dot com. Also, please send me an e-mail to update your linky. Be sure and check out my giveaway linky directory.

I am updating my Giveaway Directory. Click on this link to add your meme or giveaway linky. Memes and Giveaway Linky List

Be sure and check out my Food and Health Carnival on my other blog, every Thursday.

Gift Ideas for any Occassion