Reviews

5 Reasons Why CozyPhones Are Awesome

Our daughter loves to watch her trusty kid shows on her tablet such as Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, and PJ Masks just to name a few. Of course sometimes hearing her shows can be distracting as I can’t help but overhear all her shows everywhere I go. But now the perfect solution has entered our home and I am truly thankful for it!

Let me introduce you to CozyPhones. It is a headband headphones that offer comfort to hear your favorite tunes or shows.

Here are our 5 reasons why the CozyPhones are awesome in particular for kids!

Comfortable

The material used to create the headband headphones are very comfortable for a child or adult to wear. It is stretchable and it does not interfere if you are in your living room, in the car or even in bed. Now that is taking comfort to a whole new level and we just love that about CozyPhones!

Machine Washable

The convenience of being able to wash the CozyPhones is great especially when we know how dirty things can get with kids. You just need to remove the speakers from the headband and in the machine it goes. This way you can always be sure that your child is using a product that can be cleaned at any time.

Adjustable Speakers

Controlling sound for your child’s ear is very important as a parent and the CozyPhones allows us parents to control the volume of the sound. It is set at a perfect volume where it will not hurt your child’s ear which is an amazing feature to have. It is a safe product for a child to use.

Family Friendly Traveling | Peace

CozyPhones can be taken anywhere you go and we simply love that! Whether it’s a roadtrip, traveling to another country, a trip to the doctor’s office or just sitting in your living room. It is light weight and easy to travel with. It also provides the relaxation and peace. Your child will be entertained with their favorite show and it provides parents with some peaceful traveling too.

Adorable Designs & Affordable

Not only is it convenient, safe, family friendly, and comfortable, it is also offers great adorable designs. There are so many options available for your kids and they can pick their very favorite. We have to also mention that they are affordable too! This would make a great gift for any child who loves to catch up on their favorite shows without interrupting anyone beside them.

Nikki enjoying a movie before bed as a special treat for the long weekend. *Please note that the Paw Patrol design is only available in the USA.

These are our top 5 reasons why CozyPhones are awesome! Therefore, there is no surprise that for this #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5+++ Pawsomes out of 5!

We recommend this product and we have been using it in our home everyday. It also makes my daughter look stylish! 😉 It is comfortable, fits perfectly and she can listen without having earbuds hurt her ears. We love it and we know you will too!

Paw Patrol design is only available in the USA.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

 

Motherhood

A Tale of Two Languages

Written By: Grace Cross
Editor of The Baby Spot

Like so many Canadians, I was raised in a different culture from the area I was living in. Many Canadians like myself, are teaching their children more than one language. But the second language is just not that, it is incorporating a culture into your household. A culture that is not surrounding you on the streets. In my friend circles, in my extended family and more, I was too French to be English and too English to be French. I believe that many people all over the world, have experienced this to varying degrees, many more difficult than my own. Here is my story as to why, no matter what, teaching your child a part of their culture is so important.

Growing up with two parents who were from Quebec but lived in Toronto was quite different than the typical Ontario home. We celebrated holidays differently, we were raised differently and we even used different words for the most random things! My parents tried to go back to Quebec as often as they could so we can be with family and friends.

 Like Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, I often felt I had my own two metropolis to grow up in, except mine were not in London and Paris but in Toronto and Montreal. Those 6 hours on the 401 separated two completely different cultures that could very well be two different countries. I had an experience where I was growing up in Toronto but would be in Montreal. I would know the hottest restaurants in Montreal, the hidden shopping gems and all of the coolest hang outs just like a Montrealer, but I could not speak the language fluently until I was an adult. I would make mistakes, stumble upon my words and would gravitate to my extended family to help, so I could learn more of my past.

I had two types of family members in my big family. The first were so loving and accepting. I would sit and listen to them as they, like many Montrealers would switch from English to French with ease. It was bilingual heaven and I would pick up on a word here and word there. It was better than any French class Ontario had to offer and I was learning the slang, key words and expressions that go along with French. In turn, my French family would use this as an opportunity to practice their English on a native English speaker. Even as a child, I felt pretty special to fill them in on the latest English terms and phrases that may have confused them.

The second type of family members were not so nice. They used French as a leverage language and would laugh at my mistakes. Instead of comforting, they would point out each mistake, the accent of every word said wrong. I would study constantly the language and speak to my French teachers after class in Ontario to try to learn as much as I could for my next class in Montreal. Many of our French teachers were not French but they did their best. My parents tried their best too, but over time, they began losing the language. I would use my opportunities to be with my family. Instead, they would point out in French all of your mistakes and laugh with ridicule. It made me insecure about a language I wanted to learn and was a part of my ancestors.

Secondly, in Ontario, we are taught Parisian French. However, in Quebec, they speak a different dialect. This can create problems and some of my family took it to make jokes at a young girl. I was as young as five when this began. Instead, I would be insecure to speak French and took my sights to learn another language all together. By the time I was 21, I had taken years of Japanese and spoke Japanese better than French.

I ended up learning French in adulthood with some amazing courses and sticking with the family who was encouraging and literally not speaking to the ones that were not. The insecurity did not lie with a five year old girl learning a language, but with them.

Now that I am a Mom, my child is learning French. I encourage mistakes and let my child absorb the language. Strangers and good family alike in Montreal are the reasons for my little one’s easy transition into a fantastic language and culture.

For some of us who are not born in the area that our family is from and carry many traditions, values but do not have the day to day interaction with the language, we are not English enough, but not from our original culture either. There are some of you out there whose children are learning about three or four different cultures. There may be people trying to tell you how to parent your child or believe that one culture is more important than another. Those people may believe you don’t belong to a culture that you have been immersed in. Remember, no one can take away your past. No one can define you based on their own constrictions. You know who you are.

So if you are a parent whose child has one, two or ten cultures from their ancestry, embrace it! Enjoy what defines you and your family. Be proud of where your family lineage is and be proud to live where you are now. Surround yourself with positive people, make new friends and most of all, love that you are incredible enough that you don’t belong to just one place. You are your own tale in two cities.

 

Crafts

Three Adorable Baby Art Activities

Written By: Karen Silva
Twitter

Hello my fellow momma and papa bears, it has been a while. I was pretty busy taking in my whole pregnancy and then the birth of my beautiful baby girl. Now I’m back and ready to share some great ideas with you.

These activities were inspired by my three month old baby as I wanted to do something special for Father’s Day. These art activities are super easy to do and does not require a lot of material. It can also be done for any day of the year as you don’t need a special occasion to have some creative fun. Please note that some of these you may need an assistant to help you or you may want to do them when your baby is asleep.

Leave A Little Sparkle

This is one of my favourites! Especially how I LOVE glitter!

Material Needed: A picture frame, paint brush, glitter, glue and Printer.

  • First, with a paint brush add glue onto the bottom of your babies feet (it is easier if you do one at a time).
  • Then place their foot onto the glass of the picture frame to make the footprint.
  • Once you have done that, sprinkle the glitter on top and dust off the access.
  • Once you have cleaned the glue off of your baby’s foot, repeat the same steps to the other foot.
  • Then on a computer, create a sign that says “Leave a little sparkle everywhere you go” (I found this quote on Google).
  • Cut and insert that sign in the picture frame. You can leave the glitter foot print design on the outside or you can flip it in, so that no glitter can be taken off.

Picture Perfect

Material Needed: A camera, scrapbook, scrapbook paper and glue.

  • First dress your little one in cute outfits of your choice and do a mini photo shoot with them (IF they are up for it… I did mine after a feed).
  • Also make sure to take some family selfies, as that is always great to have in a scrapbook.
  • Once you have them printed out you can make a photo college on some scrapbook paper (I found mine at my local Michael’s Craft store).
  • Once completed to your liking, you can put your scrapbook together.

Songs With Props

Material Needed: Computer, printer, Popsicle sticks and glue or tape.

My baby girl loves the Five Little Monkey’s song so I choose to do this one.

  • First I printed five different pictures of cartoon monkeys and a picture of a bed.
  • Once I have printed them and cut them out, I glued them onto Popsicle sticks.
  • Then when I sang the song to her I would use these props.
  • For a more personal idea you can do the “Family Finger song”, for your props just print out a picture of you, dad, baby and anyone else. This way when you are singing “Daddy finger, daddy finger where are you?” Hold up their dad’s picture and continue the song.

 

I hope these three ideas inspire you to create some memories in a unique way with your little one. If you choose to do any of these or know of some other great ideas I would love to see them, so please tag me on Twitter.

Until next time… Keep it crafty!

– Momma Bear Silva

Games, Reviews

Top 5 Games | Game Night Should Be Every Night

Recently, we introduced Family Game Night in our home and since then we have really enjoyed all sorts of games. But nothing can beat the games from Goliath Games and Pressman Toy!

We had the opportunity to try a few more games and we are so excited to tell you all about them as they are our top 5 games for Games Night! We are also proposing that Game Night should and could be every night! Why not?!

Jumping Jack

Jumping Jack by Goliath Games provides great hours of fun and excitement to little ones with learning and surprise! Jack is an adorable little bunny who sits on his bunny hill guarding his precious carrots. Now it is the little ones’ mission to carefully pull out the carrots out of the ground and collect them in their colourful basket. But be ready for a big surprise! If you scare Jack he will jump high into the air and you never know when he will jump. But catch the rabbit and you win the game or the person with the most carrots in the basket wins the game if Jack doesn’t jump out.

We had a blast with this game and as a parent, I loved seeing my daughter get excited with the anticipation that Jack was going to jump at any time. It was so much fun! We loved the spinner and how children can use it to read instructions with images and knowing how to count the carrots that they must catch.

This delightful preschool game teaches hand-eye coordination, taking turns and quick reactions. This game is great for ages 4 and up. Two to Four players can play too. On the #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5 hops out of 5!

Game Contents:

  • 1 Bunny Hill
  • 1 Jumping Jack Rabbit
  • 12 Carrots
  • 1 Spinner
  • 4 Baskets
  • 1 Instruction Sheet

Catch The Fox

Some clucking good times with Catch The Fox by Goliath Games. This game was so much fun that even the fox loses his pants! The sly fox is sneaking around to steal your prize chickens but lucky you, his greediness gets the best of him as he can’t carry all the chickens he stuffs in his pockets.

So how do you play this fun game? Simple! The player who makes the best clucking sound goes first. The player rolls the die and places as many chickens as indicated on the die into the Fox’s pockets. S/he may choose any pocket to put the chickens into. Before ending his/her turn, the player must firmly press the Fox’s head one time, until it clicks. If nothing happens, play follows the pecking order and continues left.

But watch out! Since the Fox is so greedy, he will end up losing his pants! When this happens, you must save the chickens as fast as you can by scooping them up one-by-one and placing them safely in your chicken coop. But watch out for FOWL play – you can only use one hand to rescue the chickens! If the Fox loses his pants and no one has a full chicken coop, keep the chickens you have and play again until at least one player has a full coop. This game is great for ages 4 and up. Two to Four players can play too.

On this #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5 foxes out of 5! We loved the learning piece to the game as you can do counting with your child to see how many chickens they have in their coops. But above all, it is super fun!

Game Contents:

  • 1 Fox and his pants
  • 21 Chickens
  • 4 Chicken coops
  • 1 Die
  • 1 Sticker Sheet

Giggle Wiggle

Some wiggling great times with Giggle Wiggle by Goliath Games. The object of this game is to be the first player to place all of your colored balls on your section of Giggle Wiggle’s hands. This game was balls of fun and you can’t help but wiggle along the way. 😉

So how do you play this fun game? Simple! Press the caterpillar button to start Giggle Wiggle moving! The race is on! Using your fingers, place your colored balls in the hand above your base section and work your way to the top. You must pick up any of your colored balls that Giggle Wiggle drops before you continue. The game unit will randomly rotate 360 degrees during play.

The first player to successfully place all of their colored balls in their section of Giggle Wiggle’s hands wins the game. This game is great for ages 4 and up. Two to Four players can play too.

On this #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5 wiggles out of 5! We loved the use of color, moving and the music. Most of all we love how fun it is!

Game Contents:

  • 28 Multi Colored Balls
  • 1 Giggle Wiggle Caterpillar
  • 1 Giggle Wiggle Base
  • 1 Sticker Sheet
  • Complete Instructions
  • Requires 3 AA batteries (not included)

Shark Bite

Watch out or the shark will bite! Shark Bite by Pressman Toy is an exciting game as you never know when the shark will come up to bite. I have to admit that I would close my eyes every time I would hook a sea creature with anticipation of the “jump.” The object of the game is to be the player who catches the most fish before the shark jumps.

So how do you play this fun game? Simple! The youngest player goes first, and the game continues clockwise. On your turn, you roll the die to indicate how many sea creatures you need to catch. Using your fishing rod, hook one sea creature at a time. You can choose whatever sea creatures you would like, but once you have hooked one, you must pull it up. If nothing happens after you catch all of your fish, the game continues. When the shark jumps, the round is over, and the player who has collected the most fish is the winner.

On this #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5 shark bites out of 5! We had a REEL-y great time playing and we love the use of hand-eye coordination. This game is great for ages 4 and up. Two to Four players can play too.

Game Contents:

  • 1 Hungry Shark
  • 12 colorful sea creatures
  • 1 fishing rod
  • 1 die
  • 1 sticker sheet
  • Complete instructions

Build Or Boom

Build or Boom by Goliath Games is a game that inspires so much and it encompasses lots of fun! The objective of the game is to be the first one to bring the blueprint cards to life. Build your structure quickly yet carefully on your platform. Then SMASH your boomer to send your opponent’s structure tumbling. There’s only room for one building in this town…do you have what it takes? Or will you get boomed on your way to the top? This game is perfect for two players and ages four and up.

We had a blast playing this game especially since I work in the construction industry. Therefore, I loved the idea of promoting construction in this fun and interactive game. There are so many skills that can be learned with this game such as building STEM skills such as analytical thinking and shape recognition.

This game is great for two players, ages 4 and up. On the #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 5+ booms out of 5! This is such a unique game and it is a much needed game for Family Game Night.

Game Contents:

  • 4 Boards
  • 4 Blocks
  • 4 Triangles
  • 4 Arches
  • 4 Cones
  • 4 I-Beams
  • 4 Barrels
  • 2 Builders
  • 30 Blueprint Cards
  • 2 Platforms
  • 2 Boomers
  • 2 Air Hoses
  • 1 Card Holder
  • Complete Instructions

There you have it! Our top 5 Games that will make Family Game Night great! Remember that you don’t need just one day to play games as any night or every night can be Family Game Night. We highly recommend to check out Goliath Games and Pressman Toy as they offer great quality games that can be enjoyed by all in the family.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

Travel

The Best Way to Travel Around China With Kids

Travelling anywhere with your children can be very challenging, but also rewarding if done right. Taking your children to China means opening them up to new sights, sounds, and smells, all whilst learning about this ancient civilisation that is rapidly connecting to the 21st century, but still maintaining the charms of a traditional way of life.

We’ve put together this brief guide on where to go with kids, and when to do it, so that both you as parents and your children can get the most fulfilment from your next trip to China.

Where to go

If you are going to travel around China with your kids, it is well worth planning your itinerary well ahead, keeping a tight schedule on travel arrangements, and ensuring that you fill most of the time with activities that your children will enjoy.

One of the main things to bear in mind, though, is that China is a large country, and not all places of interest are grouped close together. So, you should try your best to plan your itinerary so that travel distances are close. Otherwise, you could end up spending half of your time on public transport during your trip. Certainly, it is best to try and keep your kids occupied by cutting out these lengthy journeys.

Another thing worth doing in the planning phase is to learn as much as possible offered by different places in China, check out any cultural experiences or festivals coming up, and then plan your itinerary based on this, making it as kid friendly as possible. If you’re not entirely sure of what to do or where to go, then you could opt to enjoy tailor made China tours. We’ll give you a list of suggestions and places to go based on your preferences, and then you can easily create your ideal itinerary and tailor-made tour.

Here are some of the ideas we offer that your kids may enjoy:

¡         A rickshaw ride through the Hutongs of Beijing

¡         Making dumplings with a family cooking school, trying to keep the mess to a minimum!

¡         Sliding down the toboggan at the Great Wall of China

¡         Hiking and Biking around the Guilin or Yangshuo area

¡         Head to the Panda centre at Chengdu in Sichuan province

When to Go

You should try to avoid travelling around China during any public holiday. This is when the rest of China travels, and there are over a billion Chinese. The public transport networks will be clogged up, sometimes there are huge delays and even standstills, and this is not the kind of stress that you’d want when travelling with children.

However, going to China at these times could provide you with one of the best ways to soak in the best of Chinese culture, and is definitely advisable if you plan your itinerary well, as your kids are bound to love it.

Here are some of the major Chinese holidays in 2018:

¡         New Year’s Day                                   January 1, 2018

¡         Chinese New Year                               February 16-18 2018  

¡         Lantern Festival                                   March 2, 2018

¡         QinMing Festival                                 April 5, 2018

¡         May Day                                              May 1, 2018

¡         Childrens Day                                      June 1, 2018

¡         Dragon Boat Festival                           June 18, 2018

¡         Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival             September 24, 2018

¡         National Day and Golden Week          October 1-7, 2018

If you’d like any further suggestions on when to go or the kinds of activities you can do with your children on a trip to China, then please get in touch with a reliable China travel specialist, and they’d be glad to advise you.

Children's books, Reviews

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift From Your Little One

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, many start to wonder what would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift from a little one. I have often thought about that same very question myself and I have found the most perfect gift.

Let me introduce you to, Everything Is Mamma by Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy is one of the most popular entertainers in the world and NBC’s Tonight Show host. Therefore it is no surprise that he would write an adorable book just for Mama!

Now as a mom I know all to well of the “Everything Is Mamma” phase and with a three-year old daughter it is still all about Mamma (even if dad is right beside her, it is still always mamma). I have to admit that at times it is a little much but then I remember how we are their whole world so how can we blame them. 😉

This book is just that. Jimmy tells the story of animal mamas teaching their children different words; however, they only pick up on “Mama.” By the end of the book, the message is loud and clear. To our children it is all about Mama and to Mama they are our EVERYTHING! Such an important and beautiful message for our children to hear. We just loved this book so much that we are constantly reading it.

I need to mention that Nikki loved the book so much that she has memorized the momma and child parts of the book. Now she might have just memorized it but at the end of the day I was extremely proud that she was reading it! This is an amazing great start in my books so thank you Jimmy!

For this #MelAndNikkiReview we give Everything Is Mamma, 5 Mammas out of 5! It was simple to read, flowed nicely, illustrations were beautifully done and most important the message was spot on. This is why we think this would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift for any Mamma. Besides Mother’s Day is Everything About Mamma so why not get a book about her too! 😉

To purchase this lovely book, click here. Remember to hug your mom tightly and let her know how much you love her as moms are truly the best!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

Children's books, Reviews, Toys

The World’s First Healthy Eating Doll

We just love bringing new and exciting products to the attention of our readers especially when they have an impactful meaning. We were so intrigued when Dessi, the founder of Good For Kids connected with us to let us know about her Kickstarter Campaign which launches on May 8th, 2018.

Without further ado, we are delighted to introduce you all to The World’s First Healthy Eating Doll and Children’s picture book, Healthy Foods Are Fun To Eat. We got the first exclusive interview with Dessi and we are excited to share it!

  1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am a big dreamer and a mom to two amazing girls. I am also the Founder of GOOD FOR KIDS, a socially responsible start-up dedicated to launching products that are good for kids. Several years ago, I came up with the idea of creating a healthy eating toy and book that can inspire children to make healthy food choices. As a mom, I’ve struggled to keep my kids away from sugary junk and to get them to eat more fruits and veggies, so I decided to turn my idea into reality. Over the last year, I put an enormous amount of effort and passion into creating “The World’s First Healthy Eating Doll” and writing an adorable healthy eating picture book. I am delighted that both the toy and the book are now ready to share with the world!

  1. How is your product going to inspire healthy eating? How will it work?

The idea behind the Healthy Eating Doll and the book is to introduce children to the concept of making smart food choices. Reading and imaginative play are two of the most formative forces in childhood and they provide a great opportunity to teach children about health and good nutrition in a simple, fun and unobtrusive way.

Summer, “The World’s First Healthy Eating Doll”, is a smart magnetic doll that can easily tell which foods are good for her. She comes with a set of 20 colorful, wooden toy foods and a cute shopping bag. Healthy foods like apples, carrots, tomatoes, blueberries and broccoli stick to her mouth so she can “eat” them. If the doll is offered a lollipop however, she will not take it. The effect of tasting and touching the foods is accomplished through the use of hidden magnets, that are safely and inconspicuously embedded in the mouth and the hands of the doll. Summer can easily pick up healthy foods with her hands and bring them to her mouth. She really knows what’s good for her!

My children’s picture book “Healthy Foods Are Fun to Eat” is also a lot of fun. The book is filled with bouncy rhymes and gorgeous illustrations made entirely of fruits and veggies. It features food art created by over 10 talented artists from all around the world! We custom-printed one SUPER large copy of the book which is now the largest known healthy eating picture book in the world😊 This special, gigantic copy will travel to libraries, schools and children’s museums to spread the positive message of healthy eating.

  1. What inspired you to come up with this idea?

I am a healthy eating enthusiast and I have always looked for ways to get my children to love and appreciate wholesome foods. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. We live in a world filled with countless unhealthy temptations that even grown-ups like me find difficult to resist.

I came up with the idea for the healthy eating doll and book when I saw a girl sharing a real apple with her doll and saying: “Here, eat this. It’s good for you!” It was so refreshing to see how this little mommy wanted the best for her “child”. We all want our kids to grow up happy and healthy and this beautiful experience inspired me to create the educational toy and book.

  1. Tell me a little bit about your Kickstarter Campaign and how people can help.

Right now, the doll and the book are available to pre-order on Kickstarter and I would be thrilled if you could check them out. It’s a boundless sea of information out there and Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing fundraising platform (you only get funded if you reach your minimum fundraising goal). If you like the idea PLEASE support on Kickstarter and share, share, share to help me bring this project to life!

  1. Is there anything else that you would like to add for our readers about your company?

Thank you so much for asking! We are a tiny start-up and this is our first product launch. The long-term vision is to develop the company as a specialty children’s brand dedicated to bringing great products to the market, while at the same time giving back to children in need. Our GOOD FOR KIDS business-social formula for success is simple: Good Products for a Good Cause, and we hope that we can make a positive impact on raising a happy and healthy new generation.

We just love this idea and we honestly think the design of the doll and book are adorable!

Children do mimic what they see and if the doll is eating healthy, it can definitely be a great motivator for them to eat healthy too. I know that my daughter got excited when she saw the doll’s photo as I wrote this piece and started to ask if she could get one. When I explained how the doll works, she was even more excited and told me that she wants to eat healthy too. I have to say this is a great start and she doesn’t even have the doll at hand yet! Therefore, this gets our stamp of approval!

If you would like to support the Kickstarter campaign, make sure to visit them here. Also follow them along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

We would like to give a special thank you to Dessi for giving us at Momma Braga the first exclusive interview on her great product!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

Motherhood, Parents

Things To Consider When Buying Baby Hampers Online

Are you looking for the perfect gift for baby or a mum-to-be but just can’t decide what to get? Why not play it safe and get a hamper? It’s the ultimate way to spoil someone special. Here are some tips for buying the perfect baby hamper online.

  1. Know the Recipient

Mums-to-be need diapers and bottles, but it doesn’t mean they’ll love the contents of all baby hampers. The trick is to know what your recipient really likes and then pick a hamper to match her taste.

For instance, if she has a sweet tooth, what about a pamper hamper complete with sugary treats and chocolates, and perhaps even a bottle of wine, all for after baby is born. Or, if she’s a hands-on mum who prefers practical gifts, perhaps a hamper with a receiving blanket, nappies and pacifiers is the way to go.

Just don’t buy the first hamper you see. Browse through the entire range until you find one the recipient will really enjoy.

  1. Don’t Forget the Basket

While the contents are of course the most important part of the hamper, you should also spare a thought for presentation.

When you buy a hamper, you’ll notice there are a few different kinds of baskets. A picnic basket is the most traditional, but there are other options worth considering. Wooden carry baskets with handles make a stunning alternative and you could even paint them to add a pop of colour.

With a lovely basket to hold all her goodies, mum-to-be gets to enjoy two gifts in one, as she can use the basket to carry baby items once emptied.

  1. Don’t Panic Buy

Don’t leave it until the baby shower is just around the corner to pick out the perfect hamper. If you leave it until too late to buy a hamper online, you may encounter limited options and delayed deliveries.

  1. Always Check Delivery Dates

Once you’ve found the perfect baby hamper, you need to make sure it will arrive in time. Failing to check delivery dates and times is a common error when ordering items online. But, don’t assume whatever you order is just going to arrive within a few days. Some items may need to be sources for the hamper or could even be out of stock.

Be sure to check the delivery times in advance and place your hamper order with plenty of time to spare.

  1. Consider the Occasion

When it comes to buying a hamper, it can be too easy to concentrate on the recipient and contents but forget all about the occasion. New parenthood, welcoming a baby and even birthday hampers are all fantastic gift ideas, each with their own special nuances to represent the occasion. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • For new parents – A baby hamper is a great gift for new parents and gives them a much-needed boost, so you could include treats for mum and dad and a bouquet of flowers, too. You could even add something for baby, like a pair of booties or a little teddy.

Keep these tips in mind when buying a hamper online and you’re sure to get it perfectly right!

Parents, Tips

How To Prepare Your Family For Interstate Moving

Moving can be quite the unforgettable adventure, especially if you know the place you’re moving to is something you know you’d like to live in. However, preparing the family for moving interstate isn’t just a matter of asking everyone to pack. Here’s how to prepare your family for interstate moving, and how you can move in without hassle.

Simply Self Storage numbers indicate that a myriad of individuals actually use moving services, although 44-percent of their respondents are from individuals. Other users include corporate (36-percent), and the military (16-percent). 73-percent of things moved are household goods, with 20-percent being office equipment. Here are tips to prepare your family for the “big day”:

 

  • Assess everything you own with a thorough spring clean. This is especially if you’ve been living in your previous home for quite some time. Make sure you inspect every nook and cranny of your previous household and have a record of what you own and where everything is. This allows you to prepare what to take and what to leave behind.
  • Are you sure you need everything? Try to assess if there’s clutter you’ve saved but don’t exactly need and consider either selling them or throwing them away. This is because long distance movers can be quite expensive if you’ve decided to bring everything with you. If you do want to keep some clutter, try to assess how much of the costs would be allocated to them, and if you can carry that burden.
  • If you have large appliances, consider selling them. True, they might be a bit of a hassle buying newer appliances in your new area, but consider the costs of bringing the large appliances with you compared to buying a brand new one. Chances are, your old appliances might be in disrepair and may need replacement soon, anyway.
  • Get the right kind of equipment. If you’re hiring a moving company to help you, make sure you help them by getting the right kind of boxes to store your belongings in. Don’t just use boxes from the local store, as they’re built to handle groceries and not books, ornaments, and dishes. Label the boxes properly, too, and make your own inventory.
  • Get yourself a reliable moving company. If you’re moving interstate, chances are you may have shortlisted a few moving companies to help you along the way. Find best rated interstate moving companies that are not only able to move to the state with a relatively reasonable rate, but choose one that’s reputable and licensed.
  • Prepare for the move earlier, if it’s possible. Try to make sure you start and finish packing a few days before the actual move happens, as this can alleviate both you and your mover when it comes to any last-minute concerns. If you need to say goodbye to neighbors and friends, try to hold a party a few weeks before the move itself, so you have enough time to prepare.
  • Make sure to keep in touch with your moving company. Establishing good connection with your moving company can at least give you some measure of guarantee on the safety and security of your belongings throughout the move. This also allows you to properly follow-up on important matters, especially when there are sudden changes to weather and traffic.

Conclusion

If there’s anything the points above have taught us, it’s that interstate moving takes more than just preparing your things and hiring a mover to do the heavy-lifting for you. It takes knowledge on the location and the logistics, a keen eye on safety, and awareness to one’s surroundings are just some things to help ensure interstate moving is done without a hitch.

 

Steve Acker

Steve Acker has been writing as a frustrated novelist for the past 15 years, and he’s got into blog writing very recently thanks to the suggestion of a friend. As a contributor to sites such as 9kilo, Steve has applied his creative flair to his pieces, making them entertaining and informative at the same time. He loves reading books and talking with his friends in the nearby coffee shop if he has the time.

 

Entertainment, Movies

Great Mom’s Night Out | Tully Hits Theatres

There is no denying that motherhood is one of the hardest jobs to do in the world. Often times a mother’s reality is forgotten on the sacrifices, hard work and dedication that is done every single day.

Motherhood is full of laughs, love, triumphs, challenges and at times a lot of crazy. Sometimes a night out is what we need and there is a movie hitting theatres just in time for a mom’s night out.

Tully is about Marlo (Charlize Theron), a mother of three including a newborn who goes through many of the challenges of motherhood. Then she is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Mark Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis).

Tully is a new comedy from Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Starring in the movie is Charlize Theron (Academy Award® winner), Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston.

If you are looking for a mom’s night out then this would make a perfect film to check out!

Special thank you to Universal Films Canada for the opportunity to promote Tully and host a giveaway on our Facebook page (contest only valid on May 4, 2018).

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

–          Momma Braga