Our Mommyhood

With the costs of food, clothing and gasoline rising every month, many families face tighter budgets than ever before. Even people in stable jobs with reliable incomes are finding that, due to the higher costs of necessities, they have less money for nonessential items. These economic realities are forcing parents to examine every expenditure in [...]

As they approach their junior and senior years in high school, many teens begin to consider what types of careers would be good fit. Many of these young people are intimidated with the enormity of this choice, as it has a long-lasting impact on the future. Choosing the wrong major in college can mean not [...]

What mom doesn’t want a great watch — unlike your cell phone clock, a watch stays put while you’re balancing kids, groceries!  What woman wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a watch that may quickly become damaged while wrestling with the kids? Moms make note: if you know where to look and how to [...]

As an adult, you probably dislike doing chores as much as your kids do. The trick to convincing your kids to do household chores is to think of ways to turn them into a game or contest. You can also personalize the chores so that your children take a special joy in getting them done. With a bit of creativity, chore-time can turn into fun-time for your entire family (including you!).

No mom wants to see their kids get sick. Maybe more importantly, no mom wants to experience the downtime of being sick themselves. This is where preventative health strategies come into play. By working towards keeping your children and yourself healthy, you can save costs on medical care, save the stress that comes with worry [...]

As a mom to toddlers, I questioned when I should begin to teach my children financial responsibility. Should I start now? Should I wait until they were teenagers? Would my toddlers even understand the concept of money? After doing a bit of research, I decided that now was as good a time as any to [...]

However, there are a few tools that can be used to make life flow a bit more smoothly. All of the major must-haves for the car can be divided into two categories: keeping the car clean and keeping the kids (and mom) happy.

Is bedtime at your house one of the worst times during your day? If you have a child who refuses to go to bed you are likely familiar with bedtime tantrums and frantically searching for a way to put an end to the chaos that happens at the end of the day. The following are a few tips for dealing with your child’s bedtime tantrums that many parents have found helpful.

The holidays and weeks following bring family time, presents, and plenty of cheer. When your kids are home from school, keep their protection in mind and take the following precautions to make sure their time off is fun and safe

Unfortunately, a large part of the responsibility of driving is being aware of other drivers on the road. Not only do you have to worry about your own driving but you have to pay close attention to how others sharing the road with you are driving. This responsibility is heightened when it comes to sharing [...]

If your kids are bored with the regular amusement parks and games, perhaps it’s time to locate some truly weird ones to keep them amused. Others have come with the idea before you, which is why the list of weird amusement parks in this article exists!

Every season I clean out my closets and donate my unworn clothes to the charity shop. My rule of thumb: if I haven’t worn it in six months, out it goes. When looking in my jewelry box for something to wear a few mornings ago, the thought occurred to me that I’ve never done the [...]

Finding time to relax around the holidays can be difficult. During Christmas we shop, cook, bake and clean, on top of our normal work schedules and errands. It’s important to slow down during the holiday season to avoid fatigue and general holiday burn-out. It’s also important to slow down to avoid having a house full [...]

If you are feeling a pain in your wallet, it’s because the holidays are here. Gift giving gets expensive very quickly but there are a few ways to soften the suffering.

The thought of a family road trip can make the strongest parent shake in their boots. Visions of screaming children cooped up in a car for hours on end are enough to make you want to cancel the trip before it begins. Happily, taking a holiday road trip doesn’t mean that you have to suffer. [...]

Do you ever get to the end of the month and wonder where all your money went? I know I do. I decided to take charge of the situation and start a family budget this year. We seem to always take into account the “big ticket” items, but everyday purchases can really add up. My [...]

Here in Ohio, winter weather driving is something that simply must be done. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it and driving through several feet of snow is not uncommon. As such, we’re used to readying our cars for the season to ensure our family’s safety. Whether this is your first winter weather driving season or [...]

Do you remember the first time someone called you a name? What about the first time your childhood friend told you that she didn’t want to be your friend anymore? These scenarios are very real in every child’s memories. They can shape or even destroy their future.

What happens when all your little one wants for Christmas is a puppy? Every parent wants to make their children’s wishes come true, but how do you decide whether or not a pet is the right wish? As an animal behaviorist and pet sitter for over 15 years, here are some suggestions to keep in mind before rushing out to the local pet store this year.

If your child has the chance to travel abroad, be it for school or another organization, the thought of letting them go can be incredibly stressful. What will they need? Will they be safe? There are no doubt dozens of questions running through your mind. Here are the things you and your child will need [...]

Back-to-school shopping and buying clothes as the season changes can really put a strain on your budget. Kids grow a mile a minute so how do you keep up with their wardrobe without breaking the bank? Most parents have had to get resourceful in these tough economic times, so how do you keep your kids [...]

In this technological age, many concerns have risen regarding the amount of time children spend in front of computer and television screens, especially playing video games. Mothers tell their children screen time is limited to avoid future vision problems, health issues from radiation, obesity, and even the potential for ADHD.

Ornella Grosz. At only 28 years old, she has become the go-to person for financial advice for generation X and Y. She has been featured by many news casts on NBC, ABC, FOX, and CBS. Along with her critically acclaimed “How-to” book, she serves as a financial expert for the Atlanta Post.

Usually this time of year brings on thoughts of what we’re going to buy the family, and what we want ourselves this Christmas. I think it’s important to not lose sight of what this time of year is really about. Shouldn’t it really be about giving back to others less fortunate and helping those in [...]

Establishing traditions doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive or time consuming. If you can’t afford the time and money to travel to a condo, there are plenty of small things you can do at home to make any occasion special.

No, it’s not an oxymoron. Christmas and the holiday season can be more peaceful for you and your family. Disbelief is probably your first reaction to this suggestion but with a few great tips and some seasonal “wishful thinking,” you too can be calm for Christmas! Organize the Mayhem First things first, you need to [...]

So today I’m here to remind all you mothers to take advantage of all those teenagers looking for babysitting jobs! Hire one! If you and your significant other don’t have an evening a week or every two weeks set aside for a date night, get started. You need to remember what it is like to be with each other, no distractions (and let’s face it, as much as we love them, children are major distractions). Be romantic – and not just in the bedroom. Be cute in public at a dinner outside on the patio of your favorite restaurant (that you don’t go to anymore because it isn’t quite kid-friendly).

If you have to downsize because you can’t afford your mortgage or you need to save some extra money, it can be a blessing in disguise. A smaller home does not have to feel cramped, and the word “cozy” does not have to evoke images of family members squeezing into a too-tight house. Downsizing is [...]

Always the Planner’s post “My Basics”, which includes a list of 50 classic items for your wardrobe, is my intervention. She lists all the basics for your entire wardrobe and even shares how to find them at budget prices (Now we are talking!).

Growing up for girls in this world is a lot harder than it used to be, though it is getting better, with more representation of different body types among models. But perhaps the most important thing that you can get across to young girls these day is that it isn’t about losing weight to be skinny, it is about being healthy, of which losing weight can be a byproduct.

With the growing use of computers and television it seems as though children are spending less and less time outside. If you would like to see your kids playing outdoor games rather than video games, you may want to consider creating a “child-friendly” yard area. Below are a few ideas that can get your children and their friends outside and give them a deeper appreciation of their natural surroundings.

Do you have a little jingle to encourage your toddler to “go potty”? As I wait with pent up anticipation for that momentous soundof “plop” or trickle, my mind goes crazy making up songs.

Taking the kids to a restaurant can be a chaotic, embarrassing, and downright unpleasant experience at times. But eating at home all the time can get boring. Kids thrive on change. They also thrive on novelty. Why not pack the car with a nutritious picnic the next time you need to get out of the house? Whether it’s rainy or sunny, summer or winter, a picnic is a fun way to spend the day with the kids.

What is glamping? It is the term for a new type of vacation that takes ordinary camping to a new glamorous level. Now, before you start getting visions of leaky pup tents, outhouse toilets, and fighting off the bugs, glamping is a completely different experience. Imagine staying in a tent the size of a large room and sleeping on 500 thread count sheets stretched over a deluxe mattress—instead of fidgeting on the hard ground in a musty sleeping bag that has been in your attic all

Bringing a pet into your life and the life of your children can be a wonderful experience. But rather than making an impulse purchase, selecting a pet should be a thoughtful decision that makes everyone happy and prevents the pet from possibly ending up back in a shelter.

You can still create the wedding of your dreams without planners, overpriced hotels or reception halls, caterers, big bands and all of the other trappings that can make a wedding both costly and impersonal. Below are some ideas to help you create a good, old fashioned—and affordable—wedding.

So am I the only mom who doesn’t know that swim diapers don’t hold urine? This is a warning that should be on the label or something, don’t you think?

You may have always dreamed of taking a trip abroad, but then the kids came along and things, well they just changed. Instead of waiting until your frolicking brood leaves the nest, why not put some plans into motion for a future trip to the fabulous island of Great Britain.

Pets are part of the family and they can make long days on the road go by more quickly, and help your hotel room feel like home. But traveling with pets can require more preparation than traveling with kids. While children are allowed everywhere, many hotels, attractions, and beaches just don’t allow pets. Dogs are also great security on the road, and will alert you if anyone approaches the car—so if you’re on a solo trip be sure to consider including your pet in your travels.

Nowadays you can bully someone anonymously from your computer or mobile phone on the most public of platforms with the rest of the world for an audience. And this is exactly what’s happening.

Advice for graduates of 2011. What would you say to the class of 2011? I would tell them to be true to themselves, don’t let others tell them how to live their lives. Embrace change. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ignore the naysayers. Savor the beautiful moments in life.

I just read the best article at the Business Insider, Getting Shouted at Makes You Work Harder, But Not Smarter. They researched a number of students and tried different methods for delivering the same message – one with anger and the other neutrally. Anger seemed to cause the students to think only in black and white and remain focused on the anger, it blocked all creativity in their problem solving.

School is out and summer is here. What do we do with all of this extra time? How do we keep our children entertained? Tea parties, trips to the zoo and so much more – all on a budget.

For women who make history, I vote for Maxine Clark. Her tenacity and passion for doing what she loved turned her into a corporate giant. The first store was opened in 1997, today there are approximately 400 stores worldwide and they have sold over 50 million bears.

well behaved women seldom make history. What is it that makes women of history? What do they have that women have today? There is one commonality from those women to the women of today.

Despite there being many differences between humans and insects both often share a common space: the home. Unfortunately when insects reveal themselves to humans people generally attack with harsh chemicals spraying poisons in the air that kill the little critters but also create serious health risks for the entire family.

Why do we break down at the most inappropriate times?

Want to feel sorry for yourself today? Sometimes I just have these feelings, no matter what I try to do to change it.

Celebrating the important moments in life, family. Seeking shelter in the storms of life.

Training for a marathon, trying to find time to train. As a mom of two, how she finds time to run and train.

Charming Charlie – the most amazing accessory store yet! They have everything for everyone and for every style. Not to mention great prices!

“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” By LinYutan by Vincenzo DI Nuzzo courtesy of Flickr.com I hope you are appreciated today for being you.  It goes without saying that a mom’s job, IS the most important job!  It doesn’t come with pay grades, bonuses or awards – BUT, [...]

Let’s admit it. Dating before marriage was fun, exciting, and just plain fun!  When the honeymoon phase fizzles out after the wedding date, it’s easy to get sucked in to every day life and lose the fire that pulled us and our hubbies together.  Work, kids, chores, and millions of activities allow us to use [...]

We just received a press release about a great new children’s gym, Great Play.  It was developed by Jyl and Keith Camhi (Stamford, CT).  Their mission was to make a fun place for kids to get off to a good, well-rounded start in life.  The focus of the program is to teach children skills that [...]

By Betsy, Editor, Funky Mama Bird, (@funkymamabird) I love Mom’s Night Out. No. That’s not strong enough. Mom’s Night Out is my lifeline, my oxygen, my one and only chance to get out of the house some months. To put on lipstick and heels and feel like someone other than “Mama” for a few hours. [...]