If you are a mom who does home base jobs, then you might probably have your little corner to get your work done. That little corner could literally be just a small corner inside your house or a room that is really not suitable for all your electronic stuff like your desktop PC.

For 2012, you may want to re-organize and redesign your home office to increase your productivity. First thing that you need to do is to rearrange your storage area. You can utilize your walls to build wall cabinets so that you can remove all unnecessary stuff inside your computer cabinet.

You might also want to reposition your working desk. Why not create a U-shaped work area so that everything you need will be easily accessible. Check your lighting system too! If your home office has bad lighting, chances are you will not be productive and you might experience problems with your eyesight too.

Wii Fit is probably one of the best Wii games ever made. Although Nintendo didn’t claim that by playing Wii Fit, it will help you lose weight or become a healthy person. The game actually encourages people to become more physically active minus the boredom.

Nonetheless, by simply playing Wii Fit, you can perform some exercise routines which will serve as a complement for your regular exercise programs. It does not aim to substitute going to the gym but can be a good way to warm up.

Playing Nintendo game like Wii Sports will also help burn some calories. The Wii golf game will burn around 3 calories per minute and the game of tennis can actually burn 8 calories in one minute. There is still a huge difference between playing the real game instead of playing just the Wii games.

You will definitely sweat it out when playing Wii Sports or Wii Fit but the caloric burning is not as intense as when you actually execute the real thing. However, it is enough to help in your muscle endurance to make you perform the regular exercise routines a lot easier.

Christmas is a very special occasion, thus you need to have a special look on your Christmas dinner with the family and on Christmas day itself. If you are not really into makeup, then its time that you learn how to do your own Christmas makeup.

If you are used to using the thin eyeliner type, then you may want to experiment a little by using its colored version. Or you may opt to have the smoky eyes, it would be much easier to magnify the beauty of your eyes if you have used one of those best eyelash growth products so it would be easier to twirl your eyelashes. As for your blush, you may opt for a brighter blush that what you used to wear. However, if you are not quite happy with the result, you can always tone it down.

The real secret of a beautiful Christmas makeup is the inner peace that you feel from within. It will surely come out without so much effort. If you are happy, there is a certain glow that no makeup artist can ever imitate.

Before moms would finally print the Christmas gifts wish lists from their acer laptop computers, it would not hurt if you share some information about Chrismtas to your little ones. Aside from being one of the widely celebrated events in the world is Christmas. The Christmas customs and traditions vary from one place to another.

However when it comes to Christmas symbols, these things are almost universal. Whenever people see any of these symbols it signifies that Christmas has come. Aside from the angels with trumpets and Santa Claus; there are other symbols which are attached to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

• The Christmas star is one of the popular symbols of Christmas. The star is related to the birth of Christ in the manger and it symbolizes hope.
• The Mistletoe symbolizes love and peace. Kissing under the mistletoe could mean lasting friendship or long lasting love relationship.
• The Christmas stocking is hung by the fireplace because kids believe that Santa Claus pass through the chimney. The empty stocking will be filled with goodies and gifts from the jolly old man in red.

These are just some of the symbols associated with Christmas. Since Christmas is for kids, once they see any of these things they start to feel excited. Kids also make sure that they are nice all the time to receive presents from Santa Claus. This big and jolly guy has a full list of the kids who were naughty and nice as one of the favourite Christmas song goes.

Birthday party will not be complete without the “goody bags” to giveaway. There are so many party favour ideas that you can choose from, among the party giveaways include:

• CD duplication of your child’s favourite songs or even cartoon movies. Sharing your child’s favourite to your guests is like sharing your child’s personality with them too.
• Art supplies are also one of the great party favors that both boys and girls will enjoy. These supplies will inspire the kids’ creative minds.
• Sweets such as candies and chocolates. Most kids love to eat sweets and a bag full of favourite candies is a sure treat for all your kiddie guests.

Who says electronic gadgets are for adults only? Today, there are gadgets made just for the little ones. If mom and dad have their own Ipad, there is a version for the kids known as VTech InnoTab Interactive Learning Tablet. It is not as expensive as Ipads but it will definitely provide a fun learning experience for your child.

Another electronic gadget which is going to be a perfect Christmas present is portable DVD players for kids. This will keep your child busy during a long drive and you will be spared from hearing the endless question of “Mom/Dad, are we there yet?”

If you plan to buy your child any of these electronic gadgets, make sure that you have spare batteries. There are all sorts of batteries available like Lithium-Ion and 9v batteries online. As early as now, you can start making the Christmas list so you would not have to experience Christmas rush!

Women who are busy with work tend to forget about staying in tip-top shape because they are too busy with work and personal affairs. They fail to miss out the most important thing of integrating healthier elements in their lives. When they start to gain weight they can always try to get a bottle of those fat burners to solve weight issues. Living a healthy lifestyle is essential to achieve the goals in life. Here are some common unhealthy practices done by working moms which can have an effect in their health in the long run:

• Skipping breakfast. Moms always remind their kids to eat breakfast, but oftentimes they fail to do it themselves.
• No regular workout routines – make a schedule on when you should do your workout and strictly adhere with it.
• Low intensity workouts ; if you wish to burn more calories do high intensity workouts.

How young is young when it comes to giving your kids their own electronic gadgets such as cellphone like Atrix 4G or their own netbooks? Most kids would want to have any of these gadgets because of peer pressure. There are parents who allow their kids to own a mobile phone.

It is important for parents to recognize that kids nowadays are so much into electronic gadgets. Mobile phones are considered as necessity by the younger generation.Decide on what type of model to buy since the sole purpose of the cellphones is to stay connected and not anything else.

If the kids would want to have a netbook or laptop; decide on buying one desktop computer for the whole family to use. This could help parents in monitoring the websites that the kids visit.

In purchasing any of these electronic gadgets, consider the budget. It is also a good way to teach kids on how to save money to buy the things they want to have.

There is no denying it, kids can’t resist playgrounds. But before the little ones enjoy the see-saw, slides and monkey bars like those found in connecticut jungle gyms; moms should these playground safety tips. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. So while your little ones are busy in the playground, moms should:

• Stay alert and attentive all the time. As much as possible avoid too much socializing with other moms.
• Inform the kids on what playground equipment they are allowed to play around. There are age appropriate equipment, direct your kids to the ones suitable to their age.
• Check out for playground hazards, look for sharp edges, nails and broken glasses.

Most moms would like to earn money without leaving the comfort of their homes. There are various ways to earn from home for work-at-home-moms.

• If you have administrative background, mommies can apply as virtual assistant. Duties may vary from scheduling of meetings, answering emails and other administrative duties.
• Moms can set-up their own blogs and be able to earn from different forms of advertisements for blogs. There are free blog host servers but for those who wish to have their own domain; it is important to find the most reliable host for your blog just like Bluehost.
• For those who do not intend to work online, they can start home-based businesses such as daycares and catering services.

The possibilities to earn money from home are definitely endless. Mommies should be resourceful and creative to discover these endless opportunities.

Time is gold for busy moms. Every second is important in order to finish tasks whether it is work or home related. But busy moms should not look like a disenfranchised maid despite the demands of motherhood and work. Here are some quick beauty tips for busy mommies:

• Instead of using separate moisturizer and sunblock, why not find a moisturizer which can double as sunscreen too. In that way, you can take your kids to the park without having to put sunblock.
• Find a shampoo and conditioner combination that works. It will not only save you money, but it will also save time in applying them separately.
• Take time to learn about natural cosmetic treatments, you will be amazed on how the items you buy in grocery stores can help remove age spots.
• Of course, drink plenty of water there are a lot of amazing benefits that water can provide.

Remember that even moms are in a stressful environment, it is still best to look good all the  time.

There is no other job as demanding as being a full-time mom. Imagine how hard it is to raise kids amidst the bad things happening around the world and society. There are so many things happening like calamities, disasters, road and Maritime accident; these bad news are overwhelming. Mothers would always fear about the safety of their children.

Moms are humans too, and sometimes the responsibilities put their patience into test. Moms come to a certain point when everything seems to be too much. The energy needs to be revitalized in order continue the mothering task.

Even though mothering task is a 24/7 job and responsibility, it can be fun too. Here are some tips on how to make mothering fun:

• Make it known to the kids that Mommy is in-charge of running the show and not them. Mommies are the ones in charge in setting the tone of their own homes. If mom is not happy it means that the entire household is unhappy too. The kids base their emotions on how mommy feels. If you want a happy home, then Mommy should always be happy too.
• Moms are expected to know everything inside their homes, so moms should be organized. But it does not mean that moms should be perfect! A disorganized home adds to the stress that mommy feels. So better keep everything in order in order to lower the stress level of being a mom.
• Every mom deserves “Me” time too! A good massage will definitely revitalize the energy of every mom. A couple of minutes alone would keep the balance in the lives of every mom. Mommies are not super human beings, they need a break too. Self-care is important for mommies.

How important is daily routine in a mother’s life?

I am a person who can’t live without routine or plans and getting organized beforehand.  With my schedule last Thursday I wonder if all moms are having the same dilemma as I do chasing time and keeping myself going until the end of the day.

5am – got up from bed; made sure everything’s ready for hubby in the bathroom (towel, shaver, etc.)

5:20 – prepared breakfast for hubby;

5:30 – helped hubby dress up (he has difficulty dressing himself up due to mobility problems);

5:45 – breakfast with hubby;

6am – hubby left for work; prepared kids’ breakfast; cooked lunch for ivana’s lunch box, packed and got her school bag ready;

6:45 – woke up the kids; quick wash in the bathroom; dressed them up for the day;

7am – fed kids their breakfast; put washing in the machine; clean bedrooms while kids are having breakfast; dressed myself up for the day;

8am – hanged clothes;  clean up table, washed the dishes;

8:20 – brought Ivana to school;

9:30 – appointment – meeting;

10:30 – KMart – bought some stuff for kids;

11am – brought Alvin to his hairdresser for a haircut;

12mn – Alvin’s swimming lesson;

12:45pm – lunch;

1:30 – Coles, bought groceries and something to cook for dinner;

2:30 – Picked up Ivana from school;

3:30 – back home; prepared snack for kids, while preparing all the ingredients for dinner

4:30 – give kids shower;

5pm – cook dinner;

6pm – fed kids their dinner;

6:30 – helped Ivana with her homework;

7:15 – fed hubby and mother-in-law dinner;

8pm – clean up kitchen;

8:20 – get kids ready for bed, bedtime stories;

8:30 – 9pm – a bit of rest….haaaahh!!! At LAST!

9pm – shower

10pm onwards – waited for hubby to get tired in front of the television, brought him upstairs for shower…

I finish my day between 11pm to 12pm everyday…  In between those times I also have to squeeze in cleaning in the house and other errands.

Looking back, I now fully understand and exactly feel my mom’s daily routine when we were still young.  It is amazing how mothers can do all these in a day.

When my kids are already grown up, hopefully, they will also understand why their mom used to get so cranky at times, nag, and say things that made them feel I didn’t care.  Truly, indeed, motherhood teaches a lot of lessons one can only realize when she becomes a mother herself.

They said that growing strawberries is not only very rewarding in terms of harvest.  The beauty of strawberry plants and its fruits is itself a feast for our eyes.  Growing strawberries could also be the easiest fruit crops to grow in your garden.

I am very thrilled to see my strawberries turning their color from green to red.  My kids were so excited when they saw the strawberries half red.  The strawberry plants we bought were still in the pot.  I can’t wait until our front garden is ready to occupy our strawberries.  My brother-in-law will finish cleaning the garden and have it ready for us to plant strawberries and herbs.

Strawberry plants are ideal to grow in cool weather.  The ideal time to grow strawberries is during spring or after winter.  They are easy to grow and low-maintenance as well.

Few of the most important tips in growing strawberries are as follows:  (1)  water it daily; (2) the soil should not be too wet nor dry; (3) keep your strawberry patch free from weeds; (4) it is best to make sure the strawberries don’t get in contact with the soil to allow good air flow and for them to ripen more evenly. Gauze-matting is a good idea.

It’s the start again of another month. I am really hoping that this will be a more productive month than last month.  It was unimaginable how my responsibilities as a mother to my kids and wife to my husband made me on my feet most hours of the day.  That includes running around the household to finish the never-ending chores.  Being outside the household makes no difference; it cannot be an escape.  My multi-tasking as a grocery-shopper, driver, post woman, bill payer and a lot more makes my time everyday flies.

I think I deserve a break.  But do moms really get a break?  Lucky are those who can afford to get helpers at home.  Oftentimes, I wonder why here in this beautiful country house helpers are not common unlike in the Philippines.  Back home it is affordable to get helpers and even personal drivers.  And now I am dreaming…wishful thinking.  But life now is different.  Things change…even the direction of lives we’re heading to.  I think few years back, when destiny brought me here, my life’s direction has completely changed.  A very active, responsible and extremely challenging life.

Perhaps, for now, a good mug of my favorite coffee with lots of cream will do me a favor of few minutes of break.

How do you recover from flu faster?

R E S T….

M O R E  S L E E P…

E A T  W E L L…

R E L A X…

It is so easy to say.

This is my third day of being sick.  Winter started few days ago and flu is very common.  I felt better now though in the sense that i don’t have the fever anymore, but the colds is still here as well the headache.  I also got rid of my body ache.  Thank God, at least I can do more at home now although I still refuse to work much online.  Exposing myself in front of the computer for a long period of time aggravates my headache.

It will take few more days before I get back to normal.  When I say normal that simply means without colds, sneezing, blowing of nose and headache.  As everything still seems to be the usual routine even when I am sick.  I have no choice.  I have to do chores, or else everything will pile up.  I still have to do the usual shopping routine or grocery trips, driving, running errands, bringing and picking up the kids from school.

All I am depending on now is my ever loyal Panadol (lol!), lots of water, not to forget – lots of coffee as well, 6 hours of sleep which is longer than usual.  No matter what happens, moms have huge responsibilities in the family.  We are not actually allowed to get sick.  Thus, it is very important to look after ourselves and make sure that we do not take ourselves and our health for granted.  We are precious.  P R E C I O U S…tell that to yourself.  It will make and motivate you more to love yourself.  Have a great day everyone.