As you know, I’m very close to giving birth to our baby boy. I have about two weeks left, unless the baby decides to make a grand unscheduled entrance beforehand. Things are quite hectic in our house as we prepare for his arrival, but also for the many other events happening in December: baby girl’s birthday and birthday party, holiday-related events/parties, and of course, Christmas itself. December has always been a busy month in our family, but this year it’s even busier with the new addition.

I’ve been busy working on scheduling posts for when I go on maternity leave, wrapping up business items, etc., in an effort to leave things “in order” for when I take some time off. You may remember that I have a loose plan for preparing for the upcoming changes in our family’s work-life balance. I’ve definitely had to slow down the last few weeks as I get further along in the pregnancy and focus on the must-do tasks before I run out of time.

Because of all that, you may find that some days I have more to share than others. So, today, I want to share other blog posts that you may be interested in reading. Some are mine and others are from within my blogging community. All are worth a click.

Around my Community

The Kids Are Alright – Marta of My Big Fat Cuban Family shares how this year’s Thanksgiving was very different for her and why she’s ok with that. I saw a bit of my family reflected in this post, so it was a wonderful read.

Spanish Tips for Semi-Latinas – Marta’s Tiki Tiki Blog partner, Carrie, shares some humorous tips for speaking Spanish even when you don’t know how.

Exploring Culture as Part of Your Curriculum – Ideas for integrating learning about a culture into a homeschooling curriculum.

Twitter Moms Sponsor Campaigns: Contest Or Call For Submissions? – She Posts covers the Twitter Moms debate on whether certain campaigns should really be called contests.

Green Eggs & Facebook: 15 Social Media Tips from Dr. Seuss – Applying lessons from Dr. Seuss to social media.

Mentioning Me

Women in Blogging: 125 Fearless Female Bloggers – Kristi Hines of Kikolani provides a list full of interesting women bloggers and includes yours truly! Some amazing women are featured, so definitely take a minute to check them out.

Spotlight on Melanie Edwards: Blogger & Entrepreneur – Angelica Perez of New Latina aims to empower Latinas to be successful and live balanced lives. She frequently highlights Latina businesswomen, bloggers, and artists. Click over to read my interview on New Latina.

Written by Me

Tubes Tied or Vasectomy? – I debate whether or not I want to have a tubal ligation as we approach the birth date and have no plans for more children.

Keeping your Online Personal Brand Consistent – Tips for developing your personal brand and keeping it consistent across social media.

Do you have some blog posts to share with us? Either your own or others you found useful and worth a read?

Why Start an Online Home Business using a Blog?
By: Trent Brownrigg

These days almost everyone has heard of blogs. To put it simply a blog is a web site that is made up of posts about a certain topic and is updated regularly. However, that is the very simple definition. A blog can be so much more than that. If you are starting an online home business with a small budget then there are many ways a blog can help.

First, with a few clicks of your mouse you can get your thoughts, sale pitches, business articles and various web page links out to the world by publishing it on your blog. This is especially great if you have started your online home business using any type of affiliate marketing. You as a blog owner registers with an affiliate program of your choice and then you put various links, banners, products, reviews on your blog. When visitors click on these links and purchase a product, you will be paid a commission for generating the sale. How much easier can it get?

The second way a blog can help in starting your online home business is that it is a lot cheaper then getting a web site. You can start a blog for free with services like blogger.com. Compare that to buying a domain name and paying for the cost of designing a web site. Add to that the monthly cost of web hosting and the costs start adding up really quick. A blog is a great free alternative until the money starts coming in from your online home business.

Third, less technical knowledge is needed so it is easier and faster for the beginner to start on the web. There is no need to learn html or programming because the software is already there for you to use. Also most successful marketers agree that to get better rankings and more traffic to your site you must update the content often and consistently. With a blog you can add or update the content whenever you want, quickly and easily, without hiring someone else to do it for you.

Also, blogging can give your online home business an edge over the competition because it is in real time and there is no waiting. Customers and visitors of your blog can easily join in and post their own comments and suggestions to your site and your products. It is a good tool to have testimonials about your product or service on your blog. Also be sure to post answers to any questions or problem in a quick and complete manner. It shows that you are willing to help and have good customer service. You will quickly gain repeat customers and acquire a following. Customers always prefer personalized attention.

In summary, blogging should definitely not be overlooked as a great online home business tool. It is especially helpful to the beginning internet marketer because it is cheap and it has few boundaries. Add in your own creativity and you are well on your way to establishing a successful online home business. Finally, don’t let all of this fool you… Yes it’s easy to start an online home business using blogs but you still have to get traffic to your blog and that is a whole other story.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory 

About The Author:  Trent Brownrigg is a successful internet marketer and home business mentor. Visit his website at www.work-at-home-jobs-iowa.com and he will personally help you succeed with your own home business. You can subscribe to his “Biz Tips Newsletter” by sending a blank email to: workathomebiz@aweber.com

Who’s Got the Time? Five Ways to Save Hours in Less Than a Minute
By: Christine Louise Hohlbaum

Time is a democratic commodity. Everyone has the same amount of it. Yet most people you talk to will tell you they don’t have any. Don’t buy it. Everyone has twenty-four hours a day. What your boss, spouse, neighbor, teacher, contractor or vendor is really telling you is something completely different. They are telling you they have other priorities: such as servicing another client, watching the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy or attending their child’s soccer game. It just sounds nicer to say you are out of time than that you are out of luck.

If you’ve fallen into the trap of saying you have no time, you’re not alone. Most Americans value their time more than their retirement funds. The question is what is time for?

Most would answer by closely linking their quality of life with how they spend their time. The real question is how much time do we actually spend doing the things we love? Goal-setting is integral to answering that question. To paraphrase Jack Canfield in The Success Principles, knowing where you want to go will get you there faster than if you don’t. Oftentimes we waste our time, however, on things that do not serve our ultimate needs and desires.

Juggling our commitments in this fast-paced world is not easy. It warrants, however, taking a step back to review how we might apply better use of our time. Test these five time-saving techniques on your own. You may find yourself saying yes to actions that will ultimately give you what you want out of life.

1.) Get a calendar. You might use an electronic or paper one. It does not matter as long as it contains the right amount of days in a month. Map out your must-dos first. Your child’s orthodontist appointment or that annual pap smear apply. Dedicate one day a month to scheduling important doctor’s appointments. Plan one day to scheduling “me time”. It needn’t be all day, but a little time invested in yourself will yield more time overall.

2.) Have several baby or petsitters on back-up. You’re planning to go out of town and your planned sitter has canceled last-minute. Hang up flyers in your local library or resource center beforehand. Interview five solid candidates in case of emergency to have within reach when you need them most.

3.) Cancel your cable. Sound harsh? Set a timer each night for a week while you sit in front of the tube. If you spend an average of three hours a night watching television, you are wasting precious time when you could be pursuing the things that truly make you happy. According to Dr. Martin Seligman’s book Authentic Happiness, watching TV puts people in a mildly depressed state of mind. Try setting priorities in that mindframe! So ditch the cable and gain back over 21 hours a week!

4.) Stretch in the morning. Starting the day off right by doing a few morning stretches will activate your mind more quickly than any cup of java could. Exercise in general has been proven to contribute to longevity in the elderly. You’re not only saving time by becoming more alert more quickly; you’re also tacking on a few good years to your lifetime.

5.) Keep a journal. Writing is an extremely cathartic activity. Note how you are feeling before you go to bed at night. Jot down keywords or sentences to download your day. It does not have to be Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism. The more honest you are the better. It will help put you in the right frame of mind for a great night’s sleep and, ultimately, give you a higher quality of life.

Getting a handle on your relationship to time can improve your life greatly. What will you do with those twenty-four hours for the rest of your life?

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author:  Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of DIARY OF A MOTHER and SAHM I Am: TALES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IN EUROPE, is a parenting humorist, motivational speaker and overall curious person who can’t stop asking questions of other people and the Universe. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.diaryofamother.com.

AOL’s consumer advisor provides six ways you can make money online in the article titled, “Delete your commute with new internet jobs.”

The article lists the following six online jobs and links:

1. Become a virtual juror – www.ejury.com
2. Become a virtual assistant – www.virtualassistantjobs.com
3. Become a virtual concierge – www.vipdesk.com
4. Blog for money – payperpost.com
5. Help others search the web – www.chacha.com
6. Get paid for your videos – www.revver.com

Read full article on MSNBC 

The only one I’ve had experience with is PayPerPost. I’ve been experimenting a bit on my other blog, Modern Mami Reviews, and have had a good outcome so far.

Have you had success with any of these sites? Let me know in the comments.

I came across this article on ABC written by Tory Johnson which details work from home tips and links to various resources where you can search for a job.

Straight from the article:

Whether you’re looking to contribute to your family’s finances or earn some cash to cover special or unexpected expenses, many people want more ways to make money at home.

From freelance to full-time gigs, we have a range of fields and resources below to help guide you in discovering the options that exist. Only you can decide if an opportunity is right for you.

I haven’t had a chance to fully explore the article and the resources listed, but it looks promising.

You can also check out the main Take Control of Your Life site, which covers work from home scams, getting paid to lose weight, and asking for flex time, among many other topics.

Be sure to let me know in the comments if you have ever worked with any of the companies listed.

The search continues to get my toddler daughter to eat right. You might remember my previous post where I expressed my frustration with getting her to eat.

This article might help….

Getting Toddlers to Eat Healthy
By Mila Sidman Alice Seba

It may seem a daunting task but getting your toddler to eat healthy isn’t actually the difficult task it seems. In fact, the toddler years is the perfect age to instil good eating habits in your toddler. As kids get older and they have outside influences such as school, going to friend’s houses and the every popular media aimed at kids it gets much more difficult to get your kids to eat healthy.

So that’s the great news, now how do you get your toddler to eat healthy, nutritious foods?

Observe his Eating Habits – Is your toddler a grazer who eats tiny amounts through the day but won’t sit down to a large meal? There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with this and many toddlers adapt this style of eating. However, if you feel it’s best for your toddler to eat three set meals then start by setting three daily snack times and three meal times. If you don’t mind your child grazing through the day provide him with small amounts of nutritious snacks at every “grazing meal”.

And you don’t have to go for pre-packaged expensive and often unhealthy snacks. Try cut toast sticks with a little butter, bread sticks, crackers, pita triangles, tortilla wrap cut into triangles or small pieces. Serve with little pieces of cheese, ham, tomatoes, carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, baby corn or any other healthy foods you may have on hand.

Don’t forget the dip either, toddlers love to dip food and many will be happy to try a hummus dip or cream cheese or even a simple yogurt dip. The key is to use your imagination and introduce a few different foods at a time. After all, you don’t want to overwhelm the little guy… his taste palette is still developing.

Relax and Wait – This tip may seem frustrating but the truth is your toddler will eat at some point. Many toddlers go through a stage where they eat very little on certain days and other days they’ll have a large amount of food. This is okay and perfectly acceptable as long as they’re getting a balanced nutrition over the spread of the week.

If you’re unsure your toddler is getting all the vitamins he needs, talk to you pediatrician and he or she may suggest placing your toddler on a multivitamin during this period.

The one thing to keep in mind during this period of not eating is not to fall into the habit of giving your toddler the same foods. This will set you up for a life time of picky eating. Even if your toddler won’t eat something today keep introducing it, they may just eat it the next day.

Find healthy baby and toddler recipes, nutrition articles and advice on coping with picky toddlers at BabyandToddlerRecipes.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mila_Sidman_Alice_Seba

Well, almost kryptonite.

It seems a new mineral has been discovered that almost matches the composition of kryptonite.

Scientists have discovered a new mineral that matches the composition of kryptonite, the mythical rock that could sap Superman’s strength in comic books.

The rock — named jadarite — was discovered in a mine in Jadar, Serbia, by the Rio Tinto company and identified by London’s Natural History Museum.

Read full article

If kryptonite exists, maybe one day we’ll find Superman exists too?

As parents, we strive to learn from our mistakes and are always looking for tips, advice, and new ideas that we can incorporate into our parenting style.

Sometimes the advice that’s out there seems like just the “pc” version of what the experts are expected to say.

I found this article written by a mom which speaks of her real experience and real parenting tips.

I just had to share with you all as I thought it was cute and it made me smile. Hope it also brings a smile to your face on this Monday morning!

Let me know if you have any parenting tips or advice you’d like to add to the list!

You Don’t Have To Learn The Hard Way!

Becoming a parent has been the greatest learning experience of my life. For some reason, I thought that my marriage license was the equivalent of a masters degree in the school of life.  Since then I have had four kids and reality has smacked me in the face on more than one occasion. I’ve learned several lessons that they fail to mention in the “How To “books. I’m going to let you in on a few things “the experts” fail to mention.

Read rest of article…

Lesson #1

Newborns have this sixth sense when it comes to parental sleep deprivation. They abide by some unwritten law that states that they will sleep better if one or more of their parents are awake. Newborns are completely and totally content when their parents are sleep deprived humans walking around in a zombie-like state. Why do you think they sleep best in their car seats

Lesson #2

Food can surpass the laws of physics once in a child’s hands. A ten ounce cup of Kool-aid, when spilled by a child can  turn into a gallon on the floor and for some unknown reason has the ability to climb walls and run ten feet to get underneath the refrigerator. A ten ounce bag of potato chips will turn to  crumbs at the touch of a child’s fingertips and are magnetically drawn to the living room carpet. This makes cleaning the house a mundane task and should be left until after the kids have moved out permanently.

Lesson #3

You don’t have to raise your voice to get your child’s attention. Heck, you don’t even have to make a sound. There are certain things that will bring your children out of the woodwork and if timed right, will get them all in the same room at the same  time. Now I know it will upset you that they could have possibly left this one out. Putting this information in a “What to expect..” book would have sent it to the best sellers list. But since they left it out, I feel it is my duty as a real parent to let you in on the following hints:

1) Pick up the phone and dial your best friends number
2) Open a pop or a candy bar.
3) Pull out all of your scrapbooks or sewing machine
4) Start whispering to your spouse.
5) Turn on your computer

Lesson #4

You will spend all of your time doing one of the two following things: losing something or looking for something that is lost. Expect to be looking for something, namely shoes or coats, when you are in the biggest hurry and losing something when  you are on vacation and it’s most difficult to find or retrieve the lost item.

Lesson #5

The more money you spend on clothes the less your child will wear them. They will want to wear their summer clothes in the  winter and vice versa so be sure to keep seasonal clothes hidden high in the closets. Otherwise your pre-schooler will insist on wearing her swimming suit to her older brother’s Christmas play. They will dress themselves in purple socks with brown pants and a red polka-dot shirt. My advice to you is to invest as little as you possibly can into clothes when your children are young. You’ll make it up when they are  teens and want the coolest, most expensive brand name clothes. For those of you with more than one child, this article may not be of much help. 

You’ve probably already learned most of these lessons the hard way. But for  you first-timers or parents-to-be these lessons will be some of the best information you’ll get your hands on. Just don’t tell “you know who

Shannon is the webmaster of a scrappin’ website that offers premade scrapbook pages that tell you interesting information about the day you were born.  Visit her site http://www.scrapits.com

We’re all used to the articles stating that children do better if mom doesn’t work and instead stays home with her kids.

Well it seems that now dads need to quit their day jobs also.

The Guardian recently posted an article about a new study which found that babies do better when dad stays home and spends more time with them. Titled, “Baby does best with dad off work, study finds“, the article begins by saying:

Children are more likely to suffer development problems if their fathers do not take paternity leave or spend enough time with them when they are very young, according to an analysis of thousands of babies born around the turn of the millennium.

How’s that for a guilt trip?

While all of us are going “Duh! Of course it’s better if we stay home and spend more time with our children!”, apparently, this is the “…first study to confirm that the close involvement of a father also has a significant impact on a child’s future.” – the word also referring to the fact that they already know a mother’s involvement has a huge impact on children.

If you wish to read the full article, you can do so at The Guardian’s site.

My question to you is, if both moms and dads stay home with the kids and don’t work, won’t you still be causing developmental problems in your children since you won’t be able to afford to feed them?

technorati: parenting, the guardian, stay home, motherhood

A baby is born. A child develops a high fever. A spouse breaks a leg. A parent suffers a stroke. These are the events that throw a working woman’s
delicate balance between work and family into chaos.

This is how the article The Care Crisis by Ruth Rosen begins. You can read it in its entirety at The Nation.

It’s a really interesting article and touches on many topics that we often talk about, discuss, and experience. My favorite part of the article would have to be the following paragraph:

Men in dual-income couples have increased their participation in household
chores and childcare. But women still manage and organize much of family life,
returning home after work to a “second shift” of housework and childcare–often
compounded by a “third shift,” caring for aging parents.

I say that’s my favorite part because I can completely relate. That is exactly how I feel most days. Yes, my husband pitches in and does a really good job in being a “team member” when it comes to the housework and such, but I still feel highly overwhelmed most days and like I’m at a second job. I haven’t yet dealt too much with having to care for aging parents, but I see hints already that this will one day fall on my lap also.

After reading the article, let me know what you think.

technorati: the care crisis, ruth rosen, the nation, parenting, aging parents, motherhood, working women