Archive for the ‘mom’ tag
CheapTweet Happy Hour #14: For Mom
Next Sunday is Mother’s Day (May 9), and if you haven’t figured out what to do for your mom yet, here are some ideas. As always, links to these deals are posted below the video. And be sure to check out our two-part blog post on saving money this Mother’s Day.
Saving money this Mother’s Day, Part 2
This post is the second in a two-part series where Jenn and Heather discuss ways to save money while still having a very special Mother’s Day. In this post, Heather (who writes the Happy Hatchling posts) shares her thoughts on having a wonderful Mother’s Day without spending any money at all. In part one, Jenn wrote about how to save money on Mother’s Day.
I, HappyHatchling Heather, have never been a huge fan of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Valentine’s Day. Now that I am a mother, my views on the “Day” haven’t changed, but my appreciation for my own mother has grown exponentially. I feel as if creating one day out of the whole year to acknowledge all that mom does for us is just not enough. Additionally, the stereotypical Mother’s Day gifts of cards and flowers are not very personal. However, I do love the idea of doing something simple to say “We love and appreciate you, Mom.” Here are some ideas that would melt my heart and don’t cost a cent.
Disclaimer: My views are not shared by every woman… If your wife/mom loves cards and flowers, then by all means make her happy! And go read Jenn’s gift ideas for Mom.
Give Mom a Nice Meal
Make Mom dinner AND clean the dishes! This is an especially good option if your wife does all the cooking. Try making her a favorite dish and if you have older kids they can help out too. But don’t forget the dishes! Nothing says, “Mom, I love you” like a clean kitchen.
Give Mom a Gift
Give Mom the warm fuzzies. Instead of giving Mom a card, reminisce with your wife about becoming a mom, or your favorite family memories with your mother. Moms love hearing you (dads and kids) talk about your feelings. Make their hearts melt by taking a minute to fondly remember and talk about your family’s future hopes and dreams.
Let Mom Relax and Sleep
Let mom sleep in… In peace and quiet! If you are short of time and money for a real vacation (like Jenn suggests), just give Mom the morning off. Dads/Husbands- When the kids wake up, get them out of the house. Go for a walk or get breakfast out so Mom can sleep in without hearing babies crying or breakfast bowls clanging. This is an especially appealing option for those new moms who desperately need sleep. Oh, and maybe make a quick stop for her morning coffee when she wakes. (If you go to church early on Sunday mornings, try celebrating Mother’s day on Saturday instead so she doesn’t get her lazy morning cut short.)
Share Memories of Mom with Photos
Organize the digital photo library. We have thousands of photos, but they are all on the computer. Sort through the photos (organize the photos for extra bonus points) and pull out 10-30 of the best shots. Make a photo presentation or slide show, and then together pick out a handful to frame and put up in the house. You don’t have to go look for a new frame, just replace pictures that are already up that are feeling outdated. Your wife or mom will love having the best photos visible and accessible.
What are some of your favorite Mother’s Day gifts or memories? We’d love to hear them!
Heather and her daughter
Saving money this Mother’s Day, Part 1
This post is the first in a two-part series where Jenn and Heather discuss ways to save money while still having a very special Mother’s Day. Up first: Jenn shares a few Mother’s Day money-saving tips. Tomorrow: Heather will discuss having a great Mother’s Day without spending any money at all.
Mother’s Day is coming up soon! It’s time to show Mom how much you care about her. Here are some tips for saving money while still giving Mom a great day (tomorrow, Heather is going to take it one step further and explain how we can celebrate without spending any money!). And for fun, I included a picture of my mom with my sister and me at the end of the post (happy Mother’s Day, Mom!).
Give Mom a Nice Meal
Why not take mom to dinner to celebrate? If your mom is like my mom, she does a lot of the cooking at home, so she deserves a night out. You can go out for a nice meal without spending too much. Check out the gift certificates from restaurant.com – through April, you can buy a $25 gift certificate for only $2! If you don’t see your mom’s favorite restaurant in their inventory, try searching on CheapTweet for that restaurant. We find hundreds of meal discounts every week – from national chains to local places – so there’s bound to be something to please your mom.
Give Mom a Gift
Instead of spending a fortune on jewelry from the mall, buy your mom a lovely piece of handcrafted jewelry she will always cherish. Through sites like Etsy, it is incredibly easy to find beautiful, handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry. What’s even better is that many of the artisans who sell their work on Etsy offer great sales around holidays like Mother’s Day. For example, you can get free shipping from vividcolors and clamzeeart, and 50% off from eNVeDesigns. There are tons more jewelry discounts and sales on CheapTweet.
Let Mom Relax and Sleep
If there’s only one thing your mom wants, it’s probably some rest. It’s not too late or too expensive to give your mom a weekend getaway. Travelzoo and VacationRentals.com are two great places to find discounts on accommodations, even at the last minute. To be restful, a weekend or night away doesn’t have to be far from home; look around for small towns within an hour of your mom’s house. There might even be hidden gems right in your town. Sometimes a little peace and quiet is the best gift of all.
Share Memories of Mom with Photos
One of the best ways to share some of your mom’s favorite photo memories is with a digital picture frame. Prices on these gadgets have dropped significantly in the past few years, and you can definitely find a good deal on one now. For example, here is a ViewSonic 9-inch frame for only $69.99 (normally $159.99). If your budget is a little tighter, try this Aluratek 7-inch frame that’s been marked down to only $29 (was $89.95). Preload some of your favorite pictures on the digital picture frame before giving it to your mom and she will love it.
If these ideas don’t inspire you, there are thousands more Mother’s Day deals on CheapTweet.com. Also, be sure to read Heather’s post about how to celebrate Mom without spending a cent. And happy Mother’s Day!
Jenn with her mom and sister
The Happy Hatchling #8: Breastfeeding comforts
This week, Heather – mom and our Happy Hatchling guest blogger – shares tips for the soon-to-be breastfeeding mom. Here, she discusses items that will make the first couple of months breastfeeding easier on mom. You can also follow Heather on Twitter.
1) Medela Tender Care HydroGel Nipple Pad
This product is a must for first-time moms. I did not know how sore and painful the first few weeks of breastfeeding could be. A friend of mine gave me a pack of the HydroGel nipple pads to take to the hospital, and I was so happy to have them. Now I give them to all my pregnant friends that plan on breastfeeding. The pads can be worn for 24 hours (I wore them for 48 hours), and when rinsed in cold water they feel so soothing. Lansinoh breast cream is also a common product for sore nipples, but I found that the cream was so hard that spreading the cream was also painful. The HydroGel nipple pad was so easy to stick on and provided instantaneous relief without the mess.
2) Aimee’s Nursing Nightgown – pictured
These nightgowns are unbelievably comfortable and makes nursing at night easy and accessible. I also loved the pajama tops and wore it with my regular pajama bottoms.
3) Mother’s Milk Tea
Every nursing mom goes through moments of concern that she’s not producing enough milk. Although there’s probably nothing to worry about, it is always good to be proactive. Mother’s Milk Tea has ingredients that have been traditionally used to increase milk production, and it tastes yummy.
4) Lilypadz Nursing Pads
Lilypadz are a great alternative to the standard disposable and washable nipple pads that soak up leaking milk. Lilypadz stop leakage by keeping a constant pressure on your breast. They are made from a flexible silicon that conforms to your shape. They are comfortable and unlike other nipple pads you’ll never have the uncomfortable soaked pad feeling.
Do you have any recommendations for a mom who is breastfeeding for the first time? Share them in the comments!
The Happy Hatchling #6: The pregnant girl must-have list
This week, Heather – mom and our Happy Hatchling guest blogger– shares some of her favorite pregnancy items.
1) Bella Band by Ingrid & Isabel
This product is a stretchy band that serves to keep your pants on during pregnancy. It sounds funny, but I found it really helpful when I didn’t want to wear maternity clothes, but my everyday jeans were just a little too tight (especially during the first trimester and postpartum). The Bella Band allows you to unbutton your jeans while hiding your buttons and keeping your pants secure. If it shows underneath your clothing, it just looks like a camisole. In the last trimester, the Bella Band kept my pregnant belly tight and secure so it was more comfortable to walk around and to sleep.
2) The Versatile Dress from Pouch
I must confess, I love this dress. I found it during my pregnancy, but I am guilty of wearing it even when I am not prego. I have it in black, and it is really the perfect black dress. It has ties that you twist or knot into different dress styles. It can be worn like a halter, strapless, or one-shouldered dress, even as a skirt. Every pregnant girl needs one.
3) What to Expect Pregnancy Tracker iPhone App
From the author of the bestselling book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, comes an iPhone application. Yay, because I love pregnancy and kiddo applications. This app is a fun and easy way to keep up with your baby’s development. This way you’ll always know what size fruit your little one is this week.
4) Leachco Grow to Sleep Self-Adjusting Body Pillow
Most pregnant women will agree that sleeping while pregnant is difficult and uncomfortable. A body pillow can make a big difference in your sleep. I like this body pillow because the end pieces can be taken apart, which is great if you want to remove the head portion and use your own pillow. I don’t like body pillows that are so big that they take up the entire bed. This one is less bulky in the middle so you can still share the bed. I am wary of recommending body pillows since there are so many different types out there and everyone has her own idea of comfort. So before making a purchase, go to a store (Babies R Us, Target, or maternity shops) and test them out.
What are some of your favorite pregnancy items? We’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment with your thoughts.
Recommendations for great baby gifts
A number of my good friends are having children soon, so I’m in serious baby gift buying mode. In an attempt to choose appropriate gifts, I asked our Twitter followers for recommendations. Here are their amazing baby gift ideas. Feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments.
Babies “R” Us gift cards (recommended by @Jemjoop)
Baby Buds 3 Piece Crib Set from @dealtaker
Baby fashion for future film fans from @bfmwear
Big Belly Banks (recommended by @thesilverbarn)
Boise Baby Beanies from @BoiseBeanieCo
The Bumbo Seat (recommended by @oklahomapoet)
Childhood Clothing (recommended by @nostalgialife)
Cloud B Sleep Aheep (recommended by @bitofmomsense and @Dyhar)
Crystal’s Baby Blankets (also recommended by @nostalgialife)
Custom CDs from @renagades
Diaper Cakes on Bonanzle, which can also be found on Etsy (recommended by @Paceset999)
Digi Time Capsule from @DigiTimeCapsule
Doctorx Me Book (recommended by @LauraHullVA)
Flip Mino HD camcorder (recommended by @bnl771)
Handmade baby gifts from @boutiquegirl2
Handmade cat hat from Etsy (recommended by@littlefluffycat). I also found the cutest knit monkey hats from Cite Fuzz.
Moby Wrap (recommended by @reecesmommy)
Nursing and new mom items from A Mother’s Boutique (recommended by MommyNews)
Pedro Sprout’s baby booties (recommended by @BlackMustard)
Teddy bear Limoges box (recommended by @LaFrancais)
WrenWillow’s baby shirts and onsies (recommended by @daisycakessoap)
A year’s supply of diapers (recommended by @MilaXX)