Office Yoga Book Review

December 7th, 2011

Stressed Out Moms

Mothers are the most stressed out people on earth. Take it from me, I know. They juggle work, the home, and the children in their daily life. So, it’s important that they find the time to relax or find a way to deal with all the stress. One of the surefire ways to do that is to do some yoga stretches, calming the mind and soothing the soul. However, most mothers can’t even find the time to do that. So the best gift that you can give any working mother (and even those who don’t) is a book teaching them how to do some office yoga. And I found the best book about yoga in the office.

Office Yoga: Simple Stretches for Busy People

Now, one might think of yoga in the office as something impossible. How can one do any kind of yoga stretches in such a confined and busy place? Well, this book definitely tells you how. It contains yoga poses that can be done while sitting at your desk such as “At-The-Desk-Relaxation” and “Keyboard Calisthenics.” The easy stretches can also be done standing up but without having to worry about any embarrassing comments from co-workers.

Another great thing that I liked about this book is that when it says easy stretches, they really are easy. I’m no yoga expert. In fact, I’ve never done a yoga class in my life! But I found the instructions really easy to follow and I didn’t end up straining a muscle or two trying to do any of them. There are positive quotes as well that make it a light, entertaining read and adds to relieving your stress.

I also loved the funny illustrations in this Office Yoga book. It makes light of all the things you normally find stressful in your workday. There are also a lot of helpful hints on how to deal with traffic and possible road rage. It even has advice on how you can read through tons of email!

Any mom will love it

The Office Yoga is a book that’s handy and can be carried anywhere. Moms can choose to do any of the exercises at any point in time during their workday. It will even help them relax when they get home from work and are faced with chores and the kids. A great gift for any occasion.

Top 5 Christmas Gifts for New Moms

December 1st, 2011

New Moms Are…

New mothers are often swamped with taking care of the baby that they have little time to relax and pamper themselves. I remember that I didn’t even have time to get a simple haircut back then. Since the holidays are fast approaching, you might be wondering what would be the best Christmas gifts for new moms. As a new mother, I’ve compiled some of the things that I believe would be unique Christmas gifts that any new mother would appreciate.

My Best-Gifts-for-New-Moms List

Dinner and a Movie – new mothers rarely have time to go out and have a bit of fun without taking care of the baby. Having a quiet dinner and taking in a movie without the baby would really be a unique Christmas gift that any new mother would love to get.

A “Pamper Me” Basket – new moms rarely have time to pamper themselves so one of the best Christmas gifts that you can give them is a basket full of goodies that they can use to make them feel ‘normal’ and ‘beautiful.’ Bubble bath, bath salts, candles, and maybe even fuzzy slippers in a basket will make an exceptional gift for new moms.

Gift Cards for 12 months – a great gift for new moms is a compilation of gift cards for many things like restaurants, salon treatment, and even housecleaning services. Place one type of gift card in one envelope for her to open each month of the year. Opening each envelope will be a delightful surprise and the gift cards don’t have to be a large amount of money.

Mommy Tags – I really love these customized jewelry. You have tags where your baby’s name and birthday are etched in a stylish fashion. This is sure to be a hit with any new mom.

Purse/Bag – new moms are always carrying those diaper bags wherever they go. And while these can be cute, any new mother will miss carrying around a stylish bag. A great gift for new moms then would be a fashionable bag that can double as a baby bag without the obvious style of one. Having a trendy bag (though filled with bottles and diapers) to lug around really is one of the best gifts for new moms. Trust me, I know.

A Letter Book For Mom

November 30th, 2011

What to Buy My Mom for her Birthday

Mothers are the best people we know. And all mothers deserve a birthday present that’s not your average, pick-it-up-at-the-mall gift. So each year, we ask ourselves “what to buy my mom for her birthday?” And I believe I’ve just found the most creative, unique, and personalized birthday present that you can give your mom this year. The best birthday gift idea I have ever come across is a letter book for mom from Treasured Passages.

A Special Book for Mom & You

While looking for a great birthday gift idea, I came across this Mother & Daughter Letter Book from Treasured Passages. It’s not your run-of-the-mill letter book. This unique book for mom is a great gift simply because there are so many possibilities that are opened up by this book. It’s partly a journal where you can write down memories that you’d like to share with your mom and she with you. It’s also partly like having a compilation of greeting cards or short notes that you send to each other further enriching your relationship. This letter book for mom & you is also a great way to learn new things about each other. There are cards that will prompt you to share some information that you’d never have thought of asking your mother. I especially like the questions about wildest dreams and first kisses ;)

And while the journal plus greeting card function is already great, I love the fact that you can decorate the book with pictures and other mementos that you want to put in the book. You can unleash your creativity and have a lot of fun decorating the book with your mother. The experiences that you get from this letter book are simply amazing and something that you will truly treasure.

One Last Thing

While all of these things that I just described makes this letter book for mom really one of the best gifts ever, I especially like the fact that we can pass down this book to future generations like my own daughter. It will be a unique and memorable way for her to get to know me and my own mother.

How to Choose a Gift for Mom

November 24th, 2011

Moms are pretty special people and I’m not saying that because I’m also a mom. I feel that way because all the mothers I’ve met are able to balance a marriage, children, the home, and even a career. Not even the most intelligent or richest man can do that.

Since we all agree that our moms are great people, they deserve great gifts. And to show our appreciation and love, we want the best gift for mom. But choosing a gift for mom is not as simple as picking up something at your local mall. Finding the perfect gift for mom requires some time and dedication. Here are some guidelines to help you choose a gift for mom.

Choosing the best gift for mom:

To get great gift ideas for mom, you should look at your mom’s personality and lifestyle. Knowing what she likes to do on her free time and the things that she seems to love or collect around the home will help you find that perfect gift for mom. You can also try finding out if there are new things that she wants to try or any items that are on her wish list to give you more gift ideas for mom.

Another way to help you choose a gift for mom is to find out the things she dislikes. It saves time to rule out the unwanted gifts. If she dislikes cooking, don’t look at cookware or recipe books as gift ideas. You can also think back on all the previous gifts that she’s received. Are there any gifts that she never really used? I know my mother even rewraps some of hers to give to someone else. Knowing what others have given her will give you a better idea of gifts to avoid.

One other way to find a gift for mom is to look at the things she loves buying for herself. You’ll get a lot of gift ideas for mom by just going window shopping with her. Look at the stuff she looks at wistfully. Or listen to her gift ideas for other people. Usually, people give gifts to others that they themselves think are really great. You may find that the perfect gift for mom is actually the same gift that she is giving your aunt or your grandma.

When all is said and done

Whatever gift you do end up choosing to give your mom, remember this: moms are pretty easy to please and will love anything you give her. She’ll cherish it even more knowing you spent time and effort to find her the perfect gift.

Bargain Gifts for Mom This Christmas

November 24th, 2011

The holidays are nearing and you might be wondering what the best gifts for Christmas are. Most especially, you might be racking your brain for gifts for mom that you could buy. Mothers are very easy to please and sometimes that makes it hard for us to find presents for mom. Not to worry then… I’ve made a list of the best gifts for mothers and these don’t cost a lot of money too. Rather, all it takes is a bit of effort and a whole lot of love.

Gift ideas for mom

One of the great gifts for mom would be to show her how much you love her in the form of letters. The art of letter writing has become obsolete and takes a lot of effort if you’re not used to it. But you have to admit that this is one of the best gifts for mothers anywhere. It would be great to have some letters just between you and your mother than you can treasure and pass down to your children.

Another gift idea that would make ideal Christmas presents for moms is to make a memory scrap book. You can buy a scrapbook and give each member of your family a page. Then have them decorate it and share their memories of your mother in it. Then compile the pages and wrap it in a bow. This would actually be one of the best gifts for Christmas that you can give anyone: your dad, best friend, even siblings.

One other gift for mom that wouldn’t cost a lot of money is a memory jar. It’s a bit similar to the memory scrap book. You can buy a really nice colourful jar or get a simple one and decorate it yourself. Then get some colourful strips of paper or small pieces of stationary and write down your favourite memories of your mother. You can ask your siblings to join too!

What moms love best

If you really want to know what the best gift for mothers is, I’ll tell you. Being a mother, the best thing I’d love to receive this Christmas is a day off. Mothers are always on the go: cleaning, taking care of family, buying groceries, cooking, and so much more. The best thing you can give your mother is rest and relaxation. I guarantee she’ll love it.

Handmade Gift Ideas For Any Mom

November 16th, 2011

Are you running out of ideas for great gifts for mom? Or are you running low on cash and can’t afford to buy a really nice gift for her? Well, luckily, moms are pretty easy to please and would love anything that you give her. But to show her how much you really love and appreciate her, some great gifts for mom would be to give her some easy handmade gifts.

Easy-To-Do Handmade Gift Ideas

You might be thinking that homemade gifts for mom aren’t exactly right up your alley. But you needn’t worry. These handmade gift ideas are really easy to do and don’t require a lot of skill. Plus, the materials you’ll need would be right within your budget!

Some easy handmade gifts that you can give your mom (or any mom) are different tote bags with iron-on silhouettes that can be used for different occasions. You can buy some plain totes for a bargain and download some clip arts that your mother would like. You will also need some iron-on transfer paper that you will print the clip arts on. Then simply cut the design, iron them on the bags and let it cool before removing the paper. Viola! You have different bags all designed by you!

Another great handmade gift idea is dip-dyed candles. White pillar candles can be dyed with some beeswax tinted with crayons to create a wonderful, elegant gift for any mom who loves to take some bubble baths. Simply melt some wax beads in a boiler, shave some crayons to add color to the wax and once everything has mixed well, take the boiler off the heat and dip the candles for 5-10 seconds. Then let the candle dry on a baking sheet or plate (dyed end facing down). Once dried, you can remove the beeswax and you get beautiful dip-dyed candles!

Anything Handmade

While there are still a lot of great homemade gifts for mom, I don’t have the time to discuss all of them with you. But you can find a lot of handmade gift ideas on the net (Martha Stewart.com is great) to help you find one that your mom will appreciate. Whatever you do end up choosing, anything handmade by you is sure to be a hit with your mom.

Gifts for New Moms

November 15th, 2011

The Usual

I was a new mother when Christmas came along (my baby was born in October) and the gifts I received were the usual bags, wallets, and other knick-knacks that I didn’t really need. Other gifts that were given to me were actually for my baby. Gifts for new moms should not be in essence for the baby, in my opinion. We appreciate it and all but hey, we want gifts too! I feel that there should be a range of new mom gifts that can be given to new mothers like me, not counting those gift lists with Nursery Rhyme CDs, baby pillows, and dolls. Gifts for new moms can be spa packages (what woman can resist) or a day of rest from the baby. But the best new mom gifts that I really love receiving are books for moms.

Best Books for Moms

One of the best gifts for new moms is undoubtedly a tell-all, funny book that tells them exactly what they should expect after their baby is born. The book “It Gets Easier! …and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers: A Fun, Practical Guide to Becoming a Mom” is the best guide for moms who don’t really know what they’re doing. Another book that I really believe should be on the list of gifts for new moms is “The Diaper Diaries: The Real Poop on a New Mom’s First Year”. It’s funny, wise, empathic… all the things that new mothers like me want to hear or in this case, read. For the working mothers out there, there’s also a great book for you! “The Working Gal’s Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby” will help guide you through the chaos of having a baby AND a career. And lastly, the cutest of all books for moms: Porn For New Moms. I know what you’re thinking… it’s not adult content. Just a compilation of pictures of really cute guys doing stuff that all mothers wished they would such as feeding the baby at 3am and changing diapers. A little glimpse into our fantasy world wouldn’t hurt anyone ;)

The Perfect Gift for Mom

November 15th, 2011

A Mother’s Day gift

These days, gifts for moms can easily be found in any department store. There are Mother’s Day gifts, birthday treats, and even Christmas gifts for mothers sold at any given time. But because of the high volume of mass produced gifts for moms, sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect gift for mom. So, when Mother’s Day was nearing, I decided to do some research and find out what non-commercialized gift we can give our mothers as a gift for Mother’s Day.

Unique gift ideas

Moms are pretty easy to please and sometimes buying anything from the store is enough for them. But to truly get a perfect gift for mom, it needs to be something out of the ordinary. One Mother’s Day gift that you can give your mom is to donate to charity. Instead of buying her an expensive gift for Mother’s Day, why not let the perfect gift for mom be helping others? She’ll appreciate that you want to make other people happy because that’s exactly what she’s been teaching you all these years. PCI Global has a Gift of Life catalog where you can buy something in your mother’s honor to help a family or child somewhere in the world. Another perfect gift for mom would be purchasing a gift card from Wokai. This is an organization dedicated to helping poor people in China start their own business and elevate themselves from poverty.

Some other gifts for moms on Mother’s Day can be something as simple as a day of bonding. Everyone is always on the go and busy with their own lives that we forget how to connect with each other. Wouldn’t it be a perfect gift for mom to give her some time to spend with you? You can also try treating her like a queen and doing some chores instead of letting her do them. There are many more ways similar to these but I think you catch my drift.

The Perfect Gift

Given that I wrote down several choices, you’re probably wondering which one was the perfect gift. Well, the perfect gift is love. Cheesy, I know. But if you truly love your mother, you’ll know exactly what to give her that will make her smile.

Homemade Gifts for Christmas

November 11th, 2011

Crisis During Christmas

Every year, Christmas comes around and we’re all in a state of panic because we don’t know the perfect gifts to give our family and friends. And this year, it’s a lot more complicated because money is tight and we have to find the right gift within our measly budgets. Because your budget is limited, you won’t be able to buy the best gifts for mom or for anyone else for that matter. Lucky for us, homemade gifts for Christmas can be the best gifts for mom and dad and even for that irritating person who lives across the street.

Why Homemade Gifts for Christmas

Homemade gifts for Christmas are a great way to stay within your Christmas budget. You don’t have to spend a lot of time going around stores trying to buy gifts for everyone. You also don’t need to spend a lot of money because you can use cheap materials for your gifts. Another reason why is because these kinds of gifts really are the best gifts for moms. This because Homemade Christmas presents show how willing we are to do a bit of work to show our love for her. I mean, if I received homemade gifts for Christmas, I would feel so touched and blessed. Taking the time to create homemade Christmas presents adds to the value of the gift as well. Especially for mothers.

Homemade Gift Ideas

There are a lot of homemade gift ideas for mothers online if you’d care to look. But it takes a bit of time to separate the wheat from the chaff. So, here are a couple of ideas that might interest you. My first homemade gift idea is bath salts. What mother doesn’t want or need bath salts? Another idea that you should consider is homemade bubble bath. I saved the best homemade Christmas present for last: a recipe booklet. Collect recipes from everyone you know, compile them all in a cute scrapbook, and give it to all the mothers you know. They’ll appreciate it, I assure you. I certainly would.