Mommies Magazine

Top Christmas Gifts for 2009

Posted on 20. Nov, 2009 by Mom Mag.

Can you believe how quickly the shopping days until Christmas is running out? The shortness of time compounded by not having a clue what to get your loved ones can make shopping a chore. Here for your help are some of the highest rated Christmas gifts for 2009! There is a little something for each age group.

Technology may change over the years but one thing will never change, children love video games! Boy or girl, young or young at heart all get a kick out of the latest video games.

The Atari that you may be familiar with has evolved into complex systems and games. Some even allow you to feel like you are in the midst of the game play. Thankfully, the most popular console brands have decided to lower their prices for Christmas this year, but do not wait too long.

Consider all the options and then choose a console that works for everyone, Nintendo Wii is a hit with all ages, so is the Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS and PSP (play station portable).

Soft and cuddly toy animals are still a hit in 2009 and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Of course, this is the technological age and these toys actually have a virtual world for kids to explore. No longer are you simply buying a stuffed animal.

There is a stuffed pet known as Zhu-Zhu, and he is a pet hamster. This is a gift that kids never get tired of playing with because they can alter the online world these pets live in. This is one you definitely want to jump on quickly; they do not last long on store shelves. Children can have hours of fun providing shelter, food and clothing for their new pet in his virtual world, and if he gets ill there is even a virtual vet!

If you have a teenager on your to buy list then the cell phone is the way to go. There are hot new cell phones on the market that will play videos, log onto the web and play music. All the kids want the latest in cell phone technology. Teenagers love their technology!

Women in the family tend to like to record all of life’s tender moments, and as such are generally the picture takers. Birthdays, holidays and just because days are all Kodak moments waiting to happen.

Digital cameras are the answer for today’s picture taking woman. No longer do you have to take a picture then run to the drug store to have it processed, just snap and go to your printer for copies.

Whoever the picture taker in your family is a digital camera will be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Choose a simple camera for the beginner or one with tons of features and accessories for the more advanced photographer.

It has been said that men are a bit more difficult to shop for and in some ways this is true, however if you know what his hobbies are you will not have a problem. Does he play golf, video games or love all things technical? There are all kinds of gadgets to choose from including personal digital assistants, GPS for the truck or boat or even virtual golf games.

It does not hurt to keep the top Christmas gifts for 2009 in mind while you are shopping, but keep in mind the personal likes and dislikes of the loved one you are shopping for. Digital cameras may be all the rage and many women would love one, however if the woman in your life has little interest in photography move on to something that will make her happier.

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7 Tips When Buying Christmas Gifts for Toddlers

Posted on 05. Nov, 2009 by Mom Mag.

Before you know, it Christmas, time will be upon us again and with it will be stress filled shopping days, dinners to plan and decorating to do all while still maintaining your day job! Here are 7 tips to make your Christmas shopping much more enjoyable this year.

Shopping with Children

When it is time to go shopping the best scenario is to have the day to yourself by hiring a sitter. However, this is not always possible and you need to have a plan for shopping with little ones. Preparation is key when shopping with small children, make sure they have had a good nap and take plenty of snacks along with you. To cut down on boredom in the store you can allow the kids to pick out one cheap toy or snack.

Kid Swap

One handy way to organize Christmas shopping is to swap children with a friend or family member. You agree to watch their children while they shop for a few hours and they agree to return the favor. This way everyone has the opportunity to leisurely shop.

Shopping Time

Waiting until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping is not conducive to a stress free trip. Try to wrap up all your shopping a few weeks ahead of time to avoid all the madness.

Online Shopping

Perhaps one of the best ways to Christmas shop for toddlers is to do the bulk of it online. Today you can order directly from many retailers, for instance Wal-Mart has the option of ordering online and having your product delivered to the store. Other great sites for Christmas shopping include Amazon and eBay, just be sure you order in plenty of time to beat the Christmas rush.

Keep it Simple

While it is tempting to want to buy your toddler the hottest toys for Christmas, you have to remember that the toy will likely be forgotten in a few days time. Spending several hundred dollars for a motorized car they will outgrow by summer is probably not the best course of action. Stick with simple gift ideas that will not break the budget.

Boy Gift Ideas

Toddler boys love things they can push around the house. Oversized plastic trucks and cars are a toddler’s best friend and they are generally a fairly cheap gift idea. They also enjoy simple crayons, coloring books, large puzzles and blocks. Kids at this age are pretty easy to please.

Girl Gift Ideas

A very popular gift idea for girls of all ages is the timeless dollhouse. For toddlers companies like Playskool have created dollhouses with rounded edges and heavy construction to stand up to the rigors of toddler play. Of course, girls of this age also love bouncy balls, moveable toys like cars or trucks and baby dolls.

Caution

When shopping for the best toddler toys be mindful of the recommended age on the package. Many toys will have small moving parts or pieces that can easily become a choking hazard. Safety is the number one consideration when purchasing toddler Christmas gifts.

Conclusion

Have a cup of hot chocolate and relax, the Christmas season is meant to be a joyous time of year. Do not let stress and money woes get you down, plan a simple but enjoyable dinner with simple gifts and everything will be just fine.

photo credit: Zach™

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Three Effective Ways to Reduce Stress and Depressed Mood During the Holidays

Posted on 02. Nov, 2009 by Mom Mag.

The holiday season is quickly approaching and many of us are preparing for this joyous time of the year. Some may embrace the holidays with cheer, hope, and thanksgiving while others may embrace the season with burden, anxiety, and personal failure. This article addresses three ways you can overcome anxiety and depressed mood during the holidays.

The first and most effective way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to recognize unachievable and unrealistic expectations (unhealthy thoughts) that you may subscribe to. Our thoughts have a direct bearing over our emotional disposition and the consequences that occur in the aftermath. We often cannot change circumstances (situations, events, and the behavior of others) that occur in our lives but we do have the power to alter the way we feel and react to them by simply changing the way we think. If we would like to avoid experiencing anxiety and depressed mood during the holidays, we must take ownership and control over our own thoughts by identifying unhealthy thoughts that we may subscribe to that might be contributing to a negative emotional disposition and replace them with healthier ones.

Some may fear social rejection and judgment from others. Though others may choose to judge negatively, pondering on this thought can ultimately rob you of experiencing joy and happiness. The following are six common unachievable and unrealistic expectations (unhealthy thoughts) that are often pondered on during the holidays:

1. “I need to spend a lot of money on gifts otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – It is a shame that so much worry is attributed from the issue of money especially during the holidays. We should not feel or be made to feel that the holidays are all about external/physical gifts. The most precious gift that we can give to one another is our fellowship and love (internal gifts). No external/physical gift can replace this. Internal gifts have a longer shelf life and increase our self-esteem more than external/physical gifts.  We must keep this issue in the proper perspective otherwise we can inadvertently teach others that external/physical gifts are more precious and desirable than our fellowship and love.

2. “For gatherings, my home must always be clean and tidy otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – It is never okay to invite guests to a filthy home. But expecting your home to be constantly tidy might be an unrealistic expectation, especially when children are present. Expecting such would only cause you anxiety and depressed mood. Do not worry about the cleanliness of your home but rather focus on fellowship as this is much more important and significant.

3. “I must prepare a flawless meal for my gathering otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – The quality of meals should not be the main focus of the holidays. If food preparation is an issue, there is nothing wrong with purchasing meals from a restaurant. To go one step further, having a potluck might be a better and less expensive idea as your guests would be directly involved with the food preparation by offering a variety of foods at your gathering freeing up time for fellowship.

4. “My physical appearance must be acceptable and appropriate otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – Aside from daily hygiene, do not worry about your physical appearance. The fellowship that you can give to one another is much more important than your physical appearance. More times than not, our own anxiety over our physical appearance has more to do with how we feel about ourselves rather than how others may perceive us.

5. “I need to bring a mate to the gathering otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” – If you are single, sometimes attending a gathering by yourself where couples are present might make you feel uncomfortable as you might feel that you do not fit in. Keep in mind that you are not alone as there are many people that are divorced, separated, or single. If having a mate was a prerequisite for gatherings, I guarantee you that there would be a lot less gatherings!  In addition, avoiding gatherings would only rob you of the experience of possibly meeting a potential mate.

6. “I need to pretend that I am happy during gatherings otherwise I might be perceived negatively by others” - Experiencing happiness is not a prerequisite for attending gatherings. Oftentimes, life events and experiences that have nothing to do with the holidays may play a direct role in your emotional disposition. The wonderful thing about gatherings is that there are plenty of people that you can talk with. If someone asks you how you are doing or feeling, be honest with them and let them know. Do not tell them that everything is fine when it is not. Oftentimes, having someone to discuss your problems with might actually help you resolve them as well as make you feel better. Take advantage of this opportunity.

If there are any other unhealthy thoughts that you might be dealing with that are not discussed in this article, I encourage you to write those thoughts down on a piece of paper writing a healthier thought (one that you would like to subscribe to) next to it. It would also be a good idea for you to review these thoughts daily so that it becomes easier to recognize and replace unhealthy thoughts.

The second way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to establish personal and professional goals for yourself. There is a lot to be said for New Year’s resolutions. Establishing short and long-term goals is a healthy idea because they can provide you with structure by giving you something to look forward to. Goals oftentimes give meaning to our lives. Those who do not have goals often feel hopeless and helpless. Just make sure that the goals that you establish are significant and achievable otherwise they will not be effective or worth your while to achieve.

And finally, the third way to avoid anxiety and depressed mood is to work at giving to others. Sometimes we are fooled into believing that happiness is achieved through the gifts that we receive or the items that we purchase. Just the opposite is true. You can achieve true happiness by helping others in need, volunteering your services, holding the hand of one in despair, or just simply being there when one experiences a low moment in his/her life. Oftentimes, it is not the words that we say that lifts one’s spirit or gives one hope. But rather, it is just being there that makes all the difference in the world. At times, we feel uncomfortable because we do not know the right words to say to those who are hurting. Words are not always important. The fellowship and the love that you can provide is what the holidays are all about. Let’s not lose this perspective and let’s not give unhealthy thoughts, with all the anxiety and depressed mood that goes along with them, the ability to rob us from experiencing the joy and the happiness that we all deserve to experience during the holidays. Happy holidays to all!

About the Author

Mark Lakewood, CEO of Building Strong Families National Seminars, http://www.StrongFamilies.us, is a distinguished bullying prevention expert, author, and speaker with over 20 years of clinical experience as a family therapist.  Mr. Lakewood facilitates seminars on family and school-related issues. He facilitates the “Standing Up To Bullying” Conference, http://www.StandingUpToBullyingConference.com and the Sudden Compliance Program Webinar Series, http://www.SuddenComplianceWebinars.com.

photo credit: lanuiop

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Family Too Busy to Really Get Together? Here’s a Solution

Posted on 29. Oct, 2009 by Mom Mag.

If you’re like most families, you all have such busy lives that sometimes it’s tough to connect. It seems impossible to get EVERYTHING done and have QUALITY time together.

And if you’re like many busy moms, you probably constantly find yourself saying, “…as soon as I’m finished” or “maybe later…”

Well, later might just be too late. Don’t let another day pass by like this.

If you’re ready to find easy solutions to organizing your life to have more time together, I recommend picking up a copy of the “Real Life Guidance to Finding More Family Time” report.

This report was created by Certified Life Coach, Aurelia Williams, and is just what you need to get things back on track.

The report gives you practical solutions for:

- Being realistic in your family goals
- How to find balance between your work and life
- Organizing your life to find more time
- Routine and scheduling tips even the most spontaneous families can get into
- Plenty of activity ideas (never say there’s nothing to do!)

This 20-page report is perfect for the busy mom who needs QUICK and EASY help to finding that precious time with family. It’s also available instantly, so even if it’s the middle of the night while everyone else in the sleep, you can all wake up with a plan to reconnect as a family.

==>> Learn more and grab your guide here <<==

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Christmas Gifts For Girls – 7 Buying Tips That Will Surely Put a Smile on Your Girl’s Face

Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by Mom Mag.

By Wendy Wood

Christmas will be here before you know it, and if you have any girls you need to shop for, it’s time to get started. Purchasing for your girls can be a bit difficult at times, trying to figure out what they’ll really like. If you want to make sure you score the best gifts for your daughters this year, here are seven tips to help you out when purchasing Christmas gifts for them.

Tip #1 – Consider Their Hobbies First of all, consider their hobbies when you are looking for gifts. Most girls like gifts that are related to hobbies that they are interested in. If she enjoys taking photos, maybe a new digital camera. Maybe she likes to scrapbook. If so, consider purchasing some scrapbook tools and embellishments. Keep it related to her hobby and she’ll be sure to love it.

Tip #2 – Keep the Gift Age Appropriate You always want to keep the gift age appropriate when purchasing Christmas gifts for girls. If your daughter is a new teenager, keep this in mind. Remember, she’s growing up. Don’t buy her something she’ll consider childish this year.

Tip #3 – Research the Year’s Top Gifts Research the year’s top gifts on the web. Each year the top gift items change. Get online and start doing some research so you know what gifts are on the top of every girls list this year. This will help you out on your search for the perfect gift.

Tip #4 – Know What’s Hip You may be out of touch with what is hip. What you think is hip is probably quite a bit different than what your teenage daughter thinks is hip. Find out what’s hip with kids your daughter’s age this year so you buy the right gift.

Tip #5 – Buy Online Consider buying online. This is a great idea for parents who are busy. You may not have a lot of time to go rushing around doing shopping, but you probably have a few minutes to get online. Most gifts are easy to find online. Have them shipped to your home and hide them for Christmas. You’ll get your shopping done in record time and you’ll make sure you get the best gifts before they’re gone.

Tip #6 – Ask Them for a List Ask your girls for a list of what they would like this Christmas. Let them know they may not get everything on their list, but it is a great option to help you get started with your shopping and you’ll be sure to get them something that they really want.

Tip #7 – Remember Their Favorite Characters Whether your girl is three, ten, or sixteen years old, remember her favorite characters when you are looking for the perfect Christmas gifts. Younger girls often love Dora the Explorer, tweens are big fans of Hannah Montana, and your teens may love characters from popular shows or teen singers, such as the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez.

We’ve taken the hassle out of finding the right Christmas gifts for girls on our blog. Visit our Best Girls Toys section today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Wood
http://EzineArticles.com/?Christmas-Gifts-For-Girls—7-Buying-Tips-That-Will-Surely-Put-a-Smile-on-Your-Girls-Face&id=3136491

photo credit: Brisbane Falling

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Christmas Gifts For Preschoolers – 7 Tips For Purchasing Your Preschooler Gifts This Holiday Season

Posted on 16. Oct, 2009 by Mom Mag.

By Wendy Wood

It is almost that time of year again and for some people the stress is already beginning to build. The cost of everything has gone up over the last couple of years and then there is the daunting task of what to get for a preschooler! Christmas shopping is something many people dread as much as a trip to the dentist, however it does not have to be that way. Below are 7 handy tips to make your holiday season less stressful and more joyful!

Shop Now

When it comes to Christmas gifts for preschoolers there is one thing you will not have to worry about; they will not be comparing gifts with their classmates. In fact, the day after Christmas his or her gifts will probably be forgotten in lieu of another favorite activity or toy. So cut yourself some slack and go shopping now, there is no reason to wait for the latest and greatest toy to hit the market because at this age they will likely play with the box longer anyway.

Tried and True

Even though toy manufacturers will insist that their latest offering will make your preschooler the happiest kid on the block, the truth is many traditional gifts are still going strong. For instance, you will be hard pressed to find a little girl of any age who will not enjoy a simple dollhouse, or a boy who does not love trucks!
These gift ideas are available year round at most retailers and they will not cost you a small fortune. Too many times parents and loved ones are caught up in the idea of purchasing very expensive gifts for preschoolers, such as motorized cars. The problem is number one these gifts are super expensive and two the kids will outgrow them before next Christmas comes around!

Babysitter

Do not attempt to Christmas shop for preschoolers with them in tow! This is a recipe for disaster and the money you spend on a sitter will be well worth it, as your shopping can be accomplished quickly and easily.

Budget

Set your entire Christmas shopping budget before you go to the first sale. You should have an exact accounting of what you can afford and how you plan to divide it among your loved ones. Then stick to this budget like glue, Christmas time should be a time of joy not time to go into debt.

Gift Ideas- Boy

We have already touched on the basic toy ideas for boys, but if your little guy already has every truck known to man you may want to look for something a bit different. The educational toys from Playskool are a great place to find nice gifts at a reasonable price. Or perhaps the fun Helmet Heroes; a police helmet with separate motorcycle handlebars, comes complete with sirens and lights!

Gift Ideas- Girl

Want a fun gift idea that little girls absolutely love? Put together a dress up box full of brightly colored and sparkling outfits. This can be done in several ways; you can purchase dress up clothes from a local retailer in the toys section, check your local resell shop or make your own if you are handy with a sewing machine.

Other Simple Gifts

Preschoolers are not picky; they simply love the mystery of it all. A brightly wrapped box of crayons and a coloring book will mean just as much as any expensive gift you can think of. Consider blocks, puzzles, art easels or finger paints for the preschooler in your life this year.

We’ve made things even easier for you. Visit us for a list of other Christmas gifts for preschoolers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Wood
http://EzineArticles.com/?Christmas-Gifts-For-Preschoolers—7-Tips-For-Purchasing-Your-Preschooler-Gifts-This-Holiday-Season&id=3076481

photo credit: Zach™

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by Mom Mag.

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