Valentine´s day is right behind the door and you are probably thinking what to do on that romantic day to make it special for you and your loved ones. Here are 6 suggestions of what to do on the most romantic day of the year!

1.  Send Valentine´s day cards or e-cards. GREAT CHOICE OF E-VALENTINE`S DAY CARDS

2.  Make a sexy date with your Valentine. GOOD IDEAS FOR A ROMANTIC DATE

3.  Have a nice cocktail for Valentine´s day! 16 FLIRTY VALENTINE`S DAY DRINKS

4.  Cook a dinner or bake a cake for your Valentine! VALENTINE`S DAY RECIPES

5.  Wear a dress that makes you feel romantic.  GREAT CHOICE OF OUTWEAR FOR V-DAY

6. Go to a spa and take a couples massage! The sauna will release your tension and gives you the perfect romantic environment to celebrate the most romantic day of the year.

Enjoy your Valentine´s day with your loved ones and share your experience with us!

image credit

Marju Koiv

Recent college graduate from International business administration and economy in bachelor´s degree; international fashion and beauty consultant of happy hour mom; also working as an assistant project manager in proffessional conference organising business.

ideas for valentine´s day | 6 ideas for spending the most romantic day of the year is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Helping Your Child Have a Successful Winter Sports Tryout

Tips for Parents

By Brooke de Lench

The competition for roster spots on winter sports teams seems to be more intense than ever.  Tryouts pose a particular challenge to young athletes still playing fall sports.  Here are some tips for parents on how they can help their child perform at their best during tryouts:

1. Make sure the child’s pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE) is up-to-date. Not only are PPEs important in identifying physical conditions effecting sports participation, such as asthma or a history of concussions, a signed, up-to-date PPE form is required by virtually all schools before an athlete is allowed to play sports.  Because different schools use different PPE forms, make sure your child’s doctor signs the correct form and that you make three copies: one for your records, one for your child to hand-deliver to the school nurse, and a third to hand-deliver to the coach/athletic director.  Many an athlete has missed the first critical days of tryouts because the PPE form was lost or is outdated.  Have all dental work and check-ups completed weeks in advance.

1. Ensure your athlete gets enough sleep. Studies show teenagers need nine hours of sleep but only get about seven.  A tired athlete, especially one still playing fall sports, isn’t going to be able to perform at their best during tryouts.  You can help by setting a consistent “lights-out” time for turning off the computer, cell phone, MP3, and TV, so your athlete gets the rest needed for peak performance. Have phones and other handheld devices docked away from the bedroom to reduce the opportunity for late night texting and gaming.

1. Check to see if the shoe fits. Poorly-fitting or worn-out shoes can trip up an athlete on the way to making the team.  Make sure your young athlete is trying out in properly-fitting shoes (or, in the case of hockey, skates), that they have been broken in before tryouts start and that they are providing the proper support.  Many an athlete has been sidelined by blisters from practicing hard in brand-new shoes.  It is also important, both for peak performance and to prevent overuse injuries, that the shoes be periodically replaced.  For athletes playing tennis, basketball or volleyball, shoes should be replaced every month for those playing 5 to 6 times a week and every 3 to 4 months for those playing 2-3 times a week.

1. Be pro-active about hydration. Even mild dehydration can keep an athlete from performing at his best during tryouts.  Staying hydrated during the school day is particularly challenging because athletes often can’t or don’t remember to hydrate properly or regularly.  Indeed, studies show that many athletes are dehydrated before they even start their sport, making it difficult to catch up.    Three things to remember about hydration:  First, athletes need to be hydrated for sports, no matter the season or the weather.  Even athletes exercising outside in cold weather get dehydrated.  Second, water does not hydrate as effectively as a sport drink like Gatorade that is scientifically formulated with fluid, electrolytes and carbohydrates to rapidly replace what athletes lose in sweat and provide energy to keep them at the top of their game. And, third, remember that thirst is not a good indicator of hydration, so encourage athletes to drink on a schedule.

1. Fuel Sports Nutrition gaps. The importance of proper nutrition and hydration in athletic performance is often overlooked, but cannot be stressed enough.  Athletes need to be properly fueled before, during and after tryouts, especially multi-day tryouts, to get the most out of their bodies and perform at their best.  Athletes typically have little time in the school day to eat before tryouts, so they start on an empty stomach or choose ineffective sources of fuel based on what’s readily available. And there is often a time gap between the end of a practice or game and sitting down to dinner when, studies show, tired muscles need protein to recover to get ready for the next day.  Make sure your athlete has the right fuel by packing scientifically developed sports nutrition products like Gatorade’s G Series to provide the fuel, fluids and nutrients athletes before and during sports, and the fluid and protein they need to recover after a grueling day of tryouts.

1. Proper safety and sports equipment is key. Not having the right equipment (wrestling helmet, swim goggles etc.) could knock an athlete out of a tryout before it even starts.  As competition for roster spots becomes more and more intense, the risk of injury from a flying elbow to the mouth or a finger poke to the eye increases.  Making sure your young athlete has a mouth guard and is wearing protective goggles will help keep him or her in the game.

About the Author:
Brooke de Lench is a youth sports parenting expert and the author of the book Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports (Harper Collins) and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of MomsTeam.com: The Parents Trusted Youth Sports Source. She is the mother of triplet sons and lives in the Boston area.

Photo credit: School Sports

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

helping your child have a successful winter sports tryout is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Now that it is winter, you may think that you need to buy more clothes to keep yourself and your family from getting cold. Not necessarily. Have you looked in the bottom of your closet lately? I am sure you´ll find a lot of things that you can wear to layer and keep you warm. A little retouch and you can find a new look or a new way to wear it! It is also a great way clear the clutter.

I would suggest a well organized home, closets and drawers. Having too much stuff in your house, that you probably don´t need, can affect your spiritual well-being. An organized closet gives us an advantage to have an overview of the clothes that we have and the possibility to help somebody by giving away the clothes that you don´t use to someone who might really need them. You might also have a lot of beauty and hair products that have been sitting on the rack for years that you don´t use and are probably out of date. They better find the fastest way to the trash can!

We can take Feng shui decorating for example. Feng shui decorating is basically a way to decorate your home to create a vibrant feeling of joy and harmony. Utilizing a Feng shui mentality is a fantastic way to clear the clutter in your home.

Read about the tips on How to use Feng shui to decorate Your home

Marju Koiv

Recent college graduate from International business administration and economy in bachelor´s degree; international fashion and beauty consultant of happy hour mom; also working as an assistant project manager in proffessional conference organising business.

feng shui decorating | good energy from feng shui! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

The amazing Miss Jess from Party Box Designs gave us the inspiration for our Traditional Thanksgiving Recipe Plan. Her collection of holiday invitations and accessories will set the tone for an amazing meal to follow. Aside from our delicious recommendations of a classic turkey, candied yams and green bean casserole you’ll find the complementary work of Party Box Design and a great Flower DIY Project (see below). If a Modern Thanksgiving is more your fancy we have compiled a list of recipes that don’t follow your typical menu.

Supplies: 4 Dozen Grocery Store Roses(yes, these very roses are from the grocery store), Tall Vase(from a craft store), Rubber Bands, Sticks(from your yard) and any type of decorative ribbon or crinkly paper!

Directions: Fill the vase with water and looooong thin sticks. You need to allow the sticks to soak up water so they will bed around your vase. I suggest letting them soak for about an hour. Then poor out the water, bend your sticks around your vase and then add fresh water!

Now, cut the stems and leaves off all your roses and begin creating a ball of roses with 3 of the dozen and tie with rubber bands until you have one big mass! Stick your rose ball into the tap of your vase and wow… AMAZING! Now with the remaining dozen, fill in any gaps!

So simple and inexpensive with a BIG WOW FACTOR!

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

diy thanksgiving flower decor | party box design is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

“Pregnancy Without Pounds” was instrumental during my pregnancy, as it helped me to keep my health and exercise in perspective throughout the nine month period. In my third trimester I was tortured as a huge prego mama in 105 degree heat. I did not want to do anything–walk, workout, nothing. “Pregnancy Without Pounds” gave me a simple, do-it-at-home option to help me do SOMETHING. I loved the ‘Tired Mama’ routine, it was perfect for my bloated self. It felt like I had a personal trainer with me each time I went to exercise. I had each exercise laid out in front of me, with detailed explanations, and pictures. I feel like when you are tired and forcing yourself to exercise, you end up doing a whole lot of nothing. Well, “Pregnancy Without Pounds” gave me very specific workouts that I knew were safe for me to do. I love the fact that it is tailored to pregnant women, and that it takes the guess work out of working out.

The more pregnant I got, the guiltier I felt for not being as active. But the goals Michelle sets for each trimester are very clear and very realistic. I was not expected to do in my third trimester what I was in my first. And I was often reminded as I looked at my third trimester goals that I didn’t have to feel guilty. She gave me a realistic and healthy view of what exactly I should be doing as I progressed in my pregnancy–which is pretty rad I must say! My doctor couldn’t even do that for me!

Thank you Michelle, for helping me to stay focused and keep things in perspective throughout my pregnancy. It was so helpful having my own personal guide that I could turn to from the comfort of my own (air-conditioned) home, with exercises that varied depending on the stage of my pregnancy. It helped me to stay motivated, and even if I went a week (or two) without exercising, I was able to pick up where I left off at my own healthy pace.

*for more information, amazing success stories, and before and after pics, or to order your e-book today, check out PregnancyWithoutPounds.com

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

staying healthy and exercising during my pregnancy | “pregnancy without pounds” is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

The emerging Green concept seems to be becoming based on the wishes of those terrible tyrants, the babies of the world. All of a sudden, humanity’s nicer but noisier and fussier members are going Green. This applies to organic nappies, organic baby food and the all important organic toys, which are now literally covering the world.

For parents, there are quite a few upsides to the new Green babies. Not having to spend hours worrying about possible allergies to mysterious chemicals, El Cheapo Crud baby food and shrapnel-producing toys is a relief. The real stunner is that the big corporations are also getting on board with the new market. Maybe babies don’t know they’re running the Fortune 500, but the Fortune 500 does. This is the most sensitive market on Earth, and if baby wants something, baby will get it.

The organic baby food equation

What looks like an uncharacteristic outbreak of mass sanity in the consumer market is actually based on good business and good economics, as well as a general recognition that “Green is good”. The basic fact is that sustainable baby products, in addition to their low risk factors, are a lot cheaper to produce, and require less processing. Good food is good food, for example, and nature doesn’t really need a lot of help in producing good baby food. So the new demand for organic baby food is a win-win.

Even more importantly, the renewable organic foods are guaranteed supplies. Babies may not be an endangered species, but crops can be. Biofuels have been eating up oil producing crops, and reducing the food production. That’s not the case with organic foods, which are all about eating, not fuel. Organic foods are also grown by highly motivated professional growers, not cash-strapped farmers, so the production is truly locked in.

Baby toys as market benchmarks

Most consumers are well aware of the concepts of product safety. Parents are also well aware that those concepts seem to be largely theoretical with low quality toys. Toy buying for babies was at one point in history more like risk management than parenting. There was a move to quality, and the organic and sustainable toys, simple fabrics, good wooden toys, and good design produced a surge of Green toys. Even the good big toy manufacturers were taken by surprise, and the smaller Green manufacturers were swamped by demand.

The babies didn’t comment much about all this, but apparently they liked the toys. A strange new menagerie of things from the land of the little guys now covers the world. Dinosaurs, hordes of kindly and thankfully washable teddies, and a vast array of online toys and playthings have taken over the nursery. That, for the record, is a real market benchmark. The Green toys have completely overturned the old shoddy/cheap garbage motif, and the best toy manufacturers have been busily ditching the remaining fossils as fast as possible.

People really are voting with nappies. The world turns on what makes the little kids happy, and that, let’s face it, is the way it should be.

dirty dozen | must-have organic fruits and vegetables

why buy local & organic?

bpa damages intestines

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

the green baby- voting with your nappies is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Five Common Misunderstandings About Open Adoption

In the twenty years that I have been educating folks on adoption issues, I have seen some common themes emerge. Most couples venturing into adoption have at least some, if not all, of these questions rattling around in their heads, at some point in the process. Many adoptive parents will be told that open adoption is best for an adopted child, but since adoption in the United States is rarely portrayed accurately in the media as it really is, (i.e. a legally safe and fulfilling way to build a family), it isn’t surprising that most people would have somehow gathered misconceptions or fears surrounding a relatively new trend.

In this five part series I have identified, what I have found to be, five of the most common misconceptions, myths or misunderstandings about open adoption.

3. My social worker told me that most birthparents want a lot of contact at first but then disappear after the first year anyway.

Unfortunately, this is true in many cases. Why it is true though, is not nearly as simple. For most birthparents, grief is the most intense throughout the first year of their child’s life. They have a very strong pull, both physically and psychologically, to know that their child is safe and well. After those initial intense feelings of grief pass, many birthmothers find that maintaining an open adoption relationship is too difficult and will often do what they assume everyone expects (or secretly wants) them to do, which is go away.

On the other side of the equation, there are adoptive parents who believe that if their child’s birthmother isn’t reaching out, she must not want any further contact and they wouldn’t want to “open an old wound” by sending photos or calling.

Why does this happen? Primarily, I believe it all comes down to a lack of much-needed support for women in their role of birthmother. If there is no one helping them understand their post-visit feelings and emotions, they may become completely worn out from trying to deal with them all on their own. They may have extended family who do not understand or support them continuing contact with their child and will encourage them, as did one birthmother’s family, to “leave that poor family alone–they didn’t adopt you too!”

Secondly, when a birthmother’s child becomes a toddler, no longer that newborn baby she remember holding in the hospital, she feels less connected with her child and less important. (Especially when a child goes through the typical phase of stranger anxiety and she too, is a stranger. Remember their is no magic to DNA!).

Lastly, if openness is seen as a privilege, not a right, a birthmother will never fully feel a legitimate part of the relationship. A privilege is something that is given, and therefore can also be taken away. The stress of living in fear of having your “openness privileges revoked” can outweigh the benefit she gains from seeing her child. If a birthmother is always the one needing to reach out to make contact, which is often the case, she may begin to feel that she is being intrusive to the family unit, or that the contact is only given because she’s asking (a privilege), not because the adoptive family really wants it for their child (a child’s right).

Although there are generally many resources for adoptive parents to help navigate these waters, their are rarely many, if any, supports for birthmothers in open adoptions. It is like expecting everyone to arrive at a particular destination, at a particular time, but neglect to give anyone a map or directions. (And when no one shows up, thinking, “Well, that must mean that no one really wanted to come after all…”).

Parts 1 and 2 of 5, common misunderstandings about open adoption:

1. Won’t my child be confused with two sets of parents?

2. If my child’s birthmother (or father) sees her child won’t it just make it harder for her to grieve?

These common misunderstandings about open adoption will be available in the coming weeks:

4. What if my child’s birthmother doesn’t want contact?

5. How does contact work? And how do I explain this to everyone (including my child)?

Jennifer Joyce Pedley is a social worker, author, birthmother, wife and mother. She is the author of “Secrets To Your Successful Domestic Adoption” (HCI Books, Inc), to be released in November of 2010.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

5 common misunderstandings about open adoption | part 3 of 5 is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Five Common Misunderstandings About Open Adoption

In the twenty years that I have been educating folks on adoption issues, I have seen some common themes emerge. Most couples venturing into adoption have at least some, if not all, of these questions rattling around in their heads, at some point in the process. Many adoptive parents will be told that open adoption is best for an adopted child, but since adoption in the United States is rarely portrayed accurately in the media as it really is, (i.e. a legally safe and fulfilling way to build a family), it isn’t surprising that most people would have somehow gathered misconceptions or fears surrounding a relatively new trend.

In this five part series I have identified, what I have found to be, five of the most common misconceptions, myths or misunderstandings about open adoption.

2. If my child’s birthmother (or father) sees her child won’t it just make it harder for her to grieve?

The old adage, “out of sight, out of mind,” could be applied to all sorts of things in our lives. (And wouldn’t it be nice if it were really true?) We all know that just because someone isn’t talking about something doesn’t mean they aren’t still thinking about it. That was the biggest myth about closed adoption. Just because no one talked about their losses, doesn’t mean they still weren’t there.

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute’s 2006 study, Safeguarding The Rights and Well-Being of Birthparents in The Adoption Process, found that existing research on birthparents who placed during the era of confidential (closed) adoptions, suggests a significant proportion struggled – and sometimes continue to struggle – with chronic, unresolved grief. Those who had some amount of control over the adoption process, such as choosing their child’s adoptive family and having ongoing contact and/or knowledge, results in lower levels of grief and greater peace of mind with their adoption decisions. The primary factor bringing peace of mind for a birthparent is knowledge about their children’s well-being.

Clearly research has confirmed what I could have told them nearly twenty years ago, when my own birth-son was born and I made an adoption plan with his adoptive parents. Seeing him throughout his life, knowing he was doing well, and having the affirmation that he was receiving the things that were the very reason I made an adoption plan for him in the first place, were one of the primary reasons I was able to grieve and come to a place of resolution with my decision.

Part 1 of 5, common misunderstandings about open adoption:

1. Won’t my child be confused with two sets of parents?

These common misunderstandings about open adoption will be available in the coming weeks:

3. My social worker told me that most birthparents want a lot of contact at first but then disappear after the first year anyway.

4. What if my child’s birthmother doesn’t want contact?

5. How does contact work? And how do I explain this to everyone (including my child)?

Jennifer Joyce Pedley is a social worker, author, birthmother, wife and mother. She is the author of “Secrets To Your Successful Domestic Adoption” (HCI Books, Inc), to be released in November of 2010.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

5 common misunderstandings about open adoption | part 2 of 5 is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Checking Out the Little Bundle’s Little Bundle

People say that the eyes are a window to the soul. Well, I like to say that the breastfed baby’s diaper is a window to his feedings! Admittedly, my phrase doesn’t sound quite as poetic, but it speaks a truth worth talking about. There’s just so much information that a mom can gather simply by checking out the contents of her cute little bundle’s “little bundle”, and knowing the basics can ease a new parent’s mind. It often begins in the hospital with a little sheet of paper and a pencil. Parents are asked to tally the number of wet or dirty diapers so that the nurses can chart them on the record. No one asks a mother to write down how many times the baby sneezes, hiccups, or burps. These things tell us very little about the baby’s state of well-being. But diapers? They tell quite a story, and learning to read between the tapes is an important part of understanding the baby’s health status. Initially, a baby’s stools are very dark and thick. This meconium is likely to stick around for a few days, and I don’t use the term “stick around” loosely. The stuff is hard to wipe off, but thankfully, odorless, and it reflects the waste that was formed before the baby was born. Once mom’s milk begins to pass through the digestive tract, things will change fairly quickly by day 4 or 5, usually. The tarry black stools transition gradually to a thinner, dark green type, and then eventually, to yellow and “seedy”. In fact, the perfect, classic breastfed baby’s poop should look like a squirt of mustard mixed with a small scoop of cottage cheese by the end of the week. (If I’ve turned you off to mustard and cottage cheese forever now, I apologize.) As far as wet diapers are concerned, it’s simply important to see a gradual increase in number of wets during the first week of life. Initially, the baby may only have one or two gently moistened diapers per day. But by week’s end, the diapers should be heavily wet, and it should be happening at least 6 times per day. Anything short of this could mean trouble. In fact, variations or shortcomings on either of wet or the dirty diaper track should be investigated promptly by a feeding specialist, such as a Lactation Consultant. Since a baby cannot speak for himself, he has to let his diaper do the talking.

Tess Johnson

checking out the little bundle’s little bundle | tess is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Five Common Misunderstandings About Open Adoption

In the twenty years that I have been educating folks on adoption issues, I have seen some common themes emerge. Most couples venturing into adoption have at least some, if not all, of these questions rattling around in their heads, at some point in the process. Many adoptive parents will be told that open adoption is best for an adopted child, but since adoption in the United States is rarely portrayed accurately in the media as it really is, (i.e. a legally safe and fulfilling way to build a family), it isn’t surprising that most people would have somehow gathered misconceptions or fears surrounding a relatively new trend.

In this five part series I have identified, what I have found to be, five of the most common misconceptions, myths or misunderstandings about open adoption.

1. Won’t my child be confused with two sets of parents?

This is, by far, the most widely asked question by people when contemplating this arrangement of a child having both his (or her!) birth, and adoptive parents in his life. The simple answer is no, they won’t.

First, because there is truly only one set of parents. Open adoption is not co-parenting. Birthparents and adoptive parents play two very roles in an adopted child’s life and one can never duplicate or replace the other. Although it may be difficult to compare a birthparent’s role to another person in a child’s life, you could equate it as being similar to a favorite aunt, or a god parent. Some people like using the analogy of in-laws; You don’t get to pick them, you may not always like them, but you make it work because they are important (and came along with) someone who is very important to you.

I always say that “Kids are only as confused as the adults around them”, so if you get it, they will get it too. Let’s face it, kids have no problem understanding the concept of there being many different people in their lives who love them: Mom(s), Dad(s), Step-

Parents, Grandparents, Mom & Dad’s significant others, Aunties, and so on. They never get confused about who is their parent and who is not (even if their parent is not the person who gave birth to them). It is no different in adoption. Think of it this way, it isn’t who a child belongs to, but rather, who belongs to a child.

Over the next four weeks I will share details on these common misunderstandings about open adoption:

2. If my child’s birthmother (or father) sees her child won’t it just make it harder for her to grieve?

3. My social worker told me that most birthparents want a lot of contact at first but then disappear after the first year anyway.

4. What if my child’s birthmother doesn’t want contact?

5. How does contact work? And how do I explain this to everyone (including my child)?

Jennifer Joyce Pedley is a social worker, author, birthmother, wife and mother. She is the author of “Secrets To Your Successful Domestic Adoption” (HCI Books, Inc), to be released in November of 2010.

Jennifer Pedley

5 common misunderstandings about open adoption is a post from: Happy Hour Mom