Browsing all posts in April, 2009.

When Home Sweet Home Becomes Dorm Suite Dorm

This is the time of year when lots of daughters are getting ready to make good on their promise to grow up and move out of your house. The senior year has flown by and you’ve found yourself ordering graduation announcements and wondering if you will hold yourself together for the graduation ceremony. (Which is more [...]

Mothers Encouraged

Recently I viewed an exhibit of antique books. What really caught my eye was this book: Mothers Encouraged, “Containing hints on their particular situation, duties, and cares” published in 1845.
This is a thought-provoking artifact. Obviously, mothers have been seeking hints on managing their duties for generations. I wonder, what were the cares of mothers in 1845? How has our “situation” [...]

Simple Options for College Savings from a Professional

Like everyone else who bought a PACT contract, I’m thinking, “Now what?” with a building sense of panic. It felt so good to have a big red mental checkmark next to even one category among the Things Moms Worry About. Regardless of how the situation is resolved, Alabama’s PACT scare illustrates that one method alone is not sufficient for planning major [...]

Restaurant Meals That Are Almost Cheaper than Cooking at Home

Most home economists would tell you that eating in is more economical than eating out 95% of the time. But what about the other five percent? Surely there are times when a restaurant, because of bulk purchasing, special promotions, and overall efficiency, has an advantage over the home cook.
Here are BirminghamMom’s picks for deals that [...]

Find: Mavalus Tape – Sticks and Removes Easily

Few things are as uplifting as a visit to a preschool or elementary classroom. The bulletin boards, “job charts” and schedules make the world seem orderly and controlled for just a moment. I suppose this is the way teachers establish the classroom habitat and keep natural chaos at bay.
Eventually the kids get the idea that their room is [...]

Tips for Shopping Consignment

Even before the economy took a nosedive, it was becoming fashionable to lighten our environmental needs by reusing as many things as possible, including clothing. This is nothing new to moms, who have been wardrobing for their kids via hand-me-downs for years. In fact, the standard reply when a mom shares that  she’s expecting another boy is to say, “Oh, you’re all set! You’ve [...]