Tag: motherhood

Celebrating Teacher’s Appreciation Week

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

Life becomes hectic for families in May as children reach the end zone of the school year. There are concerts, plays, projects, and award ceremonies. As your child, and the entire school, go full force towards completing all their objectives for the year, it can be easy to overlook the positive impact teachers have made in our lives. 

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The Proven Benefits of Family Time

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

With the rise of two-income households, the last three generations of children have been impacted by the lack of family time. Today’s world can feel chaotic and it’s easy to miss out on prime opportunities to spend time with the members of your immediate family.

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Self Care for the Whole Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

We all know that self-care is important for our physical and mental health and that moms should be doing a lot more of it. Sometimes, it’s difficult to take that time for ourselves.

While most self-care activities are geared towards moms, learning to care for yourself is important for everyone. To assist you in your self-care efforts, invite the whole family to enjoy these activities together. This investment of time and energy will pay off in spades as you are not only starting your own self-care practice but encouraging your loved ones to participate as well.

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Letting Go of Stress

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

Want to be a healthier you this year? It’s time to talk about that stress monster that follows you around every day. While some amount of stress can be good for us, too many people are experiencing harmful amounts of stress every day. Here are some methods you can try to de-stress this year and get into a healthier mental and physical place.

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Building the Best Snowman with Your Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

In the past few years, even the faintest flurry of snow has sent the Frozen song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” scurrying through our brains. Building a snowman with your family is a rite of passage that builds strong familial bonds and memories that will last for years to come. But in the past, we have also seen some really sad looking snowmen.

Here’s what you need to do to make the perfect snowman this winter with your family:

  • Let it snow — The first thing you need to determine is if the snow is just right for making a snowman. If the snow is wet and slushy, then it won’t be able to stick together, and you won’t be able to make a solid snowman. If it’s too powdery and dry, it likewise isn’t going to be usable. The best option is somewhere in between. If it’s too wet, you’re going to have to wait for fresh snow to fall. However, if it is too dry, you can turn on your water hose and lightly wet down the snow to make it usable.
  • Find a good spot — Like with real estate, one of the keys to a good snowman is location, location, location. While a lot of people like to build in the front yard to show off to the neighbors, if that area is in direct sunlight then it will melt a lot faster. Instead, find a flat spot that is shaded so your snow masterpiece will last longer.
  • Make your three core parts — Start by making a slightly larger than average snowball and place it on the ground. Then, roll the ball around and around on the ground, gathering up more snow in the process. As you do this, the ball should get bigger and bigger until you have a base for your snowman. Then, repeat this process two more times. Each time, the ball should be slightly smaller than the one before so that you have the three main ingredients for your snowman. Once you’ve made the second and third balls, stack them carefully on top of the first.
  • Decorate away — Finally, let your imagination run wild as you create a decorated snowman that reflects your personality. For eyes, you don’t have to use coal or buttons. Instead, you should try something like chocolates. (Also, a great choice for the mouth.) For the nose, of course, you can’t go wrong with the traditional carrot. You can also add sticks for arms and twigs for hair. Just make sure you top it off with a hat.

The next time the kids start singing, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” answer them with a resounding “Yes!” Take these tips to create your perfect snowman and have fun building it as well as some great memories.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Home with Kids

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Holidays, Motherhood.

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and many of us are looking forward to saying goodbye to all of the chaos and confusion of 2020. Whether you normally stay at home with the kids on New Year’s Eve, or you’re doing so this year because of COVID, chances are that you won’t be going out to celebrate.

If you’re new to celebrating at home and would like tips on celebrating with the kids, or if you’re looking for some new ideas for 2020-2021, here are five tips on how to celebrate the year’s arrival with your kids:

  • Slumber Party! — A lot of kids are missing out on the joys of being kids this year with the inability to visit with their friends due to COVID. That being said, why don’t you have a family slumber party that can have all of the fun traditions. Set out sleeping bags in the living room (or even better, build a fort out of cushions!) and then get out the popcorn. Watch some family-favorite movies on the television and, if the little ones can stay up that late, celebrate the ball drop on TV like you did when you were growing up.
  • Reflect on the Year — Another thing that you can do as the year passes away is to sit on the couch and reflect back on the year that has passed. Ask each person in your family to name one thing that they liked about the past year or one memory that they are going to cherish. Have everyone write these down so that you can preserve the memories in a scrapbook or memento box.
  • Share a Toast — For adults, what says “New Year’s Eve” more than a toast with champagne at midnight? For the kids, you should include them in the tradition with their own non-alcoholic versions. Either get a bottle of sparkling grape juice or help them cook up their own “mocktail” like a Shirley Temple. For some international flair, have twelve grapes (one at each bell chime at midnight) as they do in Spain. This tradition is supposed to bring prosperity for the new year.
  • Get Outside — If the weather is kind, New Year’s Eve is a great time to get outside to celebrate. Set up a fire pit or heaters to keep everyone warm and then break out the sparklers for safe New Year’s Eve “fireworks.” Also, instead of throwing confetti or having a balloon drop at midnight, celebrate with some cans of silly string and let the kids go wild.
  • Have a Fashion Show — If you want to have silly fun this New Year’s Eve, head to your closet and break out all of your fanciest clothes for a fashion show with your kids. Make sure to take lots of pictures and create a scrapbook later on.

This year, stay home and stay safe for New Year’s Eve. But at the same time, make sure that you and your kids have a celebration that you will remember for years to come.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Embracing Hygge with Your Family This Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

I love different languages and the way some cultures have one word that is almost impossible to translate but can sum up a series of emotions perfectly. One of those is the Danish word “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-ga”).

This beautiful word is meant to express the feeling of a cozy winter centered around family and friends and enjoying each moment of life. If there’s one concept that I can get behind, it’s that.

So here are some ways that you and your family can embrace hygge this winter:

  • Enjoy a hot beverage together — On The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon was always offering someone who needed comfort a “hot beverage.” But this winter, embrace hygge by sharing a hot beverage with your loved ones. If you can, make it a family affair with your kids making real homemade hot chocolate (with a little dash of chili if you want an extra kick to yours). If hot chocolate isn’t to your taste, brew up a real pot of coffee or tea and skip the instant stuff.
  • Make a quilt — What is winter if you can’t curl up under a good blanket and snuggle down and get comfy? This year, you can break out the old comfortable blankets and snuggle with family underneath them as you read a book, watch tv, or just talk. But another bonding activity that can be really useful right now would be quilting. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate pattern. But a simple quilt can bond you with your loved ones and keep you warm—it’s a win-win situation!
  • Take a candle-lit bath — One of the important parts of hygge is that you should not only connect with others, but that you should also be present in the moment and spend some time for yourself. Draw yourself a hot bath complete with your favorite bath salts or foaming bubbles and just relax. Add some ambiance with soft candlelight and gentle, relaxing music. If you are so inclined, bring a good book with you or you can just lay back and luxuriate.
  • Share memories — Another great way to connect with family while you are stuck indoors this winter is by looking back at old pictures together. Digital photos have killed the practice of scrapbooking and photo albums. But this is the perfect time to print out those favorite pictures and assemble a photo album of cherished memories that you can share with your loved ones.

After the holidays are over and the decorations are all put away, we still have a few more months of cold weather as we wait for spring. This year, spend this time with loved ones embracing the Danish concept of “hygge.”

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.