How to Convert a Nursery into a Big Kid Room

Hello all! Today we have a fantastic guest post from Kaitlin Krull answering all of our questions on converting our little ones nursery into a big kid room. This is something we are all curious about as our little babies grow into our big babies! Enjoy!

How to Convert a Nursery into a Big Kid Room

Kaitlin Krull

Once your precious little baby starts toddling around and climbing out of her crib, parenthood takes on a whole new meaning. In addition to dealing with added tantrums, obstacles, and frustrations, you might realize that your little one’s beautifully decorated nursery isn’t cutting it anymore for her new needs and wants. If you’re thinking about making the transition from nursery to big kid room, there’s no need to stress. Here are some of the basics you’ll need to consider when re-decorating your baby’s room.

Furniture

If you were forward thinking enough to buy transition-friendly furniture for your baby before she was born, then give yourself a pat on the back. Convertible cribs and storage units with accessible and kid-safe drawers and doors are easily adapted for your new big kid. For those of us who had other things on our minds (or baby brain, in which case you had not much at all in there for awhile), never fear. There are tons of furniture options for toddler and kid rooms. Choose from junior beds and other lower storage units for accessibility, or push the boat out and consider other sleeping options such as bunk beds, loft beds, floor beds, or anything else you and your big kid dream up.

Room organization

Once you’ve decided on big kid bedroom furniture, it’s time to get organized. Create an independence-fostering space with designated areas throughout the room: separate places for sleeping, reading/quiet play, building, and imaginative play. Just make sure you don’t store too much in the bedroom, otherwise you will be forever cleaning up messes. For the inevitable clutter, stock the room with kid-friendly storage, such as baskets, bins, tubs, pots, bookshelves, and plenty of accessible closet space. Encourage your big kid’s independence by labeling storage and encouraging regular tidying. You never know, you just might save yourself a little bit of time somewhere in the near future!

Decor and accessories

No room is complete without accessories, so talk to your child and get creative with decorations. Taking your child’s tastes into account, you can make a tastefully grown up (but not too grown up) space that is all hers. Over at Modernize, we have a few pointers to help you get started. Remember not to clutter the room with too many decor pieces and accessories, or you run the risk of over-complicating your design. Instead, choose a few pieces that make a statement, such as a large framed art print (or your big kid’s own artwork!), family photos, keepsakes, and vintage toys. As far as bedding is concerned, remember to choose the right size duvet or comforter and pillow for your child (junior sizes are available if you want them, but opting for larger sizes increases their longevity).

Safety

Before you let your big kid loose in her new sleeping space, double check that you’ve completed all your childproofing throughout the bedroom. Tick off the same boxes as you would in any other part of the house, including plugs, cords, blinds, windows, door frames, choking hazards, and trip/fall hazards. If you’ve opted for bunk beds or a loft bed, consider a toddler bed rail to minimize the risk of falling. Make sure to tether large and tall pieces of furniture to the wall. Lastly, it might be a good idea to keep a video monitor in the room for the time being for added safety, since your little one will be free of her restrictive crib and will be spending some time alone in her room.

Should you self-publish your book?

How to get the book that’s “in you” out to the world

You’ve got a book in you—you’re sure of it. Whether it’s an amazing story, or solid expert advice, you know others would benefit from the book you’re already writing in your head.

So, what is the best way for you to go about getting this book out to the masses? You’ve got a few options; we’ll walk you through them here.

Traditional PublishingGetting your book published has never been tougher—if you go the traditional royalty publisher route. Traditional, or “royalty” publishing, works like this: you (or more accurately, your literary agent) queries a publishing company with a book proposal. If the publisher “buys” your book, they’ll offer you an advance (sometimes) and a small cut of the book sales proceeds. In return, they’ll edit the book, cover the costs of production (including the cover), printing, and so forth. But this also gives them editorial control and more sway in your brand management. The publisher handles distribution—getting your book into stores and online sellers—and book promotion, handling some marketing, but leaving a larger chunk to you than you might expect.

Self-PublishingSelf-publishing is a risk you, the author, take on in full. You can expect to pay all publishing costs: editing, design, printing, marketing, advertising and distribution. Because of this, you also have control of the product: you have final say on the cover, the content, and marketing plan. Once the expenses are paid, the author receives the profits from sales. The risk to you is greater, but so is the reward.

Self-publishing, as the name implies, can be a lonely job—you are on your own, often being funneled through a cookie-cutter type system. You’re doing it all by yourself. You’ll learn by making mistakes, and some of those “lessons” can be expensive. You may just want to write, but a self-published author also serves as business manager, brand manager, and more.

Self-Publishing with an Experienced TeamThere is a third option in the new world of publishing: you can self-publish with a team.

Hiring a team of publishing professionals can make the self-publishing process much easier, less lonely, and increase the quality of your end product greatly.

You’ll also avoid costly mistakes by relying on the book professionals’ expertise. And you’ll be able to hand off much of the “book business” tasks so that you can focus on being an author—while still retaining control of content and the overall process.

Working with a self-publishing team like Kickstand Books is like hiring a personal concierge when exploring a new area. Having traveled this way before, this team can steer you in the right direction, help you make good choices, and take care of details that you, the author, might prefer not to handle. The team at Kickstand prides itself on the white glove service offered to each author, creating quality products every time including top design, printer negotiations, and more behind-the-scenes tasks most authors would prefer to leave to someone else.

Self-publishing can be a challenging yet gratifying option for authors, especially when they have a team of professionals working with them.

Leave a comment: If you've published a book, tell us about your experience. What worked, what didn't  What did you learn? If you’re thinking of writing a book, do you plan to self-publish it? Why or why not?

Father's Day Ideas for Him (And You)

Today I would like to welcome Michelle Pino to Mommy's Musings. She works at one of New York's finest spa's called Skana in Upstate, NY. A topic of conversation around the spa has been Father's Day gift ideas, and with Father's Day fast approaching she is sharing those ideas with us! I know I'm going to use a couple of those ideas myself. The best thing is these aren't just ideas to include dad, but to include mom too!

Father's Day Ideas for Him (And You)

Father's Day is a great time to celebrate dad. Many popular Father's Day ideas include fishing, cooking out, picnics, days at the park, or ballpark. These ideas are great and sure to bring a smile to dad's appreciative face, but after so many Father's Days, they get a little tired out. No matter what you choose to do for this special day, dad will probably have a better time if mom is involved. The following are some ideas for both mom and dad to celebrate Father's Day.

Try That New Restaurant

There's a highly reviewed, swanky, new restaurant in town that you can't convince hubby to take you to. Maybe it's because he doesn't want to pay the exorbitant amounts or maybe he's a bit too forgetful to make the required month-in-advance reservations. No matter what his excuse is, now is your chance to try it out. Make reservations ahead of time and surprise him with an all-expenses-paid gourmet meal for two.

Get Fit Together

The winter can be a tough time for both men and women. No bathing suits, football-food season, big bulky clothes all make it very easy to forget about those ripped abs or teeny bikini that you wanted this summer. Father's Day is the perfect time of year to kick off your summer hard body. Sign yourself up for a dual gym membership or a 6-week Shred Program. You'll be the hottest wife with the hottest husband on the beach this year. (Bonus: Many gyms offer a discount if purchasing more than one class or membership).

Vacation for a Day

Many resorts offer day passes so you are able to get a vacation for an affordable price without much time commitment. While your husband is winning the big bucks on the poker tables you can be enjoying yourself by the pool or at the spa. Many modern resorts will cater to couple's individualized needs. Break up your day with activities you both love to do and meet back up in the evening for a romantic dinner.

Father-Son, Mommy-Self Time

Purchasing go-kart or batting cage tickets for your hubby and son is a great way to also purchase yourself some alone time. While they are out of the house, you can get some much-needed me-time. The activities don't have to last the whole day, so you are able to send them out for fun and also have time for family fun.

When you choose what you are going to do for Father's Day, make sure it is all about dad having fun.  It's easy to get carried away with yourself during activities that are fun for everyone, just be sure that dad is having the greatest time possible on his day.

A special guest post from Mark Victor Hansen

Helping kids break their learning barriers

I know of many kids who have certain learning disabilities that hold them back from the rest of their age group.  But I believe that their inability to cope is not a problem born out of being less smart, it's one that is born out of the problem of miscommunication.  Kids with learning disabilities are simply unable to share their genius with the world.  This is where computers come in.

There are many instances where computers have proved that kids with learning disabilities are silent intellects.  An inarticulate child featured on 60 minutes was able to display his emotions and feelings by using the palm top that he'd been given.  With the single press of a button, he could say things like "I'm hungry", "I'm sad" and "I want to see my brother".

The earliest instance I can remember is of one that happened almost ten years ago.  My kids used to go to Kaiser Elementary School.  The principal then, Mrs. Chris Jurenka, paid someone $150,000 to install a bunch of computers so that every child with a learning disability had a computer to work with.  The change was instantaneous.  Every child, who'd been silent for so long, was suddenly communicating with the computer with complete ease, and through the computer, the kids could communicate with other people too.  The school was one with kids coming from many cultures, so many different languages were spoken.  English was a common subject though and Mrs. Jurenka expanded the computer learning program to teach English.  It was as much a success as the first.  The parents were thrilled that their kids were speaking English perfectly and came down to see the computers and tapes.

Computers can help a child unleash his genius, and today, computers are accessible to everyone, whether you can afford to own one or not.  Almost every public library has a computer section.  U.S.A, Canada and most of Europe have public libraries that provide free access.  This ensures that nothing comes in the way of unleashing the genius of each child.

http://www.gorichkids.com/

Quality Nurses are Vital in the Care of the Chronically Ill

I am so very pleased to have a guest blogger, Melanie Bowen, join us today. Melanie Bowen has done extensive research and writing about the importance of quality nursing for chronically ill patients.
As I have had 2 very close family members become diagnosed with cancer this is a subject I find of the utmost importance.
When your loved one becomes sick it is top priority to choose a nurse/caregiver wisely, and this will shed some light on what to look for and what qualities you will find in a Quality Nurse.

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This is a guest post by Melanie Bowen who has done extensive research and writing about the importance of quality nursing for chronically ill patients.

Quality Nurses are Vital in the Care of the Chronically Ill

Quality nurses are needed for chronically ill patients since a col half of the American population is living with some sort of chronic illness. Half of the American population is 145 million people. By 2030, the number of chronically ill patients is expected to reach 171 million people. Many people have multiple chronic illnesses including: heart disease, diabetes, asthma, depression or even cancer or mesothelioma. To ensure proper car, quality nurses must be available.

What Qualities to Look for in a Good Nurse

Nurses and medical professionals are often deficient in certain categories. Quality nurses overcome these deficiencies and deliver superior care. Examples of deficiencies include: no coordination among health professionals, medical professionals who are not following established practice guidelines, inadequately trained medical professionals and no follow-up for the best outcomes. Nurses should also:

1. Understand Their Patients Illness
Successful nurses remain informed about their patient's condition. They learn to be empathetic and understand how their patient's condition affects their everyday lives.

2. Helps Chronically Ill Care For Depression
Nearly one-third of individuals also suffer from depression. Nurses should help patients care for their depression.

3. Nurses Should Help Clients Create a Care Plan
The care plan should include a medical history and a medication list. All healthcare professionals can follow this plan to yield a more successful outcome each time patients are treated.

4. Observe Changes in the Patient's Condition
Nurses should monitor verbal and non-verbal clues in chronically ill patients. Their hand gestures or facial expressions of pain should be acknowledged, and the appropriate treatment should be rendered. Good nurses are able to determine how a patient is feeling and suggest an appropriate treatment.

5. Nurses Provide Resources to Help Patients
Nurses know of the major resources available to help chronically ill patients. Care for chronic illnesses are expensive. In total, care for chronic illnesses cost billions of dollars annually. Nurses should be able to help patients apply for government programs and find discounts for medications and other health care costs.

Find a Quality Nurse
Quality nurses can be hired for chronically ill patients. Both Medicare and Medicaid will pay for chronically ill patients to have a nurse. Consider how nurses can help chronically ill patients on the road to recovery. Nurses can be highly beneficial in these situations. Whether you are battling a breast cancer treatment, a mesothelioma diagnosis, or leukemia chemotherapy; never give up the fight and find a medical assistant who not only cares about your wellbeing but know how to help as well.

Scary Movie

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell

Oh my goodness! I just accidently watched the scariest movie ever on Lifetime. I didn’t realize it was going to get so intense and scary, and before I knew it, I was scared out of my wits. I literally walked all around the house and turned all the lights on in every room. I also double checked that ourSECURITYCHOICE alarm was set and on, and double checked all the doors to make sure they were locked. I hate when I am scared! All of a sudden, I start imagining all kinds of crazy things that could happen, no matter how unlikely. I didn’t know the movie was going to get so scary, or I never would have watched it. It was just so suspenseful, which drives me crazy. It was about this man who was stalking these girls, and oh my gosh, it was just so realistic. Monster movies don’t scare me; it’s the one’s that actually could happen in real life that get to me. I am never going to be able to get to sleep tonight.

Moving's a Hassle

Content by Sol Rosales

Moving is a lot more of a hassle than I imagined it would be, to tell you the truth. I thought it would just be throwing some stuff in boxes and putting them in the truck not this three-week long affair where I had to pack everynight and make sure things were wrapped up tightly and all that. I hated having to rent a moving truck because I think that’s just a silly expense and I’ve been really into looking into all my new utilities and trying to find the best deal. At work the other day I was on www.texaselectricityproviders.com//power-to-choose/Texas/ for about three hours just checking out my options and I still haven’t even decided on a cable provider yet! I think it’s going to be great once I get into the new house but I figure that since all this moving stuff was such a hassle unpacking and things like that are going to be even worse. Who wants to come over and help me next weekend…any takers out there?

Working in the city

Content by Sol Rosales

In my experience living and working in the city has its major advantages. First of all work is pretty close to home so there is little to no commute. Second of all when people at the office want to head out to happy hour straight after work you can easily walk to the happy hour place and then (in my case) walk home to my apartment afterwards, laughing all the way because everyone else has to sit in traffic to get to the suburbs. Another thing that is a total advantage is most in town residences are relatively small. This is good for me because I don’t need that much space and I barely have any furniture to put in a large space anyway. Another great thing about having a small space is that it is fairly inexpensive to keep the heater and air conditioning running. I already have great houston tx electric rates so I don’t have to worry about spending too much plus I am hardly ever home so I don’t have to heat or cool the place when I am out.

Stay with your firm

This guest post from Edgardo Rosa
Whoever thinks that being self-employed is for everyone is absolutely, positively WRONG. I own a company that does private head-hunting, and please let me be the one to inform you if nobody else does that it is extremely tough to start up a business from scratch. I worked for a private head-hunting firm for a while, and decided that I had enough talent and connections that I could go out on my own and strike it rich for myself. This, of course, was before the economy took a nose dive. Now, it’s so hard to find work- it’s like being in an ocean full of sharks ready to pounce! I have all of the essentials that you need to be successful- including an impressive office above my garage that is filled with computers, wireless internet that I got from ClearWirelessInternet.com, printers, copiers—the works! Now all I need are some of my clients that have been stolen back from me, and I’ll have myself a business! A word from the possibly not-so-wise—stick with your private firms!