5 ways to comfort / help a new Mom

How much ever experience you have or how much ever help and support you have, Giving birth to a child is not an easy task. After waiting for 9 months and after taking the utmost self-care and diet, even though the mom eagerly waits for her child, it is impossible to prepare for postpartum 100%. That's why the help and support of family and friends are most needed after delivery. 

Here are some ways that I think will be helpful to comfort a new mom. 

PC: www.pixabay.com

1. Helping with Food and cooking

I think any friend or family member should take care of the food and cooking needs for the new mom. An infant takes a lot of time feeding every 2 hrs, adjusting to this world, needing diaper changes often. Since the mom will be busy with the infant, the family/ friends should step up and arrange food. 

2. Giving more sleep to mom

Sleeplessness gives more stress than day-long work. If the family and friends can take care of baby sometimes with pumped breast milk, the new mom can have some sleep as she has to wake up every 2 hrs in the night. 

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3. Taking the mom outside

Taking care of a baby the whole day is very difficult and sometimes, it becomes depressing. In those stressful days, moms feel like pumping machines as feeding baby is the high priority task they have the whole day. If moms can take a stroll outside with the baby or if they can just go outside once in a while, it takes off some stress. This helps the new mom to be happy. Family/ friends should help in making sure that the mom is spending some time outside once in a while.

4. Dealing with Hormones

After delivery, hormones show their impact. Sometimes, new mothers feel like crying without any reason. Postpartum depression is real. The family has to talk to her and listen to her and understand her behavioral changes due to hormones.  While the reasons might be many for postpartum depression, a positive dialogue and support to the new mom will help her to come out of that. New moms often doubt their efficiency to take care of an infant and doubt that they may cause any harm to the baby unknowingly.  These thoughts are common and if they can discuss these thoughts freely with friends and family, they get better support. 

5. Appreciate her

When life seems mechanical with just taking care of baby selflessly, appreciation is very much needed. It gives the mom a confidence that she is doing her tasks better and is a good parent. Appreciate her. Gifts might not be necessary always, but the support and encouragement are important at this phase. Gifting her some baby essentials from Lovingly Signed is a better idea. The website has many personalized gift sets for baby boys and girls.

Super Luxury Gift set for Boys

What are your suggestions on comforting a new mom? If you are already a mom, let me know if these ways could have helped you after your delivery.

Until next time,

Ps: This sponsored post is really coming at a great time because I was just thinking to share information about Lovingly Signed website for different baby gifting options. 

Some more fall colors #ThursdayTreeLove

I cannot get enough of the fall colors and it is already first snowfall here :O

Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day. - Shira Tamir

Borrow some Gold?

Early Reds

Linking this to #ThursdayTreeLove hosted by Parul.
Until next time,

The White flowers from the Heaven #MondayMusings

I am not sure why I am crazy about the snow.

While it snows, I feel like beautiful white flowers are falling from the Sky.

As per the scientists, the white color is formed by the combination of all rainbow colors. Is this the reason, nature looks divine and peaceful after the snowfall?

Tree covered with Snow
Pc: www.pixabay.com

While it is fun to be under the snow catching those white flowers who are as light as cotton balls, the temperature might be freezing to play outside. But, What I observed is that the time before it starts snowing, temperature falls down reaching 0-degree Celsius and weather becomes foggy or fills with mist. The visibility slowly reduces to zero and it will be freezing at this time to go outside without proper winter wear like the scarf, cap, jacket, socks, shoes, and gloves.

Snowflake
Pc: www.pixabay.com

After it snows, it seems like the whole Earth is wearing a white blanket. The serene scenery cannot be explained with words. The rooftops of the houses and the tree leaves shining white with the sunshine look pristine.

It will be wonderful watching the snow fall from the window sipping a hot coffee/ Hot chocolate. I always think - while nature is this beautiful, how can we work on our routine things without stopping for some time and enjoy the beauty. My heart will always be outside when it snows and I just want to be a spectator and enjoy the experience.

How do you feel about snow? Or Am I the only one crazy about snow?

Until next time,

Linking this to #MondayMusings hosted by Corinne.

Dussehra Celebration

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Dussehra festival is celebrated for 9 days every year.

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Significance of Dussehra:

There are many stories about the significance of Dussehra celebration. One is the victory of good over evil. Goddess Durga fought with a demon Mahishasura for all these 9 days and killed him on Vijaya Dasami. There is also a legend that Rama fought with Ravana and killed him on Vijaya Dasami.

Celebration: 

We celebrate this festival for 9 days by performing puja to Goddess Durga in 9 forms. We offer different prasadams on each day and perform pooja. Many women read Lalitha Sahasra namam and do kumkuma Archana in the evenings.

Day	Avatara	Naivedyam (Offering)
1	Shailaputri Navadurga	Chalimidi (Sweet with rice flour), Vadapappu(soaked moong dal) and Payasam (Kheer)
2	Balatripura Sundari	Sweet Boondi and chickpeas
3	Gayatri Devi	Ravva Kesari and Pulihora
4	Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi	Pulihora (Tamarind Rice) and Pesara Boorelu (Wadas made of lentils)
5	Saraswati Devi	Dadhojanam (Curd rice)/  Atukulu (puffed rice), Jaggery (bellam), Sanagapappu (split skinless chickpeas)
6	Annapurna Devi	Pongal
7	Sri Maha Lakshmi	Ksheerannam (Sweet with rice and milk)/ Jaggery Rice
8	Sri Durga Devi	Gaarelu (Wada) , Lemon rice with Ginger
9	Mahishasura Mardhini	Chakkara Pongali (Sweet made with rice, milk, and Jaggery)

On the 10th day, we worship Sri Rajarajeswari Devi by offering Pulihora (Tamarind Rice) and Garelu (Wada) as naivedyam.

Source: https://hindupad.com/nine-types-of-naivedyam-for-navaratri-in-south-india/

Happy Dussehra

Here are some books to explain Dussehra to Kids:

Other than the puja, we also do Ayudha puja on the ninth day of Navratri, which means, we perform pooja to machines, instruments, weapons, and vehicles. Pooja is done for books and musical instruments also on that day.

Another important celebration is Bommala koluvu. Many idols of different colors and idols of Gods and Goddesses are arranged in a hierarchical way. Hosts arrange small gathering and invite girls and women. During this festival, a few also perform puja to small girls treating them as Goddess Durga and offer them bangles and flowers.

Here are some home decor items for the festival season!

5 piece Marigold garlands

Indian Background decor

Goddess Durga Face cutout

Rangoli Floor decor

So, this is how we celebrate Dussehra in our household. I hope, this Dussehra brings health and happiness to your households.

Until next time,

Guess My Name with Veggies and Fruits by Liana Strat - [Book Review]

Summary:

Help your little ones learn about fruits and vegetables with this delightful illustrated children's book, written by childcare expert Liana Strat.

These friendly faces will make new foods fun and engaging for young children.

Information about the book

Title: Guess My Name with Veggies and Fruits

Author: Liana Strat

Release Date: 2^nd October 2018

Genre: Picture Book

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42077826-guess-my-name-with-veggies-and-fruits

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guess-My-Name-Veggies-Fruits/dp/1912850125/

My Review

This book gives some clues and information about some fruits and vegetables sot hat children can try guessing their names. I read this to my 4-year-old and he could understand the description, see the photo and could give the name of vegetable or fruit. 

I liked the fact that there is not more than 5 lines of description for each fruit/vegetable and so, it is easy to read to toddlers keeping their attention completely. My Son enjoyed the guessing game. 

While the first page shows the image of the fruit/ vegetable with the description, the second page introduces the name of the item. The pictures are bright and clear for the children to look and guess the name. The narration is great with rhyming words.

My Rating: 5/5

I recommend this book to toddlers below 5 years of age. 

PS: I have received a free print copy of this book from the author through Authoright.

Author Information

Liana Strat is a Nanny with a Degree in Environment Protection, currently living and working in London. Originally from Romania, she moved to the United Kingdom following a career in Childcare, after realizing her passion for children. Inspired by the multitude of experiences encountered in this field and with a strong desire to give parents an extra tool for a good food education, she followed the path of writing.

Tour Schedule

Until next time,

Designing custom signs is not tough any more with Smartsign #ProductReview

I am not a designer but a software engineer by profession. I rely on websites like Canva to design logos and images or other graphics for my blog. But, designing a custom sign board is completely new to me. So, when I came across the website SmartSign, I wanted to try if I can design one. I did try and was amazed at how easy was the process to design and order the signboard.

As I love classical dance, I decided to design a board for my childhood dance school "Kala Deepika" institute. Here are the steps I followed and you can see the result yourselves :-)

Designing the Board:

• Before I started the design, I have created an account on the SmartSign website, which literally took 5 mins.

• I chose "10 in. x 14 in. Customized Sign Template: Add Your Own Custom Design And Color"

Choosing the Design

• Now, it is time to choose a high-quality Image. Since my signboard is related to the classical Indian dance, I have searched and found a good image of God "Nataraj" and a dancer posing in "Kuchipudi Dance" form.

• When I am ready with images, I have used Canva.com to design my board with 2 images and the text I wanted. I have saved my design as a PDF file, before proceeding to the SmartSign website. 

• I have clicked on "Personalize" to customize my design, selected the orientation and the hole pattern. 

Price List

• It's time to upload my artwork which is a PDF file. I uploaded it and clicked on 'Add to cart'. I have also mentioned a note in "Special instructions" that no text should be cut while printing.

Personalization Options

• I have entered the address and placed my order. Received a confirmation email about the order and in a few days, I have also received an email saying that my artwork has gone for print and then dispatched.

• I think I have received my order in 5 to 7 days. The packaging was simple and proper keeping the sign safe. 

The End Product

The End product is of good quality of printing and the colors are exactly as designed.

The Custom Signboard

How do you like the signboard? By the way, Kala Deepika is our Dance school name which is founded by our Dance Teacher Ms. A Parvathi Ramachandran from whom I learned the Classical dance for over 15 years in Eluru, India. 

Until next time,

PS: I received the opportunity to design the signboard and receive it in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on designing and placing an order through Smart sign website. 

BBQ, Bikers, and Murder by Summer Prescott - Book Promo

Hawg Heaven Cozy Culinary Mysteries, Book 1

Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Summer Prescott Books

A small Midwestern town.

The best BBQ in the state.

A single mom, determined to do what it takes.

A murder that rocks her world.

Rossalyn Channing is tough, but the odds are stacked against her. Faced with the reality of starting a new life with her teenage son, after her heroic husband is killed in the line of duty, she knows that she has to do whatever it takes to survive.

Irresistibly drawn to a mysterious little building in a small town, the determined single mom uses every dime she's got to buy it, with plans to turn it into a diner that her late husband would have loved. When Rossalyn finds herself caught up in the middle of a murder investigation, however, she begins to wonder if the challenges she faces will defeat her.

A body is found on her property, the sheriff in town suspects Rossie of the murder, and it looks like her world is falling apart. It's up to this determined mom to prove her innocence and save her small family. Can she do it?

Hawg Heaven Cozy Culinary Mysteries Series

BBQ, Bikers, and Murder (#1)

Baby Back Murder (#2)

Nacho Usual Murder (#3)

Hawgs, Dogs, and Murder (#4)

Killer Barbeque (#5)

Home Grown Murder (#6)

Bittersweet Murder (#7)

About the Author

Summer Prescott is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author, who has penned nearly one hundred Cozy Mysteries, and a successful Thriller, The Quiet Type. She makes her home in the Midwest with her Standard Poodle, Elvis, at her side.

Contact Links

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Promo Link

Purchase Link

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

Go on, Girl by Hilary Grossman - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : Go on, Girl
Author : Hilary Grossman
Genre : Contemporary Fiction, Women Fiction, Parenting and Family Humor
Length of the book : 276 pages
Source : A free print copy from the author for review

Blurb:

Executive, wife, and mother of an outgoing first-grader, Sydney Clayton crushes her day-to-day obligations at work but flounders in the cutthroat world of parental politics.

She manages to avoid the local drama until she’s faced with an ultimatum: join the Forest River PTA or risk her daughter becoming a social outcast. Sydney reluctantly becomes treasurer, and takes the recently vacated position of the president’s sidekick. If protecting the children’s freedom of speech, one best friend ban at a time, isn’t complicated enough, Sydney and her husband receive an unexpected offer for their house they don’t think they can refuse. 

Embroiled in the deception and manipulation rife among the elementary school moms, Sydney struggles. Should she sell the home she worked so hard to build in a town where betrayal runs rampant? Or should she stay put to avoid the fallout from uprooting her child? As Sydney focuses on what is best for her daughter, and lets go of her judgments, she finds friendship can develop in very unexpected ways.

Warm, witty, and wise, Go On, Girl dramatizes the dilemmas of life in the suburbs and the bonds shared by women. Perfect for fans of Class Mom and Big Little Lies.

"Hilary Grossman knocked it out of the park with her fourth novel. Go On, Girl is filled with humor and heart." - Meredith Schorr - Best Selling Author of The Boyfriend Swap and The Blogger Girl Series ★★★★★

"Liane Moriarty brought it back in Big Little Lies and Laurie Gelman made it laugh-out-loud funny in Class Mom. Hilary Grossman’s new novel brings it center stage as the Forest River PTA dishes out more drama than you’d find in a Meryl Streep movie!" - The Book Whisperer ★★★★★

"If you’re one who enjoys reading about drama mamas and school politics, then I recommend this book. Go On, Girl” was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, so I’ll be adding it to my top of 2018 list." - Chick Lit Goddess ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"This was such a fun story, you can't help but lose yourself in the drama and politics that Sydney encounters when she joins the Forest River PTA. With a lot of eye-rolling, smirking, and outright snickering, I really enjoyed following Syndey and her co-PTA members as they ruled the roost at Forest River Elementary. " - Jersey Girl Book Reviews ★★★★★

"Hilary Grossman proves that not everyone is as they seem and unfortunately some people are exactly as they seem! This was just what this PTO mom needed before the craziness of school starts up!" - Little Book Page ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My Review:

This is a perfect family humor that I have read recently. Sydney is a working mom and a parent of little girl Amanda who is a first grader in Forest River Elementary school. While she is busy managing work and office, her life takes a turn when she becomes treasurer in Forest River school PTA. The office work, PTO meetings, work related to PTO, gossips, and warnings of other PTO moms drive Sydney crazy. As luck would have it, she and her husband Craig have to deal with the pressure of selling their home and preparing to move to a new place at the same time. 

Even though Syd joins the PTA committee reluctantly, she makes great friends. She goes beyond the initial judgments and forms a friendship with Jackie. Her straightforward nature and the cool way of handling problems make her a good friend to Jackie. 

The story, dialogues, and narration are all witty. Craig is a sweet as an understanding partner to Syd. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book even though it is not a thriller and has a predictable story. I fell in love with Syd and could relate to her anxiety when it came to taking a decision for her daughter. 

We all go through pressure when things move fast in our life and we have to take some important decisions. But, we never look back and see how these circumstances help us to find real friends and form great bonds in our life. In all this process while Syd forms new friends, especially Jackie, Kara and Rosemary, Craig gels well with Andrew. 

This is a fantastic read for a beach vacation or long drives. If you are a mom of Elementary school child, you would surely love this!

My Rating: 4.5/5

PS: I have received this free book from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Purchase Link:
Amazon

About the Author:

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her "characters." She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She's been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island. 

To find out more of what Hilary is up to check out her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HilaryGrossmanAuthor or 
find her on Twitter https://twitter.com/feelingbeachie

Until next time,