Five Secrets for Making a New Mom Happy on Valentine's Day
When you care enough to send the very best, but she's more preoccupied with diapers than diamonds, one thing's certain: You're living with a new mom."Valentine's Day is tough enough on men, but it's especially tough on new dads," says Stephanie Gallagher, a.k.a. "The Shopping Mom."
"They want to make their wives happy, but flowers, candy and other traditional Valentine's Day fare hold little interest for new moms."Instead, Gallagher, author of "The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years: The Real Moms' Survey of Top-Rated Products and Advice" (www.gallagherguide.com) recommends new dads give their wives what they really want: something that will make their lives easier and make them feel cherished.
Here are her top 5 picks:?1. A good night's sleep.???? "To a new mom, eight uninterrupted hours of sleep are worth more than anything that could come in a box from Tiffany," says Gallagher.
"Give her coupons for ten good nights of sleep (they don't have to be used consecutively), and she'll be forever grateful."???? If she's nursing, make sure she pumps breast milk in advance, so you can handle the nighttime feedings.
And do whatever you can to ensure she has quiet surroundings ? even suggest she move to another room if she finds it hard to sleep through nighttime crying.2. New mom jewelry.???? New moms love jewelry that features baby charms, baby shoes, moms holding babies, etc.
"I recommend Lucy Ann products (www.lucyann.com) because they're adorable, they can be personalized, and they're reasonably priced," Gallagher says.3. Maid service for a month.???? For the neat freak who is just too exhausted to do it all herself, this is the perfect gift.
"It may not seem romantic, but she'll love the fact that you're thinking of her needs," saysGallagher.4.
A personal chef or a post-baby casserole shower.???? "The last thing a new mom has time for is cooking, but you still have to eat something for dinner every night," says Gallagher.
???? If you can afford it, hire a personal chef to cook and store two weeks' worth of meals in your freezer.
Go to www.personalchef.com for referrals.
If finances won't permit that luxury,ask friends or relatives to throw her a post-baby casserole shower.
Each friend or relatives makes a casserole that can be frozen and re-heat as needed.
5. A memory.???? "Memory-savers like scrapbooks, baby pictures and photo gifts are always a hit with new moms," says Gallagher.
If she's a digital photography fan, Shutterfly www.shutterfly.com) offers prepaid print plans and portrait packages from $24.
Or have a photo quilt made at Personal Creations (www.personalcreations.com) or a hand-drawn pencil sketch or watercolor done from one of your baby photos at My DaVinci (www.mydavinci.com).Moms can get a free sample chapter of "The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years" by sending a blank email to e-mail protected from spam bots or visiting www.gallagherguide.com..
Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 6 Buying Pearl Jewelry
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a "no-brainer" choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly women) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and innovations are continual. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course.
To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.The Facts About Pearl JewelryBecause natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based...
Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 6 Buying Pearl Jewelry
Diamonds > Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 6 Buying Pearl Jewelry
Ballet Art Begets Egg Art
The birth of Russian ballet choreographer, George Balanchine, is being celebrated; 2004 is the centennial year of his birth. His body of work has inspired and transformed the ballet world. VIVIAN ALEXANDER?, world renown for their unique Old World egg enamel work was commissioned to honor his lifetime achievements with an egg art sculpture.The Saratoga Performing Art Center requested a unique piece that would be symbolic of Balanchine's life work in the arts and at the same time be a work of art in itself. The lavish ballet "Jewels", choreographed by George Balanchine, was chosen as the ideal vehicle to accomplish both missions. The original ballet, first performed by the New York City Ballet, is in three sections; Emeralds, Diamonds, and Rubies.Balanchine, born in St.
Petersburg Russia beneath the famous onion domes of that city, inspired the basic egg design. The domes are depicted in the outline of the three distinct panels, one for each of the represented gemstones, and the...
Ballet Art Begets Egg Art
Diamonds > Ballet Art Begets Egg Art
Beginner's Don't Do's for the Year
Well all those Happy New Year wishes are now in the past - are you ready to get down to business and get to making your New Year a little Happier. 2004 was a year to be remembered - some good - some bad, as in all years, but somehow 2004 stands out as one to be remembered. Lots of resolutions have been made. Was one of yours to have an internet business this year? A dream come true for some and a nightmare for others. Just a few hints to get you motivated and in the right direction.
1. Have some idea of what you want to do. The big mistake some people make when they want to go into business is "information overload." - Don't go looking at all those web sites that tell you how to get rich while sitting on the beach and let your computer do the work for you. If you believe that you are in for another tidal wave. If you put nothing into your effort you will get nothing out of it.
Let no one fool you - internet business is long hours and hard work. At least until you get things...
Beginner's Don't Do's for the Year
Diamonds > Beginner's Don't Do's for the Year
Love's Most Overlooked Expression
I'll be the first to admit how totally clueless about women's needs, love and relationships most of us men can be. Sometimes women believe that we're just insensitive pigs, but the truth often is, we're just clueless about what she's talking about. Anyway, here's how I somehow got a clue about a few things; hope this helps guys or women, the guy in your life!A few weeks ago, one of my wife's sisters was getting married, so all the others chipped in to help the best way they could. As luck would have it, the task of preparing for the wedding shower fell to my wife. Now my schedule was already filled with various assignments but anyhow, I decided to totally clear it for the day, and help her as best as I could.
Needless to say, she was totally surprised because she knew I had a few important things to do that day. I personally didn't mind because they were not urgent and I just wanted to help her out.When we got to the room, it was a total mess, so we set about trying to clean it...
Love's Most Overlooked Expression
Diamonds > Love's Most Overlooked Expression
Get The Bling Without The Sting - Affordable Engagement Rings
Just because you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean you can't find an affordable engagement ring that looks like it cost a fortune.Tips on getting more diamond for your dollar when choosing an affordable engagement ringFirst, the diamond shape you choose can help make your ring look like it's worth a lot more than you really paid. A marquise-shaped diamond, for example, looks larger than a round diamond. Pear-shaped and oval-shaped diamonds are also good choices for diamond engagement rings because they look larger than their round counterpart.The setting you choose can also make your engagement ring look very glitzy and expensive.
In particular, an Illusion setting. The diamond is mounted on a metal plate similar to a mirror, which makes the diamond appear bigger and more brilliant.The quality of the diamond you choose is also important if you want an affordable engagement ring.
Your personal preference will prevail, but it's possible to sacrifice quality for size.
Diamonds > Get The Bling Without The Sting - Affordable Engagement Rings
Engagement Rings ? From Grass to Glitz
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but it hasn't always been so. The practice of giving a ring for the promise before the "I do" dates back to prehistoric times, since cavemen and cavewomen walked the earth. The engagement ring predates the discovery of diamonds by eons, winding through ancient civilizations, traversing along the spice route, and eventually gaining popularity during the industrial revolution, fueled by guess what?the most successful advertising campaign of the twentieth century. The first engagement rings were thought to belong to the cavewomen?simple, practical, maintenance free, easy to replace?hand-crafted from heavy grasses and reeds and later replaced by cord. Some accounts claim that the cavewoman was "tied" to the caveman by the cord.
Oh, those lucky brides-to-be!The history of the engagement ring is shrouded in the same mystery that surrounds the intrigue of love; much of it seemingly calculated after-the-fact to explain the designs and customs that evolved...
Engagement Rings ? From Grass to Glitz
Diamonds > Engagement Rings ? From Grass to Glitz