Introducing Marcie's Caring Hands

My mom is a retired preschool teacher, so there was a soft spot in my heart right away when I saw Marcie Kenny's website, Marcie's Caring Hands. Marcie is also a retired preschool teacher, and she has set up a blog to be a resource for parents of young children.

Her philosophy centers around the value of play for children, and her blog shares a variety of creative ideas that help us create the space and freedom to just be kids. In short, Marcie has taken her lifelong interest in child development and created a useful website with tips for all sorts of issues that come up with parenting, such as diapering, potty training, bedtime, and meals. She has lots of fun ideas for playtime, too, of course!

When I logged onto her site in early December, I found fun winter craft ideas like painting Christmas trees and putting snow in a water/sensory table indoors so that kids could play with it up close. Marcie also has lots of book reviews of books for children of all ages.

I love when someone sets up a website to share their knowledge and interests with the world, and Marcie has done just this. If you're a parent, an early childhood teacher, a daycare provider, or anyone who spends time with a child in your life, check out Marcie's blog for fun ideas.

Introducing Postnatal Massage Singapore

If you are in Singapore and have just had a baby, you might be interested in learning more about a business called Postnatal Massage Singapore or PNSG. They have over twenty years of experience in providing postnatal massage services to clients.

The main idea of postnatal massage is to help women as their bodies go through the recovery process after giving birth. Not only does this help women feel better, but it can also help them in getting back their pre-pregnancy bodies.

In addition to postnatal massage, PNSG offers other massage therapies, too, including prenatal massage and baby massage. The baby massage, for example, is a process that helps mothers learn ways to bond more closely with their infants through touch; the masseuse works with the mother and baby in very short sessions.

There are some promotions currently offered on the PNSG site if you want to give their services a try. They have a prenatal trial for mothers who want to meet the masseuse and try the massage therapy before committing to a series of sessions. With their postnatal massage, they offer an "assurance package" so that clients who buy a package of sessions can change their minds after the trial session if they wish.

To get an idea of the services and how they can help new and soon-to-be mothers, the testimonials page on the website is especially interesting as you get a first-hand perspective about the value of massage for healing the body during and after pregnancy.

Introducing Momvelous, a Fun and Useful Blog

Are you a mom who enjoys reading blogs but doesn't like to get bogged down with long-winded content? Do you want something you can read on your phone during those quick, precious moments when your child is happily occupied? Momvelous.com is a site which shares a variety of useful and to-the-point postings about topics such as health, fun activities/projects for kids, learning, food, pregnancy, and more.

The tagline for Momvelous is "life, love, and wisdom from moms," and the site really is centered around that theme. The posts generally have a list-style structure, with titles like, "5 Ways to Make Reading Fun for Toddlers." I found lots of interesting tips while reading the articles, especially the ones on health and nutrition.

What I really like about this blog is its practical focus--and its emphasis on the needs of the blog's readers. While I do enjoy blogs with a very strong individual/personal voice, what I enjoy about this blog is that the editors and writers spend their time on conveying information to readers in the clearest way possible. The blog has a direct and unbiased feel to it. I think it's a good resource to start with when you're thinking about something you might want to improve, from your child's dietary habits to the household products you use.

You can also follow Momvelous on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. This is a growing blog, and I expect it to gain a lot of followers once some of the useful posts on the site go viral!

Meet Stacy-Ann Walker, Entrepreneur

Stacy-Ann Walker is a 30-something professional who finally decided to follow her passion and open an online store, Leigh-Ann's, specializing in trendy styles for confident plus size women. She juggles a full-time job, motherhood, and a budding business, which keeps her very busy.

1. What had your experience with fashion been before starting Leigh-Ann’s in 2013?

Before I started Leigh-Ann's, I had always been a consumer of fashion. I love to shop and mix and match pieces to create the perfect look for any occasion. That's why launching my store was so much fun (it was stressful, too) because I got to shop not only for myself but for all my customers.

2. Where do you find the designs/clothing to feature on your site?

We carry designers from all over the globe. Europe has always led the way in embracing full-figured fashion, and most European designers are not afraid to be bold regardless of size. I do have some American and Australian designers who produce modern pieces that speak to my customers.

I am happy to announce that we have designed a few pieces that will be available in July. So look out, Leigh-Ann's the brand is coming soon...!

3. What feedback have you received from your customers since starting your business?

The feedback has been amazing! Since we have opened our doors, we have sold out of a number of items. I have gotten great reviews and requests from customers. I fact I have a waiting list for a few items that customers are waiting for me to restock.

Customers especially like the fact that I offer free exchanges and returns. Online shopping can be intimidating, but my customers know that can shop with ease knowing that they can return an item if it doesn't fit.

4. What do you think makes Leigh-Ann's unique in the market of clothing in plus sizes?

I think Leigh-Ann's is unique because we offer fun clothing. Designers tend to be safe when they design plus size clothing, but the truth is that curvy women can rock any style. We provide an outlet for our customers to shop the latest fashion trends in their size. The emphasis is on modern styles to really allow them to express who they are as women.

5. How do you find time to work on Leigh-Ann's while also working another full-time job and being a mom?

This is the hard part. My days are usually long, and I can honestly say I am sleep-deprived. I love what I do, so it is a constant juggling act to keep all the balls in the air. I think the fact that millions of women do it every day as they juggle careers and family life proves that I am not alone in this struggle. I am committed to my daughter, and and I am also committed to Leigh-Ann's, which is my other baby, so I just make it work.

Thanks, Stacy-Ann!

Introducing Mommy Morsels, a Personable Blog about Moms

Roxanne is a blogger who knows her audience: because she understands that moms are often busy and short on time, she keeps her blog posts on Mommy Morsels sweet and to the point. Better yet, she does this while maintaining a friendly, warm tone and without sounding hurried or terse at all.

The posts on Rox's blog address her personal experiences becoming a new mom in her 40s. She has been a fitness professional for years, so she also talks about topics related to health and fitness. The blog has a very practical feeling to it--I get the impression that her goal is to share useful resources with her readers. In other words, if you want to sit down for a few minutes and pick up an interesting tip or two, it would be worth your time to zip over to her blog!

While most of the posts are applicable to moms everywhere, there are also some posts with added benefits for moms in the Toronto area, which is where Rox is based. For example, a recent post invited readers to participate in a special 30-day fitness challenge led by a friend of hers who runs a spa in Toronto.

You'll find ideas for post-pregnancy stretches, information on the benefits of coconut water, and a range of other information. I think you'll agree that this is a blog with a good heart behind it.