Activate your creative juices, moms!

(Create perky souvenirs for your kid's upcoming party!)

If you have the time, the resources, and the guts to actually do it, why not? Besides, creating something with your hands and seeing people delight over it is always a satisfying feeling.

So moms, for your little one's upcoming party why not make the favors yourself? Everyone—your guests, hubby, and especially your kid, will treasure it even more because it's made with a very special element..LOVE!

Sample of a unique, personalized, and crafty favor by Sweet Lil Soles

“Creating your kid's party favor is a labor of love, so it's more appreciated,” said Rhea Diputado, a momprenuer who owns Sweet Lil Soles, an online shop of handmade paper shoe favors and crafty giveaways.

An art lover who sees the value of delightful favors in any occasion, mommy Rhea shared with Baby on Board some tips on creating DIY souvenirs for the little one's party. So, read on and let your creative juices flow!

• Know it's value

A party favor or souvenir, for others, may always come in last in their “things to buy” list for their kid's baptismal celebration or birthday party. In the end, due to time constraints and inefficient budget allocations, they are left with mediocre ones that are dull and very ordinary.

Practically speaking, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just that, of course, as a mother it's best NOT to settle for anything LESS when it comes to your child.

Therefore, take note that the party favor is as important as the party invitation. It's your way of saying the sweetest “thank you's” to all those who joined in the celebration. Accordingly, it's apt and best to provide them with a keepsake that they can treasure for the years to come and that will properly reflect the joy of the occasion.

• Welcome crafty concepts

When you make your own souvenir, you have the power to do everything you want depending on how far your imagination can stretch. So, just let it loose! ALLOW yourself to entertain the craftiest ideas you can think of and make them real!

As what mommy Rhea clarified, DIY party favor “works out one's creative juices”. Consequently, don't be afraid to think outside the box. Remember, now that you know the value of giveaways, the more unique and creative they are, the BETTER!

• Make it personal

One thing that sets DIY souvenirs apart from those which can be bought from a party shop is that there's a PESONALIZED feel to it.

“When you make your own souvenir, there are so many possibilities in terms of design and how you can really personalize it for your party,” mommy Rhea explained.

You can use your kid's favorite color, his cartoon character of choice, or you can even add his latest picture in the giveaway. You can also use different kinds of material like recyclable small bottles or native baskets rather than simple art papers.

Moreover, if you love to bake or create sweets, why not add a delish treat to your favor? Say a cookie or yema just like what Sweet Lil Soles offers.

Sweet Lil Soles sells party favors that can go with different fillings like chocolates, mini cookies, gummies, and pastillas (which is mommy Rhea's specialty).

• Get ideas

In making your own party favors, mommy Rhea said it isn't something that requires you to undergo a thorough training.

“The internet is a very useful tool,” she shared. So make use of it. It'll give you various ideas and themes that can go well with your kid's party needs.

Mommy Rhea revealed that it's also where she got the idea to start an online shop of crafty favors.

Mommy Rhea loving her new role as housewife and momprenuer

“ I did a lot of research on the internet and racked my brain to come up with something. And then I saw these cute paper shoes. It was a light bulb moment! It seemed like it was something I can make and sell. Then, ideas flooded my brain,” she recalled.

Apparently, the internet is a great source of CREATIVE ideas. What more, if you haven't done DIY favors before, you can watch tutorials online.

• Do it with kids

Mommy Rhea admitted that making DIY party favors “can serve as BONDING activity with your kids if you do it with them”.

So, if time permits, do it with your kids! It will also be a training ground for them and will let their artistic skills be honed.

• Be inspired

Most importantly, remember that in creating DIY favors, it's best to be INSPIRED—as inspiration can be a “foundation for motivation”. Thus, it'll help you get everything done!

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After reading this article, do you think you're now ready to create souvenirs for your kid's party? Well then, why not try these three links to some tutorial online which mommy Rhea shared, and find out?!

Baby girl shoe favor http://catchmyparty.com/blog/diy-how-to-make-paper-baby-shoe-favors

Cake slice boxes http://mypaperpony.blogspot.com/2009/09/cake-slice-box.html

Bag favor box http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/templates/ss/Handbag-Gift-Bag-Template_2.htm

Materials can be easily bought from national bookstore or any school supplies shop:

1. Board paper 180-220 gsm – colors that would match your party theme
2. Elmer’s glue
3. Pair of scissors
4. Template from the internet

Instructions:

1. Get the template from the internet or watch an online tutorial
2. Cut, assemble, glue the template as instructed
3. Design, embellish according to your theme

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Is there such thing as a cheat-proof relationship?

No Other Woman. The Mistress. A Secret Affair. My Neighbor's Wife. Love and Lies. And the list goes on.

You've seen them. May be not all; but, at least one which—admit or not, you were entertained and “moved” by the story. Whether you're on the side of the “original” or innocent party (because unfortunately you could relate to such situation) or you speak for the kabit, the point is you enjoyed the movie.

Then again, if you're going to think about it, why do film producers nowadays come up with such kind of spectacle? Is this some kind of a reflection of how things really are in real life?

photo source:
http://www.cosmo.ph/relationships/dating-tips/your-checklist-for-a-cheat-proof-relationship/

If that's what this is...the reason why they make such...well...it's both shameful and heartbreaking. :(

For the nth time: relationships don't last if both parties don't "work" for it to create a long lasting one. That's why it's a shame that many couple experiece rough times, finding the other cheating, which may entail that they're NOT “working” hard to save what they have.

Happy I came across this article online by Lisa Murphy. I think this is very helpful to keep relationships intact, and cheating-free!

Read on and learn the ways how to cheat-proof your relationship:

1. Touch each other

“Touch your partner non-sexually every day—it raises levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone,” says Trina Read, a sexologist in Calgary and author of Till Sex Do Us Part: Make Your Married Sex Irresistible. That’s what Elizabeth in Toronto* and her partner do. “We always give each other little smooches on the lips and cheek or touch when we pass one another at a party.”

2. Make time to talk—and rock

“It’s important to make fun time together as a couple a priority,” says Beth Mares, a Toronto psychotherapist. But it can be equally crucial to chat regularly—weekly works for some couples—about managing your home, parenting and how the relationship is going, she says. Otherwise, our busy lives can allow unresolved conflicts to grow. “Every night, while lying in bed, we talk about our days,” says Siobhan in Dartmouth, N.S.* “It’s vanilla, but we’ve been happily together for 16 years, so we must be doing something right!” (Just don’t combine your problem-solving meeting with date night—resolving problems is no aphrodisiac.)

3. Use kindness, not curtness

It sounds obvious, but feeling unappreciated or put down can make a person open to cheating or an emotional affair, say our experts. A sincere compliment or a thoughtful gesture that really speaks to your partner’s interests—a ticket to a hockey game rather than chocolates or flowers, for example—can go a long way. (And will hopefully be reciprocated!) Likewise, be careful about being overly critical, save major criticisms or any issues your partner is sensitive about for a sit-down discussion. “There needs to be a rule that you don’t raise dissatisfactions at times when you can’t do anything about it—at bedtime or before work,” suggests Mares. Otherwise they can’t be resolved and will fester. “Sarcasm and mean-spirited jokes often have a grain of truth to them,” agrees Naomi*, explaining why she and her husband avoid put-downs, even in jest. Consider professional help if deep conflicts continue, however.

4. Reinvent your sex life

This isn’t about taking pole-dancing lessons (unless you want to), but something perhaps even braver: creating the sex life you want. “People invest no time—they have sex for 16 minutes every couple of weeks and expect miraculous things,” says Read. Connected, intimate sex means asking for what you want and moving beyond intercourse-only thinking, she says. Maybe you can just have a bath together or exchange foot rubs. (That’s what Louise in Oakville* says: “We give each other almost nightly foot rubs or back massages.”) Or, maybe you can talk about sex toys. What are important are physical closeness, open dialogue and investing time in your sex life. For a kick start, Read recommends having sex together every day for seven days. “You’ll be surprised by the results!” she says.

5. Think about why you love your partner (or don’t)

An April 2008 study from Florida State University found that men who spent time thinking positively about their relationships spent less time looking at pictures of other attractive women. So take a moment to appreciate what you have, like Louise does: “Periodically we get out our honeymoon diary and read it together over a glass of wine—it takes us back to those early romantic days together.” Or, mentally hash out what you don’t like. “If you’re dissatisfied, really think it through,” says Mares. “You may decide that you want the relationship, but only if it changes.” When acted upon, that honesty can be the first step towards a more committed and faithful bond.

6. Slow dance

“Every once in a while, when we feel a little disconnected, we light our wedding candle, put on our wedding song and dance around our dining room—sometimes even in front of the kids!” says Claire*. Physical closeness and looking into each other’s eyes—these things can boost intimacy, communication and desire and thereby reduce the likelihood of looking elsewhere, adds Read.

7. Give each other some space

It sounds counterintuitive, but having a support system outside of your relationship can make it more cheat-proof. “When people are too dependent, they expect more than one person can give and they quarrel,” explains Mares.

8. Dig deep together

“When the emotional part of a relationship is on a starvation diet, that’s when people start looking around,” says Johnson. Reconnecting requires asking some vulnerable questions about fights that keep reoccurring, what you’re afraid of and what you need most from your partner. As she says in her book: “Love needs attention. Knowing your attachment needs and responding to those of your lover can make a bond last until ‘death us do part.’” So, why not do your part to prevent infidelity and show this article to your partner? You’ve got nothing to lose and plenty of foot rubs to gain.

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