Behind the Beautiful Forevers:

Life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity

by Katherine Boo

Katherine Boo spent years researching the slums of Mumbai.  Her novel captures glimpses of many residents of a particular slum adjacent to the Mumbai airport. The descriptions allow you to see the appalling conditions combined with the many facets of human nature.  The result is is very compelling read.  Make sure to read the author’s note at the end.  It is remarkable what she did to research her book. For more information: Read More.

Category : Books &Newborn Assistance

Spring Cleaning

Although this picture captures what many of us feel, we can’t live in the clutter that our children create.

There is no rite of spring quiet like the spring clean. So let’s get to work. Checkout this great checklist
from the queen of clean, Ms. Martha herself. Make it a little easier on yourself by taking on each room
individually—don’t think of the square footage you have to clean (eek!), but divide and conquer. While
you are at it, start delegating to the little ones. Having your children take on some of the cleaning not
only helps you, but it teaches them responsibility, plus they will make it fun! Here are some ideas on
how you can get your kids involved in your spring cleaning routine:

• Give your toddler a dry duster rag to wipe the baseboards.
• While you’re folding the laundry, spread out a few pairs of socks. Have them match their pairs together.
• Give them a few laundry items and tell them where they go. You’ll see how quickly they pick up where their socks and PJs should go.
• Picking up their toys and books

For more great ideas on how your kids from 18 months to 7 years old can help you around the
house, checkout this great list. Ready, set, clean!

Check out our site for great cleaning ideas.

Category : Home &Newborn Assistance

momme meals

Mommy Relief is happy to be partnering with momme meals, a local organic food company that creates and delivers frozen foods developed to specifically meet the nutritional needs of moms and moms to be.

From high-fiber, high-protein muffins to incredible soups and chilis, momme meals helps make eating delicious, good-for-you foods, simple and easy.

Beginning May 4th Mommy Relief’s Falls Church office will serve as a pick-up location for those interested in ordering momme meals products. Pick-ups will be available on the first and third Friday of every month. Simply place your order online, select Mommy Relief as the pick-up location and save $5 off your delivery charge.

As a special treat, momme meals is also offering all Mommy Relief clients 15% off their first online food order. Just call the office for your client code to enter in the promo box on the order form.

Category : Food &Newborn Assistance

In the Woods

by Tana French

Many of us are suckers for a good mystery.  This book is not like so many mysteries that are formulas that after the third or fourth one, you feel like you could write yourself.  This one has a unique story line with characters that stay with you long after you finish the book.  In the Woods takes place in modern day Ireland and is from the perspective of detectives working a case.  Tana French has two other books (and another coming this summer) that have some overlapping characters but, again, are completely unique.  See her for more information about Tana and her books: Read more.

Category : Books &Newborn Assistance

A good friend of mine, a wonderful mother and decorator, Wendy Taylor of Learning Essentials Tutoring, came up with a great way to incorporate decorating and play into one using picture frames.  To match Wendy’s style, she went to a local barn sale and found a few ornate picture frames painted white.    She took the picture frames and converted them into play spots for her children.  However, you could use a more modern frame for the same idea.

She had “the wood cutter guy” at home depot take off the back of the frame for her.  She then hot glued one of three facings on the back to create either a magnet board, a chalk board or a Lego board all that can be hung on the  wall.

She has one hanging outside the kitchen so the kids can play there while she is cooking and the other two are hung in the playroom downstairs.

Wendy uses a vintage herb container to keep the Legos or magnets or chalk near its appropriate board.

See more ideas as usual on our site!!

Category : Home &Newborn Assistance