I just finished up my Photoshop class I was taking and one of our last assignments this month was to create a 1 minute video. I could have made a video of my kids or made a video of my pets, but I decided I would make a video featuring some of my recipes on This Mom Can Cook. In our assignment we had to include video as well as photos. I don’t like taking videos of myself, but thought I would be brave and make an intro for my video.

Care to take a peek?

 

Do you like taking videos of yourself talking?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you have a baby and are nursing, a comfortable pillow can be very important for both mom and baby. I nursed all my babies and used a pillow quite often to help with elevating my babies. There is a pillow on the market that seems to be making both moms and babies happy from Comfort & Harmony called the Mombo.This is a nursing pillow and more!

The Mombo is designed with the Firm2SoftTM 2-sided construction that offers benefits on both side. The firm side offers back support during nursing and the soft side allows for a lounging environment. The pillow also is available with an optional vibration device to help to soothe the baby.

I received one of these pillows to review and since I don't have a baby, I only thought it would be fair to give the pillow to a good friend that could put it to use. My friend's baby loves her new Mombo! When she came over, this pillow came in PERFECT. She was able to hang out and be comfortable too!

In addition to the pillow, I also received one of the Mombo pillow covers for review as well as pictured above. Mombo offers an assortment of pillow styles and slipcover fashions from Standard, Deluxe or Nude™.  I think the Mombo woud make a great gift for anyone pregnant or who is nursing a baby.

To find out more about Mombo, visit:

• Comfort & Harmony on Facebook
• Comfort & Harmony on Twitter
• Babies R Us

People move for many reasons including the end of a relationship, college, just starting out in life, work, cost of living or even a longing for adventure. While we don’t share the hardships of moving that our settler ancestors did, moving is still considered a ‘big deal’ and is in the top 5 of the most stressful things we’ll ever experience. Here are some things to consider before deciding where, and if, you move.

Work

Image via Flickr by erik ERXON

If you’re moving for a job, then you don’t really have to worry about this one. However, moving somewhere without having a job lined up can be incredibly stressful. One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is going to an area where they know nothing about the job market. Not having a job can make it difficult to rent a house or apartment.

Cost of Living

Image via Flickr by Molly DG

While many people move to find a lower cost of living, many more are shocked by a high cost of living once they arrive. Oftentimes, the cost of living affects the amount of money you make at your new job. Surprisingly, many places, especially resort areas, have a higher-than-average cost of living while offering lower-than-average wages.

Safety

Image via Flickr by vastateparksstaff

Some states, even some towns, are safer than others. While this might not be apparent on a quick visit, a simple search of public records will help you determine if you are comfortable with the level of safety your possible new home provides.

What Is The Area Really Like?

Consider the physical climate and the culture. You need to ensure you’re comfortable with both prior to your move. For example, it’s common for people to move to beach areas without taking into account the uncertainty of the storm season. It’s also common for city people to move to the country without taking into account the lack of stimulation.

Support

One of the biggest deterrents when it comes to moving is the lack of your support system. Since you can only talk to your friends and family remotely after your move, you might end up feeling alone. Some areas are more welcoming to strangers than others. Getting involved with community activities, like the PTA (if you have kids), a local charity or event is a great place to start.

Places That Pay You

Some areas are so desperate for people to move in that they will actually give you financial incentives to move there. If you’re moving to have an adventure, then these areas might be places worth moving to. These incentives can range from money for college, to money to fix up your home, to a monthly check. Michigan, Alaska and Nebraska are only three of the states that offer such incentives.

Think about your reasons for moving carefully and the impact that it will make on your life. Can you find a job? Do you mind the loss of your support system? You might decide that moving isn’t right for you right now, or perhaps, moving will be best choice you’ve ever made.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

For those of you with health insurance, are you prepared for the out of pocket expenses that are involved if something bad was to happen. Medical debt happens to be one of the leaded causes of bankruptcy.

Did you know that the average cost to treat a broken leg is more than $10,000?

Even though you might have health insurance, that policy that you have probably does not cover out of pocket expenses that you might not be financially able to pay.  When an illness or injury occurs there are costs such as transportation to follow-up medical appointments, caregiving costs, everyday household costs like rent and utilities and other costs because you are unable to work.

Aflac is a company that can help offset out-of-pocket costs and also educate consumers about how voluntary insurance like Aflac can really help to fill in the gap with your health insurance policies.  Take a peek at the Aflac Real Cost Calculator to see the average out-of-pocket expenses that are associated with a number of injuries and illnesses. This calculator will help you to see a breakdown of the following:

1. Medical and out-of-pocket costs including deductibles and copays.
2. Household expenses during treatment and recovery such as rent, mortgage, car payments and utilities.
3. Out of pocket expenses like transportation for follow-up appointments and other heath care needs.

I am one that has dealt with unexpected costs in the past. With my second pregnancy, I didn’t know I was going to have a HUGE co-payment when I delivered my daughter and I was so shocked when I got a bill that I wasn’t expecting to pay. Had I known beforehand about this cost, I probably would have either got a supplemental insurance or would have saved each month so it didn’t come as a surprise. I learned my lesson there and was prepared with my next pregnancy.

What type of out of pocket expenses have you had to pay that you weren’t expecting?