Nanny to Mommy

If you are the person who deals with most of the bills and spending in your household, this can be quite a big responsibility to have on your shoulders. You may feel like there is even more pressure if you are not the main earner. Creating a household budget can allow you to see what money you have at your disposal each month, and how it could be spent. By tracking each and every purchase, you may then be able to find ways to cut future costs. One of the important parts of a budget can be the money that you save, either for things your family would like, or in case unexpected payments arise. Something as simple as a medical bill could see you scraping for cash if there is none available. You may want to consider investing with an ISA, which can allow you to save a small amount of money each month, and then gain interest on these payments. Putting this into your budget means that you may be able to class it as one of your usual expenses, rather than putting off saving and deeming it as non-essential. This can also help you to get into the habit of saving money, rather than spending it all, which can make you more mindful.

Sometimes we want something so bad, that we forget to soak in and enjoy the wonders of life happening around us. Written by New York Times best-selling author Alan Lightman, in collaboration with Olga Pastuchiv, "Ada and the Galaxies" explores how interconnected the natural world is.

Ada is like so many children. Her focus is so much on seeing the stars, that she almost misses the wonders around her. That single-minded determination and disappointment when it doesn’t come to fruition is something all parents and children will identify with. There are even adults who are like this as well.

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta is proud to present the Atlanta return engagement of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical for ten performances at the Fox Theatre from Dec. 7 to Dec. 12 as part of the 40th Anniversary Season. Hailed by The New York Times as "100 times better than any bedtime story," this classic holiday musical will enchant adults and children alike. My kids had such a great time and I'm so grateful that they finally had the opportunity to experience the Fox Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now, starting at $40, by visiting FoxTheatre.org/TheGrinch. To celebrate Broadway in Atlanta’s 40-year anniversary season, a select number of $40 tickets will be sold for each performance.

THE GRINCH broke box office records for two consecutive years on Broadway during its holiday engagements at the St. James and Hilton theaters in New York. More than 2.1 million theatergoers across America have been delighted by this heart-warming holiday musical, which the Gannett papers hailed as "A genius of a show! A total delight for both kids and adults."

This past Friday, my family and I were invited to Zoo Atlanta to experience IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival presented by Georgia Power, with additional support from Beacon Sponsor PNC. Zoo Atlanta has partnered with Hanart Culture to bring this incredible new experience to Atlanta. Zoo passes are my favorite experience gift idea that I have recommended for years because it is a gift that keeps on giving all year long.

IllumiNights opened to the public on Monday, November 22, 2021, and continues through Sunday, January 16, 2022. After dark, guests will explore the Zoo, transformed – full of awe-inspiring vistas highlighting the wonder, beauty and diversity of the natural world, from the savanna to the sea to the skies, from the depths of the rainforest to the lights of the Arctic Circle.