Congratulations Mamaz Diana Mlingi for blessing your marriage-Congrats Mr n Mrs Msumi

The beautiful couple Mr n Mrs Msumi

Reading the Bible together as renewal of their vows

Happy Couple

Till Death do us part

Beautiful Cake!

Our beautiful bride Diana!

Choosing Safe toys for our Children

Millions of toys are out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the stores each year. Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child's development. But each year, scores of kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Choking is a particular risk for kids ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths.
Manufacturers follow certain guidelines and label most new toys for specific age groups. But perhaps the most important thing a parent can do is to supervise play.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) closely monitors and regulates toys. Any toys made in — or imported into — the United States after 1995 must comply with CPSC standards.
Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when toy-shopping:

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 on the package, which means that they've been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Steer clear of older toys, even hand-me-downs from friends and family. Those toys might have sentimental value and are certainly cost-effective, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.
And make sure a toy isn't too loud for your child. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn — even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears — and can contribute to hearing damage.

The Right Toys at the Right Ages

Always read labels to make sure a toy is appropriate for a child's age. Guidelines published by the CPSC and other groups can help you make those buying decisions. Still, use your own best judgment — and consider your child's temperament, habits, and behavior whenever you buy a new toy.
You may think that a child who's advanced in comparison to peers can handle toys meant for older kids. But the age levels for toys are determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity.
Here are some age-specific guidelines to keep in mind:

For Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

• Toys should be large enough - at least 1¼" (3 centimeters) in diameter and 2¼" (6 centimeters) in length - so that they can't be swallowed or lodged in the windpipe. A small-parts tester, or choke tube, can determine if a toy is too small. These tubes are designed to be about the same diameter as a child's windpipe. If an object fits inside the tube, then it's too small for a young child. If you can't find one of these products, a toilet paper roll can be used for the same purpose.
  
  
• Avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) in diameter or less because they can become lodged in the throat above the windpipe and restrict breathing.
  
  
• Battery-operated toys should have battery cases that secure with screws so that kids cannot pry them open. Batteries and battery fluid pose serious risks, including choking, internal bleeding, and chemical burns.
  
  
• When checking a toy for a baby or toddler, make sure it's unbreakable and strong enough to withstand chewing. Also, make sure it doesn't have:
  
  
  • sharp ends or small parts like eyes, wheels, or buttons that can be pulled loose.
  • small ends that can extend into the back of the mouth.
  • strings longer than 7 inches (18 centimeters).
  • parts that could become pinch points for small fingers.
    
    
• Most riding toys can be used once a child is able to sit up well while unsupported - but check with the manufacturer's recommendation. Riding toys like rocking horses and wagons should come with safety harnesses or straps and be stable and secure enough to prevent tipping.
  
  
• Stuffed animals and other toys that are sold or given away at carnivals, fairs, and in vending machines are not required to meet safety standards. Check carnival toys carefully for loose parts and sharp edges before giving them to your infant.

For Grade-Schoolers

• Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and inline skates should never be used without helmets that meet current safety standards and other recommended safety gear, like hand, wrist and shin guards. Look for CPSC or Snell certification on the labels.
• Nets should be well constructed and firmly attached to the rim so that they don't become strangulation hazards.
• Toy darts or arrows should have soft tips or suction cups at the end, not hard points.
• Toy guns should be brightly colored so they cannot be mistaken for real weapons, and kids should be taught to never point darts, arrows, or guns at anyone.
• BB guns or pellet rifles should not be given to kids under the age of 16.
• Electric toys should be labeled UL, meaning they meet safety standards set by Underwriters Laboratories.

Keeping Toys Safe at Home

After you've bought safe toys, it's also important to make sure kids know how to use them. The best way to do this is by supervising play. Playing with your kids teaches them how to play safely while having fun.
Parents should:

• Teach kids to put toys away.
• Check toys regularly to make sure that they aren't broken or unusable:
  • Wooden toys shouldn't have splinters.
  • Bikes and outdoor toys shouldn't have rust.
  • Stuffed toys shouldn't have broken seams or exposed removable parts.
• Throw away broken toys or repair them right away.
• Store outdoor toys when they're not in use so that they are not exposed to rain or snow.

And be sure to keep toys clean. Some plastic toys can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but read the manufacturer's directions first. Another option is to mix antibacterial soap or a mild dishwashing detergent with hot water in a spray bottle and use it to clean toys, rinsing them afterward.

Dangerous Objects

Many non-toys also can tempt kids. It's important to keep them away from:

• fireworks
• matches
• sharp scissors
• balloons (uninflated or broken balloons can be choking hazards)

Reporting Unsafe Toys

Check the CPSC website for the latest information about toy recalls or call their hotline at (800) 638-CPSC to report a toy you think is unsafe. If you have any doubt about a toy's safety, err on the side of caution and do not allow your child to play with it.

More pics of the Orphanage Visit at Umra Orphanage Centre in Magomeni-26th August 2012

Look at how healthy and happy the kids are.Job well done Mama Rahma for taking good care of the children.We were so impressed!We will definitely come back with even more God willing!

Mamaz Representatives

Donations from Mamaz Group

Lovely Mamaz!

A few words from our beloved Chair lady!

Mamaz With a Cause-Visit at Umra Orphanage Centre at Magomeni on 26th August 2012

Mamaz representatives(Flower Gulamsoud, Jesry Rudwick, Sarah Mlay, Rehema Mbaga, Mariam Mbaga and their children) giving donations to the Head of the orphanage Mama Rahma.

Chair lady of Mamaz Group Rehema Mbaga giving donations to the Head of the Orphanage Centre Mama Rahma

This is Umra Orphanage Centre located at Magomeni.It is headed by a lovely lady called Mama Rahma she is the founder of the Centre.They have a total of  65 children of which 13 of the kids were found on the streets.These children seem very healthy which is a good sign that they are being very well treated.the location of the orphanage isn't very safe as their house isn't fenced.Their only security is the grilled gate you see on the photo.However, construction of their new location at Mbezi is underway.We request anyone who is willing to donate to call our Chair lady Mrs Rehema Mbaga 0652068878 or 077909097 for arrangements to deliver the donations.

Kisa's Baby Shower

Beautiful couple holding their baby bump..how cute!

Yummy Cake!

What a beautiful set up!loving the simple, classy decor!

Very unique!

Incorporating games that have a baby theme is good for the mother to be as she looks forward to her soon to be born baby!very thoughtful of the organizer!

Photo Of the Day-Mamaz Diana Mlingi's daughter-Bianca

She got swag of a rock n roll princess!Pretty Miss bianca pride n Joy of our very own Mamaz Diana Mlingi-Blessings!!

Hongera sana Mamaz Amina Kiluwasha for a Bouncy baby Boy

May God Bless ur family as u welcome ur beautiful bundle of joy!!

Photo of the Day-Mamaz Francisca Kayumbo Teti

Our very own Mamaz Francisca Kayumbo Teti...looking lovely and Radiant!

Photo Of the Day-Mamaz Flowers Gulamsood n her Son Hilmy!

Our very own beautiful mamaz Flower Gulamsood with her adorable son Hilmy!The bond is impeccable!Blessings to the both of u!!

Preparations begin early in Tanzania for the introduction of rotavirus vaccines

With GAVI support, Tanzania plans to introduce the rotavirus vaccine into its immunisation programme by 2013

Sister Moshi Athumani at Mnazi Mmoja Child Health Clinic in Dar-es-Salaam holds a baby who has been brought for routine vaccination.

Text and photos: Doune Porter
Health workers and Ministry of Health officials in Tanzania are gearing up for the huge task of preparing to introduce a new vaccine against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe infant diarrhoea.
Thrilled to be among the 12 African countries that have just been approved for GAVI support to introduce rotavirus vaccines, they are undaunted by the work ahead of them.
Dr. Dafrossa Lymio, manager of Tanzania’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) team, brims with enthusiasm for the task, as she knows introducing this vaccine will lead to a reduction in child deaths and illness in her country.
“I am very happy and very excited about the introduction of this new vaccine,” she says, “My colleagues who are working in hospitals are happy and excited about it; and as a mother, with a child under five myself, I think this is the solution for Tanzania in reducing the number of our children who are frequently suffering with diarrhoea.”

Cold chain

As soon as officials from the Tanzanian Ministry of Health applied to the GAVI Alliance for support to introduce rotavirus vaccines they started preparing for introduction and aim to launch the vaccine in 2013.
“First we started to expand our cold chain capacity for vaccine storage,” explains Dr. Lymio from the EPI. “We are expanding national storage capacity, as well as regional and district level capacity,” she adds.

Dr. Dafrossa Lymio, Expanded Programme on Immunisation manager, in front of the central vaccine room in Dar-es-Salaam, one of Tanzania’s storage facilities undergoing major expansion to accommodate new vaccines.
Source: Doune Porter/GAVI/2011

Expanding the cold chain is a major undertaking and involves the construction of new buildings as well as the addition of new walk-in refrigerators at the existing central medical stores in Dar-es-Salaam. Dr. Lymio explains that the expansion strategy is designed also to include other new vaccines that will come in the future.

Health workers

When the time approaches for the vaccines to be delivered to a country, says Dr. Lymio, “Another important preparation will be training for health workers who will be providing this vaccine for children. We also have to develop information and education materials for health care providers and all of those who will be involved in delivering the vaccines to children.”
A further crucial element in vaccine introduction is advocacy and communication to other stakeholders, including other government officials in order to mobilise necessary resources, and community leaders so they understand why the vaccine is important and will support its successful introduction into the routine immunisation programme for children.

Spreading the word

A little girl recovering from severe diarrhoea at Tanzania’s Muhimbili National Referral Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam.
Source: Doune Porter/GAVI/2011

A major communication effort aimed at parents will also be launched, much of it through the mass media as well as local health centres, so parents will understand the benefits of vaccination and bring their babies in at the correct ages.
The wider impact of this vaccine introduction is not lost on health workers on the ground, as nurse Moshi Athumani at the Mnazi Mmoja Child Health Clinic in Dar-es-Salaam is quick to point out, “These vaccinations will help to prevent illness and death of under fives from diarrhoea,” she says, “But it will also help us to develop our country economically, because parents with sick children have to stay home to take care of them; like me, if I have a child with diarrhoea at home, I cannot come to work. If we prevent death and illness, parents will be able to spend more time in business and in the work place. Introducing this vaccine in my country makes me very happy.”

Georgia, one of the 16 countries graduating from GAVI support, plans to use information campaigns to further boost its immunisation coverage. Based on revised eligibility criteria, the former Soviet republic will start to phase out GAVI support from 2012.
Georgia’s routine immunisation coverage is 91%, up from 80% in 2000, but public attitudes and lack of information remain the biggest obstacles to increasing immunisation, says Givi Azaurashvili, Georgia’s manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunization.
“Based on the information campaigns that we are planning to run, we expect that demand for vaccines will increase. Georgia stands firm on its commitment to increase coverage, to increase the budget for immunisation,” he says.
Georgia has already introduced the pentavalent vaccine, is rolling out the rotavirus vaccine in 2012 and aims to introduce the pneumococcal vaccine in the near future.

How to Manage Stress

How can you avoid stress?

I don't think it is possible to avoid stress. Stress is a fact of life for most of us. So the next thing we can hope for is to lower the levels of stress we are under.

Here are a few ideas on how we could do that:

Time Management: Try making a schedule. Experience has shown that we can usually get more done when we have a schedule. Put things that are important on your schedule and do those things first. Work the rest of your day around what you have scheduled.

Having a schedule has made a big difference for me. Without one I find myself doing a bunch of little things and then at the end of the day, nothing important has been finished. Having a schedule helps me prioritize.

Coping Skills: Examine how you are dealing with stress. Keep a log so you can determine what skills are working and which skills don't work. Remember, what works for one person may not always work for someone esle.

Self Care: Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don't smoke. Limit how much alcohol you drink. How we take care of our bodies determines how well our bodies will be able to handle stress.

Self Talk: Often we can talk ourselves into negativity. If we find we are starting to think thoughts that can build on our stress, stop immediately and reverse our thinking. We can find positive in just about any situation, so look for the positive and point our thoughts in that direction.

Modesty: I was once told that modesty means knowing ones limitations. Such modesty can help cut down on our stress. We will not stress over things we cannot change. Also, we will learn to say no when things are beyond what we are capable of doing.

7 Tips for Stress-Free Living

We feel stressed when we are pulled in two or more directions. Those pulls create tension, which is stress. It is very much like a guitar string being stretched too tight - the musical note of a string in proper adjustment turns to a high-pitched twang, and finally the string breaks as the stress becomes unbearable.

There are two ways to address the issue of stress in our lives - learning to relax even while life pulls us in multiple directions, and reducing the number and strength of the demands upon our time, energy, and resources. A combination of these approaches is most powerful as some demands are relatively easy to eliminate or manage, while other demands are better dealt with by accommodation.

Here are seven tips for stress-free living...

1. Be clear about your life-purpose. Once you can describe the purpose of your life, you can set life-goals, and once you have major goals in place, you can easily decide which of the calls upon your time, energy, and resources best support your major goals, and which demands are distractions.

2. Be objective in choosing which tasks to undertake. If one of your major life-goals is stress-free living - and I hope it is - the tasks you choose to accept, and those you choose to decline, should reflect that goal. For example, paying your taxes on time is essential to stress-free living. Taxes may not directly address your spiritual purpose, or your intellectual purpose, or your emotional purpose, but not handling your taxes in a timely manner will compromise your ability to achieve any of your life's purposes, as well as creating a stressful life. On the other hand, having lunch with Judy every Thursday may support your life purpose and may not. Learn that it is okay to say NO to those demands that don't support your life purpose.

3. Cultivate the ability to say NO gracefully. Even after you have decided that a particular demand is not aligned with your major goals, there is still likely to be stress associated with declining the demand. You may feel compassion toward the person making the demand. Your upbringing may cause you to feel guilty about choosing not to do what others ask of you. And, the actual act of saying NO may cause embarrassment or fear.

First, be firm with yourself that you do not need to cater to demands that don't align with your life-purpose. Then, set about practicing the art of saying NO gracefully. Don't fall back upon untruths or excuses. Don't even say, "I'd really like to, but..." if that is not a genuine expression of your feelings. Failing to be honorable with your word will make you feel guilty - plus you are likely to get caught at it. Tell the truth - with compassion. Do acknowledge the other person's point-of-view as fully and kindly as you can. Then state your choice not to participate. Try to avoid giving reasons for your decision that the other person could argue with.

4. Don't procrastinate. Do it now, or choose never to do it. Once you become aware of a demand, make the decision of whether that demand aligns with your purpose. If it does, begin the task as soon as practical. Otherwise, decline the request right away. Certainly there are many demands that can't be handled today, but do immediately classify each demand as "do" or "don't do." There is no benefit and much stress associated with keeping a mental (or written) list of "things to do when I have the time." If you have such a list now, rip it up and burn it.

5. Learn to re-negotiate commitments. The report is due tomorrow, the project requires an unexpected amount of research, and your child just broke an arm - big-time stress. For some of us, deadlines are generally useful for keeping focus, but deadlines are also one of the bigger unnecessary causes of stress. There is no shame in occasionally renegotiating a commitment. Your boss or your customer shouldn't want a report that you threw together just to meet a deadline. When renegotiating a deadline, as when saying NO, handle the situation as gracefully as possible - don't feel guilty, do acknowledge the other's position, and be completely truthful and kind.

6. Acknowledge your own humanity. You can't do everything - no one can - and that's okay. Allocate time for sleep and for play, then divide your time among your important projects - those that further your life purpose. If you still have more tasks than time, congratulate yourself on having a large life-purpose, and then narrow your focus. Being overburdened doesn't help you get more done - actually the reverse, plus it destroys your life with stress. So cut back until the tasks match the time. Easy to say and hard to do, but you must reduce your commitments to match your time and resources if you want to live a stress-free and healthy life.

7. Even after you implement the first six tips, you are still going to feel stressed occasionally. When you do, use the tools for managing stress such as conscious breathing, walking, spending time in nature, yoga, and qigong. Make time for these activities daily. Pause every hour for a minute of stretching and conscious breathing. Take time daily for a walk - preferably somewhere green and quiet, yoga, or qigong. Of course you don't have the time for exercises to manage stress, that's why you really need to do them anyway.

Don't Cheat Sleep

Make sure you get the sleep you need each and every day. We might think we will accomplish more if we sacrifice a few hours of sleep, but that is not likely to happen.

If we don't have enough sleep, we will be sluggish. This will lower our effectiveness as well as our efficiecny. It could mean having to redo the things we thought we had accomplished.

There are really few things that can't wait until the next day. Get the needed sleep and reapproach things the next day with a refreshed mind and a revigorated body.

Get Rid of What You Don't Need

Needless clutter tends to add to our stress. It makes it difficult to find the things we need. It causes us to dwell on the need to "clean things up". Why stress over clutter? The simple approach to this is to get rid of one to a few things every day. That way we are not distracting ourselves by making a project of it, but at the same time we are getting rid of what we don't need and not allowing those things to take up our valuable time.

Do One Thing At A Time

In the computer world Windows is called a multitasking software. Multitasking is great for computers, but not so great for human beings. Trying to do too many things at once is a great stress builder. Since I have dedicated this blog series to cutting back stress in our lives, I must start with the concept of Doing One Thing At A Time.

Do one thing at a time. Do it well. Then move on to the next. This is a simple formula that truly does work.

Trying to do too many things at once leads to mistakes and none of these things really gets done well because none are really given our full attention. By doing one thing at a time, we do it right, eliminate having to redo it again because we messed up, and creates a smoothly working atmosphere.

Ultimately, it will reduce daily stress, which will in turn lead to better health.

Relieving Stress May Improve our Health

I have heard for so long that stress can create so many health problems. I recently read an article that suggests stress and cancer can even be linked. I think it is pretty obvious that stress can cause other problems such as high blood pressure, strokes, head aches and other things. Of course, I am not a doctor so I can't speak from a professional point of view on the topic of stress.

I can, however, speak from my own experience.

Stress leads to problems. Chest pains and headaches are only a couple of the health issues I have experienced that I connect to stress in my life. Recently I have even developed high blood pressure. Interesting since my blood pressure has always been low, yet recently the stress in my life seems to be escalating.

I made a conscious decision to try to lessen the stress in my life, but that is certainly more easily said then done. How does one lessen their stress? I recently talked to my doctor, spoke with friends, and am even reading a book to do research on this topic. I believe it is important, not just for me, but for all of us to strive to lower the amount of stress we encounter in our lives.

So I have decided to do a series of short articles on this blog sharing with you what I am doing to lower stress in my life. I am hoping we can all benefit from my quest to lower stress in my life.

Potty Training-What works

To make potty training as smooth a process as possible for you and your toddler, take a moment to learn what tends to work - and what doesn't. What works:

Waiting till your child is ready

There's no magic age for being ready to start learning to use the potty. Most toddlers develop the necessary physical and mental skills between 18 and 24 months, while some kids aren't there until closer to age 3 or even 4. Keep an eye out for physical, cognitive, and behavioral signs that your toddler might be ready to give it a try.

Milestones

Record the moments that matter in your toddler's amazing development.

If your toddler is facing changes such as a new school, a new sibling, or travel, you may want to wait till the seas are calmer before taking the plunge.

Once you do start, if you've been trying for several weeks without success, that's a sign your toddler's not ready. Wait a few more weeks - or until you see signs that the time is right - and try again.

Making a plan

Before you even buy your toddler a potty seat, it's important to have a plan for the training process itself. Decide when and how you want to start, how to handle accidents, when to back off, and so on.

At the same time, prepare to be flexible. There's no way to know how your child will respond to potty training attempts or what techniques will work best. Keep in mind that as with most developmental milestones, success doesn't necessarily happen in a linear fashion - your toddler may make initial progress only to regress at one or more points along the way.

Discuss your plan with your child's pediatrician and daycare provider. They'll probably have plenty of experience and advice to share. Once you've decided on a strategy, be sure you and everyone else who takes care of your child sticks to it - barring unexpected setbacks and other potty training challenges, of course.

Taking it slow

Mastering the various steps of potty training can take a long time. Yes, some children will have it nailed in just a few days, but most need weeks or even months, especially when they're working on staying dry at night.

Don't push your toddler (or let others push him) to get through potty training faster than he's ready to. Let him take his time and get used to this new, multipart process. He'll move from one stage to the next at his own speed.
Of course, it's perfectly all right to try to motivate with gentle reminders and encouragement. If he balks, though, ease up.

Praising your child

Throughout potty training, your toddler will respond to positive reinforcement. Whenever he moves on to a new step or tries to use his potty (even when he doesn't quite succeed), tell him he's doing well and that you're proud of him. Compliment him now and then on his dry underpants or diaper.
But be careful not to go overboard: Too much praise might make him nervous and afraid to fail, which can lead to more accidents and setbacks.

Accepting that there will be accidents

It's likely your toddler will have numerous accidents before being completely potty-trained. Don't get angry or punish him. After all, it's only recently that his nervous system has matured enough for him to perceive the sensation of a full bladder or rectum and that his muscles have developed sufficiently to allow him to hold in his urine and stool - and that's if he's on the early end of the developmental spectrum.
He'll get the hang of the process in due time. When your toddler has an accident, calmly clean it up and suggest (sweetly) that next time he try using his potty instead.

Happy Birthday Nancy Sumari-Mama Zuri

Happy Birthday Mama Zuri!She is a beauty with a purpose!