Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Living Organized - Free Kindle Ebook
Free Purses with Target Coupon
They were on Clearance for $5 and I printed up a coupon for
$5 off any Merona bag from Target.com
You can print the Coupon up twice! Which was
great for me since I need everything in twos :)UPDATE: It looks like the coupon has reached it’s print limit, it was a popular coupon! I'll keep checking back for more.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Free Rimmel in All You Mag
They have freebies all of the time!
The Real Magic of Harry Potter Sweepstakes
With two amazing theme parks, non-stop nightlife, and world-class on-site hotels, Universal Orlando® Resort is an entire universe of action and thrills for every member of the family. Now prepare to join Harry Potter™ and his friends as you step into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Explore the mysteries of Hogwarts™ castle, visit the shops of Hogsmeade™ and experience pulse-pounding rides that transport you into a world of magical thrills and excitement, only at Universal Orlando Resort.
Four Grand Prize trips for 4 include:
* Roundtrip airfare
* Ground transfers to/from airport in Orlando
* 3 nights at an on-site hotel
* 3-day/2-park admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks
Sign up HERE
National Parks Week -Free admission
In addition, many national park concessioners are offering special promotions that are certain to add to your fun.
http://www.nps.gov/npweek/
Baby Steps: Moving A Family To Whole Foods - Part I: Unburying My Head
As a homeschooler, though, I tend to encounter many different types of people. Homeschoolers by and large are usually more free thinking than the general public, and so although it’s certainly not the rule, they are often more proactive about making major lifestyle changes.
When we moved to Florida, I chanced to meet a group of other mamas who have made this kind of big change. They had done loads of research on a new way of eating. . that is really an old way of eating.
For a while, I smiled and nodded and tried to ignore it. They all used strange words, like “kefir” and “komboucha” and “soaking grains”. I had no idea what those words meant, and frankly, I didn’t really care to learn!
But then. . slowly. . .and somehow. . .it began to rub off on me. That’s the only explanation I can give; there wasn’t any dramatic conversation experience on my part. My most knowledgeable friend began leading informational cooking classes, and I offered the use of my kitchen for one of them. As I listened to her talk, I was horrified by some of the facts she shared. And at the same time, I realized that some of the changes she proposed really weren’t that extreme.
So we began to make baby steps. We didn’t toss out everything from the pantry. We finished what was there, and when we needed to replace it, we chose a healthier alternative or in some cases, we chose not to buy that item again.
I learned what kefir is and what it does, and what’s more, I am actually the proud owner of real live kefir grains. I’ve shared some with a friend, and I’m getting ready to send another batch to New Jersey for my sister.
Last week my knowledgeable friend—henceforth known as Lee—bravely allowed me to borrow her komboucha ‘mother’—the mushroom that will allow me to brew my own komboucha tea.
I’m still far from knowing it all, or even a fraction of all the wonderful information out there. But I’m learning, slowly and surely. Since my normal response to a new experience to write about it, I thought I’d document our little lifestyle change in this series of articles. You can come along as we take our baby steps toward a new way of shopping, cooking and eating.
I’ll be sharing information from the experts as well as links for you to do your own exploring. As always, I love to hear input about how your family might be making these sorts of changes. Let’s go on this journey together!
Tawdra Kandle is stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of four children who range in age from 9 years to almost 21 years. She and her husband of over 22 years live in central Florida, where he is in seminary. Tawdra spends most of her precious free time writing and reading, and she loves to travel. She is also a resident writer for Taking Time for Mommy. View more of her Articles HERE
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Free Potty Training DVD
Friday, April 16, 2010
Travel, Leisure, Entertainment network
I need a vacation, a REAL vacation, not Disney or Sea World, something relaxing for me. I haven't had one since I was pregnant with my oldest who is now 5. It's been entirely too long. I need to get away but because of our business we can't until Fall. That's good because it'll give me plenty of time to find a good deal since we now have a family of 4.
Go-Gurt Simplify your life Prize pack & coupons!
New Simply… Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry.
We tried the Strawberry Go-gurts and they were YUMMY!
Very portable too.
Here is a Coupon for $1 off!
Simply… Go-Gurt, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark for my honest opinion.
Yoplait is allowing me to give a Taking Time for Mommy Reader a “Simplify Your Life” prize pack that includes a pocket Etch a Sketch, weekly planner and a seat back organizer.
Want to win? Mandatory Entry Please be a follower via GFC, twitter, facebook, OR subscribe to Taking Time for Mommy's newsletter and share a simple truth about parenting.
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Google Friend Connect
Extra Entry - Follow my other blog Mommy Reads too Much on Google Friend Connect
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)
3 Extra Entries -Fan our writer Tawdra Kandle on Associated Content and comment on one of her articles Here
2 Extra Entries - Comment on any non-giveaway post on either Taking time for Mommy or Mommy Reads Too Much
Giveaway will end on May 2nd at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and s emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18+ only.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tax Day Survival Tips & Free Coffee!
Get your Free Sample of Dunkin Donuts' New flavor Dunkin' Turbo1. Set aside some quality tax time. Brew a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts® coffee at home, find the materials you need to prepare your taxes, and retire to a quiet spot to get started. You can complete your return manually on paper, with Free File, or commercial software. If you use a tax professional, make sure to gather all your materials before sitting down with him or her.
2. Consider an extension. If, for any reason, you can’t file your income tax return on time, simply request a filing extension by April 15th. This gives you six more months to complete your return and avoid late filing penalties. Use Form 4868, which you can get at IRS.gov. But you still must pay now what tax you’ll owe to avoid late payment penalties.
3. Check out new tax breaks for certain 2009 purchases. If you bought a home, you may qualify for a tax credit. If you bought a new car, you may be able to deduct the sales tax. Find details about these new breaks at IRS.gov.
4. File electronically. To get your tax refund as quickly as possible, file your income tax return electronically and request that the refund be deposited directly in your account. You can have the deposit split among two or three accounts, including bank accounts, IRAs, health savings accounts, Coverdell education savings accounts, and a TreasuryDirect® account for I bond purchases.
5. Adjust your tax withholding or estimated taxes. Is it bad to be owed a tax refund? It’s nice to have the extra cash now, but getting a refund means you’ve really made an interest-free loan to Uncle Sam. A better strategy is to adjust your tax withholding or estimated taxes for this year so you pay an amount that is closer to the amount of tax owed; this gives you the use of your own money throughout the year.
6. Contribute to your retirement fund. The tax year is over but it’s not too late to put money in a regular or Roth IRA for 2009. Assuming you’re eligible, a contribution to a traditional IRA made by April 15th is deductible on your 2009 return. If you opt for a Roth IRA contribution, you can’t deduct it but will build up tax-free income for retirement.
7. Reap eco-credits. If you added insulation, energy-efficient windows, or solar panels to your home, you not only reduced energy costs but also may now qualify for a tax credit. The credit limit for installing solar panels and other alternative energy additions is 30% of cost; for other improvements, there’s a $1,500 cap. The tax credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar.
8. The standard deduction isn’t standard anymore. If you don’t itemize, you may be able to bulk up your standard deduction by adding amounts for being a senior, paying property taxes on your home or sales tax on a car purchase, or for suffering a loss in a federal disaster. But you’ll have to complete a new form, Schedule L, to total up your standard deduction.
Barbara Weltman is an attorney, prolific author with such titles as J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes, J.K. Lasser’s 1001 Deductions and Tax Breaks, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business, and trusted professional advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She is also the publisher of Idea of the Day® and monthly e-newsletter Big Ideas for Small Business® at www.barbaraweltman.com and host of Build Your Business radio. Follow her on Twitter at BarbaraWeltman.
© The J.M. Smucker Company.
© 2010. DD IP Holder LLC (as to Dunkin’ Donuts and all other trademarks, logos and trade dress of DD IP Holder LLC) used under license.
How to Outsmart Your Picky Eater
By Missy Chase Lapine
Author of The Sneaky Chef
One day, my youngest daughter had strep throat, and in the time-honored tradition of mothers everywhere, I hid her foul-tasting medicine in some chocolate pudding. As I watched her swallow it without protest, I couldn't help thinking about all the wars I had fought to get my kids to eat a fabulous grilled salmon or delicious carrot soup for dinner. Like other American children, mine had learned to run in horror from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and legumes. It dawned on me that if I wanted them to grow up healthy and fit, I would have to take this "hiding" idea a step further. If it worked for healthy medicine, I reasoned, why couldn't it work for healthy food? And as I looked at the bigger picture, I knew there had to be a way to rescue dinner hour from being a battlefield, but without giving up on getting my kids to eat nutritiously. As a mother, this was a battle I couldn't afford to lose.
Thus was born The Sneaky Chef. I compiled a list of kids' favorite foods, the ones they would eat without resistance. I then came up with List B -- "superfoods," the world's healthiest ingredients. And finally: How could I hide the items on List B inside List A? How could I conceal the foods they should eat inside the foods they would eat? After trying out hundreds of ideas in my own test kitchen, I came up with the secret: As long as they couldn't see, smell or taste anything too different, they would eat what was placed in front of them without a fight.
Through careful testing, I eventually perfected the art of 13 hiding methods such as pureeing, using foods that hide well, and using visual and taste "decoys" to give food irresistible kid appeal. In the "make-aheads" -- the recipe within a recipe that I worked into almost every dish -- I made sure I used superfoods, which are ingredients that pack the most nutritious punch. Among them are spinach, which contains iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamins A and C; blueberries, which contain antioxidants, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium; cauliflower, which is packed with vitamin C, folate and fiber, and which fights disease and enhances immunity; and sweet potatoes, which stabilize blood sugar levels and contain vitamin B and folates. The basic principle was that if I wanted to eat smart, I had to buy smart, so I kept as many of the superfoods in my kitchen as possible all the time.
The way I looked at this endeavor was that I was a warrior going toe to toe with the food giants, companies that threw millions of dollars into seducing my kids into eating refined sugars and transfats and empty carbs. If they could "package" their products in a way that enticed little ones into craving soda instead of milk, salty snacks, deep-fried vegetables and ultra-sweet junk foods of every conceivable variety, why shouldn't I entice them right back? Except that I would fool my kids, not with the goal of making a profit, but with the intention that they grow up strong and healthy.
Now I had my mission. All the sneaky methods I used in my signature "make-aheads" were designed to present the healthiest ingredients in great tasting, good looking "packaging." I realized that the success of any recipe depends on the kids' willingness to eat it. Any time doubt reared its head, I simply did more homework. Thousands of scientific articles pointed to the benefits of eating better, aside from the obvious point that it makes your body feel better. Add to that fewer illnesses, increased brain power, enhanced qualities of attention, strengthened immunity, better mood, and more energy.
The following make-ahead is an Orange Puree that blends excellently in pizza (and pasta) sauce, to bring a big nutritional boost to meals that usually aren't thought of as health foods.
Orange Puree
1 medium sweet potato or yam, peeled and rough chopped
3 med-to-large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks
2-3 tablespoons water
In medium pot, cover carrots and potatoes with cold water. Boil 20 minutes until tender. (Thoroughly cook carrots or they'll leave telltale nuggets -- a gigantic no-no for the Sneaky Chef). Drain vegetables. Puree on high in food processor with two tablespoons water, until completely smooth. Use rest of water to make a smooth puree.
Makes about 2 cups of puree. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze ¼ cup portions in plastic containers.
Power Pizza
My kids have never noticed that I'm sneaking carrots and yams into their sauce! I mix the healthy puree right into the bottled tomato sauce, then I let the kids add the toppings. You can even prepare this pizza ahead of time without cooking it, and then refrigerate for a day or two. Simply bake when you're ready to eat.
Makes 1 large pizza or 4 smaller pizzas:
1 store-bought pizza dough or 4 "Greek style" pocketless pitas (whole wheat preferred)
¾ cup store-bought tomato sauce
¼ cup Orange Puree (see recipe above)
1 to 2 cups low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and preheat a pizza stone or spray a baking sheet with oil.
Stretch pizza dough, or roll out with floured rolling pin on floured surface, to form a pie. Transfer to stone or baking sheet. If using pocketless pitas, place them on the prepared baking sheet. Combine tomato sauce with Orange Puree. Mix well. Spread ½ to 1 cup of the sauce mixture across the large pizza dough (¼ cup for each pita), then top with 1 cup of mozzarella (½ cup per pita). Cover and refrigerate at this point, or bake for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned. Allow to cool a few minutes, then cut into triangles and serve.
© Missy Chase Lapine, all rights reserved.
Missy Chase Lapine is the author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals (Running Press, March 2007). She is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spa®. Missy is currently on the Culinary Arts faculty of The New School, in New York City, and operates The Sneaky Chef workshops, which is a program of cooking classes and demonstrations that teach families how to eat healthier. She is a contributor to Parenting Magazine, ediets.com, and education.com, and available to individuals, groups and businesses for private cooking instruction, workshops and personal coaching in The Sneaky Chef methods and recipes. Missy lives with her family in Westchester, New York. For more information visit www.TheSneakyChef.com.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Fence Me In!
“You don’t mind driving the kids both ways to soccer practice today, do you?” User Mom said brightly. “I figure since you’re going there anyway. . .”
“I put you down as little Jane’s emergency contact with the school,” Assuming Mom announced to me. “I mean, you’re home all the time. . .”
We’ve all been there, haven’t we—stuck in that uncomfortable place where we’ve said “yes” one time too many. It happens to everyone, regardless of sex, race or creed, but in my humble opinion, we mothers are at a higher risk than other people. After all, we WANT to please people, to be acquiescent and kind. . until we DON’T want to be that way anymore. Until we’re so fed up that we stomp our feet, stick out our lower lips and roar—“NO!!! NO MORE!!!”
Boundaries are beautiful things. This is something I am learning more and more as time goes on. My former MO looked something like this: I would say yes, over and over again. . .I would keep a happy smile on my face at all times and offer to be there for everybody. . for crying out loud, I was the room mother for my oldest daughter’s class for five years running! And then something would happen—the last straw, as it were. And I was finished. I would simply end the relationship or the activity that was causing me such stress and angst.
I’m learning, though, that boundaries enable us to maintain some level of relationship or activity without giving of ourselves to the point of complete draining. It’s not easy; it’s a delicate balancing act. And it involves saying no with a smile on my face. To User Mom, I might have to answer brightly, “Well, yes, I do have to go anyway, but we have plans after practice, so it would probably be better for you to take little Sammy yourself.” For Assuming Mom, I would likely would warn her that I can’t commit to being home if the school nurse has to call. Of course, if I were home, I would be happy to help out.
I struggle with not holding grudges against the people who continue to assume that I’m there to make their lives easier. I work hard to maintain those friendships at the same time that I maintain those boundaries. It’s wonderful when the reward is a true relationship of give and take, where neither party feels exploited or presumptuous.
When you intentionally create and maintain boundaries in your relationships, you’ll be far less likely to experience frustrations that build to the point of explosion. Practice it. Say “no” at least once a week. Say it with a smile and without guilt.
Sometimes being fenced in isn’t half bad.
Tawdra Kandle is stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of four children who range in age from 9 years to almost 21 years. She and her husband of over 22 years live in central Florida, where he is in seminary. Tawdra spends most of her precious free time writing and reading, and she loves to travel. She is also a resident writer for Taking Time for Mommy. View more of her Articles HERE
Saturday, April 10, 2010
YoPlait Lite Review & Gift Pack Giveaway
If you're looking to side-step familiar decadent treats while keeping calorie counts in check, Yoplait Light and Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy can help. Now there are two new ways to outsmart temptations with Red Velvet Cake and Blueberry Pie, two new taste bud-tantalizing Yoplait yogurt flavors debuting in the dairy aisle this month (Yoplait Light offers 32 total delicious flavors).
With a smooth and creamy texture and 100 fat-free calories in each 6 oz. cup, Yoplait Light and Light Thick & Creamy can help keep you on track with your goals. In addition, each serving contains 20 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium and vitamin D. The classic sweet-inspired flavors, Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake and Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy Blueberry Pie can help to help satisfy your cravings for dessert without the excessive calories.
Tempted to try this?
I tried a blueberry pie and it was thick and delicious!
The perfect afternoon snack when I NEED something sweet.
Red Velvet Cake 400 calories, 24 grams of fat per slice Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake 100 calories, 0 gram of fat per serving Indulgent and rich red chocolate cake with a hint of cream cheese frostingBlueberry Pie 360 calories, 17 grams of fat per slice. Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy Blueberry Pie 100 calories, 0 gram of fat per serving A smooth, comforting mix of sweet blueberries and buttery pie crust
Win a Yoplait Light "Outsmarting Temptation" gift pack which includes an insulated gourmet lunch tote, a food journal and a travel utensil set. This is a Super cute set!
Mandatory Entry - Comment on which new flavor of Yoplait Light yogurt they would like to try
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
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Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Google Friend Connect
Extra Entry - Follow my other blog Mommy Reads too Much on Google Friend Connect
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)
3 Extra Entries -Fan our writer Tawdra Kandle on Associated Content and comment on one of her articles Here
2 Extra Entries - Comment on any non-giveaway post on either Taking time for Mommy or Mommy Reads Too Much
Giveaway will end on April 25th at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. & Canadian residents 18+ only.
Disclosure - Yoplait provided me with the free product, information and gift pack through MyBlogSparkTM for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Ten Tips For the Modern Woman
By Dr. Vivian Diller and Dr. Jill Muir-Sukenick
Authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change
We are often asked how the psychological six steps we describe in our book, Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change, translate into practical ways to feel and look more attractive. So, we put together some tips that once were useful to us in our former careers as models. They are even more useful more so now as our own looks are changing! They were designed in conjunction with the internal changes suggested in Face It and work best if you have learned what it really means to be attractive at any age. The 'beauty' of these tips is that unlike quick-fix ones that instruct women how 'not to look old,' these can be applied throughout life and are for all women.
1. Show Confidence Inside and Out
We learned first hand that models who walked in with an air of confidence tended to get the jobs. It wasn't about being the prettiest -- everyone was. Or about being perfect -- no one was. It was about how you carried yourself. Some models were known for their great legs or long necks and used these assets to feel beautiful. Sometimes only one's hands or feet were considered marketable material. Instead of focusing on features you don't like about yourself, take the ones you do and embellish them. Delicate wrists? Wear an eye-catching watch. Thick hair? An elegant headband or jeweled clip can make your statement. Posture is a feature all women can enjoy if they keep their bones healthy. Hold your head up with poise and self- assurance and people will see what you feel.
2. A Radiant Smile Can Work for You
There are models who are not perfectly shaped who have successful careers because of their great smiles. Think of a baby's smile. Does anything bring more pleasure to the eyes of others than that spontaneous toothless grin? Sure, we can whiten and straighten our teeth, but regardless of how they look at any particular moment, smiling with a sparkle in our eyes goes a long way to convey beauty.
3. Reinvent Your Look
As models we had to constantly change our 'look.' It taught us to be capable of adjusting our appearance to the circumstances. Instead of feeling anxious about change, have fun as you reinvent a look with each stage. Those short skirts might not work, but other styles may. Letting go of your former self-image doesn't mean neglecting yourself. Try walking instead of jogging; take yoga, in place of spin class. Adjust your attitude as you adjust your look.
4. Sexy at Sixty
We may have left behind unlined faces and bright teeth, but we never have to leave behind our ability to connect to others sensually. As models, we were sometimes told to 'make love to the camera.' With safety pins pulling at our clothes, fans blowing in our faces, that was a challenge. But the more we let ourselves get into it, the more alluring we felt. A model can be absolutely exquisite, but her photos can look cold, sexless, and dull. It's not about the perfect body or the skimpy clothes she's wearing or not wearing. It's about the connection to the viewer. So it can be for you.
5. Accessories Can Say A Lot
A woman who has interests that go beyond age-defying remedies is one who conveys a vital approach to life. Sport the cap of your local baseball or football team, or a T-shirt with a meaningful saying, “Save the Whales” or “Free Tibet.” Use these ageless accessories and you may end up having fun rooting for your team or supporting a new cause.
6. Work Out and Work With Your Friends
Models are dressed, undressed and styled with other people coming and going all around them. (Nothing like outfit changes with stage hands in full view!) At best, we learned to laugh to make the work fun. Instead of sneaking off alone to color your hair, make it fun by passing the time chatting with a friend in the next salon chair. Go to a spa with friends. Take a power walk with a buddy. Tell one another how attractive you each are. We're in this together.
7. Get up close and personal.
An essential tool for models to inspect imperfections is a magnified mirror. It's like wearing glasses while you attend to your face. You can pluck the white hairs if you don't want them, rub creams on brown spots if you want them to fade, and apply makeup where it belongs. How many of us have left smudges of mascara above and below our eyes thinking they made it on to our lashes?? By seeing yourself up close and personal, you can choose among the plethora of products available to adorn your beautiful self.
8. Leave Competition Out of Beauty
As models, competition was a necessary part of the work. At our age, we don't need to be the best, but rather look our best for our age, which is about looking as healthy, robust, and vital as we possibly can. There is no race for the smoothest skin, the thinnest or the youngest looking body, nor is looking good about a race with time. Let's get out of the competition we've imposed on ourselves. We'll all feel like winners.
9. Take the Plastic out of Plastic Surgery
We are not anti taking steps to feel better about how you look. We are not anti- anything, except recklessness. Cosmetic surgery aimed at altering physical features so they appear more in sync with your self image -- like removing dark circles under your otherwise sparkling eyes -- can surely bring increased pleasure. However, surgery performed with the hope of changingyour self-image often leads to the opposite result. How you look is based on how you experience yourself, no matter what you do or don't do to your face and body.
10. See Yourself as an Example for the Next Generation.
At social and professional gatherings, you have the opportunity and responsibility to show younger women what beauty at midlife can be. Demonstrate the kind of poise and grace you want your daughters and younger colleagues to emulate. Remember, those who admire and respect you are the people you influence most. Let's provide the next generation with the kind of role models we weren't lucky enough to have. We owe it to them to look forward to -- rather than dread -- the years that lie ahead. Live them with confidence that you can look and feel beautiful at any age. It will benefit both the body and the soul.
© 2010 Dr. Vivian Diller and Dr. Jill Muir-Sukenick, authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change
Author Bios
FACE IT: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change by Vivian Diller, Ph.D, with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. As models turned psychotherapists, Diller and Sukenick have had the opportunity to examine the world of beauty from two very different vantage points. This unique perspective helped them develop a six-step program that begins with recognizing "uh-oh" moments that reveal the reality of changing looks, goes on to identify the masks used to cover deeper issues, defines the role beauty plays in a woman's life, and ends with bidding adieu to old definitions of beauty so women can enjoy their appearance -- at any age!
For more information on the book, authors, and events, please visit http://www.faceitthebook.com or visit their fan page on Facebook
Read Mandie's review of the Book HERE
When You're Ready to Lose Your Mummy Tummy...
Guest Post
If you're a new mother, you may be facing the following dilemma: You're a tad antsy to lose the mummy tummy that you're still sporting, but are too fatigued and busy with your baby to hit the track or the nautilus machines.
There's no reason to panic and jump into a strenuous exercise regimen right away, and to be on the side of caution, you probably wouldn't want to do this even if you can find the time.
Why?
Though there are differing opinions concerning the degree of danger involved, for you to get too concerned about your mummy tummy and go on a strict weight loss program right after giving birth can cause toxins (i.e, PCB's and pesticides) stored in your body fat to release into your bloodstream. Since your liver cannot necessarily be counted on to rid your body of them quickly enough, they have a good chance of ending up in your breast milk.
So, wait until your 6-week postpartum checkup to inquire with your doctor about starting a specific weight loss program in order to lose your mummy tummy.
Here's the enormous benefit of this fact for you: If you're disabled from doing the kind of exercise regimen that you may have been doing before, your recovery period is a great time for you to re-introduce yourself to the most primary benefit of exercise, which is to simply experience the joy of moving your body in non-habitual ways. Enjoying yourself in movement while you lose fat from your mummy tummy is a win-win situation for you.
Although strenuous exercise is not desirable, you can do yourself and your mummy tummy a favor on two counts by engaging in light exercise.
On TWO counts? Yes. Engaging in light exercise will:
1. Help you put a dent in your mummy tummy by burning off a couple of hundred more calories a day or so than you would being stationary, and;
2. Help you produce serotonin, which will aid in fighting postpartum depression.
Light exercise is loosely defined and can run the gamut from gardening to bowling to swimming. You have a baby to take care of, however, and will probably need to do something as local as possible, most likely indoors. Some home-based exercise suggestions to help you lose the mummy tummy include:
- tai chi
- Pilates
- sit-ups
- light housework
- yoga
- dancing
If you've never tried it before, one form of exercise for the mummy tummy I strongly recommend is Belly Dancing. It tones the mummy tummy and related areas of the body that you may be self-conscious about after pregnancy - and is great fun as well.
You may also want to check out 'mom and baby' yoga classes. Participating in yoga with your baby allows you to bond through touch while at the same time getting a light workout. These classes are generally for babies in the 4-week to 8-month age range, or up until the time they are able to scamper away from you. Check a local community center brochure or call a nearby yoga center to see if they offer classes in your area. If not, you can check out Amazon.com for 'Mom & Baby Yoga' dvd's.
Finally, walking is always recommended in this period, and you can lose extra pounds from your mummy tummy by taking walks with your baby in a sling (to give you an extra weight to bear) rather than a stroller. If you know other new moms in the neighborhood, you can make this a social time for yourself as well. Many of them will share your desire to lose their mummy tummy.
If you're used to eating high-calorie meals in large portions, you can do yourself a favor by taking the extra time that you have to learn more about healthy eating, and in moderation. An extra benefit of bringing a child into the world is that it often causes both parents to re-evaluate more harmful aspects of their lifestyles. If you currently over-indulge, you can think about setting a better example for your child by consuming more lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and unsaturated fats. This way, you are teaching yourself to shed your mummy tummy while instilling healthy habits in your child.
I learn from the very best - the most successful 'fat-burners' who win the battle over failure and self-hatred to lose all those unwanted pounds of body fat...
What methods do they use to completely change their lives and make themselves happy and healthy beyond their wildest dreams?
Find out their winning techniques when you sign up for a free e-course at http://www.fatlossletters.com
Source
Free Busch Garden Season passes for 5 & younger!
To commemorate the opening of Sesame Street Safari of Fun, Busch Gardens is offering kids ages 5 and younger a FREE Busch Gardens Preschool Pass, valid through December 31, 2010 for unlimited admission
I'm so excited about this deal! I have 2 children that qualify - Big Savings for Me!
Sign up HERE
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Breyers YoCrunch Review & 10 4pk Giveaway!
• YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Packs offer a satisfying smooth and crunchy yogurt experience in convenient 100-calorie portions that kids and moms will love.
• Available in five great flavors, YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Packs are made with nonfat yogurt and are perfect as a healthy snack or dessert for those craving a nutritious yet decadent sweet treat.
o Cheesecake Yogurt with Graham Cookie Pieces
o Strawberry Yogurt with 100% Natural Low Fat Granola
o Vanilla Yogurt with Chocolate Chip Cookie Pieces o Vanilla Yogurt with Chocolate Crème Cookie Pieces
o Vanilla Yogurt with Nestle® Buncha Crunch™ Candy Pieces
• Made with no artificial sweeteners, YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Packs have added Vitamin A and D, and are a good source of calcium and protein for women and kids.
• YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Packs are available at leading grocery, health food and specialty stores nationwide at a suggested retail price of $2.99 - $3.19 for each four-pack container
My Review - We received the Vanilla with Chocolate cookie pieces.
I was extremely excited it was made with Truvia instead of sugar or artificial sweetners. If you aren't familiar with Truvia, it's an all natural sweetener made from the Stevia plant. We've been using it or honey for awhile instead of sugar. But you have to acquire a taste for it.
I'm not sure how Breyers did it but it doesn't have the usual Truvia after taste that you have to get use to. This was REALLY good and healthy too. The cookie pieces do have high fructose corn syrup, if you choose to skip that part the yogurt is still VERY delicious!!
I'm looking forward to trying the other types, cheese cake is right up my ally!!
Breyers is kind enough to allow me to give 10 coupons for 4-packs away to readers of Taking Time for Mommy.
Main Entry - Follow this blog via GFC OR newsletter and tell me what kind of yogurt you want.
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Google Friend Connect
Extra Entry - Follow my other blog Mommy Reads too Much on Google Friend Connect
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)
3 Extra Entries -Fan our writer Tawdra Kandle on Associated Content and comment on one of her articles Here
2 Extra Entries - Comment on any non-giveaway post on either Taking time for Mommy or Mommy Reads Too Much
Giveaway will end on April 25h at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. & Canadian residents 18+ only.
Disclosure - A product was given for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.I learned about this opportunity from The Product Review Place.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Turn Here
Authors of Queen of Your Own Life: The Grown-Up Woman's Guide to Claiming Happiness and Getting the Life You Deserve
Wouldn't it be interesting to look back at the experiences you've had in your life without judgment and without labeling them good or bad? From this lofty place at the midpoint in our lives we've noticed in looking back that ironically, good things often came from "bad" experiences and sometimes, bad things from "good." It really seemed to us that the road we're on in life can end very suddenly, and as we come smack up against a bright new yellow road sign there is often no other choice but to "turn here." We would be foolish to label these detours good or bad. In the end our experience has been that we are the women we are today because we'd been forced to make these turns onto new and better paths.
Cindy had a "turn here" moment when the economic downturn caused her industry to lay off nearly 1,000 people in a six-month period. There had been lots of hints that something like this might happen at her company, but she thought if she just kept her head down and continued to work hard she would somehow survive. Her fear over losing the job completely blocked out the fact that she hadn't been happy there for some time. Working hard and being good at her job didn't help and through no fault of her own, she found herself hurt, angry and unemployed.
After the initial shock of being let go wore off, she began to realize that there might never be another job for her in the profession she'd worked in for more than 20 years. Casting around for a way to replace the income she'd lost, she soon came to the conclusion that she'd need to retool. Walking through her fear that she might not be capable of learning something new, she signed up for a six-month course in social media marketing and merged her background in marketing and branding with these new tools and techniques.
In those six months she went from not even having a Facebook profile to teaching others how to brand themselves and their business. There were days when she thought her head would explode as she struggled to overcome the handicap of being a digital immigrant, but as the rusty parts of her brain became more accustomed to learning something new everyday, she soon came to love this fast-paced new industry. Cindy now blogs, tweets, posts and Vlogs multiple times everyday and trains others to do the same thing. She's energized by learning new things and now realizes that turning left at this roadblock opened up a new, different and equally beautiful path.
So when we find a road sign in our path and we know we have to "turn here," we take a deep breath and get ready to walk through our fear. We now understand that this is simply a new opportunity on our adventure to being the best women we can be.
We'd like to offer you these steps that helped us walk through the fear of taking that new path.
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Stop and assess the current situation.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself on the top of a high mountain and the wind is blowing. Look back over the first half of your life and without over thinking it, choose a moment in your life that you've come to think of as particularly difficult or that most altered the course of your life. Now, letting go of the "could've, would've, should'ves" of that situation, try to image that moment as a large boulder blocking your path and a bright yellow road sign that says, "DETOUR. " With your eyes still closed, turn your gaze to the left and envision a new path that you hadn't noticed before. Allow yourself to feel curious and excited about where it might lead. As you leave the original path and follow the new path let yourself feel joyful about the adventure ahead.
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Identify qualities that you admire.
Get out a piece of paper and a pen. Write down the names of the ten women you admire most. Again, don't ponder this. Write down your first thoughts. Then write down the qualities or traits you most admire in these women. Read the list aloud. It might help you to look into a mirror while reading this list. Put a check mark or star next to the qualities that resonate most with you as you read them.
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What kind of woman do you want to be?
Now you knew this was coming. What qualities do you like best about yourself. Don't be shy. We've been told not to brag about ourselves since we were young girls. This isn't bragging. This is a conversation between you and you alone. So, go for it. Are there any words on the list of qualities you admire in other women that match the words you've used to describe yourself? If there are, chances are good that these words are core values for you. If none of them match, don't worry. This is a process and in the end, you get to choose the words that you want to represent your core values. We recommend that you pick the four to six words that mean the most to you right now. At different times in your life, these words might change. That's ok. Don't get hung up on creating the perfect list. Just pick four to six words that you think are important to have with you on the next part of your journey.
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Create your Coat of Arms and Motto.
We like a good art project and think that the act of writing things down, creating a visual representation of our goals and speaking them out loud helps new ideas and new habits take root in our brains. We've created a blank template for a Coat of Arms and Motto that you can download for free at www.queenofyourownlife.com.
Add the four to six words you've chosen to identify your core values to the coat of arms template. Feel free to use markers, glitter pens, ribbon or whatever speaks to you. Have fun with this. When you've finished your project, sum it up with a Motto. Ours is "Because We Say So." To us that means the way we live our lives is a conscious choice we make everyday. Now pretending you're still atop that windy mountain, read your words aloud. At the bottom of the page, add "I admire this woman. I admire me." Then sign your name. We admire you too.
© 2010 Kathy Kinney & Cindy Ratzlaff, authors of Queen of Your Own Life: The Grown-Up Woman's Guide to Claiming Happiness and Getting the Life You Deserve
Author Bios
Kathy Kinney is best known for her iconic role as Mimi Bobeck on The Drew Carey Show. She has acted in over a dozen films, guest-starred on numerous television shows and has toured worldwide with Drew Carey and the Improv All-Stars. Kathy may also be seen in the title role of Mrs. P at www.mrsp.com, a Web site for children aimed at keeping alive the joy of books and reading.
A veteran publishing executive, Cindy Ratzlaff created marketing campaigns for more than 100 New York Times bestselling books, including The South Beach Diet. She is president of Brand New Brand You, which specializes in using new social media platforms to increase brand awareness, and is a cofounder of the online publishing company Supreme Social Media.
For more information please visit www.QueenOfYourOwnLife.com.
Become a fan of Queen of Your Own Life on Facebook or follow @QueenOfOwnLife on twitter!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Silence is Golden
I got to church a little early last Sunday, and I noticed something. It was loud. The service hadn’t begun, but I was sitting in the sanctuary, seeking to prepare myself for worship. But there was so much talking going on around me—not the quiet tones I recall from my childhood, but loud, conversational chatting. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen this kind of thing; I’ve been to many, many churches, and I’ve noticed that the ‘holy silence’ I remember from my childhood has all but disappeared.
And it isn’t just in church, either. Silence has left our lives almost completely. Remember when libraries were so quiet that you could hear someone breathing two stacks over? We fill all of our waking hours with noise—music, talk, what we sometimes call background noise. It’s almost as though we’re afraid of the quiet.
As people, and especially, I think, as moms, we need some silent space. From the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night, we’re constantly moving, interacting and resolving. If we don’t have that little bit of time when no one is talking, we just might lose it.
I think most mothers would agree with this, but the big question is, how do we find that quiet space?
For some people, getting up in the morning before the rest of the family is up and moving makes all the difference. It can give them the strength and humor to get through the day. For others of us, we’re not morning people. The idea of waking up early is kind of painful. There is of course the option of staying up late—getting everyone to bed and then finding that elusive peace and quiet. The downside there is that often by the time everyone falls asleep, we moms are ready for bed, too.
For homeschooling mothers, the options are fewer. We don’t have the school hours during which our children might be away from home, so we have to work just a little harder to carve out that time. Creativity is key! If you need a last minute item for dinner, why not run out yourself once your husband gets home? When you’re in the car, don’t turn on the radio or make phone calls; simple savor the peace. Or try to combine one-on-one time with a child who needs a ride to a lesson or play date, if someone else is at home to watch other kids, you can get in some uninterrupted chat time with the one who rides along, and then steal your own quiet on the way home or during the lesson.
If you can’t find your own silence on a regular basis, you need to take a few hours over the weekend. In the very worst case, you might savor the peace while you wash dishes or vacuum. Turn off the television, the radio and the MP3. Don’t make that phone call. Instead, take the opportunity to listen to your own thoughts. . .daydream just a little. . .and enjoy the moment.
Tawdra Kandle is stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of four children who range in age from 9 years to almost 21 years. She and her husband of over 22 years live in central Florida, where he is in seminary. Tawdra spends most of her precious free time writing and reading, and she loves to travel. She is also a resident writer for Taking Time for Mommy. View more of her Articles HERE
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