Busy Moms Tips

Tips for Moms to Eat Healthy and Stay Fit on the Go

2012-01-15T16:08:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I find it pretty tough keeping up with the stress of being Superwoman all the time. So many of us are bringing in an income, raising our children, and keeping the house clean (sort of), while running a slew of errands and trying to find something to put on the dinner table every night.

However, with all of that going on one of the first things many women start to let slide is their own health. Eating healthy and hitting the gym often goes out the window when moms are too busy to take time out for themselves. Below are some great tips for all of us to eat healthy and stay in shape while on the go:

1. Fast Food doesn’t have to mean high calorie. There are some great apps out now that help busy folks make better food choices when they have to grab food on the go. Of course, cooking at home is still the best option, but with the handy-dandy apps available on your smart phone you can still keep track of the nutrition information at all of your local fast food chains. Don’t get fooled into eating a thousand calorie salad, when there are healthier options. It only takes a few seconds to check out the restaurant, and then you can go in with a solid plan for getting the most nutrition with the least amount of calories.

2. Always keep good snacks in your bag. A great way to avoid chowing down on a juicy Big Mac is to keep some nice, healthy snacks within easy reach during the day. It can be easy to forget to grab a meal and sometimes food is a matter of opportunity. Give yourself the tools to eat healthy even while on the run.

3. Switch to water. Busy moms on the go often forget to carry the obligatory bottle of water, so always keep a bottle with you so that you can stay hydrated. Not only will this help keep up your energy levels, but it will also help flush out toxins that accumulate in the body. When you switch to drinking water you get all the hydration benefits and none of the calories that fill sodas and juices.

4. Keep moving. Even when you don’t have time to hit the gym there are lots of ways to keep your body toned and fit. Take the stairs whenever possible to get the cardio benefit and work out the gluteus muscles. Take a nice brisk walk during your lunch hour to get in some extra exercise and clear your head for the rest of the day. Use a headset for telephone calls so you can walk instead of sitting down at your desk. There are also some great pieces of exercise equipment that can fit under your desk so that you can keep working even in a seated position.

It isn’t easy to juggle all the responsibilities when you work and raise a family, but keeping up with your health isn’t optional. Stay healthy so that you can keep up with your busy lifestyle.

When Your Child is too Sick to go to School

2012-01-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

Death, taxes and sick children; the certainties in life. These things are inevitable so you need to have a game plan for all three contingencies. For example, when you have a sick child but can’t stay home with them, plan in advance who will take care of them when school or daycare is out of the question. Sending them to school sick doesn’t count as a game plan.

A child should not return to school until he/she has been fever-free and/or hasn’t vomited for 24 hours. Also, you should not send a child to school who has an uncontrolled cough, has green or yellow mucus, eye drainage, a sore throat, earache, explosive diarrhea, an undiagnosed rash, or is lethargic and mopey.

Sending a sick child to school isn’t fair to…

The teachers/staff
The other students who are exposed to your child’s illness
Most of all - your child! A sick child needs to know they can recuperate in comfort and in the amount of time needed. Otherwise you’ll only prolong the illness and cause them to do less than their best at school.

If you’re fortunate enough to have an understanding employer who allows for family sick days, count your blessings. But if you’re not, you need to implement a “sick day game plan” using one or more of the following ideas to assure you and your child are comfortable with how sick days are handled.

1. Whenever possible, let Dad take a turn staying home. Also, consider working in shifts. Perhaps Dad could go to work in the morning and then come home so that Mom can take the afternoon shift.

2. It would be great if you have the luxury of having grandparents or other relatives living close by. If so, make arrangements for one or two of them to be an alternate caregiver on days you can’t stay home. Older relatives are generally happy to accommodate and will provide plenty of TLC to make the day as pleasant as possible.

3. Offer to pay a trusted friend or neighbor such as a stay-at-home mom whose children are in school all day. Ask her to come to your home to avoid spreading germs to her household. If she won’t accept the pay, flowers or a gift card are definitely in order.

4. Find out if there someone in your church who might consider helping out on occasion. Naturally, you should offer compensation as added incentive.

The key to a successful sick day game plan is to have everything worked out in advance, and perhaps even a second back-up plan in case your first one doesn’t work out. Of course, you may not know you need to put the plan into play until waking your child for school, so your caregiver needs to understand she may have very short notice. In other words, whoever you plan to ask should have agreed prior to being needed.

Naturally, there’s no one like mom when a little one is sick, so whenever possible give them that special attention. But when life gets in the way make it easier for everyone by having a prearranged game plan worked out. Your family will be most appreciative!

Start Living Green in the New Year

2011-12-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

“Green Living, Going Green, Eco-Friendly, and Environment Footprints.” These topics have become so popular newsletters, tips, websites, blogs and even reality shows are constantly being launched to educate the masses on how we can save the planet. Though some people have adopted solutions such as wearing organic clothing or buying eco-friendly cars, there are a number of things you can implement on a smaller level to start off the New Year by living green.

Turn Off Appliances. People are generally conscientious about saving electricity; however, there is still a great deal of effort that needs to go into eliminating phantom electricity – a/k/a standby power. This is the energy that is silently used when your electrical appliances are on standby, such as with TV’s, laptop chargers, coffee pots, AC’s and many other home appliances. Although the individual amount of consumption is negligible the aggregate amount can add up to 22 percent of all appliance consumption. If you don’t want to walk around the house shutting off different appliances with the remote or power button, another simple solution for conservation of energy is turn off the appliances from the main power switch before walking out of the door.

Use Eco-Friendly Products. If you’re willing to be a green consumer the benefits to the environment are endless. There is no limit to the power consumers have when making educated decisions on the products they purchase. By showing industries that consumers are only going to buy products which are healthy for the environment, companies will be forced to change their manufacturing strategies along with the final product. Being a green consumer is quite simple. Try buying products with little or recycled packaging along with those that cause little pollution to produce. Educate yourself by finding out about the companies you regularly buy from and make sure they have some form of environment friendly goal or statement on their website.

Educate the Kids. Along with educating yourself you should educate your children on adopting a green lifestyle, as well. Instilling the importance of green living at an early age will ensure that children grow up to be responsible adults who will carry on the effort that you started. The enthusiasm of children is a great trait to use in getting them involved in activities such as recycling, ‘electricity monitoring’ duty, or even starting an organic garden at home or at school.

Recycle, reduce, reuse. Recycling was perhaps the first smart step taken by most people in saving the environment and truly living green. With more and more green living tips available the importance of this simple and proven step is sometimes forgotten. Other than the standard recycling of plastic, paper, and glass in recycling bins it is important to remember that glass bottles can be recycled in the kitchen, paper can be reprinted on, and even food scraps can be recycled to make compost for the garden. Keep your creative mind open in other ways to recycle everyday items at home; almost everything can have a second life.

Healthy Eating and Drinking. The choices you make for food and drink consumption may not seem to be the most obvious ways to live green but taking little steps such as decreasing the frequency of eating out, drinking less soda, and drinking filtered tap water or buying water in large bottles will significantly reduce your carbon footprint on the Earth. Buying things at the local farmer’s market not only increases your green living style but also supports the farmers as well.

There are many ways you can become a smarter, more proactive citizen of the Earth. The small steps taken each individual will help solve the puzzle to saving the environment. Keep yourself up to date with other simple techniques that can be implemented both at home and in the office. For more green living tips check out the article, Which is Greener? for some interesting and economical ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Tips on Keeping your Pets Safe During the Holidays

2011-12-11T20:46:00.003-05:00

The holidays should be fun for everyone including our favorite canines and felines. By taking appropriate safeguards, you can ensure they are safe and stress-free with these helpful tips:

1. Keep tree ornaments out of reach. If your pet shows interest in the tree and all of those dangling things, hang wooden and fabric ornaments on the bottom of the tree to reduce the risk of your pet chewing on glass or plastic. Also, don’t use tinsel because that can be toxic. Anything unfamiliar and shiny has the potential to be a play toy in your pet’s eyes.

2. Keep cords bound together and tucked away so pets won’t get tangled in them causing damage to themselves and/or your home. If your pets are left alone in your home during the day, make sure all exposed cords are unplugged.

3. If you give an edible gift to someone with an indoor dog or cat, let them know so they will not put the gift under the tree where it might be ‘opened’ early. Pets (especially dogs) can pick up the scent of food through layers of wrapping paper or even decorative tins.

4. Keep cedar and pine needles swept up so that pets will not ingest them. Evergreen needles and pine cones are dangerous to your pet’s digestive track.

5. If you have a real tree, don’t use additives in the water because animals will drink from the tree stand. As an alternative, you can take an aluminum pie tin, cut a slit from edge to center and fit around the tree stand, or cover it with aluminum foil.

6. Don’t leave open bowls or trays of cookies and candies out for mischievous pets to get into.

7. Holly and poinsettias are toxic, so please keep them away from pets.

8. This may sound like a no-brainer, but don’t neglect your pet in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Seriously, you would be surprised how many people forget to:

Make sure pets are walked and exercised regularly
Make sure pets are taken out to relieve themselves on a normal schedule
Make arrangements for pets to be cared for if traveling over the holidays

Finally, relax and spend some quality time with your pet. Although they will appreciate holiday treats (healthy ones, of course) and cute toys, the gift of time spent with you will be the best gift of all.

For more tips on keeping your pet safe and warm during this cold, winter season, check out these Chilly Dog Tips.

Make Good Use of Thanksgiving Leftovers

2011-11-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

Flickr / Muffet

The day after Thanksgiving is both the best and worst day of the year. It’s the best day because of all the bargains to be had on Black Friday. And yes, even the most skeptical have to concede that there are bargains to be had. It’s also the worst day if you’re the one who is left to deal with all of those Thanksgiving dinner leftovers. But this year you don’t need to go out of your way to hide turkey and sweet potatoes in every meal for the next three days. Instead, consider some of the following:

1. Give the leftovers away. Prior to Thanksgiving, make arrangements with a local shelter to bring plates by for residents. Then, after dinner, fix plates of food (using sturdy paper plates), seal and deliver. Or perhaps your local fire department would appreciate some good, homecooking.

2. Don’t have leftovers. While you don’t want to run out of food, don’t over-prepare. If you’re having eight people for dinner, cook for eight to ten – not fifteen to twenty.

3. Save the broth. Keep the broth from the turkey, including the yummy tidbits and freeze what is left so that it retains its moisture and flavor. You can do the same with corn, sweet potatoes and dressing. Then, on a cold, winter night when you don’t feel like cooking, pull it out, thaw, and you will have a delicious meal ready in no time. Some desserts can also freeze well. But then again, when is there ever any dessert left over?

4. Don’t ‘suffer’ alone. Send goodie bags home with every family. No one can say ‘no’.

5. Throw leftovers away. No, not everything, but there is no use in taking up space in the refrigerator to store food that won’t be eaten and end up getting thrown out anyway. If it can’t be frozen or given away, set aside what will actually be eaten over the next two or three days and get rid of the rest. This may seem wasteful, but it’s now or later, right?

Here are some additional ways to make use of leftovers:

1. Replace the chicken in your favorite chicken pot pie recipe with turkey.

2. Shred the turkey and simmer in barbeque sauce. Serve on toasted buns with leftover veggies.

3. Mashed potatoes are delicious when served in the form of potato pancakes before hitting the mall, or even a breakfast for supper type menu after you’ve shopped till you dropped.

4. Add the turkey to the dressing, bake till crusty on top and serve with leftover sweet potatoes that have been mashed and seasoned with melted butter.

5. Make a tasty chowder with leftover turkey, broth, gravy and veggies. Add additional canned broth and/or veggies, if necessary.

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

2011-11-17T11:19:00.000-05:00

Add additional holiday flavor to your Thanksgiving table with these fun and creative ideas for festive centerpieces:

1. Fill empty jelly jars with candy corn and stick taper candles in the center, gently pushing the bottom of the candle to the bottom of the jar. Fix enough of these to go the entire length of your table, spacing them 6-8 inches apart. NOTE: Select candles in fall colors.

2. Hollow out a white pumpkin, place a piece of floral foam inside and secure yellow and white roses in the foam. Add water. On either side of the pumpkin arrangement, sprinkle rose petals and scatter miniature pumpkins and/or gourds down the center of the table.

3. Fill a three-tiered candy dish with miniature gourds and pumpkins. Accent with colorful leaves gathered out of the yard. NOTE: Silk leaves from the craft store will also work.

4. Purchase several pillar candles in different fall colors and different sizes. Brush a layer of glue around each candle (one at a time) 2-4 inches in height, approximately 1 inch from the bottom of the candle. Roll the candles in a variety of the following: Dried peas, pinto beans, black beans, Indian corn, popcorn, sunflower seeds (in the shell). Cover the glued area and dry completely. Prepare enough of these candles to a) go the entire length of your table or b) arrange 5-7 of them on a tray in the center of the table.

5. A large colorful mum placed in the center of the table with Thanksgiving-themed wired ribbon trailing down each side. Scatter miniature candy bars in fall wrappers among the ribbon.

6. Fill a wicker basket with apples, pears, fall leaves, miniature pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn.

7. Place small to medium sized pots of mums inside hollowed pumpkins.

8. Hollow out large apples to hold votive candles. Place 6-8 inches apart the entire length of your table and scatter cinnamon sticks and fall leaves among them.

9. Fill a large clear glass vase (at least 10 inches tall) with dried beans or corn. Insert a faux tree branch securely in the vase. Tie miniature pumpkins from the ‘arms’ of the branch. NOTE: You’ll need to make sure you balance the weight so it doesn’t topple over.

10. Fill small clear glass bowls and jars with dried beans and seeds. Layering with different colors is extra nice. Place a white votive or pillar candle in each. Do 5-7 of these to arrange in the center of the table.

Thanksgiving Strategies for Your Holiday Pleasure

2011-11-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of feasting with family and friends. It’s a time to gather together in thanks for all of life’s blessings, for the freedoms we enjoy in out great nation and for the fruitful abundance we have.

Thanksgiving can also be a season of stress if you try to take on too much with all of the meal planning and preparation. Often, the holiday ends up being anything but a time of festive enjoyment for the cook/hostess of the day. Don’t let that be the case this holiday season. Implement a few of the following tips into your Thanksgiving holiday plans and you’ll find yourself with time on your hands:

Prepare more of less. Instead of having a dozen different dishes, have the traditional turkey and dressing potatoes with three or four family favorites, salad, bread and dessert. Maybe three different pies are necessary, but six Jell-O salads are not.

Delegate. Just because the meal is being served in your home doesn’t mean you have to prepare it all. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask each family unit to provide one or two of the side dishes to go with the turkey and dressing you prepare. And most people appreciate being included in the process.

Be non-traditional. You can be just as thankful over a bowl of homemade chili or vegetable soup and a afternoon of family Olympics, as you can with turkey and all of the fixin’s.

Celebrate your family’s history. America is the melting pot of the world. If your family is of Scandinavian decent serve a traditional Scandinavian meal with Danish red cabbage and a lingonberry sauce. If they’re Irish, go with corned beef and cabbage. Chinese-Americans might prefer Peking Duck and spiced carrots. You get the picture.

Advance preparation. No matter what you decide to fix, do as much of the cooking ahead of time as possible. The turkey doesn’t have to come straight from the oven in one piece. Cook it the day before, slice it and marinate it in its own juices. Sealed tightly, it can be warmed in the over and taste just as moist and fresh as if it were just baked Thanksgiving morning. Pies can be done a day or two ahead of time, as can Jell-O salads and deviled eggs. Most vegetables can be heated and served quickly and easily, and peeling all those potatoes the night before also helps save time. If you’re trying a new recipe, make sure it has been tested in advance.

The key to planning for Thanksgiving dinner or any other event is simplicity. Trying to take on more than you’re comfortable with can lead to frustration and disappointment. All great feasts begin with a well-thought out plan, so start writing yours out today. And be sure to share some of your tips with us!

For some great Thanksgiving recipes visit our sister site, Busy Moms Recipes!

Tricks to Handing out Healthy Halloween Treats

2011-10-22T15:17:00.001-04:00

iStockphoto / Sean Locke

Everyone knows that candy is a Halloween staple, and nowadays it seems to be in a food group all its own. But with one-third of the children in the United States extremely overweight or obese, maybe it’s time to consider some healthy alternatives that won’t get your house TP’d.

Most kids (especially their parents) will be just fine with nutritious snacks. However, you should use caution when passing out food items that could cause allergic reactions in some children such as peanuts, milk, or wheat. Just make sure the contents or ingredients are easily identified, even if that means sticking a label on the wrapper or bag.

Here is a list of healthy Halloween treats you can give out at the door or send to your child’s school or preschool class:

Popcorn: Add a little salt and seal in a decorative baggie.
Nuts: Roasted peanuts still in the shell are always fun to eat. Or you can use the pre-packaged individual bags of nuts.
Apples or oranges
Individual packages of snack crackers
String cheese sticks, individually packaged
Lunch-sized bags of pretzels
Baggies with carrot sticks (and maybe even little packets of dip to go with them)
Baggies of celery sticks with peanut butter packets
Beef jerky sticks
Animal crackers in cute little party bags or plastic baggies decorated with stickers
Juice boxes
Yogurt covered raisins
Fruit snacks: Only a few brands actually have real fruit juice and they all contain sugar, but it’s still a better alternative than candy corn.
Cereal bars: There are several varieties to choose from.

When you’re thinking about healthy alternatives, you can take it a step farther and hand out non-food items. Fun little trinkets gives kids something to do long after they’ve brushed the last of the chocolate out of their teeth. Companies like Oriental Trading can be a valuable (and inexpensive) source for treats of this nature. So can your local dollar store. Some suggestions are:

Temporary tattoos
Fingernail decals for the girls and stickers for the boys
Glow sticks
Halloween pencils or erasers
Mini packets of crayons and a coloring sheet or booklet
Bubbles
Bouncy balls
Coupons for fast-food ice cream treats

Halloween is among a kid’s favorite days of the year. Make it fun and safe with a healthy treat they’ll love!

Tips on Making Pumpkins Last

2011-10-15T11:17:00.002-04:00

Pumpkins are one the best things of the fall season. The bright orange orbs (and sometimes green or white) are an easy and festive way to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Plus they yield tasty treats such as pumpkin pie, cookies, bread and pumpkin seed brittle.

Pumpkins that are not carved are relatively easy to care for and often last through Thanksgiving. Tips on prolonging the life of a pumpkin are:

Set pumpkin(s) on a solid surface so the skin doesn’t get nicked or punctured. Once that happens they will begin to deteriorate quickly.
If you live in an area where there is medium to heavy frost at night, lay a blanket over the pumpkins that are outside in the yard or on the porch at night. Remove the covering shortly after the sun comes up each morning.
If you live in a warmer climate in the southern region, place the pumpkins in a cool, shaded area. Keeping them in an air conditioned environment is even better.
You can also spray clear acrylic spray over the pumpkins to help them last longer. It makes them shinier, too!

Most likely, you’ll carve at least one of your pumpkins into a Jack-o-lantern or some other artistic masterpiece. Caring for carved pumpkins takes a bit more work. After all, carving your pumpkin includes removing its ‘brains’ (the slimly fibers inside), so the little guys can’t take care of themselves anymore. Preserve your carved pumpkins by:

Keeping it on a solid surface so the skin doesn’t get nicked or punctured.
Once the brains and seeds are removed, coat the inside with either petroleum jelly, vegetable shortening or a commercial pumpkin preserving spray. The spray can be purchased at most floral supply shops or online. Using one of these methods will keep your pumpkin looking fresh for approximately 2-3 weeks.
Keep the pumpkin hydrated and protected against mold with a bleach wash every day. This will also preserve your “veggie art.” Mix 2 tablespoons bleach with a gallon of water. Set the pumpkin in the mixture for a few minutes each day, and voila! However, if this is a lot of trouble or if the pumpkin is too big, spray your pumpkin inside and out each day with bleach household cleaning spray.
Clean and treat the pumpkins inside and out. And don’t forget to do the underneath side of the lid.
Keep your pumpkin safe from frost by bringing it in at night or covering it with a towel or blanket.

Just remember that a carved pumpkin is fruit that’s been cut. And once it has been cut it is only going to last so long before mold and deterioration set in. Instead of carving your pumpkin, consider painting funny faces or creative designs using acrylic paints or even permanent markers.

No matter how long they last (or not), this fall produce will always be a favorite of children and adults everywhere. Pumpkins are great fun, so enjoy!

6 Tips For Preventing Or Stopping Runs In Your Tights

2011-10-07T10:27:00.000-04:00

Runs in tights or hosiery can happen at any time. Nearly every women who's ever worn tights knows that sinking feeling that you get when you realize you've got a run in your hosiery. Although a run is almost always eventually inevitable, you can prolong the life of your tights with these tips.

Tip #1: Hairspray

Many women report that the first thing they do is to spray their hosiery down with hairspray. Although any kind works well, an aerosol can provides the best coverage with the least amount of work. It's thought that hairspray strengthens the fibers in the hosiery, making them resistant to runs and tears and many women spray them both before and after they've put their hosiery on. Hairspray is also reported to stop runs after they've started, although that method isn't as well-known as the next tip.

Tip #2: Clear Nail Polish

If you're wearing tights, a small bottle of clear nail polish should be your best friend. A little dab of nail polish will stop a run in its tracks so it's an excellent way to keep a run from expanding and ruining the entire pair. Although clear nail polish is best because it's invisible, colored polishes can also work, as long as the run is in a spot covered by your skirt, pants or shoes. Take care when removing your tights since the nail polish can sometimes cause them to stick to your legs. Although you might be tempted to pull quickly, like you would with a bandage, this could weaken the fibers in the tights. Pull slowly -- it will only hurt for a second.

Tip #3: Hand Wash, Hang Dry

When washing your tights or hosiery, take care to hand wash each time. The constant friction caused by a washing machine can weaken your tights, making them vulnerable to runs and rips. Some people are tempted to use a lingerie bag or pillowcase, and while this can do in a pinch, the best washing method truly is by hand. Take care to use lukewarm water, not hot and always hang dry. The heat from your dryer is bad news for hosiery.

Tip #4: Keep Nails Neat And Remove Jewelry

When working with your hosiery (either putting them on or washing them) take care to remove your jewelry and make sure your nails and cuticles are neat. Trimmed nails mean there's less for the hosiery to snag on and removing your jewelry just makes good sense. How many times have you accidentally caught your rings on something, whether it's a sweater or a pair of hosiery? If your heels are rough and calloused, get yourself to the closest nail salon for a pedicure - it's not just nails that can snag your tights.

Tip #5: Reinforce The Toe

One great tip combines an old pair of hosiery with a new one to create an extra reinforced toe. If your hosiery is constantly ripping or running in the toe area, cut off the toes of an old pair and put your 'toe protectors' on first. Your toes will have double the protection and no one will notice if you're wearing a pair of closed toe shoes.

Tip #6: Keep A Spare Handy

Okay, it's not exactly a tip on how to keep runs from happening, but eventually, even the best cared for tights will run. If you're at a special occasion, and you can't save them or remove them completely, consider packing a spare in your bag. A pair of hosiery or tights can roll up small enough for even the smallest bag. It's a good idea to place them in a protective plastic bag to make sure they won't catch on anything in your purse. After all, you don't want to replace one pair of torn hosiery with another.

Taking care of your hosiery and knowing what steps to take before, during and after a run or snag can go a long way towards preserving the life of your tights.

More Tights Resources:

Storing Tights, Hosiery And Leggings: 4 Storage Ideas And Tips
The Guide To Wearing Brightly Colored Tights
How To: 5 Ways to Wear Shorts and Tights
The 8 Hosiery Commandments: How To Look Beautiful In Tights

About the Author:

Cindy Prosser is a former underwear model turned freelance writer and mom. She's not ashamed to admit she looks gorgeous in Wolford tights, which honestly isn't that difficult but you have to count your victories :) When not glamorously overdressing for grocery store visits she stays busy writing for Bare Necessities.

Go Green This Halloween!

2011-10-04T16:31:00.000-04:00

iStockphoto / Oleg Prikhodko

Commercial holidays give the retail industry a huge boost every year and Halloween is no exception. The National Retail Federation predicts this Halloween season will bring in almost $6 billion nationwide, as evidenced by the rash of costume and party stores popping up in strip malls and abandoned stores. What’s really scary about this time of year is the impact of the carbon footprint that goes along with all that consumption. Here are some eco-friendly tips to help you and your family “go green” this Halloween:

1. Say “NO” to plastic. And I’m not just talking about credit cards. Many plastic Halloween costumes and masks are cheaply made from toxic PVC which can leach harmful chemicals. This makes it a poor choice of material to place over a child’s face. If you really need or desire a retail costume or mask look for ones marked “PVC Free.”

2. Recycled costumes. Instead of buying a costume, start looking around at home for items that can be turned into a creative, one-of-a-kind costume. Why send your child out looking like everyone else when you can put together something that is totally unique and every other kid will want? You can find some great ideas for recycled Halloween costumes at The Daily Green. If you aren’t feeling all that crafty or simply don’t have the time, consider some of the Halloween costume swap sites such as ThredUp.

3. Go easy on the makeup. Makeup is essential for many Halloween costumes. You simply can’t get that ghastly green-faced witch without some form of cosmetic. However, you can make sure that you use only organic products that don’t have the mercury and other harmful chemicals found in many big name cosmetic brands. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics offers some DIY recipes for homemade face paints that use food-based ingredients. (Note: the same rules apply to hair dyes and sprays. Use natural and organic dyes so that when the remaining product goes down the drain you aren’t dumping toxic chemicals into the water supply.)

4. Avoid traditional sweet treats. Halloween really wouldn’t be worth celebrating for many people if all candy were excluded from the fun. However, carefully choosing the type of treats handed out can prevent kiddies from ingesting chemicals and preservatives that are stuffed into many popular candies. Besides, organic, natural alternatives often taste better. Look for fair trade-sourced chocolates, candy made with real cane sugar or fruit juice and without artificial colors. If you want to avoid candy altogether, pocket toys or craft items can be a lot of fun to pass out.

5. Use frighteningly frugal decorations. Plan to decorate for decades by avoiding disposable products. Craft a scarecrow using old clothes stuffed with newspapers and burlap for the head and hands. Make a real cornucopia with mini-pumpkins and gourds from the local pumpkin patch. This is also a great place to find the perfect Jack-o-lantern. Scoop out the insides to be used in recipes that call for pumpkin. And don’t forget to toast the seeds for a crunchy snack. Light up the night with soy candles that are produced from environmentally safe soy bean crops – unlike their scary paraffin and petroleum candle counterparts. Purchase reusable decorations from garage sales and thrift shops that can be used year after year.

Here’s to a safe, happy and green Halloween!

Storm Preparedness Tips

2011-08-24T10:43:00.000-04:00

It seems that we have certainly seen our fair share of natural disasters lately with flooding, wildfires, tornadoes, and now – earthquakes. Plus, we have a major hurricane barreling towards the United States that is expected to make landfall along the East coast the end of this week.

We already know from previous disasters that it’s difficult to see our homes, as well as the homes of family and friends, destroyed in a matter of minutes. While you can never be completely prepared for such a catastrophic event, there are several things you can do to make a tragic situation just a little bit better.

1. Pay attention and stay alert. Don’t become complacent and think a disaster will never happen to you or your community. When the media issues warnings and instructions - listen and obey.

2. Know the proper procedures for contacting emergency personnel in the event of a storm or other natural disaster to let them know you need help.

3. Using a small notebook, write down information such as bank accounts, insurance policy, prescription drugs, and credit card numbers. Keep this somewhere you will be able to easily grab it in the event you need to take cover in your home.

4. In addition to your book of numbers, you should have readily accessible some bottled water, a few non-perishable snacks, two or three day’s worth of medication, health insurance information, two or three day’s supplies for your infant if you have one, personal identification in the event you are injured and unconscious, contact information of family members in case of medical emergencies, a battery powered clock/radio, a CD on which you’ve copied all your family photographs, a couple of day’s worth of pet food if you have a pet, and a change of clothes. The National Hurricane Center has a good disaster supply checklist on their website.

5. As a family, develop a plan of action in the event of natural disasters. Identify a safe room within the house in case you need to take immediate cover. In the event you have to immediately evacuate, discuss escape routes and designate a meeting place in case you become separated. Have a list of emergency contact numbers in a designated place that includes an out-of-state friend or family member who can be the point of contact.

Keep in mind that the type of natural disaster will dictate how much time you have to prepare and will sometimes give you the opportunity to minimize the amount of your loss. Floods, hurricanes and wildfires don’t hit in the blink of an eye like a tornado does. With most natural disasters you are usually given several days notification to gather belongings, board up and evacuate. While this in no way negates the emotional, physical and often financial toil it takes on you, it’s important to make the most of the advance warnings you are given.

Finally, understand that after a storm that has caused considerable destruction to your family or community, it is not uncommon to experience what is referred to as “survivor’s guilt”. You may feel guilty because you didn’t lose your home, or if you did, you didn’t lose your life. These feelings are natural but don’t try to dismiss them. Instead, share your feelings with your preacher, your doctor, a close friend or family member. Then give of yourself to help rebuild the lives and structure of the place you call home.

Take care my friends and be safe!

Tips on Staying Cool During Summer

2011-07-18T10:08:00.001-04:00

Stay hydrated this summer! Drink lots of water, water, water, as well as lemonade or juices. Avoid beverages with caffeine or alcohol as these will raise your body temperature. Sodas will only increase your thirst.

Fruit juice popsicles that are low in sugar are a great way to stay hydrated. Frozen bananas and grapes are also a cool treat. Keep in mind that if you suddenly realize you are thirsty, you have waited too long to drink.

Find indoor activities like going to the movies or taking the kids bowling. This is a great time to reintroduce fun board games and puzzles while sitting in front of a cool fan.

For more great tips on how to stay cool this summer, check out these 25 Steps to Keep You Safe During a Heatwave from TotallyReady.com.

Tips on Organizing the Food Pantry

2011-07-14T10:53:00.002-04:00

Setting up a well-organized food pantry is the secret ingredient to maintaining an efficient kitchen. Keeping a good stock of foodstuffs and sundries on hand will save money and stress by cutting back on unplanned trips to the supermarket. Plus, it will help you to be prepared for weather-related emergencies.

Before stocking your pantry with the necessary essentials, you first have to make room. If you haven’t cleaned out the cupboard or pantry shelves in a while, you should probably give them an overhaul before heading off to the grocery store.

Here are some tips on reorganizing the kitchen pantry or cupboards:

Check expiration dates and toss anything that is past its prime.
If an item has not expired but no one has shown any interest in eating it in the past three to six months, donate it to a local food bank. If you haven’t eaten it by now, chances are you are not going to.
Create “zones” and group like foods together. For example, store all canned fruits or vegetables in one area and dry goods (such as rice and pasta) in another. Ditto for baking goods, soups, drinks, and pet food. Use shelf dividers or baskets to make this process easier. Not only does it help identify what you have on hand, it also makes putting away the groceries easier.
Keep regularly used items front and center, and replenish often. You’ll save time by not continuously hunting for these items or dashing off to the store for more.
Designate a lunch or snack shelf (or cupboard) and keep it amply stocked with healthy choices such as peanut butter, crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, etc. Also, keep plastic and/or paper bags on the same shelf for easy access when on the go.
Use canisters to store loose dry goods such as rice, flour, and sugar, and be sure to label them. Keep in mind that square canisters take up less room than round.
Clear out the fridge each week – usually the night before trash pickup. Leftovers have a short shelf life and you don’t want to risk getting sick by eating something that should have been thrown-out a day or two earlier.

Although many of today’s new homes have built-in pantries, a pantry can be any place you decide will work best for your needs. A small, urban apartment can even have a pantry such as a cupboard or coat closet. Turn the guest bedroom closet into a pantry.

If the space simply isn’t available, then purchase large plastic or cardboard boxes and store your pantry items in those. Throw a tablecloth over it and ta-da! You now have a side table. Likewise, you can store canned goods in a long shallow box and push it under the bed.

The idea is to be prepared in a clutter-free way. In doing so, you may discover than you enjoy cooking even more than before!

Stay tuned for next week when I’ll post an article on what items you actually need to have in your pantry. See you then!

Tips for Online Coupon Specials

2011-06-16T09:45:00.002-04:00

For all of the busy moms who are coupon enthusiasts, I wanted to pass along some sites offering decent coupons on their products. I tend to shop by brand, so I look specifically for those coupons. I’ll keep updating this page as I find more sites, so keep checking back. Also, please share some of your favorite coupon sites with us!

Stouffers
- Get $1.00 off any variety Farmers’ Harvest™ single-serve entrées
- Get $1.50 off any variety Stouffer’s Sautés for Two™

Coffee-Mate
- Save $0.75 on TWO Coffee-mate products (liquid or powder)
- Save $0.55 on ONE Coffee-mate product (liquid or powder)

Nestle® Toll House®
- Save $0.75 on Mini-Morsels Toppers
- Save $0.50 on Morsels
- Save $1.50 on Refrigerated Cookie Dough
- Save $0.50 on Carnation Evaporated Milk
Note: this section is updated frequently, so coupon offers may change without notice.

Birds Eye® (click “Special Offers” at the bottom)
- Save $0.35 on Steamfresh® Lightly Sauced Varieties

Pompeian
- $1.00 off Olive Oil
- $0.50 off Vinegar

Newman’s Own
Different coupons ranging from $0.50 to $1.00 off on a variety of products. Coupons usually change monthly.

Claritin®
Variety of coupons on all non-drowsy Claritin and children’s Claritin products – most are $2.00-$4.00 savings.

Smart Balance
Registration is required to access coupons. Currently has $0.75 coupons for any Smart Balance product.

Lactaid®
Currently has $1.00 coupons for several Lactaid products including milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, and supplements. Site registration is required.

Betty Crocker
Lots of coupons that change each month. Site registration is required.

Swiffer, Cascade, Febreeze, Mr. Clean, Dawn
Up to $35 in savings. Coupons are not downloadable – they will be mailed when you register for their FREE Organize in Style booklet.

Pillsbury
Lots of coupons that change each month. Site registration is required.

Other sites with a variety of coupon offers are:

Coupons (they have a really cool toolbar)

RedPlum - you may also find their flyers in your mailbox every week

SmartSource – some of these coupons are often included in the Sunday paper

CouponMom – has a very broad database

Local Supermarkets: Don’t forget to sign up for newsletters and specials from your local supermarket! I personally love Publix and they have a wonderful, interactive site that includes a personalized grocery list with the store coupons and specials I select.

NOTE: When registering on websites for coupons and sweepstakes be sure to use a separate email address so that your regular one doesn’t get a lot of spam. I personally prefer Gmail (free) because I can set up folders for different sites, but there are many other free email sites available.

Busy Moms Tips: Cleaning List

2011-06-12T16:10:00.003-04:00

Household chores can quickly become overwhelming if they are not handled on a routine basis. Using a detailed cleaning list can help you stay on task by reminding you what needs to be done and when. Busy Moms Tips has a great master cleaning list to help you with daily, weekly, monthly, and even quarterly cleaning chores.

Click here to download and print out your FREE cleaning list today!

Tips on Finding the Perfect Fit Bra

2011-05-23T10:20:00.005-04:00

This post comes courtesy of Classy Bras, a blog about bras! In addition to tips about fitting and style, there is an very complete Bra Buyer's Guide with a list of 100 top-rated bras.

How to Find the Perfect Fitting Bra

Anyone who watches Oprah already knows what million of lingerie stores all over the world have been telling us for years; most women wear the wrong size bra! It’s true that up to 80% of women are in bras that they spill out of, bras that are not supportive, bras where the straps fall down constantly and bras that flatten, squish, droop or just plain look unattractive on the body.

So how do you find the perfect fitting bra? Well, the simple answer is to go to a custom professional bra fitter. They can be found in higher end lingerie shops as well as many department stores. However, many women either can’t afford this or are too embarrassed to stand in front of someone who pokes, prods, measures and lifts. If this is you, don’t be concerned; there are other ways to find the best fitting bra for your needs.

Take Your Measurements

First and foremost, you must take your own measurements immediately. Step away from the computer, put down the remote and run, don’t walk, to find your measuring tape. Stand up straight in front of a mirror, lower your shoulders breathe normally and most of all just relax. Using a soft measuring tape, make sure to measure all the way around your body, placing the tape right below your breasts. If you have someone else to do it for you, it is preferable so you can make sure the tape stays completely straight and as parallel to the ground as possible.

Once you have your measurement, you'll need to add 5" if the measurement was less than 33". If the measurement was more than 33", add 3". If you come up with an odd number, or a measurement with a fraction of an inch, round up to the next even number. For example, you measure around your body, and get 34". Because you're more than 33", you add 3". Your size is 37", but since that's an odd number, you round up to 38". Confusing? Sure. Is it necessary? Absolutely!

Now that you have your band size you need to work on your cup size. While wearing a traditional bra, not a padded one, you need to measure the fullest part of your breast making sure to go directly over the nipple without pulling the measuring tape too tight. Again, having someone do it for you makes this step much easier but if you don’t, take the time to look in the mirror confirming the tape is straight all the way around.

Using the following guide, take the difference to find your cup size.

1" is A cup
2" is B cup
3" is C cup
4" is D cup
5" is DD cup
6" is DDD cup

And so on…

For example, if your band size is 38 and your measurement around the bust is 3 inches more than that then you would be a 38 C cup. It’s just that simple!

But wait…

Bras also have “sister sizes.” Most women don’t realize that each bra you try on has a sister size. That simply means that since bras differ depending on brand, style and manufacturing, sometimes a sister size in a certain style or from a different brand will fit you better than the size you just measured. For example, if while wearing a Bali bra you feel very comfortable and supported in a 36C, you may need to wear a 34D in a Playtex or maybe a 38 B in a Victoria's Secret bra.

Basically, if the band size goes up the cup size goes down and if the band size goes down the cup size goes up. So, if after finding the perfect bra you want to try different brands but they are too tight in the band or too loose in the cup size follow the rule that says “Band size up cup size down” and “Band size down cup size up.” Never just go to a smaller band with the same cup or a larger band with the same cup. That will again lead you down the path of the ill-fitting bra.

In short, whenever you try a new bra brand or style, always try on your sister sizes to make sure you get the best fit.

What Else Is There to Know About a Perfect Fitting Bra?

We’re not done yet… there are a few more things you need to take into consideration. The underwire for instance; it’s everyone’s favorite look but often the most difficult to master. Wire circumference is so important. Your underwire should surround and support your breasts, not poke you! If the wire pulls away from the body in the center, your cup size is too small. To find out if you are living with the wrong underwire, sit down while wearing your bra to make sure the bra isn’t pulling away from your body. If the cups stay secure against the breasts then you are in the right cup size.

Final Tips:

• A new bra should fit a little more snug at first so don’t be surprised if the bra that is the right size feels a bit tight. The Lycra will become looser as the bra gets a little more wear.

• Women who are petite or full figured need a bra with a defined or structured cup to help the body look better under clothing also known as your silhouette.

• When your clothing size changes, you need to measure your bra size again. As little as 5 pounds can make a huge difference in bra size.

• Never wear the same bra you wear everyday as the bra you wear to workout in. You need a special sports bra to support you during any strenuous activity so remember, make sure you have both work bras and work out bras.

Ladies, a bra is something you need to wear for the rest of your life, you might as well make it as comfortable as it can be. Make sure you are a part of the 20% of women who DO wear the right size!

Americans Urged to “Upgrade” Family Meals and Activities to Reduce Calories Kids Consume

2011-04-29T09:16:00.005-04:00

Survey Finds Parents Are Not Taking Steps to Improve Their Children’s Weight Status

Citing new evidence that many parents lack the information to prevent obesity in their children, Shape Up America! and National Turkey Federation (NTF) have announced a national mobilization to help First Lady Michelle Obama fight childhood obesity by arming parents with the facts and tools to make simple changes – or “upgrades” – in favorite meals and physical activity levels so everyone can reap the benefits of taking in less calories.

Coming at a time when more than 12 million children in the United States are classified as obese and more than 23 million young Americans are considered overweight, the organizations are stepping up their efforts to show parents how they can improve their children’s weight status using an online tool called the Meal Upgrade Calculator. Besides showing consumers how to “upgrade” favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, this interactive website now gives parents the means to assess the weight status of their children and reduce the calories and fat consumed in meals served at school and in restaurants. Another new feature is the Family Activity Calculator, which shows parents how to increase the time children spend being physically active.

While there is no single approach to fighting childhood obesity, Shape Up America! estimates that by taking advantage of these meal and activity “upgrades,” families can save an average of 100 calories a day through improvements to family meals and another 100 calories through increased physical activity – or 200 fewer calories a day. These savings are significant and demonstrate that small changes in meal preparation and increased physical activity can pay off in meaningful health improvements.

“When it comes to healthier eating and moving more, small changes add up to both weight control and measurable health improvements,” said Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D., Shape Up America! president and CEO. “That is the purpose of these new features to our Meal Upgrade Calculator – to show consumers and especially busy moms how to make simple ‘upgrades’ in children’s meals and activities that will keep them at a healthy weight and instill healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”

Helping Teens to Get It Together

2011-03-31T12:33:00.003-04:00

It’s All Too Much, So Get It Together, by Peter Walsh (New York Times bestselling author and TLC host), is a great book for teens and college students (and grownups) who need help getting organized and on track by figuring it all out and learning how to prioritize. It teaches the younger generation how to identify clutter – whether internal, external, mental, and/or physical, and how to get rid of it. This includes applying decluttering skills to ALL aspects of life such goals, school work, extracurricular activities, and relationships.

For example, Walsh writes that one of the excuses teens (and many other people) use to hang on to things is because they “might need it one day.” Really? Who needs 27 sheets of poster board or 1,483 mismatched buttons? Besides, it would take a week to find the matching button if you really did need it.

While planning for the future is important and is something we try to teach the younger generation to prepare for, saving stuff “just in case” is not the way. Peter Walsh teaches teens that, “No matter what your reasons for hanging on to your clutter, there’s an even better reason for getting rid of it: Getting rid of clutter will improve your life!”

G I V E A W A Y ! !

Join our Facebook Page for an opportunity to win a FREE copy of this book! When we reach the 500 “likes” pinnacle (we’re currently at 480), a lucky winner will be randomly selected. We’re almost there, so hurry up and join Busy Moms Tips on Facebook.

UPDATE...

CONGRATULATIONS go to Michele Howerton of Virginia for being the lucky winner of the It’s All Too Much, So Get It Together, book by Peter Walsh (New York Times bestselling author and TLC host). Thanks to all of you for being Facebook fans of Busy Moms Tips. And stay tuned, because more giveaways and freebies are on their way!

4 Steps to Raising a Future Writer

2011-03-16T09:43:00.001-04:00

4 Steps to Raising a Future Writer

By Dr. Richard Gentry

Adapted from his new book, "Raising Confident Readers"

Lots of parents read aloud to their baby and toddler, but few take the next step: encouraging early writing. Did you know that babies can draw pictures (prewriting) and create narratives at between 2 and 3 years of age? A young child who is stimulated with targeted activities early and often can be writing and illustrating complex stories by age 4 or 5.

Why does this matter? Because studies show that when reading and writing is taught to children starting at birth, their neural pathways develop in different ways. They are more intelligent, have a 32-million-word advantage by kindergarten over children who did not get this exposure, and are less likely to develop learning problems such as dyslexia.

Over 30 years as an early childhood literacy, reading, and writing specialist, I have developed fun and simple activities parents can do with their babies and young children that help them develop writers' brains. They can be summed up in four easy-to-remember words in the acronym READ.

Repetition. Joyful repeated readings of favorite books are a hallmark of early reading and writing success. Long after you are exhausted rereading these favorite books, your baby or toddler will thrill in reading them over and over again. Babies love repetition, which encourages him to mimic the words and babble sounds -- early language responses. Over time, this mimicking behavior turns into higher-order concepts and understandings, and eventually memory "reading." Babies also mimic feelings during book sharing. If you read with feeling, it encourages your baby to have positive associations with reading.

Enthusiasm. Many experts agree that talking to your child and having frequent read-alouds, surrounded by talk about books during book sharing, are the most important brain-stimulation activities in parenting. You are activating her social, hearing, emotional, and linguistic systems all at once. The other E's in this step are Enticement, Exploration, Engagement, and Explosion. By enticing your child with fun reading activities, exploring new books, and engaging her in the process, her vocabulary, knowledge, and love of learning will explode. From birth to age 6 is when your baby's brain has the greatest ability to establish language proficiency.

Attention. When you read or write with your child, you are constantly making decisions about how to direct his attention. Since reading and writing are complex, at various times you must focus his attention to the many different aspects of language, reading, writing, or spelling. You are switching off between attention to sounds, meaning, rhythm or musicality of language, expression, feelings, letter naming, and letter formation, to name a few. The key is to do a variety of targeted reading and writing activities with your child that are appropriate and fun for his phase of development.

Drawing. Your child might be ready to scribble on paper long before you think she's able. Early scribbling is the precursor to early writing. With early marking and scribbling, she is showing an internal desire to communicate, joy in expressing ideas, and the urge to make meaning. Experts agree that drawing almost always opens the gate to early literacy. There are lots of fun and easy activities you can do with your toddler or preschooler to help her be an early writer.

* * *

J. Richard Gentry PhD is the author of Raising Confident Readers: How to Teach Your Child to Read and Write -- from Baby to Age 7 (Da Capo / Perseus, http://www.jrichardgentry.com/), which is chock-full of reading and writing development tips and activities you can do with your baby and young child. Dr. Gentry is a nationally acclaimed expert on childhood literacy, reading, and spelling development, with more than 30 years of experience working with beginning readers. A former university professor and elementary school teacher, he is currently an educational consultant in Florida.

Busy Moms Recipes

2011-03-05T14:20:00.001-05:00

Here’s what going on over at our sister site – Busy Moms Recipes:

Creative Ways to Use Leftovers
These are some quick and easy ways to maximize leftover food that are resourceful and tasty.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
A family favorite that is super easy to prepare!

Mushroom and Kale Lasagna
This sauce for this recipe is pure gold! And it can be used in many other recipes that call for an Italian sauce such as spaghetti. Great for make-ahead meals. This recipe is a bit labor intensive but shortcuts are provided, if needed.

Comfort Food: Home Soup Stock
One of the best things about homemade soup is that you know what is and isn’t in it. Plus, it’s a much healthier alternative than the canned varieties which are often high in sodium.

Going Green in the Spring: Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips

2011-03-05T11:42:00.001-05:00

Here it is March and although some folks are still experiencing winter’s wrath, most of us are happily anticipating the arrival of spring. This is a busy month that includes St. Patrick’s Day, along with preparations for spring cleaning. And speaking of spring cleaning, have you thought about doing it in “green?” No, this is not in honor of cute little leprechauns; what I’m referring to is creating an eco-friendly home environment. Green cleaning can include:

Using sponges and micro-fiber cloths instead of disposable paper towels;
Using natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, lemon, essential oils and borax, in place of toxic cleaners that include ammonia, bleach, phosphates, and other harmful corrosives;
Using tea tree oil as an antibacterial agent and grease solvent. Not only is this essential oil used as a health remedy for sores, cuts, and burns, but it can also be used to get rid of mold and mildew. Just a little dab will do, so use sparingly – a few drops at a time. (Available in health food stores and some drugstores);
Recycling the clutter in your home by donating it to a local thrift shop or joining Freecycle. The less cluttered your home is, the easier it will be to clean!

“Going green” is on everyone’s minds these days as more people are realizing the impact this has on our surroundings and our future. And it’s not nearly as daunting as you may think. You can easily improve your home environment by implementing simple strategies such as:

Replacing incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs;
Using recyclable canvas shopping bags when buying groceries instead of paper or plastic;
Improving the quality of indoor air with real houseplants;
Walking or running outside instead of using an energy powered treadmill, or opt for another non-electric type of exercise like pilates or yoga;
Receiving and paying bills online;
Recycling paper, plastic, and aluminum;
Using cold water when doing laundry;
Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth;
Putting a filter on your faucet and reducing bottled water consumption.

These are just a few suggestions to help save our environment, while saving money at the same time. Please share some of the eco-friendly cleaning solutions and green strategies you use in your home!

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

2011-03-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

We’ve all heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And it’s absolutely true. Not only does a healthy breakfast refuel our bodies after six to eight hours (hopefully) of sleep, it also sets the tone for the rest of the day. Otherwise, you’ll find your energy level quickly depleted by mid-morning when the “grouchies” set in.

A side trip to the convenience store or fast food joint doesn’t count because most of us grab unhealthy items with too much fat, sugar, and/or carbs. Besides, that 15 to 20 minute detour could have been put to better use fixing something at home.

The following quick and easy breakfast ideas can be made within minutes and are a much healthier alternative to skipping breakfast or grabbing a high-fat, high-calorie alternative. Plus, they will help keep hunger in check as well as give you the natural energy boost to start your day.

1. Oatmeal – This wholesome bowl of goodness contains lots of filling fiber to sustain you through the morning. Add some ground flaxseed, fruit, nuts, honey, or cinnamon, and you’ve got a delicious bowl of comfort. Steel-cut oats are the healthier (and tastier) alternative; however, they are also pricier and take 20 minutes to cook. If time is of the essence, it’s okay to substitute instant oatmeal without all of the sugary stuff.

2. Fruit smoothies – These are good any time – especially on a hot, summer day. Use fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, peaches or any other favorites. You can also use frozen fruit instead of fresh. Blend with a cup of low-fat milk or plain yogurt, some ice, and you’re good to go.

3. Egg sandwich – To save time in the morning, scramble your eggs the night before and place in a sealed container. Then just warm them up in the microwave when ready to eat. You can also add chopped vegetables and/or shredded cheese. Serve on toasted whole wheat bread. Very easy to eat on the way to work or school.

4. Yogurt with granola and fruit – Low-fat or soy yogurt is a great alternative and is definitely easy to eat on the run. However, yogurt by itself won’t keep you from being hungry in an hour or so. Add some granola and a few blueberries to the mix. This makes a great breakfast idea for those mornings when you are running late. Cottage cheese is also a good substitute in place of yogurt and has a little more “sticking” power.

5. Cereal – Avoid the high-sugar brands and select whole-grain goodness like Cheerios, Grape Nuts, or Total. Splash in some low-fat milk and add some fresh or dried fruit.

“Need it fast” alternatives:

Fruit and cheese – Cut up the night before and grab when sprinting to the car.
Protein bars – These are usually low in sugar and fat; high in protein and fiber.
Muffins – Keep a supply of whole-grain, low-fat muffins in the freezer so that you can grab one or two on the way out of the door.
Egg McMuffin – If you simply must have fast food, an Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s is one of the healthier choices at only 300 calories. Plus, the cheese, egg, and Canadian bacon provide plenty of protein.

Creative Ways to Jazz Up Canned Soup

2011-03-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

There are lots of innovative and clever ways to stretch the grocery budget, including stocking the pantry with inexpensive canned soup. Used alone canned soup often has a blah factor, but paired with other ingredients it can quickly and easily become a yummy entrée or side dish.

Cheese Soup
Cook an 8 oz. box of macaroni noodles until al dente; drain and pour into a casserole dish. Thoroughly combine a 10.5 oz. can of condensed cheese soup with one cup of milk and pour over noodles, mixing well. Sprinkle one cup of sharp cheddar cheese over top and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Black Bean Soup
Stir sliced chorizo sausage, corn, and salsa into a can of black bean soup and serve with cornbread (check out this yummy Spoon Bread Recipe). Will probably need to thin soup with some water, but stir in a little at a time.

Vegetable Soup
Combine leftover chicken, turkey, pork, or beef with a couple of cans of vegetable soup for a hearty beef stew. To thicken, mix 1 tbsp. flour with a little bit of water and add to the soup base.

Cream of Chicken Soup
Mix a 10.5 oz can of cream of chicken soup with one cup of milk and add 1/2 cup of wild rice. Pour over 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been placed in a glass baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until chicken is cooked. Optional: during the last 10 minutes of cooking, sprinkle shredded cheese (approx. one cup) over top. Note: recipe can be easily doubled.

Tomato Soup
For a delicious and easy chili, brown 1 lb. of ground beef and add with 1 can of kidney beans to a large pot. Mix a 10.5 oz. can of tomato soup with one can of water and add to the beef and beans. Season with 1 tsp. chili powder, chopped or dried onions, salt, and pepper; let simmer covered for 30-45 minutes.

There are hundreds of more great ideas for economical ways to used canned soup. Click here to discover additional ways to give canned soup a “boost.” Please share some of yours!

Tips on Keeping Your Home Looking Neat and Tidy

2011-02-17T15:51:00.001-05:00

It’s not easy for families-on-the-go to keep their home in immaculate condition. However, implementing routines on a daily basis can take the fear out of having unexpected company. Plus, having a tidy environment lowers stress levels and makes it easier to concentrate on more important things like doing homework and planning a weekly menu.

1. Keep dirty dishes out of sight by putting them in the dishwasher. If you don’t use a dishwasher, then wash and put away dishes. When time is an issue, fill the sink up with soapy water and let the dishes soak in it to at least get them off the counter.

2. Make your bed as soon as you get out of it. Nothing screams “messy” like an unmade bed. And nothing tidies up a bedroom like a neatly made one. Besides, think about how nice it is to slip into a bed with smooth covers at the end of the day.

3. Keep the bathroom(s) clean and tidy at all times. This is not only for the comfort of your guests, but also for the health of you and your family. Pour a cup of ammonia or bleach in the toilet(s) and spritz the mirrors and counter tops with window cleaner. Then take an extra two minutes and swish out the toilet with a brush and wipe down the mirror, counter top, and outside of toilet. At least once a week spray down the shower/tub with all-purpose cleaner, wipe it down and rinse it off to keep mold and mildew away.

4. Get control of the clutter by taking at least 10 minutes a day straightening loose papers, sorting mail, filing receipts, and purging magazines. Have a small box or bin handy that mail and paperwork can be placed in until you have a chance to go through it. Put a basket in each room that misplaced items can be put into until you have an opportunity to go through it (which should be done daily). At least once a day enlist the kids’ help with putting away their toys to instill good habits at an early age.

5. Tame the laundry hamper by either setting aside one day a week to do the family laundry, or getting in the habit of washing and drying at least one load a day. I do this by starting the washer in the morning just before walking out the door and throwing the clothes in the dryer when I come back home. Then at night after dinner, I fold the dry clothes while watching a TV show.

Great Ideas for Valentine’s Day

2011-02-09T09:35:00.002-05:00

Valentine’s Day is almost here and to keep it from being just another “Hallmark Holiday,” here are some fun and creative ideas of things to do for that special someone in your life:

Five Simple Romantic Ideas For Valentine’s Day

Of all the things you could do for a loved one, the gift of your time will probably be the most cherished. Click here for five simple, easy-to-implement ideas that will help you stay within your budget and bring a smile to someone special.

Five Valentine's Day Gifts Under Five Dollars

Believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is not all about glitz and glitter. Here are some great, inexpensive gift ideas for family members and friends. The recipients will be so touched to know that you spent time and thought on their behalf. Click here for more information.

Five Essentials for a Valentine's Day Gift Basket

Putting together a Valentine’s Day gift basket can be a lot of fun, especially if you think outside of the box (er, basket). Find interesting containers that you can line with fluffy tissue paper or fabric and then fill it with edible goodies and novelty items. Click here to see five great ideas of things to put in your gift basket.

Five Romantic Movies for Valentine’s Day

There are lots of fun, romantic movies available to make you laugh, cry, and sing for joy. Leslie Halpern, author of Reel Romance: The Lover's Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies, provides an in-depth view of 100 great movies that are grouped into thematic categories, along with tools and trivia questions to help find the most enjoyable movies. Click here to see a list of my top five favorite romantic movies.

Getting Control of Chaos

2011-01-12T15:50:00.002-05:00

Clutter equals disorganization and turmoil. This can affect your mental and physical well-being, as well as add to the family’s stress. Young children will sense the underlying anxiety and respond negatively, which only increases the pressure until you feel like you want to explode.

Making the transition from chaos to tidiness takes perseverance and self-discipline, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you get a handle on this energy zapper the rest becomes easier. To help establish a sense of purpose you need a starting point:

• Choose a time every day where everyone in the family drops what they are doing and cleans for 10-15 minutes. Set a timer and stop when it goes off. Help your spouse and kids to understand that this process will be much easier if they put things away when not in use.

• Assign chores with job descriptions and alternate them among the kids each week. For example, one child can be assistant cook one week, and part of the clean-up crew the next.

• Divide your house into sections and then spend fifteen minutes in each of those areas to clean and/or declutter. Use that handy timer to stay on track. How often you do this is up to you, but at least once or twice a day, if possible. Visit the FlyLady for advice about attacking specific zones.

• To minimize the amount of time spent on errands, keep a running list of what tasks need to be done. Then, set aside one day a week to go to the post office, cleaners, grocery shopping, etc. – preferably all in the same area.

• Make a to-do list and prioritize what needs to be done. You can make your list on notebook paper, the computer, and/or a cell phone app. Cozi.com has a wonderful, free, online family calendar that includes to-do lists, shopping lists, and a journal. They even have a phone app ($1.99) that syncs with the online version. I use this religiously! It’s the only way I can stay on top of things.

• Sort and recycle mail as soon as it arrives. Jacquie Ross of Castaway the Clutter has written a great ebook, Take Back Control of Your Paper and Mail, that has a great system for dealing with the paper monster, including mail.

• Decide on a laundry system that you and everyone in the family can stick to. For example, give everyone in the family a designated wash day that either you or they do laundry. Or pick a day of the week to do everyone’s laundry.

• Have a basket on the counter for small items instead of having them scattered all over the place and wondering where they are. Each member of our family has a basket or small box on our dressers to drop keys, cell phones, iPods, etc. into.

• Keep a basket in the living room or on the stairs for anything that needs to be put in another room at a later time. Empty the basket each night.

• Stop clutter at the door! When you purchase one item and bring it into the house, pick another item (or two or three) to leave the house either via the trash can or the local thrift shop.

This is by no means a complete list of ways to control the chaos but as I mentioned earlier, it’s a starting point. There’s no time like the present to turn a new leaf and take charge!

11 Ways to Get What You Want in 2011

2010-12-28T12:59:00.000-05:00

With the New Year on the horizon, many folks are taking the time to reflect back on the past year and think about changes they need or want to make for the coming year. Jim Camp, author of the best-selling business book, Start with No (Crown Business), offers some suggestions on how to achieve your goals for the New Year:

11 Ways to Get What You Want in 2011

By: Jim Camp

Most of us have been taught that if we want others to cooperate with us, we have to compromise -- that is, to get something, we have to give something. There's a better way, however, to getting what you want: Start with no. So, if your New Year's resolutions for 2011 include being more assertive, standing up for yourself, and reaching your goals, the "No" system can be your ticket to success. Eleven steps to get moving:

1. Start with no. Resist the urge to compromise. Instead, invite the other person to say "no" to your proposal. (Hint: Don't tell him or her what it is -- at least not yet.) And be clear that, personally, you don't take no as rejection, but as a candid start to an honest discussion.

2. Dwell not. Dwell on what you want, and you hurt your advantage. Throughout the discussion, focus instead on what you can control -- your actions and behaviors.

3. Do your homework. Learn everything you can before you begin. This way, you prevent a minefield of surprises, whether you're dealing with the boss, a car dealer, or your teenager.

4. Identify obstacles. Identify everything might come up in the negotiation that could blow up in your face. If you don't spend time doing this beforehand, you'll walk into a trap.

5. "Out" the elephant. If there's a big, unspoken problem neither of you wants to talk about, don't ignore it. Bringing it into the open clears the air and gives you the upper hand.

6. Check your emotions at the door. Exercise self-control, and let go of any expectations, fears, or judgments. Whatever you do, don't be needy.

7. Get them talking. Ask open-ended questions that begin with what and how. Find out what the other person wants and needs. The one who talks most loses the advantage.

8. Be humble. If someone wants to brag, lecture, name drop, or use big words, let it be the other guy. When they feel superior, the advantage goes to you.

9. Respect, don't befriend. In a negotiation, being friends is not the goal. Your goal is to come to a fair agreement. Stop worrying about being liked and you'll make better decisions.

10. Don't sell. Don't pitch or make a presentation -- akin to shooting yourself in the foot. Instead, let them tell you what they want. It's the best way to shape your strategy.

11. Build a vision. Now that you know what they want, create a story that presents your proposal as the best way to solve their problem.

* * * * *

Jim Camp is a leading negotiating coach and author of NO: The Only Negotiating Strategy You Need for Work and Home. President and CEO of Camp Negotiation Systems, he's coached individuals, corporations, and governments worldwide through hundreds of successful negotiations. Contact him on the Web at startwithno.com.

50 Ways to Eat Free as a Student

2010-12-17T08:09:00.001-05:00

Most college students are on a pretty tight budget, so the Accredited Online Colleges blog has offered fifty fun, sneaky and sometimes downright desperate ways to get free food.

Some of the suggestions include cruising around the grocery store on weekends and munching on samples, or simply mooching off of friends and family. Just don’t forget to ask for a doggy bag to take home leftovers! A sneakier alternative is to scout out events and art openings where you can swoop in and nosh on cheese and crackers.

One of the best suggestions was to work at a restaurant. Not only will you make some money, but you can also get some free food. And while the “Just Plain Desperate” part of this article is tongue-in-cheek, it’s really funny with ideas like foraging in the woods, pretending to be a little kid, and crashing weddings.

To read more, check out 50 Ways to Eat for Free as a Student.

5 Smart Tips to Save Money and Avoid Debt this Holiday Season

2010-12-15T08:32:00.003-05:00

By: Marc Brown

The holiday season always brings a lot of joy and, unfortunately, some financial disorder too. Reckless spending during Christmas time can very well push you towards debt. The joyful moments of Christmas and the New Year can follow with the headache of credit card debt due to unwise spending. So be determined that this holiday season you will use your hard earned money sensibly. Of course, there is no question of sacrificing your amusements during Christmas. All you need is to strike a balance between money and fun. Here are a few tips that can help you realize the concept of frugal holidays without feeling miserable:

1. “Buy now and pay later” advertisements are all over the place during the holiday season tempting you to buy things you really cannot afford. These are usually high-end products that most people would find impossible to buy with cash. If you fall for these things then you will have to pay for them for a really long time. Is it worth it? Possibly not. Moreover, the interest rates are usually very high in case of these products. Some advertisements will urge you to skip payments for a month and pay your dues afterwards. They might look good but you must realize that eventually you would face a bigger bill and need to pay more interest in the long run.

2. A common mistake many people make during this time of the year is losing track of their purchases. This happens mainly due to the fact that they carry quite a few credit cards. If you lose count then you will never know whether you are buying according to your means or not. It is highly possible that you could end up shelling out more cash than you anticipated. This means a nasty surprise will be waiting for you when the bills arrive. So it is always better to prepare a list of your purchases and spend accordingly.

3. Try to avoid credit cards altogether this Christmas if you still have credit card balances from last year. Otherwise, you may consider carrying a couple of plastic cards. One should be a zero balance card which is to be used for buying things that you will pay off immediately. You can use another low interest credit card if you are determined to buy something that needs to be paid over time. But be careful with this one. It can easily land you in debt if you are not very regular making your payments.

4. We often settle with expensive gifts during Christmas due to social pressure. However, you must be honest with yourself. Can your wallet support the expense? If not, then choose something cheaper. An inexpensive gift does not mean it will be less charming. Try a simple, yet lovable homemade gift which will touch the heart of your loved ones. Chocolates and woolen clothes are things you can consider.

5. Instead of frequenting expensive restaurants during the holiday season, throw parties at your home. These parties are usually simple but they can be great fun. Traditionally, you would provide the main dish and let every guest bring a side dish or dessert. Share and enjoy the close moments these intimate gatherings can bring. You can also exchange cookies with friends and loved ones.

Follow the above tips and you would be able to enjoy a nice holiday season without worrying about your finances. Merry Christmas!

Author Bio : This is a guest post by Marc Brown, a Senior Financial Writer with Oak View Law Group. He writes on various topics, including savings,investment, debt consolidation and bankruptcy.

5 FREE Christmas and Holiday Planning eBooks

2010-12-07T18:09:00.000-05:00

Here are five downloadable ebooks for the Christmas holidays that are FREE!

Christmas Planning eBook and Printables, from Christmas Your Way

Holiday Treats eBook and Printables, from Food Your Way

Quick and Easy Recipes for Holiday Entertaining, from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures

Christmas Gifts from the Heart, Not the Pocketbook, from Family Sanity Savers

Quick and Easy Christmas Crafts, from FaveCrafts

Happy Holidays!

10 Tips on Beating the Winter Blues

2010-12-07T14:07:00.000-05:00

A good cure for the "winter blues" is keeping busy around the house. While the weather outside is frightful, burn some calories by diving into projects like cleaning out the closets or rearranging a room. Having that feeling of accomplishment will help to cheer you up too. For more tips on coming out of hibernation, click the link below:

Top 10 Tips to Beat “Winter Blues,” by Richard Clarke, Sport and Exercise Scientist

Christmas Tree Meme

2010-11-29T12:00:00.002-05:00

Let's kick off the holiday season with a fun Christmas Tree meme. Everyone who participates will receive a FREE copy of a Kid's Christmas Coloring ebook with 56 pages of coloring fun. After answering the meme in the comments section (so everyone can see your answers), use the form below to send me your email address for the ebook. I promise not use it for anything else.

Real tree or artificial?

Big tree or small tree?

When do you put up the tree?

When do you take the tree down?

Multi-colored or same color lights?

Theme or eclectic?

Tree topper (i.e. angel, star)?

Tips for Choosing a Christmas Tree

2010-11-29T09:08:00.003-05:00

When picking out the perfect Christmas tree for your family there are many things to think about. Do you want real or artificial? Should you buy pre-lit or plain? A little pre-planning can go a long way to accommodate your special guest and these tips will help guide you in the right direction.

The Right Spot:

The first thing you want to think about when choosing a Christmas tree is deciding where it will be placed. This should include a spot that is close to an electrical outlet. When you plug in the lights, you don’t want a cord running across the floor that could cause someone to trip and fall. Although you want your tree to be easily seen, you don’t want it in a high traffic area or near a heating vent, radiator, or fireplace. Also, big, sunny windows can quickly dry out real trees.

A Good Fit:

Once you’ve selected the spot, use a tape measure to calculate the height and width of that space. Jot the measurements down on a piece of paper and remember to bring your tape measure with you when you go shopping for your tree. Don’t forget to include the measurements for the tree stand and treetop decoration.

Natural or Artificial:

If you have pets and children running around during the holiday season an artificial, pre-lit tree might be a safer alternative. There is less risk of tiny fingers pulling down light bulbs and getting shocked or burned. There is also less danger of pets and children swallowing the needles that natural trees shed. I remember one year when our yellow lab literally chewed one of the branches off of our real tree. Since then we’ve always had a fake tree. An artificial tree is also beneficial for anyone who has allergies.

On the other hand, there’s nothing like the smell of a real Christmas tree and the joy that comes from picking out a new one each year. However, real trees do require more maintenance because there is a greater risk of fire. It’s important to keep them hydrated so they won’t dry out.

Additional Tips for Buying a Natural Tree:

If you’re purchasing a real tree make sure you have a tree stand ready that is the proper dimensions. The bigger the tree trunk, the larger the stand should be. Have a bucket of water nearby so your tree has water to drink as soon as you bring it home. Remember to put a mat underneath the stand before putting the tree in it to protect the floor.
All evergreens are not created equal which means some species are easier to decorate than others. Pine is the type of tree that is most likely to lose its needles and turn into a pathetic version of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. The best types of trees to hold ornaments are firs and spruces because they have the sturdiest branches. The National Christmas Tree Association offers a comprehensive list of different types of Christmas trees.
You will also want to make sure the tree you select is fresh. You can tell by slightly bending the branches. If they easily bend that means the tree has been recently cut and still has moisture in it. But if the branch snaps this means the tree is too dry to support decorations and will mostly likely shed needles all over your floor before the holiday is over. Also, a tree that is too dry could be a fire hazard, so look carefully for brown needles or signs of needle loss.
Bring along work gloves to protect your hands and an old blanket to keep pine needles and sap from damaging the car. You may also need some rope or twine to secure the tree to your vehicle.

Now it’s time to pick out your Christmas tree!

10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-11-22T08:32:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving dinner is a meal where families and friends gather to give thanks and celebrate. Unfortunately, it is also a time where people overindulge in foods loaded with fat, calories, sodium and sugar. But, before you get those elastic-band sweatpants out of the closet, check out these 10 simple tips for a healthy Thanksgiving dinner from WESH.com. They have lots of good ideas and recipes on how you can still enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with all of the fixins.

Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

2010-11-21T22:09:00.000-05:00

Most Americans feel that a traditional Thanksgiving meal is not complete without a turkey and all the fixins. However, many smaller families do not want to go the expense and trouble of putting together such a big meal. Click here for some menu ideas and recipes for a traditional holiday dinner and for a smaller gathering.

Getting Organized for the Holidays

2010-11-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

It’s time to get organized for the holidays! Jacquie Ross of CastAway the Clutter recommends making a list and checking it twice in her latest article, Getting organized for the holidays 101. “Your holiday planning list will help to keep you focused and on task and remind you of your goals and plans for the holiday season,” she advises. Ross offers 13 great ideas that you may want to include on your planning list this season, including a free downloadable copy of her Holiday Planning Checklist.

Click here for more information!

Tips on Cleaning Out the Fridge

2010-11-04T11:35:00.001-04:00

Although the refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen, it’s often one of the most neglected. Waiting until it turns into a disaster project only makes the cleaning process that much more difficult. Putting off this chore also increases the chance of mold and bacteria contaminating foodstuffs and becoming a health hazard. Here are some basic steps that will help you keep the refrigerator fresh and clean:

1. Baking soda: A single box of baking soda will last about three months and there's no end to the uses it has. Simply leaving an open box in the refrigerator and freezer can help kill odors around the clock. However, keep in mind that the box might need to be replaced sooner if the cardboard itself is absorbing the odors. You can also make a paste with baking soda and water that can be used to scrub away nasty stains and wipe away most odors.

2. Line the shelves: After you have wiped down and dried the shelves and drawers, line them with either paper towels or plastic wrap. This will make it easier to clean up spills by rolling up the liner and tossing it. Just don’t forget to replace it with a new liner. You can also put a large piece of plastic wrap on top of the refrigerator and replace it once a month, keeping that area free of dust and grime.

3. Storing produce: If you leave refrigerated produce in plastic bags, make sure the bags are perforated to allow air to flow through. Otherwise, they will wilt much faster if sealed. You may also find it better to completely remove the veggies from their plastic container and let sit open in the crisper bin. Check out my blog post “Tips for Fresh Produce” for more information on how to store fruits and vegetables.

4. Check condiments regularly: Like vegetables, condiments can turn bad without your noticing until it’s too late – usually right when you need them for cooking. At least once a week check jars and container to see if they are sticky or crusty. If so, wipe them off with a clean cloth. Also, a routine check of the back shelves of your refrigerator will stop you from getting any nasty surprises when you reach for the mayonnaise or cream cheese.

5. Be vigilant: The minute you notice a spill or a stain, tackle it. Once you close the refrigerator door it is “out of sight, out of mind” and becomes a health hazard. Keep food stored in covered containers. Not only does that protect the food from contamination, but open containers can be easily spilled or shoved to the back and forgotten. Check drawers and bins often. Anything that looks like it’s wearing a toupee should be thrown out.

6. Routine maintenance: Regularly clean out old foodstuff and leftovers. The best time to do this is right before going to the grocery store to restock. Pull out old leftovers and anything with expired labels and wipe down the shelves with a damp cloth. Once you get into this weekly habit you will find that it makes the unloading and storing process much easier and quicker. Give the refrigerator a thorough cleaning once a month by removing everything and wiping down shelves and rinsing out drawers. This prevents grime from building up. Don't neglect the outside – especially the handles as this is a popular breeding place for germs.

Pumpkin Activities for Toddlers

2010-10-24T22:03:00.001-04:00

The Fall season provides many opportunities to do a lot of fun activities with your toddler such as visiting the pumpkin patch together, shopping for (or making) Halloween costumes, and decorating the house. One of the best activities is doing crafts together. Here are three very simple pumpkin crafts that every toddler will enjoy.

Simple Paper Jack-o-Lantern

First, cut a few large pumpkins out of orange construction paper. Then, cut several triangles and a few big goofy grins out of either black or yellow paper. Finally, cut a stem shape and leaves out of green and/or brown paper.

Give the cut-out pieces to your toddler along with a glue stick and see how creative he can be decorating his pumpkin. Another fun idea is to frame this precious work of art with some photos of your child at the pumpkin patch. You'll treasure those three-eyed jack-o-lanterns many years from now.

Pumpkin Puppets

Cut out 4-inch pumpkin shapes from heavy orange construction paper. Let your toddler decorate them with magic markers, crayons, or stickers. Tape a large craft stick to the back of each pumpkin and encourage your little one to tell puppet stories or sing songs.

Something else you can do with the pumpkin shapes is glue several to a 12" x 2" strip of paper. Then wrap the “pumpkin crown” around your child’s head and attach with tape or glue.

Pumpkin Painting

Often younger children miss out on some of the fun of carving jack-o-lanterns, because they obviously are too young to handle a knife. However, a toddler can scoop out pumpkin guts and draw funny faces on a pumpkin.

Another safe option is pumpkin painting: Put an old t-shirt on your toddler and get out non-toxic paints along with a paint brush. You may want to do this activity outside if weather permits. Otherwise, spread newspapers on the table and an old sheet on the floor to catch any spills.

You can draw a face on the pumpkin freestyle or use a template. Then, hand your toddler the paintbrush and let Picasso get to work. Don’t forget to grab the camera!

Avoid a Mouth of Horrors: 10 Tricks for Eating Halloween Treats

2010-10-23T09:18:00.001-04:00

There’s an old joke that Halloween is a dentist’s favorite holiday – it stirs up business. But in reality, no professional dentist wants to see mounds of candy setting back his hard work in building his patients’ beautiful smiles.

It might be simpler if our culture had never developed the annual ritual of giving children large amounts of free candy, but it’s a fact of life. According to veteran San Antonio dentist, Dr. John Moore, DDS, Halloween doesn’t have to be a dental disaster. Here are 10 tips for parents who want to make it a tooth-friendly experience without dousing the fun for their kids:

1) Set rules early – When your children are finished trick-or-treating and bouncing with a bag of candy, it’s going to be tough to discuss limits and rules for eating candy. Things are going to be much smoother if you have a sit-down before the big night – perhaps a day earlier - to discuss how the loot is going to be divided and doled out.

2) Screen the loot – Your Halloween ritual should include an end-of-night screening of goodies, not only for dental care, but for general safety. Make sure the candy is wrapped and there are no signs of tampering. This is a good chance to separate out candy that presents higher dangers to teeth. Make sure to get the screened candy out of the house. Take it to work, drop it off at a police station, or send it to the troops.

3) Control the candy – Even after screening, children shouldn’t go on a binge with the sweets. Kids in a normal middle-class neighborhood can easily pull in several pounds or more of candy, and it’s the job of parents to make sure it’s doled out over a reasonable period of time. How much candy do you think your child should eat a day? Set a ration and stick to it . . . let the kids choose several candies at a set time every day; after school, after dinner, etc.

4) Soft and sticky – Gummy Bears, taffy, sticky caramels and similar candies stick between teeth and braces, allowing bacteria a nice long-term meal. Unless you are going to enforce strict post-chewing brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing, it’s a good idea to pull this type of sweets from the candy pile right up front. Caramel and candy apples? Not if you want those fillings or sealants to stay in!

5) Hard candy – There are two ways to eat hard candy, and both are a danger to teeth. Sucking the candies provides a long exposure to the sugars that nourish cavity-causing bacteria. Worse is to crunch the candy, which may actually break fillings or teeth, or damage orthodontic work or sealants.

6) “Safe” candies – Soft, non-sticky candies, such as chocolates, M&Ms and peanut-butter are safest for teeth. And fortunately, they’re likely the first targets for your kids’ sweet tooth.

7) Set an example – The dirty little secret of Halloween is how much of the candy ends up inside the parents. Don’t let your kids see or suspect that you’re eating their stash without following your own rules.

8) Bait and switch -- If you follow the tips above, you’re going to end up with a much smaller candy pot. Take the initiative and buy several bags of sugar-free candies to add to the pot, so it doesn’t look so whittled down. You can also toss in non-candy treats, such as small toys, party favors, glow sticks, etc.

9) Gum for “dessert” – Sugar-free gum is recommended by the American Dental Association (and in some cases, carries a seal of approval). It can actually help counteract the sugar and stimulate saliva that keeps your mouth healthy. Give your kids an after-candy treat by giving them sugar-free gum.

10) Floss and brush – Your kids’ candy treat should be followed by flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste.

“Let the kids have their Halloween fun,” says Dr. Moore, a San Antonio Invisalign specialist. “By planning and following some simple steps, parents can make sure the holiday isn’t a setback for their dental health.”

_____________________________

Dr. John Moore, DDS, has been a San Antonio cosmetic dentist for more than 25 years. His credits include serving as an assistant professor of dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is a prolific lecturer and published writer, and has won numerous awards, including being voted into America's Top Dentists in Cosmetic Dentistry and honored as San Antonio's Top Dentist in Cosmetic Dentistry. He has been named an elite premiere provider of Invisalign braces, and has been honored for a pioneering method of combining Invisalign and veneers to treat extreme jaw and tooth alignment problems without surgery or years of braces.

Tips on Carving Your Halloween Pumpkin

2010-10-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

Carving your own pumpkins can be a fun activity for the entire family to enjoy. ABC’s Good Morning America offers some great carving tips from expert carver, Sean Fitzpatrick. You can also get ideas, templates and step-by-step instructions.

For example, I found out that you are supposed to cut the bottom off the pumpkin instead of the top to keep moisture inside. You can also rub petroleum jelly all over the pumpkin after carving it for an additional layer of protection.

A couple of extra tips are to use an ice cream scoop to gut the insides and a scouring pad to remove the “strings.”

They also provide a few templates such as a ghost and a witch, and show you how to transfer the design to the pumpkin. There are even tips on how to make certain elements, like the teeth (pumpkins have teeth?) look 3-dimensional.

Click here to read the article and watch the video.

Taking the Scary Out of Halloween (Safety Tips)

2010-10-13T08:34:00.000-04:00

Halloween is an exciting time for most kids. They get to dress up in costumes, go out with friends, and come home with a bag filled with candy. Few children, or adults for that matter, consider the inherent dangers that go along with this fun-filled night.

In a study by the Michigan Transportation Board, it was found that fatal accidents involving children crossing streets increase 4.5 times on Halloween night. The reasons are obvious. More children are out walking after dark than on any other night. Kids are often wearing dark colored costumes and masks that can obscure their vision and prevent them from seeing oncoming traffic. Many children are also under the misconception that they can be safely in the street on Halloween and that cars will watch out for them. Child development expert and parenting problem solver Joy Berry says, “Kids see Halloween as their holiday and don’t always factor in the risks of being out after dark. It is important for parents to walk them through the potential dangers and outfit children properly to avoid them.”

Parents are not immune to the dangers of Halloween. Adults are often coming from Halloween parties where alcohol is consumed, or are on cell phones or texting while driving from location to location. This makes for a volatile mix. According to Joy Berry and her latest safety book and kit, "Taking the Scary Out of Halloween", there are several things kids and parents can do to minimize the risk and increase the fun.

For Kids:

• Avoid wearing masks or costumes that make it difficult to see or breathe
• Be certain costumes fit well and are not too long or bulky
• Wear comfortable shoes that do not hurt or cause the child to trip and fall
• Be sure to add reflectors, lights, glow bracelets and necklaces to costumes so cars can easily see kids
• Young children should have an adult with them at all times and have a system in place, such as using a whistle, to make it easy to locate that adult at all times
• Have a flashlight handy for dimly lit areas and to make kids more visible
• Obey all the common laws for pedestrians at all times

For Adults:

• Do not drink and drive, or let your child ride with someone who has been drinking
• Don’t text or make calls from cell phones while driving; pull over first
• Take extra care when driving in residential neighborhoods or when approaching crosswalks
• Be aware that kids may be wearing dark costumes and may not be watching out for cars

In addition to traffic safety, Joy Berry cautions kids to have an adult check their candy before they eat it. “While instances of razor blades and needles are extremely rare, kids can be allergic to candy (think peanuts) or be so excited they simply eat too much at once and become sick.”

Taking a few extra precautions on Halloween night will ensure that everyone has fun while keeping safe. For more information on Halloween safety, etiquette and recipes, see Joy Berry’s "Taking the Scary Out of Halloween" kit, available at any Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

The kit features:

• 32 page, fully illustrated, paperback book with glow-in-the-dark stickers
• Halloween-themed Safety Flashlight with Clip-On Covers
• Glow-stick whistle combo
• Glow bracelets and necklaces
__________________________

About Joy Berry Enterprises:

Joy Berry Enterprises (JBE) represents the world’s largest collection of books that help kids overcome issues and teach responsibility and behavior through stories, music and multimedia. The product line is the largest created by a single author and comprises the only comprehensive living skills program for children ages 1-14. Joy Berry Enterprises is a privately held company based in New York City.

10 Tips for Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection

2010-10-11T16:35:00.000-04:00

Throughout October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, experts from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its clinical care partner, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, are offering a series of weekly research-based tip sheets regarding a variety of topics related to breast cancer, including breast cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment, and survivorship. The series will conclude Friday, Oct. 22.

Today's tip sheet, the second of four in the series, is "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection" provided by Constance Lehman, M.D., Ph.D., director of Breast Imaging and medical director of Radiology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

10 TIPS FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION

1. If you are over 40, get a mammogram. Early detection of breast cancer offers the best chance for a cure. The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance supports the American Cancer Society's recommendation that women begin annual mammography screening at age 40.

2. Where you go matters - choose a mammography expert. Many studies show that doctors who specialize in mammography are more accurate at interpreting the images when compared to physicians with less experience. Get your mammogram read by a doctor who specializes in reading them. The American College of Radiology offers an online search for accredited facilities and "Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence" such as the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

3. Go digital. Centers that specialize in digital mammography are best for women with dense breast tissue and for women under age 50. Digital scans can do a better job of detecting cancer in these women than traditional film mammography.

4. Don't put off screening because of discomfort. A mammogram should never be painful. Fear that the exam will be uncomfortable is one reason women put off scheduling a mammogram. To reduce discomfort, try to schedule the exam after your monthly period, when breast tissue is less sensitive. You may benefit by taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen before your mammogram. Above all, tell the mammography technologist about any discomfort you may be experiencing. They can work with you to make the experience more comfortable.

5. Don't put off screening because of fear. Most abnormalities found after a mammogram are not cancer. However, in some cases you may be called back for more tests, such as additional mammography or ultrasound screening, to confirm that the area on the screening mammogram is normal. That's why you may be asked to return for a follow-up exam.

6. Consider getting results while you wait. Particularly for your first mammogram, you may want to schedule your exam so you receive your results before you leave the imaging center. Or if you have found that you are frequently called back to your mammography center for a second scan, you can ask that your appointment include getting results to you while you wait.

7. Know how your breasts feel normally. Your health care provider can show you how to do breast self-exam. If you notice a change in your breasts, such as a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, talk to your health care provider.

8. In addition to mammography, have a regular breast exam by your health care provider. The American Cancer Society recommends that women 40 and over should receive annual clinical breast exams. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional at least every three years.

9. Know your risk. If you have family members who have had breast cancer, especially a mother or sister, and if they had breast cancer before reaching menopause, tell your doctor, as your own risk of cancer may be higher than average. Some women at high risk may be recommended for annual MRI in addition to a screening mammogram.

10. Try an online risk calculator. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, designed by the National Cancer Institute, is a questionnaire to help women determine their chances of developing invasive breast cancer. You can find it on the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance website.

COMPLETE BREAST CANCER TIP SHEET SCHEDULE

Oct. 1 - "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention" by Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Hutchinson Center's Prevention Center, a member of the Public Health Sciences Division, and author of "Breast Fitness" (St. Martin's Press).

Oct. 8 - "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection" by Constance Lehman, M.D., Ph.D., director of Breast Imaging and medical director of Radiology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Oct. 15 - "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment" by Julie Gralow, M.D., director of Breast Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and co-author of "Breast Fitness" (St. Martin's Press).

Oct. 22 - "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Survivors" by Karen Syrjala, Ph.D., director of Biobehavioral Sciences and co-director of the Survivorship Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world.

5 Ways to Parent a Successful College Kid

2010-10-08T08:33:00.001-04:00

By Larry and Meagan Johnson
Adapted from their new book, "Generations, Inc."

In a recent poll of freshman students, 1 out of 10 freshmen had parents who called them every day or every other day. Another survey found that 4 out of 10 college students (38%) had parents who had spoken with or attended meetings with their academic advisors. Almost a third (31%) had parents who had called professors to complain about a grade. One in 4 described their parents as "overly involved."

Yet 65% of these college kids still asked for their parents' advice on academic and career paths. That doesn't surprise us. We have studied this age group, and found that today's college-age kids are quite unique in their needs, preferences, and abilities. They are also closer to their parents than any other generation before them, and this presents interesting challenges for both kids and parents.

Here are some ways parents can help them, without hovering.

Learn to text.
If you want to talk to your college kid, text, don't phone. Or make an appointment by text to phone. Find out his or her class schedule so your text message isn't buzzing in his pocket during a lecture. This crop of college kids sleeps with their phone, so you might as well join in.

Guide, don't decide.
If your child is like most of his peers, he probably asked for your help in choosing classes, planning his schedule, and picking extracurricular activities. That's typical of this age group, which has closer ties to and better communication with parents than previous generations. The best way you can help a new college student is to ask leading questions, offer some suggestions, and leave the rest to him.

Let them fail.
A crucial part of the learning experience is failing. We're not talking about failing a class. We're talking about signing up too late for a class, or missing an appointment with the counselor. If your child was used to Mom or Dad being the organizer, alarm clock, and reminder, she is bound to make some mistakes. After she does, talk to her about it and ask her what she might do differently next time.

Resist your inner editor.
Many college kids these days send papers home for Mom to "edit." In her high school days, that might have been a euphemism for "rewriting." But now your kid is career bound, and writing for her won't benefit your child when she has to demonstrate writing skills at her first job. Use this time to coach, teach, and encourage your budding writer to seek help from the writing center and free tutors all colleges have these days.

Keep parenting.
Today's college kids aren't different from their predecessors in terms of partying and going crazy with their newfound independence. There's nothing wrong with talking to your kid about doing his homework, and about partying, sex, and other risky activities. Kids at this age still want limits, and although you won't be there to oversee all their social activities, they want to know that they are still accountable to someone other than themselves.

* * * * *
Meagan Johnson and her father, Larry Johnson, are the Johnson Training Group, whose clients include several government agencies, American Express, Harley-Davidson, Nordstrom, Dairy Queen, and many others. They are leading experts on managing multigenerational workplaces, and are coauthors of Generations, Inc.: From Boomers to Linksters--Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work (Amacom, 2010).

What to Look For in a Good Daycare Provider

2010-09-24T16:51:00.003-04:00

Being a working parent is stressful enough. Trying to find a good daycare provider doubles the stress factor, especially if you’re leaving your infant or child with someone who is unfamiliar to you or them. In addition to asking for references from friends, family, doctors, and referral agencies, there are several things you can look for when choosing your child’s daycare provider that will help to lessen your anxiety.

Check out the facility: Finding a daycare on quiet streets with friendly, safe fencing, grassy spaces between buildings, and sidewalks and streets can help to eliminate some of the disquiet you might otherwise feel at a busy daycare facility. When looking at a potential daycare for your child, ask yourself several questions about the facility building itself:

Is the facility accredited by a national organization such as NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) or NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care)? This shows the provider has met voluntary standards for childcare that are usually higher than general state licensing requirements.
How clean, safe, and secure are the classrooms and play areas? Are they well-lit and ventilated?
How busy are the surrounding streets?
Do they have proper fencing around outside areas?

Check out policies and procedures: A good daycare center will be flexible, but also have established policies and procedures (preferably in writing). Understanding the procedures when having a friend or relative pick up a child from daycare or knowing how the staff reacts to emergency situations is very important. Things you should ask about are:

Is there an open door policy that allows parents to stop by unannounced?
What rules do they have for sick children, immunizations, and routine checkups to prevent the spread of illness?
What procedures are in place for when a grandparent (or someone else) is picking them up at the end of the day?
How do they handle things like food allergies, illness, injuries, and other emergencies?
What happens in the event of a fire or an evacuation?
What policies are in place for off-campus field trips? Will there be adequate supervision? Is the method of transportation safe and adequately equipped?
Will you be charged for holidays or sick days?

Check out the staff: The American Academy of Pediatrics has several excellent recommendations in their guide Caring For Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. They include checking a daycare staff's education and licensing credentials, how long they have been in business, the goals for each age level and what a typical day in the facility entails. During your search for a daycare facility, ask yourself the following questions:

How friendly is the staff?
What is the staff turnover rate? Caregivers who frequently come and go are disruptive to your child’s routine and are indicative of problems with the provider.
How observant and considerate are they to the child’s needs, limits and expectations?
How do they handle behavioral problems such as biting, talking back, or temper tantrums?

Check out the adult-to-child ratio: Find out how many children each adult is responsible for. The fewer the children per adult, the better attention your child will receive. Ideally, there will be one adult for four infants or eight preschoolers. Small groups are better because they are safer and more family-like. In a large group of 20 or more little tykes, the likelihood of accidents and other incidents are more prevalent, even with three or more adult caregivers on hand.

Check out references. Don’t hesitate to ask for and contact the provider’s references. It would be helpful if you could talk to parents who currently have children with the provider, as well as prior clientele. Find out what their overall opinion of the provider is and why they would recommend them. If they are no longer with the provider, ask why.

There are lots of questions to ask when looking for a good daycare provider. Locating the perfect one in a great location, with the smartest and most sensitive teachers and wonderful developmental programs can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, with a little homework and a lot of footwork, a concerned working parent can successfully locate a daycare facility that will be an enjoyable experience for their child.

Evacuation Preparedness Tips from the FlyLady

2010-09-20T11:26:00.000-04:00

I have been following FlyLady for years and they have been wonderfully instrumental in helping me get out of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and live a more productive, less stressful life. FlyLady recently gave me permission to repost one of their online articles because I feel it has important information for all of us:

FlyLady's 11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation

Life constantly hurls unexpected challenges our way and any moment we could be faced with the threat of evacuation from our homes. We never know when this could happen because of fire, tornadoes, storms, floods or hurricanes. It is up to us to be prepared! Don't wait and think this can't happen to you. We have seen power outages from ice storms, thunderstorms and raging fires. Please take this plan and pull it together to help keep you stay calm in a storm.

1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your family. Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.

2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Put your name and cell number on the pet carrier. Also take pet food with you. Make sure your name and cell phone number is on their collars along with Rabies tag. Their Rabies tag will help identify your pet too. My pets are micro-chipped. Put their vaccination records in your Emergency Control Journal. Take your pets medications too.

3. PICTURES: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member's home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice. Or keep copies on an Online storage place like Picasa or other photo website. Or a back up drive.

4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!

5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don't forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies; remember their formula or medications.

6. PURSES and PETRO: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas.

7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children's favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too.

8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don't have to try to remember.

9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.

10. PHONES, RADIOS, FUEL FOR THE CAR: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it. Also keep a old type regular phone that does not operate with electricity. GAS PUMPS don't work without power either. You can't leave if your car is on empty. So keep your car fuel tank topped off when it hits a half of tank. This way you will have gas to drive at least a couple of hours. Evacuation routes are usually bumper to bumper traffic. Having a tank filled will keep you less stressed.

11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P's to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too.

We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared. Don't wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to make sure you are prepared.

Don't wait! DO IT NOW!!

Love,

FlyLady

Source: http://flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Prepared.asp (Used with permission)

Blogmania Winners!!

2010-09-19T00:08:00.003-04:00

Blogmania was a HUGE success and we have a lot of new additions to our Facebook page, GC Followers (see right column), and newsletter. Many thanks to everyone for participating and making this such a fun event.

Next year in April our sister site, Busy Moms Recipes will take part in Blogmania, so stayed tuned for some exciting events and giveaways between now and then.

I would also like to thank our sponsors and supporters for their time and contributions, as well as the Blogmania team for their hard work and dedication.

Here are the winners for Busy Moms Tips:

Grand Prize:

The Ultimate Timesavers Gift Box for Busy Moms

Winner: Amy Horton

Take Control of Your Clutter Before It Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success

ebook by Jacquie Ross

Winner: Adriane Coros

Smart Solutions: 250 Simple Remedies and Quick Fixes for Everyday Life,

by First for Women magazine

Anita Wright

1000 Best Quick and Easy Time-Saving Strategies

by Jamie Novak (Sourcebooks)

Sarah Gadsen

Blue Ribbon Recipes eBook Winners:

Linda Henderson

Tammy Hamptom

Rosalyn Moore

Arceli

Brenda Baugh

(NOTE: All winners have been notified via email.)

Thank you!!

How to Make Frazzle-Proof School Lunches

2010-09-17T14:54:00.000-04:00

Can busy moms like you and me make school lunches that are not only healthy and easy to prepare, but that our kids will like? This was a question WPVI-TV reporter, Amy Buckman in Philadelphia, posed to Chef Christina Dimacali of Clean Your Plate. The Chef's answer was a definite "yes."

Dimacali advises starting with a protein. "Work in a game plan of what it's going to be: a sandwich, a wrap, a pasta. Then, for your vegetable, see how you can try to infuse some vegetables in there," she says.

Click here to read the news article in its entirety.

BLOGMANIA is Here!

2010-09-15T00:18:00.002-04:00

Blog #30

BLOGMANIA is a spectacular 48 hour, world-wide, web-wide event that is being held September 15-16, 2010. There are 170 participating blogs offering hundreds of opportunities to win over $38,000 in prizes from participating sponsors. At the bottom of this post you will find a list of all the participating blogs.

Busy Moms Tips is one of the selected participants and our theme is “Timesavers for Busy Moms.” The following is our featured Grand Prize Package Giveaway (additional bonus giveaways below):

The Ultimate Timesavers Gift Box
for Busy Moms (Value=$125)

Here's what is included:

LUX Washable 10-Hour Timer ET50

Day Runner Weekly/Monthly Planner (2010/2011): Watercolors (Page Size 5 1/2 X 8 1/2)

$25.00 Gift Certificate to Bed, Bath, and Beyond

NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Back-to-School Kit: Includes one adult apron, one child apron, exclusive TOLL HOUSE recipe cards, NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE morsels, and four (4) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE product coupons.

One 13 oz. jar of Nutella® Hazelnut Spread.

Two (2) coupons for complimentary Lean Cuisine Market Creations entrees.

Book: Keeping Life Simple, by Karen Levine (Storey Communications). Seven guiding principles, plus 500 tips and ideas on ways to simplify your life.

One lucky winner will be randomly selected via Random.org. There are a variety of ways to enter your name in the drawing. You can choose one, two, or all four methods for more entries:

1. Fill out the entry form below (Your name/email will not be sold or distributed to anyone else.)

2. Follow Busy Moms Tips on Facebook.

3. Sign up for the weekly Busy Moms Tips newsletter.

4. Follow our blog or subscribe to receive our posts via email (see sign-up box on the right).

In addition, we are featuring bonus giveaways for more opportunities to win great prizes!

FREE eBook to ALL visitors! Take Back Control of Your Paper and Mail! Paper Clutter and Mail Tackling Techniques – Plus Home Office Organization Tips, by Jacquie Ross. This ebook is offered to ALL visitors to Busy Moms Tips during BLOGMANIA (September 15-16).

1000 Best Quick and Easy Time-Saving Strategies, by Jamie Novak (Sourcebooks). Click here for more info.

Smart Solutions: 250 Simple Remedies and Quick Fixes for Everyday Life, by First for Women magazine. Click here for more info.

Take Control of Your Clutter – Before it Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success, by Jacquie Ross (http://www.castawaytheclutter.com/). Click here for more info.

Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes (eBook). Click here for more info on how to win.

Although Blogmania is over for 2010, I still encourage you to check out the participating blogs below:

BLOGMANIA BLOGS:

Lean Cuisine Market Creations Take the Fuss Out of Planning Dinner

2010-09-14T12:05:00.003-04:00

It’s no secret that I love to cook. But even with the easiest recipes featured on the Busy Moms Recipes blog, sometimes its just not convenient to chop, peel, and sauté my way to a fun and fabulous family dinner. And stopping off for fast food is not a viable option either. So what is a busy mom to do?

Recently, I discovered Lean Cuisine Market Creations dinner entrées that can be prepared in minutes. Minutes! With absolutely no fuss! They are made with deliciously steamed ingredients including crisp vegetables, tender chicken, succulent seafood, al dente pasta, and a variety of savory and creamy sauces. My personal favorites are: Garlic Chicken and Shrimp Scampi. And there are a half dozen more entrées to choose from.

So, for a quick alternative to preparing and cooking a meal you can just pop one or more Lean Cuisine dinner entrées in the microwave. Plus, they are high in nutrition, and low in fat and calories making them a great option for weight conscious individuals.

Visit the Lean Cuisine website for a limited time coupon offer, and check out their menu and fitness planning tools.

Bake Some Love with NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE

2010-09-13T20:19:00.003-04:00

The transition from summer to school signals the start of busier schedules, which can make it challenging for families to stay connected. That’s why NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE is sharing new ideas, occasions and reasons to bake – because baking brings people together and helps make memories.

Now is the perfect time to find sweet ways to connect and spend time together. Keep reading for quick and easy ideas to help you Bake Some Love this fall!

1. Brighten your child’s day by packing a homemade chocolate chip cookie in his or her lunch, along with a note letting them know you’re thinking about them while they’re at school.

2. What better way to greet your children when they come home from school than with the smell of fresh-baked cookies? Reconnect over cookies and a glass of milk and catch up on their busy day.

3. Keep the family together around the dinner table longer by baking a delicious batch of NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

4. Play with your food! For fun, after-school activities use NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Refrigerated Cookie Dough to create cookie puzzles and other fun cookie games the whole family can enjoy.

5. Make math fun by baking NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE cookies and letting children help with the measurements.

6. Create special weekend moments and enjoy family breakfast together. For a sweet start to a Saturday morning, try adding new NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE MINI Morsel Toppers to chocolate chip pancakes.

7. Help your children “Bake Some Love” for their whole class by baking cookies for classroom parties.

8. Support your child’s sports team or after-school club with a bake sale. No bake sale is complete without NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE chocolate chip cookies!

9. Create new, lasting memories together by baking family recipes with your children

10. Sweeten someone’s day by helping your children bake cookies to give to their favorite teacher, secretary, school nurse, or bus driver as a special treat.

For great recipes, sweepstakes, and special product offers, go to: http://www.tollhouse.com/

Nutella® Makes the Grade in Nutrition!

2010-09-13T16:57:00.007-04:00

Now that schools across the nation are back in session, busy moms everywhere are battling the breakfast blues. It can be difficult to get our kids to eat well enough in the morning to fuel their minds and bodies for a good start to the day. Believe me, I know!

My son is the pickiest of picky eaters and its hard finding nutritious things for him to eat that he likes. A few years ago, our family doctor told us about Nutella® and how her own children loved it. Sure enough, my son did too!

We started by toasting a slice of whole wheat bread and spreading Nutella® on it. Then we liberally spread it on crackers for after school snacks. It’s also good on English muffins, toaster waffles, and bagels. Add some fruit and/or a cup of yogurt and you’re good to go!

Here are some other tasty ways to use Nutella®:

• Spread on Ritz crackers or vanilla wafers.

• Soften in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and use it as a dip for strawberries, bananas, or apples.

• Open a tube of crescent rolls and place a teaspoonful at the bottom/center of each one. Roll them up and bake according to the package directions. Serve warm.

• Make S’mores by breaking a full-size graham cracker in half and spreading with Nutella®. Add a layer of marshmallow fluff (or a roasted marshmallow) and press both halves firmly together. Yum!

• Put 1-2 tablespoons in a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or espresso and microwave for a few seconds for a warm winter treat.

Nutella® contains simple quality ingredients, including 50 roasted hazelnuts in each jar, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. It’s gluten-free and does not contain any artificial colors or preservatives. Plus, it’s a great alternative for individuals with peanut allergies. The spread does not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing.

For more information about Nutella®, as well as tips, product information, sweepstakes, and more go to: http://www.nutellausa.com/

Visit Busy Moms Recipes to find a great recipe for Peanut Butter-Nutella® Brownies.

Take Control of Your Clutter Before It Takes Control of You!

2010-09-11T13:04:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, I purchased this nifty ebook about how to control clutter: “Take Control of Your Clutter Before It Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success.” I was really impressed with how this was laid out and categorized by room. It’s super easy to find helpful solutions for any area of the house, and includes tips on menu planning and time management. The author says, “You will find plenty of organizing, time saving and space saving tips to help you to simplify, declutter and live a less stressed and organized life.”

I had the pleasure of recently speaking with the author, Jacquie Ross, and she gave me permission to provide a few sample tips from the ebook:

• Hang a dry erase message board near the mudroom (or exit doorway) for daily reminders or messages.

• Keep bedding simple for children’s bedrooms so they easily make their own beds.

• Set up your home office for the purpose intended – doing homework, paying bills, working on the computer, reading, etc.

• Don’t hang onto clothing that doesn’t fit. When you lose the desired weight, you can treat yourself to new clothes!

• Keep only your most frequently used utensils and small appliances on the counter to eliminate clutter.

• Keep a magnetic shopping list on the refrigerator (or other magnetic surface) and teach family members to add items to the list when they run out.

• Pack lunches the night before and store in the refrigerator.

Jacquie Ross is a Professional Organizer who has taught homeowners from all walks of life how to embrace a simpler and clutter-free lifestyle. Visit her CastAway The Clutter website to sign up for her free newsletter and receive a goals planning worksheet.

Take Control with These Time-Saving Strategies

2010-09-03T19:46:00.001-04:00

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. ~Grandma Moses

Think of all the different hats you wear every day: mother, daughter, friend, worker, cook, housecleaner, teacher, student, caregiver, decorator, shopper, wise woman….and the list goes on. When your schedules collide and your duties conflict, separate your different roles and give some thought to what is really important about each role.

• The first thing is to learn to say “no”. This way you’ll have time to say “yes” to what’s truly important in your life without overextending yourself.

• Statistics indicate most people spend 80 percent of their time trying to complete 20 percent of their tasks. Set aside a few minutes at the start of the day to plan what you want to accomplish. List the top 3-5 things that you absolutely need to do. If possible, you may have time to add additional tasks later. If not, you will have at least accomplished what is necessary.

• For a whole week, try keeping a detailed diary to see how you spend your time. You might be surprised. And you might decide to do weekly planning for a while – block out the important tasks or activities you want to get done each day.

• Don’t waste time waiting. Whenever you are waiting at the doctor’s office or in the car line at school, have a book or magazine handy, pay some bills, send out thank you notes, or bring a notepad to make notes or lists. FlyLady has a handy-dandy “office in a bag” that I love to use.

• Create “waiting bags” for each of your children. This is a small carrying bag that has toys, games, a deck of cards, a notepad and pen, crayons, a sketchbook, etc. – whatever suits each particular child, as well as a snack and a water bottle or juice box. Waiting bags can come out when you go visiting, travelling, or running errands around town. This will help to cut down on kids’ boredom when waiting around.

• Another big time saver is cutting back on television. Watch only what you love whether it’s the news, reality TV, feature movies, etc. Plan ahead what you want to watch in the course of a week. Consider having no-TV days or weeks, and take note of how much more time you have on your hands to do more important things.

• Have a big family calendar in the kitchen, so you can see who has what activities and who needs driving where and when. This helps with organization and can save time with unnecessary duplication. It also allows you to see when there’s just too much happening!

• Plan your weekly menu in advance and post it on the refrigerator for everyone to see. My husband really appreciates this because it prevents him from eating something similar for lunch. For tips on planning a weekly menu go to: http://bit.ly/aH0i9R.

Copyright 2010 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

8 Quick Breakfast Ideas

2010-09-03T16:00:00.000-04:00

Weekday mornings around our house are always crazy and finding enough time to prepare a healthy, nutritious breakfast is difficult. I thought the following suggestions were some easy alternatives to the same old cold cereal routine:

• Pick up some muffins from your local bakery or bake them yourself. (Try the Great Smokey Honey Muffins recipe at Busy Moms Recipes). These can be quickly grabbed on the way out of the door.

• Make a bunch of waffles or pancakes on Sunday morning and freeze the leftovers. They can be quickly reheated in the toaster on busy mornings during the week.

• Make breakfast burritos using by wrapping up sliced turkey or ham, cheese, and scrambled eggs in whole wheat tortillas.

• Spruce up ordinary toast or English muffins by spreading cream cheese and raisins on top, or peanut butter and sliced bananas (or low-sugar jam).

• Mix together granola cereal, nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews), dried fruits, and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.) and put into individual plastic baggies for a grab and go breakfast.

• Try to add some fresh fruit like a banana, apples, or oranges to your breakfast plan. Grapes that have already been washed and placed in individual baggies are also a great choice.

• Make a quick “parfait” by combining plain or vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit.

• Quickly make cheese toast by toasting two slices of bread, adding a couple of slices of your favorite cheese on top and popping it in the microwave to melt for 10-15 seconds. Sprinkle on some wheat germ and you’re good to go.

Five Smart Solutions

2010-08-16T17:36:00.002-04:00

Busy moms have to make the most of their allotted 24 hours each day. This includes finding smart strategies and shortcuts to save time and energy. Smart Solutions by the Editors of First for Women magazine have compiled “250 simple remedies and quick fixes for everyday life.” Five random solutions are:

1. When shower doors are covered with soap scum and you don’t have time to run out for cleaner before your guests arrive, try this: Wet a dryer sheet and use it to scrub the doors. Lubricants in the laundry staple loosen the scum’s bond to surfaces, while the sheet’s woven texture scrubs away grime.

2. Forget spending hours vacuuming and fluffing pillows before visitors are due to arrive. Instead toss the décor pieces into the dryer with two old tennis balls for 30 minutes. The heat and movement of the dryer shake dust particles loose, while the pounding of the tennis balls plumps up the fabric and stuffing, ensuring fresh cushions that will impress even persnickety guests.

3. No time for a touch up? Here’s an instant fix for redheads and brunettes: Choose a mascara that closely matches your hair color and apply it to visible roots along the hairline. A quick blast from a blow dryer sets the mascara so you get a fast shot of confidence until you have a chance to color.

4. Sprinkle shoelaces with talcum powder to untangle a tricky knot. The powder works its way between the shoelace fibers, lubricating and loosening the locked-up laces for easier untying.

5. When there is no time to shampoo, sprinkle one tablespoon sea salt onto dry hair (two tablespoons if your hair falls below your shoulders) and massage with your fingers from scalp to ends. Leave on for 15 minutes – or as long as it takes to apply your makeup or eat breakfast – then brush it out. The coarse crystals absorb oil and product residue, so you get a relaxed start to your busy day.

This book has so many more great tips for the kitchen, bath, home, garden, beauty, and fashion. You can find more info at: http://bit.ly/955IiQ.

Blue Ribbon Recipes eBook: 490 Award Winning Recipes

2010-08-16T17:31:00.003-04:00

Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes is the very best of recipes from state fairs around the country. From cakes and cookies and breads to jellies and main dishes, this one cookbook has it all! You can't go wrong with a recipe that has been a winner in a state fair competition. Inside this ebook you will find recipes from the past, as well as some of the newest creations that will surely please your family and friends.

As part of our BLOGMANIA Giveaway Extravaganza, this downloadable digital ebook will be delivered to FIVE lucky winners in PDF format on September 18, 2010. All you need is Adobe Reader (free download) which is installed on most computers.

Simply fill out the entry form below with your name and email address (required) and feel free to share a favorite recipe or cooking tip to be used in a future Busy Moms Tips newsletter and/or on the Busy Moms Recipes blog. (Note: you do not have to provide a recipe or cooking tip to be eligible to win.)

(Privacy policy: Hate spam? Me too! That’s why I will not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to anyone else. I will only use your email address to send you a copy of the ebook.)

BLOGMANIA! September 15-16, 2010

2010-08-16T17:27:00.007-04:00

Save the date! BLOGMANIA is a spectacular 48 hour, world-wide, web-wide event that will be held September 15-16, 2010. There are 175 participating blogs that will be offering hundreds of opportunities to win thousands of dollars in free products from participating sponsors. On the 15th of September a link to all of the participating blogs will be posted here at Busy Moms Tips, so mark this event on your calendar!

Busy Moms Tips is one of the selected participants and our theme is “Timesavers for Busy Moms.” We will be offering different items as giveaways such as products, books, ebooks, and more. Each week new giveaways will be featured, so please check back often!

Here are some of our featured giveways:

1000 Best Quick and Easy Time-Saving Strategies, by Jamie Novak (Sourcebooks). Click here for more info on how to win.

Smart Solutions: 250 Simple Remedies and Quick Fixes for Everyday Life, by First for Women magazine. Click here for more info on how to win.

Take Control of Your Clutter – Before it Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success, by Jacquie Ross (http://www.castawaytheclutter.com/). Click here for more info on how to win a copy of this top-selling ebook.

Take Back Control of Your Paper and Mail! Paper Clutter and Mail Tackling Techniques – Plus Home Office Organization Tips (Free eBook) by Jacquie Ross. This ebook will be offered to ALL visitors to Busy Moms Tips during BLOGMANIA (September 15 & 16). Click here for more information.

Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes (eBook). Click here for more info on how to win.

Grand Prize:

The Ultimate Timesavers Gift Box for Busy Moms. Here's what is included:

NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Back-to-School Kit: Includes one adult apron, one child apron, exclusive TOLL HOUSE recipe cards, NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE morsels, four (4) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE product coupons, and recipe cards.

LUX Washable Timer ET50

Day Runner Weekly/Monthly Planner (2010/2011): Watercolors (Page Size 5 1/2 X 8 1/2)

One 13 oz. jar of Nutella®

Two (2) coupons for complimentary Lean Cuisine Market Creations entrees

Book: Keeping Life Simple, by Karen Levine (Storey Communications). Seven guiding principles, plus 500 tips and ideas on ways to simplify your life.

Check back on September 15-16 to see how you can win this great prize package!

Five Quick and Easy Time Saving Strategies

2010-08-16T17:25:00.006-04:00

Continuing with our “Timesavers for Busy Moms” theme, the following are five random time-saving strategies from the bestseller, 1000 Best Quick and Easy Time-Saving Strategies, by Jamie Novak (Sourcebooks).

1. One of the biggest timesavers is to set a timer (or watch/cell phone alarm) to go off when you need to start dinner. Some days you’re so busy that by the time you look at the clock, it’s already too late to start cooking the meal. Setting the timer to remind you to start preparing dinner can be a huge timesaver.

2. Procrastination: Try doing your least favorite task first thing in the day. Then everything else for the rest of the day is easier, and you won’t have the unpleasant task hanging over your head.

3. For chronically late people: Instead of setting your clocks 15 minutes ahead, which rarely works for anyone, simply PLAN to be 15 minutes EARLY. When you have plans to meet for dinner at 6:30, set it in your head as 6:15.

4. Don’t be a slave to your cell phone. Customize your ringtones so that you know right away if the babysitter, school, or boss is calling. That way you’ll know if you need to stop what you’re doing to pick up the phone or wait and call back later.

5. It may help to have a digital voice recorder (some cell phones have this as a feature). This allows you to record lists, reminders, thoughts, and ideas while on the move. And because you don’t have to use your hands, you can record while driving or walking.

About the author: Jamie Novak is the resident organizing expert for iVillage. She regularly contributes to Everyday with Rachael Ray and Woman’s Day. Novak has worked on projects with some of the biggest home products companies, such as a national commercial for the Brother P-touch label maker. Novak has been a guest on national drive time radio on programs such as The Rolanda Show and her tips have been featured nationally in magazines such as Family Circle, Woman’s World, American Baby, and Parents. She teaches workshops at The Learning Annex in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and New York, and at The Learning Connection in Providence. Visit her website at: http://www.jamienovak.com/.

Tips for Fresh Produce

2010-07-28T19:22:00.000-04:00

Before preparing produce for consumption make sure hands are clean. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how often that simple step goes unheeded. FoodSafety.gov recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before handling fresh produce.

Next, wash the fruit or vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking – even if you plan on peeling it. Using a special wash is optional, although evidence of the effectiveness of these products is inconclusive. However, drying produce after washing may help to reduce bacteria levels.

Use a separate cutting board when slicing and dicing other types of food such as meat or seafood to avoid cross contamination.

Produce that is normally kept at room temperature will need to be refrigerated after being cut or peeled. Refrigerators should be kept at 40 degrees F or lower to ward off bad cooties (aka pathogen growth).

Knowing how to properly store fruits and vegetables is also important. Recently, some of our readers were kind enough to share some of their tips for prolonging the life of fresh produce:

• Tomatoes: No need to refrigerate tomatoes until they are cut. Store them at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Denise says to place tomatoes with the stem side down on the counter or a plate.

• Apples: Apples need to be kept cool and can be stored in a root cellar, basement, or refrigerator. Carefully check them for bruising and decay because those will spoil the whole bunch. Apples also give off a natural ethylene gas when ripening so make sure you do not have them next to oranges or other types of produce because it will cause them to go bad. Hilda buys their apples in the fall and stores them in plastic baggies in the refrigerator to enjoy all winter long.

• Bananas: Bananas are tricky. Several of our readers said they buy their bananas green because they ripen so fast. You can prolong their life by a few days if you put ripened bananas in the fridge. The skin will turn a dark brown, but the inside fruit will still be white. On the other hand, if you need the bananas to ripen more quickly put them in a paper bag with an apple. Loretta often peels bananas, cuts them in half, and flash freezes them before sticking them into a freezer baggie.

• Strawberries: It’s a good idea to check your strawberries as soon as you get home to pull out any over ripe ones that may contaminate the others. However, if you wash your strawberries at the same time, make sure they are completely dry before storing them. Wet berries will go bad very quickly. It’s recommended to just wait to wash them when you’re ready to eat them.

• Lettuce: Fill a clean, sanitized sink with cold water. Remove the head or core of the lettuce and the outer leaf layers before immersing. Let the lettuce soak for about 5 minutes. Swish it around to dislodge sand and grit; repeat if necessary. Remove from the water and let thoroughly dry before storing in the crisper. This same process can be used for other types of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, cabbage, etc.

• Carrots: Store in a plastic bag with a few holes punched in it. Do not wash until ready to use. Wet carrots will rot and dry carrots will wilt.

• Potatoes: The best case scenario is to store potatoes in a brown or burlap bag in a cool, dark, dry space. Do not store potatoes near the onions and don’t wash them until they are ready to be used. Nancy A. said that she stores her potatoes in a brown paper sack that is placed in a large basket and put out of the way on top of her refrigerator. However, I live in Florida so there are not too many “cool, dry” places to be found. Potatoes can be stored in the fridge, although they will “sweeten” when the starch turns into sugar after getting too cold. I get around this by taking the potatoes out a day or two in advance and letting them warm up to room temperature to get the flavor back.

Copyright 2010 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

Get the Kitchen Ready for Hurricane Season!

2010-06-03T19:35:00.001-04:00

Hurricane season is officially here and if you haven’t already started, now is the time to make preparations. Heather McPherson, one of my favorite columnists from the Orlando Sentinel offers a lot of great tips on her food blog, "The Dish," to get your kitchen stocked and ready. Some suggestions are to have a cast iron skillet and disposable foil baking pans available, as well as spatulas and oven mitts. Another great tip is to have some Jiffy Pop on hand that can be easily popped over the grill. Click here to read the article in its entirety.

How to Make Healthier Choices for Kids

2010-06-01T18:53:00.000-04:00

You don’t have to completely revamp or reinvent your family’s lifestyle to raise healthy kids. It’s really a matter of planning ahead and deliberately choosing how you handle meals, movement, and other matters. Here are a variety of healthy switches that are fairly easy to introduce:

Instead of: Grabbing fast food or take-out when you’re rushed and don’t have time to cook dinner

Try: Picking up a rotisserie chicken and cooking frozen veggies you’ve been keeping on hand

Instead of: Going to the movies, a puppet show, or another form of passive entertainment every weekend

Try: Planning a family bike ride or an outing to a park where you can play tag, kick a ball, or find another way to be active

Instead of: Snacking while your family watches TV

Try: Keeping your hands busy—with coloring, doing a puzzle, or knitting—or letting everyone chew sugarless gum if they feel the need to have something in their mouths

Instead of: Feeding your kids or yourself and your spouse whenever each person gets home from work and after-school activities

Try: Appointing a family dinner hour and exercising control over when you stop working or playing so that you can have the evening meal together

Instead of: Indulging the munchies when your child is frustrated, upset, or otherwise out of sorts

Try: Suggesting that you go out and toss a ball or play croquet or badminton to blow off steam

Instead of: Rewarding your child for good behavior or an accomplishment with a sweet treat or another form of food

Try: Letting him pick a special activity to do together or even a movie to watch together

Instead of: Skipping breakfast because you’re in a hurry in the morning or grabbing something on the fly

Try: Having everyone get up 20 minutes earlier so you can all start the day with a healthy morning meal

Instead of: Having your kids clamor for your attention and something to eat while you scramble to pull dinner together in the early evening

Try: Reconnecting with a fun activity such as dancing or coloring together, then serve them some veggies and dip or apple slices and ask them to keep you company while you get dinner ready

Instead of: Letting bedtime arrive when it’s convenient for everyone or your kids are simply too exhausted to keep going

Try: Establishing a clear bedtime and introducing a consistent sleepytime routine with a bath, reading a story, or listening to calming music together

Reprinted with permission from the book “Weight Watchers Eat! Move! Play!: A Parent's Guide for Raising Healthy, Happy Kids” (Wiley Publishing).

Road Trip Tips for Kids

2010-05-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

Most parents noticeably wince when making preparations for a long road trip, and for good reasons. They are anticipating the age-old questions and declarations of, "Are we there yet?" "How much longer?" "Mom, Bobby's touching me!" or "I gotta go potty - NOW!"

While I can't promise that your testy travelers will turn into angelic adventurers, I can offer some helpful tips to cut back on stress - yours and theirs:

• To offer more leg and elbow room, as well as eliminate cries of someone being squished, strategically pack suitcases and boxes, and other things that will not be needed during the trip, in the vehicle's trunk, cargo area, or on the roof top. This would include hang-up clothes - make it a point not to have any. Wrinkles are a lot easier to deal with than temperamental munchkins. Besides, the clothes would probably be more wrinkled with the kids crawling on them.

• Give each child a plastic box with a lid to store their books, games, toys, etc. and to help keep the vehicle from getting cluttered. Plus, the lid can be used as a desktop and/or to hold food.

• Wrap up small, inexpensive toys, books or games from the dollar store that can be handed out during restless times or as good behavior rewards during the trip. The kids will look forward to these treats, and will enjoy the added bonus of unwrapping their surprises.

• Bring along plastic grocery or trash bags that can be used to store dirty laundry, wet clothes or trash. Also, keep a supply of wet wipes available to clean fingers, faces and accidents, which can then be tossed in the plastic bag for disposal.

• Have plenty of snacks and bottled water on hand. These will help with the grouchies, boredom attacks and cut down on food stops. And when you do have a food, gas or rest stop, bring out a Frisbee or ball to play with for some quick exercise.

• As you know, many vehicles are equipped these days with a VCR or DVD player, but do not fret if yours doesn't. Bring along audio cassette stories like the Rescuers Down Under, Dr. Doolittle, etc. These can be played in the car's tape deck for everyone's enjoyment, or individually in a walkman player. Audio cassette tapes can be checked out through your local library, purchased in a bookstore, or rented at a Cracker Barrel store.

• Here's a fun way to teach your children the state capitols: When you're on the road, have someone point out state license plates. The person that sees it will say the state's name and tap another person to name the capitol of that state. If the person tapped doesn't know, he/she will then tap someone else to name the capitol.

• Play the "I Spy" game. First, pick out an object that everyone can see. Then give them a clue by saying, "I spy something..." (say its shape, color or size). The other players can ask questions about what you see, but you can only answer with "yes" or "no." The first player who guesses what you see, becomes the new spy.

• Little ones who know their colors and numbers can participate in another game where players choose a color such as red, blue, or green and count how many cars of that color they see until they reach their destination. The person who counted the most cars wins that round.

• If you or your child require special medication and/or treatment, take along a letter from your doctor that lists all your medications, dosages, and when to take them, as well as your treatment plan. And, as an added precaution, be sure to have a small first-aid kit in the car.

Finally, have fun and drive safely!

(c) Copyright - Charlene Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

490 Blue Ribbon Recipes eBook – FREE!

2010-05-17T17:46:00.008-04:00

Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes is the very best of recipes from state fairs around the country. From cakes and cookies and breads to jellies and main dishes, this one cookbook has it all! You can't go wrong with a recipe that has been a winner in a state fair competition. Inside this ebook you will find recipes from the past, as well as some of the newest creations that will surely please your family and friends.

This instantly downloadable ebook is delivered in PDF format and is viewable on any computer. All you need is Adobe Reader which is available free and already installed on most computers.

This offer expires May 31, 2010, so don’t delay!

To get your free copy simply leave a comment, tip, recipe, or ask a question on either the Busy Moms Tips blog (http://www.busymomstips.com/) or the Busy Moms Recipes blog (http://www.busymomsrecipes.com/). Then, send me an email with your contact information so that I can send you a copy of the ebook. (Note: do not post your email address in the comment section for others to see.) Anonymous users will not be eligible.

(Privacy policy: Hate spam? Me too! That’s why I will not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to anyone else. I will only use your email address to send you a copy of the ebook.)

Top 10 Passwords You Should Never Use

2010-05-16T12:23:00.001-04:00

Computer hackers slip into unsecured computers an average of every 39 seconds. They do it by employing automated scripts that indiscriminately seek out thousands of computers at a time, looking for vulnerabilities such as commonly used passwords and user names. Once they are inside they can have all sorts of fun, including manipulating the hacked computer remotely for nefarious purposes. Check out the article, Top 10 Passwords You Should Never Use, to find out how secure you may or may not be.

Garage Sale Shopping Tips

2010-05-16T11:32:00.001-04:00

With the advent of spring and warm weather, garage and yard sales are abundant everywhere you look. This is a great way to find gently used clothing and household goods for the family and/or collectible items at tremendous savings. Here are some tips to make your garage sale shopping adventures more enjoyable and cost-effective:

1. Map out a plan. Go through the newspaper and write down the addresses of the garage sales you want to visit in your area. Next, plan the route by looking at a map so that you can hit each one in succession. This saves on time and gas. You will undoubtedly run into unadvertised garage sales along the way, so plan enough time to stop in and visit those too.

2. Be prepared! Carry lots of change and small bills. Take drinks and snacks with you. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing. Bring along the sunscreen if the day promises to be hot and sunny. Put a couple of cardboard boxes in the trunk of your car, along with some old newspapers to protect fragile items. Have handi-wipes available, as well as a tape measure. In the event you leave the tape measure at home, remember that a dollar bill is approximately six inches in length.

3. Bring a list. Know what you are looking for by bringing a list of items. For example, if you need curtains know what the measurements are in advance. Bring a paint swatch if you are trying to decorate a specific room.

4. Dig deep. At the garage sale don’t just scan the table tops – look underneath the tables and dig through boxes. You never know what kind of treasures are hiding. To save time, ask the owner if they have something specific you are looking for. If you spot something you are thinking about purchasing, go ahead and hang onto it while you look around. This will prevent someone else from scooping it up. You can always put it back if you change your mind about buying it.

5. Know when to haggle. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to barter over every single item. If the price seems reasonable, buy it. If it’s more than you want to pay or the item is unmarked, ask the seller if they will take X amount of dollars. If it’s after lunch, it’s time to start bartering with a vengeance. The owner doesn’t want to haul all that stuff back inside, so they’re going to be more willing to negotiate.

6. Be wary of recalled items. So many things have been recalled by manufacturers these days that it’s hard to keep up – especially when it concerns baby/kids items and toys. Whenever in doubt, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at (800)638-2772 or visit their website (http://www.cpsc.gov/). They also have a Thrift Store Safety Checklist.

Now, let's go shopping!

Secrets of Garage Sale Bargains eBook

2010-05-16T11:30:00.000-04:00

Discover the ultimate garage sale techniques and secrets of how to find the high profit items just like the Ebay professionals.

Whether you are a seasoned shopper or just beginning, this book will help you find more treasures than you ever dreamed were out there!

Click here for more information on how to order this ebook: Secrets of Garage Sale Bargains

15 Frugal Ideas for Mother's Day

2010-05-04T09:27:00.001-04:00

Although the economy is starting to show signs of new life, times are still tough with every dollar stretched to its limit. However, you can still show the special moms in your life how much you care in small, simple ways that will be very much appreciated.

1. This is a perfect time of year to pick up an inexpensive terra cotta planter and let the kids decorate it by painting or putting their hand prints on with acrylic paint. Then plant some potted herbs or flowers in them and its ready to go.

2. You can also have the kids put their handprints on canvas bag purchased from a craft store for under $5.

3. Take advantage of garage sales and look for unusual picture frames to put family pictures (new or old) in. Also look for interesting items that can be used for planters or vases for fresh flowers.

4. You can also find interesting unique tea/coffee cups that you can fill up with different types of tea bags, flavored coffee, or hard candy wrapped up in cellophane and a frilly bow.

5. Buy new or used church cookbooks that you can give with vintage cooking utensils such as a flour sifter, measuring cup, bowl, or spoons.

6. Make some homemade pot holders and tie them up with a piece of raffia with a cinnamon stick inserted in the bow.

7. Make a homemade music CD with your mom’s favorite type of music such as jazz, classical, country, etc.

8. Make personalized notecards from leftover scrapbooking materials.

9. Write your mom, sister, or aunt a letter telling her how much you love and appreciate her. Include recollections of fond memories that will bring a smile to her heart.

10. Don’t forget how much homebaked goods are appreciated. These can be yummy dessert items or a complete meal that can be frozen for later consumption.

11. Gift the gift of yourself by offering to do some spring cleaning and/or yard work. For an elderly person, some of these tasks may no longer be easy to get to. Or perhaps offer to do the grocery shopping or run other errands.

12. Make a “memory jar” by writing down 52 memories about your mom and/or family on slips of paper that are placed in a decorative jar or tin. These can just be one or two sentences that will let your mom know what a wonderful impact she had on your life.

13. You can make coasters or placemats from the kids’ artwork by laminating them or sealing them between two pieces of contact paper. You can also use the kids’ artwork to make homemade notecards.

14. Borrow the car and take it to the local car wash. Don’t forget to bring it back with a full tank of gas!

15. Make your own gift basket filled with candies, homebaked goodies, and specialty items from the dollar store.

More Time Management Tips

2010-04-06T12:41:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in a day. And while that may not seem to be enough time to do all the things we need to do, effective time management can help smooth the edges. Here are a few tips that may be helpful:

• Get organized! There's nothing that slows you down faster than having to wade through a messy desk or counter searching for a missing address, phone number, or important form. Take time to get and stay organized. After you do, the amount of time you set aside to perform ongoing maintenance will be substantially reduced. (Note: Because getting organized requires a different set of strategies, we’ll cover some of those in the weeks ahead on the blog and in some of the newsletters.)

• Review your priorities at the beginning of the day. Each workday, before you do anything else (okay, go ahead and grab a cup of coffee first, if you like), review your priorities for the day to see what you need to work on right away.

• Do your highest priority first, and drop your last priority. Instead of jumping to an easy, low-priority item on your list, always take on your highest priority first. And instead of letting your lowest-priority items languish at the very bottom of your list — never to be acted on — scratch the lowest one from your list or move it to a “low-priority” list to be acted on….some day. Chances are you'll never miss it.

• Lose your junk mail. Junk mail (and junk e-mail, also known as spam) is an incredible time-waster. Whenever you find it in your mailbox, don't pass Go, don't collect $200 — simply pitch it into the trash can or recycling bin. And as for junk e-mail, use your e-mail program to filter out messages from junk senders before you even see them. Out of sight, out of mind. One more thing: Be careful about giving your e-mail address to people and Web-site operators who may just turn around and sell it to the highest bidder. You may want to create a free Web-based e-mail address while keeping your business and personal email addresses more private.

(c) Copyright – Charlene Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Which is Greener?

2010-04-05T18:00:00.003-04:00

Green is actually my favorite color, but when I talk about “going green” these days I’m really referring to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Not too long ago I drove by a huge landfill right next to I-95 in South Florida. It was a shocking sight and really brought home the impact of our wastefulness.

So I started thinking about ways our family could reduce our carbon footprints. Of course, that brought up a lot of questions about which approach was better when taking into consideration how much water, energy, and production costs were involved with different processes. Here are a few things that I found out and wanted to share:

• Dishwasher vs. hand-washing: According to a study from the University of Bonn in Germany, the average dishwasher uses only half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap than hand-washing dishes. It is possible to be more efficient when hand-washing, but it’s not easy according to an article posted at Treehugger.com. So, the green solution is to run the dishwasher once it has been completely filled (not half full) with dirty dishes with the heated drying option turned off.

Note: rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher is not considered eco-friendly because of the amount of water that is used (approx. 2 gallons flow from the faucet per minute). If your dishwasher does not effectively clean food particles from the dishes, you can put them on the rinse cycle first which still uses less water and energy overall. I prefer to fill the sink with a couple gallons of water and let the dishes soak for a few minutes.

• Paper plates vs. real plates: Reusable plates are more environmentally friendly when washed in the dishwasher. Unless they are made from recycled products, paper plates require trees to be cut down and chemically processed at paper mills which pollute the air. Then the paper plates eventually clutter up landfills where they will probably never fully degrade. The green solution is to stock up on inexpensive plates that can be found at thrift shops, garage sales, and your local dollar store.

• Cloth vs. paper napkins/towels: It really depends on how the cloth or paper napkins are made. For example: cotton is not typically an environmentally friendly process (unless it’s organic), due to the greenhouse gas emissions from growing the raw materials and the manufacturing process. So using a paper napkin (preferably from recycled products) is actually less expensive and less invasive to our environment than a cotton napkin. Your eco-friendly choices are: (1) purchase hemp, linen, or organic cotton dish towels and napkins; wash in cold water and line dry when weather permits, or (2) purchase paper towels/napkins made from recycled materials that are unbleached with no ink designs. Another green option is to either buy secondhand towels and napkins, or make your own from old sheets and towels.

• Plastic or paper? When it comes to bagging your groceries – neither. Reusable bags are the best alternative. And you probably already have some on hand without the need to buy new ones. Carrie Boyko of the New Kid on the Green Block blog writes, “Cleaning out your closet to find all those gifted tote bags you tucked away for a rainy day is probably your best and most economical implementation for this idea.”

• Styrofoam vs. paper cups: You would think this is a no-brainer…and you would probably be wrong. At least, I was! The surprising reality is that Styrofoam is more eco-friendly and much less expensive to produce than a typical paper cup for hot beverages. Those trendy paper cups from your favorite coffee shop cost twice as much to produce, require 36 times the amount of electricity, and 12 times the amount of water. Plus, you have to use a cardboard sleeve to keep from burning your fingertips off. The only way a paper cup can win this contest is if it’s biodegradable (and most are not). Of course, the best case scenario is to bring your own cup or tumbler.

This is just the beginning of new and “greener” things to discover, so I’ll keep you posted as I find out more. And please feel free to share some of your green tips with us on the Busy Moms Tips Facebook Fan Page.

(c) Copyright – Charlene Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

7 Foods That Help You Lose Weight

2010-03-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

Good news for dieters: Food is NOT the enemy. In fact, certain foods can produce better weight loss results than by simply cutting calories. In an article posted by WFTV.com, find out about seven surprising foods that can boost your body’s fat burning potential and help you lose weight.

Click here for more info: 7 Foods That Help You Lose Weight

Homework Study Tips

2010-03-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

Many families find that homework takes up a lot of time at the end of the day. Setting up a designated space and time with all of the tools necessary to do their work will eliminate clutter and confusion, while establishing good study habits.

• Use a Homework Box to keep supplies in one place. This will prevent students from having to stop in the middle of doing their homework to find something. Things you may want to have on hand are:

o Pencils
o Pencil sharpener
o Erasers
o Pens
o Highlighter
o Notebook paper
o Ruler
o Calculator
o Dictionary
o Atlas

• Designate the same place to do homework each day such as the kitchen, bedroom (avoid laying on the bed), or sitting on the couch in the living room. An older student may also prefer doing their homework in study hall or at the library.

• Choose a time of day when the student is feeling the most alert and will have the least distractions. For some this may be later at night when their siblings are in bed, while others may prefer to tackle everything right after school.

• Also, try to steer clear of other distractions such as the television, loud music, and views/activities that can be seen from a nearby window.

• Help your child keep a list of assignments and projects and make note of when they are due. This will help everyone stay on track and avoid last minute panic attacks.

• If a student has a large project to work on, break it down into mini-tasks with breaks in between so they are not overwhelmed. For example, read a book chapter and then work on some math problems before taking a quick break. Then come back and read another chapter and work on more math problems. Lather, rinse, repeat.

• Make sure your child’s body is fueled with healthy snacks and plenty of water to help keep them energized.

• If your child starts getting cranky or sleepy and can’t concentrate and doesn’t need another protein snack, take a few minutes to do some jumping jacks or running in place to get their internal motors going.

• Reward children for doing their homework with minimal fuss by doing something fun afterwards like taking a walk, going outside to play, or watching television.

• Finally, make sure students get plenty of exercise and sleep each day so they will feel refreshed and energized the next day.

Tips on Making a Career Change

2010-02-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

Even before the downturn of the economy severely altered the job market, it's never been unusual for an individual to change careers a few times in his or her lifetime due to a variety of reasons. Some of those include better opportunities, lifestyle changes, dismal job outlook, or uninformed choices. Although there are no guarantees that switching occupations will be the best decision, there are certain steps you can take to ensure your chances of success.

Before making any type of career change:

1. Know your primary objective: Many people decide to make career changes because they need better financial security, enjoy new challenges, to learn different skills, or have a great hobby they want to turn into a business. Understand your motives before going to the trouble and expense of giving yourself a complete career makeover.

2. Assess your situation: Think about what you are looking for in your new vocation. Do you want more flexibility, less travel, to meet new people? Another consideration is whether you already have the knowledge and skills required to step into your new profession, or will need additional education or certifications before making the transition.

3. Have a plan of action: Following a dream can be very rewarding but to reach your ultimate goal you will need to develop an effective career-change strategy. Your plan of action should include research, education or training, financial assessment, and the amount of time required to accomplish these steps.

4. Develop your network: Start talking to people in your chosen industry by joining professional organizations and associations. Go to trade shows and job fairs for more insight into your field of interest. Attend conferences and seminars to learn more about the business and make new connections. Working with a career management professional can also be advantageous.

5. Learn to be patient. Just because you are ready to take the plunge into a new career doesn't mean the timing is right. It may be to your benefit to remain in your current job with a steady paycheck while you test the waters in your chosen field by working part-time as freelancer or intern. Another consideration is that you may not begin your new career at the same level of seniority. It takes time to move up the ladder and you will have to pay your dues just like everyone else.

Making good choices about a career change also means making informed ones so as to avoid hidden pitfalls down the road. It's important to carefully analyze the potential risks before diving into a new career or field, but with dedication and persistence it will be well worth the time and trouble.

For tips on how to dress successfully for a job interview, check out my article, “Getting Dressed for An Interview.”

Copyright 2008 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved worldwide.

Budgeting Wedding Costs: Who Pays for What?

2010-02-10T14:14:00.000-05:00

In today’s society which is formed by many different cultures, religions, and preferences, it’s important to note there really isn’t a specific protocol designating which party is responsible for paying for particular wedding expenses. With wedding costs skyrocketing and many couples waiting until their careers are established before getting married, there are several options that can be considered. Sometimes the couple will pay for all of the expenses themselves or ask the families to chip in for the ceremony flowers or bridal attire. Perhaps one of the easiest options may be to divide the total expenses into thirds: one-third for each set of parents and one-third for the couple.

The following is a summary of anticipated wedding expenses for budgeting purposes indicating who traditionally pays for what, while keeping in mind nothing is set in stone:

(BF=Bride’s Family, B=Bride, G=Groom, GF=Groom’s Family)

Pre-Wedding:
First engagement party (BF)
Second engagement party (GF)
Rehearsal Dinner (GF)
Bridesmaids’ Luncheon (B)

Ceremony:
Marriage License (G)
Location Fee (BF)
Officiant’s Fee (G)
Ceremony Accessories (BF)

Reception:
Reception venue and rentals (BF)
Food and Service (BF)
Beverages (BF)
Cake (BF)

Attire for Bride and Groom:
Bride’s Dress and Alterations (BF)
Headpiece and Veil (BF)
Bridal Accessories (BF)
Hair, Nails, and Makeup (B)
Groom’s Tux (G)
Groom’s Accessories (G)

Flowers/Decorations:
Bride’s Bouquet (G)
Bridesmaids’ Bouquets (BF)
Mothers’ Flowers (G)
Groom/Groomsmen’s Boutonnieres (G)
Flower Girl’s Flowers (BF)
Additional Boutonnieres or Corsages (BF)
Reception Decorations (BF)
Ceremony Decorations (BF)
Favors (BF)

Music:
Ceremony Musicians (BF)
Reception Band/DJ (BF)

Photo/Video:
Photographer’s Fee (BF)
Videographer’s Fee (BF)
Additional Prints and Videos (BF)

Stationery:
Personal Stationery (B)
Invitations (BF)
Response Cards (BF)
Thank You Notes (BF)
Save the Date Cards (BF)
Announcements (BF)

Rings:
Her Ring (G)
His Ring (B)

Transportation/Lodging:
Limousines and Car Rental (BF)
Guest Shuttle/Car Parking (BF)
Honeymoon (G)

Gifts:
Gifts for Bridal Attendants (B)
Gifts for Groom’s Attendants (G)
Gifts for Parents (B,G)
Wedding gift for Newlyweds (BF, GF)
Wedding gift for Bride (G)
Wedding gift for Groom (B)

Wedding Attendants:
Wedding attendants are generally expected to pay for their own attire, travel, and lodging, as well as for the bachelorette/bachelor parties. However, if someone needs financial assistance and it’s important to have them to participate in the wedding, then the bridal couple usually helps to defray those costs, which would also need to be included in your budget.

© Charlene Davis 2006. All rights reserved worldwide.

Frugal Tips for Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T16:03:00.006-05:00

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love for family and friends. Demonstrate your affection for loved ones by using one or two of these frugal ideas:

• Put the kids to bed early and have a candlelit dinner in the privacy of your own home. Make it extra special by getting dressed up and using your fine china – even if its take out.

• If you really want to go out but don’t want to splurge on an expensive meal, just have coffee and dessert at your restaurant of choice.

• Although you may not be able to take a weekend getaway, you can still spend some time together at a local park, museum, or coffee shop. Visit some antique shops and stroll down memory lane of another era.

• Speaking of coffee shops, some offer live music and entertainment. Also check with local colleges and universities to see if they have any theatrical or music performances at a fraction of the cost – and sometimes free.

• Make up some gift certificates or coupons that the recipient can redeem for a complimentary back rub or special dessert.

• Write a love letter to your spouse or significant other. Give the kids a funny poem on the back of a printable Valentine’s Day coloring page.

• Create a scrapbook for your mom or favorite aunt with pictures and cherished mementos.

• Give a potted plant with a festive bow tied around the base as an alternative to expensive, cut flowers.

• Tuck a Valentine’s Day card, pencil, or treat in your child’s lunch box or backpack to remind them how much you love them.

• Make cupcakes or heart-shaped cookies with the kids on Valentine’s Day.
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Copyright 2010 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

Morning Timesavers for Busy Moms

2010-02-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

• Shower at night: Not only does changing your routine save time in the morning, it also helps you to feel more relaxed at bedtime after the kiddies have gone to bed. If you’re worried about having bed-head the next morning, simply rewet your hair with a spray bottle filled with water and style as usual.

• Set out everyone’s clothes (including yours) the night before. This will avoid that empty-eyed staring at the closet first thing in the morning and the last minute rush to hurry up and iron a wrinkled blouse.

• Pack lunches and backpacks the night before. Keep the lunches in the fridge overnight and put the backpacks with the coats/hats/mittens/gloves by the door for a big swoop out-the-door exit strategy.

• Make a to-do list each night as a template for the following day. This will help to keep you on track so that you won’t feel overwhelmed or forget something important.

Tips on Keeping Your Family Healthy This Flu Season

2010-02-03T08:10:00.000-05:00

During these cold, blustery, winter months, one of a parent’s biggest concerns is the influenza virus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cold weather does not cause colds or flu; however, the viruses that cause them tend to be more common during this time of year when children are in school and have closer contact with other kids. This is a big concern because children are generally more susceptible than adults to catching the cold or flu, which can develop into something more serious such as ear or sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Taking a few preventive measures can greatly decrease your family’s chances of an infection from a cold or the flu:

• Teach your children to wash their hands several times a day to prevent the spread of infection. Encourage them to use warm, soapy water after using the restroom, playing with high-exposure toys, playing outside, and before eating. Use cleansing pads or hand sanitizer whenever clean water and soap are unavailable. However, use caution with hand sanitizers as several cases of alcohol poisoning in children from swallowing small amounts have been recorded.

• Another preventative tactic is to teach children to cough or sneeze into a tissue, or if one is unavailable into their elbow. This helps to keep their little hands slightly less germ free and reduces the chance of spreading cooties to others. Stuff a package of tissue into your child’s coat pocket or backpack so they will always have some on hand.

• Develop a germ phobia by disinfecting surfaces in your home that family members commonly touch such as counter and table tops, keyboards, remote controls, telephones, light switches, doorknobs, and handrails. And, of course, the bathroom. Throw plastic toys in the dishwasher to be sanitized, and stuffed animals in the washer. And no more sharing cups, food, silverware, or towels.

• Boosting a child’s immune system can help immensely in warding off an infection from a cold or flu virus. The best way to do this is by eating healthy, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking lots of fluids. Some people also prefer to give their children nutritional supplements such as Vitamin C, Zinc, or Echinacea. However, be sure to consult with your child’s pediatrician before administering any type of supplement.

By taking these steps to ward off germs and boost the immune system you can reduce the chances of catching the cold or flu. Proper hand washing, a healthy lifestyle, and preventative disinfecting can greatly help in this battle. And parents can help keep their families healthier this winter season.
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Copyright 2010 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

How I Learned to Declutter My House With These Simple Tips

2010-01-31T20:06:00.001-05:00

By: Penny Scott

Decluttering a whole house can seem overwhelming. BUT if it's broken down into bite size chunks, it doesn't seem so bad. These tips helped me declutter my house. Hopefully you'll find them just as useful.

#1. Start with decluttering for 15 minutes a day. It's enough time to achieve something. It's short enough that we can all fit it into our busy schedules. If you do this one thing, it becomes a good habit. It will also ensure you keep your home clutter free in the future.

#2. Pick one room for your 15 minutes a day sessions and stick to it until it's decluttered. It doesn't really matter which room you start with.

#3. Declutter storage space first. Once you get control of drawers, cabinets and closets it will be so much easier to find a home for everything.

#4. Be ruthless in deciding what to keep and let go. You can't succeed at decluttering unless you’re willing to let stuff go.

#5. Make it easy to get rid of stuff. Designate space for items you want to sell, donate to charity, give away, or send to the recycling bin.

#6. Deal with paper. Little and often works best. Paper causes a lot of clutter. Bills, invoices, receipts... it's so easy to get out of control. Get a simple system going for incoming mail. You'll need a bin and a 2 tier tray. One tray for items that need action, the other for documents that need to be filed. Set up a filing system. Use a diary for scheduling actions, like paying bills.

#7. As soon as you bring something new into the house, set aside storage space for it. Always keep it in its place when not in use.

For more decluttering tips, check out the wildly popular “DeClutter FAST! How To Get Your Home In Order Almost Immediately” ebook.

Tips for Successfully Dieting the Natural Way

2010-01-27T09:59:00.000-05:00

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” is an old adage that applies to many of life’s principles – including weight loss. You can join a gym, but it doesn’t help if you never go. You can turn down dessert, but it doesn’t matter if you load up your salad with croutons and hi-fat dressing. You can take diet pills and buy infomercial gadgets, but they are not effective if you’re not motivated to do it on your own.

In her article, Effective Ways to Lose Weight Naturally, Tracy Rose provides several helpful tips designed to get you on the road to dieting success. One of my favorite tips is tracking your calorie intake. I’ve been doing this for the past three weeks and have lost 7 pounds! There are several online weight tracking sites, but my favorite is The Daily Plate (I use the free version).

Read the article in its entirety to see what other tips can help you get on the dieting road to success!

Winter Tips for Our Furry Friends

2010-01-27T08:14:00.000-05:00

Without a doubt, this winter season is one of the worst the nation has seen in many years. Our furry canine friends are also feeling the cold bite of Mother Nature and need some tender, loving, cold-weather care using some of these tips from The Write Essentials.

10 Healthy (and 10 Terrible!) Vending Machine Snacks

2010-01-27T08:09:00.000-05:00

It's crunch time, and the snack machine is whispering your name. Pushing the wrong buttons could be a diet disaster -- so check out these top 10 nutritional nightmares, and the 10 smartest snacks from Fitness Magazine.

10 Tips to Create To-Do Lists Like a Pro

2010-01-22T09:38:00.000-05:00

While creating and using to-do lists is relatively simple, there are some tips and tricks you can use to multiply their effectiveness. In his article, 10 Tips to Create To-Do Lists Like a Pro, Daniel Scocco shares the 10 tips he learned with to-do lists over the years, including how to prioritize tasks, what to focus on, being realistic, and choosing the right medium.

Click here: 10 Tips to Create To-Do Lists Like a Pro!

Tips for Keeping Your Aging Pet Healthy

2010-01-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

We’re not the only ones getting older – so are our beloved pets, and at a much faster rate. Just as with our own health care, our aging canines and furry felines need regular check ups and screenings so they can also enjoy a longer, healthier life. In the article, Pet Protection: Tips for Keeping Your Aging Pet Healthy, by Sarah Nightingale (written for the AVALANCHE-JOURNAL), you can find some great tips on the importance of giving your aging pets extra TLC, including dental care, common disorders, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other helpful information.

Click here to read the article: Pet Protection: Tips for Keeping Your Aging Pet Healthy

8 Tips for Planning a Weekly Dinner Menu

2010-01-21T21:30:00.000-05:00

Last week on the Busy Moms Recipes chat group, we talked about the benefits of planning a weekly menu which included saving time and money, as well as eating healthier meals. Planning your weekly meals in advance also saves on stress because you don’t have to worry about what to fix for dinner each night – you will already know and have all of the ingredients on hand. Here are some ideas to help you get into the “groove” of menu planning:

1. Start by making a list of your family’s favorite meals. Then browse through cookbooks and online recipe sites (such as http://www.busymomsrecipes.com/) to find ideas for a variety of meals your family might enjoy based on their tastes and dietary restrictions. The longer your list of dinner ideas, the better variety your family can enjoy.

2. Consider a daily theme: Mondays are pasta; Tuesdays are chicken; Wednesdays are something easy in the crockpot; Thursdays are a new recipe; etc.

3. Get the family involved by assigning each member a day to pick a meal. Even if your five-year-old chooses spaghetti each and every Monday, who cares? He’ll have a vested interested in the meal planning, as will the others.

4. Take an inventory of the pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what foods you already have on hand and plan meals around what is available or needs to be used up first. For example, if you have some bacon and/or eggs that will expire soon, plan on making a simple Quiche Lorraine.

5. Pull out the newspaper’s weekly store flyers and coupons so that you can plan budget-friendly menus around current sales. This strategy is great for make-ahead meals. If the ground beef is on sale, buy it in bulk and freeze some of it in one-pound portions or hamburger patties. Cook the remaining ground beef to be frozen and used later in tacos or spaghetti recipes.

6. Jot down the meal plans on a calendar so that you can see what days coincide with different activities. If Susie has soccer practice on Tuesday or you attend church on Wednesdays, this may affect what you plan on serving for dinner that night. My husband also appreciates this because then he knows what not to eat for lunch on a particular day. For example, if I’m having grilled salmon for dinner, he knows not to order a fish sandwich for lunch.

7. Keep track of your weekly menus so that you can simply repeat them when necessary. Once you have a couple of month’s worth of menus, you can rotate them without your family getting tired of the meals.

8. Create a shopping list based on your weekly menu plan and stick to it!

Copyright 2010 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved. Links to articles on this site are welcome; however, articles may not be used, reproduced, or reprinted without permission.

Creative Tips for Leftovers

2010-01-19T17:10:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, the word “leftovers” conjured up visions of dried, leathery beef and rubbery pasta that had family members groaning in disappointment. Today, however, with cooks becoming more creative and stretching meals into two or three dinners, leftovers are earning a much better reputation.

• Crush up leftover chips (i.e. potato, tortilla, corn) and dredge pieces of chicken or pork in them that have been dipped in egg. Bake chicken or pork in a lightly greased casserole dish at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Note: can also use leftover crushed chips as a casserole topping.

• Toss leftover rice or pasta into vegetable soup or chicken broth for a quick, hearty lunch. Make a rice pudding with leftovers or add olives, pimentos, or other veggies for a cold rice salad.

• Leftover baked potatoes can become twice-baked potatoes or chopped up with onions and garlic for delicious hash browns.

• Leftover chicken broth or wine can be frozen in ice cube trays. Remove and seal in freezer bags for a quick and tasty addition to recipes.

• Freeze leftover grapes or berries on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container to be used later in smoothies, recipes, or as a quick snack.

• Did you know that raw eggs can be frozen whole? This is great if you have a carton of eggs getting ready to expire. Once frozen, just take out what you need, thaw, and use.

• Cut stale bread into cubes; brush with olive oil; sprinkle garlic or onion powder on top; and bake at 400 degrees until golden brown. You can also use other toppings on these tasty croutons such as parmesan cheese, oregano, dill, and/or parsley.

• Save leftover bacon to be crumbled and used in salads, soups, or a pot of beans.

• Freeze leftover meatloaf to be crumbled up and added another time to spaghetti sauce.

• Keep a large Ziploc bag in the freezer to store leftover scraps such as vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta, meat, pork, or chicken. When the bag is full dump everything into a large soup pot; add beef, chicken, or vegetable broth and your favorite seasonings for a scrumptious soup. Note: can also add tomato sauce or canned tomatoes.

To get some great tips on how to safely handle leftovers check out An Education on Leftovers at Busy Moms Recipes.

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Copyright 2009 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

Filing Away Last Year

2010-01-02T11:04:00.000-05:00

Stress, stress, stress! Good grief, every which way you turn is to be greeted with more stress. There is no avoiding it with sick kids, overextended credit cards, work deadlines, and life in general making its daily demands. So, we need to find viable solutions to deal with all of these hassles. For me, minimizing some of the pressure as much as possible has been the best alternative. And I’m doing that by trying to simplify and streamline specific areas of my life.

During the past year I have worked on my home one room at a time by decluttering and reorganizing everything to its best possible advantage. My mission is almost accomplished and I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. The last room to receive a complete overhaul and makeover is my office, which still looks like something from a disaster photo-op. But even in there I have started implementing small strategies to make this an easier transition than it looks. And it looks bad.

A couple of years ago, I initiated a new filing plan that my longtime friend, Julie Stiles Mills, shared in Bible study. We were discussing the book, Living With Less: The Upside of Downsizing Your Life, by Mark Tabb (Broadman & Holman), and how to get more out of life by choosing to live with less. (This is an excellent book that is scripturally based.) I was complaining about my resident paper monster and how I had several years of filing piled up waiting to be crammed into about a hundred or so folders. Julie’s solution was simple: Don’t do it.

Julie said that folders should only be used for paperwork that will be used actively such as bank statements and medical records, and to segregate other types of business and client materials. But to assign a folder to every single piece of paper that will probably never be touched again is unnecessary and time-consuming. She recommended sorting the filing by year and then pulling out only the pertinent papers that needed folders. The rest could go into a box or expandable file folder with the year marked on it and set aside for easy access, if necessary. If I needed to find something at a later date, I would know exactly where to go and look for it.

I have to tell you that this filing method has been so liberating! Such a simple solution to an overwhelming task.

Shortly after that discussion, Julie wrote a 3-part series entitled, “Don’t file paper at home anymore” at Pragmatic Compendium. In her charming and humorous style, she goes into a lot of detail on how to easily and efficiently tame the resident paper monster, and (this is the best part) teach other family members how to follow it! Here are the links:

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 1

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 2

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 3

Diet Tips for Surviving the Holidays

2009-12-28T17:06:00.001-05:00

Here are some tips Kami Gray offers in her bestselling healthy lifestyle book, The Denim Diet: Sixteen Simple Habits to Get You Into Your Dream Pair of Jeans (New World Library, March 2009) on how to survive the holidays and winter months without gaining weight:

The three things I do to make sure I survive the winter (and the holiday season in particular) are:

1. Snack Before Holiday Parties: Sounds counter-productive, but one of the biggest reasons we overeat is because we're hungry! I always eat a little something beforehand. Since I have literally zero control over what will be served at the party, I supply my body with fuel so I don’t completely lose it and eat an entire plate of cheese and crackers. The usual appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, and bowls of nuts are extra pounds in the making. Party hosts are apprehensive about serving starters that the average person doesn’t eat or enjoy, so they usually offer fattening crowd-pleasers. I’ve been guilty of this as well, but I always provide a few tasty options that are on the List, like mini–tandoori chicken skewers, which are high in protein. One or two are the perfect pre-dinner snack. If there are no good choices, skip the starters altogether. Just sip on water, wine, or a vodka soda, and wait for the main course. If your hosts are serving a specialty cocktail and not serving wine until dinner, cheerfully decline and let them know that water is good for now.

2. Eliminate Temptation: First, go into your kitchen and your pantry and start reading labels. Do you see anything containing high fructose corn syrup? It's not just in soda pop and sports drinks; read the label on your sandwich bread, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, salad dressing, and chocolate syrup. This ingredient and many others like partially hydrogenated oils, modified food starch, and even sugar and sugar substitutes like Splenda actually set your body up for fat storage. By eliminating packaged and processed foods that contain these ingredients, you've solved half the battle...the battle of the bulge that is! Now that your cupboards are bare; restock you kitchen with real, whole foods. You'll find these on the perimeter of your grocery store. Shop wisely and watch your weight get and stay under control.

3. Stay on Track: Literally. If you're a walker, runner, or cyclist, find an indoor track to maintain your exercise routine. This can be at a college or a local gym -- an indoor mall works great for walkers like myself. I live in one of the rainiest cities in the US. I do not let that curtail my exercise routine. One tool I use to stay motivated is dailymile.com. It works for keeping track of daily walks, runs, swims, yoga workouts and almost anything else you do to stay healthy. It even has a handy tool to map your route. I found this particularly useful since I often overestimate how far I’ve walked — the same way I underestimate how many calories I’ve eaten! You can even post your workouts on your blog, website, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook account. I find this aspect particularly motivating because my friends and family can see when I've posted a workout (or haven't posted one in while!). They can even write a short motivational message to me if I've gotten off-track!

Click the following link to check out Kami Gray’s book, The Denim Diet: Sixteen Simple Habits to Get You Into Your Dream Pair of Jeans.

Tips for Saving on Holiday Décor

2009-12-11T08:55:00.000-05:00

Mae Anderson has written an article for the Associated Press on how to save money on holiday decorations, “Smart Spending: 4 Tips for Saving on Holiday Décor.” In it she offers suggestions on using personal touches and getting crafty with natural decorations, as well as planning a family outing to look at neighborhood Christmas light displays. There are also a couple of tips on the best time to shop for discounted holiday decorations.

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

10 Homemade Gift Ideas

2009-12-07T09:51:00.001-05:00

1. Edible Treats: Package homemade cookies, peppermint bark, or sugared pecans in old-fashioned tins that can be found at thrift shops and garage sales.

2. Painted Pots: Take a standard, inexpensive clay pot and paint in a solid color. Let it dry completely and then decorate it with your own design. Personalize it by adding the recipient’s name. Finally, plant some herbs or a small plant in the pot for an extra special touch.

3. Printable Coupons: Design (or use an online template) and print out coupons to be used as stocking stuffers or stapled into a little booklet as a gift. A few suggestions for the coupons are: Good for One Hug (or Kiss); Good for One Back Rub; Redeem for a Car Wash; Take the Night Off; Have Breakfast in Bed. Be creative!

4. Printable Calendars: Use one of the many available calendar templates or software programs to personalize a calendar for a loved one by adding pictures and special dates.

5. Handprint Canvas Bag: Have the kids stamp a plain, light-colored canvas bag with their handprints. Simply paint their hands with fabric paint and then press them on the bag. You can paint on stems, leaves, or other designs or lettering (such as the kids’ names) with fabric paint or a fabric marker. Note: may take a day or two to dry so give yourself plenty of time to finish this project.

6. Message Board: Make a colorful message board by wrapping a piece of fabric around a rectangular piece of styrofoam and glueing the ends to the back. Then create a grid by wrapping strips of ribbon around the board so that pictures and messages can be easily tucked behind the ribbon. For complete instructions on this project, go to: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/schooldays1/a/081402a.htm

7. Button Picture Frame: Paint a plain wooden picture frame (remove glass first) and let dry. Glue a variety of old buttons to the frame to create an unusual and interesting frame for family pictures.

8. Marbleized Christmas Ornaments: Squirt 2-3 different colors of acrylic paint inside of a clear glass ornament, and gently swirl the paint around. Let paint dry completely before adding the topper and tying it with a ribbon.

9. Family Cookbook: Ask all of the family members to contribute some of their favorite recipes to be typed up, printed out, and copied into a cookbook for all of the family to enjoy. You can have the cookbooks professionally bound by a printer such as Kinko’s, or put inside of a report cover or notebook with your own cover design or picture.

10. Garden Stepping Stones: Decorate plain concrete stepping stones by painting your own design with acrylic paints or using the kids’ hand or feet prints. Let dry completely before applying 1-2 coats of acrylic sealer.
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Copyright 2009 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.

Holiday Survival Guide

2009-12-02T10:55:00.001-05:00

Dr. Laura Markham’s (www.ahaparenting.com) “Holiday Survival Guide” helps families avoid the inevitable crash and burn that always seems to emerge out of the Christmas chaos. Here are three tips:

1. Fill kids’ real needs instead of promoting bottomless greed. Most children experience the holidays as a time to create lists of all the material goods they covet, and toy companies spend fortunes on TV ads designed to induce cravings for more, more, more in our children. Limit TV exposure, throw out the toy catalogs, and discourage the list-making. Instead ask your kids to sift through their desires and tell you one or two presents they really want that are within your means, one “together” present (such as your taking them ice skating or playing their favorite board game), and one present that it would make them happy to give to someone else (“Should we assemble a kit of your old dress-up clothes for your cousin? Fill kids’ gift stockings for a family shelter?”) Use family dinner discussions to refocus everyone on the true meaning of your December holiday. Instead of excessive presents – which always leave kids feeling unfulfilled -- fill your children’s deep longings with family connection and giving, and with traditions that leave them feeling good inside.

2. Keep to your usual schedule as much as possible. Give kids plenty of warning about travel and upcoming events so they feel less pushed around and taken by surprise. Kids thrive on predictable routines and feeling at home. They’re stressed by unfamiliar events and what feels to them like chaotic unpredictability. At the beginning of the holidays, you might use a calendar to show them what will happen each day. (“Then the day before Christmas we leave for Grandma’s, where you’ll get to play with all the cousins.”) Many kids love to make a little book, where each page represents a new day and they draw a picture of what will be happening. Sit down for a snuggle every morning and describe the day ahead.

3. Plan no more than one event per day. If you’re taking the kids to the Christmas pageant in the afternoon, don’t expect them to sit still for dinner at Grandma’s that night. If you’re visiting your inlaws, don’t plan the morning with the cousins and the afternoon at Aunt Betty’s. Kids need downtime, just to chill out, snuggle, and do whatever relaxes them. If they don’t get it, they can’t really be blamed for melting down when the over-stimulation gets to them.

To read the remaining seven stress-saving tips and get the most of this holiday season, go to: http://ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/traditions/Holiday-Survival-Guide

Dr. Laura Markham is both a mom and a Clinical Psychologist who helps parents find “Aha Moments” by translating proven science into practical solutions. Visit her website (www.ahaparenting.com) for parenting tools, workshops, ebooks, and to sign up for her daily tips and weekly newsletter.

Safety Tips for Holiday Lights

2009-12-02T10:42:00.001-05:00

For more than 115 years, Underwriters Laboratories® has been a leader in product safety. You’ve seen their UL Mark on lots of household items indicating they have passed the UL rigorous safety tests. UL now has an informative website (http://www.safetyathome.com/) with tons of helpful articles and tips for the home, environment, community, and holidays. Here’s a sample:

Four safety tips about holiday lights:

1. When you unpack your holiday lights, make sure that none are broken. In fact, inspect all of your electric lights and decorations for damage or wear. Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard.

2. The new trend in lights is LED. The bloggers at Blissfully Domestic (http://bit.ly/7QJTFG) have a recycling tip for those who are in need of new lights this year.

3. Do not connect more than three miniature light strings together. Also, be sure to check the rating on your extension cords, and do not plug in more than the recommended wattage.

4. Look for the UL Mark on the package of lights before you buy them. If you already have lights, the mark may be found on the tag located next to the plug. The information on that tag will tell you whether your lights are suitable to use outdoors.

May your holiday decorating be safe and bright!

Source (reprinted with permission) Safety at Home: http://bit.ly/7SfCxx

Enter the “Safe and Bright Holiday Contest” for your chance to win $10,000!!

Share your family’s brightest holiday moments with stories, pictures, and/or videos. For more info go to: http://safetyathome.com/contest/

How Safe is Your Chicken?

2009-12-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

WalletPop.com has a great article that talks in detail about contaminated chickens that have salmonella and campylobacter. It also provides information on what brands – such as Perdue or Foster Farms – tested better than others. I highly recommend reading the article in its entirety at: http://bit.ly/8QvkbZ.

The article also provided some tips consumers can use to help lower their risk of contamination from chicken:

- Most important is to cook chicken to at least 165º F. Even if it's no longer pink, it can still harbor bacteria, so use a meat thermometer.

- Make chicken one of the last items you buy before heading to the checkout line.

- Choose chicken that is well wrapped and at the bottom of the case, where the temperature should be coolest.

- Place chicken in a plastic bag like those in the produce department to keep juices from leaking.

- If you'll cook the chicken within a couple of days, store it at 40° F or below. Otherwise, freeze it.

- Thaw frozen chicken in a refrigerator, inside its packaging and on a plate, or on a plate in a microwave oven. Never thaw it on a counter: When the inside is still frozen, the outside can warm up, providing a breeding ground for bacteria. Cook chicken thawed in a microwave oven right away.

- Don't return cooked meat to the plate that held it raw.

- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.

For more ways to help ensure that your food is safe, go to www.BuySafeEatWell.org.

Frugal Tips for Thanksgiving Leftovers

2009-11-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

Mix gravy, cubed turkey and leftover vegetables into a casserole dish. Top with refrigerator biscuits, leftover pie crust or crescent rolls (unbaked). Bake at 350 degrees until the dough is cooked and golden brown.

When making pies on Thanksgiving Day, save the extra dough or make extra to use to make pasties. Roll out discs of dough in whatever size you want and fill with meat, vegetables and leftover potatoes.

Don’t forget to use your leftover relish dish. Chop and use in salads, soups or casseroles. If you’re really sick of the vegetables, chop and freeze to use later.

Use leftover mashed potatoes to thicken soups and stews.

Make potato pancakes: Add 1 egg and 2 tablespoons flour to 2 cups mashed potatoes. Make into patties and fry in a pan with margarine.

Source: Fabulous Foods

Effectively Managing Your Time

2009-11-03T08:10:00.000-05:00

Since time and the management of it seems to be the biggest issue for moms, Lori Radun, The Momnificent! Coach, is providing us with a few tips from the "Wouldn't It Be Nice if Time Grew on Trees?" chapter in her new book, The Momnificent! Life – Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms (see link/info below).

First of all, time management is not about managing our time, but instead managing our choices in life. As long as we remain a victim to time and operate from the standpoint that we don't have control over it, time management will continue to plague us. So here are some tips to managing our time or choices:

1. Prioritize, Schedule and Focus. Be very clear what your family priorities are. Spend most of your energy on your high priority items and schedule the moderate and low priority items around your main concerns. Stay focused by concentrating on a daily "to do" list rather than a master to do list.

2. Eliminate Some Have To's in Your Life. There are always things in our life that feel like obligations, rather than tasks or activities we want to do. Ask yourself which of these have to's can be dropped?

3. Pay Attention to Time Stealers. Time, once it is used is gone. You can't get it back, so be very wise with how you use your time. Eliminate those tasks that don't have a real purpose in your life.

4. Delegate Tasks. At first glance, it may seem like there is nothing to delegate. But look closely. It could be our need to control, our inability to trust another person, or a closed mind to creative ways to get the help we need. Moms are givers - it's okay and healthy to receive.

5. Cut Back on Commitments. With all the extracurricular and social activities available to families, it's easy to overschedule our time. It's okay to say no to protect our time and achieve the family balance we are looking for.

6. Increase Organization. Eliminate clutter and excess stuff from your life. Simplify, plan better and set up family routines that benefit everyone.

7. Conquer Perfectionism and Procrastination. Perfectionists spend way too much time getting things "just right". Procrastinators waste too much time avoiding things they don't want to do. Commit to overcoming this habits.

Lori Radun, The Momnificent! Coach, is a certified life coach, inspirational speaker and author of The Momnificent! Life – Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms. A guru to conscious mothers everywhere, Lori’s mission is to help moms raise their energy, raise their morale, and raise their consciousness while raising great kids. Her website www.momnificent.com is a place where mothers go to receive expert advice and unconditional support on living magnificent lives.

Link to book: http://www.momnificent.com/momnificent_life_book.php

Tips to Avoid Gaining Weight on Halloween

2009-10-26T16:20:00.000-04:00

Monica Ho Ehlers from the SF Family Fitness Examiner,: http://bit.ly/6qstc offers ten great tips to keep you from "gobblin'" up too much candy. One of those tips includes buying candy you don’t like so you won’t have to torture yourself by trying not to eat it. She also offers money saving tips by suggesting that you wait until the last minute to buy candy – such as the day of Halloween – when a lot of stores offer discounted candy.

Check out all of the tips here: http://bit.ly/1VJ07C

Tips for Saving Time in the Kitchen

2009-10-19T10:04:00.000-04:00

Brenda J. Ponichtera, RD (www.QuickandHealthy.net), author of Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas, and Quick & Healthy Volume II, offers these tips for saving time in the kitchen:

• Organize your work area so you work more efficiently. Use a large cutting board for your work surface. Gather your tools all at one time and place within easy reach (i.e. to your right if you are right handed). Line up the ingredients above the cutting board. Lastly, have a scrap bowl for waste. This will make clean up easy.

• Buy partially prepared foods such as cleaned lettuce, stir-fry vegetables, dried onion, and chopped garlic.

• Prepare fresh produce (clean/chop) all at one time, for the week. This is a real time saver.

• Use a salad spinner when cleaning whole heads of lettuce.

• Double a recipe so you cook once and serve twice.

• Use local vegetables and fruits in season – they often taste better than those shipped in and preparation is easy. Just serve raw or microwave.

• Freeze chopped herbs in sealed containers. Remove just what you need for a recipe.

• Use the grocery lists and planned menus in Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas AND Quick & Healthy Volume II

Source: Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas, 3rd Edition AND Quick & Healthy Volume II, 2nd Edition, © Brenda J. Ponichtera, R.D., www.QuickandHealthy.net, published by Small Steps Press, publishing health conscious books for the general population, a division of the American Diabetes Association; retail $18.95. Individual orders: call 1-800-232-6733 or visit www.SmallStepsPress.org. Also available at local and online bookstores.

Tips on Finding a Nanny or Babysitter

2009-10-14T09:51:00.000-04:00

In today’s society, finding a good, reliable nanny or babysitter is a bit challenging to say the least. It’s important to know what or who you are looking for when you begin your quest. Start by giving yourself ample time to conduct your search. Settling for someone you’re not sure about can leave you feeling uneasy about your child’s care in your absence.

Candi Wingate, President of Nannies4Hire.com has provided the following tips for parents who are thinking about hiring a new nanny or babysitter:

1. Will you need a live-in or live-out? A live-in nanny is someone who lives inside your home. In this type of situation you will need to provide him/her with a private bedroom and either a shared or private bath. A live-in nanny does have specific hours they work and will have down time. A live-out nanny is someone who comes to your home on the specified hours you have agreed upon, but does not live in the home.

2. What hours will you need someone? A nanny/babysitter can work full-time, part-time, temporary, summer, 24-hour duty, etc. A full-time nanny can work anywhere from 30+ hours per week. A part-time nanny can work anywhere from 5-30 hours per week. Some families who hire part-time nannies will need someone 2-3 full days per week, while the next family may need someone for before/after school care every day of the week. Summer nannies generally work 2-3 months during the summer and temporary nannies are hired for on-call situations from one day to a few weeks at a time. Many nannies will make a year commitment if that’s what the family wishes. Remember to specify the specific hours/days of the week you will need up front.

3. What will be their responsibilities/duties? Responsibilities for a nanny or babysitter can include, but are not limited to: childcare, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, meal preparation, errands, carpooling, laundry, and anything else that has to do with your children.

Nannies4hire.com has ongoing relationships with Dr. Phil, Supernanny, The Discovery Channels, and TLC Jon & Kate + 8.

Recyclable Halloween Costumes

2009-10-11T11:52:00.000-04:00

This year, my son’s teacher asked the kids to design their Halloween costumes using recycled materials as part of a school project. Not only does their grade depend upon their creativity, but also on a presentation that will include what materials were used, where the materials came from, and if the materials were not recycled how they could negatively impact the environment. I think it’s a great idea to make the kids more environmentally aware in a fun way.

The Daily Green offers 19 great ideas on recyclable outfits for adults and children including a simple bat costume, a mutant cyborg, and a more complicated plastic bottle armor suit.

If you have some ideas or know of some good Halloween sites, please let us know!

10 Ways To Avoid A Speeding Ticket

2009-10-07T13:55:00.000-04:00

Okay, these are probably not the kind of tips I should be posting – especially since none of us are supposed to be speeding. But I sure could have used them when I was driving up to NC a couple of months ago!

This new article posted at AOL Autos offers some handy guidelines to avoid getting pulled over including not bringing attention to yourself by driving aggressively, staying out of the far left lane, and looking for a “rabbit.”

Click it to avoid a ticket!