Do you hear the sound of crickets? Likely not with all the toddler/big kid screaming and baby cries of boredom. And, yet, there’s this odd mix of nothing going on amongst the chaos. It’s called: The Dreaded Afternoon.
You’ve already been the chef, maid, stylist, therapist, chauffeur, accountant, police and circus clown for seven hours with a brief break during naptime and THIS is your Saturday. However, there’s still 2-3 hours to kill till the dinner/bath/book/bedtime routine begins and you can barely move, so how could you possibly get your now rested, energetic kids back out of the house? The breeziest way possible of course: the hot chocolate date.
It’s the win-win solution for the entire family. You get that mommy’s-little-helper burst of energy or even a caffeine free mocha treat and your little ones get a li’l something to enjoy, too. Most important of all, they’ll actually sit in order to sip their drink all the while everyone is out of the house. It’s a little one on one (… or one on two… or three.. or two on one… you get the point…) time that everyone can enjoy. Add it in to some part of your weekly routine and you may actually even start to look forward to the afternoon. No, really.
Breezy Tip: If you have a Borders near you, you can earn reward points on your Borders Rewards cards for coffee and hot chocolate purchases, too. When you earn enough, you get a $5 coupon. Use it for a book or… you guessed it! More coffee and hot chocolate. To top it off like whip cream, Borders ALSO has stamp cards and you get a stamp for each purchase, which is yet another way to earn a free cup of coffee. Plus, they go ALLLLL out on their kid’s cocoa treo -delish!
Simply put, Oxi Clean rules. Seriously. When my son was a baby, I didn’t know about the magic of the detergent, and thus, 90% of his onesies had a nice yellow stain on the back. Then, one day, I was educated. I was complaining to a friend about how baby poop stains, she simply said, “Go get some Oxi.” I did, and have never looked back. I keep a tub mixed with water and Oxi in the laundry room and whatever gets stained gets thrown in (make sure to keep whites and colors separate) to soak until laundry day. The entire tub then gets chucked in the washer. Stains? Gone. Completely. Now that my son is three, his grass, ice cream, blood, mud—you name the stain—item goes in, along with the baby’s—yep you guessed it—poopy onesies. Look at the pictures and see for yourself by clicking here!
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Buy your Oxi Clean –Click here!
I think one of the most surprising things after giving birth to my son was how long it took to get my stomach back in shape. You know that your stomach stretches (obviously) but I, like most people, thought it would shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size in no time. Unfortunately, I was in for a rude awakening and it took about a year. With the birth of my second child—this time via c-section—the awakening has been even ruder. I seem to have a permanent bulge and am eager to get rid of it in time for swimsuit season. However, I was confused on what I could and couldn’t do since I had a cesarean—I’ve heard you can’t do crunches, then I heard you could—I’m sure most moms can relate. So, Breezy Mama contacted personal trainer Katie Kohn to see what the real deal was. Listed below are some beginning exercises to get you in shape—although written for those who have given birth via c-section, Katie recommends starting with these for those who have given birth vaginally as well. —Alex
If you’ve had a cesarean birth, you shouldn’t start abdominal work until after about six weeks—when your stitches have fully healed and you have doctor’s clearance. You should also check to see if you have diastasis, which is a separation in the abs. If so, then you need to be careful about starting abdominal exercises because you want to allow time for the abdominal muscles to come back together. A good way to check for diastasis is by putting your fingers in between your abdominals horizontally about an inch above your belly button. If you can fit more than three fingers in between your muscles then you have diastasis and should proceed very slowly with abdominal exercises or talk to a doctor about this concern.
One important point to know is that there is no such thing as lower abs—you have one long muscle from your sternum to your pubis and unfortunately the lower section of the stomach is where we hold body fat. Women are always asking me, “How can I loose my poufy stomach?” My reply is not one they want to hear! You can’t spot reduce, meaning loose fat in this or that spot on your body. Genetically we hold fat in different places (i.e. pear shaped, apple shaped). In order to lose unwanted fat you need to combine cardiovascular training with resistance training and proper diet.
When working the abs for the first time after birth, you want to concentrate on doing isometric contractions. This means contracting the muscles without shortening or lengthening. In other words, you contract the muscles and then hold still. The first isometric contraction is a pelvic tilt. It may seem easy but it will start the strengthening process of your abdominals and target the lower portion of your rectus abdominus. Read More…
Contributed by Food2.
Spring’s allegedly here but based on forecasts across the country, there’s still time to fire up some good chili. Plus, depending on how you top it, you can still be beach-ready by summer.
The recipe provides a good blueprint for great chili. That said, customize it and make it your own. A little chocolate is a great add-in — the sweet creaminess balances some of the heat. It’s also a good budget dinner — use what you already have in your kitchen: different beans, different beer, frozen corn…go nuts.
Turkey Chili in 30 or Less
Recipe Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 chipotle chile en adobo, coarsely chopped, with 1 tablespoon sauce
1 pound ground turkey
1 bottle of beer (a 12-ounce Mexican lager is great — Pacifico, Sol, etc.)
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Optional toppings: scallions, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, grated jack cheese, tortilla chips
Directions
1) Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2) Add the onion, garlic, salt, chili powder, and oregano and cook, stirring, until your kitchen starts smelling delicious, about 3 minutes.
3) Stir in the tomato paste and the chipotle chile and sauce; cook 1 minute more.
4) Add turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat loses its raw color, about 3 minutes.
5) Add beer and simmer until reduced by about half, about 8 minutes.
6) Add tomatoes to skillet–crushing them in your hands first –along with the beans; bring to a boil.
7) Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 10 minutes.
Serve up in bowls and top with your favorites.
Tip: A skillet’s larger surface area reduces sauces faster than simmering in a saucepan.
Want more comfort food? Check out Food2.
Breezy Q: What was the last form of exercise you did?
Ever wonder if reality stars are chosen because producers think they’ll cause controversy? And if couples are really in love on The Bachelor? Or how to get on a show yourself? Founder of www.perfectlydisheveled.com and a mother of an 18 month old son, Jennifer Herschko, took a walk down memory lane to give Breezy the scoop on her former job as writer and producer for Reality TV.
-What are some of the shows you have worked on?
I have worked on some random kinds of shows for so many different audiences… The Bachelor (ABC), Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive (E! Entertainment), Over Your Head, (HGTV), First Class All the Way (Bravo)….
-What does it mean to be a “writer” for reality TV?
Being a “reality writer” can mean a couple different things. Read More…
Finance at a glance brought to you by Geezeo
5 Ways Families are Trying to Save
by Hannah Waters
1.) Leave the Brand Names Behind – Buy food at the grocery stores that are the generic brand in order to save money here and there. Brand names and generic names typically have the same ingredients; the brand names are just what people used to buy more often. You may even hear of commercials on the radio or TV for grocery stores now advertising their own brands to customers.
2.) Spending More Time at Home – Families will be able to spend time outside in the sun when the warm weather begins to kick in. Instead of going to the movies and paying an obscene amount, they are watching movies they Read More…
If you’re looking for something new to play in the car, but are tired of having to scan songs to see if there’s anything your toddler shouldn’t hear, then get a copy of this CD. I first heard Mason Jennings’ name when my Editor, obsessed with all things southern, wanted to interview him. I then saw him open for Jack Johnson and I, too, was instantly hooked. As Jennings sings, his southern twang comes out which translates to southern hospitality at its finest. Songs like Lemon Grove Avenue or Keepin It Real remind you to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. He takes you back to a simpler time, where the hustle and bustle of life can’t reach you. Great for a long drive or for something to hum to while doing the dishes. Click here.
Breezy Tip: Don’t want the whole album? Click here to download Keepin It Real from iTunes.
Eat This, Not That! has to be one of the greatest, most interesting books that you can read for your kids. Filled with facts about what to and what not to give your children to eat, your mind will be blown away by the foods that are bad. Think those apple chips are better than goldfish crackers? Think again! Goldfish only have five grams of fat per serving where the apple chips have seven. What about Taco Bell? You would normally give the kid a soft taco over a crunchy taco, right? Nope—Fresco Crunchy Beef over Ranchero Chicken are the way to go. Broken up into sections covering eating out, snack food, prepared food and food you cook, this book is indispensible. It even suggests fun family activities that help you lose weight. I keep mine on the coffee table and when someone picks it up, mom or not, they are hooked for at least the next half hour. Click here to pick up yours.
Breezy Tip: Want to see if your child’s favorite snacks are good for him? Go to Snackwise.org—by filling in the nutritional content of the food item, the site tells you if the snack is good, bad or decent.
Whether you voted as a blue state or a red state, one thing we can all agree on: On November 4, 2008 history was made for our children’s generation! Honor this historic moment with a soft, snuggly cotton tee or onsie that reads: “I am Generation O.” Even better, on the onesies, check out the cheeky “change” on the back side.
Breezy friend and Generation O founder Danica Powell was inspired by her own son when designing the product. “As a new mom, I started genOtees.com to celebrate the triumph of our collective youth and the renewed excitement of being part of America again. The tees and onesies are a handspun, daily reminder that hope, pride and change will be our legacy to all our kids. They are Generation O.” Put your next generation into some inspiration. Check them out here!
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