The Apprentice - L.A.

Those of you who know me know that I am a diehard Apprentice fan.

I got hooked on the first season when I was pregnant with little Livvie. I had to go to the hospital on a Thursday late afternoon with contractions. They admitted me and hooked me up to all of the wires and monitors,etc... We sat there through Oprah and the evening news. Entertainment Tonight came on and I knew this baby wasn't coming - this was my third...I knew. I started getting antsy because The Apprentice would be coming on soon...I began to ask the nurses when I could go home - this baby wasn't coming, but the show that I was glued to every Thursday was! Finally, they released me and all was well in the world - I made it home with about 15 minutes to spare :) Livvie arrived that Sunday - great timing little girl!

So, fast forward 3 years. I'm still a diehard fan - I don't miss a season. There have been some seasons that didn't have the best of candidates, in my opinion. Like the "Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts" season...not great. I even watched the Martha Stewart version - I usually like her, didn't like that season. She was trying too much to follow "The Donald's" cue...she should've just remained herself. I do like Donald Trump, though. He is one, big pompous ass, but he is also a great business man and a master in drumming up PR.

Last night was the premier of The Apprentice-L.A. I appreciate how they're trying to mix things up a bit by moving to Los Angeles and provide some new twists - can't imagine having to live in that tent after losing a task. I wasn't excited about the candidates - usually I can pick out a couple who will be standouts throughout the season. As always, I'll watch next week and see if it holds my interest. I'll more than likely watch the entire season because I'm HOOKED. I love watching the assigned tasks and seeing how these people (strangers) interact with each other. I'll go out on a limb right now and predict a winner...Heidi seems to be a clear standout - great leader, very smart and they're due for a woman to win.

Thoughts? Predictions?

Kids and Exercise

You've made a resolution to exercise on a more consistent basis...get your kids involved too! Exercise and being fit is just as important for the young ones as it is for us. Even more so to develop good, steady habits that will last them a lifetime!

Here are some reasons why your child benefits from a regular exercise routine:

1. Exercise reduces the risk of obesity. If your child participates in a regular exercise program, her chances of becoming obese are dramatically reduced. An active child means a healthier child.
2. Exercise lessens the risk of diseases. Diabetes and high blood pressure are combated by exercise. If you have a family history of such diseases, you should especially encourage your child to exercise.
3. Exercise strengthens your child’s body. As your child exercises on a regular routine, his muscles and bones will be strengthened.
4. Exercise induces feelings of well-being. Have you noticed your child struggling with peer pressure or becoming uncomfortable with her body? Encourage an exercise routine. Exercising helps release frustrations and can help boost your child’s self-confidence.

Need some exercise ideas to encourage your child? Why not incorporate an exercise routine into your schedule with your children? Try these simple ideas:

• WALKING – Walking is the simplest, and yet the best form of exercise for anyone. Walking is a good way to get conversation flowing as well.
• SPORTS – Is your child interested in any type of sports? Why not grab the basketball and head to the court with him? Make a date every Saturday to spend a couple of hours playing basketball with your son.
• SWIMMING – Just about every kid loves to swim. If you don’t have a personal swimming pool, invest in a monthly membership to a local gym.
• BIKE RIDING – Next to walking, riding bikes is another easy way to get fun exercise.
• HIKING – If your family loves the outdoors, get everyone a pair of hiking shoes and gear and get moving. Plan special outings once a month, in addition to your regular exercise. Kids usually love hiking because they get to explore and discover new things.

Now that you've got some tools...get out there and get active with your kids. It's great family time and they will thank you for it later!

Stainless Steel - Low Maintenance?

I think not!

We purchased some new appliances in 2006. The stove was about 6 months ago and then the refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave followed shortly thereafter. I love them! They work great, they fit in with the decor we're trying to accomplish in the kitchen...and they're stainless steel.

Stainless steel is beautiful...when it's clean. However, little sticky hands all over the refrigerator make it really tough to KEEP clean! There is help, though. I ran across this information and thought I would share it with those of you who find yourselves in the same predicament that I'm in :)

Today, most all large and small appliances, cookware, utensils and sinks are stainless steel. Along with the easy to clean convenience, however, they can become stained and dull looking. To ensure they are kept clean and shiny, here are a few tips on how to make stainless steel sparkle!

Using olive oil on a cloth, clean your sink and dry with a clean cloth. Be sure to also wipe away any water spots which may appear. To removes stains from your cookware, use club soda, and apply vinegar to remove spots and stains from your utensils and cutlery. Be sure to rinse off acid or salty foods if the flatware is not immediately washed. Well that was easy, right?

Now there are other problems you may encounter with stainless steel items that need more attention. For example, if you have just purchased a stainless steel mixer; and the label(s) won’t come off, soak the item in warm water; rub it with a soapy cloth. Voila!Label on; label off.

Grease! Not the musical! To remove grease from your cookware or appliances, use a mixture of ammonia and warm water. Another problem you may encounter is rust stains. For this removal, you will need to use a household cleaner; and often.

Here are some tips to avoid damage to your stainless steel items. Don’t use steel wool to clean them; and never leave stainless steel cookware on extremely high heat for a long period of time as this will only lead to discoloration.

While there are many stainless steel cleaning products available on the market today, try the old method first. If you have large surfaces, such as refrigerators or counter tops; try using glass cleaner or ammonia. Avoiding the use of any toxic chemicals or abrasives will ensure all of your stainless steel appliances, cookware and peripherals continue to sparkle.

Try these methods first. If you want to try some of the new products on the market, I would suggest: Orange Glo Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish; Stainless Steel Magic and the simplehuman stainless steel sponge mitt.

Now I'm off to make that stainless steel shine...let me know how it works for you!

Cool Site Alert! - Custom Chore Charts

This is a COOL site! FREE STUFF!!

Check out this site. You can create custom chore charts for your kids, print them out and hang them on your fridge for them to use. Lots of character themes are available - Dora, Dragon Tales, Sponge Bob - really anything you can imagine. There was an excellent suggestion on the site to print out the chart, have your child color it and then laminate it for use over and over again.

There are also calendars, craft ideas, projects to do with your kids...check it out!!

Thumbs Up Thursday - Babylune

Now that I'm back in stride from the holiday, I need to get back into my "Thumbs Up Thursday" salutes.

This week's nod goes to Kate at Babylune. Kate's says, "The blog isn't usually about baby care. It's about mother care. I've covered topics from weight loss to hemorroids, from breast feeding to feelings of isolation. It is my goal to inspire every new mother to do one thing for her own health and well being every day."

One particular topic that Kate just covered is HPV and cervical cancer. We've all heard about it on the popular commercials. Most of us have probably discussed it with our doctors...and as mothers of daughters, some of us have even been introduced to the vaccination for HPV. It's very prevalent in today's society...read about Kate's take HERE.

Way to go, Kate - thanks for another reason to give a "thumbs up" this Thursday!

Breakfast - the Most Important Meal of the Day

Christmas has come and gone and now the kids are back in school - I don't know about you, but I'm doing the happy dance :)

You probably slacked a little bit over the holidays...slept in late, made some HUGE breakfasts...probably didn't even have breakfast on some days. That's okay - that's what holiday/vacation time is for. Now that the kids are back on their regular schedule, I thought I'd give you some quick and easy (and nutritious) breakfast ideas to make sure they make it through til lunchtime.

Important info to keep in mind: Studies have shown that children who eat a balanced breakfast are more alert in school, perform better and in many cases are less prone to bad behavior than children who skip breakfast.

Give them Eggs – Eggs are versatile and nutritious, plus most kids like them. Start their day with simple scrambled eggs, you can add a little chopped ham, cheese, chopped tomatoes or mushrooms. Boiled eggs with slices of toast will go down well too.

Bake Ahead Muffins – Muffins aren’t always the most nutritious meal, but if you bake your own muffins you can use mashed banana and a little honey for a naturally sweet breakfast muffin. You can also replace half of the amount of white flour for healthier whole wheat flour. And don’t just stick to sweet muffins, try a savory bacon and chive muffin or cheese and ham. Bake them the night before for a quick and healthy breakfast.

Don’t forget the Fruit – Try a fresh fruit salad with a yogurt and cheerio dip. Using a rolling pin mash a handful of two of whole grain Cheerios in a plastic bag and transfer to a bowl. Fill another bowl with yogurt and let your kids dip the fruit pieces in yogurt then in the cheerio mixture. Whole grain Cheerios have a lower sugar content then many of the cereals on the supermarket shelves.

Pancakes in a flash – Prepare a basic pancake batter the night before, cover and refrigerate. In the morning, all you need to do is heat the grill and your whole family can enjoy delicious homemade pancakes. Serve with a little maple syrup or jam and some fresh fruit on the side.

Try Pizza for Breakfast - Split a couple of bagels in half, top with a little pizza sauce, grated cheese and some chopped ham. Place under the grill for a few minutes and you have a nutritious breakfast pizza. You can also use English muffins or pita bread.

Breakfast Burrito – Wraps are a great alternative to toast and cereal. You can make a scrambled egg breakfast wrap with a little bit of ham or cheese added to it or you can add a little cream cheese and turkey or even make a breakfast pizza burrito.

Remember, breakfast doesn’t have to always consist of the traditional toast, cereal and eggs. You can experiment a little to keep things interesting. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to always make the perfect family breakfast. If your kids really aren’t hungry at breakfast time, a simple banana and a glass of orange juice will give them an instant boost.

The most important thing is that your child starts the day with one or two nutritious foods.

Need some more healthy ideas for your meals? Healthy Menu Mailer provides weekly menus and easy-to-use shopping lists to get just what you need and feed your family in a healthy way! Click here for a free sample menu.

Organizing the Kids Rooms

What's one of the biggest tasks in the house to initiate and maintain? The kid's rooms! Nothing is more difficult than getting the kids to clean up their rooms and keep them clean.

Here are some tips to help you get organized and give them the tools to KEEP organized:

When selecting the storage for your child’s room, be sure that it’s something that the child can use. There are tons of options, from plastic storage bins, the fold up cardboard under-bed boxes and drawers and build-it-yourself furniture, and don’t forget garage sales. Take your child with you when getting new storage, to make sure it will be user friendly.

Younger children have trouble opening heavy dresser drawers, so consider using cardboard box storage, or open stacking baskets. Use the dressers for out of season clothes until they are older. Put stickers on the drawers to show what goes in each one, so they can start learning to put away their own clothes. You can find a wide variety of stickers in scrap booking supplies.
Clear plastic bins are great for toys. The lids are usually easy to work and the children can see what’s in the box. It’s also fun to label the storage with bright pictures of what goes in each box. ****COOL IDEA**** Stuffed animals can multiply like rabbits, but storing them on a Velcro covered pole is fun and helps decorate the room. **** A large decorative laundry basket can make good storage for the stuffed animals as well.

By sorting the toys into groups, and storing some in either the basement or garage, you can limit the amount of toys in their rooms at one time. Rotate which toys they have once a month or so, helping limit boredom with the toys. This is also a good time to sort out the things the kids no longer play with or have gotten too old for, and either pass things on or have a garage sale or sell to a consignment shop.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy 2007! It's time to start fresh and begin another new chapter in your life. You probably have made all of the same resolutions again this year (we all have)...lose weight, get in shape, organize your house, organize your life!

Sounds easy...right - the reality is...you've got your work cut out for you.

My resolution for this year is to get back on a regular schedule of blogging (after a much needed break) and try to help you achieve your goals for the year by giving helpful tips and tidbits of information on all of the subjects listed above.

Today I'll begin with your family. If you're going to make a change in YOUR eating habits, your entire family will be affected as well. Here are some ways to work together as a family and achieve some healthier eating habits for everyone!

The easiest change a family can start with is in food consumption. Obviously you'll need to incorporate exercise into the habits; however starting with food is a small step with measurable results. Simply do not bring junk food into the house. If you have chips, sodas and ice cream available, would you really be able to just have some grapes? More than anything you will need a change of mindset.

Sit down at the table as a family and get input from everyone. Talk about the health risks, talk about wanting to be around for the children for years to come. Make an agreement that there will be no closet eating. Agree to look for creative recipes so that it doesn't seem like you're eating rabbit food.

Forcing or demanding healthier habits is formula for failure. If you can make other family members feel that they are part of the decision and truly understand the importance of it, positive results will be easier to achieve.

Hold each other accountable. Give son permission to question mom why she's eating a donut. Agree to support, not ridicule. Accept digressions as temporary set backs, not failures. Agree that failure is not an option.

Make sure everyone understands the ground rules up front and, above all, support one another!

Stay tuned for more...

It's Christmas!

I have not been very active on my blog this month. I really do have a good reason. Yes, I've recovered from my trip to L.A. and then Las Vegas (it was a blast!). When I returned from said trip, I realized that my family needed some TLC. I've been spending time with my kids and my husband preparing for the holidays.

I know the kids are probably out of school and you might be trying to find some things for them to do over their vacation. Here are some ideas for you:

Fun Christmas Things Kids Can Do

Homemade cards – gather an assortment of construction paper, pens, markers, stamps and other art items and let your kids make their own Christmas cards this year. Personalize cards by adding a special photograph.

Old-Fashioned Paper Chains – Cut strips of colourful construction paper and glue together in a loop. Insert the other strip through the first loop, glue together and continue!

Homemade Gifts – Use empty clean jam jars and fill with an assortment of festive candies. Try old fashioned peppermints or candy canes. Cover the lid with a festive cut out fabric and warp with a ribbon. Add a homemade card.

Gift Bag Decorating - Get some craft bags from any craft store (I bought a bundle of 12 for $4.99), some glitter glue and foam holiday stickers. Let the kids go crazy decorating their own gift bags to wrap those special gifts!

Cookie Decorating – Let the kids help make a batch of Christmas cookies and let them decorate the cookies themselves, this is one activity they’ll really enjoy.

Letter to Santa – Write and decorate a special letter to Santa, not only asking for gifts but also saying what things they’ve been most grateful for this year. Take a walk to the post box and mail it out. Remember - you techies - you can always SEND Santa an EMAIL :)

Christmas movie – Choose a special Christmas movie, it could be a classic like “Miracle on 34th Street” or “ A Charlie Brown Christmas”, make a big bowl of homemade popcorn, let everyone curl up with their favorite blankets and enjoy.

Help a Local Charity – Christmas is about giving as well as receiving. This is a great time to help your kids wrap some presents or put some food baskets together and deliver them to your local nursing home or charity.

Best wishes from our family to yours for a terrific holiday season!!

I'm in L.A.!!

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore!

I am in Los Angeles! COOL! I have the awesome opportunity to accompany my husband to his corporate Christmas party. We arrived last night - this city is HUGE! He has meetings to attend today, so I'm actually chilling out in the hotel room and getting some work done (without kids I might add!).

I have a lunch with a business associate scheduled for tomorrow and then a party Friday night and another party Saturday night! THEN - onto more fun! We're going to "hop" over to Las Vegas on Sunday for a couple of days before heading home. What a great Christmas/Anniversary present for us to give each other - time away BY OURSELVES!!

Special thanks to Grandma and Mimi for making sure the kids don't kill each other while we're away.

I may be a little "absent" from blogging for the next several days, but you will definitely be on my mind :) You will be the first to know if I "hit it big" on the craps table!!

Christmas Cookie Swap

Have you ever done a Christmas Cookie Swap? They are really fun - you get a nice big group together and everyone bakes a bunch of cookies and swaps them. Say you have 10 friends who want to participate. Everyone bakes 11 dozen cookies - which, when you think about it isn't that big a deal. You all converge on one house with you 10 dozen plus 1 extra dozen to share. You usually get a nice variety of cookies; you'll have enough for your Christmas season AND you'll have spent a nice afternoon with friends hearing all of the stories behind their fun Christmas recipe!

Here's a great recipe for you to try - they're pretty and not the BASIC chocolate chip or snickerdoodle.

Stained Glass Cookies

* This recipe is a lot of fun to make with the kids and the cookies look great once they’re baked. You can use them to decorate the tree or just display them in a nice bowl or of course just eat them!

Ingredients:
3 cups sifted flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter (melted)
1/3 cup honey
¼ cup water
Bright colored hard candies
Cookie cutters

Directions:
Mix the butter, sugar and honey in a large bowl and add water, mix until smooth. Combine the salt, baking soda and sifted flour in a large bowl. Add butter mixture to flour mixture and knead the dough a little with your hands. Wrap up roll in cling film and place in freezer for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

While the dough is chilling unwrap a selection of round hard candies and set aside.

Once the dough is ready roll it on a lightly floured surface and cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Using the tip of a knife cut out a circle in the center of the cookie to approximately fit the hard candy. If you’re cookie is meant to be an ornament make a hole at the top using a straw.

Bake at 350F for approximately 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly golden, remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Place the hard candy in the center of cookie and bake for another minute or so (just until the candy slightly starts to bubble). Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before displaying or eating.

Gift Ideas

Don't know what to give your child's teacher this year for the holidays? Have you run out of stupendous ideas? Here are a few to give you a jump start this season:
1. Stationary with pens
2. Coffee mug with gift certificate to their favorite coffee bar
3. Homemade cookies and candy
4. Mini scrapbook or photo album, ready to insert pictures into
5. Candy-filled glass bowl
6. Books from their favorite author
7. Keepsake box
8. Small jewelry box
9. “Pamper Me” basket, filled with bubble bath, soaps, body lotions, etc.
10. Deliciously-scented candles
11. Handmade cookbook, filled with your special/favorite recipes
12. Gift certificate for “two” to the movies
13. One dozen of her favorite flowers
14. Scarf, knitted by you
15. Small bottle of favorite perfume
16. Personalized keychain
17. Personalized gift basket, filled with all her favorite things
18. Tote bag with name or initial embroidered on the front
19. Pretty refrigerator magnets
20. Potpourri jar
21. Handmade soaps or lotions
22. Handmade pillar candles
23. “Why you’re special to me” book – Purchase a small notebook or journal. Have each kid in the class write why their teacher is special to them. Present it to the teacher as a class.
24. Surprise party
25. Decorative watering can, filled with pretty flowers or greenery
26. Variety of specialty teas inside a china teacup
27. Home cooked meal, delivered at the day/time of teacher’s preference
28. Monetary donation in teacher’s name, to her favorite charity
29. Custom made charm bracelet
30. Food baskets (fruit, canned foods, specialty items, etc.)

Thumbs Up Thursday - A Readable Feast

You know that I'm all about being the best mom you can be and spending quality time with your family. Today's Thumbs Up Thursday nod goes to Anne-Marie over at A Readable Feast.

She's got an entire category on her blog dedicated to bonding with your kids. Take a look at it here. That first post you'll see is a contest to win a journal that could be a great keepsake to pass on whether you're a mom or a grandma. Sign up...I did!

Be sure to peruse her entire site as she's got great craft ideas, recipes and books that you can share and do with your family!

Tips for Decorating the Christmas Tree with Your Family

There is something special about walking into a room and seeing the Christmas tree. It instantly makes you feel happy. Kids especially love to see the tree all lit up and sparkly. The ornaments, lights and sparkle hold them in awe for hours. Here are some tips for making tree decorating a fun family tradition:

Have Fun - First and foremost make this occasion fun. If decorating the tree isn’t fun for you, it won’t be fun for your family. So relax and enjoy it, even if little Emma isn’t putting the crystal ornament exactly where it should go. If there are some ornaments that are precious, keep them in a separate box up high so that the adults can add them to the tree and make sure you have lots of fun wooden or non fragile decorations for the kids to put up.

Theme - Before you get started decorating, choose a theme. What kind of tree would you like? Do you want a traditional green and red tree? Or does your family want something funky and different? Get together, brainstorm and decide how you want your tree to look.

Lights - Does your family like white lights, or do they prefer colorful bulbs? Choose lights that your whole family will like to see on the Christmas tree. There are tons of options out there, from single color strands to lights that play Christmas music as they blink.

Handmade Ornaments - A really fun tradition for your family is to have everyone make ornaments. Set aside a special day just for this, a day when every family member will be able to pitch in with their creativity. Use cookie cutters, colorful paint and beads to create an assortment of unique tree ornaments. You can also buy ribbon and wire in the Christmas department and make tons of bows to decorate your tree.

Store-Bought Ornaments - Add some sparkle and shine to your tree with things like tinsel, icicles and garland. Or, if your family isn’t crafty and does not want to make ornaments, go together as a family and pick out ornaments for the tree.

Make it Special - Make the tree decorating day a special time. Play Christmas music, put out fresh baked cookies and eggnog for the grownups (non-alcoholic version for the kids of course) and hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. Gather a group of close family and friends around and make it a real festive affair.

Once you decorate your tree go on a Christmas walk around the neighborhood and take in all the sights and lights around you. Then bring everyone back to your place for a hot Christmas stew or casserole… you’ll be creating a family tradition for years to come.

Tips for Making Holiday Shopping Easier

Do you get tired of the hassle of holiday shopping? Many shoppers line up for hours on end to get a deal on the hottest toy of the season (I used to do this every Black Friday, but not this past one!), or newest fashion craze, then there are those who dread shopping and just put it off until the last minute, or give gift certificates to get out of shopping altogether.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a hassle. It can be quickly executed without so much stress and anxiety, if you plan ahead.

Try these tips to make your holiday shopping a breeze this year:

1. Set a budget in place. Do you know how much money you can afford to spend on gifts? If not, sit down right now and make that budget. This will be a huge time-saver in the end.

2. Make your list; check it twice. Create a list of who you need to buy gifts for this year. Start with family first, then add friends, co-workers, etc. How does this list look, compared with your budget? Too long? Pare it down. Despite what you think, you don’t have to buy as many gifts as you think you do. Trim your list until you have it down to a reasonable number.

3. What do they like? Now that you know who you will be buying gifts for, start thinking about what these people like. You may already have a good idea of what kinds of things they like. If not, do some snooping and find out. Make a shopping list of these things for each person.

4. Shop early. If possible try to avoid the last minute rush and shop early. Another good option is to go late at night. Many department stores operate late hours during the holidays. It’s a good time to leave the kids with your spouse and do the shopping on your own without worrying about the crowds or the kids needing to be fed or changed.

5. Shop online. Now that you know exactly what you need to buy, start by shopping online. You can find lots of good deals on auction and discount sites. Many online shops such as Amazon.com give you the option of mailing out your gifts (gift wrap included) to relatives and friends, this could save you a lot of time wrapping presents and fighting the crowds at the post office. Shopping online could save you a lot more money than you’d think, and it will definitely save you the hassle of fighting those Christmas crowds!

Still don't know what to get? The 2006 Mom's Niche Holiday Gift Giving Guide will give you ideas for everyone on your list...from infants to toddlers to tough-to-buy-for teenagers to good old grandma and grandpa. What could be easier? Great ideas and easy shopping online with this interactive guide!

Tis the Season to be Jolly...

...Fa La La La La, La La La La!!!

It's that time of year again! Gift giving season is upon us. Are you having trouble finding just the right gift for tween-aged daughter? Or maybe something special and different for your brand new nephew?

Mom's Niche has just released the 2006 Holiday Gift Giving Guide. This guide is unique in that it is interactive. There are hot products listed for every age category on your list. Each picture and product that is suggested is "clickable." You can actually click directly on the picture or product title and be linked directly to the page where you can purchase that gift. This saves TIME and MONEY for you!

Check it out here...you won't be disappointed!

Holiday Giving

Teach your Kids the Meaning of Giving this Holiday Season

Christmas makes kids wide-eyed, with thoughts of a ton of presents under the Christmas tree. Some kids even like to count their presents under the tree. This holiday season, teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas — giving to others.

Give to Others - One simple way to teach your children the value of giving is to have them donate to a local shelter. Have your children go through their toys and clothes. Make sure they give away one really nice thing that they don’t really need or play with. Place an emphasis on the fact that there are many children who have no home or parents.

Another way your children can learn about the gift of giving is to donate canned goods to a local food drive service. These services provide food to families in need. The holidays are often a difficult time for those in need. Take your children to the grocery store and have them choose a nice variety of canned foods to donate.

One more way your children can learn a lesson in giving is to buy gifts for others. Choose a needy family in your church or community. If you don’t know of anyone in need, ask around. Officials at your city’s municipal building, or local pastors will be able to make recommendations to you.

Take your children shopping and help them pick out age-appropriate toys and gifts. Let them wrap the gifts, too. Finally, drive your family to your “adopted” family’s home and let your kids hand out their gifts. You can also give a gift to a local gift drive for children in need, most of these will advertise in stores and the local community during the holidays.

It's SO important for the young ones to get the true meaning of Christmas - take some time out of your busy schedule and teach them!

Holidays and Eating...the Two Go Hand in Hand

Okay, this is really bad timing for this post...BUT, I thought you might still benefit from it with all of the parties and such coming up in the next month :)

5 Ways to Stick to Your Diet this Holiday Season

It’s dreaded by every woman on a diet—the holidays! Holidays are filled with tons of food, the nemesis of every dieter on the planet. If you’re worried about how your diet will suffer during the holidays, try these tips for coping:

- Get Active. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t be active. Organize a group and go on a winter hike or ice skating. Even caroling can help take the focus off food while giving you some mild exercise too. Or go for a long walk to look at the Christmas lights. Think of small ways to stay active rather than vegging out indoors.

- Snack Light. Don’t be afraid to have a few snacks at a party. But beware of snacking during the entire 3-5 hours! Allow yourself a small plate of snacks and stop there.

- Eat before you leave. If you’re really worried about eating too much at a party, have a light, healthy meal before you leave. Eat something nutritious and filling, but leave enough room for a light dessert.

- Watch the Alcohol – With all those parties those few drinks can really add up. Take it easy on the alcohol as it has tons of calories. A good trick is to have a wine spritzer, mix a little wine with some club soda and sip slowly throughout the night; this could cut down your alcohol intake nearly by half.

- Forget about the Diet. Well don’t dump your diet altogether or you may regret in the New Year, just don’t focus on it. If you constantly worry about your diet or how many pounds you might gain during the holidays, you’ll be likely to eat more. Instead, concentrate on the wonderful company you are sharing and stop worrying so much about overeating.

Have a Great Holiday Season!

Happy Turkey Day!

It's Thanksgiving morning. Yes, I'm sitting at my computer doing a little bit of WORK before everybody wakes up. We've got a great day planned! We will begin by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (tradition) and then will begin the preparations for the feast (actually, we mixed up and partially prepared everything we could last night so we could enjoy ourselves today). The older kids will be back from their dad's around 1pm. Our big dinner is planned for about 4pm. We'll have our family plus the family down the street for the wonderful dinner. It's going to be a GOOD DAY! Traditions are funny, they remain the same, yet year to year you take them and maybe "tweak" them a little bit to make them your own.

I have been thinking about what I'm thankful for this year - I've got a list :) Here they are in no particular order:

• my husband who supports me in anything and everything I do
• my children who sometimes drive me nuts...I wouldn't be complete without them
• my mother-in-law - she is a great friend
• my mom and dad - I'm so thankful that they are still healthy enough to do the things that they want to do and BRAVE enough to host our crazy family for the Christmas holiday
• my brother and his wife
• my other brother and his girlfriend
• my nieces and nephew
• the servicemen fighting for our freedom
• my health
• my neighbors who are also great friends!
• my friends who aren't my neighbors, but are great friends!

Take a few minutes to reflect today and express you thanks and gratitude to the people you love and God.

Never Say Never

I'm sure you grew up with sayings in your household that run through your mind every once in a while. I'm also sure that you grew up with some that have become your MANTRAS - a sort of way to guide your daily living. I grew up with a few of those, and yes, some stuck. Here they are:

"Always tell the truth, but don't always be telling it." - We lived on the border of the 'burbs and rural area. There was a dairy farm down the street (and you knew it in the summertime if the wind blew just right), but we lived in a large neighborhood and played outside all day long with our parents and the neighbors watching us - you know the whole "it takes a village..." thing. Our church was on the corner of our same block and the preacher and his wife only lived a couple of houses down. This little nugget actually came from her (thanks Marge!) and it's never left me. It's actually a great way to live when you think about it - don't lie, but you also don't need to advertise all of your business :)

"Never say never." - Never is a mighty long time and I am constantly reminding my kids of this (much to their dismay). We would always say things like, "I'm NEVER going to finish this," and "Even though you are my brother, I'll NEVER like you!" Mom would then remind us that never is a long time and we should think about the things we are going to say before we commit to them. Needless to say, the work DID get finished and my brothers and I are closer than ever.

I was actually reminded of this this morning when I checked my email. I belong to a great online networking group called Mom Masterminds. I check out the forum daily, participate in the conversations and also take advantage of the great resources available. Every now and then they send out emails - little reminders and snippets of information. Today's came through entitled "The Power of Can't." Here is a portion of the email:

"I can accept failure - everybody fails at something - but I cannot accept not trying." Michael Jordan

We've heard it on message boards more than once, "I know I should be doing this or that, but I just can't!"
We would like to see you banish the word "can't" from your vocabulary where it comes to your business. What are you afraid of? Failure? The only thing a failure can do in the long run is teach you something valuable. So don't let fear of failure stop you from trying anything.

Don't be afraid to fail. Lord knows I have gained some powerful lessons over the last several years about failure...in business and in life. You have to try, though, or your life will be full of "what if's?"

Last but not least - I say this one almost EVERY day. "Don't ask any questions you don't want the answer to." - I know you're not supposed to end a sentence in a preposition, but this is a powerful statement. I'm not even sure where I picked this one up along the way, but it sure did stick! Make sure you are prepared for the answer before you ask the question. Simple and to the point.