Moms in the City

More Scary People of Walmart

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:29:00 +0000

I love to do a post every now and again of scary/funny/scary People of Walmart. What amazes me is that the website has been up for awhile now and yet there are still people who look THIS scary. I woulda thought that by now they would've pulled it together or started shopping at Target. Alas...I was wrong.

Oh man...my stomach hurts from laughing!

Everyone Wins With Playstation Move! (Especially the kids)

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:48:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

Between birthdays and Christmas it's always a challenge to find the perfect present for the kids. Why not purchase something that not only they can enjoy but that you can have with as well!

Coming from a big family with four brothers video games was not only my mother's tactic to keep us at bay but to show off her own skills as well. I think that video games was the only thing that kept us from killing each other when we were younger and now it helps keeps my son entertained as well!

Everyone is going out and buying the Wii and boasting about how great it is because of it's uniqueness and because of the games that promote working out. Well if you are a Playstation fan like I am then you are in luck! Playstation Move has now come out with a similar feature taking it's video games to a new level! From games involving sports, action and shooter games to even workout games the entire family can get to enjoy.

So whether its buying Socom4 for the Mr., EyePet for the kids and Get Fit with Mel B (yes she has her own video game) for yourself everyone is bound to have a great time.

Are you on the move?

Mmmm Mac and Cheese!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 09:21:00 +0000

Ok so it's 3:30 in the morning and I'm writing because it's the only quite/work time to be had because my son runs the day. Well while writing and checking out other blogs I came upon a blog that had a yummmmmy recipe for baked macaroni and cheese and it made me hungry. That's right- I want some mac and cheese at 4 in the morning. So instead of making some food and satisfying my early morning cravings I decided to find MORE recipes! That way I can be pumped up to make some this weekend.

Here are a few mouth watering recipes that I found:

From Three Kids and Us

(Mmmmmmm)

From That's So Yummy

Over the Rainbow Mac and Cheese

(Look at all that cheese!)

OMG a food critic website with the coolest name!

Mac & Cheese

(What the hell is that? I don't even know but I want some. Pass the dutchy on the left!)

From What We're Eating

This is called the Orgasmic Mac n' Cheese. I didn't even know that was possible...until I saw the photo.

(Ooooh yeah!)

From 30 Days 30 Ways with Macaroni & Cheese

That's right, over 30 different ways to make mac & cheese.

(Are those scallops?? *mouth watering*)

From How Sweet It Is

Little Mac & Cheese cupcakes

(Yummmmm)

* Let me note here that some of the recipes I have found were plain and boring and even burnt. It was killing my mac & cheese buzz. Especially the ones that said "healthy". Cooome ooon.*

Then I found more!

From My Kitchen Snippets

It's in its own lil dish!

(That's right, fork it over to momma)

From a website actually named Stoner Food

Skillet Baked Mac & Cheese

(Hell if this is stoner food then I'm down.)

From Gourmet Traveler 88

Baked Crab and Spinach Mac & Cheese

(Baked what and what? How did they know those are my favorites?)

Ugh - I'M STARVING NOW!! I'm going to make every single one on this list. Except for the orgasmic one. Not only do I not know what shadookydocky mushrooms are but I don't think I want to feel "orgasmic" when eating mac & cheese. That's a little much. I'll just settle for "full".

Who wants to come over??

The Truth About Expiration Dates.

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:20:00 +0000

So while visiting my southern IL family for my friend's baby shower, I decided to make "mom" some breakfast, thinking I was going to make some eggs and pancakes for her since she has housed me during my visit. While I was prepping the pancake batter, I asked her one simple question: "Mom, are the eggs in the fridge still good?" to which she responded "I think so? Oh you girls and your expiration dates!"

Whaaaaaaaaaaa? That statement led me to check every item that I had eaten already and whatever I had started to use to prep the breakfast. Turns out the eggs expired in July, the butter was good for the rest of this month and the oil that she put in my pan expired March 16....of 2007.

Now I can understand how food can sit in a cabinet for awhile and while you don't have a reason to use it you don't want to waste it so it just becomes a feature in your fridge or cabinet but whoa! What's even crazier is after I tell my friend what Mom said she goes on to tell that her father-in-law cleaned out his pantry and brought over food for her and the family- one of the items being a jar of cherries....that expired in 1988. Apparently he thought they were still good because they were not opened. (For all those wandering, she threw them away.)

All of this got me a-thinkin: when does food really expire? Of course there are "expires by" and "sell by" dates but when is the real "throw-this-in-the-garbage-immediately!" date?

Here is what I found as per About.com

Milk. Usually fine until a week after the "Sell By" date.
Eggs. OK for 3-5 weeks after you bring them home (assuming you bought them before the "sell by" date). VanLandingham says double-grade As will go down a grade in a week but still be perfectly edible.
Poultry and seafood. Cook or freeze this within a day or two.
Beef and pork. Cook or freeze within three to five days.
Canned goods. Highly acidic foods like tomato sauce can keep 18 months or more. Low-acid foods like canned green beans are probably risk-free for up to five years. "You do not want to put cans in a hot place like a crawl space or garage," Peggy VanLaanen, EdD, RD, a professor of food and nutrition at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, tells WebMD. She suggests keeping canned and dry food at 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry, dark place. Humidity can be a factor in speeded-up deterioration. The FDA notes that taste, aroma, and appearance of food can change rapidly if the air conditioning fails in a home or warehouse. Obviously, cans bulging with bacteria growth should be discarded, no matter what the expiration date!

One great source to answer questions about expiration dates and shelf life is the website StillTasty.com. If you are curious how long food really last after the expiration date you can just visit the home page, type in the food that you are pondering about and not only will they cover any food that is relative to what you are asking but then you get a breakdown of how long the food will last in the fridge or in the freezer and tips how to make it last longer. Pretty cool huh?

StillTasty also helps to answer questions such as these:

All really good questions, especially for us moms who want to make sure that we don't make our children sick. I must say that after finding these sites I do feel a lot better about being so particular and picky!

Disclosure:

*See mom, even though eggs might last for about a month you still gotta check the dates!*

Glidden Got the Job Done!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:46:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.

After moving into our new apartment earlier this year, there are still so many projects that I still have yet to undertake and it's already the end of September! Between buying new furniture, installing new french doors and finally mounting the TV it's almost as if we've just moved in.

As an Interior Design graduate one of the things that I love most about designing a space is making an impact by one of the easiest solutions: painting! So much can be done just by adding color to a wall or to a room. Of course there are many different paint selections out there like Benjamin Moore and Bear but I must say that the one that I found to be the best so far has been Glidden.

Over the last few months I have spoken with a few moms regarding design for kids rooms and I have written a few blogs on great design tips on how to make a great modern room for boys and girls. Since doing so I have decided to paint my own sons room. I chose to do a few different hues of Glidden's blue and green and not only was I was able to make my selections using their paint samples that are available at Home Depot (I love Home Depot, if I could I'd marry it and be Mrs. Home Depot) but the samples dried much faster than other brands that I've used before.

I have moved and painted more times than Lady Gaga has outfits (yes that many) but this is my first time painting and having my son around. With him running around the house and not having availability to a babysitter I was worried about fumes and also him getting into the room and adding little design of his own into the wet paint. Because the testers are so small I was not only able to keep it out of his reach but the containers also have a small brush included in the can, so there was no mess after I was done. What mom doesn't love convenience?

Once the room is complete I'll be sure to post the finished project for all to see (unless my boyfriend does it, then I'd have to get a professional to redo the room.)

Visit Glidden today to get inspired for your next projet!

Caution: Whiney blog about baby ahead!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:21:00 +0000

You know, I remember the good old days when my son was an infant. He hardly cried, he never fussed. He just sat in his chair and absorbed the world through is big chocolately brown eyes. Oh how the world has changed since he has become mobile and has developed communication skills.

My son is still amazing in many degrees: he is terribly brilliant and can mimic Disney movie scenes, he loves (trying) to play the piano, he is a dancoholic and is by far the best human with 10 inch arm hug giver I've ever known. With that being said: he's driving me crazy!

Where my son went from being a sweet little baby he is now a loud momma's boy toddler. He wakes up everyday at 2:30am expecting to be cuddled, he demands his milk at 8am, and then expects to be held every fifteen minutes. Where did this kid come from? What happened to my sweet lil independent baby who I could leave in the stroller for an hour or so (attended of course) while mommy shopped for shoes?

This wasn't in the "You're a Single Mother Now and Everything Will Be Fine" manual. This should be in the "What to Do When Your Child Goes Nuts" book. What's a girl to do?? Maybe a little bit more of this:

Thanks for listening, Happy Saturday.

Go My Way Down to Ramblers Way!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:52:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.
wool

Summer is now over and the brisk fall weather is just around the corner. Time to pack away the shorts and t-shirts and break out the comfy sweaters and long socks. Now the issue is those great sweaters that you had in the attic (or under the bed if you don't have an attic like me) have been eaten by moths, are too tight or are more itchy than you remember.

One of the things I love about long sleeved shirts in the fall is how comfy and cozy they are, until I pulled out my old wool one. Great. Now not only will I have hot, itchy arms but my son is going to run from me when I try to pick him up. It made me look into what wool clothing are out there that is actually comfortable and fashionable.

That is when I came upon Ramblers Way. Not only are their shirts light and soft, but they are sustainable! Not only would you be buying a quality item, but you'd be helping the environment at the same time. All in one wool shirt.

If I could invest $200 in quality clothing I would rather purchase one of their comfy camisoles ($55), one of the cross-neck long sleeved shirts ($85) and a pair of their hipster briefs ($50) instead of buying one hot and itchy sweater. The best part is I'd still have change left over for a hot chocolate!...and if there is one thing I love more than quality wool...it's hot chocolate.

It's it about time you rambled about Ramblers Way? Visit their site and see check out their women's apparel and also discover how beneficial the company is to the environment. You are surely bound to be as impressed as I am!

Memory Lane Has Huge Speedbumps

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:56:00 +0000

So over the last few days I have been reminiscing all the great R&B artists and songs from late 1990's to early 2000 like Mya, 112, Kelis, SWV and it has been great! Many songs were sung (badly) and danced too that brought back all the good memories.

It was bound to happen when the question arose "What ever happened to those guys?" Of course in some cases we could easily reflect on the VH1's Where Are They Now segments- one of the best ones to date is of Ronald Devoe of ell Biv Devoe and his current employment as a real-estate agent. The best was parading the flier which announced he was the "'New Edition' to the team." Ouch. Oh look...I even found the ad!

The first artist I looked up was the group 112 to see what they have been up to. While Wikipedia had noted that all of the members had tried to have solo careers of their own, that they were unsuccessful and that as early as the beginning of this year they had joined forces again and were planning on releasing a new album! ...then I saw that Slim had opted out of the reunion and since there has been no word on the new album or what is taking place. Booo!

Next I just so happened to look up Sisqo (who isn't doing much solo) which in turn led me to look up Dru Hill. While I saw that the group had attempted to get back together and put out a new album, one of the members had a last minute change of heart- live...on the radio! Eek!

Watch the video below to see the full reunion and break up of Dru Hill- all which lasts about 5 minutes.

Sometimes it's better not to know.

I'd Kiss My Son in Kissimmee

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:38:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've been wanting to visit Florida ever since my son was born so that I could not only visit the relatives that live there but also go on a mini vacation. Although summer has just ended I'm already planning out where I'd like to go next year and we might be headed to Kissimmee, Florida! I've always envied the families that take their kids to Disney World and looked like they were having the time of their lives. That could be us! Since typically during the summer my sister comes to visit and be my live in nanny I know for sure that she would want to come along for the ride, which would be even better for me (mommy deserves to have a night of adult fun too!)

Ideally we'd stay in the Super 8 Kissimmee suites which have been well noted for their huge beds and awesome amenities. It would be great to live it up for a few days with a pool in my backyard and complimentary breakfasts!

If I could plan my perfect week vacation it would go like this:

Visit the Universal Studios and Disney World (asap!)
Take the kids to one of the many water parks and show my son that he can have fun in pools of water
What girl doesn't want to go shopping while on vacation? I'd go to one of the outlets for myself and then take my teen sister to the Florida Mall.
Visit some of the local shops and stores for authentic and fun souvenirs
Visit my family in Florida and tell them what a great time we are having in Kissimmee
Try ziplining for the first time (Leito will have to sit that one out)

Have you ever been to Kissimmee? As moms we all need a little vacation even if it means one with the kids tagging along but it can still be an amazing time. Go here and plan out what your dream vacation at Kissimmee would be.

Awesome Vintage Eyeglasses!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:32:00 +0000

So if there is one thing that I have a huge infatuation with is sexy eye-wear. Maybe it's because of the great varieties, the craftsmanship or just the fact that I'm blind and was born wearing glasses. When I was 16 I had to get my first pair and of course they broke out the "The Pair You'll Never Forget" box and sure enough I had the UGLIEST pair of red glasses. They took up half of my face, they were thick rimmed and they were bright ugly red. No wonder people who wear glasses always get made fun of!

From that pair forward I swore I would never buy a pair of red frames again! So after many metal, plastic, square and round frames I was forming a love hate relationship with glasses. It was when I could afford to buy my own glasses (an had great insurance) that I went on a search for stylish and fun frames.

Not only did I find and purchase an amazing pair of frames- but they were red! And they kicked my first frames butt! Since I've come across some of the most amazing and funky pair of frames in all colors and sizes. Frames so sweet even girls with 20/20 vision buy them.

My love for elaborate and fun frames couldn't be expressed better than by the amazing glasses created by fellow mom Teresa who owns Vintage 50's Eyewear.

A little about woman behind the frames:

Hello my name is Teresa. I live with my husband, two kids and three dogs in a small town in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. I am a firm supporter of animal rights. My passions include animal rescue and collecting and selling vintage and antique eye wear. A trait a picked up from my mother.

I have the 1950s eyeglasses. Time of the poodle skirt and roller skates. The psychedelic 1960s hippie. The disco 70S and the oh so cool retro 80s sunglasses inspired by the hair bands and the blue brothers.

Some of Teresa's glasses are the bling-bling of eye-wear being covered in gems, rhinestones and colorful jewels. Teresa takes the 50's cat-eye frames and introduces them to the new millennium with by adding modern style and finesse putting a new meaning to the "hot library teacher." Getting the right frames can not only be an investment of time but also of money as good frames don't come cheap. If you want to invest in new pair of glasses, why not purchase one that is well made and one of a kind

Visit Teresa's shop Vintage 50's Eyewear here and you can follow her on Twitter here. Once you see her other selections you will wonder who wants to wear contacts when you can have glasses like these?

Girls Can Make BBQ Memorial

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:10:00 +0000

Time for the last holiday of the summer: Memorial Day and what better of a way to send off summer than with the last major bar-b-que! My boyfriend usually the one who prepares and cooks the meat but since he's gone this weekend it is up to me to take the tongs by the reins. My biggest hurdle is figuring how to cook the meat perfectly.

Having already written this blog, there is great information about the different types of grills and BBQ tricks and after scouring the net for BBQ tips (because yes, that is how really people BBQ - off the web) I came across this article from Associate Content giving great insight on how to prep and cook meats and veggies simple enough for girls of all BBQ stages!

When cooking fish on the grill, brush olive oil onto the fish or directly onto the grill to prevent sticking.Where possible, cook fish that has skin on it. Cook the fish skin side up for the first 1-2 minutes, to grab the smoke lines of the grill for the sake of aesthetics and then flip it over to cook the rest of the fish skin side down.

That way, if you do have a sticking problem, the skin will stick to the grill, but the edible goodness will come up on your spatula. One more tip with fish: If the piece of fish you are cooking is less that one inch thick, consider starting the grilling process when the fish is partially frozen.

Ribs are a no brainer on the grill, but to be fair, the best barbecue ribs require some time in the oven. 40 minutes in the oven with a little bit of water at 350 degrees is enough to thoroughly cook the meat, keeping it juicy and sealing in the flavor before transferring the ribs to a preheated hot grill for barbecue sauce and the burned edges that make good ribs into great ribs.

For great veggies on the grill, the following tips should help: Cook well soaked corn on the cob still in the husk. Tin foil is your best friend for locking in flavors and moisture when cooking other sorts of veggies. Use the heat rather than the actual grill process unless cooking with a hearty vegetable such as asparagus spears, or yams.
One of the most common grilling mistakes is putting the barbecue sauce on too early. When it goes on too early, you end up wasting all of your sauce. Good grillers know that the you wait until the last couple of minutes of cooking to add barbecue sauce. The reason? If you put it on too early, the sauce all slides off into the drip tray instead of adhering to the meat. Let your meat cook thoroughly and then brush on your barbecue sauce when there is just enough time to heat it up before removing your yummy goodness from the grill.

When cooking chicken on the grill, ideally you will have a two rack grill at your disposal. Regardless of that, though, the secrets to successful juicy, chicken that pulls in all of the smoky flavor of the grill are patience and water. Patience comes from knowing to cook chicken on a medium flame rather than high. Fill a small oven safe dish with enough water to last through the entire cooking process, and close the lid of your grill during cooking. As the water comes to a boil, it will create enough steam to satiate the heat's greed for moisture, and your chicken will stay juicy and full of flavor.

And try these recipes!

Appetizer

Baked Brie with Rosemary, Almond & Cherries
Serves 4-6
2 T chopped fresh rosemary
2 T chopped slivered almonds 
2 T honey
1 brie cheese round 
8 fresh cherries, pitted and chopped crackers (of your choice) Preheat oven to 400F. In a small bowl, combine rosemary and almonds. With a pastry brush (or knife), coat the sides of the brie with honey and dip into rosemary-almond mixture, pressing. Place brie on a sheet pan. Brush the top with honey and sprinkle with the remaining herb mixture. Place in oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove brie from oven and top with chopped cherries. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes until brie is soft when cut. Serve with crackers.

Dinner

Prize Winning Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste
3 pounds baby back pork ribs
1 cup barbeque sauce

Directions

Preheat grill for high heat.
In a small jar, combine cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Close the lid, and shake to mix.
Trim the membrane sheath from the back of each rack. Run a small, sharp knife between the membrane and each rib, and snip off the membrane as much as possible. Sprinkle as much of the rub onto both sides of the ribs as desired. To prevent the ribs from becoming too dark and spicy, do not thoroughly rub the spices into the ribs. Store the unused portion of the spice mix for future use.
Place aluminum foil on lower rack to capture drippings and prevent flare-ups. Lightly oil grate, and lay ribs on top rack of grill. Reduce heat to low, close lid, and leave undisturbed for 1 hour. Do not lift lid at all.
Brush ribs with barbecue sauce, and grill an additional 5 minutes. Serve ribs as whole rack, or cut between each rib bone and pile individually on a platter.

Dessert

Death by Chocolate

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 2/3 cups milk
3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
6 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate covered toffee bars, frozen and crushed

Directions

In a 9x13 in pan, bake cake according to package directions. Cool and crumble. Make pudding, according to package directions, with milk.
In a large trifle or other glass serving bowl, place half of the crumbled cake. Pour half of the coffee over the cake, and spread half of the pudding over that. Top with half of the whipped topping, sprinkled with half the crumbled candy bars. Repeat layers in the same order. Refrigerate until serving.

Awesome Totes for Moms by Robilena

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:30:00 +0000

One of my favorite websites is Etsy for the amazing selection of independent artists, seamstresses and craft makers. One of my favorite finds is Robilena which is a selection of handmade totes.

Here is little insight about the gal behind the seams, Robin:

I started sewing when I was in elementary school, then didn't sew for many years. About two years ago, I started making tote bags, trying out different patterns, and combining and adapting them as I went along. I was having so much fun making the bags, that I decided to start up my Etsy page. I get most of my fabric at a wonderful independent fabric store in Santa Cruz, California. It is the same store where I took sewing lessons when I was a kid.

I love playing with fabric pairings and most of my bags have at least 2 and usually 3 or 4 different fabrics. My preferred fabric to work with is 100% cotton, lightweight fabric, which makes the bags totally washable. I want these bags to last, so I make sure to have not exposed raw edges on the fabric.

One reasons I think moms will love them: durability!
All the seams are either hidden on the reversible bags, or on the unlined/non-reversible bags, the seams are all finished so that there are no raw edges. The handles are very securely sewn on as well, so the bags can hold a fair amount of weight without any worries. They are also a great size for kids to have their own personal bags.

And what woman doesn't love variety? Between the attractive patterns, various sizes and some pieces being reversible, moms have the option to choose which bag fits their need best.

The smaller bags are the perfect size to use as a casual purse, the medium bags are great for the grocery store (which is a very green idea!) and the larger sizes are great as overnight bags, or carry-ons.

To top it all off the prices are very reasonable. With some bags averaging out at $30 why buy a mass produced bag at Target when you can have your own custom made bag with love in every stitch and manage not to break the bank!

To check out and purchase other awesome bags visit Robin's Etsy shop at www.Robilena.etsy.com!

Update: I Punched the Sh&t Out of Her! Hooray!!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:41:00 +0000

So in regards to the blog I wrote about the stupid Punch Buggy game that my sister has decided to play all summer and has been winning, it finally happened. While we were out I saw a bright yellow VW Bug and was so excited that she didn't notice it that I could hardly get the words out!

But...when I did....she received a punch that has only been seen in movies. A punch so legendary the production of Beetles has come to a halt to simply preserve the right arms of all teenagers that just so happen to be in my path if one goes by.

Crazy....I actually feel so much better! That game can be such a stress reliever. Go fig.

A Poem That's Too True!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:22:00 +0000

Whilst talking with another mom about Moms in the City she shared with me one of her favorite poems which I thought was so great that I'd share it with you ladies as well!

Enjoy!

A Single Parent's Prayer
Lord, grant me
Time enough
to do all the chores, join in the games, help with the lessons, and say the night prayers, and still have a few moments left over for me.
Energy enough
to be bread-baker and breadwinner, knee-patcher and peacemaker, ballplayer and bill juggler.
Hands enough
to wipe away the tears, to reach out when I'm needed, to hug and to hold, to tickle and touch.
Heart enough
to share and to care, to listen and to understand, and to make a loving home for my family.
Author Unknown

The Punch that Was Never Buggied

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:08:00 +0000

So this entire summer while my sister was visiting she has been playing this game. You know it- PUNCH BUGGIE - no backsies. For those who might not know the game lemme tell you the rules: If you are walking with someone and hapen to see a VW bug you punch the other person in the arm before they punch you and you say "Punch buggie, no backsies."

Sounds like fun right? Absolutely not! And apparently I suck at this because my sister always sees one and punches me. That is until I changed the rules. The new Shana rule is : you punch me, I punch you. Since that was implemented she does want to play anymore. Aw, boo!

But he's the irony to this stupid game. Lately whenever I leave the house I always see them! What the hell?! They are everywhere, sometimes two on one block! Where did all these damn cars come from all of a sudden? I would be winning right now! Isn't the definition of "game" something that everyone has fun at?

And you know what makes this game even worse?? Is that now there are new rules added on. Yeah, really! Here are a few from Wikipedia:

Some players consider Volkswagen's 1998 reintroduction of the New Beetle invalid for game purposes but, as older models become more rare, some players may choose to include the new Beetles. Others allow "classic" bugs to count for two punches. One author suggests similar games with station wagons, convertibles, trucks and buses.

A 'non-physical' variation of the game, called "Beetle," simply awards the participants points for spotting Beetles driving by. Games of this type have been suggested for use in helping to engage autistic children during car rides.

If the Beetle is a convertible, it’s permissible to sweep the hand across the forehead in a downward motion playfully pressing the bangs down. Example of dialog in action: “Slug bug green!” customary punch to the shoulder “and it’s a convertible!” followed by playful sweep of the bangs in a downward motion.

What? Stupid game...

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Punishment is Harsh

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:38:00 +0000

So on my way back home from my fun trip to the expensive 7-11 I heard what sounded like a lawnmower running. But how could that be at 10pm right? WRONG!

Just a few doors down from my house was a young boy mowing his front yard! Aren't kids supposed to be playing games or watching tv or on the internet at night?? This one must've messed up pretty badly to not only mow the lawn at night, but to get his picture taken by a nosy neighbor and posted on a website.

Tsk tsk sonny.

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Choose Your Groceries Wisely!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:26:00 +0000

So while taking a simple trip to one of my local 7-11's (we have three within proximity) I was trying to find a few simple snacks for me and the fam. What I came across was quite interesting.

While some of the chips and cookies were reasonable (1-2 bucks) I wondered over to the food section and my pretty brown eyes damn near fell out.

Ok so milk is pretty consistent with the grocery store but here are a few other items that I couldn't get over.

Top left: Franks for $4.99?!
Top right: That's right ladies, it says $7.79...for bacon. Some 7 11 bacon
Left: You might not be able to read it clearly but it does say $4.49 for cheese.

Eeeek!

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Laughs Feel Good

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:26:00 +0000

So while checking out other mom blogs I happened to come across one called BabyCross by mommy blogger Stephanie Cross. While I love her layout of the blog and her too cute photos of her daughter, I happened to come across a blog that she wrote with cartoons from Cathy Thorne which were too hilarious not to reblog about!

Here are a few that I loved and thought I'd share and there are some others in the photo album on the website! Enjoy!

Working Out While Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:02:00 +0000

Photo

One of the biggest concerns during pregnancy is how to stay healthy. Of course eating right is a huge factor but then there is also making sure that you are getting enough exercise. Pregnancy can drain even the most energized mom, but there are ways to boost your energy levels while working out and having fun at the same time. Here are a few tips from one of my favorite websites BabyCenter.

Dancing

Dancing is a fantastic and fun exercise during pregnancy! Not only do you get the thrill of moving your body to music you love, but it will keep you flexible while toning your muscles. You can get an aerobic workout from any fast-paced dance, or stretch and maintain muscle tone when you hold positions in ballet. For maximum benefit, dance for at least 20 minutes three times a week, whether it's in your living room or in class.

Low-impact aerobics

Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and helps maintain muscle tone. As long as you choose exercises that are low-impact — meaning no jumping, high kicks, leaps, fast running, and so forth — and keep one foot on the ground at all times to minimize stress on your joints, you should be able to continue your routine throughout most of your pregnancy.

Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga classes are more popular than ever. When paired with a cardiovascular exercise such as walking, yoga can be an ideal way to stay in shape during your pregnancy. This age-old practice keeps you limber, tones your muscles, and improves your balance and circulation, with little, if any, impact on your joints.

Stretching

Stretching will enhance your flexibility, prevent your muscles from tightening, and make you feel looser and more relaxed. Use the following stretches after a workout as a way to cool down, or just when you need to relax. Be sure to breathe deeply and regularly as you stretch.

Swimming

Swimming is great exercise because it uses both large muscle groups (arms and legs). Though low-impact, it provides good cardiovascular benefits and allows expectant women to feel weightless despite the extra pounds added by pregnancy. It also poses a very low risk of injury.

Walking

Walking is one of the best cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women because it keeps you fit without jarring your knees and ankles. It's also a safe activity to continue throughout all nine months of pregnancy and one of the easier ways to start exercising if you haven't previously been active.

Weight Training

Weight training strengthens and tones your muscles and helps you build stamina, which you'll need during labor and delivery. One good way to do that is to perform a set number of exercises (that number varies from woman to woman, depending on her fitness level) using resistance training machines such as the ones you find in athletic clubs. Try to avoid using free weights, as you may risk injury from losing your grip on a weight and dropping it.

Liven Your Walls With Art

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:24:00 +0000

One of the easiest ways to bring your walls to life besides painting is with a little artwork. With a different ranges of scales and colors, art work and photography can easily brighten the dullest wall taking it from "Whoa." to "Wow!".

Here are a few easy trick to work with when trying to decide which art will work for your home.

Black and White

You can easily make any photo look classic by having it printed in black and white. Many cameras and cell phones even have it as a function in the settings.

You can have them printed cheaply at Walgreens and not only can you get them in different sizes but you customize them with borders and lettering.

Large Print

Don't be afraid of scale. A large piece of artwork can not only fill up a wall quickly but can add a bit of simplicity as well.

Having one large artwork with a simple subject matter can draw focus to an area without being overly distracting.

Don't be afraid of patterns

In apartments where you don't have the ability (or time) to paint a new color on the wall, you can add interest by investing in artwork that has great patters and color.

Bring the city indoors

You can never fail with a nice photo, either in color or black and white of a cityscape.

It could be the city you live in or the city you dream to visit, but with a great scaled photograph of a lit up downtown area is sure to please.

She Said Whaaaat About My Heels?

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:04:00 +0000

So today while at a mom get together we got a talking about clothes and shoes (naturally) and I brought up a memory that I thought I'd share with you all.

During my last few weeks of working at my day job I met and had good conversations with a few other moms that happened to work on my floor. It always happened to be in the bathroom or on the way out/in but it was a pleasant four seconds of catching up on motherhood.

One of the moms was of a baby girl who is only a few months older than my son and worked at the showroom right across from mine. Being the extremely competitive person I am I always asked what her daughter was doing to make sure I encouraged my son to do the same and be an overachieving baby. If her daughter was crawling, my son was almost crawling. If she was standing, he was standing higher. If she had 2 teeth he had 4 (trust me...there are ways..bruahahaha. I kid)

Anyway one day this particular mom stopped me and said, "You know I have a question for you. How is it that you still wear high heels? Shouldn't they have been retired by now?" This question both perplexed me and insulted me. If there is anything that anyone knows about me is this: Momma loves her shoes.

Firstly I did customer service and had to be a representative for my three sales associates the job definitely called for corporate attire (and it was owned by Kohler and they do not play with their image). Secondly...momma loves her shoes!! There was no notice on the back of my son's birth certificate that said that after he starts to walk that I need to donate my heels.

Now I will admit, running after a baby in heels...it hurts! And I don't do kitten heels. I'm talking full blown four inch, "I thought you were shorter?" heels. While flats can be more comfortable I always feel like I'm falling through the floor! And to boot I have such pretty shoes! So many colors, so many prints and I'm supposed to pack them away because I'm a mom? Preposterous!

Is this why the phrase "Your momma wears combat boots!" comes from?

So after I came out of my shock, I took a look at what she was wearing...and then it all made sense. Now just as a disclaimer, I do not like to judge people. You can do whatever you want, live however you want, dress however you want. It's your life, go for it. But...when someone starts to judge me it kind of puts things in a different perspective. Now I'm not saying she was daudy, but she definitely looked...comfortable. Nice loose shirt, loong simple skirt all capped off with a nice pair of what looked like orthopedic shoes. Maybe she had a bad back or bad knees, but these shoes definitely looked like...well....grandma shoes!

Do you remember what grandma shoes look like? No? Well here is a subtle reminder:

BAM!

What? You don't like tan? Well then here you go...

And just looking at this ad makes me feel old...

I'm sorry but NO ONE looks forward to wearing grandma shoes...not even grandma's! Not even in this poem. If leaving the heels behind determines how much into Mommyhood I'm getting then I'm losing and I've never like losing so much!! And let it be said, I am not knocking the elderly or women who like to dress like the elderly. I'm merely stating that you will not see my ass in ANY of the shoes above. Ever. Ever ever ever.

Wow, all this talk about shoes makes me want to buy a new pair! Anyone want to go shopping??

(Mariah Carey's shoe room and my dream closet. I don't like Mariah Carey anymore but I love this room)

Sex: The Stress Buster

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:33:00 +0000

With finals, work, doctor appointments, potty training, and school and just being a mom can cause a lot of pressure and stress. What better stress reliever than with the good old power of sex!

According to an article on About.com, they give examples how sex can help even the most stressed out mom. They list many scientific research about sex, stating that sex and physical intimacy led women to feel less stressed and be in a better mood the next day. Additionally they note that sex can lead to less of a stress response during challenging situations, such as when about to take test.

Aside from these scientific findings, sex has some obvious stress management components. In addition to effectively taking your mind off of your worries for a decent period of time, sex provides some of these other stress management benefits:

Sense of Touch: Studies show that massage can be a great stress reliever. In fact, we need touch for our emotional health; studies also show that babies who are not touched enough can fail to thrive, and touch continues to be important into adulthood.
Social Support: People who have a supportive social outlet tend to manage stress better, live longer, and enjoy increased overall health. The type of emotional intimacy that sex can help supply is good for you!
Endorphins: Sexual activity releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones.
Physical Workout: Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you can burn a lot of calories during sex, and gain the stress management benefits of exercise as well.
Deep Breathing: This deep, relaxed type of breathing relaxes your body, oxygenates your blood and reduces the stress you feel.

Orgasms Good For Your Health

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:07:00 +0000

We all know that sex is good but we might have underestimated HOW good it actually is for us. As per this article on About.com they examples of research that has been done that lists the many benefits of orgasms and why we should put them on our "Things To Do" list, no pun intended. Ok...pun intended

A UK study which looked at the relationship between having frequent orgasms (two or more per week) and mortality in men. At a ten year follow up the researcher found that men who had frequent orgasms had a significantly lower risk of death than men who did not have frequent orgasms.
Several studies have hypothesized that hormones released during arousal and orgasm, specifically oxytocin and DHEA, may also have protective effects against cancer and heart disease.
Research has also pointed to the sedative and relaxing effect of oxytocin and other endorphins released during orgasm, which may explain why people use masturbation as a way to get to sleep, and why sex is a great way to deal with stress.

It’s also worth pointing out that orgasm and sex play in general can be a wonderful form of exercise. Frequent sex and orgasms can bring with it the benefit of other good cardio workouts.

Make Your Kid's Room City Savvy

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:26:00 +0000

Living in an apartment in the city can be not only costly but you are more than likely subjected to limited space for your family. So how can you make a room stand out without spending crazy amounts of money? Here are some tips how to make a modern kids room creatively and without breaking the break.

Use bold colors

This kids room from Freshome is littered with great ideas for modern kids room. They note that colors like sage green, yellow, red, and chocolate brown can be paired with neutrals white, black or tan to give a modern take on kid’s décor. By using gender friendly colors like this mandarin orange paint with accents of pink keeps it girly without going over the top. Typically using large scale furniture can make a space look and feel smaller but if you only use only a few key pieces they will stand out without dominating the space.

Get the look:

Buy large bookshelves that are multi-functional
Invest in a sleek comfy chair

Mix old with new

This kids room from Ohdeedoh showcases a blend of old and new, using modern and simple colors by using the pea green and white and loft bed and adding vintage toys and accents.
Smart Deals on Looks the Kids will Love only at Target.com

Get the look:

Shelving system is available at Ikea or the Shelving Store (use link below for discount!)

Save 25% Off Storewide During The "Back To School" Sale

You can get a similar paint color at Glidden
Purchase simple bins for storage at the Container Store
Get a cool vintage looking lamp like these from Lamp in a Box

Opt for alternatives to picture frames

By using simple furniture with storage and adding accents to the wall you not only increase the height of the wall but you add an element of originality!

Get the look:

Invest in a crib with storage at bottom or one that turns into a toddler bed.
Buy cool wall decals. There are some available at Toys R Us that are a great price!

Air & Water Show Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Moms in the City) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:43:00 +0000

(It was so hot out it melted the cheese on my sammich. Whoa)

There was so much fun at the Air ans Water Show this year. Although I have lived in Chicago for almost 5 years this was not only my first time but I shared this virgin experience with my sister and with my mini bear!

I think by far my favorite was the Blue Angels. They were awesome! Here is a glimpse of what they did.

I totally suggest it for next year if you happen to be in Chicago.