OceansideMommies

Invitation to free new website that helps moms better manage their kids’ group activities

2013-08-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Mommies,

I am a fellow member of the Mommies Network and the creator of a new website called

Podanize, which helps moms, dads and group leaders better organize their kids'

group activities (e.g. soccer, scouts, school classes, etc.)

Kids today are overscheduled, and keeping up is a challenge:

• What day did I volunteer at school to go read with the kids?

• Who is driving to the scout meeting?

• When am I signed up to bring the team's snacks?

These are just a few of the many little details that busy parents have to keep straight.

Try as we might, something inevitably falls through the cracks. We all need a little help

to stay organized.

I’d like to invite you to join our brand new website. To join, just go to http://

www.podanize.com and click Get Started to create a "Pod" for any real-world group, or

even just your family for now. You can create a Pod if you’re a group leader or a group

member. It’s quick, easy and free. Then "get your Pod going" by adding discussions

or events, and inviting others to join your Pod. Podanize can also be accessed via a

mobile browser, and our mobile app will be available in late 2013.

Our mission at Podanize is to help ease the stress that comes with keeping our

kids active and involved. To this end, we welcome any feedback you have. Podanize

is for you and is built to get better over time by adding your suggestions – I’d love

to hear from you. Also, if you know of other moms (or dads) who might benefit from

Podanize, please share this with them.

Podanize is ideal for all extra-curricular activities: soccer, little league, playgroups, scout

troops, swim teams, theater groups, school classes, PTA, etc. The list is endless and

includes anything with a need for ongoing communication and coordination.

Again, just go to http://www.podanize.com to get started.

Best,

Nikki Sacks

Co-Founder of Podanize

nikki@podanize.com

The Compassion Experience ...

2013-03-14T19:54:00.003-07:00

Experience Life In Another Culture and Get Free Concert Tickets! Have you ever wondered what life is really like in other parts of the world? Have you ever wondered how to explain to your kids that they have it pretty good compared to some kids who live in other countries? What if you could see daily life on another continent — and give your kids an experience they won’t forget — without getting on an airplane?

At Change the Story: The Compassion Experience, you can do just that. Your destination? Uganda. India. Bolivia. Your tour guide? A child who lives there, waiting to give you an inside look into their world — how they live, the streets they walk, and why their stories will never be the same.

This one-of-a-kind event is made up of 3,100 square feet of exhibit space that will immerse you and your family into the environment of the developing world. You’ll step inside homes, walk through markets and see schools. You’ll experience first hand the challenges that a life in poverty presents, but will also experience each child’s special story of hope.

It’s an amazing opportunity to see a different world that is usually only experienced by traveling overseas. It’s also a chance to not just tell your kids about poverty, but to let them experience it — all in a safe and controlled environment. Hear what Dove award winning recording artist Matthew West had to say about bringing his family to The Compassion Experience:

Matthew West Testimonial from Compassion International on Vimeo.

The Compassion Experience is coming to Costa Mesa this week — it will be at Vanguard University (55 Fair Dr. - Costa Mesa, CA 92626) March 13-17. It’s a complimentary event, brought to you by Compassion International, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, and 95.9 The Fish radio. It takes about 20 minutes to complete the tour. You’ll also receive free tickets for you and your family to attend a free concert withMoriah Peters and Tim Timmons .

Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are recommended to avoid waiting in line. Click here to reserve your spot now or visit Compassion.com/change for more information.

Share this event on Facebook Connect on Twitter

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Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children—enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Compassion has been awarded eleven consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

Making a list, Checking it twice

2012-11-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

Don't get caught on the Naughty List because you forgot to order customized Santa Letters for all your favorite kids!

For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, you can send the magic of Christmas to any child. A unique letter that you personalize will arrive from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. Choose from a variety of themes including The Reason for the Season and School Days templates. Each one is special- just like the children.

Act now before Santa gets too busy making toys and packing his sleigh! Ordering is open through Tuesday, November 20.

Proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

You better watch out; You better not cry

2012-11-13T06:18:00.004-08:00

Santa Claus letters are coming to town!

This year share the magic of the holidays with your favorite children by ordering personalized letters for each one. Each unique letter will be mailed from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, choose from one of our eight templates to customize the perfect letter for each child on your Nice List. Whether it be Baby's First Christmas or encouraging an older kid to Keep Believing, we've got the right message for Santa to send!

Santa gets very busy this time of year, so place your order by Tuesday, November 20. All proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Place your order today by clicking on our Santa Letter campaign here, on our forums, or through our facebook event that you can share with all your friends and family.

Sponsor Highlight: Just Between Friends

2012-03-03T08:19:00.001-08:00

Just Between Friend San Diego (North) Provides Financial Relief to Local Parents!

Hi, my name is Randi Smee, organizer of Just Between Friends San Diego (north). As a mother of three, living in San Diego, I know how costly it is to raise a family in Southern California. I also know how important it is get the most out of your budget. The economic downturn has been difficult on all of us and Just Between Friends is stepping up to help. Just Between Friends is a children’s and maternity consignment sales event where you can SHOP, SELL, OR SAVE!

Our spring sale will be held March 23rd – 25th at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real Mall in Carlsbad. Consignor/Sellers can earn up to 70% on their gently used items. Consignors simply sell the items they no longer need as their children grow and then purchase what they DO need at great savings. Our average consignor earned $200 and our top consignor earned over $1000 at our fall sale. We also provide a free online tagging system (www.myjbftags.com) where you can easily create your own tags! We host an exclusive presale for volunteers, consignors, military families, 1st time parents, and teachers. New this year we have a “Prime Time” shopping pass available for $10 dollars. This is a special opportunity for shoppers to gain access to the presale without consigning or volunteering.

Shoppers can expect well-organized venues with quality merchandise where they can find all they need for their family at substantial savings--usually 50 to 90% off retail prices. It's a savings cycle that has helped thousands of families across the country make the most of every budget dollar. Just Between Friends is glad to serve families with their savings events. This season our admission fees and donations will go to our local partner, the San Diego YWCA.

Schedule:
March 22nd – Presale (entry times posted online)
March 23rd – 10am – 8pm Open to the Public
March 24th- 10am – 4pm Open to the Public
March 25 – 10am – 4pm Half Price Sale!

Check out this YouTube video to see what a JBF event looks like (this is one of the largest events)!

Website: www.JBFSale.com (click on the San Diego North event)

Facebook: Just Between Friends San Diego North

This blog was created and is actively maintained by The Mommies Network, Inc. (TMN) Any and all information published is for informational and/or promotional use only. TMN receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product and/or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified. Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this blog. Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the advertising opt-out page(http://www.google.com/privacy/ads/). Any questions regarding this blog can be directed to The Mommies Network at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2012-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

OceansideMommies' fabulous Flower Power fundraiser is drawing to a close, so if you haven't placed your order yet, now is the time! It's never too early to plan to improve your curb appeal or beautify your backyard. From begonias to tiger lilies and everything in between, Flower Power is the place for quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money guarantee. This fundraiser runs until March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms. Time is running out! Save time, money, and gas by planning your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Spring over to http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240230/ZtJA5pzZ0QBx, and check out the wide array of lovely lilies and pretty peonies, among other bulbs. As a bonus, if you spend $40 or more, Flower Power will send you a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value. So what are you waiting for? Don't delay: Grow with us today! Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

Free Premium Membership Access for a Limited Time

2012-02-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

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Ever wonder what's so special about Premium Access to the National Forum? For a limited time The Mommies Network is offering FREE access to premium content like Debate This and Buy/Sell/Swap to all members.
See what you've been missing by logging on to <a href="http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/nationalforum/index.php">http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/nationalforum/index.php</a> and get started today.


Free Premium Access is available to all current and new members of The Mommies Network National Forum. It is available NOW through April 30th.

Learn a New Language During Cultural Awareness Month!

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Have you been checking the National Chapter and participating in Cultural Awareness Month? In our Multicultural Mommies forum, we’re talking about foreign languages and discovering fun facts about different cultures. Join the celebration, and add some new words and phrases to your linguistic repertoire!

Do you have something to add to the conversation? Share your knowledge with other moms who are learning a language with their children. Go global with TMN as we highlight the many languages and cultures that make our world wonderful!

This Week With the Mommies

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, OceansideMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

This Week With the Mommies

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

February Is Cultural Awareness Month!

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.

According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign language from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!

Menu Monday: Cherry Almond Cookies

2012-01-30T06:05:00.000-08:00

Someone posted a recipe for Honey Oatmeal cookies on a forum I belong to yesterday and I had to bake some up. The cookies are soft, chewy and the honey in the background gives the cookies another layer of flavor. When I saw the recipe I thought about what went well with honey and thought almonds. And almonds go well with cherries. So I added almond extract, dried cherries, almond extract and some white baking chips/almond bark. The result? YUM.

The girls ate them up. DH at first thought I put raisins in cookies, but then he said "I knew they couldn't be raisins", no kidding. Next time I am going to try subbing wheat flour for the AP flour and palm sugar instead of the brown sugar and increase the honey a little bit. Just to experiment with different sugars- palm sugar has a lower glycemic index than brown sugar, not because I think the cookies need improvement.

3 TBS unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 TBS water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda- I used 1/2 almost 3/4
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
the original recipe said any amount of the following- dried figs, chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, currants
I added-
1/2 cup dried pitted sulfured cherries
1/2 cup white baking chips
1/4 cup chopped dry roasted almonds
1/2 tsp almond extract

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Grease a cookies sheet or cover one with parchment paper.
Piglet helped me sift some ingredients.
Sift- flour, soda, salt.

Beat the butter and sugar together. Add the honey, water, egg and extract. Beat well. Add the flour mixture and mix.

Stir in oats, mix well. Stir in cherries, chips and almonds.
Bake for 12-15 minutes
I baked them for 12 minutes.

Post provided by the Please Give Peas a Chance Blog.

This Week With the Mommies

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Making and Keeping Friends at Different Stages of Life

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Friendships are often one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling parts of our lives. Not only do they provide us with company to engage in enjoyable activities, but they enrich our lives through shared meaning. Support systems have been linked to higher levels of happiness and improved overall health. While some friendships may only last for certain periods of time, others extend over a lifetime, and most of us recognize these relationships as some of the most important we will have. Even for people who generally feel they don't have trouble making friends, there are stages in life when this task may seem more difficult, leaving us feeling lonely or doubting our abilities to connect to others. If this feels like it is true for you, or you've noticed that this might be the case for your child, here are some ideas that might help in this process.

Children
With all the exciting activities that occur at this age, children may feel overwhelmed with the task of fitting in with their peers. Although you want their education to come first, making friends is most likely to be at the top of their agenda, and is also important to their development. Here are a few ways you can help your children establish relationships with their peers:

1. Teach your child important social skills that are essential to establishing and maintaining friendships such as sharing, listening, following rules, and playing fair. Allow your child to participate in events and activities that enable them to practice and implement these social skills. You can reinforce positive social interactions through verbal praise and, if this is something that is a real challenge for your child, through a structured reward system.

2. Provide opportunities for your child to play and socialize with other children their age such as play dates, sleepovers, car pooling, and extra-curricular activities. They should interact with their peers from school and in your neighborhood.

3. Read books with your children that teaches them about friendships and social skills.

4. It isn't uncommon for children to be timid or anxious about making friends. Be attentive to any red flags that your child may display that could indicate he or she is having trouble such as throwing tantrums, withdrawal from you more than is normal for them, or other changes in behavior or emotions.

Teenagers
During the teenage years, your son or daughter will encounter many possibilities to make friends such as participating in athletics, attending school events, and participating in extracurricular school activities. This is also a time when 'fitting in' and feeling connected to peers seems the most important to them, so not feeling part of a group or connected to people can feel especially difficult during these years. Here are some ways to help your teen navigate their social world:

1. Let your teen see how you interact with your friends. Because they are entering the young adult phase, it is important for them to see examples of mature, adult interactions. This can also help your teen better understand how positive friendships in adulthood look. If they are willing to go, take your teen to lunch with you and a friend.

2. Encourage your teen to partake in social activities that would enable him or her to meet other teens. This can include going to the movies, attending a dance, or eating dinner with a group of their peers. You can use your home as a 'safe' location for teens to hang out, yet still have adult supervision, by giving them a private area or room to spend time.

3. Talk to your teen about the meaning and importance of friendships. Discuss what makes someone a "good friend" and how to resolve conflicts and/or manage meaningful friendships they may have with others.

4. Monitor how your teen interacts with their friends. If you feel he or she is in an unhealthy relationship with one of their peers, attempt to provide guidance.

Post college-graduates
The college years provide young adults with numerous opportunities to meet new people as well as gain unique experiences. However, upon graduating, many people find it difficult or overwhelming with having to "start over" and meet new people, especially when relocating to a new town or city. Here are some ways that might help you connect to others after college:

1. Get involved in your local community. Join clubs, teams, or other extra-curricular and/or service based groups that allow you to meet and interact with others on a weekly basis. Working with others to reach a common goal is a great way to connect, and takes some of the pressure off this process, as you already share a common interest.

2. Invite people to engage in some sort of activity such as going to lunch, getting coffee or a drink, or hanging out at your place.

3. If you're shy or lacking in confidence, don't be discouraged because these feelings are not uncommon. Talk to someone else who has dealt with this stage of life, too.

Adulthood
As we enter adulthood, we often feel settled into patterns of making and maintaining friendships. However, many people feel dissatisfied with their outlets for social connection or the number of people to whom they truly feel close. When we are set in our ways, we can lack imagination regarding ways and places to connect to others. Here are some ideas about how to connect to new friends as adults:

1. Attend functions in your community that cater to something you are interested in but may not have tried before. This enables you to interact with people who you will begin to see on a regular basis. This could be joining a local charity with regular volunteer hours, or taking classes at a community center.

2. Join a group that involves doing something you enjoy yet keeps you active such as a yoga class or a golf club. This allows you to meet people with common interests, providing conversation starters that help take the pressure off the anxiety provoking introduction and connection process.

3. Invite family over for dinner. You can consider choosing members you feel most close or comfortable with or those who you want to get to know better, and set a theme for a dinner party. If you are in a relationship, consider having favorite members of both yours and your partner's family over together. This can deepen pre-existing relationships and lead to more regular family events and connections.

If you find your child or yourself having a little more difficulty making friends than you would like, speaking with a psychologist may help identify barriers and provide ideas for help moving past them.

Written by: Lepage Associates Solution-Based Psychological and Psychiatric Services, 5842 Fayetteville Road, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27713 www.lepageassociates.com

Menu Monday: Homemade Cheesecake Ice Cream

2012-01-23T07:35:00.001-08:00

I made some cheesecake for Cherry Cheesecake bombs and I had some filling leftover. I decided to make this AMAZING ice cream. I decided to use a buttermilk base and it was perfect - the tang from the buttermilk with the cheesecake bites- PERFECT. I'm really enjoying being "back" in the kitchen lately and experimenting and coming up with fun things to try.

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla paste/1vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla

7 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar, I used Vanilla Bean Specialty Sugar - you can use a cup, I just don't prefer things overly sweet

2 cups buttermilk

Maraschino cherries roughly chopped(with some juice reserved)

Vanilla bean cheesecake chunks (I'll post that recipe soon also)

Graham cracker pieces- I gave the girls the option of graham crackers or oreos. They chose graham- I'm glad

Freeze the cherries and cheesecake in a single layer.

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and set aside.

In a heavy bottom sauce pan stir the vanilla into the heavy cream. Bring it to a simmer.

Temper the cream and yolk mixture. I can't stress this enough. Be patient unless you want scrambled eggs. To temper add a little bit of cream to the yolk mixture and stir it. Add a little more and repeat to bring the yolks up to temperature and then add all the yolk mixture to the cream.

I put some cherry juice into the buttermilk. Stir it up and add it to the cream mixture. Transfer to a container and cool in the refrigerator.

Follow the instructions for your ice cream/gellato maker. Right before it's done stir in the yummy goodness that's in the freezer along with the graham crackers. Transfer it all to a container and finish freezing it.

Can it get any easier?

Post provided by the Please Give Peas a Chance Blog.

Do You Have Flower Power?

2012-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some curb appeal? Do you need to beautify your backyard? Spring planting season may be a few months away, but there's no better time than now to grow with OceansideMommies! We've partnered with Flower Power to bring you a fabulous fundraiser to help you plan the garden of your dreams. Flower Power sells quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Gorgeous geraniums, tantalizing tiger lilies, and beautiful begonias are just a few of the many bulbs available and ready to be shipped to your door. This fundraiser runs Jan. 22–March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms. So save some gas and the trip to your local nursery or big-box store, and plan your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Visit http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240230/ZtJA5pzZ0QBx to view the enormous array of flower bulbs, and spring into Flower Power and OceansideMommies' fabulous fundraiser! Special bonus: Spend $40 or more to receive a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value. Grow with us! Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

Reminder: Ring in the New Year with TMN!

2012-01-20T08:00:00.002-08:00

The New Year's parties may have ended, but our sponsorship promotion hasn't! We're still ringing in the New Year at The Mommies Network with an incredible deal that will have you reaching for your noisemakers. Moms may have the greatest buying power, sharing business experiences and trends with one another. And since women make more than 80 percent of all purchasing decisions and control two thirds of the nation’s disposable income, targeting this group benefits your company. Resolve to reach this influential portion of the population by taking advantage of this limited-time promotion. With all new/renewed sponsorship agreements, your business will receive a complimentary blog feature (advertorial to include logo/product image and 500 words). Prepaid agreements receive a 5 percent discount and a complimentary two months on one sponsorship listing. Sponsors also receive 20 percent off event sponsorships. Offer expires Jan. 31, 2012. The end of the month is just around the corner, so what are you waiting for? Celebrate with TMN by taking advantage of this amazing deal. For more details on how your business can ring in the New Year with moms across the nation, please contact Jessica Van Dyke at Jessica.VanDyke@TheMommiesNetwork.org.

This Week With the Mommies

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

MOMics Comics - Making Baby Food

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Illustration by Rainey Niklawski from RichmondMommies.com, A3 for The Mommies Network

If you enjoy drawing or designing mom-centered comics of your own, consider contributing to our weekly "Momics" column! Send us an email at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org

Menu Monday - Rainbow Cake

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mondays can be great or one of those Mondays. For me today was one of those Mondays. My daughter decided to show everyone in BlockBuster what kind of demon crawled up in her by screaming and throwing her bag of M&Ms every where. She didn't stop screaming til we got to the car.

So I knew today was a good day to do some cake therapy. A good cake can take care of any problems. As soon as my daughter took her nap I hit the kitchen to make Rainbow Cake.

Rainbow Cake in Jar

1 box white cake mix made according to package instructions
Neon food coloring in pink, yellow, green, turquoise, and purple
3 one-pint canning jars
1 can vanilla frosting
Rainbow sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly wash and dry the inside of each canning jar. Spray the inside of each jar thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Take your one box white cake mix and make according to package instructions. To be honest I messed up and didn't use egg whites in my cake. Still came out yummy.

Scoop about 1/2 cups of cake batter into five small bowls. It doesn’t have to be perfect, don’t panic if you get a little more of less of one color than another. Tint each bowl of cake batter with the food coloring until very vibrant.

Note: I used more then 1/2 cups of cake batter in each bowl. I was cake hungry. If I do this recipe again I would only use 1/2 cup of cake batter for each bowl and make cupcakes with the extra batter.

Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the purple batter into the bottom of each jar. Spoon equal amounts of turquoise batter, then green, yellow, and pink. Note: I was not very clean with how I scooped the batter into the jars. I think next time I would use a funnel so the different colors don't mix on the side of the jar.

Place the jars in a shallow baking dish, add about 1/4″ in water in the baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Note: The cake will mushroom over the top. I used extra batter which caused the volcano effect.

Remove jars and allow to cool completely before scooping a small portion from the top of your cake and adding a hefty dollop of vanilla buttercream to the top. Sprinkle & serve, or cover with a lid and store in the fridge. In the end you will have a unique dessert for your loved ones. This dessert didn't come out as clean as I had hoped, but it reminds me of those sand bottles you make at carnivals and festivals. The important thing is that I had a blast and it made my day end on a happy note.

Post originally submitted to the CentralPiedmontMommies Blog on June 20, 2011

TMN Weigh-In Challenge News

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, and Happy New Year to everyone!

My name is Karen Skidmore, and I am the owner of Completely Fit, a personal training and fitness company located in Mount Airy, Md. I am a team leader for one of the groups in The Mommies Network Weigh-In Challenge.

All my team members have started off strong and are working very hard to accomplish their goals. They were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about their current nutritional and fitness habits, and answer questions about what changes they wanted to create. Based on that information, I have helped each person come up with a detailed action plan that will not only help to accomplish her goals, but more importantly, help to improve her lifestyle.

If you are looking to make a change in your life but are not a part of the Weigh-In Challenge, you too can do it with just a few small changes at a time.

If your nutrition is off track, start by taking away one unhealthy food once a week and replacing it with a healthy food.

If your exercise routine is off track, start by finding something you really enjoy doing — walking, biking, or swimming — and adding 10 minutes of that exercise to your day. Before you know it, exercise will have become a daily routine.

Be sure to track your results, as we do much better when we can see our progress.

I am very excited to be a part of this group and team, and I look forward to reporting our successes back to you each month. — Karen Skidmore, Completely Fit

This Week With the Mommies

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Post Partum Anxiety: A Personal Account

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

So many people talk about postpartum depression these days, and yet the awareness we all hope for is not even remotely close to existing. So how can I begin to imagine that same awareness for those of us who experience postpartum anxiety? Or can I?

Towards the end of my pregnancy I found myself awake at night, thinking and thinking. And thinking some more.

What is going to happen with this baby? Will s/he be okay? Will *I* be okay? Will childbirth go okay? What if my water breaks and my husband isn't home? (It did, but he was home soon after.) Is it going to be like in the movies? (It wasn't.) I think I have to pee again. Do I really have to pee again? So soon? Ugh. I wonder if something is wrong that is making me have to pee or think I have to pee like 900x a night. Is it normal? Is it possible something is the matter with the baby?

Damn, how is he asleep? How can he just lay there and sleep that way? So easily? Damn him. Closed his eyes and rolled over and that's that. It's his baby, too. He's going to have to take care of it. It. Everyone thinks he's a he. But I don't know. Should I know? Shouldn't I know by now, instinctual-ly or something like that? Don't most expectant mothers have dreams that tell them what their babies are going to be and aren't they almost always right? Why haven't I had that dream yet? Well, I guess I should know - I mean I'm NOT asleep. How can I be dreaming up the gender of the baby if I can't even close my eyes and fall ... I think I really do have to pee now. Sigh.

And so it went. Night after night until I suddenly realized I couldn't take much more of it. I wasn't sleeping. And if I did fall asleep and eventually woke up to go to the bathroom I could not fall back to sleep. It would take hours of my mind racing before I was finally able to shut it down. If only for a little while. I was exhausted.

I was a stay-at-home not yet mom, and I was so tired I could barely function. And I was having a healthy pregnancy. A really healthy pregnancy, with no issues at all. What was my problem? I didn't know - but I knew enough to decide that it was time to find out. I called my doctor.

Now, mind you, this was a few months before baby arrived. I was able to monitor my anxiety and manage things with a small dose of prescription medication. It was the right thing at that time for me. After baby was born I was on alert. Would I be exceptionally moody? Uptight? Angry? Overly-hormonal? A friend of mine who had suffered from pretty intense PPD after her second child called regularly. 'You're doing alright?' she would ask.

And my answer was always a resounding 'Yes,' as I felt I was doing alright. In comparison to what I experienced talking to her nightly into the wee hours of the morning during her postpartum experience, I was doing amazingly well. And I loved my baby. I never wanted to put her down. I rarely wanted to step away from her, but did enjoy the R&R provided by having family in town, as I knew that would soon end.

And then family left and headed home. My husband went back to work regularly. And my baby and I? We were home. Alone. Together. With our pets. And that was pretty much it. Holy crap! What now?

My anxiety didn't skyrocket as one would expect. It wasn't a level of heightened anxiousness automatically for me. But man, as soon as she hit that 3 month-mark of colic, reflux or whatever else that was combined, I hit that wall. And as she grew and started rolling and moving some on her own, I started climbing it. The wall - that is. Get her crawling and I was all about upping my meds. The anxieties increased. The nights of not falling asleep multiplied, as I was already a new mom. I was breastfeeding. And I was awake nearly ALL. The. TIME.

I used to joke about my experience being PPD-lite. Meaning I didn't have the mood swings and such that many a PPD mom will reflect on. I even coined the term PPA in my mommies' PPD support group, thinking I was the first to think of it. Ha. What did I know? I was a new mom, ya know?

Obviously I made it through those early days. I found a way to hang in there, to survive. There was so much going on, but having people to talk to - to count on - to listen, that's what made it pass so smoothly. And to remind myself of how strong I was, that helped make it all okay. But the interesting thing to me about postpartum anxiety is that it never really, truly seems to go away. Because - after all - you are ALWAYS postpartum after your child is born. At least that is my perspective, four years+ into motherhood. And so the story continues ... stay tuned.

Post submitted by Andrea from TriangleMommies.com
Originally posted on her Blog, Good Girl Gone Redneck on July 23, 2011

Menu Monday: Asian Noodle Salad

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

This cold noodle salad is actually made with linguine, but if you want to use soba noodles they would be wonderful too. There are quite a few recipes online for this dish, one at Pioneer Woman- probably most popular and here at Savvy Vegetarian.

So, here's how we make it around here.

1 pound cooked linguine or soba noodles. Rinsed with cold water

Vegetables and Herbs- pick what you like, this is great to clear out your fridge at the end of the week too- use a lot, they are soo good with the dressing. I forgot the spinach for this batch and didn't use broccoli.

Napa cabbage - 1/3 sliced thin
Purple cabbage- 1/3 sliced thin
Bell peppers- red, yellow, orange and or green - I use thee colors, slice half from each
English cucumber- peeled and sliced or regular cucumber peeled, seeded and sliced
3-4 stalks of tender celery with leaves- the inner stalks the leaves are so flavorful, chopped
Bean sprouts- a couple of hand fulls
Thinly sliced carrot- you can use a julienne peeler or buy grated carrots
1/2 cup of chopped cilantro leaves or Thai basil
1-2 scallions sliced
Baby spinach
Baby broccoli florets

Protein- Optional
Tofu- firm tofu, wrapped in a clean kitchen towel and weighted with a plate and canned good to press out the liquid. Cubed then fried in a little oil until crisp.
Chicken- leftover roasted chicken shredded or grilled

Dressing-
zest from 1/2- 1 lime
1 1/2 limes- juiced, I usually add 2 limes because I like it tart
3 tablespoons sesame oil
8-10 tablespoons olive oil
6-7 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar- not packed just lightly scooped
4-5 tablespoons of grated ginger- I use my micro plane (we love ginger)
3 cloves minced garlic, I grate it also
2 jalapenos seeded and minced (I use these as a garnish too)
1/3 cup Cilantro chopped

Garnish
Sesame seeds
Cilantro
Thai basil
Lime wedges
Sliced jalapenos

Whisk the ingredients for the dressing (except the cilantro) until the sugar is mostly dissolved and combined- I've also thrown everything in a blender and it works fine. Stir in cilantro. Toss the dressing on the noodles, protein and vegetables in a large bowl. Serve with garnishes.
This is best eaten the day it's prepared unless you leave out the napa cabbage, cilantro and Thai basil and sprinkle them on top when ready to serve.

Post submitted from the Give Peas a Chance blog.

This Week with the Mommies

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00