Tip for a Healthy You

Resistance bands are a comfortable and affordable at-home exercise option for strength straining.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Yoga may be relaxing but you can also get a good workout. An hour of yoga can burn up to 350 calories.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Avocados can be your secret weight loss partners. They're high in fiber and healthy fats, giving you a meaty-tasting meat alternative.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Use mustard instead of mayo. You can save 85 calories just by swapping mustard for mayonnaise in a sandwich.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Mint Color Trend

One of the top color trends right now is mint. Mint is everywhere. Clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it. I'd have to agree. I really like the color mint. It's a color that can make any outfit pop.

Tip for a Healthy You

Try a plain Greek yogurt with frozen berries for a pre-workout boost.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Eat a fiber-filled apple before a meal to help you feel full faster.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Avoid sugar. Make sure you check food labels and avoid anything with more than 4 grams of sugar, especially high-fructose corn syrup, per serving.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Eat breakfast. People who eat breakfast have a better shot at losing and maintaining weight loss.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Fat-free isn't always better. Beware of "fat-free" or "zero trans fats" foods as you could be trading fats for huge amounts of sugar or sodium.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Skip soda. You'll be amazed by how much weight you drop by simply switching to water.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Wear a pedometer. A pedometer can help keep track of your steps. If you're not getting 10,000 steps a day, you're not moving enough.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Slow down. Odds are you're eating too fast. Try holding a conversation while having a meal, so you're not gulping down more than you need to feel full.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

Create emergency packs filled with healthy foods such as nuts, fruits or sliced vegetables to help you avoid unhealthy temptations.

-Dr Oz, Weight-Loss Tips

Tip for a Healthy You

It's time to relax. Pick a day and rewind. Put a temporary ban on all social media since it can increase stress.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 186

Tip for a Healthy You

Walk. Just 10 minutes of physical activity can boost your mood.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 184

DIY Beauty Products

Do you love making homemade gifts? Why not make DIY beauty products? Body scrubs, face masks, and bath salts are easy and surprisingly inexpensive. Package each homemade blend in a simple, sealable jar with a string of baker’s twine for a thoughtful holiday gift nearly anyone on your list would be thrilled to receive.

Check out the beauty products below on You Beauty's website:
-Coffee Body Scrub
-Lavender Bath Salts
-Yogurt and Honey Face Mask
-Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub
-Peppermint Foot Scrub
-Orange Lemon Salt Scrub
-Rose Bath Oil
-Orange Sugar Lip Scrub
-Peppermint Body Oil

Christmas Decorations 2013

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to decorate my house for Christmas. I have decorations from the past few years and I'm slowing growing my supply. I'd have to thank my Mother-in-law for most of the decorations and of course the dollar store. lol. If you saw some of them, you wouldn't think they are from the dollar store.

Tip for a Healthy You

Hydrate. Even mild dehydration can hinder your ability to focus. Drink lots of water and opt for water-rich edibles such as apples, celery, tomatoes, and spinach.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 184

Chicken Tacos / Chicken Taco Salads

Tacos are a traditional meal. There are many variations. You can use a tortilla or none at all. Beef or chicken.

Tip for a Healthy You

Read a book. Just 6 minutes of reading is enough to lower stress by 68 percent.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 186

Tip for a Healthy You

Chew gum. The repetitive motion improves concentration, which makes it easier to tackle bigger tasks.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 186

Tip for a Healthy You

Reach out to an old friend. It'll boost your mood and your health. Research shows that people with strong connections to a wide circle of friends, family, and community live longer, healthier lives.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 186

Holiday Pancakes

Who doesn't love pancakes? There are so many varieties. Do you go with the traditional buttermilk flavor or do you add chocolate chips or fruit?

Tip for a Healthy You

Help boost your immune system by watching a funny movie. Studies tie laughing to an increased production of protective antibodies.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 184

Tip for a Healthy You

December is the most stressful month for couples. To instantly defuse tension, hug your significant other.

-Better Homes and Gardens, December 2013, page 182

Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Homemade Noodles

They say that chicken soup is for the soul. It is one of the top soups to eat when it is cold outside. Plus it helps you feel better whenever you are sick.

Here is my recipe for chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.

Homemade Noodles

Homemade noodles changes the way a soup tastes. It takes it to another level.

Here is my recipe for homemade noodles.

Fashion Tips & Tricks

Who loves fashion? I know I do. There are so many fashion treads out there. Some I love and some not so much.

Sometimes we may think we know everything about fashion, but we may need a little help in the right direction.

I was browsing Pinterest and I came upon an article of fashion tip and tricks. I have picked 10 tips and tricks to share with you.

Katie - Year 2 Album

On October 21, my daughter Katie turned 2 years old. I have started a tradition of making a photo album on Shutterfly.com throughout my daughter's life. I have made an album after Katie's 1.5 months, after 1 year, and now after 2 years.

Coffee

Coffee. I love the taste and smell of coffee. I have to take a big sniff whenever I walk down the coffee isle in a grocery store. What was even better, when I was pregnant with my two girls, the aroma was stronger.

Home for the Holidays

It is that time of season again. The holiday season is officially here. Everyone is running around getting ready for Christmas.

The holidays is filled with lots of food, shopping, fun, and laughter. What else it is filled with depends on you.

Tricks to Get Kids to Eat Their Vegetables

Do you have problems getting your kids to eat their vegetables? I sure do. My two year old can be picky about what she eats. And if she doesn't feel like eating it, she won't. There is only few number of vegetables that she will eat by themselves and others I have to find other ways for her to eat them.

Below are few tricks for getting your kids to eat their vegetables:

Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes

My daughter, Katie's 2nd birthday was about a week ago. I wanted to make her cupcakes for her birthday party, which was Minnie Mouse themed. I used a lemon cake/cupcake recipe I had and added raspberries to get the pink color. Thanks to my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

The cupcakes turned out amazing and had so much flavor. Here is my recipe for lemon raspberry cupcakes.

BBQ Cheeseburgers w/ Grilled Onions and Mushrooms

Who doesn't love cheeseburgers? This burger is different than the original patty. Add barbecue sauce to the hamburger patty and you get a very juice burger. Plus a sweeter taste. Top the burger with grilled onions and mushrooms for extra flavor.

10 Tips for a New Mom

I'm a proud mom to two little girls, Katie (23 months old) and Sophia (7 months old).  My life wouldn't be the same without them. I love seeing their faces every day.

I can't say that I'm an expert, but through my experience of taking care of my girls I've come up with 10 tips for a new mom to share with you.

Keep Your Mind Sharp

In order to keep your mind sharp, the nutrition researcher says to eat brain-boosters such as berries, caffeinated coffee, cocoa powder, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Random Acts of Kindness

What is kindness to you? Have you shown kindness to someone lately? Kindness may seem like a little thing, but it may make that person who received it have a good day. It may be as simple as opening up a door for a person or carrying groceries for an elderly person.

What random acts of kindness have you shown lately? What acts have been memorable?

Pizza for Kids

Does your children love pizza? My 23 month-old daughter, Katie, definitely does. Every time the toaster oven dings, she says 'Pizz!', even though it may not be pizza.

Katie normally eats pepperoni pizza Lunchables. I wanted to find a different way to make homemade pizza that can be quickly made. I came up with three different variations: pizza quesadilla, pizza toast, and pizza triangles.

Budget Decorating

So do you have a room that needs a lift in the look? Would even a few changes make a difference? If you are like me, you don't want to spend $500 - $1000 on a makeover. The bank would definitely break.

Do you want to know how to decorate a room without breaking the bank? I found 30 budget decorating tips + tricks in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine, August 2013, p 47-55. Below are 10 tips + tricks that stuck out for me.

A Bowlful of Benefits

Did you know that children who eat a bowlful of cereal regularly has benefits? A study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that children who regularly eat cold cereal for breakfast are more likely to be at a healthy weight than eating something else.

-Parents magazine, October 2013, page 97

Love Your Body

There are so many changes that comes with motherhood. One of them being your body. It'll never be the same like before you had kids.

One thing about the change of your body is how you perceive yourself. Do you accept the way you look no matter if you lost all the baby weight or not?

Entertainment for Toddlers

Does your toddler love to play with your tablet or phone?  Mine does. My 23 month old, Katie, asks me all the time to play with my phone. She loves to count, learn the alphabet, name animals, and so many other things.

But how do you stop your toddler from pressing other buttons that you don't want them to? There has been multiple occasions where Katie has called people. She has called Daddy, Grandma, and even my boss. Not good. lol

Fruit Wraps

I started making fruit wraps for my two-year-old daughter, Katie, and myself. Katie is hit and miss on eating certain fruit. It depends on the mood she is in. One way that I can get her to eat more than few pieces of fruit is to add it to a wrap. She loves it and scarfs it down.

The fruit wraps are great for breakfast or a snack. You can add whatever fruit you have in your house. It will taste good no matter what fruit is inside.

Pizza Crust

Do you love homemade pizza? Before all the toppings are put on the pizza, there must a really good crust.

Since I've been on the Fast Metabolism Diet, I have removed wheat out of my diet. (Here is my reasoning to removing wheat.)  I searched in the organic section of one of the local grocery stories. There are many pre-made crusts and mixes. Some of the crusts/mixes have wheat flour in them, which isn't what I wanted.

Chalk It Up to Allergies

I was reading in Parents magazine (September 2013, p 66) about health news. A new study in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that dustless chalk contains casein, which may cause kids with milk allergy to experience asthma symptoms. The symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath.

Most sidewalk chalk is dustless, so check the label if your child has a milk allergy.

If you want to learn more about what this study found, check it out on the Allergic Living website.

Peaches & Cream Sandwich

Lately, I have been making lots of new sandwich recipes that I found on Pinterest. I thought I would come up with my own creation of a sandwich with some of the ingredients that I had in my fridge. 

I grabbed few items and started making my sandwich. I had no idea how it would taste. It turned out good, so I thought I would share my recipe.

Baked Ziti

I first started making baked ziti when I bought the cookbook, "Cook This, Not That." I used their recipe for awhile until I tweaked it into my own baked ziti recipe.

Each time I make it, it's a little different. I add peppers and zucchini to the basic recipe, which I think adds a unique flavor.

Here is my recipe for baked ziti.

Sesame Chicken and Sesame Green Beans

I don't know about you, but I love Asian flavored food. I love cooking with sesame oil. It has lots of flavor and the aroma gets stronger as it cooks.

Here is my recipe for sesame chicken and sesame green beans. It's a perfect combination that works well with each other.

Organized Home Schedule

For the past month, I have been on a weekly schedule. Before I started, all my tasks fell behind. Now I feel much better that things are getting done. It feels great to have a cleaner house.

If you would like to check out my blog post I wrote before starting my schedule, you can check it out here.

Lemonade for Sale

Do your kids like to sell lemonade? Well, they are in luck, because here is a stand they can use. They can decorate it however they would like. They can create a lemonade stand, puppet theatre, magic show, or anything else. Kids' imaginations can run wild.

Red Pepper Hummus Grilled Cheese

Are you tired of the basic grilled cheese sandwich? If so, here is something different for you!

A red pepper hummus grilled cheese sandwich. I created this sandwich this week since I wanted something healthier than a regular grilled cheese. I tasted it and thought it was really good!

Here's how to make it:

Candy Corner

Do you have lots of candy or treats for the kids (or for yourself)? Where is the best place to put it? Do you have it hidden away out of sight?

Why not display it! Create a little candy/treat corner of all your goodies. Use candy jars and decorative tins to make your corner in your kitchen stand out.