New Online Games for You and Your Kids!

We generally try to offer mothers important news and resources but we all need to take a break sometime so we’ve added some games that you can play with your kids. Check out the new games in our all new Games section: Family-Friendly Games

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day all you dads out there! Hope you’re enjoying a day all about you!

Enjoy it while you can, because tomorrow things return back to normal! : )

Have Kids Going to a Prom?

Anderson’s Prom and Party offers moms an easy online resource with school prom planning tips and products. Their very attractive site features; prom decorations, prom royalty, prom invitations, prom favors, and prom themes. You can learn more about them by visiting their listing in the School category of our directory for moms: Anderson’s Prom and Party

You should also check out this site: Prom Guide.

Shape Up By Summer - A Plan for Busy Moms

(Note: Gabby the author of this post is a mom and after checking out her Website I decided to let her share this post and I recommend you check out her Website. Not only is it one of best designed sites I’ve seen, but it is chock full of great information for moms looking to work towards getting in tip-top shape. Her site can be found at: GoToGabby.com)

By Gabrielle Reece,

I recently got this letter from a reader, who wants to make the final push to trim the baby weight off. Guess what? She’s high on motivation, but short on time. Sound familiar? Read on:

“Dear Gabby,

I’m a little over where I’d like to be on the scale, and would love to work
my post-baby belly flab off.
Ideally, I would like to weight 10 to 15 pounds less than I do, and just
improve my muscle tone and stamina. I’ve got two small children so it’s
pretty tough for me to get to the gym on regular basis.

However, I could fit in a 30 to 40 minute walk (some uphill, some down)
after school drop off in the morning, and I could also do 15 minutes of an
exercise video every afternoon. Would this amount and level of daily
exercise really make a difference in my body?

Thanks for the help, Gabby. I’m really want to look great in a bathing
suit this summer.”

Don’t we all?

I want to let all Mom readers know that understand about the “not having any time” story.  I believe most people — especially moms — feel this way.

MOVE IT TO SHAPE UP:

I’m a little over where I’d like to be on the scale, and would love to work my post-baby belly flab off. Ideally, I would like to weight 10 to 15 pounds less than I do, and just improve my muscle tone and stamina. I’ve got two small children so it’s pretty tough for me to get to the gym on regular basis.

However, I could fit in a 30 to 40 minute walk (some uphill, some down) after school drop off in the morning, and I could also do 15 minutes of an  exercise video every afternoon. Would this amount and level of daily exercise really make a difference in my body?

If you have 30 to 40 minutes a few times a day to walk that’s great, but maybe you can get more benefits by changing it up; Instead of just walking at the same pace start to add sprint interval sets.

Dr. Al Sears discusses the benefits to your body, heart, lungs, and even waist line by do something that’s called a PACE workout. Warm up, sprint (or light jog) for a minute, rest for a minute, sprint for 50 seconds, rest, sprint for 45 sec, rest, sprint 40 sec., rest, sprint 35 seconds, rest, sprint 30 seconds, rest, 25, rest, sprint 20 seconds, rest, and sprint 15 seconds.

Now you can do this on machines like a bike, treadmill or arc trainer but the key is as you decrease sprint time ADD RESISTANCE. This workout is fast and to the point. You will be huffing and puffing when it’s all said and done.

If I were you, I would do it with a friend since you could push each other, and have a little more fun. After you do the sprints, do three sets of squats for a minute each time, with a minutes rest in between sets.  Then do three sets of lunges, and then crunches where you reach to the ceiling.  If you can only do two sets the first few weeks (moving for a total of 30-45 seconds) that’s OK. Just get
started and you will improve quickly.

FUN FITNESS DVDS
If you want to do exercise DVDs I did an entire series of “Express 15″ workouts with all different kinds of themes (cardio, strength, 30 Day Challenge, etc.), and they are available in a kit (comes with all the  equipment you may need) or just the DVD itself. You can find the DVD on gotogabby.com, and the kits at
Target. I workout with a brilliant trainer Mike Monroe who really knows how to help people work hard and smart.  We created these specifically for those of you who “have no time.”

For other fun videos I think Turbo Jam, and the Zumba workouts look like fun workouts, especially for those of you who want to dance.

FOOD:
If you want to make other improvements take a look at what is going into your mouth. Try to avoid sugary drinks (juice and soda), wheat products, sugar, and reach for more real foods (non-processed proteins, veggies, and fruit).

I find Dr. Sears routine a great way to jumpstart your body change. I love this way of working out because it doesn’t take a lot of time and it really works.

Remember to always check with your doctor to make sure it’s OK for you to
exercise. If you need some motivation as you work out, just think about how
great you’ll look this summer.

————————————-

Gabby on the cover of Outside Mag

Happy Mothers Day

Find out what Wikipedia has to say about Mothers Day and its history. What is Mothers Day

Help Find Madeleine

ABC’s 20/20 did a story this week about the missing little girl, Madeleine. A year ago the world learned that the sweet little girl named Madeleine had been kidnapped from the hotel room her family was in while vacationing in Portugal. You’ll remember the media making their buck off of the story as it turned from tragic, to accusatory, to critical. It was as if the parents were to blame for the kidnapping of their own daughter.

I watched the special on 20/20 and couldn’t help to think how horrible this really is for Madeleine and her family. An innocent little girl apparently taken from her hotel room while her parents, both doctors, were enjoying dinner with vacationing friends 50 feet away at the hotel’s restaurant. I can think of no harder thing for a parent to have to live with. The only thing keeping their heads somewhat on straight is the fact that they still have to raise Madeleine’s younger twin brothers.

Amazingly Madeleine’s parents are trying to turn their nightmare into something positive for all of Europe by pushing for a European version of the Amber Alert system here in the U.S..

At this point Madeleine could be almost anywhere and it would be easy to write her off and try to block her out of our minds. Please don’t. Please think of her every day and maybe you’ll spot her, or maybe you’ll spot some $#@$%#@!! in the process of taking some other child and be able to help stop this worst possible crime.

To stay abreast of this sad story or to help Madeleine’s parents continue to investigate this kidnapping please visit their site at: Find Madeleine

Never forget.

Let’s hope someone out there who knows her whereabouts does the right thing. Let’s also do what we can to help prevent this from happening to any other child. Be alert, stay alert, help protect children that can’t defend themselves.

How to Find Time to Make Me Time

You can’t read anything anymore without stumbling
across some article that stresses the importance
of “me time”. You agree it’s important.  You know
you need it.  But the reality is there just isn’t
any time for it.  All of the hours in your day
are filled up and you really don’t feel as though
you can sleep any less than you already do.   Are
you just going to have to do without?

Absolutely not!  If you want to take me time, you
have to MAKE me time.

In an average 24-hour day, 8 hours are spent
sleeping (hopefully), leaving 16 hours remaining.
If you work outside the home, telecommute or run
your own business, you’ve committed 9-10 more
hours (including commute time, if applicable),
reducing the hours available to 6.

Getting ready for work in the morning and going
to bed at night may eat up another hour and a
half.  Now you’re down to 4.5 hours left in the
day.  But you still haven’t cooked dinner, done
any laundry, helped with homework, chauffeured
the kids around and picked up around the house.

How can you do all of that and take me time? By
spending that 4.5 hours more efficiently.

The following tips will help you to do just that.

1. Dinner doesn’t have to eat up (pun intended) a
lot of time.  Between slow cookers and delicious
30-minute meal recipes, dinner can be ready in 40
minutes or less.

2. While your food is cooking, wash some of the
dishes you used during preparation and set the
table.

3. Have your family help you get dinner ready.
It’s a great opportunity to get something done
AND catch up.

4. While you’re making dinner, have your kids do
their homework at the dinner table.  That way
you’ll be available for quick questions.  If they
need help with problems that will be more long
and involved, save those for after dinner.  In
the meantime, they can finish most of their
homework while you cook.

5. When you’re on the phone catching up with
friends or family, clean the kitchen.  It’s
amazing what you can accomplish during a
conversation.  Wipe down the counter tops, empty
the dishwasher, clean the inside of the
microwave, scrub the top of the stove, and wipe
the refrigerator door.

6. Use your toaster oven more and your regular
oven less.  Many toaster ovens come with a baking
or convection feature.  Use it as much as you
possibly can.  Not only will you save on your
electric bill but the toaster oven is much easier
to clean.  And when the trays get so that you
just cannot clean them anymore, throw them away.
You can purchase inexpensive replacements at Bed,
Bath and Beyond or Linens n Things.

7. Limit after school activities.  Yes childhood
is a time to try many different things—just not
all at once!  Limiting extracurricular
involvements will reduce the stress level in the
family; allow kids plenty of time for homework
and sleeping and help you keep your sanity.

8. Create a box or tote bag for yourself stuffed
with magazines you want to read, notes you want
to write, bills you have to pay, grocery lists
you want to make, coupons you want to go through,
etc.  Take this with you whenever you drive your
kids to their activities.  While you’re waiting
for them, get out your box and keep yourself
productive in the meantime.

9. Determine a laundry schedule that works for
you and stick to it.  Some families like to do a
little bit each day.  Some families prefer to do
it once a week.  The nice thing about laundry is
that you can put a load in and then go do
something else.

10. Make your house LOOK clean, even when it is
not.
a. Keep it clear of clutter.  When a home is
clutter free it looks cleaner, even if the dust
is piled up.
b. Insist that beds be made every morning.  It
really only takes a minute.
c. Don’t let dishes pile up in the kitchen sink.
Put them in the dishwasher.  If they are not
dishwasher safe, store them in there until you
have time to wash them.
d. Do not allow clothes to be thrown around the
room or piled up.  If they’re dirty, they go in
the hamper.  If they need to be dry cleaned, put
them in a bag specifically designated for this
purpose.  Otherwise hang them up or put them
away.
e. Room most items from the bathroom counter
tops.  If something MUST sit out, purchase an
attractive container to store it in.

This great article was submitted by Jackie McLaughlin.
Jackie operates Making Me Time.com
(http://www.makingmetime.com), a website
dedicated to showing you how to make time for “me
time” every single day! Subscribe to her FREE
monthly ezine full of tips and tricks to free up
hours in your week. Just send a blank email to
makingmetime-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Explain Easter to Children

It’s not easy to do, but you should take time today to try and explain Easter to your children. We know it’s not about the candy filled eggs or the bunnies and most children know that. But, do they really know what Easter is about?

The best source of help I came across for you was at More4Kids here: Explain Easter to Kids.

Make the Perfect Easter Basket for Your Toddler

Browsing online, I saw a toddler Easter basket selling for $65. Since when does a parent have to spend so much money on a basket filled with a stuffed animal, candy and plastic grass for a two-year old? You can spend a lot less and create a basket that’s even better because it’s tailor made just for your child.

Here’s how you make a perfect Easter basket that will not break the bank and make a great impression on your terrific toddler:

1. Start with a basket you already have at home. Don’t buy that Easter basket at the grocery store that you will use once and then pitch into your garage to be lost forever. Can’t find a basket? Look for a small plastic storage bin, decorate a shoebox, or extra plastic wastebasket. Nix the cellophane wrap.

2. Skip the candy and load up on healthier treats instead. Your toddler’s favorite fruits or crackers will do just fine. Or try a new brand of cracker. If your toddler is asking for candy, just include one small chocolate egg or a few peeps. Remember the less your toddler is exposed to candy, the better!

3. Instead of filling plastic eggs with candy, fill them with beans instead. Tape them up with colorful electrical tape and you’ve got a new shaker instrument. You can also fill the eggs with small toys or stickers.

4. Include items you need to buy anyway: a toothbrush with one of your child’s favorite characters, nice socks, new character underwear or pajamas.

5. Great toys to include are inexpensive items like crayons, sidewalk chalk, coloring books, toy cars, stickers, play doh, rubber duckies and other toys for the bath.

6. Celebrate the coming of spring with some outdoor activity toys like a Frisbee, bubbles, or ball.

7. Write them a simple note that says “I love you” or “Happy Easter.” Encourage them to say each letter in your note.

Create your basket with your toddler in mind. Include some of his or her favorite things and you’ll be sure to have a hit! And it will cost you a lot less than $65.

Happy Easter,

Arlene

———————————————–
Be sure to check out Arlene’s Websites at:

http://www.losingweightafterbaby.com or blog at http://losingweightafterbaby.wordpress.com

How NOT to Discipline Your Child

Granted there may be times you feel like, and perhaps should, hose down an unruly and dangerous teen, there is never a reason to stoop to the level Ms. Ramirez did in Florida when she sprayed her temper tantrum-throwing 2 year old with a high pressure water hose at a car wash.

Here’s an excerpt from the news report on Breitbart:

Authorities have arrested a mother who was videotaped spraying her young daughter with a high-pressure water hose at a Florida car wash. Deputies arrested Niurka Ramirez in Orlando on Friday on a child abuse charge.

Ramirez says she was trying to discipline her 2-year-old daughter for throwing a temper tantrum.

She told authorities she did not use the high-pressure feature on the hose when spraying the child.

Ms. Ramirez was released from jail and the child had no injuries after being “whipped” by the high pressure water spray.

The video below is the local news story and a short clip of the scene showing the mom spraying her daughter.

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