Glam Beauty: Superfoods for Better Skin

We all know the saying, "you are what you eat." It turns out it's more fact than fiction. What we put into our bodies has a direct effect on our overall physical well being. This is especially true with our complexion and skin in general. If you want to put your best face forward, try incorporating these super foods into your daily diet for better skin.

Blueberries: Loaded with powerful antioxidants such as reservatol, they can actually help prevent sun damage. Sun damage is often the culprit in the premature breakdown of collagen that causes sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles.  Blueberries have also been shown to reduce the effects of age related memory loss in clinical studies, click here for the study.

Bananas: Full of more than just potassium, bananas are a great source of melatonin. While melatonin has gotten the most notoriety for its qualities as a sleep aid., it is also a feisty antioxidant.  It helps fight the damage and premature aging effects caused by free radicals such as pollution and stress.

Cucumbers: These cool and crispy vegetables are high in silica. Silica has been proven to defend skin against inflammation which causes redness, acne, and irritation. They are also beneficial in counteracting the dehydrating effects of alcohol and caffeine.  Add a couple of slices to your salad to balance out that latte.

Broccoli: A long time favorite of Moms across the world, broccoli is also a lifesaver when it comes to keeping Mom looking young. Broccoli is full of the dynamic duo vitamins C and E, which join forces to repair damaged skin. Pairing these two superheroes boosts their skin repairing abilities and helps knock out the damage caused by free radicals.

Peanut Butter: Forget the beauty myth of soaking nails in gelatin, if you want strong nails and hair all you need to do is eat a couple PB and J’s with the kiddos. Peanut butter is chocked full of biotin which helps strengthen hair and nails. A deficiency is often the cause of dry and brittle hair and nails that are prone to breakage.

Walnuts: As we enter the winter season, our skin takes a beating from the elements outside and inside as heaters suck out what little moisture we had left. Help counteract those effects by snacking on oily foods such as walnuts. A handful a day will help protect your skin from becoming dry and tight during the cold months.

Instead of always relying on high priced creams and cosmetics, maybe give Mother Nature a shot with your skincare? It’s just a simple detour from the department store to the grocery store. Load up on these super foods for beauty and your skin will thank you!

Read more...

Back to School Brown Bagging: 64 Quick Lunch Ideas for Kids

Image by George Eastman House via Flickr

Back to school is in full swing and once again I find myself scanning the fridge and pantry for new goodies to add to my son’s lunch box.  While the PB&J sandwiches and goldfish always do the trick in a pinch, I can’t help but want to push the envelope a little more.  My goal for this year was to find some healthy alternatives that are easy to fix, inexpensive, and can survive being crammed into a backpack for hours.  After scouring the web and brainstorming I found 64 ideas to get through the brown bag blahs. 

1. yogurt covered raisins
2. cheese sticks
3. graham crackers with peanut butter
4. dried apricots
5. popcorn sprinkled with parmesan
6. fortune cookies
7. mixed nuts
8. pretzels with peanut butter for dipping
9. Marshmallows
10. peanut butter & Nutella Sandwich fingers
11. carrots with ranch dressing
12. turkey & swiss cheese tortilla wrap
13. baby corn
14. cherry tomatoes
15. black olives
16. celery with cream cheese
17. hard boiled egg
18. applesauce
19. baby dill pickles
20. peanut butter & banana tortilla wraps
21. wheat crackers
22. trail mix
23. banana chips
24. dried cranberries
25. cauliflower/broccoli with ranch dressing
26. thermos of soup
27. banana
28. mandarin oranges
29. pudding
30. strawberries
31. baked tortillas
32. watermelon balls
33. bagel with cheese
34. pasta salad
35. pineapple
36. pita triangles with hummus
37. cheese and crackers
38. granola bar
39. beef jerky
40. cereal mix
41. mini rice cakes
42. dry roasted edamame
43. yogurt covered pretzels
44. ham and cheddar tortilla pinwheels
45. Nutella and banana tortilla wrap
46. grapes
47. chocolate graham crackers and marshmallows
48. raisin bread & jelly sandwich
49. baby bagel sandwich with peanut butter
50. sugar snap peas
51. dried apple crisps
52. Nilla wafers
53. yogurt cup
54. tuna fish & crackers
55. English muffin pizza (sauce, pepperoni, cheese)
56. apple slices with caramel
57. granola with roasted nuts
58. cereal bars
59. graham cracker sandwich with peanut butter & bananas
60. homemade chex mix
61. yogurt covered pretzels
62. celery sticks and cream cheese
63. frozen fruit
64. turkey jerky

I’d love to hear your favorites!  Be sure to add your ideas in the comments below…

Read more...

How to Use the Ferber Method for Getting Baby to Sleep

Finding the perfect "surefire" bedtime ritual for baby can be a little tricky at the beginning.  Some babies fall into a natural sleep/wake cycle within weeks, while others take (what seem like) endless months to realize that "nighttime" means "sleeptime".  One technique that helped me with our less "sleep friendly" little ones was the Ferber Method.  If you're frustrated and sleep-deprived, it might be worth a try!
 
The Ferber Method is a sleep technique for infants developed by pediatrician Dr. Richard Ferber that encourages infants to use "self-soothing" techniques to achieve a better night’s sleep. Ferberization is suggested for infants at least 6 months old and has been cited as a highly successful sleep training method for babies that have difficulty sleeping through the night.

Step 1: PROVIDE BABY WITH DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
Ensure that baby's day is full of fun and exploration so that the infant will indeed be tired at nighttime. Excessive napping during the day can sabotage your efforts for getting baby to bed as they will already be rested. One tactic is to not allow your infant to sleep past 5pm, but the exact time will depend on baby's wake time, nap schedule, and ideal bedtime.

Step 2: DEVELOP A BEDTIME RITUAL
It's important that baby can distinguish between daytime (play) and bedtime (sleep). To do this you will need to develop a bedtime ritual that helps the infant calm down and prepare for a good nights sleep. One example of this would be a relaxing bath, story time, and a lullaby followed by goodnight kisses from Mom and Dad. Other popular bedtime rituals include infant massage, lavender scented bubble bath, the playing of a Heartbeat CD, or even listening to a song on a crib mobile. It doesn't matter which bedtime activities you decide to include, but ensure that the room is dark enough to signal its nighttime, that baby is warm but not too hot, and that the crib is free from any toys that may be distracting.


Step 3: LEAVE BABY IN BED AND LEAVE THE ROOM
At this point you will have completed your planned bedtime rituals and baby is dressed, diaper changed, and ready for bed. Let baby know it is time to sleep and quietly leave the room without hesitation. Your infant may start to cry and become upset, but it is important to leave the room without emotionally reacting to him or her.


Step 4: FOLLOW A "PROGRESSIVE WAITING" SCHEDULE
This final step is critical to success with the Ferber Method and the cornerstone of Dr. Ferber's sleep training technique. "Progressive waiting" is the practice of progressively waiting longer and longer between comforting the baby at bedtime to encourage the infant to learn how to soothe itself to sleep. For example, on the first night you may wait three minutes before returning to baby's crib and reassuring him/her and that it is time for sleep. Do not lift the infant out of its crib, but simply comfort the child with pats on the back, stroking of their hair, or giving the baby his pacifier. After briefly comforting the baby, once again leave the room as before. However, instead of waiting only three minutes before re-entering the room, wait five minutes instead. Keep practicing the "progressive waiting" at intervals such as 7 minutes, 9 minutes, and so on until baby falls asleep. The first night will most likely be the hardest, but with time baby will learn to soothe itself to sleep without your intervention.

Has this worked for you and your baby?  Leave a comment below, let us know your tricks!

Read more...

Kids Celebrations: Fashionista Party Fun on a Frugal Budget

The hottest buzzwords in celebrations for girls this year are “fashion” and “budget-friendly”. With shows like Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, and the newly launched “The Fashion Show” topping the primetime cable rankings, it’s easy to see why. While “fashion” and “budget friendly” might seem a bit of an oxymoron, a red carpet ready party can be done on the cheap. Here are some frugal party suggestions that are sure to please both your wallet and your daughter’s dreams of hitting the runway.

Invites

Give your invitees a taste of the creative fun they’ll have at the party by creating a hand made invitation. Buy blank card stock squares and adorn them with fabric remnants, ribbons, and buttons. You can either hand write the party information or use a graphic software program to print the information on sticker paper for easy readability.

“Calling All Fashionistas” Activity
Whenever I plan a children’s party, I like to get the kids started on a small, quick activity to get them rounded up and focused on a task. Once they settle in, I start explaining the next big activity which will be the highlight of the party and require the most concentration. For our fashion-themed party, a great starter activity is letting the girls create their own fashion design illustrations. Pick up an assortment of scrapbooking paper with different colors and patterns. Before the party cut these sheets into shirts, pants, skirts, belts, hats, etc. If you need help with the shapes, a simple Google search for “fashion illustrations” will provide images you can use as cut outs. First, have the girls draw their fashion girl on a blank piece of paper. Next, they can glue on their fashions to dress up their “model.”

“Ready For the Runway” Activity

With the warm-up behind them, the girls will now get their chance to put their design skills into action. The party-goers will design their very own high fashion tee! Materials needed include plain t-shirts (any size, color, and style), fabric paint, embroidery floss, scissors, and iron-on embellishments if it’s in the budget. Encourage the girls to change up the t-shirt by altering the neckline, sleeves, or length. A couple ideas to get you started are cutting the shirt down the sides and then hand sewing them back to together with embroidery floss in a contrast color, slitting the top of the shirt sleeve and then tying it back together with a decorative knot, or adding a v-shaped neckline in the front that’s accented with embellishments or turned into a collar by sewing the corners down with the embroidery floss. Once the basic alterations have been made to the shirts, the girls can put their creativity to work decorating the shirt with the fabric paint, iron-embellishments, or using the embroidery floss to sew graphics onto the shirt.

Once all the fashions have been finished, have the girls model their creations and then participate in a secret ballot to vote for their favorite creation. In the true spirit of ‘Project Runway”, the winning fashion designer would receive a special fashion related prize. Another fun idea is to create a red carpet backdrop and take pictures of the girls modeling their shirts on the “red carpet.” You can then send the pictures home with the girls to add to their “fashion portfolios.”

Party Favors

Party favors are always a highlight for party goers, especially when it comes to children’s parties. The girls will already be taking home their custom made shirts, so don’t worry about purchasing too many additional items for their goody bags. Finding some inexpensive bracelets, flip flops, or hair bands at your local dollar store will be perfect for accessorizing their new shirts. Throw in some fashionable stickers and candy and you should be good to go.

Fashion themed parties are really about exploring creativity and self expression, so feel free to let the party be as quirky or sophisticated as your daughter likes. After all, this is her day to be on the fashion “A List.” Have fun taking pictures of the design process with groups shots of the girls modeling their masterpieces. This fashionably frugal party is sure to become a treasured moment for the scrapbooks!

Read more...

Baby Clothes Care: The Secret to Removing Spit-Up Stains Forever

Shopping for baby clothes is one of the many highlights of expecting a new baby. With so many adorable fashions for baby available in the market today, it’s easy to have an overflowing closet before she’s even born. Inevitably, your precious little one will be sure to spit up all over your favorite as you’re racing out the door for a play date. Have no fear, follow these tips to ensure your baby’s outfit will live another day.

Fabric:
As you shop for baby’s necessities such as infant bodysuits, lap tees, and sleep suits, be sure to read the fabric labels. The best fabrics for baby are breathable, all natural fibers such as cotton. Cotton fabrics are also easy care and when washed properly, have a long wear life. Effective stain removal will depend on how resilient the fabric is and the range of temperatures it can be exposed to without damage. Cotton is one of the best fabrics for stain removal and highly recommended. The best way to preserve your baby’s stain friendly cotton clothing is to limit over drying in the dryer. Try to remove the clothes when they are still slightly damp and let them air dry.

Detergent:
There are several laundry detergents available today that are designed specifically for baby’s sensitive skin. They are free of dyes and perfumes that can possibly cause rashes on baby’s skin. Also, it’s best to wash baby clothing separate from the rest of the family. While it is possible to wash your entire family’s laundry in the same special detergent, it can become rather costly. Also, instead of using fabric softener to soften the clothes, try using ½ cup white vinegar. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and will also help remove any residual detergent that might be on the clothes.

Stain Removal:
Now that you have the basics covered, we can move on to actual stain removal. For the best results, you need to make sure you pre-treat the stain before washing. If you skip this step, the stain will more than likely become permanent. Baby stains such as milk spit-up are considered protein based stains. To treat the protein portion of the stain, you must first breakthrough the fatty acids with surfactants that are commonly found in stain remover pre-treat sprays. Let that soak a couple minutes to allow the fatty acids to release the protein portion of the stain. You can then apply a stain remover that is oxygen based to remove the protein stain. Allow that to set a couple minutes as well. Once that is completed, you can then wash the clothes as you would normally. Be sure to check the stain once the wash cycle is completed. If the stain is still noticeable, repeat the above steps. If not, continue to the final step of drying the clothes.

You now have the secret to keeping those nasty spit-up stains under control. Following these steps will ensure your baby clothes look as fresh and new as the day you bought them. Now, if we could only figure out how to keep baby from growing out their clothes so fast.

Read more...

Home Organization Tips for New Moms That Will Save You Time and Stress

Whether you are a new mom or welcoming home another addition to the family, one thing is for certain. You realize very quickly that organization is priority one. A Mom that understands this completely is Stacey Crew, founder of the GOPACK Method of organizing. She’s an organizational expert that teaches moms to stop being frazzled and start being focused. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at her new book, The Organized Mom and really enjoyed the philosophy behind her system.

I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. As I excitedly shared the good news with friends and family I always heard the same two things. First, “Congratulations!” and then “Enjoy it-they grow up so fast!” After hearing that over hundred times during the next 9 months, I kept wondering what they were talking about. I mean, yeah, they grow up. But 18 years is a long time! Right? It wasn’t until I had my little one in my arms that I truly understood what they meant. The first year was an absolute blur. Everyday it seemed like he was learning and doing something completely new and different. I was struggling to keep up with diapers, feeding, documenting everything for the scrapbook, and attempting to keep the house in order. I soon realized how fleeting time really was. The only way to truly enjoy every second of such a magical time was to be organized and ready for anything. The more prepared I felt, the more relaxed I was, and the more time I spent just savoring each moment with my little one.

I think one of the most valuable lessons Stacey can remind us of is the idea of being emotionally available for our children. Too often we get caught up in all the details. Did we pack enough diapers? Will we need sunscreen? Which snacks will survive the trip? The list goes on. As moms, we strive to plan and prepare for every possible scenario. However, we can fall into the trap of incorrectly correlating being prepared with being “present” for our kids. In other words, a well-packed lunch box doesn’t directly translate into a well-loved child. A meaningful chat over lunch is far more important that whether the PB and J was organic or not. To help find the balance between being prepared and being present, Stacey has put together some helpful lists and guidelines that can help moms navigate through the many aspects of parenthood. A few of the topics include a room by room guide for organizing, how to pack for the trip to the hospital, prepare the nursery for baby’s homecoming, and baby proofing basics. Stacey’s information is detailed, concise, and encouraging as she reminds new moms to always trust their “gut instincts.”

For more information on Stacey Crew and her GOPACK Method for preparing for baby, be sure to visit www.staceycrew.blogspot.com. Her book, The Organized Mom, will be available November 2009.

Read more...

Summer Music Series at Glamajama HQ's

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to join us!!! I promise to have more pics for next time...so much fun! ;)

The shows are the 3rd Saturday of each month...be sure to stop on July 18th! I'd love to see you there! ;)

All the Best,
Heather

Read more...