For Mom — Page 7

How a Biscotti Break Makes Mom Life a Little Easier

Today’s lives move so fast. We often forget to take a break, a moment to just slow things down and breathe… A photo captures a moment forever. – Do you take a “moment” just for yourself each day? I mean sure, it’d be nice if I was able to get out for a girl’s night out more often. Or maybe an afternoon of shopping, or a mani-pedi. Heck – some days it would be nice if I could just go to the bathroom by myself…. But, no matter how hectic the busy mom life gets, it’s important to find a way to carve out at least a little bit of time that’s just for you.

Yes, I know that taking a biscotti break isn’t the same as a day at the spa.

But it is a great little addition to my day – and honestly, it’s those little moments in each day that help keep stress at bay anyway, right? Nonni’s Biscotti is so perfect – high quality all-natural ingredients. The perfect combination of textures and flavors too – really lightly crunchy {not like the rock-hard store-bought biscotti’s that I’ve tried before}, with a great blend of sweetness. Seriously, these surprised me – The only biscotti that I’ve ever liked was the homemade version that my friend’s Italian mom and grandma used to make when I’d come to visit – but these Caramel Milk Chocolate bites are crazy good. I believe it when they call them an “Authentic Italian Family Recipe”, I’ve just never had such a good version that you could purchase off the shelf. They’re my new go-to morning snack… I slip out to the back patio with my newspaper, a bowl of biscotti, and a tall glass of iced coffee to dip them into – and for a half hour, it’s all me time, baby.

Share YOUR Biscotti Moment…

Nonni’s Biscotti wants to know how you enjoy a moment to yourself. If you have a great biscotti moment to share too, enter to win a trip for two to Hollywood for some REALLY great moments to enjoy, or a weekly product prize package. You can enter daily on the Nonni’s Biscotti Facebook page!

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Nonni’s Biscotti and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 21, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

Because Your Mommy Loves You…

“The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.” – James Bryce

I love books. I’ve always been a big reader, ever since I was a little girl. I excelled in school mostly because of the fact that I devoured books so quickly. I love the way you can get lost in a good story, learn things about yourself by reading about someone else, and be inspired by the words of others. And while children’s books are more simple than the novels I read now, they have their own kind of beauty sometimes too. My Sister-in-Law gave me one when Abby was a baby – Love You Forever, and it’s so perfectly written that it still makes me cry when I read it. The mother sings this song to her baby as he grows – “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living, My baby you’ll be.” Then, when he’s all grown up, and his mother is old and frail, he rocks her in his arms, and sings to her. Seriously – lump in my throat just writing it. And that’s what a good book does – it moves you. And this new book, a follow up to Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements, this story follows a mommy and son on a camping trip, and is a perfect combination of funny and sweet. Read more…

Because Your Mommy Loves You

“In this sweet companion book to Because Your Daddy Loves You, a little boy and his mom go on a hiking trip and camp out under the stars. Mommy is as calm and reassuring, but also goes far to foster her son’s independence in an encouraging and loving way. As heartwarming as its predecessor, this read-aloud book is sure to become a family favorite.”

About the Creators behind the story

Andrew Clements is the author of many best-selling books, among them the middle grade novel Frindle. He lives in Westborough, Massachusetts, and can be found at www.andrewclements.com. R. W. Alley is the illustrator of many beloved picture books, including the Paddington Bear series. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island. Visit him atwww.rwalley.com. With these two creating stories together, you know that you’re going to get something amazing.

“A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend.” – Unknown

If you’re a mom too, you will love this book. If you aren’t a mom, but have a special mom in your life – I guarantee that she would appreciate receiving a copy of these incredibly sweet book. Motherhood is a beautiful thing, and books like this remind me of what a special job I have as Abby’s mom. If you’d like to learn a little more about the book, you can find Because Your Mommy Loves You on Amazon – get a peek inside at the story, and order a copy to share with your favorite little ones. I love that this book teaches the importance of learning to do things by yourself. I think that is one of our most important roles as mothers – even when they’re little, we’re slowly preparing them for a future where they’ll be on their own. The more self-sufficient we can help them become, the more equipped they’ll be to enter the “real world” someday when they leave our little nest. Ah…. motherhood.

What’s your favorite children’s book? Share in the comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 21, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 17 Comments

Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish

With the Nutrisystem diet, I’m super excited for summer. I’m excited to finally wear a bikini again and rock my Mom-garita look, I’m excited to actually be able to jump in and have fun during our pool parties instead of hiding behind a big towel, and I’m super excited to have found some awesome recipes for summer BBQ’s featuring my fave Nutrisystem foods. When you’re a Nutrisystem member, you get access to a ton of cool online tools – including a super sweet recipe section. I found a Refreshing Summer Poke Cake, made with Nutrisystem Golden Pound Cake and strawberries, some super yummy sweet potato fries, and this one which is my favorite – Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish. Mmmmm – Super excited to try it this weekend.

Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish

Ingredients

Calorie-free pan spray, as needed
4, 4 oz. turkey burgers, extra lean variety
1 medium onion
1 medium red bell pepper, julienne slices
1 medium apple, peeled, cut into quarters
1 Tbsp. apple sauce (unsweetened)
1/4 tsp. cumin, ground
1/4 tsp. black pepper, as desired
Lettuce, as desired
Tomatoes, sliced
4 each burger buns, whole grain

Instructions

1. Heat grill or broiler.
2. Spray onions, peppers and apples with pan spray, place on grill or under a broiler and cook until all pieces are slightly charred and beginning to soften.
3. Cool vegetables and apples slightly, then mince all grilled items and place in a small bowl.
4. Add apple sauce, cumin and pepper to bowl and toss to blend. Allow to stand covered while you prepare your burgers.
5. Prepare turkey burgers on grill or under broiler. Place burgers on a bun and spread a portion of the onion-apple relish over each burger. Top with tomato slices and lettuce if desired.
Variations and Serving Suggestions:
Substitute extra-lean ground beef for the turkey burgers, or use the Nutrisystem® Flame Broiled Beef Patty or Nutrisystem® Grilled Chicken Breast, then top with relish. Yields 4 servings.

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/05/turkey-burger-with-onion-apple-relish/

I Heart Nutrisystem!

There are so many things to love about Nutrisystem, and these awesome member-submitted recipes are so incredibly helpful. Each month I get a huge shipment filled with all of my favorites – but even with all of that variety, sometimes you do crave “new” foods. Having access to these awesome recipes in my Nutrisystem account make is so easy to use my prepackaged foods to make super fun summer recipes.

Results for This Week

Ok, I have a confession. This week I didn’t lose any weight. Super bummed about that. BUT – I had two big parties for friends, plus a Mother’s Day brunch and dinner party. I’m learning to make better choices when I can’t eat my balanced Nutrisystem meals, but I did splurge a little this week. Luckily, I’ve been adding more exercise by going on daily walks with Abby, and followed the plan perfectly when I was eating at home – which prevented me from GAINING weight. So for that I’m grateful. And this week I’m just working twice as hard at losing a pound or two!

WANT TO GET YOUR PRE-BABY BODY BACK TOO?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 17, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 1 Comment

Quick Beauty Tricks for Flying in Style

Beauty Travel Tips Just in Time for Summer

Are you gearing up for a busy summer of travel? Whether it’s a fun summer vacation with the family, or an awesome conference like Reviewer’s Retreat or BlogHer ’12 – if you’re going to be flying, you need these quick travel tips! Benefit is my total favorite when it comes to cosmetics. You know I’m all about Smart Solution products that solve the challenges of my busy life as a mom, right? Well, Benefit makes the BEST in smart solutions. From my all time favorite beauty kit – Confessions of a Concealaholic – to the new They’Re Real! Mascara – the products have fun packing that makes me smile, work total magic even on super tired mornings, and are perfect for everyone. So – if you’re like me, and getting ready for a TON of flying around the country this summer – check out this video where Benefit, the beauty experts, teamed up with the ultimate air travelers, Southwest Flight Attendants. Love it!

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” – Gwyneth Paltrow

Now, if you’re a strategic shopper like me, and have loads of free Amazon credit earned from places like Swagbucks and Survey Spot, then you can find all of these products on Amazon, with free shipping – Some of the featured picks were Stay Don’t Stray and Posietint – both mini sizes to try out. Or, you can shop directly from Benefit – Find all of the pretty products in the Beauty on the Fly video, AND get a couple of freebies:

Get your choice of a FREE velvet eyeshadow in tickled mink with any $60 order using code TICKLED at checkout or a free creaseless cream eyeshadow/liner in strut with any $60 order using code STRUTUP at checkout.

Offer expires May 22, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST, and whenever you order over $50 at Benefit, you’ll always have free shipping included, no promo codes needed! And the Tickled Mink eyeshadow is my total go-to shade – it works on every skin tone, and glides on so smooth. You’ll love it too!

What’s your best Mom Solution beauty product? Share in the comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 15, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Having a Baby? Join the Free Baby On Board Bootcamp

“Families with babies and families without babies are sorry for each other.” – Edgar Watson Howe … This is so true. Before I became a mother, I thought that it would be the hardest job in the world. And it is. But it’s also the best – as all you mommas out there already know. But when you’re pregnant for the first time, planning a pregnancy can be super scary – trying to prepare for all of the immense life changes that are headed your way! We all know that having babies is expensive – but I have an awesome tool that will let you rest easier, by helping you to take a look at how your baby will affect your finances. Keep reading to find out how much it really costs to raise a child, and how to figure out how to manage all of those expenses.

“A baby is born with a need to be loved – and never outgrows it.” – Frank A. Clark

One of my favorite sites, LearnVest.com, has a great program called Baby on Board Bootcamp – and it’s totally free to join. Awesome, right? You’ll get tips on things like how to estimate what you’ll need for your new baby, how to reduce other spending to free up that cash, the best way to save on kids clothing, whether it’s more expensive to raise a boy or a girl – and so much more. I’ve done a few of their free bootcamps before, and they are super helpful. {It’s hard to believe that they’re free, right?}

“A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.” – Eda J. Le Shan

One of my favorite parts of this free Baby on Board Bootcamp is the Maternity Leave Basics section. This can be SUCH a confusing part of planning for a baby, and many mommas-to-be don’t know enough about the laws, their rights, and what they’re entitled to. This section also goes over the pros and cons of being a stay at home mom versus working outside the home, and helps you determine which one will be right for your new family. Great resources.

How To Join the Free Baby on Board Bootcamp:

Sign up for a free account at LearnVest today. The next screen you’ll go to will have budgeting tools – you can use those to enter your info now {it’s awesome}, or click the button on the bottom right to skip it and come back later. Next you’ll see a big screen with paid subscriptions – You can just click the bottom right again, to continue without upgrading. Now you’ll get a cool screen showing you a bunch of the free tools that are available to you in LearnVest – click “take me to my dashboard” in the upper right of that pop up box. Now – see that big list of FREE bootcamps available to you on the right side of your screen? Yep – you get all of those free! Things like:

Get out of Debt – How to figure out what you owe, and how to pay it off fast.
Priceless Style – Look like a million bucks, without spending it!
Getting Hitched – How to merge both of your finances, and plan for wedding expenses.
Ace Your Taxes – What to save, what to toss, and how to prepare.

And tons more. You’ll also find the latest articles filled with financial info that’s actually fun to read. Things like 7 Reasons TV is Ruining Your Life, or Why I Became a Mom at 44. You’ll get a weekly email with tips on staying stylish on a frugal budget, the best way to save on fresh fruits and veggies, and how to totally ace a job interview. You will love this site – pinky promise.

Be sure to enter to win in their big end of summer giveaway too!

Are you using LearnVest Yet? Let me know what you think of it!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 15, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 10 Comments

Free Cupcakes for People Like Us – Mothers!

Free Mother’s Day Cupcakes!

I told you about the other free cupcakes giveaway from Sprinkles Cupcakes last week, to celebrate the new movie People Like Us. Well now they’re doing another SWEET freebie – {yep, as always, pun intended. I’m so punny…} – On Mother’s Day, May 13, head into any Sprinkles Cupcakes location and say, “People Like Us” to get a totally free cupcake to celebrate people like us – Mothers! {And, watch for the movie premier, in theaters June 29, 2012.}

Like PEOPLE LIKE US on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/peoplelikeus
Follow PEOPLE LIKE US on Twitter: twitter.com/ PplLikeUsMovie

Love Cupcakes? Check out my Pinterest Cupcake Idea board filled with super fun ideas today!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 12, 2012 Filed Under: Freebies | No Comments

The Secret to Curling Your Hair with a Flat Iron

I recently got a new early Mother’s Day gift – a Titanium Flat Iron. It’s a 1″ size, it’s pink, and it’s awesome. You know that I’ve been on a Mom Makeover Mission this year – making the switch a year and a half ago from working in fashion merchandising, to becoming a mom and working at home led to me looking…. Um, not so cute. But I’m busting out of that frump-mom territory, and getting this sweet straightener makes it super simple to get a little dolled up each day!

How to Curl Your Hair with a Flat Iron

I thought about making a video for you guys, to show you this cool trick on how to use your flat iron to do more than JUST straighten your hair. Because really, as busy moms – every gadget in the house, from the kitchen to the bathroom, needs to have more than one purpose, right? I’m short on space, money, and time to search for things – which means the products I do buy better be pretty awesome. But – instead of making my own, I’m going to share this totally amazing one from Kandee Johnson, the superstar behind Kandeej.com. She is just the cutest thing ever – Love her videos.

Want to try it too?

This is my new beauty, it’s from Karmin Hair Tools, and it rocks. There are a lot of places in my budget where I cut corners with spending – I buy the store brand pop, my favorite lip liner is an off brand that I buy at Rite-Aid for $1.99, and I use drugstore shampoo. But, when it comes to styling tools, you seriously need to get the best hair irons, dryers, and curlers. Here’s why this straightener is so awesome:

It has ultra hard titanium plates that are smooth like a mirror, so you don’t get that snagging or friction that cheaper irons sometimes give you.
The titanium warms up to the perfect temp in seconds – which is important when you can only sneak in a few minutes of mom-time while the baby plays with a stacking toy, right?
This tool has a variable heat setting too, so you can use it for a ton of different styles, and it works great for all the girls in your home, no matter how different their hair types are.

AND…. Remember that adorable teasing brush she uses, the Teasing U Brush by Monroe? Well, I found it in PINK to match my new straightener, for less than $10 bucks right now on Amazon. Rockin! And, I know everyone has a favorite – But I totally and completely swear by L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray. A stylist friend recommended it to me about a year ago, and I haven’t used anything else since!