How to Look 7 Years Younger

In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a real difference in my skin. Now that I’m 38, I can no longer be so low maintenance about skin care. When I was in my 20′s, I didn’t always have to moisturize or exfoliate my face, and if I forgot to remove makeup after a tiring day, my skin was none the worse for wear.

No longer.

So when I was contacted by the publishers of 7 Years Younger: The Revolutionary 7-Week Anti-Aging Plan, I jumped at the chance to read it.

I found that it had a lot of solid advice for overall wellness. For instance, I’m impressed that the book recommends frequent exercise. It’s not hard to make the connection between glowing skin and an active lifestyle. When I’m walking daily, for instance, I don’t need to wear blush, and I also have less puffiness (probably because exercise tends to get the lymph flowing and helps reduce water retention).

The book doesn’t just focus on skin care and makeup. It has nutrition tips for “feeding” your skin and hair well, wardrobe suggestions for looking good at any age, and great advice on maximizing your best features and taking care of yourself better in your 30′s and 40′s (and up).

The book features profiles of women who took the “7 Years” challenge, complete with before and after pics. I liked that the women profiled were all real women with real lives – mothers, career women (or both), with hobbies, volunteer work and other demands on their time. Following the advice in the book won’t take a major lifestyle overhaul.

One of my favorite parts of the book were the product recommendations. These products have been tested by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute beauty lab by hundreds of women volunteers, so you know they’re among the best of the best. Who wants to waste money at the drugstore or cosmetics counter on poor performing products?

Of course, I did wish that the book talked more about non-toxic skin care and suggested avoiding certain ingredients like phthalates and paraben. While some of the products recommended did have botanic ingredients, I personally wouldn’t use some of the others.

In all I was impressed with the book’s no-nonsense advice. It motivated me to be more vigilant with my skin care. I bought some exfoliant that I keep in the shower to use on my face once a week. I’m moisturizing more. I got a shorter, swingier ‘do.

You can check out the book on Amazon here: 7 Years Younger: The Revolutionary 7-Week Anti-Aging Plan

Filed Under: Schmoozin on Moms

Eating Well While Breastfeeding

As a nursing mother, your baby is still dependent on you for survival just as she was in the womb. So obviously you’re interested in eating well in order to produce plenty of milk for your little one. However, you also may be concerned about losing weight and getting back into your pre-pregnancy clothing. Here are a few tips.

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  • Don’t restrict calories. A nursing mother is still “eating for two”. Estimates vary, but most breastfeeding experts say that nursing burns around 300-700 calories a day. If you drastically cut calories, your supply can plummet, and your body will also take nutrients from your own stores, which can lead to health problems.
  • Don’t eliminate any food group. There is absolutely no good reason for a breastfeeding woman to automatically restrict ANY food. The exception would be a food that baby is allergic to, but don’t be quick to jump to conclusions on that point. Babies fuss for many reasons, and it’s rare for a nursing infant to truly be sensitive to something you ate. So called “gassy” foods such as garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables don’t actually cause gas in the nursing baby. This is a popular myth, because these foods may cause gas in the mother. However, the undigested fibers that cause gas cannot pass into breastmilk.
  • Drink to thirst. There is no reason to push fluids while breastfeeding. Moms usually find that they naturally feel more thirsty while nursing. Forcing fluids is uncomfortable and can even lead to edema, which lowers milk supply.
  • Focus on whole foods. The best diet for nursing mothers would be one that emphasizes on real, whole foods. In order to lose pregnancy weight slowly (and keep it off!) and keep yourself healthy, eat the foods you enjoy. Women around the world eat a large variety of foods popular in their native culture and provide their babies with an abundant milk supply. Breastfeeding friendly recipes would include meals that are healthy yet easy and quick to prepare. A cookbook I have enjoyed using while my babies were little is called The One-Armed Cook: Quick and Easy Recipes, Smart Meal Plans, and Savvy Advice for New (and Not-So-New) Moms

 

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Things You May Not Expect When You’re Expecting

Pregnancy. At first it seems a little romantic, glamorous even. A new life is budding inside your body! Magazines are flooded with images of beautiful, glowing pregnant celebrities in the latest maternity fashions. Books are written that tell you what’s happening inside your body week by week. It’s all very exciting.

But there are a few things that aren’t so glamorous about this time of your life. Things that may even surprise you. Embarrass you, even! Let’s take an honest look at a few of these, shall we?

Hair, hair everywhere

It’s common for pregnant women to experience thick, lush hair growth. That can be a plus if we’re talking about the hair on your head. Not so much for body hair! I find that during pregnancy the hair on my legs grows more slowly, meaning I can skip days shaving. Which is nice. The trouble is, the hair seems to migrate to … umm, other areas of the body. Not so nice!

Libido surges… but I’m already pregnant!

Some women experience a big libido boost during their pregnancies. With my last 2 babies I was shocked by this. It seems odd that nature would give you this little surge of interest when you’re already pregnant, but it happens. Chalk it up to extra blood flow in the business areas as well as high estrogen levels and splurge on some some maternity lingerie like the Passion Spice line. Things will get challenging in this department after baby’s arrival so enjoy it while it lasts!

Stinky bits

The combination of carrying around extra weight along with enough hormones to stun a horse can cause you to sweat more. Especially if you’re pregnant in the summertime, expect to have to bathe (and change your undies!) more than once a day to deal with the funk. Avoid fragranced personal care products unless they’re all  natural (some essential oils are perfectly safe during pregnancy, check a good aromatherapy book).

Sneeze pee

While I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid this lovely little phenomenon, it’s so common I had to mention it! By your third trimester, your bladder is more or less squashed flat as a pancake by the expanding uterus and weight of the baby. Fortunately this one will go away (usually) after delivery.

My, how big your ____ are!

The other day a newly pregnant friend asked me if she could buy some of my maternity clothing once I’m finished with them.  I haven’t had my baby yet, but I’ve already outgrown some of the maternity clothing I wore in my second trimester. I took some of the items to my friend and as she looked through them she had a hard time believing that she could ever fit into them. It’s surprising how much your breasts and belly grow during pregnancy. In the beginning when you’re eager to start “showing”, you have no idea how much your body will change by delivery! No matter how careful you are to eat right and stay active, you’ll likely gain more weight than you anticipated. Embrace your new curves and splurge on comfortable and pretty lingerie, especially some of the new sexy nursing bras that will carry you through your early months breastfeeding your baby.

Pregnancy is a little crazy, but it’s a special time and doesn’t last forever. Enjoy it – your new baby will be worth it!

Filed Under: Schmoozin on Moms Tagged With: ,

We Love Sinful Colors Nail Polish

I’m in a big nail painting phase right now and was craving some variety in place of my usual pinks.  I found this beautiful shade of blue at Rite-Aid.

Today I was in Walgreen’s and spotted these little cuties:

These colors have a thin tiny brush perfect for adding decorative accents to your nails. Like this:

Cute or what?

They had a huge variety of colors, I wish I’d thought to snap a pic of the display.

Filed Under: Schoozin on Products

Sometimes You Just Have To Groove On A New Nail Polish Color

I picked this up at Rite Aid today.  LOVE the color.

Note: you will need a top coat to make it look shiny like mine.

I couldn’t find this color on Amazon but they do have several others: Sinful Colors

Filed Under: Schoozin on Products

Review: Beautiful Brass and Enamel Birdbath

We were given an opportunity to select and review a product offered via Pro Home Stores and I selected this beautiful brass and enamel birdbath.  I knew it would look fantastic in my sister’s front garden area – and it does!

I’m hesitant about ordering some things online and wondered if this birdbath would be ‘flimsy’.  Turns out it’s solidly built and really gorgeous in person.  There is an ‘L’ shape welded on at the ground that keeps the birdbath from twisting around and tipping over.

This is what my sis had to say: “It was easy to put together – just two items to thread together and then just stick it in the ground. The color red is excellent for butterflies also – and it is shallow enough for them too!”

Now that I’ve experienced the quality of Pro Home Store products, I would not hesitate to order from them again.

Filed Under: Schoozin on Products

How To Curb Impulse Buying When You Are Shopping With Kids

Curbing your impulse buying when you are shopping with kids isn’t always easy.   In fact, many people buy on impulse with out even realizing it is happening.   It’s when they get home that they wonder what happened to all that careful preparation that was supposed to help balance their income and bills.

The most common place to impulse buy is the grocery store and I find when I am shopping with kids it’s even easier than when I am alone.   I’ve learned two very helpful things about food shopping.   The first is, don’t go hungry and the second is make a list and stick to it.   When you are hungry it is easy to stray from your shopping list.   All those specials and display products look so good when you are hungry.   Don’t give into those cravings, eat first and shop second.

Of course, everyone’s food list needs some treats on it, so plan accordingly.

When you are going shopping with kids let everyone add a favorite snack to the list.   Try and find coupons for those snack items to save some extra money.   It pays in the long run to add a few treats and snacks to your weekly food list because financial budgets are very similar to dieting for calories.   If you keep denying yourself the good stuff, sooner or later you are going to breakdown and go overboard by spending too much or gorging yourself.

Another helpful trick is to ask yourself if you really need this item.   A simple yes or no answer will usually do the trick, don’t argue with yourself, just answer the question.   When you can’t say yes right away, you don’t need it.   It’s also a very good question to ask when you are shopping with kids.   Teach your children how to curb impulse buying and it will help them learn to use self control and it will save your family’s shopping budget as well.

Filed Under: Schmoozin on Moms

Five Hottest Stroller Trends

This Quinny Zapp X-tra in the bold Q-Design has many elements of today's trends.

We’re proud to have another great guest post from Stroller Expert Amy Tanathorn.

If you haven’t needed to look at strollers until recently, you’re in for a big surprise. Lots of newly pregnant moms I know still think that the big bulky, frilly stroller is their only option.

Well have I got news! Strollers over the last few years have grown increasingly sophisticated with more options, features and functionality. Not to mention better colors and style!

Revealed are the top stroller trends today competing for your attention.

LIGHT WEIGHT

Technology has given way to lighter aluminum that is just as strong as steel. Joovy is a brand that uses aircraft-grade aluminum for their frame. UPPAbaby and Maclaren strollers are super lightweight yet balanced enough to hang your purse on the handle.

Moms are tired of lugging around a heavy stroller in and out of the car trunk or off and on public transportation. Double strollers already carry up to 90 pounds of child plus gear. Add to that the weight of the stroller itself and you’ve got a tank!

Nowadays though, you regularly see full-featured strollers weighing under 20 pounds and umbrella strollers as light as 7 pounds.

This aluminum withstands a heavy weight, too. Many of these incredibly light strollers have an astonishing weight capacity. For example, the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle is an all terrain stroller that weighs only 24 pounds, yet can carry up to 77 pounds! Yes, that’s a single stroller, not a double!

SINGLE WHEELS

A few years ago when Bugaboo came onto the scene and was setting trends left and right, one of the looks most copied is the single wheel. Look at most of your traditional Graco/Evenflo/Combi strollers and they have double wheels in front and back for better stability and suspension.

But many of the higher-end lines like Inglesina and Peg Perego strollers began using sealed ball bearings in their single wheel models to smooth out the ride. A glide is more how it is described by moms who swoon over this style. (I swoon, too; they look beautiful!)

This trend has caught on with mass producer Graco who has the new UrbanLite, a single wheel lightweight model that has that high-end look for far less.

DECKED-OUT SUN CANOPIES

I was always disappointed in the sun canopies in most strollers. The sun would always shine at just that angle that would always get right into my child’s eyes.

Luxury strollers first offered enormous sun canopies, creating paneled or ratcheting hoods that extend over your child down to the snack tray or over the lap area. This feature became an instant favorite and now many brands have a stroller with this feature. Often times the panel zips up to stay tidy and compact until needed. Others types simply ratchet into place, like BOB strollers. You’ll also see pop-out sun visors, a-la UPPAbaby or Phil and Ted.

Another trend I’ve noticed on sun canopies is the peek-a-boo window getting larger. Many of them are no longer clear vinyl windows but mesh netting. I like this because it allows better air flow and it won’t crack, split or discolor after a few years.

The flaps covering these peek a boo windows have magnetic closures in higher-end brands. Magnetic closures are nice because there’s no Velcro rip sound to wake your baby when you check in.

REVERSING SEAT

This is perhaps the biggest stroller trend over the last couple of years. Also called a convertible stroller, the reversing, removable seat allows for greater seating flexibility. You can:

  • Install your car seat right on the stroller frame
  • Use a bassinet (some seats transform into bassinets)
  • Have your baby face you in the seat
  • Have baby face the outside world in the seat
  • Some models have a doubles option, adding a rumble seat in the rear

A convertible stroller is the solution for parents who want a travel system without the bulk and with a lot more style.

BUMPER BARS

A fashionable, sleek look is in, and that oftentimes means no snack tray for your child. Padded bumper bars are used instead. Sometimes your child has little pockets within the seating “cabin” to hold little toys or snacks. Other brands offer a snack tray separately.

The same sleek look can also mean no parent console or cup holder, which is a huge bummer to moms and dads who like to have a cup of coffee during their outings. So this trend is getting mixed feedback and some brands have re-introduced a cup holder.

BLACK FRAMES

Ah, that sleek look again. Black stroller frames are very much in fashion right now. Quinny has their models in black or the traditional silver and their new Moodd even has a white frame with some color choices. It’s all about making a statement with bright bold fabric colors coupled with a frame in anything but silver.

So what do YOU think about these new trends?

Amy Tanathorn researches the best baby strollers at Stroller Envy, where you can read in-depth reviews for UPPAbaby, Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Quinny and more. Reviews include video demonstrations, product specs, photos and detailed descriptions.

Filed Under: Schoozin on Products

Money Saving Coupon Clipping Tips

Coupons are a great way to save money, but not if you don’t know how to use them. You may be thinking, how hard can it be to use a coupon? Sure, you may have a couple of them lying around; you plan to use them the next time you visit a store. However, without proper planning and preparation, those couple of coupons aren’t going to do you much good except make you believe that couponing isn’t worth the time and effort.

To help you fully understand how to save money with coupons, consider these tips.

Organize

This is the most common tip you’ll receive on the Internet, because it is the most important tip. Professional coupon users have multiple binders with tabs to categorize and sub-categorize their coupons. For example, some coupon users have a tab for meats and sub-categories for ham, chicken, turkey and other meats. This helps shoppers know exactly where their coupons are when they need them quickly.

Gather From Various Sources

While the Sunday paper is a great way to gain coupons, there are other sources, such as magazines and websites, which offer coupons as well. Additionally, higher priced papers and magazines usually contain coupons with greater value. Still, there is no guarantee that these coupons will be for products that you would normally buy.

Be careful about signing up for coupons through websites. Most of them will require your email and telephone number. You may start receiving solicited calls and emails from other companies. If this happens, simply ask to be removed from their database. They are required by law to do so if asked.

Sites like Groupon and Retailmenot are great for finding special deals, both online and in-store.

Use For Things Other Than Groceries

When people hear the word “coupon,” they usually think about groceries and saving a few pennies. However, there are coupons for literally everything — haircuts, oil changes, manicures and more. Always file these coupons under a miscellaneous tab. You never know when you’ll need a coupon the next time you need your oil changed.

Combine Offers

This is a great money-saving tip. Most stores will let you combine your coupons with other coupons or in-store special deals to help you save even more money. Before shopping, do some research for stores in your area that are having special deals. Stores like Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kroger usually have new deals every week.

Additionally, consider visiting pharmacies. They also have deals for various items, mostly beauty products. Pharmacies also usually have a loyalty card program, which will allow you to save even more money on your purchases.

You must also learn to be patient with your coupons. Wait for certain items to go on sale and combine your coupons. The best shoppers are patient and understand the value of an extra 50 cents off of an item.

Don’t Collect Coupons for Brands You Don’t Like

This is just common sense. Don’t use coupons to buy items you normally don’t use. Many people let their impulsive side take over when they have coupons. Perhaps you may have a friend or family member that would like the coupon instead.

Amazon UK online coupons on Coupon Croc, one of the best resources for coupons in the UK. Tom Blanchard shares his advice with couponers in the UK on how to find the best deals and save the most money on their daily purchases.

Filed Under: Schmoozin on Moms Tagged With: ,

10 Free Apps and Tools For Moms

This is a guest post!

Sometimes you feel like you need eight hands. The kids are craving for your attention and you have to take care about the house at the same time. The dinner is also waiting you to prepare it. Sounds familiar?

I can’t promise you wonders but at least some of this burden can be reduced. There are software apps and tools, browser extensions and mobile apps that can free up a bit of your time. Some will help you organize and not forget important things about your kids, other will help you prevent them from the risks online, and other tools will help you educate or entertain them.

I have collected 10 such apps, tools, and browser extensions for you. These are the ones I like most. And they are all free. So here you go:

CraftFinder connects you to FamilyFun’s library to find ideas for crafts. The crafts can be searched by appropriate kids age, time that each task takes, and occasions (like Easter, Mother day and so on). The app is good although it definitely needs more craft ideas to be added.

Out of Milk Shopping List for Android devices. If trying to remember everything you have to shop for your kids is hard, install this free app on your Android phone and take it with you when going to the store. It also has a pantry list and to-do list all inside.

Due Date Calculator. Planning for another child? This little web-based tool will help you figure out the best dates for conception. And if you are also a mom-blogger, you may want to add the free WordPress plugin to your blog so other moms can check their due dates right there.

Zefty: are your kids going into teen-age soon? It’s time to help them learn more about money and its management. This free web application lets you set up virtual accounts for them, deposit allowances, set limits. This is really unique app built by a single developer, a father of four. I’m sure the need of this app came from his personal experience!

Child Growth Chart Calculator is a little tool showing you how your kids grow compared to others on their age. Don’t get obsessed if your child doesn’t match the averages. If you think the kid growth is very much out of range, consult your doctor.

Cozi goes even further than Out of The Milk app in organizing your family life. In addition to shopping and to-do lists, it has shared family calendar and journal. The app is web based which means you access it through a regular browser from anywhere. There are also free mobile apps for Iphone, Android and BlackBerry.

Name Culture! for Android Devices is a little app that helps you choosing the name of your future baby. Yes, I know your parents want to use their names but this app gives you search by meaning and origin which sometimes can be better way to choose a name than listening to your dad. And this way you may just avoid having arguments with your mother in law too.

Simple Profanity Filter for Google Chrome. Hopefully you know, the emerging Google’s browser allows you to install extensions and apps which enhance the way you surf the web. If your kids already surf themselves this little extension will take care to reduce the profanity that can be found so easily online. You can configure yourself which words to be filtered and replaced with stars.

MinorMonitor is in the same category of “protecting” apps. It goes into deeper waters – protecting your children on Facebook. MinorMonitor will help you monitor possible drug use, bullying, photos and videos, over-age friends and so on. It’s kind of a spying, I know, but your really need to take care for these things – at least at some reasonable level.

BabyConnect is a large applications tracking a lot of things about your baby. You can keep track of feeding, nursing, diapers, sleep, activities… The web based application (accessible through a browser) is free while the mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices costs $4.99 each. There’s a tremendous work put into it, it’s no surprise BabyConnect got quite a few web awards.

I’m sure being a mother is great but I’m also sure it’s not easy. Fortunately there are developers and companies who put a lot of work into creating great apps that can help you with this. Use them – very often you don’t even need to pay a penny for that. And we, the developers, are happy when we can help.

Bob develops various free software like the due date calculator listed above. You may want to try more of his free calculators here.

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