Momathon Blog

Sex and the City 2: Glamour Gal Cocktail (Carrie's drink)

Move over Cosmo, 

the girls have a new sublime cocktail to share.

Recipe compliments of SKYY vodka.

 

2 oz. SKYY Vodka 
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
0.5 oz. simple syrup (or 1 tsp. sugar)
Drop of Crème de cassis

1) To rim a martini glass with a bit of sweet sparkle, dip the rim of the glass in a shallow dish filled with crème de cassis and immediately place rim in another shallow dish with sugar, rotating the glass to ensure the whole rim is covered.

2) Combine  citrus juices, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

3) Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass. Finish the cocktail with a drop of Crème de cassis on top.

We are obsessed with it, but three out of four wear the wrong size

 

 

You love them and you hate them. Maybe that's because approximately 75% of us are wearing the wrong size bra. 

The multi-billion dollar bra industry started out 100 years ago with two silk handkerchiefs held together to form the first bra. And today the bra, once called the "gilded cage," is so popular that fashion trends move the intimate wear into outer wear.

Remember getting your first bra? Next time you go bra shopping ask a fitting specialist at the store to measure you and help you find the right size. 

News flash: A bra can expand as much as four inches after only a few washes and with wear. Yikes! Next time the bra you try on at the store feels snug, it just might feel better in a very short time.

And remember this bra sizing adage: down in the back and up in the cup.

Happy 100th Birthday to the bra!

(Photo: Victoria's Secret - Racerback bra)

Vintage inspired kitchen chalkboard

Ever dream of opening your very own surf'n turf restaurant? Play the part with this vintage inspired chalkboard and magnet-board combo--a fun spot to post menus and notes. Find it at Pottery Barn. $149. 

• 36" wide x 31.5" high x 2" deep 
• Mahogany frame is distressed by hand.
• Includes chalk and eraser.
• Mounting hardware included.

My apron love affair

I have always loved aprons. And why not, they can be a fashion statement and at the same time keep your dry clean-only sweaters free of cake batter. 

One of the best parts of being an apron girl is the fact aprons come in so many cute and affordable styles. Feeling like a girlie girl with lots of ruffles or maybe designer chic with sleek lines? Just pick the apron to fit your mood. Some of my faves are the aprons at Anthropologie including the vintage inspired Jessie Steele cupcake aprons worn by the characters Charlotte York-Goldenblatt and her daughter in the new movie Sex and the City 2.

Baker's Delight Apron - Anthropologie.com. A sweet little apron for mom's little sweetie, covered in dozens of cherry-topped cupcakes and iced with pretty pink piping. (Front pockets, Cotton, Machine wash, 20.75"L, 18.5"W, 19" ties, Imported, style #883112) $24.00

  

It's so Etsy: Pink sunhats for babies and toddlers

Looking for the perfect baby shower gift? Check out the handmade hats and bows and more at the Etsy.com store TinyTotsBows.

A mother of two in Wisconsin designs these adorable hats and bows. One of my personal faves is the Hot Pink Sunhat with Interchangeable Zebra Gerbera, $22.95. This hat set is available in a variety of sizes: infant (0-6+months) and toddler (6-18+months).

According to her Etsy store: 

"This sunhat is made of special water resistant UV fabric (50+ UPF) with an extra wide brim to provide excellent sun protection! It is adjustable to achieve the perfect fit and has a chin strap, so it can't be pulled off. Attached to the hat is an interchangeable strip, so all bows and flowers can be attached to create a custom look to match any outfit!"

(Photo above from the TinyTotsBows online store; photography by www.siribenrudphotography.com)

Can you really make money on ETSY?

I frequently post about some of my favorite Etsy.com artists and their handmade products. I have a small store on Etsy also. So far, my Etsy experience has been fun, but not very profitable. My other work projects end up taking most of my time and my Luna Blue Studio projects on Etsy do not get the marketing/networking push from me that they deserve. My store is down to only 4 items. After I read Inc. Magazine's article, How to Make Money on Etsy, I realize I definitely need to make some changes.

According to Inc., handmade arts and crafts is growing in popularity. Artists need to invest time and energy to get noticed: "It takes a village to build a business, and that's especially true online."

If an artist wants to get noticed on Etsy, she needs to think of her online store as window shopping for the products--in order to catch a shopper's attention, artists need to make sure product photos and descriptions are top notch. Also, the name you give each item is so important because it is the key to getting noticed and shorter titles are better than longer. Remember to make the tags relevant--the tags help potential buyers find you in a search. Keeping new items coming into your store is key to getting noticed because the most recently listed items show up in search results first.

For more tips, check out the Inc. article: How to Make Money on Etsy.

 
 

Easy Veggie Lasagna

Since some of my readers have requested I share my easy lasagna recipe again, I thought I would repost it. Enjoy!

If you know me, then you probably already know that I like to cook, but I'm not as dedicated to the art as Martha or Rachael. I just happen to have been lucky enough to grow up with a talented home-ec teacher--my mom. As a kid, an endless repertoire of new recipes landed on our kitchen table for meal-time testing. 

Now I live miles away from Mom's kitchen, but her love of "tweaking" a recipe still nudges me to experiment and try out new ideas in the kitchen. I can't say I make my family the fabulous meals of my childhood, but thanks to my Mom's inspiration my experimental recipes turn out just fine. Here's a favorite recipe I cooked up that sneaks in healthy veggies and your kids will love it. I also tweaked the recipe by cutting down the prep time--this lasagna recipe does not require cooking the noodles ahead of time:

Easy Veggie Lasagna

32 oz. (approx.) prepared spaghetti sauce or make your own sauce from scratch

12 oz. Mozzarella cheese

16 oz. cottage cheese

1/2 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

8 oz lasagna noodles, uncooked

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

2 packages frozen spinach leaves

1/2 cup water

This recipe can be modified to fit your taste buds. Feel free to "tweak" it. 

1. Cut 6 slices from Mozzarella cheese and reserve for topping (if you buy pre-shredded cheese, just save approx. 6 slices worth of cheese for topping). Shred remainder of Mozzarella.    
2. Combine Mozzarella with cottage cheese, egg, parsley, salt and pepper. 
3. Place half of spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup water in bottom of 13x9x2-inch pan or lasagna pan.
4. Thaw spinach. (I thaw it in on the stove in a steamer, or you can use the microwave.) Drain spinach.
5. Layer half of uncooked noodles over sauce; top with half of spinach and half of cheese mixture. Repeat layers.
6. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
7. Top with reserved Mozzarella slices (or pre-shredded cheese). 
8. NOTE: If you want to prepare the lasagna dish ahead of time, then it can be covered and refrigerated until you are ready to bake it. Remove cover before baking.
9. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until hot and bubbly around the edges.

  
One reason I love this recipe is the fact that it is the perfect meal for busy families. This lasagna tastes just as good when you reheat the leftovers the next day.  

Ciao

Fido can fly in the cabin with you on Frontier

 

 

New pet policy for Frontier Airlines allows customers to bring small pets--dogs weighing 20 lbs. or less, small cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, small birds--with them in the airline cabin for $75 each way.

The pets must fit in an airline approved pet carrier that goes under the airplane seat. All pets must also have proper health documentation completed by vet within 10 days of trip.

Southwest Airlines has a similar pet policy that started last year.

(Illustration: Chris Olson Illustration)

11 teens die every day in car crashes

 

 

On May 31, 2007, 16 year-old Cady Ann was killed by a 
 distracted teen driver that ran a red light,
 never trying to stop before crashing into
 her door at nearly 50 mph 

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among American teenagers according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Driving too fast, running off the road, driving in the wrong lane, and driving under the influence are just a few of the factors in teenage fatal car crashes.

The SAVE 11 Facebook image above is part of the Allstate Insurance campaign to raise awareness of the dangers associated with teen driving and help pass critical legislation aimed at curbing teen fatalities.

How you can make a difference.
• Contact your Members of Congress to pass the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act (H.R. 1895 and S. 3269). 

• You can read the STANDUP bill here.

• Spread the word: go to Facebook | Save11 for information and resources on contacting lawmakers and inviting family and friends to take action.

(Image: Save 11: Cady Reynolds Ad)

Takes a village to convince young girls they are fat...

 

Can a girl as young as five learn to dislike her body? If you are unhappy with your body and obsess over dieting, your young daughter might follow your lead and learn to feel the same way according to the American Dietetic Association:

"Parental body image has a powerful influence on how kids feel about their bodies. If you talk about your thighs, your latest diet or your punishing workouts, your children will naturally absorb these negative messages. They will begin to worry about the size of their thighs and think they should be dieting."

I know how easy it is to spill my own feelings about dieting or the fact that a certain pair of jeans no longer fits. It happens. I don't have a simple answer to this dilemma. I will never be able to live perfectly. Perfection is something air-brushed on a magazine cover or edited in a movie. I gripe about not getting to the gym. We keep a big supply of cookies at our house. We have ice cream. Lots! But we also have plenty of good stuff like fresh fruit (or the easy to use frozen fruit), yogurt, whole grain foods, and the super food called water.

I know I won't always set the best example. However, I am taking baby steps in the battle against negative body images. Instead of saying certain foods are bad, at my house I am trying to focus on the foods with positive benefits. As a family we read the food labels. If my kids know the low fat content or the fiber benefits of a certain snack I consider that a success story.

(Photo above: limaoscarjuliet)

Today is National Women's Checkup Day!

 

Yesterday we celebrated our wonderful moms--the women who take care of us. Today we need to remind ourselves to also take good care of ourselves and schedule a regular checkup for early detection of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. 

Click on the link, for more information on National Women's Checkup Day.

Here is a brief list of reminders, ask your Dr for a complete list. As you grow older, continue to do the checks recommended from previous decade.

30s
blood pressure
cholesterol check
pap smear
self mole check (every month)
tetanus booster shot 
thyroid check (start at age 35)

40s
mammogram
eye exam, screen for glaucoma
diabetes screening

50s
colonoscopy every 5-10 years
hearing check

60s
eye exam, check for macular degeneration
pneumonia vaccine
osteoporosis screening/bone density check

 
Why do so many women avoid getting screened if the tests are so important? Perhaps it is because women are so busy caring for everyone else. And they end up delaying the medical appointment and tests for a week or two, and that delay ends up being a month or two, then a year or two.

According to WomensHealth.gov:

"Screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier, or more often, than others."

It’s Your Time! Schedule your checkup. 

Happy Mother's Day!

 

A Mother's Day gift for moms in need: Mercy Kits

So many moms around the world are in desperate need of basic support. This Mother's Day you can make a difference in the lives of women worldwide by donating a Mercy Kit through Mercy Corps. 

The gifts come in many forms--supplies to provide clean water, a beehive kit, job training, wells and many more basic supplies to improve the lives of women and children worldwide.

Something as small as an $18 donation can supply an Emergency Food Kit that quickly delivers nutritious food such as grains, cooking oil and canned goods to families displaced by conflict, natural disasters and other crises.

A donation of $75 can supply a Breastfeeding Kit that covers the cost to train a breastfeeding counselor to support mothers and their families at a neighborhood health clinic in Jakarta.

A donation of $45 provides a Fuel-Efficient Stove Kit that helps displaced women in war-torn Congo learn to build fuel-efficient cookstoves, which minimize charcoal use and give women a marketable skill.

You can choose from dozens of Mercy Kits, just go to the Mercy Kits link.

Peace and love.