The Musings of a Working Mom

As I looked at my rather large for-a-non-makeup-artist makeup collection, I decided to make one of my 2012 resolutions to be that I wouldn't buy anymore makeup and try to use up what I already had!  Yeah - that didn't last too long!  How can I possibly keep that resolution when there are so many new products coming out on both the drug level as well as high end?  There has been a lot of buzz about 2 drugstore products in particular that caught my eye - the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hour cream eyeshadows and the L'Oreal Infalliable eyeshadows.  I just happened to pick up a couple of each while at CVS recently.  I picked up 2 of the L'Oreal Infalliable eyeshadows in #888 Iced Latte and #891 Continuous Cocoa and 3 of the Maybelline Color Tattto's in #25 Bad to the Bronze, #35 Tough as Taupe, and #30 Pomegranate Punk. Here are some swatches: #25 Bad to the Bronze, #35 Tough as Taupe, and #30 Pomegranate Punk    L'Or...

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage Foundation with Brush  - 1.7 fl oz, $38.00 So I have been eyeing this foundation for quite some time now but the only thing was that it was only available through QVC and every time that I checked their site, my color was on waitlist.  While at Sephora recently, I spoke with one of the MUA regarding this foundation and all of the rave reviews that it got and she gave me some "insider information" - she told me that Sephora and Tarte were in the process of phasing out their current lines of foundations they had at Sephora and they were going to replace it with this Full Coverage Foundation some time in the next few months. Well again I checked the QVC site and again my color was on waitlist and then checked the Sephora site and saw that this much coveted foundation is now available but online only.  So I quickly picked my color and placed my order.  This foundation is amazeballs!  I...

My kids love meatloaf.  I have tried many recipes but this is the one that my kids like the best.  I found it online at Foodnetwork.com a couple of years ago.  I change up the ingredients based on what I have on hand.  If you don't feel like making your meatloaf with beef and pork, you can change that up too - use only beef, turkey, chicken, combo, whatever you like.  This is a great base recipe and you can tailor the ingredients to what your family prefers.   To make your life less stressful - make this on the weekend and just reheat and serve during the week.  Tastes great on a sandwich as well!  Enjoy... Dad's Meatloaf with Tomato Relish Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence Prep Time: 20 min Inactive Prep Time: -- Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min Level: Easy Serves: 6 to 8 servings Ingredients Tomato Relish: Extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion , finely diced 2 garlic cloves , minced 2 bay leaves 2 red bell peppers , cor...

So there were quite a few things that I loved using this month on both myself and my kids, as well as a couple of food items.  I'll start out with the products for the kids - 2 of my kids suffer from eczema and all 3 have very dry skin in these winter months despite constant moisturizing but we have all loved using Shea Moisture Organic Raw Chamomile Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment.  We all love the smell - like cocoa butter - and I tease the kids that I'm going to eat their cheeks, arms and legs because they smell so yummy! Their skin stays really soft and moisturized after just one use...I try to reapply it every night and I keep one tube/tub on each level of my house at arms reach.  Now for the products for myself - I am re-loving my Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation. This foundation has been sitting in my makeup drawer for quite some time but recently saw the light of day and has now found a place on the counter with the rest of the...

Whenever I add the word "Pizza" to anything, my oldest son will definitely eat it!!  We call lasagna "pizza pasta" so he would be more willing to eat it, quesadilla used to be "mexican pizza" - you get it.  This is a great way to sneak in veggies and extra protein into your kids diet.  Also let your kids help you unroll the crust and press it into the pan, measure out the ingredients and beat the eggs - I find that kids are more willing to eat something if they helped make it.  I found this recipe years ago in Parenting magazine (Feb 2008) and my kids have loved having "breakfast for dinner".  Enjoy... Pizza Scramble Prep: 10 min Bake: 15 min Yield: 6 servings Ingredients 1 refrigerated pizza crust 1 each small red, yellow & green pepper -seeded, cored and diced 2 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt or to taste Pinch of black pepper 8 eggs 1/4 cup low fat milk 1 cup grated part-skim mozzarella cheese Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 3...

Cooking a healthy meal for your family on any given weekday after a crazy day of work/chauffeuring the kids around from practice to practice/running errands can seem impossible but I have a time saving tip that can help you feed your family a healthy meal and take the stress out of cooking dinner instead of picking up dinner at a fast food drive through.  Start by making your menu list for the week - what do the kids want to eat, what new recipes do you want to try, etc.?  Now that you have your menu list ready, use this list to make your shopping list.  I recommend doing the bulk of your grocery shopping on the weekend with about 1-2 small "pit stops" to the grocery store during the week to pick up any forgotten items and/or to pick up fresh meat/seafood.  Once you get home with your groceries, take the time to wash your produce and start doing some prep work right now to save valuable time during the week.  Take a qu...

Mini Quiche This is a recipe I use frequently for the kids, but I have also made it as an appetizer for parties.  This is a great recipe for kids because they are bite sized and perfect for kiddos fingers and mouths.  This is a great base recipe and you can change up the filling based on whatever is in your fridge or whatever the kids are craving at the time.  I got this recipe from the Food Network website and it is a Paula Deen recipe and before you say anything, I find that this recipe is not as unhealthy as you would think. You can alter the butter content based on your preference and these mini quiches are tasty and quite honestly, when you are feeding picky eaters, anything that is tasty and the kids will eat multiples of - I'll make it again!!  Feel free to change up the ingredients as you see fit.  The filling possibilities are endless.  Let the kids help out too....get them involved and they'll look forward to e...

My kids love pasta but cooking pasta can take too long, especially when your kids are hungry - like yesterday hungry and can't wait!  I love to freeze cooked pasta and sauces that can be ready to eat in minutes when my kids are hungry.  I make large batches of sauces like fresh marinara or bolognese sauce and freeze them in ice cube trays (that are designated for food only).  Once frozen, I pop them and out and store in a freezer bag.  I also do the same with cooked pasta.  I place my cooked pasta in a large muffin tin (sprayed with cooking spray for quick and easy removal) and freeze.  Once frozen, I pop them into a freezer bag and label it.  That way, whenever I need cooked pasta or sauce, I take out however many frozen cubes as I need and I thaw them out in the microwave and voila - instant and quick meal!  I also do this with soups - I place the cooled soups in small freezer bags and lay them flat on a baking sheet to freeze....

Pesto, Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche - serves 6-8 This quiche is so delicious that people will ask you for the recipe!  This quick and easy quiche recipe is great to entertain with or a great dish to take to a brunch or potluck.  I found this recipe online years ago and have sort of tweaked it and made it my own.  I'm not really sure on some of the measurements as I just add however much I feel like adding.  Nonetheless, this is a delicious vegetarian dish that both non-veg's and veg's will enjoy.  Also a great dish to try with the kids! Ingredients: Pesto - enough to cover the bottom of the pie crust 1 (9 inch) unbaked Pie Crust - I like Pillsbury brand Crumbled Goat Cheese - 4 to 8 Tbsp (depends on your personal preference) 4 eggs 1/2 cup Whole Milk or Half and Half 1 Tbsp AP Flour 8-12 oil-packed Sun Dried Tomatoes, drained and cut into strips (again, depends on your personal preference) Salt and Pepper, to...

I've said this before, as a busy mom, time is our enemy.  We barely have enough time to take a shower in the morning (or at some point in the day) let alone put on a face of makeup but let me tell you that taking an extra 5 minutes in the morning to put on your face will make all the difference in the world in how you make it through the day. There is nothing like looking in the mirror during the day and seeing your tired, blotchy, red face to remind you that you look a hot mess!!  But it doesn't have to be that way - Give me 5 minutes and I'll give you a more awake, fresh and brighter looking face - one that you'll like to see in the mirror over and over again. The first thing you need to do starts the night before - thoroughly cleanse your face (to get rid of all the daily accumulation) and then moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!  I really like the Olay Regenerist line but use whatever facial moisturizer you...

    DiorSkin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Foundation                - $46.00 for 1.0 fl. oz  Even though it seems like I had found my HG Foundation, I am always on the hunt for a new HG foundation (better price, better coverage, etc).  While on a trip to CA visiting my sister-in-law we went to Nordstom in Santa Monica and the Dior MUA color-matched me in the newest formulation of the Dior Flawless Perfection foundation in Sand 031.  For reference, I have combination to oily skin, especially in my T-zone and am a MAC NC 30/Chanel 40 Beige/MUFE 128.  The Dior MUA told me to use just a little bit of foundation and that a little will go a long way.  And boy was she right! This foundation provides medium coverage and can be built up to full coverage or sheered out for lighter coverage.  It has a satin finish that looks quite natural...

This recipe was given to me by my cousin while they were visiting a couple of years ago and has become a staple in my house since then.  I swear I feel like my family makes me buy bananas but not for eating, instead they let them get brown and yucky so I'd be forced to make banana bread for them=)  In any case, this recipe is so easy and requires very little equipment and ingredients - perfect for a busy mom with overripe bananas lying around!  Preheat your oven to 350 F. Mash 3-4 Bananas Add 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 cup sugar (you can sub baking splenda or organic raw sugar), 1 1/2 cup AP flour (I have been subbing 1/2 cup whole wheat flour to 1 cup AP flour and it tastes great), 1/4 tsp salt, 1 egg (beaten), 1 tsp baking soda. Stir all ingredients until well mixed.  Then add chocolate chips and/or nuts (depending on your family's tastes) - however much you want in your bread.  Continue to mix until well blended...

What is Birchbox ?  Birchbox it is a monthly subscription where you get 4-5 deluxe hand picked beauty samples each month based on a beauty profile that you submit.  If you are constantly looking for the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, haircare, etc., then this is the service for you...and it's inexpensive at $10/month (you can also choose an option to pay for the whole year at $110.00/year).  There is no obligation and you can cancel at anytime if you choose.  This is the perfect way to try out new beauty products, especially when you are a busy mom who have very little time to spend on searching for new products at the department stores. January 2012 box is titled "Clarity" and the theme is to start the new year out with clarity - to focus "on bringing clarity to every aspect of our lives - from our minds to our beauty regimen" as stated on the index card provided in the box.  I will provide the description of each sample as state...

I know that I'm guilty for doing this - mindlessly grazing.  We all do this while we are making a meal for the family - we taste a little here, take a bite there.  And then of course you sit down and eat your meal with your family but you don't realize that all of those tastings and little bites while meal prep has led you to consume more calories than you probably need for the day.  And we question why we haven't lost those last 5lbs!  Well there is a free app available on iPhones (check if your phone has this app for free) called My Fitness Pal .  This app helps you to keep track of the calories you consume with each meal/snack giving you a tally for the day, week, etc.  You start out by answering a few questions regarding your height, current weight, goal weight, activity level, etc.  All you do is enter in the foods that you eat, meal by meal and then submit your entries at the end of the day.  This app has a very extensive food databas...

As we busy mom's know all too well - time is our enemy.  There are not enough hours in the day to get done what needs to be done, especially fitting in a great workout!  Oh but there is now - and there is an app for that!!  It's called NTC - Nike Training Club and it's a free app for iPhones (I'm not sure about the availability of this app for other phones but just check and see if it's available for your phone).  I love this app because you can choose what type of workout you want (i.e. high interval cardio drills to slim down, light weights and intervals to add definition, increased weights and reps to build strength, or 15-minute workouts to target specific areas). Once you select the type of workout you want, you then select what fitness level you are at - beginner, intermediate or advanced.  The next step is to choose your workout based on how long you want to workout for - 15, 30 or 45 minutes.  And man do these workouts kick your butt!!  ...

As the mother of 3 young children, I always want to make sure that I am feeding them the cleanest, purest and healthiest foods that I can.  I try to buy organic when I can but that is not always financially feasible.  I always buy organic milk and yogurt for my kids and I know exactly where to go to purchase it at the cheapest prices.  I also try to keep my eyes open for good sales on organic produce (especially the ones listed below) and other food items.  I'm sure you've heard of the "Dirty Dozen" - 12 common fruits and vegetables that have tested positive for the highest concentrations of pesticides.  If buying all organic food is not an option for you, that's completely understandable but these 12  items are the items that you should try to buy organic.  Look for them on sale or find the store that carries them at the cheapest prices.  Another alternative is to buy from a local farmers market - these farmers tend to us...

Being a parent of boy/girl twins, I see firsthand the differences between the sexes with respect to growth, learning, etc.  Here is a great article in the current issue of Washington Parent that sheds light on this topic.  Enjoy... http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/1201/gender.php

I don't know about the state of your kitchen when you have kids but my kitchen counters looked like a bottle/sippy cup factory exploded in it.  It seemed like every square inch of our counter space was covered with bottles and sippy cup accessories.  A few years ago I read a great article in The Washington Post about other parents of multiples and how they managed their lives through the chaos with kids.  They had some great tips and advice that they shared and I have implemented a few of their tips into my life.  A great tip to help with organization - use over the door pocket plastic or canvas shoe storage units for storing all sorts of things.  We have a pocket storage unit stowed away inside of the door leading to our basement located in our kitchen so it's out of the way.  It's great - our kitchen counters look so much cleaner and we have all of the bottles and sippy cups stored in it and out of sight...

I just saw a great clip on the Today Show for one pot dinners with Chris Kimball from America's Test Kitchen (I love this show).  You can always sub Soy Crumbles for the meat in the lasagna dish for those vegetarians out there. These recipes are staples for busy mom's like myself.   I think I'll try out the lasagna recipe this weekend with the family. Enjoy... http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45960877/ns/today-food/

So here we are in 2012 - have you given up on your resolutions yet?  Let's hope not because as a mom, we need to stay happy and healthy in order to raise our happy and healthy kids.  So for 2012, let's do a few things to take care of ourselves.  -We can start out by turning off all electronic devices and turn the tv off at least one hour before going to sleep allowing our minds to calm down and prepare for a restful night of sleep.  -Aim to sleep at least 7-8 hours each night to allow our adrenal glands (the glands responsible for releasing stress hormones) to rest and recuperate and to give us the much needed energy to make it through our crazy and hectic day. -Treat yourself to a haircut or trim to get rid of those split ends and damaged hair.  And while you're there, touch up your roots by getting your hair colored or highlighted.  You'll walk out feeling refreshed and recharged all by having your hair done so make your appointment today! -Drink at ...

I love to eat granola in my plain Greek yogurt but most store bought granola can be high in calories and fat.  But I found a great and healthy (and easy) recipe in the December 2011 issue of Everyday Food.  You can tweak the recipe to add the goodies you like - I added pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sunflower seeds, almonds and flax seeds to give me that extra boost of healthy Omega 3 FA's and protein.  I also added mini chocolate chips (the regular size chips were a bit overwhelming in the mix) but you can add whatever you like - just mind your portions and keep it healthy!  Added bonus - the kids love to eat this granola on their yogurt at breakfast or as a snack.  Enjoy... Granola with Pecans and Dried Fruit Everyday Food, 12 December 2011 Yield Makes 8 cups Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 3/4 teaspoon groun...

Confused about when to switch your baby's carseat?  Here is a great article in the Washington Parent on the when's and why's.  Hope this helps... http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/1201/car-seats.php

If there is one thing that I hate to do, it's the laundry - especially with 3 kids under 5!  I'm already running 2 majorly large loads each week but that's not the part I hate.  I hate to fold the laundry and put it way.  All too often I end up either pulling clothes out of the basket as we need them or my husband and I fold the clothes but they never get put away.  For me, I just feel too overwhelmed having to fold and/or puttng the clothes in 4 different dressers or hanging them in all of the different closets.  But the one tip that I can offer that I received from another busy working mom is to do a small load of laundry every other day and as you pull the clothes out of the dryer, fold them and then put them away.  It's far less overwhelming to fold and put away a small load of clothes versus a large, overloaded basket of clothes.  I know that you must think that doing a load of laundry is wasteful in terms of electricity and water - make sure you ...