Domesticated Momma

WW: Runaway Bride {Linky}

2012-03-06T20:16:00.001-05:00

© 2012, Domesticated Momma, All Rights Reserved. Not to be used, copied, blogged, tagged, or reproduced in any fashion without written consent.

Don't forget to link up your Wordless Wednesday posts!

Lazy Day Casserole

2012-03-05T20:42:00.000-05:00

It's been a no make-up, hair in pony tail, sporting the yoga pants kind of day. These days are some of my favorite days. Far from lazy, but not chaotic. Just very chill.

Chill days require comfort food. It's an absolute must. Usually when you think of comfort food you opt for something high in calories. Just the way it is. It doesn't have to be that way though. I came across a recipe on Kayotic Kitchen for something called a Lazy Sunday Casserole. It's packed with veggies and sausages roasted in a balsamic sauce. I whipped up the casserole for tonight's dinner and my goodness it was sooooo good. I'm not even kidding. It'll be a go to from here on out!

Ingredients
3 or 4 sausages (I used honey garlic italian sausages)
5 or 6 white potatoes
20-25 baby carrots
1 fennel bulb/anise
2 sweet onions or 1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 red bell pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 and 1/2 tsp italian seasonings
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions
Preheat the over to 450F.

Peel the potatoes and cut into 4s.
Cut the stalks and base off of the fennel bulb/anise. Cut the fennel bulb into wedges.
Remove skin from the onion(s) and wedge.
Cut the red bell pepper into slices.
Chop the garlic cloves into bite size pieces.
Layer the vegetables in the casserole dish.

In a mixing bowl combine the chicken broth, italian seasoning and oil. Pour the witches brew over the vegetables. Sprinkle salt and black pepper generously over the vegetables. Cover with foil and place in oven for 45 minutes.

While the vegetables are roasting lightly brown the sausages on stove top. You do not need to cook them through. Cut each sausage in half.

At 45 minutes check on the vegetables. It you can put a fork through vegetables with ease, remove foil. Place sausages on vegetables. Pour balsamic vinegar over the meat and veg. Place back in oven uncovered for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes remove dish from oven rotate sausages and spoon some of the brew at bottom of dish over everything. Place back in the oven for 15 more minutes.

Remove, let stand. Enjoy!

Happy Eating!

Mommy & Me Sessions (via @pdking)

2012-03-05T10:22:00.000-05:00

Quite often I complain that I don't have enough or any decent photos of me and the wee munchkins. If you're like me and live in the GTA or Durham Region, here's your chance to rectify that with a sweet Mommy & Me session with Petra King Photography.

Visit Petra's website to view her portfolio or reach out to her.

Cheers,

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.

Menu Plan Monday

2012-03-05T10:11:00.000-05:00

A new week is here. The sun is shining. It looks like a mild day outdoors. Quite deceiving. It's frigidly cold. All that matters is that the sun is shining down. That's where my happiness lies.

This week on the meal plan we have:

Pasta & Sauteed Veggie Bake
Mexican Stuffed Pasta
Lazy Day Casserole
Baked Chicken & Spinach Pasta
Santa Fe Chicken & Rice

Meal planning is really beginning to pay off big time. It's being reflective in our monthly Visa bills. Our weekly grocery bill has seen a 40% decrease in the amount spent. That's huge! We also haven't ate fast food or ordered take out in weeks. Okay... that's a bluff. We ordered pizza last night. Prior to that we hadn't order in, in over 2 weeks. We used to be the family that spoiled ourselves with takeout 2 to 3 times a week.

I've decided not to set in stone which days we will specifically eat each meal. I like to pick and chose on a whim. It all depends on how I'm feeling each day as to what may satisfy my taste buds. Whatever works.

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

PS... If you love new recipes and meal planning, check out my great review and giveaway for Cook'n Recipe Organizer. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents. Contest closes March 17.

Want a #RogersSmartHome Monitoring System? Here's your Chance!

2012-03-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

I'm a huge mama bear watching over her cubs. No one messes with my brood. Safety has become of such an importance to me. When I first learned of Rogers Smart Home Monitoring System a few months ago it really appealed to my family.

Being the zombie mom that I am... I often leave the house in a scurry. Let's face it life is hectic with two littles running around. Quite often I'll be quite a ways from home when it hits me... Did I turn the thermostat down? What about the lights, are they still on? With Rogers Smart Home I wouldn't have to worry about that. With ease I'd be able to check in from my smart phone, turn the lights off and adjust the thermostat as I see fit.

Also... what about when the kids get older and you hire a babysitter. You're frantically trying to check in and see how everything's going... BUT... no one is answering the phone. Your head begins to spin... something's wrong. Hold that thought! Before you get your panties in a bunch, don't you worry. Relax. With Rogers Smart Home Monitoring System you can easily check in and see what's going on.

I would be able to relax and breathe a sigh of relief if I had one of these monitoring systems. Knowing I'm always connected to my home regardless of my whereabouts and knowing my house is monitored 24/7 is a huge deal to me!

All of my Ontario readers can easily enter to win 1 of 5 Rogers Smart Home Monitoring Systems. This prize is valued at over $1,500. Entering is easy... Simply visit Rogers Smart Home, fill out a short form and share, share, share to increase your chances of winning!

Seriously it's that easy to enter...

You'll just need to...

provide your contact information.
click to answer why Rogers Smart Home is important to you.
answer 4 easy questions
share the giveaway with your friends and family to increase your chances of winning!

Prize valued at $1,518.83 each and includes:

1 Touchpad
3 Door/Window Sensors
1 Motion Detector
1 Key fob
1 Camera
1 Thermostat
1 Lamp Control
Service for one year

Interested but not sure how it all works? Feel free to watch this video...

So what are you still waiting for? If you reside in Ontario, Canada hurry on over to Rogers Smart Home and enter today! What have you got to lose?! This contest started March 1, 2012 and continues until 5:00PM EST on May 16, 2012 "contest closing date".

Enter and share!

Wishing all my Ontario readers good luck! I hope one of you win!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Compensation has been received in exchange for publishing. All opinions expressed are those of my own and not a PR company or brand.

Documenting Baby's 1st's

2012-03-02T16:10:00.001-05:00

Are you one of those parents that religously filled out Baby's 1st books and documented everything when your child was a newborn?

I was totally that Mom with my first born. I documented everything about the pregnancy and my daughter's first year. The pregnancy notes may have even covered the topic of sex. Cadence is going to smack me when she gets older when she decides to sit down and rummage through her box of memories.

However when it came down to my pregnancy with my son and his 1st year I wasn't as on the ball. Any notes I have would be documented on this blog. Nothing in writing in a little notebook.

Part of me wonders if I didn't document the pregnancy because I had done so with my pregnancy prior to him and I lost the baby. I just don't think I could have endured that pain again.

I digress...

My son has had a huge word explosion recently. His vocabulary has really grown. Have I mentioned he's only 12 months?! Some of his first words have been:

Hi (if he says it really fast it sounds more like hi's or even ass)
Bang
Block
Dog
Duck
Woof
Cat
Bubba (bottle)
Momma
Dada
Baby (No! He's not trying to hint at something. This baby making shop is temporarily closed!)
Not a word, but if you ask him where his head is... he'll put both hands on it.

I could swear there is more on the list, but those are all that are coming to me at the moment.

If one thing is apparent... Cameron has learned so much from his big sister.

Vaughn Mompreneur Showcase {Support Zack's Dream Room}

2012-03-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

The 2012 Vaughn Mompreneur Showcase is being held at Paradise Banquet Hall

located at 7601 Jane St. in Vaughan on

March 25th 10am-4pm

The showcase will have a little something for the whole family, including the Mums 'n Chums Birthday Bash & PTPA Kids Zone. Not only that some fabulous keynote speakers will be joining in on the fun, including Nanny Robina.

It's guaranteed to be a fun day! Seriously!

100% of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Zack's Dream Room in support of York Central Hospital.

Here's your chance to enter for your chance to win a family pack of 4 tickets to the Vaughn Mompreneurs Showcase!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fit & Firm Friday: Upwards & Onwards

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've been feeling on the top of my A game lately. My happiness is at the highest levels that it's been in a long time. It's an amazing feeling. It reflects not only in my regular day-to-day life, but also in my sex life. You never really realize how much of a damper feeling down on yourself can put on your sex life until you become proactive to find your happiness and work on your self. I don't mean work on yourself in the sense of working out, but rather eating healthier and just really appreciating that person staring back at you in the mirror. Just that little bit of self respect and appreciation pays off.

My weight plateaued this week. I'm not letting that get me down though. It happens. While I vigilantly try to eat healthy week by week, I allow myself to have a cheat night here and there. It's good to indulge in those cravings and reward yourself with a treat for all your hard work. Not only that it throws off your body by ingesting higher calories... this can help diminish that plateau that sometimes tends to happen. Yes, I may have acquired that tidbit of information while watching The Doctors this week.

My pitfall this week has been my consumption of junk food. My water intake has been at an all time high. I've cut out all fast food consumption and have only been enjoying healthy homecooked meals. I just can't ward off the cravings for Oreo's, Doritos and chocolate. How do I overcome this? I know it's not a huge deal in the long run per say, but it is my setback. A frustrating one at that.

Musings From My Toddler

2012-03-01T20:48:00.000-05:00

My daughter is reaching the age where her vocabulary has blossomed at a rapid rate. She went from saying a string of a few words to full on sayings in what felt like a night.

More recently Cadence has said some keepers that I just had to document. Haha.

Cadence: "Daddy, jump with you!"
They both start jumping up and down.
Cadence with a smug look on her face: "Daddy going to break the floor!"

And then there was this charmer from last Friday...

I was on all fours scrubbing the kitchen floor. I'm obsessive like that.
Cadence walks into the room, looks at me and chimes: "Good job, Cinderella!"
I kid you not! I think someone watches a little too much Disney! Hehe.

So tell me... what are some funny analogies your children have shared with you over the years?

WW: Love Your Body {Linky}

2012-02-28T20:07:00.001-05:00

Image Source: Bikini or Bust

Bedtime Wars With Toddler - What Gives?!?

2012-02-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

To my dearest parents... You win! The joke is on me. You wished me on myself many years ago. I told you it would never happen. Guess who's laughing now?

My 2 year old daughter is a feisty, moody... it better be my way or the highway kind of girl. I love this precious little one to death. I do! BUT - my goodness. Something has got to give. At least I won't have to worry about her keeping her boyfriends in line when she is a teenager.

I can deal with the temper tantrums during the day. Those I don't have a problem with.

What I can't cope with is the shit show that bedtime has become. My daughter used to be such a great little sleeper. Easy to get to bed each night. One day it was like a switch went off and she was like "Hey... Wait a minute! I'm 2 now and I can decide when I want to go to bed".

The protesting. The shrieking. The crying. The restlessness. I can't take it anymore.

Normally you won't hear me complain much, but I'm at the end of my rope here. I crave bedtime. Once the littles are in bed... it's me time! Me time... you know... alone time! Precious, golden alone time with no youngsters tugging at you and all the mindless TV you can't imagine. Now I'm lucky if my dear daughter is asleep by 10 or 11PM.

I've tried lying beside her bed, stroking her hair until she's near sleep. Crawling (more like inch worming) my way out of her room. Barely shutting the door to hear the shrieks ensue.

I've tried dropping all naps thinking that maybe she just wasn't tired enough. No such luck.

I've put a night light in her room. She loves it, but a fear of the dark certainly wasn't the issue either.

What gives?!?

I need my good little sleeper back again. I feel like I'm beginning to take a page out of the book "Go The Fuck To Sleep".

Image Source: Life123

Cook'n Recipe Organizer {Review & Giveaway}

2012-02-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

I love to cook. The kitchen is my domain. I'm a self proclaimed recipe hoarder. You'd think given my incessant need to try new recipes each week that I'd have some sort of system in place to store and sort through all my recipes. Truth is... I don't. I'm guilty of writing out recipes and printing out recipe, just to stash them in some "great" place; So great I can never find them again.

This year I'm focusing on organizing my life and implementing systems. Ones that work. I've already started tackling my house. It's now time to tackle that recipe collection. I need a place where I can store all my recipes and easily locate them when I need to reference them again. This is where Cook'n Recipe Organizer comes in handy.

Cook'n is the easiest way to:

Find the best recipes on the Internet.
Capture and save Internet recipes.
Enter your own personal recipes.
Sync recipes with iPhone, iPad, & Android.
Print a family cookbook.
Analyze nutritional values.
Make menus, shopping lists & more!

I'll admit when I first downloaded Cook'n I felt overwhelmed. Like any new computer application, you need to take your time to navigate your way around it. Cook'n had a fabulous tutorial that I was able to tune into as the program installed on my computer. It really helped formulate my knowledge of the software and set the base for a good user friendly experience.

I love that with Cook'n I'm not just restricted to searching their recipe database. I'm able to search the Internet, access my favorite blogs and capture recipes. It takes away the need to print out recipes and tuck them away. You can save your recipes all in one place. With Cook'n you're also able to map out your meal plans and plan your grocery shopping accordingly. It's quite neat just how much this program offers.

Cook'n is quite versatile and I've never seen anything like it in the market. The database is endless. I'm still quite new to using the software, but from what I can tell I love it so far. I'm very excited to offer my readers the chance to win a copy of Cook'n 10 Recipe Organizer!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary copy of Cook'n 10 Recipe Organizer in order to complete my review of the software. The views expressed in this blog post are those of my own opinion and are not influenced by a PR company or the brand.

To Bikini, or Not to Bikini?

2012-02-25T20:18:00.001-05:00

I did it. I bit the bullet and went out bikini shopping today.

Oh. Em. Gee!

I vowed after giving birth to my first that I would never be caught dead in a bikini again. How could I bring myself to show off my midriff covered in all those stretchmarks?! Seeing the beauty in the stretchmarks is something I've struggled with. Y'know what though. The stretch marks are just that... Beautiful. It's a love marking from pregnancy. I earned my tiger stripes upon entering motherhood. Why consider them a flaw? They're anything but.

I'm heading away on a vacay soonish in celebration of my 5 year wedding anniversary. So I took the plunge... why not bikini while in paradise?

Deep breath.

Fit & Firm

2012-02-24T20:35:00.000-05:00

After many... and I mean... MANY years, the scale and I have finally rekindled our love for one another. I'd become one of the those women after giving birth to my children who would tuck the scale away into the dark corner where it would collect dust. It took a lot of courage to bring myself to pull it back out.

Let's face it.

When I was pregnant with my son I suffered from really bad morning sickness. I couldn't keep anything down. Diclectin did jack for me. My saving grace was poutine and chocolate. It kept my belly full and baby happy. Was it the healthiest options? No. It was the only thing I could stomach though. I ended up paying the price for my unhealthy habits. I packed on a lot of excess weight from the empty calories.

Losing the baby weight is something I've struggled with since February 2011. Weight loss isn't something that has come easy to me. I battled through my struggles with postpartum depression. I felt empty, useless and unpretty. Harsh... but true. I enrolled in a local gym. I committed myself to it for all of a month before falling off the bandwagon. I didn't see the results I wanted. I didn't feel like I was tied down to going to the gym. An aerobics class might have been a better choice for me.

Heading into 2012 I made myself a pact that this would be the year I focus on myself. Too often do I put other people first and place myself on the back burner. I began eating healthier and have been working out like nobody's business. Not to lose weight but to tone. Little did I expect to lose the pounds. Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scale last week and found out I had dropped 10 pounds since Christmas.

Amazing feeling let me tell you!

This week I've been a little off and distant from my regular workout routine as a result of a rotor cuff injury (torn shoulder tendon), but I've managed to stay motivated and kept up with my healthy lifestyle. I've felt out of my element since my routine has fallen off track. However, I know my body needs a break to heal.

Today I decided to hop back on the scale. I jumped off immediately and did a happy dance. I'm now down 14 pounds since Christmas and am now back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I never thought I'd see this day. I feel like a new person. I feel stronger. I feel happier and so much more confident. I hate to brag, but I'm so in love with my body and the person I am now. This girl totally rocks!

I promised myself once I reached my goal that I would book myself a boudoir portrait session. Not for my husband, but for me. A little something to celebrate my beauty. Now... it's the shyness holding me back. Hahaha!

Shit New Moms Say

2012-02-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Video Source

Shit Stay-At-Home Moms Say

2012-02-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

Video Source

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

2012-02-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

Show of hands... Do you love buffalo chicken? How about lasagna? If you're a lover of both, then this recipe is for you.

I came across a recipe of Buffalo Chicken Lasagna while surfing Pinterest last week. Pinterest really is a great tool, isn't it?! The recipe originated on A Year of Slow Cooking. It seemed easy enough to make, but with any recipe I came up with ways to tweak it to suit the taste of my family. Every bite warranted for an "Oh this is soooooo good!" from my husband. You know a meal is delicious when...

This meal does require a fair bit of prep work, but it's so worth it. The dish makes plenty for leftovers and is perfect to freeze for future meals!

Ingredients
Uncooked lasagna noodles
3 bonesless skinless chicken breasts (cooked and chopped or shredded)
2 sweet bell peppers (chopped, finely)
1 cup Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
28 oz Pasta Sauce
Tub of Ricotta Cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup of water

Directions
In a bowl combine the pasta sauce, buffalo sauce and chicken.

Spray your 5-qt. slow cooker with non stick spray. Ladle a large spoonful of your sauce to cover the bottom of your crock pot. Add a layer of noodles. You will need to break them apart to get them to fit.

Spread a layer of ricotta cheese across the noodles. Add a layer of bell peppers and a handful of shredded cheese.

Repeat the layers until you run out of ingredients. I managed to get 4 layers. The final layer should finish with sauce and cheese.

Pour 1/4 cup into your mix bowl and swirl. Pour the liquid over your lasagna.

Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high 2.5 to 3 hours.

Modifications
If you like bleu cheese, add 1/2 a cup of bleu cheese crumbles to the final layer of the lasagna.

I ran out of sauce while preparing my final layer so I added 1/4 cup more pasta sauce.

I cooked the chicken breast in roasted red pepper dressing for 4 hours on high and shredded., prior to making the lasagna.

Happy eating!

WW: The Love of Grandparents {Linky}

2012-02-21T20:27:00.000-05:00

What if it Had Been Worse? #MakeDeathWait

2012-02-20T12:10:00.000-05:00

It's been a very eventful weekend in my neck of the woods. Eventful in an alarming way. A way that is causing me to put a lot into perspective.

I've been dealing with severe chest pain, shoulder pain and numbness in my left arm since Thursday night. I blew it off as nothing and kept on popping Advil. It didn't help. In fact it was making it worse.

Yesterday morning, the pain in my chest was growing more severe. I was having a hard time breathing. The pain left me wind and feeling nauseous. I finally admitted to myself that something wasn't right. I didn't want to admit defeat. I wanted to convince myself so badly that everything was okay. I was terrified. Deep down there was that part of me that just knew I needed medical attention.

My husband drove me to the emerg and tried to talk me down. He could sense that I was scared. Stroke has affected the lives of many of family members. My head was spinning with self diagnosis. It was hard not think of the worse possible outcome.

The first thing the doctor did was assess me for possible stroke and heart attack. My vitals all appeared normal. They performed an ultrasound and prick test on my left arm and shoulder. I was both responsive and unresponsive to the prick test. The ultrasound had shown that I had torn a shoulder tendon. This would explain the pain and numbness through my shoulder and arm. What I didn't know is that when I had been taking the Advil to try and make my discomfort manageable... the Advil had been working in the opposite affect. The Advil had been affecting my heart in away that I was being dealt with severe chest pain.

If you ever feel unwell or like something just isn't right, please go get checked out. You know your body better than anybody else. Don't grin and bear it just to be the bigger person. You just never know how serious the situation can be. Medical attention is there for a reason.

I'm so glad I decided to get checked out. I'm counting my blessings. The situation could have turned out a hell of a lot worse. It didn't. I'm so grateful. I've been prescribed a lot of medication to help alleviate my pain and counteract the previous damage I had done by taking Advil. This may not have been my ideal way to spend the weekend, but at least now I have my answers so I can focus on getting better.

Introducing a New Addition... The Recipe Index!

2012-02-17T21:25:00.002-05:00

2012 brings with it a lot of goals and visions I have for Domesticated Momma. Today I checked one of my goals off the to do list.

I've collaborated an index of recipes we've featured on the blog over the years. It was a tedious task, but I feel refreshed knowing it's done!

The recipe index has been placed in the "tabs bar" and will continually be updated as we share new recipes in the future.

Happy eating!

Bruiser Cruises

2012-02-17T20:06:00.000-05:00

While my baby will always be my baby... he is no longer a baby anymore. He started toddling around this week. He took his first unassisted steps in January. This week, he decided to be more of a daredevil and test his limits. On Tuesday, he walked across our family room to our kitchen. I sat on the couch. My eyes welled up with tears as I tried to contain my excitement. I wanted so badly to jump up and down and squeal about how proud I was of him, but I resisted.

So now that I know he totally knows how to walk, I wonder how long it will take for him to stop resorting to the faster mode of travel... ahem... crawling.

Wah - my little boy is growing up far too fast!

For Fathers With Teenaged Daughters

2012-02-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

There's no doubt about it... my husband is surely bound to have any guys knocking on our door fill out this form before allowing them to take our daughter out on a date.

10 Ways to Squeeze Romance into Every Day

2012-02-16T15:12:00.001-05:00

How will you find time for romance when you barely have time to brush your teeth? Here are 10 sweet, unexpected, totally doable ideas for squeezing a little you're-so-hot-when-you-burp-the-baby intimacy into every day. Try them on your guy -- and see how little things can make all the difference.

E-Mail Exchange
After an insane morning of getting your kids and yourself out the door, you realize you haven't even said "hi" much less "I love you" to your spouse. When you get to work, take five minutes to send him an e-mail or text message wishing him luck in that meeting or telling him how cute he looks today. Sharing those little details can make you feel romantic in no time at all.

2-for-1 Bonus
You've still managed to find time to shower, right? So why not do a little romantic multitasking? Invite him in with you now and then -- morning or night, as long as the kids are asleep -- washing up while you catch up (or whatever else...). You'll step out feeling squeaky clean -- and super sexy.

Dinner a Deux
Pureed squash all over the walls doesn't exactly set the stage for romance. So feed the kids early, put them to bed, and then have a late after-dinner dinner just for two. Make it date-night special by lighting candles and popping open some champagne -- even if you're only having tacos.

Pencil Him In
Instead of dealing with the hassle of last-minute babysitter booking, put your favorite sitter on a regular schedule and have a standing date night with your man. You'll figure out what to do later. Make the first Saturday of every month your night to get out of the house sans kiddies and remember that you're more than just Mommy and Daddy.

Wake-Up Booty Call
Sometimes it's hard to find time for sex, even if you are in the mood (sad but true). So schedule it in by setting the alarm a half hour earlier, and have a first-thing-in-the-morning quickie before the kids are up. Go to bed a half hour earlier that night to make up for lost sleep -- and stay smiling all day long.

A Compliment a Day Makes the Romance Stay
When was the last time you told your husband how awesome he is? Put yourself on a compliment-a-day program to keep those lovin' feelings flowing.

Play Hooky
You know those personal days you get? We can't think of anything more personal than reconnecting with the hubs. Take one of those underused allotted days midweek while the kids are at daycare, school, or with a sitter. Go back to bed, watch TV in your PJs, see a movie, whatever...as long as you do it together.

Lights Out
Make a point of retiring to the bedroom before you're really tired. This way you'll still have enough gas in the tank for a little nookie.

Let's Do Lunch
Who says dates are just for nighttime? We say try a lunch rendezvous. Take an hour from your day to meet up and enjoy a mini-date, just the two of you. Bonus: If you're a working mama, you don't even need to hire a sitter.

Ixnay on the Baby Talk
Your daughter's still got that cough, and junior's not using his words -- the subject of your kids could expand to fill every single second of conversation if you let it. Try taking at least a 15-minute break from kiddie talk every day to discuss your relationship, good memories, that naughty dream you had last night...anything so long as it's not about the kids.

Source: Parents Magazine, Jennifer Sembler

Love

2012-02-16T14:42:00.003-05:00

Source: philZENdia

Arguing in Front of the Kids

2012-02-15T15:10:00.000-05:00

If you were to take a group of parents aside and ask them if they argued with their spouse in front of their children... odds are each parent would probably answer 'no'. Arguing in front of children is seen as a huge sociological 'no-no'. Let's face it though... as parents and in marriage we are not perfect. Not all conflict can be resolved without the presence of our children.

I'll admit that my husband and I do fight in front of our kids. We don't have full out screaming matches. However, if we are in the midst of a disagreement we will resolve the matter in front of our children. We don't see this as setting a bad example for our children. If anything we feel that they are learning problem solving skills by witnessing our small snafus. It teaches them conflict resolution at a young age.

So when does an argument go too far?

Well...

My husband and I have always agreed that we would not call each other names or belittle one another in the presence of our children. Name calling is simply juvenile and a sign a spite. Something we do not need our children to learn. After all our children do learn from our example. They are constantly watching our every move and listening to our every word that comes of our mouths.

Yesterday was one of those days. Not only that... it was Valentines Day. I picked my husband up from the train station. He was in quite the mood. A mood I wasn't going to put up with. Some very spiteful things were said and I was called a 'bitch' in front of the children. I'm not going to divulge into further details. My husband has since apologized. The details aren't really anyone else's business but our own..

The whole situation last night left me very upset. My children are at the age where they are expanding their vocabulary. Their minds are like sponges. For them to have heard some of the comments directed at me felt like a dagger went straight through my heart. Our fight went way too far and turned way too sour.

I've now had some time to reflect and I'm wondering if our approach is one off. Should we really argue in front of our children? Are we doing right by it? Certainly not when the arguments go south rather than reach resolution.

Spill it! Do you argue in front of your children?

WW: Channing Tatum (Nuff Said) {Linky}

2012-02-14T20:43:00.001-05:00

Motivated Monday: Fit Fluential

2012-02-13T15:42:00.002-05:00

I did it. Last week I finally brought myself to step on the scale. You know that scary dark thing tucked in beside my bathroom cabinet. I dragged it out, held my breath and stepped on. It felt like an eternity as the scale thought for an hour (...er... minute) before my weight popped up on the screen before my eyes. I saw the number. Blinked. Stepped off the scale and back on. It had to be wrong. It wasn't.

Down TEN pounds since Christmas. Ten whole pounds. I never expected to see that number. I had been putting off even weighing myself for fear of becoming obsessed with it. Thankfully I haven't. I'm pleasantly surprised. I knew that I had been losing inches. I never anticipated losing weight. It wasn't my goal going into my get active, stay fit, and be healthy regime.

I'm now 3 pounds shy of my pre-pregnancy weight. Yay!

Keeping on top of my water intake had been a struggle of mine over the last few weeks. Last week I broke out my half liter water bottle and I've been taking it with me everywhere. I've found it's helped keep me on top of staying hydrated. I've also been flavouring my water with agave nectar, lemon juice, raspberries and cucumber. Drink 2 liters of water a day has never been so easy!

Over the past week, I've done a lot of over indulging. It may not have been reflective on the scale; my body certainly made it clear to me that it wasn't happy. After eating healthy for weeks, my body surely did not take well to my intake of cake and sweets. It left me feeling kind of sickly to be quite frank. While it was nice to treat myself... the sweets will remain just that... occasional treats.

Have a fit fluential week!

Menu Plan Monday - 02/13

2012-02-13T15:18:00.000-05:00

I feel like I haven't even collaborated a consistent meal plan in the last few weeks. Between the birthdays and family get togethers we haven't really had a need to plan out anything other than a few nights each week. It's been a nice break. Feels a bit strange though. This week will be much of the same.

Monday: Dinner at Boston Pizza for my son's birthday
Tuesday: Chinese Take Out (The hubs is insisting we order in on Valentine's Day. I can't object to that!)
Wednesday: Spaghetti and meat sauce
Thursday: General Tao Chicken and Rice
Friday: Chicken Fried Rice
Saturday: Kidless weekend.... not sure if the hubs wants to stay in or head out for dins.
Sunday: See Saturday.

Honestly, I can't wait to jump right back in to planning a proper menu plan next week. I love to cook and discover new recipes. I feel so deprived of that at the moment.

Life With A Toddler

2012-02-11T20:03:00.000-05:00

Lovable Books For Our Littlest Valentines

2012-02-09T21:03:00.001-05:00

Valentines Day is less than a week away. The Hallmark holiday may not be for everyone. Heck - my husband and I don't even celebrate it. It doesn't mean we should take the fun out of the occasion for the kids.

Rather than treating your littlest Valentine to some chocolates and sweets. Why not pick up one of these books? Snuggle up and read. It's sure to be a lovable moment.

Good Night, I Love You by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mcbratney

You Are My Sunshine by Jimmy Davis

Midweek Confessions

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here we are, half the way through another week. The middle of the week has always been a favorite of mine. Wednesday in particular. You'd think Friday or Saturday would be my favorite day... Nope! I don't know what it is about Wednesday. Knowing the weekend is looming and I'm half the way through the week. Oh and that it's "hump" day. Pretty darn appealing.

Am I the only one who just got Humpty Dance stuck in their head?

- Last weekend my husband took me away for the weekend to celebrate my weekend. You'd have thought that I'd be sad about leaving the kids with Grandma for a few days. I was far from it. I was ecstatic. The idea of enjoying a meal while it's warm, a hot coffee, sleeping through the night/in and being able to have conversation... uninterrupted was a dream become reality. The weekend was everything that I needed and so much more. I'm feeling refreshed and relaxed.

- My son celebrates his 1st birthday this weekend. Unlike when my daughter turned 1, I'm not handling it too well. I can't really pinpoint the reason why... BUT... Can we just freeze time for a little while please? No? Fine then.

- Fringe, Secret Circle, Alcatraz. All shows that my husband loves. I can't say that I share the same appreciation for them. Revenge, Ringer, The Vampire Diaries... however... I love!

- My Mother-in-Law is pretty darn awesome. Just sayin'. She's been there for my husband, the kids and I whenever we need her. Not always have we had the best relationship, but our relationship has really blossomed over the last few years. She's a great woman, full of passion and a huge heart! I'll be forever grateful for her help and guidance.

- I'm sipping Cherry Coke Zero. One of the many treats I picked up while cross border shopping on Saturday. Yummers!

Where's The Cake?!?

2012-02-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday! Wahoo!

My birthday is honestly one of my favorite days of the year. It's also 'let's talk' day. A day of all around importance.

On this day last year, I sat in my midwives office. 2 days away from my due date. I celebrated my birthday with a stretch and sweep. It hurt like a bitch, but I was super excited for the pending birth of my son.

This year, I'm celebrating my birthday with my son and daughter. The day may have started at 6AM, but that's ok. Y'know why?!? They BOTH slept through the night. It's a miracle. That never happens.

The day has only started and so far it's been fantastic! I can't wait to see what else is in store for me!

Now somebody... pass me some cake!!

WW: Beauties of Motherhood {Linky}

2012-02-08T10:07:00.001-05:00

Motivated Monday: Birthdays Have No Calories

2012-02-06T20:15:00.001-05:00

Week 4. Let's do this! My fitness regime is going strong. I haven't felt this good and healthy in a long time. A very long time. It's an amazing feeling. I love the girl staring back at me in the mirror. I can't remember the last time I truly appreciated her beauty. She is beautiful. Call me vain, but she is.

I've decided to stop counting the calories of each meal. It was making me become that crazy person that I didn't want to become. I was over analyzing everything that went into my mouth. From food to drink. It was nutso. Who cares if I want to enjoy the occasional glass of wine or a small slice of cake?! Like really. Moderation is okay. We all deserve a treat from time to time.

I have managed to work my way towards living a healthier lifestyle. Our meal plan is certainly reflecting it. I'm spending a lot more time in the produce section at the grocery and less time in the junk food aisles. Recently one of my favorite snacks has been ants on a log. So yummy!

My son and I are both celebrating our birthdays this week. The hubs took me away this past weekend. I overindulged a lot. Birthdays have no calories, right? Right?! I can bet you there will be a lot more cake in my future this week. Mmm... cake! My birthday comes, but once a year. Indulgence is expected.

Have a fit fluential week everyone!

Menu Plan Monday - 02/06

2012-02-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

It feels weird to be writing out the meal plan today. I did the groceries last Thursday. Normally I would wait and shop on Saturday or Sunday. Being that we were out of town warranted the early trip.

A lot of people ask me how I map out my meal plan to be cost efficient. It's fairly easy once I made some changes to my weekly eating habits.

Try to plan out meals using similar (if not the same) ingredients.
Avoid packaged and canned goods (if possible).
If making a larger portioned meal... think - can I freeze the leftovers? Would the meal produce decent leftovers once the food is warmed?

These tips have seemed to work for us. More specifically the point about trying to plan out meals with similar ingredients. When I first started meal planning, I was notorious for planning meals in varying extremes of ingredients. While it was nice to switch things up. It also was reflected in my high grocery bills.

Here's the plan for this week:

Monday: Tex Mex Chili (Taco Soup)

Tuesday: Dinner meeting

Wednesday: Birthday (up to the hubs to plan out my dins)

Thursday: Beef Enchiladas w/ Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Friday: General Tao Chicken w/ Rice

Saturday: Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Sunday: Family birthday party!

Happy eating!

Grow Old Along With Me, The Best is Yet to Be!

2012-02-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Image Credit: bluquote

Back-to-Work Tips for a New Mom

2012-02-04T04:00:00.000-05:00

Kissing your baby goodbye every morning can be tough. Make the transition back to the office a little easier with these tips

Get your childcare plan in place before going back to work. "I joined online parenting forums while I was still pregnant, and networked with local parents to find childcare options," says Julia Levy,　a mom of two in Austin, Texas. "It’s certainly not something I would have wanted to do when the brain fog set in postpartum. Knowing that my baby would be in good hands when I returned to work helped me relax during my leave."

Speak up about work flexibility. "When I was 16 weeks pregnant, I met with my boss and asked if working part-time would be possible," says Jennifer Rouse, a mom of three in Albany, Oregon. "We ended up creating a plan that gave me the flexibility to work from home three days a week. By respectfully voicing my needs and being open to suggestion, I helped my workplace help me make a more natural transition back to work."

Make it a team effort. "My husband only took a few days off after our daughter was born, and then took an entire week off when I went back to work," says Jessica Meierotto, a mom of two from Des Moines, Iowa. "It made that first week so much easier. I only had to worry about getting myself out the door instead of getting my daughter to daycare. It was also nice for the two of them to get some quality time together."

Don’t let guilt get to you. "Be honest with yourself about how you feel about being back at work," says Carrie Contey, Ph.D., an early parenting consultant and author. "Acknowledge that sometimes you’re sad to leave your baby, and sometimes you feel happy to go to work. It's all normal. And try to take care of yourself—eat well, get as much sleep as you can. It’s not a luxury—when you’re physically well, you feel less overwhelmed."

Get organized. Decide ahead of time with your husband how you’ll divide and conquer household tasks when you’re working again. Who wants to argue about taking out the garbage when you have a baby to adore?

Decorate your office. On your first day back at work, bring along a few framed photos of your baby—for your viewing pleasure, of course, but also to spark conversation with coworker parents about being a new mom. You’ll feel less alone knowing that colleagues have also been spit up on by breakfast time.

Be here now. "When you are with your child, be with your child, talking, singing, cuddling, and not preoccupying yourself with work matters," says Contey. "And when you’re at work, try to make it satisfying, with scheduled breaks to call your caregiver. Being mindful of where you direct your attention will keep you focused and balanced."

Article Source: HUGGIES® Brand

Getting Away Without The Kids

2012-02-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

I've been looking forward to this weekend for the past week. Counting down the days. Most days feel like they've been dragging on. Seriously. The longest week ever. It's also been the best week ever.... but that's a whole other story.

My husband has arranged for us to go away this weekend. Just the two of us. Oh my goodness. I couldn't be more ecstatic. I'm going to get to sleep in, eat a warm meal, finish a conversation without being interrupted, and shop with out lagging behind holding my youngsters hand. It's like a dream. I can't wait to focus on just being a couple. Too often do we get lost in our children and put our marriage on the back burner. Time to rekindle that old flame. I can't wait to spend alone time with my best friend and love. It's going to be fun... and I don't mean that in a dirty way. Get your mind out of the gutter!

Grandma should be arriving soon to spend a few nights with the kids. Wahoo!

Bought Me Some Cuties!

2012-02-03T15:30:00.001-05:00

I completed the adventurous task of taking both the munchkins grocery shopping with me this morning. It's one of those errands that you just never can predict the outcome. Thankfully today the children were in great spirits.

I nearly started jumping and dancing when I walked into the produce department and came across "Cuties". They're a clementine / mandarin orange. I couldn't resist scooping them up. I've been vying for the perfect healthy snack for weeks. Today I found it... and I may have already at 4 within the last hour. That is besides the point though.

Too bad clementines are only a seasonal produce item!

Matthew's Day Off

2012-02-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

If you're like me (and many people) you were excited early this week by the prospect of there being a possible sequel to Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Only to have that hope squashed into absolute nothingness when this commercial was released.

Anyone else bummed that there won't be a sequel?

Got to hand it to Honda. Their marketing team succeeded at making this commercial go viral. Its been chatted up; shared vastly in the media. The conversations are flowing and everyone is now remembering the Honda name. Job well done, Beuller.

Sweet Nothings

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Not often does my husband express the way he feels for me. He's not very good at letting his emotions flow into words. It's a struggle for him. You know what though? That's ok. When he does express himself, he never ceases to sweep me straight off my feet and make my head spin. Love is such an amazing feeling.

Last night when my husband arrived home, I was preparing dinner. He snuck up behind me, gave me a kiss and passed me a gift bag. My birthday is only a few days away. Naturally I thought he was mistaken. Imagine my pleasant his surprise when he informed me that this gesture was a just because. No reason. Just simply because he felt I deserved a little pick me up in appreciation for all that I do for him and our family.

Totally made my day and reinforced the reasons why I love him so much.. Love you, J!

Tonight My Heart Broke...

2012-02-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

My daughter has been experiencing a fair bit of anxiety the past few nights at bedtime. This isn't normal for her. I've just been doing what any parent would do... Just trying to be there for her as we work through this phase.

Tonight I had her snuggled on me with her head upon my chest. We rocked in the rocking chair, slowly sharing silly stories. Out of nowhere she stopped, looked up at me with a serious face and said, "I'm not a baby anymore. I'm sad. I want to be the baby!". Imagine how stunned I was as she confided this in me. I could see the sadness in her eyes as she looked up at me. My heart broke.

Have I not been focusing enough attention on her lately?
Does she miss her alone time with Mommy?
Is she jealous of her little brother?

I don't know what caused this upset. I wish I knew what spawned it.

I'm always professing my love for my children. I'm going to make a point to do it more often. You can never say those three words too often to your children.

Clearly, I also need to spend more alone time with her. Mommy and daughter spa day anyone?!?

Beef Enchiladas w/ Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2012-02-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of the dinners where you indulge in the first bite and are left thinking... "Holy fuck! This tastes so god damn good". Well that's a moment I totally experienced tonight.

A good friend emailed me over one of her recipes a couple weeks ago. She emphasized how delicious this meal was. To die for was the way she'd describe it. Well not those exact words, but good enough that it'd leave you thinking "Wow, wow, wow!". She was right.

The meal did take a bit of prep work. I started by making the enchilada sauce first. It was easy to throw together. Once I had the sauce simmering, I started prepping the beef for the enchiladas and warming the oven. In total, I'd say the meal took me 45 minutes to prepare. The extra amount of time spent in the kitchen was so worth it! Trust me, you'll agree once you try this meal!

Ingredients (Enchilada Sauce)
2 Tbsp oil
1 small white onion - finely minced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 Tbsp chili powder, to taste
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups tomato sauce
Cooking oil for softening tortillas
Chopped or sliced black olives for garnish (optional)

Directions
Heat cooking oil in heavy saucepan. Add onion and garlic, saute until soft. Add tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt. Cover and simmer approximately 30 minutes.

Ingredients (Beef Enchiladas)
1 lb. lean ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
Homemade Enchilada Sauce (see above)
8-10 small tortillas
¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
sour cream (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large non-stick skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Pour off grease.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in 1 cup enchilada sauce.

Pour the remaining enchilada sauce into a shallow dish. A pie pan would work perfectly. Dip tortillas, one at a time, into sauce to coat both sides. Spoon beef mixture evenly down the center of each tortilla and roll up (I use a 1/4 measuring cup, I don't fill it all the way just a bit under). Place beef enchiladas seam-side down in a 13x9-inch baking dish.

Cover dish and bake in oven for 15 minutes.

Uncover enchiladas. Spoon reserved enchilada sauce over beef enchiladas. Sprinkle with the cheese. Continue baking uncovered for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle liberally with cilantro.

Serve with sour cream (optional).

Modifications
If you don't feel up to making the enchilada sauce, you can use 2 cans of enchilada sauce (10oz).

Happy Eating!

Just Another Manic Week...

2012-02-02T15:38:00.001-05:00

It's that time again for midweek confessions. Woah. I know I say it all the time, but time always feels like it is going by so fast. It may have something to do with me being preoccupied all the time, but still.

- An airplane just flew overhead and it sounded ridiculously low. Take cover!

- I love Young & The Restless. I'm normally not the type of gal that digs soap operas. I used to watch Y&R with my Mom when I was a youngster. My interest in the show just kind of carried on into my adult years.

- You know when you walk into a room and you catch a whiff of a funky smell. It doesn't take you more than a millisecond to realize your child has pooped. Your first thought is not again...and then you hear footsteps. Your husband is coming. Score. So you wait for him to notice. "Oh sorry honey, did "C" poop? I never noticed. Here's the wipes". I'm so guilty of it. Don't deny it... you know you are too!

- I'm a worrier. I worry about anything and everything. Stupid, silly little things. I'm guilty of over thinking things unnecessarily. There I said it.

- I tried yoga for the first time last week. You'd think I'd have gone for something easy, but no. I purchased Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown. Holy heck - it wasn't easy! It was quite relaxing though.

- Music makes me happy. I can't play an instrument... unless you count the recorder. BUT - I love a wide variety of genres. I find I relate songs to my life and mood. I love music that is full of energy and fun. Music that you just want to crank up the volume to and dance.

So Social! Hop - 02/01 {Linky}

2012-02-01T20:24:00.001-05:00

Are you a blogger? Do you want to extend your reach? Find some new readers? Build new friendships?

If you're social media savvy then this hop is for you!!

The steps are easy:

Follow the hostess:
Domesticated Momma {Blog}
Domesticated Momma {Twitter}
Domesticated Momma {Facebook}
Link up your blog and social media accounts. Be sure in the description to note {Blog}, {Twitter}, {Google Plus} and so on.

You're Doing Okay, Mom!

2012-02-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

Something that I think every Mom needs to hear! We all have our days. Some better than others. No matter what though our children continue to love us unconditionally.

This commercial never ceases to bring tears to my eyes. "You're doing okay, Mom!"

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2012-02-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

I love entertaining guests at my house. I enjoy socializing with friends, catching up and sharing laughs.... oh... and maybe a few drinks. With hosting also comes serving food. Depending on the occasion, I usually reach for appetizer type dishes. One of my go-to's is Buffalo Chicken Dip. It's easy to make and so tasty!

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
1 cup of ranch dressing
2 pkgs of cream cheese, softened
1 cup of cheddar cheese
3/4 cup of franks red hot sauce

Directions
Mix dressing, cream cheese and hot sauce together with a mixer.
Add chicken and cheddar.
Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes.

Happy eating!

Image Credit: Frank's Red Hot

WW: Always Be My Baby {Linky}

2012-01-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

6 Super Bowl Game Party Meal Ideas

2012-01-31T15:45:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl Sunday is this upcoming weekend - February 5th.

Are you throwing a party or attending one? Take the stress out of meal prep and make one of these stomach pleasing meals.

Buffalo Chicken Penne
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili
Tex Mex Chili (Taco Soup)
Beer & Beef Stew
Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

Happy snacking!

Murphy's Law for Moms

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Image Source: RaisingArrows.net

Motivated Monday: The Plateau

2012-01-30T20:44:00.001-05:00

It never fails. My fitness regimen always takes off at such a good pace. I'm motivated. More accountable than ever. Feeling awesome. And then it hits...

The plateau.

It may hit a week in. A month. Maybe in a few days. In my case, I've made it 3 weeks.

Annoying.

I was starting to see results. I've found a workout schedule that actually clicks for me. I'm actually sticking to it. Finding time to workout isn't my struggle at all. In fact it's far from it.

My struggle.... CRAVINGS!

Cravings for sweets. Cravings for something out of the ordinary. I've grown bored of eating healthy. Strange because I've been trying to switch it up. Never buying the same old, same old healthy snack food week by week.

I ate out way too much over the weekend. Friday night was my cheat night. I try to allocate one cheat night or day a week. The cheat night slowly turned into cheat weekend. I ate out at A &W Friday. McDonald's and Boston Pizza on Saturday. Zeller's Diner and Silver Star Chinese on Sunday. A bit ridic, don't ya think?

How do I get around this? Saying 'Eff you cravings!' just isn't as easy as it seems. For me at least.

I have the motivation. I know I can do this.

Menu Plan Monday - 1/30

2012-01-30T16:01:00.001-05:00

The final few days of January are here. As always the month seems to have zipped straight on by. Usually I'm all for wishing that time would slow down. However, I can't wait to bid farewell to January and welcome February with open arms. I'm truly excited for February. It's going to be a fabulous month. My son and I both will be celebrating our birthday's next month. It's his 1st. I'm not even going to tell you how old I'm turning. He, he. I also have several friends due any day to welcome new additions to their families. I can't wait to meet their little ones! There is just so much to look forward to. I thrive off of that!

Our menu plan this week is nothing huge. I have a bunch of birthday stuff going on this weekend, so we won't have any real game plan for Saturday and Sunday. So that just leaves us with today and Tuesday through to Thursday.

Yesterday we spent a majority of the day working on household upgrades and renos. My hubster made it very clear that he wanted me to take it easy today and not worry about dinner. We have many leftovers in the fridge from dinners out over the weekend. He's delegated those leftovers as our dinner for tonight. Fair enough. Just don't tell him I cleaned like a mad woman today. Shh... keep that our little secret.

Monday: Leftover Smoky Mountain Spaghetti and Meatballs or Chinese
Tuesday: Crock Pot Sesame Chicken w/ Rice
Wednesday: Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: ....
Saturday: ....
Sunday: ....

From The Ground Up

2012-01-28T20:50:00.000-05:00

Reflecting back on my child I remember wondering how my parents could keep it afloat. How did they manage to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table? I was so naive. I'll be the first to admit that I took a lot for granted. I took them from for granted. Don't most children!? I never had a true appreciation for everything they did for my brother and I until I moved out on my own at the ripe age of 21.

Prior to living on my own, I'll admit I worried. I worried A LOT! I had anxieties over my future. The future was full of unknowns. With unknowns posed change. Could I keep up? Would I be good enough? Stable on my own two feet?

Looking back I can't help but chuckle. It's really not all that bad. I've encountered my share of tragedies, but I've also achieved many triumphs. I'm proud of my accomplishments.

I spent today at a decor center browsing interior design selections, enjoying the ambiance of a beautifully staged home. It felt like a dream. So surreal. I still can't believe my husband and I are at a point in our lives to build our next home from the ground up. It's actually happening. Wow. Pinch me!

That naive little girl, oh-20-some years ago would have never anticipated this dream to come true.

Image Credit: Heritage Park Homes Ltd.

10 Ways to Fab Abs

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Who wouldn't love fab abs? I know I'd kill to have mine back. These exercises have truly helped my stomach tone. You can see the muscle definition forming and the mommy tummy pooch going down. Rock on. If you don't have time for a full workout these reps are fantastic.

DM's Top 5 Favorite Children's Books

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

We love to read! Our house is inundated with children's books. We really should invest in a book shelf. At Christmas rather than littering the children with tons of toys, Santa brings handfuls of books. It helps prevent meltdowns and diverts the children from feeling overwhelmed. The kids dig it.

Here are some of our current favorite reads around the house....

The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman

When Jillian Jiggs finally cleans her room, she discovers a jar of buttons and decides they look just like pigs' noses. So she comes up with a fantastic idea — she'll make pigs and sell them! She makes pirate pigs and princess pigs, striped pigs and plaid pigs... but once they are made, can Jillian part with them? Includes instructions on how to make your very own wonderful pig.

Big Dog... Little Dog by P.D. Eastman

Size doesn't matter in the friendship of these furry friends.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
What does an elephant do? It stomps its foot. Can you?

"I can do it!" is the confidence-building message of this fun-filled interactive picture book. A variety of familiar animals invite young children to copy their antics, and as they play, they will learn such important skills as careful listening, focusing attention, and following instructions.

Thomas' Snowsuit by Robert Munsch

His mother, teacher, and principal have a hard time trying to convince Thomas to wear his snowsuit.

Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Elizabeth, a beautiful princess, is all set to marry Prince Ronald — until a dragon smashes her castle, burns her clothes with his fiery breath and prince-naps her beloved Ronald. But Elizabeth is no ordinary princess — she sets out to rescue her prince! However, Ronald may not be the right prince for her after all.

Source: Scholastic

Happy Family Literacy Day!

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that today marks Family Literacy Day? It's such a special day to take the time to reap all the benefits of reading and bonding with our families.

What do you do to promote literacy around your house?

Everyday as a family we sit down and enjoy a circle time. During circle time we sing songs, perform finger plays, read books and use our imaginations to make up stories. I love to watch my children get their creative juices flowing. Their imaginations really come alive. It's a wonderful thing to witness as I live vicariously through them. Over the day I ask a series of questions pertinent to reading:

What's your favorite book?
Do you want to read to Mommy?
Can you tell Mommy a story?
Do you remember "such and such" from "this book"?
Who's your favorite character in "this book"? Why?

The questions get the kids thinking. It gets them excited. It keeps them interested. They're learning. All at the same time enjoying literacy. I love that!

Story time is truly my favorite time of day at our house! I've always been a bookworm.

So go on now... Grab your favorite book, sit down with your child(ren) and enjoy those tender moments.

Happy reading!

Midweek Confessions

2012-01-26T21:04:00.002-05:00

It's been quite the lazy week around here. I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm sure the kids have to. The only problem with weeks like these is that my days blend together and get all jumbled. What day is it again? Friday? Thursday? It's Thursday! Gotcha!

- The kids are finally in bed asleep. Bedtime was ~~blissful~~ a total gong show tonight. I'm now chilling out in my lazy boy. Fully reclined. Y'know how I roll! My hubby is sitting beside me doing something on his tablet. I really hope he is playing a game. He's steering his tablet from the left to right in mid air. He's either playing a game or slowly beginning to lose it. He is almost 30... so yea never know. Crrrrazzzzyyyy!

J, if you're reading this... I love you hunny!

- I've found since starting and keeping at my fitness regimen that it's really helped me overcome my battle with PPD. Don't get me wrong I still experience lows, Just not as many or as often as I did before. I'm feeling happier than I have in a LONG time! It's a fabulous feeling!

- Fabulous! I've been throwing that word around A LOT lately!

- While I love being a Stay-at-Home Mom, there is that burning part of me that is dying to jump back into the workforce. I'm just waiting for that perfect position to present itself. Come out, come out where ever you are!

- I'm super duper excited to start the process of selecting the interior design of our house. We're building a new home. Did I mention that before?

Who's Your Favorite?

2012-01-26T15:54:00.001-05:00

Breakfast Television Toronto shared a video clip early this week. The video featured baby Maddie and the voice of her Dad. Dad was trying ever so cleverly to try to get little Maddie to share who her favorite parent was. Too bad the answer wasn't what Daddy anticipated.

I remember playing a similar game with Cadence when she was a baby. The only word she seemed to know was "Dada". I always seem lose out on the who's your favorite game. Heck, I still do in her books! Cam on the other hand is a different story.

Winner of My Memories Suite!

2012-01-25T22:23:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Melissa!

You are the winner of the MyMemories Suite Software giveaway. I will be in touch with you shortly regarding your prize!! Should I not hear back from you within 72 hours regarding the prize I will draw for a new winner.

Cheers,

Pasta Carbonara

2012-01-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

Fusilli alla Carbonara is a popular meal in our household. We would eat it weekly if we could. It just wouldn't be the most accountable thing to do. It's a meal that is high in fat. Which is great. It makes the meal that much more tasty. However as of late, I'm aiming for meals that are a little more healthy.

A couple weeks ago, I came across this recipe for a Healthy Carbonara while surfing Pinterest. Pinterest is such a wonderful SM tool. I'm what you might call a "pinning whore". I digress....

The dish looked amazing. It was perfect. It incorporated what my family loved about the fusilli alla carbonara with much more of a healthy kick to it. I made it for the first time last week. It was delicious. It was very light and tasty.

Ingredients
1 9-ounce package fettuccine
1 cup frozen green peas
3 slices bacon (I used half a pack)
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan

Directions
1. Cook pasta according to the directions on the package, but don't salt the water. Three minutes before the pasta is supposed to be done, add the green peas to the pot. Drain, and reserve 3/4 cup of cooking liquid.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large saucepan on medium-high heat until crispy. Remove bacon from pan and discard all except 2 teaspoons of drippings. Add onion to the pan and saute for 3 minutes in the leftover drippings. Add garlic and thyme, and cook another minute. Stir in pasta and peas, reserved cooking liquid, and half-and-half. Cook 2 minutes. Crumble bacon on top of pasta and toss with cheese.

Recipe Source: Recipes.com

Modifications
I cut up my bacon into bite size pieces and cooked it in the crock pot for 6 hours. If you make this recipe, you can certainly do the same or cook it on the stuff. Whatever works best for you.

Happy eating!

So Social! Hop - 1/26

2012-01-25T20:18:00.000-05:00

Are you a blogger? Do you want to extend your reach? Find some new readers? Build new friendships?

If you're social media savvy then this hop is for you!!

The steps are easy:

Follow the hostess:
Domesticated Momma {Blog}
Domesticated Momma {Twitter}
Domesticated Momma {Facebook}
Link up your blog and social media accounts. Be sure in the description to note {Blog}, {Twitter}, {Google Plus} and so on.

WW: Unspoken Rules {Linky}

2012-01-24T21:30:00.000-05:00

Image Credit: Scrapbook Printables

Little Steps... Big Dreams...

2012-01-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

Milestones. When you're a new Mom, it feels like your baby is never going to reach their first milestone. You try so hard to avoid comparing your child with other children around the same age. You do, but don't admit it. You feel bummed.

And then that day comes....

Your baby rolls over. Hooray! Next your baby sits, crawls and pulls to stand. After those first milestones hit you want for nothing but to slow down time. Too bad we can't!

Today I had one of those moments. My little guy took his first 6 steps. I tried so hard to contain my excitement as I saw him trying to steady himself, as he slowly took his steps. My insides were squealing with excitement. I may have even shed a few tears. I'm feeling like one proud Momma this evening.

Too bad he hasn't tried again since.

Image Credit: Cruising Baby

American Reunion

2012-01-24T20:16:00.002-05:00

Can I just say how excited I am for this movie?

Anyone else?

Motivated Monday: Buh-Bye Mummy Tummy!

2012-01-23T20:52:00.000-05:00

We are now over half a month into the new year. My goals are all well into motion. Some going a lot smoother than others. With determination I will see to it that all my goals are accomplished or damn near close to it. My main goal has been to start living a healthier lifestyle. A lifestyle that entails eating healthier, being more active and staying fit. I'm not necessarily looking to lose a ton of weight. Well... I am, but that's not what is important to me. I want to tone. I want to say buh-bye to Mommy Tummy. Y'know that excess pooch that just hangs on after having children.

Last week I stuck to my fitness regimen. I fit in a workout in the morning and afternoon. I remained somewhat accountable food wise. We did eat takeout on a few occasions. We opted for healthier options as opposed to fast food.

I'm really beginning to like and appreciate the girl staring back at me in the mirror each day. I haven't felt this happy or fabulous in quite some time.

The saying goes:
"It takes 4 weeks for you to start noticing changes.
8 weeks for family/friends.
12 weeks for the world."

I can already say that I've noticed changes. I'm starting to tone. My skin colour has this new glow. I'm a lot more energized. I don't crave sweets as often as I used to. Huge deal for this chocoholic!

It has been a great week for me. Bring on this week! I'm excited to see what it has in store for me. Challenges and accomplishments. Let's do this!

Menu Plan Monday - 1/23

2012-01-23T10:56:00.002-05:00

Meal planning seems to have gotten a heck of a lot easier since I made the decision to scale back how many meals I make each week. This transition hasn't been an easy one for me. I was so used to making a meal big enough to feed 8 each night. Seldom would we embrace leftovers or freeze them. It was quite wasteful.

Last week was the first week of this new shift. We did pretty well overall. We did slip up and buy take out a few nights. However, we opted for healthier choices as opposed to McDonald's. Takeout still doesn't make up for falling off track. We're working on it though.

Hopefully this week we can stay a little more focused and on track. No one said meal planning would ever be easy. It's far from it. At least for me it is...

Monday: Crock Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Orzo
Tuesday: Creamy Avocado Pasta
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Healthy Carbonara
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Jalapeno Popper Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese (we were meant to make this last week, but ended up having a last minute date night instead).
Sunday: Not sure yet...

Happy eating!

Drum Roll Please....

2012-01-22T13:19:00.004-05:00

Attention... Can I have everybody's attention?!?

Would the winner of the National Spring Bridal Show Tickets... please stand up!

Congratulations Ange .B.!

We hope you have a fabulous day planning your wedding and enjoy a relaxing stop in the Molson 67 pit with your beau and/or bridal party!

Cheers!

Everyday I'm Shufflin'...

2012-01-21T10:37:00.000-05:00

Kicking off the morning can be hard. Whether you're a morning person or not. Some mornings seem to come way too fast.

I've always found that music gets me pumped up and ready to take on each day. Of course it has to be the right kind of music. It needs to be full of energy and fun. Something that makes me just want to get off my ass and dance. Nothing like a good impromptu dance party to kick start the morning.

I used to heavily rely on coffee. I haven't had a cup in 2 weeks... 2 whole weeks. Crazy, I know... right?! Ever since having a case of the sickies, I just haven't fancied a cup. The thought makes me want to gag. Funny how easily tastes and love for something can be averted.

Soooo here's a song to kick start your Saturday morning. My favorite song at the moment. Wouldn't you know I hated it until a few weeks ago.

Go ahead... Get up and dance! It's time to get shufflin'!

Cheers!

Blissfully Chaotic Joys of Motherhood

2012-01-20T21:23:00.001-05:00

Since becoming a Mother... I've learned to embrace ponytails and no makeup. I've learned that showering everyday is a luxury. Don't ask me if I'm happy about it... I'll tell you I am not. It's not like I treat my shower as my quiet time. My thinking spot. Not at all. Who needs alone time and time to think?!? ~~Not~~ me!

In all seriousness though...

Motherhood brings me a lot of joy. I'm happier than I've ever been. This happiness I would have never known or been able to embrace had it not been for my children.

Children.

They're very cute and oh-so-sweet. Most of the time. They shriek, throw temper tantrums and bang on all the loudest toys possible. ALL. THE. TIME. Oh and the poo. Don't even get me started on the poo. They also give the best sloppiest kisses. Warmest hugs. Their unconditional love is everlasting. They're truly your biggest fan. You're their role model. How cool is that?! Like really!

Now I don't get much time for myself. Y'know what though. That's ok.

Alright.

Sometimes I'm jealous of my husband. Getting out of the house daily. Y'know socializing. Must be a nice break. Would you even call work a break?

BUT...

I always get to look forward to the weekends. Family time. Having that extra set of hands around to help me out. Being able to sleep in. Oh yes. On the weekends, my husband gets up in the morning with the children. I get to sleep in. Er... pretend to. Usually I just lie in bed, horizontal tweet and chuckle at how rambunctious the kids are being.

I love him (and my kids).

Life can be quite chaotic. Chaos keeps me on my toes. It keeps life interesting. Beneath all that chaos though is a life I wouldn't trade for anything else in the world. I'm truly blessed. Don't carpe diem me. I don't need you to remind me how good my life is. I already know!

Far from perfect, but pretty darn awesome!

Midweek Confessions

2012-01-19T19:51:00.001-05:00

- The chore I hate the most? Laundry. I can't stand it. I don't mind the bringing all the clothes to the laundry room and starting the washer part. It's the folding and putting away that sucks. I'm guilty of leaving my clothes sitting in the dryer for days. Fluffing. ~~Forgetting about~~ Leaving it again. Fluffing. Finally folding and leaving in the hamper for days before actually putting it away. Yea. Laundry is one chore that I can't stand. Any laundry fairies in the house?!? Raise your hand! 'Cus I need one!!

- I'm a CrackBerry lover. Always have been. As long as they're around, I always will be. However.... Part of me yearns to make the move to the iPhone. Not because I like them. Because I don't. I hate their design. I need a keypad. BUT... Because I want access to their apps. Like Instagram for instance. BlackBerry apps suck!

- I would eat poutine everyday, if I could. Too bad it has an ass load of calories. Calories schmalories.

- I feel like a workout junkie lately. I crave it. I've been squeezing in a session in the morning and afternoon. Not that kind of session, you pervert. Get your head out of the gutter. A workout session! Now if only I could kill my incessant junk food cravings.

- I have a gym membership. I bought into it in May 2010. I vowed to my family that I would use it. I did use it.... for all of a month. I don't see the motivation behind said membership. Sure. I can vow to head to the gym 3 times a week, but nothing is tying me down to it. I have more motivation to workout at home. Now if I had a gym buddy, maybe it'd be a different story... perhaps.

- I hate snow. I hate it with a passion. I want to be in Mexico right now!

- ALS sucks. Plain and simple. It just effing sucks. Watching it takeover your loved ones body and progress is a lousy feeling. Wishing you could slow down the progression sucks even more... because you can't. All you can do is hang on to every last moment with your loved one. Hold them tightly and try to reassure them that it will all be ok. Underneath it all... it just sucks knowing it's not going to be. Value every breath you take and live your life to the fullest.

RECALL: PC Infant Baby Cereals

2012-01-19T07:51:00.001-05:00

Loblaws is recalling eight varieties of infant cereals under the President's Choice Brand label because they may have an "unpleasant rancid odour."

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the cereals have been distributed nationally and there is one reported illness linked to eating them.

All of the Mixed Grains, Oat Cereal and Wheat Cereal products are sold in 227 gram green and white packages.

The CFIA says if the cereal has an unusual odour or smells "off ," it should not be used.

And, if an infant has been fed any of the products, parents should stop using the cereal and monitor the child for symptoms.

Eating rancid food may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Loblaw Companies is voluntarily recalling the affected products from stories and the CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA notice on recall.

Source: CTV

So Social! Hop - 01/19 {Linky}

2012-01-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a blogger? Do you want to extend your reach? Find some new readers? Build new friendships?

If you're social media savvy then this hop is for you!!

The steps are easy:

Follow the hostess:
Domesticated Momma {Blog}
Domesticated Momma {Twitter}
Domesticated Momma {Facebook}
Link up your blog and social media accounts. Be sure in the description to note {Blog}, {Twitter}, {Google Plus} and so on.

Wordless Wednesday: Which Colour? {Linky}

2012-01-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

I'm craving change. Hair colour change, that is. I'm blonde. I love being a blonde. I just am bored of it. What to do? What to do?

Don't forget to link up your Wordless Wednesday posts!

Want Tickets to the Spring National Bridal Show in Toronto?

2012-01-17T15:01:00.001-05:00

Can you believe my 5 year wedding anniversary is in April? I know! Neither can I! Looking back there are so many things I would have done differently. Sure my wedding day was a dream. It was as perfect as it could be, albeit there were a few minor blips. When you think of a wedding, you think of something more traditional. Held in a church. Bride dressed in a white gown with a veil. Would you believe the uproar that was caused when my Grandmother found out I wouldn't be wearing a veil on my wedding day? It wasn't the best of times! You can't please everyone though. When planning your big day, it is important that you plan it the way you envision it. Don't let others opinions guide your planning. It's your day, not theirs! If you want to elope, go for it! If you want a destination wedding, dream for it and live it! Don't let anyone hold you back! Most people only have the chance to get married once.

Need help planning your wedding day? Feel overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Attend the upcoming Spring National Bridal Show in Toronto. Molson Canadian 67 is a sponsor of the event. I know it seems a bit odd, but Molson Canadian 67 (as you may know) likes to challenge the norms of beer and help Canadians experience it in a whole new way. Whether that’s by beer cocktail…cooking with beer…or now, beer at wedding shows!

Molson has given Domesticated Momma a pair of 2 tickets to giveaway to their readers.

Now you have the chance to attend the bridal show. Visit with many different vendors. Plan your dream wedding day. Meeting with the vendors firsthand is a great way to get a sense of who you can work with and who is a fit for you. Plus, the giveaways at bridal shows are phenomenal. Trust me, I know! While at the show, relax with your bride, groom and bridal party in the Molson Canadian 67 'Pit'. You'll be able to learn more about the beer and even sample some Molson Canadian 67 and Sublime.

I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to spend the day!

Where: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto

When: January 27-29^th, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Motivated Monday: The Beginning

2012-01-16T20:38:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't need a little motivation? We all do. Maybe not always, but for the most part.

My husband and I had a conversation on the weekend with regards to motivation. One of my goals for 2012 is to be active, stay fit and get healthy. Sounds easy enough?! It is... when you have the right amount of support. Support has been lacking around our house. I'll hit a milestone in my fitness regimen. As opposed to a "Way to go!" or "See babe, I told you you could do it"... I get an "Oh, that's nice!". Oh, that's nice? Really?! What the eff is that?! Did you not hear me say I lost 8lbs since Christmas? It's like I'm talking to a wall. I need my team player... my partner in crime to cheer me on. After all my husband should be my biggest fan... right?!?

This morning while doing my daily blog hop, I came across Sober Julie's Motivated Monday. As I read Julie's post, I felt inspired. I felt like someone could relate to how I was feeling and what I wanted to achieve. I loved the concept behind her Motivated Monday posts. It's a great way to share your milestones, struggles and receive that push to remain accountable.

I'm going to take one from Julie's book and write a Motivated Monday wrap up each week. I'm all for making changes. Living a healthier lifestyle. Being happier. I want to love the life I live and live the life I love! I'm going to do just that and own it!

Menu Plan Monday - 01/16 {Linky}

2012-01-16T08:05:00.000-05:00

After a month break from menu planning, my hiatus is finally over. I had originally planned to jump right back into it last week. The stomach flu threw my plans awry.

I'm back. Ready. Feeling better than ever.

I need to get back on track and stay on track. I've seen an 8lbs weight loss since Christmas. If that doesn't keep me accountable, I don't know what will.

So here goes nothing...

Monday: Slow Cooker Arroz Con Pollo

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: Healthy Carbonara

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: Jalapeno Poppers Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Over the past few weeks I've noticed that we've been wasting a lot of food. As much as I hate leftovers, I'm going to start embracing them. I'd much rather make a fresh, new dish to enjoy. It just isn't realistic, nor is it budget friendly.

Do you meal plan? Link up your posts!!

Check out Organized Junkie for more menu planning pointers!

Sh*t Mom Bloggers Say!

2012-01-15T14:12:00.002-05:00

I'm sure you've all hear of the Sh*t..... Say videos going viral on YouTube. If you haven't look it up. You're in for a good laugh.

I couldn't help but chuckle when I came across this video this morning. So funny. If you're a Mom who blogs, you're sure to appreciate it.

Video Source: @mamaknowsitall

Empowering Reminder

2012-01-13T14:19:00.000-05:00

I need to tape this to my bathroom mirror.

Midweek Confessions

2012-01-12T20:50:00.001-05:00

I've seen other bloggers posting mid week confessions more recently. It's a neat concept. Quite smart actually. No one is perfect. As much as we may try to be.

- I've taken to rocking Cameron to sleep in the glider recently. At bedtime. In the middle of the night. You name it. I'm not one for the cry it out approach. I'm a sucker. His cries pull on my heart strings too much. Truth be told I love the snuggles. It's those moments I love. It's a moment I know won't last forever. My baby is growing up. I know once he turns 1 next month. He won't be such a cuddler. I'm embracing it while it lasts.

- I've been single parenting for two weeks. A lot of people think I'm doing great. I've been called a Super Mom on numerous occasions. We've endured a toddler receiving a black eye and several strains of the stomach flu. People may think I'm being a Super Mom. Truth is... I'm barely holding it together. I'm exhausted. I miss my hubby. I easily tear up looking back at these past two weeks. I have so much admiration for single parents. You all are awesome for everything you do to provide for your family! I feel silly whining about it.

Taking a Closer Look

2012-01-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

My little family is the definition of a million dollar family. We've been blessed with a daughter and a son. We're evenly numbered.

Life has proven to be very interesting since giving birth to my son. My daughter was my first born. Everything seemed so much easier with her when she was a baby. Diaper changes. Feeding. Dressing. Everything. Cadence is quite a go with the follow kind of girl. Just watch out when she doesn't get her way. My son on the other hand is the complete opposite. I remember feeling so lost when trying to change is diaper. You're supposed to do what before you close the diaper? Tuck it which way? Clothing changes are a nightmare. Cameron is gone faster than I can put a shirt on him. He's a little boy on a mission. We don't call him bruiser for nothing.

Fast forward...

The other night I was giving Cameron a bath. I was sitting on the floor by the tub and singing songs. He was busy splashing away without a care in the world. He was soaked. I was soaked. The floor was soaked. It was a foam party in the bathroom. Bath time was almost over. I turned to reach for the towel... turn back to see Cameron looking down at the tub water. Something had caught his eye. I see his hands start splashing around in curiosity and before I knew it he had submerged his head into the water.... to look at his penis!

Oh my goodness! Talk about taking a closer look.

So Social! Hop {linky} - 01/12

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a blogger? Do you want to extend your reach? Find some new readers? Build new friendships?

If you're social media savvy then this hop is for you!!

The steps are easy:

Follow the hostess:
Domesticated Momma {Blog}
Domesticated Momma {Twitter}
Domesticated Momma {Facebook}
Link up your blog and social media accounts. Be sure in the description to note {Blog}, {Twitter}, {Google Plus} and so on.

Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday: Hand in Hand {linky}

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

A New Mother's Prayer

2012-01-10T20:38:00.000-05:00

10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling

2012-01-10T14:32:00.002-05:00

I recently saw this on The Oatmeal and couldn't resist sharing it. So many people are guilty of misspelling words. Including me from time to time. Generally spelling mistakes are made as result of human error... sometimes though they're made out of sheer stupidity.

Visit The Oatmeal to check out this post and many others.

My Memories Suite Review & #Giveaway

2012-01-10T14:03:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows full well that I'm a mamarazzi. Wherever my kids go, my camera goes. Of course there are some limitations. I snap thousands and thousands of pictures each year. Where do those pictures end up? On my SD card... on the server... on my computer. Seldom do I ever print pictures. I always have good intention to get the pictures printed for albums... Let's face it though... I just don't have the time, nor am I that creative.

I took interest to scrapbook shortly after my honeymoon in 2007. I bought a scrapbooking book. Began looking at paper and all the extra little embellishments. I just could never justify spending the money. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through friends scrapbooks. It seemed like such a fun hobby. There was just always something. That lingering excuse as to why I wouldn't partake.

I was recently introduce to My Memories. My Memories Suite is a digital scrapbooking software that allows you to put together a scrapbook online. Not only can you create scrapbooks using this software, but also photo books, calendars and cards. It offers a little something to suit everyone's inner creative interests.

I recently created a cute little calendar for my husband. He's been away a lot recently. I wanted to reach out to him in a sweet, intimate way to let him know he has been on my mind.

My Memories Suite is very user friendly and easy to use. Like it goes with anything... it will take you a little playing around with the software to get use to the program. Once you do though, you'll be whipping out creative pieces in no time!

Giveaway & Coupon Code

My Memories Suite is giving one of my readers a chance to try out the My Memories Suite Software!
And it doesn't stop there!
My Memories Suite is offering $10 off their software for ALL of my readers with this coupon code: STMMMS7044

Just go to My Memories Suite add the software to your cart and use the code when you check out.

How to Enter

To enter, visit My Memories choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout and leave a comment on our blog telling us which one you chose.

For additional entries (leave a separate comment here for each):

Follow me with Google Friend Connect (there’s a link on the right side bar)
“Like” Domesticated Momma on Facebook (leave your first name and last initial in your comment so I can find you, please)
Follow @adomesticmomma on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (RT 1x per day and leave me the link to your tweet in your comment) (Sample: Like scrapbooking? Enter to win a copy of @mymemoriessuite! Ends 01/22 @adomesticmomma http://bit.ly/yrxNl8)
Grab my button for your blog and leave a link in your comment
Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in your comment
Follow My Memories blog on Google Friend Connect.
Follow My Memories on Twitter and leave me a comment saying you did.
"Like" My Memories on Facebook (leave your first name and last initial in you comment so I can find you, please)

Disclosure: I received a copy of My Memories Suite software to review for this post. All view expressed on this blog are my opinion and not that of My Memories Suite or a PR company.

Contest closes JAN 22nd @ 10pm EST; open to US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS only.

Please make sure that your profile is public or leave me your email address in each entry so I have a way to contact you.

I will use Random.org… to chose the winnesr and email them.

The winners will have 72 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

Sickies: Fast & Furious

2012-01-08T09:49:00.003-05:00

Oh man. It's been a rough few days around here.

The stomach flu.

You never know what's going to strike you, until it does. Usually when it does it hits with a vengeance. Fast and the furious.

Cadence woke up from her afternoon nap on Friday, sick as a dog. I felt so helpless. I've been single parenting. Needless to say it was not easy to deal with; with a baby clinging to one arm and my sick little munchkin clinging to the other. I made do. I'm so grateful to have amazing friends in my life who were kind enough to run out and pick me up some Gravol, Pedialyte and saltines. Come Friday night, Cadence seemed to be in better spirits.

Saturday morning, I woke up. My stomach was grumbling. Fack. I had caught it. The last thing I needed. Thankfully the hubs boss was understanding enough to let him come home and help me out until I was feeling better. I spent the whole of yesterday in bed. I was having blogging withdrawals. I tried to pick up the computer with hopes that it'd distract me. It only made my head spin more. I slept most of the day away... when I wasn't curled up by the toilet.

I'm not feeling any better today. Ugh. I forced my way out of bed this morning. Why? The hubs has been the latest to be plagued. This flu is ripping through our house like a tornado. We're dropping like flies.

Needless to say the stomach flu was not the weight loss regimen I had in mind....

#1 Song The Week You Were Conceived

2012-01-06T15:12:00.001-05:00

In follow-up to my post yesterday. I decided to take the plunge and look up the song that was number one the week I was conceived. Why? Why did I do this? Oh my...inquiring mind. Why?! I was a backseat baby. This is not information I should ever know.

If you need me I'll be rocking in the corner....

Overwhelmed

2012-01-06T14:55:00.002-05:00

I'm somewhat speechless. Somewhat in awe. Experiencing a bit of a holy fuck moment. A moment where I might actually be a bit teary. I'm overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed by the support. I love how all the hard work I've applied to this blog over the past 3.5 years is finally paying off.

2011 was a huge year for Domesticated Momma. I brought Domesticated Momma from mediocre to something that I could actually say I was proud of. Of course I'm always going to be my worst critic. Heck, I'm the face behind my blog. It's only normal to be my biggest opponent and biggest fan. Two extremes.

I review my analytics quite often. Given my background in marketing and human resources, I'm always assessing ways to improve and brainstorming new ideas to put into motion. Today when I was reviewing my analytics something popped out at me. Domesticated Momma had over 1,000 pageviews and it's only half the way through the day. I know numbers aren't everything, but hot damn! I'm feeling proud. I'm on cloud nine. I'm finally getting it right and I'm getting the results.

Personally, I don't think I ever could have made it this far without the guidance of previous colleagues: Steve Douglas (The Logo Factory Inc) and Ann-Marie Burton (momstown.ca). Sure I learned a heck of a lot in college, but I find I acquire a lot more knowledge by learning from my peers. The 2011 ShesConnected Conference is something I was very lucky to have attended. I acquired a vast of knowledge, made many new friends and expanded upon my credentials. Thank you Donna Marie for selecting me as one of the top 200 influential digital women this past year.

I'm truly grateful for each and everyone of my peers and my fabulous blog readers! Without your support and dedication, I'd never have come this far! You're helping me live my dream. My passion for social media is vibrant and exploding.

Love to each and every one of you,

8 Simple Ways to Detox Your Body

2012-01-05T15:11:00.001-05:00

No fad retreats or spas. These easy ways to recuperate from 2011 will make 2012 the best (and healthiest) year ever.

CUT YOUR SUGAR INTAKEA seasonal detox is an effective way to clear your body of toxins, which will also speed up your metabolism and enhance your overall health. Start by decreasing the amount of sugar you consume, says Matt Dower, spa director at Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Skaneateles, NY. And that includes honey, molasses, and artificial sweeteners.

"If you eat more sugar, you ask your body for more insulin, straining your pancreas and wearing yourself out," he says. "In the long term, this kind of habit can cause you to become chronically fatigued, diabetic, develop cancer, and pack on excess weight."

START WITH WATER

Dower also suggests you drink a tall glass of water with juice from half of a lemon in the morning. "Lemon helps re-hydrate the systemand promotes digestion, which will help the flow of waste out of your body," he says.

MOVE YOUR BODY
Regular exercise encourages circulation in the blood and lymph system, Dower says. Doing so will also enhance digestion, reduce tension, lubricate joints, and strengthen your body. It's a proven fact. "People who exercise regularly have far fewer total toxins in their systems," he points out.

DRINK A LOT OF TEA"Not only is tea full of antioxidants, it hydrates you (especially if it's herbal) and fills you up," says Ashley Karr, a research psychologist and wellness coach. "This means you will be less likely to overeat or eat the wrong things!" Keep in mind, the caffeine in tea is different than the caffeine in coffee—it's gentler on your system. It'll also give you a pick-me-up minus the jitters.

EAT ORGANIC
Chad Sarno, research and development chef for Whole Foods' Health Starts Here initiative suggests you reconfigure your diet this year. "A colorful variety of fruits and veggies should be the main focus of your diet, along with whole grains, beans and legumes, and small amounts of nuts and seeds," he says.

You should eat whole plant foods because processed foods lack the nutrients your body needs. Dark green vegetables, for instance, are full of micronutrients and are very low in calories, so you can eat a lot of them.

COMBAT ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS
Don't forget that pollution and allergens are all around you. They're in the air and can trigger allergy symptoms (such as yucky, puffy, red eyes). Dr. Travis Stork, host of daytime talk show The Doctors advises you flush your nasal passages regularly with a Neti Pot. Doing so can eliminate the side effects of air pollutants and lead to better breathing naturally. If you use the Neti Pot before bed, even better—it will enhance your sleep.

SWEAT IT OUT IN A SAUNA
Forbes Riley, creator of fitness product SpinGym who you may also remember co-hosting Jack LaLanne's juicer infomercial, is a big fan of detoxing. It's how she lost her pregnancy weight gain at the age of 42 after giving birth to twins. She suggests you use a sauna regularly. "There's nothing more detoxing than sweating it out," she says.

EXFOLIATE
"Skin brushing and oil massages will help exfoliate the toxins from your skin and refresh circulation," says Christina Chodos, a certified health counselor and educator from Chicago, IL.

Source: Shape

#1 Song From the Week You Were Born

2012-01-05T14:48:00.002-05:00

There is a challenge currently circulating Facebook.
The challenge requires you to:

Find out what the number one song was the week you were born.
Find the YouTube video of the song.
Shamelessly post the video to your Facebook profile.

I've been watching as friend after friend shares the number one song from the week they were born. It's fun to go back to the basics and relive some retro billboard music. Reading the reactions to the videos adds to the value and humor of the whole challenge.

Here's the number one song from the week I was born. Yep. Good ol' Boy George. Laugh it up.

I dare you to tell me what the number one song was the week you were born!

Social Media Hop Thursday {linky}

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a blogger? Do you want to extend your reach? Find some new readers? Build new friendships?

If you're social media savvy then this hop is for you!!

The steps are easy:

Follow the hostess:
Domesticated Momma {Blog}
Domesticated Momma {Twitter}
Domesticated Momma {Facebook}
Link up your blog and social media accounts. Be sure in the description to note {Blog}, {Twitter}, and so on.

Cheers!

Tips for Stay-at-Home Parents to Beat The Winter Blues

2012-01-04T15:30:00.001-05:00

How many new parents would love nothing more than to stay at home with their newborn? While many people may have the ability to do so for the first month or so, maternity leave soon runs out and it’s back to work they go. For the lucky ones who are able to remain at home, winter can often be a hard time. If this applies to you, following some of these tips may help you make it through to springtime and warmer weather without feeling low.

It’s not unusual for people to be affected by the changing seasons. During the spring and summer when the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, people are generally happier and more active. As the temperatures drop and the clock is turned back, many people – particularly stay-at-home parents – start experiencing the winter blues or something more serious called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

The winter blues are caused by fewer daylight hours and having to remain in the home for longer periods of time. SAD can be like winter blues on steroids. People with SAD are often depressed to the point where medication is necessary. If you suffer from either of these conditions, take heart. There is something you can do to avoid or at least lessen the effects.

One of the best things you can do if you experience the winter blues or SAD is to use light therapy. Open the shades and let as much natural sunlight into your home as you can. Sitting in the window with direct sunlight for as little as 10 minutes a day can do wonders for your mood. Of course, the more exposure you get to natural sunlight the better off you will be.

What do you do if there isn’t natural sunlight? Your doctor can prescribe a light therapy box which will mimic outdoor light. Your brain registers the difference in the amount of light it receives and this will greatly affect your mood.

You can take care of two problems at once if you exercise outdoors. Being outdoors will invigorate you. The sunshine as well as being active will lift the winter doldrums. Exercise causes endorphins to be released. Endorphins lighten your mood and help you feel good. If it is too cold to exercise outdoors, you can receive many of the endorphin benefits no matter where you choose to exercise.

Simply getting outdoors can break the winter blues. Go outdoors and have a snowball fight with your children. Take a brisk walk or find a hill to go sledding on. Not only will being outdoors help you, it is pretty much guaranteed to help your children as well.

Cabin fever, often associated with the winter blues, can also be avoided if you add some color to your surroundings. Even though it looks grey and gloomy outdoors, it doesn’t mean it has to do so indoors as well. Find some bright yellow pillows to toss on your couch. You can also buy a bouquet or two of flowers or exchange your wall art for something new and colorful. It is amazing how adding vibrant, vivid colors to the room can brighten your mood.

No one likes to experience the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder. However, they are commonplace to many people each year. You may not think making simple changes like the ones listed above will have an effect on you. However, these tips have been proven to be effective for millions; they can also work for you.

Source: Child Development Institute Parenting Today