My New Year’s Resolution – Best Put by Someone Else…

Image via Flickr by quinn.anya

I love Peter Shankman for a bunch of reasons, but this is the latest – his blog post on Why You NEED to Get Up Earlier (And How To Do It!).

Please read and share.  I think it is so important that we find time for ourselves in the day (especially for mothers).  Get up, actually get to drink that fresh cup of coffee and take some time for you.   Check email, read, stare out the window…you get my drift.

Perfect Breakfast

Image from Flickr by megan.chromik

I recently got back from a trip where I stayed in a hotel where breakfast was prohibitively expensive.  We had no coffee maker in the room and I forgot the breakfast bars (Luna bars) that I normally travel with for this exact predicament.

Therefore, the best option within walking distance (no car) was the local Starbucks.  Curses!  You might remember how I feel about buying coffee shop coffee.   And I wasn’t in the mood for pastries for breakfast either.  That was when I discovered these little yogurt parfaits with granola.  I am addicted.  Immediately upon arriving home, I set about figuring out how to recreate this breakfast wonder at home.  After a couple of attempts, I have it down:

Yogurt/Granola parfait:

• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (if you want to get fancy, you can use a Greek strained yogurt like Fage)
• 1/4 cup granola of your choice
• small handful of dried cranberries or fresh fruit
• teaspoon or so of honey

Stir it up and enjoy.  So delicious!

So there.  I have recreated something that cost me $4 a pop for under a $1 per serving at home.  Nothing beats that and a cup of your own fresh-brewed coffee.

Save money – make your own baby food!

I don’t think most moms realize how easy it is to make your own baby food.

Think of the money saved!  Plus, you control the ingredients and know exactly what your little bundle o’ joy is eating.

Want to start with green peas?  No problem.  Cook peas as normal.  Put them in the blender – add a little of the cooking water, breastmilk or formula.  Blend until smooth.  Buy little containers or use ice cube trays to store and freeze.  When you are ready to use, thaw and serve or briefly warm in the microwave.

Done!

Apples, carrots, spinach – any other fruit or vegetables your baby likes – exact same process!  I bought a butternut squash and peeled, cubed and roasted it and then pureed it with a little water.  I had more then 10 servings that I could freeze.

Trust me, you will be amazed how easy this is – and you will save those last minute trips to the store as you are about to use up your very last jar of baby food.  And to top it all off, the baby food tastes SO much better!

Here is a wonderful online resource for making baby food:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

The Mother List is Going Gluten Free!

Image by Whatsername?

About 4 weeks ago, I started thinking more about my family’s diet.  How well are we eating?  What is my 2 year old learning about food?

One of the first steps this family has taken is going Gluten Free.  As a side note: I was and always have been a HEAVY gluten eater.  The thought of cutting out my pastas and breads made me quake in my boots.

However, after lots of research and realizing we needed some dietary changes, we dove in.  Many people have a gluten intolerance and don’t even know it.  And even more important to me: some studies link gluten to ADHD and autism – we’ll look at that more in depth later.  But seriously, can it hurt to introduce less grains and more veggies and colorful foods into your diet?

I happen to have a great friend that is a naturopathic doctor – Courtney Jackson, N.D., of Summit Natural Health in Colorado.  I went to her for the skinny on Gluten and Gluten Intolerances:

GLUTEN INTOLERANCES AND YOUR HEALTH

Gluten is a sticky protein found in wheat, rye, kamut, spelt, and barley that makes bread and baked goods springy.  A gluten intolerance is common in our country (1/133 Americans) and can be the cause of numerous health concerns.  Most people can connect digestive problems like bloating, diarrhea, and constipation to a food intolerance However, a gluten intolerance will commonly cause weight gain, headaches, moodiness, acne, difficulty conceiving, joint pain, and increased susceptibility to illness in adults.  In children, a gluten intolerance can cause increased irritability, attention deficit, and failure to thrive.

Things to know about a food intolerance:

1.  A food intolerance is the result of an abnormal reaction of the immune system and symptoms may not appear FOR HOURS TO DAYS after ingesting the food.

2.  A food intolerance differs from a food allergy, which is a specific response of the immune system that produces an IgE antibody.  Wheat happens to be one of the most common causes of food allergies.

3. In some people, gluten intolerance may be so severe as to cause an autoimmune response that destroys the small intestine called Celiac disease.  Even without true Celiac disease, people can still react negatively to gluten.

Blood tests are available to help you discover if you are intolerant to gluten.  Or, you can take all gluten out of your diet for 4 weeks and see if your symptoms resolve and your sense of well-being improves.  There are many gluten-free grains available to enjoy, including rice, corn, oatmeal, potato, quinoa, and amaranth so those who are gluten-intolerant do not have to feel deprived.

Benefits of getting off your food intolerance include increased energy, improved mood, weight loss, improved skin, and healthy bowel function.

Summit Natural Health uses naturopathic medicine to help people discover and treat food intolerances.  They provide a comprehensive evaluation to our patients that places a food intolerance in the context of their total health history.  Removing a food intolerance and supporting the body with whole foods and appropriate nutritional supplements can significantly improve well-being.

Pesticides Linked to ADHD

Image by santiago nicolau

As a mom, I have been encountering more and more parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder).   Parents are feeling pretty helpless when they receive the diagnosis and often wonder, “Why my kid?”

Interestingly, a new study was just published in the Pediatrics Journal that links pesticides to ADHD in children ages 8-15.  The study tested urine samples of 1139 children and found children with “higher than the median of detectable concentrations had twice the odds of ADHD.”

We are finding more reasons to avoid pesticides and we recently published a list of the foods with the most pesticides (foods to always buy organic) and the foods with the lowest level of pesticides.

Find more information on the study in the Pediatrics Journal website and seriously consider avoiding pesticides in your household!

Mommy Meditations – Meditate Postpartum

A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of Mommy Meditations: Life After Birth, a CD developed for new moms that encourages them to meditate and refocus on their own well-being.

The creator of Mommy Meditations is Dr. Kerri Parks, an ObGyn and a mother to four children.  Dr. Parks had battled postpartum after losing her husband in a car accident just days before having her 4th child.  With a combination of medical help and meditative practices, she was able to overcome her depression and is now trying to help other women with Mommy Meditations.

Personally, I think this is a fabulous idea.  It is so hard for new moms to recenter themselves after birth.  Life simply does not stop.  Setting aside the time to listen to something like this CD is probably one of the best things I could have done to help in my own recovery.  So many moms don’t allow themselves the time to relax, even when baby is finally napping.  There is just always something to do!

I plan on buying this for my next pregnancy in an effort to get myself to slow down and have some moments of clarity!  Wouldn’t that be nice?

You can check it out on the Mommy Meditations website and read more about Dr. Parks’ story.

Thanks Lindsay!

Girls’ College Reunion Part 3

So, after a fabulous arrival day at the W Scottsdale, it was priority numero uno to hit the pool first thing Saturday morning.

And what a pool we had:

Oooh ahhh.

We heard the W pool can be a little busy on Saturdays, so we had a daybed reserved.  This turned out to be the best idea ever.  We could all sit comfortably from our perch and watch the scene around us.  I have to say, simply for pure people-watching enjoyment, this pool was perfect.

My awesome husband sent the champagne and orange juice (for Mother’s Day) and we all got to enjoy!  What could be better for a girls’ weekend than mimosas by the pool?!

Yes, this is me, braving a picture in a bikini so you can see the daybed!

This was before all the people showed up!  Every one of the cabanas behind us was filled.

We had a great day at the pool, chatting and getting caught up on the last 10 years.  Wow, it flew!

After cleaning up that evening we did a quick happy hour in the Living Room at the W:

It was a great, quiet place to relax before heading out to dinner.

The setting for dinner that night was The Old Town Tortilla Factory.  This place rocked.  It had tons of outdoor seating in the a scenic patio.  Even more importantly, it had perfect margaritas – no mix, with fresh lime juice – in generous portions!   The menu had great options and one of our gals is gluten-free and they even had a special menu just for her.

We made it an early night after dinner as some of the group was sadly, flying home early the next morning.  And because it was Mother’s Day that next morning, I decided it was the perfect time to hit the spa:

And yes, it was just as peaceful as it appears in the photo.  Especially on a Sunday morning!  The atmosphere (music, lighting and all) was perfect and I got an unbelievable facial.  I had never been to a Bliss Spa before and have to say that I will definitely try to visit more as soon as possible!

As for the W Scottsdale, they certainly took their Whatever/Whenever policy seriously: they arranged for umbrellas at the pool, fans for the rooms and anything else we could think of (one of our gals said she had friends request a bucket of snow and they actually got it)!

And then, it was time to return to the airport and get back to reality after a great weekend.  But I was pretty excited to see my family!