BABYOURSELF Magazine - Winter 2012

WINTER 2012

sanity for sleepless mommies

pampering for preggos



Orlando

coupons MARRIAGE & MONEY

just the basics

or e g r u l Sp ve?

Sa r in you

bag c i t e m cos

from renowned author

Becky Hunter

Birth Your Dreams

planning

THE of

Wise Investments in your

January 2012 $3.95

…body …birth experience …finances …children …marriage

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babyourself winter 2012

Couponing 101 How do they do it??

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CONTENTS

Wise Investments

... in yourself

7 - Cosmetic Bag - Splurge or Save?

8 - Fitness Apparel - Finding the proper shoe

... in your pregnancy,labor & delivery

10 - Ask the Midwife - Researching birth options

12 - Having the Birth of Your Dreams - Nine things

to include .

... in your children

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On the cover:

18 - Reality Chic - Finding the perfect babysitter 20 - Toddler Twins - What are they into now?

22 - Featured Nursery - Pretty and Purple

Cosmetic Bag Must Haves

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Meatballs 4 ways... yum!

... in your ďŹ nances

24 - Becky Hunter - Keeping marriage

positive when bank account is negative .

26 - Couponing 101 - How do they do it?

28 - Meatball Recipe - Plan ahead to save $$ 30 - Katie Miller Witter - Saving and Investing

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Tamu and Ian, residents of Mt. Dora, welcomed baby Liam into their family on November 17, 2011 at Winnie Palmer Hospital.

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Letter from the Editor

babyourself Volume 3, Issue 1 ~

Winter 2012

www.babyourself.com

We’re one year old!

I still can’t believe it, but babyourself magazine just turned one year old!

The time has flown before my eyes, and I am so incredibly thankful for the amazing team that I’ve been blessed with. My mommas are truly the best.

I feel as though I am on the stage at the Grammy’s, receiving an award while standing in disbelief at what has been accomplished! I just don’t know where to begin in thanking the MANY, MANY people who have been a part of babyourself. I haven’t officially won an award, but I feel as though I have. This is my dream come true, and I am so, so thankful.

As we celebrated one year, we have launched our new website. I’m pretty excited about it. If you haven’t checked it out - do it now! (www. babyourself.com) I love the way you can go immediately to specific stories or features. The site will continually grow with each issue, so check back often, and please feel free to leave comments!

This issue is all about making wise investments. My heart and passion is always for YOU, the mommies who read babyourself. So please take time to invest in yourself! It makes you better, stronger, healthier, and happier! I truly wish you a blessed 2012!

www.facebook.com/babyourself www.twitter.com/babyourself

EDITOR IN CHIEF kristi corley

EDITORS jennifer hatcher elisabeth myrick

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS mary edwards jennifer hatcher becky hunter sherry morgan vickie myers cristy nielsen tonya randall kaleen richards katie miller witter

PHOTOGRAPHY elisabeth nixon photography the nielsens photography & design

WEB AND DESIGN andy corley

Kristi Corley

editor in chief kristi@babyourself.com

Our Spring Issue (Mar/Apr) is all about

Spring!

(kinda obvious there!)

Fashion for yourself and your baby, Going Green, March of Dimes, and April Showers (oops!) Baby Showers!

To advertise in babyourself call 321-696-3962 or email advertising@babyourself.com

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.COM/BABYOURSELF

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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @babyourself

Wise Investments cosmetic bag cosmetic in your

Splurge or Save?

BY SHERRY MORGAN

Admit it. Knowing when to splurge and when to save when it comes to cosmetics is as big a mystery as where that lost sippy cup vanished to in the playroom. As moms, we’ve got a lot on our plates and finding time to manage our make-up is usually not high on the priority list. To help, here’s babyouself ’s list of top splurges – plus where you can rack up the savings when it comes to stocking your cosmetics bag.

Foundation = Splurge It may be hard to swipe your card for a bottle of prestige foundation at the department store, especially when they can cost $20-45! But this is one of those times that you get what you pay for – in terms of coverage, color matching and overall quality. Many brands also feature tinted moisturizers which do double duty with hydration for your skin, as well as enough coverage to hide blemishes or even out skintone. The best way apply foundation, no matter what brand, is to use your fingers or a brush. Makeup sponges soak up the liquid, wasting valuable product! Bobbi Brown/tinted moisturizer, Smashbox/ Ulta Cosmetics

Mascara = Save This is so personal for most women, but really the best bet is to head to your favorite drug store. Pros will agree, to achieve the best look use two mascaras: one to lengthen and one to add volume. Loreal Voluminous Black, Maybelline Lash Discovery.

Cleanser = Splurge It’s important to have a cleanser that removes dirt , makeup and sunscreen. You only get one skin, so make the most of it and take care of it by splurging on a wellknown skincare line. Remember if you’re pregnant your skin may be very different, either drier or more oily. If you are oilier, many doctors recommend that you stay away from salicylic acid so double check those ingredients! Bobbi Brown Brightening Cleanser, Bliss Exfoliating Scrub/ Ulta

Experimenting with the latest color trend = Save This is where many women get confused. They see the color in a magazine (expertly applied by a professional!) and forget how their individual skin looks with that particular color palette.

If you want to recreate that trendy look, go ahead! But this is one time where you can save a lot by buying over the counter. Target/ Covergirl, Stila/ Sephora, Urban Decay/ Sephora babyourself.com • Winter 2012

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Wise Investments fitness apparel in your

finding the proper shoe Written by Kristi Corley | Photography by Elisabeth Nixon Photography

When it comes to fitness apparel, one of the most important investments you can make is to purchase the correct pair of shoes. I admit, when I go shoe shopping, 90 percent of my choice is based on the color and fashion of the shoe instead of the proper fit.

Video Gait Analysis

running shoes... should be changed out every six months or fourhundred miles which ever comes first. EVEN if they are sitting in your closet.

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I recently visited Front Running Sports in Lake Mary, FL to learn about what I should look for when purchasing a pair of shoes.

Amy NeSmith, an expectant momma and reader of babyourself took me through the entire process.

First, she asked what my exercise goals were.

Do I mostly walk, jog, run? Then, I got onto a treadmill where she used an evaluation technique called a Video Gait Analysis.

Using video technology, she was able to analyze my foot mechanics to provide a more accurate fit minimizing the risk of injury.

Amy pointed out all the little details in my step and walking style, which was really cool!

She then showed me several styles of shoe to compliment my gait, so my choice wasn’t all about function - there was some fashion too!

Front Running Sports offer exceptional service for all their customers. While many customers expect to be charged for the Video Gait Analysis, it is a FREE service for Front Running’s customers when being fitted for a pair of shoes.

Front Running Sports, located in Lake Mary, outfits athletes in the proper gear to enable the most effective and injury-free training and racing. Their mission is to educate new enthusiasts on how the proper fitting of shoes, apparel and gear will help them succeed. Their goal is to create a non-threatening environment for customers to learn and grow in an active lifestyle. www.frontrunningsports.com

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Wise Investments Birth... in your

Research, Research Research!

Investing in your baby’s birth makes sense.

It is one of the most memorable and lifechanging events.

and so you aren’t being treated or cured of anything. You are hiring the practitioner and so you do have a choice and a voice in how you want to be treated. You can also fire a practitioner you are not pleased with.

by Kaleen Richards, CNM, ARNP

Why is it then that most people do more research when buying a car than they do for the birth of their child?

Gas mileage, safety, resale value and crash ratings are just a few of the things people research before investing in a new car.

What do people research prior to giving birth? Often nothing. They show up where their insurance tells them to go and do what they are told, rarely asking questions. Investing in the birth process by researching birthing options and practitioners is important because it ultimately affects the outcome and the memory you will have forever.

First, you should research and invest in nutrition. I recommend parameter shopping which involves shopping around the parameter of the grocery store and avoiding middle isles that contain boxed food that are highlyprocessed. Whole wheat bread, grains and pasta should substitute for white, processed foods which contain little B vitamins, like Folic Acid which is important in preventing Spina Bifida in the baby. Getting on a whole-food prenatal vitamin with fruits and vegetables in the ingredients’ list, and no dyes or preservatives, is also very important to prevent anemia and muscle cramps and increase overall energy.

Investing in your child’s birth involves research, time and money. It’s like the saying “what you put in, you get out”.

Taking time to interview practitioners is another crucial step in investing in your birth experience. Pregnancy is not an illness

What is your practitioner’s philosophy on natural childbirth, breastfeeding and bonding with your newborn?

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What is your practitioner’s philosophy on natural childbirth, breastfeeding and bonding with the newborn? Does the practitioner honor her patients’ birth plans? How late can you go past your due date prior to medical induction? Does the practitioner offer any natural remedies for common discomforts or natural inductions? What is his C-section rate and why? These are all questions you can ask as you interview a practitioner.

I am a midwife, so – obviously – I suggest considering a midwife as an option when investing in your birthing experience.

Midwifery is a partnership between the client and the midwife. They come to trust each other during the prenatal period and each knows the intention and goal of the other. This facilitates natural birth because the woman trusts the process and the practitioner, so she can turn her brain off and focus on giving birth.

a practitioner who wants to partner with you to educate you on the process of birth empowers you to make good choices during the pregnancy and recognize when complications arise.

Researching the location of your baby’s birth is another way to invest in the birthing process. What options do they offer women in labor? Do they have telemetry monitoring in every room or the option for intermittent monitoring? Do they offer hydrotherapy?

What is the C-section rate? Do they encourage rooming-in with the baby? Do they provide early discharge in less than 12 hours if everything is normal with mom and baby? Decide what options are important to you, and ask those questions as you choose which hospital or birthing center you want.

and empowering and not a medical event.

Many women say once they walked into the hospital they lost control and felt powerless over their birth. During a homebirth, the practitioner respects your space and desires for the birth.

Finally, spending extra money on the practitioner, classes and extra help can be a good investment for planning your birth. You may want to enroll in a good childbirth and breastfeeding class such as Hypnobirthing, Bradley Method or Birthing From Within.

These classes teach how birth works, coping techniques, coaching tips and afterbirth care.

I recommend you avoid mainstream classes that prepare you to be a good patient and emphasize pain medication.

Where you birth is a big investment in the overall experience – it’s the venue! You want to feel relaxed and safe. Many women are choosing out-of-hospital birth, staying home or going to a birth center because they want the overall experience to be intimate

Paying extra for a practitioner who is out-ofnetwork or not covered at all may still save you money in the end if it ultimately helps you avoid a C-section. Investing in a doula or labor coach who supports natural birth and is educated on options and how to support through birth is another investment that can help prevent C-section.

“As a nurse midwife I have worked hard to offer families all possible birth options: home birth, birth center, and hospital birth. I started out as a doula and childbirth educator before getting my RN degree. I believe all women benefit from prenatal care with a midwife due to the emphasis of the Midwifery Model on education, partnership, and natural childbirth. I have three amazing sons, two of which were born at home with a midwife. As a health care provider, I encourage natural remedies for healing and have taken courses to increase my knowledge. I do, however take pride in my ability to offer medication when necessary. All women deserve to make choices during their birth process and it is an honor to help offer natural childbirth options to families in our community.” - Kaleen Richards, CNM, ARNP

Ultimately, in the end, we don’t have complete control over when or how birth happens. Investing the time to educate yourself on birth and finding the right person to guide you through it can help create a sense of peace, and utlimately a very good birth experience.

Whether you decide on a traditional medical doctor or a midwife, choosing

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Birth Your Dreams

planning

THE of

Written by Cristy Nielsen | Photography by The Nielsens Photography & Design

.

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.



Your care provider

When you are choosing WHO will deliver your baby, do your homework and realize you don't have to go with the first doctor or midwife you meet with. You will want to know the pros and cons between the choice of a midwife or an obstetrician.

Sometimes the decision is as easy as knowing WHERE you want to deliver your baby.

If your choice is to deliver at home or a birthing center, your choice will be narrowed to that of a midwife.

Midwives do also facilitate in hospital births. If you would rather deliver at a hospital, your decision can include an obstetrician or a midwife. Midwives typically care for less patients at the same time so their service is more intimate and personalized.

Many times this decision is the hardest to make, but remember, this is your choice.

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

A Birth Photographer Hire a professional photographer to photograph your birth. You will most likely forget a lot of what goes on during the throes of labor, your birth photos will remind you of how special the day was and capture all of the emotions and feelings of the day.



A Doula – Births that are attended by a doula have statistically lower intervention rates and far higher mother satisfaction.



Incorporate Water Water is an amazing tool for relaxation and pain relief. If you are in a hospital, utilize the tub or shower.



Massage – Hire a massage therapist to care for you during your pregnancy, during your birth, and in the days postpartum. Massage helps new moms to relax and destress!



Support - Surround yourself with those you love and trust and who are supportive of your birth goals and wishes.

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

Design your birth sanctuary – Include items in your birth that inspire and ground you. Examples include pieces of art, statues, inspirational sayings, candles (battery operated candles if in the hospital), ultrasound photos of your baby, etc.



Create your birth mood by lowering the lighting, and playing relaxing music. Music that you can sing along with is a good distraction to help you get through the contractions and give you something else to focus on.

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Remember that all births are different, even

from one baby to the nex . Try not to put too much weight in things going exactly as planned.

Having a birth plan is a wonderful idea, but understand that with birth, often things don'

go according to your plan. The birth of your dreams is not a list it’s merely a journey to the moment you hold your baby in your arms.

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

Enjoy the first

hour of holding your baby skin to skin. The first hour in a baby's life is crucial in the new mom-and-baby bonding, establishing breastfeeding, and giving mom and baby some uninterrupted time to get to know each other face to face. Ask your care providers to do any necessary newborn assessments while baby is still on your chest.

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a real mom with real kids & a really messy home

Finding a good babysitter is like winning the lottery mega-millions jackpot. And sometimes it seems the chances of each are about the same.

Throughout the years, we’ve had some fabulous babysitters. And I have selfishly hesitated to share their names and numbers with my friends, for fear these gems would be snatched away to babysit for a smaller family with more sedate children.

old, and 5 year old out in the front un-fenced yard to play alone, where she could not see them from inside the house. That same evening, she allowed my 5 year old to take a pizza out of the oven. After I got home, my daughter proudly announced her accomplishment, “I can take things out of the oven now without help!” This overprotective momma did not hire that babysitter again.

Another time, my children convinced a high school girl that I allowed them to drink blue snow cone syrup as a beverage! They consumed an entire bottle of the sticky blue liquid within an hour. Their mouths and chins were stained blue for days, which is about how long it took for the sugar-high to wear off !

Some of our favorite babysitters have shown up with Candyland or coloring books or The Lion King. They’ve pretended to be a horse, giving rides all over the living room. They’ve played dress-up and danced with my children while wearing a pink feather boa. They’ve read Apples Up On Top and Bedtime for Frances and Goodnight Moon and tucked my children into bed. And my children have loved them like family.

Less than a week after my husband laid new tile on our bathroom floor, a babysitter allowed our 3-year-old daughter to paint her own nails with my bright red nail polish. Of course, she spilled it on the new floor. When we moved 6 years later, there was still a faded red stain on the bathroom floor, making potential buyers wonder if it was Miss Scarlett with a candlestick in the bathroom.

One babysitter refused to let us pay her after she had spent hours watching our children while we were at a funeral. She said it just wasn’t right for us to have to pay for a babysitter if we were doing something that sad.

Cosmic karma paid that same babysitter back, though, when she allowed my almost-2-year-old son to eat and eat and eat – cereal, yogurt, cut-up hot dogs, bananas, bread, more cereal. When she laid him in his crib, he threw up everywhere. So she got to clean up all sorts of disgustingness from the ridged bars of his crib.

Another time we hired a babysitter so we could go to dinner and a movie; but halfway through dinner, I was doubled over in pain with what would be diagnosed as a kidney infection. She willingly stayed until we got home from the ER in the middle of the night. And she wouldn’t let us pay her for all those extra hours that she was sleeping on our couch.

But finding these fantastic babysitters required a great deal of trial and error.

One babysitter sent my 2 year old, 4 year

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As my children got older, I encountered a new babysitter concern – what might my children do to frighten the babysitter away?

One afternoon, prior to a babysitter’s arrival, I caught the children making a list of all the rotten things they planned to do after their father and I left. Toss rubber lizard at her. Put fake roach on her food. Pretend to fight and then run in opposite directions screaming and crying. Lock

BY J ENNIFER

H ATCHER

youngest brother in the bathroom. Pretend to choke on dinner.

Clearly, they had been watching a little too much Parent Trap and Cheaper By The Dozen.

Now, my oldest is a babysitter herself.

She has learned what not to do from our horror stories, though I’m sure she’ll still make some mistakes along the way. She does know not to send toddlers out to play unsupervised, not to allow preschoolers to use the oven, and not to believe everything kids say about what Mommy allows them to do, especially when it comes to blue snow cone syrup or bright red nail polish!

Yeah, whoever hires her hits the babysitter jackpot for sure!

----Jennifer Hatcher recently moved from the Orlando area to Southwest Virginia with her husband and six children. She no longer purchases blue snow cone syrup, and she pays her oldest daughter in Arizona Tea and crackle nail polish to babysit the other children.

PHOTO COURTESY ELISABE TH NIXON PHOTOGR APHY

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BY

TONYA RANDALL

I have twin boys who are 18-months-new, so it should be no surprise that I have lost most of my baby weight in the few months trying to keep up with them. In addition to their boundless physical energy, the twins’ young minds are working overtime with a voracious desire to learn. Finding the right toys can be challenging - here are some of the products that my little guys are into now.

Fisher Price's Laugh & Learn Home as well as Melissa & Doug’s simple puzzles are a couple of my favorite products for keeping my toddlers mentally engaged. These products are challenging enough to hold my toddlers' interest, but not too challenging so as to completely frustrate the little tykes. And, trust me, the last thing anyone wants is a pair of frustrated twin toddlers on their hands!

Fisher Price Home helps me teach my boys colors, shapes, various causes and effect, music, the alphabet, and numbers. It's also a great toy for twins (or any toddlers of similar age) because 1) there are a number of activities to do on each side of the home, so each toddler can pick a side without getting in each other's way, 2) my twins love playing peek-a-boo and other games with each other through the window and doorway of the home, and 3) it can withstand the weight of two toddler boys who climb on EVERYTHING. My twins love putting things together, so they love Melissa & Doug Puzzles. These puzzles also help them learn the sounds that particular objects or animals make, the names of things, the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes, all while they are doing what they love - putting things together.

To choose great products for my twins, I observe how they play with toys and with each other. I wonder what they will lead me to next.

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PHOTO COURTESY THE NIEL SENS PHOTOGR APHY AND DESIGN

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P is for Piper...

Written by Kristi Corley | Photography by Elisabeth Nixon Photography

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... and paisles, purple, playful and pretty. Each and every detail of Piper’s room told a story, as Megan gave us the tour. To our surprise, many of the features within Piper’s room were hand crafted by Megan herself! Piper’s nursery is a great example of putting your own personal touch in a precious space.

Where did she find that?

Crib - Land of Nod Bedding - Alexander Henry Fabric made by my mom Bookcase - Pottery Barn Changing Table - Land of Nod, knobs from Anthropologie Drum pendant - purchased at a local lighting store and I covered it with Alexander Henry fabric Valance - purchased materials from Home Depot and Joann and made myself. Alexander Henry fabric, Monogrammed at Beyond Words Rug - momeni.com Lego Art - purchased on a trip in Rio de Janeiro Trees - etsy.com Birdhouse - onekingslane.com White picture frames - etsy.com P hairbow holder - purchased materials from Joann and made myself Shelves purchased on amazon.com and filled with gifts from family for Piper Donkey stool - Homegoods Purple Pouf - Homegoods White side table - Homegoods Recliner - Macys Bench - Purchased at Homegoods and I re-painted and mod podged wrapping paper onto it.

Go to babyourself.com to see an interactive tour of Piper’s room. As an added bonus, Piper’s mommy, Megan, will show you some of the hand crafted items that she made!

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Wise Investments Marriage Finances Marria in your

and

By Becky Hunter

Keeping Your Marriage Positive When Your Bank Account Is Negative

amount of money a couple has is not the determinative factor of their romance. Some of the most romantic stories I’ve ever heard were remembrances of courtships during the Depression or ones that start, “Before we could afford going out, we just...”. The romances of young couples struggling together against the world, the romantic underdogs determined to love against all odds, are classic. In many ways, especially for young love, being poor necessitates interdependence, elevates appreciation, and minimizes distraction.

Yet, there comes a time when insufficient income can be a heavy burden upon a couple, especially as their family grows. Some couples give way to fear and embarrassment that weigh down their spirits and make concentrating on anything positive or constructive almost impossible. For them, being broke is a drag.

Becky Hunter is the wife of Dr. Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Florida. The Hunters were married in 1972 and have three married sons and six grandchildren.

Becky, a former biology teacher, served as president of the Global Pastors Wives Network from 2006 through 2008 and led seminars on five continents. She has been featured in TIME magazine for her ministry to pastors’ wives. She is the author of Being Good to Your Husband on Purpose (2001) and Why Her? You, Your Daughterin-Law and the Big Picture (2011), which she wrote with her daughters-in-law.

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Why does being poor bring a spirit of adventure and determination to one couple but depression and accusation to another couple? Is it just a matter of time until the former’s spirits are crushed into the latter’s symptoms? No. Discouragement and blame are possible traps, but not inevitable results of insufficient income.

The difference between defeat and adventure is found in the role we choose – victim or undiscovered contributor.

After a consistent pattern of bad times, it is easy to feel victimized by life. There are even some pseudo-advantages to being a victim, but a romantic relationship is not one of them. A spouse who chooses the role of victim thinks, “Why try anymore? I’ll just get rejected again.”

Angry victims shake their fists at fate and may even have a perverted sense of victory, “I’ve been dumped on more than anyone else and I’ve survived.” If someone chooses to play a victim role in marriage, enlisting pity or threatening self-righteous outbursts, romance will be squelched.

Not all who experience the pain of insufficient income choose a victim role. Some make a much better choice and act as undiscovered contributors. Instead of making their own lives as comfortable as possible, the undiscovered contributors take the experience of having less as an opportunity to give more creatively. These individuals use the temporary experience of poverty as a challenge to “show what they are made of.”

Romance will advance when you have something to offer...and you do!

Undiscovered contributors think to themselves, “There are always others who have it worse than we do, so we’ll give them a hand.”

The undiscovered contributors will put one of their last dollars in an offering plate, will visit depressed relatives or friends in between job applications, will mow their own lawns and their neighbors’. The act of giving reminds them that as long as they can help, they are not living life at the bottom. The qualities evident in undiscovered contributors are those of great lovers: risk, hope, kindness, and strength.

Like a wad of paper money in the canteen of life, the undiscovered contributors’ value is not in question; they just have yet to be converted into the most usable form. They have a sense of confidence and do not see rejection as personal.

The applications will continue until someone, someday, finds them to be just who is needed for the task. And it will happen partly because their confidence is so attractive.

Every one of us has a choice to make when faced with insufficient income, and that choice will impact our marriage positively or negatively.

There are few greater challenges to a romantic marriage than a husband or wife who chooses to play a victim’s role. But a marriage of undiscovered contributors, even after they are discovered, is inherently romantic.

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I know very few couples that think they have enough money; but the

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Wise Investments

The Basics

By: Mary Edwards

Couponing can be easy and fun!

Some people think couponing takes too much time. Other people get overwhelmed with the thought of organizing a coupon stash.

You can spend less than one hour a week and save money. Here are some basics.

Where do I find coupons?

These days, coupons are everywhere. The most obvious place is the newspaper.

Though the best grocery coupons can be found in Sunday’s paper, there are other coupons in the paper Wednesday through Sunday. Keep an eye out for store coupons, restaurant coupons and service coupons.

My next favorite place to find coupons is at local stores. Coupon books are found in our major grocery store chains and in the drug stores. Ask your cashier to point you to them. Online and mobile coupons are great too. Sites like coupons.com, redplum.com and smartsource.com all have printable coupons. Stores like Target offer mobile coupons, which are texted to you weekly.

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How do I organize my coupons? Take a class. If you want to learn First, stop clipping coupons! That’s right, there’s no need to clip coupons anymore.

Grab a hanging file box at your local office store, put some hanging files inside the box and file your inserts by date.

When you get the Sunday coupon inserts, put them in a file with that Sunday’s date on the label. Then go to an online coupon site, like www.couponersunited.com – which will do the grocery store matchups for you. These sites tell you what’s on sale at your store. There will be a list of what items are on sale and what week that coupon came in the paper. You don’t have to clip the coupons until you’re ready to redeem them on a sale at your store.

Learn your store policies.

Each grocery store and drug store has its own coupon policy. The customer service attendant will give you a copy of the policy. You might be amazed at what you learn. Most stores will allow you to use two coupons on a buy one get one free deal! You pick up two items, pay for one and the second is free, but you can use a coupon on both of the items. Some stores take competitor coupons. Unfortunately, none of the grocery stores in Florida double coupons.

how to save hundreds of dollars each month, take a coupon class. In a Couponers United coupon class you will learn everything you need to be a successful couponer. An experienced couponer can teach you where to find the best high-value coupons. You can also learn how stores can pay you to shop! A class will also teach you the local store policies and which stores are the best for couponing.

After you get organized, couponing can be a simple and fun way to save money.

Mary is the mom of 4 young children, a business owner and blogger. She loves to teach others how to save on their grocery bills and improve their budget. Mary began couponing 5 years ago when she decided to stay home with her children.

She learned that through "smart shopping” and couponing, she could save almost 90% on her shopping bill. Since then she has been sharing her knowledge with others through her blog and through free coupon classes throughout the community. Visit Mary’s blog to learn more: www.couponersunited.com

PHOTO COURTESY ELISABE TH NIXON PHOTOGR APHY

Couponing 101

We asked Once Upon A Child what makes them unique and how shopping at their store is a Wise Investment for Orlando Mommies.

What are your most wanted items?

OUAC: Bassinets Large Furniture Large Outdoor Playhouses Pack N Plays Toddler Beds High Chairs (very clean) Gliders/Ottomans Gymboree Swings Bumbos Kitchen Toys Outdoor Toys Playsets Little People Wagons, Cozy Coupes Wooden Puzzles Boys Apparel size 3 - 10

the frugal m mma!

How is your resale store unique and beneficial to Orlando families?

OUAC: Unlike most consignment/resale stores, we offer same day service including payment on the spot versus waiting for your items to sell.

Our buyers are also trained to seek out imperfections so that our customers don’t have to while they are shopping.

Once Upon A Child

is the nation’s largest children’s resale franchise. We offer a fun and convenient way to pass on your children’s items they no longer can wear or need as well as offer a large selection of children’s items they can grow into. You bring in your gently used children’s and maternity clothing, toys If I am considering selling items to OUAC, and baby equipment. The what are some facts I need to buyer will review your items and will then select and make know? an offer on the items that OUAC: Be sure your apparel meet current style, safety and is freshly laundered laid out condition standards, as well flat neatly in a plastic tote with as store’s current stock levels. no stains, fading, or excessive Our stores offer a unique wear. Toys and equipment resale shopping experience must be clean and in working because you’ll get the feeling order. Call the store if you are of shopping regular retail ever unsure of something. versus resale.

We buy and sell gently used gently used maternity clothes and kids stuff. Don’t break the bank for this precious experience get everything you need for a fraction of the cost!

4900 E Colonial Dr 8937 W Colonial Dr 407-292-3500 407-297-9499 onceuponachildorlandofl.com onceuponachildocoee.com babyourself.com • Winter 2012

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Wise Investments Kitchen in your

Meatballs

by Vickie Myers | Photography by Elisabeth Nixon Photography

I am usually a frugal person and try and buy things on sale and use coupons. In these times it is especially good to try and keep the budget low. A way that I try and keep our food budget on track is to buy meat when it is on sale and make things up ahead of time to use during the month. An easy recipe that can be used in a number of different ways and can easily be frozen until they need to be used is meatballs. This recipe can be doubled or tripled without any changes to the taste. Making different sizes of meatballs helps to vary the dishes for example; large meatballs for subs, mini meatballs for the Hot and Sour Soup or medium size for other dishes.

Use the meatballs with a traditional marinara sauce or try something new.

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Meatballs 1 lb. ground turkey (can use ground beef or pork as well) ¼ Cup finely minced onions 1 Cup bread crumbs or oatmeal ¼ Cup milk (May need more milk if using ground beef or pork) ¼ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper Mix together. Roll into balls. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the meat ball. Remove from pan. Add to your favorite sauce or cool and freeze for using later use.

Thai Inspired Meatballs

Hot and Sour Meatball Soup Meatballs in Peanut Sauce Teriyaki Sesame Meatballs

1 Tablespoon lemongrass (I found a tube in the produce section at Publix) 1 Tablespoon chopped shallots 1 inch ginger grated ½ cup julienne carrots 2 cup chopped bok choy ¼ cup bamboo shoots ¼ -½ cup chicken stock Soy sauce to taste ½ box Whole wheat spaghetti noodles

4 cups chicken broth 1 teaspoon – 1 Tablespoon chili paste (depending on how hot you want it) ¼ -1/2 cup sliced green onions ½ cup sliced mushrooms 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 1/3 package vermicelli rice noodles Mini meat balls

In a saucepan cook noodles until done. Stir fry carrots and shallots in a fry pan or wok for a couple of minutes. Add lemon grass, ginger, soy sauce and chicken stock. Let it heat through then add cooked noodles bamboo shoots and bok choy. Stir-fry for a couple more minutes then add meatballs (as many as you want) until they are heated through.

Serves 2-4

In a soup pot combine chicken broth and chili paste. Bring to a boil and add onions, mushrooms, meatballs (as many as you want) and noodles. Cook for about 8-10 minutes. Add vinegar and stir.

Serves 2-4

1 Tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 Tablespoon soy sauce ½ -3/4 cup coconut milk ½ cup natural peanut butter ½ cup chicken stock Meatballs Cooked rice In a saucepan, sauté garlic in olive oil. Add coconut milk, peanut butter and soy sauce. Stir until well blended. Add meatballs (as many as you want) until heated through. If the sauce seems too thick, thin with chicken stock.

Serve with rice.

Serves 2-4

½ cup fresh pineapple chunks ¼ cup chopped onion 1 cup chicken broth (reserve ¼ cup) 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 handful snow peas Meatballs Cooked rice In a sauce pan, sauté onions and sesame seeds in sesame oil. Stir in teriyaki sauce and chicken broth then add pea pods, pineapple and meatballs (as many as you want). Cook for 2-3 minutes. Take the reserve chicken stock and mix in the cornstarch.

Add the mixture to the meatball sauce. Cook until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice.

Serves 2-4

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Wise Investments

Career Momma

"A Penny Saved = A Penny Earned” - Not anymore, Ben Franklin!

The majority of Americans over-spend, under-save, over-borrow, and are under educated when it comes to managing their personal finances. To help our children, grandchildren, and future generations prevent similar mismanagement, we, as parents, need to begin the conversation with our children NOW. The spending and saving habits our children acquire during their formative years will likely stay with them for the rest of their lives.

As parents, it is important to invest time and energy to ensure our kids learn to be skillful in their financial management before they reach adulthood.

Saving is the core of prudent financial management. In basic, easy for kids to understand terms, saving is the act of denying an expenditure today, so that you will have Americans something to spend in the future. The in live from major reason many people are poor paycheck to paycheck savers is that we live in a culture of selfindulgence, not self denial and discipline. of Baby When we want something we want it Boomers are now, and unfortunately, if this behavior is not financially prepared continued, it can have dire costs.

6 10 97%

for retirement

4 10

American in families will spend 110% of their income this year

1 2

One in two in households did not save a single penny last year

11 in 20

Households have $25,000 or less in savings, 3 in 10 have less than $1,000

America is the wealthiest nation on earth, yet the majority of American families are failing to manage their own personal finances in the short term, as well as planning for retirement. The statistics are daunting and the consequences are so unpleasant that the discussion to take action is often avoided until it’s too late.

The numbers speak for themselves.

So what can we do? Here are a few talking points for helping your children learn about saving and investing:

SAVE - A penny saved is worth more

than a penny earned. Almost all earned income in the US is taxed. If you are in the 25 percent tax bracket, that dollar you earned is worth only $0.75 after taxes. That is a huge discount versus the dollar you have already saved! Remember, when you have saved a dollar, you have already paid your taxes on it.

To present to your child the idea of savings, consider setting up three jars labeled "long-term savings," "short-term savings" and "tithing or charity". Then, pay your child for chores he or she

completes, and teach him or her to put a portion of the money in each jar. For example, if your son wants an iPod, tell him he can buy it, but only once there's enough money in the "shortterm" jar.

PHOTO COURTESY THE NIEL SENS PHOTOGR APHY AND DESIGN

advice from our

INVEST - Would you rather

have $1,000 today or $1,000 in a year? If you shouted "today," it's for good reason. Money today buys more goods and services because inflation rises those costs in the future. In addition, you can invest and earn interest on the money today immediately.

For example, let’s say you start investing your savings today ($1,000 every month). At the end of one year, you will have accumulated $12,464 at 6 percent. If you continue the practice, you will accumulate $1,227,087 over 30 years, assuming a 6 percent rate of return. BUT if you wait just 10 years to begin your savings practice, the consequences are daunting: at the end of the same 30 year period, your savings are about $500,000 as compared to $1,227,087… a huge difference, which commonly means the difference of running out of money or not.

It is said that “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step.”

The ant starts with small particles but eventually ends up creating mounds thousands of times their size. Note that saving and investing are the path of prosperity and the wealthy regard them as their most 1. Have our financial affairs in important priority. order so we are not a burden to

The best gifts we can give our children are to: them at any life stage.

Producing enough money during retirement is the 2. Plant seeds of financial result of our investment prudence, allowing them to philosophies, strategies be financially free, live a good and practices during all 40 life, and be good stewards with years of our careers and their money.

30 years of retirement. By choosing the appropriate investment philosophy, employing the proper investment strategies and embodying powerful investment practices, investors have superior opportunities to produce enough harvest to protect their survival, and allow for financial freedom. You reap what you sow, sow wisely.

Katie Miller Witter, co-owner of Financial Harvest Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor Firm located in Winter Park, has more than ten years of investment advisory experience and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) Candidate and CERTIFIED SUCCESSION PLANNER™. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Business Finance & Marketing from the University of Florida and her Masters of Business Administration from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. She serves on the Crummer Alumni Board, Downtown Orlando YMCA Board, and is a graduate of Leadership Winter Park and Leadership Orlando. Katie is married and lives with her husband, David, and son Will, in Winter Park, Florida. Katie can be reached at 407.937.0707 or babyourself.com • Winter 2012 30 katie@financialharvest.com

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