Workin’ Mama Spotlighting Momprenuers from coast to coast
Alison Sweeney
Mom, Actress and Host shares her new book with us
Hip Home Goods From The Vitrine
Sleeping Tips for New Parents
Winter 2010/2011
Contents
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6 Letter from the Founders 7 Style Giveaway 2 Lucky Winners have a chance to win a fabulous prize! 8 Trendy Loft Original talent and thoughtfully designed objects for the home and you from Vitrine
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12 Simple, Imaginative Recipes Jessica Seinfeld shares recipes from her new book with us. 17 Alison Sweeney Mom, Actress and Host shares her new book with us 21 New Parents NEED Sleep! Kim Stolte RN, founder of Swaddlekeeper, gives us tips on how new parents can get those much needed zzz‘s 25 Mom Glam Treasured Holiday Gifts for Mom
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27 Boot Flare Fashionable boots for your little dude and diva
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On the Cover: Photography: Robert Trachtenberg Makeup: Deidre Decker Hair: Matthew Holman Wardrobe: Liza Whitcraft
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Contents
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29 A Lifetime of Beauty Necessary beauty care for tween girls 33 Healthy Eating During the Holidays Joy Bauer, Today Show Nutritionist & author shares with us her tips on how to stay on track with healthy eating during the Holidays 37 Workin’ Mama Jessie Preza of Nesting Shoppe gives us a peak into her successful business
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42 Dessert Darling Jenny Alden is the authority on all things sweet
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Letter from the Founders As hectic and crazed are these days leading up to the holidays we find ourselves trying to catch our breath as well as check off the many tasks we have to do… baking, shopping, wrapping, getting ready for holiday guests and so on. This goes without saying that our normal to do list isn't always on the lengthy side. Every year I tell myself that this year will be different - I will be more prepared! I will be more organized! I will work out more! I will spend more quality time with the kids!! Is it even possible to conceive? We think it is! Within SCMs Magazine we do have you in mind. A time for you to relax, read and unwind to check out celebrities, new books and great shopping! In this issue you will find, the cutest boots to not only keep the little toes toasty, but have style. You can glam it up with our great "Mom Glam" feature, highlighting some great businesses (moms of course) that create these precious pieces of jewelry that will instantly become a cherished treasure. With the holidays upon us, no better time to try new recipes on Uncle Ned… Jessica Seinfeld wows us with her new cookbook, Double Delicious - lucky Jerry! Unfortunately, also with the holidays come a few added pounds as well so no better time to check our cover celebrity, Alison Sweeney and her new book, The Mommy Diet. For those that have tweens, you will certainly appreciate our feature on Tween Skincare and for those that just dove into parenthood will love our newborn sleeping feature, as a few extra zzz's would be a great gift from Santa! As moms we really should take a moment of each day (even if it's only a few minutes) to reflect, read, relax or do whatever it is that soothes us… a hot bath and glass of wine would be a plus too!
Happy Holidays & have a wonderful, safe and healthy New Year from all of us at
Style Café Moms Magazine
Hot Mama Gowns are the "Hot Mama" alternative to the generic hospital gown; combining style, comfort and function. Sized to fit you before, during, AND after birth with sizes from 2-24. Designed for breastfeeding, they allow Mom quick, easy, and discreet access to her breasts. You're not an ill hospital patient, you're a Hot Mama, and your gown should reflect this! HOW TO ENTER: Go to : http://stylecafemomsmagazine.blogspot.com, then go to the "Giveaway ~ Hot Mama Gowns" post and post a comment , mentioning a favorite product (or products!) from Hot Mama Gowns after visiting their site at : www.hotmamagowns.com * Giveaway ends Friday, December 31st at midnight EST. The winner(s) will be chosen randomly and contacted via email no later than January 7th 2011. GOOD LUCK!!!
Original talent and thoughtfully designed objects for the home and you!
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The Vitrine, www.thevitrine.com, is an online boutique presenting original talent and thoughtfully designed objects for the home and you! Commentary about the items seeks to be personal and fun, but honest and true to life. All of the work for sale carries on the tradition of small production or handmade, and the shop owner, Blaire Dessent, tries to give shoppers ideas for use or placement to help convey the many possibilities. Whether emerging young talent or established designers, The Vitrine works hard to select a diversity of products from around the globe, but there is a common thread throughout all the work featured on the site and that is its exceptional design, a sense of fun and creativity, attention to detail, and top quality materials. Porcelain and stoneware ceramics, luxurious textiles, including blankets and scarves, letterpress stationary, creative office accessories, are some of the essentials. In addition, Vitrine is pleased to present limited edition artists‘ books and multiples from leading contemporary artists. They will offer unique objects and second hand finds in this genre that are relevant to The Vitrine‘s mission, and in the future they hope to launch their own label of home accessories, created from collaborative projects between artisans and designers.
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Simple, Imaginative Recipes T
he follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller Deceptively Delicious goes beyond purees and kids‘ foods to make family mealtime more delicious, wholesome, and simpler than ever. Jessica Seinfeld shares
recipes from her new book with us.
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Simple, Imaginative Recipes
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Simple, Imaginative Recipes Tomato Soup I love Tomato Soup with grilled cheese. My children, predictably, won‘t touch tomato soup. But when I add some mini turkey meatballs, they‘ll eat ―meatball‖ soup with no problem. 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 small onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (28-ounce) can ―no salt added‖ whole, peeled tomatoes 1 cup sweet potato puree (recipe below) ½ cup broccoli puree (recipe below) 1 quart (4 cups) low-fat, reduced sodium beef broth 1 bay leaf ¼ teaspoon pepper 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature Warm the oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the celery, onion, and garlic. Cook until the onion softens, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sweet potato and broccoli purees, broth, bay leaf, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a slow simmer and cook until the soup begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Off the heat, add the cream cheese. Remove the bay leaf. Blend with an immersion or stick blender until smooth. Serve immediately. Prep: 15 minutes Total: 30 minutes Yield: Serves 8 Calories: 130, Carbohydrate: 15g, Protein: 4.5g, Total Fat: 6.5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 285mg, Fiber: 3.5g Tip from Joy Bauer: This soup hits the antioxidant trifecta. Tomatoes provide lycopene and vitamin C, and sweet potato is an excellent source of beta-carotene. Sweet Potato Puree Prep Do not peel. Cut into quarters if steaming. Leave whole if roasting. Cook Steam for 40 to 45 minutes. Or roast in a 400 degree F oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Puree Scoop out the flesh and puree in a food processor or blender. Broccoli Puree Prep Cut off florets. Cook Steam for 6 to 7 minutes. Florets should be tender but still bright green. (If they‘re an olive green, they‘re overcooked.)
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Simple, Imaginative Recipes Protein-Packed Grilled Cheese The bean spread under the melted cheese makes this a really satisfying meal. I have also served these as little appetizers, especially when my vegetarian friends come for dinner. Bean Spread 1 cup low-sodium white beans, such as navy or cannellini, drained and rinsed 2 teaspoons lemon juice ¼ cup part-skim ricotta 1 teaspoon olive oil ½ clove garlic, roughly chopped ¼ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 4 slices whole-wheat bread 8 tablespoons bean spread 8 tablespoons shredded part-skim mozzarella For the bean spread, place the beans, lemon juice, ricotta, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a minichopper and blend until smooth. Spread each slice of bread with 2 tablespoonfuls of the bean spread. Divide the cheese among the 4 slices and toast in a toaster oven until the cheese is golden and melted. Store remaining dip in an airtight container. Can be refrigerated for up to 1 week. Prep: 10 minutes Total: 15 minutes Yield: Serves 4 Calories: 157, Carbohydrate: 20g, Protein: 10g, Total Fat: 4.5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 370mg, Fiber: 4g Tip from Joy Bauer: Beans are an excellent source of fiber (about 6 grams per half cup), something that most people could use more of in their diet.
Purchase Double Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld on news stands now.
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ALISON S WEENEY Mom, Actress and Host shares her new book with us 17
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lison Sweeney, best known for her portrayal of Sami Brady on the hit NBC Soap Opera, Days of Our Lives and also known as the host of the reality television show, The Biggest Loser, shares her busy life and her newest endeavor with us, her new book, The Mommy Diet. Describe a typical day in your life. There's no such thing as 'typical' for me. Often, I work at both Biggest Loser & Days - if that's the case, it's a LONG day ahead - I start at 6am, if not earlier, at Days of our Lives. Today I have a break in the afternoon, I pick Ben up from school, take him to Karate, and then I head to Biggest Loser to shoot at night. i try to squeeze a workout in either between my jobs, or even at the end of the night, I try to unwind with yoga or something that won't keep me up all night. Between being a mommy, your busy work schedule as an actress, host of The Biggest Loser and now author, how do you manage it all? Do you have outside help? Of course, I couldn't do it without help! In fact, that's one of the key things I've had to learn since becoming a mom. Before, I hated asking for help with ANYTHING. Now, I seriously, couldn't make it through the day. Luckily, I have such a wonderful, loving supportive family. Obviously, my husband is key to keeping our family schedule going. But my mom helps, she takes Ben to soccer so Megan can get her nap in... etc. And the other moms at Ben's school help too - we help each other out! Play dates aren't just so the kids can play ... they help parents as well as kids?! Tell us about your book "The Mommy Diet". I wrote the Mommy Diet thinking about how lucky I am to be friends with so many talented experts! Trainers, make-up artists, stylist... it goes on... and I totally relied on their expertise to help me get back in shape after having my daughter Megan. And as I met so many fans afterwards asking me how I'd done it, I realized I had the perfect opportunity to share those tips with all the women out there who want to get back in shape but need a little guidance - as I did/do! While my book does focus on pregnancy and post-pregnancy recovery, it's for any woman who wants some advice on how to get their diet and nutrition on track. Has hosting The Biggest Loser influenced this book in any way? Of course! Hosting The Biggest Loser has influenced my entire life. Without question it's a big part of how I was able to write the book, and certainly how I got re-focused after having Megan. So many things I've learned on the show are in the book - as well as the people I've met along the way have really influenced my ability to live healthier.
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You look great, how important is eating healthy What advice can you offer moms who are juggling their careers and families on how to and exercise to you? Eating healthy is incredibly important to me. As is maintain their sanity while trying to do it all? exercise. When I don't get to the gym, I miss it. I feel it in my body. I just feel so much better when I'm working out regularly. And the same is true for eating well. When I 'cheat' on my nutrition plan, I still try to keep my portions small, because if I overindulge, not only do I feel guilty about it, it sits in my stomach, I FEEL worse too.
It is so tough being a working mom... I don't know any mom who confidently has it 'all figured out.' We're all concerned on the inside, hoping we're making the right decisions.. just doing the best we can every day. Or, at least, that's how I am. I just try to make the best choices I can for my family every day, and I don't judge myself for one day alone - I look back over the whole week What measures do you take to instill healthy and hope I've balanced it out well by the end. If not, I try not to be too hard on myself, I just look eating habits in your children? I think encouraging my kids to eat healthy starts by at the next week, and figure out how I can make different, better decisions next time. example. As a parent, you have to order healthy too, when you go out, you can't just have fries on Regarding your career, what can we expect to your plate and expect your kids to be okay with see from you in the future? that. And mostly, it's about eating home-cooked meals! At home not only do I try to use natural, We'll see how this works out and go from here! I ingredients, we cook together, as a family. Dave loved writing this book and am so proud of how it and I double-team in the kitchen, he BBQs while I turned out. I look forward to hearing the feedget the other elements of our meal together. And back! â—Š Ben helps me set the table, and toss the salad, stuff like that. He loves snacking on raw bell peppers along the way!
New Parents NEED Sleep! By Kim Stolte RN Founder of Swaddlekeeper www.swaddlekeeper.com
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The old saying goes, ―never wake a sleeping baby…but really it should say never wake a sleeping parent!‖ Everyone expects new mothers to be sleep deprived and exhausted when they get home with their newborn. As a night shift labor and delivery nurse, I‘m used to long hours and interrupted sleep patterns, but also know from my three children that new parents suffer more. When I had my third son, I began thinking of the problems of sleep deficits the moment I accidently shut our family dog‘s head in the refrigerator door as I was making coffee, breast feeding Owen, and packing a school lunch for the older boys. The pooch survived.
powerful recuperative effect on performance. Naps enhance alertness, mood, vigilance and productivity, particularly for night shift workers (and new parents) writes Jennifer Ackerman in her book Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream, a day in the life of your body.
Unfortunately napping in our society has been labeled as a sign of laziness, while other cultures around the world nap regularly. Most familiar is our southern neighboring country of Mexico, the siesta takes place when the sun is high and the temperatures rise after lunch. In the UK, Ackerman quotes Winston Churchill during World War II saying, ―You must sleep sometime between lunch and dinner. I had to sleep during the day, that was the only way I could New parents are most vulnerable to sleep deprivation the first few weeks after the birth of their cope with my responsibilities…don‘t think you will be doing less work…you will actually get baby. The side effects of tired parents can be more done.‖ When my midwife would visit durnumerous and have lifelong affects which may include relationship stress, postpartum depres- ing the first week after my 3rd child, she would be joyful when she found me still in my pajamas sion, quitting breastfeeding, illness or slower and resting in bed mid-day. Now as a nightshift recovery and poor newborn bonding. nurse, I nap during my break, as well as the afThe clock starts ticking for sleep loss when la- ternoon before my shift-even if just for 20-30 bor begins for the pregnant woman. Quite often minutes. These naps make a significant impact she is up all night in labor then delivers during on my alertness during the shift. the day. After the birth she will be on what I call a ―baby buzz‖ of relief and happiness which will Visitors, chores, guilt and a sense of a ‗return to give her the energy to start the every 2-3 hour health‘ are a few of the reasons new moms and feeding schedule of the new baby. By day four partners may have difficulty taking time to nap. Most often they don‘t feel tired—or at least her sleep debt is growing and after a week or two the effects are cumulative and can be com- tired enough to tear themselves away from visiting family members or missing out on a walk pared to a few drinks of beer. with a friend. One postpartum mom told me, ―I So what is the answer? Sleep when the baby felt like a million bucks! My body was back so sleeps. Dozing off even for short periods has that I could finally move, I didn‘t realize that I shown to counteract the effects of missed sleep. still needed to nap and rest. By the second week Napping may be the new normal sleep pattern I was a wreck. I had a fight with my mother and for new parents. The definition of napping is a was crying every time my baby cried because I sleep episode that is more than 5 minutes and was so exhausted.‖ less than 4 hours. Since newborns need to eat every 2-3 hours, parents need to get into the nap routine. Research shows that naps have a 22
Sleep Tips and Tricks:
Keep your room off limits to visitors. This will allow you to completely relax and have family bonding time. Set visiting hours. Don‘t be shy about setting limits. People will respect your wishes. When family and friends visit, have a list of chores that need completion (laundry, cooking and baby care while you are napping). It may help to have these guidelines posted in advance so that there isn‘t any tension after the baby is born. Take turns taking naps. Moms and partners can share basic baby care so that each can get a little more sleep then if they are both awake and helping change diapers etc. Sleep may be easier if your room is darkened and quiet. Turn off the phone! White noise/background noise has been shown to help newborns sleep; it might help the parents too! Wear earplugs to avoid accidental awakening. Put a sign on the door saying that you are sleeping so you won‘t be disturbed. If you can‘t stop thinking of all the things you need to do then keep a list at the bedside so you won‘t forget. Once they are on paper, then you can rest easier. Sleep with all your favorite things: blanket, pillow case, warm pack, tea
Sleep researcher William Dement says, ―In maintaining good health, sleep may be more critical than diet, exercise and even heredity‖. All you need to do the first few weeks you are home with your baby is to take care of yourself so that you are better able to take care of your family later on. Rest and recover, take advantage of the time you have with your new baby. When to call the doctor: Any sign of illness in yourself or your baby such as fever, increased bleeding, sleepiness, loss of appetite, excessive crying for yourself or your baby, feeling of hopelessness or frustration. Check in with a Lactation Specialist if breastfeeding questions arise. Lack of sleep can be a factor if breast milk supply is lacking. Information in this article is given as suggestions based on my experience-please do your own research, check with your doctor or midwife and follow your own instincts as to what works for YOUR family.
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By Deborah Hernan Founder, Ottilie & Lulu www.ottilieandlulu.com
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Don‘t look now, but that little girl looking at herself in the mirror is your daughter. And whether we agree or not, it is the Tween—not teen years-- that have become the time for self awareness. As parents this may be a bit hard to accept. But nevertheless, now is the time she starts to develop her beauty standards and builds her sense of confidence and comfort with her physical attributes. The key to her beauty future starts with a daily hygiene. While hygiene doesn‘t sound very glamorous, the regime of cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting her skin and hair will impact her for years to come. While some parents may think it too soon to nurture a beauty awareness, others may think it cute or not take beauty awareness seriously. I urge you to make daily hygiene a serious stage of beauty care for tween girls because 80% of the damage done to skin happens before age 17.
choose a facial wipe, look for one specially formulated for young skin. Most tween girls don‘t need salicylic acid in their face wipes; it‘s too drying too soon.
or liquid soaps are probably easiest. If you
Encourage her to use a body lotion to mois-
Show her how to apply moisturizer and face protection. Invest in a combination moisturizer and sunscreen product that is not the heavy, goop type. Get her a product that is lightweight and dries down with no sticky or white residue. If she likes the tactile properties of a product, she will use it more frequently. A combined moisturizer/sunscreen product protects against chapped skin and the sun‘s rays. Show her how to apply it (always upward) and how to gently dab it around her eye area.
In her tween years, she is probably starting to shower more than bathe just in the interest of time. Whatever her preference, she should do it every day because it adds to her confidence Here are some tips to help your daughter de- level. A lightly fragranced shower product velop a good daily hygiene regime. also acts as a deodorizer and makes her feel Talk about her beauty care and forgo the fresh. Find her a 2-in-1 shampoo and body word hygiene. wash product so the process is easy and enjoyNext Saturday morning, go into the bathroom able. together. Pull her hair back from her face and Being able to manage her own hair is a confihave her look into the mirror. Outline the dence builder. Short, long, curly or straight, shape of her face; describe her features and she should use a good detangler and condishow her what‘s great about her face. If she is tioner on her hair after every shampoo. A a young tween, tell her the changes that may natural bristle brush and a wide tooth comb take place as she gets older. Now show her should be her beauty tools. Use elastics withyour features. She will enjoy knowing the ori- out metal. Whether she makes a ponytail, a gins of her features. If you are brave, show braid or a bun, getting her in the habit of pullher why you wish you had started your beauty ing her hair off her face at night will be one of care earlier in your life. the best things she can do for her skin as she moves into her teen years. Leaving hair on Start her beauty ritual. Show her how to her face while she is sleeping can make her cleanse her face. Use whatever means you think is easy for her to stay with. Facial wipes skin oily and prone to blemishes.
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turize her skin. Teach her to apply the lotion to her slightly damp (but not wet) skin. While you may not think this is very important now, it is an important habit to get into. (Don‘t you have any scaly parts you wish you moisturized earlier?) Some girls worry about body odor. Talk to her about applying powder to areas where she perspires—under her arms, and in her private areas. Again, regular showering with a fresh smelling body wash can be helpful here. She doesn‘t need to use a deodorant yet, and she definitely doesn‘t need an anti-perspirant at this age. No matter the season, all girls need lip balm because they can‘t stop from biting or licking their lips. A fun lip balm is more likely to be used than one that looks medicinal. Be sure her lip balm has an SPF factor of at least 15. Help her appreciate her natural beauty by making beauty care and daily hygiene synonymous.◊
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Healthy Eating During the Holidays
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oy Bauer, Today Show Nutritionist & author shares with us her tips on how to stay on track with healthy eating during the Holidays. You can work out with Joy when her new DVD comes out December 28th, Joy Bauer’s Slim Down Workout. The DVD features two 20-minute workouts led by Joy and certified instructor Lisa Wheeler, and several bonus features, including Joy‘s ten tips for losing weight, healthy snack advice, diet-friendly meals, and more. Joy is also the author of Slim & Scrumptious which is filled with delicious healthy meals the whole family will love. Begin with Breakfast Starting your day with a satisfying morning meal—especially one that includes protein—can help prevent overeating at holiday parties and events later in the day. In a hurry? Grab a nonfat yogurt and a piece of fruit. Got some extra time? Whip up an egg white omelet with lots of chopped veggies and some reduced-fat cheese.
Never Go to a Party Hungry Have a light snack (around 200 calories) about an hour before you make your entrance. This will help take the edge off so you don‘t dive into the first edible item you lay eyes on. Smart snacks include apple slices with 1 tablespoon peanut butter, half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat, and a string cheese with a banana Wear Something Fitted and Fabulous You‘re less apt to eat when you‘re feeling great about how you look (and conscience of how snug your clothes are fitting). Hang out with the Talkers versus the Eaters Eating is contagious. You don‘t want to surround yourself with the people pigging out. Watch the Alcohol Alcohol is a double whammy: it‘s loaded with calories and it lowers your inhibitions, which means you end up eating more than you planned. Stick with wine (one medium goblet), wine spritzers (one or two glasses), or light beer (two cans or bottles, max). Nix Noshing Nibbling and grazing between meals is a problem year-round for many people, but it hits an all-time high during the month of December, when cookie platters, boxes of chocolate, and seasonal baked goods begin to pop up everywhere. All those extra bites and sips can add up to hundreds or thousands of calories per week if you‘re not careful. That‘s why it‘s especially important to maintain a structured eating schedule throughout the holidays. I recommend eating every 4 to 5 hours, which usually works out to 3 meals and 1-2 snacks per day.
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Follow My “Rule of One” By keeping your portions in check, you can enjoy every highlight of your favorite holiday meals without going overboard. Stick with just ONE of each deliciously tempting hors d‘oeuvre, one plate of food, one alcoholic drink, and one dessert (or a sliver of two, if you can‘t decide). Give Leftovers a New Home If you‘re hosting Thanksgiving or a holiday party, pack up the leftovers and divvy them up among your guests. This way, you won‘t be tempted by containers of rich holiday food lurking in your fridge for days after the event. Make Exercise a Priority Your schedule may be even more hectic than usual, but it‘s more important than ever to make time for exercise. Staying active helps you burn off extra calories from stuffing, rich desserts, candy, and other holiday indulgences, and it‘s also a great way to counteract the stress that often accompanies family get-togethers and holiday planning. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity every day. Be Selective About Your Splurges Choose a few days and special events that you look forward to all year and plan to indulge at those celebrations. The rest of the season, stick to your normal, healthy eating and exercise habits. Remember – a few blow-outs a year will not have a significant impact on your weight as long as you don‘t prolong the festivities. As I always tell my clients – they‘re called holidays, not holi-weeks or holi-months!
Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast Nesting Shoppe Custom Photo Announcements and Cards — a lovely way to
share life’s joy. NestingShoppe.com is a popular, affordable online boutique for custom birth announcements, invitations, holiday cards and more. It's the brainchild of entrepreneur Jessie Preza, a Jacksonville, Florida designer, photographer — and wife and mother of two children, ages 7 and 5. Announcing the Special Things in Life. "In 2008, I launched www.NestingShoppe.com so that customers across the nation can announce the special things in life...like pregnancies, save-the-dates, babies and good old-fashioned, hand-written correspondence on personalized stationery, all printed on beautiful, recycled papers. Nesting now offers over 500 different designs that can all be personalized. We are constantly adding new products, and finetuning our ordering process, designs and trying to stay up with the current trends, colors and designs." Jessie says. ―Over the years, we‘ve added some really great products to our line of paper goods, like personalized canvas growth charts, wall art and most recently we can turn your child‘s birth announcement into an archived baby memory board. It is printed up to 2 - 4 times larger than your original announcement and then it‘s mounted onto a thick board that you can either frame or just lean on a shelf. They are very affordable and a popular new item with our customers. It‘s a simple add-on and is a wonderful piece of artwork for baby‘s nursery, too.‖ Celebrity Announcements, Too. Nesting quickly caught the attention of celebrities such as: Trista and Ryan Sutter, from ABC‘s The Bachelorette, Scott and Kelley Wolf (Party of Five, V and Everwood), Charlie and Brooke Sheen, Victoria Recaño, TV host for The Insider and Entertainment Tonight, Los Angeles-based Hot Moms Club, Nancy O‘Dell, TV Host for Access Hollywood, and recently designed the birth announcements for Dr. Phil‘s granddaughter, baby Avery McGraw. 37
Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast National Press Recognition. Nesting was also featured on WETv’s Platinum Babies television series, and has also been seen in publications like Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Life & Style Magazine, OK! Magazine, Pregnancy‘s New Mom’s Handbook, People.com‘s Celebrity Baby Blog, and other celebrity and mom-and-baby blogs. Exceptional, Personalized Service. Preza said, "Serving celebrity clients has really enhanced Nesting‘s marketing and credibility; however, each and every one of our clients are very important to us and we strive to give everyone exceptional and personalized service. In this economy, we truly appreciate the business. We know there‘s a lot of competition out there for birth announcements and invitations, so we go that extra mile to help our clients feel special and give them the attention they deserve." Each order has fast turn around service, a free digital proof, premium white envelopes, customization with each order and Nesting Shoppe also prints on the backside—at no additional charge. So you can add an additional photo, a bible verse, your favorite quote or even a little holiday message to the back of each card. It is a great addition that some companies charge extra for. Inspired by Love. "Nesting was born out of love. The love to design and create beautiful things that make you feel warm and cozy," Preza said. "Our designs have been inspired by nature — birds, nests, twigs, trees, flowers, branches, berries, and leaves. They're created with a dash of passion, sprinkled with sugar and lots of love. We are inspired from all things that are good, pure and organic."
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Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast Passionate about Babies and Kids. After graduating from the University of North Florida with degrees in Graphic Design and Photography, Jessie worked in advertising and marketing, website design, interior design, textiles for baby bedding, as well as commercial and lifestyle photography. She was was also an Adjunct Professor at UNF, teaching Graphic Design. "However, my passion has always been designing for babies and children," she said "and I wanted something that would allow me to do all the things that I want to do as a wife and mom—like attend class field trips, take the kids to cub scout meetings, dance lessons and soccer practices—yet still run a successful business."
Filling the Need for Original Photo Announcements. She said, "For over 10 years, even before I had children of my own, I was creating my friends‘ birth announcements, wedding invitations, etc. and was urged to start designing photo birth announcements on a local basis, which I did, but I wanted to reach a bigger market. I saw the need for original birth announcements and invitations, with great design that would allow customers to customize and make them unique on an individual basis. I‘ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit." She says one of her favorite things to do is ―name‖ the designs. ―I absolutely adore names and their meanings, so every time we create a new design, the name of the announcement is the name of the baby on the card and coming up with new names is a creative process in and of itself.‖ Nesting Shoppe is also a great place for baby name ideas and suggestion if you‘re looking for a name for your little one on the way. Sharing Life's Joys with a Thoughtful, Tangible Keepsake. "I admit, I love technology and gadgets," said Preza. "They make our life really easy and we can stay plugged in 24-7. My Mac, Blackberry, twitter, facebook and all those great ways to connect and keep in touch. But for me, there is nothing more thoughtful or impactive than getting a personal, handwritten note or customized photo card through snail mail. I realize it's not always the most convenient thing to do, but that is why it‘s so special...my goal is to keep people excited about getting something memorable in their mailboxes instead of just their inboxes.‖
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Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast Green and Eco-friendly. As for the future of paper products, NestingShoppe.com is sensitive to the fact that we need to be green and eco-friendly, so all of our products are printed on recycled papers. Even in the digital age of emails, websites and blogs, Nesting hopes people don‘t forget how important it is to have something tangible—a little printed souvenir. Special Coupon for You. Nesting Shoppe wants to offer you 15% off all of your orders now through the end of the year. There are over 100 designs to choose from for the Holiday Season and all can be customized with your own personal style including colors and wording. Please visit www.nestingshoppe.com and use coupon code STYLECAFE for 15% OFF your orders (expires 02.28.2011).
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Dessert Darling Jenny Alden is the authority on all things sweet! Known for her impeccable sweet tooth Jenny gives you the truthful scoop on whether those famous cupcakes, doughnuts or desserts are really "worth the weight." She has great tips on what sweets are best for the holidays or any occasion and where to buy. Jenny is not a chef, but loves to explore new recipes and will let you know what is easy, fun or way too hard! http://desertdarling.com/
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By Jenny Alden Founder of Dessert Darling www.dessertdarling.com
O
h how I love the holidays! The crisp air, twinkling lights, merry melodies and most excitingly, the abundance of desserts! Sugar and spice are key ingredients to making this time of year so magical and I'm here to share some fun alternatives to seasonal staples.
Three words that encapsulate the season for me? Gingerbread, Eggnog, and Peppermint. The holidays just wouldn't be the same without these goodies. While we typically see gingerbread cookies, Eggnog in a glass, and Candy Canes, why not change it up with Gingercake Bars, Eggnog Bread Pudding, and Peppermint Whoopie Pies?!
Cocoa Gingercake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting I adore gingerbread and love cream cheese frosting and together they make beautiful bells jingle. I made these bars by blending spice cake with brownie mix and baked them like brownies. Then I whipped up some cream cheese frosting and lathered it on top! Totally divine.
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Eggnog Bread Pudding with Panettone This comforting and creamy pudding would make for a splendid family breakfast on Christmas morning. To see how to prepare this fast and simple recipe, check out CookingSF.com.
Peppermint Whoopie Pies Nothing compliments the cool frost of peppermint like creamy icing and soft chocolate cookies. Buy these delicious treats at Trader Joes or get creative and make your own!
May this holiday season be the sweetest one yet! 44