1. It’s about you, your partner and the baby – nobody else! Never mind what in-laws, friends or family have to say, or how they suggest you do things. You and your partner need to determine your own life together as parents, and that decision should be made by you alone. People may want to offer ideas (read: interfere!), but it’s completely acceptable to say no, no matter how pushy they may be.

2. Be prepared to argue - that’s perfectly normal! Every new parent I know spends more time fighting with their spouse after the arrival of baby than ever before. New routines, lack of sleep, fear of raising your child appropriately – all of these things cause stress. Be prepared for it, and be ready to handle it (not just ignore it); it will make your relationship stronger in the long run.

3. Relax! Having a new child might be stressful, but if you can’t laugh about being peed on, about the pureed beets all over your crisp white shirt, or the permanent marker on your freshly painted walls, then you’ll lose your mind. Your child will feel your emotion, so laugh it off.

4. Take some time apart. Some couples seem to spend every waking minute together after baby arrives, but I feel it’s important for both parents to get to know their new little bundle one-on-one. Taking this important time gives your spouse a little break, and it offers essential bonding time between parent and baby.

5. One at a time. You don’t both need to get up in the night to look after the baby – just one of you can do it! A good friend who had twins last year recently reminded me of this. She couldn’t ascertain why parents of singles both get up in the night to tend to the fussing baby, and she’s totally right! Just take turns; one of you may as well be (somewhat) rested!

6. Continue to enjoy time together, just the two of you. Whether you and your partner take a weekend away, a night out for dinner or just enjoy each other’s company when the baby’s in bed, be sure to keep connected and tell each other what’s happening and how you’re feeling. It’s easy to be exhausted by the time you have some alone time, but make use of it and keep connected.

7. Talk about your parenting style before you have the baby, and after the wee one arrives. Take some time to consider the type of parent you want to be, and let your partner know. In many ways your role will evolve organically, but having an idea beforehand can be helpful. Then discussing it as time goes on is important too.

8. Don’t over-schedule yourselves. People will want to be visiting your new addition all the time, but remember that it’s okay to say no. It’s important for the three (or four, or five…) of you to have time to learn about your new family life. That doesn’t include others; just you!

9. Lighten up! Parenting is very serious, but it’s also extremely fun. I recall my husband saying, long before our first child arrived, that he thought with my perfectionist personality I wouldn’t let our kids leave the house with their shoes on the wrong feet when the time came. I’ve always remembered that, and now I have to think a little before I let my kids leave the house with the Cinderella dress on, but I’m always glad that I can relax enough to let that happen.

10. Who does what? Domestic duties become greater the moment the baby enters the house. That few-pound bundle in the blanket may be small, but boy, can they make a mess!! Who will put out the garbage, make dinner, clean the bathrooms, tend the garden? All of these little tasks that seemed easier before become more challenging to get to, and seem like more of a hurdle. Determining ahead of time who will do what takes away the frustration of sitting there just WAITING for your partner to take out the garbage while their perceived lack of motivation drives you crazy!

11. Keep talking. The moment you stop communicating with one another is the moment you will struggle. Tell your partner what’s frustrating you, what makes you happy, what you’re excited about. Be open and honest about everything so you’re not left guessing at how your spouse is feeling or what they are thinking.

Above all – have fun! Parenting is serious business, but it’s the most fun you’ll ever have.

Fresh flowers are beautiful, green grass is refreshing, seasonal allergies are…a mood killer. The itchy eyes, the sneezing and other allergy symptoms will keep you indoors. Even on the brightest days, you feel gloomy.

That’s exactly why Allegra has partnered with W-NBA All Star, Lisa Leslie for the “Allegra Outdoor Challenge.” This challenge is full of fun and affordable workout tips for the whole family. With a little creativity–and some powerful Allegra–it’s so easy to get up and get active with mom, dad, the kiddos, and even the dog! Allegra’s fast acting relief is…a relief! But I also love that it’s non-drowsy. I can take it and get a day’s worth of clear eyes and running around, rather than being knocked out for hours. Lisa Leslie knows the importance of staying active, especially as a mom.

“As an athlete and a mom, there’s nothing I enjoy more than getting outside to shoot hoops or run around with my kids, but when our allergy symptoms act up it can keep my whole family indoors,” says Leslie. “I am thrilled to team up with Allegra and show families that with the help of Allegra their seasonal allergies don’t have to stop them from enjoying the outdoors and having fun.”

Here are some of Lisa’s tips for getting active outdoors:

• Yard Yoga: Grab beach towels and host yard yoga to encourage stretching, balance and focus. Using a basketball for support, you can try modified push-ups, leaning on the ball for balance.
• Jungle Gym: Playgrounds aren’t just for kids; all you need is a swing set or park bench to inspire some creative workout moves.  Hold on to a sturdy edge of a park bench and do leg-lifts or see who can hang from the monkey bars the longest.
• Scavenger Hike: Turn a family hike into a scavenger hunt. Come up with a fun list of challenges like climbing over a log, finding a pinecone, skipping down an entire trail or racing to the birch tree and back.
• Driveway Drills: Using chalk and cardboard boxes you can create your own basketball court on the driveway.  Have the kids draw free throw lines and see who can bounce or throw the ball into the cardboard box “hoop.”
• Time for Fun: Use your kitchen timer or a stopwatch to time kids in sprints and have races.

Here at Skinny Mom, we took a lunch and had some great fun with the chalk. Here are a few of our ideas for the chalk, rope and basketball:

• Stop Motion Scenes: Take the chalk and create scenes, for instance, an ocean. Have your kids lay down on their sides and slowly do swimming motions. Snap a pic to get all the motions and then loop them together to make another dimension of fun!
• Exercise Your Brain: Check out these 5 ways to get your kids moving while also keeping their minds sharp.

Be sure to participate for a chance to win the Allegra Outdoor Fitness Pack–filled with all the summer essentials to get the whole family fit and allergy resistant:

• Allegra Product Samples
• $25 Fitness Line Gift Card
• Basketball
• Jump Rope
• Sidewalk Chalk

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have a patch of wild asparagus growing right outside our back door. This time of year my family and I pick a bunch every afternoon; our girls enjoy eating the asparagus raw and sometimes dip it in ranch. I attempt to create something new with the shoots or toss them unnoticed into a recipe.

Here are a few of our family favorite recipes to incorporate this healthy vegetable into our meals:

Ina’s Roasted Asparagus: A quick recipe (35 min total of cook & prep time) and only uses 4 ingredients. A must-have dish at most of my meals.

 

Alton Brown’s Frittata: Rated 5 stars on Food Network, this is a 20 minute recipe that any cook (novice or experienced) should add to her meal planning. Be sure to use your skinny swaps: egg whites and a healthier butter spread, like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.

Emeril Lagasse’s Asparagus Soup: This is a family favorite and a recipe I use often when I want to change up my traditional roasted asparagus recipe. It does take about an hour to cook, so plan accordingly!

 

Giada De Laurentiis’ Baked Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes: A great way to make eating veggies fun for your picky eaters. The whole family will love this recipe, and you can get creative with modiciations. Adding some spice or some ground turkey can adjust this recipe for all tastes! (image credit here)

 

Time to Travel: Most vacations occur during summer, so while you’re living the good life on some exotic beach, your first priority may not be the gym. Quick Tip: Between the cocktails and the all-you-can-eat buffets, it’s easy to add on the pounds. Be careful. Be mindful. Enjoy in healthy amounts, and add in some fun workouts when you can.

Longer Days and Longer Nights: With the warmer weather, you are not only more likely to stay out later, but the extra exposure to sunlight affects your circadian rhythm. Aside from making you feel a little sleepy, research shows that skimping out on shuteye can put you at risk for packing on pounds. Quick Tip: As difficult as it may be in the summer, monitor your sleep well. Make sure you’re getting the sleep your mind and body need!

Another Barbecue? Yes please!: Summer means picnics and barbecues — more activities that revolve around an unlimited spread of food. Quick Tip: Pace yourself. Focus on not overloading your plate. Avoid going back for seconds and thirds and choose seasonal, healthy foods like fresh fruit instead of high-sugar, high-fat desserts. For more healthy tips on how to avoid overeating at get togethers, click here. Check out Skinny Mom’s 7 Pre-Prepped Party Dishes.

Can’t Beat the Heat: Heat and humidity are brutal, and you may find that your motivation decreases during the hotter days. Don’t let the summer heat put your exercise plans on hold. Quick Tip: Move your workout indoors. If a gym isn’t your thing, try bowling or an indoor climbing wall. If being outdoors is your thing, try joining a local pool or move a regular run or soccer game to an early morning or evening for cooler temps.

On The Go, Go, Go: Busy summer schedules mean fast food and not enough time in the day to fit in a workout. Quick Tip: Even being on the go from swim lessons to work to barbecues, with a little bit of planning, you can fit in a quick workout and pack some healthy meals and snacks for both you and the kids.

Pool Noodle Lightsabers: This cool idea may come from a galaxy far, far away, but you can get the supplies right in your local dollar store! (via Muddy Boots) 

Pool Noodle Wreath: Great craft for your summer get together or just hanging by your pool. Perfect timing for this Memorial Day Weekend–a super easy, last minute decoration! Plus, everyone will be asking you where you got it and then how you made it. (via Remodelando la Casa)

Pool Noodle Ball Pit: Ball pits are some of the most entertaining places kids want to go. But they are not always the cleanest. So, make one yourself, with cheap pool (sanitized) noodles! (via Frugal Freebies) (photo credit here)

DIY Pool Noodle Race Track: And they’re off! Entertain your kids for hours with these cool car races! You can also use marbles if you don’t have any toy cars on hand. (via Ramblings From Utopia)

Pool Noodle Garland: Make a unique, cheap, decoration for any outdoor get together this summer! (via Dollar Store Mom)

Brain Dump: At the end of the day, your mind is swirling with everything you didn’t get done and what needs to get done tomorrow. Keep a notepad and pen by your bed to write a detailed To Do list. Get it all on paper and off your mind!
[Check out these adorable notepads and this one is perfect for those nights you can't sleep well and just keep "thinking".]

Tune Out: Studies show that screen time before bed (reading on iPhone, laptop, TV, etc) can disrupt your body’s melatonin production, a necessary hormone for sleep, leaving you wired and unable to rest. Creating a bedtime routine with no screen time for at least 30 minutes before bed can mean falling asleep and staying asleep.

Develop a Routine for Yourself: As moms we are careful to keep our kids’ bedtimes the same. Make a bedtime for yourself too. Try to go to bed around the same time as much as possible to train your body to wind down for sleep.

Go to Bed Sleepy, Not Exhausted: Moms know, if little ones are overtired they won’t fall asleep easily. The same is true for adults. Try to go to bed when you are tired, not exhausted.

Relax: You don’t need to do a 30 minute yoga or meditation session to get relaxed before bed. Reading a simple, entertaining book for a few minutes can get you to a relaxed and restful state.

Take a few minutes for yourself at night and rest well for a better tomorrow! What’s your best method to get a good sleep?

ENJOY!

Colors Of Summer – RED

NARS Satin Lip Pencil, Nordstrom – $25

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Oversized Square Sunglasses, Bloomingdales – $98

Colors Of Summer – YELLOW

Nate Berkus Topanga Beach Towel, Target – $17.99

Vera For Target Flower Carpet Oblong Scarf – Target – $19.99

Colors Of Summer – BLUE

Room Essentials Patio Umbrella, Target – $70

Hammock, ‘Glowing Sapphire’, Novica – $74.99

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Nail Lacquer – Color: Pool Boy, Sephora – $10

Colors Of Summer – ORANGE

Beats by Dr. Dre Mixr Headphones, Target – $249

MICHAEL Michael Kors Jelly Flat Thong Sandals,  Bloomingdales – $59

Colors Of Summer – PINK

KitchenAid 5-Qt. Stand Mixer, Target – $449.99

Vera Bradley VaVa Bloom Fabric Tote, Barnes & Noble – $49

Grace 4G Tank by Zobha, Zobha – $68

Colors Of Summer – GREEN

Chan Luu Breast Cancer Sequin Bracelets, Michael Stars – $48

Move Collective Bobble Jug & Filter, 64 oz, Bloomingdales – $24.99

Colors Of Summer – PURPLE

Tutti Frutti Skirted One Piece Swim Dress in Amethyst, Profile By Gottex, Nordstrom – $128

Merona Floral Floppy Hat , Target – $14.99

The aftermath of yesterday’s E4 tornado– estimated to be at least 2 miles wide and have traveled 22 miles in length by the National Weather Service– that hit Moore, Oklahoma is hard to watch. It only took minutes for the storm to touch down at 2:56 p.m., 16 minutes after the first National Weather Service warning. Unfortunately, this suburban town isn’t new to the tornado devastation. In 1999 and 2003, this town experienced eerily similar twisters.

Recently, the death toll has been decreased and currently stands at 24, 9 of those fatalities being children, said a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner’s office. This number is expected to change as more people are pulled from the rubble.

CNN reported, “Still, more than 100 people had been pulled from the rubble alive since Monday afternoon, the state Highway Patrol said.”

Service men and women across the National Guard, Air National Guar, firefighters, police and volunteers have been determined to sift through the debris and find more survivors.

Among the hardest hit locations were  Plaza Towers and Briarwood elementaries and the Moore Medical Center, which took a direct hit.

Around 40,000 people are currently still without power, CNN reports. And, the storm system that produced yesterday’s E4 is still in motion past Oklahoma. According to CNN, “Southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas, including Dallas, are under the gun for severe weather Tuesday. Those areas could see large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.”

If you would like to help please read the following below:

The Red Cross

The Red Cross of Oklahoma has activated its safe and well website for those who are trying to reconnect with loved ones. Red Cross officials and volunteers are also beginning to open shelters. The first is at St. Andrews Church. You can help their efforts by donating to the Red Cross online or by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

For more places to donate click here.

The Skinny Mom family is keeping the people of Oklahoma in our thoughts and prayers, and are thanking all the service men and women who sacrifice to help those in need. 

In order to be successful, try to anticipate any distractions that may cause a group member to miss their reading. For example, research the titles for e-books and browse the reviews. Send your group an email that tells them what e-versions are accurate so they can download correctly. Many readers get discouraged when they download a free book or a $2.99 title that is missing a chapter or is full of glitches. You may also want to be sure that your local library has many copies of a title before you choose it. Additionally, many libraries will allow you to place a “hold” on multiple copies if you are hosting a book club. Check with your local librarian to see if this a possibility.

Once you’ve assembled a group of readers, type out a plan and agree on titles months in advance. Always be careful you all have the right versions of the book: abrigded, unabridged; with discussion, without.

Here are some points Oprah suggests for you to consider before you send invites:

• Price points: new titles cost crisp dollars.
• Who will pick the book each time? TIP: Keep the votes anonymous.
• How will discussions be lead; will you lead?
• Who will keep a record of all the books read, when they were discussed, and who suggested them?
• And if you are meeting in person: Where will subsequent meetings be held? In the same location, at the home of that meeting’s leader, or in a community room somewhere else, like a library or bookstore?
• Will refreshments be served? (We certainly enjoy them—try these recipes!) Who will provide them? Will they be connected to the theme of the book being discussed? Check out Skinny Mom’s skinny appetizers and snacks — perfect for a book club meeting!

If you’d like to test the waters by joining a club already in progress, check out these online sources:

•  Meet Up
• Reader’s Circle