Is it hard having kids?

It’s almost 9pm on a hot June night.  Kiana is still up because it’s Craig’s turn to put her to bed but he wants to show her a game on the XBox.  Ay Caramba!!!  I have the laptop and am trying to get some work done on a project.  Kiana starts playing with my hair so I tell her “Stop doing that, I’m trying to concentrate!”.  Her words:

“Is it hard having kids?”

We both start laughing.  I respond “No, it’s very easy.  You’ll see how easy it is when you have your own”.

Her words:

“Why are you overreacting?”

Seriously?  This almost 5 year old keeps using my words.  She also said “overreacting is inapropriate”.   OK little genious…  I got nothing… you win… for now…

Finally, an energy drink that is ALL natural MonaVie Energy eMV

MonaVie Energy eMV

I will be ordering quite a bit as soon as it’s available.  If interested visit my MonaVie site or ask me for a sample!  This will be perfect on those morning when I need a boost of energy.  I can’t drink regular coffee so the available energy drinks have never worked for me.  Too many jitters even hours after consumption.

MonaVie Energy is a natural, healthy, long lasting energy beverage of antioxidant-rich super fruits and energizing botanicals. This delicious and nutritious drink delivers a unique blend of ingredients to keep you going throughout the day. Unlike most energy drinks which are loaded with synthetic caffeine and high fructose corn syrup, MonaVie Energy is a healthy and natural alternative that promotes sustained energy for increased stamina and reduced fatigue.

Carbohydrates and Calories

A serving of MonaVie Energy contains 170 calories per serving. Most of these calories (about 90) come from the fruit juices and palatinose (60), which are healthier carbohydrate energy sources. The majority of mainstream energy drinks contain empty calories from sugars such as high fructose corn syrup. Fruit juices on the other hand provide antioxidants and phytonutrients with calories.

A significant number of energy drinks are also available in sugar free or low carbohydrate versions. These products provide very little if any “real energy,” since energy comes from calories. To compensate for a lack of calories, they add a high dose of caffeine and other ingredients that deceive your body and mind. It revs them up, but lacks the fuel to give you power. Your body needs useful calories in order to function. Your brain and muscles are highly active and require a steady flow of fuel. You crave sugar, because you need them to function properly. The key then is to provide your body with the healthiest forms of sugar. MonaVie Energy provides you with healthier carbohydrates and calories to give you the fuel your body and mind needs for longer lasting energy.

Current Product Positioning on Label

Recharge your body and mind with a boost of sustained energy. MonaVie Energy features a proprietary blend of antioxidant rich fruits, including the Brazilian superfruit acai, and natural sources of energy. Great tasting and lightly carbonated, this healthy formula increases performance, endurance, and concentration by kicking up your energy level and keeping it there without the high sugar, stimulant subsequent crash. Finally, a healthy solution to your body’s everyday energy needs.

Enhances performance, Boosts endurance, Increases alertness, Fights fatigue

Key Features

Healthy energy drink, 80% Fruit juice, Delivers isomaltulose for longer lasting and sustained energy. Contains a superfruit blend, including the Brazilian acai, acerola, camu camu, and cupuacu. All-natural sources of caffeine (guarana, yerba mate, and green tea extract) for increased alertness and focus. Proprietary energy blend of botanicals including panax ginseng and maca Added B-complex vitamins for energy metabolism. Deliciously refreshing taste. Lightly carbonated. No preservatives. No artificial flavors. No artificial sweeteners. No artificial colors. 100% natural energy source.

Energy Statements

Effective energy supply. More balanced energy release. Longer lasting energy release. Naturally energizing. A source of natural energy. Energizing ingredients for a healthy lifestyle. Healthy energy. Promotes longer lasting and improved energy levels. Nutritious energy. Natural energy for the body and mind. Energizing blend. Convenient energy.

Promotes: Clarity, Focus, Vigor, Vitality

Making the healthier choice: Read the label!

Many people are often confused when they visit the supermarket and encounter product labels which promise to reduce cholesterol, help weight loss and more.  These claims are often spread all over the front of a product.  Even margarine products make beneficial health claims when in fact these products are loaded with unhealthy ingredients including trans fats, fillers, artificial colors and artificial flavors.

So what is the best way to steer clear of the unhealthy ingredients?  Glad you asked!  Here’s a list of bad-for-you ingredients and their aliases I wanted to share with you after reading  my Experience Life magazine:

• Potassium Bromate aka bromated vegetable oil
• Trans fats, aka partially hydrogenated  or hydrogenated oil
• High fructose corn syrup
• Artificial colors:  Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange 8, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6
• Butylated hydroxyanisole, aka BHA
• Butylated hydroxytoluene, aka BHT
• Monsodium glutamate (MSG), aka autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, natural flavoring, spices, soy extract, protein isolate, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate
• Sulfites, aka sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfate, potassium bisulfite, sodium metasulfite and potassium metasulfite
• Nitrates aka sodium nitrate, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid

Some of the items on the list were obvious for me to avoid but I’m glad I came across this list as I know several of the other items are found in some of the products I had previously purchased.

I hope this helps you as it has helped  me to continue to make the right choice.  Just remember, the shorter the ingredient list, the better for you a product is!  Ok… that sounds a bit like Yoda!

The biggest offenders

• Canned foods such as soups
• Frozen entrees
• Ice cream such as the “light” or “low fat” varieties
• Margarine
• Yogurt
• Processed snacks
• Some cereals
• Some breads

Be aware

Products which display the “Whole Grains” seal on their labels may also contain a high amount of processed grains such as enriched wheat flour or bleached rice and may only list that particular ingredient as “rice”.  To be on the safer side make sure the ingredient list reads “brown rice” or you may be risking adding grains which have been stripped of nutrients.

If a product contains more than 500 mg of sodium per serving I usually steer clear.  I also look for products with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving and no added fiber.  All the fiber should come from the natural ingredients in the package.  The same goes for sugar content.  I make sure my daughter’s organic yogurt contains no more than 13 grams of sugar per serving.   Likewise for cereals and other breakfast fare.

I hope this helps you make healthier choices for yourself and your family.

Organic vs. Junk Food Ingredients

Are you a stress eater?

Stress Eater Diet by Robert B. Posner, MD & Linda Hlivka

You know who you are.  Something didn’t go well today so you sneak to the break room for a bag of cookies even though you just had a lunch meeting.  Or your home and in desperate need of some quiet time.  The problem is you can’t get any so you grab a chocolate bar and down it like it’s nobody’s business.  We’ve all been there, some of us are worse than others.  Sometimes eating is the only thing we can control when we’re under stress.

I came across a book titles Stress Eater Diet.  It’s a short read with lots of examples on how to minize stress so that you eat less and look faboulous!

I encourage you to check it out.  Find it on Amazon

This is from their press release:

Stress Eater – Media Release

Stress Eater Diet by Robert Posner, MD and Linda Hlivka.

Are you a Stress Eater?
With a crumbling economy, depressed real estate, foreclosures, plunging stock markets, job insecurity, credit card debt, political instability and uncertainty; stress levels in America are skyrocketing. For those that attempt to eat their stress away, The Stress Eater Diet is a simple guide for women who want to stress less, shed pounds and look great. To find out if you are a stress eater, take our free stress eater quiz.

The Stress Eater Diet’s Solution
Based on new published research, The Stress Eater Diet is a revolutionary program that can help rid you of stress and control your weight through a proven nutritional and simple exercise plan. It will reduce stress eating while balancing your mood and increasing your energy.

The Stress Eater Diet combines:
- Nutrition
- Stress Relieving Exercise
- Calming Techniques
- Serotonin boosting foods (activating calming mood sensors in the brain)

The Stress Eater Diet will transform your stress eating into healthy eating and to a lifestyle that helps you stress less, sheds pounds and energize your life..

About the Authors:

Robert Posner, MD
Robert Posner, M.D. is a board certified internal medicine physician and has been in private practice in the Northern Virginia area for over 20 years. Dr. Posner developed the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program, Washington, D.C.’s largest medically supervised weight loss/weight management program as a result of his ground breaking research into the effects of serotonin on weight loss.

Learn more about Robert at http://www.stresseaterdiet.com.

Linda Hlivka
With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Hlivka has been the nutritionist for the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program for almost 6 years. Linda graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University with a B.S. in Human Nutrition and Foods and from Regis University with an M.B.A. Early in her career, she worked as a dietician/nutritionist at several NJ hospitals. She has a passion for weight control as she had struggled with weight during her life and ultimately has succeeded for many years to control hers.

Learn more about Linda at http://www.stresseaterdiet.com.

Stress Eater Diet
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: LINX Corp (January 16, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0980211840
ISBN-13: 978-0980211849
Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches

Simple ways to change your eating habits

Kiana not wanting to wait to digg in! Strawberries, grapes, robusto cheese, blueberries and whole grain crackers. A yummy and healthy afternoon snack!

It’s no secret I love to eat but I have to admit I have changed my eating habits and am quite happy and satisfied with my food choices.  Back in the day I’d sit with a bag of chocolate chip cookies in between meals, eat muffins or donuts for breakfast and would definitely overeat at dinner time!  I changed my eating habits long before I became pregnant.  I started exercising more regularly and my ideal workout included a 3 mile run.  Once I became pregnant, however, I couldn’t exercise at the same intensity due to discomfort and joint pain.  After my daughter was born I still found myself close to 20 lbs heavier.  My pre-baby weight was 120lbs but I’m only 5′1″. I was always more concerned with inches rather than muscle.

After Kiana was born I had gone from a size 2 to a size 10 and a lot of my shirts went from small to medium.  A medium shirt is quite big on a little person!  I decided it was time to get back into shape.  Part of what was keeping me from going back to the gym was leaving my little girl in the baby sitting room.  I still remember the first time I left her and she cried.  I called my dad and told him I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t want to leave her and hear her cry on my way out.  He pretty much told me to suck it up and continue to leave her because she would get used to it.  He was right!  Before I knew it I was going to the gym 5 days per week and one day I found my pants were beginning to fall and the pounds melted off.  I didn’t really change my eating habits.  I just went to Zumba classes and started weight training.

Today I’m happy at 117 lbs, am muscular and although I still have a little more to go (in terms of muscle mass not weight loss!) I know I’m well on my way to achieving my goals.

The changes that I made early on have certainly made a difference.  I rarely drink soda and if I do it’s only in small quantities.  Rather than eating a whole chocolate muffin in one sitting I cut it in quarters in eat it during the course of four days.  Instead of pancakes for breakfast I eat 2/3 cup of Fage or other 2% milk fat Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit such as berries, strawberries, pineapple or whatever is in season.  I usually sprinkle a couple tablespoons of flax meal for extra nutrition.  It looks like dessert but it’s much better for you!  Other days I mix cooked quinoa and steel cut oats.  Mix that with dried fruit and milk and it’s another great way to kick off your day!  I drink more water with lemon or fill up a glass halfway with mango nectar and top it off with water to cut down on the sugar factor.  Dinners are always from scratch when we’re home and made with fresh ingredients and organic produce.  I roast my own red peppers for lunch wraps and make sure I eat avocados as well.  They are packed with mono unsaturated fats and will keep you full longer.

What about dessert and curbing the sweet tooth?

Well, I can’t completely cut out sweets especially my favorite Haagan Daz ice cream!  However, I have realized that leading a healthier lifestyle is something you get used to over time, not overnight.  I made small changes to start with and those small changes led to bigger ones.  And now I don’t miss a lot of things and can stay away from the unhealthy, empty calorie choices without feeling deprived.  In fact, I don’t deprive myself at all.  I eat whatever I want.  The difference is that what I want now is no longer what I used to want.

The result?

A healthy, active mom who can keep up with her 4 year old!  Being a good role model for my daughter is what matters most.  She has already started to copy me in many ways and eats better than any child I know in her age group.  It warms my heart when she grabs the yoga mat because she wants to “do push ups”.  I just watch her and let her have her fun.  Then I get down and show her how it’s really done!

I crave therefore I cook: White bean and veggie soup

A had a lone sweet potato staring at me from the kitchen utility rack.  I kept thinking of when I would get to use it.  Today I thought “I’ll put in soup, duh!”.  I love cooking soup.  It’s comforting and if you have the ingredients at hand it can be a quick and easy meal.  I used sweet potato, zuchini, carrots and more in this delicious soup which my 4 year old princess had no problem eating.  All of these organic good-for-you ingredients were cooked in organic chicken broth but you could easily use an organic veggie broth.  Additionally I used bacon for extra flavor which could be substituted for pancetta or turkey bacon or just left out altogether.

The Guests to the Party in YOUR Tummy

1/2 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, sliced thinly
2 stalks of celery, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 medium sweet potato cut into 1″ cubes
1 zuchini, cubed
2 slices of bacon roughly chopped
1 Qt chicken stock
1/2 can white beans, drained but not rinsed
1/2 cup of your favorite small cut pasta such as mini shells or mini bow ties
freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
1/2 teaspoon dry parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil

In a medium pot, heat the oil.  Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes or until translucent.  Add the garlic and sauté for an additional 2 minutes.  Add stock and remaining ingredients.  Stir well, taste for salt.  Cover and bring to a rolling boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes or until pasta and vegetables are tender.

If you’d like you can stir in some grated parmegiano or simply enjoy with a piece of crusty bread.

Congratulations to the winner of my website giveaway!

I have chosen Nan Miller of Fuzzy Ups, a product which showcases plushy stuffed animals from a small chandelier.  This pretty product is great for babies, boys and girls and would certainly add to the warmth of every child’s bedroom.

Nan, short for Nancy, is a mother of two toddler boys and lives in Pensylvania.  What attracted me to her was her  children’s product.  I love designing pretty websites that are functional, graphical and elegant.  I believe we’ll be a good fit!

Stay tuned for the new website design for Fuzzy Ups!

My first shot at Zumba instruction

My Zumba instructor has been telling me for months that I have what it takes to become an instructor.  Well, today she let me teach during a song, all by myself on the platform.  This was a song for which I had to come up with my own choreography.  Aside from a minor timing issue (I was going too fast in the begining) she said I was “phenomenal”!  That’s all I needed to hear to be on cloud 9 the rest of the day!

The next step is to finish studying for the AFAA and register for the exam which will take most of one day.  It includes a written test and a few practicals ranging from a proper warm up, short aerobic routing and cooldown.  I will then register for the next Zumba certification class in my area and hopefully get all this done in time for the upcoming Zumba convention in Orlando.

I’m excited and in what I feel to be the best shape of my life.  Thanks to Zumba and my awesome instructor Kathy Graham my level of endurance has skyrocketed and my legs are beautifully toned.

Having people to look up to is always great no matter how old or wise you think you are.  We can always learn from those who have accomplished much in their lives.

Okiana Designs is giving away a website

I did this last year through Bloggy Giveaways. I didn’t have any control over whom I would give the website to so it went to a deserving home inspector

This time around I’d like to give away a site design or re-design to a deserving mom in business. I want it to be fun, colorful, stylish, elegant, whimsical and with a good amount of graphical work.

If you know of anyone who can’t afford to have her site designed please send her my way. I’d like to read their story, what they offer and eventually find out if we would be a good fit.

We all know the economy is dragging and perhaps there’s someone out there who would like to have a website designed but simply can’t afford it.

Here are the requirements:

• Must already have a domain name and web hosting in place or be willing to purchase through me or on her own
• Must have a logo or be willing to have one drawn at a cost
• Must be able to explain why she needs a website and how she feels the website will help her business
• Must be a fellow work-at-home mom
• Must agree to feature my business name and link at the bottom of the home page as the designer even if she hires someone else to maintain the website

What she will receive:

• A beautiful website ready for search engines and built with CSS with up to 5 functioning pages one of which could be a contact form
• Possibly a Flash slideshow on the home page
• A 1 category gallery of her photos i.e. floral arrangements, photography, etc.

How to enter
Entries should be sent to giveaways@okianadesigns.com with “Giveaway” in the subject line and should include the following in order:

1. Your full name
2. Your business name
3. Business website if you have one
4. e-mail address
5. What you are looking for in a website
6. Your target audience
7. A short paragraph describing yourself, why you need a website and how you will benefit.

Support Okiana Designs, LLC in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Support Okiana Designs, LLC in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

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