Mommy-Magic Blog

Outdoor Safety Tips

Mommy-Magic — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:39:26 +0000

School is ALMOST out, it's going to be getting hot and the pools will
open soon! Make sure to follow these important tips for keeping your
family cool, safe and protected this summer.

Water supervision is a must. Make sure to follow the 10/20 rule while your kids are swimming. The supervising adult should be positioned to be

able to scan the water every 10 seconds and reach it within 20 seconds.
It’s also important to have proper rescue/flotation devices & a phone
near by for extra insurance. If your dropping your children off to swim
investigate the pools rules & policies. Find out if there is a CERTIFIED
life guard on duty or a pool attendant. A pool attendant is NOT
certified to save lives.

2. Be sun smart. The sun’s ultraviolet strength is at it’s peak from
10AM to 4PM. During this time children should use a sunblock with an SPF
rating of 50. Make sure to apply atleast half an hour before swimming,
reapply often, and don’t forget to apply to ears, feet, behind the legs
and lips. There is a difference between water resistant and water proof
sunscreen. Water resistant sunscreen only provides 40 minutes of
protection in the water. Water proof sunscreen will give you 80 minutes
of protection. Hats, sunglasses and SPF clothing are extremely helpful
when fighting the suns strong rays.

3. Beware of Bugs.   Parents or caregivers should spray kids' exposed
skin and clothing. Reapply often. They also make insect repellent pads
that clip on clothes, or braclets. Also be sure to check for ticks. They
thrive in warm, moist, woodsy areas. A great tips to help prevent
ticks from attaching themselves to your kids is to check them and shower
within two hours of coming indoors.

4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! To prevent dehydration, have your kids
drink at least 12 ounces of fluid 30 minutes before an activity begins.
Make sure that they also take several hydration breaks, about every half
an hour. Watch for warning signs such as thirst, headache, muscle
cramping, fatigue, dry mouth, irritability, weakness or dizziness.

Create a Home Spa this Mother’s Day.

Mommy-Magic — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:03:52 +0000

Celebrate Mother’s Day by taking a little time for yourself . Get your family out of the house and enjoy these do it yourself spa treatments in the comfort of your own home.

Indulge in a spa like bath. Set the mood with candles, a little light music and a fresh towel. Add your favorite bath salts or bubble bath to a warm bath and soak away your troubles for 20 minutes. Extra: double duty your bath salts by adding them to your favorite liquid soap. You’ve got an instant exfoliating body scrub!

Create your own Face mask out of natural ingredients
RECIPE: Raw Honey Face Mask:

Follow these simple steps for a cleansing mask that helps keep blemishes at bay.

4 1/2 teaspoons 365 Everyday Value® Organic Raw Wildflower Honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Lemon juice or lavender 100% essential oil (optional)

In a clean ceramic or glass bowl, combine honey with vinegar, juice or oil (if using). Using clean fingers, massage honey or the mixture over your whole face (avoiding the eyes). Allow to dry and become slightly tacky, and then pat and tap to get blood flowing to the surface of the skin. Remove with warm water. Per Whole Food Market

Use essential oils. Essential oils are fantastic to trick your sense of smell into believing your at a luxurious spa and not in your family bath room! Add a few drops of your favorite sent to body lotion or add a few drops of peppermint oil to your daily conditioner for an invigorating scalp treatment.

Spring for $20 or less

Mommy-Magic — Thu, 02 May 2013 02:06:00 +0000

Pick up one or several of these fun Spring friendly items to put the "spring" back in your step!

Spruce up your home. Pick up a new doormat or brightly colored storage basket to give your house a quick pick me up! Get ride of the winter grime!

Get Digging! Pick up some new gardening tools (kid size ones too!) and get the whole family involved in sprucing up your yard. Kiddos love any excuse to get dirty and play in the mud and you'll love the new flowers or veggie garden you've planted!

Enjoy the outdoors. Spring is one of my favorite times to be outside. Give your family alittle push out the door by picking up a new picnic blanket to use for a last minute outdoor lunch. Another of my spring favorites is to serve homemade lemonade in Mason Jars. So fresh so Springy!

A Special Mother's Day Shopping Event with Stella & Dot

Mommy-Magic — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:58:06 +0000

Hello, Mommy Magic Moms! It's Katie - an Independent Stylist with Stella & Dot, and I'm here to create a special, online Mother's Day shopping opportunity (WITH AWESOME REWARDS & GIVE AWAYS) for you several times a day, every day until Mother's Day (May 12th).

Throughout the next two weeks, we'll be offering special giveaways throughout each day, and entries to win flash specials AND the GRAND PRIZE - which will be ALL THE HOSTESS REWARDS from the entire Mommy Magic online Trunk Show.

So, what will the Grand Prize be? That's up to you, the more shopping there is the greater the rewards are (read more about Stella & Dot hostess benefits here.) But, my committment to you awesome Mommy Magic Moms is that the grand prize will be at least $25 in FREE STELLA & DOT jewelry and accessories PLUS at least ONE item at 50% off.

Day 1 - Sunday, April 28th
PRIZE = FREE SHIPPING for THREE MOMMY MAGIC MOMS

How to enter?

(1) LIKE Mommy Magic on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mommy-magic/).

(2) Already a Mommy Magic fan on Facebook? Invite your friends to LIKE Mommy Magic on Facebook. All you have to do is comment on the contest post and TAG YOUR FRIENDS! For every tagged friend who likes Mommy Magic, you'll be entered to win & they will be entered to win. Unlimited entries but only one prize per person!

Stay tuned for more prizes and chances to enter for the grand prize!

Mommy Magic & I Almost Cook are on Nickelodeon!

Mommy-Magic — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:04:03 +0000

We're so excited that Mommy Magic's newest blog and video series 'I Almost Cook' was hand selected to be featured on Nickelodeon's Parent's Connect Website. Check out all the DELICIOUS recipes and let us know what you family thinks!!!

Remember to Like I Almost Cook on Nickelodeon's Parents Connect Site and on our Facebook page. You'll be entered to win a Whole Foods Market $100 gift card!!!

All Natural Spring Cleaning in honor of Earth Day - Clean house with your children & the environment in mind!

Because their bodies are still growing, babies and children are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants. Make the switch to products that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). They will aid you in creating a safe, healthy, and nontoxic environment, free of hazards for your kiddos.

Switch out just these four things & make a HUGE impact on your home & the environment.

General Cleaners.

Laundry Detergent.

Dishwashing Detergent.

Recycled paper or/and reusable sponges

***BONUS Cleaning Tip*** - Green Clean with 3 products you already have in your kitchen!!

1. Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean your kitchen & bathroom. It will disinfectant and deodorizer your home and is super cost effective!

2. Lemon juice is another natural substance that is a fantastic cleaning tool. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. When your done put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen!

3.Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces almost any surface; it’s also a great deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors.

I Almost Cook is on NICKELODEON'S Parent's Connect Website!!!!

Mommy-Magic — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:10:37 +0000

Check out all the DELICIOUS recipes and let us know what you family thinks by adding your comment! You'll be entered to win a Whole Foods Market $100 gift card!!!

Remember to Like I Almost Cook on Nickelodeon's Parents Connect Site and on our Facebook page.

http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-tips/mommy-magic-recipes.html?navid=parenting-articles

No More Perfect Bodies

Mommy-Magic — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:00:09 +0000

Before I had kids, fitness was a passion for me. Actually, it was a passion even after my first daughter was born. I ran around 15 miles a week and enjoyed biking and walking as well. All of these activities could be accomplished, of course, with my precious first child in tow. Emphasis on “could.” Some days it took an hour just to slather sunscreen on her, get her sippy cup, snacks and strap her securely in the baby jogger. An hour of prep time for a 20-minute run.

After my second daughter was born, I was surprised to find that my passion for exercise had decreased a bit. “What happened to my ability to push myself,” I wondered? I used to be different. I used to get excited about getting outside in the fresh air and burning off some steam, or at least excited about putting on my matching workout outfit (even if it was still from the maternity section.)

I quickly came to realize that now having two kids to prep for “exercise time” was now double the work. I felt like I was packing for a week long camping trip when I left my house. Books for my oldest to look at, her toddler juice box, and a snack. For my youngest, a binky (a.k.a. pacifier), cheerios for a snack, bottle, diaper and wipes and her favorite toy. (A little side note: the day you leave your house pushing your kiddos in a jogger WITHOUT a diaper and wipes, is the day someone will have the mother of all blowouts. Take it from my experience!) Finally...I was ready to roll. Triumphant in my dedication, confident in my commitment to having a good run, I started out. This is a cautionary tale. Here is what I learned: Right off the bat, I realized one important thing in my workout equation. That is, pushing a jogger with two kids as passengers is A LOT more work than pushing one! Yikes, my pace was slower, my hands were cramping from gripping the stroller so tightly! This was harder work than before!

Another fitness factor? Being the official “referee” for your kiddos is a cardio sport in itself. Two kids, one stroller equals fighting. It is tight quarters under that little hood. It may protect them from the sun, but it does not protect them from each other! They fight over snacks, who is breathing the other’s air, and when we should turn around. There was a time and place when running was invigorating and even empowering for me. Now it was a nightmare. I really needed to concentrate to huff and puff, and that clearly was not going to happen. I was pulling over to pick up tossed sippy cups, tripping over a beloved blanket stuck in the wheels, or break up an sibling altercation, all the while threatening my kids to sit still for another 10 minutes. I used to love doing this and now I found my self dreading it. What happened? I realized that something that was necessary and fun for me, had now become a chore.

What did I learn? Well, I learned that the state of motherhood was constantly changing. It is a process. My determination to shove a square peg into a round whole was not fun for anybody. My revelation? Instead of changing my expectation, I changed the way I went about it.

A mother of three now, I now know that it is okay to workout without my kids in tow. Carving that time out for myself and allowing myself the permission to enjoy it is vital to my sanity and to being a good mom to my children. In the meantime, I was just exhausting myself instead of recharging myself.

With summer almost here, fitness and exercise can be fun and really a great way to recharge by being outside. The days are longer and you deserve some time to reboot! As we moms all know, motherhood is a marathon, not a sprint! Therefore, taking time along the path of motherhood for a walk, a run, a workout class (without kiddos in tow) only makes us stronger, more prepared and better in the long run!

Raising a Reader

Mommy-Magic — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:00:28 +0000

Reading helps to stimulating children’s minds, increasing their vocabulary and knowledge of the world.

Follow these easy tips on how to turn your kiddo into a reader!

Read Aloud to your kiddo every day! Start when your child is a baby and continue reading with them even after they have become an independent reader. Babies love to hear the sound of your voice. Short picture books or nursery rhymes are a great addition to any bedtime routine. You and your tween can dive in to the fantasy world of Harry Potter together. It’s wonderful bonding time at any age.
Get your child (or yourself) a library card. My kiddos LOVE the public library. Weekly trips are fantastic for letting your kiddos mind go wild with the endless possibilities of new books to check-out. Most public libraries also have fun story times for preschooler or book club programs for older kids. Once they are old enough to have their own library card it will help to encourage responsibility in your kiddo.
Focus on areas of interest. Encourage your kiddos to select book in areas that interest them. From Princess to Pirates, from cooking to space exploration, from history to fantasy. Get involved and allow their love for reading to grow through exploring their current interests.
Create a reading nook. Make a (or several) special spots in your home reading friendly. Make sure there is good lighting, and a comfortable space to sit away from distractions of TV, computers or other family members. After a long day your kiddo will love to curl up with you and a good book!

I Almost Cook: St. Patrick's Day

Mommy-Magic — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:31:57 +0000

Try these FUN St. Patrick’s Day Treats for Kids!

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwhich

You will need:

Cookie Sheet
Ice Cream Scoop
Pre-baked Chocolate Chip Cookie
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Green Popcorn

You will need:

4 quarts popped corn
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
2 Tablespoon Butter
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Green food coloring (about 1/8 teaspoon)

Once mixture boils, add in food coloring and stop stirring. Boil for 5 minutes (Do not stir). Mixture should be about 250-260 degrees. Remove from heat and carefully stir in vanilla and baking soda.
Working quickly and while mixture is foamy, pour mixture over popped corn and gently stir to coat popcorn.
Place popcorn into a large roaster or rimmed baking sheet (lined with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray) and bake at 200° F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Recipe credit-www.spoonful.com

Fruit Rainbow

Red : Strawberries cut in bite size pieces
Orange: oranges or mandarin oranges
Yellow: cantaloupe, pineapple chunks, or banana slices
Green: honeydew melon bite size pieces, or green grapes
Blue/purple: blueberries, purple grapes
White Marshmallows
Chocolate Coins

Once you have shaped your rainbow using the various shades of fruit, place some mini marshmallows on one end of the rainbow for clouds and chololate coins on the other as the pot of gold! Then, ENJOY!!

I Almost Cook: March into Side Dishes

Mommy-Magic — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:01:01 +0000

Back in January, we announced that Mommy Magic is partnering Whole Foods Market o help make-over your daily food routine. In January, we focused on sprucing up your breakfast in the new year. In March, we're featuring recipes for side dishes - the oft forgotten "rest of the meal" every busy parent can use a little help with.

This past week we featured Oven Fries & Broccoli with Cheddar Cheese Sauce - give them a try and let us know how it goes! Stay tuned for more side dish recipes coming up in March!

Beating the Clock

Mommy-Magic — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Tips to helping your kiddo spring forward seamlessly!

Alter bedtime. Start tonight and put your kiddo to sleep 15 minutes later. Every few days add an additional 15 minutes. This changes is subtle enough your kiddo will still be able to fall asleep.
Get Active! For the next few days keep your kiddos moving. Bundle them up, let them run around outside or take them on a fun indoor excursion and let them let loose. Physical Activity will help ensure your kiddo will fall asleep easier at night.
Reduce other distractions. Be careful of letting your kiddo watch too much TV or playing video games before bed. Studies have shown that exposure to artificial light can be stimulating. Try and stick with a relaxing bedtime routine for preschoolers such as bathing,light playing and reading. For older kiddos encourage them to read, do a puzzle or another activity that doesn't involve TV or the computer.

Beat the Winter Blahs

Mommy-Magic — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:52:30 +0000

Spring is around the corner but it’s not here yet! Here are some fun ideas to boost your restless kiddo’s moods.

Go outside! Get outside, even for just a little bit. Bundle your kiddos up and go for a walk or a bike ride. A little outdoor physical activity combined with the natural light will do wonders for your kiddos.
Grab a camera. Play dress up with your kiddo and take turn snapping photos as if you’re on a photo shoot. Build a realistic Lego scene or create a doll wedding and snap up close pictures of it. Later on you can print out several pictures of the event for your kiddo to make up a story with.
Take a Field Trip. Indianapolis is filled with amazing places to go with kiddos. The Children’s Museum, Conner Prairie, or one of our many public libraries. If these are already in your regular rotation (or you live elsewhere) think about your kiddos interests. If you have a girly-girly take her to your local nail salon to get a mani-pedi. For your animal loving little guy take him to a specialty fish store and explore.

No More Perfect Marriages

Mommy-Magic — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:02:04 +0000

No marriage is perfect. Having kiddos can be stressful and make things feel less than perfect more often. A few simple tricks to help can make communication between you and your hubby better and feel like you both are supporting one another.

Date Night - plan ahead and get a sitter! Have fun at dinner or go to a movie. Taking a break together without kiddos is important to helping stay on track!
Pray Together - Sometimes it feels like everything is so hard - Stop and Pray! Grab your hubby's hand in the car or while make dinner and say a quick prayer together!
Laugh - when all else fails - remember that laughing together can be such a stress reliever!

I Almost Cook: Last Minute Valentine Sweet Treats

Mommy-Magic — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:57:00 +0000

I am excited to share with you my new cooking show, I Almost Cook! It's dedicated to helping moms make delicious, affordable and fast meals! Check us out on Facebook under I Almost Cook. With Valentine's Day is just a few days away here are some super easy recipes and ideas for some sweet last minute treats for your family.

Valentine Pound Cake. This treat is perfect as a special after dinner dessert on Valentine's Day that the whole family will love! Allow each family member to doctor up their slice of pound cake exactly to their hearts desire! Ingredients: One pre-made pound cake, fresh raspberries or strawberries, raspberry or strawberry preserves, chocolate chips and whip cream.
Heart Shaped Crispy Treats. Almost all kids (and grown-ups) love rice crispy treats! These are a great option for school treats to celebrate the holiday! After melting butter and marshmallow, mix in a few drops of red food coloring (if desired.) Then add in rice cereal. Mix well and then fold into heart shaped mold or cookie cutters your choice! Ingredients: 3 TBS Butter, 1 package marshmallows, 6 cups of rice cereal, red food coloring (if want red colored treats!), and a heart shaped pan or cookie cutter.
Pre-made Treats! No time to cook this Valentine's Day? No Worries!!! Just stop by Whole Foods Market or your local bakery/grocery store and pick up these delicious pre-made goodies! 2 Bite Valentine Vanilla Cup Cakes, Bulk Chocolate or Heart Shaped Cheese Cake!

For More I Almost Cook Recipes check out I Almost Cook on Facebook! www.facebook.com/IAlmostCook

If you like I Almost Cook on Facebook you'll be entered to win one of four Whole Food Market Gift Cards!!!

Homemade Valentine's card ideas for kids

Mommy-Magic — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:00:07 +0000

Get crafty with your kiddos this Valentine's Day and make homemade cards. These DIY ideas are great for your kiddos classmates, grandma or even a special someone!!!

Two of Kind. This is an ADORABLE idea for Valentine Day Cards for your kiddos class mates. Attach two piece of candy to a rectangle with tape or staples. Have your kiddo write "We're two of a kind!" or "You're two cute." with their name one the back.

Real Simple Ideas. Real Simple Had these super easy ideas for homemade Valentine's Day cards in their February issue. Start with a blank note card, glue and a felt marker. Pick your favorite and create away!!

For the Grandparents! All grandparent would love a homemade card from their beloved grandchildren. What they would love even more is a homemade Valentine with their grandchild's picture on it! Here are a few easy ideas to brighten up their Valentine's Day!