Beating the Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season is not fun in a house with children! No one likes to be sick, but illnesses spread like wildfire through schools, making it hard to avoid.
To keep your family healthy this winter, I suggest a good multiple vitamin for every member of the family. Children who balk at taking vitamins, clamor for
Children’s Rhino Chewy Vites - Multi-Vitamin 180 Gummy Bears and
Children’s Chewable Vitamins with Minerals 180 tablets; vitamins shaped like gummy bears that taste more like candy than vitamins. A good tasting chewable vitamin C should also be given to them when colds or flu are making the rounds at school. A supplement known as Airborne is especially useful when you have been exposed to a virus – it was developed by a school teacher tired of catching children’s colds. Fortifying yourself with an Echinacea/Goldenseal supplement will provide an added immune system boost as well.
To prevent the spread of bacteria through the house, get rid of the bathroom hand towels temporarily and use paper towels in the bathrooms. Antibacterial soap in a pump container is another good way to contain germs. Install simple spray holsters with antibacterial air fresheners - Oust makes a great one that smells less “mediciney”.
Instill in the children such often forgotten basics as covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and washing their hands before eating or after using the restroom. This may sound very basic, but smaller children WILL forget if not reminded!
A Busy Mom’s Guide to Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a very special holiday that children especially enjoy, as they love to exchange colorful valentines with their friends.
Valentine’s Day presents a wonderful opportunity for quality time with our families, and doesn’t have to be stressful!
The first suggestion for minimizing stress is NOT to try to get restaurant reservations on the actual date of Valentine’s Day. Restaurants are usually very crowded, and service can be poor. Why not plan a special meal with your mate on the weekend before, or after?
Another idea is to plan your own holiday meal, and let the children help. Red foods such as lasagna or pastas fit well with the theme of Valentine’s Day; after the children go to bed, you and your mate can share some chocolate truffles and champagne by candlelight without the crowds and hassles.
Cherry tomatoes are also festive; a delicious and kid-friendly stir-fry can be made in minutes using steak or chicken strips, frozen pea pods, and cherry tomatoes. An authentic Oriental stir-fry sauce can be made using ¼ cup of soy sauce, ½ teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon sherry or rice wine, 2 cut green onions, and 1 tablespoon corn starch. Mix well, and add during the last minutes of cooking.
The school valentine exchange can be made more meaningful if you help your children design their own valentines instead of purchasing the costly and often small ones available at your local grocery store. Hearts cut out of red construction paper and trimmed with edging from doilies are very easy to do. A white heart can be placed in the center with a personal message for each classmate written in colorful pen or pencil. Small candies can be taped to each valentine for an added touch. Computer generated valentines also allow for creativity – programs such as Microsoft Publisher have many templates to choose from that allow your children to choose and paste colorful clip art on them.
Another great way to bond with your children over this holiday is to make a heart cake. Most craft stores will carry a heart shaped cake pan at this time of year. Simply make a cake mix, bake it in the pan, then allow the children to decorate it using a purchased icing mix and small cinnamon candies. If you aren’t overly fond of cinnamon, any combination of candies will make your cake look festive and delicious.
I hope your Valnetine’s Day is less stressful this year: make your plans now, and enjoy your special day.
The Busy Mom’s Guide to Looking Beautiful With Little Effort
Neglecting our appearance is a sure-fire way to cause our attitudes to slip, making us less than pleasant to get along with as we fly through our overcrowded days. Taking a few minutes to take care of ourselves is truly worth it, as we will feel better and be more productive as a result.
A quick way to improve your complexion and night’s rest is to drink a tall glass of water before bed. This helps to hydrate your skin, and is healthy for you too. A good night cream is also a great treat for your skin; I recommend Lancome Renergie Creme Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Treatment-Day & Night as having received great reviews. It smells great too! Try this for a few weeks, and I am sure you will see a difference. If this is too expensive, try Oil of Olay Night of Olay Firming Cream – it retails for $7.
During the day, it is also a great idea to drink 6-8 glasses of water to keep your skin hydrated. I suggest a good moisturizer with a sunscreen – apply it in the morning and keep a small sample in your purse to combat dry skin during the day. Epinions.com gave great reviews to Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal – it is inexpensive and can be found in your local drug or grocery store.
If you have no time for applying makeup, you can use a dab of petroleum jelly to coax stray eyebrows into line and darken your eyelashes plus a dab of foundation under your eyes to lighten dark circles. Add a quick lipstick for facial color, and use your fingers to place a few dots of it on your cheeks for color. This routine can be completed in less than two minutes, and will make you look and feel a great deal better.
Although most busy moms only dream of having time for a manicure, soft hands can be had by keeping a good hand cream in your purse or glove compartment. When you are stuck in traffic, give your hands a treat by applying some. You can also hit rough elbows at the same time.
If dry skin is not your problem and you face adult onset acne instead, I suggest keeping Witch Hazel and a few cotton balls in your purse or glove compartment to allow you to quickly treat problem areas.
