by Alexis Novak

I am always with my small children. Some call this fortunate. Some call it stifling. Depending on the moment, I’m straddling the fence. I do know that my Separation Anxiety when apart from my kids, accompanied by the guilt that rarely lets up, results in my frequent babysitter check-ins via text message that border on obsessive. I am over-protective but pragmatic. I understand that it’s healthy to be apart from them, to wonder who I am and what I want and marvel at the ease of sleeping in late even if only for two mornings. It was time. To celebrate my third year of motherhood I was ready for a first- Moms Gone (Slightly) Wild Weekend 2011.

The five of us met in a prenatal yoga class when we were all pregnant with our first children. Our Eastern-European instructor pushed us to do squats on the wall with the giant exercise balls supporting our lower backs as she purred “Gourrrrrrrgeeeoussssssss” to us, eliciting a snicker from the growing pregos who felt anything but. We bitched about husband smells, swelling feet, working while pregnant and the size of our asses. Then months later, when all of our beautiful babes were finally born, we took turns hosting weekly play dates. We ran together at Baby Boot Camp. We nursed together at the new mom’s support group at the hospital. Everyone told us we were lucky to have this little group. I didn’t think of it that way. It was just what we did. You could always find someone that wanted to hang and no one got mad when you cancelled last minute because your baby suddenly began projectile vomiting.

Then two moms moved away. Three moms had another child. No one got together anymore and I realized I missed our sisterhood. Motherhood can be isolating and lonely.

Someone started a Facebook message about getting away for a few days. No kids. No husbands. I was in…mostly. I bought the tickets and we reserved rooms. A few times I almost chickened out.  My hesitation was my toddler who tells me every time I get home after leaving her, “I was so sad when you left me. I cried at the door for a long time” and then imitates how she cried by moaning and making pained faces. She then begs me not to leave her again. My husband calls this manipulation. I know, I told him, but damn, she is good at what she does.

My weekend was a chick-fest blast. A week later it is a happy blur of massages, a sunset cruise, flip flop shopping, snarfing sushi, laughing so hard my abs hurt, and drinking wine in the pool. Together again. I didn’t feel guilty about having stupid buzzed fun with my girlfriends while my children were tucked snuggly in their beds and my very capable husband was at the helm. I shouldn’t feel guilty when I leave them in caring hands to go to the gym to be a more balanced caregiver. And since my kids survived their mom-free weekend, I definitely will not feel guilty now when my daughter imitates her crying face that looks exactly like Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”. I’m teaching her how to cope in my absence, a skill she will need. Separate but together, as moms and their children forever are.

My daughters will always be close to me but every once in a while, I need to hop on a plane with my friends to search for my girl self again.

Written by Alexis Novak • 4 Comments

Today’s giveaway comes to us courtesy of the co-authors of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom.

Kara Thom and Laurie Kocanda go beyond “getting your pre-baby body back,” by offering advice on how to fold fitness into a busy mom’s life. The wit and wisdom they offer prove that being fit and being a mom are not mutually exclusive. Hot (Sweaty) Mamas addresses the realities fit moms face. In an excerpt for the book, here are a few funny ways their surveyed moms go to extremes to get in a workout…

Swam laps using a pull buoy between my ankles and dragging my daughter from it.

I once had to whip a nursing infant off a boob as the gun went off for a 5K. I started the run with her startled and half fed in a jogging stroller.

I ran up and down the stairs for thirty minutes. One child sat in a bouncy chair at the top of the stairs and the other sat with his blocks at the bottom of the stairs.

Craziest thing I’ve ever ‘done’ to get my workout in was my husband on our kitchen countertop. He never says no to me doing a long run after that!

For a chance to win a copy of this very motivating book, please send an email through the H&H Contact page and tell me how YOU fit in a workout. THREE winners will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!!!

Written by Lea Barlow • 2 Comments

The labeling on food packaging can be confusing and unfortunately misleading for most of us. I always say reading labels is important but if you don’t truly understand what you are reading what’s the point? Because of this I have decided to do a 3-part series on deciphering food labels so you can make healthier food choices for your family during your next trip to the supermarket (which if you are anything like me will that will probably be later today).  It may take a little time at first but soon you will become a pro at weeding out the junk.

First up – The taunting front of package come hithers:

Consider the word “pure.” Everyone wants to eat food that’s pure. You would not want to put contaminated food into your body. But “pure” has no regulated, agreed- upon meaning in food labeling. It tells you nothing about what’s in the package that perhaps should not be there.

“Natural” is probably the least trustworthy of all the label terms. While the term “natural” sounds appealing, it really says little about the nutritional quality of the food, or even its safety. In reality, “natural” is empty of nutritional meaning. Consumers believe that “natural” means the food is pretty much as Mother Nature grew it, but this is seldom the case. And even then, “natural” is not the same as nutritious, or good for you. The fat marbling in a New York strip steak is “natural,” but it’s not good for your arteries.

“Made from” simply means the food started with this product. For example, the claim “made from 100 percent corn oil” may be technically correct, yet it is misleading. Consumers are led to believe they are eating 100 percent corn oil. They think of fields of corn under a clear blue Iowa sky. But a lot can happen to corn oil before it gets to the grocery store. The label really means the processor started with 100 percent corn oil, but along the way may have diluted or hydrogenated it, changing it into a fat that will clog your arteries, not one that flows free and golden. Another common label lie is “made from natural…” This simply means the manufacturer started with a natural source, but by the time the food was processed it may be anything but “natural.”

“Made with real fruit“ is a good example of a misleading claim. The law does not require the label to say how much real fruit is in the product. This boast is particularly prevalent in snacks for children, which may contain a grape or two in a snack that is otherwise mostly sugar. “Made with whole grains” is another little, “white” label lie. The consumer is led to believe that this is a whole-grain cereal or waffle, yet the package label is not legally required to say how much “whole grain” is in the product. Its main ingredient could be refined flour with just a small amount of whole wheat added. So, the food won’t contain all the fiber and other nutrients associated with whole grains. “Made with vegetables” is another misleading term, which sounds healthy, but says nothing about how much nutrition is really in the box.

Understand the real meaning of “fat free” on a label. For example, suppose a food is labeled 95 percent “fat-free.” This means that five percent of the total weight of the food is fat, (which may not seem like much), yet a single gram of fat contains nine calories compared to four calories in a gram of protein or carbohydrates. Five grams of fat in 100 grams of ground or dark-meat turkey represents one-fourth of the calories in that serving.

“Enriched” is a tip-off that something bad was done to the food, requiring another process to put some of the good stuff back in. Enriched flour or enriched white bread are not as healthy as their whole wheat counterparts.

Beware of fruit “drinks,” which may contain little or no real fruit juice. Look at the ingredients to find out what’s really in there. “Drink” on the name of the product tells you that it is not 100 percent juice. It may, in fact, be mostly sugar and water, with added vitamin C. This enables the manufacturer to say the product is “high in vitamin C,” even if it’s a long way from being real orange juice.

The terms “organically grown,” “organic,” pesticide-free,” “all natural,” and “no artificial ingredients” say very little about the nutritional value or safety of the product. Trust only labels that say “certified organically grown.” These are the only words that mean the food was grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, in soil free of these substances.

Part 2 – ‘Dissecting Nutrition Facts’ will post next Tuesday.

Source: askdrsears.com

Written by Lea Barlow • 2 Comments

Name: Corey DePappa

Kids: Ansley – 2 years old

Occupation: Part-time third grade teacher, NYR Organic Consultant, Photographer

Hometown: Belleair, Florida


H&H Interview with Corey:

1.  What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?

Almond butter, Ezekiel bread and Quinoa

2.  What are you reading (honestly)?

Right now I am reading ‘The Bucolic Plague’ – Josh Kilmer-Purcell’s Farm Memoir.  I have been a fan of The Fabulous Beekman Boys and their chic way of sustainable living.  The fact that it is a memoir also ranks it high on my list.  I am LOVING this book!

3.  What is your guilty pleasure when you get a little coveted ‘me time’?

I honestly find it difficult to figure out what to do with ‘me’ time when I have it but if I do, I enjoy lounging in my backyard and taking an occasional dip in the pool.  It seems to freeze time and make me feel so care-free and relaxed!

4.  What would we be surprised to find in your purse?

I have a pretty typical ‘mom’ purse with just about everything I need to get through the day.  Sanitizer, lip gloss, wipes and my Starbucks card are essentials!

5.  What is your favorite movie and why?

I am a sucker for love stories and musicals so in my world, the perfect marriage of the two is “Moulin Rouge.”  It is one that I could watch time and time again!

6.  What is your most dreaded household chore?

I actually really enjoy cleaning my house but if I never had to do laundry again, I wouldn’t complain!  Laundry is just a never-ending and monotonous cycle.

7.  What is the funniest thing your daughter has said or done lately?

Ansley has been quite proud of her manners lately and a few nights ago she had been ‘asleep’ in her room for a good 30-45 minutes when I sneezed and to my surprise, “bless you mommy!” came from her quiet room!  When I didn’t respond, a few moments later and a little louder, “bless you mommy!” was repeated.  I finally thanked her and she politely ended with, “welcome!”

8.  What is your favorite quotation?

“Home is where the heart is.”  I know it isn’t a fabulously mind-blowing quote but to me, it says it all.  With the hustle and bustle that we all deal with on a daily basis, it is important to remember what really matters in life; family.  Whenever I am feeling out of my element or overwhelmed, I remind myself that I am incredibly blessed with an extraordinary husband and daughter.  I am also a part of an incredible family that stretches from a couple of miles down the road to the mountains of East Tennessee.  Regardless of what I face, in my mind, my life is perfect because of my family.

9.  What songs are top on your iPod playlist right now?

Anything by Jamie Cullum!  His playlist is must for the start of my day.  My music choice is all about my mood so it could be anything from Alan Jackson to Vampire Weekend to Michael Jackson to Elton John!

10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?

I have to be honest that I don’t keep up enough with E! and People magazine to say I have a favorite celebrity mom.  I couldn’t imagine trying to balance that type of stardom with being a mommy!  More power to those who can do it!

11. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I have always dreamed of living on a farm.  We have worked on making the best use of our space for gardening but if I could have the chickens, goats and a plethora of our own home-grown food, I would be in heaven!  I know many would think I will avoid getting my hands a little dirty at all cost but actually, there is nothing I love more than going outside and tending to our flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs.  There is something very rewarding and peaceful about being part of mother nature.

12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?

If I have to sum up my lifestyle I would say I try to keep healthy balances as much as possible both physically and emotionally.  We don’t limit ourselves to organic leafy greens and carrots but we do make a conscious effort to eat as healthy and organic as possible.  I recently got hooked on Hot Yoga and that has been a nice way to get some physical exercise into my routine in addition to running around with Ansley J I also find that balancing my time with being a teacher, a mommy and a wife simultaneously is challenging but crucial.  My emotional well-being directly affects my physical well-being.  Balance is key!

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment