Our first holiday giveaway is from Leah Sakellarides, a super-talented jewelry designer (and personal bestie) based in California. She’s kindly offering her beautiful PULSAR Earrings ($130 value). All of Leah’s pieces are handmade by her using recycled metals with rough oxidized finishes. The end effect – stunning.

Plus, a bonus for all readers: Enter the code:  HOTMAMA15
and receive 15% off total purchase over $100
Good through Monday, November 29th, 2010

For a chance to win, please send an email through the H&H Contact page. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Congrats to our winner, Grace Garland!

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

We are all bound to have tons of leftover turkey after tomorrow. Turkey, being low in calories and high in protein is probably the healthiest part of Thanksgiving. It sure isn’t the Pecan Caramel Silk Supreme Pie I just picked up at Village Inn.  Anyways, here are 5 nutritious ways to use those leftovers…

Turkey Brocoli Bake

320 Calories per serving

Incorporating unsalted butter and low-sodium broth in this recipe makes it perfect for those watching their salt intake. If you’re looking to cut down on fat, use only the white meat.

Thai Curry Turkey

382 Calories per serving

Wake up from your turkey-induced trance by tossing leftover sweet potatoes and turkey into this spicy dish. By using light coconut milk and no oil, you’ll slash as much as 30 grams of fat and cut your sodium by a quarter.

Open-Faced Turkey

317 Calories per sandwich

This relatively light sandwich won’t weigh you down. The Dijon mustard and cranberry chutney give it an extra zing you’ll love, and the cheese provides a calcium boost.

Mojo Turkey Tacos

432 Calories for 2 Tacos

Give your traditional leftovers a Mexican twist. Black beans ratchet up the protein, and fresh avocado offers nearly 20 essential nutrients, including super-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Turkey-Boursin Wrap

276 Calories per wrap

Assorted veggies freshen up leftover turkey in this healthy wrap. Cabbage and plum tomatoes are antioxidant-rich, and carrots provide a full day’s worth of vitamin A. Spread one tablespoon of Boursin cheese on spinach or tomato-basil tortillas for added color and flavor.

*Happy Thanksgiving*

P.S.  Don’t forget to check in on Friday for the 1st of our 5 holiday giveaways!

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

By Alexis Novak

Dear Beloved and Much-Appreciated Grandparents,

We know you are already scouring the pre-Christmas sales looking for the perfect gifts for your angelic grandchildren to excite them on the big day. Here are a few small reminders of gifts to kindly pass by.

1. Noise-Makers- If the toy goes “WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP chang ching chang ching LOOOOOP LOOOOOOOOOOP LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPP”  like a car alarm in the middle of the night or a Vegas slot machine, keep walking. Even if it is Princess-themed or Sponge Bob or my child’s other favorite. We already own enough of these migraine makers to last the next decade.
2. Messy Ass Anything- Toys with paint, water squirters, science kits that house ants and worms, slimy and sticky parts that attract dirt and general dusty funkiness. Must I explain further?
3. Over-sized items- As you have witnessed and joked about there was a hostile toy takeover in my rapidly shrinking house so if the toy measures larger than 12 inches by 12 inches, keep it at your house for when we visit. Your house is 200 percent larger than mine and is inhabited by ½ the people mine is. I suck at math but I think this means some of your closets still have usable space.
4. Parts Galore- We loved the puzzle with 1000 pieces from last year, especially since so many went missing which we discovered the one time we tried to complete it. If there are more than 10 small parts gift it to the long-distance cousins.
5. Musical Instruments (please refer back to number 1)
6. Stuffed Anything- No one can scientifically prove to me that stuffed animals don’t reproduce when we aren’t looking. Yes, your granddaughters love on and hug them for a few weeks, then their fur gets nasty, I toss them in the spin cycle, their guts come out, and I throw them in the trash. This happens weekly. Yes, this is what happened to that sweet green dog you gave Punky for her birthday. Really, anything, ANYTHING, would be a better gift than a stuffed animal.
7. Toys that require intense assembly (and therefore have crap instructions)- This may be my number one gift giving pet peeve- a gift that requires 20 hours plus of assembly! It morphs from gift to hassle very quickly. A few times I have had to wing it with the assembly which always leaves me puzzled about what I did wrong (damn that lop-sided Exersaucer that taunts me!). I’ve also given up and gotten rid of things that I never found the time to devote to putting together. I have no time. If you don’t want to assemble it, neither do I.

All that aside, you really are great gift givers. Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! And remember that I am the easy one to shop for- just buy me jewelry.

Written by Alexis Novak • Leave a comment

Colleen Armstrong

‘Marge’ – Honda Odyssey 06

Dream Car: Mercedes Convertible

“Gym membership – $29.99. Thursday girls night out - $45.00. Getting home just in time to get the kids to school, with apple for teacher – PRICELESS” - Colleen

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment