Name: Shannon Blaeske
Kids: 3 year old twins, Gavin & Breiden, and a one year old princess Fiona
Occupation: mom, former hair-stylist turned sham, blogger
Hometown: Detroit, MI to San Diego, CA to Naples, FL
H&H Interview with Shannon:
1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?
Milk, fruit and cheese
2. What are you reading (honestly)?
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, except, honestly, I haven’t picked it up in almost two weeks.
3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?
I am slightly blog-world obsessed. After learning of my daughter’s Down Syndrome diagnosis, I found hope and refuge in the community of special needs mom bloggers and have formed friendships and support through keeping up with them. When I am not reading or writing my own, I look forward to girls night out, a good glass of wine and just a chance to put my feet up.
4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?
I didn’t use a purse for the longest time. Until I misplaced my wallet for the hundredth time. And now that I do use one, all that is in it is my wallet, receipts and gum. And occasionally and extra diaper.
5. What is your favorite reality TV show?
I could live without ever seeing another one again.
6. What is your cocktail of choice?
Beer or wine mostly. Depends on the meal and the night… or day.
7. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?
The Distraction is always a funny thing in our house. Breiden has mastered the “O Gavin, look at this cool toy” move to take the toy Gavin is currently playing with. Hey, as long as there is no screaming and fighting over toys, I’m cool with this little bit of manipulation.
8. What is your favorite quotation?
It’s a verse. Jeremiah 29:11 – ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
It’s what I hold on to whenever something doesn’t go the way I planned or dreamed. It’s what allows me to go with the flow, find the positive in the terrible, and be thankful for every blessing given to me. And it is the source of my daughter’s middle name, Hope.
9. What songs are top on your iPod playlist right now?
iPod just passed away after a good four year run. If she were still going, it would probably be Adele, Jack Johnson and James Taylor.
10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?
I’d like to say Kelly Rippa, because she seems super involved in her kids lives… but what do we really know about celebrities? It’s too hard to tell the truth from the fabricated from the exaggerated. So I kinda of try to avoid it all.
11. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
My life is pretty much an open book. Not much to hide when you write your daily doings and what is on your heart for the world to see. Top three weird things about me, I am very much afraid of balloons, I jump into bed because Sixth Sense scarred me for life when the hand grabs his leg from under the bed, and I am not enjoying life unless I have a million things on my plate.
12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?
Mostly a naturally good metabolism that comes from 25 years of being active. That might have something to do with the fact I never stop moving, I play with my kids more like a babysitter then a mom, and with twins and a special needs baby, it takes a lot to stress me out. I’ve come to realize don’t sweat the small stuff. Perfection is not worth it. And, most importantly, being content is more important then being happy. Post-twins and pre- baby number 3 I ran a lot. I love to run. And I swear by Pilates. But I have yet to find the time to do either consistently since having Fiona, so I am just thanking God for that natural metabolism and dreading the day I can’t lean on it anymore :)
* While Shannon doesn’t actually play hockey she does love wearing heels and wielding the stick. *
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Dear Readers,
The summer has officially beaten me. I need a week to re-group, get my little ones ready for school, my house organized and my mind refocused. I promise to be back next week with a brand new Hot Mama and lots of interesting posts. A clue? Today was my first visit to a psychic and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with you. I have also taken on several home improvement projects and am dabbling in Chinese herbs. Sort of all over the map, right? But the main reason for the brief respite is that all of my babysitters went back to college this past weekend. I am on full-time mama duty and I want to give the little monsters my undivided attention. I think I am going to have to hit up the wine store…
*See you next Monday and thanks for understanding*
Written by Lea Barlow •
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While we all love our comfort foods most are very high in carbohydrates. That’s what makes them so good! Here are a few ways to enjoy your favorite foods without sabotaging your dieting efforts.
PIZZA
Substitute: Portobello mushrooms for pizza crust
Cut the gills out of the inside of the mushroom then place the mushroom on an oiled cookie sheet and bake for 5 to 10 minutes so it dries out slightly. Add tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni or other toppings and broil until the cheese begins to melt.
Carbs Eliminated: About 20 g per slice
PANCAKES
Substitute: Oatmeal and cottage cheese for pancake mix
Pancakes are the ultimate morning comfort food. Unfortunately, they are packed full of carbohydrates. To cut the carbs and add protein try this can’t-fail recipe for protein pancakes.
Carbs Eliminated: 45 g per pancake
PASTA SALAD
Substitute: Mixed vegetables or black beans for half the pasta
Try black beans, diced tomatoes, and chunks of ham, tuna, chicken, or hard-boiled eggs. These kinds of salads are a blank slate, so you can top them with a homemade blue cheese vinaigrette, or even lime juice and slices of avocado.
Carbs Eliminated: 10 g per cup
SANDWICHES
Substitute: Napa or Chinese cabbage for bread
Slap your turkey and Swiss onto a leaf of cabbage and roll it up. You can make a great-tasting BLTs using cabbage instead of bread. Dip the roll in low-fat mayonnaise or mustard.
Carbs Eliminated: 29 g per sandwich
SPAGHETTI
Substitute: Spaghetti squash for spaghetti
A cooked spaghetti squash is like Mother Nature’s automatic spaghetti maker—the flesh becomes noodlelike strands. All you have to do is cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. Then place each half—cut side down—on a plate with a quarter cup of water. Let it cool, then scrape out the “spaghetti” strands and top with pasta sauce and cheese. Here are a few of my favorite spaghetti squash recipes.
Carbs Eliminated: 30 g per cup
Written by Lea Barlow •
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The days are long. The weather is hot. The kids are screaming of boredom. What’s a mom to do? Instead of uncorking that wine try one of these more interesting summer cocktails. The Salty Chihuahua is my personal favorite.
Elderflower Sparkler
Ingredients
8 tablespoons elderflower concentrate, or syrup (see Shopping Tip)
2 cups brut or extra-dry Champagne
2 cups seltzer
Edible flowers, or mint sprigs for garnish
Preparation
Place 1 tablespoon elderflower concentrate (or syrup) in each of 8 Champagne glasses; add 1/4 cup Champagne to each glass, then top off with 1/4 cup seltzer. Garnish with flowers (or mint), if desired. Serve immediately.
*Elderflower concentrate or syrup, made from the blossom of the elder tree, has a delicate, lightly floral aroma and mild honey flavor. Popular as a drink ingredient throughout northern Europe, it’s thought to help fight fevers and colds. Look for it in specialty shops that feature northern European foods (such as Ikea). Apricot nectar can be used as a substitute.
54 calories per cocktail. Makes 8 servings
Salty Chihuahua
Ingredients
Coarse salt, (optional)
4 ounces tequila, divided
2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau, divided
3 cups grapefruit juice, divided
4 grapefruit slices, for garnish
Preparation
Wet the rims of 4 glasses and coat with coarse salt (if desired); fill the glasses with ice. Pour 1 ounce tequila and 1/2 ounce liqueur into each. Top each with 3/4 cup grapefruit juice and stir. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
188 calories per cocktail. Makes 4 servings.
Summer Fruit Punch
Ingredients
2 cups diced stone fruit, (apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines)
2 cups apricot juice
2 cups sparkling wine
1 cup seltzer
Preparation
Combine diced fruit, apricot juice, sparkling wine and seltzer. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Non-alcoholic version: Substitute sparkling cider for the wine. Boring.
173 calories per cocktail. Makes 4 servings.
Tomato-Jalapeno Bloody Mary
Ingredients
3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 jalapeños, stemmed and seeded
2-3 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 ounces (3/4 cup) vodka
4 caperberries, or large green olives for garnish
4 pickled dilly beans, for garnish
Preparation
Puree tomatoes in a blender with lemon juice, jalapeños, horseradish to taste, Worcestershire, sugar, celery salt and pepper, scraping down the sides as necessary. Stir in vodka. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Spear caperberries (or olives) and dilly beans on toothpicks to garnish the drinks.
136 calories per cocktail. makes 4 servings
*Capers are dried and pickled small flower buds from a shrub native to the Mediterranean. Caperberries are the more mature fruit produced by the shrub. They are about the size of an olive, starchier than the smaller caper and usually sold with the stem still attached. They typically used as a drink garnish, but can also be served as an appetizer—like olives. Look for them in well-stocked grocery stores.
Monkeylada
A lower-calorie version of the classic Pina Colada
Ingredients
2 very ripe bananas
1 cup diced fresh pineapple, plus 4 wedges for garnish
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup “lite” coconut milk
3 cups ice cubes
6 ounces (3/4 cup) light rum
Preparation
Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk and ice in a blender. Stir in rum. Divide among 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.
228 calories per cocktail. Makes 4 servings.
*Cheers!*
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Name: Shannon Blaeske
11. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
