Tip of the Week: Resolutions for a Brand New You!

All of the responsibilities we face as mothers can leave us exhausted and with very little time for ourselves. Sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and physical changes within our bodies can leave us feeling very drained.

Put some pep back in your step with exercise! A workout will make you feel energized, which can in turn improve your efficiency, your attitude, and give you the extra time you need to focus on your own needs and health.

WORKING OUT: Exercise does not need to be a daunting task. It can be as simple as loading your baby in the stroller and taking a walk around the neighborhood. If you are a runner, you can purchase an inexpensive jogging stroller and join us for the Bubbles Academy Stroller Fitness classes. If you aren’t quite ready to venture out of your home, try a mommy and baby exercise DVD, which you can do while your baby is sleeping.

BUDDY SYSTEM: Exercise is always more fun with a friend. Make sure that you follow through with your plans to work out together, and make it part of your schedule and routine. That means that you can’t cancel and decide to go out to lunch with your friend instead. Your exercise routine needs to be made a priority. Look at it as “me time”.

SKIP SHORTCUTS: Another easy way to add physical movement into your life painlessly, is to take extra steps each day. Always take the stairs, and park the car a little further away from the door. All of these extra steps will add up.

FUN WITH BABY: Babies love movement, so your child will never complain if you want to add a little weight into your routine and hold them while you are doing squats or arm work. After all, if you make your exercise fun, you will be much more likely to stick with it!

By making use of one or more of these suggestions you will be on your way to a happier, healthier you! Good luck in 2011!

Tip of the Week: Natural Crib-Warmer Keeps Things Cozy!

When your baby falls asleep in your arms, you do everything you can to make that transfer to crib or bassinet as seamless and comfortable as possible. If you've found that your baby's chilly bed linens are startling them awake, I encourage you to whip up an easy, natural and homemade heating pad to get you through the winter.

Warm the pad 3-5 minutes in the microwave and tuck into their crib anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour before you plan to put your child down. This will warm the linens in a natural and cord-free way, preventing your child from waking due to the sudden temperature change of being placed in their crib.

This pad also doubles as an excellent natural remedy for you, too! I use mine for backaches, headaches and even a toe warmer when I catch a chill. You can even put it in the freezer to double as an ice pack. Just make sure you don't get it wet, the filling will absorb the moisture and ruin your handy helper.

There is an extremely easy no-sew way to make these, or for the adept seamstress, you can amp the project up a few notches. To make your natural heating pad, you'll need the following:

• Fabric Squares or a New Sock
• Filling (rice, dried cherry pits, flaxseed or buckwheat hulls)
  

No-Sew Directions: Take a new, clean sock (a men's tube sock works best because it's longer) and fill 2/3 full of the filler of your choice. Tie a knot at the top and pull it as tight and secure as possible. You can also take some cord and tie it shut, then tie the sock in a knot over the corded seal for an extra-safe seal.

Sewing Directions: Pick 2 pretty pieces of cotton, roughly the size that you'd like the pad to be, and place them wrong-sides together. Sew 3 edges (do each seam twice for security) and turn it right-side out, like a pillowcase. Then sew from the closed end to the open end about every 2 inches. That will give you a casing with several long, thin channels. Fill each channel 2/3 full with the filler of your choice. Finally, fold the raw end twice and sew it closed.

Tip of the Week: Photo Card Deals

There are a lot of options when it comes to printing your holiday cards. You've got to factor in quality, cost and convenience. It's one of the few opportunities you have each year to show everyone in your address book how your family has grown and changed!

After weighing the pros and cons, I've found that Costco is a real winner! They print high-quality cards for a steal, only $14.99 for 50 personalized, 6x7 1/2 photo cards with envelopes. Your order also includes 4 free calendar cards. Need more? No worries! Each additional 25 cards are only $5.49. Not only are they inexpensive, but they can be ready in a just a couple days and you can pick them up at your local warehouse -- ideal for the last-minute shopper.

If it's too late to order your holiday cards from Costco this year, keep this option in mind for other holidays, birth announcements or event invitations! They also offer photo gifts (like canvas prints, throw blankets, calendars, etc.) at very reasonable prices. Visit the Costco Photo Center for more information.

Tip of the Week: Holiday Traditions

As new parents we can't wait to celebrate the holidays with our child! However, it is important to realize... they won't remember much of it. Spend your holidays focused on creating new traditions, and not necessarily making memories. Here are a couple of tips to help you get started:

1) A holiday card featuring your baby is a great way to introduce your new child to friends and family. As your child gets older, these photo cards also keep them up-to-date on the growth and milestones your little one reaches each year.

2) The holidays are the perfect excuse to go wild and dress your child up in the most over-the-top outfit you've had your eye on. Get them fluffed, styled and accessorized for the ultimate holiday photo shoot!

3) A personalized stocking with your child's name on it is something that you will hang and treasure for years to come. It's worth the investment!

4) Toys are great, but your baby will probably have more fun playing with the paper than with the toys themselves. In this case less is more. Take the opportunity to put money into a savings account for college. If you want to give them a toy or two, wrap up something of yours that your parents saved that you can pass down to your child. This will be something that will be truly treasured, remembered and appreciated.

Tip of the Week: Picture-Perfect Holiday Cards

While I am not a professional photographer, I've seen my share of family portrait sittings. I've learned over the years a couple tricks that will increase your odds of a beautiful holiday greeting card, starring your children!

1) Sometimes the best shots are candid shots. Remember that your child doesn't need to be smiling... a sleeping or laughing baby can make for a wonderfully authentic photo!

2) If you are using a professional photographer, be sure to schedule your sitting for when your child is well rested and fed.

3) Dress your child in simple, bright-colored clothing. Avoid busy patterns!

4) Bring along your child's favorite toy or puppet to help coax a smile.

5) Be sure your child is comfortable in the environment and take your time! Relax! If you are nervous, your child will certainly pick up the vibe and act on it. Remember that you are making beautiful holiday memories and enjoy yourself!

Tip of the Week: Perfect New-Sibling Gift

Are you about to have a new baby and looking for ways to help your first child through the transition?

Check out customboardbooks.com. They offer beautiful board books - personalized with your own photos! To help foster bonding between siblings, create a book full of first-child photos just for your big kid. They will be excited to receive this special gift just for them, amidst all of the gifts for the new baby.

As your new baby grows, your first child will delight in sharing all of their pictures with their new little brother or sister. This great tool for sibling bonding is also a beautiful keepsake that the whole family will love!

Tip of the Week: Beating the "Winter Blahs" with Art

As the long winter months drag on, we can all come down with a touch of the “winter blahs”. Those who suffer most greatly from this annual ailment: our children.

They get bored, so we have to get creative. My mother, aka Grandma, came up with a wonderful way last year for my daughter to beat the winter blues.

She visited several craft websites and compiled months' worth of kid-centric art projects! Two great sites I recommend are FreeKidsCrafts.com, and my personal favorite, Martha Stewart’s Kids' page.

She then printed the directions and a picture of the finished product, bought the supplies needed and placed it all together in a Ziploc bag. All of the "art kits" then went into a big bin that we pull out any time my daughter complains, “she is bored”.