Mom Needs A Break! Tips, Ideas, Help….For Those Hard Working Moms!

Valentines Day is a day to express your love, and to celebrate the spirit of love. You will love this absolutely wonderful Recipe Book for Valentine’s Day recipes; we have one of the best selections for valentine recipes with 148 all time favourite valentine recipes…

It’s the time of year to celebrate romance again. Actually, it’s always the time of year to celebrate romance, but this is the time that society, at the prodding of greeting card and chocolate manufacturers, sets aside especially for such amorous festivities.I myself like valentine’s day because it can be such a cozy time of year, with the fireplace crackling and the house full of good smells from baking and cooking.
Here are some tried and true recipes that will add some romance to your Valentine’s Day. After all, nothing says LOVING like something from the oven!
Your sweetheart won’t be able to resist these Valentine’s Day Recipes…


•           Passion Fruit Mimosa
•           Pink Peppermint Valentine Mold
•           Queen Of Hearts Tarts
•           Red Rose Potato Salad
•           Valentine Pancakes
•           Valentine Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies
•           Valentine Love Fudge
•           Be My Valentine Pie
•           Banana Tart With A Passion Fruit Sauce
•           Chocolate Covered Cherry Pie
•           Circle of Hearts Cherry Bread
•           Cupid`s Pie
•           Layered Peanut Butter Lovers Delight
•           Heart-Shaped Sandwiches
•           Romantic Cheesecake
•           Simple Pasta for Two
•           Strawberries Romanoff
•           Valentine Brownies With Raspberry Coulis
•           Triple Valentine Brownie
•           Strawberries In Red Wine
•           Shrimp Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
•           Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Cheesecake
•           Hot Fudge Pudding
•           Love Potion
•           Heart Shaped Valentine Pizza
•           Chocolate Passion Dessert
•           Apple-Raspberry Valentine Crisp
•           Valentine`s Day Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two
And many more great recipes…
Give your sweetheart and tasty treat……….

Here’s to love!

Keep smiling!

Kerry

We all know that exercise that can help you lose weight and get more energy, but what about helping you sleep?  Studies have shown that people, particularly women, who regularly exercise during the day, sleep longer and better at night.  So, before you reach for the sleeping pills why not try going for a run, taking a trip to the gym, or signing up for a yoga class. 
 

Many people have trouble sleeping because they are overly stressed.  The worst part about this is that sleep deprivation can increase your cortisol levels, which makes you feel more stressed.  It can also make you irritable and less able to deal with stressful situations.  This is why most insomniacs have increased levels of stress hormones.  While exercise makes these hormones rise initially, after several hours the levels fall.  These hormones levels actually become lower than before you exercised and lower than they would be if you hadn’t worked out.  Regular exercise can end the vicious sleep-stress cycle once and for all.
 

Most insomniacs simply can’t clear their mind of their problems when they lay down to bed.  The stresses of the day run repeatedly through their minds instead of relaxing.  Exercise can be a time to escape the stressors around you and figure out solutions to your problems.  If you figured out what to do about your latest work crisis during your morning run, you don’t have to stress over it at bedtime.  This leaves your brain free to sleep. 
 

Exercising also makes you need sleep more.  The more you work your muscles, the more they need to regenerate through sleep.  While you may think this just going to make you more tired when you can’t sleep, it will probably actually help you have a deeper, more restful sleep.  Even if you can’t sleep more, you’ll sleep better and be more rested and energized in the morning.
 

An important part of using exercise to cure insomnia is timing.  As I already mentioned, exercise produces chemicals in your brain that make you feel more awake and energized.  This is why it’s not a good idea to exercise before bedtime, but how close is too close?  It is generally recommended that you exercise more than four hours before you sleep; however, you may find you need a longer rest period.  If you find you’re not sleepy, start pushing your exercise earlier gradually till you find a good time.  Obviously, the best time to exercise is in the morning, and this will make you feel more energized all day long.
   

If you absolutely can’t exercise during the day, there are things you can do at night instead (or in addition) to help you get to sleep.  Studies have shown that exercises as simple as stretching can help improve insomnia symptoms.  You can try doing stretches or yoga closer to bedtime to help you relax.  You can find books or join a class to learn specific positions and more to promote relaxation and sleep.
  

While exercise helps you sleep more, it has other wonderful benefits.  Exercise helps you lose weight, feel great, and have more energy during the day (and so will sleep).  Before you try supplements, pills, or other crazy sleep solutions, try working out first.  It will cure your insomnia along with some great positive side effects.

Practicing focused breathing exercises can help you relax and relieve the tension you’ve built up during the day.  Our everyday lives tend to weigh on use, causing us to be in a constant state of arousal, even if we have nothing to be excited about.  This can cause emotional problems including irritability, anger, and depression along with physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches.  Relaxation breathing can relieve these symptoms.  These methods can also be used to calm yourself before you go to sleep.  This way you get more of a better quality sleep that leaves you feeling rested and rejuvenated. 
 The first step is to find a good position to be in for your breathing exercise.  Many techniques will suggest different positions including: the prone position (on your stomach), lying on your back, sitting cross legged, and sitting on your feet with your knees facing forward, or standing.  No matter what the method suggests, you need to be in a position that makes you comfortable.  If you’re not comfortable, you’re not going to relax no matter how you breathe.  So find something that works for you.  You may also try periodically changing positions throughout your breathing exercises; in fact, some techniques recommend it. 
 

The next step is to use proper breathing technique.  Naturally, we tend to take short shallow breaths.  Breathing exercises involve taking longer, deeper, fuller breaths.  This type of breathing changes the percentage of carbon dioxide in our systems, putting us in a more relaxed state.  To accomplish this type of breathing, you should be sure to breathe by pulling your stomach in and out (toward and away from your spine).  You should also make sure your shoulders stay relaxed; if the shoulders are moving up and down, your breathing is too shallow.  An appropriate deep breath should bring out the stomach, chest, and collar bone. 
 The appropriate deep breath is very slow.  It’s best to allow about 5 to 6 seconds for each inhale and the same for each exhale; however, it’s more important for you to focus on your technique rather than your pace.  Breathe in deeply through your nose, and exhale though your mouth.   A common yoga technique is to tighten your throat when you exhale so it sounds as if you’re whispering. 
 

Do your best to focus your attention on the breathing.  The point of breathing exercises is to clear your mind of stress, not give you a better opportunity to focus on it.  You’ll probably find your thoughts wandering; just try to bring your mind back to the breathing when you do.  As you have more and more experience, you’ll begin to find it easier to focus on your breathing and relaxation rather than the hassles of everyday life. 
  You may also find it helpful to practice visualization exercises while you’re breathing deeply.  Picture each muscle in your body and focus on it feeling relaxed.  Once that part of your body is relaxed, you can move on to another part.  You may also choose to focus on the stress physically pouring out of your body through your fingers and toes.
 Whatever method you use, deep breathing is a great way to get to sleep or simply unwind at the end of a long day. 

Having a manicure can be very uplifting, especially if you haven’t had the time to pamper yourself.  While nail salons seem to be cropping up everywhere, there have been reports of infections due to insufficient sanitizing of the utensils. Also, once you’ve been to a nail salon, chances are you may have to return often. The reason for this is quite simple; nail salons tend to remove too much nail surface, leaving your nails vulnerable to breakage. Thus, a return trip is almost always required.  It is much easier to tend to your nails at home. Here are home manicure tips for moms that will ensure your nails will remain strong, and ultimately avoid the unnecessary expense.
 1. If you have a desk lamp, set it on your kitchen or dining room table.
2. Prepare a bowl with dish washing liquid and warm water.
3. Have all of your manicure utensils, cotton balls, nail polish remover and polish on the table as well.
4. Place a dish towel on the surface of the table.
5. Remove the polish from both hands.
6. File your nails, if necessary.
7. Using a cue tip dipped in the water, clean under the fingernails.  
8. Place one hand in the bowl first, then after a few minutes take the orange stick and push back your cuticles.
9.  Follow the same procedure with the other hand.
10.  Use your cuticle utensil to remove dead skin.
11.  Place your each hand back into the bowl; then wipe dry.
12.  Massage your hands with moisturizer before you begin polishing.
13.  Apply nail hardener to the left hand first; then the right.
14.  Apply the polish to the left hand next; then the right.
15.  Apply a top coat of nail hardener to the left hand; then the right.
16.  Wait until polish is completely dry; about 30 minutes.
 

Note: There are cuticle removers available in liquid form. However, they tend to leave your cuticles very dry after a few days.
 Manicures do not have to be expensive, nor do they have to cause infection. If you follow these tips, you will be able to give yourself home manicures whenever needed, and fully enjoy the process at the same time.
 

Home Pedicure Tips for Moms
 Sometimes, it’s the simple pleasures in life that make us happy.  Pampering, even for just an hour, can make all the difference. If you’ve never had a pedicure, or it’s been ages since the last one; you’ll agree it is the most soothing and relaxing hour you’ll probably ever spend in a salon.  However, you can also derive the same pleasure at home. Wait until the kids have gone to bed; and proceed to your bathroom. Then, follow these home pedicure tips for moms.
 

1. Light an aromatherapy candle, and place it on the countertop in your bathroom.
2. Fill your tub with warm water. Add either Epsom salt or your favorite bath salt. 
3. Using cotton balls, remove old polish from your toenails with nail polish remover.
4. Soak your feet for ten to fifteen minutes.
5. Using a pumice stone to rub the heels and balls of your feet to remove dead skin. If you have a soft brush, you can use that as well.
6. Dry your feet thoroughly.
7. Cut your toenails.
8. Using your favorite moisturizer, massage your cuticles and both feet.
9. Gently push back your cuticles with an orange stick, and remove the excess cuticles.
10. Massage your legs with the moisturizer as well.
11. One foot at a time, apply clear nail hardener.
12. Apply your favorite color nail polish.
13. Apply a second coat of nail hardener. 
14. Add cotton balls in between toes until nails are dry.
15. Use flip-flops if you need to walk around, or simply relax in your scented bathroom until nails are dry.
 Wasn’t that a wonderful experience? Do you feel relaxed? Home pedicures can be just as soothing as going to a spa or salon; the only difference is it doesn’t cost anything except the price of a small bottle of nail polish. In addition, having an hour of alone time is completely worth the experience.