Food/Cooking

Pasta with Butternut Squash and 

Walnut Cream Sauce

This light pasta is one of my favorites; easy to make and is perfect when butternut squash is in season which is now :)

The squash is sweet, and the nutty flavor of walnuts blends well. This recipe contains beta-carotene, folate, vitamin C, Omega-3, carbohydrates and calcium. Tip: you can also use pumpkin instead of butternut squash.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1 cup chicken stock
• ¼ cup warm cream
• ½ cup crushed walnuts
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 14 ounces spagetti or linguini pasta
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a medium-sized pot, combine the cubed squash with the sage and chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Then simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Meanwhile, Boil the pasta and cook following the instructions on the package.

Remove from heat and mash the squash with a fork or food processor.

In a small pot, heat the cream until close to boiling. Then add the crushed walnuts and butter to the cream. Heat it for 4-6 minutes.

Add the mashed butternut squash and mix well. Take off the heat.

Drain the pasta and toss well with the butternut squash/cream mixture. Serve immediately.

At Home

What a great Idea!!!

Beauty/Fashion

MICHELLE OBAMA OPTS 
FOR JASON WU

It's official: First Lady Michelle Obama opted for a ruby red Jason Wu gown for the 2013 Inaugural Ball. 

First Lady Michelle Obama made designer Jason Wu into a household name when she opted to wear one of his creations to the 2009 Inaugural Ball. Well, he better be ready for superstardom: Michelle again opted to wear one of his gowns at the 2013 Inaugural Ball.

"I can't believe it. It's crazy," Wu told CBS News Monday night. "To have done it once was already the experience of my life. To have a second time is tremendous."

The ruby red halter gown was adorned with real diamonds — a collaboration with jeweler Kimberly McDonald.

"For this occasion, it had to be real diamonds," Wu said.

Obama added Jimmy Choo shoes and a Kimberly McDonald ring to complete the look.

Not that her husband, President Barack Obama, cares that much. He told the crowd that his wife "makes me a better man and a better president."

"I'm lucky to have her," he added.

All together now: Awww!

The pair danced as Jennifer Hudson sang Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

We knew M.O. would knock it out of the park during the Ball, especially since she looked so fab during President Obama's swearing-in ceremony on Monday morning. The 49-year-old opted for a Thom Browne coat, J.Crew dress and belt.

Want to get some of it for yourself?

Well, you can't: The Browne coat was custom made, and the J.Crew belt has already sold out.

I personally loved her look head to toe, and the color Red just added the extra WOW factor for me. She looked very classy and elegant. What did you guys think? Did you love it as much as I did?

Food/Cooking

Unique Breakfast ideas for your little ones!!!

If you're wondering what to make for Breakfast to wow your children, then look no further. We bring you some Unique and cute ideas that are easy to make and healthy for your little ones. 

English-Muffin Egg Pizzas

These mini breakfast pizzas will soon become a family favorite. You can hard-cook eggs in advance and store unpeeled in the refrigerator for a week, which will shave off plenty of prep minutes in the morning.

Yogurt and Granola Parfait

Layering the ingredients in a pretty glass will make your kids think they’re eating dessert, not breakfast. They’ll get a much-needed dose of calcium and a big energy boost to start off their day.

Prosciutto and Egg Panini

There’s no need for fast-food breakfast sandwiches when you can prepare this upscale version in just 15 minutes. Kids don’t like prosciutto? Substitute salami or ham instead.

Bagel and Cream Cheese With Tomato and Cucumber

Liven up a boring breakfast by creating faces out of healthy ingredients. Better yet, give the little ones an assortment of vegetables and let them play with their food.

Easy Chocolate Croissants

Yes, you can make croissants in just 20 minutes. You’ll only spend five minutes assembling them from refrigerated crescent rolls and chocolate chips before popping them in the oven to bake.

Eggs With Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese

This scaled-down take on huevos rancheros has plenty of Mexican flair, thanks to folded-in salsa and crushed tortilla chips.

Entertainment

Peter Pan comes out of the Vault 

Peter Pan is out of the Vault and will be released on Blue Ray DVD in February, but in the meantime you can take your children to El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Tickets can also be purchased at http://elcapitan.go.com. 

Dinosaur Encounters at the Natural History Museum

WhenSun, January 20, 11:30am – 12:30pm and ongoing for the next couple of months

WhereThe Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007

DescriptionMeet Hunter and Dakota, a juvenile T-Rex and Triceratops. These realistic, large-scale puppets are used to demonstrate theories on how these dinosaurs moved and behaved. Visit the Natural History Museum website for more details and to check times. Free with Museum Admission Wednesdays - Fridays: 10:30 am, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm Saturdays and Sundays: 11:30 am and 2:30 pm Adult $12 Seniors and college students $9 Youths (ages 13-17) $8 Children (ages 5-12) $5 Children 4 and under FREE

Shark Sundays at Heal the Bay

When                       Sun, January 20, 12:00pm – 5:30pm

WhereSanta Monica Aquarium 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401 

DescriptionMarvel at all of the sea creatures on display in the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. And, at 3:30 p.m. learn all about sharks as horn and swell sharks swim around the tank and peer out of the water before their feeding time. Admission FREE for children 12 and under. $3-5 donation for adults. Call 310-393-6149 for more information

Gold Rush at the Autry National Center

When Sun, January 20, 11am – 3pm

WhereThe Autry in Griffith Park Griffith Park 4700 Western Heritage Way Los Angeles, CA 90027 

DescriptionLearn about the California gold rush and see what it was like to be a forty-niner and try your hand at panning for gold.  Every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Autry Members: Free Adults: $10 Students with current ID and Seniors (60+): $6 Children (3–12): $4 Children under 3: Free

Beauty/Fashion

Eat Away the Years

Fabulous foods that fight aging!!!

50 is the new 30. Just ask the gorgeous Demi Moore, who recently celebrated the big 5-0. We may not have an entourage of dermatologists with science’s greatest and latest skin remedies to combat age, but we hope we are as stunning as Demi when we’re older. (Err, minus the nervous breakdown and the ex frolicking with a much younger woman.)

We did research on foods that fight aging (see below) and modifying our diets is way cheaper (and way less painful) than Botox!

Berries: Berries contain antioxidants that protect against diseases such as cancer and diabetes while promoting cell growth. Here’s another hint; the deeper and richer the color of the berries, the more antioxidants they have.

Vitamin C: This antioxidant is key when it comes to healthy skin and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps repair damaged body tissues. For your daily serving of vitamin C, try broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peppers, kiwi, strawberries, and oranges.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Healthy fats help prevent heart disease, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure. They’re found in coldwater fish like salmon, herring, tuna, and sardines. “If you don’t like fish, you may want to take a fish oil supplement. Studies show that people who eat a lot of fish live longer,” Levine said. She recommends at least two servings per week.

Cocoa beans: Cocoa beans contain antioxidants and flavonoids that help reduce inflammation in the skin caused by exposure to UV light. Fighting wrinkles by indulging in dark chocolate? We’re in!

Vitamin E: This antioxidant helps decrease inflammation and improve eye/skin health. Try nuts, avocados, dark leafy greens, and whole grains for your daily serving of vitamin E.

In the News

Target Recalls Half a Million Children's Pajamas

About 560,000 pairs of children's two-piece pajama sets have been recalled by Target for failing to meet federal flammability standards, which poses a burn hazard.

Why the product is being recalled: The cotton or cotton/fleece pajamas sets fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear, because they do not meet the tight-fitting sizing requirements.

Description: The recall involves Target Circo and Xhilaration children's cotton or cotton/fleece two-piece pajama sets. They were sold in infant and toddler sizes 12M, 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T, and in girls and boys sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. There are a variety of colors and designs, including stars, dots, skulls, peace signs, cats, owls, footballs and camouflage.

To see a complete list of item numbers included in this recall, visit Target.com The item number is located on a tag on the shirt's side seam and on the pants at the waist. A tag printed on the neck of the pajamas states "Circo" or "Xhilaration", "Wear snug-fitting not flame resistant" and the item number. The pajamas were also sold with a yellow hangtag that states, "For child's safety, garment should fit snugly. This garment is not flame resistant. Loose-fitting garment is more likely to catch fire."

Where it was sold: The pajamas were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online at target.com from August 2012 through November 2012 for between $8 and $13.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled pajamas away from children and return them to any Target for a full refund.

For more information, contact Target; at (800) 440-0680, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.target.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information.

At Home

STAY ORGANIZED

REDUCE STRESS for 2013!!!

Between housework, cooking, cleaning, work appointments, doctor visits, teacher conferences, sports practice and family time, it’s no wonder moms feel overwhelmed. Below are tips to help you curb that frantic feeling and organize your busy week and year.

UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY

Moms with a PDA (personal digital assistant) should take advantage of the various free applications available today. Intuition: Mom's Personal Assistant by IconApps, Inc is a perfect start.

ORGANIZE ONLINE

"To make sure your e-bills and e-statements don't get lost or overlooked among your personal e-mails, simply set up a separate e-mail account to receive them. It's a quick and easy way to be eco-friendly and keep financial matters separate from your personal life," suggests Robert Laura, personal finance expert and owner of efinanicalorganizer.com. I personally can't live without online banking love, love, love it.

GO CLASSIC

While technology is convenient, nothing beats the traditional pen and paper. Keep sticky posts in your car, purse and even on your bedside table for reminders and jotting down important information.

GET THE FAMILY INVOLVED

Assigning chores and raising expectations can get the entire family into a good routine. Gail Gray, owner of Fresh Start Professional Organizing and mother of two boys, reminds moms: "A CEO delegates work and so should you."

HAVE A FAMILY ORGANIZER

"Keep a household notebook with all the important information in it. Things like phone numbers, instructions and scheduling in one location is vital to keep the house under control," recommends Gray.

PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DAY

A lot of busy mommies make their coffee the night before, do the prep work for breakfast and have a weekly check-in with their husband to make sure they're on the same page for the week ahead. Zele Avradopoulos, owner at ZOrganize, encourages moms to involve the children in clean up before dinner or bed time to start the following day fresh.

MAKE USE OF WAITING TIME

Find yourself on the train or car pool line? Deborah Kinney, CPO Certified Professional Organizer says to put that time to use, "Organize a special tote for yourself that holds your 'while waiting to dos'." Tasks can include returning phone calls, paying bills and scheduling appointments.

CREATIVE COOKING

Moms can save time in the kitchen, too, Kinney points out, "Cook a one-pot meal (chili, hearty soup) and roast something. Our mothers in the '50s knew the value of roast once, serve twice. This will give you at least two dinners ready for the work week. Making a double batch and freezing half gets you even further." I personally have to do this more often.

ORGANIZE THE CAR

As much time as moms spend in the car, it's silly not to have a car system. Put the glove compartment to use by keeping a pencil bag filled with pens, band aids, lip gloss and even a few dollars in cash. And don't forget to systematize the kids. Shelly Walker, a busy mother shares her secret, "I keep a lidded container in the back of the car that's only for my child's stuff." I completely agree with car organization and also suggest moms keep a small "just in case" bag in the car. Articles can include a change of clothes, sunscreen, snacks and even pajamas in case a spontaneous invitation pops up; like your children wanting to spend the night at grandmas when you just go for a quick visit :)

Health/Wellness

Dealing with Insomnia during Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, then most likely sleepless and restless nights have become the new normal for you.

Some say it’s preparing you for the interrupted sleepless nights to come after your baby is born. But whatever the reason, it can be frustrating and exhausting not to be able to get a good night's sleep.

Here are some holistic remedies we have gathered up through the research we did and want to share with you all: 

1. No coffee, tea or chocolate after 12 pm in the afternoon.

2. Get lots of fresh air.

3. Get plenty of exercise - a physically tired body sleeps more soundly.

4. Don’t eat large meals late at night .

5. An over-active mind can result in insomnia. Keep a “ to do “ and / or journal by the side of your bed. By writing out all that you have to do - your excitement or fears of birth and all the changes that are happening in your life - you will be moving it out of your head and body and on to the paper. Most of the time you will find that it is so much bigger when it’s in your head. So write away!!!!

6. Limit fluid intake a few hours before bed.

7. Take a relaxing warm bath before bed with calming oils such as chamomile or lavender.

8. You can also diffuse in the air or put a few drops on your pillow. You can even put it in the humidifier.

9. Avoid daytime naps.

10. Try a warm glass of organic milk before bed.

11. Chamomile tea or catnip tea.

12. Eat a high protein snack before bed. ( ex: hormone-free turkey and a warm glass of organic milk.)

13. Natural calm-powered drink before bed ( available at all health food stores). Get the one with added calcium.

14. Take 50 mg of vitamin B6.

15. Get a relaxing massage

16. Restorative or yin yoga ( if you can’t find a class then check out online, many places stream great classes).

17. Breath work - just by doing some slow deep breathing can clam your whole being . Try breathing in thru your nose for the count of 4 and slowly breathing out the nose for the count of 4 .. do a few rounds .. the slower you breathe the calmer your energy will become .

18. Don’t watch the news or anything fear-based before going to bed . What you do right before you go to sleep stays with you in your subconscious. The news is filled with negativity and creates fear which in turn will disrupt your sleep. I remember years ago I read a study that found people that watch the news before bed had 80% or more fear and insomnia then people who didn’t. I get online in the late morning and look at the headlines and only read what I want to. This helps filter out the negativity .

On this same note, the Internet is a wonderful tool to access amazing info; but if you look for something to worry about you will definitely find it on there. Limit your time searching for what could go wrong with your pregnancy. Remember 99% of the things you worry about NEVER happen. Always try to think positive and happy thoughts. Happy Pregnancy to all the beautiful pregnant ladies.

Health/Wellness

Winter Sports You Can Do With Your Kids!!!

It's that time of year that we make New Year’s resolutions - and most lists include staying healthy or getting into shape. In addition to eating healthy, and starting my 30's healthier then I started my 20's, I also included being a more patient, loving, and also fun mom as one of my resolutions.

It is so much easier to stay active during the warmer months with kids. However, here are some fun winter sports ideas for the entire family to stay active, and have fun!

Sledding

I hate going out in the cold, especially in the snow, but the kids love it. If I am going to be out in the cold, why not make it worth it. Going sledding with your kids can burn up to 477 calories in just one hour. All that hiking up and down the hill will be worth it for your butt and legs! Plus you won’t feel the cold if you’re working up a sweat!

Ice Skating

Getting your kids on ice skates at an early age is great skill for them to learn. I am not the best ice skater, so this would be great for my core, and balancing! Ice skating also helps lose weight it is a great aerobic workout, and fun for the entire family!

Basketball

Bundle up, and get outside for 30 minutes for a quick game of basketball with your kids on the driveway. It's great cardiovascular workout for the entire family. Plus basketball is a great way to teach kids about teamwork! Something we try to teach our kids everyday. All that passing the ball is good for the arms too!

Skiing/Snowboarding

459 calories per hour plus all the memories created taking your kids skiing! Snowboarding is also a fun way to burn off those extra holiday cookies!

Indoor Swimming

Finding a local arena club with an indoor pool would be an awesome treat for the entire family. My kids love to swim, and getting to do it in the winter is such a cool treat. Maybe doing this activity after all the others would be better, because I don’t know about you but I am not ready for bathing suit season right now! However, swimming we all know is a great form of exercise, and will get us excited for spring/summer.

What are your favorite winter activities with your families? Share with us.

Health/Wellness

How Naturally to treat and prevent colds!!!

Use Food as medicine - Here's to your health in 2013!!!!!

Onion: Red/Yellow; contain flavonols and quercetin, powerful antioxidants that help to decrease histamine release. Sulfur found in onions and garlic have anti-inflammatory properties which help to ease aches, pains and congestion caused by the cold/flu.

Garlic: Contains allicin, an antioxidant with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal capabilities. Helps to shorten and reduce cold symptoms. Allicin becomes active after being chopped/minced/crushed and is destroyed at high temperatures, so try to sprinkle freshly chopped garlic in soups, on pizza/pasta, etc. Allow garlic to "sit" for 10 minutes before ingesting to allow immune-boosting properties to become activated.

Echinacea: Fights inflammation, bacterial/viral infections; boosts the immune and lymphatic systems by stimulating white blood cells. It can help to reduce the duration of a cold by several days when taken at the first sign of symptoms.

Zinc lozenges: Decrease cold duration and helps to attack nose and throat viruses while boosting overall immunity. Take at the first sign of a cold for best results.

Goldenseal: Contains the anti-fungal phytochemical, Beribine, which fights infection/inflammation and helps to strengthen the immune system. It can be found in combination with Echinacea; alcohol-free varieties are best. (Note: not to be taken for extended periods of time; take as directed by your healthcare provider.)

Honey: Boosts immunity by fighting viruses/bacteria. "In a Penn State University College of Medicine study, researchers found honey to be more effective than dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) at reducing the frequency and severity of nighttime coughing" (Lissandrello, 2008). (Note: not for children under 12 months old.)

Ginger: Contains anti-inflammatory phenols, gingerols and shogaols to help relieve cold/flu aches. Ginger also helps to decrease fever, eliminate toxins and allows the body to sweat, without the harsh side effects of ibuprofen. Use in teas/meals; fresh is best.

Cayenne: Well known to help with joint pain, it also contains antiseptic properties to ease sore throats and decrease congestion by thinning mucus. (Note: not for nursing mothers or children under two years old.)

Astragalus: (Herb) promotes white blood cell production to fight infection.

Avoid sugar: Suppresses our immune systems and feeds bacteria.

Kiwi: High in vitamin C and can reduce the severity and duration of upper respiratory infections.

Siberian ginseng: A known adaptogen, allowing the body to restore balance and helps to strengthen the immune system.

Probiotics: Healthy bacteria for vital for our bodies; suggested dosage is 3-5 billion live organisms daily. (Yogurt only contains 100-200 million organisms and less effective strains, along with excessive amounts of sugar and additives).

Happy 2013!!