Makeover Momma

       Mother-of-two Reese Witherspoon is known for her flaunting her petite figure while jogging or exercising outdoors, but sometimes mothers simply can’t make it outside to hit the pavement. Instead, try using your stairs at home to create an intense and quick workout routine!(No stairs to use? Try heading to a nearby park or outdoor stadium instead.)

• GET WALKING: Head up and down the flight of stairs 10 times total to warm up.

• PICK UP PACE: Try to jog up and down the stairs (carefully) 5 times.

• TONE TUSH: Prepare for a squat by placing one leg on a lower step and one leg a step or two above. From here (facing slightly sideways) squat down deeply 12 times. Repeat on other leg.

• JOG: 5 more flights.

• LONG LEGS: Place one foot two steps above the other, and get into a lunge position. From here, dip down into a deep split lunge 12 times. Repeat other leg.

• JOG 5 more

• STEP TO IT: Stand at the bottom of stairs and lunge leg forward onto a step. Return to start. Repeat and alternate lunges onto steps for a total of 12 times.

• REVERSE IT: Stand a step or two above the bottom of stairs, and reverse the above exercise. Step backwards into a deep lunge, return to start, and repeat for 12.

• JOG

• HIT THOSE ARMS: Finish the entire workout by kneeling on the stairs, leaning forward and placing arms a few steps above so in “kneeling push-up” position. Do 20 pushups.

• GET BOTH SIDES: Flip around into “triceps dip” position (like a tabletop with arms on upper steps and feet flat on the ground) and dip 20 times using arms for momentum.

• COOL DOWN: Finish by walking 3 more flights of stairs at a cool down pace.

*Make It Harder: If your baby does not want to sit quietly in a swing, having tummy time or take a nap during your exercise time, try strapping them to your chest to double caloric burn and add resistance to this entire workout. Be very careful not to fall (risking baby and you for injury) by taking movements slowly, and reducing the jogging to an exaggerated walk.

Using eye drops may seem like a cliché to rid eyeballs of pesky dryness, but they can also be a surprisingly handy source of beauty tricks that any Makeover MacGyver enjoys.

It goes without saying that eye drops are good for the eyes, but enhancing the whiteness of eyes can make your peepers appear wider and more beautiful overall. (Another way to enhance the whiteness of eyes? Use navy eyeliner on the inside rims of upper and lower lashes.) As if a brighter gaze is not enough, eye drops can also hide pimples. The next time you have an inflamed breakout, try soaking a small Q-tip in eye dropper solution like Visine, and placing in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Place gently over the inflamed pimple for 2 to 3 minutes or until redness reduces. The combination cold and antihistamine from the eye drops will reduce redness and swelling in no time.

                Katie Holmes is one of Makeover Momma’s favorite classy fashion mavens, and a beautiful mother to boot. She was spotted sans daughter Suri, 2, sporting a sensible outfit for any post-partum lady. Wearing dark trouser jeans with a simple blouse and structured bag- she looked the epitome of casual and feminine. The jeans were slimming and flattering, the top perfect to hide after-baby pooch, and the purse a wonderful substitute for any diaper bag.

                Mimic Katie’s flawless style by combining a loose fitting top with a kerchief neckline like Wet Seal’s Pleated Tunic Top ($20), which can transition from day…to night…to breastfeeding…to bloating…to anything! Combine with trouser style jeans in a deep wash such as Forever 21 Wide Leg Denim Trouser ($27), sensible heels (to elongate legs), and hide un-concealed eye circles with coordinating sunglasses. Top the entire style off with a sturdy purse like Delia’s Madeleine Bag ($36), which comes in a color blocked pattern to accompany any outfit.