Makeover Momma

   This Green Bean and Stuffing Casserole is a fun and innovative Makeover Momma dish for Thanksgiving (combining two of the most traditional and tasty seasonal sides: green beans and stuffing). It has a creamy taste, uncluttered flavor, and is far healthier than the usual family favorite (good for you Nutritious Mommas). This dish looks elegant in any serving dish, is incredibly simple to make (yay microwaves), and is relatively low in calories and fat, while being completely gluten-free…

Ingredients:

• 2 bags of green beans, steamed in microwave.
• 1 can of gluten-free split pea soup (like Amy’s Split Pea)
• 1/2 cup of vanilla almond, soy, or regular milk.
• 1 white onion, chopped.
• 1 cup of sliced mushrooms.
• 4 slices of gluten-free dry bread (such as Ener-G White Rice Loaf).
• 1/2 cup of gluten-free chicken broth.
• 4 tablespoons of gluten free seasonings (like garlic and herb).

Instructions:

- Steam the bags of green beans in microwave according to package directions, or cook fresh beans if preferred. Place green beans in medium size casserole dish greased with olive oil.

- In a separate bowl mix can of split pea soup with almond milk, stirring thoroughly. Pour this mixture thoroughly over green beans, tossing and stirring green beans until covered.

- Take 4 slices of dry gluten-free white bread, dip thoroughly into gluten-free chicken or beef broth (enough to coat bread but not make it dissolve), and rip into cubes for stuffing. In medium sized bowl, mix chopped onion, chopped mushrooms, and cubed bread, and add 4 additional tablespoons of broth to mix. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of gluten-free seasonings over top.

- Layer the bread and vegetable mixture on top of the green bean  dish, until beans are no longer visible. Bake in oven at 325 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes (checking periodically as oven times may vary) until topping is lightly browned and appears crunchy in texture.
Serves 2 to 4 (double recipe for larger serving size).

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise think hard about toddler clothing.

  One of our favorite things to do here at Makeover Momma is shop for clothes, but we are usually strapped for cash, pinching pennies, or any number of “got no money” euphemisms. However, because we believe in splurging on ourselves once in awhile, we also believe in splurging on our kids too. Suri Cruise (shown above) has become nearly as famous as her fashionable mother for wearing designed duds at a young age, and we can’t help but be inspired by her youthful fashion finesse. 

As the holiday season fast approaches, here is our Makeover Momma Monthly Pick for Fashionable Website: Tots n’ Style.

Why We Love It: Tots n’ Style is about as designer as it gets, with beautifully made clothing, exquisite choices, and classic brands. Although our kids are known for spilling spaghetti sauce on party dresses in 2.5 seconds, we love the idea of getting a special outfit for the holiday season (whether to take photos in, wear to parties, or slip on for church). This is the perfect website to find a huge assortment of beautifully made designer clothing ranging from $25 to $200, with labels like Armani Baby and Armani Junior, Ella Moss Girl, or J.Brand. If you want to achieve the same look or wear the same designer as your child for special occasions, try checking out the adult brands at websites like Bluefly.

How To Save Money: If you’re shopping for little ones this holiday season, but don’t want to blow all of your cash, try checking out any of the items that are on sale at Tots n’ Style, or the website-wide 25% off new Fall Styles Sale. Better yet, they are offering free shipping on any standard orders. There is nothing like free shipping to get us excited!

   We admit that at Makeover Momma we typically give advice to busy mothers only, but its about time we throw in some fashion advice for kids too! Stay tuned next month for more on child style savings and fashion forward websites.

* Do you have fashion advice for kids or toddlers? How do you get a holiday ready outfit for your child?

 
New parents Jessica Alba and Cash Warren get outdoors for a healthy walk.

   This time of year may feel beautiful, crisp and scenic, but autumn weather is rarely condusive to a workout regimen. Instead of letting the colder air deter you from healthy habits, try creating workouts around normal, seasonal activities.

Get Riding - Try renting bicycles before the weather gets too cold, and going for scenic bike rides with your family. Even taking stroller strolls with your baby (or strap them in a chest pouch like Jessica Alba, shown above) can be educational and productive. Try letting your child learn about different colors from the changing leaves, or collect leaves to press into stationary for an affordable holiday gift.

Clean Up - If your yard seems to multiply leaves like rabbits (or Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt), try using a simple cleaning as your workout. Every day acts like raking the leaves in your front yard can be a great workout (better than watching the Macy’s Day Parade with a plate of cinnamon rolls), and so can other holiday tasks like cleaning up for guests or cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Avoid weight gain (instead of maintanence) by chewing mint gum throughout the cooking process (no taste tests, please!) and doing additional sets of squats, counter-top incline push ups or jumping jacks at desginated times (for example, when food goes in the oven, whenever a mixer needs to be used, or whenever salt is added to a recipe).

Get Moving - Try choosing weekend activities that get your family moving this fall. For example, skip the hay ride and walk around the pumpkin patch, do a couple extra laps around the grocery store or mall whenever shopping for food or gifts, or simply park as far away from each store as possible. All of us mommas have heard these simple tips before… but how many of us have actually done them? Even adventerous outings like a horseback ride with family during crisp weather, or indoor exercise (like Makeover Momma’s review of hula hoop workouts) are enough to keep you moving this year.

* What do you do to stay fit in the Fall? Please share with us!

Stay tuned for Winter Weather Workout advice, coming soon.

 
Super model and mom Kate Moss designs affordable clothing for Top Shop.

    It is that time of year again, when mothers spend nearly every waking moment inside of stores, malls or online shops in the hunt for great buys. Try taking these simple tips for saving on clothing and gifts this year…

• Enjoy The Trends - If you are someone who loves trends but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothing (isn’t that all of us?), try checking online stores like Mandee Clothing. Sale items like the Color Block Ruffle Sleeve Dress or the Front Knot Maxi Dress (shown above), are exceptionally flattering on most post-partum figures. Try pairing them with a cropped bolero, long, thick cardigan or stylish boots for the winter. Better yet, try encouraging your friends or family to participate in the Mandee Style Star competition, which invites you to create your own look using their clothing, with a prize of $200 gift card. Sounds like fun to us!

• Get Cash Back - Try signing up for coupon loving websites like Fat Wallet.com, which helps you compare prices, find savings and get cash back when shopping through their website. You can even shop on Ebay (which presents tons of savings for savvy shoppers), while earning rewards along the way.

• Be Bold - We have heard about the famed Top Shop brand for years (based out of England), with its cult like following and slew of affordable, one-of-a-kind pieces. Although the prices may still seem high to many of us budget mommas (dresses may average $15 to $50, for example), we are thrilled that Top Shop is hitting America (with a new US website). Top Shop has so many varieties of clothing that we fear for fashion ADD: maternity clothes, celebrity created lines like Kate Moss for Top Shop, swimwear, shoes, and even items for Petite or Tall ladies. Take your pick (if you can decide, that is) and enjoy this European import.

*Have more tips or ideas for saving money while shopping? Would you like us to review a budget buy or website? Let us know!

Want to get a healthy glow like perpetually radiant celebrity mother, Kate Winslet (even without makeup?) Try Makeover Momma’s 3 Second Speedy Spotlight for at home facials that are cheap, quick and effective…

1. Get Stripped – If you don’t have time to visit an aeshetician who carefully clears your pores of gunk and grime, try creating a similiar effect at home by buying an affordable pack of pore strips and placing all over your face (instead of on “troubled areas”). Try Biore’s Combo Pack of deep cleansing pore strips, which targets clogged complexions and black heads at once. Apply to wet skin, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, and carefully peel of strips to revel clean, fresh skin.

2. Use a Scrub – One of the most crucial aspects of getting a pro-facial-glow, is using a gentle scrub that carefully eliminates dead, dull skin cells. Try combining a scrub with another potent spa treatment: microdermabrasian. St. Ive’s new Microdermabrasion Scrub is affordable, easy to use and features calming, nourishing ingredients. After lightly scrubbing face according to directions, try soaking a cotton ball in natural witch hazel and running over the face to tone, and finishing with a calming, glow enhancing lotion.

3. Make It Easy – If you want to make facials a regular practice (we recommend once or twice per week, at most), try making the process easier for healthy, clear skin. Try a mulitasking product like Pond’s Microdermabrasion Towelettes, which treat and scrub skin on one side, while removing makeup and soothing irritation on the other. Its important to always apply a gentle, non-irritating lotion after treating the skin, and avoid the sun for the next few days.

    Celebrity mother Christina Aguilera’s style may often seem crazy (and we admit to secret fantasties of fixing her lipstick shade, toning down her makeup and placing her in long, elegant clothing), but we can’t help but love how she’s embraced her curvy, post-partum body. Although she is still tiny and fit, she seems to flaunt her hips and womanly figure, instead of hiding it away with baggy clothing.
   This look works for her because the jeans are softly stretchy, her top is simple (and would conceal any after-baby bulges), and her ballet flats are practical while still being stylish.

Get The Look:

Ballet Flats: Although a pair of Side Tie Flats from Charlotte Russe are bright in color and cute in shape (they are also 50% off on clearence), but we can’t help but love our previous recommendation of Target’s slipper like ballet flats.

Sweater: Although the Plush V-Neck Tunic from Alloy is stretchy, soft and feminine (and on clearence for only $9.99), we think that Alloy’s Inverted Pleat Pull-over Sweater (of the same price) is perfect for those who truly want to conceal and flatter this midsection.

Stretchy Jeans: Skinny jeans rarely flatter hips and thighs, but a pair that is dark wash and “gives” to curves can be flattering and comfortable. Try a cheap pair like the Bitten Ankle Zipper Cropped jeans from Steve & Barry, or check out the Showstopper Skinny Jean from Wet Seal (shown below), which comes in Plus Sizes, Long and Short lengths, and dark and light washes.

What It Is: Celebrity trainer Tracy Effinger, who’s clients include Private Practice star (and mother of two) Amy Brenneman (shown above) and House actress Sela Ward, is a fitness veteran. Her original workout Squeeze became an extreme hit amongst fitness video junkies (and a Makeover Momma personal favorite), but her latest installment Squeeze Stronger is even better.

What You Do: The Squeeze workout is based around using small, specific movements to target all areas of the body, without heavy weights or complicated equipment. For example, the multiple arm exercises require only 2 to 3 pound weights (which slim mother Gwyneth Paltrow never exceeds to keep her arms lean and toned).
    The exercises were created to tone and lengthen the body, with movement influenced by dance floorwork or Pilate’s mat exercises. However, don’t underestimate this latest installation to the Squeeze program. Even though the exercises are low-impact, occasionally done on the floor and seem to be using small, distinct movements…they are like Pilate’s or ballet training on Ritalin.

How It Feels:

  We remembered how extremely difficult the first Squeeze DVD proved to be, and decided to start off slowly. Squeeze Stronger features an “Upper Body and Waist Squeeze” segment and “Lower Body and Abs Squeeze”, as well as a huge inventory of every exercises so you can pick and choose individual combinations. This is ideal for mothers who are far too busy to follow 45 minute routines, and would rather fit in bits of strength training throughout the day. We were able to do a Arm, Waist, Leg and Ab exercise in about 10 minutes (while our kids played happily nearby), and were covered in sweat by the end (literally, don’t underestimate). Although we swear the burning in our mucles from leg work and squating (similiar to at a ballet barre) gave us labor flashbacks, we couldn’t help but feel powerful and “hard core” throughout each motion.

Make It Harder:

   Squeeze Stronger is shockingly difficult and challenging (this is not our mothers’ exercise video), so there is little anyone will need to do to make it harder (unless you’re part Android or part Madonna). The exercises can be made easier by taking breaks, skipping the weights or simply pausing throughout, although each routine has a tendency to feel harder and hurt more with every try (as you learn to do the exercises properly and target the right muscles).  Although we could barely walk the next day after trying the exercises, we loved how fun, approachable and fast each movement was, while fitting into a hectic motherhood schedule (we swear our thighs look better each day!)

* Want us to review your favorite workout, your product or a workout you’ve been curious about? Want us to report on your favorite celebrity momma and her fitness routine? Send us your thoughts and opinions!

   Celebrity fashion choices can be hit (see Reese Witherspoon, above at a recent event) or miss (ie. Gwyneth Paltrow). We love celebrity mother Reese Witherspoon for her classic stlye and southern grace, but admit that she typically dons the same sort of fashion on a regular basis. It goes without saying that most of us Mommas are exactly the same way. If the outfit looks good, fits comfortably, doesn’t show spit-up stains, and conceals bulky nursing bras…we strap that sucker on like its going out of style (even if it did a few years ago). 

   Instead of getting stuck in a style rut this holiday season, put a few extra dollars and bravery points into your next Thanksgiving dinner or seasonal office party, and spring for one of the seasons hottest trends: lace. If you’re dying to bust out of your rut and glow like the undeniably radiant Reese, then try choosing an elegant dress like the Isaac Mizrahi for Target Lace Dress (priced at 39.99, shown below), which comes in a variety of colors like cream and burgundy.

    Try avoiding a stylish mishap like the typically flawless Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently fell short in a see-through lace contraption (unless you really are that daring). If you don’t mind spending slightly more for a seasonal event, than try purchasing a classy garment like the Jone’s Wear Lace Dress from JC Penny’s, which (at $49.99) is unbelieably flattering and perfectly structured for almost every post-partum figure.

 
Can you no longer stay fit outside, like mother Marcia Cross?

  Earlier in the month a Makeover Momma reader posed the question: “How do I exercise indoors with a preschooler, as the weather gets colder?” If creating fitness games inside isn’t your thing (or using props like hula hoops and jump ropes), why not try renting, borrowing or buying a fitness tape that includes your child?

Kids Who Love Dancing: If your little one loves to dance, why no try moving with them using videos like Kari Anderson “Shake” or BYou- The Hot New Dance Workout.

Kids Who Love Caracters: If Elmo can make vegetables seem cool to your kid (when your own attempts fail time after time), try letting their favorite caracters speak to them about fitness. Videos like Care Bears Fitness Fun or Sesame Street’s Happy Healthy Monsters will get them on their feet, while programs like the Move n’ Groove Kids teach your little ones ABC’s or numbers while keeping them active.

Kids Who Love Super Heros: If your child is constantly trying to save the world, let them channel their one-two-punches into positive physical fitness. Check out Billy Blanks Ta-Bo Kicks DVD or Kick To Get Fit Jr. DVD.

     For more ideas on children’s exercise videos, check out Fit Beginnings.com, or stay tuned next month for more childrens fitness DVD suggestions!

*Have a fitness question to be answered? A problem, suggestion or review you’d like addressed? Let us know!

  Super models like mother Heidi Klum seem like they could wear anything and look fantastic, but mere mortal mommas have a harder time flattering their body types after baby. If you’ve been wanting to try out the high waist jean trend, learn how to do it right for your body (and avoid the dreaded “mom jean” stereotype)…

a) Get great fit first, when choosing a brand of jean. It doesn’t matter the price tag or the size on the label, because high waisted pants fit differently from other clothing (let go of that pre-baby number, please!)

b) Let jeans hit the right part of your waist, instead of going too high or too low. The perfect area will be right at your natural waist-line or belly button (to draw attention to the smallest part of your waist).

c) Jeans should be smooth and sleek, so don’t buy a pair unless they fit your body perfectly (if you know how to sew, try tailoring your clothes or enlisting a friend to help with the fit). Check for pulling in the crotch area, weird folds or pleating in the hips, or too snug a fit in the thighs or rear.

d) When in doubt, go slightly baggier than you think. It’s better to have a “trouser effect” with high waist pants, than an extremely, tight snug jean that draws attention to every lump and bump (or worse yet, creates them). Just remember, this isn’t J.Lo circa late 90’s (although we’d love to that body, of course!)

Buy It: Try an affordable pair like “The Goddess” High Rise Denim Trouser from Old Navy (which comes in Petite and Tall sizes too), or the a.n.a Double-Button Denim Trouser from J.C. Pennys.