Makeover Momma

The Product: Brothers-All-Natural Dried Fruit Crisps

                                                                   
Makeover Momma Reader Rating: A+

Reader Review:

            “I bought this product in bulk from Costco to save money, and it came with dried Fuji Apple and Asian Pear crisps. I’m a busy working mother, and there is always tempting food at my office: cake, chocolate and all sorts of stuff that co-workers bring to work. Instead of eating the junk food, I’ve started snacking on a bag of these fruit crisps during the day instead of potato chips.”

            We at Makeover Momma love this reader suggestion and have fallen in love with these bags of dried, fresh fruit too! They have only 30-39 calories per bag (so much better than an absentminded handful of Doritos), zero fat, contain all of the vitamins of standard fruit and are easy to stick in your purse for a busy day. We plan on giving these “chips” to hungry toddlers for a healthy snack (with little mess), and are keeping our eye out for other varieties like Strawberry-Banana, Pineapple and White and Yellow Peach.

* Have a food product you’d like to recommend, review or reject? Let us know, and we can feature your words or best/worst product of choice!

The Fit Momma: Jennie Garth

Her Routine: Jennie Garth of former (and current) 90210 fame has delivered three beautiful daughters into the world, while gaining and losing her fair share of pregnancy pounds. Most recently Jennie slimmed down after a stint on Dancing With The Stars, and claims that dancing keeps any busy mother in shape. After the show ended, Jenny admitted to letting her routine slide while dealing with the daunting discovery that her daughter has juvenile arthritis. Instead of letting difficult times delay her healthy goals, Jenny began working out with P9OX Videos from home (often with her husband) to take the brain work out of working out.                                                                                                                                    

• Try staying fit and healthy by dancing like Jenny 5 days per week. We recommend rotating Dancing With The Stars Cardio Dance with Shape Cardio Workout: Bikini Body All Year-Round. Each DVD offers 10 to 40 minutes of cardio dance workouts that can be done in the comfort of your own home, so you can shake that thang like no one’s looking (except for your baby of course).
• Learn about the intense P9OX workout by checking out Makeover Momma’s review. It’s a challenging, well-rounded DVD system…yet far easier for a celebrity to maintain than the average momma.

*Have a celeb momma you’d like us to review? Is there a celebrity you love whose workout routine you want to achieve? Let us know!

•  1-2 Seconds: Start with the skin to create a smooth, creamy complexion. Try a mineral powder foundation that gently buffs into the skin (ideal for hurried mornings) to cover imperfections.

TRY: Physician’s Formula Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder                                          

•    2-3 Seconds: Add a soft blush (even if its typically associated with Spring makeup). Try a color that adapts to your individual skin tone to take the brain work out of application. Try adding a small amount of blush to your lips and eyelids for an extra rosy touch.

TRY: Almay Smart Shade Blush 

• 3-5 Seconds: Add a dark mascara to open up eyes and pull the look together. Try a formula with curling power so you can skip that eyelash curler and head out the door.

TRY: Wet n’ Wild MegaWink Lash Curling Mascara                                                                                                                                                     *All product suggestions at Makeover Momma can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart, Target, drugstore, or online at www.drugstore.com.

Speedy Fashion Spotlight: The loose trapeze dress and dark tight combo may seem like it only works on a rare few (the insanely thin or insanely tall), but model-esque proportions are not needed to pull this look off right…

a) Pick a structured shift dress that doesn’t cling to the body. The trick is wearing a trapeze shape that conceals your widest area, while highlighting the smallest.

 b) Go for a daring color, small print pattern or interesting texture (to take this look from middle-school-girl to high fashion). Look for fun accents like an interesting neckline, large flower or try adding a broach yourself.

 c) Choose tights that are sheer and dark in color. Whether navy, grey, brown, maroon or simple black, it’s alright to play with color while still flattering the legs in a deep shade.

d) Add subtle accessories to your structured dress and dark tights. Try close-toe heels that match (or almost match) your tights to create the illusion of extremely long, lean legs, and add some delicate earrings or stacked bracelets.

BUY IT: Try a luxe looking dress like Simply Vera Wang’s Taffeta Dress, or (for the more budgeted mothers) the affordable Mossimo Shirred Sleeveless Dress from Target (which will look extra flattering if worn with a slim, dark top underneath to elongate the arms).

ADMIRE IT: She may be long and lean, but Gwyneth Paltrow’s classic combo could flatter any momma. Keep it fun and youthful like Gwyneth with dynamic colors, texture and interesting heels.

                                              
For this yummy soup recipe (above), check out www.livetoeat.com.

· Say YES If It’s Clear: Always choose broths (soups), dressings and sauces that you could read through…instead of thick, creamy or white varieties. Try picking vegetable soups, Italian or vinaigrette dressings and light sauces.

· Say YES If It Looks Like The Vegetable It Came From: If your sandwich condiment looks like the pureed version of its former self (think ketchup or mustard), it’s always better than weird, white toppings (tarter sauces or mayonnaise). The same goes for sauces on pasta or pizza (tomato and marinara are always better than Alfredo, cheese or gravy).

· Say NO to Senseless Toppings: Always choose toppings that are clearly a form of plant or seed (sliced tomatoes, extra lettuce, spinach, olives, crumbled egg, chickpeas or sesame seeds) instead of unrecognizable products (like bacon bits or croutons).   

            Try to quit worrying about the calories or fat content of appetizers, and instead pick clear over creamy and vegetable over vacant…and you will have a wonderful, light meal!

     As the warm weather months begin to dwindle and the temperatures drop, try getting outside on the weekends for a few final days of fall and fresh air. Makeover Momma’s know that every step counts (and workouts shouldn’t be repetitive), so try gathering up the family and hitting the trails.

                                           Take working out into your own hands (literally), like always active mom Jen Garner.

• Check out websites such as American Hiking, which provide resources and information on hiking safely and efficiently.
• Find local trails near your city by entering your information on websites like Local Hikes or Trail Link, which help locate paths nearby.
• If you don’t live near mountains or hiking areas, try walking a local track in your city with friends (with baby in a stroller), and stop to run the bleachers with each lap. This lets you and your little one breathe fresh air (while toning your glutes), without driving miles away.
• If all else fails and you simply can’t make it outside for a hike, try hitting the treadmill (if you are a member of a health club with a nursery) and increasing the incline every 30 seconds. After reaching the maximum, slowly lower…and repeat again!

        We would totally recommend celebrity stylist Ken Paves new product in our dreams- Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops- which work by adding drops of color to your conditioner, that gently shift your color (without being permanent). Then again, at a nearly $40 price tag- most of us mothers are left with the drugstore alternatives that are Makeover Momma’s specialty. Try choosing John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze in a variety of shades, which can be used to boost color and shine in the shower after shampooing (up to three times per week). Clairol’s Nice and Easy Color Boost Glaze Collection should be used on slightly dirty and dampened hair for extra shine and color, and comes with a potent deep conditioner too. Two products in one…sounds good to us!

· What Is Your Opinion on at Home Hair Glazes? Let us know if you like these glossy alternatives…

                                                   
Makeover Momma™ Rating: C-

Why:

               There is nothing better than a fabulously constructed heel or a beautifully made shoe (other than our babies, of course), but we at Makeover Momma can’t help but be bothered by some of the latest trends found for feet. Although the gladiator sandal was big this summer (and a perfectly comfortable alternative to typical flats), the latest varieties of sky-high gladiator heels look like torture devices found in  Halloween movies this fall (as seen on celebrity mother Nicole Richie). As if their monstrous height and straight-jacket-like structure weren’t intimidating enough, chasing after a toddler while wearing them would surely be dangerous.

            Although a few stylish mommas could pull this off (perhaps with full-time nannies or a fashion forward job), we prefer to admire (or fear) these forms of heel from afar. We’d rather recycle our gladiator flats or try out other trends (mary-janes or tuxedo pumps, anyone?) than risk our sanity and safety for strappy shoes.

* Want us to review a motherhood trend that you love or hate? Would you like to suggest or review a trend of your own? Send in comments, suggestions or reviews, and share your opinions!

                                          Chocolate Peanut Butter French Toast

               The following Chocolate Peanut Butter French Toast* recipe creates a tasty and decadent breakfast that will quickly become your family’s favorite or your ideal way to cheer up a dreary morning. Make it for a special holiday treat or a festive Sunday brunch where everyone can share. Feel free to add as little or as many chocolate chip garnishes as wanted (and you can even add and melt chocolate into the peanut butter syrup recipe if you wish!)

Ingredients:

• 3 slices of gluten-free white bread (like Ener-G White Rice Loaf)
• 2 cups of Egg Beaters (or similar), equal to 4 eggs
• ¼ tablespoon of vanilla extract (like Rodelle Gourmet Vanilla Extract)
• ¼ cup chocolate milk, soymilk or rice milk (depending on allergen needs)
• ¼ cup of brown rice syrup (like Lundberg Brown Rice Syrup)
• ¼ cup of creamy peanut butter (gluten-free)
• ¼ cup of gluten-free chocolate chip (such as Hershey’s brand) - optional

Directions:

                Mix the 2 cups of Egg Beater, vanilla extract, chocolate soymilk (or similar) and dash of cinnamon into a medium sized bowl. Dip the slices of gluten-free white bread into the mixture until thoroughly coated, and cook in a pan until each side of the bread is slightly browned. Set the French toast on a serving plate to cool, and quickly pour the ¼ cup of rice syrup and ¼ cup of creamy peanut butter into a small bowl. Melt in a small pan on the stove until at sauce-like consistency (or cook in a small bowl in the microwave if rushing) until melted. Add a handful of chocolate chips into syrup mixture, if desired. Pour the peanut butter syrup sauce over the French toast, and sprinkle with small amount of chocolate chips for the final flourish!

·       All Makeover Momma original recipes are created with childrens allergies in mind. This recipe is both gluten free and dairy free (if desired). It can be peanut free if substitute “peanut butter” is used.

      Need more ideas for staying fit and trim, without having to leave your home? As if gym memberships, rising gas prices and complicated schedules weren’t enough, pricey workout machines or weight systems for the home can be even more impractical. Instead, try these simple tips for exercising in your home using your computer or a neighbor…and nothing else!                                 

• Try bringing fitness into your home via your computer, by visiting a website such as Yoga Today (a Makeover Momma personal favorite). This amazing little site features brand new daily broadcasts by a handful of yoga experts, that will walk you through gentle, calming and challenging yoga routines for an hour every day…. completely for free!
• Create your own diverse workout routine simply by access Fitness Magazine’s website for a variety of concise, challenging workout segments. If you don’t mind paying a small price, you can access a large library of workouts from Workouts On Demand (like having exercise classes in your own home!)
• Try using the buddy system when it comes to exercising by strapping those little ones into a stroller or stomach pouch, and teaming up with friends to create a “Gab and Gate” walking group. Meeting a friend for exercise can be a great way to stay committed, while pushing each other along the way.