Exercise During Pregnancy

We’ve all heard it over and over that exercise is a good thing. When you’re pregnant, you’ll hear it even more. But there’s a good reason. Research reports that women who exercise during pregnancy generally have an easier time recovering from delivery. For those of us that aren’t already running marathons it can be hard to get into the habit of exercising (particularly during pregnancy when you’re already fatigued without the workout).

However, there is hope! Going for walks can be a good way to get you started. Prenatal yoga can also be a gentle way to ease into the habit. Don’t worry – this type of yoga isn’t about bending your legs over your shoulder. Prenatal yoga can help your sore muscles relax and stay limber. It can also be a big relief when those Braxton-Hicks get feisty.

Whatever exercise you find works for you just remember not to push yourself too far. Be sure to avoid any exercise where you have a greater chance of falling (so skiing, rock wall climbing and pole vaulting are no-nos). Listen to your body. Don’t let the fatigue and stress an activity or exercise may cause outweigh the benefits. And of course, always consult your doctor if you have any concerns or questions.

Cooking with Younger Children

Cooking with your children can be a great opportunity to teach them life skills as well as bring you closer together. First and foremost though – you must remember that when working with young children you will need to be patient. You will probably have more messes than perfectly executed soufflé. But your persistence will be rewarded and they’ll eventually nail down the techniques. You’ve just got to wade through the messes that may come first.

There will probably be some things your younger children will want to help out with, such as cutting up vegetables. While you may be hesitant to give them the chef’s knife, a good compromise would be to give them a plastic knife to cut some softer or smaller bits up with. A lot of times children will just want to mirror what it is you’re doing, so make sure it’s either something they can do or there’s a similar, safer activity that you would be willing to let them do instead.

In the end, remember that as you try to teach your children, it is not about how perfectly their food turns out but about the fun you have learning how to do it. If your child feels like they are always getting in trouble when trying to cook they won’t want to come near the kitchen. If you make it fun and more about the time you spend together, you’ll find them eager and excited when it’s time to cook dinner.

Tips For Picking Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are a great healthy addition to any meal. They can add color and taste to an otherwise dull and boring dish. But some of us have the hardest time picking out good fresh vegetables. Don’t let the fear of picking out a less than perfect veggie limit you from reaping the blessings of fresh veggies.

A good way to tell if a vegetable is good or bad is simply by looking at it. How is the color? With a majority of foods you will want to make sure that it is free of any blemishes or discolored spots. If it looks sick, it probably is. Another good way to tell is by picking up the vegetable. You generally want your vegetables to be crisp and firm. If it feels too soft then you should probably nix it. These are obviously just general guidelines, and specific vegetables will have more specific traits you’ll want to look for. Bigger brand grocery stores will occasionally have a buyer’s guide in their produce aisles.

It is also important to be mindful of when a vegetable (or fruits for that matter) is in season. When produce is in season it is cheaper and better quality than when it is out of season. Most produce, like potatoes, squash, carrots, or radishes, are always in season. Others, like corn or strawberries, are only in season during certain times of the year.

Keeping the Nutrients in Your Vegetables

Adding more vegetables to your meals? Good for you! You’re probably thinking about the added vitamins and minerals you’re adding to your family’s diet. But did you know the way that you cook your vegetables can have an impact on the nutrients in your produce?

A good rule of thumb when cooking your vegetables is to remember that the longer you have a vegetable under heat, the fewer nutrients it will have. Heat can break apart the molecules of particular nutrients and some vitamins don’t do well the longer they are in the water. Try to keep your veggies as fresh as possible.

Now I understand you don’t want to eat all of your vegetables fresh, but how do you keep the maximum amount of nutrients in? It won’t kill you to boil your broccoli, but you do want to make sure you don’t overdo it. Microwaving your vegetables is another good way to save your vegetables. When you microwave your vegetables they are not exposed to the heat and water nearly as long as they would with other methods of cooking.

Stir-frying is another great way to keep the vitamins in. By thinly slicing your veggies you can still get the tender tasty bites you look forward to while cutting exposure to heat and water.

Preparing For a New Baby

Anticipating a new little one in your family is an exciting thing. But you may find there are so many new questions and things to worry about. As you get closer and closer to your due date these questions can seem overwhelming and can be the source of a lot of stress and anxiety.

While there is a lot to think about, remember that people go through this all the time and that there are resources for you to turn to. Your doctors will be helpful guides along the way and will be happy to answer your questions. Frequently your doctor’s office or the hospital you’ll deliver at will provide prenatal classes. These classes will cover a wide range of topics such as what to expect during labor and delivery to CPR for newborns.

You’ll want to start looking for some baby essentials a couple months before the baby comes. This way you won’t get suckered into buying anything too expensive out of last minute need. Hospitals will not allow you to bring the baby home without seeing an infant appropriate car seat, so you’ll want to put that high on your to buy list. Whatever you look into, it can be helpful to look at the reviews of the product. Reviews can open you up to ideas and factors you may not have considered yet.

A List of Iron Rich Foods

There are two different types of iron rich foods and it’s important to know the difference when making a purchase at the store for your specific type of needs.

Heme iron is absorbed much easier by the body. It comes from meat and animal sources.

Nonheme iron is as easily absorbed by the body and is not a source of hemoglobin or myoglobin. It comes from plant and animal tissue.

Iron rich foods do not all have the same amount of iron per serving. Below you will find a list of high iron rich foods and some foods you may not have known were iron rich.

• Ready-to-Eat fortified cereal (up to 18 mg per serving)
• Cooked Chicken Liver (up to 13 mg per serving)
• Pacific Oysters; boiled (up to 8 mg per serving)
• Soybean Nuts (up to 4 mg per one-half cup)
• Pumpkin Seeds (4.3 mg per serving; aim for unsalted)
• Black Beans; boiled (3.5 mg per serving)
• Lean Sirloin; broiled (up to 3 mg per serving)

Budgeting Tips For The Home

Right now is the perfect time for you and your family to consider budgeting tips for the home. For a vast majority of people, times have been difficult, money is scarcer and we’re all limited by our current financial situation. With the tips below, you can still live a fulfilled life while living on less.

The first budgeting tip for the home is the most crucial and the one most like to have you doubling taking as you’re doing it. Sit down with your significant other or whomever you share bill and monetary responsibility with. Carefully and truthfully, write down where your money goes each week. Write down exactly how much you spend on each item on the list and then cut out all frivolous expenses. That coffee on the way to work is a need, not a want and should go. Grocery shopping is a need. The ice cream on the list is frivolous and should be cut out.

My favorite budgeting tip for the home is clipping coupons. I see coupons as free money and I’m amazed at how many people don’t use them. Normal every day couponers are not the people you see on TV. I have never bought coupons offline, never dug in a neighbor’s trash, or had a stack so high I needed a box. But, with simple weekly flyers, my one Sunday newspaper, and a few off the internet, along with matching to the sales at my neighborhoods grocery store, I have been able to slash up to 75% off of a grocery bill or score a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal on clothes.

As the old saying goes, Cash is and it’s no lie. With a cash only spending, you can physically see where your money is going, how much you have left, and be much more aware of what and how you’re spending. Also, such places, like gas stations, offer incentives like discounts for paying only in cash.

One budgeting tip for the home that should be followed even when the economy is good is eating at home. Eating out once or more a week adds up and becomes an expense you forget to add into your budget. Asides from a special occasion, it’s a waste of money and not great on your waist line either.

Finally, the last budgeting tip for the home is remembering to incorporate special occasions into your budget. A couple months ahead of time, try to spend a few dollars less at the store or start a separate savings each week to pull from for the year when holidays and birthday roll around.

Make your Home Beautiful by Growing Houseplants

Houseplants not only make the house look beautiful but they can also filter out harmful chemicals in the air thereby purifying it. It may seem tedious to tend to houseplants but actually it’s very low maintenance and satisfactorily rewarding at the end of the day since the home looks more inviting and livelier. If you want to pick up this hobby, below are some tips to help you grow house plants and make your house look attractive.

• Look for the best spots in your house where your plants would look attractive. On the other hand, look for places where the plants would grow perfectly without damage from the sunlight or high humidity. Don’t place the plants near heating elements since this will dry them completely or areas with frequent fluctuations of temperature.
• Place the plants in spots which would liven up the décor of the room. For instance, you can place the plants in the bathroom where there are no windows just to make the room lively. Note that, choosing the best location to place houseplants is a tug of war between the plant’s need for sustenance and survival as well as your need for decoration, so choose the best spot after eliminating all the rest.
• You can grow different types of plants in different spots in your house. Different plants can survive under different conditions; therefore place the plants in different spots in the house depending on how well they would survive there.
• For decoration purposes, you can switch plants in different positions as long as they can do well in another spot. If you notice that one plant is growing faster, you can change it to place where it wouldn’t cause damage with its length.

In conclusion, how well a house plant thrives depends on how well you take care of it.

Ideas on How to Reduce Energy Consumption in Your Hot Tub

Hot tubs are the best relaxing spots especially after a whole day of cleaning, rearranging the house, gardening etc. You can rest in the hot tub for hours just before your family rushes in and get enough relaxation to prepare dinner for your family.

However, though this is the ideal way to relax, hot tubs tend to consume a lot energy thereby making you pay more money in the electricity bill. Here are some ideas to help you reduce energy consumption in your hot tub.

• If you have an electric meter with both day and night reading, make sure the heat cycles from your hot tub are indicated in the night reading since it’s doesn’t register a lot of consumption of electricity.
• When you are not using your tub, switch off all the valves to avoid transfer of air into the jets.
• If your hot tub has an economical mode of usage, try it because you may end up saving much more if it’s you turn it down a few degrees.
• When your hot tub is not in use, use a solar cover to cover it and prevent evaporation which would result in more energy consumption than necessary. Though solar covers tend to be very expensive, at the end of the day you will save more money once you prevent evaporation.
• Note that, most tubs are not well insulated at the bottom thus resulting in energy waste. To spare yourself from the huge electricity bill at the end of the month, insulate your tub properly. If you don’t know how to do this, request for help for handy men skilled in the technique.

The best way you to efficiently use your spa is at night when it’s cold and the warmth is really needed. Avoid using it during the day just because it’s too comfortable and relaxing; this tip could help you reduce energy consumption in the long run.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving time is just a few weeks away. Now is the time to be thinking about getting ready for the celebration with family and friends. There are a few simple things you can do to prepare now for the Thanksgiving gathering.

Prepare the Thanksgiving Menu

Begin thinking about what you would like to prepare for the family gathering. At our home, we are planning to smoke a turkey and a ham. Then sides will need to be chosen for the family. In our case, we will probably do stuffing, mashed potatoes, and some veggies.

Simple menu options will create a more care free Thanksgiving. Or, you may desire to create more extravagant meals. In this case, more preparation thought may be needed to ensure everything goes well.

Prepare the Home for Thanksgiving

Preparing the home for Thanksgiving does not have to take a lot of time in most situations. Some of the things to consider include the following:

• Is there enough seating for those who will attend?
• Do any holiday decorations need placed in the home?
• How can I make the guests more comfortable?
• Will others be helping in the planning process?

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with family and friends. It is a time to enjoy and cherish for the years to come. The season is all about being thankful and spending time with those who are important in your life.

Considering Others

Do you know of others who may be alone during the holiday season? Have you thought about how you and your family can help others in need? This is a tradition in many homes during the holiday season - to reach out and make a difference.

Consider helping a local church with feeding the hungry this year. Some organizations will serve an open Thanksgiving dinner on the holiday itself. Others will make the event a day or so ahead so their members can also have a special time at home.

What other ideas do you have for Thanksgiving? Would you like to share with us? Please leave your comments below and share the Thanksgiving spirit! And, have a wonderful holiday season!

Welcome to Helpful Tips for Home Sweet Home!

Welcome to Helpful Tips for Home Sweet Home!

 

Everyone can enjoy a home sweet home! Many of us spend hours at home and it should bring us comfort and joy when we are there. For some of us, we work from home and need new ideas in how to organize and make things in life more simple.

 

The blog posts here on Helpful Tips for Home Sweet Home will bring valuable information in taking care of the home, decorating the home, and making it yours personally. So, pull up a chair and drink your coffee or tea and enjoy the conversation at hand!

 

New information will be posted on a regular basis to help moms in many different locations. I have created a variety of articles that will be given some new pep and will also be writing some new helpful tips for taking care of the home!

 

Take a few minutes to bookmark my blog, so that you can find it when you have some time to sit and enjoy reading as well as sharing your comments with me!

 

Thank you,

Barbara

AKA TheRealHomeSchoolMom

"You can be a home school mom, too."

"You can have a home sweet home."