Real Moms Love to Eat

There is a new cookbook coming out by Beth Aldrich that is called, Real Moms Love to Eat...how true is that?  If you love to eat you're going to love this book!  Not only has Beth written this book, but she has also started a Food Affairiate Program

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book is written in a mom-to-mom conversational tone, with friendly advice and recommendations. It’s divided into three sections, which include a fun and easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food and 21 days of meal suggestions, tips, recipes and lifestyle exercises—all to help you continue your love affair with food to look fabulous. Beth’s approach to healthy eating, losing weight and feeling fabulous, is simple and realistic for busy moms. You’ll learn a lot about the food you eat and how it impacts your body and still have loads of fun experiencing new foods and enjoying life.

This is a book that will make moms all over feel better, we love to eat, but society seems to tell us we shouldn’t.  Have you seen those models out there?  They don’t eat.  I eat….that’s why I’m not a model!  I also have the worst time being creative with food...I'd be happy to be hooked up to a line of fluids and just be done with it, but I think my family would be a bit upset with me if I stopped baking, cooking and grocery shopping.

If you would like to read some reviews on the book visit HERE 

...If the reviews got you excited you can PRE-ORDER the book HERE and be eligible for PRIZES! ...and if you're interested in becoming a FOOD AFFAIRIATE then visit HERE!

I think that Beth is onto something great here and with the Holidays right around there corner we all need a little help, those extra pounds have a way of creeping up on a daily basis but they tend to creep a little faster during the holidays, go on over and see what Beth has going on, I think you'll be glad you did!

About Author Beth Aldrich:

In the snowy wake of a serious car accident in 2007, Beth Aldrich came to a fork in the road and had to make some serious decisions. With her PBS TV Career and face hanging in the balance, she decided to put her television and media career on hold and shuffle off to NYC each month to study with some of the most renowned food, health, nutrition and wellness luminaries in the world to become a Certified Holistic Health Counselor—to help other women find their true path to health, healing and a sexy, strong body.
Today, Beth is a Certified Health Counselor, Healthy Lifestyle and Nutrition Expert, engaging speaker, media personality and author of the book, Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food and Still Look Fabulous (New American Library, a member of the Penguin Group (USA), January 3, 2012); she delivers health, nutrition and balanced living fundamentals through keynote addresses, presentations, lectures and as a media spokesperson. As a health and nutrition columnist for Diet.com, SocialMoms.com, HotMomsClub.com and RealMomsLovetoEat.com, Beth shares her wisdom, experience and knowledge about health and nutrition topics. From food coaching, and living a balanced life to, the energetics of food and finding your passion, Beth delivers her message in a charismatic and inspiring way
She is the founder of For Her Information Media, LLC (FHI) established in 2003, with productions such as the PBS TV series, For Her Information (aired in Turkey, Israel and 60 cities, nationwide), the radio shows, A Balanced Life with Beth Aldrich, and Real Moms Love to Eat with Beth Aldrich, and the online magazine and newsletter, FHI Online. Her company’s mission is to be a life guide for conscious-minded women. Beth is also the founder of Restoring Essence Nutrition, LLC and a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Beth received her education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.
Beth also holds a B.A. in English/Journalism from Christopher Newport University in Virginia. With more than 25 years of on-camera experience, as well as training at the Second City Training Center in Chicago and the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Beth has developed the enigmatic wit and kindness to engage and captivate audiences and groups during her speaking engagements, workshops and seminars. She held the lead role in all of Delta Airlines on-board videos for five years, appeared in several commercials and has been featured on numerous radio shows and media outlets. Having completed four marathons as a mother of three, including the coveted Boston Marathon (with a personal best time), Beth learned a lot about her own body, nutrition and the body/mind connection. Due to running injuries, she was faced with the challenge of working through her pain to find healthy solutions that supported her body rather than medicating it. Her natural instinct to research and delve into nutrition and wellness topics brought her to a place of health, happiness, and a personal best marathon time in Boston.

Beth is a Luminary Circle Member of Step Up Women’s Network, Chicago chapter, where she serves as a mentor for young up-and-coming businesswomen. She also served on the original Executive Committee and developed and created the guidebook for Cool Globes, an artistic global warming exhibit that appeared on Chicago’s lakefront in the summer of 2007. Beth regularly volunteers at her children’s schools, often donating nutritional and media-based projects for the parents and classroom.

Beth’s publishing debut in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series book, Power Moms (Simon & Schuster 2009), recounts her touching story about her serious car accident and recovery and how it impacted her as a mother.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

Does Verizon FiOS Appeal to You? Have you heard of it?

It's been some time since HDTV has invaded our homes, do you like it, or are you like me....we very rarely turn on the TV, mostly to catch the weather, problem is, it's exactly when we need to hear about the weather that the TV fails us due to a bad signal, which drives me crazy.  Verizon's FiOS comes to the rescue with advanced fiber optic technology which lets you watch without weather interference for one, as well as better quality all around.  So I'm thinking here that you wouldn't need to install a towering antennae to get reception if you live in the trees!

I'm not very tech savvy so a lot of the info. about FiOS is above my head, but as far as the basics go, it sounds pretty interesting!

I don't think FiOS is out there to turn everyone into TV junkies, but it does have quite a bit of convenience.  A media manager lets you access info from different online sites and get this....you can tweet on it, imagine being able to tweet for your favorite contestant as soon as the info appears on the TV screen!  In a way FiOS almost scares me when I think about all I would be able to do straight from my TV screen.

You can also buy, rent and watch videos with FiOS, I wonder if this will have any impact on places like the Redbox or NetFlix?  My son down loads quite a few Netflix documentaries and they have been a great learning tool for History and Science so I'm definitely curious about the videos that would be available to download.

What about the internet?  FiOS has great internet service, high speed reliability, wouldn't that be great?  Our family travels quite extensively during the winter months.  We always call campgrounds and State Parks before we book to see if our cell phone coverage works, many times what the employees say is quite different than reality, which makes life difficult when you work from your computer and the kids do their school online.  I would get FiOS just for the internet service!

FiOS seems to have quite a bit of a draw, I can take or leave the TV, but as far as for myself and my family, I think the internet service is very appealing, what do you think?  Is this something you would use?  You can learn more about Verizon FiOS below.  I'd also love to hear from you if you have FiOS in your home!

About Verizon FiOS

Modern consumers enjoy the ultimate digital lifestyle at work, home and play with Verizon FiOS advanced and integrated TV and broadband services. The speed and intelligence of the nation’s largest all-fiber-optic network lets FiOS customers create personalized, integrated entertainment and information experiences that connect them to everything they care about -- anytime, anywhere, on a multitude of devices. FiOS helps make life easier, more productive and more fun.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Verizon FiOS blogging program for a gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Coca-Cola Memories

What is your SODA drink of choice? Mine…..Coca-Cola all the way! I actually love the Coca-Cola Zero, has great taste, none of that diet taste to it at all!

When you do you drink soda? I used to work with a girl who kept a case of Diet Coke under her desk. She drank it warm throughout the work day! Generally, I save the soda for a bad migraine or for pizza night. Sometimes with a burger, there just seem to be certain meals that cry “SODA”, don’t you think?

My mother-in-law is a Coca-Cola fiend, I’m not fooling with you, so years ago when I went to Las Vegas I visited the Coca-Cola store and bought her a tourist case of soda and a cookbook…..have you ever seen how many recipes you can put soda in, have you tried it?

If you’re not sure of the results and how they’ll go over, make cherry jello, replace the cold water with soda, add some cherries and a dollop of whipped cream….quite delightful!

Thinking of soda, remember the great cases you could buy back in the day, a cold tall Coca-Cola straight out of the fridge….so much better than how it is now, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles, just not the same!

I remember once, after grocery shopping we returned home and my cousins were at our house. My older cousin offered to carry in the soda, now I can’t remember how it happened but he fell and of course the soda bottles broke all over and he cut himself….I not sure what I felt worse about, losing all of the soda we just spent our money on, or the fact he was hurt! Doesn’t sound very nice, but, hey, I was a kid…I knew my priorities, great Classic Coca-cola from a glass bottle, or a cousin that picked on me!

Remember when they’d have the Pepsi or Coca-Cola challenges? They’d set up a table at the local stores and give you a drink of each and then you’d have to tell them which one was which…I haven’t seen any challenges lately, have you? I wonder if they still do them, if I remember correctly, they always gave out coupons…gotta love a good coupon!

We also used to play games, drink our cola and have popcorn and or ice cream on special evenings….most fun was when we played Aggravation! I’m certain if I thought a little longer I could come up with more fun memories, but I’d love to hear some of yours!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here."

What is your favorite thing about Easter?

Easter is right around the corner, do you celebrate BIG? Have family traditions, or just go with the flow? Easter, like so many holidays has become commercialized to the hilt, I saw the Easter decorations go up in stores as soon as the Valentine’s came down, it’s difficult to keep up or even enjoy the holiday of the moment!  For now, you can simply enjoy the upcoming holiday with the new movie, HOP.

I wouldn’t put Easter at the top of my list for favorites, I do enjoy the religious aspect of it, but as far as great traditions, I try….but spring while it’s nice to think of warmer weather, just doesn’t happen that quickly in MN. I remember being a little girl, going to the store to pick out my Easter dress and then having to wear it under a winter coat!

I love to dye Easter eggs, I don’t like to eat them, but it’s just plain fun to see what we can come up with each year, even though my kids are teenagers, we still have fun with this! Easter is all about subtlety for me, just a few colored eggs, a fluffy little chick and some knit eggs lay around my house…if I’m lucky I have a few daffodils or tulips in my garden to decorate the table!

Easter dinner just calls out ham and cheesecake, whether we’re with our families or alone for Easter we just must have our ham dinner! What do you eat for Easter dinner? My in-laws always hide little chocolate eggs around the house for us to nibble on when we’re there…my mom always colors eggs with the grandkids and I’m not sure what kind of traditions I’ll have when I have grandkids, but I do know it’ll include ham and cheesecake!  I also love Easter candy, but you know how the saying goes, "they don't make it like they used to"  I used to love the chocolate eggs filled with the different flavored creams, but my standby favorite is the good ole Cadbury egg!

On the funny side of Easter:
One year I went crazy and made jello in the shape of a rabbit, and a rabbit shaped cake….have you done anything crazy? Or had any great mishaps?

I do have to question the rabbits and eggs, why is it a rabbit that delivers the eggs? I just don’t get that part, shouldn’t the chicken be doing it? Where does the rabbit come into the equation? I suppose it could be that the chicken would feel bad if it were giving away all of its eggs, but generally speaking, they should be used to it!! Oh, and what about the squirrels that steal the plastic eggs hidden in the trees and bushes? I’ll bet they get pretty excited about finding such a spectacular treat for their bounty!

All in all Easter is a time to be thankful, it’s one of those days where churches are full, people are happy and stores make a killing, and it's a wonderful excuse to be with family. When Easter comes close we just know that spring is bound to happen, especially this year with such a late Easter how can spring NOT be around the corner?

I would love to hear about your traditions…a special meal, a movie, hiding baskets, what do you do?

"I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hop blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate click HERE

Top 10 tips for getting away with great family deals

It's been a long winter, spring is right around the corner as well as SPRING BREAK! Do you have Spring Break plans or are you like so many people, feeling the money crunch? Well, let me tell you, you don't have to spend a ton of money to have a little fun. Air travel has skyrocketed and with the price you have to pay for your baggage who wants to even pack clothes, then of course, you have the good ole pat down at security, that's not my idea of the beginning of a great family vacation!

Road Trip. To some, that may scream DISASTER....really, it doesn't have to be! My sister recently went on a road trip from WI to FL with her 4 young children, they survived and did it on a budget. I just returned from a 2 month RV trip with the hubby, 2 teens and a pooch, we survived, barely (but that's another story) In order to have a successful road trip, meaning one where you return home with the same amount of family members as you left with just takes some careful planning!

Does a road trip have to be far? Nope. I bet there are some great places right in your state that offer a great get-away, I'll leave that up to you, but here are some ideas to help you get away and save a few dimes and your sanity along the way!

1. Join AAA, notice that's 3 A's not 2! They offer free maps, brochures, roadside assistance, from experience I can say it's awesome!

2. Do your research, check gas prices there are many sites that list cheapest places to buy gas/fuel.

3. Plan ahead, buy healthy snacks before you leave instead of at convenience stores.

4. Pack sandwiches for along the trip instead of stopping for fast food.

5. Entertainment, keep the kids busy by printing off car games online, be creative, make your own games, all it will cost is the price of your paper and ink.

6. If you're staying at a hotel book well in advance, don't just accept the rate they give you, usually they have cheaper rates, you just need to ask.

7. Kids like to buy things on a trip, set aside a set amount of money, or give them a set amount to use, once it's gone, well...it's gone.

8. Coupons, coupons, coupons. Even when you travel you can use coupons.

9. Get a hotel with continental breakfast, you'll have one free meal!

10. Better yet, if you don't want to plan a long road trip, stay close to home, research the fun around you, pack a lunch, a camera and make it a day trip!

There are so many ways to have an enjoyable get away. Sometimes a spur of the moment get away will have longer lasting memories than a great planned out vacation. Structure isn't always for the best!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

Redbox: Lucky to Have Friends Like You Promotion

March is the month for everyone to be Irish! The luck of the Irish is being shared with Redbox, in their Lucky to Have Friends Like You promotion: Each fan receives a unique web address. Every time someone rents from your address through March 17, you get a free movie credit. Rental credits are valid for ten (10) days after they’ve been deposited into your account. Spread the word, and lucky you could be rolling in free movies this March.

Now, if you’re like my family, you LOVE the price of Redbox movies and get tickled pink when you find a discount code for a FREE redbox movie, sure it’s only a dollar, but a penny saved, a penny earned, right? If a Redbox code makes you feel lucky, there simply must be many other things that make you feel downright lucky, well, there are quite a few things that make me feel just plain lucky:

I feel lucky because I have a wonderful family. My parents were always there for me while growing up, they weren’t afraid to discipline me, which I think made me a much better person. Right alongside the discipline was a whole lot of love and fun. I am lucky because not only do I have great parents but a wonderful brother and sister as well as an extended family that is very close.

My luck began as a child but grew with me when I met my husband, I am lucky every single day simply because he is by my side. I am lucky because I have two absolutely wonderful teens and while we get on each other’s nerves from time to time we always come back together and move past whatever got us grumpy in the first place!

I am lucky because my family actually enjoys sitting down for meals together, playing a board game and watching a movie, most of all I am lucky because I have God in my life and with him by my side all things are possible and the impossible somehow always seems to turn out ok.

What makes you feel lucky? There is so much more in my life that makes me feel lucky, I would love to hear some of your ‘lucky’….is it a new ball of yarn, a special book, a favorite pet? Luck can be simple or it can go much deeper than the surface, my goodness, I even feel lucky to make it home safely after driving down the highway in my car! I would love to hear your ‘lucky’ comments, c’mon, share the luck of the Irish!


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and redbox blogging program, for a $25 Walmart gift card from redbox. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”