The Healthiest Cheap Food in America | Eat This, Not That

The Healthiest Cheap Food in America | Eat This, Not That

Lifestyle Changes

Hello World...

I had a busy weekend but an enjoyable one. Me & Autumn had our time out this weekend. She never fails to amaze me. One moment she is on my nerves and the next I can't get enough of my princess. She is truly is the best of me.

So as we are in a new year and already one month in...I had been thinking a lot of getting me back to ME. Before I had my daughter, I was really in shape. I exercise..ate healthy and really was staying in shape. I believe those habits helped me have a great pregnancy. Post pregnancy, I went through some major changes. I did lose all my baby weight and then some. I was happy but I lost of some of my muscle tone. When I went back to work..the weight came back on as I wasn't nursing as much and eating out more. So as I looked at myself, I notice I am not as healthy as I was before and it was seriously time to invest back into my health.

I read so much about weight loss and healthy living. I realize the best thing is creating a healthy lifestyle which will contribute to eating better, losing weight and feeling really good about yourself.
So I made a conscious decision that I need to get back to healthy habits for me and for my family. I'm not getting any younger per se ( well..I still have my youthful look).

So these are some tips I am going to implement for 2011

1. Drink plenty water...(I admit I was drinking a lot of juice full of sugar..no more..WATER..WATER and MORE WATER)
2. Eat Breakfast (Ugh..growing up this was always an issue for me..My mother blasted me about this over and over so I must force myself to eat something even if it a powerbar)
3. Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day ( Seriously when I was focus on weight loss never understood why should I eat more. I read something that said Eat More Lose More which help boost the metabolism. I do tend to eat just one time a day or two big meals. So I will try this method and see ;0)
4. Exercise. ( my issue is time. Between work and Autumn, and school my time is limited but I will try)
5.  Stay Focus and Be Positive. This is about me and making sure I am healthy to take care of my family.

The first night of a new Bed routine

Well the had come where I had to put my foot down a new routine. After the past few nights of being restless...I could not take it no more. Last night, I laid Autumn for bedtime earlier than I have ever done. I came home for work..gave her warm bath first...prepare dinner ...read stories and played with her and then by 9pm..lights were out. Now honestly, I felt this was not going to happen with me getting her to bed early each night. I don't get home from work until 715pm. So I had her bedtime at around 10 to 1030pm. At first it was working for 10pm but she really started wanting to stay up later and sleep later.

I realize she is not getting enough sleep especially the 10-12 hours of sleep she needs. Myself, definitely is not getting enough rest. So when I laid her down around 9pm..of course she cried and cried. I left the room..took a shower and she was still whinning. So here comes Daddy asking was I tryting to have her to bed by 830pm. I said yes, she needs rest and so do I. Like I knew it, he went in the room to soothe her. I was mad. I don't want my princess to cry but at the same time I know she is tired and needs sleep. I was realizing how dyfuncitional our household was becoming with her basically in control. She is cranky in the morning and I'm moody too. I was gulity to fact that I didn't think I was spending enough time with her afterwork since we both are gone 10 hours a day. However I try to make most of our weekend. I will keep track of how this new bedtime routine goes for the both of us.

However, I want her to be happy. So after last night of her going to bed early..(yes she woke up again at 2am and did not go back to sleep until a little after 3am..I let her cry and of course I couldn't sleep) I notice an improvement of how happy she was this morning ready for school.

Sleepless Nights

When will I ever get a good 8 hours of straight sleep without any interruptions? I really need a peaceful night of sleep. Little Autumn sleeping habits are not consistent. She is back to waking up too early in the morning and going to bed too late at night. I read some of the various methods to helping babies go to bed from the Ferber method to the Brazelton methods. I tried both. I found the Brazelton method to be more effective and was working for a few months and then the old habits came back. She wants to see me, touch me and be next too me. She can't stand the point of not being in the same room with me for a long period of time. Although, I'm a light sleeper myself, I find myself jumping up to every sound I hear coming from her room. Lately, I would wait until it got unbearable for me before I go into her room. There she is standing up in her crib waiting for me to pick her up. Now usually this happen around 4am or 5am in the morning. However, sometimes she won't go to sleep until 11pm or later. So my restless child won't rest her nerves long enough for mommy to rest hers. I usually don't go to sleep until after midnight so for her to wake up at 5am when I have to get up at 630am is not fair. When I put her in the bed with me, she just moves all around the bed, kick me in the face or back and drive her daddy crazy. I wake up with my neck sore and even a headache.

So I have been doing some more reading and going to try some new methods because now that she is 18 months ( 1  1/2 years old), mommy really need some sleep!!!!!

How to Keep Your Sex Drive Alive During Pregnancy

During Pregnancy, you experience so many emotions and your body goes through changes too.
Good Article on keeping it spicy in the bedroom

How to Keep Your Sex Drive Alive During Pregnancy

Mommy I'm Expensive..So SAVE NOW FOR COLLEGE

My little princess Autumn. She was three months then. When I saw this shirt, I had to buy it. Months later she is still living to the meaning of being the Million Dollar Baby. Little Diva requires a lot. Most importantly, she requires that I invest in her future. As mothers' our children are the most important thing we have as a responsibility. They depends on us so much. I pray each day to be a better mother and do my best to give her everything she needs and little of what she wants :)

So I decided it's time to invest in a 529 plan for her. Coming from a background in financial services, I know the benefits of starting one. She will get a good education and without all the expenses and debt with it. ( don't want her to have my experiences). So mothers if you haven't started on college planning..Start today. Your baby is worth it.

Men just don't Understand

Good Morning

I'm extremely exhausted after staying up late working on a paper for class and doing some business work. You would think my other half would notice and offer to stay home last night with our daughter to help me out. NO. Going to the gym was so much more important. Yes, I use to love going to gym at my leisure but things have change now. Autumn come first. I don't have the luxury of getting and going as I wish. Unfortunately, some gym have daycare and the services are very limited. I'm gone 10 hours each day and by the time I would come home after an hour workout, Autumn tired and hungry and so is he. So superwoman to the rescuse to cook dinner, feed her, give her a bath, and get her ready for bed. Guess what its already now past 10 o clock. Yes, welcome to my world during the week. But I do what I have to do because she is my responsibility and I must provide the life she deserve. So do I make sacrifices by not going to the gym as I would want. Could have did the same...YES. but Men really just don't understand.

My Love

The power of LOVE is a force so strong that nothing can match it. It's a feeling of sacrifice, commitment, and belonging. I love my daughter. She's the essence of me

MLK Day Legacy of Service - 25th Anniversary

My Dream for my Daughter

I have a Dream that one day my daughter will grow up in a world without injustice and prejudice, but in a world that exhibit love and peace. Where she can learn and play in safety. Where she can express herself without hatred and be judge upon her intelligence and actions.. and not the color of her skin. I have a dream today...Remembering MLK

Daycare Dilemma

My daughter recently was told by the doctor she had an ear infection. Oh boy, here I go again. Since she started daycare last year, I had to deal with the colds and ear infections on more than one occasion. Her pediatrician was thorough in explaining the causes and why being in a daycare surrounded by other children will have her go through sickness until her immune system gets stronger. She had her Flu shots, I give her vitamins daily, and even cod liver oil( she doesn't like this too much). It is important to keep her hands clean and I am really adamant about keeping her hands and nails clean. Babies love putting everything in their mouth. Therefore, they will catch germs which will cause them to get sick. So the Daycare Dilemma of having to go the doctor often because of a cold, or ear infection will continue until at least elementary school age. I swear I went to her pediatrician at least one a month for something. So imagine the cost of co-pays, medicine and just time spent away from work. But I'm thankful through it all she was strong and continue to be a little fighter. A mother can't prevent everything a child will go through, but she can be there through it all and continue to keep her baby healthy and smiling :)

Baby Eczema Care

When my daughter was born, three months later I discover that she had eczema. All I knew about eczema was that it was when you suffer from very dry skin. Well, I had more to learn and I did my research. Of course no mother wants to see her baby suffer with dry, irritating skin.  When she started to developed rashes, I look to find way to help in treatment. My doctor immediately told me to use non-fragrance soaps and refer to the Aveeno Baby products. I was amaze by the statistics of new babies being born with eczema. Even some of my friends had experience this with their babies. I remember asking the question, if Johnson and Johnson products are not good, why are they on the market? So all the baby gifts I received of Johnson and Johnson products had to go. Did you know that Dreft, the number one recommended detergent for babies has fragrance? Therefore, not good for eczema babies. Any detergent that is Free & Clear is much better. I use Seventh Generation or All Free & Clear to watch my daughter clothes. I have tried a number of products and prescription creams. Aveeno Soothing Relief Body Wash is great and I use the Aveeno Shampoo for washing her hair. For moisturizing her skin, I use the Aveeno Soothing Relief Body lotion. Babies with eczema must constantly stay moisturize especially in colder weather. When the weather started changing, my babies had a breakout and begin to scratch. As she became a toddler, I began a fan of 100% purse Shea Butter. It does work wonders. 100% Olive oil is good as well as pure Aloe Vera. Although there is no cure for eczema, keeping your baby moisturize is very important in helping with the relief. Baby eczema is not curable and many doctors say that as children get older they can grow out of it. Some eczema is trigger to certain foods and type of clothing. So far, I can not determine if my daughter is allergic to anything. Some days her skin is very smooth and clear. Some day she may experience a flare up. So I stock up on the Aveeno Soothing Relief Lotion and use it daily.

PrettyMomRocks: Baby Eczema Care

PrettyMomRocks: Baby Eczema Care

Maximize the moment

You are the person you choose to be. So choose to be the person who fulfills and brings to life values you hold most dearly. Today is your opportunity to express yourself to the world through the life you live and actions you take. The challenges of this moment provide a provide a rich canvas upon which you can paint the highest vision you have.

Staying home with a sick child

Working moms!  The biggest challenges that working mothers have to deal with it is leaving work early due to a emergency, caring for their baby when they are sick and being absent from work. I believe that one of the disadvantages of working for a company is when emergencies happen...they happen. Some employers are understanding and allocate you sick days and others just don't care.

Yesterday, when I dropped my daughter off to school, I had that guilt feeling something was wrong with her. She had been a little congestion and was on medicine but it wasn't doing the job. Other kids in her classroom I notice was sick and on the same medicine. So I told her teacher, please call me if you notice she is not feeling well. Of course she cried because she didn't want to leave me and that made it worst on me because I felt guilty of taking her to school. So two hours later, I got the phone call and I drove quickly to get my baby. I immediately made a doctor's appointment to bring her in.

So the diagnosis was an ear infection, cold and a fever. Doctors don't like to prescribe any cold medicine to babies under 2 years old. However, she got antibiotics for the ear infection and ibuprofen for the fever.  For her cold, it was recommended to use saline drops (non medicated) to drain out the mucus. Little ones don't know how to blow their nose or cough up the mucus so its best to use the saline drops to have it drain out.

It became an exhausting day....waiting for the doctors...waiting at the pharmacy and traveling home to just rest. At the end of the day, she is feeling better. Her fever broke and she is getting back to
normal :)

I had to stay home an extra day due to precaution from the doctor. I realize that I don't like feeling guilty when I have to go to work and have a sick child at home. I realize I must continue work on my independence and working for myself and creating an empire for my family. That's the beauty of being your boss..you call the shots. So when I need to stay home.. I will do so with no regrets.

Macy’s Heart of Haiti: Tuesday #gno Twitter Party on Giving Back

Macy’s Heart of Haiti: Tuesday #gno Twitter Party on Giving Back

Thought for the day. When work, commitment and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.

Morning Sickness

Congratulations to all new pregnancies for 2011. (sorry not joining this club this year) Make sure you stay positive and take care of yourself. Here are some tips that helped me during my first trimester.

#1. In the morning, move out of bed slowly
#2. Keep Ginger Ale and saltines crackers handy
#3. When taking your prenatal vitamins, take it with food and preferably in the afternoon.
#4. If you exercised before pregnancy, continue to do so but within limits
#5. Take it easy...It's all about you and the baby

Hello World. I added a new widget to the page where you can submit questions and answers. You can also email at prettymomrocks@gmail.com

Praying with your children

One of my most fondest memories as a child was praying with my mother. I believe this created a bond between us and a memory that I continue with my daughter. I remember every night before bedtime my mom had me and my brother kneel with her and we prayed. My mother taught me how to pray. She would start off with the Lord's prayer or the Psalms 23 and then we recited our own prayer. Over the years, we became comfortable talking to God. My mother would have us take turns. She was patience and never pressured us...just told me to talk about what I wanted and what I was thankful for. When I lay Autumn down to sleep at night, I thank God so much for blessing me to be mom. She is a gift to me. I remember dreaming of having a daughter...a mini ME. I truly have a purpose in life and I see each time I look at her.

Home Childproofing Tips

Home Childproofing Tips

Child Proofing

I realize that I can not child proof my home enough. My daughter always seems to find a way to reach something...get something...or tear something up. All day I'm running behind her to grab something out of hand or mouth. She is so quick now that when I say "no" Autumn..she take off running like she doing a 100 meter dash. ( she is going to run track). Constantly, I'm saying..".be a good girl"..."don't touch"..."mommy says no"...sit down etc. She keeps me busy. I swear I should be a size 6 by now.
Today in the kitchen, she got creative and brought her little scooter bus in the kitchen...stood up on it to reach for something on the counter. I'm watching her thinking...if she falls and hurt herself would it teach her a lesson ? Of course, I picked her up and told her not to do it and of course she tried it again. I put locks on the cabinets... I moved stuff of the floor that are hazardous out of her reach..I teach her what's bad to touch..and Yet, unless I have an empty house Miss Autumn will find something besides the tons of money I spent on toys for her to arouse her curiosity.  Joys of Motherhood.

A Mother's Sacrifice

As Mothers we sacrifice so much for our children.
Everything is centered around them..their needs and wants. Sorry I can't get that new coach purse  right now because she is growing so fast that clothes, shoes and her necessities comes first. Every time lately I attempt to go shopping for me, I end up in Children's place or Macys children section. All about the little one. I can't help myself sometimes. I still trying to find my balance with still having my needs and wants...and taking time out for me. I do enjoy our time we spend. This morning, I just watched her as she was sleeping in my bed. She looked so precious and loves to lay right under me. Today is family day. So we going to go have lunch and maybe watch a movie together if she can sit long enough. I know God put me in this role for a reason. The is the biggest accomplishment of my life....

My Baby has a Temper

So today I received another report from my daughter school that she acted out because she did not get her way. Today she decided to scratch a child in the face on the playground. This morning, while rushing to get her to school and me to work, I notice her nails needed clipping. I wish I should have just clip her nails. Why she decided today to  use her hand inappropriately? My frustration with this is that for the past 3 months, I have received six reports about her behavior. She was on a biting a frenzy where the teachers would say it normal but as a mother I don't want a bad report. The only thing going through my mind was she was about to get kick out of school and she is only 15 months old. So I did my research, and had my talks with the teachers and with MS. AUTUMN. Each day I tell her she is a good little girl and she should share toys and not hurt people. My little princess likes attention and don't like when she can't have her way.
(NO SHE DID NOT INHERIT THIS FROM ME). So time to tighten up on the discipline because I can't be going through this at this age.

CouponSuzy

Great site to get coupons on your groceries. We need all the savings we can get. If you don't believe in coupons, the next time you come across some and want to give them away, CALL ME. I will definitely appreciate it. Enjoy

Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock

Pampers....Pampers....and More Pampers

Mothers, would you agree that we need more coupons available for Pampers. I must admit that Huggies do issue coupons for their customers, but I'm a Pampers Mom. Yes, I join the rewards program and had a good share of savings of pampers. However, lately, I haven't seen much available for pampers or even wipes. If you know of any sources of coupons...please share.

Welcome To Pretty Mom Rocks!

Hello World

Welcome to Pretty Mom Rocks! This forum is every new mom or mom to be. It's a place where we can share our joys of motherhood and some frustrations that can go along with it. One of the greatest gifts from God is giving birth. At that moment, you life changes.  You have a special baby looking up to you, and staring into your eyes and at the at moment, you realize you are a MOM.. I use to think is there some special ingredients that make of a mom. The three I would choose is 1. Love  2. Patience  3. Dedication

Love is the greatest power is the world. It conquers all. Patience is much needed. If you don’t have patience now, a baby will teach you. Lastly, is dedication. You have to be dedication to your child. You are the mother, teacher, provider and their support.

This year is New Year for growth. I wish every mother out there the best for you and your family.

The best is yet to come