Writing for the popular blog, http://thedomesticdiva.org, I’ve had my fair share of moments with both the “fashion do” and the “fashion don’t. But over time I’ve learned what works for me and what doesn’t when it comes to being a “hot mom”.

One Hot Mom

To Need or Not to Need

Hot, not, or indifferent, I know being a mom is never easy. We all want to be the best parents we can be, and can often equate being a good mom with sacrificing our own wants and needs when it comes to things like shopping and dressing with more than just the basics in mind. I’ve met some Moms who feel like doing ANYTHING meant just for themselves is a thing of the past since they decided to have kids. It doesn’t have to be that way. Our needs as Moms are still as important as they were before we went domestic.

The Balancing Act

While it’s no small feat, we Mom’s manage to adjust our lifestyles to make it possible (and fun!) to take good care of our little ones amongst the usual chaos of everyday life. Adjustments, concessions, and the occasional ability to leap a tall building in a single bound are often necessary when you have a family, but there is no need to adjust your personal needs into obscurity. Even if most days you feel like you should be wearing a cape.

Priorities

If being a fashionable, hot mom isn’t the highest priority in your life, you don’t need to feel selfish if you want to keep it somewhere on your lengthy list of things to do. Personally, I try to keep in mind that the better I look, the better I feel. The better I feel, the happier I am. Everyone around me seems to reap the benefits of this notion.
Don’t get me wrong! I realize that sweats and old t-shirts are usually the required attire in getting though life’s ups (vacuuming cobwebs off ceilings) and downs (scrubbing dirty toilets) but your Everyday Diva can still weigh in on what she wears when the serious heavy lifting is finally at rest for the day.

Diva Do’s & Diva Don’ts

Even those of us who are lucky enough to have found a way around staying in our sweats to clean our homes all day every day, know that if it’s not one thing it’s another. You know what I’m getting at and trust me, like many others I struggle with the fact that my body doesn’t resemble in any way what it looked like before having my children.
I’ve been told that true beauty comes from within, and I agree with that 100%. But for those of us who are interested in making a bit more of a fashion statement, here are some basics to keep in mind while dressing the outside of your Inner Diva:

Do’s:

• Do look for well-fitting, age-appropriate attire that is comfortable to you.
• Do add a little color. Scared? Start small by matching a purse or belt with your shoes.

Don’ts:

• Don’t wear frumpy clothes. You know what they look like, and they are a big NO-no!
• Don’t wear baggy, saggy or raggy duds. (-the guilty among us know who we are, so let’s stop hiding in those overly-long, overly-loose, dated numbers.)

Dollars & Sense?

High-priced clothing is expensive. Personal style isn’t. Looking great in what you wear doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Finding clothes that look good on you is do-able even on a very limited budget. Some excellent stores to shop for exceptional fashion without breaking the bank are:

• TJMaxx or Marshallsstore where I found 3 fabulous budget friendly looks under $50.
• Kohls Department Stores have an awesome sales alert program and even better clearance prices.
• A.J.Wright a new store I recently discovered that has absolutely fantastic prices!

Read more on what I bought in The Domestic Diva archives:

1. Marhalls & TJMaxx :http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/2009/06/08/monetary-monday-looking-fabulous-for-less-with-marshalls-and-tjmaxx/
2. Kohls: http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/2009/05/18/monetary-monday-kohls-sales-alerts/
3. A.J. Wright: http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/category/shopping-for-less-at-tjmaxx-and-marshalls/

Even a local Thrift Store or Goodwill can be a great place to snag some fashion finds!

http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/2009/03/01/get-thrifty-finds-of-the-week/

Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

The Domestic Diva
______________________________________________________________________

This great fashion-forward Mom post was generously provided by Heather Batts, a.k.a The Domestic Diva. Heather is a mom turned professional blogger who dishes daily about products she loves, v-logs on being a tech-savvy diva, as well as offers, how-to tips and money saving tricks for our domesticated lives.

You can read more by the Domesic Diva at: http://www.thedomesticdiva.org
Follow her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thedomesticdiva
Or check out her YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/thedomesticdiva

Best,

MP Godfrey
& Team Malt-O-Meal

I spend a part of each day reading blogs written by people who share the amazing stories of their lives with us. Sometimes the blog entries relate to Malt-O-Meal cereal directly, and sometimes not so directly. No matter how they fit in, the stories and posts featured on this blog are often as educational as they are heart-warming. One such story comes to us from a family who recently endured the lengthy process of child adoption from outside the US.

About a year ago, the Henderson’s returned from Russia with two VERY tiny, new additions to their family in-tow. Many of us know what a challenge it can be to get our picky eaters to finish what we put on their plates. This family had an entirely different version of the “picky-eater” challenge ahead of them with trying to feed two children who were severely underweight, undersized, and unfamiliar with Western food.

I must further preface this story for the readers who don’t already know that Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat® tastes really good when prepared using the recipe on the box. Increasing the caloric content usually isn’t necessary to get adequate nutrition and flavor benefits. It’s fortified with vitamins and minerals including iron and has been approved by WIC program dietitians and kid nutrition experts in 33 States. (However, I still add a serving fruit to mine, but I’m a somewhat of a rebel.)

This blog entry from www.clutteredpantry.com was written by Mr. Henderson about 7 months ago:

” It’s been 5 months since we brought home our two new, adorable, tiny daughters from eastern Siberia. We’re so unbelievably happy to have them in our lives, and we’re even more happy that these two sisters get to stay together. That day in October, when we finally began our 18 hours of air travel home with them, they were happy, but quite small (hardly on the US growth charts) and, as they only spoke Russian, difficult to anticipate with regard to what they’d be able, or willing, to eat. Once we got home to Chicago we kind of looked at each other, looked at them, and considered how we’d reach our goals for helping them to pack on healthy weight just as quickly as possible. (more…)

You know the one.

The kid who is screeching like a banshee in public, running around like a madman and his mother chasing him going Sssshhhh! and Stop that!.  Then they think it’s funny that you’re chasing them so they run faster and farther away, crawl under something where you are unable to reach them.  Then when you do manage to drag them out from wherever, it’s chaos all over again.

I’m the Mom that other people look at with deep sympathy because they’ve been there (and are thanking their lucky stars that those days are over…or maybe they just left their kid at home?).  Or roll their eyes and give me that look.  You know THAT look that they give to THAT Mom with THAT kid.

The terrible twos really are terrible and have really been a challenge for me.  I really DON’T KNOW what to do to make my kid calm down.  I don’t know what to do to make him sit still and be good while in public.

Short of never (never!) taking him out in public again, what do I do?

• I chase him.
• I “whisper yell” at him. You all know what I’m talking about…whisper yelling. Admit it, you’ve done it.
• I bribe him. That never works either, but I always try. Just in case. I’d buy him a freakin’ pony if he just sat in the cart and didn’t yell “MINE!” to everything we passed.

That’s all I can do.  I assure you if I grab him and force him to do something he doesn’t want he will let out a deafening, eardrum-piercing shriek that will make dogs howl, babies cry and ambulances and police cars show up expecting the worst.  In fact, I’m pretty sure all of you, wherever you are, have heard my kid scream before.

And I won’t leave the store without my purchases…because that just means I have to come back and there is a 50% chance I’d have to bring him with me.  Nope.  No way.  Not gonna’ do it. We all have to suffer now and then, so all of you giving me the stink-eye are just going have to deal with it.

• If you see me at the store and I’m crying…you know why.

• If you see me at a restaurant on my hands and knees “whisper yelling”…you know why.

• If you find a screeching, shoeless toddler running around…it’s probably my kid….Thank you for retuning to my general vicinity.

Every grocery trip, restaurant visit and car ride ends with one (me) or both of us in tears…and shoeless (him).

Deep sigh. This too shall pass…hopefully.
_______

The time, care, and good humor given to this blog post was generously donated by our favorite “Fairy Blog Mother,” Annette Burke. Visit the Fairy Blog Mother blog for great giveaways, honest product reviews and other things that may make you question her sanity.  Enjoy!

Best,

MPGodfrey & Team Malt-O-Meal

Now-a-days it seems that children are more materialistic than ever. They have tons of video games, more than one game system, iPods, cell phones and designer clothes just to name a few. Much of the problem is some of the TV shows that are on TV. For example a show on MTV called “Sweet 16″  shows teenagers with the best clothes, shopping for brand new sports cars they want for their birthday present and planning their $200,000 birthday parties.  Shows like this give children the impression that money comes easily. (more…)

With today’s economy, Coupon Clippers are definitely growing in numbers. Consumers are changing the way they shop and they are choosier about the brands that they buy.

I, for one take coupon shopping and saving money to the extreme! I have am the proud owner of a free website that teaches consumers how to make the best use of their coupons, and how to get stuff for free or at least on the cheap. Money saving tips go way beyond coupon clipping, and my tips have recently been featured on The Today Show as well as several media segments around the U.S. The need to share these money-saving ways as I discover them has me busy with a weekly podcast where I talk about different ways to save money and live better by doing so! For example, my best shopping trip scored my family $1880 in groceries for only $19 at Albertsons®. I was able to fill my pantry, donate to my church and also to local charities. The best part? I get to share the deals with my community both-on the air and online! (more…)

In many areas around the globe Spring means that rain will fall more often than usual. And, the rain in Spring is important as our beautiful World needs it for its survival as we know it. Without Spring rain our beautiful flowers wouldn’t grow, the trees would begin to suffer and our land would become dry.

But, as a mom I know that when it rains it means that our children become crazy, rambunctious children. They begin to become stir-crazy from being in the house for too long. Children love being outside… they love running around, discovering nature and playing which helps exhaust their never ending energy a bit. But, when they are in the house they can’t do this. When the weather is bad for many days on end children begin climbing the walls and our stresses as a parent begin to climb.

But, unlike rain in the Fall and Winter…. rain in the Spring and Summer tends to be warmer. As long as the rain storm is not an electrical storm there is really no danger in letting your children get wet. As a matter of fact with the right kind of rain clothes your children can not only really enjoy themselves out in the rain, but they can also learn a lot from it. (more…)

It’s Springtime and when I think of Spring I think of grass growing, trees getting their leaves back, flowers blossoming, animals running around, kids playing outside. Basically, when I think of Spring I think of “Life”.

With that being said I’m going to write about something that combines two spring like topics….

Life & Gardening.

Okay, before you start think I have absolutely gone bazerk let me explain.

There is a lesson that every parent should teach their children. It is the lesson of Respecting other Living things.

This lesson can be a very tough one to teach, but when you start teaching this lesson early and continue throughout the child’s life you have a better chance of raising happy human beings that won’t take life for granted. And, using Gardening can help you teach your children this life lesson without them knowing that you are teaching them any lesson at all.

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Last summer I moved from Washington, DC to Minnesota, just in time to behold Minnesota’s pride: The State Fair. I had never seen any fair that rivaled it in sheer size and variety. As someone who loves food and cooking, the attraction which interested me most was the home arts area. It showcased the baked goods, vegetables, pickles, jams and more of eager competitors vying for the coveted blue ribbons.

The world of competitive cooking, local and State Fair recipe contests, as well as brand sponsored, commercial contests is fascinating. Some competitive cooks devote a great deal of time and effort to developing recipes and entering contests and even win prestigious prizes like the famous “Bake-off” contest multiple times. (There is even this Hall of Fame for noteworthy contesters.)

For some contestants, the incentive is the fun of competition, and for others, it is the prizes, which are sometimes small or large, and can be anything from a set of measuring spoons to an all expense-paid trip, to a small cash prize to a million dollars. I once won a pedometer in a recipe contest that featured sour cream, and I am terrifically proud of it.

Cooking (recipe development especially) is a way to test creativity and develop diligence. Entering a competitive cooking contest would be a great project for a family to undertake. Brainstorming and decision making prompts conversation. Imagine a reticent ‘tween getting excited by the idea, taking out her I-pod ear buds, and actually wanting to spend quality time with a parent. Imagine bored siblings getting along as they excitedly develop the next winning recipe. Wouldn’t it be great to turn the television off and make cooking a family activity? Wouldn’t it be great to celebrate a win together?

Malt-O-Meal has announced its 2009 recipe contest season, which will include 25 state fairs, offering great prizes all across the country. What recipe featuring Malt-O-Meal cold cereal will your family invent? For specific rules, contact your local fair directly.

Ready to get cooking? Here’s some resources:
• watch videos of winning Malt-O-Meal contest recipes
• for more competitive cooking contests, see State Fair Recipes
• see winning recipes for inspiration
• get advice and tips on how to win

Have you competed in the Malt-O-Meal cooking competition in the past? Write a post about your experience here! I’m looking forward to reading about your experience.

Jill Bloomfield

As a mother we have tons of responsibilities and duties to take care of throughout our day. We wear a ton of hats as a mom. And, much of the time moms feel they are taken for granted. We work hard and there isn’t a payday at the end of the week. However, our payday comes throughout everyday. No, nothing monetarily, but something worth so much more. A paycheck that is worth so much more than any bank can cash. I am talking about the sentimental things. The things our children do or say without even realizing they are giving us the strength as a mom to keep going and keep taking care of our family.

Happy Mother’s Day my fellow Mothers. I know you work so hard. And, you do it without thought or resist. Here are a few of the hats you and I wear everyday.

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For many people April brings tons of rain, green grass, leaves on the trees, beautiful flowers, longer days and warmer weather. But, there is something else that April brings that many people dread…..

Tax Season.

But, for people who receive refunds instead of dread their thoughts are consumed with trying to figure out what they are going to do with their tax refund. Should they save it? Should they pay-off a credit card? Should they put on an addition on the house? Should they invest it?

While all are fantastic ideas on traditional things to do with your tax refund. I’m going to write about something a bit non-traditional.
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