A Nutritious Breakfast for Your Kids that Actually Saves Time

If you are busy moms like us, one of your most stressful times are weekday mornings. Getting kids up, dressed, hair and teeth brushed, etc. is all a race against the clock. Combining this with the need to get a full and nutritious breakfast into your kids makes for a stressful start to your day. All parents know how hard it is to get kids to eat fast.

We found a super way to reduce morning stress and get a full, nutritious meal into the kids that is even packed with things like flaxseed or fish oil - the morning smoothie. We can make smoothies and clean the dishes in less than 10 minutes. If a child sleeps-in, they can drink the smoothie in the car or on the way to school or the bus.

Smoothie Benefits

• Quick to prepare and eat
• Can make multiple servings at the same time
• An easy way to include nutritious items such as fish oil or flaxseed
• Can be eaten on the go

Beverly's Recipe:

Throw these into some cups with a washable straw (wide-mouthed straw – can buy at places like Target or Whole Foods). Throw the straw, blender and cups into the dishwasher when done (make sure to rinse the straw well if you use ground flaxseed).

Kids Smoothie (I double this for my 2 kids):

½ cup plain organic whole-milk yogurt

¼ cup frozen organic blueberries

1/3 organic banana

1 tblsp ground organic flaxseed (you can use flax oil and adjust the amount)

2 tsp fish oil (make sure your brand is tested for contaminants)

2 tblsp organic apple juice (may increase if the smoothie is not sweet enough)

You can use organic ingredients, substitute goat’s milk yogurt or soy yogurt, or use strawberries. The important thing is that it is yummy and looks good to the kids, so make sure it is well blended.

Adult Smoothie (I double this for me and my husband):

1 cup plain, non-fat organic yogurt

½ cup frozen organic blueberries

½ organic banana

2 tblsp ground organic flaxseed

I make these every weekday for my kids, my husband and myself. My kids and I drink these for breakfast, for my husband it’s his mid-morning snack in the office. Amara likes the recipe so much she uses before she heads off to the gym after work. We all like that it’s an easy way to get our daily serving of flaxseed.

When your kids are bored of smoothies, try another quick, nutritious breakfast on weekdays.

French Toast

• Prepare a few extra slices of French toast on the weekend
• Reheat in the toaster and top with peanut butter and serve with a piece of fruit or glass of juice
• Provides protein, carbs, and fat to keep your kid satiated

Can be taken to go and eaten on the way to school.

Clean Stainless Steel Fast and Eco-Friendly

If you have stainless steel in your kitchen, you’re always looking for a fast, easy way to keep it clean. We’ve tried lots of products on the market and none of them seem to work well. The best thing to clean stainless steel – plain vinegar at full strength. Vinegar is a weak acid that basically strips the metal clean, even areas around the stove that get greasy. You will want to use a cotton cloth soaked with vinegar to clean the areas. Then, take a second cloth and wet about ½ of it with water and ring out. Use the wet half to wipe the area cleaned with vinegar and the other half to dry and shine it. This is really fast and is truly the only thing that we have found works to our satisfaction. Make that steel sparkle!

Are You the Office Stalker?

Do you do any of these things at work? We’ve all been guilty of being the office stalker at least once. Researchers have found that, in terms of promotions, job security, etc., how well you get along with co-workers and how you are perceived is much more important than making your deadlines.

• Do you ask your co-workers, support staff, supervisors, questions right when they arrive at work in the morning? Don’t be a stalker; give them time to settle in for the day.
• Do you leave a voice mail or send an email, and then, when you see the person in the hall you start talking about the same topic you left a message about? Worse, do you send the voice mail or email and then go to their desk to talk about it? Don’t be a stalker; let them respond before you bring it up. They might have a big to-do list that day. If your topic is time-sensitive, send a follow-up email letting them know.
• Do you have co-workers’ personal cell phone numbers and use them for work calls? On behalf of your co-workers, please stop.

To read research in this area, view these articles:
InformationWeek | ScienceDirect

Quick Clean Tip #2 - Clean Baseboards Fast!

Are you tired of bending down on hands and knees to clean baseboards? Or, you never find time to fit this task into your day? When mopping the floor, just run the mop along the baseboard as well. You can also do this with swifters, etc.

Pack Your Panties?

One of the most valuable items to have in your carry-on: an extra pair of panties. We know it sounds silly, but changing your underwear in the middle of a long travel day is rejuvenating! It is also smart to have an extra pair with you just in case your luggage is lost, your flight is delayed, or you just want a fresh outlook on your day. We like to carry ours in a small, ziploc bag that keeps them separate from other carry-on items and provides the container for your old pair.

Quick Clean Tip #1 - Fast House Cleaning

Unexpected company on the way and the house is a mess? Here are some quick tips that will make your house look clean in a matter of minutes. The key to looking clean is shine and lack of clutter. Wipe shiny surfaces with a DRY towel to get that sparkle.

• Reduce Clutter: On surfaces, like coffee tables, etc., push stuff to one side or remove and organize later. Focus on the surfaces where your guests will be. Pick-up shoes, clothes, or toys that may be lying around and toss them into a closet (be sure not to toss them in the closet your going to hang the guest coat in).
• Shine Surfaces: Use disposable wipes on bathroom surfaces such as the sink, faucets, and counters. If you want to be environmentally conscious, just use a cloth and water. After clean, wipe with a dry cloth.
• Clean Floors (if needed): Run the vacuum only in high-traffic areas; use a swiffer to touch-up floors in main rooms.
• Pet hair on furniture: Wet a wash cloth with water, squeeze out, easily wipes off majority of fur. Alternatively, use my husband’s technique and run the vacuum on the seat cushions like you would on a floor.
• Smell problems? Make a pot of coffee, cook a piece of toast, light a candle and then blow out before guest arrives (candle smell is most profuse immediately after it is extinguished). Please do not use sprays, etc. They smell icky to most guests, don’t work, and can have a negative impact on the environment.

Support Your Support Staff

Taking the time to appreciate your support staff with these simple tips can increase staff work satisfaction, and they will be more likely to go that extra mile for you.

• Record support staff birthdays, have cards in your desk ready to go, and give a card on their birthday. Leave it on their keyboard or chair the night before. The way we like to do this is by using our Outlook (email) calendars; that way we get reminders automatically.
• Going out for a latte? Ask your support staff if you can bring them one too.
• Notice things. Did someone get a new haircut, eye glasses, or car? Recognize it and tell them how great it is!

Smart Shoppers: Nectarines versus Bananas – Which has more chemicals?

If you aren’t able to buy exclusively organic produce, which types of fruit or veggies should you always buy organic, and which ones can you safely buy conventional? You can go to http://www.foodnews.org/ to see a list of all your favorite fruits and veggies and how each ranks.

Did you know that your health is not the only reason to buy organic? Conventional farming practices impact our environment a lot more than organic farming.

Less Clutter

Just bought a new pair of shoes? Got a new ski jacket? Every time you bring something home donate one of your old things. If you haven’t used something in over a year, it’s time to donate it. There are usually donation bins in your area. In our city we are regularly called for donation pick-ups at our house. Remember, your donations are tax deductible (giving you some money toward that next pair of shoes!).

Ways to Make Your Boss Love You Tip #1

When your boss is talking to you about a task, take detailed notes and ask questions.

Once you get back to your desk, email your boss with your understanding of the task, the due dates, and a description of the deliverable. That way you’re not asking questions at the 11th hour and you know your delivery will match expectations. Sounds simple, but we've noticed most people neglect this essential planning step.