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Pregnant? Want some pretty pregnancy photos taken to capture this special time? Or do you have a little bundle of joy who is ready to ham it up for the camera? You have until this Friday, February 12, 2010 to enter for your chance to win a FREE photography session and $350 in credit for merchandise with Amber Snow Photography. Click here for details and to enter!

When was the last time you noticed someone driving erratically, only to pass him or her and discover that — of course — the driver was talking on a cell phone while driving? It seems to happen all the time.

Until recently, I was an avid user of my cell phone in the car. This began when I lived in the Northeast, when I could catch up with friends and family during long drives. Since I have become a parent, it seemed like the car is the only place I end up talking on the phone. Sometimes I’m alone in the car, squeezing in as many things as humanly possible while my son is at school. Sometimes my son is in the car and it’s a short call to his dad to see when he’s coming home, to my parents to see what time the game is on or to the mom hosting playgroup letting her know we’re running late. I’m not really a texter, and actually have always really liked talking on the phone.

If you have younger kids, you know, whether you are on your phone or not, you are probably distracted. Children requesting snacks, needing dropped toys, wanting a certain song on the CD player, asking the same question over and over AND OVER while you are trying to find which exit you were supposed to be taking to get to the new indoor playground. Add to that disrupted sleep from the night before and the fact that you left your coffee on the kitchen counter….and, what mom ISN’T distracted while driving?

For the last six months or so, I’ve been trying to cut back on talking on the phone in my car. Then, there were a few times when I knew my driving was compromised by my phone conversation. But still, I just told myself I would be extra alert while I was talking and driving.

Then, someone posted a video from a recent show of Oprah’s on distracted driving. In it, she encourages her viewers to make their cars a No Phone Zone. See the videos here (if you haven’t already) and you’ll understand why. For one, talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples your risk of an accident. The families who had lost loved ones who pointed out that no phone call is worth a life particularly resonated with me.

So I’m taking the Pledge.

Do you use your phone in the car? Why or why not? Do you (or will you) allow your children to use their phones while driving?

Written by: Nicole Basham

Motherself is a spiritual direction/life coaching service that was started by a local mama to two young boys, Julie Aziz.

Q: Tell us about Motherself. What services do you provide?

A: Motherself is designed to support women in their personal, professional, and spiritual growth, as individuals and as mothers. I provide what I call facilitation– a process that includes elements of both coaching and spiritual direction. Up until recently, I have been focused on working with women one-on-one, over the phone and using email. Currently, I am planning a group for local Austin moms, in which women will meet once or twice a month to focus on some of our daily challenges, and how we can best use them towards personal growth. The group will involve some meditation and writing in addition to spoken reflection.

Q: I noticed that you offer guidance to pregnant and new moms. Have you found that this process helps new mothers to ward off postpartum depression?

A: Mothers who suffer from moderate to severe postpartum depression, to the point where they have trouble caring for their children, barely eat or sleep, completely withdraw from other people, and so on, need more than what I can offer– these women need in-person, individual and/or group therapy, possibly medication, and a lot of extra help. New moms who teeter on the edge of PPD, experiencing some of the anger, the insomnia (aside from the baby-induced kind), the constant worry, and the closing in on themselves can definitely benefit from having regular, focused attention on themselves and their needs. I do think motherself services can help these women get through the intense transition of having a new baby.

Q: You’ve been a counselor in the past- working with families, men and women. Why have you decided to work solely with mothers?

A: My answer to this is somewhat twofold. First of all, the work I do with motherself is a departure from counseling in and of itself. While the counseling I did in the past was focused on psychological insight and healing, motherself work is designed for purposeful growth. We do not try to understand why a situation or pattern of behavior is occurring, but rather we look more at the “how” — how is my way of looking at this situation serving me, or not? Or, instead of falling into the same old patterns, how do I go about making intentional change? The difference in perspective leads to other differences as well- for example, motherself work can be done over the phone and through email writing, which is not something I would have done as a counselor (though I know there are plenty out there that do!)
As for why I decided to work solely with mothers for now, it is partly because becoming a mother myself introduced me to the inner workings of mothers at a different level than I could have ever understood before. I have been amazed and disturbed by all the debates and pressures that seem to emerge as soon as a woman becomes pregnant (or possibly even before, if conception is an issue). Over time, I have witnessed friendships dissolve, marriages collapse, and previously pretty balanced women become very narrowly (and not always happily) focused on their children’s needs. It seemed a natural choice to use this “personal study”, if you will, to better inform my practice with other people.

Q: What are some of the issues that the moms you work with talk about? Do you see any common issues among them that we all seem to go through at some point in time during our journey through motherhood? Read the rest of this entry »

First Friday Free Pong- 16 tables to enjoy yourself on. Free hot dogs and chips. Fun for the whole family. Friday, 6:00pm. Free for newcomers, otherwise $7. Austin Table Tennis Club, 8956 Research Blvd. inside AAA Storage.

Wonderland!- An unabashedly silly adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, with hip-hopping music. It is an upbeat coming-of-age story that audiences of all ages will adore! You’ll recognize some of your favorite familiar characters of Alice’s Wonderland along with meeting dozens of new ones: a baseball team, a gospel group called The Responsibilities, a train conductor, star-struck tourists, knights, and much more. Friday and Saturday, 2:00pm. Tickets, $5 general admission. Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.

19th Annual Mock Surgery- The kid-friendly event includes hands-on demonstrations and mock surgical procedures performed and explained by Seton staff.The self-paced program includes: Several operating rooms with mock set-ups of a variety of surgical procedures, hands-on demonstrations and learning experiences with surgical equipment, Seton staff assuming their roles and explaining procedures. FREE!! Saturday, 9:00am- 3:00pm. Clinical Education Center at Brackenridge, 1400 N IH-35.

12th Street East End Black Heritage Festival- This is the 13th Annual Black History Celebration honoring hard working leaders in our community. Please come out to enjoy vendors, food, art, fun for the children, and an awesome awards recognition program with the leaders in our community. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am- 4:00pm. Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church parking lot, E. 12th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Family Yoga with Cindy- Enjoy a FREE (with purchase from cafe) yoga session for the entire family! Saturday, 10:00-11:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Daddy Daughter Dance- The Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Daddy Daughter Dance from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6. There will be two dances for two age groups. The 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. dance is for girls up to seven years old. The 8:00pm to 10:00pm dance is for older girls ages 8 and over. Tickets are just $7.Clay Madsen Recreation Center, 1600 Gattis School Rd.

Book Box Storytime- Each Saturday, a guest will sing songs, read stories and then wrap it all up with a fun arts & craft project! FREE!! Saturday at Noon. Beth’s Book Box, 15803 Windermere Dr., Pflugerville.

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief- The Lightning Thief will be released in movie theaters very soon. Celebrate all things Percy Jackson with Borders at this very special Movie Release Party! Fans ages 7 to 14 will have a great time participating in Olympian Games, a Demi-God Debate, Percy trivia and more! FREE!! Saturday, 2:00pm. Borders Book,
3309 Esperanza Crossing.

Crafts for Kids- Brings the kids, ages 3 and up, to make a Be My Valentine Magnetic Note Holder! FREE!! Saturday between 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

Parent/ Child Valentine Dance- Open to families with children between the ages of 5-15, admission to this annual event is only $10 per ticket for YMCA and Adventure Guides Members and $15 per ticket for Non-Members. Besides dancing and having loads of fun, you will also be served a spaghetti or lasagna dinner, receive a 5×7 photo keepsake, have a chance to win raffle prizes and more. Saturday, 6:00- 9:00pm. Twin Lakes Family YMCA, 204 E. Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park.

Flipnotics Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE performance by Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies! Saturday, 10:00am. Flipnotics, 1601Barton Springs Rd.

Home Depot Kids Workshop- FREE How-to workshop designed for children ages 5-12. This month’s project will be to build #20 Car Display. Saturday, 9:00am- Noon. All participating Home Depot locations.

Wells Fargo First Saturday- Enjoy FREE admission to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, courtesy of Wells Fargo, on Saturday from 2:00- 6:00pm. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave.

TEXplorations- Where will your imagination take you? Join us for Family Story Time on the first Saturday of each month from 2:00- 3:00pm. FREE!! Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day- Our Women’s Basketball team hosts Texas Tech on Sunday, at 1:00 p.m., and on that day, we will also recognize National Girl and Women in Sport Day. UT Athletics will host the “UT and ME” expo in an effort to continue our legacy of empowering young girls and women through sport. Autographs, photos opportunities, booths, free backpacks to the first 1000! Fans must have a game ticket to participate in the expo. Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River Street.

Science Sunday: UT Pre-Med Society- Learn about the common viruses and bacteria that make us sick! Volunteers will help families construct candy models of the rhinovirus and ecoli while discussing how they affect the human body. Sunday, 3:00- 5:00pm. Admission $4.50- $6.50 (free from 4:00- 5:00pm. Austin Children’s Museum, 201 Colorado Ave.

Storytime at the Library- Enjoy a FREE storytime. Sunday, 1:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

Sunday Morning Kid’s Show- Circus Chicken Dog brings unicycling, comedy, juggling and animals! Lots of fun for the whole family. FREE!! Sunday, 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Avenue.

This week’s recipe was sent in from Kathy, a FIT Boot Camp instructor. Thanks for sharing this healthy recipe, Kathy!

Salad as a meal can serve any nice low-fat, good-carb diet.  By adding black beans and corn you increase the carbs, but also add protein, fiber and flavor.

Dressing:
¼ cup ranch dressing of your choice
¼ cup mild green salsa
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Salad:
1 tablespoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound chicken breast, cut into slices
6 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup corn kernels
1 medium tomato, chopped
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion

Directions:
To make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix the ranch dressing, salsa and cilantro until blended. Cover and refrigerate.

To prepare the chicken: Coat a barbeque grill or ridged grill pan with olive oil and heat to medium-high. In a cup, mix the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Rub evenly on both sides of chicken. Grill the chicken turning once, for about 3-4 minutes or until it is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Transfer to a plate. Squeeze the lime over the cooked chicken.

In a large bowl, toss the romaine with half the dressing, Divide among four plates.

Sprinkle the beans, corn, tomato and red onion equally over each serving and top with the grilled chicken. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.

Last week I wrote about my frustrations surrounding a home daycare provider who seems to spend a lot of time online during the time she is taking care of up to eight children two and under.  My frustration with what appears to be borderline neglect to me has lead me to further investigate home daycare and how it runs.  I have been thinking about home daycare as an option for my family, and I have always had misgivings about certain aspects of home daycare, but now I’m concerned about how carefully home daycares are monitored.  I got some great feedback from Andria on my article last week, and the information she presented has spurred me into digging around a little.

One of the first things I looked at was the differences between listed, registered, and licensed home daycare centers in the state of Texas.  Basically, the differences have to do with the amount of education the provider is required to have, how many children s/he can care for, and how often the daycare situation is inspected.

I also have found a couple of web pages that provide a large amount of information about what’s required of a licensed home daycare provider. One is comprised of information provided by the state of Texas and provides a lot of what appears to me to be government-speak about the minimum standards for licensed home daycare. I didn’t find this information to be especially helpful because it is rather terse and not at all given to explanation, but I also did not really dig into it. Another online resource I found is a site provided by a woman who runs her own home daycare.  She includes some helpful hints as well as sample contracts.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time trying to find out if there are state regulations that prevent the situation that I described in my article last week, and it seems to depend a lot on whether the daycare provider I described is listed, registered, or licensed.  Andria explained some of the regulations that are set forth for licensed home  daycare centers, and based on what she described, I am guessing that the daycare provider I described is not licensed or is not being inspected often.  I have not seen many posts by her this week, much because I have been too busy to really do more than read it a bit here and there, but also because she seems to be less active.

In addition to Googling myself silly, I also posted a list of interview-like questions on a home daycare provider message board on Baby Center, and I got some really good feedback from some providers.  All of the providers who responded to my questions indicated that they are licensed and are subject to pretty frequent surprise inspections and some scheduled inspections.  In my interview questions, I had asked if they were subject to any regulations regarding the use of TV or computer by either the provider or the children in their care.  All three of the providers that have responded so far have indicated that their states do not have any regulations regarding the use of TV or computer but that they do not use either in their care centers.

The optimist in me REALLY wants to believe that the situation I have encountered in this Baby Center online community is rare and that most home daycare providers are providing conscientious and loving care for the children that are entrusted to them.

In the next week, I plan to interview one registered and one licensed home daycare provider in my town.  If you are interested in following along, check back in next week to see what I have learned!

Written by: Lori Anderson

It must be the Greek portion of my DNA that associates all social gatherings with food.

So perhaps it should have been no surprise to my friends and family when I got a hankering to host a tamalada. At a tamalada, a group of people pitch in to assemble — you guessed it — tamales. Tamales are composed of masa, or corn dough filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables or even chocolate and wrapped in corn husks, plantain or banana leaves and steamed.

In Texas, tamales are often sold during the holiday season by Mexican churches as fundraisers. Many families have incorporated the dish into Christmas Eve, Christmas, or New Year’s Day meals. I really like the idea of community behind the making of the tamales and thought it gave me a good excuse to get some friends together. Hosting a tamalada also meant I wasn’t planning a kids’ activity which involved decorating cookies, since my son certainly had enough sugar over the holidays.

I was very lucky to have another mom as my partner in crime who had taken a tamale making class. She had a tasty (non-lard) masa recipe and was able to coach everyone through the tamale making process. Everyone walked home with somewhere around 2 dozen tamales, so at least several meals’ worth! Probably the most fun was just the opportunity to get a great group of women in the same place laughing, telling stories and working together. The tamales also turned out very tasty!

If hosting a tamalada sounds up your alley, here are some things you might consider:

• We asked each guest to bring 2 cups of filling and we provided the masa. We had a mix of vegan, vegetarian and meat eaters and tried to communicate what everyone was bringing (and miraculously had no duplicates!) Most of us just Googled to find recipes, and you can basically make anything you’d put into an empanada or taco. I think most of us brought more than 2 cups and we all had filling left over. Most of us mixed and matched so we could try other fillings.
• It’s helpful to have a large table for assembly. We used my dining room table which seats 8 (I was the ninth person, but was rarely sitting down).
• Invite about as many people as you have spots for at your assembly table. It’s nice to have a group of tamale makers, but having too many mightmake things too crowded.
• For 9 people, we went through 1 1/2 large basks of corn husks from HEB and about seven pounds of masa mix (1 1/2 2kg bags). I spent most of the tamalada mixing masa so it wouldn’t get too dry with my stand mixer. Each guest had a gallon-sized Ziploc to put finished tamales inside to take home to be steamed.
• The nice thing about tamale making is that it’s pretty easy to learn. We put our first attempt into the steamer immediately and were able to sample an assortment of tamales when we were doneassembling (I didn’t have the capacity to steam everyone’s and it takes over an hour to do so, so folks just took them home).
• You need to factor in time to soak the corn husks for several hours in cool water before assembly and have a way to steam the tamales (I used my tall spaghetti pot which has a built-in colander).
• I was grateful that my husband was able to keep an eye on the kids, since many of them were younger. Only one child participated in the tamale making, and she is five years old. This certainly made me think this would be a great future playdate for when my son is a bit older.
• We spent roughly two hours making almost twenty dozen tamales. You can see why this would be a good fundraiser!

Now that we had a successful tamalada, I started wondering if there is anything else like tamales that would be fun to make in a group. Any ideas?

Written by: Nicole Basham

Sure, Valentine’s Day is generally about your sweetie, your love, your partner in crime or significant other. But this Valentine’s Day, we have a giveaway that will show how much you love your other sweetie- your baby! Amber of Amber Snow Photography is generously giving away two photo sessions and product to go along with it! Here are the details:

• Giveaway #1- FREE Baby Photo Session! Do you want to capture those chubby cheeks or that smile that is new to the world? Now is your chance! The baby must be 8 months or younger. The session is valued at $150 and the winner will receive $350 in product!

• Giveaway #2- FREE Pregnant Mama Photo Session! Wanna show off that baby bump? It will be over before you know it! Why not take some photos to show off how good you looked while pregnant? The session is valued at $150 and the winner will receive $350 in product!

What do you have to do to win? Leave a comment telling us why you would like to have either your baby’s photo or your pregnancy photo taken. The deadline is Friday, February 12, 2010 at midnight. The winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day- Sunday, February 14, 2010. Only one entry per household, please! You must be in the Greater Austin area to win or be willing to travel to Austin for your session.

Have you picked up a dumbbell lately?  What are your thoughts about weight training?  If you are like most women, you have some fear of bulking up or getting too big if you lift weights.  As a result, you might put in some time to do some cardio, but you neglect any exercises involving weights.  Well, I’m here to tell you that as women and moms, there couldn’t be a better time to pick up a dumbbell and add weight training to your to-do list.

Like it or not, as we age and our bodies go through all the wonderful things they do, gravity takes its toll.  When gravity takes over, you start to see sagging of the skin and areas of the body waving back at you that you don’t want to be waving at all!  One of the best ways to help with that sagging skin and those extra pounds is weight training.  In the remainder of this article, I will give you some reasons why weight training can greatly benefit you.

It’s a fact, the more muscle tone you have, the more calories you burn-even when you are sitting.  Doesn’t that sound great?  Even while you are sitting enjoying that morning cup of coffee, you can be burning extra calories!  What that means is that you have to have some muscle!  Lifting light weight, but doing several repetitions of weight training exercises are the best way for women to build muscle tone, but not mass.  By building this muscle tone, it will also help you shed more fat during your cardio workouts than you would without lifting the weights.  Imagine burning more calories and fat by walking on the treadmill, just because you have a little muscle tone and definition. Read the rest of this entry »

Harlem Globetrotters- Get ready to laugh, play, and be amazed by Big Easy, Flight, Time, Hot shot, and more when the legendary Harlem Globetrotters bring their 2010 World Tour to Austin on January 29! Their completely unique brand of exciting family fun is sure to create enduring memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Friday, 7:00pm. Ticket prices begin at $15. Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River.

Footloose- “Footloose” is a story about peaceful life in the small town of Beaumont until a young city boy, Ren, from Chicago arrives breaking every taboo. Ren brings dance back to the heart of a town held back by the memory of a tragedy. The music includes many of the original hits of the ‘80s that made the film so popular, including the title song “Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”, “Holding on for a Hero”, and “I’m Free” among others. Special guest actor Tyler Jones returning to his alma mater to star in the role of the Reverend Shaw Moore. Friday, Saturday (7:30pm) and Sunday (2:00pm). Anderson High School, 8403 Mesa Dr.

Family Yoga with Cindy- Enjoy a FREE (with purchase from cafe) yoga session for the entire family! Saturday, 10:00-11:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Cats vs. Dogs- Are you a dog person or a cat person? Celebrate generations of cat and dog books with activities, games, trivia, and a little friendly competition. Feel free to dress up! Saturday, 2:00pm. FREE!! Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Party- Recommended for ages 5 and up.  Join us for games, trivia, Reader’s Theater, and more…all in celebration of Percy Jackson and the Olympians! Saturday, 2:00pm. FREE!! Yarborough Branch Library, 2200 Hancock Dr.

Flipnotics Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE performance by Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies! Saturday, 10:00am. Flipnotics, 1601Barton Springs Rd.

BookKids Storytime- Presenting one of the finest puppet show performances in the history of the world! Don’t miss all the jokes and the jolly good humour. Saturday, 11:30am. FREE!! BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

Reggae 4 Haiti Benefit- Help raise money to be donated to the Red Cross while listening to reggae with DJ Jah Ray, Root Dimension, Herbie Augustine and Frenzei, Irie Jane and more. Family friendly, silent auction. Suggested donation of $5 at the door. Saturday, 2:00- 8:00pm. Ruta Maya Coffee, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Book Box Storytime- Each Saturday, a guest will sing songs, read stories and then wrap it all up with a fun arts & craft project! FREE!! Saturday at Noon. Beth’s Book Box, 15803 Windermere Dr., Pflugerville.

Austin Family Magazine’s 12th Annual Camp Fair- Austin Family Camp Fair assists parents in choosing the right spring and summer camps for their kids. There are all types of camps represented to include day camps as well as overnight camps. There will be entertainment, and it is lots of fun. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am- 5:00pm. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.

Air Fair- You can’t see it. You can’t always feel it, but air is at work all around us. Come experiment with the powers and properties of moving air in feature exhibit Air Fair. You’ll find over 13 hands-on activities that will blow you away! $4.50- $6.50 admission, 1 year old and under are free. The new exhibit opens Saturday and runs through May 22, 2010. Austin Children’s Museum, 201 Colorado Ave.

Crafts for Kids- Brings the kids, ages 3 and up, to make an It’s My House Key Holder! FREE!! Saturday between 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

Identification Day- Bring your fossils or other intriguing objects for identification by TNSC scientists — fossils, bones, rocks and archeological materials (arrowheads, points, scrapers). FREE!! Sunday, 1:00- 5:00pm. Texas Memorial Museum, 2400 Trinity Street.

Science Sunday- St. Edward’s University Academy of Science will be on-hand this Sunday from 3:00- 5:00pm. Admission, $4.50- $6.50 (free from 4:00- 5:00pm!!). Austin Children’s Museum, 201 Colorado Ave.

Sunday Morning Kid’s Show- Kids have fun with drumming, song and rhythm with Steve Marcum of the Austin Samba School and the Oliver Rajamani Ensemble. Bring instruments. Some are provided. FREE!! Sunday, 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Avenue.

Storytime at the Library- Enjoy a FREE storytime. Sunday, 1:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.