Back To School: Few Steps To Follow

Dear Readers, did you get ready for school yet? Let me help you with these few steps.

Medical Check-up: Take your children to the pediatrician for a “before school"medical exam. Let them get the flu shot if necessary.

Organize School Transportation: Always remember that you cannot do it all by yourself, you might need help to drive your kids to school. That is why you need to check out your school year schedule, and based on that either subscribe your kids on the school bus or take the number of neighbors and friends that can help when needed.

Make a school calendar:  to organize all the events and activities your children will have during the year.

Stock up on school supplies: other than buying all the supplies the school requests, buy some extra items that your child might lose or misplace. You can get extra glue, scissors, pencils, etc.

Go over the school’s rules with your child: Get a copy of the school’s guideline and review them with your child. Make sure he understands all the rules he should be following during the year.

Take your child on a tour for the school: Visit the school before classes start and let your child take a look at his classroom and meet with his teachers, if possible.

Homemade Hand Mask

As a mother, we won't like to see our hands dried and full of blisters. We have to take care of ourselves and our beauty, therefore :

• When doing the dishes or cleaning always wear gloves
• Dry your hands well after every wash
• Try applying a hand cream at least 3 times a day; I personally use Neutrogena Hand cream.
• And last but not least apply this hand mask three times a week, before going to bed:
  
  1. Mix one teaspoon yogurt and one teaspoon olive oil and rub onto your hands.
  2. Wear plastic bags and keep your hands warm for about 10 minutes.
  3. If it's not too hot, you can wear above the plastic gloves wool mittens to keep your hands warm which will allow the skin to absorb the mask.
  4. Wash your hands with lukewarm water and dry them well.
  5. Apply a hand cream.

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Petit Four

It is so cool that from one dough, one recipe, you can make all these appetizing shapes and more, isn't it? My kids love those cookies, they love taking them to school to show off what mommy could do :D! I prefer them having those cookies- even though I use one drop of food colorant for the pink ones- than having junk food or ready made cookies.


Ingredient

• 300 g white flour or for the chocolate dough 270 g white flour, 30 g cocoa powder
• 200 g unsalted butter
• 100 g confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp of any liquor of your choice or just plain water

Directions

1. Using the dough kneader, add the chopped butter and the sugar. 
2. Once combined, add the flour and liquor.
3. Knead the dough on the working table
4. Refrigerate it for 15 minutes before working with it.
5. You can make different shapes, get creative!
6. Bake it in a preheated oven (150 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes. 
7. After you bake them you can dip them in chocolate or spread some jam on them. Your choice!

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Fusilli Pesto Salad

After I put my kids to bed, I was watching Everybody Loves Raymond and felt in the mood for something lite and quick so I opened my fridge and found some fusilli pesto left overs, I threw some more ingredients and made this delicious salad. Try it and tell me if you will like it. Personally, I enjoyed it so much while watching "The cult" have you seen it? It is a very funny episode, the first from the season 7. Let's make our salad, shall we?

Ingredients

5 Romain Lettuce Leaves
Fusilli Pesto Left over
1 cup corn kernels
1 grated carrot
1 roughly diced tomato
1 tbsp grated Parmesan

Directions

Toss all the ingredients together and choose a dressing of your choice. I chose the sauce maison because I wanted something lite tonight. Check out this dressing page and choose the one you like

Mustardy Orange Dressing

Sauce Maison

6 Dressings Salad

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6 Tips To Help Your Child Sleep Better

Read those easy tips to help your child sleep better at night

1- Cut watching T.V. at least 2 hours before going to bed to reduce any tension some cartoons or movies may cause him and this might drive him into having lots of nightmare especially if he is a kid with wide imagination.

2- Encourage your child to practice some relaxing activities 2 hours before sleeping- it could be coloring, drawing, crafting, a puzzle or a board game. No video games or computer games before going to bed.

3- Prepare dinner, if possible, 2 hours before going to bed. Your child will have enough time to digest and always try to prepare something light and healthy. You could make a use of some of our healthy recipes. Sleeping on a full stomach is not the right option for a good night sleep.

4- Bed time story is one of the best relaxing methods for a child to sleep well. Start this habit from an early age, I started since my babies were 2 months old. Reading has many benefits as in increasing the child's IQ, creativity and reading abilities and more importantly it will help him relax before going to bed. Try to pick a pleasant story that is far from action stories like Spiderman and Superman since some of the characters could stress your child at night and drive him into having some nightmares.

5- Classical Music is known to be very relaxing. Mozart could be an excellent choice and please always play the real symphony not those commercialized  "Baby Mozart "CDs. What will help your child relax and have better musical knowledge is listening to a real orchestra and real instruments. 

6- Try to wear him out during the day by encouraging him to play outside so he could empty that entire child's energy. Basketball, Football or any kind of sports could do the trick!

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5 Best Summer Family Fun Crafts

Have Fun trying those 5 best summer crafts I looked up for you. It's true I create crafts myself but I like appreciating the work of others as well and what's better than sharing their work on my blog.

1- Paper Plate Porthole by Amanda Formaro

Paper Plate Porthole Craft

What you'll need:

• 2 paper plates
• Silver craft paint
• 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
• Fish-shaped crackers
• Silk plant leaves
• Sea shells
• Sand
• White craft glue
• Blue cellophane
• Wax paper
• Scissors
  

Learn More on How to Make this Craft

2- Embossed Foil Sun Craft

What You'll Need:

Heavy duty aluminum foil
Elmer’s® Craft Bond™ Tacky Glue
Elmer’s® 3D™ Washable Paint Pens – glitter colors
Metallic chenille stems
Construction paper
Jute twine
8” diameter STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: disc
Oil pastel crayon-black
Pins
Pencil
Scissors
Paper towels
Tweezers
Optional: decorative scissors and crimper

Click here for printables, patterns and Templates

Learn More on How to Make this Craft

3- Sandscape

Sandscape

What You'll Need:

• Printed Boarder and Background Template*
• Construction paper
• Sandwich-size zip-lock baggie
• Glue
• Sand
• Measuring spoons
• Small macaroni shells
• White paint and brush
• Food coloring

Learn More on How to make this Craft

4- Ocean Flower Pot Craft

Ocean Flower Pot Craft

What You'll Need:

• Small clay pot
• Light blue, light brown, green, red and purple paint
• White glue
• Hot glue gun
• Sand
• Paint brushes
• Dyed pasta shells

Learn More on How to make this Craft

5- Beach Door Hanger Craft

Beach Door Hanger Craft

What You'll Need:

• Wooden rectangle - sold at any craft store
• Unpainted wooden palm tree and crab - sold at any craft store
• White glue that dries clear (elmers will work fine)
• 2 disposable foam paint brushes
• Glitter
• Sand
• Paint - red, white, black, green, blue, brown and tan
• Small seashells
• String and tape
• Regular paint brushes
• Hot glue gun and glue (adults only)

Learn More about How to Make this Craft 


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Vegetarian Spinach Stew: Illustrated Recipe

 

Nutrition Fact: 

This green lead is This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Niacin, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Manganese. 1 cup of cooked spinach contains 377% Vitamin A, 29% Vitamin C, Calcium 24%, Iron 36%.

Ingredients:

• 400 g Frozen Spinach
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 lemon
• 5 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

Directions: 

Preheat a pot, prepare your cutting board and a sharp kitchen knife.

 

Start chopping the garlic

Now, finely chop the onions.

Add 2 tbsp of Olive Oil to the preheated pot.

Add the garlics and the onions, and keep stirring, on a Medium heat, 

for about 3 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile, roughly dice the tomatoes. The tomatoes are high in nutrients 

so I love adding them to my recipes. If you like you could also 

add some sprigs of chopped fresh cilantro.

When the onions and garlics are golden add the tomatoes and stir

for about 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are half way cooked.

Now add 5 cups of water.

Add black pepper, salt and lemon juice and bring to a boil.

 When the water boils add the frozen spinach to the pot, keep cooking

on a medium heat until it starts boiling again then reduce the

heat to Low.

Keep cooking for 10 minutes or until the spinach is well cooked

and have a darker green color.

If you wish you could make it a soup by adding 2 extra

cups of water, 1 diced potato head and 1/4 cup of lentils.

Bon Appétit!

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Kitchen Accessories Suggestions

RHS Hooker's Orchard Double Oven Glove RHS Hooker's Orchard Double Oven Glove by Ulster Weavers

Rooster Coasters Pack of 4 Rooster Coasters Pack of 4 by Ulster Weavers

Bunny Shaped Tea Cosy Bunny Shaped Tea Cosy by Ulster Weavers

Patchwork Cats Child's PVC Apron Patchwork Cats Child's PVC Apron by Ulster Weavers

Family Fun Crafts: Funny Cup Faces

If you're low on supplies then this is the perfect craft for you. Take your child to the back yard and let her pick up some leaves and flowers, get some shells you have saved from your last trip to the beach and you have yourself those funny cups!

Supplies Needed

1. Plastic Cups
2. Flowers and Leaves
3. Sea Shells
4. Googly Eyes or a black marker
5. Red construction paper for the mouth
6. Optional: BBQ Wooden Stick 
7. Glue

Directions

Decorate your cups with these accessories and once you are finished glue a stick so you can use it as a puppet! Enjoy!

Tips

• Crafting allows you to spend some quality time with your kid as long as it will teach him to discipline his gestures and be creative.

• Let your child decorate his cup the way he wants, just help him with the glue if he is under 4 so he won't get very messy.

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Funny Animal Head Straws

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Weekly Menu (2)

To help you with your daily cooking, How To Be Super Mom decided to post weekly menus.

Weekly Menu

Monday (Meat) : Steak with Lemon Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Green Salad

Tuesday (Vegetarian) : Vegetarian Artichoke Stew with Sautéed Spaghetti

Wednesday (Chicken): Chicken Parmesan, Vegetable Sauté 

Thursday: Left Overs Day *

Friday (Vegetarian) : Tomato Soup, Super Mom Salad, Double Cheese Baked Potatoes

Saturday ( Fish): Syadyeh ( Lebanese Fish and Rice) and Green Salad

 

Sunday (Fish) : Vegetable fish Rolls, Tomato basil Sauce

Weekly Dessert: Egg-less Custard Chocolate Pound Cake

* Let Thursday be a cooking free day, take a break from that kitchen and serve Left Overs.


P.S : All the recipes corresponding to the dishes mentioned in the menu will be posted on How To Be Super Mom. If you don't find the recipe you are looking for be sure that it will be added soon.


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Staying at Home Mother: Tips For a Better Life.

Mildred B. Vermont said and I quote:  “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love”.  I agree with her, pure love or more specifically emotions are a much better reward than money since that last one is easily spent, lost or stolen when feelings can grow deeper and stronger through time. Being a mother is a gift that we should all cherish and learn to enjoy every minute spent with our children. Nevertheless in this article I am trying to underline the hard life a staying at home mother could be leading and I chose to write about that since I am one of them. I have been so tired from running around all day that I am not sure if I still know how to appreciate motherhood anymore. Raising children is a very hard task maybe the hardest. And we need to have very good skills up our sleeves to be able to manage taking care of these children, alone, without any help. And when you are a staying at home mom you have to add the fact that you are stuck at home most of the time, you don’t get to interact with people as often as working mothers do, your social life is nearly dead and you find yourself eventually drowned in loneliness. And this could be the shot of mercy! That is why I came up with few tips to help myself, first, and every staying at home mother lead a fair relaxing life with children.     

1. Friends: Don’t let your life and your marriage push you away from you friends. To survive you need to socialize, to have acquaintances, someone you could go out with for a cup of coffee or plan a game of poker! Someone you could talk to when you find yourself miserable. It is beautiful to have your husband as your best friend but sometimes you might need a good friend to talk to about your marital problems and in that case your spouse won’t be a good choice. And you don’t want to find yourself alone in such hard time cause then you will feel petrified!
2. Time Out: Yes you do need that and you know it! But when can you squeeze that break when you have to cook, clean, run errands, spend time with your kids, bathe them, read them a story, and last but not least take care of your own hygiene, and – yes- get some sleep! And we forgot to mention your love life. So in general your day is similar to a crazy journey at a kids’ fair. Time Out! Cancel one of your tasks and take a time off: you can read a little, have a cup of coffee or just lay down idly watching television or thinking blank. It doesn’t matter how you spend your break but it is important to have a small time during the day to breathe and relax.
3. Plan an outing: Once a week get a baby sitter and get out from that crazy mansion.  You could plan a day out with your significant other, lunch with your friends or just a lonely outing to run away from your troubles. Details don’t matter,  what is important is for you to have the chance, once a week, to relax from running after the kids all day and have a day for yourself.
   Pamper yourself mother you deserve it!

If you follow these tips I guarantee you a smoother life as staying at home mother. So please try your best and remember that even though a staying at home mother is the most restless non profitable job in the world and even if every time or so you wish you were able to quit remember that it's the best job in the world cause your boss are your children and they love you unconditionally. It's true that you're not getting materially paid but your building for what's more important and that is a long, strong, intimate relationship with your children that will last longer than anything money could buy and it has an increasing value over the time. Be happy you're a staying at home mom .

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Depression in New Mothers: Causes, Consequences, and Treatment Alternatives Depression is the number one cause of maternal death in developed countries and results in adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. It is vital, therefore, that health professionals are ready and able to help those women that suffer from perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD). This book provides a comprehensive approach to treating PPD in an easy-to-use format. It reviews the research and brings together the evidence-base for understanding the causes and for assessing the different treatment options, including those that are safe for use with breastfeeding mothers. It incorporates a new psychoneuroimmunology framework for understanding postpartum depression and includes chapters on: Negative birth experiences Infant characteristics Psychosocial factors Antidepressant medication Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy Herbal medicine and alternative therapies Suicide and infanticide Invaluable in treating the mothers who come to you for help, this helpful guide dispels the myths that hinder effective treatment and presents up-to-date information on the impact of maternal depression on the health of the mother, as well as the health and well-being of the infant.

The Ghost in the House: Real Mothers Talk about Maternal Depression, Raising Children, and How They Cope An award-winning reporter for the "Washington Post," Tracy Thompson was thirty-four when she was hospitalized and put on suicide watch during a major depressive episode. This event, the culmination of more than twenty years of silent suffering, became the point of departure for an in-depth, groundbreaking book on depression and her struggle with the disease. "The Beast" shattered stereotypes and inspired countless readers to confront their own battles with mental illness. Having written that book, and having found the security of a happy marriage, Thompson assumed that she had learned to manage her illness. But when she took on one of the most emotionally demanding jobs of all being a mother depression returned with fresh vengeance. Very quickly Thompson realized that virtually everything she had learned up to then about dealing with depression was now either inadequate or useless. In fact, maternal depression was a different beast altogether. She tackled her problem head-on, meticulously investigating the latest scientific research and collecting the stories of nearly 400 mothers with depression. What she found was startling: a problem more widespread than she or any other mother struggling alone with this affliction could have imagined. Women make up nearly 12 million of the 19 million Americans affected by depression every year, experiencing episodes at nearly twice the rate that men do. Women suffer most frequently between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four not coincidentally, the primary childbearing years. "The Ghost in the House," the result of Thompson's extensive studies, is the first book to address maternal depression as a lifelong illness that can have profound ramifications for mother and child. A striking blend of memoir and journalism, here is an invaluable resource for the millions of women who are white-knuckling their way through what should be the most satisfying years of their lives. Thompson offers her readers a concise summary of the cutting-edge research in this field, deftly written prose, and, above all, hope.

The Postpartum Effect: Deadly Depression in Mothers A Mothers Tears presents a caring and knowledgeable picture of postpartum depression. Psychologist Arlene M. Huysman explains the very real hormonal and emotional causes of what was once dismissed as the baby blues, defines who is at risk, and shows readers how to recognize the illness. She also describes proper treatment, explains how to make sure ones doctor is an ally, and discusses how family can help new mothers get well again. This primer on the causes and cures of this common but long-misunderstood illness contains a new chapter presenting the most up-to-date research and developments.