Product Review- Mr Clean Magic Erasers
The number one thing I suggest everyone have on hand would be the Mr Clean Magic Erasers. I was first introduced to the Magic Erasers about ten years ago, but I couldn't be bothered by them. I thought they were some weird hoax, and would continue to scrub away with a sponge and soap for several years. About three years ago, a woman I was talking with was gushing over how much she loved the Magic Erasers.
I had to see what all the fuss was about, so I grabbed a box upon my next trip to the store. I was hooked. I used them to clean the stove top, counters, inside & out of the fridge, the microwave, walls, and switch plates, the bathtub and the shower door, I even used them to scrub wood furniture clean. There's some kind of magical power in them so there's no scrubbing, just a few swipes of the eraser and all scuff marks, dirt, and grime disappear.
Is there a cleaning product you can't live without? What's one product that you would recommend to everyone?
Stacy
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New Beginnings Start With Small Changes
Yesterday morning I took my first Vinyasa Yoga class at The Healing Tree, in Quincy. While I've taken a few different styles of yoga classes (Hot Power, Hatha, and Ashtanga), I had never tried Vinyasa. The instructor started the class with a few sentences about where our focus should be during practice and what she wanted us to think about. The theme she chose was water; she stressed how important water is to us- both internally and externally. She wanted us to think about bodies of water and how fluid they are, while incorporating our interpretation into our graceful movements. She discussed briefly how important water was to rebirth, and spring being about celebration, and new beginnings.
This really struck a chord with me. The last few weeks I have been making an effort to make small changes to hopefully create long term habits; working out regularly, making sure that I am working smarter not harder, keeping my car clean (it sometime feels like a never ending battle), and lastly, making healthy food choices. Do any of these things sound familiar?
Typically we see people at the New Year setting very aggressive goals to overhaul their lives and make major (and sometimes unrealistic) changes. The normal trend is falling off the diet wagon mid-January, or giving up on that organizational project sometime in February. The spring seems like a great time to check in with yourself and see where you stand with those New Year Resolutions, and maybe reevaluate your original plan to something more flexible and attainable. Introduction to the warmer weather is a chance to shed some clothing layers, and figuratively speaking, some negative energy layers. Making small changes and taking baby steps to where you want to be is something I constantly stress to my clients. If you try to bite off more than you can chew, you will be left feeling defeated, unsatisfied, and go back to your old habits.
The good thing about your life; it's constantly changing, and you are ultimately in charge of being responsible for most of those changes.
What small changes can you make this spring to lead to a less stressful life? Is there a project that you've been avoiding because it seems so overwhelming? What's are the first few steps you need to take to get there?
-Stacy
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Dinner's Ready!
Here's a quick, delicious and nutritious dinner idea for the night where you are craving comfort food, but know that beach season is right around the calendar.
I love soups, but I constantly forget that how delicious they are until I've got a steaming spoonful in front of me. After a long day of clients, and a double dose of Boot Camp I came home beat and hungry. I didn't have the energy to do all the prep work for a salad, and didn't want a sandwich so I turned to an old stand by... Tomato Soup.
Looking at the can, I knew I could do better and add some little treats to it to really make it a meal. Here's what I threw together:
In a small sauce pan I poured 1 can of Campbell's condensed Tomato Soup, with 1 Can of water
To that I added 1/2 cup of Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend (it's an awesome mix, and a great substitute for rice)
1 Cup of Goya Black Beans (I was hesitant at first to add the beans, but something told me I wouldn't regret it)
It took about 8 minutes to warm up, and cook the grains through.
I spooned it into a bowl and added a few Fat Free Parmesan Ranch Croutons to the top for an added bonus.
-Serves 2
The soup was so filling and exactly what I needed after such a long day, and at 380 calories I couldn't feel guilty!
What are your go-to foods after a long day? Need a little advice on how to make it a little healthier? Head on over to see my friend, Stacey Shipman at Healthy South Shore!
Stacy
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Tanning; The Healthy Way!
While I service many busy women in helping them get their chores and "To Do" lists completed, my good friend, Jennifer Mitchell, is helping busy women maintain their bronzed look!
If you've been to a tanning salon, you've no doubt seen the literature about the risks of tanning beds. They can do damage to your eyes, mess with medication, subject you to cancer, and then there are all the lovely risks of laying in a dirty bed. To keep up with trends many salons have adopted the spray tan method into their business- to keep clients happy and healthy.
If you're anything like me, you love a year round glow, but don't look great in orange. I have to be very careful with fake tanning- I love the lotions, but the smells can be downright offensive, and there's nothing worse than your "tan" coming off on your clothes and leaving towels marked up.
Almost six months ago, I found out Jennifer had started her own mobile (yes, you read that right) spray tanning business, and I knew I wanted to hear more. As luck would have it, Jennifer needed a volunteer at a luncheon (thank you very much, www.SSWBN.com), and my mexican tan was starting to fade.
She used the clean and clear solution- free of odor, and since it went on clear, didn't rub off on my clothing! The spray dried almost instantly, and the color began appearing upon contact. I only had my arms and face done (we were afterall, at a luncheon), but the process was quick, painless, and so easy. The color lasted for about 10 days... leaving me wanting more!
Another added benefit- as I said, the product was odorless, but I didn't mention, it's also ORGANIC! Hello, Mother Nature!
I love that her service is mobile and will come to you. Jen has a very professional attitude and wants her clients to feel comfortable with her. She views each person as blank canvas to work on, and loves leaving people feeling good about themselves.
Senza Sole is available for pre-date preparation, weddings, body building competitions, beauty pageants, girls night out parties, proms, and those just looking for a nice, healthy, glow! Jennifer also offers gift certificates, bundle packages, and accepts credit cards!
For more information:
Phone
1 857.939.0072
Email
info@senzasole.com
Website
http://www.SenzaSole.com
What's for Lunch?
I try really hard to make healthy, creative, delicious lunches that he can eat at the office with minimal effort. They do have a full size kitchen and lunchroom at the office, but let's face it; he's at work to negotiate, talk with reps and vendors, and work deals, not cook his lunch.
Here are 5 easy lunch ideas that don't take much prep work, and can be packed for school, work, or lunch on the go!
1. Old Faithful. Rick loves a good ol' PB & J, and honestly, who doesn't? Eating peanut butter and jelly absolutely brings me back to my childhood, and is like a nice little lunchtime hug to my taste buds and stomach. Sometimes he'll ask for two sandwiches, saying the first one doesn't fill him; after reminding him of the calorie count, he'll pack an extra snack or two.
2. Speaking of snacks... in order to avoid the 3pm crash, and to mindless eat, I make an effort to only pack healthy snacks for him, and every so often slipping in a treat. Some staples always found in his lunch bag include: string cheese, yogurt (hello, 110 calorie desserts!), goldfish, or cheese-it's, a box of raisins (he's kind of picky with fruit so it really surprised me when he asked for those!), granola bars (our new favorite: Smash Bars) pistachios, or trail mix, and sometimes as a splurge, I'll toss in some hummus and crackers. Keeping a variety of healthy snacks on hand is motivating, and is imperative to avoid hitting up the vending machine.
3. Here fishy, fishy, fishy! Rick sometimes gets stuck in a food rut, and will eat the same thing for a week and a half straight. His current obsession, tuna fish. Because I always like to make things "fresh," I get up in the morning and crack a can of tuna for my love. Adding mayo is predictable, so I mix in a few standard ingredients and then experiment a little. My standards are: breadcrumbs (homemade or store bought, it gives a little texture and boost of flavor), paprika (I had heard on Dr. Oz once that it keeps you healthy, so I try to incorporate it anywhere I can), celery salt (or fresh chopped celery if we have it), garlic seasoning (I'm Italian, I'm sorry), chopped onions, a couple of chopped pickles and a tiny bit of juice (my Aunt, Dr. T, turned me on to this, and it's an a.m.a.z.i.n.g. must try), and a dash of salt and pepper. This past week I kept the ingredients to a minimum and only mixed together mayo, tuna, celery salt, pepper, and Cajun spices. The result- spicy tuna salad- and a possible new favorite.
4. When I was a Nanny, one of the responsibilities I had was to make the kids lunch for school. If you have a picky eater in the house, you know what a struggle meals can be. Getting these kids to eat anything that wasn't made of cheese or sugar was next to impossible. They didn't like bread, so sandwiches were out of the question. Most of the time, their lunches consisted of lunch meat slices (in a bag), with string cheese, fresh grapes and cherries, or fruit snacks, and crackers. Slightly unconventional, but they ate and that was the goal.
5. Last but not least, an excellent lunch on the go, is anything in a wrap. Sandwiches are great if you're sitting at a table, or even in the park... but a wrap is key if you're driving, or eating standing up or on the go. There's minimal mess, as everything should hopefully be wrapped tight, and secured (I like to envelope my wrap in tin foil- peeling back the edges as i eat). One of my favorite go to wrap lunches include hummus, and any fresh veggies on hand on either a whole wheat or spinach wrap.
What are some of your lunch favorites?
Stacy Mafera
703 304 4067
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Get Your Move On!
Every so often a business goes across my radar that is similar to my own, but we does have distinct differences. A few years ago, this business was Arrange Boston. I'd heard about Courtney from my BNI director, and she encouraged me to learn more about her business. I reached out to Courtney of Arrange Boston (www.ArrangeBoston.com), and we met for coffee to discuss what she does.
While we are both professional organizers and strive to make our clients lives a little less stressful, Courtney and her business partner, Nancy offer move in assistance as well as nesting service. They truly help you every step of the way.
I know from personal experience that when I moved it was a stressful time. I am an excellent procrastinator when it comes to my own "To Do" list, so having a service like this would have been amazingly helpful. When packing I was highly organized- we were moving from a one bedroom apartment into a 2 bedroom house, with a full basement an office and a 3 season room. Our moving crew consisted of my little brother (little meaning younger, 5'11" isn't exactly small), my overly motivated father (if there's anyone in the world that thinks he can conquer anything, it's him), myself, and Rick. Because it was one of those ridiculously hot days in September (record breaking hot actually), and I'm just a girl (it does sometimes benefit to use this phrase), I did most of the pointing, and supplying cold water.
I'm sure the next time we're getting ready to pack up and head out for our next adventure Rick, my dad and my brother will all remember the sweat that went into that day and urge me to call Courtney and Nancy!
I received an email yesterday from my friends over at Arrange Boston, sharing an Estate Sale announcement.
For details about the sale, please check out the link below:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=t6w9hziab&v=001JO9rJ3gjxX6fgX1ibKZTdL02c8d3RnJSu-amhmyPkk49k9-WjaJympDaeqAWEo0R0nieqTUBixwH9hDBDIVmo8U1gQpyrju2Qqq1S_dmXaaQBsk4o3KrSg%3D%3D
Or email Arrange Boston at WeHelp@ArrangeBoston.com
Baked Teriyaki Chicken!
The last week or so, dinner has been made on the grill. With chilly temps yesterday, standing out on the deck watching over dinner was probably the last thing that Rick wanted to do, so I gave him the night off.
Missing the warmth of the oven and wanting to get busy in the kitchen I went to work. We are trying to eat healthier, while not compromising flavor and portion sizes. We've stocked up on protein, vegetables, brown rice and whole wheat pasta for quick dinners.
I was craving something with a different kick so I tried something new.
I started with preheating the over to 350*.
Laying out a sheet of tinfoil, I sprayed a bit of non-stick spray, and 1/2 tbsp of teriyaki sauce.
Seasoning a chicken breast with salt, fresh ground pepper, and garlic grilling seasoning I laid the chicken on the tinfoil- pouring over it another 1/2 tbsp of teriyaki sauce. On top of that I layered sliced onions and a mix of sliced sweet peppers.
Wrapping the chicken up in the tinfoil into a neat little package, I repeated this with the second piece of chicken.
It took about 25 minutes to cook, and each piece of chicken was flavorful and moist (from having literally cooked up in the teriyaki sauce), the vegetable were also softened and delicious.
You could substitute the teriyaki for BBQ, Honey Mustard, or any other dipping sauce you like.
You might consider making a little extra, as they'd be a great reheat for lunchtime!
Enjoy!
-Stacy
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Does Your Family Have a Plan?
Feeling inspired by my good friend Gwen Morgan, of The What If Work Book (http://www.whatifworkbook.com/) I put together my own family planning work book. Since it's just Rick and I, this was a pretty easy task- as our little twosome grows, the book I'm sure will come in as a very handy tool. While Gwen's book focuses on the future after your own, my book is based on today, and now, for our household.
The book contains a basic profile for each of us- along with birthdays, anniversaries, allergies, clothing sizes, and any other profile information that we might want to fill in. It also has a page with emergency contact info- the local pharmacy, doctors and dentists to contact, any specialists that we might have seen. We have a list of household vendors that we need; Directv, NationalGrid, our local handyman, the landscaper, and so on and so forth.
This book is where we can keep carry out menus for local eateries, and shopping lists for the market.
We have listed a family emergency plan- listing what to do if and when there is an emergency.
Since Rick travels a lot for work, I keep his travel plans written down in a master calendar, as well as off hour appointments that I might have, and parties or events that we are planning on attending.
I'm envisioning that when we do buy our own home, we will also include a map of the home, as well as swatches of paint, and any other DIY info that might be helpful.
The purpose of this book is to have a place to keep information stored- so it's not in random phone books, on one calendar but not another, and to avoid having a "junk drawer" where things get hidden, never to be seen again.
Do you keep a master planner like this?
Stacy
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Got 15 Minutes?
1. Windex all windows, allowing for more sunlight to stream into the house. Having a dog, our front windows and door are always streaked with Sammy-Nose, wiping them down leaves me feeling accomplished and wanting to open the sashes.
2. Clean out the fridge. It might seem like a tedious, and overwhelming task, but do a quick once over- are there left overs from last month's pot luck in there? Do you have cottage cheese from the last time you promised to eat healthy? Get rid of anything that you aren't going to use, is expired, or just aren't sure about.
3. Make a grocery list. Even if you don't need to go to the store now, do you have a list of commonly purchased items? I like the idea of an excel sheet posted on the fridge, or in a cabinet that can be updated as necessary. That way, when it is time to head to the market, I can just grab the list, reducing spontaneous purchases and forgetting things!
4. Change your sheets. I love the feeling and smell of fresh, crisp, clean sheets. I'm convinced that I sleep better in a freshly made bed.
5. Empty your email. With technology at our fingertips (literally), there's no excuse to have your email clogged with spam, or junk mail. Take a few minutes and to through your mailbox, and purge out pieces that you have no use for anymore!
Stacy
703 304 4067
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5 Easy Things To Do To Celebrate Spring!
The change of season always seems to motivate me. Spring really gets me in the mood to purge out the winter blues and hide the shovel and ice melt until next winter. Here are 5 inexpensive ways that I celebrate spring:
1. Tulips. When I was was little we had a giant tree, and a long make-shift flower bed in our yard. When the warmer weather came along, my Mom, along with her three little worm hunters (me and my two sisters), would go outside and plant tulips and daffodils. While having a green thumb may be a skill, having a pretty yard doesn't need to be.
2. Pussywillows. Nothing says spring to me like these delicate, soft, fuzzy buds on branches. I love having a bunch in a vase as a casual centerpiece or a cute accent to a room.
3. Open the windows. I love sleeping with the windows open and letting the sounds of nature lure me into dreamland.
4. Do some spring cleaning. Every spring I go through and do a deep, thorough cleaning of the whole house- focusing on what I can get rid of, what can be donated, and what should go to storage.
5. Spend more time outdoors. Being in the Boston area, winters can be harsh and bitter- I love being to escape and take my four legged friend out for a nature hike, or walk along the beach- really enveloping myself in the landscape and all the beauty our world has to offer!
How do you celebrate spring?
Stacy
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