MomsTown_JULY2020_1stProof

JULY 2020 ISSUE | VOLUME 1

THE MAGAZINE’S TAGLINE GOES HERE

THE ROBINSONS FIND THE PERFECT HOME

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LETTER

FROM THE EDITORS Who the Heck are Mary & Heather?

Good question!

We’re a couple of moms who met online. And we go back a few years. We met in 2004. We were both hosting Internet Radio Shows. Mary was hosting an online radio show for Entrepreneur Magazine. Heather had just started an internet show for mom entrepreneurs, called MomsTown.

We met over email and, as fate would have it, we lived in the same town. We met for coffee and the brainstorming began. We joined forces on MomsTown and went on to create one of the most successful internet Radio Shows at the time (mind you, this was pre-Facebook and the term Podcast was just a twinkle in Adam Curry and Dave Winer’s eyes). We started out hosting the show from an internet radio station. We eventually moved the production into the basement of Mary’s home. From there, we produced hours and hours of shows, while Mary’s two girls and Heather’s three boys ran amuck upstairs and around the backyard. (Note: We did hire a babysitter! ;) )During those years, we also wrote two lifestyle books for moms, “The MomsTown Guide to Getting It All” (Hyperion) and “It’s All About You, Live the Life You Crave.”

(Simon & Schuster/Free Press) We published some eBooks, created online courses, hosted webinars and were hired as Keynote speakers.

Our internet radio show and books also got the attention of Hollywood. We entered into a contract with CBS/ Paramount to help with a series of mom entrepreneur episodes for the Dr. Phil Show, appeared on The CBS Early Show and Montel, produced and hosted a cable television show for Biz TV and FamilyNet called MomsTown, appeared on countless local television and radio broadcasts, and wrote all kinds of articles for magazines, including Parents’ Magazine and Martha Stewart’s Body and Soul. We were brand ambassadors for household brand names such as Schwanns, Sauve, Lego, American Express, Moen, Procter & Gamble and more than 15 other brands. They all wanted to reach moms. We made money and had a lot of fun!

Then, life dealt us a few big blows. We made some big mistakes. BIG! But, we learned a lot.

It’s those mistakes that turned out to be the greatest blessings. We share our stories, trials and tribulations on The Mary & Heather Show. The best part, however, is we also share what has worked and is working to bring us our greatest success ever!

One thing we know to be true: It all started with our Podcast.

We are most excited about what is happening NOW! We invite you to be a part of the journey. We will be sending out invitations shortly. So, if you’re a mom interested in starting your own podcast or growing and learning how to make money with a podcast, you’ll want the details. Check out our Casting Call! (make this a link to our subscribe page) We look forward to hearing your story!

Warmly,

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What’s inside this ISSUE NOTE TO MARY & HEATHER: THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO TELL THE READER ABOUT THE INTENTION OF THE MAGAZINE - A MISSION-STATEMENT-OF-SORTS BUT WAY LESS FORMAL. WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS MAGAZINE AT ALL (THAT TYPE OF THING)... TABLE OF CONTENTS WILL (eventually?) HAVE A SECTION CALLED “IN EVERY ISSUE” SO READERS KNOW THOSE SECTIONS WILL BE RECURRING AND THEY CAN RELY UPON THAT CONTENT WITH EACH NEW ISSUE...THIS PG SUBJECT TO A LOT OF CHANGE IN TERMS OF A DESIGN THAT ACCOMMODATES ALL INFO WE WANT TO PUT AT READERS’ FINGERTIPS. BUT we might want to wait an issue or two before deciding upon those SET sections.

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MOMSTOWN.COM

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STAYCATIO NS

STO RY S O UR CE : E L IVIN GTO DAY.CO M

G E T T ING AWAY WI THOUT GO ING AWAY

IM AG E CR EDIT : GE T TY IM AGE S

Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life, but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter. A “staycation” – a vacation you take right in your hometown (or nearby) – can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on potentially stressful travel.

VISIT LOCAL LANDMARKS — Just because it’s not a traditional vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists. Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook to uncover hidden spots you may not even know exist. Make a plan to seek out historic sites, visit local landmarks like museums or try an out-ofthe-way restaurant (or two) you’ve never eaten at before.

CAMP OUT IN THE BACKYARD — Camping doesn’t have to be done far from home. In fact, it can be done right in your own backyard. Pitch a tent to sleep under the stars and plan a night full of traditional camping activities like roasting s’mores, telling spooky stories by flashlight and trying to identify stars and constellations.

SET UP A PICNIC IN THE PARK — Pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit and other treats and head to the park. You can enjoy a casual meal then take advantage of the open space for a family walk or game of tag before retreating to the playground to let the little ones expel any leftover energy.

Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together.

HAVE A HOME SPA DAY — If you’re looking for some relaxation but don’t want to splurge on the full spa treatment, plan an at-home oasis instead. Light some candles, run a bubble bath and break out the facial masks and fingernail polish.

VISIT AN AMUSEMENT PARK — No matter where you live, there’s probably an amusement or water park within driving distance. A quick online search before you arrive can help prepare a strategy for hitting the most popular thrill rides and waterslides while skipping those that may not provide quite the same entertainment value.

Find more tips and tricks for enjoying family time together at eLivingtoday.com.

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FAMILY TRAVEL

G E T R EA DY TO R OLL SAFELY INTO S U M M ER During the summer months, personal vehicles tend to cover a lot of ground between travel and daily commutes; however, consistent rolling, turning and braking on hot roadways can pose safety risks to your vehicle – and one of its most important components, the tires. Ensure your car or truck is ready for the road regardless of how much you typically drive with these tips from the tire experts at your neighborhood America’s Tire.

STORY SOURCE :

GET THE TIRE PRESSURE RIGHT

CHECK YOUR TREAD

Tires lose air due to the constant impact of bumps and turns. Temperature changes also affect air pressure – for every 10 degrees in ambient temperature change, the tire air pressure changes 1 pound per square inch (PSI). Although fluctuations are normal, low pressure can lead to poor handling, lower gas mileage, excessive wear and overloading.

A vehicle’s safe stopping distance is largely determined by the tread on its tires. More tread equals better road grip and shorter stopping distances while cars with lower tire tread can take significantly longer to bring to a complete stop. The easiest way to check your tread is by sticking a penny with President Lincoln’s head upside down in a tread groove. It’s time to replace your tires if his entire head is visible.

DISCOUNT TIRE IMAGE CREDIT : GET TY IMAGES VISIT THEI R WEBSITE : AMERICASTIRE .COM

DON’T OVERLOAD The combination of heat and overloading a vehicle, which is common for summer travel, is one of the most dangerous conditions for tires. Overloaded tires can overheat

CHECK YOUR TRUNK Most new vehicles are replacing spare tires with tire inflation kits that include puncture-coating sealants, air compressors and even run-flat tires. Check to see what equipment your vehicle has to assist with a flat or tire failure and make sure you have a roadside assistance plan.

Check your tires’ air pressure at least once a month, especially before long trips. You’ll get the most accurate reading when tires are cool, meaning they haven’t been driven on for several hours. You can find the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure on a sticker in your car’s door jamb or in your owner’s manual. If you need assistance, stop by a local store like Discount Tire, which offers complimentary air checks and tire safety inspections.

It’s a good idea to check tires in multiple places. Numerous factors can contribute to uneven wear, meaning the tread may be thicker on one part of the tire than another. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles or earlier if uneven wear develops, as driving on uneven tread can be dangerous.

BE WARY OF TIRE AGE The older a tire, the higher its risk for failure. As a tire ages, the rubber becomes hard and brittle, and loses elasticity and strength. The age of your tire can be found by checking the Tire Identification Number stamped on its sidewall. You’ll want to replace any tire that’s more than 6 years old. Remember tires should generally be replaced in sets of two or four to help ensure even wear and maximum safety.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

M A S S AGE LO O K & FE E L YOU NGE R — NOW

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Changing things on the inside and making practical changes in your daily routine to start looking and feeling younger today — throw in a massage and you’re on the right track!

we’re good for about a day or two. Then we go back to our old bad habits and repeat the cycle.

So, what are busy moms supposed to do? We’re all in the same boat: we’re all getting older. We can’t escape that fact. What we can escape, however, is how we think, what we say, what we do, and how we carry ourselves. We do have the power to look and feel younger. We are going to take a look at how you can change things on the inside and make practical changes in your daily routine to start looking and feeling younger today.

STARTING ON THE INSIDE

WHAT ARE BUSY MOMS SUPPOSED TO DO? Whenever we start talking about age and beauty, we realize how easy it is to start tearing ourselves apart. We can find every infinitesimal flaw on our bodies. We can hone in one every wrinkly, dimple, and sag. It’s so easy to do, and before we know it, an otherwise new and sunny day has turned into an old and tired flogging. Let’s face it for whatever reason, it’s easy to beat ourselves up over looks.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones having a tough time reconciling ourselves to the fact that we’re getting older. The moms in our community all say the same thing. We wish we could just find the one miracle cream or pill that would make us look fresh-faced and put a bounce in our step.

When we get into out beauty flogging mode, we start complaining that our jeans are too tight, our hair is going gray, and what in the world were we thinking substituting baby oil for sunscreen when we were teenagers? That’s when we swear we’re going to drink more water, exercise, get more sleep, eat more vegetables, stop the caffeine, lay off the chocolate, oh, and take our daily vitamins.

Seriously, we really promise these things to ourselves. We must admit

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Let’s start with finding the power in the way you think. When you become a mom, a million changes seem to take place in your body. Not to mention, all the changes you go through regarding your identity, work, sex life, and relationships, but now it’s time to take a look at the changes in the way you look.

We know that giving birth does a number on the waistline and hips, changes breasts forever, and can even change the texture and color of your hair, and your shoe size. Your whole life has changed from the inside out. It’s no wonder that when you look in the mirror, you see some things that are familiar and other things that are just out of whack. Our goal is to help you be kinder and gentler with yourself and your new look. You can make changes-we have some great practical tips for that-but the first goal is to start seeing yourself in a new way. We want you to see the beauty in the body that birthed your baby, just as you see the beauty in your babies.

Your mind is a powerful tool in helping you to look and feel younger. The female body is a work of art, so start treating yourself as such. Keeping this in mind, let’s start thinking like one of the most celebrated artists of all time. Let’s think like Botticelli.

Next month: The Botticelli Vibe

HEALTHY KIDS

5 TI PS FO R B ABY ’ S FIRST FO O DS STO RY S O UR CE : K IN DE RCARE IM AG E CR EDIT : GE T TY IM AGE S WEB S IT E : K IN DE RCARE .CO M

YOUR BABY’S EATING SCHEDULE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HIS OR HER SLEEP. Ask any parent what he or she remembers most about a child’s first year and you’re likely to hear quite a bit about sleep schedules. However, a baby’s eating schedule is just as important as his or her sleep.

While feeding a baby seems like it should be simple, for some new parents it can be nerve-wracking and lead to plenty of questions, such as: “Should I breastfeed or bottle feed?”

“How much should my baby eat?”

“When should I start baby food?”

“What should my baby’s first foods be?”

To help navigate first-year feeding, consider these tips from the experts at KinderCare.

LET BABIES EAT AS MUCH AS THEY NEED TO — WHEN THEY NEED TO Be prepared to feed your baby soon after he or she shows signs of hunger, like rooting; sucking on hands, toes, clothes or toys; or reaching for food. Let your baby tell you when he or she is full – like turning away, falling asleep or losing interest in eating. This helps your baby learn to eat when hungry and stop when full, even if it means not eating everything you offer.

CHOOSE A FEEDING STYLE THAT MEETS YOU AND YOUR

BABY’S NEEDS Whether you breastfeed or use a bottle, the important thing is your baby is fed. If you breastfeed, it’s a good idea to express some milk now and again so your baby will take a bottle if someone else needs to feed him or her.

UNDERSTAND WHEN IT’S TIME TO START BABY FOOD While most babies are introduced to solid foods around 6 months of age, it depends on their individual development. Generally, if your baby can sit up on his or her own, has good neck and head control and shows interest – like reaching for food during mealtimes – it may be appropriate to try solid food.

FOCUS ON EXPLORATION It’s important to provide your baby with a variety of foods free from added sugars, sodium and artificial ingredients, and let him or her explore rather than focusing on how much is eaten.

“Focus on introducing veggies, proteins, grains and fruit – in that order,” said Courtney Hines, KinderCare’s nutritionist. “Babies are naturally inclined to prefer sweet things so save fruit for last so your baby is more inclined to try other flavors.”

MAKE THE TRANSITION GRADUAL AND FUN. Hines recommends gradually exposing babies to a wide variety of whole, unprocessed foods with varying flavors and textures, and talking with your baby about the taste, feel and look of the foods he or she is trying. Starting with soft foods like mashed potatoes, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, cooked rice and bananas can give you an idea of what your child can handle.

It’s easy to focus on baby food stages, but transitioning to solid foods will take place over time, making it important to continue offering your baby a bottle before mealtimes, in addition to solid food.

Once your baby reaches his or her first birthday, talk with your family doctor about transitioning from breast milk or formula to unflavored, whole-fat milk.

It’s important to remember that every baby develops at his or her own pace. Talk with your child’s doctor about the right pace for your baby, and find more tips to navigate your child’s major milestones at KinderCare.com.

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T IME-KI LLI NG HAB ITS

& HOW TO CHANG E TH E M

Let’s kick some bad habits that eat up our time

SKIPPING BREAKFAST This is the number one time-killer. The best way to manage time is with your physical and mental energy. If we don’t supply our body with proper nutrition, we’re sure to run out of energy and time.

THINKING YOU HAVE NO TIME If you think it, you’re right. Perception is reality. If you keep telling yourself you have no time in the day, then you’ll never have it. Change the way you talk to yourself about time and you’ll find time will start working in your favor.

FEELING GUILTY ABOUT THINGS YOU DIDN’T GET DONE Fact is, sometimes stuff doesn’t get done. Let it go.

Worrying about everything we should have done doesn’t help us get tasks accomplished now. Guilt works against us and promotes procrastination.

SURFING THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA AND TEXTING This may sound ironic coming from a couple of Internet talk show hosts/podcasters, but we know so many women (including ourselves) who spend way too much time online. A good way to break this habit is to set the iPad and your phone down for ten to fifteen minutes. A short break from the screen will help break the online trance, and it’s good for your mind and body.

STARTING THE DAY WITHOUT A PLAN Our goal is to write down the plan for the day the night before. It doesn’t always work out that way, but when it does, it’s great. We are able to wake up with a game plan in our head and a list to keep us on track.

GROCERY SHOPPING AND RUNNING ERRANDS WITHOUT A LIST We know we save at least fifteen minutes every time we go into the grocery store with a list. Plus, it saves us money.

When we wander the aisles wondering what we need, we waste time and buy unnecessary items.

MULTITASKING Try, as hard as it may be, not to multitask. As women, we pride ourselves on being able to juggle a dozen things at one time. Truth be told, we’re better off doing one thing at a time. It’s simply more efficient to accomplish at least one task in its entirety than to have a dozen unfinished projects on your desk.

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features

EN TE RTA INING I N STYLE STORY SOURCE : EL IVINGTO DAY.COM IMAGE CREDIT : GET TY IMAGES

IMPRESS YOU GUESTS, SURE, BUT DON’T FORGET TO ENJOY YOUR OWN PARTY!

It’s never too early to plan ahead, especially when you are expecting guests in your home. Your family and friends know and might love your style, but it can be important to spice things up now and again to impress your visitors. Factors such as lights, music and food can affect your guests experience in your home.

To remain stylish and keep your party going, consider these tips for fun and festive home entertaining.

BACK TO BASICS Staying organized is key while entertaining guests in your home. Try to plan out every detail before the big event, which can allow things to go more smoothly on the big day. As you think out your plan ahead of time, making lists can be a helpful way to stay organized and ensure you get everything done. List out your guests, what needs to be picked up from the store and possible decorations you might need to buy or craft yourself. The possibilities can seem endless, but it’s important to have a plan in place before you start putting things together.

THINK ABOUT THEME

LIGHT UP THE PARTY Transforming your home can be made simpler by changing the lighting. It’s typical for lights to be dimmed for parties to set a more relaxed mood. Other ideas include using candles, lamps or even hanging lanterns if you are entertaining outside. Make sure it’s bright enough so everyone can see, but dimmed enough to set the mood for the evening’s events.

SET THE MOOD WITH MUSIC Choose music that matches your theme and inspires that same feel throughout the house. If you’re going for a fun, energetic atmosphere, try something with a quick tempo, such as pop. If you’re wanting to relax, go for subtler, soothing tones. Try making your playlist before you entertain and listen to it a few times through, that way you can know what to expect and how guests will react to your music selections.

ENJOY THE PARTY! Through all the anxiety and stress of entertainment planning, make sure you take time to enjoy yourself during the time guests are in your home. Some guests will notice if you’re not having a good time. Smile and remember to be present in the moment.

There are numerous ways your style can be shown while entertaining. One way is to pick a theme or theme-related food dishes. One way to show your theme is through decorations. Placing them throughout your home can give the party some life and help guests get into the overall theme of the party.

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G E T O R GA NIZ ED TH I S S U M M ER FOCUS on the things you wake up to every day instead of the spaces that are hidden away During the pandemic, family members have been on top of one another in the house. The normal routine of cleaning and organizing went out of the window. Now, with more opportunities for us to get outside and even go out to dinner, it’s time to put the house back together again. And, moms know all too well what that entails. The chaos can stop us in our tracks as we walk into the living room and freeze. Just stand there wondering where to start. Here is our solution to freezing.

FROLIC in the chaos. This might sound crazy, but when you’re frozen in chaos and not making progress, it’s time to change your approach. Finding amusement in the mess improves your attitude. Approach the piles of laundry, papers, and dishes with a chuckle (even if there’s nothing really funny about them).

When you are able to find even the slightest humor in it, you’ll approach the cleanup with more energy.

RACE through the mess. Make a game or a sport out of the cleaning spree. Race to the smallest mess first. For example, if there is a short stack of papers on your nightstand, begin your race there. Once, you’ve started racing through one mess, you’ll find more energy to tackle the next. It’s also important to note that racing works best in the open spaces. Don’t even

worry about the messes you can’t se: the mess in the closets, cupboards, and under the bed. We have found the best way to cut the chaos is t start with the messes that hit us when we first wake up, walk through the front door, or go into the kitchen to start dinner. Once the messes in the open spaces are cleaned up, it’s time for the next step. Keep in mind a race could last a day, a week, even a month. It’s a good idea to make a race list, a quick survey of the places where you’ll be racing. Be sure to keep this list in a convenient place so you can check things off the list as you make progress.

OPEN drawers, closets, cupboards, and then open the trash bag. Start in the room where you spend most of your time.

For many of us, it’s the home office or the kitchen. Don’t try to tackle every room at once. Focus on one room, one closet, or one cupboard at a time. Start purging and getting rid of junk, the old papers, and the mess. Remember, one cupboard will probably only take abut fifteen minutes to organize. If that’s all the time there is in the day, then that’s all that gets organized. At least it’s one less cupboard of anxiety.

ZEN IT — Feel your stress melt away as you start to put the chaos behind you. This too is part of life, and all of life is meant to be enjoyed. Honestly, the only reason we believe in cutting the chaos is because ot does bring peace of mind.

We know from our own chaotic experience that when our lives feel out of control, we’re not having as much fun. There’s always something requiring our attention. Breathe deep, close your eyes, and picture how your life will be when the chaos is under control. When there is a feeling of Zen in your life and even in your closets.

EDIT what you do. This is the reminder that you don’t need to clean the entire house every day. Pick up a few toys, straighten the magazines and books, hang up a shirt or two, and call it a day.

NOTE IT — Get a composition book to keep as a chaos journal. We’ve found that making notes to ourselves specifically about the chaotic points in our lives helps us to see them more clearly. It also helps us to see how truly manageable they really are. Once you start doing this, chaos loses its control over you and you start controlling the chaos.

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HOME SWEET HOME

5 T I PS FOR B E T T E R HO ME S AFE TY TH I S SUMMER As people become more active during the warmer months, keeping home safety top of mind can sometimes go by the wayside.

However, when it comes to fire and carbon monoxide safety, you can never be too prepared.

Whether you are just beginning to take a stronger safety-first approach or looking to upgrade existing home safety equipment, keep these tips in mind as you spruce up your home for the season.

DON’T JUST CHECK BATTERIES, CHECK THE ALARM It’s a good idea to review your safety equipment and ensure everything is in good working order at least a couple times each year. For example, every type of smoke alarm must be completely replaced every 10 years whether it’s hardwired into your home or operates on a battery. New smoke alarms commonly come with built-in 10-year batteries, meaning no battery changes, but it’s a good idea to test the units regularly. In fact, most manufacturers recommend weekly. You can also use this time to double-check the gauge on your fire extinguishers, replace batteries in flashlights, test security systems and replenish first-aid kits.

INSPECT & REPAIR OUTDOOR AREAS Set aside time to evaluate any damage or potential hazards as the weather warms. For example, fallen tree branches and leaves can become trapped in gutters and pose a fire hazard. Shutters and fences can also weaken over time. To make sure they’re in good working condition, check that they are securely fastened.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMART TECHNOLOGY According to the National Fire Protection Association, 40 years ago people had an average of 17

STORY SOURCE : KIDDE .COM IMAGE CREDIT : GET TY IMAGE/ADO B E STO C K

Have a safe summer! minutes to escape a home fire, but today the average has decreased to about 3 minutes due to synthetic materials used in modern-day home furnishings. To get the earliest warning of a home fire, install wire-free interconnected batterypowered combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When one alarm senses a hazard, all alarms throughout the home sound in unison. Features like color-coded status rings and built-in 10-year sealed batteries make Kidde’s WireFree Interconnected Alarms a smart solution for optimal protection.

They offer simple setup and operate without the hassle of hardwiring or a Wi-Fi connection.

CHECK APPLIANCES If this wasn’t on your spring home safety checklist, take time to check your appliances or schedule an annual maintenance check for your stove, oven, heating system and more. According to the American Red Cross, dryers are responsible for approximately 9 of every 10 appliances fires. These common household appliances can collect dust, lint and other particles, which are potential fire hazards and can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

KEEP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN MINDCooking on grills is a popular pastime, but thousands of people are injured every year while using them.

In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 9,000 home fires are started by grills each year. Now is a good time to get your home’s grilling area in tip-top shape. Keep a 3-foot safety zone around hot grills for children and pets, and have a multipurpose home fire extinguisher nearby as fires can occur unexpectedly. Propane and charcoal grills both put off carbon monoxide as a byproduct, so be sure keep your grill at least 10 feet from the home and ensure it is positioned away from windows, doors, vents and ductwork.

For more safety tips to better prepare your home, visit Kidde.com.

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CR E AT ING A BU D G E T T HE WHO LE FAM ILY CA N LIVE WIT H

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get everyone involved You cook, clean, and take care of the kids and now you have to budget too? You’d probably rather scrub toilets than deal with the finances, after all, budgeting is a dirty word, right?

No one likes it and everyone feels like they have to sacrifice because of it. What if that’s not the case, though?

What if a family budget was easier than you thought possible?

Check out our tips to create financial peace in your house with a budget created not just by you, but by the hubby and kids, too.

GET EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE FAMILY FINANCES CALL A FAMILY MEETING — Get everyone involved.

At your meeting, discuss: FAMILY GOALS — What do you ALL want? Is it a family trip?

Something special in the house? A new car? Get everyone excited about the goals.

TALK ABOUT SAVING — Brainstorm together. How can you all save, including the kids? If you pay your kids an allowance, talk about how they can contribute $1 or $2 of their allowance to the chosen goal.

TALK ABOUT WAYS TO CUT DOWN — Talk to your kids about leaving lights on or taking long showers. Show them mathematically how much you save when they do simple things like turn lights off or take shorter showers.

MAKE THE FAMILY BUDGET VISUAL Get a whiteboard or large poster board and make the budget large enough for everyone to see. Make it fun and engaging, especially for the kids. Try:

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KEEPING A TALLY of your progress toward the goal so everyone can see it, celebrate every time you get closer to your goal.

WRITINT A “SHOUT-OUT” when someone contributes to the fund or does something that helps the family save money, like shutting the lights off.

SHOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SAVE when you eat at home or have a family night at home rather than going out.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR SPOUSE Of course, you can’t involve the kids in every aspect of family finance. At some point, you must have conversations behind closed doors. Keep lines of communication open. Try the following: GO OVER YOUR BANK STATEMENTS for the past few months to see where you spend and possibly overspend.

SET LIMITS for each category you spend money and hold one another accountable.

BRAINSTORM TOGETHER about how you could save money, whether it’s brown-bagging your lunches, eliminating coffee shop stops or cutting back on shopping habits.

SET SHORT AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS, including both parties’ needs and wants so both parties are heard.

Creating a family budget doesn’t have to fall on your shoulders alone. Involve the family – get everyone in on the process. If everyone works together, you’ll have an easier time reaching your goals and they won’t just be yours; they will be the entire family’s goals. Together, you can celebrate the successes and problem solve when things don’t go as planned.

FAMILY BUDGET

TH E M O NEY M E N U & WH Y MON EY I S IMP O RTANT We asked the women in our MomsTown community, “What would you do with an extra $1,000 a month?” Much to our surprise, they had to think about it, and even more to our surprise, not one mom asked if she could have more than $1,000.

We talk to women every day who are wishywashy on the subject of money. For some reason women have trouble discussing d ollars. They get tongue-tied when it comes to admitting that money is important and that they want more of it.

When you go to a restaurant and want to order something to eat, you have to choose a meal from the menu. If you left it up to the waiter, he’d bring you a basket of bread and water until you decided. And that’s why most of us are living on a bread and water budget.

ORDER FROM THE MONEY MENU It’s time to tell yourself how much money you really want. Write it down, make it real, not just imaginary millions. How much monthly, how much annually, and how much for retirement?

Most of us haven’t given it much thought. We are just uncomfortably comfortable.

Being uncomfortable comfortable doesn’t mean you’re financially set by any means. We’re talking about the kind of comfort zone that makes us resistant to change. It’s why we stay in jobs we don’t like. We’re too afraid to quit and the current path is familiar. It’s why we talk about ways to make money from home but never do.

We would have to step out of our comfort zone, take risks, and ask for what we want. This makes us uncomfortable. It’s much easier for us to stay put, cut out discount coupons, and continue paying the minimum amount on our credit cards.

Everyone we communicate on a daily basis has some kind of money issue.

More often than not the money issue is

this: money goes out a heck of a lot faster than it comes in. Even though most families have dual incomes, money is still tight. Where we used to live paycheck to paycheck, we now live paychecks to paychecks.

Here is a money insight to contemplate: you are as wealthy as you think.

WHY MONEY IS IMPORTANT It buys the necessities — food, shelter, water, clothing, electricity and healthcare.

It buys freedom It buys time It buys peace of mind It buys vacations It buys gifts It buys visits from the tooth fairy It buys date night It buys cars It buys plane tickets It buys reunions with friends and loved ones It buys time off from work.

Money is a complex symbol. It can make you happy and it can send you into a complete panic. And the funny thing is that it’s just a piece of paper. What is its inherent value? A dollar can buy you a third cup of coffee. But seriously, it’s wreaking havoc on our lives and our relationships, and it shouldn’t.

Money should be a positive indication of your standard of living. It can give you control over your lifestyle. You can live the life to which you aspire, and gthat life starts with your attitude about money.

NEXT MONTH: Man Math and Lady Luck

MOMSTOWN.COM

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FAMILY BUDGET STO RY S O UR CE: WO OT.CO M

7

PHOTO CR EDIT :

T IPS TO SAVE MO NEY

& HAVE F UN S HO PPI N G O N L IN E Online shopping allows you the ease of getting items delivered directly to your door. Not only is online shopping convenient, but it also allows you to discover sites that help you save money while shopping.

Credited with being the original daily deals site, launching in 2004, Woot! makes it easy for shoppers to save – and laugh out loud – while browsing for items they need, want and everything in between.

Consider these ways you can save and have more fun while you shop.

SHOP DAILY DEALS Offering daily deals for the last 16 years, you can find staffpicked deals every day across categories including home and kitchen, electronics, computers, tools and garden,

GE T TY IM AGE S

custom graphic t-shirts – other household necessities are also easy to find.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Most of the time when you shop, you’re looking for something you already know you need or want, but a website like Woot! also allows you to step into the unknown and buy a mystery box of items, referred to as a “Bag o’ Crap.” These “BOCs” are random items that are silly, fun and can sometimes be exactly what you need to make your day and help you save.

JOIN IN ON THE FORUM FUN You can find various forums online that cover a variety of topics, including some for the online shopping community.

For example, some sites allow you to engage in discussions on threads, swap different items, share reviews of products and more. Forums can be a fun way to uncover more tips for saving online from other experienced shoppers.

VOTE TO LOWER PRICES Fun, interactive features like Woot!’s Deal-O-Meter allow you to have a say in how you save by voting to lower the prices of upcoming deals. If a product gets enough votes, the price will be lowered.

FACE OFF TO SCORE DEALS If you enjoy the thrill of a friendly competition, you don’t want to miss the Woot-Off. It’s a day-long gauntlet of unannounced deals, with new offers launching every 30 minutes or less. Woot-Offs don’t happen often, but when they do, you’ll want to check back so you don’t miss the super-cheap prices, limited-quantity offers and the elusive Bag o’ Crap.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL PRICING Another fun way to get items for low prices, the WTF (Woot!’s Totally Fun-tastic) Pricing promotion showcases limited quantities of a deal, raising the price every 10 minutes until it sells out. If you arrive quickly at the deal page, you can get products for as low as $1.

COMBINE MEMBERSHIP PERKS If you shop online often, there’s a fairly good chance you, or someone who you know, is an Amazon Prime member.

As a subsidiary of the e-commerce site, Woot! offers special perks to members including free shipping and exclusive discounts.

sports and outdoors, shirts and gourmet food. While daily deals can help you save on items you didn’t even know you needed – such as TVs, laptops, power tools, sneakers and

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To share in the savings and fun, visit woot.com or download the app.

PLACEHOLDER

MOMSTOWN.COM

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FAM I LY O F TH E M O NT H COVER STORY

TITLE GOES RIGHT HERE

ACCUPTAT IUSTIAM VELIBUS. ET ALIT, AD UT QUIDUNTUR? QUIDUCIUMCEPRO CUMQUID ITATUR? TIUR? In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Curabitur nec nulla condimentum, tempus ipsum quis, placerat ipsum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Nulla vestibulum semper viverra. nec risus egestas viverra sed quis nisi. Maecenas odio lacus, auctor vel risus in, porta scelerisque velit. Nulla facilisi.

placeholder text

Porta scelerisque velit. Nulla facilisi. Nunc fermentum mattis purus ut lobortis. Morbi aliquet pharetra justo, sed suscipit augue posuere non. In egestas justo eget mi laoreet hendrerit. Phasellus quis aliquam ex, sed cursus ligula. Maecenas a sodales tortor, et tincidunt lectus.

Suspendisse feugiat dictum turpis convallis elementum.

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the Robinsons

cover story In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Curabitur nec nulla condimentum, tempus ipsum quis, placerat ipsum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vestibulum semper viverra. nec risus egestas viverra sed quis nisi.

Porta scelerisque Princess Catherine’s eyes filled with tears.

From her position on the outer balcony, she felt paralyzed as she took in the horror below. Her father’s royal brigades moved about the city, “Catherine, you must face it,” Xanadu boomed from the

UDANDA QUI CONECUM NOS QUE ALISQUEMI, doorway. “What pseudo-prophetic attempt at hope did Galena and Hale bring to you. Let this end. Faulkner has overrun Father’s forces. The battle is futile. Help me—help us—and we shall put an end to Father’s tyranny once and for all.”

Princess Catherine brushed past her brother and ran out into the wide corridor outside her room, sliding to an abrupt halt when she was met with an unwelcome site just outside the arched doorway.

His six-foot-tall, lanky frame was cloaked in a long, winterwhite, hooded coat, concealing the armored clothing beneath.

Faulkner Yukioni’s evil persona was palpable as he leered down at Princess Catherine from inside the hood.

“Come now, Catherine,” Faulkner said. “Where are you headed in such a hurry? Hale and Galena are dead and Project ARTIST has perished along with them—no point in protecting them now. Your own father is using us all to do his dirty work. Your best defense is to cooperate with your brother—and me.”

Catherine maintained a stoic posture.

“Tell me now!” Faulkner’s voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

“Faulkner,” Xanadu interjected. “I am moving to dispose of my father.”

Catherine shot her brother a look of disdain.

Moments after Xanadu made his exit, five dancing enemies slithered into the corridor and surrounded Catherine and Faulkner.

“Yukioni!” a voice came from just beyond Faulkner.

Faulkner recognized the voice and was momentarily bewildered before turning toward the interruption.

“Leaving me for dead with Hale was a huge mistake, but I’ll make it your final mistake.”

It was Galena Opaque.

She punctuated her threat by effortlessly dropping two of the soldiers with a few precise moves of her spinning swords.

Faulkner regained his composure and turned his attention to Galena who was pressed against the opposite wall, glaring

placeholder text

COVER STORY (CONT...)

MOMSTOWN.COM

17

FAMI LY O F TH E MONTH ( CON T ) COVER STORY (CONT...)

Princess Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. From her position on the outer balcony, she felt paralyzed as she took in the horror below. Her father’s royal brigades moved about the city, frantically defending against the ever-increasing army of metallic demons.

“Catherine, you must face it,” Xanadu boomed from the doorway. “What pseudo-prophetic attempt at hope did Galena and Hale bring to you. Let this end. Faulkner has overrun Father’s forces. The battle is futile. Help me—help us—and we shall put an end to Father’s tyranny once and for all.”

Princess Catherine brushed past her brother and ran out into the wide corridor outside her room, sliding to an abrupt halt when she was met with an unwelcome site just outside the arched doorway.

placeholder text

His six-foot-tall, lanky frame was cloaked in a long, winter- white, hooded coat, concealing the armored clothing beneath. Faulkner Yukioni’s evil persona was palpable as he leered down at Princess Catherine from inside the hood.

“Come now, Catherine,” Faulkner said. “Where are you headed in such a hurry? Hale and Galena are dead and Project ARTIST has perished along with them—no point in protecting them now. Your own father is using us all to do his dirty work. Your best defense is to cooperate with your brother—and me.”

Catherine maintained a stoic posture.

“Tell me now!” Faulkner’s voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

“Faulkner,” Xanadu interjected. “I am moving to dispose of my father.”

Catherine shot her brother a look of disdain.

Moments after Xanadu made his exit, five dancing enemies slithered into the corridor and surrounded Catherine and Faulkner.

“Yukioni!” a voice came from just beyond Faulkner.

Faulkner recognized the voice and was momentarily bewildered before turning toward the interruption.

“Leaving me for dead with Hale was a huge mistake, but I’ll make it your final mistake.”

It was Galena Opaque.

She punctuated her threat by effortlessly dropping two of the soldiers with a few precise moves of her spinning swords.

Faulkner regained his composure and turned his attention to Galena who was pressed against the opposite wall, glaring at her old friend.

She confidently cracked her neck as she steadied herself then Princess Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. From her position on the outer balcony, she felt paralyzed as she took in the horror below. Her father’s royal brigades moved about the city, frantically defending against the ever-increasing army of metallic demons.

“Catherine, you must face it,” Xanadu boomed from the doorway. “What pseudo-prophetic attempt at hope did Galena and Hale bring to you. Let this end. Faulkner has overrun Father’s forces. The battle is futile. Help me—help us—and we shall put an end to Father’s tyranny once and for all.”

Princess Catherine brushed past her brother and ran out into the wide corridor outside her room, sliding to an abrupt halt when she was met with an unwelcome site just outside the arched doorway.

His six-foot-tall, lanky frame was cloaked in a long, winter- white, hooded coat, concealing the armored clothing beneath. Faulkner

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MOMSTOWN MAGAZINE | JULY 202O

Yukioni’s evil persona was palpable as he leered down at Princess Catherine from inside the hood.

“Come now, Catherine,” Faulkner said. “Where are you headed in such a hurry? Hale and Galena are dead and Project ARTIST has perished along with them—no point in protecting them now. Your own father is using us all to do his dirty work. Your best defense is to cooperate with your brother—and me.”

Catherine maintained a stoic posture.

“Tell me now!” Faulkner’s voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

“Faulkner,” Xanadu interjected. “I am moving to dispose of my father.”

Catherine shot her brother a look of disdain.

Moments after Xanadu made his exit, five dancing enemies slithered into the corridor and surrounded Catherine and Faulkner.

“Yukioni!” a voice came from just beyond Faulkner.

Faulkner recognized the voice and was momentarily bewildered before turning toward the interruption.

“Leaving me for dead with Hale was a huge mistake, but I’ll make it your final mistake.”

It was Galena Opaque.

She punctuated her threat by effortlessly dropping two of the soldiers with a few precise moves of her spinning swords.

Faulkner regained his composure and turned his attention to Galena who was pressed against the opposite wall, glaring at her old friend.

She confidently cracked her neck as she steadied herself then moved toward Faulkner, gracefully wielding her swords as she slowly approached.

Catherine took advantage of the distraction and fled. Though her departure did not go unnoticed, she was no longer the main attraction.

Galena’s violet mane fell around her shoulders, disheveled and bloody from the earlier battle. Her cloak no longer resembled a cloak at all—it was tattered and covered with dirt and yet more blood. Even the armor she wore beneath had been greatly compromised yet she stood her ground as she kept her swords in motion. The unique swords were impressive, with crescent-shaped knuckle guards protruding above her fists, for use in blocking, trapping and slashing.

Rather than sharp points at the ends of the swords, the blades were shaped into hooks that served to trip enemies and catch or snatch

FAMILY PET “BOSCO”

moved toward Faulkner, gracefully wielding her swords as she slowly approached.

Catherine took advantage of the distraction and fled. Though her departure did not go unnoticed, she was no longer the main attraction.

Galena’s violet mane fell around her shoulders, disheveled and bloody from the earlier battle. Her cloak no longer resembled a cloak at all— it was tattered and covered with dirt and yet more blood. Even the armor she wore beneath had been greatly compromised yet she stood her ground as she kept her swords in motion. The unique swords were impressive, with crescent-shaped knuckle guards protruding above her fists, for use in blocking, trapping and slashing. Rather than sharp points at the ends of the swords, the blades were shaped into hooks

placeholder text

that served to trip enemies and catch or snatch weapons. The hooks could also be used for slashing.

“So…” Faulkner said steadily “...impressive, my former friend…you somehow survived my last attack? May I say, I am honored to meet the first person to emerge—alive—from such a carefully planned execution.”

Seemingly unintimidated, Faulkner slid a few feet closer.

“You won’t be so lucky this time,” he said, swiftly swinging his bass guitar-shaped weapon from over his shoulder and into a ready Princess Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. From her position on the outer balcony, she felt paralyzed as she took in the horror below. Her father’s royal brigades moved about the city, frantically defending against the ever-increasing army of metallic demons.

“Catherine, you must face it,” Xanadu boomed from the doorway. “What pseudo-prophetic attempt at hope did Galena and Hale bring to you. Let this end. Faulkner has overrun Father’s forces.

The battle is futile. Help me—help us—and we shall put an end to Father’s tyranny once and for all.”

Princess Catherine brushed past her brother and ran out into the wide corridor outside her room, sliding to an abrupt halt when she was met with an unwelcome site just outside the arched doorway.

His six-foot-tall, lanky frame was cloaked in a long, winter- white, hooded coat, concealing the armored clothing beneath. Faulkner Yukioni’s evil persona was palpable as he leered down at Princess Catherine from inside the hood.

“Come now, Catherine,” Faulkner said. “Where are you headed in such a hurry? Hale and Galena are dead and Project ARTIST has perished along with them—no point in protecting them now. Your own father is using us all to do his dirty work. Your best defense is to cooperate with your brother—and me.”

Catherine maintained a stoic posture.

“Tell me now!” Faulkner’s voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

“Faulkner,” Xanadu interjected. “I am moving to dispose of my father.”

Catherine shot her brother a look of disdain.

Moments after Xanadu made his exit, five dancing enemies slithered into the corridor and surrounded Catherine and Faulkner.

“Yukioni!” a voice came from just beyond Faulkner.

Faulkner recognized the voice and was momentarily bewildered before turning toward the interruption.

“Leaving me for dead with Hale was a huge mistake, but I’ll make it your final mistake.”

It was Galena Opaque.

She punctuated her threat by effortlessly dropping two of the soldiers with a few precise moves of her spinning swords.

Faulkner regained his composure and turned his attention to Galena who was pressed against the opposite wall, glaring at her old friend.

She confidently cracked her neck as she steadied herself then

position across his lower torso. “Hale was not so fortunate, I presume?”

Galena eyed the weapon, knowing that if Faulkner reached

Princess Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. From her position on the outer balcony, she felt paralyzed as she took in the horror below. Her father’s royal brigades moved about the city, frantically defending against the ever-increasing army of metallic demons.

“Catherine, you must face it,” Xanadu boomed from the doorway. “What pseudo-prophetic attempt at hope did Galena and Hale bring to you. Let this end. Faulkner has overrun Father’s forces. The battle is futile. Help me—help us—and we shall put an end to Father’s tyranny once and for all.”

Princess Catherine brushed past her brother and ran out into the wide corridor outside her room, sliding to an abrupt halt when she was met with an unwelcome site just outside the arched doorway.

His six-foot-tall, lanky frame was cloaked in a long, winterwhite, hooded coat, concealing the armored clothing beneath.

Faulkner Yukioni’s evil persona was palpable as he leered down at Princess Catherine from inside the hood.

“Come now, Catherine,” Faulkner said. “Where are you headed in such a hurry? Hale and Galena are dead and Project ARTIST has perished along with them—no point in protecting them now. Your own father is using us all to do his dirty work. Your best defense is to cooperate with your brother—and me.”

Catherine maintained a stoic posture.

“Tell me now!” Faulkner’s voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

“Faulkner,” Xanadu interjected. “I am moving to dispose of my father.”

Catherine shot her brother a look of disdain.

Moments after Xanadu made his exit, five dancing enemies slithered into the corridor and surrounded Catherine and Faulkner.

“Yukioni!” a voice came from just beyond Faulkner.

MOMSTOWN.COM

19

SWEET POTATO WALNUT FALAFEL BOWL TAHINI DRESSING: 1/4 cup tahini 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4teaspoon garlic powder sea salt, to taste BOWLS: 4 cups loosely packed curly kale, coarsely chopped 2 cups cooked quinoa 1 cup julienned carrots 1 avocado, sliced Toasted, chopped California walnuts, for garnish (optional) minced red onion, for garnish (optional) TO MAKE FALAFEL In food processor, pulse sweet potato until finely minced.

ADD quinoa, walnuts, ground cumin, onion powder and garlic powder; pulse until all pieces are uniform in size.

WITH MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS WILLING TO EAT MORE PLANTS AND LESS MEAT IN 2020 (AND BEYOND), ACCORDING TO A STUDY CONDUCTED BY YALE AND EARTH DAY NETWORK, ONE THING HOLDS TRUE: EVEN WHEN FOOD IS BETTER FOR YOU AND THE PLANET, FAMILIES CRAVE QUALITY TASTE. Walnuts are one of the original plant-based superfoods that can carry sweet or savory flavors to satisfy snackers, add hearty crunch to salads or breakfast dishes and serve as a simple, whole-food meat alternative. In addition to being a delicious plant-based staple, 1 ounce of walnuts contains important nutrients including 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber and good fats with 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 13 grams of polyunsaturated fat, including 2.5 grams of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

ADD flour and egg; pulse until well mixed, scraping down sides as needed.

Using wet hands, shape mixture into 16 equal balls.

IN DEEP SKILLET or pot, heat oil. Cooking in batches, fry falafel balls 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let drain on paper towel-lined tray.

TO MAKE TAHINI DRESSING In small bowl, whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, ground cumin, garlic powder and salt.

TO PREPARE BOWLS Place equal amounts kale, quinoa, carrots and avocado in four large salad bowls. Place four falafel balls in each bowl and drizzle with dressing.

Garnish with toasted walnuts and minced red onion, if desired.

INGREDIENTS: FALAFEL 1 raw sweet potato (12 ounces), peeled & cut into chunks 1 cup cooked quinoa 1/2 cup California walnuts 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2teaspoon onion powder 1/2teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 cup flour 1 egg vegetable oil

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MOMSTOWN MAGAZINE | JULY 202O

FIND MORE RECIPES PERFECT FOR SUMMER AT CULINARY.NET

tangy summer classic LEMON BARS

fooD

& recipes

STO RY S O UR CE:

RECIPE ADAPTED FROM BETTER HOMES & GARDENS

CUL IN ARY. N E T PHOTO CR EDIT : GE T TY IM AGE S

LEMON IS A TRADITIONAL SUMMER FLAVOR, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE EXTRA TO YOUR GATHERINGS – FROM PICNICS AND BRUNCHES – WITH THIS CLASSIC DESSERT. QUICK &EASY TO MAKE, THESE LEMON BARS FEATURE A SOFT CRUST AND A TANGY, SWEET FILLING TOPPED WITH POWDERED SUGAR. Nonstick cooking spray 2 cups, plus 3 tablespoons, all-purpose flour, divided 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus additional, for topping 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup butter 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 teaspoon lemon zest 3/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup light cream, half-and-half or milk Heat oven to 350° F — Line 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil; allow overhang. Grease foil with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In large bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, cornstarch and salt.

Using pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles crumbs. Press mixture into bottom of baking pan. Bake 18-20 minutes.

TO MAKE FILLING: In medium bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, remaining flour, lemon zest, lemon juice and light cream. Pour filling over hot crust. Bake 15-20 minutes.

Cool completely on wire rack.

Grasp foil overhang and lift from pan. Cut into bars. Sprinkle powdered sugar over bars before serving.

fresh fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth 10 TIPS TO RECOGNIZE RIPE FRUITS SIMPLE TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING RIPE FRUITS: STRAWBERRIES: Check the area at the top of the berry near the stem and leaves. A ripe strawberry is fully red; green or white near the top means the fruit is underripe.

WATERMELON: The “field spot,” or the area where the melon sat on the ground, should be yellow, and a tap on the rind should produce a hollow sound.

CHERRIES: Flesh appears dark with a crimson color and feel firm BLUEBERRIES: Similar to cherries, color should deepen to dark blue. A reddish or pink color may be visible in unripe berries.

BLACKBERRIES: Look for a smooth texture without any red appearance. Because blackberries don’t ripen after being picked, they tend to spoil quickly.

CANTALOUPE: You should detect a sweet smell, and the melon should feel heavy upon lifting.

PEACHES: A sweet, fragrant odor should be apparent. Skin should feel tender but not soft.

PINEAPPLE: Smell is again an important factor for pineapple – a sweet scent shows it’s ready, but a vinegary one likely means it’s overripe.

RASPBERRIES: Generally follow the same rules as blackberries.

Best eaten within a couple days of purchase, a bright red color represents ripe berries.

BANANAS: A ripe banana features a peel lightly spotted without significant bruising. Your best bet may be to purchase bananas still slightly green and allow them to ripen at home.

Find more food tips, tricks, recipes and videos at Culinary.net.

MOMSTOWN.COM

21

MA RY GO U L E T R E A LTOR 4731 SUNNY HILLS $344,000

BRE #01088489

july’s featured home

ABOUT MARY Talented in many ways, Mary, combines being a Realtor, radio host and her extensive media experience to find and market homes for her clients. She’s an award-winning author, consultant to entrepreneurs, and known for her decision-making process, Go With Your Gut. Let’s take a look at how she can be helpful to you…

MARY IS YOUR REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT

TITLE OF PIC AND/OR NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER

As a 25-year resident of Encinitas Mary knows San Diego. During that time she’s been involved in consulting clients in buying, selling and investing in real estate, renovating homes and/or building new homes.

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California and the coast are a match made in heaven.

MOMSTOWN MAGAZINE | JULY 202O

4801 NORTHERLY $365,000

13551 MORADO TRAIL $1,035,000

1012 FOXGLOVE $985,000

4231 TIBERON DRIVE $315,000

6544 PASEO ADELANTE $595,000

4456 ROYAL OAK $299,000

MOMSTOWN.COM

23

INVENTING A PAYCHECK

5 TI P S FO R STARTI NG AN AI R B&B IN YOUR H OM E

So, is operating a vacation rental conducive to you and your family’s lifestyle?

WHAT IS AN AIR B&B? AirBnB started as a way for people traveling across America to stay on a mattress on someone’s floor as they passed through town, an inexpensive place to stay and then they moved on.

Now AirBnB.com is worldwide and there are many iterations of abodes homeowners can manage based on where they live from Tiny Homes to spare bedrooms.

5 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE YOU HAND OVER THE KEYS 1. Location. Location. Location. As we all have heard before. Are you located in a destination town? A destination town is near a beach, attractions such as the Zoo, or in a city for business travelers. There are many reasons guests choose an AirBnB over a hotel so you have an advantage. Ask yourself if you would want to rent your place if you lived out of town.

2. Competition. What is your competition? Take a walk around your neighborhood with a critical eye. Most likely, your neighbors have been operating an AirBnB right under your nose. Once you’ve identified a few homes go on AirBnB.com and search your neighborhood, listing by listing, to see what they offer and for how much per night.

3. Private Entrance. Will guests have a private entrance? There are many options of accommodations for guests. You can rent out a room in your home and have them knock on the front door and they share a bathroom and the kitchen. One of the preferred for guests and homeowners is a private entrance. If you are in this for the long haul, a private entrance is a must for you and your guests’ privacy.

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MOMSTOWN MAGAZINE | JULY 202O

4. How often do you expect or want bookings? Seasonally or year-round? I know a Gal who has a small place near the Grand Canyon so she doesn’t get year-round bookings but she makes up for the loss during the high season.

That leads to the next point to consider.

5. Does it pencil? It comes down to the math.

If you are converting a spare room or a small dwelling unit in your yard to an AirBnB rental calculate all of the costs and when you anticipate recouping your investment. That’s why it is so important to know your location and that when you activate your listing you will get bookings.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER Is the unit already furnished or are you buying a bed, nightstands, TV, bedding, towels, etc… Will they have a full kitchen or just a small refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and toaster? Will you manage the space on your own? Responding to bookings and cleaning the unit? If you don’t want to clean and manage the space yourself and want to hire a property manager and a cleaning service, then sharpen your pencil and do the math again.

One final word of advice...don’t romanticize the business.You will be in the hospitality business and guests have the opportunity to rate and review you after each stay (you get to rate and review them also) so it is a business and should be taken seriously as you are responsible for the guests’ accommodations, experience, and safety.

KITCHEN DOUGH

COT TAGE FO O D H O ME MADE FO O D FO R SA LE

START YOUR KITCHENS! TURNING DOUGH INTO CASH

Do you have a great recipe that you’ve been dreaming of turning into a business? If so, the cottage food industry just might be the answer to your dreams.

What is Cottage Food?

A Cottage Food business is a business operated by a person who produces or packages non-potentially hazardous food in a home kitchen.

In the past several years, lawmakers in states across the country have enacted new or improved cottage food laws, making it legal to start a cottage food operation.

The result: A new local cottage food economy is emerging.

Welcome to the Cottage Food Revolution!

If you’re new to the term Cottage Food you’re not alone. Most people have probably never heard of it. But times they are a’changin’.

The revolution in California started in the home kitchen of Mark Stambler.

Mark is the award-winning bread baker who had to close down his home-based bakery because, at the time, baking bread at home and selling it to the public was illegal in the Golden State.

When state lawmaker, Mike Gatto heard about Mark’s rise and fall, he

gave him a call and said he wanted to help. Together the two took the fight to Sacramento.

DEFINITION OF COTTAGE FOOD Cottage food is turning homemade food into homespun business. Simply put, cottage food is homemade for sale; it can be produced in a home kitchen and sold to the public. Cottage foods are not required to be prepared in a commercial kitchen. They are considered “non-potentially hazardous” foods and, therefore, pose a low risk to people’s health.

Cottage food operations are allowed to produce certain non-potentially hazardous foods. These are foods that do not support the rapid growth of bacteria that would make people sick when held outside of refrigeration temperatures — California Department of Public Health

MAKING & SELLING COTTAGE FOOD

In most states, Cottage Food Operators (CFO) must sell direct-toconsumer. You make it; you sell it to the customer. Usually, a CFO will sell their product from their house, farm, a farmers’ market or a similar location.

In addition to the increasing number of farmers’ markets, a lineup of new laws taking effect across the nation is fueling the cottage food industry. The new and revised cottage food laws are making it easier and more affordable for home cooks to start businesses from their home kitchens.

COTTAGE FOOD LAWS The Cottage Food Industry is state regulated, meaning each state has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to selling food made in a home kitchen. Before launching a cottage food business, it’s important to understand the Cottage Food Laws in your state.

The new Cottage Food Laws are creating new local industries, and new opportunities for moms, retirees, immigrants, full-time and part-time workers with a dream and surprisingly, the earliest of adopters are entrepreneurial-minded-millennials who have a passion for sustainable local food. To learn more about who’s getting into cottage food and cottage food laws, head on over to MomsTown.com and check out our section on “Start Your Kitchens!”

According to the USDA, there were 8,713 farmers markets listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory. This is a 0.21 percent increase from 2016.

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INVENTING A PAYCHECK

STA RT A HA ND C RAF T E D CA N DY COMPANY FROM HO M E Ryan Gosling is not alone. (Well, of course, he’s Ryan Gosling!) Superstarhandsome-guy aside, a lot of us have a sweet tooth. In fact, before having children of my own, I would take my friend’s daughter face it, is a lot like candy).

6 STEPS TO STARTING YOUR OWN CANDY COMPANY

Sometimes I think that the one thing I love most about being an adult is the right to buy candy whenever and wherever I want — Ryan Gosling

The blind pursuit of profit at all costs is untenable.

It is essential that we make money the right way. After all, if communities suffer as a result of a company’s actions, those returns are not sustainable.

—INDRA K. NOOYI, PEPSICO 4. CANDY: CRUSH THE COMPETITION Get to know what your competition is doing, both on a national level and at the local street market. Buy their products. Evaluate their ingredients, packaging, marketing. Understand what makes people buy from them. At a farmers’ market, visit their booth, observe what customers have to say about the products, and watch how your competition interacts with your potential customers. Then, make notes about what they’re doing well and how you might improve a customer’s experience. What differentiates your product from the competition? Be clear, be confident and strive to be better on all fronts.

Personal assessments aside, the numbers prove the point. According to CandyIndustry.com, “Overall, the U.S. confectionery category accounted for $33.6 billion in sales, but it’s expected to reach about $39.6 billion in five years.”

If you’re thinking about jumping into the candy market, starting in your home kitchen is a great first step.

1. GET SWEET ON YOUR BUSINESS PLAN: If you think business planning is like returning to high school calculus, it’s time to think again.

Planning to open a candy business is exciting. So, sink your sweet tooth into it. Be sure to check out our article on Planning for Your Cottage Food Startup.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

—BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 2. RAISE THE CHOCOLATE BAR: Look to the trends. Learn all you can about your craft and the candy industry. Two great candy resources include Candy Industry and National Confectioners Association (NCA). Both of these resources track news and trends in the candy industry.

Being involved, learning firsthand and observing the craft and absorbing all you can, makes it easier to define what you want. It will also ultimately make you a better Chef. Culinary school, or even a single class, is a great bet too.

—GIADA DE LAURENTIIS 3. STICKY-TO-IT: Be willing to persevere through the sweet and sour times. This is where purpose comes to play. Creating a business around a great product and a great purpose enhances your chances at success.

Purpose will be the guiding post when you’re feeling down or that things just don’t seem to be going the way you want. We all need to have a purpose. Businesses also need purpose.

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Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

— OTTO VAN BISMARK 5. KISSES FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS: We’re not talking about running around kissing everyone who buys from you. We are talking about showering them with gratitude and thanking them for giving your product a try. Be thankful for every sale and grateful for every customer.

Make a customer, not a sale.

— KATHERINE BARCHETTI 6. WRAPPERS MATTER: It’s your marketing tool, it’s your brand, it is the most direct way of making your product stand out in a crowd. Keep all of this in mind when creating your logo, packaging materials and labels.

Even though your label might read, “Made in a home kitchen,” doesn’t mean it should look unprofessional.

Consumers want to buy a handmade product that demonstrates a lot of passion, care, and consideration has gone into it. For example, the simple task of choosing the right color palette your brand is important.

Color plays a key role in attracting eyeballs. Check out this cool shopping video with a millennial shopper: Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

—ERNESTINE ULMER BEFORE DIVING INTO YOUR DESSERT, HOWEVER, BE SURE TO GET A GENEROUS HELPING OF INSPIRED STORIES, ADVICE FROM EXPERTS, AND TIPS: SUBSCRIBE TO THE MOMSTOWN NEWSLETTER TODAY!

KITCHEN DOUGH

“N I BBL E ” LOCA L FA M I LY G R OWS H A N D C R A F T E D C HO CO L ATE CO M PA NY

need picture of the couple & actual picture of their product?

ENTREPRENEURS SANDRA BEDOYA AND DAVID MEJIA

WHAT IS “BEAN-TO-BAR” CHOCOLATE? Bean-to-bar means chocolate artisans process the cocoa beans inhouse, roasting the beans, grinding the nibs into a smooth paste, mixing in sugar and other ingredients, tempering the chocolate and the end product is a wrapped chocolate bar.

The US bean-to-bar chocolate business is worth an estimated $75m-to$100m or 1,125 to1,500 metric tons of beans with volumes and revenues predicted to rise. (Vreeland & Associates) Getting into the artisan chocolate business might sound ahh-mazing!

But launching a cottage food business has bittersweet moments and these chocolate artisans understand bittersweet. The couple immigrated to the United States from Colombia. In their journey, they’ve encountered ups and downs but never stopped dreaming of owning a business.

The couple tried a few different businesses, but it was a health kick that delivered an A-ha moment. They were craving chocolate, but upon reading all the ingredients in commercially produced chocolate, lost their appetite. That’s when they decided to make their own chocolate from scratch.

NIBBLE’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Single-origin cocoa beans

They fell in love with their “naked chocolate.” Wondering if others would too, they agreed to test their chocolate at a farmers’ market. They sold out! Quickly, the production spilled beyond the kitchen counters and into the laundry room. They were outgrowing their home-based cottage operation. Every “Nibble” is still made by hand, but Sandra and David now employ a small staff, operate from a small chocolate factory, and have opened a chocolate boutique in Old Town San Diego.

SINGLE ORIGIN COCOA BEANS SELECTED FROM AROUND THE WORLD From the moment the beans are picked to the moment a bar is sold, Nibble works hard to maintain high ethical standards.

Sandra and David take pride in knowing the farmers. The Brazilian chocolate

comes from a family estate where the workers earn above-average wages. Their Dominican Republic beans are certified direct trade. The Madagascar beans come from a family estate that provides education and shelter to the farmers.

Their Peruvian beans come from a co-op that has won international awards. (insert photo of farmers) Sandra and David are now professional chocolatiers and certified chocolate makers but give credit to the cottage food movement. They say the Homemade Food Act of California made it possible to start small and test their product before making investments in scaling their business. Cottage food laws are helping the dreams of makers, bakers, and artisans come true. To learn more about the cottage food industry, visit MomsTown.com.

If you are in the San Diego Area visit NIBBLE CHOCOLATE AT OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO STATE HISTORIC PARK

picture of their product?

Fiesta de Reyes/Casa de Reyes 2754 Calhoun St. San Diego CA 92110 Store & Cafe Hours Monday – Sunday: 10:00am – 9:00pm

Organic sugar Perfect roasting, refining,and conching

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CAR E E R M OM “ MO M” & “ MS . S U CCE S S”

You can have a great life and never achieve the elusive work/home balance.

In reality, balance is a moving targetyou keep aiming at hitting, but it keeps moving-and the best thing you can do is to keep moving, too.

We’re continually asking ourselves, “How do other working moms do it? Are they really achieving career/ family balance?” We wonder if the husband helps out more with the household chores, or if they have someone else cleaning the house and running errands. We wonder if they ever send their kids to daycare with runny noses.

We wonder if they’re struggling to pay the bills and balance the checkbook. We wonder if they ever forget appointments and worry about how their children are doing in school. Do they worry if their teenage daughter is having sex or if their son is going to host the kegger when they’re out of town? Sometimes we feel as though our work is getting in the way of our having a real handle on our children and our lives. We say to ourselves, “If only I didn’t work!” But lady, that’s not the answer. Most of us are working for two reasons: 1. The family needs the paycheck, period.

2. It’s who you are. Your career is part of your identity. To give it up would be to give up a major part of yourself.

You can move throughout your day, modifying your schedule and reorganizing your responsibilities, in the attempt to make things run smoothly. But it is still difficult to merge Mom and Ms. Success.

We work outside the home and we know a lot of moms who do as well, and we hear a lot of blah, blah, blah on how to achieve career/family balance. Experts give us their philosophies on how to make it all work. Fact is, working full-time and raising kids is tough. There’s no way around it. We feel guilty when we’re not volunteering in our children’s classroom, when we’re not available for the all-day field trip, when we’ve ordered takeout for the third night in a row, when we have to work late and end up racing for the day care, hoping not to be the last one to pick up our child.

So, then what is the answer? How do you get the work/ home balance that we’re all craving?

Here’s a place to start: stop wondering how others do it.

Really, who cares? What you should most be concerned about is how you are doing it. When you stop wrestling with the idea that you’re failing in some way or that you’re in some kind of funky competition with the family next door, then you can look at the reall changes that need to be made.

The first thing to address is your job. Do you like it or is it the root of your disconnect? If you like it, then it is worth discussing with your boss flextime options to help you meet family obligations and responsibilities. If, on the other hand, you hate your job, hate your boss, and dread waking up in the morning, you should reevaluate your work choice and start looking for another job. In fact, what you’ve got is a job, not a career, and you need to change.

You’ve got this, Mom!

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inspire me

D R EAM J OB WHAT ’ S YO U R S? At MomsTown we’ve always focused on helping moms identify their dream jobs.

There are five key steps in finding the right pursuit: 1. IDENTIFY THE NATURAL YOU This is getting to the essence of your identity. The Natural You has talents that come easily. One way to identify the Natural You is to look back to when you were a young girl. What did you love to do? Were you a dancer? Did you play music? Did you love animals? Were you a tomboy or into any kind of sport? Did you find yourself absorbed in books, or did you love to go places? Did you love having things organized? Did you love researching and learning new things?

Did you love nature? Were you driven to help others?

2. FIND WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO Write down a list of all your childhood hobbies. If you’re having trouble remembering (because when you’re a mom, sometimes memory is in short supply), ask your mom, dad, or siblings what you loved as a child. When we went in search of our natural selves, we found that we’ve always loved to talk and to write. We like to talk to each other and, we like to talk to other people as well. We like to write about our experiences and other people’s experiences.

3. BE TRUE TO YOU and passionate about the Natural You. Listen to your intuition.

4. JOURNAL IT ALL. START WRITING We can’t tell you how many times we’ve gone back to the beginning, back to our initial writings. We have a small library of composition books, and Microsoft Word files. Within our library are hundreds of hours of ideas, quickly or painstakingly jotted down. If it wasn’t for our journaling these articles may not have happened.

5. DON’T WAIT. START TODAY by removing any obstacles that stand in your way. The first obstacle might be uncertainty-doubting your own belief in yourself or your ideas. Don’t let negative self-talk or pessimism stand between you and your dream job. If money, time, and others are standing in your way, then start finding ways to carve out the time, convince others of your idea, and the money will come. But you have to do more than just believe that your idea will be profitable. You have to start taking action today.

Answer the following questions to get a handle on where you are in your life right now in regard to starting or growing a home-based business: Do you have an idea for a business that makes you so excited that you can barely sleep?

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit, or do you prefer to have someone tell you what to do?

How willing are you to get along with a variety of personalities?

Do you have the physical and emotional stamina required to run a business?

Can you weave your business into your day?

How decisive are you?

How organized are you?

And finally...when you’re developing a successful business strategy, it is imperative to remember that it’s all about you. The overall success of your business is you. It is imperative that you take the time today and write down your personal mission statement. Answer the following questions: What are my personal goals?

What are my business goals?

What are my strengths?

What are my weaknesses?

What am I willing to sacrifice?

What am I hoping to gain?

When you really take the time to answer the preceding questions, you’ll be grateful to yourself for doing so. Your future as an entrepreneur will begin to crystalize.

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WE WANT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON YOU!

casting call

THE MARY & HEATHER SHOW

THe Podcast for Mom Podcasters

ARE YOU A MOM DREAMING OF STARTING A PODCAST OR GROWING YOUR PODCAST? If so, we invite you to connect with us today. We are looking for 100 mom podcasters interested in joining us on a very unique and exciting podcast journey.

We’re about to announce an incredible new venture dedicated to helping you build an amazing podcast; a podcast that connects with your audience and makes you money.

We have advertisers standing by just waiting for your podcast and content.

It’s okay if you’re just in the ideation phase. We’re looking for moms who want to get started and moms who are already podcasting. We will be releasing details on our new show, The Mary & Heather Show, The Podcast for Mom Podcasters.

We look forward to helping you build the podcast of your dreams.

The Mary & Heather Show is all about supporting your dream of starting, scaling and monetizing your podcast.

TITLE OF PIC AND/OR NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER

We’ve been podcasting since 2004. We’ve made all kinds of mistakes. We’ve also made money in a variety of ways from our podcast. We share our strategies and we are excited to share our recipe for success. We’re also looking forward to sharing your story. We want to shine a light on you!

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So, don’t hesitate. Get your invitation! When you join our waitlist you will receive details on the next steps!

This is going to be incredible! We can’t wait to hear from you!

MOMSTOWN MAGAZINE | JULY 202O

inspire me

M OM STOWN M O M S S O UN D OFF ABOUT FE MA LE FRIEND SH IPS There are all kinds of reasons why women become friends, and each friendship is unique. But one thing in common among women is that we all have a vital need for girlfriends. Girlfriends keep us young, keep us laughing; they shed tears with us, and they help us solve problems.

Girlfriends help us in every aspect of our lives.

There are all kinds of reasons why women become friends, and each friendship is unique. But one thing in common among women is that we all have a vital need for girlfriends. Girlfriends keep us young, keep us laughing; they shed tears with us, and they help us solve problems. Girlfriends help us in every aspect of our lives.

Friendship is a topic that is at the heart of MomsTown. When we ask our MomsTown community, “To whom do you tell your innermost secrets?” the answer is rarely “My husband.” Don’t get us wrong.

There are lots of confidences and private issues that a husband and wife keep between them and the pillow on their marital bed. Ideally, your husband should be one of your best friends. But there are some matters that women only feel comfortable discussing with other women, and they need to discuss them.

You need to connect with girlfriends in order to work through concerns, fears, and worries, to stay young. Nothing makes you older quicker than stress, and friends are amazing stress relievers. Women are constantly seeking ways to connect with one another. Women need other women.

◆ You have someone to go out to lunch with or do other things with like go to the movies or a concert or eat chocolate and drink one ◆ The benefit to having a friend is to be able to do things for someone else and feel as though you are appreciated for helping

Let’s get right to the point: here are some of the many ways that MomsTown moms describe friendship:

SIDEBAR Medical studies conclude that friends can help keep us healthy. According to a study at Harvard Medical School of ◆ You have someone who listens more than 100,000 female nurses, women with friends stay ◆ You feel like you’re close by, even if you live hundreds of healthier as they get older. The researchers even go on to say miles apart and haven’t spoken in weeks that no having friends is as detrimental as smoking or obesity ◆ You can remember those little things you did together when it comes to our overall health. years ago ◆ She’s honest with you but not judgmental Make a list of your friends and the things you enjoy doing ◆ You can count on her to help you out in a bind, like with one another. Perhaps, you have a daily call with a friend watching your kids or lending some sugar or she is your go-to gal throughout the day. One way to know ◆ She does nice things without ever thinking about get- you have a great connection is when you find you both have ting something in return your own sense of humor that cracks you up though, may be difficult to translate the “funny” to someone else — Priceless.

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