July, 2012 | Smart & Sassy Mom

The Top 10 Best Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Outfits – 2012

July 30, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

I don’t know about you, but my family and I are enjoying this year’s Sumer Olympics! We are up late looking, cheering and screaming at the TV. It’s always a fun time to watch these games and I’m so giddy to have the entire family in the same room without complaining about the programming.

I’m not embarrassed to say that my motivating factor for watching the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony is always to see and critique the outfits. Shhhh….don’t tell my kids.They think I’m just being patriotic! I am….but the fashion is my motivation. This year, there were a lot of ummm…. UNIQUE outfits….that’s putting it nicely. There were also lots of nicely tailored suits and fedoras galore! I was in a social media frenzy about the best and worst dressed teams. From jeans (yes they did!) to prom attire, the competing countries were supposed to represent on this night to show the world what they’ve got! Umm…well..OK…

Here’s MY top 10 (not ranking until number 1):
10. Belgium…Sophisticated, Sleek, Expected!

9. Cameroon…Gorgeous, Native, Exciting!

8. Gabon…Very similar to this year’s [my] number one!

7. Belize…Again similar to my fave this year!

6. Jamaica…Three words. They. Killed. It.

5. The Netherlands…Modelesque, Haute, Orange – my fave color!

4. U.S.A…Signature Ralph Lauren, Unmistakably Chic! GO USA!!!

3. Spain…Hot!!! Guys’ suits? Yes! Ladies’ gear? Meh…not so much! Maybe its just Ibaka…hmmm.

2. It’s a TIE! Burundi and Nigeria! Both very different yet beautiful.

Burundi

Nigeria

And number one….according to the world of Smart & Sassy Mom….drumroll please…….wait for it….

1. Cayman Islands…Over-the-top, Love the green, Awesome!

The following three are definitely NOT in my WORST category. But its just that I was shocked, appalled and basically let down because of who they are. Italy (Armani did these!!!!), France (Fashion Mecca), and the Host Country, UK. Blah…Blah…and BLAH!

Italy

France

Well, this has all been my “sassy” opinion. In your opinion, who wore it best this year?

Keeping it Smart & Sassy,

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: 2012, best-dressed, fashion, olympics, opening ceremony

Getting Ready for School…Not just for the kids! Parents: Let’s Guarantee a WINNING school year!

July 25, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 4 Comments

Whether you’re the parent of a kindergarten student or a seasoned parent of a high school student, you won’t want to miss this webinar! We will discuss ways to keep your momentum of excitement from the first day to last, signs of extracurricular exhaustion, get a refresher on the importance of communicating with your child and their teachers, bullying, and SO MUCH MORE! Join us for this informative 30 minute parent pep-rally!

See you there!

What: Parents’ Back-to-School Pep Rally

Why: Because Our Kids Deserve It!

Where: In the comfort of your own home… register here today!

When: Tuesday 8/21/12

Time: 8:12 pm CST/9:12 pm EST

Presenter: Sheree Adams, RN, MSN, CCM AKA Smart & Sassy Mom

Make sure you share this information and create a generation of lovers of learning!

http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E050DF80884A

Filed Under: Children, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: back to school, education, kids, momentum, pep rally, webinar

Hump Day Health Tip: Believe in Yourself!

July 25, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

If you want to be healthy and lose weight in the process… expect to be successful. Not trying to sound preachy, but in order to succeed, you must believe in your ability to control WHAT you eat and how often you exercise. When the going gets tough, seek the support of a dieting buddy. I know in this day and age, all we do is TEXT… But, if you need the encouragement from a friend, pick up the phone!

I, personally, have found a real strong support system in my group of friends on “My Fitness Pal“. It’s a FREE app that’s available on your phone, iPad or computer. It allows you to log your calories, keep track of your water intake and feel encouraged when your record your weight loss and milestones!! It even scans barcodes for you for easy tracking/journaling your foods. You are there with other friends, and feel the sense of community.

Always remember, a positive attitude and an enthusiastic approach to a healthful lifestyle set you up for success! Wishing you the very best – not stressing how many pounds you’ve lost, but your commitment to being HEALTHY!

Keep it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: healthy, lifestyle, my fitness pal, weight

How comfortable are you around your mate?

July 24, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

Not the most attractive thing to look at….

After ten years of being with my husband, he and I have slowly grown more comfortable when it comes to doing certain things around one another. What I mean is, in the beginning of every relationship, we all know that there is always that period of extreme courtesy and concern for what the other person may think. I remembered when my husband and I were dating, he asked why he never saw any feminine products. I told him I was raised to handle these things privately and discreetly and he probably never will see it. He was somewhat in shock. Looking back, I also recall that it took years for him to see me without makeup – even after we were married. Just felt naked without my under-eye concealer….I still do!

I’ve always found it interesting how comfortable other couples are in their relationship with one another. I’m not talking about a new couple that just started dating and still trying to impress one another. I’m referring to how comfortable a husband is around his wife and vice versa. It’s always amusing, yet surprising, what some people get all worked up about and will not do in front of one another. One of my friends refuses to brush her teeth in front of her husband – to whom she’s been married for 12 years. She finds it to be an incredibly gross and personal experience. (Unbelievable!) Another one of my friends refuses to ‘burp’ around her husband. (Really? Am I an ogre!?) And then there’s my really close friend who will, under no circumstances, wear hair rollers, a wrap or a scarf on her head at night and they have been married for 17 years!! (Amazing!) And then there’s my sweet little mom who feels like no man should ever know your weight. (Give me a break Mom, really?) Oh well…

While I do believe there are always exceptions to the rules, I believe there are very few things that should be off-limits, especially when you’re married. I feel that the person you are married to (or intending to marry) should feel comfortable around you doing, saying or seeing just about anything. LADIES: I believe that a wife should toss the sweats and over-sized college t-shirts to the side and put on nice, fashionable, lounge wear, sexy slipper and spritz a little of your signature fragrance behind your ear (or wherever he’s sure to smell it). I guarantee, that while he will insist it’s not NECESSARY, he will appreciate it.

Ten years with my honey…besides the fact he is completely and utterly grossed out by noise-making bodily functions from himself and others, I feel very comfortable in my skin around him. Hey, I’m not pressing the gas issue….He may know something I don’t know, so I’m grateful for his discretion. Some might say I’m a lucky girl!

Do you have anything that is an absolute “no-can-do” when it comes to your mate?

Filed Under: Love, Marriage Tagged With: comfort level, love, marriage, relationships, sexy wife

My First Gender Reveal Party (…well sort of)

July 20, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 5 Comments

Gender Reveal PartyJust a fun video about my first gender reveal party….Enjoy! (KISS)

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: baby, gender reveal, party

Skinnygirl Cocktails anyone??

July 19, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

You know how I am about “the vino”…I love it…I love tasting it, pairing it, swirling it and of course, sipping it. I love it! So, when something else grabs my attention, I have to go with it. A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend invited a few of us over for cocktails. Knowing her guests, this “hostess with the mostest” tantalizes our tastebuds with a fantastic mango martini. But guess what? The best part of it all was the fact that it was a LOW-CALORIE cocktail, inspired by Skinnygirl Cocktails. And it didn’t compromise the taste AT ALL! Which is why I’m sharing this with you. Jenny, my hostess that night, was really tight-lipped about her recipe, but she did share that it was also mixed with Diet V8 Splash…just knowing that you’re enjoying the spirits essentially guilt-free just makes them taste better, right?!

Skinnygirl Cocktails was created by Bethenny Frankel. We all know her from reality TV. She’s also a renowned natural foods chef, mixologist, New York Times Bestselling Author, and star of Bethenny Ever After. When she found out just how high in calories restaurant margaritas were, she saw an incredible opportunity: give women a low-calorie version of the cocktail that didn’t sacrifice the fresh, delicious taste. Now Skinnygirl Cocktails offers lots of premium low calorie spirits, including margarita, sangria, white cranberry cosmo, wine, and vodka….YUM!

I can’t wait to try their wine varietals as well as their White Peach Margarita, So when its my turn, I’ll be serving up this recipe that I found on the SkinnyGirl Facebook page:

“Skinnygirl Tropical Punch”

1 ½ oz Skinnygirl Tangerine Vodka
½ oz passion fruit juice
Squeeze of fresh lime and lemon juice
Dash of orange extract
2 tablespoons sugar-free pineapple syrup
2 oz club soda
Pour over ice and stir.
Garnish with a lime

Does this sound cute or what?! Love it! So, be an extra special hostess next time and serve your calorie-conscious guests a virtually guilt-free cocktail. They will LOVE you for it! #Thankmelater

Keep it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Thank Me Later, Wine Tagged With: cocktails, diet, drinks, entertaining, low-cal, wine

Hump Day Health Tip: Stretch!

July 18, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

At my family reunion breakfast last weekend, I was crippled by muscle spasms in my back. This happens to me from time to time and it sucks the life out of me. I have 3 VERY ACTIVE kids and we are always on the go! So, when “mommy’s back is out”…its a done deal – at least for about 4-5 hours. The kicker is, I know how to combat this and it’s as easy as stretching. When I do it everyday, I don’t have these problems. There is something about being limber and feeling relaxed. It becomes mental. So here’s the tip:

Do this before your feet hit the ground FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. It’s a 3 minute way to wake up in a more natural way for the body. You sit on the side of the bed and lift your arms up and your legs out in front of you. Take a deep breath and stretch up with the arms and out with the legs. Then take 30 seconds to make wide circles with the feet and wrists. Then take another 30 seconds to make wide, slow circles with the neck. Now put your hands behind you, just slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Arch the back at the mid-point to open the chest and breathe deeply into the stretch.

Just in case you didn’t know, the benefits of stretching include:

improve circulation
improve range of motion
improve posture
decrease joint stiffness
decrease muscle tension
improve your ability to relax

I, generally, take it a step further and do floor stretches. These are my favorite floor stretches mainly geared towards saving my back:

I promise you this works! And if you have a little more time…Do some [simple] yoga poses, practice your breathing techniques, and meditate…..OMG! This REALLY opens up your body, your mind and your soul and gives you that jumpstart for the day!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: back pain, daily, energy, relaxed muscles, Stretching, yoga

30-Minute Meal: Smoky Corn & Black Bean Pizza

July 17, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

I spotted this great recipe on Eating Well. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! A great recipe that’s ideal for Summer and under 500 calories!

grilled pizza, black bean and corn pizza

The secret to a grilled pizza is having all your ingredients ready to go before you head out to the grill. This recipe is 6 servings:

1 plum tomato, diced
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
1 cup fresh corn kernels, (about 2 ears)
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella, preferably smoked mozzarella

The original recipe didn’t give detailed instructions, so I’m thinking that you layer your barbecue sauce, then your veggies and cornmeal – then top with your mozzarella

To make the meal complete just toss the extra black beans, diced tomato and some avocado with pre-washed salad greens and a tangy vinaigrette and you’ve got a meal!

And you know me….a nice glass of Syrah to compliment the smoky flavor….Ahhhh… Love it!

If you like it, share it with a friend!
Keeping is Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food Tagged With: 30 minute meals, food, grill, healthy, pizza, wine

How much information is too much for our kids?

July 16, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 6 Comments

I was in the salon the other day and overheard a rather interesting conversation. A client was talking about her frustration with her husband’s approach at handling delicate family situations. She stated that he always wants to be upfront and honest about everything with their children because that’s the way HE was raised. That alone wasn’t really her problem. Her gripe was that she believes that children don’t need to know everything!! I looked up from my iPhone to acknowledge my agreement with her and was welcomed to join the the conversation.

Before I could delve into this discussion, I needed to hear some specifics. (Be careful what you ask for.) She stated that because they were going through some financial trials, her husband shared with their 12 year old daughter that they were no longer doing certain frivolous weekend activities to cut back on spending and proceeded to say they may be heading to foreclosure on their home. She was mortified! To make matters worse, she said that her 10 year old son was having nightmares after her husband told him about his plans to have a vasectomy!

Ok! Screech! Wait! Timeout! What!?! I could agree with the sharing of the financial situation because I have had conversation with with my own tween once: “Son, We are NOT the Trumps. There is MONEY coming from my account with every SWIPE. It is not magic!” But all the extra details that Dear Ol’ Dad provided were a bit much. I could see why she was livid! But me (as usual) playing devil’s advocate, I told her that I agreed with her husband. It all depends on a child’s age. I feel that they need to be aware of certain things, that are AGE APPROPRIATE and in a way that won’t cause alarm. Your vibe and delivery are everything! You know better than anyone else what your children can handle. If you’re not good at this, then yes, you may want to just leave the subject alone.

I’m somewhat of a private person. So, naturally, Only a few people in my life know more than what’s on Facebook, Twitter or my blog. I like it that way. Therefore, I’m inclined not to tell my children any and everything that I don’t want repeated. I also feel that children can’t relate to heavy topics due to lack of maturity. Plus, I feel like these sweet babies of ours are only children for a short while and grown-ups for the rest of their lives. Giving them fully-loaded information can either be exaggerated by their own little imaginative minds (potentially leading to devastation) or it blows right over their head like a jetliner. Whatever your stance is, there is always a delicate and thin line that you have to walk in order to raise savvy little people, and at the same time, protect them.

What’s your take? Spill it or seal it?

Filed Under: Children, Parenting, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: parenti

Thank Me Later: Instagram Stalker Alert!

July 12, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

Creepy screenshot of conveniently geo-mapping your instagram

Thank me later, but, I found a website called, Snapquest, that lets you watch a live photo stream of other users’ images, as the photos are being taken and uploaded to Instagram. They describe their site like this:

“The part that makes it fun is that Snapquest is organized into sub-sites by city, so you get an immediate idea of what people are photographing in particular locations, right at this very moment. By pulling photos tagged by location, Snapquest updates with a new picture every few seconds, with older ones appearing in a ticker of recently viewed smaller images above it.”

They go on to say: “In addition to the ability to be a living room voyeur….”
SCREEEEEECCCCHH!!! What? And no one else finds this at all a little creepy?!?

OK, nothing about that sounds cute, innocent or fun….just plain ol’ creepy. Yikes! While I really do enjoy the groovy enhancements to my pics on instagram, I guess I’ll be changing my profile to private. I think I may be OK for the most part because I don’t use my location on social media, unless I’m playing around with Foursquare and even then I’m leaving the location and checking OUT when I say I’m checking IN!

Parents of tweens and teens share this with your kids!

You can find this creepy site here. Be careful out there! PLEASE! Everyone that “likes” and “follows” you are not your friends. Just thought I’d share! In the meantime, I’ll be downloading that app that posts mock locations. Its getting crazy!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Parenting, Thank Me Later Tagged With: creepy, instagram, stalker, voyeur