Even though you may have gained ten plus pounds during pregnancy, the baby weight will drop off naturally within a few weeks after giving birth. Most women lose about 12 pounds immediately after delivering the baby, and then continue to lose a few pounds each week as the body readjusts itself. However, the former baby bump can become a major problem area, and you’re likely dealing with extra fat and loose skin around your waist, also known as the “Mommy tummy.”

Fortunately, there are some exercises you can do to trim down that Mommy tummy in no time. In addition to an intensive cardio routine that will blast off fat and calories each week, you can tighten and tone your midsection with these stomach-firming exercises:

1. Oblique crunches. Lying flat on your back and placing your feet flat in front of you, slowly lift your torso off the ground and bend to the side, holding it for a few seconds to contract the muscles in your waist. Oblique crunches are great for slimming down your waistline and improving your posture. 50 to 75 reps per session, two to three times per week, may be all you really need to whittle down that waistline.

2. Tummy tucks. You don’t have to head to the plastic surgeon to get the benefits of a tummy tuck. Plus, this easy exercise can be performed while you’re standing, sitting or just waiting in line. All you need to do is inhale and pull your stomach muscles towards your spine. Hold for a few seconds to contract your midsection, then release, pushing your stomach out as far as possible. This strengthens the muscles in your midsection and makes it easier to perform other tummy-tightening exercises throughout the week.

3. Scissor kicks. An effective abdominal exercise for tightening the lower waist and obliques, scissor kicks performed on your back will strengthen that six-pack and help you achieve a more streamlined silhouette. You’ll need to perform these while lying flat on your back and keep your legs as straight as possible when performing the kick. Several sets of these a few times per week can help you get that flat stomach you crave in no time.

You don’t need any special workout gear to perform these exercises, so try and incorporate them into your weekly schedule to start trimming down that Mommy tummy in no time.

Every day, more and more families lose part of their household income. This means that some of the things families have taken for granted over the years are suddenly out of the question. Take football tickets for instance. When a household income is suddenly cut, it can be impossible for a family to afford season tickets. Thankfully, there are many inexpensive ways for your family to enjoy football night without spending a fortune.

First of all, if your family simply enjoys football, why not go watch local high school football games? Not only are these games more affordable, but it’s fun to support a local team. Plus, many high schools charge less than $10 per ticket. High school students can even get in at a discounted price. Not to mention that the snacks are more affordable.

When times are tough, don’t forget that some of the best games can be watched through satellite and are included in the price you’re already paying. For special games, you may have to pay to see them on pay-per-view, but if the game is really important, everyone can pool their money together to pay for it.

If times are really tough, you can also listen to games on the radio or sometimes watch them online. If you’re looking for a game that isn’t local, satellite radio is a good option. You can even find online radio broadcasts by visiting the team’s website.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways for your family to enjoy their favorite football games for less money. Best of all, you can prepare snacks at home for a fraction of the cost that the stadiums charge. Let’s take a look at what I mean.

Stadium Snacks for a Family of Four”
Hot Dogs $24
Drinks $12
Popcorn $10
Total: $46

Snacks at Home”
Hot Dogs $10
Drinks $2
Popcorn $4
Total: $16

That’s a huge savings. Not to mention, that you’ll never miss a play heading to the snack bar.

Being plus-sized and pregnant doesn’t mean you need to wear miu-miu dresses and tops, hide in oversized tunics and t-shirts, and shy away from flaunting your figure. Plus-size moms-to-be can be just as stylish and trendy as their thinner counterparts because looking great has nothing to do with your weight!

Pregnancy is a great time to become more comfortable with your body and wear clothes that flatter you. In order to wear the latest styles and trends, you’ll need to invest in some quality clothing that accommodate for your growing body. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Stick with Lycra and knit tops. You need clothes that will stretch and conform to your changing body shape, not clothes that will constrict you or hug you too tight. Choose knit tops that are made with Lycra so you can enjoy the benefits of stretch fibers throughout your term.

2. Shop the maternity line, even in the plus-size section. It can be tempting to just go up a few sizes when shopping for maternity clothes, but you won’t fit into these pieces of clothing properly. Shopping for maternity clothes in the plus-size section ensures that your clothes will fit you properly and accommodate your growing belly.

3. Get fitted for your pants and skirts. If you’re unsure about the size you should wear for pants and skirts, get fitted by a tailor so you truly are wearing the right size. Once you know your size, you can purchase pants and skirts from the maternity department, because these are made with elastic waists and will accommodate baby bumps with ease.

4. Wear empire-waist tops and dresses for special occasions. Empire-waist tops and dresses are ideal for the pregnant woman because they emphasize your natural waistline and don’t cinch or pinch around your baby bump. Look for these styles when shopping the special occasion section of the plus size department.

5. Wear larger prints and patterns to complement your figure. Wearing bold and large prints will complement your larger figure better than teeny-tiny flower prints and other delicate patterns. Look for these prints in either your top or your bottoms for a figure-flattering look.

When you’re on a budget, a birthday party can seem extremely expensive. This is especially true if the birthday party is hosted outside the home. Everything from a cake to the meal can cost a fortune when celebrating at a local restaurant. Instead of spending a fortune on birthday parties, why not save some money in the kitchen and make your own birthday cake and party foods?

A restaurant meal is a special way to celebrate a birthday. But, making someone their favorite meal from scratch means so much more. That’s especially true if it’s a meal you don’t make very often because it’s expensive or time consuming. This is the perfect way to celebrate when only a few people will be coming over.

If a lot of people will be attending the party, food platters are a wonderful idea. As always, you will definitely save money by putting platters together yourself. You will also save more money the more you have to do. For example, instead of buying cheese cubes, buy large blocks of cheese and cut them yourself.

The most important part of any birthday party is of course the cake. Just because you’ll be making the cake at home doesn’t mean you have to go with a mix. In fact, making a cake from scratch is much more affordable. Not to mention that they taste a lot better. There are literally hundreds of recipes online.

Speaking of recipes, the following recipe is great for entertaining.

Buffalo Chicken and Onion Rollups
Serves 20

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken, cooked and shredded
10 burrito sized tortillas
8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
½ package of ranch dressing mix
Buffalo wing sauce
1 cup of chopped green onions

1. Toss the shredded chicken with enough buffalo wing sauce to make it moist.
2. Mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing mix and spread onto the tortillas.
3. Top with green onions and roll.
4. Cut each roll into five pieces and serve on a large platter.

Toting around the right bag for your body type is an important fashion ‘do’, but what do you do when your natural silhouette now has a baby bump? The pregnancy bulge can’t be hidden behind an oversized tote (nor should it be), so you need to find a bag that will complement your natural body shape and your outfit. Here are some tips for choosing the right type of tote when you’re pregnant:

First, you need to steer clear of loud prints. Most women draw plenty of attention to the baby bump during the second and third trimester, so there’s no need to add extra flair to your ensemble. If you need to sport an oversized tote for day-to-day travels, stick with simple lines and the single-color variety. A glossy patent leather tote or oversized bucket bag in your favorite color are great additions to the mom-to-be’s wardrobe.

Second, make sure your bag has plenty of strap support. If you’re carrying a laptop, heavy books and other accessories around all day, you need to make sure the straps on the bag will support your shoulders and upper back. Invest in a sturdy tote with thick handles and straps so that you are getting the support you need. When you’re pregnant, aches and pains in the upper back and shoulders are more common, so you can take some preventive measures by toting around the right type of bag.

Finally, make sure the bag has plenty of compartments to keep you organized during your busy day. Pregnancy can make you more stressed out than usual, so the last thing you want to worry about is where all of your daily accessories and gadgets are. Find a durable, sturdy bag designed with extra compartments so that you can keep all of your daily essentials in order. You may need extra room for medication, relaxation tapes and a CD player, and your favorite book if you’re heading out on an all-day trip.

There are dozens of fashionable and functional totes out there. Take the time to find a bag that suits your style and meets your everyday needs during pregnancy.

The kids have gone back to school and the parents finally have a bit of time for themselves. Unfortunately, the economy has made it hard to go out for an expensive night on the town. That’s not a problem though. This weekend, send the kids to grandma’s house and enjoy a romantic dinner at home while saving money in the kitchen.

Why spend close to $100 at an expensive restaurant when you could create a romantic dinner at home? The truth is that not only will you save money, but you can also create a romantic atmosphere at home. In fact, a dinner at home allows for much more romance than any restaurant ever could.

First of all, decorate the dining space for the special occasion. If you don’t have a fancy tablecloth, use a white sheet tied at the corners with ribbon. Place candles on the table and break out the good china. You could also add fresh flowers.

Now that the mood of the room is set, it’s time to think about the menu. You can’t go wrong with steak, but another romantic option is Cornish game hens. They are perfect served with wild rice and roasted asparagus. Of course, what would dinner be without a romantic dessert?

Cheesecake Hearts
1 frozen plain cheesecake, thawed
6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening
Whipped cream
Strawberries

1. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut the cheesecake into hearts.
2. Freeze the cheesecake.
3. Mix the chocolate chips and shortening together and melt in a double boiler.
4. Dip the frozen hearts into the melted chocolate.
5. Place the hearts in the refrigerator until firm or ready to serve.
6. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

A romantic dinner doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, this menu could be prepared for less than $40. And it truly is a great way to ring in the back to school season.

Are you guilty of turning to restaurants when you need a quick meal? I’ll admit that even I used to eat out at least four nights a week because my boyfriend and I work 10 hour days. But, I discovered just how quickly I could cook meals with a pressure cooker . I know what you’re thinking and I used to think the same thing too. You’re wondering about the safety of pressure cookers. Today’s pressure cookers are nothing like they used to be. The new digital models have several built in safety features that keep them from exploding. This week, let’s talk about saving money in the kitchen by using a pressure cooker.

Pressure cookers come in a variety of different sizes to fit your needs. They also have several different features that make them versatile. For example, many digital pressure cookers include a slow cooker function. This means you can get the convenience of two great appliances in one. This not only saves money, but it saves space as well. The digital models even have a brown function which allows you to brown meat and sauté vegetables before cooking.

Speaking of meat and vegetables, a pressure cooker can cook them in a fraction of the time of other cooking methods. You can enjoy a roast in a little over an hour. Vegetables can even be cooked in less than 5 minutes. But, you can do more with your pressure cooker. They can also be used to make soups, rice, and even desserts.

Of course, what would an introduction to pressure cookers be without a recipe?

Creamy Mushroom and Onion Pork Loin
Serves 6 – 8

3 pound pork loin roast
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
1 large onion, sliced
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 pack of onion soup mix
Chicken stock

1. Place the pork loin roast fat side up in the pressure cooker.
2. Top the roast with mushrooms and onions.
3. Mix the soups together and add enough chicken stock to equal 2 cups of liquid (or more depending on the needs of your pressure cooker).
4. Cook on high pressure for 70 minutes.
5. Serve with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and rolls.

Does your family love a certain TV show and make sure to catch it every week? Then why not watch it together instead of having three or four TVs tuned into the same program? This is a wonderful way to spend family night, not only because it’s something everyone enjoys, but it’s also extremely affordable. This week, let’s bring the family together around the TV.

This may sound a bit boring at first. You may even be asking how watching a TV show together can be a family activity. The key is to make it more than just watching a TV show. You have to make it fun and that’s exactly what you’re going to learn to do.

Each week, gather the family together about 30 minutes before the show begins and let each family member make predictions about what will happen. It may be a certain singer getting kicked off, a couple failing in love, or even who committed a murder. The person that makes the right prediction can get a prize. It may be an inexpensive item picked up at a local department store, a gift card , or even a coupon to get out of doing weekly chores.

Next, get retro. Remember how people used to gather around TVs when they were first made available to the public? They even ate their meals in front of the TV, not wanting to miss one moment of the new technology. While TV dinners may not be as appetizing as they once were, you can still create that feeling with homemade food. At local department stores, you can find lunchroom trays for around $2 a piece. This makes dinnertime so much fun. Of course, the experience wouldn’t be complete without some retro TV trays.

This week, stop tuning into your favorite program by yourself and enjoy it with the entire family. Not only will the show be more enjoyable, but you’ll get to spend time with your family. It doesn’t get any better than that.