care for yous.cdn-care.com/media/cms/pdf/care_for_you.pdf4 care for you: tips for kids, home &...

Care For You:Tips for Kids, Home & Self

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Care for You: Tips for Kids, Home & Self

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InsideOpen up and say SPA-AHHH

Take a Time Out

Clearing Out the Clutter: 5 Quick Spring Cleaning Tips

Veg Out

Going Clean: Housekeeping 411

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Our gift to you: Easy ways to simplify taking care of your family, home and even your mental health. We have you

covered, from sneaking kids veggies to reducing clutter to relaxing with DIY spa treatments.

Enjoy!Your friends at Care.com

Copyright © 2011 Care.com, Inc.All rights reserved.

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Whether you DIY at home, head to your local salon for a quick and easy fine tuning, or indulge in a day spa with your BFF, some quality me-time is just what you deserve.

AT HOMECost: Price can range from $10 and up depending on the products.

Sequester yourself in the bathroom and light some yummy-smelling candles. We like Tocca Cleopatra candles ($32), which smell like grapefruit and cucumber. Then smear on a face mask, such as Neutrogena’s Pore-Refining Mask ($8) or Clinique’s Seven Day Scrub Cream ($18), and hop in a bubble bath. Or turn your shower into a sauna: Turn the water on as hot as it will go and let it run and steam up the bathroom. Add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender or rosemary and breathe deeply. A few more ways to pamper yourself at your abode:

Scrub –a-dub-dub. It’s time to exfoliate and slough away all that dry winter skin. Try using a loofah or a body scrub such as Change is Gonna Come Body Exfoliator by Mark ($12, available in May). After your bath, pat yourself dry and slather on a thick body lotion or butter, such as Shiseido’s new Body Cream ($72, available in April).

Mini mani/pedis. Soak your tootsies in a foot bath with Tracy Stern FootTea ($11), an herbal tea blend designed to soften your feet. Use a pumice stone to slough away calluses and then rub a peppermint foot cream in. Before you apply polish, pop on Bling Toe Separators from Sephora ($2) which are sure to make your DIY pedi feel indulgent.

For rough, parched hands, try the best-selling Satin Hands by Mary Kay ($34). A two step process, you first exfoliate with a special hand scrub. After you rinse, smooth on the delectable hand cream for super soft hands. The softening effects linger after several hand-washings.

Open up and say SPA-AHHHBY CARI WIRA DINEEN

Scrub-a-dub-dub, it’s time to exfoliate and slough away all that

dry winter skin.

TIP 1

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Facial harmony. Want to glow, girl? Pick up a Clarisonic ($149) or Olay Pro X Cleansing Brush ($25), which spin and vibrate to polish away fine lines, dry patches and oil to reveal a more beautiful complexion.

AROUND TOWNCost: Expect to spend $30-$50 for a salon manicure and pedicure.

If you’ve got an hour of free time, now is your chance to head to the local salon. A tip: wear your flip-flops to the nail salon so you don’t have to worry about smudging you toes when you put your shoes back on.

Upgrade your regular pedi. Ask for a spa pedicure, which is a regular pedicure plus one of the following: Paraffin dip, masks, mud or seaweed treatment. Or see if your salon offers a Stone Pedicure--essential oils are rubbed in with the help of hot stones for an incredible foot and leg massage.

Get a mini-massage. Many nail salons also offer a chair massage. You can buy a massage for 10 minutes for anywhere from $10-$20.

Or get a longer massage. Need a massage or facial but don’t want to make a full day of it? Massage Envy has locations in 47 states and offers 50 and 90 minute massages. First time clients get a low introductory rate of $39 or $49 (depending on where you live) for a Swedish massage. www.massageenvy.com

AT THE SPACost: a basic massage will run you around $100 while multi-treatment packages generally cost $300 and up.

Sometimes, you just need to shelf the Calgon and hit the spa. Book a sitter, grab your girlfriends and head to one of these top spa brands near you and try one of their signature treatments. Be sure to get there at least a half hour early—many spas have relaxation lounges, some even have hot-tub, steam and sauna facilities which you can use as a prelude to your treatments. Westin Heavenly Spa’s Rollerssage ($125) incorporates heated round crystals that are rolled over your body for a deeply penetrating massage. www.starwoodhotels.com/westin

The best complexion reviver is at Bliss: their Triple Oxygen Facial ($160) intensely cleans, exfoliates, extracts, wraps and oxygenates your face to perfection. www.blissworld.com

Pour yourself a glass of bubbly! Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa has a Champagne and Rose Facial ($120) Champagne tones your complexion while rose extract gently exfoliates and hydrates your skin. www.reddoorspas.com

Feel like what you really need is just a nap? Head to a Ritz Carlton Spa, where you can indulge in a treatment aptly named Drift to Sleep ($300). A body scrub followed by a milk bath and massage, afterward you enjoy a 30 minute power nap on a warmed treatment table. www.ritzcarlton.com/spa

http://www.massageenvy.com

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin

http://www.blissworld.com

http://www.reddoorspas.com

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/spa

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Baby fed? Check. Laundry folded? Check. Taking a moment for you? Not even close. We women have a hard time taking care of ourselves when we’re so focused on taking care of

everyone else. But taking a quick 15 minute time out can do wonders for your mental health and energy level.

“When you take care of yourself with a small indulgence, you’re a better mother, friend and partner because you feel recharged and rejuvenated,” says Laura Berman Fortgang www.laurabermanfortgang.com, life coach and author of Living Your Best Life. Schedule 15-20 minutes of me-time into your day to try one of Berman Fortgang’s tips to recharge your batteries:

Say ohm. Do a quick yoga pose, such as the classic Downward Dog. Stretch the arms away from the body keeping them aligned with the spine. You can push through the first finger or the middle finger. Have the heels hip width apart and the legs straight. Push through the heels and up through the tailbone in opposing directions. The top of the head can be pointing down or in line with the direction of force through the arms. Raise the navel upwards towards the chest. This will straighten the lower back. Downward Dog stretches your back, neck, Achilles, calves and your mind. Breathe in. Exhale. Hang in there and push your heels in for as long as you can. Stand up and repeat a few times. After the initial pain, it feels amazing. Don’t forget to breathe!

Take a long shower. Instead of your normal 3 minute-lather-rinse-repeat schvitz, linger in the shower. Slather on a face mask or a deep conditioning hair mask (or both!) and suds up with your fanciest shower gel. Stand there and feel the water running over you. Exhilarating and relaxing all at the same time, huh?

Take a Time OutRunning on Empty? Quick Tips to Recharge Your Batteries in 15 Minutes or Less

BY CARI WIRA DINEEN

Instead of your normal 3 minute-lather-rinse-repeat, linger in the shower.

TIP 2

http://www.laurabermanfortgang.com

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Grab a designer beverage. Folgers? Fuhgedabboudit! Brew up some gourmet ground coffee in a French press or a pot of pricier herbal tea. Sit down, put up your feet and sip slowly from a fancy cup. Dunk in a store-bought biscotti and relax into your chair. Ahh. A good cup of coffee is a sweet indulgence—and just what you need to feel like you again. Call your pals. When you’re feeling like you’ve hit a wall, a phone call to the right friend is sure to recharge your soul. “Reminiscing with an old girlfriend can take your mind off your to-do list and give you a mental escape,” says Berman. Blast your favorite song. Is it just us or does Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” inspire you to have your own private karaoke moment? Find your new personal anthem and belt it out. Make like a cat. And take a quick nap. “Just laying down for 15-20 minutes can hit the reset button in your brain,” says Berman Fortgang. Give yourself a foot massage. Don’t wait for your next pedicure to get a good foot rub. Get some thick foot cream and really work it into your heels and toes. Spend at least 5 minutes on each foot. When you’re finished, slide on some soft socks or booties. Grab some tennis balls. Put one or two on the floor. Lay down and slowly roll them around on your back, concentrating on any knots or tight spots. Or slip off your shoes and roll your foot on top of one of the balls for a quick tension release. Go surfing. Set a timer for 15 minutes and let yourself go wild with Internet surfing. It’s easy to get lost on the web but this way, time won’t escape you while you’re arm-chair travelling or window shopping.

Folgers? Fuhgedabboudit! Brew up some gourmet ground coffee in a French press...

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Even for those of us who get hives even thinking about cleaning, there is something almost primal about spring cleaning. Sorting through your underwear drawer and emptying out your

closet can be more satisfying than sex—according to a survey done by Ikea. So let’s get frisky and get cleaning.

Here are 5 tips that will make this year’s spring cleaning the most efficient and fun yet:

1. Donate We all like to hold on tight to our things, but now is the time to let go! Room by room, evaluate various items and ask yourself, “Would I buy this today?” If the answer is “no,” then it’s got to go!

Get your kids involved by asking them to choose three toys they’re ready to donate to other children who would enjoy them. Check out a specialty organization like Toys for Tots, or donate to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army.

2. Make Organizing AccessibleYou don’t have to spend lots of money buying new organizers—use what you already have. Clean counters actually do contribute to inner peace. Organize the clutter on your bathroom and kitchen counters with extra glasses or pitchers you have on hand. Who needs to do yoga to find zen, when you have clean counters?

Place toys into small, easy to access bins instead of big toy boxes where things will get lost. You can also try putting shoes in a bin and coats on low hooks where kids can easily reach. You can even put a basketball hoop over the hamper to make tossing clothes in more fun!

Clearing Out the Clutter: 5 Quick Spring Cleaning TipsBY AMANDA MAY DUNDAS

Focus on one area at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

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3. Get Rid of the PaperEliminate piles of paperwork by getting at the source –sign up to view and pay your bills online and to receive paperless bank statements. Since you can’t opt-out of kindergarten artwork, try hanging children’s work on the fridge or scan artwork into the computer and display it on a digital frame that rotates images.

4. The Family Finder BinderTry creating a Family Finder Binder for items that you need to keep handy, like class lists, sports schedules, or receipts. Things like birthday parties and other events can be organized on a family calendar like Cozi.com or Google calendars so everyone can easily access it by computer or mobile phone.

5. One Area at a TimeFocus on one area at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Tackling organization room by room can help to make the task more manageable.

Most importantly, don’t forget to reward yourself once you’ve finished your spring cleaning. We recommend a large piece of dark chocolate for each room you check off your list!

Organize the clutter on your counters with extra glasses or pitchers you have on hand.

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Want your kids to eat veggies without a fuss? Befriend your

blender or food processer.

It’s an age-old battle: Moms want kids to eat more veggies. Kids want to eat, well, anything else. “Don’t give up! Keep offering veggies,” says Jeanne Muchnick, mom to two girls and

author of Dinner for Busy Moms. “And don’t let them off the hook without trying several bites of something new. Eventually, veggie love will happen.” Here’s how to up your kiddos’ intake of greens until the day comes when your kids beg for broccoli the way they do for a brownie:

Blend ‘em. Want your kids to eat veggies without a fuss? Befriend your blender or food processer, says Muchnick. “Sauté veggies, such as Vidalia onions, carrots or zucchini, until soft. Then puree the vegetables so that they are super smooth,” she says. Sneak the puree into tomato sauce that you can use to top pasta and store-bough pizza dough. Another option: pureeing red pepper, spinach, or cucumbers and mixing them with yogurt or sour cream to make dips that kids can dunk a carrot, crackers, or rice cakes into.

Hide ‘em. It’s easy to hide…uhm, add minced veggies like spinach, squash, broccoli, avocado, zucchini or asparagus to lasagna, scrambled eggs or pasta. “I add shredded or cooked carrots to Mac and cheese. The orange color mixes with American cheese and the kids don’t suspect a thing,” says Muchnick who is also a fan of adding pureed cauliflower to mashed potatoes, as well as carrots and peas to hamburgers and sloppy joes. “I also puree black beans and put it in my meatloaf,” she says.

Make it fun. Let kids make their own kabobs: add cherry tomatoes, pineapple chunks or grapes to a stick with chicken. Or experiment with cooked versions of sushi rolls—a California roll has carrot, avocado, and crab—and the kids will get a kick out of working their chopsticks. Above all else, let kids help you cook and assemble their foods—especially ones with lots of veggies. “Kids are more likely to eat what they help make,” says Muchnick.

Veg OutGet Y our Kids to Go for the Green Stuff

BY CARI WIRA DINEEN

TIP 4

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Let Us Roll UpGetting kids to eat raw vegetables can be a real struggle. Jennifer Carden, chef and author of The Toddler Café came up with this recipe to get your kids interested in lettuce.

Makes 6 servings

1 head crispy romaine lettuce hearts, washed and separated1 pound ground chicken, beef or turkey1 carrot minced or grated1 cup broccoli florets, minced

Sauce:3 tablespoons soy sauce¼ tablespoons water1 tablespoon corn starch¹/₈ teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon granulated onion½ teaspoon salt (optional)Chopped Peanuts or Cashews for sprinkling (optional)

Put sauce ingredients in a bowl and break up lumps with a fork, set aside

Heat a sauté pan on medium high heat, add meat, let it cook untouched until meat looks like it is cooking underneath and juices start to be released. Add vegetables. Start breaking up meat with a wooden spatula. Continue stirring and breaking up chunks until meat is thoroughly cooked. Drain meat before adding sauce. Give the sauce a stir and add it to the pan. Mix together and cook 2 minutes more, continuing to break up any large chunks of meat.

Serve meat and lettuce leaves together. Have your child put the meat in the leaves and sprinkle with nuts, then eat like a taco.

Tip: Give your child the small inside leaves that will be easier for them to hold and bite.

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There are dust bunnies in the corners. Magazines are piling up again.

There are dust bunnies in the corners. Magazines are piling up again. The soap scum just doesn’t seem to wash away. Didn’t I just clean my house last week, or was that last

month? Sometimes, something’s got to give. Yes, you may be able to Swiffer at midnight or clean out your fridge at 5a.m., but when you just can’t do it all, hand over the vacuum to a trusted housekeeper.

Here’s everything you (or your housekeeper) need to get your house clean and organized so you can focus on the other 893 important things on your To Do list. And if you are in the do-it-yourself mode, this list will make sure you don’t leave anything out.

MUST-HAVE SUPPLIES: Forget products that do just one thing. Multi-tasking products not only save you time, but also money and space. Here are some of our eco-friendly favorites:

D Method Multi-Surface Cleaner ($3.99) D Purpose Ecover All Purpose Cleaner ($3.98) D Seventh Generation Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner ($3) D Simple Green All Purpose Wipes ($3.99)

TOOL KIT: Don’t get caught without these must-have cleaning tools.

D Vacuum and extra vacuum bags D Broom D Mop or scrub brush D Sponges D Dusting cloth/Duster D Trash bags D Rags D Paper towels

Going Clean: Housekeeping 411BY AMANDA LeVINE

TIP 5

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Here’s our quick and easy To Do List for you to stick on the fridge. Ask your housekeeper or housecleaning company to check off each item each time they clean.

BATHROOMS F Clean toilets F Wipe down countertops F Replace toilet paper F Dust F Replace hand towels F Empty trash F Clean shower, spraying for mildew

KITCHEN F Wipe down countertops F Clean out cabinets F Clean dishes F Sweep/Mop floors F Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. F Clean all appliances

F Oven F Stove burners F Microwave F Toaster oven F Refrigerator (wipe down shelves and

toss out old food, too!) F Coffee maker

F Refill dish soap dispenser F Replace dish towels F Empty trash

BEDROOMS F Change linens and make bed F Vacuum/Shake out rugs F Put clothes into hamper F Empty trash F Dust surfaces, light fixtures, ceiling fans,

tops of bedroom doors F Clean dust under bed F Freshen guest bedrooms, change

sheets, towels

FAMILY SPACES F Put away miscellaneous papers,

toys, etc. F Vacuum/Shake out rugs F Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, blinds F Fluff and vacuum pillows and

couch cushions F Wipe down walls and moldings for

finger prints F Clean off light switch plates F Sweep out basement

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