You are a true inspiration to many mamas— you are in the process of becoming a cycler! When did you start?

I had always been an avid runner; between cross country in college and ten years in the military, running was part of my routine. I lived for my next run. Sadly, I had knee surgery in October, 2012 and was told if I didn’t want a full knee replacement before the age of 50, it would be wise to hang up my running shoes. After recouping from the surgery for a while, I starting cycling in February 2013.

What motivated you to start training as a cycler?

My motivation for cycling… I have been divorced for a year. Shortly after my separation, I acknowledged I had gained a good amount of weight due to the circumstances and I was unhappy with myself. Running had helped me through my divorce— and helped me lose more than 25 lbs. I am a true believer in that “runner’s high.”

But I was devastated when I was told it would be wise to stop running. After a few months of physical therapy from surgery, I noticed a few of the pounds I had worked so hard to lose were creeping back. I had tried swimming, but never really felt that same “high.” A co-worker invited me to join her in a spin class, and since I couldn’t run, I figured I would give it a try. It was the first “workout high” I’d had since surgery. I came out of the class saturated in sweat and feeling like a million bucks. I was instantly in love!

You are an incredibly busy single mama, how do you find the time?

Finding the time to work out is most certainly difficult. My son’s daycare opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m… I work 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so there is no opportunity to go in the morning or after work since I have Little Man during the week. Thankfully, I have a great working environment that allows me to go to they gym over my lunch hour, and luckily every Tuesday and Thursday they do spin classes at noon. I usually average three workouts a week, the third being on Saturday when Little Man is with his father. 

Do you have any advice for mamas thinking about starting to train for a race?

The best advice I have to give is just get out there. Pop in your headphones and go. I’ve been doing spin classes for close to three months now at the gym. Now that the warm weather is finally here in New England, I took my mountain bike out for the first time last weekend— vastly different! I made it about 30 minutes before I wanted to die, BUT I got out there! Start small and be proud of the fact that you are doing something positive.

Do you follow a specific training program or do your own thing?

I do attend the two spinning classes a week. The group atmosphere is uplifting, along with the motivation it brings. Not sure I would push myself hard enough for the same quality workout on my own on a bike. For my third workout, I do try to get in a slow two mile run. I was running 20 miles a week, I figured going from 20 to two would be acceptable to my orthopedic surgeon. If I can do it, great, if not, I have to listen to my body. I may have pushed a little too hard last week and made it less than a quarter of a mile when my knee got mad and said, “HEY, remember me, I’m kind of hurt, lay off!” So I stopped my run and did six miles on a stationary bike. 

Do you participate in any other fitness activities?

Does chasing a two-year-old around all week count as an alternate fitness activity?  -(Yes April, it does!)

What has been your most rewarding experience as you have turned to fitness?

The most rewarding experience… that’s easy— My self esteem is through the roof now! A good friend of mine finally took me shopping last week so I could overhaul my wardrobe. I had lost 25 lbs, but was still wearing the same clothes. Ha, honestly, I looked frumpy! I wore one of my new dresses yesterday and every single person I saw at the office commented on how great I looked. Even if I haven’t gained a pound, if I don’t work out for a week, I look in the mirror and just feel “fat.” Getting in one workout turns the “fat” girl in the mirror into an amazingly awesome, confident, happy, attractive woman. It makes me feel good. And as a single mama, I will take all the feel-good moments I can!

Thanks for sharing your story, we will be rooting for you as you cross your next finish line!

The post A Cycler’s Beginning: April’s Interview appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the mamas? If so, send us an email with your question to askthemamas@mamasaywhat.com.

Mama Say What reader Mary asks:

My toddler is 27 months old and he has started biting me whenever I tell him “no.” He’ll do this even when I redirect him without using the word “no.” He seldom does this with anyone else (with my husband only once in a blue moon), but with me, it’s several times a day. I’m desperate for help and advice!

“Ah, I wish I had an answer for you, but unfortunately, I am dealing with a biter myself (I say that she gets it from her dad since his mom SWEARS he was biting until he was three). One thing I haven’t and won’t try is biting her back… In my opinion, that doesn’t teach her not to bite since L follows by my example. We do time-outs, and they seem to work to an extent. I have read that a time-out is only effective in a separate room and I do agree with that.” ~ Miriam R.

Image by Cari Hollis Photography

“I am right there with you, we started the biting phase at about 12-13 months as soon as my little man transitioned to the toddler room at daycare, oh the joys! I think you are absolutely on the right track trying to redirect and give simple commands such as “no.” He is clearly testing the boundaries since he is only doing this with you. For whatever reason, he is enjoying the attention (positive or negative) from you. In your situation, I would entirely ignore the behavior. When he bites, I would say “it hurts mommy when you bite” and then walk away and spend a few minutes away. It’s almost the opposite of a time-out you are putting yourself in time out and proving to your little guy that he won’t be receiving any attention (positive or negative) when he displays that type of behavior. It may just take some time… hopefully not too long, because that gets old really fast!” ~ Corey P.

“C hasn’t bitten yet, (thankfully!) but she does the same with hitting. It’s more like swiping, which tells me she is doing it for the attention and not that she actually intends to hurt. I haven’t found an easy solution but this is what we do: when she hits, we make a big deal of showing that it hurts. (Ow! That hurt, why did you hit mommy!? in a loud-ish, stern voice—but not yelling at her.) Then we ask her to say she’s sorry (or she signs it). If she won’t say she’s sorry or if she responds to that by hitting again—which does happen— then we go for a “modified time-out,” where we calmly sit her down and tell her she has to stay there until she can calm her body and she is ready to say sorry for hitting. Usually, she will figure out how to calm herself down within a minute or so. Once she says sorry in either case, we ask her to show us how to use gentle hands, and she’ll touch our face or hands or whatever nicely, or she’ll give a hug. Then we quickly re-direct. If I’m too tired or frustrated to do all that, then I just stick with re-direction. As with everything with toddlers, remember that it’s only a phase. It’s difficult, but it *will* pass!” ~ Cassie W.

“My son sometimes does this. He does it as a way of showing he isn’t pleased that I’m telling him no. The first couple of times I just tell him no, don’t bite. If he continues, he gets a time-out. A lot of the time I can tell when he is about to bite and can redirect before it happens.” ~ Amanda P.

“At this young age, most kids don’t have the ability to understand empathy and that their actions hurt others. It’s something most kids don’t start to figure out until age three or four. Also, many kids don’t always bite out of anger; they just are expressing a new emotion and are still figuring out how to process it. A few times, TJ bit me when he was excited about something.  We were lucky that TJ wasn’t a huge biter. We tried our best to redirect into hugs and kisses if he looked like he was going in for a bite. And we would say, “we love hugs, not bites.” The few times he actually did bite, he was told a very stern, “No, we do not bite! Biting hurts!” For us, time-outs did not work. He would not sit in one place and had to be physically held down. It was pointless to force them. I know they work great for some kids, just not ours.

I do not like the idea of biting your kid back (which someone told me to try). It just reinforces the biting in my opinion. Instead, maybe try gently pressing their teeth into their own arm. Not when you are angry and not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to show teeth marks. It can help them make the connection that biting can hurt. Aside from that, like with all quirks with toddler-hood, this too shall pass.” ~ Alex T.

“When we deal with situation with Anna, I get down on her level and make eye contact with her. I tell her that hitting/biting etc. is not okay and that it hurts. I let her see that the person she bit is hurting. As she gets older and develops empathy, I know she will learn to understand that better. But, right now I try to let her work her problems out on her own, so long as she doesn’t hurt anyone. As of right now, I do not believe in time-outs and I do not believe in making a child feel bad for expressing themselves, but I do want her to learn to understand that hitting and biting is not an appropriate form of expression.” ~ Jessica S.

“I remember a little boy from my playgroup (25 years ago!) who would bite and not let go. It was very upsetting for all involved. First off, remember that biting for toddlers is not usually malicious. It is merely a statement of frustration by a kid who isn’t good at expressing himself verbally yet. Usually, at the heart of the issue is a perceived offense. The biting serves two purposes: 1. Biting makes the offender quit whatever it is they are doing, and 2. Biting elicits a response from the grown-ups.

The first time a kid bites, you react the way you do because you aren’t expecting it. The best response is to tell the kiddo that biting hurts and they must never do it again. Say this calmly and FIRMLY, without yelling. If the kiddo bites again, a stronger response is required. That being said, there is still no need for yelling. Here is the process I would use: First: squat down, make eye contact and put your hands on kiddos shoulders and say, “no biting ever! Biting hurts very much!” Take the kiddo immediately to a time-out where they can still see as you make sure the bitten child is properly comforted. (Remember: one minute per year of age for time out). Go back to the kiddo and again, making eye contact say “if you are angry about something, tell mommy, but never, ever bite, because it hurts.” Make the kiddo apologize and give them a hug.

You must do this exactly the same each time a bite occurs. Consistency makes your child know what will happen every time if he bites: firm reprimand, time out, sympathy for the one that was bitten and an apology. I hope this helps!” ~Sue F.

The advice given here is solely based on our individual experiences and in no way is it going to be perfect for every mama, every baby, and every situation. None of us are medical doctors. If you have a question regarding a medical topic we can give our opinions, but please consult with your doctor. We are not liable or responsible for the results of following any specific advice in any given situation.

The post Ask the Mamas: My Toddler Won’t Stop Biting! appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

Tell us a little about yourself…

My name is Stephanie Emmott and I’m 31 years old. I have a nine-month-old daughter named Megan, a husband named Ross who works as a chief estimator for a construction company, and a black lab named Bella.

Where is home?

I’m from Northern Ontario, but moved from Toronto, Ontario to a small community near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada last October.

What are your secrets to balancing your life as a stay-at-home-mama plus anything else you manage to fit into your day?

For me, sometimes it’s easy to forget that I have a life outside being a mama. Before having Megan, I worked at a daycare center every day during the week for almost three years. It was a pretty hectic lifestyle, especially since it was in Toronto, so there was rarely a dull moment. Even though I’m busy with my daughter at home, we tend to get a little isolated at times, especially since I don’t drive and have not yet attempted to brave the public transit system (which doesn’t allow strollers!). I think the biggest secret to trying to balance my life as a stay-at-home mama is to try to get any household chores out of the way as soon as possible to allow more time to do things I love to do just for me – reading and crocheting are two of my favorite hobbies.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My mother and grandmothers definitely. My father’s mother had six children, and my mother’s mother had four – my mom has two. I can’t even imagine how they juggled all those children! I sometimes have to remind myself, when I think it’s difficult with one, that they successfully raised their children with far fewer of the modern amenities that are readily available to us today.

What has been the best advice you’ve received as a mama? What do you feel is the best advice, if any, that you’ve given as a mama?

By far, the best advice that I’ve been given (and would give) is to trust your mama instincts. Sometimes it’s too easy to “Google” symptoms, or rely too much on others’ advice, that your own capabilities and the fact that you know your child more than anyone can be overlooked.

Are you the kind of mama you thought you’d be?

I don’t think I ever knew what kind of mama I wanted to be. I knew that I wanted to cloth diaper and breastfeed my baby, but I didn’t have any experience with young babies before, so I never really set any expectations for myself. I knew if I did and I failed to meet them I would be disappointed in myself. That being said, I gave up breastfeeding after only two days. Due to her failure to latch properly and the sheer pain breastfeeding caused, I ended up formula-feeding which upset me greatly since I thought I was doing an injustice to my baby girl. Receiving countless lectures from medical professionals about the benefits of breastfeeding didn’t help any. I finally realized that a happy mama makes a happy baby, and that doesn’t mean I’m selfish. Doing what’s best for both you and baby is all that’s important.  

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I’m not sure where we’ll be living since the people who previously held my husband’s work position were here for around two years, but I see us with maybe one more child. My plan is to go back to work when Megan is three years old, so I see myself working in a daycare center or school. At times I think about opening up my own center, but only time will tell!

If you could have lunch with anyone famous (dead or alive) who would it be?

Not many people know this about me, but I’m a big fan of classic rock, so I would definitely choose AC/DC, who I greatly admire both for their music and their abilities to overcome several personal tragedies.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I always thought I’d love to have the power of invisibility!

Was your birth experience all that you hoped it would be? If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

I actually enjoyed my birth experience. My contractions started at 9 p.m., we went to the hospital at 1 a.m., and Megan was born at 6:16 p.m. that evening after pushing in two different positions. If I could change anything, it would be that my doctor delivered Megan. She was sick so a few different doctors and resident doctors who I wasn’t familiar with were there for her delivery. I didn’t really mind since everyone was so nice and comforting, but they weren’t there at all during my pregnancy so they didn’t know anything about me or my past medical history. Check out Megan’s Birth Story.

How has your mothering evolved since those early newborn days? Is there anything, thus far, in your approach to mothering that you swore “I’d never do…” and you are?

I was definitely a nervous first-time-mama. I would wake up several times during the night to make sure she was breathing, would worry that she was too hot or too cold, etc. Now I’m much more relaxed; I still check on her every night before I go to bed, but I don’t stress myself out (too much!) if she’s on her side or belly, whereas I used to immediately flip her over. Believe it or not, I used to tell myself that I would let her cry it out (at least for a few minutes) before going to her, but I can’t bear to hear her so upset for any length of time.

Do you have a mama mantra? Or something you find yourself repeating over and over when times are tough?

When I feel myself getting stressed or frustrated I have to remind myself to just breathe. Everything is so much easier when you’re calm and your mind is clear.

The post Real Mama: Stephanie Emmott appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

When my daughter was about 10 months old, my husband and I decided we wanted to start trying for a second baby. A two year age difference sounded perfect to us. Since it took us about six months to get pregnant with our first child, we assumed it’d be about the same this time around. However, the way things always go, I got pregnant on the first cycle we tried. We were thrilled and excited, but part of me was scared about having two kids under two.

I was a little worried about jealousy issues— my little girl has been an only child her whole life, and certainly has the “Only Child Syndrome.” She gets 100% of mama and daddy’s attention, 100% of the time. She goes on play dates, we go to playgroups and parks and all kinds of kid’s events and we buy her all kinds of cool toys.

I knew these things could—and probably would— change when the new baby came along and I was worried about the effect it would have on C.

Would she start acting out? Would she be jealous? Would she think we don’t love her as much anymore?

L was born a bit early, so there is an 18.5 month difference between my children. Luckily, we have yet to face many issues.

When C arrived at the hospital after L was born, she was really excited to see mama. At first, she wasn’t too interested in the baby lying in the bassinet next to me, but with some gentle encouragement, she started to notice him more.

Somehow, she knew she had to be gentle and kind with the baby and did an excellent job of touching him gently. She immediately wanted to kiss his face and touch his fingers and toes.

Since we’ve brought L home, C has been a really great big sister. Sure, C wants a little extra attention at times, but for the most part she is proud of her baby brother and loves having him around— even if that means she has to share her mama.

Do little girls have some sort of maternal instinct? I don’t know, but I could be convinced. I see it— I love the way C loves to hold her baby brother, and my heart melts when I see the way she stares at him so lovingly. She gently runs her fingers through his hair and she touches his little fingers and toes. She sings his name when he starts crying to try to comfort him and she “shhh”s him as well.

A week or so before L was born, we bought C a book called “I’m a Big Sister” by Joanna Cole. C really enjoys reading it and I think it might have helped a bit with the transition. I believe it makes her feel like a big girl because it highlights the things she can do that the baby can’t (like eat pizza and ice cream!). It also talks about how she is still special, even though there is a new baby in the house.

With the addition of our newest little one, we’ve pushed the whole “you’re a big girl now!” thing with C, too. We bought her a “big sister gift”— her very own bicycle— and we talk about what a big girl she is when she gets to ride it.

We’ve also given her a bit more “toddler responsibility.” She gets a sticker for “brushing her teeth like a big girl” every day. She is allowed to drink out of a “big girl cup” now instead of a sippy cup and we took off a bar on her high chair, converting it to a booster chair, so she can climb in and out of it all by herself. She loves these things.

This is not to say it’s been easy having two kids under two. For example, take our day trip when L was about three weeks old. My husband was still home from work and so we spent an entire day out of the house; first we toured a chocolate factory, then we toured an old castle, and then we stopped at an outlet mall on our way home.

It was a fun day, but it was a long one. On the hour-long ride home, my colicky three week old screamed most of the time. My overtired 19-month-old was throwing a fit because the blow-up ball she was playing with had dropped on the car floor. (Even though I had already picked it up and gave it back to her.) My husband, who was driving, was trying to distract the kids by singing a song. In the passenger seat, I had my arm twisted around the headrest trying to reach backward to soothe baby L with the pacifier. Yes, all of this was going on at the same time.

Can you picture how loud and frustrating this car ride was?

Yeah. That.

But for the most part, it’s gone well.

We’re so lucky to be parents to such awesome children.

The post Bringing Home Baby: C’s New Baby Brother appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

Who says that once you have kids, you can’t travel anymore? Back in October of 2012, my husband and I spent two and a half weeks in Hong Kong, Macau and Hainan, China with our three year old son, TJ.

Even though we are all experienced travellers, I was a little worried about how our 3 year-old TJ would handle the lengthy flights. Up until this trip, the longest flight he’d ever been on was only six hours.

Just getting to Asia was an adventure in itself:

• Salt Lake City to San Francisco
• Overnight in San Francisco with family
• San Francisco to Seattle
• Seattle to Narita, Japan
• Overnight in Narita
• Narita to Hong Kong
• Hydrofoil ferry to Macau

TJ took the multiple flights in stride playing with his toys, taking naps when he needed them, playing an occasional game of Angry Birds on the iPad, and enjoying the in-flight entertainment. This trip got him hooked on the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

In between flights, we made sure to find a place in the airport or ferry terminal where TJ could run around and my husband and I took turns playing and chasing after him. Both of us made a point to let him get his wiggles out whenever possible. We taught him how to say thank you in both Japanese and Cantonese and he often said the wrong one, which was adorable to everyone.

If we were in a very crowded space, my husband and I took turns wearing TJ on our backs in our Beco Carrier. It gave us a tremendous sense of security in a foreign place. (Read more about how much I love babywearing.)

On the subway in Hong Kong

We also tried to encourage some excitement about each of the flights explaining to TJ that we were flying on a Boeing 777 or an Airbus A330; his first times flying on those “grown-up airplanes.”

Once it was time to head home, we flew non-stop from Hong Kong to San Francisco. That was the longest flight TJ had ever been on at nearly twelve hours long (me too!), and it wasn’t easy as we were stuck in middle seats with my husband sitting in front of us.

TJ managed to take a two and a half hour nap and then a second nap near the end that was about an hour long. When we wanted to get up and walk around, turbulence would pick up and we had to stay in our seats. Since I can’t sleep sitting up, I didn’t get any sleep and managed to watch four movies. In all honesty, I think that flight was harder on me than it was on TJ.

One thing that really helped with the long flight was that TJ got a new toy or a treat every couple of hours. We bought a couple of very small toys at a gift shop in Hong Kong and he got to open a new toy if he had been behaving for a few hours. He got a new garbage truck, a construction vehicle and a fire truck along with a couple of chocolate coins from See’s Candies that we had brought with us. TJ didn’t know how many toys we had bought, only that if he started getting really bored and fidgety or cranky, Daddy would pop his head over the seat and say, “Are you ready for a surprise?”

Overall, it was an amazing trip. I adored watching TJ play with his cousins even though they couldn’t speak each other’s languages. Both my husband and I enjoyed tasting and eating some amazing food with TJ. My boy adores fish, and it’s quite abundant in southern China. The three of us swam in the warm waters of the South China Sea, we got to pick out our dinner from a fisherman’s catch of the day, we hiked through a tropical rainforest, we walked around Victoria Peak, we rode the ferry across Hong Kong Harbor at night and saw an amazing skyline and we got to meet countless aunts, uncles, cousins and relatives whom I still haven’t figured out their relation to TJ. Everyone was warm, friendly and they really made our trip the best it could be.

Swimming in the South China Sea with my boy

This trip occurred just after TJ turned three, and I know that many of us can remember some bits of our lives when we were that young. I know I do. It is my sincere hope that TJ remembers at least some of this trip.

To end here are some additional tips that worked, and lessons we learned from this trip that can hopefully help parents with the notion that once you have a child, international travel is still possible… contrary to what you may have believed or been told.

• Bring whatever lovey, blanket, beloved stuffed animal, or pacifier if necessary to help your child sleep. We had been working on weaning TJ from his paci at bedtime and naptime, but we totally relaxed the rules while on this trip. He was still only allowed to have his paci if he was going to sleep, but we were a little more lax about it on the airplanes.

• Bring some snacks for your child that you know he or she will eat. Because of the disruption and confusion with meal times and nap times, TJ wasn’t all that interested in any of the in-flight meals that were provided. He was more interested in playing with the spoon and fork like drumsticks when it was dinnertime on the plane. Luckily we brought some fruit strips, fruit and veggie pouches, crackers, granola bars, and some fresh fruit with us so he could eat when he was hungry.

• If you are sightseeing, be conscious of your child and their need to have some plain old playtime. A couple of days into our trip, TJ was cranky, whiny and easily frustrated despite having a great night’s sleep. We realized that we had been shuttling him from house to house and attraction to attraction, he hadn’t had more than a few minutes each day to simply play. Once we were able to let him have an hour or two at a local playground, it let his mind and body reset and he was a happy boy again. Because there was so much we wanted to do, and so many people we wanted to visit, we made sure to schedule some play time every day or every other day depending on how TJ was doing.

The post Traveling: Asian Vacation with Our 3-Year-Old appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

I recently did this project with N. He had fun putting it together and had a blast playing with it. I had to take it away because I was afraid he would break it with all of his shenanigans. I am sure in a few more years, once he is in school and we start discussing science, it will be even cooler to him. Learning and understanding how waves work, the density variation in water and oil, which one the food coloring mixes with and why, etc.

What you will need to do this with your little one:

• clean 2 liter bottle, label removed, preferably clear all around, with cap
• canola or vegetable oil
• water
• food coloring, blue for the ocean or your little one’s favorite color
• electrical tape, optional
• hot glue/hot glue gun, optional
• funnel, optional

Make sure to get your child involved as much as they can. Whether it’s holding the funnel or pouring the liquid… let them have fun with it!

Start by pouring the oil into the bottle. Fill the bottle about ⅓ of the way with the oil.

Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water.

Add food coloring… as much or as little as you want depending on how dark you’d like it.

Cap the bottle.

If you want to really make sure your kiddo can’t open it, tape it up or glue it shut.

Now you’re ready to shake, rattle, and roll! Enjoy!

The post Wave in a Bottle appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

Mama Say What?! Mama Kathy S. has already shared her slow cooker version of a delicious white bean chicken chili. This is my version. It is a little different and is cooked in a soup pot rather than a slow cooker. 

It’s an easy dinner to throw together if you only have forty minutes to an hour to get dinner on the table. (I bet that could even be shaved down to thirty minutes). It’s great for a working mama. If you want, you can make this chili a day or two ahead of time and store it in the fridge, then reheat for dinner. Some argue that it tastes even better as “leftovers.”

I have adjusted this recipe to feed a family of three or four, depending on how much you and your kids eat. I have also made a few changes from my brother’s recipe to suit the tastes of our family. The batch my brother made could easily feed seven or more.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon of cumin
• 8 to 10 oz chicken broth, or more if you want your chili to be more soupy
• 1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
• approx 3 cups of cooked, diced chicken (I usually use a rotisserie chicken from Costco and chop 1 breast, 1 thigh and the drumsticks. I don’t know if that comes to 3 cups, but it seems to be enough)
• 2 cups of frozen corn
• 1 14.5 oz can of white beans, drained, (aka: Navy beans, aka: Great Northern Beans)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook the onions, red pepper, and olive oil over medium heat in a heavy soup pot until the onions are translucent. I love to use my cast iron enameled dutch oven for this. Add the garlic and cook a couple more minutes.

Add the spices and stir to incorporate.

Add the corn and stir to incorporate. I like to let the corn cook for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the chicken broth and stir, scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pot.

Add the tomatoes, chicken and beans and stir. Cover and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. My kid is a little picky when it comes to the tomatoes, so I try to find a can of the petite diced tomatoes or I dump a can of regular diced tomatoes onto my cutting board and dice the tomatoes some more.

Lower the temperature to simmer the chili for another ten to 15 minutes, covered.

Taste it and adjust with salt and pepper. I usually add a lot of black pepper because I like a lot. I have even been known to add more coriander and some smoked paprika. Use whatever works for you and the palates of your family.

You can substitute the red pepper for a small can of diced green chiles, or use both. The green chilies make the chili a little too spicy for my three-year-old, but taste just as yummy for my husband and me.

I love to eat this with cornbread; I stick the chunk of cornbread right into my bowl of chili. I adore Marie Callendar’s Cornbread Mix. It is super easy— just add water— and can even be cooked in your microwave if you don’t have time to heat up your oven. It is seriously the best and totally worth spending a couple of extra bucks versus the inexpensive Jiffy brand.

If you want to add a little more volume to this recipe but don’t want to double it, you can use two cans of white beans or one can of white beans and one can of white kidney beans (aka Canellini beans).

Bon appetit!

The post Chicken, White Bean & Corn Chili Recipe appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

What inspired the theme of the party?

We usually let our kids pick the theme of their parties. For this particular party, Xavier couldn’t decide between Batman, Superman, or Spider-man, so we decided to go with an old-style comic book inspired theme.

Where did you get inspiration for the party?

Pinterest, of course! I created a Superhero Birthday board. I grabbed a ton of inspiration, used what would work for my son’s party and DIYed everything (this is why I usually start six months in advance!).

What was one element of the party that you are particularly proud of?

That’s a toss up. I was really proud of the superhero costumes I made for all of the kids (the capes were made from t-shirts!). I had no idea we would end up with 23 kids when I started the endeavor.

I was also really proud of my cake. It was my first attempt at fondant. The tiered cake I made the year before had fallen, so I was really nervous!

What was your favorite moment of the party?

I think the moment I enjoyed the most was when our son saw his cake. He specifically requested I make a cake with a cape and the look on his face was priceless.

Is there anything you wish you would have done differently? If so, what?

Get started earlier! I usually start prepping for our parties six months in advance (I’m not kidding!). I started later for this one so I spent most of the night before awake!

What was the birthday boy’s favorite moment of the party?

Our son loved spending time in the bounce house with his cape and mask on. The bounce house is always a big hit with him.

Any advice you would give to mamas who are planning a party for their little one?

Make sure you give yourself enough prep time and don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t turn out exactly the way you planned. The most important part is that your child has fun and enjoys their special day.

Ooh and aah at the images from this amazing birthday party!

The post X-Man’s Superhero 5th Birthday appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

One of my favorite things to use as a first time mama was the Boppy Pillow, hands down! We actually had three of them that we bought or received from friends: one to keep in B’s nursery, one in the living room and one in the car for travel. It was so much easier to have more than one instead of carrying it from room to room because I used it eight or more times a day for feeding and for play.

As a nursing mama, I feel the Boppy has some added benefits, but this versatile pillow is great for mamas that formula feed their little ones too.

The Boppy Pillow Company was kind enough to contribute three different pillows for Mama Say What?! to review and also to giveaway to three lucky readers! I have been using all three pillows since my younger son, K was born and there are definite highlights and benefits to each pillow.

Boppy® Feeding and Infant Support Pillow

This is the “original” Boppy Pillow and the one that we used the most often when B was born (all three that we had were this original kind). We’ve used it almost daily with K too.

Some of the highlights of this one are:
• It’s great for tummy time, even if your little one is only a couple of days old.
• It provides good support for nursing so that a mama doesn’t strain her back by hunching over, especially as the little ones get heavier to hold. You can also lay your kiddo in this pillow when you bottle feed.
• Though we’re not there yet with K, this pillow is also great for kiddos that are ready to start sitting up on their own. It can be used all throughout your little one’s first year. 

Boppy® Nursing Pillow (NEW!)

This is Boppy’s newest pillow and it’s designed with the help of a lactation consultant to be specifically for nursing mamas. I use it often in K’s nursery, especially during middle-of-the-night feedings when my eyes and arms are tired!

Some highlights of this pillow are:
• The adjustable belt that you can fit around your waist for a more secure position while nursing. I’ve used this a few times and it’s convenient if you need to walk around or get up and get something while nursing. I still make sure I always hold on to K, though, even if I’m using the buckle.
• There are two sides to choose from – one firm side and one soft. You can use whichever side is most comfortable for you. The firm side is very comfortable, but offers more support than the soft side.

Boppy® Travel Pillow

This Boppy is new to me and I love it! It’s designed for “mamas on the go” and is the perfect pillow to take with you in the car, on vacation, while doing errands, or visiting relatives. It’s a smaller version of the original Boppy, though not much smaller, and it’s much easier to carry around than the original.

The only problem I had with this pillow was that it was a little difficult to zip up when I wanted to carry the included tote with me. It took me two hands and some muscle!

Some highlights of this pillow are:
• It zips into a cute black bag with a shoulder strap that makes it look like a regular purse or tote. You’d never know (and neither would other people) that you were carrying around a Boppy!
• The Boppy folds out from the cover, but doesn’t separate, so you’ll never lose the bag part of it.
• There is a zipper for storage of smaller items, like a burp cloth, pacifier, diaper or change of clothes.

All of the Boppy pillows have the added benefit of having a removable, machine washable cover. As mamas know too well, diaper blowouts and spit up happen often with little ones, so this is an important feature to have. All of the Boppy pillows are also super soft and comfortable, both for mama and baby.

Boppy has contributed three pillows to give away, one pillow each to three lucky winners. One winner will receive the Original Boppy, one will receive the Nursing Boppy, and one will receive the Travel Boppy. Enter below!

Must complete the first 3 entries for your entries to qualify. Must live in US and be 18 years of age or older. Giveaway ends 5/21/13 at 11:59pm PDT.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Boppy Pillow Reviews and Giveaway! appeared first on Mama Say What?!.

You are a true inspiration to many mamas, training for several races! When did you start?

My journey began May 12, 2012 when a friend of mine asked if I would like to join her and her coworkers run the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure 5k. This would be our first race, let alone running at all in 10 years. So I thought I needed some running gear.

I went and ordered a pink cancer support outfit from Kohl’s and some cute pink Fila Skeletoes to go with my cute outfit. (Tip: don’t ever wear brand new shoes on race day. I have to admit, while I ran/walked the race I became an emotional roller coaster, my feet were hurting with blisters from my new shoes, silly me.)

Part of me was so happy that I was actually running a race and the other part was thinking “what were you thinking and how much further?” As I ran the course, I saw young kids and moms with strollers that made it seem so effortless. I was so excited to be part of such an important race and to see so many run for their loved ones, as well as survivors running for themselves.

I ran my first race in 41 minutes and then had the running bug. My friend and I decided we would run a race every month and this would help us get our butts in gear to get fit. We did exactly that, but realized it would not be enough to be conditioned for these races.

I found a great running group in our area called “Black Girls Run”. Women meet up and run together (you don’t have to be black to join but you must be a girl, I get asked this all the time. lol). What a great group of ladies! They are so encouraging, motivating, and inspiring. The one thing that stood out with these ladies was that many of them were seasoned runners and passed by me at my first meet up and gave me a thumbs up and yelled out “great job” as they went by. When I finished my first three miles with the group, they waited for every woman to finish up their run and clapped you in (no woman left behind). All I can say is I was hooked!

What motivated you to start training for a half-marathon?

I have run many 5Ks and one 10K. Then I was inspired by my fellow running buddies who shared stories of their marathon races and the journeys to get there. I decided that would be me one day. So in 2013, I will run my first half marathon. I will be running The Divas Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach on April 28; 13.1 miles. I’m not sure if I’ll do a full marathon someday, but we will see after I complete my first half.

You are an incredibly busy woman with a large family, how do you find the time?

I find for myself; if I don’t have me time, then I cannot be the best wife and mother for my family. When I run, I run to clear my head, to get peace of mind, and to get fit. So I try to make sure I schedule my days by a calendar. Since I work for myself and have a very supportive husband, I work my working schedule around activities for the kids, family, and me time.

Do you have any advice for mamas thinking about starting to train for a race?

The best advice I can give any mama training for a race is:

1. Try to find a workout buddy who has similar goals, you will inspire each other and push each other at the same time.
2. Make sure you get fitted for the proper running shoes at a professional running store.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Make sure you cross-train, it’s important you add strength training to the mix.
5. Never wear or try anything new on race day, train in what you plan to wear on that day.
6. The most important advice I can give is to run your race— no one else’s.

Did you follow a specific training program or do your own thing?

I started using a program on Runner’s World but then tweaked it to my schedule:

Every Monday, I run four miles, on Tuesday I cross train, on Wednesday I run four miles, Thursday is my rest day, on Friday I run five miles, on Saturday I run four miles and on Sunday, I cross train.

Every Friday I up the mileage until I can run 13 miles to reach my goal (Fridays are my long runs).

Do you participate in any other fitness activities?

I play kickball on an all-women’s kick ball team and I love it! I thought this was another way to get fit and have some fun at the same time.

What has been your most rewarding experience as you have turned to fitness?

My most rewarding experience from turning to fitness is all of the messages I get from friends telling me I have inspired them to get fit and how they have lost weight watching my journey on Facebook.

I started at 170 lbs and now weigh 148.

All I can say is CONGRATULATIONS Mama! We will be cheering you on as you continue your racing career.

The post Beginning a Running Journey: Genae’s Interview appeared first on Mama Say What?!.