With Black Friday just a week away, we're making our holiday lists and checking them twice. Here's one tool we're using to cut shopping time and help find Southern gifts:The GiftGuide application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It works like this:
Simply download the free "GiftGuide" app to your iPhone or iPod Touch from iTunes. You'll see a listing of various magazines and retailers. We're a little biased, but our favorite category is "Southern Living: 15 Exclusively Southern Gifts."
Voila -- you'll see 15 of our favorite items made in the South at various price points. If you see an item you like, just click on it and you'll be directed to a website where you can order online. It's one stop shopping in the palm of your hand.
The Gift Guide can also suggest presents for you based on the recipient, and can recommend ideas from other sources as well. Pretty nifty.
Each week at Live Healthy we feature a Southern Blogging Mom whose writing has left an impression. This week we are thinking about special Southern Mom Blogger, Anissa Mayhew.
We don't know Anissa personally, but have followed her story. This Atlanta mom of three suffered a stroke earlier this week. Bloggers around the world have rallied around Anissa and her family, rallying in their support of her and her family.
Anissa has been through many challenges, including her daughter Peyton's treatment for cancer. From that experience she started Hope 4 Peyton, where she chronicled her family's journey, and writes about her life as a mom at Free Anissa.
Rachel at A Southern Fairytale has complied a list of bloggers who have written posts for Anissa here. It's clear when you read them how many people care about Anissa and her family, and it also speaks to the bonds that are formed between those who share their stories online.
As Rachel says, "We first connect with our hearts and later, often in real life. Our bonds are truly powerful."
Anissa, please know that your friends at Southern Living are pulling for you.
If you are interested in following updates on Twitter, search using #prayersforanissa.
Is it just us, or have you looked up and seen holiday decorations everywhere you go? Starting to get save- the- dates to parties and calls from relatives about who is doing the cooking? Wondering how you are going to do it all and actually enjoy the meaning of the season?
With Thanksgiving a little more than a week away, we're soon to be in the middle of one of the happiest -- and potentially stressful -- times of the year. To help you keep feeling good in the coming weeks, we'll bring you some of our favorite tips here at Live Healthy.
To kick things off, here's a Southern Living Web Exclusive with Molly Gold, who is the subject of a story in our December issue. Molly, a North Carolina resident, is the founder and CEO of GoMom Inc., a business devoted to helping women of all ages and life stages control their schedules.
I had the opportunity to spend time with Molly and her family during a photo shoot last summer, and enjoyed learning the time management tips she uses to stay organized. In fact I left so inspired I created my own family command center, a bulletin board that helps me keep track of everything from permission slips to party invites.
We think you'll enjoy her tips too -- to stay organized now and all year.
We'd love to know: how are you staying organized this holiday season? Please share your tips with us!
The trick or treaters have come and gone and the leaves are bursting their splendid fall colors ... November is officially here! Before things get too hectic planning for the holidays, grab the November issue of Southern Living to check out these features:
Mosey on up to the ranch, for an honest to goodness chat ...
At Home With The Pioneer Woman-- A day in the life of Ree Drummond, the wildly popular Oklahoma blogger who shares her tips and tricks for the busy home cook.
Features Rees very own recipes (cowboy nachos, slow cooked mushrooms, cowboy dip sandwiches -- yum!)
Take in the inspiring sights ...
Why The Everglades Owns My Heart-- SL editor Annette Thompson and photographer Robbie Caponetto shares a glimpse into the gorgeous wilds of Florida.
Those are just a few of the stories in this month's issue, which is of course full of tips to help you plan for Thanksgiving and the months to come. Sit down, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy.
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Katie Anderson of Growing Green, which she describes as a blog "written from the perspective of a Southern, small-town mom with good intentions to be green, but with a lot to learn."
Katie writes that she is a thirty-something "Green Mama of 2 children, 1 dog, 2 turtles." She blogs about her attempts to help the planet and her family's through things like recycling, planting her own vegetable garden, and learning more about what foods she eats.
Growing Green chronicles Katie's burgeoning green adventure here in the South. She writes:
So, anyhoo, I’ve decided to go green. Or, greener. And, I’ve decided to blog about it. Now, I know if you live in LA or New York, or any city, you are probably way greener than I am. You were green, when green wasn’t cool. And you may not remember or even know who Barbara Mandrell is. But, now green is cool and it’s everywhere to you. You’re probably going blue now, or some new environmental term I haven’t heard. However, if you lived in a small town in Georgia like I do, you would not even have recycling curb pickup.
Katie shares her tips and links to resources that have been helpful to her as she goes green. For that, and for the fact that she is sharing her journey of helping the environment Southern style, we recognize her as the Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week!
Want to recommend a Southern blogger to be featured on Live Healthy? Drop us a line here, or on our Twitter account:
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Southern Fried Mama.
Trista is an Alabama mom who writes about her adventures of being a stay-at-home mom of two. She writes about her challenges -- and solutions -- of raising two young kids and managing a part-time job, with a husband who travels for work.
"I started my blog to keep a journal of what the kids were doing, but then started connecting with other moms and being part of an online community," she says. "With my husband on the road and being at home there are days when I don't talk in person with another adult. Connecting with other moms helps me stay in touch with the outside world."
We like this post about how she makes time for herself by attending Friday night painting classes when she can. (Click here for Southern Living tips on de-stressing with art.)
Thanks for sharing your Southern Fried story Trista, and happy blogging!
Want to recommend a Southern blogger to be featured on Live Healthy? Drop us a line here, or on our Twitter account:
When I first heard about hula hooping as a trend,I reacted the same way a lot of people do: "come again?"
It was this spring when I heard about people working out with a hula hoop. Skeptical that hooping could be a real workout, I started looking for Southern hoopers.
What I found lead to the story that is in the November Southern Living (p. 122) -- "Hooping For Health." The story is about East Nashville resident Sunny Becks Crumpton who teaches women of all ages to get fit, relieve stress and have fun with hula hoops. Yep, like the kind we played with as kids.
I visited Sunny at her studio Hooprama, where I learned that yes, hooping is most definitely a workout. I was amazed to watch hoopers of all ages -- from their 20s through their 60s -- move the plastic circles up and down and around their bodies, twisting and twirling to the booming music. They told me their stories about how hooping helped them lose weight, strengthen their core, and de-stress. Plus it was clear that these women were having a great time. And I know myself -- if a workout isn't fun, I am not going to do it.
I couldn't wait to get my hands on a hoop and try it for myself.
It took a couple of tries -- the hoop seemed so big compared to the ones I played with growing up. (Adult size hoops are actually easier to use -- they stay up thanks to the laws of physics. But it still takes work. A lot of it.)
Sunny explained how there are two basic hooping stances: side to side and front to back. Once I found my groove, I started to gain confidence. This wasn't so difficult, I thought, which would be right around the time I'd get out of sync and boom, the hoop dropped to the floor. So much for progressing to the more advanced tricks out of the gate.
Hoopers say this and it's true -- the repetitive motion of the hoop can be calming, almost Zen like. (OK, I wasn't exactly being enlightened out on the floor but it was relaxing once I got the swing of it.) I took my hoop home and started practicing in my backyard, and got a child's size hoop for my 3 year old.
When I asked Sunny how much time a hooper should practice every day she said that her advice is just to put on one great song and hoop through it. If you're having fun, try another, and another. The advice works -- once I put on my music there's no stopping me. The neighbors are probably tired of hearing The BeeGees blasting from my iPod speakers.
Now hooping has become a part of my routine. Nothing is better than getting home from work and hooping off the cares of the work day. Other times, when I make a long distance call to a friend I go outside and get into the hooping groove, burning calories while catching up.
My tricks are still pretty basic -- I've done my share of throwing the hoop across the backyard on more than one occasion as I try to move it from hand to hand, above my head, and other variations that when done right are super cool. My moves may be laughable, but they are fun, burn calories, and make me laugh. And in my world of Healthy Living, that's what it's all about.
Wanna try hooping for yourself? Check out the story and these resources:
Hooping.org -- This site contains everything you need, from learning the basic moves to starting your own hoop group (they're popping up all over the place!)
Hooprama Blog -- Sunny's blog about all things hooping
Hoopnatica -- Hooping and hoop dance resources, including instructional DVDs
And this video:
Let me know how it goes -- I want to hear from my fellow Southern hoopers!
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Jen Houck of One Mom's World. Jen (pictured at left with her family) is a North Carolina work at home mom of two girls ages four and six and has been blogging since 2005.
Jen's chronicles daily life, including her healthy weight loss journey. So far she's lost 55 lbs toward her 70 lbs. goal.
Here she is sharing a video update on how she feels healthier since making exercise a daily part of her life (she swears by EA Sports for the Nintendo Wii.)
"I'm just so happy with myself," she says. "I feel like I'm a better example to my girls."
One of our favorite posts on her blog is one about ice skating with her best friend and their families, which puts us in the mood for cold weather activities that are on the horizon:
"You see it has been about 11 years since we both had been. We went together with my church youth group at the time and how neat it was that we went back together 11 years later. This time we got to share in the experience with our children. Let’s just say the children way outdid us. There were falls into the puddles (that would be muah and her daughter M), there was plowing into the sides of the ice skating rink, there were times we wouldn’t let go of the rails, there were times we skated around with the Kid’s bar haha… it was just some plain ole genuine fun ..."
You've inspired us Jen, and for that, you are this week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week!
Also, kudos to the the women of MamaLaw, who organized the successful Blogalicious Conference held in Atlanta last weekend!
Keep them coming ladies! If you have a mom you'd like to nominate for Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week, please let us know.
It's official -- the new look of Southern Living is on the newsstands today with our October issue!
We've been working hard on the new Southern Living. As our Editor-In-Chief Eleanor Griffin sums it up:
“We’ve listened to thousands of our readers and we know that the Southern woman is changing. She is embracing the future as much as she values the traditions of the past. She is busier than ever and wants to cultivate her own Southern style in a new, modern way."
The new Southern Living has 15 new franchises. These include features like "Mama's Way, Your Way," which highlights a traditional Southern recipe and a more streamlined version, and "Made By Southern Hands," a roundup of stylish products made in the South.
In Healthy Living we are thrilled to debut "Lighten Up In," in which we spotlight healthy activities to do in great Southern cities.
This month we feature New Orleans. (think: less Bourbon Street and more exploring on foot and eating fresh local seafood). Yes, it can be done.
October's Healthy Living also features a Q&A with Domenica Catelli, chef and author of Mom-a-Licious: Fresh, Fast Family Food For The Hot Mama in You. Domenica shares her secrets to looking and feeling good, including recipes.
Both of these are just the first of many we're excited about.
We're looking forward to continuing to share stories about enjoying all that we love about the South, with an emphasis on taking small steps to health and balance.
As always, we want to hear your ideas about healthy living in the South. Let us know! And thanks for reading.
When Rachael Bender graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 and became an online editor at a newspaper, some people were skeptical. Back then, most people didn't have any idea about the eventual reach of the Internet. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Rachael learned all that she could.
Turns out her insight about the potential of online connection was right.
Today Rachael, who lives in Naples, Florida, is in-demand as a consultant, building websites and working with businesses to design and manage their websites, as well as raising her 21-month old daughter Leila.
She's also one of the founding editors of BlueSuitMom, a website devoted to work/life balance issues. For her dedication to helping working moms we are naming her our Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week.
Rachael helped found BlueSuitMom in 2000, long before she was a mom. “BlueSuitMom has always been my passion. It was my first baby,” she says. The website features stories about parenting, career, and health, among other things that busy moms talk about.
Readers are encouraged to submit questions to BlueSuitMom's team of experts, a team that includes a career coach, child educators, and professional organizers.
We like this post Rachael did about her the "BlueSuitMom's Working Mom Top 10 Must Haves." Another great post is her book reviewof "Life's Work: Confessions of An Unbalanced Mom" by Lisa Belkin. An excerpt from Rachael's review:
"This might have been the most powerful message I've read in a book -- ever. Because today I vow that this will change my life. From now on, I'm not going to stay awake until 3 a.m. stressing out about why I'm not good enough. Why do I have to spend countless hours worrying that it isn't good enough."
We love that attitude. Keep up the good work Rachael!
It's Friday afternoon, so grocery stores in the South are packed with people buying food to go with their football watching.
Regardless of your team, who doesn't love a tailgate? This season Live Healthy will bring you some of our favorite recipes and tips for tailgating -- healthy style.
Today we bring you a slide show from Health Magazine packed with delicious recipes:
How many times do you watch kids run and think, "Wow, I wish I had and ounce of that energy?" They seem to run everywhere (at least mine
does) -- at home, at school, in the airport (slow down!). Turns out that
running for the sake of running can provide multiple health benefits to
kids.
According to this recent story from Health Magazine by Amanda MacMillan, more kids are getting involved with organized running. From the story:
"Running can offer something to kids—especially kids who aren’t
athletically inclined or who are overweight—that a lot of other sports
can’t: The chance to be physically active at their own pace."
I never really thought about that before. Sure, we think of children
running as part of organized sports like soccer and basketball, but it
makes sense that running as a sport of its own offers its own perks for
children. Plus running with your kids is a great way to spend family time -- even if you slow down from your usual clip.
With
the weather still warm in the South, this could be the perfect time to
get your family involved if your children are interested.
According to the story, "Active.com, an online
source for
races around the country, lists more than 230 running events for kids
and more than 30 for families in the month of September alone."
The Active.com list provides all sorts of family running opportunities, like the September 27 Kudzu Clipper 5K & Family Fun Run in Atlanta,Georgia (proceeds benefit an organization that sends kids with diabetes to summer camp) and the October 3 Harvest Fest 5K & Family Fun Run in Georgetown, Texas (proceeds support a Senior Nutrition Program and Meals on Wheels).
Here's some tips from Health to keep you and your family safe when running:
running every day probably isn’t the best way to train. For
young, developing bodies, encouraging activities that work different
muscle groups—whether it’s playing softball or basketball, bike riding,
or swimming once or twice a week—is important as well.
parents also should watch for signs of exhaustion and dehydration,
especially during hot summer months, and should always take a child’s
pain seriously: Stress fractures and overuse injuries can occur, and
ignoring them will only make them worse.
The most important thing is letting kids set their own pace and
giving them the support they need, rather than expecting them to adhere
to an adult’s training schedule, Goodrow says.
Sounds like fun. My son isn't old enough to run with me yet, but when he is you'll see us both on the trail.
Let us know: what physical activities are you and your family engaging in during these warm end of summer Southern days?
Big changes are coming to Southern Living next month with the look of our October issue. Check out this link for a sneak peek at some of the new things we have in store:
Our New Look
The link also contains a video featuring Southern Living Editors sharing some highlights of what you'll see, including some brand new columns, like "Done In A Day," which features home projects that can be done on a weekend day, "Great Southern Drives," brought to you by our travel experts, and a complete recipe index
As for Healthy Living, we have some some new features to unveil too ... stay tuned.
Is your child lugging home bunches of books and school supplies? Too much or poorly distributed backpack weight can strain muscles and joints, which is why it's so important to find the right one for your child.
Southern Living Contributing Editor Elizabeth Mayhew shared our tips for picking a stylist and ergonomically good backpack for your child. Check out her tips on the best -- from pre-school through college -- at this clip from this morning's Today Show.
And please let us know if you have found a great bag that works for your little (or big) ones.
You may have noticed that we haven't featured a Southern Living Mama Blogger of The Week lately. That's because we're cooking up big things at Southern Living that you will soon hear more about.
We continue to be impressed by all the great Southern blogs out there. Like this one ...
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week comes to us from the fair state of Mississippi:
Mommy Cracked. It's written by Mandy, mom to a four-year old son and former teacher and librarian. She writes:
"I started Mommy Cracked in October 2007 as a creative outlet while
being a stay at home mom. I had no idea what I was doing but have
quickly learned that blogging is a great way to connect with
like-minded others, offers me an opportunity to write (which I love
doing), and also serves as an online diary of sorts about my life,
memories, and experiences."
Another great post is Baby Safe Travel, which reviews a website by the same name that features hotel reviews by parents based on kid-friendliness and safety.
Keep up the good work Mandy!
Also, please check out fellow Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week Megan's moving post to mark the four year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and her family's survival.
As for us, stay tuned for big news in the coming weeks.
And please let us know if there are Southern mama bloggers we should be reading!
To kick things off, each day in August they'll post a new Kid Approved recipe -- perfect for back to school meal planning. Having trouble getting your kiddo motivated to get up in the morning? Check out this recipe for a Breakfast Pizza Cup.
Some of our other favorites:
Smart Snacks For Kids -- the puffed up chocolate chip cookies are healthier because they're made with applesauce
In the South school tends to start earlier than it does for our northern neighbors. So for some of us, kids are going back as early as next week. (Insert cheers from Moms and Dads alike!) These can be big jumps -- kids starting at new schools holding backpacks containing sharpened pencils, with nerves all over the place.
I remember being so excited and nervous the first day of school I passed out in homeroom. As in literally, right on top of my Earth Sciences text.
(That's me to the left with the Strawberry Shortcake ensemble and bowl cut.)
Granted, this was also Florida, where it's in the mid-90s at the beginning of the school year.
Yeah, I didn't earn any cool points that day. What can I say -- I was excited about diagramming sentences and competing in the science fair. Go ahead, laugh. It's kind of funny.
The moral of the story: sometimes that first day doesn't go as smoothly as we plan.
But, here are some tips and resources to help you minimize first day of school drama:
1. Routines, Routines, Routines -- Start practicing bedtimes a week before school starts to establish a routine. Carve some time into your night for packing healthy lunches. There are some seriously cool lunch boxes -- I'm learning about packing bento lunches. Check out this link to learn more about healthy bento boxes.
2. Get Organized -- Involve your child in picking out his or her school supplies and clothes. If you don't have a place for everyone to store their bags when they get home make one. A family mudroom or station is super helpful in keeping backpacks, shoes, and sports equipment organized. (It's not a bad idea to add a cubby for Mom and Dad too.)
3. Plan Logistics -- If your child is attending a new school, show them where you or the bus will drop off and pick up.
4. Answer Questions -- Young children may have questions like, "will they feed me?" or "will I have homework like my big brother?" Encourage dialog.
5. Prepare The Teacher -- Some schools offer tours and "meet the teacher" sessions. Regardless, make sure your child's teacher knows of any special needs or medical issues. Here's a list of ten things to ask the teacher about your child's academic experience.
Let us know: What's your favorite back-to-school memory? What are your family traditions to get your kiddos ready for the start of a new year?
My mom took our picture on the first day of school in front of a tree in the yard. We can't be the only ones who did something like this!
Please share your memories and back-to-school tips.
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the week is The Big Mama. Big Mama has lived in Texas all her life, and writes with a distinctly Southern voice.
We love this post about making plans for her 20 year high school reunion. An excerpt:
"About this time last year I received an email about plans for my twentieth high school reunion. And I thought, bless their hearts, it hasn’t been twenty years since we graduated from high school because that would mean we’re old and all drive minivans and wear sensible loafers. Then I did the math and realized that yes, as a graduate of the class of 1989, it has been twenty years since I teased the crap out of my bangs in the hopes they would be higher than my mortarboard cap when I walked the stage to receive my diploma and hugged all my classmates while a cassette tape of Whitney Houston belted out “One Moment In Time” over a mediocre sound system."
Seriously, I am laughing out loud.
"...this is about me trying to live the life of motherhood with some semblance of grace and dignity, yet still somehow managing to knock over large quantities of produce while grocery shopping."
Can't we all relate? I know I can.
Happy Friday mamas, with a very special shout out to those of you who are attending the BlogHer conference today. If you would like to nominate a Southern Blogging Mama for our feature please leave your suggestion in the Comments section below.
As a mom of a toddler, I'm constantly battling the lure of not so healthy food. Everywhere we turn it seems like there are chicken nuggets, pizza and processed meals that look oh so delicious to a three year old. They're called convenience foods for a reason -- they are convenient.
But as someone who has written about health issues for more than a decade, I know that the healthiest diet is one filled with vegetables and fruit (preferably locally grown), with little or no additives and processing.
I'm not going to lie -- every now and then my son gets chicken nuggets. But I'm increasingly questioning what goes into the food that ends up on our table.
I've been going to the local farmer's market on Saturdays to stock up on the beautiful fresh produce that's in abundance in the South. (We've been loving these fresh Chilton County peaches I bought last weekend.)
When we buy meat, I'm looking for cuts that are hormone and antibiotic free. And I try to remember to keep reusable bags in the car for spur of the moment grocery runs.
These are all small changes, but changes that I hope will result in better healthy for my family, and for the environment.
We want to hear from you:
Tell us about how you incorporate organic, all-natural and earth-friendly products into your daily life. Please leave your thoughts in the "Comments" section below.
Your above submission to SouthernLiving.com, including contact information, gives us the right to modify, use, distribute, reproduce, publish and display the submission indefinitely in all media, means, and forms without any payment to you. You hereby represent that you haven't copied the content from a book, magazine, newspaper, or other commercial source.
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the week is Trina, whose blog, "Fabulously Frugalicious," is an account of her creative ways to live frugally and with style.
In addition to writing about her family (she's an Alabama mom of two), Trina shares tips on how she looks and feels good -- all while watching out for bargains.
What's the connection to health? Money is one of the top stresses for Americans (American Psychological Association), and we're interested in learning about how women are keeping that stress level at bay.
We like this post in which Trina writes re-organizing her garage and giving unwanted items to charity - a good way to be eco-friendly and help someone in need at the same time.
And in this post Trina gives tips on how she made custom artwork for only $13. It features her "trademark" item -- peacock feathers. Trina explains how you can do the same thing -- sounds like a fun project for a weekend afternoon.
We love Trina's suggestions for looking and feeling good for less, and for that she's our Southern Living Mama Blogger of the week.
Do you have a suggestion for a Southern mom blogger who should be featured in Southern Living or on "Live Healthy?" Leave us your suggestions in "comments" below.
