Jelly Ring Overnight Oats

Overnight oats make breakfast a breeze! Prepare the night before and simply take from fridge to table. The oats are filling and satisfying and you can switch it up daily with different mix-ins. The yogurt is protein, probiotic & calcium packed and will give the kiddies enough energy to last them to lunchtime. 

Chloe likes playing chef and the oats are simple enough for her to do so. For this combination, we wanted to create a chocolaty mix for the morning so we went with vanilla Chobani mixed with Nutella! My kids feel as though they are eating such a special treat while getting all the healthy benefits of this breakfast.

For the kids, I choose to use a bowl opposed to a jar because it's easier for them to eat out of. It's also easier for Chloe to prepare breakfast in a bowl rather in a mason jar. If you use a bowl, cover with clear wrap.

Jelly Ring Overnight Oats

• 1/2 cup of oats
• 1/2 cup of vanilla almond milk (you can use milk of your choice)
• 1/4 cup of vanilla Chobani
• 1 tablespoon of Nutella   
• 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam (top off in the morning)      

Mix your oats and milk together.

Mix the yogurt and Nutella together until Nutella is completely blended.

Scoop the yogurt/nutella mixture on top of oats and store in the fridge until breakfast time.    

Leftover yogurt/Nutella mixture? Save to scoop up with strawberries or spread it over a banana for a midday or after school snack.                           

Change

 

As I was going through my past posts, I came across this one and was surprised I never published it. I wrote it at the end of summer when Fall was upon us.

 

Change is always present in our lives. Although it may not always be easy, I believe change is good.

And...it is definitely in the air. For me, my 4 year old daughter starts Kindergarten, my 2 year old son, pre-school. I am looking forward to the routine that comes along with the school year, the leaves turning from green to various shades of reds, oranges and yellows and cooler days for long walks and bike rides with the kids. I'm also looking forward to making some of the changes I have been wanting to make to Secrets of a Momaholic for quite some time now. The few hours I will have to myself  (for the first time in almost 5 years!) while Max is in pre-school will be dedicated to my writing.

I write about what I love. My family, my kids, healthy food for kids. I like writing about topics that may help other moms. I enjoy writing stories that touch people whether it be funny or sentimental. I have written about fitness in past posts and have gotten a great response. Fitness has been a big part of my life, something I have had a love/hate relationship with most of my life. As much as I love it, its a constant struggle...especially since the kids came along. Someone gets sick...out for a week. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you how hard it is to get back in once there is a lapse.

As a mom, I don't do much for myself. Working out is my sanity. Part of me not losing my mind is feeling good...I get that from a great workout. We have to take care of ourselves to take care of our children, right?

When I first started this blog, it was focused on children. Now, as I change and grow with my children, the dynamic of Secrets of a Momaholic will have some changes along the way as well.

I want moms to feel great about themselves. If you aren't into fitness, I hope to inspire you to at least introduce it into your life. A walk can do lots for a stressful day- believe me!

Come November, Secrets of a Momaholic will be a year in the making. I have learned a lot since I started this from nothing. I knew nothing about the business of blogging and I still have so much to learn a year plus later. I hope to keep the readers I have and gain new ones along the way.

Taking a new path can sometimes lead you to where you were always meant to be. Hopefully as I turn over this new leaf, I find my place and my voice and where it is meant to be.
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As I reflect on this post months after writing it, I realized what matters most is staying true to yourself. If I stay true to myself and write about what I love...I'm hoping the rest will follow. Inspiring other moms to lead a healthy lifestyle with their families is something I find very important. I hope to accomplish this goal while growing my blog.

If you have been with me from the beginning, I truly thank you! If you are new, I hope to offer you something that brings you back again and again.

 

Shamrock fruit kabobs

Happy March everyone! What I love about March is that it's one step closer to Spring! I've had about enough of the indoors, and so have the littles!

St. Patrick's Day was always celebrated at my grandparents house. My grandpa was Irish and my grandmother embraced her adopted heritage by cooking up a feast of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. My family loved it and looked forward to it the once a year we ate it!

I carried on the corned beef dinner tradition with my own family and have added some of my own since having kids. You can make just about anything with a shamrock cookie cutter from pancakes to pb&j sammies. I made these shamrock fruit kabobs this morning to welcome the first day of March and the kids devoured them!

What you need:

• small shamrock cookie cutter
• 1 honeydew (buy the largest one you can find)
• large seedless green grapes
• little marshmallows
• plastic drink stirrers (bought in paper goods aisle in supermarket)

If you want to set it up in a tin to bring to school, go to Michael's or a craft store. I bought the tin there and the foam that fits inside of it to hold the kabobs. I bought Easter grass to hide the foam. You can easily lay them on a plate and cover with clear wrap as well.

What you need to do:

• Cut honeydew in half (across- not top to bottom)
• scoop out seeds
• slice the honeydew leaving circles
• Use your shamrock cutter to cut the shape out of the honeydew.
• Fill the kabobs with fruit and marshmallows

If your looking for a shamrock cookie cutter, mine came from a set I bought from The Pampered Chef. I honestly think it is the most used item in my kitchen! The set was $10. The shamrock cutter will be working lots of OT this month as the heart shape did last!

Chicken Noodle Hold the Soup!

A rotisserie chicken is a great item to pick up at the market for nights you don't feel like cooking. I picked this one up at the organic market I go to and shredded it right up with this recipe in mind. I'm not a Rachel Ray viewer, but somehow came across this recipe of hers a few years back and it has been a family favorite ever since!

I opted for all organic ingredients including the bionaturae rombi 100% durum semolina noodles. You can use non organic and I promise it will be just as tasty!

Rachel Ray's "Chicken Noodle Hold the Soup"

1 Rotisserie chicken shredded (I only used the white meat)
1 medium onion sliced
2-3 carrots cut into matchsticks
4-5 ribs of celery cut into matchsticks
2 small zucchini cut into matchsticks
1/2 box of frozen peas
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of butter
1 pound of extra wide noodles
*1 cup flat leaf parsley chopped (I omitted this because my kids don't like it)

I pre-shred and pre-chop everything and store it in zip-locks so that dinner time is extra easy!

Boil a big pot of water (add salt) for your noodles

Heat a large skillet over medium/high adding the olive oil
Add the onion, carrots and celery cook for 3-4 minutes
Toss in the zuchhini add salt & pepper and cook for another 3-4 minutes
 
Drain noodles and return to the pot adding butter and parsley (if you are using it)

Add the peas and chicken to the veggies until the chicken is warm


This fed four of us with lots leftover! It's great heated up the next day for lunch too!

Enjoy!

 

5 ways to Ease Your Child's Eczema

5 Ways to Ease Your Child's  Eczema

When Max started scratching the back of his leg behind his knee, I never thought the dermatologist would say it was eczema. It didn't appear to have eczema like characteristics. The doctor prescribed alclometasone (0.05%) and directed me to apply it twice daily. His legs cleared up really fast- I would say within a few days.

While at the doctor, I asked many questions on how to prevent it from returning once the ointment did it's job. He also asked many questions pertaining to our bathing rituals and routines. He said it was fine to bathe him daily like I do, but to refrain from bubble baths.He also suggested washing him last to avoid sitting in soapy water for long. I continued washing him with Dove soap once the doctor agreed it was gentle enough.

I exchanged my amazing smelling Tide for Free and Clear laundry detergent and fabric softener. Although the doctor said scented fabric softener was okay, I still noticed some irritation on the back of his legs. Not using too much detergent was also a concern. To check if you're using too much detergent or fabric softener, throw a freshly washed towel in the washing machine and run it, sans soap. If you see any suds, you're using too much! Before testing myself, I was already a self-proclaimed over-soaper...so I cut back for Max's sake!

The dermatologist recommended I buy Cerave cream. I rub it all over Max fresh out of the bath when his skin is still damp. I truly believe It has helped his skin stay moisturized and aided in keeping away the eczema.

Whenever I notice him scratching a little, I add an Aveeno colloidal oatmeal bath treatment to his bath. I swore by this product since becoming a mom. Whenever my kids were sick with stomach bugs, oatmeal baths helped clear the diaper rash caused by the runs. When Chloe was having allergic reactions to bug bites one (long) summer, I added Aveeno to her bath to help soothe the pain and itching. This is a staple in my bathroom closet.

I am diligent in my "eczema process" with Max because I never want him to be in any type of discomfort if I can avoid it. He was so uncomfortable when he first got it and I felt awful and helpless. It was even keeping him up at night. Since our doctor visit, we haven't had any outbreaks! I am one happy mama and he is one happy lil man!

So...

Do- Free & Clear detergent and fabric softener
       Dove for washing
       Cerave cream and apply it to clean, damp skin fresh out of the bath
       Aveeno colloidal oatmeal bath to help ease itching & discomfort

Don't- Use bubble bath or have your child sit in sudsy water

I hope my suggestions help!

      

 

Spaghetti & Turkey Hearts for your Little Loves!

                                 
                                             Spaghetti & Turkey Hearts


My heart shaped cookie cutter has been working overtime! My kids are loving up all of my heart shaped creations! I thought of this at 2am last night and got to work today. If it works for fruit ,why not ground turkey? Using a heart shaped cookie cutter and cutting board, I flattened the meatball mixture out onto the cutting board. I sprayed Pam on the cutting board first. I lined a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and sprayed it with Pam before placing the turkey hearts on. I baked them on 350 degrees for about 25 minutes flipping once. The time may vary according to the size of your hearts. Chloe was home sick from Kindergarten today so she got to sample the turkey hearts for lunch. She loved them!

Sauce
I made a quick sauce using a 16 0z can of Tuttarosa crushed tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic (we love garlic!)
1/2 a small onion
salt
pepper
parsley
oregano
Saute onion & garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until blonde
add the crushed tomatoes and the seasonings
let cook for 30-60 minutes


Turkey Hearts
I used a pound and a half of 99% fat free ground turkey
2-3 cloves of garlic minced
1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp of salt
1tsp of pepper
2 eggs
a pinch of oregano
2 pinches of parsley