Staging for Play-Dating

Aud and I are avid play-daters and have been since she was about 3 months old. We thoroughly enjoy meeting up with mummy and baby friends and making an afternoon of it. As I have mentioned in past posts I have a really amazing circle of mums and babes, most of which have gone back to work, but a couple who are still at home.  I live a little out of the way for a lot of them but have come up with creative ways of hosting like meeting up at the park for a picnic, or stroller walks and splash pads in the summer, mall walks in the cooler days. There are times I have hosted at my place and as I was getting ready for our play-date I couldn’t help but giggle to myself about how I ‘stage’ my home for company.

I’m not saying I don’t enjoy a clean house, or that my place is a dirty, frazzled mess all the time. I actually thoroughly enjoy cleaning and organizing but since becoming a mum finding time to do a full out clean or even the daily dusting is few and far between.

So here I go, picking up toys, dusting every shelf, shining the mirrors, scrubbing the bathroom and then it dawned on me. Does my mum friend really believe this is what my place looks like everyday? Am I really fooling her to believe I make our bed every day? That my kitchen looks this immaculate? Not to mention the fresh baked cookies and pumpkin spice candle for smell. If only I was a real estate agent staging homes for a living, I think I would do pretty well.

How funny is that?  Her and I have actually had a good laugh about it before. How we try our best to impress other mums, giving off this façade of a women who keeps it all together, who’s floors are spotless and shelves are dustless. Personally I have never walked into a fellow mum’s home and thought OMG? Why hasn’t she folded the toilet paper ends in her bathroom? Or I see a spot on her mirror, doesn’t she clean? Puh-lease.

 Ready for the truth? I definitely do not make my bed everyday, actually our room usually looks like a clothing bomb went off. I have this bad habit of getting out clothes, changing a million times and never putting them back. Then finally at the end of the week when I can no longer see my dresser I decide to go through it all and put it away.

I do have a habit of vacuuming a couple times a week but only because Audrina will find the smallest of smallest fluff or crumbs and eat it, (ok-do babies have x-ray vision or something?) Aud has also figured out that if she keeps her bottle tilted upside down she can paint a beautiful of milk drops and smears all over the floors…try keeping up with that 45 times a day.

Fresh baked cookies? Ok I might of gone to Tim Horton’s and bought a half dozen of cookies to put out…although I really do bake a mean batch of uh-mazing CCC’s, but who has the time? Let me know if you want my recipe…one tip melt the butter.

So why do I do it? Why do I insist on spending all evening and even during her nap cleaning and getting prepped for a play date that will only result in toys and food everywhere? I guess it’s because I really do have a feeling of satisfaction when it’s over. The feeling of knowing when they walk in they will think, wow her place smells great, or being comfortable putting their babies on my floor not worrying about them eating last nights dinner. Even though the women I am friends with are probably the least judgmental mum’s I have met, I still have this need to impress them.

So I am giving myself a challenge, the next play-date I host I will not go on a cleaning spree, I will not “bake” cookies or light a candle, and I will not pick up Aud’s toys all morning or make my bed. Do you think they will notice? Probably not…because the truth is the only one’s us mum’s need to worry about making an impression on is our kids and to be honest I think Aud would love it way better if I didn’t spend the time putting away her blocks only to have her have to find them and spill them out onto the floor for the 3^rd time today thinking, ‘I wonder how many times she wants to play this game?”

To read more of my blog please visit http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com sharing experiences, insights, and advice from one mum to another

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Life Changing

It’s funny isn’t it? How as soon as you are introduced into mummy world, it’s like entering a whole new realm you never even knew existed.  Talk about boobs and poops become acceptable topics of conversation, messy buns and yoga pants become your uniform of choice, and daily trips to the store and park are your social scenes. It’s funny isn’t it? How when we have a baby we just sort of forget about all the things we did before. The late night drinks with friends and late morning greasy spoon breakfast, going away for weekends with just one bag packed, last minute dinner plans because there was nothing else to do.

The truth is, once you have a baby all of those things you used to be able to do just sort of dissipate, without a second thought really. Instead of having only a couple hours of sleep because you were out all night dancing, you are on a couple hours of sleep because you were up all night rocking and hushing. Instead of trying to figure out what shoes go with that dress, you are wondering if anyone will notice you have been in pajamas for two days.

I’m not saying this is what it will be like forever, but let’s face it, were mums now. Nights filled with tequila shots, and singing along to Eminem’s latest album is over. Yes, there may be a night or two in your near future where you can feel like your college years again but it’s going to hurt a lot more since your getting up at 7 a.m. with a hungry and charged up baby.

All of a sudden you understand what sacrifice means, what love is, and how patience really is a virtue. All of a sudden your favourite song is Butterfly Kisses instead of Disco Stick, and feeling tired at the end of the day is more of a reward then a punishment.

When I was pregnant, I was told that I’ll never be free to do as I please, that I will forever be tied down and my whole life is going to change. People are always so quick to say that, “your whole life is going to change.” Obviously, your life will change. What they leave out is that your life is changed for the better. Every morning you wake up and get to see this little person smiling at you because they are genuinely happy to see your face, you get to watch someone you created, the greatest miracle of life, grow right in front of you.

So do I miss the person I was a few years ago? No, I don’t. Do I miss being able to sleep in, go out with my friends whenever I want, spend my money on a new purse instead of a new car seat? No, I don’t. I wouldn’t give up what I have now for all the coach purses and greasy spoon breakfasts in the world, even if that meant unlimited eggs benedict and Nutella crepes.

To read more of my blog please visit http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com

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Happiness Is...

This post is a wee bit out of the ordinary for me but I wanted to share my thoughts. These last couple weeks have been a whirl-wind of different things happening. Aud has been a little under the weather, I have been planning two major events in her life (baptism and 1^st birthday), most of my amazing mum friends went back to work, I’ve had interviews and meetings trying to figure out what I am going to be doing in a month’s time, oh ya, I started my blog, and am writing for two other online blogs, and not to mention I still have my domestic duties like housework, cooking, and being the best mum I can be to my baby girl. Remember when I wrote that post about having me time, well I can honestly say this last little while I haven’t felt I could squeeze it in! We all have those moments right? Moments where a whole day, week, even an hour goes by and we wonder where it went, what we did? I think it only gets harder as we have families, get older, priorities change, goals get bigger. This post will be about a couple different things so stay with me because I’m feeling inspired this morning and I need to share it, you know my motto, sharing is caring!

Today I started to write a list, I should say a new list, because I have about 100 “to do” lists around my house, just waiting to be checked off. So today’s list consisted of everything I need/want ‘to do’ with no timeline. Included in that list- get out scrapbooking stuff, start scrapbook, organize front hall, organize closet, sort through Aud’s clothes, sort through pictures on computer, figure out stain remover for babies clothes, organize kitchen cupboards, pick up birthday invitations...you get the picture, a smorgasbord of things to do. Behind that list was another list of things to do for her baptism, pick up decorations, confirm guests, pick up cake, pick up catering, go to costco, decorate and set-up ect, ect...I can say I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of work I have given myself for the last little while. I know you’re thinking what about Jon? Well he works, he’s the breadwinner, besides I love the man but he just learnt how to turn on a vacuum let alone be able to use it properly.

As women we automatically assume the need to be a multi-tasker even if it means putting ‘me’ on the back burner. If I were in an interview and they asked what my biggest strength is, that would be it, but it is also my biggest weakness. I take on a lot at once, I am a people pleaser so if someone asks me to do it I will, even if I have a million other things to do. It’s just the way I am. I like to make people happy, who doesn’t? These last few days I have had some major mood swings and poor Jon has been on the receiving end of those. You could say it’s stress, or exhaustion, or busy mummy brain, but I think I have figured out the root.

Happiness. As I’ve mentioned before I am a bubbly and positive person in life, I have lots of friends, a great family, a beautiful baby girl, I’m healthy, you know all the staples to leading a happy life. I guess some day’s I forget. Some days I let the moment’s of true happiness pass me by, forgetting to focus on the things that make me happy. I think as mums we can all relate to this.

I came across this blog I used to read that I had forgotten about in the shuffle of life. He writes about the 10 things that always bring happiness. I read through each one carefully and have hung onto every word. It was so soothing and inspiring to read. It just takes one moment, one action, even one post to read to bring you back to that place. I’m realizing that all these things I have to do, all the tasks I need to check off my lists, I’ll get to it. I know this post doesn’t quite jive with my others but I just felt the need to write about this. I’m going to leave you guys with one of the things he writes about in his blog:

“Focus on things that truly matter. The simple fact that you are even here, alive, on this planet is a divine miracle. You should not spend the time you have being busy, being miserable. Every moment you get is a gift, so stop focussing on unhappy things, and spend your moments on things that truly matter to your heart.”

Taken from www.marcandangel.com

If you would like to read more of my blog visit http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com

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Making Healthy Choices!

I thought I would share a couple of sample menu’s of what I am eating on a regular basis to keep the baby weight off. Everyday people are asking me what my diet includes. What really helps is if I plan out my meals ahead of time so I’m not opening my cupboards and fridge repeatedly looking for something quick to make. I will write a couple of options for each mealtime and include some recipes that I love as well.

Breakfast: Always eat breakfast, always.

-          Plain Greek Yogurt with berries, (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries

-          Special K Cereal with Milk and cut up banana

-           Egg wrap with light chedder cheese and spinach on a whole wheat tortilla and half grapefruit

Lunch: I mostly eat wraps for lunch so here’s a couple ideas for wraps using small whole wheat tortilla’s

-          Low Fat sliced turkey, light mayo, Dijon mustard, feta cheese, lettuce, spinach, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado. The good thing about wraps is that you can stuff as many veggies as you like in them.

-       Light Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil (just a drizzle)

-          Tuna, chicken or egg salad mixed with light mayo and loaded with all the veggies you love

This is where an indoor grill comes in handy! If you want a gourmet feel then grill it up, or stick it in the oven on broil for a couple minutes!

One thing I like to have as a side with my lunch is my Quinoa salad. I’m sure you have heard of Quinoa as it seems to be popping up all over as a loved superfood! Known as a great source of protein it packs lots of nutrition, including being high in iron (also makes a great food for babies).  Here is how I make my Chickpea Quinoa Salad. I make a whole cup so that I can use it all week.

1 cup cooked Quinoa

1 can chickpeas

½ Cup of chopped Red Onions

1 cup of cherry tomatoes

Juice from 1 lemon

¼ cup of olive oil

Just mix it all together and put it in the fridge for a bit. Feel free to throw in any chopped veggies you may have. I have used red pepper, carrots, cucumber, and black beans and it has always been delicious. If you don’t have Quinoa I have also substituted whole wheat Couscous.

Dinner:

I find myself making a love of stir fry’s because I find I can maximize the use of vegetables in my dishes, which in our house is important because Jon doubles on at every meal and is a huge fan of anything cheesy 

and fried. Below is a couple of Weight Watchers recipes I make religiously that are delish!

Vegetable Stir Fry 

2 tsp's of peanut oil

2 cup of chopped onion

2 cups of chopped bok choy

2 cups of chopped carrots

1 med green pepper

1 med sweet red pepper

1 cup of chopped mushrooms

2 cups of brocolli florets

2 cups of asparagus

1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce

2 tsp of corn starch

1/4 cup chicken broth, low sodium

4 cups of brown rice

Heat oil in pan or wok, add vegetables still about 2 minutes, add soy sauce and cook untill veggies are crisp-tender. Whisk cornstarch into broth and add to pan. Simmer until sauce thinkens. Spoon stir fry onto rice and you can even sprinkle some peanuts on top for some more flavor. If you want to add chicken, shrimp or tofu for more protein, go for it! Don't worry if you don't have all the veggies it calls for, a lot of times I just throw in whatever I have in the fridge! That's the great thing about stir fry's, anything goes!

Cheese and Spinach Frittata

4 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1 cup of fresh chopped spinach

2 tsp of scallion, finely chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup of low fat chedder cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F, beat together eggs and egg whites in a bowl, stir in spinach, scallions, salt and pepper. Coat a pan with non stick skillet with cooking spray, heat over med heat, pour egg mixture into skillet and let partially cook for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake untill cheese softens and eggs firm up. What's great about this is that you can again throw in anything you have, and kids and babies love it!

I tend to skip dessert and I try not to eat fruit at night because of the sugar content, but if I really can't fight my sweet tooth I will break out my stash of dark chocolate, melt it, and drip fruit in it (only if I must...). It really doesn't take a whole lot to feel gourmet!

So that's about a typical day for me. Somedays I might forget or have to skip lunch, although I do try hard to include all meals. When I snack I try my best to make it count. Like veggies dipped in hummus, or a granola bar. If I do have to eat on the run I keep my choices healthy, which is easy these days because almost every restaurant has the options for you to do so! Happy Eating!

Please visit my blog at http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com 

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5 Minutes of Beauty in 5 Easy Steps! You're Worth It!

As I’ve mentioned before I really love beauty. I love doing my hair, and makeup, especially if I’m going somewhere which may require a little beautification. But these days with taking care of baby girl, time is not on my side. I needed to figure out a way to look and feel good about myself when leaving the house with a total of about 5-7 minutes of prep time! (the amount of time I could keep Aud busy in her crib with a book or stuffed animal). I think I’ve mastered it so I thought I would share with you how I do it!

- Wash, tone and apply moisturizer. This step alone will leave you looking totally fresh faced! Make sure you are using the proper products to go with your skin type, if you have oily skin, don’t use products meant for dry skin!!

- Concealer- just to hide those unwanted blemishes, sun spots, or redness. While I was pregnant I got what they call the “pregnancy mask” and it is more noticeable when I get some sun on my face. And I really find applying concealer with a brush is better than my fingertips and you’re not transferring any oil or bacteria from finger to face.

- A little blush or bronzer goes a long way! Be careful of how much you use and apply on staple areas ie. Cheekbones, forehead, nose, chin.

- Mascara!! Ok if you are not a makeup person and can go without the above steps, trust me when I say Mascara really does a body good especially for a busy mum! For the sleepless nights and busy mornings when you just have to get out the door, take the few seconds and put on some mascara! It will really help with your “I was up all night with a cranky, teething baby who refuses to sleep anywhere but in my arms so I don’t care if I have two different shoes on” look (but I can’t promise it will help with the feeling).

- Lipgloss/chap. Whether it’s the bottom on the purse chapstick or havn’t worn this is 3 months lipgloss, put it on and pucker up!

Ok one more little tip for the eyes- applying white eyeliner to the inside of your lids will really help with the above mentioned look! Trust me.

And if you have a minute to spare, throw your hair in low or high bun, side braid, or high pony. If not, at least give it a brush through and you can always use that Dry Shampoo or baby powder trick I told you about before!!

FYI's: 

The products shown in the picture are what I use on a daily basis. I invested in the Bare Minerals starter kit and I love it, it works well as a concealer as well as an all over cover up. The kit comes with a bronzer and a setting powder as well but I tend to use those more for a "special" occasion. You can pick one up at 

Sephora.

The Bourjois bronzer I use is great too and I don't find it has an orange tinge like most out there. Also found at Sephora or some Shopper's Drug Mart Boutiques. 

The C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve I actually use as my lip gloss. It smell's great, and it leaves your lips with a nice sheer, translucent look. Also at Sephora but I have also seen it for cheaper at Bath and Body Works. 

If you would like to read more about my experiences, insights, and more about being a new Mum please visit my blog at http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com

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A New LifeStyle

The week I found out I was pregnant I was also just 10 lbs away from my goal weight after being on Weight Watchers for about 7 months. I had lost about 50 lbs and just had a few more to go.  Although I was incredibly happy to know that in a few months I would meet the love of my life, it was a bitter sweet time for me. I was reading all over the internet women can gain anywhere from 15 lbs to 100 lbs while pregnant. Of course, I never thought I would be one of the women to gain more then 25. HA! Could have fooled me. I gained a total of 60 lbs while I was pregnant. I want to say it was all baby, but I think we all know that’s not true! I ate whatever I wanted (except for the  few things I couldn’t stomach or were off limits). I remember my doctor actually telling me at one point that when someone asks me if I would like another cookie, I should gracefully decline. If I had a nickel for every time friends, family, even people I didn’t know would say to me, “are you sure you’re not having twins?” or “she’s going to be one big baby!” I would be well on my way to riches. Needless to say I was determined to get back in shape and get my pre-baby body back, and even lose that last 10lbs I was so close to doing before!

As of August 1, 2012 I have lost a total of 70 lbs and counting. I will be writing a few articles on how I was able to reach my goals and share tips and insights that you may find useful. Please feel free to comment on any tips and tricks you may have, as well as any questions you’d like to ask.

First off I will start by saying I lost about 15lbs when I had Audrina on October 7, 2011. I remember going home and stepping right on the scale (not recommended) just because my curiosity got the better of me. After that day I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again until I was ready and dedicated to getting back in shape. That day didn’t come until January 1, 2012. I know it sounds so cliché to say my New Year’s Resolution was to lose weight, but it was! That day I signed up for Weight Watchers, again, and started my new lifestyle.

Which brings me to what I think is my most important tip, don’t call it a diet, it’s a lifestyle change. There’s just something about the word ‘diet’ that seems to deter people from starting and sticking to a healthy living plan. For me diets seem to be a short-term solution where as this was going to be a new way of living my life and hopefully help my partner to do the same. A lifestyle change doesn’t mean you have to go and throw out every cookie, every chocolate bar, every candy (yup, I have a major sweet tooth) in your house. It just means take the time to make better choices, and to take responsibility of the choices you make.

Don’t give up because you had a ‘bad day’ of splurging or a week of guilty pleasures. Just remember tomorrow’s another day and fresh start. There are definitely days I sit on the couch with a jar or nutella in one hand and a spoon in the other and of course I feel defeated after the first bite; but I never unsubscribed from my program or think that I failed because I’ve eaten all my WW points in one sitting.  I just make sure I a) Go for a walk and b) start fresh the next day with the mindset of “Ok I had a bad day yesterday, but today I’m going to make up for it and it’s going to be a fabulous day!” Believe it or not, I really do give myself that little pep talk, at least now I’m not talking to myself and have my wee baby girl there to smile back as if she’s saying “Way to go Mom!”

If you would like to read more about my new life please visit my blog at http://newmumontheblog.wordpress.com

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Easy Peasy Sugar Lemon Scrub

I have always had this complex about germs, I won’t often ask for a sip of your drink, or a bite of your food. I’ve been surprised that over the last few months my ‘germaphobia’ has eased off especially after having a baby. But one thing I have always been very persistent about is hand washing. I probably wash my hands about 100 times in a day! Not to mention I have a bottle of hand sanitizer at every sink, in every purse, in the car,  the diaper bag...pretty much in every corner of my house. So if you are anything like me, then you probably suffer from extremely dry hands all the time- cracked knuckles, dry cuticles, rough palms. I came across a quick, super easy and cost-friendly solution that really leaves your hands (or anywhere on your body) feeling hydrated and rejuvenated.    

Sugar Lemon Scrub

Ingredients:

Sugar (The coarser the sugar the more exfoliating, I used fine white sugar

Lemon and zest

Oil (your choice)

Mason Jar for storage (dollar store)      

At Christmas time I decided that I wanted to make the majority of my gifts (because being on Maternity doesn’t really leave a lot of room for buying elaborate gifts, and because I was feeling ‘crafty’). I made a big batch and jarred it to give away. Since I was making a big batch of the scrub I used much larger measurements then if you were making it for yourself so I would suggest one part of oil to two parts of sugar and to start with the juice from half a lemon. I used olive oil as my choice and found that by adding lemon zest it didn’t leave you with much of the ‘olive oil’ scent.  Just mix it all together and pour into your mason jar for storage.

 I leave mine by the kitchen sink and when I’m done the dishes, scrub a spoonful onto my hands for at least a minute and rinse off with warm water. I’ve even caught Jon, my partner, using it daily on his hands after work!

 Feel free to use it anywhere that gets dry! Feet, hands, elbows, knees, really you can use it as a full body scrub...It exfoliates well from the sugar, locks in the moisture from the oil, and leaves you feeling fully invigorated from the lemon! Not to mention it smells like you just had a day at the spa! What busy mom doesn’t love that feeling?

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Simple Solution to the Day Old Mom Hair

Do you wake up in the mornings and say to yourself, “Today’s the day I am going to have a shower, shave my legs, and maybe even wash my hair!’ Well we’ve all been there as moms. Before having a baby I didn’t realize these are just some of the simple luxuries after baby! If you’re anything like me, I try to squeeze in a little me-time during babies morning nap, along with having breakfast, cleaning the kitchen, sorting the laundry, making the bed, and anything else I can get done on my to-do list. I thought I would share a little insight into the different ways I try to keep up with myself and my appearance even if I’m going to be home all day. Let’s face it, some days it’s just nice to feel a little more put together then the usual sweats, t-shirt and hair in a messy bun, you know, the mom look.

One thing I swear by and is worth the small investment is dry shampoo. For the days I limit my shower time to 5 minutes and have to choose between washing my hair and shaving my legs, this is one product I can count on! Dry shampoo is a way to refresh your hair without having to wash and dry it if you had to skip a day. Simply spray the powder on your hair and it absorbs the oils on your hair and scalp, then brush it out. The one I use is by Beyond the Zone and it’s called ‘Rock On, Dry Shampoo,’ I picked up at Sally Beauty Supply for about $8.
 If you’re looking for a more ‘economical’ quick fix that you probably have in your house now, baby powder also does the trick. I find it tends to work better with blonde hair but it can work with brunettes as well, you just have to be a bit more careful with how much you apply.  Just shake a bit on the roots and brush it out with a soft bristle brush, and voila! Your 3 day old hair now looks totally refreshed and even adds a bit of volume to the roots for the just style dried hair look. So give it a try and let me know what you think of this tip!


Just an FYI, Sally Beauty Supply is a great place to find beauty products that salons may carry but at a lower price. They have everything from O.P.I. nail polish to salon brand hair dye. 

Sally Beauty Supply Locations:
Aurora- Nearest intersection is Wellington St. And Leslie St. (in the Wal-Mart Plaza)
Richmond Hill- Nearest intersection is Leslie St. and Elgin Mills (In the Home Depot Plaza)

http://www.sallybeauty.com

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Meet the Authors: Madeleine Soleil Alaouze

Hiya!

My name is Madeleine Soleil Alaouze. I am currently on maternity leave raising my first baby girl, Audrina. I am to return back to work sometime in the fall, which I am dreading, and am really hoping to win the lottery in the next couple months so I can be a stay at home mom! I can’t imagine spending an hour without my little girl let alone a whole day! I live with my “common-law’ hubby, Jonathan (still waiting for the bling!) in the North end of Richmond Hill. 

Although I work in an administrative job, I wouldn’t say that it is my passion. I really love anything and everything to do with makeup, hair, body, nails, you name it! My friends and family call me a product hoarder! Whether I make it from ingredients I have in my kitchen or buy it at my local Shoppers Drug Mart, it’s in my bathroom! I used to work at a spa/salon in Yorkville as the senior spa co-ordinator and picked up a lot of different ideas and advice when it comes to beauty. I guess I could say I have always had a knack for this kind of stuff.

Being a new mom I have let things slide a bit in terms of making myself feel beautiful all the time and at least presentable when leaving the house. Time just isn’t always on my side! Even with a spare moment I find myself doing chores, or organizing things around the house (which is another passion of mine!). But since losing almost 70 lbs these last 9 months, I think that giving myself an extra 5 minutes of me time in the morning (if Audrina let’s me) is well deserved!

This blog is to help all you other moms out there bring out the beauty in you by sharing some of my tips and tricks, and things i've done just to give yourself a little boost every day, even with only 5 minutes to spare! I will also write about my journey to leading a healthy lifestyle and how I lost the infamous 'baby weight.'  I hope you find some of the information useful, and if you have any questions feel free comment on my posts or email me at Madeleine_alaouze@hotmail.com. You can also follow me on twitter @maddsoleil. I hope you enjoy the postings as much as I do writing them!

Sincerely,

Madeleine Soleil Alaouze

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