Good to know- breastfeeding tips

So I am a new mom and would like to share a few good tips I am glad to know now. To you mother's or soon to be mother's here are a few breastfeeding remedies.

I am a first time Mom and feel very strongly about breastfeeding my kids. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I wasn't prepared for the extra nuisances that come along with the already uncomfortable parts. The first is engorgement. I'm glad my lactation consultant told me to purchase a head of cabbage ahead of time for this very thing. When your milk comes in 3-5 days after birth it can be rather uncomfortable. Take a couple leaves from the cabbage. Roll them with a rolling pin and break all of the veins running through the leaves. Place one leave on the entire breast. It is ideal if it covers above and to the side. Leave on for 20 mintues. I felt relief within minutes.

The next is worse. I have been battling clogged milk ducts, which is pretty common in the first few weeks. If these lumps are not worked out it can turn into mastitis. I was told to keep massaging with moist heat and to jump in the shower when possible and place really hot water on the clogged areas. I was told to massage with the palm of my hand starting with the top and work it downwards to relieve the built up pressure. I took about 8 showers in one day and would especially jump in right before nursing on the painful side. The idea is to work out the lumps. It takes time and dilligence, but is worth avoiding infection!

Easy ciabatta sandwiches

Package of Ciabatta rolls

jar of pesto sauce (found in pasta section, or in the cooler near cheese and cooled pasta)

jar of artichoke hearts

1 rotisserie chicken

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place ciabatta rolls on cookie sheet sliced in half and open. Spread pesto sauce on one side. Spoon artichoke hearts evenly on the same slice with pesto sauce. Place pulled chicken pieces from rotisserie chicken on the other half evenly. Place in oven for 2-4 minutes depending on your oven. Watch for edges to become slightly golden, but not burnt. Once ingredients are warm and buns are crisp place halves together to make a sandwich. Serve and enjoy!

Super Bowl healthy tortilla chips

It is difficult find chips with less than 10 grams of fat! Here is a quick and easy recipe for chips that only cost $2.00 and 1 gram of fat per 10 chips!

1 package of corn tortillas

Olive oil spray or bottle

Sea Salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Take a handful of corn tortillas and use kitchen scissors to cut into your preferred chip size. Spread evenly on cookie sheet and lightly spray with olive oil. You may also brush on the olive oil before cutting. Sprinkle with sea salt or any seasoning you may prefer such as cayenne pepper, salt, and cumin. Bake for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden. Serve with your favorite salsa or dip, and enjoy!

Don't sweat the bad economy!

Below is a start to preparing for any hardships that might occur during this bad economy or in the future on a rainy day! One never knows what might happen. People suffering from Hurrican Katrina did not see that disaster coming. It just makes sense to be prepared. I will be posting recipes using food storage and more helpful hints in the future.

Meanwhile start saving money for that rainy day. Many of us have had to create a budget. Consider analyzing your budget and cutting out money you use on nonessential items even more. Take the money you didn't need to use and save it as your own financial reserve. I would consider at least have 200 a person saved in cash and set aside. As we all know the banks are not exactly a guarantee of money or help in these hard times. Also, if a natural disaster were to occur it would be great to have cash on hand since the power could be out limiting the options of ATM's and what not.

Water Storage

Food Storage is important, but it is just as important to save water.

1. Begin to save and clean durable bottles that have been used for soda or juice. Rather than purchasing new bottles, save the clean and sanitized bottles and use them for water storage.

2. Purchase a few water bottles every week to add to your home storage water supply. Water also needs to be rotated.

3. You can also purchase water barrels see site below.

4. You can also purchase water preserver which can be added to your water barrels making it possible for the water to last 5 years!

Helpful sites

www.bayteccontainers.com

www.survivalpost.com/servlet/the-55Water%2C-Water-Preserver/Detal

New Year = FOOD STORAGE

The idea of Food Storage seems overwhelming and difficult to know where to start. The best thing to do is just START! 

1. Consider you normal daily diet and make a list of food that you can purchase, store, and rotate. These items can be canned or goods in jars. 

2. Choose a few items on your regular shopping list every week to add to your home storage, and purchase double amounts of those items as finances allow. I buy canned vegetables and fruits that are on sale that week. I also would purchase tuna or pasta, things that can last 3 months.

3. Start with whatever you normally use and as you purchase extra rotate the items near their expiration date to the front and use them in your meals.

Here are a few helpful websites: www.everydayfoodstorage.net

                                                           www.providentliving.org

Easy tasty Meatballs

Yoshida's original teriyaki sauce

whole weat bow tie pasta

Meatballs of your choice

(I use the foster farms natural ingredients turkey meatballs from costco)

Place desired amount of meatballs in sauce pan or frying pan depending on how many. Place a little water on the bottom of pan and cook on low- medium so that the meatballs slowly heat through and then slightly crisp on the outside. Cook pasta at the same time according to amount and directions. Remember that wheat pasta cooks faster than regular pasta. Combine pasta and meatballs together and top with a little of Yoshida's sauce. A little sauce has a lot of flavor. Serve and enjoy!

Sunday Crockpot Roast

1 Rump Roast 3-4 pounds

1 1/2 cups sliced carrots or

1 sm. bag of mini carrots

1 cup sliced celery

1 chopped yellow onion

3-4 medium sized potatos sliced

1 pkg lipton onion soup mix

Place Roast in crockpot sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add all vegetables to crockpot. Add 1 cup of water to crockpot (more depending on size of roast and crockpot) .Sprinkle soup mix packet over top of mixture. Place lid on crockpot and turn on low if wanting it to take 8-10 hours or medium for 6-8 hours. Check on Roast and add water if bottom of pot is dry. When meat and vegetables are tender it's done! Serve and enjoy!

While Supplies Last....

As part of a class action settlement 175 million dollars worth of cosmetics has been distributed for a maximum of seven days starting on the 20th of January 2009. Visit the following stores to get your free product!  The stores include:  Bergdorg Goodman, Bergner's, Bloomingdale's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Dillard's, Gottschalks, Herberger's, Macy's, Nieman Marcus, Nordstrom, Parisian, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Younkers. There may be a line, but isn't there always with free stuff!