UltimateMama will be the first to admit she was never one to jump on the holiday bandwagon and don pink and red at Valentine’s Day or orange and black at Halloween.  As a matter of fact, your UltimateMama used to make fun of such adults.  However, now that UltimateMama is a parent she realizes the importance and fun of getting into the holiday spirit albeit on a conservative basis.

Trust UltimateMama, you will never see her wearing a Mrs. Claus sweater at Christmastime. But, you will see her holiday cheer several times a year!  And, she makes sure her little ones always wear appropriate and cheerful holiday attire.

UltimateMama’s tips for holiday attire for mommy and daddy:

– Valentine’s Day:  Mommy – wear red, pink, or socks with hearts; Daddy – wear a red tie or socks with hearts.

– St. Patrick’s Day:  Mommy – wear a green shirt and/or socks; Daddy – wear a green shirt or tie and/or socks.

– Easter:  Mommy and Daddy will likely don their Sunday best, along with the kiddies.

– 4th of July:  Mommy and Daddy should wear red, white, and blue clothing or items (pins, shirts) with the American flag.

– Halloween:  Mommy – wear orange or black, or socks with pumpkins; Daddy – wear an orange tie with a dark suit, or socks with bats.  Or, you can always dress in costume!

– Chanukkah:  Mommy and Daddy can have fun wearing blue and white or silver at parties.

– Christmas:  Mommy – wear a nice red or green sweater, blouse or turtleneck with fun Christmas tree socks; Daddy – wear a nice red or green sweater, blouse or turtleneck with fun reindeer socks.

*UltimateMama would like to note that mommy could always “glam it up” for the holidays with fun necklaces, bracelets, pins, and scarves. Also, mommy and daddy could wear spirited holiday pajamas, just like the kids!

UltimateMama wants to introduce you to Chef Daniel Angerer, a NYC father who is the owner and executive chef of Klee Brasserie.  He also makes cheese … from his wife’s breast milk (take a look at his blog).  Of course this special cheese is not a menu item yet. 

Now, that is an interesting use of liquid gold!  UltimateMama will take a pass….

UltimateMama believes Grilled Cheese sandwiches are completely underrated.  They are simple to make and have terrific nutritional value.  UltimateMama loves easy grilled cheese recipes!

Here is what UltimateMama's children (ages 1 and 3) had for lunch today:

3 year old:  Grilled ham & white cheddar cheese sandwich, peas, apple slices, milk, water

1 year old: Grilled white cheddar cheese sandwich, little pieces of ham, peas, golden raspberries, milk, water

Easy Grilled Ham & White Cheddar Cheese Sandwich recipe for one sandwich: 

-  2 thinly sliced pieces of bread

– thinly sliced ham (1 slice)

– thinly sliced white cheddar cheese (1 slice)

– Smart Balance spread (about 1 tablespoon)

Pre-heat a griddle, skillet, or frying pan.  Take a knife and spread the Smart Balance on one side of each slice of bread.  Put one of the "buttered" slices of bread on the skillet.  Then put a a thin slice of white cheddar cheese on top.  Next, add a thin slice of ham and cover with the remaining slice of bread ("buttered" side up).  When you notice the cheese starting to melt and the bread starting to brown, flip the sandwich over and finish grilling. 

**For a fun variation add a slice of tomato for extra nutrients and color!

UltimateMama feels like this is really the winter that is never going to end.  Your UltimateMama recently did some pre-spring cleaning and donated many sweaters that were far too trendy to be worn by someone in their mid-30s to Housing Works.  An impending snowstorm as well as an upcoming business trip to Philadelphia inspired UltimateMama to do a little shopping…at one of her favorite LITTLE boutiques on Manhattan's Upper East Side (1008 Lexington Avenue at East 72nd Street to be exact) called J.McLaughlin.  It is a gem of a store complete with many clothing jewels as a 75% off sale is currently in progress. Out of area shoppers can log onto J.McLaughlin.comand find wonderful, classic, American clothing at steep discounts as well.  *NOTE:  MANY ITEMS ONLINE ARE FINAL SALE!

UltimateMama is always on the move so she tries to dress in a comfortable yet stylish fashion.  She loves to have items in her wardrobe that allow her to go from dropping her daughter off at school to catching a business meeting to grabbing lunch with colleagues to brainstorming with associates to shopping for groceries at Citarella to playing with her kids.  J.McLaughlin clothing never lets her down.  In all honesty, J.McLaughlin clothing makes UltimateMama look like she had more than 10 minutes to get herself ready in the morning!  

A few super deals at J.McLaughlin include:

– The Sloane Crewneck Cardigan which at $39.90 from $148 originally (73% off for all you math majors) is such a steal that UltimateMama purchased two (one in Heather Camel and one in Heather Chambray)

– The Mariel Silk Georgette Blousein lagoon/gold at $39.90 from $185 originally (78% off for all keeping track) is another closet staple that UltimateMama adores (and now owns)!

UltimateMama loves Ralph Lauren clothing for her family as it is stylish, comfortable, practical, colorful, and durable.  UltimateMama appreciates accessible luxury clothing. She always enjoys passing down Polo shirts, sweaters, skirts, pants, and socks from her oldest daughter to her youngest. 

Shop now at  www.ralphlauren.com during the "Last Chance Sale" and receive an additional 20% off select sale items.  UltimateMama recently bought the Cotton Slim Fit Turtleneck in Fuchsia for her oldest daughter for next Winter 2011!  

UltimateMama declared victory today!  It took her youngest one fourteen months but she finally likes macaroni and cheese.  UltimateMama is thrilled because mac n cheese is an easy and nutritious entree for the whole family.

UltimateMama's tips for children or kids trying new foods:

1. Never give up.  If your child does not like the food the first, second, third, or forth time keep offering it to them.  Space out the offerings. For instance, if you tried salmon last Friday maybe wait a few weeks before offering it again.

2.  Teach them to politely decline the food.  Your child, depending on age, may spit out food they do not like or verbally tell you they "hate it".  Encourage your child to say "thank you but I do not care for it" if they do not like a particular food. This may save you some embarrassment at friends houses down the road.

3.  Do not be afraid of condiments.  If your child does not like plain hamburger then dress it up with ketchup. Or if your child is not into chicken try it with mustard or ranch dressing. Celery may taste better to your child with peanut butter or cream cheese on it.  Try to keep it healthy but also a little fun.

4. Practice what you preach.  If you want your child to eat lemon sole and asparagus then you should eat it in front of them!

5. Show them others they love eat certain foods.  Have a favorite friend or role model eat the particular food in front of your child. If your child's teacher Miss Julie eats cucumbers in front of your child they may want to do just the same!

6. Go to the source. Visit farms, Greenmarkets, fruit stands and show your kids where the food comes from. Let them talk to the farmers and learn about different local varieties of fruits, vegetables, and produce. 

Do not be afraid to take a road trip with your kids.  As long as you do some necessary planning, you will enjoy your trip!  Most likely, you can always run to a store to pick up a forgotten item so do not fret.  UltimateMama wants you to be prepared when you go away with the kids for a long weekend.  

UltimateMama has a little travel advice for you:  plan now and relax later!  UltimateMama's list for Packing For A Long Weekend (3 days/2 nights) for a family of four is as follows:

Food and Beverages

– Cooler with ice packs

– Sippy cup for toddler – water

– Sippy cup for baby – water

– Sippy cup for toddler – milk

– Sippy cup for baby – milk

– Bumkins bibs

– Take and Tosstravel utensils/flatware set (BPA free)

– Healthy snacks:  yogurt, applesauce, crackers, peanut butter, fruit (pears, peaches, avocado), Cheerios, Chex mix

Swimming Pool/Gym

– Bathing suits for the four of us

– Swim diaper for the baby (reusable)

– Goggles for the toddler

– Sandals, sneakers

– Cover ups for the youngsters

– Gym clothing for adults

Accessories

– Portable crib

– Itinerary (car rental info, places of interest, restaurant info, hotel info – phone numbers for everything)

– Digital camera, extra battery, battery charger, extra memory card

– laptop

– Notepad and pens

– cell phones and chargers

– blackberry

– stroller

– twin mattress for toddler to sleep on floor

Bath accessories for kids

– Small travel Dove soap and Johnson’s shampoo

– Toothbrushes, covers, toothpaste

– inflatable bathtub

– Tylenol

Baby

– Package of diapers, wipes, Desitin, diaper bag

– Teething ring

– A few books

– 2 pajamas and Blankeaze

 – 3 or 4 onesies

– 3 pairs of pants

– 3 shirts

– 2 sweaters or cardigans

– 3 pairs of socks

– walking shoes

– mittens

– hat

– warm jacket

– bathing suit

Toddler

– 4 pairs of underwear

– Portable potty and bags

– A few books

– 2 pajamas

– 3 pairs of pants or jeans

– 3 shirts

– 2 sweaters or cardigans

– 3 pairs of socks

– walking shoes

– mittens

– hat

– warm jacket

– bathing suit

Mom

– make-up, comb, brush, toothbrush/paste, hair accessories, toiletry bag (deodorant, shampoo/conditioner)

– small purse and wallet

– 2 pairs of underwear

– 1 pair of pajamas

– 2 pairs of pants or jeans and belts

– 2 shirts

– 2 sweaters or cardigans

– 2 pairs of socks

– walking shoes

– mittens

– hat

– warm jacket

– bathing suit

Dad

– comb, contact solution, toothbrush/paste, shaving cream/razor, toiletry bag

– wallet

– 2 pairs of underwear

– 1 pair of pajamas

– 2 pairs of pants or jeans and belts

– 2 shirts

– 2 sweaters or cardigans

– 2 pairs of socks

– walking shoes

– mittens

– hat

– warm jacket

– bathing suit

UltimateMama has ranted how you should start saving for college the day your child is born.  UltimateMama should also point out that you should continuously monitor all of your child's college savings accounts and investments. 

Today, UltimateMama closed one of her low interest savings accounts and opened a high-yield savings account from American Express online. Get 1.50% APY with no monthly fees and no minimum balance today by going to americanexpress.com/savenow today!  Remember, rates are subject to change so be sure to monitor your accounts on a daily or weekly basis in order to maximize your child's college savings.  It is a bit of a pain to open and close accounts but your little one's future is worth it! 

UltimateMama believes parents should start saving for their child's college eduction the day they are born.  If you start immediately, the interest will compound over a longer amount of time. Once you have your child's social security number do the following:

– Open a savings account for your child at your local bank (your name or your partner's name will also be listed on the account)

– Look into 529 prepaid tuition plans as well as college savings plans and ask about the tax advantages

– Enter the stock market.  Either buy a basket of stocks that you select for your child's portfolio or explore the various mutual funds out there. 

However you decide to save for your child's education just remember to be consistent about putting money away.  Whether you set aside money from each bi-weekly paycheck or on a monthly or even annual basis make sure you start to contribute while your child is young so you are not panicking when the teen years approach and they have one foot out the door on their way to a college you cannot afford!  

UltimateMama was not a natural at breast-feeding.  She's a great cook, keeps a clean house, can debate with the best of them, writes somewhat intelligently, but was not a born breast-feeder. 

On Sunday, February 21st 2010 The New York Times had an interesting article on Freda Rosenfeld, a certified lactation consultant, that is worth a read for all current and soon-to-be mothers. 

UltimateMama wants you to know that seeking out help is often a part rolling with breast-feeding.  Before birth, take a class on breast-feeding and childcare.  When you are in the hospital ask to speak to lactation consultants and nurses about breast-feeding.  Have them look at the way your breast-feed (your posture, positioning) and how the baby responds (latching on).  Take advantage of courses that are offered during your hospital stay, post-birth. 

Once you get home, seek help if you are still having difficulties or if you have any questions.  Go to your doctor for help or try to find a lactation consultant nearby through La Leche League or a referral.  They will often help you with breast-feeding basics and even coach you on your approach (NOTE: breast-feeding is not for the modest, many times the consultants or nurses will watch as you feed your baby and re-position you both). 

UltimateMama also wants to point out that a breast-feeding mama should not get worked up or stressed out if they are having difficulties so anyone nearby (fathers, friends, relatives) should support her 100%.