Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Another possible benefit of Milk...a better, fitter body? #Positivisimo

BEFORE: One year ago!

Many of you know I have been on and off of Weight Watchers  for yeeeeeeeears. As I look at my progress over this last year in particular, I can see that my success is directly linked to my meeting the plan's daily "good health guidelines".  These guidelines include water servings, fruits and vegetables, etc. But the one I always seemed to have trouble meeting was the requirement of 2-3 daily servings of dairy. WHY? I don't know, I just got lazy about it I guess.


Every year I participate in a fashion show to benefit TACA (Talk About Curing Autism). The photo above was taken right before I went onstage in last year's show, in December 2010. 

I hadn't looked at this photo in a while, but recently pulled it up because this Saturday is this year's TACA fashion show. I was very pleased to see how much healthier and fitter I look now. I KNOW it's because I've been faithfully following the good health guidelines-especially my daily milk!

I have not missed my servings of dairy (usually skim milk on my cereal and some greek yogurt) for even ONE day since October 1st! I don't know *exactly* what the milk is doing, I just know I started having more stamina and could work out harder and for longer stretches of time once I started getting those daily servings in. Is it the milk? I can't say for sure, but I know it can only be helping!
I could NEVER have done this before I started drinking my milk!


The results so far? Well, here's me in an outfit I'll be wearing in this year's show:


I'm so pleased with how much better I look and feel now than I did a year ago. I know it makes ME want to stick to my daily 2-3 servings of milk-especially through the holidays! I couldn't have done it without the Master of the Glass Half Full and his magical white elixir-MILK!
May we all experience the healthiest holiday season ever!


Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama


Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor's Board and Latina Mom Bloggers

Friday, November 25, 2011

Hanging with the Momfia on "He Said She Said" #HSSS

I don't know about you but I am SO FULL!!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family and friends-I hope yours was as lovely and relaxed as mine was! If you're like me and are too chicken to brave the mall today, take a moment and check out the most recent episode of "He Said She Said"-my fave local web show! Hosted by hunky Aaron Heier drag diva Ophelia Later, this week they dish with my friends, Momfia founders Theresa (@RockOnMommies) and Beth (@HipMamaB) and ME about boobs, bullies, blogs and um, other "b" words.

Click HERE to see our whole segment!

Wishing you a happy recovery with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

PS-did you know today is National "Eat Pie for Breakfast" Day? It's true!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

From the Archives: LAST MINUTE THANKSGIVING CRAFTS

So you've done all the shopping, all the chopping and all the prep for your holiday meal. But your table is lacking a little zazzle? Never fear! I've got some easy, fun last minute Thanksgiving crafts from times gone by that you can whip up alone or with your kids!
finished-product.jpg
I'll be gracing my table with this cute table runner that my daughter and I made last year....originally posted over at Rock On Mommies

And, if I can squeeze it in, I'm going to be making these cute little pumpkin people again too!

Hope you and your family and friends and a beautiful, EASY Thanksgiving!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

From the Archives: My Big, Fat American Thanksgivings


I grew up in a BIG Mexican-American family. And we did everything BIG. Especially holidays. And ESPECIALLY Thanksgiving.

It was probably our biggest and most difficult-to-navigate holiday.

Christmas was easy: Christmas eve with Dad’s side of the family and Christmas Day with Mom’s side. But Thanksgiving was a NATIONAL holiday. A day to celebrate alongside our neighbors, regardless of color or creed, as AMERICANS. Splitting up Thanksgiving over two days would be un-American! 

So here’s how I spent every Thanksgiving of my childhood:
First, we’d head to my dad’s parent’s house. All the adults would squeeze into the living room and they’d drag picnic benches into the kitchen for us many, many kids. Dad’s family usually served the meal around noon. (I know!) The food? Was SO. GOOD. We’d gorge ourselves on the rich “American” fare we truly only ate once a year: Turkey, Yams, etc. Everything swimming in butter. Only “American” music would be played: big band, Mathis and Doris Day. After my Aunt Maria’s delicious homemade pumpkin pie, we’d end our festivities with, what else? A BIRTHDAY PARTY. Oh, yeah! Several family members had late-November birthdays and my grandparents would take advantage of having the whole family under one roof. So we’d bust into the 2-hours-old “leftovers” and then, naturally, we’d have cousin Becky’s butter-filled layer cake for dessert!
(My dad, left, and his brother Jess with their post-Thanksgiving birthday cakes)
Then we’d head over to Mom’s family home. You know, for Thanksgiving.

It was a short trip from East Cedar Street to West Cedar Street, where my mom’s parents lived. They served the meal at 4pm-which meant we had to leave the birthday party early. Mom’s family was just as big and it was just as tight a squeeze to seat everyone. Only problem? The food was better at the first house. It was! With Mom’s family, you could bet that the giblet bag had been baked inside the bird. Or that the mashed potatoes would be too thick to penetrate with a steel serving spoon. Or that the bread could be used to shatter the windshield of your worst enemy. (Before you get insulted, Aunt Sheila, may I remind you that they literally could not slice that bread with a saw.) And we were SO FULL. But we HAD to eat! So eat we did. And the fact that the food was so much better at the first house was always very quickly mitigated by the fact that the laughs were so much bigger at the second house.
By nightfall, my parents, my sister and I would be too full to sleep. We are blessed to eat and we are blessed to laugh, but take it from me: over-eating and over-laughing should only be mixed on very, very special occasions. It’s the American way.
What were your crazy Thanksgiving traditions? I can’t be the only one!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thankful for Milk Because...it can Soothe the Savage Mami! #Positivisimo



We all know that some warm milk seems to have a magical calming effect on our kids, yes? But I recently discovered that milk works it's wonders on Mamis too!


Like many of you, I have been running around like crazy, shopping, cooking and making crafts like these...




Now, while I LOVE shopping and cooking and crafting, somehow doing it all with the added pressure of company and kids who are not in school (and are instead in my hair)-I find myself going just a teensy bit loca.


The last couple of days it has been pouring rain and my kids have some serious cabin fever. I finally got my toddler to settle down last night with some warm milk-whew! But this morning when I looked around at my MESSY house and started to think about everything I need to do before Thanksgiving? Let's just say I was cranky enough to give my 2yo a run for his money!


I managed to stop myself *just* before I had a screaming tantrum and realized that if warm milk could work on my son, maybe it could work for me too! When I was a kid my Mama Lola used to make me a nice hot mug of cafe con leche in the afternoon. So I got out my largest "Latte Love" mug and whipped up some ccl. Then I went OUTSIDE to calmly sip my yummy, soothing beverage and enjoy the silence and fall foliage.
I feel better already!
It worked WONDERS! I was ready to take on cookies, napkin rings and turkey hands to beat the band!


But first? I think I'll whip up some Mexican Hot Chocolate for the whole family. :)

If YOU need a little holiday relaxation and inspiration, be sure to follow the Master of the Glass Half Full!
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/maestropositivo
On FaceBook: www.facebook.com/ElMaestroDelVasoMedioLleno


Wishing you love with extra cheese!
Nacho Mama


Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor's Board and Latina Mom Bloggers

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Happy Birthday

Today, I was watching my favorite episode of my favorite cooking show, Paula Deen, when I realized that Nacho Mama's Blog is one year old! I can't believe all the wonderful people I've gotten to meet and all of the awesome things I have gotten to do over the last year as a result of this blog. THANK YOU ALL for your lovely tweets, comments and emails-you've made this experience so much more than I ever imagined it would be.

I guess the birthday passed pretty much unnoticed because of another, very special, birthday that is coming tomorrow. November 20th was my late father's birthday, which he shared with his older brother Chuy. Since my dad passed away from prostate cancer almost 7 years ago, his birthday has always been kind of a sad marker for me. Even though I know his spirit is always with me, I can't help but think of all the things that happened over the last year that he would have especially enjoyed-especially things having to do with my kids. I spent last November 20th visiting my Uncle Chuy for their birthday, he was in the hospital being treated for prostate cancer. We had a really nice talk and he shared some sweet memories of himself and my dad when they were kids. It was one of the last times I ever saw him. This November 20th I am thinking of his kids and how much they must be missing him. I know my dad and his brother will be together tomorrow, each with his own cake prepared by their mom.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

How healthy is YOUR mouth? #HDASurvey

OK, I admit it. I don't take as good care of my mouth and teeth as I encourage my kids to. And according to a new survey put out by the Hispanic Dental Association along with Crest and Oral-B? I'm not alone.



It seems that 67% of U.S. Hispanics (like me) consider their overall health to be either "good" or "excellent"-sounds great, right? Here's the problem-TWO THIRDS of us have had at least one oral health issue in the past year. 

I am SO a part of this statistic. Last year, I had to have a tooth pulled and an implant put in. It was extremely painful, I lost an ENTIRE WEEK of work and I am STILL paying it off! I wish I could say I'm an isolated case in my family, but unfortunately, I'm not. Yes, my grandparents had dentures-but my parents' generation (who had ready access to dental care) were somewhat lax in addressing their oral health issues.  And I'm just as guilty of letting things go for far too long before seeing my dentist (even though I have a FABULOUS dentist)! 

I don't know about you, but this is one case where I definitely DO NOT want to be in the majority! I was plain shocked at how Hispanics fared against the general population in this regard. After taking this brief survey, I was able to see the very simple steps I need to take in order to keep a healthy and happy mouth. I'm a little embarrassed to admit there were a couple of questions I got wrong, but knowledge is power and now I can help my kids to not only practice good oral hygiene, but I can also help them understand WHY it is so important to have a healthy mouth!
Oh sure, it LOOKS like a healthy smile-but is it?
Now that I'm armed with the facts, I have no excuses for letting my smile go un-managed! What about YOU? Are you doing all you can to keep your chompers chomping into your golden years? If you'd like to learn more about this groundbreaking survey, please visit www.crestcomplete.com/study


AND KEEP SMILING!


Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a compensated campaign with Procter & Gamble and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

From the Video Vault-Guess What I'm Making for Dinner Tonight?

ENCHILADAS! This clip cracks me up AND makes me hungry at the same time. I *don't* think I'll be following their recipe, though. Seems like a muy loco way to make enchiladas to me! (Maybe because none of them are Mexican?) 


What? You don't dance around barefoot in your slip when you want enchiladas? 


BTW-how is it they missed the opportunity to rhyme "peso" with "queso"? Their dramaturg was SO alseep at the switch on this one!


If you'd like to see MY Weight Watchers-friendly version of Nacho Mama's Enchiladas, click HERE to see my recipe, published in a guest post at The Retro WW Experiment!


Wishing you love with extra cheese ENCHILADAS!
Nacho Mama

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Nacho Mama's 4-point Orange Creamsicle Pie! #Smuckers

Something you may not know about me is-I absolutely adore jam! Where most folks enjoy their pancakes, waffles and french toast smothered in maple syrup? I'll always reach for the marmalade or boysenberry jam.

So when Smuckers sent me an assortment of their jams to review as part of their Spreading Smucker’s® Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest, I was delighted to try and come up with an original recipe using one of my favorite ingredients!

Ok, it's not *entirely* original! One of my favorite recipes is this blackberry pie by Paula Deen
(you KNOW how I love her!). When I tried the Sweet Orange marmalade, it kind of reminded me of a creamsicle and I thought, "Why not make an ORANGE version of Paula's recipe?" Also, I wanted to make it as friendly to my Weight Watchers plan a possible. After a little fiddling, I came up with a pie that my whole family LOVES! You won't believe how EASY it is to make too!

Nacho Mama's Orange Creamsicle Pie (NO BAKE!)
serves 8
1 Lite pre-made Graham Cracker Crust
10z canned mandarin orange slices, drained
3T Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade
1 eight ounce tub of Fat Free whipped topping

1. Combine orange slices with marmalade and spread evenly over the crust.
2. Top with whipped topping and SERVE!!! That's it! (NOTE: the topping in the photo is not very fluffy because I was too impatient to completely defrost it before spreading on the pie. This made it even more like a creamsicle, but not as pretty looking as if I had let it completely thaw first.)
This is seriously yummy folks. I even made a "Peaches and Cream Pie" with 10 oz of drained canned *peaches* and Smucker's "Orchard's Finest" peach preserves. This was super yummy and, I thought, a fitting tribute to my favorite Georgia peach, Miss Paula Deen!

After plugging in all the ingredients on the WW website, the pointsplus for this recipe came out at only FOUR pointsplus per serving! That was almost as sweet as the pie itself. :) This is a great recipe for any time of year, but now (right before Thanksgiving) is when baking items like those pie crusts and the whipped topping go on sale, so it's a great time to stock up!

I had so much fun experimenting with these Smucker's products! For more info on their Spreading Smucker’s® Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest, please visit the Smucker’s website where you can find the competition, in English and Spanish: www.smuckers.com or www.smuckersenespanol.com.

I'll definitely be preparing one of these pies for the holidays-please let me know if you give my creamsicle pie a try!
Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama


Disclosure: I was sent these products for review by Smucker's. The above is my honest opinion-and my own recipe!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Twitter Party for #POSITIVISIMO Nov. 19 6pm PT Awesome #PRIZES!


You KNOW how I love a good Twitter party! This one is going to be super fun, featuring the hilarious "Master of the Glass Half Full" along with ME and some awesome bloggers you'll want to follow if you don't already. And we haven't even gotten to the PRIZES! 

Join Latina Mom Bloggers, the Positivity Ambassadors, Toma Leche and The Master of the Glass Half Full for a Twitter Party on November 16th from 9-10:30 PM ET (6-7:30 PM PT). 

Not only will we be sharing our best tips on living a more positive life, but we’ll also be sharing our favorite milk-based recipes along with creative ways to incorporate milk into our family’s diet. Not to mention we’ll also discuss the great benefits of milk. Of course, there will be lots of prizes too. It’s going to be a fun party—hope to see you there!
PARTY DETAILS:

WHEN: Wednesday, November 16th, 2011, at 6-7:30 pm PT or 9-10:30 pm EST
WHERE: Twitter hashtag #Positivismo

WHOM TO FOLLOW:

Special Guest: @maestropositivo a.k.a. El Maestro del Vaso Medio Lleno (The Master of the Glass Half Full)

Panelists: @SassyScorpYM, @Eva_Smith, @michellerivera5, @daytrippingmom, @unknownmami, @shesnachomama, @darielacruz, @nibblesnfeasts, @yvonneinla, @spousesprite, @presleyspantry, @vidacoco, @colombianaenCA, @mamanoticias

Moderators: @LatinaMomBlogs, @JollyMom, @Eva_Smith

And now the best part-what you can WIN!
*PRIZES:
·       Oster Classic Beehive Blender with a Six Month’s Supply of Milk
·       Two (2) Six Month’s Supply of Milk
·       Tree of Life Yoga Kit with a Six Month’s Supply of Milk
·       NOOKColor & skin with a Six Month’s Supply of Milk


 I have a NOOKColor myself and absolutely LOVE. IT. My kids ask me to read to them from my NOOKColor every night-really!


 IMPORTANT!!! Please follow the rules or you won't be eligible for the fabulous prizes!

RSVP: To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP at LatinaMomBloggers.com. Click HERE to RSVP.
OFFICIAL RULES: Please make sure to read the Official Rules at Latina Mom Bloggers.
* Six month’s supply of milk is calculated at 5 gallons per month for six months at $4 per gallon equaling $120 to be paid in the form of a gift card.
*Twitter, NOOKColor, VividView, Oster and Tree of Life Yoga are the trademarks of their respective owners, and they are not affiliated with California Milk Processor Board. 
·       Follow the Master of the Glass Half Full on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ElMaestroDelVasoMedioLleno)
·       Follow The Master of the Glass Half Full on Twitter (http://twitter.com/maestropositivo)
·       Once again, YOU MUST RSVP at Latina Mom Bloggers to win! (http://latinamombloggers.com/?p=1069)
·       Link to Official Rules at Latina Mom Bloggers (http://latinamombloggers.com/?p=558)


Hope to see you in the Twitterverse on November 19th and GOOD LUCK! 

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama
Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor’s Board and Latina Mom Bloggers