Don't get me wrong, THIS is how I really feel about makeup!

This afternoon I was going over my post from yesterday in my mind (please tell me I'm not the only one out there who does this), and it occurred to me that my last post makes me sound as though I am ANTI-MAKEUP. Record scratch!

Sometimes I wear makeup!

That is SOOOOOOO not the case. I am a huge believer in the POWER of makeup. Really!

I am NOT a huge believer in haters and shamers who try to tell women when they SHOULD wear it. Or that they are invisible if they don't. It's a stupid standard, men aren't generally subjected to it and they still earn way more money than we do.

HERE'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MAKEUP:
1. It's FUN.
2. It's CREATIVE.
3. It's POWERFUL

Yes, I actually think makeup can be used to give us an edge-when we want it to. "That's right, I showed up to this meeting, prepared to the hilt, and I STILL had time to treat you all to a kick-ass smokey eye. You're welcome."

I realized the power of makeup in my thirties, when I went from being a "behind-the-scenes" junior designer to being a "in-the-spotlight" designer, speaker and coach. I was never a big makeup-wearer and pretty much slid through the 80s and 90s on liquid eyeliner and occasional bright-red Wet 'N Wild lippy.

When I started to be more in the forefront of my life and business, I started to feel like it was time to either develop some actual makeup application skills or completely give it up altogether. My ratchet attempts at face painting were definitely NOT HELPING. It's hard to assert your authority in your field when your face is strictly from Amateursville.

Fortunately for me, makeup application is a learnable skill. And now that we have YOUTUBE? Jackpot! I have found the greatest products and techniques from some of my favorite Youtubers (a short list is below). It's even become fun for me to play around with makeup. Who knew?

The even better part is that people started taking me more seriously. Like, "Wow, if she can get her face and style together like this, maybe she can help me get myself together, too!" I also started to feel more confident about how I look, on and off-camera, because I knew I could deal with bad hair days or blemishes. I don't think men get the chance to feel that way very often.

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean I have to wear it all the time.

Sometimes I don't wear makeup!

I ONLY wear makeup when I feel like it. I certainly would never refrain from helping people or sharing valuable information on Periscope because I didn't have my "face" on.  I am getting pretty annoyed about these peri-trolls and their "Why are you even on Persicope without makeup?"

I've noticed that most of the men I follow on Periscope tend to look as if they spent as much time on their appearance as I do for my "Word of the Day" pre-workout scopes-only their version is to be unshaven, wearing a baseball cap to hide the bedhead. Know who gives them grief about it? NO ONE.  Of course they would never speak at a conference of appear on television looking like this. But they are sharing on Periscope on-the-fly, just like the rest of us, so WHO CARES if they need a shave? Not me! As long as they are giving me life-improving content, I'm good.

All I'm saying is, can we all just calm down about this? If you're on Periscope to see/chat up hot chicks in heavy makeup, there are literally thousands of other places you can do that. My scope is not one of them. The same goes for pretty much all other social media, too, as far as I'm concerned. Nobody gets to tell anybody what they have to say or how they have to look.

On the other hand, when I am made up and blinged out? You know I'm shooting as much video as I possibly can! Can't let that hard work go to waste!

I guess I'm just complicated that way.

I generally broadcast and post when the mood strikes (like now), and if that means my awesome, annual Fitbloggin selfie with Alan (@Sweating_It_Off) happens with a bare face, year after year...

There's a 3rd one of these somewhere...

so be it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are you a makeup lover? Hater? Do you think people shouldn't be online unless they look their very, very best, no matter what they have to say?

Are you dying to find some beauty Youtubers to hook up your makeup game? Here are just a few of my faves:
NATHALIE
CAROL
LORI
MARY
PATTI
SWOOZIE
KATHY
SHARON

Lastly, do YOU have a favorite beauty vlogger? Give them some love in the comments!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

PERISCOPE: What I learned from a "DEAD" CRAB #lawofattraction #motivation #sorrynotsorry

Some of my greatest teachers are crustaceans.

Okay, the cat's out of the bag.

I pretty much always look a hot mess on Periscope. 

No, I don't even take a second to run a comb through my hair. Yes, I suppose it is "unprofessional", but I will probably continue to do it anyway.

Here's what I figure: there are people out there who will be willing to work with me anyway. Right? There must be plenty of folks who would hire me to help them make peace with their bodies while they try to transform their lives (btw if you are one of those people, email me at MyCoachMargo@Gmail.com or visit my coaching site MargoPorras.com for more info/endshamelessplug). There are even people who will choose to hire me to speak or write on the subject.

Plus, I choose to believe my troll-doll bedhead enhances my woo-woo-crystal-bruja-cred.

I don't know about you, but lately I've been noticing that there are literally MILLIONS of people out there who make a great living EVERY DAY without makeup, without beautifully coiffed blunt bobs, even without MANICURES-gasp!

They're called men. Perhaps you've heard of them?
NEXT DAY ADDENDUM: I realized this morning that the above min-rant makes it sound like I'm anti-makeup. Nothing could be further from the truth. I just don't like having to deal with internet haters' attempts to shame me into wearing it before going online. I think there's a post there somewhere...

Today's word of the day was ATTRACT.

We spoke about it in terms of "the law of attraction" (you can view the replay HERE) but later I got to thinking about how what YOU ATTRACT is up to YOU. No one else gets to tell you what get to attract. 

Because appearances can be very, very deceiving, and you never know who is going to teach you something when you are open to learn. It may be a dead crab. Or a live one.

Have you ever been fooled by someone's appearance in a positive way?

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

It's my Birthday! And I found AMAZING skincare stuff at Ross!

Yes, I have secret giveaways on my Youtube channel!

Subscribe HERE.

THANK YOU ALL for making this such a special birthday.

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

NOTE: I paid for the products mentioned in this video with my own money. I just wanted to let you know about them because they are THAT GOOD.

Fitbloggin highlights, Pt. 1 #Fitbloggin15 #Denver

Yep, EVERY MORNING.

Still recovering...so many hugs...so...much...bacon...

Let's start with the "just for fun" stuff.

1. Getting to see and hug all my Fitbloggin friends! To name a few:

Thea (It's Me VS Me)

ALAN! (Sweating Until Happy-his photo)

I love Robby! (Fat Girl VS World)

Terry (Terry Cabeen-his photo) the STAR of our FLASHMOB!

What's that? Oh yeah, there was a flashmob. Yes, again.

2. THE FLASH FITMOB 

This is the 3rd time the "fitmob" has hit Fitbloggin. I still cannot believe any of these people agree to participate. For every "yes" there are at least 2 "nos", so it makes the effort and final product of the group that much more meaningful. They TRULY rocked it this year!

The flashmob originally started because I was nervous about attending a conference where, for the first time ever, I did not know a single soul "IRL". It's become a great way for seasoned Fitbloggers and newbies to bond long before the conference begins.

I'll try to locate some video. We were kind of amazing.

4. The Scavenger Hunt

Christine (Dubyawife) organized a crazy (seriously, KRAY-ZEE) scavenger hunt that had us invading the streets of Denver, asking cops to marry us, serenading strangers and, um, bending the law (allegedly).

Our team, "Green is the New Black", bouncing on the Jumpsport Trampolines in a most law-abiding manner. (photo by Nicole Tow, Health Nut In Training)

5. Off-Time

One of my favorite things about Fitbloggin is what happens during the off-times between and after the official sessions and festivities. 

Kelly and I spent a great afternoon enjoying lunch at ModMarket (ModMarketplace?) and enjoying some of the sights of downtown Denver, including the ballpark.

Kelly (Curvy Fit Girl)

Deb and I took a beautiful walk along the "creek", which here in California would be considered a raging river, if not a tsunami. We miss water.

Deb (Weight For Deb)

I had a wonderful talk with Susan (SusanIto.com) that was so enthralling, we forgot to take a selfie!

Christine (@Dubyawife again, always the instigator) brought CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY. 

Horrid, deplorable humans. Especially that middle one, trying to hide behind her cards. photo by Christine

6. Jen

Did I take this photo? I'm going to say I did.

Two years ago Jennifer (Perfect In Our Imperfections) and I proposed similar session topics to Fitbloggin. Roni suggested we present together. We decided we might as well room together while we were at it, and a Fitbloggin tradition was born. Jennifer is the reason I don't bite anyone's head off or throw chanclas at Fitbloggin breakfasts. You're welcome.

7. Roni (and Team Fitbloggin)

Roni, center, and just some of Team Fitbloggin.
THANK YOU! (photo by Carrie D Photography)

Roni is remarkably shy and yet still has managed to pull off this HUGE, multifaceted event year after year. Next year Fitbloggin gets passed into the hands of a new team. That means Roni may actually get in on more of the fun from now on. Which is as it should be, because Roni is the sh*t.

Okay, that's about all I can manage for now. Stay tuned for more fun, LOADS of fitness and some stuff I actually learned.

Yes, me!

Wishing you love with extra cheese,

Nacho Mama

"I feel FAT!" Feeling fat? Why #fatisnotafeeling

Hello all!

Whew! It's been a while, hasn't it? I've been really busy with work and very sick, but now that things have calmed down and I'm on the mend, I finally made a video on a topic I've been wanting to address for a long, long time.

Ever catch yourself saying, "I feel FAT"? I do. I've also noticed that many of my friends and social colleagues have been saying it more lately, too. I've even noticed people saying it when I'm in public, like in the dressing rooms at Ross or on the sidewalks of my neighborhood during Sunday brunch hours. 

But I try to never let that statement go by without probing a little deeper. Here's why:

And another thing I've noticed: nobody ever says "I feel fat" in a positive way.  Which makes me really concerned about the message we're sending our kids about the "f-word". Remember back in the 90s when we spelled it with a "ph" and it meant something that was sooooo cool? I vote we bring that back.

So what do YOU actually mean when you say "I feel fat"? 

Wishing you love (and a beautiful Memorial Day!) with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

VIDEO: Fitbloggin, 300 Pounds & Running, Photo Alarm

Are you going to FITBLOGGIN?

I hope you'll be able to join us in Denver this year. The Fitbloggin community is something that has definitely made a measurable difference in my life, not only professionally, but personally as well.

Follow Martinus.

Check out FITBLOGGIN!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

VIDEO: Reading Labels, Skin Deep app & e.l.f. Review

Hello!

My last big goal for 2015 is to READ ALL THE LABELS.

Here's the video showing Kia's easy household cleanser recipe:

Here's Susannah Constantine talking about Rosehip Oil-I've tried so many night creams and even very expensive products do not do as much for my skin as simple rosehip oil. Look for it at your favorite natural foods store.

Learn more about the Skin Deep app HERE.

Get Jillian Michaels' Slim for Life HERE.

Do YOU read labels? Did what you read influence you to change the products you use? 

If you are reading this anywhere but NachoMamasBlog.com, then you are reading stolen content. This post and everything posted by me is strictly my own opinion and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Weight Watchers in any way.

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

2015 Goal: Eat Organic At Least 75% of the Time

Hello, there!

Turns out organic, grass-fed cheese is delicious AND affordable!

Today I'm sharing another goal for 2015: to eat ORGANIC as much as possible. 

Look at this beautiful, organic food coop I get to shop in! I can't believe I don't go there more often, what's wrong with me?

Learn more about the OB People's Organic Coop here:

http://obpeoplesfood.coop/

Do YOU buy organic? If so, what prompted you to do so? And what are your favorite organic products that AREN'T fruits or veggies?

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

Vlogmas Gift Guide: SPINGYM and 3-WAY PONCHO (that is!)

Who wants a 3-Way for Christmas?

Can you tell how much I love to buy stuff off the TV?

Especially if a favorite Youtuber has done a review!

Here are two more great items that I'm sure someone on YOUR list would love this holiday season!

#3 The SPIN GYM! $24.95 at HSN.com

Here's Laurie's review of the Spin Gym that sold me on the product. She looks TOTALLY different now. I love her channel! And I love a Massachusetts accent almost as much as I love a Southern one.

#4 Suzanne Somers' 3-WAY PONCHO (that is!) $19.95 at selected retailers or at 3wayponcho.com 

The Southern California sun was giving me fits today, I tell ya!

If it weren't so close to Christmas I would have waited until I could get a better video made but I would hate for the special someone in YOUR life to miss out on a 3-WAY (Poncho, that is! I never get tired of that joke.)

In case you missed the original commercial:

And here is Patti (@Rxtsrmom) in her entertaining review of this amazing product-SOLD! Seriously I could listen to her say "Poncho" all day long!

Hope you are finding these gift ideas helpful. What cool stuff have YOU bought off the TV lately? Please share!

Happy Vlogmas!

Wishing you love with extra cheese,

Nacho Mama

Disclosure: I was not compensated for these reviews in any way. I bought these items with my own cash and just wanted to share my opinions about them with you. :)

PODCAST WORLDS COLLIDE! I'm on Halfsize Me!

Hello Everyone!

Can you believe it's FALL? I sure can't. But it must be, since I had to turn in my taxes today. After adding everything up, I still can't believe that I make money at this blogging thing. Who knew? I am so blessed. THANK YOU all for coming by the blog & podcast-you guys are the best!

Heather is so inspiring!

I've been working on a whole lot of great stuff to share with you, starting with my appearance on today's episode of HALFSIZE ME. I was honored that Heather asked me to be on her show, since I've been a listener since the very beginning. You can here our conversation HERE.

Sorry I can't talk more right now (but if you really want to hear me talk, check out Heather's podcast, her guest is a real blabbermouth!) I've gotta go lead my Monday night Weight Watchers meeting!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

PODCAST Episode 49: FITBLOGGIN RECAP with Brooklyn Fit Chick!

Click the player to listen NOW!

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Join me and MARGO of Brooklyn Fit Chick as we recap the best of the 2013 Fitbloggin Conference!

Learn the most valuable lessons and tools shared at this PHENOMENAL conference for health, fitness, weightloss and wellness bloggers.

There may even be a giveaway...

PODCAST: Episode 19 Sneaking in Exercise...

Click the player to listen NOW!

Listen to internet radio with NachoMamasPodcast on Blog Talk Radio

So you say you don't have time for exercise? Not to worry! Join me as we talk about easy ways to "sneak" in your daily activity. We'll have all kinds of tips and tricks to help you get fit on the go.

PODCAST Episode 16: Dream Boards!

Listen to internet radio with NachoMamasPodcast on Blog Talk Radio

Do you have a "dream board" or a "vision board"? It sounds corny but these little "craft projects" can actually go a long way to help you realize your goals now matter what they are: weightloss, professional, fitness, family, spiritual, financial...you name it! Join us as we explore the wonderful world of "dream boards"! Our special guest this week is Jen Hibbits of Not Just Another Jen.

Even if you don't believe in "The Secret"-Vision Boards can help you! (image via Wikipedia)

 Got a question? WE WILL BE TAKING LIVE CALLS during the broadcast OR YOU CAN POST YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE LIVE CHATROOM which will also be open during the broadcast.

PODCAST Episode 9: FOOD! Shaking things up in the kitchen...

CLICK THE PLAYER TO LISTEN NOW!

Listen to
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Are you in a food rut? Looking for ways to streamline your kitchen routine? Join me and my guests to learn how to shake things up in YOUR kitchen!

PODCAST Episode 6: Talkin' bout the Year of the Dragon

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internet radio with NachoMamasPodcast on Blog Talk Radio

Image via Jackleen Holton

 This week, we'll be talking about how astrology can help you realize your goals in THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON with acclaimed Intuitive Astrologer, Jackleen Holton! Want a personal prediction from Jackleen? CALL US LIVE during the broadcast and ask her what the Lunar New Year holds for YOU!

VIVA LAS VEGAS! How to put on 1.5 lbs in 4 days and look cute at the same time.

I feel like I've been away for AAAAAGES! So what have I been up to? Ummm...putting on 1.5 pounds?


WAIT! Hear me out!


Sometimes 1.5 pounds is a bargain when you also gain a TON of fun and learning. That's exactly what I got while spending 4 days at the inaugural Latina Lifestyle Bloggers Conference in VEGAS, baby! I've been a part of this awesome, dynamic group since it started and was NOT going to miss the opportunity to party in person with these FABULOUS blogueras!

Opening night dinner courtesy of sponsor BUCA DI BEPPO! (photo via Curves Ahead Makeup)

Four days with an absolutely brilliant and inspiring (not to mention FOXY) group of women, working on our skills and learning tools to become better bloggers and businesswomen. The seminars were awesome! First, there was the keynote speech by acclaimed author Alisa Valdes, of "Dirty Girls' Social Club" fame. WOW! We were super pumped after her talk!

Thanks for taking time to talk to each of us, Ms. Valdes!

We learned about branding, SEO and business planning.

Seminars is our EXCLUSIVE suite! Photo via Curves Ahead Makeup

 And the FOOD! It was too yummy to resist. The conference was held at the Tropicana, which I absolutely LOVED! The interiors were so fresh and sunny-feeling. And I adored every restaurant in the place. We even toured the "Mob Experience" museum at the Trop which totally fed my love for "Vintage Vegas"-WOW!

Hangin' at the Trop. Photo via Curves Ahead Makeup

But then? There was the FASHION. This was a pretty intimidating crowd, style-wise. Many of the ladies were fulltime fashion bloggers and they Turned. It. Out.

Like the aforementioned Curves Ahead Makeup. She and her partner run a business called Fancy Steps which offers unbelievable shoes like these:

They wore heels like these ALL THE TIME! Photo via Curves Ahead Makeup

Speaking of shoes....I was muy flattered when Illsay from Full Figured Potential asked to snap of photo of ME for her blog! WHAT?

Photo via Full Figured Potential

I was just trying to be comfy! And here this fancy fashion blogger wanted to feature my outfit on her blog! I was wearing pieces from this season's Jockey Person to Person Collection (of course). I like to be colorful but I think what really made the outfit (if I do say so) was the SHOES.

I want you to know, I was a little skeptical about taking these shoes to Vegas. I had been sent the pair of glittery "Sea Star" sandals to review by the company, Fibi and Clo, but only decided to take them at the last minute. OMG you guys! I could not BELIEVE how many compliments I got on these sandals! But what I really couldn't believe was how incredibly comfortable they were!  I wore them all over Las Vegas-even during our fabulous tour of the 2 million square foot Fashion Show mall...

Next time you go to Vegas, do NOT miss Fashion Show mall!! Photo via Curves Ahead Makeup

Now, I am not a "flip-flop" kind of a gal. I own only one pair of thong sandals and they are a VERY expensive pair of flats by Tory Burch, which are cute but tiring to wear after a couple of hours. I wore these Fibi and Clo sandals (which were even cuter than my TBs and only $45) all day and night! I literally walked MILES in these without getting tired at all. LOVE THEM! I hope you'll take a moment to check out their website and see some of their other yummy styles. I was wary of getting them without trying them on but found them to be true to size and even prettier than the photo.


It was such a fantastic conference, and NOT just for the fashion! Thank you so much Ana Lydia, Sujeiry and everyone else from Latina Lifestyle Bloggers for working so hard to make such a productive and unforgettable conference. I'd especially like to thank all the wonderful sponsors for being so generous in extending themselves to all of us.


And those 1.5 pounds? I'm back on track to remove them, counting Weight Watchers pointsplus AND working the Sensa weightloss system! They were one of our fabulous sponsors-but there'll be more on them later. :)


WHEW! I'm tired just writing about it! But it was totally worth it. I hope you'll check out some of the links I've mentioned here, and who knows? Maybe you can join us at the next conference!


Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama



PS-THANK YOU so much to Curves Ahead Makeup and Full Figured Potential for sharing your photos with me!


Disclosure: I was sent the Sea Star sandals for review by Fibi and Clo. I purchased my own ticket and hotel for the conference and everything above is my personal and honest opinion.

Everything I know about child-proofing, I learned from my dad.

Seems like everyone in the blogosphere is sharing their New Year's Resolutions! This year, my husband and I have some pretty simple goals: to take better care of ourselves and to get the house organized. We believe that if we take care of these 2 things, pretty much everything else that currently challenges us will fall into place.

In that spirit, I wanted to share this post-my "audition" post that got me my coveted contributor spot over at Rock On Mommies. Hope you enjoy and please don't be shy with your questions and comments!

***

As a professional interior designer, I’m always surprised how shy people sometimes are with their questions. I always tell them, “I’m your decorator, not your pastor!” No matter what kind of design challenge you may be facing, I’m here to tell you that there are many people out there in the same boat. In the decorating world at least, you are never alone!

For instance, one of my most common queries has to do with an issue I have grappled with myself:

How do you child-proof your home without completely turning it over to your kids?

You don’t want the kind of house where the kids aren’t allowed to touch anything ever, but you don’t want a Lord of the Flies situation either. And what if you work from home? What if you’d actually like to have a friend over for a margarita? What’s a modern mom to do?

Unfortunately this issue was not covered at my fancy-shmancy design school (cue ironic trombone).  So when I became a mom, I had to follow the example of the only interior designer I knew who had faced and conquered this challenge head-on: my dad.

My mom worked as a teacher, but my dad ran his budding design business from home.  And like so many of us moms today, he did it with two noisy, messy kids and a dog in the background. And he did it successfully. Even though it was almost 30 years ago, many of the tricks he used can be adapted for today’s mommy. Here’s a shortlist of the tips my dad used to keep us kids from destroying our home, his business and my both my parents’ sanity:

1.     Get help. When dad decided to start his business, it was clear he would have to work from home. So my parents closely examined the family budget (remember we were essentially living on a teacher’s salary) and made some serious cuts. That way they could afford to get a sitter for a few hours a day, enough to get phone calls and client meetings done. If you simply do not have the resources to hire, please consider trading with other moms or anyone you trust with your kids.

2.     You can’t childproof all of the house all of the time. As a designer, Dad knew that you can only control your environment up to a point. So he designated the front of the house as a “kid-free” zone. Which is not to say we weren’t allowed in there at all, but our stuff (toys, books, shoes, crumbs) was forbidden. If we brought it into the room, we had to take it out. That way he could schedule meetings anytime we had a babysitter without having to clean up first. Also? Dad knew that you could (and should!) furnish a home in a manner that is stylish and durable. All the furniture in entire house was sturdy and easy to clean.

A kid-friendly living space? Yep!

3.     Don’t break the sound barrier. Back in Dad’s day, that meant a separate phone line just for the business (which he kept on a shelf too high for us to reach). Today, with mobile phones and caller ID, things are much easier! I like to use a free service called YouMail, www.youmail.com, which lets me customize my outgoing message. Business clients get a “businessy” message and the family gets a cute message from my kids. Be sure you only answer calls when you are ready to do so. Even though people say they understand, they really hate having to talk over the sound of “Mom? Mom?”

4.     Nothing is more precious than your kids. I still wince when I remember how many pricey objet my sister and I broke over the years. Let’s just say it could have paid for a year of college and keep it at that. Even though my parents would get upset at first, they would never dwell on broken stuff, which really helped us kids to feel like it was our home, too.

I realize this isn’t child-proofing in the “corner guards and toilet locks” sense, but growing up in a designer’s home helped me see that there really is no such thing as “child-proof.” Like everything else in life, living harmoniously with your kids requires patience, balance, and a sense of humor. I guess the goal is to have a home (and a life, for that matter) that is not so much child-proof as child-friendly.

Wishing you a Happy New Year with extra cheese,

Nacho Mama

MEAL PLANNING-Nacho Mama's Little Helpers

(Some of this post was previously published on my blog, myteneasypieces.com-now defunct)

So those of you who read this blog regularly and/or follow me on Twitter (@shesnachomama) are well aware that I am on the Weight Watchers plan (again-don’t judge me!). I’m not going to into the details of the plan, for that please go straight to the source. Like many of you following this plan, I know that if you follow the plan, it works. Of course the flip of this is that, as my leader Judy likes to say, “If you almost follow Weight Watchers, you almost lose weight!” I love the ww plan personally, but I know there are a lot of other great ones out there (like Sparkpeople) and I really believe that when it comes to your Dining (just like your style) you really have to go with what works for you. But most plans have a lot of great insipirational sayings that pop up over and over again. Usually because they happen to be 1. Catchy and 2. True. One of my favorites is “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Well I plan to succeed, thanks very much! And a great part of my success on ww can really put down to the degree of planning that I put into my Dining.

So I thought I’d share a couple of things that have been working for me (and I would LOVE to hear what’s working for you!)

Mine is white-I can always find it in my bag

The first thing is my Crackberry. Which I use to:
-Hunt for healthy, low-point recipes (which I then email to myself)
-Keep a running grocery list which I make additions to throughout the week (which I delete as I shop or which I can send as a text to my DH when he is doing the weekly shop)
-Track points (I prefer the paper trackers they give you at the meetings, but sometimes I have to miss a meeting and the ww app is a good backup-if you’re not on ww there are all kinds of great free calorie/food tracking apps)
-Keep up with my favorite design, weight-loss and cooking blogs (see blogroll) for when I need inspiration on the go
-TWEET (I love Twitter! I wish I could tell you why.)
-I use the stopwatch app to time my exercise (more on this later)
-I use the Pandora app to keep me moving with great music (again, I’ll do an exercise post soon!)
I LOVE my new smartphone! But of course you don’t need one! In fact the first time I did WW (before Baby #1) I lost about 65lbs by doing all of the above with a small notebook which I kept in my purse at all times, as well as my, ahem, Walkman (remember those? No?)

The second Tool which really helps me is my Menu Planner. Now this I like to have on paper as well, and I always keep it posted above the desk in the family office. No more phone calls asking what’s for dinner! I found this adorable and useful menu planner for FREE on the web and print them out as I need them. I fill out my menu planner every Sunday. NOW-just because I plan out the entire week doesn’t mean the planner is set in stone. I prefer to think of my menu planner as my “safety net.” Sometimes things happen and we might end up eating out or with friends, but the planned meal is always there if we need it. We recently had company visiting for 5 days and I still went ahead and planned a dinner for every night they were here-we ended up eating at home at least 3 of those nights and it was so nice not to have to endure endless “So what do you feel like having?” conversations! I don’t know about you, but in our family those can go on for hours.

The third tool I use is my Mini Daily Docket, which I downloaded from one of my favorite home-management site, Simplemom. I fill this out every night for the next day. This is useful in just planning my day in general, it’s a small half page to-do list where I can jot down all the things that seem too trivial or tedious to enter into my Blackberry’s calendar (like “pick up 2 avocados”) and it’s so much easier just to have that 1/2 a letter-size piece of paper to throw into my purse every night instead of carrying a big filofax. But one of my favorite features is that at the very top of the page each day is a box that says “What’s For Dinner?” Having “Chicken Parm and Salad, 6points” there helps me keep my eating in check all day long.

What about YOU? What’s helping to simplify your dining? What’s challenging?

Wishing you love with extra cheese,
Nacho Mama