FOR MOMS

My Current Coffee Crush is…

May 23, 2018

You can tell by the well worn travel coffee mug in this photo that I use it… A lot;) I’ve written about my favorite beverage before in A Perfect Cup of Pour Over Coffee. Starting my day with a great cup of joe just puts me in a good mood. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures. That being said, I’m also very picky about my beans. So, when I post about finding a coffee I love, you can bet it’s got to be good! My current coffee “crush” is from a local roaster in Smyrna, GA just north of Atlanta, called Rev Roasters Coffee. In fact, I’m drinking a cup now, and I’m in a great mood!

I hadn’t heard of Rev Roasters until a few months ago. They had a booth at the American Crafts Council show I attended in Atlanta. (A note to organizers – coffee at an art or craft show is always a good idea;) Rev Roasters was serving samples of a very dark roast at the show, and although I’m really not a super dark-roast person, as a coffee lover, I’m always up for trying something different. I think coffee is a lot like wine – so many different beans, grown all over the world, roasted in special ways to bring out the flavors. Hmmm….is coffee sommelier a job? I’d probably never sleep again, but it would be a lot of fun;)

The dark roast from Rev was honestly excellent – strong, dark, acidic, with notes of burnt chocolate. If you like dark coffee you’d probably have loved it. I’m more of a medium to strong, rich and creamy coffee girl. So, I decided to check out the different coffees they had displayed in the booth and chose one to take home. I selected their “Silver Bullet blend”. The bag listed “the components” as “Brazil Cerrado and Guatemala Antigua” and the flavor as ” Creamy and Balanced with a bit of Black Cherry”. Their website says,”with flavors of sweet black cherry that accompany a creamy and rich body, the Silver Comet was made to be a favorite among those who need flavors that stand up to the test of time.”

So…a ten second grind in my burr grinder, grounds placed into the Chemex filter, three quick pours of “just off the boil” H2O and…WOW! Honestly this coffee is incredible! Smooth, medium roast, strong, not weak, (have I said I don’t like weak coffee?) and full bodied. I finished the first bag I bought at the show and took a ride over to Rev a few weeks ago and bought two more bags. It’s that good!

If you find yourself in North Atlanta, take a ride over to Rev Roasters in Smyrna and check ’em out. The shop is the epitome of what a coffee house should be. Bonus – it’s only a mile or two from Sun Trust stadium. Although, in my opinion, this coffee is not inexpensive (a 12 oz bag will run you $14) it will also make you about 20 6-8oz cups of coffee. For 50 cents a cup, and a guaranteed good mood, it’s totally worth it for me. I’ll have to check to see if they offer discounts for repeat buyers;) If they do I’ll share with an update.

Here is a link to Rev Roasters. You can also follow them here on instagram. If you’re a coffee lover take a minute and check out their site. If you are in the North Atlanta area stop by their shop and try some one of their blends. Let me know what you think.

-Kate

Foot Powder? – The Best Deodorizing Foot Powder!

May 8, 2018

Are you looking for the best deodorizing foot and shoe powder? I found myself Googling foot powder a few months ago. My daughter was in Boston dealing with lots of snow, heavy layers of clothing, and several pair of boots, that were great in the cold, but too hot sitting for hours in a lecture hall. I told her to make sure to put some foot powder in her boots so they would stay fresh smelling. (I grew up in the north. I know what can happen to boots over a season.) She asked me what she should buy. Hmmmm -it’s been so long since I bought it, I’m not really sure. The nerd in me decided to do a little research online and see what she should pick up. That’s when I stumbled across Rocket Pure.

foot powder - managedbymom.com — My Daughter’s Winter LL Bean Boots

What caught my attention and made me visit their website was the fact that they use natural ingredients in their deodorizing foot and shoe powder. I consider myself “natural-ish”. I try to use natural ingredients whenever possible, but I buy what works the best. To this point I had always bought foot powder for shoes like Dr. Scholl’s, but I was intrigued. I read the product information. Here is what their website says about the foot powder:

Natural Lemon Deodorizing Foot Powder – Rocket Pure

“Fights foot and shoe odor, freshens feet, sports shoes, and sneakers. Deodorant powder can go directly on feet, or in shoes and socks. Made in the U.S.A. of natural ingredients, no harsh or toxic chemicals, paraben free. Made of cornstarch, bamboo stem powder and essential oils of cedarwood, clary sage and rosemary. Rocket Pure Guarantee: 100% Satisfaction for the Lifetime of the Product, or 100% Refund or Replacement.”

Image from Rocket Pure Website — Photo: Rocket Pure Website

After reading the reviews it seemed lots of people liked the “lemon” scented powder. Lemon scented deodorizing foot and shoe powder? I don’t know. Doesn’t that seems like a strange scent? I decided to send an email to the company asking about the scents they had available and if they had samples. I had a response within hours from the founder of Rocket Pure – Alex. Talk about great customer service!

I explained I wanted to find some foot powder for winter boots, and although their lemon scent had great reviews, I couldn’t imagine it. He said he would be happy to send my daughter a sample of a couple of the scents at school and she could see what she liked. She had the samples within just a few days. He even followed up with me via email that week and asked for my feedback on the product – positive or negative. Okay, I thought, I’m already loving this company. I hope the product is good because I wanted to buy it just because his customer service was so great.

My daughter tried the lemon and cedar scents, one a deodorizing foot and shoe powder and one a spray, for a week. She really liked the lemon scent and said she thought the powder worked better than the spray for her winter boots. I was really grateful that he had sent the samples because it saved me money, and the hassle of returning or exchanging a product she may not have liked.

We purchased the Lemon Foot and Shoe Deoderizing Powder for her in Boston and I decided to try the Eucalyptus Foot and Shoe Deodorizing Powder for my husband’s running shoes here in Atlanta. Both have worked great! I am super happy with their foot powder! The bonus for us is that, since the ingredients are natural, I’m sure we’ll also be using it all summer inside our flats (here is an article you may be interested in if you wear flats) and sandals because it can go directly on our feet, not just get sprinkled into our shoes.

I also bought the Tea Tree and Lemon Grass Natural Hand and Food Balm. I like the clean scent of tea tree oil and the website mentioned it was great on dry heels (which truth be told we all get a bit of in the winter, right?) I honestly haven’t used it on my feet yet, but promise I will try it soon. What I have used it on is my hands, specifically dry areas on the back of my hands, and around my cuticles to keep my nails looking nice. It comes in a convenient little tin, and when you open it you just have to swipe a little of it because it smells so nice and looks so smooth. Its convenient and super moisturizing.

Anyone who reads this blog should know that I only share information here that I’ve personally tested. I do not receive compensation for any of my opinions, and I’m very picky;) Rocket Pure is really a great product. The foot powder works great for northern winter boots, stinky running shoes, and it feels nice on bare feet.

If you haven’t tried Rocket Pure Deodorizing Foot and shoe Powder yet, and you’re a runner, have kids (or a spouse ) who are athletes, or have kids with sweaty little feet (LOL) consider giving it a try. I love that it smells fresh and clean without heavy perfumes and that we are using natural ingredients and not a bunch of chemicals on our skin. I also love that my laundry room, where everybody keeps their smelly shoes, doesn’t smell like a high school locker room anymore – bonus!

Here’s a link to Rocket Pure. If you’re looking for some foot powder give them a try – and let me know what you think!

-Kate

EATALY – A little Italy in the USA

April 23, 2018

EATALY – A little Italy in the USA

Have you been to an EATALY yet? If not, and you live within 50 miles of one, you need to plan a field trip after you read this. I promise it will be worth the drive.

I had never heard of EATALY until last weekend. We were in Boston, visiting our daughter who goes to college in the city. We literally stumbled across it, and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I was honestly SO excited about this place that after wandering around for nearly a half-hour taking it all in, I told my husband I had to go back through and take pictures, because I knew I needed to share this with fellow “foodies” who have not yet experienced it. (I put as many as I could in this post.)

EATALY is a bit hard to categorize. Yes, it’s a store. You can browse and purchase things, but you can also eat there, enjoy happy hour, take a class, or just enjoy the environment they’ve created. I would have to call it more of a “shopping experience”. Think Disney World/Epcot for Italian food crossed with a Whole Foods store. Very cool!

EATALY is an Italian company whose name was created by combining the words EAT and ITALY. Their first location in Turin, Italy was opened in 2007 and they now have 13 “shops” across the country. There are currently five EATALY shops in the United States one each in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago and two in New York City – Flat Iron and Downtown. The company currently has plans to open a sixth location in Las Vegas later this year. Their tag line is “Eat Better. Live Better” and their goal really seems to be to bring the experience of Italian food and the Italian way of life to the rest of the world.

EATALY Boston is located in the Shops at the Prudential Shopping Center located on Boylston Street and it is H-U-G-E. They have created smaller shops within the larger store for fresh produce, meat, fish, pasta, salad, wine, desserts and more. In addition they have take away counters so you can grab prepared food and find a small table to eat it in store or take it with you. Finally, they have at least five restaurants where you can sit down and be served some of the freshest Italian food you have ever had. It’s great for lunch, happy hour and dinner with the family, friends or large groups.

Now, all that being said, as someone who grew up in Boston, I would still have to go to the North End in Boston if I wanted to have a romantic Italian dinner and some much needed authenticity. EATALY and the North End are totally different. EATALY is a bit upscale, modern and a great place to visit. There were far too many people there when we went back around dinner time for it to be a romantic dining spot (although it was the weekend before the Boston Marathon, so it may have been extra busy because of that.) The location, which is about 1.5 -2 miles away from the North End gives folks who work and live in Back Bay and South Boston a great local option for great Italian food and authentic Italian ingredients and groceries.

Since we were only in Boston for the weekend I didn’t have the need to buy groceries, but the foodie in me had a GREAT time looking at everything they offered. I spoke with a baker who told me the flour they use in their bread comes directly from a flour mill in Italy. The bread is prepared with the same materials and in the same way as they do it in Italy. That connection, and the thought that the bite I take here tastes exactly like it does in Italy, without having to take the trip, was a real lure for me. (Someone is a marketing genius in this operation!) I asked what the rustic chocolate bread they offered was like as I had never heard of a bread like that before. He promptly cut one open and gave us a sample…swoon. It was amazing! I immediately bought a loaf. We left it with our daughter to share with her friends. I’m sure if he put the rest out as samples everyone who tasted it bought a loaf. I wish I had some right now.

I took the pictures of some of the restaurants below at about 10AM Saturday when we wandered through. When I tell you it was packed when we came back at 5:30 PM I mean you could hardly move. The wait for most of the restaurants was an hour. Again, it was Marathon weekend, so a regular weekend might not be as bad. Call ahead and check on the wait.

In addition to groceries, wine, take away food and happy hour they also host daily events. A quick look at the EATALY BOSTON CALENDAR finds things like “Sip and Savor” a wine and cheese event, “How to make spring Risotto” and “Wine and Dine”. Each event gives an overview and the cost associated with it. I can tell you that this week’s events are already sold out. If you want to attend something at EATALY check their calendar early and plan ahead.

I hope someone at EATALY Corporate is planning an EATALY shop for Atlanta;) Maybe Atlantic Station? Or Avalon? It would really add to either of these destinations and provide some new Italian dining experiences for the south.

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of EATALY – sorry couldn’t resist;) Check out one of their locations if you find yourself within driving distance or staying in a city that has one. I really think you’ll love it!

Kate’s Breakfast Cookies

March 19, 2018

Today I want to share my original recipe for Kate’s breakfast cookies.

Did I say breakfast cookies?

Yes. I. Did.

When my kids were little we always joked about how they wished they could eat cookies for breakfast. I toyed around with recipes I found, or was given, but if they were actually healthy, they never really tasted very good. Or if they tasted good, they were not actually very healthy. The eternal conundrum.

Fast forward a “bunch” of years.

If you read my blog, you know both my kids are now in college (sniff…sniff…I miss you guys!) Last month I sent them each a few dozen shortbread chocolate chip cookies for Valentines Day. A few weeks later I was talking with my son at OU. He said he liked them so much he’d been eating them for breakfast – and had just finished his last two. I literally burst out laughing! Some things never change.

So, I decided maybe it was time to give breakfast cookies another try. There are so many healthy ingredients readily available in the grocery store these days, and I’ve discovered healthier alternatives and new techniques over the years. I created a recipe this past week that I think they – and you – will love! I’m going to send some to the kids at school…and get their brutally honest opinions. The husband gave me a two thumbs up;)

Now…this is not a Toll House chocolate chip cookie. This is a healthier, higher fiber, protein packed treat! And, honestly, I think it tastes awesome (but of course I’m a little biased.) The key to these cookies is the ground oatmeal and the brown sugar. I’ve found a few recipes over the years that use ground oatmeal and only brown sugar seem to allow baked goods to keep their “softness”.

These are super easy to make! The only ingredient that may be difficult to find is the wheat bran. If they don’t have it at your local grocery store make a Whole Foods run – that’s where I get mine. Or get it online – Amazon also sells it.

Grab two of these for breakfast on the go. They’re great with milk, tea or coffee. (I’m eating one right now with a cup of coffee from Rev Roasters – will tell you about them another time.) Or pack a few in a baggie and throw them in your purse or backpack with a water bottle. I packed two of them in my purse for a snack while my friend and I walked around the American Craft Council show last Friday. They were delicious and they kept my hunger at bay.

Because of the oatmeal, wheat bran, cranberries and pecans, this is also a great way to get some much needed fiber into the diets of kiddos (or grown ups) who…shall we say…need a little extra…ummm….help. Let them eat one or two a few days in a row and they should feel better. The best part is they will have no idea that the delicious cookies they ate were what helped.

Please give this recipe a try and let me know how you like them.

Kate

4.5 from 13 reviews

Kate's Breakfast Cookies

Save Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

27 mins

I hope you will love these!

Author: Kate Wittschen - managedbymom.com

Serves: 24 cookies

Ingredients

1 Cup Quaker "Old Fashioned Oats" - ground into powder in your food processor
1 Cup Wheat Bran (I use Bob's Red Mill Unprocessed Miller's Wheat Bran)
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
1.5 teaspoons of baking soda
½ teaspoon of salt
½ cup of butter ( 1 stick) softened
½ cup of brown sugar firmly packed
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 Eggs
orange zest from one orange
1 Cup of chopped pecans
½ Cup of dried cranberries (I used the lower sugar ones )
1 Cup of mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Put the 1 cup of Quaker "Old Fashioned Oats" into your food processor and run it for about 3 minutes or until the oatmeal no longer looks like oats, but is a slightly grainy powder - like flour;) Leave it there for now.
Put the ½ cup of softened butter and the 1 cup of brown sugar into a large bowl and mix for several minutes - until light and fluffy.
Add two eggs to this mixture and continue to mix for another one to two minutes.
Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla and mix until well incorporated
In a separate bowl add the ground oatmeal powder from your food processor, then add the wheat bran, the whole wheat flour, the baking soda, baking powder and salt. Use a whisk to mix them all together well.
Add the orange zest to this mixture of dry ingredients and whisk well to distribute.
Add the dry flour mixture to the large bowl containing the butter/sugar/egg mixture and mix well to incorporate. Scrape down the sides if using a stand mixer to make sure you get it uniform.
Add the 1 cup chopped pecans, the ½ cup of dried cranberries and the 1/ cup of mini chocolate chips all at the same time and mix just until incorporated - about 30 seconds.
Put parchment paper on your baking sheet and roll dough into small balls - approximately 1.5- 2 inches in size. Place 12 balls onto the cookie sheet and press down balls with your fingers or the bottom of a floured glass to make 12 flat disks about 3 inches wide;).
Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 12 minutes - just until bottoms of cookies start to look golden...not dark brown please;)
Cool and enjoy with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea! SO YUMMY right out of the oven!
Makes approximately 24 cookies. Leave out what you will eat in a day or two. Put the rest in a zip lock bag, seal and put in the freezer. Take them out when the first batch is gone. Voila! Fresh cookies at your fingertips!

The BEST Way To Get Rid Of Ants…and pictures to prove it!

February 28, 2018

So you want to know the BEST way to get rid of ants and you want proof? Well you’ve come to the right blog my friends!

I currently live in the south, where there are more bugs than you can shake a stick at. Unlike New England, where we freeze the crap out of bugs to make sure and kill a few million every winter, the south stays balmy enough to keep them all alive. Lovely.

Can you see the little critters crawling up the side of the window moulding below? (This was last week when the spring rain started driving them indoors.) So, I’ve been in Atlanta a while now, and I clearly understand that the term is not “extermination” it is “management“.

Every three to four years or so a band of “Argentinian” ants finds there way into my house, and into my neighbor’s houses, (cuz Lord knows we don’t want anyone to feel left out). These guys are teeny tiny. I have tried every way to fix this problem over the years, from expensive professional bug treatments to home made Borax solutions I found on Pinterest. I am finally an expert😉 and I have the photos to prove it. Are you ready? Above you see them? Below you don’t! (Well, you can see a few dead ones on the paper if you look closely.)

I finally found something at Home Depot a few years ago called Terro Liquid Ant Baits. Yes, the packaging says the active ingredient in these is from “Borax.” But… buying a box of Borax, making a solution and soaking cotton balls, etc. was never this effective. I promise. I’ve done it. HOWEVER… you have to know how to use this stuff properly…so keep reading…because these directions are not on the package. This is a Managed By Mom (from experience) exclusive.

DO THE FOLLOWING AND ANTS DISAPPEAR!

#1. When you see ants…don’t kill them! I know. This seems counterintuitive, but it’s important. Watch them. Follow the trail to determine where they are entering the room. This might take a minute or 10 minutes. I promise it’s worth your time.

#2. Once you’ve figured out where they are entering (probably through a wall, a crack, a door jam) put down something you can throw away – I like wax paper. Cut open one of these baits, and if it’s possible, dribble a little of the Terro liquid at the beginning of the trail right where they are entering. You don’t want these suckers walking 20 feet cuz they leave pheromone trails which is how they follow each other…and probably how they keep finding their way to my house every few years. In the photo above I put some on the tiles next to the window moulding which is why you see so many congregating there.

#3. As close to the entry point as possible put one or two of these bates with a little bit of the bait sprinkled leading up to it. I don’t take any chances people. Lead them to the poison. Then wash your hands very well with soapy water, whether or not you think you got any on your hands. (Sorry…Mom here…can’t shut it off.)

#4. Now, spray a paper towel well with Windex and wipe all around the perimeter of the area with the bait – if it’s a wipeable surface. Think – you are creating an invisible fence. Windex is one of the few things that can literally wipe out the ant pheromones they follow. I’ve been told it’s the ammonia. This way the ants only smell the bait and the pheromones left by other ants leading up to it. Very few will wander past it.

#5. Now the hard part…walk away. Yes. Just leave it, because watching this will give only you the willies. No lie – I get goosebumps watching this little suckers multiply as they make their way to the bait. It’s like they send out a freakin’ SOS. So walk away and let them eat. They won’t die while their eating it. They take it back inside their bodies to all their friends in the nest and wipe them out where they live. (Thank God, cuz I would not want to clean that up.)

#6 Within 24 hours you should see the number of ants dissipate and/or stop. This year it took about 36 hours till I didn’t see a single ant. A day and a half of goose pimples…wondering if they were gone..but they are! Yippee!!

#7. You’re not done yet. Now you need to plug or seal that tiny hole, crack, door jam, or however they got in. This year at my house it was literally a pin sized hole in the caulk between the tile and the window moulding. So I sealed it. Also throw away your wax paper and carefully wash off any residue that’s left with soap and water with paper towels and throw them away. (You don’t want this stuff on a sponge you’re going to wash the dishes with.) And wash those hands again. Then wipe over the area with Windex to erase any pheromones.

The problem should be over…at least for another few years. But if (or when) it happens again – you’re ready!

Let me know how it works for you!

Kate

Are Your Cute Flats Causing Your Knee Pain? 2018

February 13, 2018

Are your cute flats causing your knee pain? Flat shoes don’t cause problems. High heels cause problems. Right? Not so fast.

We’ve known for years that high heels can be the cause of pain by putting additional stress on your knees and the muscles surrounding them. They can also be the culprits of unexplained hip pain and put your back out of alignment. But did you know the same can be true for flats?!

If you have poorly defined arches, or flat feet, your ankles likely pronate a little or a lot. Pronating means your foot and ankle roll inward, and without a supportive shoe it can cause your ankle and knee to be thrown out of alignment which can result in pain and soreness in your ankle and knees. This can and does lead to hip and lower back pain – not to mention Advil and Tylenol. How do I know this? Experience my friends.

Over time pronation can result in inflammation of the anterior and posterior tibial tendons in your ankles and feet and can cause damage to the bones, ligaments and tendons in your feet. According to podiatrist Phillip Vasyli in this article published in Shape Magazine ,”Excess pronation is a condition that affects 75 percent of the population and has been related to many conditions, such as heel pain (otherwise known as plantar fasciitis), knee pain, and even lower-back pain”.

The problem with flats is that they usually have very little if any support. Think flip flops, ballet flats, even sandals and loafers. Most have a thin sole, which don’t provide any shock absorption. Even if there is some type of liner inside the shoe, it doesn’t have adequate arch support. They’re so easy to put on and comfortable around your feet, you think they must be good for you, but without any structure to stabilize your footbed problems can arise.

A good shoe that supports your foot will have a decent sole thickness, meaning you won’t feel the ground you’re walking on. They will also have some type of formed footbed including arch support to keep your foot and ankle from pronating, and possibly a slight depression where your heel hits, to cup your heel, and keep your foot aligned.

If you already have foot, ankle, knee, hip or lower back pain, ditch the flip flops and make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. Earlier is better. Don’t wait until you can’t bend your knee to see someone. The doctor will examine your feet and ankles. They’ll analyze the way you walk. Some even video tape your gait and can show you how your feet and ankles move when you walk. They should do a full exam and possibly take x-rays. If they recommend orthotics as a solution to your pain problems, there are usually options you can purchase though their office, but check the prices and shop around. It’s often cheaper to get ankle and knee braces, or orthotics, outside of the office, on amazon or at a good shoe store.

If you love wearing flats like I do, you have a couple of options. You can bite the bullet and go shopping for a pair of cute flats that have support built into them already. Below are some links to a few places to help you start your search for supportive flats. You may have to do some footwork (pun intended) to find a “cute” pair that have the support you need. They aren’t all as fashion forward as we’d like, but you can easily find a pair at one of these sites to wear with casual outfits that will ease your pain.

Another option is to buy the shoes you like and separately purchase an orthotic insert to put into them. Sneakers and athletic shoes are fairly easy to fit with inserts. My orthopedist recommended a brand called Super Feet Insoles which you can buy at most good shoe stores or online. They come in several colors indicating several different support structures. They are priced between $44.95 and $59.95.

I’ve found it difficult to put a full size insert into some shoes. But recently I found a great option for a pair of flats I already owned. My local New Balance store offers a “Fashion Orthotic Insert” and you can buy it in store. For some reason it isn’t on their website yet, but if you ask at a store the product number is NB100. I researched it and it is actually made by a company called Aetrex Worldwide Inc. You can buy it here on Amazon. (It just won’t say New Balance.) One pair of these inserts will run you about $45. They are light, fit easily into my flats, and have adhesive dots on the bottoms to make them stay in place. So far they are working out well for me.

We already do a lot of things proactively to take care of our health. We eat right, exercise, and take vitamins. We also need to take proactive measures when it comes to our feet. If we keep them in good shape they’ll be able to take us wherever we want to go for many years to come.

Be well:) And please share if you find a shoe insert that has helped you relieve your knee pain. I’d love to hear about it!

Kate