How To Stomp Belly Fat And Enjoy A Flat Abdomen

Getting rid of belly fat is an admirable task, but you’re not the first one to propose such a mission. Belly fat is notoriously known as an outfit ruined and people often times complain about it. It also has a reputation for being something hard to get rid of, as opposed fat from other parts of the body. But once you are determined to eliminate belly fat and make it a thing of the past, it can’t do anything to stop you.

If you’re looking for ways in which you can burn the fat away and forever banish belly fat from the temple that is your body, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we will be taking a look at what is required in order to efficiently and permanently eliminate belly fat.

Always on the run

You might have thought that all you need for a flat belly is to do a thousand crunches every day and that should set you up for success.  That’s quite a straight forward approach but it is also unnecessary. What you can and should do however is keep moving and keep your heart rate up. Jogging is widely considered as one of the best ways in which you can burn belly fat ( and all types of fat, for that matter). Through jogging, you can say goodbye to belly fat fairly easily. This is because belly fat is visceral fat that is downed fast by body movement empowered activities like jogging, bike riding and of course swimming. It is recommended that you take up jogging for about 12 miles per week. That should get you where you need to go. It’s up to you to determine how much jogging you do each day although a constant average amount might serve you best.

Protein rule

Another vital element in belly fat burning is to up your protein intake from every meal. Belly fat storage is encouraged by the body when it begins to take in larger amounts of insulin as per the body’s reaction to aging. Protein on the other hand combats the resistance of insulin in the body and thus reduces the amount of fat that is stored on your belly. If you want to lose belly fat, than you should really look into increasing how much protein you consume in relation to other nutrients, so we’re not talking about just adding more protein over everything you already eat.

One trick that gives exemplary results is taking one or two tablespoons of vinegar each day. It is believed that the acetic acid produced protein which enter your body after vinegar consumption do a lot of work in terms of burning fat.

Yoga

The bane of belly fat are aerobic exercises. Consider enrolling in a yoga class to burn down some belly fat. This works because yoga reduces the body’s cortisol levels, which is a supporter of belly fat. Yoga doesn’t have to be a long lasting endeavor at the end of a drive. You can practice a couple of yoga poses at home, in only 10 minutes of your time.

February Giveaway: $100 Amazon or PayPal Cash

Do you need some extra cash to help with groceries or gas? Or perhaps you have a wish list item you've been wanting for some time? Then you have to enter this giveaway hosted by myself and a group of amazing bloggers. There's a $100 cash prize up for grabs! Details are below, good luck! 

How to enter: There are 10 ways to enter this giveaway and each one is worth 5 entries. If you’re already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts February 13 at midnight EST and ends February 28 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner’s choice.
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18 Common Words & What You Can Use Instead

Source: www.grammarcheck.net

The Family Files - Can Siblings With Big Age Differences Get Along Well?

These kids of mine are truly something special. They are all so different for the most part, yet have some striking similarities. Their ages are now 22, 20, and soon-to-be 9. It's funny, I often call William an "only child" because his sisters are adults. The nice part is that his big sisters come home from work/school and are fully ready to do child-like things with him. He always complains that his siblings are his biggest botherers 😆The girls are fully obsessed with their little brother. Every little thing he does is so cute to them. Oh, and the fact that he is the most adorable little thing makes everything even cuter! This is why they stay in his face. 

The older siblings do indeed start stuff with the little one. William will be so calm and quiet all day until they get home. That's when the adult children start to behave like little children. I admit, it's a lot of fun seeing the bond between the three of them. William will be the first one to get sad if one of his sisters have to go out of town or are spending the night away from home. By the way, he calls them "my girls". He asks me all day, "When will my girls be home?" And when they do finally get home.....

There are so many days where my husband and I listen to those kids laugh together, talk to each other through the walls, or get into some sort of mischief that results in all of them getting yelled at. It reminds us of how very blessed we are to have children who really love each other and enjoy time together. Our biggest hope is that they will be this way forever.

Do you have children with big age differences? Do they get along well?

Give Your Valentine The Gift Of Power With MyCharge HUBPLUS

Do you have your Valentine's Day gift ready for your Sweetie yet? If not, you better hurry up and get him/her something that is sure to make them feel loved and appreciated. This year, skip the candy and flowers and give them what they really want-- The gift of power! The HUBPLUS Portable Charger from myCharge is a great idea for your Valentine. After all, who doesn't use electronic devices daily? 

The HUBPLUS portable charger is unique because you can charge up to 3 devices at once while you are on-the-go! There are two built-in cables for your iPhone and other micro-USB device, as well as a standard USB port. This makes carrying charging cords a thing of the past. If you travel often, this is a must-have! The best part is that the power bank lasts a long time and can be recharged by plugging it directly into an electric outlet.

I plugged the lightening cable into my iPhone and it charged fully in less than 20 minutes. Of course individual charging time will vary based on make and age of your device. I think about those long car trips we take and how every time my son's tablet will start losing power. Now we can take along our myCharge HUBPLUS and his tablet will stay juiced up for the ride. The compact design and light weight is ideal for taking it anywhere you want. You don't ever want to get caught out there with no battery life for your devices. 

The myCharge HUBPLUS would make a great gift for any occasion. It can be purchased here for $79.99. Be sure to follow myCharge on Facebook and Twitter for the latest promotions and product updates.

I received a product sample from myCharge for an honest review. All opinions are my own as always. 

$100 Amazon or PayPal Cash Giveaway

I've teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you another great giveaway.   All you need is a Twitter account to enter. See the full details below and good luck! 

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How to enter: There are 20 Twitter accounts. Each account is worth one entry. Follow all 20 accounts for 20 entries into this giveaway. If you're already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts February 5 at midnight EST and ends February 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner's choice.

Mom Files Is 10 Years Old

I seriously can't believe that 10 years ago, my husband bought the domain, momfiles.com. He is actually the one who believed that it was going to become something very special. He pushed encouraged me to start this blog although I really didn't want to. No lie, I did not believe him. Who would bother to read my blog? Where would I even find readers? I decided to humor him and figured I'd try this whole blog thing and see what happens. This came with very little expectation of any kind. I was simply doing it as a online journal and a place to connect with like-minded people.

Fast forward ten years... I had no idea that blogging would bring so much added value to my life, and I'm not talking about income. It has connected me with so many great people all over the country. Crafters, home cooks, interior designers, tech specialists, artists, writers, and regular every day folks. I have bonded and become really good friends with some truly amazing people. Some communicate with me regularly via text, phone, and social media. If I'm going through something and need someone to talk to, I'm covered. I really needed that. I think being a stay-at-home mom for so long makes me feel lonely sometimes. My blog friends seem to fill that void and I don't even have to leave home (score!).

I have really enjoyed engaging with my readers and it brings me joy when I get the occasional comment from those I started out with. I hear a lot of other bloggers ask the question, "Does anyone actually read blogs anymore?" I say, yes! It makes me so happy when someone tells me that they searched my blog for a particular recipe or they bought something based off of a past review I did. I appreciate the trust that is shown.

One of the greatest things about this blog is the fact that I have 10 years of family memories. I've shared so many milestones, experiences, funny videos (remember Vent Day?), heartfelt thoughts, reviews, birthdays, disappointments, and even some very random things. I have always felt like you all celebrated with us, cheered for us, cried for us, or just simply listened.

I truly appreciate all of my readers and social media connections. You are the reason I'm still here. I go through my times of wanting to scrap everything and shut down shop. Then someone will message me and tell me they loved something I posted recently that really helped them at the time they needed it most. I'm always very happy to help anyone that I can.

I want to say, thank you! Thank you all for connecting with me. I genuinely feel like some of the best people I've ever known are those I've never even met in real life.

Thanks for reading!
xoxo

How Hard Water Can Affect Your Child’s Skin?

People often don’t realize the impact of water on their skin. The experience you have after bathing depends a lot upon the kind of water your tank consists of. Your tank could either consist of hard water or soft water. If you feel like when you come out of the shower, your skin feels itchy and irritated than it could be a sign that your water maybe hard. Now the skin of adults is more hardy and resistant to different kinds of water, however, you should carefully consider the kind of water you bathe your adolescent with.

What hard water does to your skin is that it leaves it scummy since hard water doesn’t easily form leather with soap. This could also lead to clogged pores which in turn cause pimples and acne. But that’s not all, people who use hard water find that their skin is usually itchy and dry and they use lotions and creams to moisturize their skin. This also leads to eczema.

While, studies have shown that water which consists of minerals that makes it hard isn’t necessarily bad for your health, there are a few evidences which show that hard water could lead to eczema in little children.

The study was conducted by researchers who made a connection between hard water and eczema. They determined that children who were exposed to hard water had an 87% higher chance of developing this condition.

How to deal with hard water

Places where ground water is used are usually more likely to get hard water because the water passes through stones and rocks and it picks up minerals like calcium. There are regions where there is high tendency of hard water as opposed to other regions.

There are a few tips and tricks through which you can combat this problem. So for example if you are bathing your infant then you can use a soap which produces leather and is made specifically for hard water in order to prevent eczema. For laundry and doing the dishes you can use detergents and liquids which are formulated to be used with hard water.

You can also install a water softener system in your home if you are really concerned about your child’s health. The initial years of a child’s development are always crucial so feel free to look for water softener options and install the one which seems to work for you. We found some great choices online at Ukh2o.

One of the best reasons why it is important to have clean water apart from saving your infant from eczema is that it is generally better to clean with soft water. You will be able to clean up your dishes and clothes with way less detergent and soap. And soft water is better for your skin as well. With hard water you end up using a lot of soap which actually isn’t good for your skin and ends up making the problem bigger than it is.

Making your water soft is not a solution for any kind of skin disease or chronic condition. But, it is definitely a wise step in order to avoid irritation and dryness of skin and getting rid of certain health problems.

There have been a large number of researches determining the effect of hard water on skin and how it causes conditions like eczema. Hard water is something that researchers claim affects 20% of kids 11 and under, as well as 8% of teenagers and adults.

How to figure out whether your tap consists of hard water

Water residue around the sink and soap scum is one of the signs of hard water. If you wash your dishes and you seem to think that they can never get clean enough than that may be a sign of hard water. Apart from that if you always seem to need more soap whether you are bathing, doing the dishes or washing clothes then that is also one of the signs.

If you can’t figure out for yourself whether your tap consists of hard water or not then you can take this inquiry to your water utility company and they should be able to tell you whether that’s the truth or not.

Are Aquarium Fish Good Pets For Kids?

Plenty of studies have shown the positive impacts of having pets for your children. Not only does having pets provide health related benefits but they also provide them with a great learning experience. Children with pets are said to be more kind, loving and tend to become more responsible. These are some of the reasons in getting a pet for your kids.

But often times due to several reasons (like allergies) parents don’t get a feline or a canine creature for their kids. So what other options are available for these parents? If your kid hasn’t owned a pet before, then fish would be a good option to consider.

Fish can prove to be amazing pets if taken care of properly. However, without careful consideration, you could end up with the wrong fish for your kids.

Albeit, keeping fish as a pet will instill responsibility and ownership in your kids, not every species of fish is meant to be kept as a pet by kids.

Quite a lot of breeds require way more attention and commitment than others. Knowing which fish would be ideal for your kid is the building block in the process of being able to provide your kid with the perfect pet fish.

Once you have decided on letting your children keep fish as pets, you need to prepare your aquarium for them so that the fish have a safe and secure enclosure.
Initially, regardless of what tank you think of purchasing, you’ll need to be patient. Prior to adding fish to your aquarium, you’ll ideally need to wait for around two weeks. This is because the filter needs to produce the healthy bacteria that will aid in removing the fish waste. If the fish tank’s not ready, the fish can die from ammonia poisoning.

You should discuss the importance of keeping the water tank clean with your kids. To make them responsible you can also ask them to clean the water tank themselves. However, if the aquarium is situated in a location which is not easily accessible for your children then its probably best you do it yourself. However, if it is easy to get to and your floor won’t be ruined by a few splashes then let your children take care of it.

Also make sure that you keep your kids well informed on the dangers of overfeeding the fish. This could also cause the ammonia levels to rise which could cause your fish to perish. You can also come up with a chart which has details of what every person in the family is responsible for and put it on the fridge.

The kind of fish you should get for your children can vary, as discussed before, it’d be best if you get a low maintenance fish for your children. But you should also make sure to get a strong and healthy breed of fish which can survive harsher conditions in its enclosure, because if it dies your children could get really upset.

Think about getting a few fish instead of just one. It is always fun to have a tank with plenty of fish to look at and your children will also have a good time watching them swim around. However, make sure that the aquarium is big enough to provide enough room for a few fish in lieu of just one. You should also consider getting colorful fish to keep your children attention. Unlike adults, kids don’t understand logic quite as well; they get attracted to whatever is aesthetically pleasing. Therefore you should get them the kind of fish they would appreciate the presence of instead of just giving them something they wouldn’t know the importance of.

Platys are a good option to look at because in addition to being hardy they are also compatible with other fish which makes them a suitable option for your aquarium.
Apart from Platys, Swordtails are also a good option to consider. They are colorful, hardy and also very playful which makes them a lot of fun to watch.

It is probably best to get your children involved right from the start, from when you get the aquarium so that they feel the ownership of it and become responsible. Tell them about how everything works and what the benefits of doing some things are.

All You Can Eat Pancakes is Back At IHOP

IHOP, the pioneer of the breakfast all-day, everyday movement has announced the extension of its wildly popular 'All You Can Eat Pancakes' until February 12! Since its inception in 1958, IHOP and their world famous buttermilk pancakes have remained a beloved All-American institution and breakfast icon for nearly six decades. Now until February 12, IHOP is offering guests unlimited orders of its freshly made world famous Buttermilk Pancakes!

Dine-in only, participation varies. 

The Benefits Of Tabata For Busy Moms

I wanted to pass along this great (quick) workouts that you can do if you are crunched for time.

TRY TABATA: AN EXPLOSIVE AND EFFICIENT WORKOUT

Countless fitness trends have come and gone over the years. Each one promises to help you slim down, tone up, and achieve your fitness goals. Everyone has a different goal in mind when they commit to a fitness plan, and with hard work and dedication most exercise programs will produce results. But what happens if you can’t carve out 60 minutes a day to get your sweat on or you find it hard to stick to a specific fitness plan? Whether you need a quick burn or want to shake up your routine, Tabata training will deliver.

Benefits of Tabata

Improved Stamina: Tabata improves your aerobic and anaerobic threshold. Your aerobic capacity is a measurement of your maximum oxygen uptake during exercise. Your body requires more oxygen when you work out. The rate at which your muscles and tissue are able to absorb oxygen is known as your VO2 max. Most people have a VO2 max between 30 and 60 ml/kg/min. The higher your VO2 max, the more potential you have for aerobic endurance. As you do Tabata training, your VO2 max will improve, along with your stamina.

Anaerobic capacity refers to the maximum amount of energy your body can produce without oxygen. By increasing your anaerobic capacity, you can exert yourself at a maximum effort for a longer period of time. An easy way to measure improvements in your anaerobic capacity is to time yourself while sprinting at 100 percent effort. Record your time and distance. After six weeks of Tabata training, revisit this challenge. You will be amazed at how much farther you can run at maximum effort.

Increased Metabolic Rate and Fat Loss: High-intensity interval training increases our metabolic rate by almost 15 times the basal metabolic rate. Your basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy your body uses naturally at rest. Not only are you burning an average of 15 calories a minute, but the increased demand Tabata puts on your body will increase your BMR and torch fat for hours after your workout.

Muscle Tissue Retention: If you want to improve your cardiovascular fitness but are concerned about losing hard-earned muscle, Tabata training is for you. The stress placed on your muscle tissue during Tabata sends signals to you body that more muscle tissue is needed and the ratio of lean body mass to fat will increase. If you choose full-body workouts that use more muscle mass, you could actually end up increasing your muscle tissue.

No Time Constraints: No time to workout? Can’t get to the gym? These excuses won’t fly when it comes to Tabata training. All you need are four minutes and a pair of sneakers to complete this workout.

How to do Tabata

Tabata is a 4-minute workout that consists of eight timed intervals. Each interval is broken down into 20 seconds of all-out exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest. Tabata training is going to mentally and physically push you to your limit. If you are doing this workout correctly, you should feel completely exhausted and find it nearly impossible to finish the final interval.

People often use this form of workout to improve their cardiovascular fitness, but Tabata training is versatile and can also be use to improve weight training and core strength. Beginners should concentrate on cardio, such as running, cycling, and rowing, or bodyweight exercises. Whatever your focus, to get the most out of your workout, it is important you choose exercises that engage a large number of muscles.

Tabata Warm-Up

It’s recommended that you do a 5-minute, full-body dynamic warmup before you attempt your first set of Tabata. A dynamic warm-up consists of a series of movements that will engage the muscles you are going to use in your workout. This warm-up will increase your body temperature and range of motion and activate your nervous system. When done properly a dynamic warm-up can improve your performance.

Mix and match these exercises to create a 5-minute dynamic warm-up. Make sure you choose exercises that engage the muscle groups you plan to work out.

Walking lunges
Jumping Jacks
Arm Circles
High Knees
Side Bends
Front Leg Swing
Push-Ups
Burpees
Butt Kicks
Side Shuffles

Tabata Workouts

If you’re new to fitness or are short on time, do one set of Tabata exercises two to three times a week. To get the most out of your workout, it is important to give your body time to rest. Leave a day or two between workouts for your muscles to recover. Once you’re ready to get started, all you will need for most of these exercises is a stopwatch (we use the timer on our phone) and lots of motivation. There are endless options for exercises you can use in your Tabata workout. I have listed below a few for you to choose from based on your fitness level and goals.


Source: eReplacementParts.com

Valentine's Gifts For The Tech-Loving Fashionista

Valentine's Day is coming up in a few short weeks and you can't forget to get something special for all the loves of your life. Candy and flowers are sometimes overrated, and most women today prefer more long-lasting, useful gifts. When you really think about it, just about everyone carries a smart phone or other digital devices. If you have a fashion and tech lover in your life, you should check out the gorgeous phone cases, wallets, and clutches from Gresso Miami. Their tech protection products are crafted with eco-leather that can withstand everyday wear and tear. Also, the collections have matching items for those who like to be matchy-matchy.

I received some samples for me and my daughters to test out on our iPhones in the following styles and colors below. The difficult part was deciding who would gets what!

The Allure Collection English Rose Wallet is so beautifully designed and has an excellent grip for your phone, along with a few spots to hold your license or cards conveniently. This one is perfect for the lady who sometimes doesn't want to carry a purse or for when you are going to a venue where you want to carry as little as possible. This wallet retails for $30 and there are other colors and patterns available to suit different tastes.

The Constellation Clutch in burgundy (comes in black too) is also perfect for the gal who prefers to carry less. This pretty clutch has 99 sparkling crystals that makes it perfect to go from day-to-night. It holds a phone up to 5 inches and has multiple slots for bank cards and driver's license. This one retails for $70, but I heard it is supposed to be going on sale for Valentine's Day.

This cute snap-on case is from the Extravaganza collection and has a little bit of a retro flair to it. It is crafted using 3D printing technology and provides the perfect lip along the edges to keep your phone protected. This sophisticated case comes in three colors and is on sale for only $15. This is a bargain!

This last case is from the Shiny Crystals Collection and is perfect for girls who love blingy, shiny things. This contemporary case looks like the crystals are attached directly to your phone. It's so pretty in person and provides great protection for your device. Trust me, this is a girly case that any woman would love! It retails for only $27.

There are so many beautiful choices on the site and if you are looking to give something that looks more Valentine's-y, you should take a peek at the Victorian Gardens Collection. The feminine floral patterns with a vintage twist are sure to please your special Valentine.

Of course Valentine's Day isn't just for the ladies! Gresso Miami carries some very nice cases and wallets for men in their Albion Collection. They have a sharp, masculine look that your guy would appreciate.

If you are in search of the perfect gift for the tech lover in your life, I highly recommend Gresso Miami products. Be sure to follow Gresso Miami on Facebook and Instagram for product updates and sales alerts.

I received products samples for review and all opinions stated are 100% my own as always.