There are countless books, strategies and advice out there on how to get rich, save more, or retire comfortably.  But without four simple words, no one would stay financially comfortable for long.  Rich people know these four words, and I’m going to share their secret:

Live below your means.

The further below your means that you can live, the more wealth you can accumulate.  Are clipping coupons, conserving electricity, etc. great ideas?  Of course.  Will you get rich by doing them?  Probably not.  Financially comfortable families might clip coupons, but they realize considerable wealth by buying the $150,000 house when they can afford the $350,000 house.

Truly living below your means requires never buying things you can’t afford.  And being able to afford something means you can spend money on it and still have money left over for long-term savings, fun and emergencies.  It’s not easy, but it can be done.  Sure, you would rather drive a Mercedes than a minivan.  But, are you willing to delay your retirement in order to drive that Mercedes?

Living below your means signifies something different for everyone.  For some, it might mean living in a tiny apartment and rarely going out to eat.  For others, it might mean forgoing the exclusive country club membership or taking less extravagant vacations.  The key is to spend less than you make.  Every.  Single.  Month.  Sure, things come up, but budget for the unpredictable so that once all your bills are paid and unexpected expenses are accounted for, you still have money left over.

Who cares if you are still driving that %*^#@! minivan with the dented bumpers, gnawed handles (don’t ask) and apple-sauce-stained ceiling?!  At least you are living below your means.  Right?  Right?  And you, my friend, will have the last laugh.  Albeit in the same minivan you are driving now.

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There was ample parking and many areas to explore when we arrived at the Lazy 5 Ranch. Our ‘mall strollers’ would have had a hard time on the terrain, so we wrapped E in the moby which gave him a great view of the ‘business’ and S walked. The area is small enough for young walkers to handle. The petting zoo had sheep, goats and horses, and also housed non-petting animals as well, including kangaroos, camels, ring tailed lemurs, a pygmy zebu and a plethora of unique birds. The walk through the petting area was picturesque and beautifully landscaped, with many plants, shrubs and trees that I’d never seen before. We enjoyed strolling around and watching the animals and their playful antics as we waited for the wagon ride.

The wagon was pulled by three strong horses, who led us along the safari. We were given buckets of pellets to feed the animals. Initially, when the first animals trotted up to our wagon S was afraid, but once she saw everyone else feeding them she was excited to try it as well. This elicited many shrieks of glee, which the animals seemed unfettered by. We fed llamas, cattle, buffalo, brahma cattle, emus, giraffes and many other 4 footed friends. Many of the animals had crazy tongues that reached out for the pellets as S gently dropped them into their mouths. Water buffalo could be seen with only their heads sticking out of the large ponds. Car-sized cattle with enormous horns came to investigate our wagon. It was a lot of fun to get an up close and personal experience with the animals as they went from hand to hand nibbling on the feed.

After we were done with the wagon ride we were able to go and wash up in the bathrooms near the concession stand. Lots of soap, and I do mean lots, was used to get everyone’s hands clean. I’d suggest bringing sanitizing wipes for use during the ride. Next to the washroom is a large playground with swings for mom and dad, and several slides and room for the kids to burn off some steam after sitting in the car or wagon. Lazy 5 Ranch hosts events and birthday parties in their covered shelter.

The 50 minute drive from Charlotte was well worth it, The Lazy 5 Ranch was a memorable experience and we will return again. General admission (driving your own car) is $9.50 for adults, $6.50 for kids (2-11 and seniors 60+), feed is $3 per bucket. The wagon ride is $14.50 for adults, $9.50 for kids (2-11 and seniors 60+) and a bucket of feed is included.

They do not accept credit cards or debit cards – so make sure to bring cash and wear sneakers. Lazy 5 Ranch asks that you call ahead to make reservations for the wagon ride at 704-663-5100. If you pay for the wagon ride you can also take your car through the safari. We tried both and I think the wagon ride left a bigger impression on the kids and the adults.

The post Where the Wild Things Are – Lazy 5 Ranch appeared first on Mom Favorites.

Week three can be a drag when you’re in the 100 mile mom challenge.  For me it’s when your body is starting to get a little tired, the runs are getting a little more tedious, and it all seems to be more of a chore.  Fortunately, this week I got to mix it up with a trip to the beach.  Not only does this mean I have flat runs (I’m am so not a hill girl), but it also means that I have family to watch the boys (no double jogger runs), and beautiful scenery.  I’m just hoping the rain stays back and we’ll be all good.

Because I’m on vacation, there is no scale.  Sure I coulda brought one with me, but where’s the fun in that??? So, instead I weighed myself the day I left.  I’m not super-excited to see the weight gain from the trip (sure I’ll be running, but I also plan to do my share of eating and boozing), but I’ll have a few days to work it off before we wrap up the challenge for the month.

Now, here’s what I’m asking you: I want to get all of you motivated to bike, swim, walk and jog 100 miles in July.  I’m working with companies to get great prizes for those that participate, but here’s what I need… what kind of incentive do you need to participate in the 100 mile challenge (besides someone else to do it for you!).  Let me know and I’ll try and make it happen.

Keep training!

Katie

91.17  miles complete, 8.83 miles to go! 

Week 3 Stats:
Weight: 121.4 (Down 2 lbs.  I didn’t bring my scale so this was taken just four days after last week’s weigh-in)
Body Fat: ?
BMI: 18.5 (down .3 in three weeks)
5K Pace: Didn’t do a timed 5k this week.
Longest Run: 8.76 miles (with a double jogger!).  Admittedly, we did walk quite a bit, especially the hills

Week 2:
Weight: 121.6 (down 1.8 pounds in two weeks)
Body Fat: my scale has me at 18 feet tall this morning, so I’m guessing my body fat is off. Thanks Will.
BMI: 18.5 (down .3 in two weeks)
5k Pace: 28:59… a major achievement for me!  Down 8 seconds from last week.
Longest Run: Capped out at 5.4 miles this week, .06 shorter than last week.  Had I known this when I was running, I promise you I would have run an extra .06 miles.  Grrr…

Week 1:
Weight: 123 (down .4 lbs)
Body Fat: 26% (up .8%)
BMI 18.7 (down .1)
5K Pace: 29:07 (down 1:37)
Longest Run: 5.46 miles

Beginning Stats:
Weight: 123.4 lbs.
Body Fat: 25.2% (as measured by scale, not that fat pincher device that gives me nightmares)
BMI: 18.8
5k Pace: 30:21 minutes
Most Single Distance Run in last 6 weeks: 5.1 miles

The post Week 3 Update: 100 Mile Mom Challenge appeared first on Mom Favorites.

I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Cheers,

Katie

Monday (Optional Vegan)

Peanut Sauce with Linguine and Broccoli, recipe from Will Cook For Friends

Serve with grilled meat, seafood or tofu if desired

Tuesday, Vegetarian

Curried Couscous with Broccoli and Feta, recipe from Cooking Light

Wednesday

Crab Mac & Cheese with Gnocchi, recipe from A Spicy Perspective

Roasted Carrots

Thursday (Slowcooker)

Barbacoa Beef, recipe from The Kitchn

Guacamole and Chips

Friday

BLT Bucatini, recipe from Babble.com

Weekend Cooking

Seafood Boil, recipe from Martie Knows Parties

Beer

Weekend Breakfast

Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal, recipe from Simple Bites

Lunch Idea

Roasted Beef Quesadillas (with leftover Barbacoa Beef from Thursday’s dinner), recipe from Budget Bytes

The post Beach Week! Weekly Meal Plan Collection for Summer Travels appeared first on Mom Favorites.

Fast cars, intense rivalries and turbulent crashes – that’s NASCAR. However; I learned during our trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC there is far more beyond that which makes NASCAR so interesting and popular.

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Due to the cold and rain on May 4th at Merchant’s Walk Shopping Center, we only raised $136 to support No Kid Hungry. While we watched shoppers rush into the Whole Foods store to escape the downpour, we chatted, watched our children play and nibbled on the cakes, cookies and pops we created.

Since you couldn’t join us for this effort in Atlanta, there are year round opportunities to get involved with No Kid Hungry and Share Our Strength.

Support No Kid Hungry

• Host your own bake sale or fundraiser. Tell Congress what you think about nutrition in U.S. Schools.
• Follow No Kid Hungry on Facebook to read about the latest efforts to make school lunches healthy or keep food stamps in the budget. Use the Team No Kid Hungry App to create a team or send a supportive tweet.
• Follow No Kid Hungry on Twitter. Retweet and share the news on kids and hunger on its Twitter feed.

How do you support efforts to feed needy families in your community?

The post Atlanta Blogger Bake Sale to Support No Kid Hungry appeared first on Mom Favorites.

“An experiment?” Graham exclaimed.  ”Like scientists?”

Yup.

Then, ”Mom, did you know I am a scientist?”

“No, I did not!” I replied.  Learn something new everyday.

“It’s true.  I’m a nature scientist.  I explore and learn and experiment in nature.”  My kid is clearly not lacking confidence.

Is it because he’s a boy?  I wonder if I would encourage my child to play in mud or if my husband would take our child on bike rides and hikes if we had girls instead.  I’d like to think we would, but there’s no way to tell.  Regardless, no one can argue that the world of girls is often filled with pink and purple, princesses and fairies…. which is why, I love the idea of this Project Science Academy, a science camp for girls ages 4-12.

Here’s some more info:

Project Scientist Academy is a four-week summer camp that provides an engaging and fun environment for girls, ages 4-12, with an aptitude, talent, and passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The camp runs from July 8 to August 2, and will be held in the brand new, state-of-the-art James E. and Mary Anne Rogers Science and Health Building at Queens University of Charlotte.

The Academy brings together like-minded girls who enjoy exploring through the sciences and celebrating their accomplishments. Class sizes are kept at 10 to 12 girls and run by a credentialed, highly selective Project Scientist Fellow and two female university-level STEM students.

Through hands on exploration, education and career counseling, mentoring and internships, Project Scientist will help your daughter discover the endless opportunities available to her and acquire the leadership skills needed to thrive in today’s STEM environments.

Registration is now live and space is limited so reserve your spot today! Visit www.ProjectScientist.org.

There are also a number of other ways you can get involved:

Project Scientist Coaches

Anyone with a passion for girls in STEM can serve as a coach and play a valuable role in a future scientist’s educational path. We are especially interested in hearing from women STEM professionals and can provide a variety of opportunities throughout the summer for you to inspire our girls with your work.

Project Scientist Superstars

Throughout the year we will be honoring girls/women STEM Superstars from across the world to inspire girls and provide them with real world examples of women thriving in their own STEM career. If you, or someone you know, could be our next Superstar please let us know!
To learn more visit, www.ProjectScientist.org and follow Facebook.com/ProjectScientist and Twitter.com/ProjScientist.

At A Glance

• Who: Girls, ages 4 -12
• What: A four-week summer camp in partnership with Queens University of Charlotte
• When: July 8th through August 2nd, 2013
• Where:  Queens University of Charlotte
• Cost: $375 per week, $25 off per week per sibling attending, $100 off the 4th week if you participate in all four weeks (Cost includes lunch, snacks, field trips, lab and art materials).

*MomFavorites did receive compensation to share this post.  All opinions are my own.

The post New Science Summer Camp for Girls: Charlotte, NC appeared first on Mom Favorites.

Ask most moms…. After giving birth to a baby, what’s the next challenging thing?  Many of us will say: Breastfeeding!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it blows my mind that the human race has survived as long as it has, being so dependent as it is on nursing mothers.  It’s not easy.  It can be down right painful, awkward, and un-natural feeling.  For some.

Breastfeeding fans, don’t get your panties in a wad.  I’m not saying that’s the case for everyone.  Sometimes it’s awesome.  Easy and natural.  But when it doesn’t work right for you, it can be a humbling experience.  Especially if you didn’t expect to have any trouble.

When I was nursing my baby (#2.  #1 was incompatible with breastfeeding), I found that using support pillows were helpful.  Especially in the beginning, when the babies are so small and when you need all of the extra support you can get.  I had one downstairs, upstairs, in the nursery, and in the car.  I didn’t go anywhere without my Boppy those first few months.  I wish every mom could have a Boppy pillow, and I’m so glad that Nurse-Family Partnership and Boppy are working together to make this happen.

NFP is teaming up with the Boppy Company to give away award-winning Boppy Feeding and Infant Support Pillows to 500 in North Carolina mothers in need as part of the Boppy Effect: Get One, Give One program. This gift will give these moms the extra support they need.  Mothers in the NFP program are first time moms with low incomes and are paired with registered nurses to make sure that vulnerable families get the care they need.  As part of this program, for every Boppy® Slipcovered Pillow purchased at Babies“R”Us stores and Babiesrus.com during the month of May, The Boppy Company will donate a Boppy Slipcovered Pillow to NFP agencies, which will distribute them to moms-in-need. The Boppy Company has pledged to donate up to $250,000 worth of Boppy Slipcovered Pillows through the Get One, Give One program.

Pretty cool, huh?  I really dig it when companies go above and beyond to help a momma out.  Here at Mom Favorites, we’d love for you to share this story with your friends; encourage them to purchase a Boppy so that we can all pay it forward!  And, to reward you for sharing this promotion, you guessed it…. We’re giving one away!

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The post Support Local Moms and Enter a Boppy Giveaway! appeared first on Mom Favorites.

As soon as it gets warm enough to open the windows (a little bit longer than usual in these parts this year), I get the urge to start sprucing up the house.  Clutter be-gone!  Clean off that patio table!  Bring some fresh air up into this piece!  Apparently, I’m not the only one maniacally running around my house to get it in perfect order just to have the kids out of school to destroy it.  Sometimes motherhood seems a little futile, doesn’t it?

Well, if this is sounding a wee bit familiar to you (and I’m sure it does), I thought I’d share a great giveaway for some Food Lion 360 Cleaning Products.  I’ve been using them the last few days, and I haven’t been disappointed!

Yes, my table is green.  But it wipes up quite nicely, don’t you think?  And, the dishwasher detergent works like a charm.   I think I just found a way to shave off a few bucks from my weekly grocery list, thank you very much.

Wanna try these out for yourself?  One lucky Mom Favorites reader will be getting the same package of cleaning goodies that I was sent!  Hip Hip Hurray!  Makes that Spring Cleaning a little more “love” and a little less “hate,” doesn’t it?

Enter the rafflecopter app below, but before you do… if spring cleaning means getting rid of a lot of stuff, like it does in mine, check out this handy-dandy infographic which tells you how to dispose of medications and the like!

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The post Spring Cleaning: The Products You Need and Tips to Boot! appeared first on Mom Favorites.

I must say, this week has been awesome.  I still haven’t missed a day running, and am keeping ahead of schedule, which is SOOO unlike myself.  I’m also just excited about running again.  It’s been a long time since running has been fun.  When I run 3-4 times a week, running is hard.  I think about putting one foot in front of the other.  I get tired.  I dread a short hill.  That’s not fun.

After two weeks of running daily, the little hill don’t bother me anymore.  Running extra distance doesn’t seem as taxing, and pushing the double jogger has become less harrowing.  (Although I stopped feeding the kids so they won’t gain any extra poundage.  Just kidding, although it did cross my mind when Will ate a 5th pancake the other day).

Let’s hear it… are any of you out there getting ready for our Official 100 Mile Mom Challenge in July?  We’re firming up the details but I can tell you this:  We’re extending the 100 mile portion to include bicycling, swimming and elliptical distance, and of course running/walking.  Basically if you propel your body without the use of a motor, you’e good to go.  And  you’re going to be motivated to do so with some of the treats we have for participants along the way!

Let’s be honest, though. Rewards are nice, but seeing the difference in numbers is what really makes the difference.  So here goes: My guinea pig stats for Week 2:

61.21  miles complete, 38.79 miles to go

Week 2:

Weight: 121.6 (down 1.8 pounds in two weeks)
Body Fat: my scale has me at 18 feet tall this morning, so I’m guessing my body fat is off. Thanks Will.
BMI: 18.5 (down .3 in two weeks)
5k Pace: 28:59… a major achievement for me!  Down 8 seconds from last week.
Longest Run: Capped out at 5.4 miles this week, .06 shorter than last week.  Had I known this when I was running, I promise you I would have run an extra .06 miles.  Grrr…

Week 1:
Weight: 123 (down .4 lbs)
Body Fat: 26% (up .8%)
BMI 18.7 (down .1)
5K Pace: 29:07 (down 1:37)
Longest Run: 5.46 miles

Beginning Stats:
Weight: 123.4 lbs.
Body Fat: 25.2% (as measured by scale, not that fat pincher device that gives me nightmares)
BMI: 18.8
5k Pace: 30:21 minutes
Most Single Distance Run in last 6 weeks: 5.1 miles

The post 100 Mile Mom Challenge: Week 2 Update appeared first on Mom Favorites.

So, was it awesome?  Did you get to spend a relaxing day with your family?  Did you get everything you wanted and more?  Yeah, a mom can dream.  That’s why I’m here, to offer you a belated Mother’s Day present.

Recently, I had the opportunity to get a Manicure and Pedicure from a seriously awesome lady.  Adriana Perdomo is a mother and a grandmother (all though you’d never know it if you asked her).  I mean it, if and when I ever become a grandmother, I hope to look even half as hip this lady!  Anywho, I wander….

So, yes, I was offered the opportunity to visit Adriana Perdomo for an experience at Honey and Associates Salon.  Upon arrival, I wasn’t sure about the place.  It was definitely tucked behind a little shopping center I would have never noticed.  But, as soon as you open the door, you enter a spa haven, and Adriana is a miracle worker.  It was a serious pampering session.  I felt refreshed and ready to do business after my treatments.  I loved her organic products; the olive oil sugar scrub was uh-maze-ing. I’m going to try my own DIY version.   She’s got a great touch too.  I’ll be sending the hubs back to learn how to do a proper foot massage!

I was so happy to discover Adriana, and can’t wait to go back again.  ’Fess up, you want to too, don’t ya?  No worries, of course we’re giving away a free mani/pedi to a Charlotte-area momma.  Let’s call it a belated Mother’s Day gift!

Simply enter the rafflecopter app below to accumulate points.  We’ll pick a winner within 2 days of the contest ending.  Good luck and thanks for being a Mom Favorites fan.

For details on Adriana’s services and a rate sheet, visit: http://www.styleseat.com/adriananails

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The post A Belated Mother’s Day Gift: Spa Treatments by Adriana Perdomo appeared first on Mom Favorites.

Honestly, the meals we’ve got planned out for this week go great with a glass of wine, until we get to the weekend fiesta.  Then, you better have a beer-garita in hand!  But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves I clearly need a glass of wine right about now… it’s 6 o’clock on a Tuesday evening.  Nothing says “glass of wine” like food hot off the grill, a beautiful day, and two screaming tots!

Monday (Optional Vegetarian)

Leftover Quesadillas – Got any leftovers to use up? Slap ‘em in a tortilla with some cheese and your’e good to go!

Roasted Corn: In a dry & hot skillet throw in some frozen corn (as much as you like).  Stir sparingly until charred in spots.  Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper.

Tuesday

Grilled Chili Lime Tilapia, recipe from At Home With Lady B

Grilled Asparagus

Wednesday (Vegan)

Spicy Bean Mushroom Curry, recipe from The Long Green Bean (I plan to use Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Green Beans and Chickpeas)

Serve over Brown Rice

Thursday

Creamy Farfalle with Smoked Salmon, recipe from Once Upon a Cakestand

Roasted Broccolini

Friday (Vegan)

Israeli Couscous with Black Beans, Mushrooms & Corn, recipe from Martha Stewart

Roasted Carrots tossed with Garam Masala

Weekend Entertaining – Easy Mexican Shindig (original recipe from Marth Stewart, found online version on Our Favorite Recipes)

Smoky Beef Tacos

Cumin Rice and Beans

Spicy Pineapple Salad

Mexican Snowballs

Breakfast

Lunch Idea

The post Wine on the Side: Weekly Meal Plan Collection appeared first on Mom Favorites.