pink eye, conjunctivitis in our 2 and 5 year olds

I think one of the worst things as a parent is not being able to take away their sicknesses or instantly heal them. And for us, pink eye was that sickness that makes you feel so awful because other than eye drops there really isn't much you can do. Our 5 year old daughter got it the worst, and first. From there it got my husband and then our 2 year old son. The first morning Lillie e woke up with, what we call "sleepy seeds" some people call them eye crusties or eye boogers. She said her eyes were feeling tired and by about 10 that morning her eyes were very bloodshot, and eye lids were extremely swollen. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be Pink Eye until I mentioned it to my husband (sometimes it just takes someone else to suggest it, and everything makes sense) but then her eyes were even more watery, and from there we went to urgent care...

Since it was Christmas Eve Eve, the 23 to be exact, of course we ended up waiting a good 2 hours just to get back to a room at Children's Hospital Urgent Care, which is usually really quick.  Anyway, so when we got to the hospital she had the green goo and the picture above was taken in the room right before we saw the doctor.  She had been saying her eyes were itchy all day and also informed the doctor that "her little brother tried to obliterate her with a screwdriver" (we had been talking about alliteration, and asked about obliteration so I tried to define the word and that's when the whole screwdriver story came from, lol) The doc prescribed her drops, and we were on our way.  She looked substantially better by the next day and I would say the symptoms were almost completely gone by a Christmas Day.  Christmas Day night my husband started with the scratchy irritated eyes and then he went through the same Conjunctivitis stuff as Lillie only his was in only his right eye.

This morning, our son woke up with the sleepy seeds, has had blood shot eyes today.  His eyes had some clear discharge today but this evening he's gotten the green goo.  We started him on the same drops that were prescribed to Lillie, my husband also got in on that action ;) but overall his temperament is pretty much the same.

So, overall I think the best I can recommend as a mother to another parent, caretaker, nanny, grandparent, aunt, cousin, friend, etc. I would say if they show any signs or symptoms get them in as soon as possible.

<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Inexpensive dishwasher detergent and rinse aid

Want an inexpensive dishwasher and detergent makeover?  Here's the recipe:

• 3 cups Borax
• 2 cups Baking Soda
• 2 cups Washing Soda
• 6 packets (unsweetened) Koolaid Lemonade drink powder
• 3/4 cups Kosher Salt

This will make about 3lbs of powder and I use 2 tbsp per load. Just break up any clumps that accumulate before using.

Want the best inexpensive rinse aid that also sanitizes?  White Vinegar! Just fill your rinse aid dispenser with it instead of Finish or JetDry and you'll love the results.

<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

2006 Nissan Quest vs 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan. Nothing wrong with an upgrade ;)

My husband and had an opportunity to upgrade our minivan.  Hubby has a Jeep, but it's paid off so our family's main vehicle is a minivan that we currently have financed. We got a van that's only 3 years old instead of 6, better terms on our loan with a lower payment, 20,000 more miles, and a DVD player for the kiddos.  The Dodge Grand Caravan is ranked highest in it's class for safety for 2009 and that was VERY appealing to me.  So here I'm laying out my personal opinion as well as the pro's and con's to each minivan.  Both vehicles are a V6, both seat 7, and both have the middle row captains chairs.  The gas mileage for each minivan is the same as far as I can tell, I've only filled the gas tank in the Dodge twice and both calculations were averaging what the Nissan gets. One of my observations so far is the Nissan has more get up and go and quicker response when you step on that gas pedal than the Dodge, BUT the Dodge does SO MUCH BETTER in the snow, which is important during Colorado winters.  Another thing is the brakes in the Nissan are, quite frankly, ridiculous.  The way the van stops (my husband said something about the back brakes being drum brakes and the front are another....lol who knows) makes the van feel like everyone in the back seat would fly out the windshield if you needed to step on the brakes for one reason or another.  The Dodge doesn't have this problem, compared to the Nissan I love the way the Grand Caravan stops on a dime but you don't feel like you'll give the kids in the back whiplash.  Another one of my favorite things about the Dodge Grand Caravan is the Stow N Go seating.  Oh my gosh, it's amazing, with 3 kids under 5 regularly riding in this van, I will usually put one 2 year old's seat in the middle row, and put the other captains chair down.  Then, I'll put the other 2 year old's seat in the back, along with my 5 year old's booster seat. *Side note:  Thanks so much to my friend Linette who is state certified for installing car seats and has shown me how to bold those babies in to stay safe while riding along.  Anyway, the Stow N Go seating makes it so easy to put that other captains chair down into the floor and it's completely gone!  Tucked in entirely so the munchkins crawling back to the 3rd row aren't tripping over it. Here is my son standing in the Grand Caravan with the driver's side captain's chair put down and it looks so much better as well.  The Nissan definitely doesn't go down that smooth and makes for a miniature obstacle course for the kids going to the back seat.  Not that it was that big of a deal before, I didn't like it but until I had the Stow N Go seating I had no idea how inconvenient it was. The mechanics of the sliding doors are different in each van and I prefer the Grand Caravan style because you can basically tap it and the door slides shut, whereas with the Nissan you have to put a little more muscle into it.  The mileage calculator and distance to empty display was super nice in the Nissan but it's not a big deal that the Grand Caravan doesn't have that.  We have the DVD player in the Dodge with 2 pairs of wireless headphones that is worth it's weight in gold for those long car trips where an hour or so into it the kids are already restless. On short rides and everyday car trips it doesn't even get taken down but the excursions with it are more more tolerable for parents and children alike. I think I've covered the little things that I prefer in each minivan but please leave any comments, feedback or questions :)  Happy New Year!




































<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

I see myself in my daughter...in her amazing cooking skills

One of my favorite things to do for the kids when we make pancakes is make little ones that are about the size of a quarter and put them in a storage container for them to have on other mornings as a fun breakfast to dip in a little ramekin of syrup.  Well, this morning when I hand them to Lillie she responds in her sweetest voice "Silly mom, I thought I told you to warm them up."  Yes, she's feisty and it absolutely cracks me up. Anyway, she goes into the kitchen, puts them in the microwave and a couple minutes later brings them to me in the plastic dish they were in that was melted almost completely through on the bottom. And seared brown pancakes inside.  Yep, did I mention when I was younger I had a knack for burning things, I have turned bacon into ashes and peas into little bombs of squishy icky-ness, in a hard shell.

This is while they were sitting by our front door because they were smoking so bad we had to take them out of the house.

And this is the view at the bottom where the container burned through.

Love that little girl, and hopefully like me, she will also perfect her skills later on in life and hopefully not starve or resort to eating out all the time.  But then again, as long as she's happy and healthy who am I to say no to someone else preparing a meal or two for you ;)


<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

New Years Resolutions?

“This year, make a commitment to be authentic. Get naked with your truth, offering the world your greatest gift: your authentic self”—Gabrielle Bernstein

I think this is a fantastic idea.  Spotted this quote and it inspired me to take care of somethings that I've been holding back on. So here is my list and as long as I'm holding true to them I will leave them, otherwise, I'll mark through it like this. Here goes: 

• Remember to continue to be thankful for the little things.   Not a day goes by that I don't wake up with the intention to accomplish something great, whether it's checking off every item off a list of 20+ things or that day the biggest challenge is just getting up out of the right side of the bed--rare but it does happen.  So this year I WILL BE THANKFUL, every day, for at least one thing, big or small.

• Keep moving.  This year has been very productive, athletically speaking. I have run a 5k, 7k, 10k, and a half marathon, after only competing in 5k's all my life, I've come to realize I actually love the longer distances.  So whether it's Insanity, running or yoga, just move!  But this also goes for simply enjoying the movement in every day, remembering to be thankful for the home I have to clean, the laundry and dishes that need done, and the kiddos that need to be loved, chases and played with.  Who doesn't love a tea party with a precious 5 year old and her little brother?

• Be true. This goes along with the quote above.  I think I usually do pretty well encouraging the children to be themselves. Especially Lillie, since she's in kindergarten and learning new social skills I want her to thrive as her own person.  But I think it's also time I come to terms with the fact that I should just be authentically me.

• No more yelling in our home.  Our family has a bad habit of yelling upstairs or downstairs to get another person's attention.  Not only that, but I may or may not have this thing about reminding the kids to stop jumping on Lillie's bed upstairs by hollering up to her "you guys need to stop jumping, I'm not going to tell you again."  At which point, I'm reminded once again, I have become my mother ;)  (Which is an absolutely wonderful thing, I have nothing but love, admiration and respect for such a strong beautiful woman.)

  
  

  There you have it.  My ambitions for 2013.  And hubby and I will be bringing in the new year in true parenting fashion.  We are going to order Applebee's carside to go (for me: the Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shirmp under 550 calories of course).  Then spend the last hours giggling and running around with the munchkins until one of the following events occurs. Rick and I end up crashing out and send the kids, who are still bouncing off the wall from the homemade Chex Muddy Buddies, to bed at 10:36 and following suit right after.  Or the kids crash our early, in which case Rick and I will be lounging around, probably turn on "How I met your mother" or a new "Movie On Demand."  Maybe, possibly, probably---we'll all make it until midnight and whoot and holler at the sight of the ball dropping, hug eachother, and head to bed at around 1:13 on January 1, 2013.

   

   

  <3 Timmie
  
  
  If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.
  
   Thank you!
  

   

Those suspiciously quiet moments

Ya know those times when the kids are playing so nicely together and you just let out this huge sigh....yeah, if you've ever been around small munchkins or have your own, you know the moment the go silent should be a great indication to get your butt over there and find out what they are doing. This was one from last night, even they were supposed to be cleaning their room.
In the moments where you look around at a messy house, dishes overflowing out of the sink the mile high piles of laundry, when your kids are playing well, or when they give you a hug for no other reason than to be in your arms. Life is perfect.





<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Easy peasy pseudo Egg Drop soup ;)

Want a healthy inexpensive idea for lunch? It'll take less than 10 minutes. And until I realized how simple this soup was I'd be the one who would order $30 worth of Chinese carryout just to satisfy my Egg Drop soup craving.

So here it goes, there's 4 ingredients:

• 4 cups of water
• 8 tsp Chicken broth base powder
• 1/4-1/2 cup frozen vegetables
• 2 eggs

Preparation:

1. Bring water and broth base to a boil over med-high heat.  Add in vegetables, amount depends on how hardy you want this soup to be.
2. Reduce heat to medium and lightly boil for 5-7 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked to your liking.
3. Beat the two eggs together in another bowl and SLOWLY pour into the soup, stirring gently.
4. Remove from heat, SERVE!

This amount will usually make 3-4 servings, depending on how hungry you are that day.  A perfect lunch idea is 1 cup of this soup, a small tossed salad and half of a sandwich.

Enjoy!
 <3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

A perfect boy's 2nd birthday party

We have a little man who turned two and is absolutely crazy about trains, cars, trucks, bulldozers, any construction equipment, and pretty much anything that goes VVVRRRROOOOOOOOOOOM!  So I made him a chocolate cake, with caramel icing and crushed Oreo's to make some dirt.  I put it atop a priceless cupcake tower (which has holes on the other side for cake pops) and below, I made dirt dessert out of chocolate pudding, cool whip, and more crushed Oreo's.  Everybody loved it, the only change I would have made is put the dirt dessert in smaller cups because once you got halfway through the 9 oz cupful, you're finished.  I've also put the dirt dessert below.

For his party my son, daughter, husband and I all went swimming as a family.  It was a great bonding event and mom my even went along but wasn't swimming long and got out to take some pictures.  Anyway, when we were finished swimming we went back to my grandparents house where we had aunts, cousins and friends meet us for a make your own pizza party.  It turned out perfectly for a small party and was fun for all the munchkins involved.  

 I took Pillsbury biscuits and flattened them out and spread marinara sauce on top.  Then let the kiddos do the rest.

 Toppings: olives, mini pepperoni, mozzarella cheese....I would have done mushrooms, pineapple, ham, and sausage but figured for the first time doing this in a party setting we would stick to a minimum.

 Adult assistance suggested.

 We labeled each kid's pizza they made with a thick toothpick that we put their initials on.

 Ready to bake at 375*F for 10-15 minutes.

 Enjoying the lunch!

 Yummy dirt dessert and cake!

You know it's a good party when the birthday boy gets wound up in balloons ;)

Dirt Dessert Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1 (3.9oz) package Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
•  2 cups Cold Milk
• 1 (8oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed
• 10 Oreo cookies, finely crushed (to stir into dessert)
• 15 Oreo cookies, finely crushed (half a package, about 1 1/4 cups) (to go on top of cups)
• Gummy Worms or Fruit Snacks.

 Preparation:

1. Beat the pudding mix and milk in large bowl for 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes and mix in Cool Whip and 10 Oreo cookie crumbs.
2. Spoon into cups, top with remaining 15 Oreo cookie crumbs.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour and top with gummy worms or fruit snack.
4. Serve it up!!!!

 


<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Super amazing fantastic Spinach Artichoke dip

If you're looking for an excellent appetizer to take somewhere I would suggest something a little like this.  It's simple and delicious and can be completely ready in less than 45 mins with baking time!

Ingredients:

• 1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup grated Romano Cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (14oz) can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. 
3. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach. (I used a hand mixer and it made a great consistency.)
4. Transfer the mixture into your baking dish and top with Mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned. 

<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Get moving with this workout schedule

A New Years Resolution or routine for a half marathon

Whether you want to get into it to lose pounds, get lean, train for a specific event or just for something new to try, it's almost a guarantee that you'll be able to get SOMETHING out of this ;)  Even if it's just one occasion where you're left gasping for air.

One thing I'm doing to jump start my training is supplementing my running with the Insanity workout.  With Insanity you not only get plyometrics and calisthenics but a taste of aerobics, as well.  I only run about 3-4 times a week total but I want to make sure my body has time to recover and on my days I don't run I do Insanity or work out on the elliptical machine.  Sundays are my days off and I definitely enjoy that, and my body needs that recovery time as well.

So here is the weekly rundown weeks 1-2:

Monday: Run 2 miles
Tuesday: Inanity- Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday: Run 3 miles
Thursday: Insanity- Cardio Recovery
Friday: Run 4 miles
Saturday: Insanity- Cardio Power and Resistance

here is the weekly rundown weeks 3-4:

Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Inanity- Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday: Run 5 miles
Thursday: Insanity- Cardio Recovery
Friday: Run 7 miles
Saturday: Insanity- Cardio Power and Resistance

here is the weekly rundown week 5:

Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Inanity- Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday: Run 6 miles
Thursday: Insanity- Cardio Recovery
Friday: Run 9 miles
Saturday: Insanity- Cardio Power and Resistance


Here is what I would suggest the week before a long distance race, week 6:
Sunday: off
Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Insanity- Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday: Run 6 miles
Thursday: Insanity- Cardio Power and Resistance
Friday: off
Saturday: RUN HALF MARATHON!!!! 13.1 MILES!




<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Some of my favorite super easy hairstyles!

Here are a few hairstyles that look more complicated than they actually are.  I'm all about simplicity and ease but being able to look like I spend a good 45 minutes doing my hair, when realistically it's more like 15...okay, maybe more like a whole 2.5 minutes when I do the ponytail thing ;)

This is a low side bun, pin back the top and add a little volume if you care to.

This is how the top looks....if you don't like the look of bobby pins you can hide them but for a casual occasion I don't mind them.

Once I separate the back into 4 equal pieces and twist them around on the side, this is how is one view of how it looks.

This is how this style looks from the opposite side.

Another view of the low side bun.

Here is another style that looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.

This is another easy style...pin bangs back

I do a few twists up each side to add a little accent to it.

Once your hair is in a pony tail, take it piece by piece, twist each piece and pull 

one strand from the center pushing the rest of the hair up and pinning it around the pony in a bun.

Partway through the the bun

Just keep going until every piece is twisted and pinned.

Top view

Back top....

View of the back

And the side!

This is one of my favorites for little ladies.  You do a twist as if it were a french braid, twisting each piece over the other and adding another piece to it as you go.

 Here is a side view of this adorable style.

 Top view

 This is how her hair started, and after twisting it over itself and tying it up on the side, came out pretty cute--if I do say so myself.

 Another easy style, my mom would do this to mine and my sister's hair and we called it the ladder.  You section off each piece and put it in a rubber band, split that small pony tail in half and put each half in the following section.  This is a great style to send them to a sleepover with, and they'll still look adorable when you go to pick them up!

<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!

Home made cinnamon rolls!

Thanks to the amazing PIONEER WOMAN and her phenomenal cook book I found an excellent recipe and even though everything is made from scratch it's actually not hard at all.  A little time consuming but definitely worth it.  For our family Christmas gifts this year I got a small pyrex dish and made these cinnamon rolls to go inside and hand out to each family in our extended family.  It was perfect!  Inexpensive and tasty, perfect combo right?!?!

Dough

Rolled out and sprinkled with butter, and cinnamon sugar

Ready to go into the oven.

Here is the recipe:

• 1 qt Whole Milk
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 packages Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 oz packets.
• 8 cups + 1 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp (heaping) Baking Powder
• 1 tsp (scant) Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp (heaping) Salt
• Plenty of Melted Butter (I used 2 cups by the time I was finished)
• 2 cups Sugar
• Generous Sprinkling of Cinnamon

Maple Frosting:

• 1 bag (2 lb) Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp Maple Flavoring
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Melted Butter
• 1/4 cup Brewed Coffee
• 1/8 tsp Salt

Preparation:

1. For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in medium saucepan over medium heat or just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm.  Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for one minute.
2. Add 8 cups of flour.  Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour.  After 1 hour, remove the towel and add baking powder, baking soda, salt and the remaining 1 cup flour.  Stir thoroughly to combine.  Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl.  *Note: the dough is easier to work with if it has been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.
3. Preheat oven to 375*F
4. To assemble the rolls: remove half the dough from the pan/bowl.  On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle about 30x10 inches.  The dough should be rolled very thin.
5. To make the filling: pour 3/4 - 1 cup melted butter over the surface of the dough.  Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly, I actually used a BBQ brush.  Generously sprinkle half the ground cinnamon and 1 cup sugar over the butter.  Don't be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar...GOOEY is the goal.  (I mixed the cinnamon and sugar together before pouring it over the dough and it seemed to work fine, so either way you do it I would think is okay.)
6. Beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you.  Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight.  Don't worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be absolutely delicious!  When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down.  When you're finished you'll wind up with one long but cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.
7. Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices.  One log with make 20-25 cinnamon rolls.  Pour a small amount of melted butter (1-2 tsp) into cake pans and coat entire baking surface, sides included.  Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd.***
8. Repeat the rolling/cinnamon sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.
9. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the counter top for 20-25 minutes before baking.  Remove the towel and bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.  Don't allow the rolls to become overly brown.
10. While the rolls are baking, make the icing.  In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee, and salt.  Add the maple flavoring and whisk until very smooth.  Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter, or anything else you think it may need until the icing reaches the desired consistency.  The icing should be somewhat thick but very pourable.
11. Remove pans from the oven, and immediately drizzle icing over the top.  Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top.  As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing's moisture and flavor.  They only get better with time, but whether or not they last more than a few seconds is totally and completely up to how many people are in your home at the time.  

These rolls freeze really well and can be left on the counter top wrapped in foil if they are meant to make a divine breakfast.  No adjustments need to be made for high elevation, or at least I can't think of anything that needs tweeked, at a mile high they are perfect.


***Funny story, the first time I made these I apparently wasn't thinking and made them on cookie sheets.  This was a huge mistake!!!! The rolls expanded and many of them fell off the cookie sheets into the bottom of the over and made for a complete disaster so take my advice and definitely put them in a cake pan.


<3 Timmie


If you would like to tighten, tone and firm your body in 45 minutes, please check out my website at: getslimwithTimmieHansen.myitworks.com or send me a message there!  We also help fade stretch marks.

 Thank you!