I would love to share with you today this hilarious video (below) and new book by Jenna McCarthy.

Don’t forget to google Zestra after you watch it… or better yet, check out the link on Jenna’s homepage,
http://www.jennamccarthy.com/

I have a remarkably happy marriage, and people ask me all the time how I got so lucky. (Not as often as they ask me about autism, vaccines and Jim Carrey, so let’s get something straight before we go any further: Not. Her.) I used to wonder if it had something to do with pheromones or having relatively low expectations, but after eleven years of wedded bliss I am pretty sure the key is some combination of kindness, respect and my ability to read a road map upside down divided by my husband’s skill at tuning out my nagging.

Okay, fine. We got lucky.

Busloads of studies have attempted to figure out why roughly every other marriage fails miserably. Turns out, the success stories share a few similarities beyond the obvious stuff like “they don’t have sex with other people”. Here, then, are seven scientifically proven* steps to marital ecstasy.

1. Be thinner and better looking than your husband. I have no idea why this works to create nuptial delight but I’m guessing it’s because if you’re fat and ugly you probably never want to have sex, which makes him grumpy and mean because sex was the one and only reason he got married in the first place. (Well, that and pie. Think about it: Most guys will never bake a pie in their lifetimes and from what I’ve seen, they really like pie.) Of course, I don’t know many women who are dying to have sex with fat, ugly men, so this one remains a bit of a mystery.
2. Make sure he does more chores than you do (well, duh) and try to talk less than he does. I have to admit, if you asked my husband the top three things I could do to make him happier, “shut the hell up for five lousy minutes” would probably be on the list. (But not at the tippy-top. Ahem.)
3. Don’t watch a lot of chick flicks. Seems that after sitting through Gnomio and Juliet (or any other rom-com) relationship dissatisfaction tends to skyrocket. Apparently this is because maybe it could happen to you but you realize that it hasn’t and it probably won’t and that fat bastard never sprinkled rose petals on your bed, dammit. At least you’re thinner and better looking than he is.
4. Don’t win a best-actress Oscar. I included this one because unlike getting hotter or having your jaw wired shut, it’s actually pretty painless and doable. Personally, I am going to make this a priority in my marriage.
5. Limit your booze consumption (both of you). No comment.
6. Become or urge your partner to become a farmer, nuclear engineer or optometrist. Evidently every career choice has its own unique divorce-risk profile, with these three being on the lowest end. Dancers and choreographers are pretty much screwed. You can’t make this stuff up.
7. Prefer having the car windows down. I haven’t technically seen a study on this, but do you not fight about this every single time you ride in a vehicle together? And doesn’t he get all pissed when you want them up and accuse you of being more concerned about your hair than his precious need for non-recirculated air? If anyone bothered to study this, I’m confident the results would back me up.

So there you have it. I do not suggest trying to master all seven steps at once. For instance, if you stop doing housework altogether (to try to tilt his portion of the ratio toward more), you’ll have a lot of extra time on your hands which you may want to spend drinking alcohol. Remember, there’s no rush here. Till death do us part is a really long time**.

*I may have bastardized the language a bit in some cases but the facts are mostly accurate.

**I stole that line from If It Was Easy They’d Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon: Living with and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-So-Handy Man You Married, which I wrote (and please note that it says the blah-blah-blah man you married, not the one I married. My husband likes it when I point that out). You can find out more about me, my books and how I survived tanorexia on my website.

About the Author
Jenna McCarthy is the author of five books, including The Parent Trip: From High Heels and Parties to Highchairs and Potties and Cheers to the New Mom!/Cheers to the New Dad!. A self- confessed social media addict, she blogs regularly for iVillage, Betty Confidential, and many others. She lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Written by: Jenna McCarthy
Shared by: The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure- This is a compensated post. I have shared this post on behalf of Rolemommy.com.

Someone special is having a birthday on Aug. 25th, it is Rachael Ray!
Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine editors are asking their baking savvy readers and all Rachael fans at large to help them celebrate her birthday by making Rachael a birthday cake. And I was asked to help in her Birthday Celebration!

And, if you want in on the celebration? The Magazine asks that bakers make a homemade treat from the pages of the August issue that is on stands now. They can choose from any of the four birthday cakes on pages 31-32 or select any ingredient found in this issue and use it in their own cake recipe.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to celebrate with one of my favorite gals on TV. Here is a Video my kids and I made to help Rachael Celebrate!

By the way, our cones were Carrot Cake Cones, and we purposefully left off all of the “ice cream topping” so we could write Happy Birthday on them. This was a very fun project, and we loved working together to make the cone cakes.

And, if you do decide to make a one of the cakes from the Aug. issue, Simply create Rachael’s birthday cake, snap a photo and post it on www.Facebook.com/RachaelRaymag. Check back on August 25th (her actual birthday) to find out which cake will land a shout-out in an upcoming issue and a possibly a big thank you from the birthday girl herself. The winning entry will be mentioned in the next issue of the Magazine and exposure on RachaelRayMag.com.

Have fun, and enjoy your family time baking a great, yummy cake! Even though your making a cake in celebration of Rachael, you are the one’s who get to eat it!!!

Oh, and by the way, Don’t forget to pick up a copy of her Sept. Magazine, it is in store’s NOW too.

Happy Birthday Rachael!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure – I was not compensated for this post. The only compensation was the fun my family had participating in this celebration.

Some of us were not able to get to Blogher11 this year, and we are at home, watching as all of the Tweets go by with all of the news and how fun the parties are. It breaks my heart not to be there, with all of my friends, and networking with companies/brands. And of course missing all of the fun.

Well, be sad no more, there is one party that you can join me at VIRTUALLY, from no matter where  you are.

Collective Bias along with their sponsors :

• Sears  Style - http://searsstyle.com/
• ViX Swimwear - http://www.vixswimwear.com/
• Smarties - http://www.smarties.com/
• Big Fuel - http://bigfuel.com/
• Lifetime Moms - http://www.lifetimemoms.com/
• udis gluten free - http://www.udisglutenfree.com/
• Peet’s Coffee - http://www.peets.com/
• Kmart Gordon Ramsay - http://www.kmart.com

Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador, author and television personality Rachael Ray is lending her support to a new public service campaign aimed at ending hunger for the more than six million Americans over the age of 50 who struggle to put food on the table every day. The new campaign supports Drive to End Hunger, AARP and AARP Foundation’s nationwide effort to end hunger among older Americans by calling on people of all ages to donate time, money or food to local hunger relief organizations.

“Many older Americans are trying to make ends meet by eating cheaper, less healthy foods or skipping meals altogether,” Rachael said. “The issue of hunger in America is very important to me. This is a problem we can solve if we all work together.  But we have to start now.”

The PSA campaign will run in print and on broadcast outlets, as well as in out-of-home placements, for the next 12 months. Ray is a longtime anti-hunger advocate, who, through her foundation The Yum-O! organization, empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking by teaching families to cook, feeding hungry kids and funding cooking education and scholarships.

“We are so pleased to collaborate with Rachael, who has worked tirelessly in recent years to raise awareness of the problem of hunger in this country and how we can all be part of the solution,” said AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins, who spearheads the Drive to End Hunger initiative. “She is helping us shine a spotlight on older Americans, who often struggle silently with hunger and are forced to make the devastating choice between food and other basic needs, like housing or medications.”

For more information on the PSA campaign, visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org.

About EIF
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social issues. Visit www.eifoundation.org.

SHARED BY : The Plus Size Mommy

I was so fortunate to meet and get an autograph of Alex Guarnaschelli recently, She is the executive chef at Manhattan’s Butter Restaurant, host of Food Network’s The Cooking Loft and Alex’s Day Off and Chef-Instructor at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education. She shared favorite dishes from her own eclectic American and green market-inspired menu.

Ms. Guarnaschelli is also very well known from the hit show “Chopped”.

She was very impressive and hilarious to say the least. She inspired me to want to learn more family recipes and also “free style” cook and just make up some new recipes of my own.

She talked to me personally about my battle with making meatloaf, and basically said that if there is a meal you do not care for yourself, you will never make it great, because it just isn’t in you to want to.

I have watched her since our meet n greet on Food Networks shows and just have fallen in love with watching her and her witty ways in the kitchen. She is just great!

I want to thank Giant Eagle Market District for inviting me to this exclusive event and the wonderful meal and gifts and also, of course, letting me meet Alex and get her autograph on a Giant Eagle Market District Apron! And I am enjoying the blueberry vinegarette as well I cannot wait for the events to come!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure- I was invited as a VIP to this event at no cost to me. All gifts were given to me at no charge to me. All opinions of Ms. Guarnaschelli and the event are my own.

Congratulations to the following 3 people on each winning 2 VIP passes to the Market District event this Saturday to see iCarly’s Reed Alexander !

The winners are :

1. Wendy
2. Mary
3. Ian

You all have 24 hours to claim your prizes!!! To claim please email me at plussizemommy@gmail.com. Please put “iCarly VIP” in the subject line. Thank you!

I will need your names (full names of the 2 people going to the event), and your email addresses so I can email you with the details for the event.

Thank you all for entering and ENJOY the event! It will be a GREAT time!!!!

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure- I am also being given VIP Passes to the event.

Yesterday evening you may have caught my post over on Facebook letting all Pittsburgher’s know that I was having a BIG Announcement to share today. And well, the time has come….
Nickelodeon’s iCarly’s and creator of kewlbites.com REED ALEXANDER AKA Nevel Papperman Will be in Da’Burgh on THIS SATURDAY (9/18) and I have 3 sets of 2 VIP passes to give away!!!!!!!  (SQUEE)

The passes include Breakfast at Giant Eagle’s Market District location in Robinson. Also a SPECIAL VIP ONLY Meet and Greet with Star Reed Alexander which includes a photo taken of him with you and autograph session. Then VIP seating at his “Kewl” eating show.

The show gives kids and tweens information on eating well, exercise and making healthy food and lifestyle choices. Come discover “KEWL” healthy recipes, eating tips and the exercises that worked for Reed, and learn how losing weight can be easy, rewarding and even fun.

HOW TO WIN YOUR VIP ACCESS PASS :

1. Tweet the following : “Hey Pittsburgher’s, Enter to WIN VIP Access to See ICarly’s Reed Alexander @MarketDistrict in Robinson this Sat. Here:  http://bit.ly/aXESiX ” – comment with your tweet thread = up to 3 times per day (separate comments please = up to 3 entries per day)
2. Follow @MarketDistrict on Twitter, comment and tell me you did = 1 entry

3.Follow Me on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) comment and tell me you do= 1 entry

4. Follow this blog, comment and tell me you do = 1 entry

5. Follow me over on Twitter (@plussizemommy) = 1 entry

6.“Like” me over on Facebook (I am under Plus Size Mommy) = 1 entry

7. Comment and let us know what your favorite thing to cook with your tween/teen is? = 1 entry

8. Comment and let us know if you win a VIP access pass, what is 1 question you would love to ask Reed? = 1 entry

This giveaway is open to USA residents ONLY. This giveaway starts NOW and will end on Sept. 16, 2010 at 9PM EST.
Winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize (due to the nature of the quick turnaround time for this giveaway). Winners MUST be able to go to Robinson Market District in Pittsburgh, PA on THIS SAT. (9/18/2010) by 10:30am. Winners will be emailed (for this giveaway only). Winner MUST be a subscriber to my blog to be eligible to win. THREE winners will be chosen via random.org. And will each win 2 VIP access passes for the event.

You can learn more about the event and/or get standing room only tickets by visiting: http://reedatmd.eventbrite.com/

Market District Robinson

Created to share food knowledge, trends, tips and techniques, our cooking school is a place where cooks of all levels can go to explore new food ideas. Our roomy kitchen, located on the second floor, permits students to both observe and practice hands-on cooking skills, learning how to make everything from teriyaki and tarts to pasta and pupusas.

Run by Chef Carey Palenchar, the school offers a wide range of classes taught by Market District chefs, guest chefs and cookbook authors, and nutritionists. The school’s state-of-the-art facilities allow up to 18 students to watch demonstration classes and up to 12 to participate in hands-on courses.

Visit www.marketdistrict.com to learn more

Thank you for entering and good luck!

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I am also receiving passes from Market District to come to this event.

When I was at Blogher this past month, I was so excited to meet the “Sun” from Jimmy Dean. He was a very nice sun! It definitely brightened up my day!!!

This was truly one of the highlights of my trip.

The new Jimmy D’s breakfast sandwiches are so great and I love the sausage rolled up in a pancake and on a stick, who wouldn’t love that. And talk about appealing to have the kids eat this before they run out the door to catch the bus in the mornings, PERFECT!

Thank you Jimmy Dean for being an awesome sponsor for Blogher 2010! and for bringing the sunshine to the conference floor, literally!!!

The Plus Size Mommy

With summer winding down, it’s important for the entire family to transition from a summer playhouse to a more structured environment BEFORE school starts.

To do this without loosing your sanity, Annie Pleshette Murphy a psychologist, author, parenting expert for Good Morning America, and former editor-in-chief of Parents magazine recently teamed up with OfficeMax to host the “Back to School Sanity Savers Blogcast” where she provided tips and tricks for getting your family prepared and your kids ready to head back to class without a hitch.

You can view some of Annie’s great tips below, or check out the 30 minute Sanity Savers video provided by OfficeMax by clicking here!

1. Roll back your child’s bedtime in 10-15 minute increments leading up to the first day of school, so they’re in the habit of going to bed and waking up earlier!

2. Schedule a nightly “Family Quiet Hour” to avoid the evening “witching hour” when homework time can be particularly challenging. During quiet hour, the entire family should turn off the TV and literally do something quiet. For kids, they can do homework or read. For parents, this is a great time to pay bills, read, do a puzzle with the kids, etc. This hour builds good work habits and also helps you connect as a family in ways that TV just can’t.

3. Kick first day anxieties your child may experience by trying to meet the teacher or a few kids in your child’s class before school starts. There’s nothing like having a few familiar faces to ease first-day jitters. And if it’s the first day of first grade or a new school, definitely do a dry run by walking or driving them to see the building.

4. Engage your child in the back-to-school process! Sit down with your child, read the school materials and fill them out together. Talk about his/her teacher, the room number, school supply list, and any after school activities. Most importantly, remember if you model calm, collected behavior, your kids will be far more relaxed as school approaches.

5. Setup a family calendar in a central location that EVERYONE can view. Color-code activities for each child and mark important dates for school on the calendar. Find out ahead of time what your child will be participating in and keep an eye out for conflicts. For the first week of school, don’t make any plans, so you can adjust as a family. And don’t forget to schedule down time as a family and a regular date night for mom and dad!

6. Create a Parent/Kid station. A clever, easy solution to morning madness is to designate an area near the door or place you walk by every day where you can set up a central station for everyone’s necessities. The idea is to have space and easy access to all the things you don’t want to leave behind. The parent’s station could include a space for house keys, spare change, cell phone charger, and inbox/outbox for your child’s school forms. The kids’ station should include a place for their sports equipment, lunch box, snacks, backpack, etc.

7. Buy school supplies early and let your child select items that reflect his/her personality. New school supplies can make the back-to-school process fun and exciting. Let your child choose items that reflect their taste and personality. When it comes to the almightily backpack, look for wide padded straps and padded back. Teach your child to pack the heavy items at the back of their bag to prevent shoulder strain. And remember, you’re child’s backpack should not way more than 10-20% of their body weight.

8. Create savvy shoppers by engaging your child in the school supply shopping experience. If you’re child is old enough, arm them with a calculator, list and budget and do the shopping together, considering the available funds. Explain that they can spend a lot on one special item – like a new backpack – but that they will then need to buy plain pencils or use last year’s binders. You can also teach kids that private brands like OfficeMax’s Schoolio product line are a great way to save on supplies while still getting fun designs and patterns.

9. Involved parents equals good, happy students. Several studies show that children whose parents are involved in their education do better academically and socially. Open the lines of communication as soon as you receive your child’s classroom assignment. Most teachers are accessible by email, so a quick note expressing your hope for a great year, eagerness to meet the teacher and willingness to volunteer in the classroom is a nice gesture.

10. Stay engaged in your child’s class throughout the year. Create a weekly report card that addressed your child’s specific challenges. For example, list 3-4 questions on an index card: Is my child keeping up with the reading? Getting homework in on time? Participating in class? Yes/No questions are best. Needless to say, having to hand the teacher a card is a good incentive for your child to connect with his/her teacher and a nice way for you to stay updated on your child’s progress.

Learn more about Annie Pleshette Murphy at annpleshettemurphy.com. Find your local school supply deals at OfficeMax or view school supply lists by grade on OfficeMax’s Back-to-School site. You can also find OfficeMax on Facebook or @OfficeMax on Twitter.

Shared by: The Plus Size Mommy

As I waited to get my hair done,I was offered a wonderful scalp massage using the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo. It felt amazing. Cooper, from the motherhood.com was going around taking pictures of the “Before” looks. As I was getting pampered, Colleen came over and we chit chatted about my hair and the texture of it. As my hair is very oily, she recomended and gave me alot of samples (Alterna Life Solutions-A volume restore shampoo and conditioner) to use for the type of hair I have. She was very helpful.
Then the stylist Kelly Lapinsky came over and took me to get my hair done. I had brought a picture of what I wanted to go with. She said we can do that. I had asked for blonde hightlights but she recomended the red ones with the color of my hair.. after all it is the color for the summer this year. She also felt it would blend in better as my hair grew since I dont make it to the salon as often as I should. I needed something that was easy to maintain but also a big change that would look nice on me. She was a very nice person and made me feel relaxed since I was so nervous for the complete change. I am very satisfied with what she did for me.
After I was all "made over and looking beautiful", Cooper took some pictures of me for the "After" beautiful look.When we put the 2 pictures together, it was amazing the difference a new haircut and style made for me. I felt like a new person.

Post Written By : The more2lovemom

*Disclosure – Salon Services were scheduled by TheMotherhood.com (Cooper) and this event was part of The Pittsburgh Mom Blogger Hair Day. Services were provided at no charge to us.