MAGHOUND: all your favorite magazines for one low price

I don't subscribe to very many magazines because I either can't keep up with the reading (Time once a week was killing me) or I get bored before my year or two subscription is up. Plus subscribing to more than one or two magazines at a time is tough on the budget, so what's a magazine junkie to do? Today's wonderful web wednesday brings you MAGHOUND, the new online membership service that lets you "choose, change, and manage all the magazines delivered to your home for one low monthly fee."

First you choose your level of membership, from three titles ($4.95 per month) to five ($7.95 per month) to seven ($9.95 per month) and up (an additional $1 per title). MAGHOUND has hundreds of magazines to choose from. To see if your favorite magazine is on MAGHOUND, click here. You can browse by top sellers, subject or search by keyword. Then you customize your package by how many titles per month you'd like. From there you can manage your account online--replace, cancel or add magazines anytime. Sounds too good to be true but the only catch I've found is that some magazines are tagged as "premium" and require an additional fee per month.

Though $60 a year sounds like a lot for a subscription, if you add up three of your current magazine subscriptions I bet they'll be close to this price or more. And I highly doubt Real Simple is going to let you change their magazine for People with just the click of the mouse.

Right now MAGHOUND is offering a 30-day free membership. They claim "no hidden commitments and no obligation to continue." You are able to cancel your membership "anytime, online, 24 hours a day, with no cancellation fees." I say it's definitely worth a try! And though they don't offer gift certificates (yet), MAGHOUND would be a great gift this holiday season. --Emily

what to eat before a workout

Today's take it off tuesday is all about food--more specifically what your body needs before you work out and when it needs it. In "Fuel for Your Workout: Which Foods Work Best" from the site divine caroline, Allie Firestone talks about the types of food that will give you the most bang for your bite before and during your workout...and depending on the type of workout you have planned.

The basics? Complex carbs with a side of protein is the best: "...whether it's yoga, an hour of hardcore kickboxing, or a weightlifting session ... [your meal] should ... be composed of foods that break down slowly, supplying the body with a steady stream of energy and nutrients." So basically half a king-size Twix isn't going to cut it but a ripe banana with a side of peanut butter should do the trick.

Just as important as what you eat is when you eat it. Timing depends on the size of your meal and the types of food in it:

Different factors affect how quickly the meal will break down, like whether it's liquid or solid (liquid digests faster), or if it has some healthy fats (fat needs more time to break down). ... A more snacky meal... usually takes one to two hours to digest, but a larger meal ... will need a full two to three hours.

Though natural foods are best, protein bars and shakes can be a good option if you're in a hurry or on the go. "Fuel for Your Workout" even outlines the best meals for Pilates or yoga (dark chocolate--yum!), cardio (oatmeal--yummy with a little brown sugar and a handful of raisins) and weight lifting (it's all about the protein, baby). With what limited time you have to work out, you might as well get the most out of it! --Emily

Mike Michalowicz dispels five common entrepreneur myths

Today's mompreneur monday features a recent guest post by Mike Michalowicz, author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, on The Big Idea Blog. In his post "Don’t Share Your Big Idea Because Investors Will Steal It (And Four Other Stupid Misconceptions)," Michalowicz puts to rest five common myths related to being an entrepreneur:

1. Don’t share your big idea (i.e. investors are not lying in wait to steal your idea; they have better things to do)
   
2. Go in 50/50 with your best friend (think about assigning equity based on performance; LeShan and I are happy with a 50/50 relationship but it doesn't work for everyone)
   
3. Writing a business plan improves your chances for success (save a few trees and stick to three important documents: a one-page prosperity plan, a one-page quarterly plan, and the daily metrics)
4. Count your profits at the end of the day (do just the opposite and set up a PFA or "profit first account"--I really like this idea!)
   
5. Balance work and family through self-employment (ha ha! any mompreneur knows balance is about as achievable as a daily nap, but integrating the family in the business can help!)
   

Michalowicz gives more details on each myth in his post and it's truly worth your time to read it in its entirety (it's not very long). And when you're done you might want to read more about his book The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. After reading more about him and the rave reviews about his book, I'm thinking his book is going to be a must-have for my business library. --Emily

win a gorgeous lizzy anne quilt!

I am so glad there are talented (and beautiful) quilt makers out there because I will never be one, so it's up to these women to supple the rest of the world with gorgeous quilts and quilt designs. Daria at Boutique Cafe sent me the link to a quilt giveaway on Pigtails and Snails, a blog by Elizabeth Cranmer of Lizzy Anne quilt designs. The fabulous fall quilt she is giving away is titled "spring up" and is a Lizzy Anne original design.

The quilt is a raw-edge applique quilt, and though I don't know much about quilting, I do know this is one of my favorite techniques. It means the edges are frayed and usually already washed so they're soft. Measuring 70" x 100" the quilt is a generous twin size. You can read more about the quilt and the woman who quilted it by reading the original quilt giveaway post. She will also have 2nd and 3rd-place prizes, so you have three chances to win! You don't want to miss out on this gorgeous quilt giveaway, so enter before October 17th! Good luck! --Emily

sunday morning cinnamon rolls

With fall comes the holidays and with the holidays comes cinnamon rolls. Sure, you can eat them all year round but there's something extra yummy about eating them on a Sunday morning when the frost is thick on the ground. A good cinnamon recipe is worth more than the weight of its pan in gold, and here's a real treasure from my girlfriend Chris Rich. (Thanks, Chris!) Refrigerate, roll, raise, slice, bake and enjoy!

Sunday Morning Cinnamon Rolls
Note: Make the dough the day before

1 c water
1 c butter
3/4 c sugar
2 t salt
1 c cold water
4 eggs slightly beaten
2 packages yeast or 4 ½ t yeast
1/2 c warm water
7 1/2 c flour
1/2 c butter softened
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c cinnamon
1 recipe Powdered Sugar Glaze

In a large pot bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add the 1 cup butter, sugar and salt. Remove from heat. Add the 1 cup cold water. When mixture is lukewarm, add beaten eggs. In a separate bowl dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water. Allow yeast to rise about 5 minutes, until foamy. Stir into mixture. Add flour and stir together. Cover pan with lid and refrigerate overnight. (A 5-quart ice cream bucket with lid also works well.)

When ready to roll out, divide dough into thirds. Lightly flour surface of bread- board. Roll dough out into a 12x6-inch rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Spread each rectangle with one-third of the softened butter. In a bowl combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 1/3 of brown sugar and cinnamon mixture over surface of dough.
Roll up jelly roll style and cut into about 12 rounds. Place on greased baking sheet. Follow same procedure with other two portions of dough. Let raise 2-3 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake one sheet at a time for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread with Powdered Sugar Glaze while still warm. Makes 3 dozen rolls.

Powdered Sugar Glaze
1/2 c butter, softened
2 c powdered sugar
2 T milk
2 t vanilla or 1 t vanilla and 1 t almond extract (her secret ingredient)

Cream above ingredients together and spread over warm cinnamon rolls. Don't forget to lick the bowl!

"I like cinnamon rolls, but I don't always have time to make a pan. That's why I wish they would sell cinnamon roll incense. After all I'd rather light a stick and have my roommate wake up with false hopes." --Mitch Hedberg

Olive Kids character-free bedding

Because I'm especially exhausted tonight, today's that's hot! thursday is a teaser for the full Daily Dish review on Olive Kids children's bedding over at Boutique Cafe. My favorite thing about Olive Kids bedding and decor is the total lack of TV or movie characters. You won't find Spiderman on the sheets or Dora on the comforter, and for someone like me who only allows characters on underwear, it's very refreshing. Here's a little blurb from the full review:

Olive Kids was created to offer parents like me 'an affordable alternative to the character based entertainment licenses.' The company believes kids' rooms should inspire creativity and play and not serve as an advertisement for a TV show or movie. I couldn't agree more! Though my baby girl isn't old enough to realize it, she is now the proud owner of Olive Kids' Tea Party bedding set. My mom was in town when I opened the box and she and I could not stop oohing and aahing over every single piece. ...

Read the full review to learn more about why I love Olive Kids' children's bedding and decor. Don't miss the fabulous giveaway at the end of the review. Just comment on the post for your chance to win Olive Kids' awesome canvas growth chart! Good luck! --Emily

Marshalls Shoe Mega Shop: enter to win $250!

I may love shoes but I rarely pay full price for them. If I'm not reviewing a fabulous pair of Penny Loves Kenny or Söfft shoes for Boutique Cafe then I'm shopping Nordstrom Rack or Famous Footwear's BOGO sale. But now I may have a new must-visit store for shoes; Marshalls is opening a new Mega Shop and it sounds perfect for bargain-loving shoe-lovers like me.

Marshalls' new concept is "5,000 square feet of shoe-lovers heaven, featuring top brands and the latest styles found in department and specialty stores, but for up to 60 percent less." With an easy-to-shop layout and a plethora of styles and sizes it's sure to be a mega hit!

To kick off their new Shoe Mega Shop, Marshalls is offering you a chance to win $250 in gift cards! Check out the widget below for your chance to win:



I've actually played the game a few times and it's quite fun, although I have yet to be successful at matching the shoes in all three rounds. But $250 is a tempting prize so I may have to play until I finally get it right! Good luck, and may the best shoe-lover win! --Emily

Zabitatz is THE online meeting place for homeowners

I am still getting used to this twitter thing. I almost gave up on it once or twice but am slowly getting the hang of it. Though I'm not a 24/7 twitterer I do enjoy reading what others have to say and sharing my own two cents now and then. Once in a while I even come across fun new sites and today's wonderful web wednesday is the result of such a tweet, so thank you, twitter!

If you're a homeowner in need of design advice or in need of a forum to share your fabulous design ideas, then Zabitatz is the site for you. Claiming to be "the fun, never-intimidating and always informative site where passionate members meet to share advice, insight and inspiration about everything home-related," Zabitatz is place where beginners and experts alike can ask questions and get answers on everything from painting a room to gardening to choosing the right appliance.

Collaboration is the key on Zabitatz. If you have a great idea about how to display family photos or have learned from a design mistake, share it. If you would like to know more about types of flooring or even managing finances, just ask. Members can post to forums, review products, share their favorite links, and even upload photos and videos.

Right now on Zabitatz you can enter the Wacky Tacky Home Design Disasters Contest. Just upload a photo of a crazy design distater (yours or someone else's) and if your photo wins by public vote, you could be mortgage free for a year! Zabby of Zabitatz is also highlighting her favorite pink products that support breast cancer reasearch and has opened a "pink" forum where members can discuss their favorite pink products and discuss the important topic of breast cancer.

I'm no design guru (that would be LeShan) and so this site is a great resource for the design-challenged like myself. But even if you're an ol' pro you'll still find a lot of "zabtastic" info on Zabitatz. --Emily

Polyvore let's you mix & match to your heart's content

Even though fashion trend tuesday is usually LeShan's department I'm going to attempting one today only because the site speaks for itself. Though creativity in fashion isn't my cup of tea I might be able to brew a pot or two after playing around on Polyvore.

I first heard about Polyvore from Lena's Notebook. The site uses a unique web application that lets you mix and match images from the web. You can create full outfits from head to toe, new ideas for your living room or any collage that suits your fancy. Apparently it's highly addictive, or so the site claims and so I've gathered from Lena. (I love her To Do list!) The stats are impressive. Since the site launched in February, 2007:

• 1.4 million unique visitors per month
• 300,000 registered users
• 2.2 million sets created
• 2.3 million products

I played around a little bit on Polyvore this evening and am hooked. I started by choosing a background and immediately fell in love with the ones from aliciabock.com. Here is my first attempt. Now keep in mind I am very left brained so this isn't the coolest set you'll find on Polyvore:



If we're lucky LeShan will discover Polyvore and then we can all be seriously impressed! I admit it, I could spend a lot of time on the site but will sign off for now. One thing that's really awesome is you can check out featured sets like this one and it details every item (name and from where it came). In fact, I just checked my set above and the site had already broken it down with links to purchase the items pictured. SO COOL!

If you're like me and need a little help when it comes to creaticity in fashion, check out Polyvore's blog. I am loving the Scooby Doo Halloween costume ideas! The blog also has great fashion tips such as what to wear with argyle and how to accessorize high-waisted skirts. Fashion lovers, beware and be well rested. You'll be mixing and matching for hours on end. Have fun! --Emily

are you an overwhelmed mother?

The answer is probably yes, especially if you're a mother and mompreneur. I have many a day where I wonder how I'm going to get everything done on my to-do list, and that doesn't count the numerous unplanned interruptions (potty training fits right into that one). That thing where you run around like a chicken with its head cut off? I've used that expression one too many times. Tired of being a headless chicken I am slowly learning my world--family or business--won't fall apart if things aren't checked off the list. I'm trying to be more flexible, focus on the moment and fight the addiction to multitask every moment of every day.

I missed this week's Oprah about the overwhelmed mother who left her two-year-old girl in the car all day while she was at work. She simply forgot she was there. It was a tragic yet touching story that hit home to those of us trying to balance the daily demands of a life filled with children, groceries, laundry, invoices and emails. My first thought was, "How could she not remember her daughter was in the back seat?" And then I remembered the times when I've turned around in the car to make sure my daughter was in her car seat--I couldn't recall actually strapping her in when I left the house! Like Oprah mentioned, I too have arrived at a destination not knowing how I got there (and wondering if I ran any red lights along the way).

The message I took home from this Oprah episode was to slow down, focus on the task at hand and do whatever I can to avoid becoming overwhelmed. If you missed "An Overwhelmed Mother's Deadly Mistake" I highly recommend you read the episode (I believe it's close to the full transcript). It will help put your multitasked life into perspective. Hopefully none of us will ever have to go through something so tragic. --Emily

Handbag Planet: handbags without the high price tag

I love handbags almost as much as I love jeans and shoes. (I'd probably love them just as much if I had more room in my closet.) My friend Melissa over at Makin' Memories passed along the info about Handbag Planet, a new website that boasts "high fashion handbags without the high price." Inspired by the latest popular designer brands these handbags don't come with the designer price tag. All bags on Handbag Planet will be priced between $30 and $80!

The site launches October 15th, and to celebrate they're giving away 24 handbags in 24 hours! To enter to win simply sign up by submitting your name and email, then sselect the handbag you'd like to win. That's it. No catches (S&H fees, credit card info, membership fee, etc.) Plus if you pass along the info about Handbag Planet to your friends you'll earn extra entries. I've already registered and selected my favorite bag (7:00 p.m.). Good luck narrowing it down to one! Head on over to Handbag Planet and enter to win! --Emily

yummy deviled eggs (and the coolest way to peel hardboiled eggs!)

Though many of us love to entertain all years long, the holidays are often the busiest time of the year when it comes to crowd-friendly finger foods. One of my favorite appetizers is deviled eggs, yet I don't make them nor do I see them very often. Why is that? My guess is because of the time involved in peeling those dang eggs, and if not hardboiled just right you end up with tired fingers and less-than-appetizing eggs.

But this holiday season you may see more platters of deviled eggs than in previous years, and it's all thanks to Timothy Ferriss' YouTube video "How to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs Without Peeling." Yes, without peeling! The clip is only one minute long but it could very well change your life. Just watch:



Being women we have enough hot air to spare; we'll have a couple dozen eggs peeled in no time!

Now you need to use those freshly peeled hardboiled eggs so here are a couple deviled egg recipes from AllRecipes.com. I can't wait to try them! (If you use one before we do, please leave a comment letting us know what you thought. The same goes for Ferriss' super cool technique for peeling hardboiled eggs.)

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs
12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled
1/2 c mayonnaise
4 slices bacon
2 T finely shredded Cheddar cheese
1 T mustard

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. (Alternatively, wrap bacon in paper towels and cook in the microwave for about 1 minute per slice.) Crumble and set aside.

Cut eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks to a small bowl. Mash egg yolks with mayonnaise, crumbled bacon and cheese. Stir in mustard. Fill egg white halves with the yolk mixture and refrigerate until serving.


Spinach Deviled Eggs
12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled
1/4 C mayonnaise
2 T vinegar
2 T butter or margarine, softened
1 T sugar
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Slice eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks and set whites aside. In a small bowl, mash yolks with a fork. Stir in the mayonnaise, vinegar, butter, sugar, pepper and salt. Add spinach and mix well. Stir in the bacon; spoon into egg whites. Serve immediately.

"Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold -- but so does a hard-boiled egg."