Definition of being a MOM

Motherhood – Def: the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother. maternity · family relationship, kinship, relationship. But what does motherhood really mean? Is there a definition to describe the variety of moms?

In this article, FFM will attempt to define the Mirror Moms (MMs)

Mirror moms tends to reflect others emotion directly. In her world, everything looks inward then flows through a set of filters before it’s bounced back into the world again. She will share your joy, pain and life together.

The supportive nature of mirror moms can become over-bearing, as they have the need for information and they seek complete openness in others life. The down side of this lifestyle is that boundaries can be blurred for better or for worse.

Mirror moms tends to have a full schedule filled with bonding activities and giving time to her family.

FFM will cover another definition in the next article. <3

Recession Round 2! A Recession Proof Family

2012, Global Recession is back!

Is fear and anxiety gripping your mind & purse? Our Financial advisor Kaye.D. Middleton is here to explain what’s really going on, and what you can do to make your family’s recession proof.

Kaye draw a comparison to illustrate a recession proof plan,“It’s like running a bath, you need to set aside enough time to bath. The sink hole must be plug to keep the water in, and the temperature must be right so you don’t scorch or freeze yourself." We tend to get this right (the bathing), because the consequence is in our face or more accurately to our body. Unfortunately, when it comes to finance a lot of families are burning & scorching themselves in the recession and the second wave of global recession is right outside out doorstep.

Kaye says that the banks, mortgage companies and brokerages firms were to blame. They freely authorized bad loans and credits to everyone, and some will never have the means to make repayment. There is clearly a deeper moral issue here with the credit controllers. They have change society’s view on borrowing, it’s easy & it’s empowering for the some whom never had money to spend. Now, our habits are passed on to the next generation where our children expect the parents to provide financial support for longer, and their future are uncertain due to the economic crisis created in our generation. 

So, what can we do as responsible parents to make our family recession proof right now? Our Financial Advisor, Kaye.D.Middleton says the following:

• For people close to retirement age, they need to reconsider their investments to maintain an incoming stream to offset rising cost and inflation (when cost of things rises).


• For homeowners, the threat of unemployment and unaffordable of mortgage rates will need to consider cutting back on non-essential luxuries. The savings should be held in a high interest account as an emergency fund.


• For everyone else, they need to adapt to a cash economy, which means buying only what you can afford right now in cash. Start a financial plan for the next 20 years. Ask yourselves questions like, “What’s inflation going to cost us? What’s our return on investment? What are we going to pay for our food? What are we going to pay for our fuel? How much will we need to safe to put our children through school?”

“Credits”, It is one of the most addictive commodities in the 21^st century, and is comparable to the Weapon Of Mass Destruction WMD. Start planning today and make sure your family’s stability is recession proof.

We thank Kaye.D.Middleton for her valuable time.

Related articles

• First Person: How the Recession Changed Me - Yahoo! Finance (thecatwiththegreenhat.com)


• What have caused a recession in european developing economies such as Serbia? (amilovan.wordpress.com)


• Do family business insurance customers survive recession better? (premierlinedirect.co.uk)


• America's Recession-Proof Companies (huffingtonpost.com)


• Recession 'still affecting commercial property insurance customers' (premierlinedirect.co.uk)


• Recession-proof your relationship (thesun.co.uk)

DareDevil mom

How far would you go for mom & daughter/ father & son activity participation?

Recently, I came across this lifestyle blog of an adventurous mom, Menna Pritchard, who appears to have a passion for her outdoor activities. Menna is 26, a single mom with a 4 months old toddler, Ffion and a full-time student working toward a degree in outdoor education.

She made the headlines in the local newspaper when she climbed a lilmestone rock-face at Thre Cliffs Bay in Wales with Ffion. What's the big news? Picture Ffion strapped to Menna's back.



"Life is all about risks, whether that’s something as simple as getting in your car every day or climbing up a rock face," 

This Dare Devil mom certainly wins our respect for her. We think mounting the cliff or whatever sports she participates in, the most important thing is that she shares her true passion and joy with Ffion. The image of Menna & Ffion's struggle to reach the top of the climb resonates something more then just a simple bonding exercise, it's a reflection of their lifestyle.

Related articles

• Anger at mum Menna Pritchard rock-climbing with toddler strapped to her back (thesun.co.uk)


• Rock climbing with baby on board (bbc.co.uk)


• Woman climbs cliffs with toddler on back (upi.com)


• Lil' Miss Goes Rock Climbing! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)


• Is she off her rocker? (thesun.co.uk)


• Facebook photo of woman rock climbing with baby strapped to her back causes controversy, for some reason (offthebench.nbcsports.com)

Music: Walk the Moon

Ladies & Gents! Please grab your best headphones and slip on your dancing shoes, as you are about to be amazed by this new indie pop band called Walk the Moon. Their hit single "Anna Sun" was released in late 2010, before the album Iwant! Iwant! was released.

If you are a fan of the Killers and Katy Perry, it's very likely you will fall in love with the energy of this mixed bag of talents. Their video is twisted with surprises, from moments of darkness turning and meandering inside a building, leading to a collage of choreographed shapes that is hard to describe. However, I'm sure of one thing, I could not resist hitting that replay button at the end of the video (Yes... for the music too).

Now, hit the picture for a link to their video, and tell us what you think!

If you like, please hit the subscribe button for the latest news & updates! FFM

Bakery Challenge

Rumour says that Home-baking is the new trend in 2012? Our research indicates that people want more down to earth simple food that is more organic and containing natural ingredients only. There is a burning passion for people will become more experimental, trying out some baking that is a little trickier in particular macaroons and artisan breads.

Baking is Simple and Fun. We will show you how.

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups all-purpose flour


• 2 cups bread flour


• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 tablespoon yeast


• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


• 1/4 cup honey


• 1 1/4 cup warm milk 105F

Directions

1. Mix the milk, melted butter, and honey in a bowl and microwave until it reaches 110-120F. Stir in the yeast and let sit until mixture is foamy, about 10 min.


2. Combine the 2 cups of bread flour with the salt. Slowly adding to the yeast mixture. Stir in the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl (I needed about 1 3/4 cups). Knead mixture by hand on a floured surface for 10 minutes until dough is soft and pliable.


3. Place the dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl, then flip the dough bottom side up to lightly coat it with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a dish towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 30-60 min. or until doubled in size.


4. Empty the dough from the bowl and split it in half. Roll each half into a rectangle about 10×14″. Starting with the 10″ side, roll the dough up, pinching together as you go to make a log. Pinch all seams together with moist fingers. Fold ends under and place dough seam side down in a well-greased bread pan. Cover pans loosely with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let rise for another 30-60 min. or until doubled in size.


5. Bake in preheated 400F oven for about 25 min. Remove from pans and let cool on a cooling rack before slicing.

Please subscribe to us! <3 Thank you from FFM

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• Easy No-Knead Bread Recipe for Beginners (seattlefoodshed.wordpress.com)


• Black Rye Bread (suburbhomestead.wordpress.com)


• Obsessed With Baking Bread (sunnysideellen.wordpress.com)


• Walmart Recalls Cruller Bakery Pastries Due To Mislabeled Milk Allergen (fda.gov)


• Batory and Kemira Join Forces to Form New Partnership (prweb.com)

Hairstyle Diary

t's just turn 10:30am, I checked in my pocket mirror for the 20th time in between crossing the road and waiting for the lights to change from amber to green on my way to the shopping mall.

Let's face it, most of us will never stop pouting in the mirror, or secretly worrying about the public opinion of our appearance, like our precious hair. In fact, our hair is one of the features we change to reflect our emotions.  The top 4 reasons for a new hairstyle are as follow:

• a celebrity


• a change of season


• a breakup


• new love

Our professional hair stylist says, if you're looking for a new hairstyle, but nothing too extreme. She recommends you to choose from these mommy-licious styles — the bob, the shag & the pixie.

The Bob

This popular cut is iconic and has been featured by many 30 something celebrities.  You can wear it sleek, wavy, or choppy.
Tips:  Swingy layers flatter all face shapes, from round to oval or square. "Use a thickening spray on damp strands to give it more movement,"

The Shag

This is "Layers with an attitude".
Tips: Most suited for straight hair. To achieve the maximum shine, you should blow-dry hair before finish with a smoothing serum.

The Pixie

This is the fabulous, cheeky yet classic style.
Tips: Most suited to compliment delicate facial features. You can enhance the texture by dabbing pomade on the ends.



Whatever you decide, have Fun with it!:
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe to FFM for the latest news! :)

Related articles

• New Hairstyles 2012: Miley Cyrus's Bob! (news.instyle.com)
• Pre-Wedding Chop? (weddingbee.com)
• Which Hairstyle Do You Like Best on Jennifer Hudson? (bellasugar.com)
• Hairstyles By Me (bubblesbyluck.wordpress.com)
• Get a Great Hairstyle For an Oval-Shaped Face With Curly Hair (bellasugar.com)
• Which Hairstyle Do You Like Best on Aisha Tyler? (bellasugar.com)

Dad & Daughter (Goerge & Alexa) duet "Someone Like You" Cover

Love it or Hate it?!

We bring you the latest YouTube People Blogger sensation - George & Alexa Narvaez,  performing a Live cover of Adele's number one single "Someone like you".  George is a single dad, who's working hard to support his 2 young daughters. His Youtube blog is their family life project where they hope to bring joy and to inspire others.

It's moments like this that reminds us the joys in life. What brings you joy & happiness in your life? Send in your VidBlogs or comments to us.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ue728Ek6ng&feature=b-rec-topic

Related articles

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Killer Infections - Fatal to New Born Babies

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What is this deadly infection that's killed 6 babies at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Belfast, Ireland?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water and on most surfaces. The symptoms of such infections are generalized inflammation and sepsis. If such colonizations occur in critical body organs, such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal especially in new born babies. Because this bacteria thrives on most surfaces, sometimes it can be found on medical equipment, causing cross-infections in hospitals and clinics.

New born babies are vulnerable due to their undeveloped immune system.

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FFM Writing Competition! WIN $$$

Writing Competition "Temptation, Freedom, Adult Adventure, Pleasure & Pain..."

Pick up your pen and free your creativity!
FastFoodMom is inviting writers to enter this competition.

Subject: Fiction - Adult Erotica Fantasy (Adventure/ Crime/ Roleplay/ Fantasy  etc)
Word length: 13,000 - 15,000
Written in English
Deadline: 30th April 2012 
Announcement: 31st May 2012

Prize: The chosen authors will be awarded $200, a contract for publication and a hard copy of their book. Our decision is final.

To Apply:
Simply express your interest via email:  Reference "FFM competition"  ice_ad@hotmail.com

Rule:
You must be the sole author of the submitted story, and the story must not be published previously. By submitting your piece in this competition, the chosen author agrees to assigning exclusive publication rights to FastFoodMom and grant FastFoodMom ownership of the copyright for the duration of the contract for 3 years from the date of book release. At the end of the contract period, both the publication and copyright will be returned to sole author. FFM retains the right to terminate contract at any point in time with immediate notice.

Good luck & Best Wishes from FFM!

America's Got Talent 2012

The 7th Season of America's Got Talent is about to begin! Last audition will take place on 27th February 2012 in New York city! If anyone in your family, friends, colleagues or lovers has that X-factor, then it's your duty give them a nudge in the right direction for 5minutes of that 5 minutes of fame.

Personally, the opportunity to chance your talent with Simon Cowell would be one of the most memorable life experience. Here is a quote from the icon himself to give you a flavour of what this man is like...

"The object of this competition is not to be mean to the losers but to find a winner. The process makes you mean because you get frustrated. Kids turn up unrehearsed, wearing the wrong clothes, singing out of tune and you can either say, 'Good job,' and patronize them or tell them the truth, and sometimes the truth is perceived as mean." 



Of course, not to forget the other equally exciting judges like Sharon Osbourne, Howard Stern and Howie Mandel.

Just follow this link to en-roll http://americasgottalentauditions.com/pre-reg-form/  . Please send in your stories, and we will seriously consider featuring them in our future posts. <3 <3 <3

Goodluck all FastFoodMoms followers! Please subscribe to our blog and leave your interesting comments & responses below.

Related articles

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• Howard Stern is "America' s Got Talent" newest judge - CBS News (cbsnews.com)


• Terrible Talent Reality Show Holding Auditions In Civic Center This Weekend (sfist.com)


• Simon Cowell Challenges 'The Voice' Winner to a Singing Showdown (celebs.gather.com)


• Announcing a global talent search for TED2013 speakers (ted.com)


• The Voice Recap: Blind Auditions, Take Four (thehollywoodgossip.com)


• PHOTOS: America's Got Talent (997now.radio.com)

Valentine's Day Special

Valentine's Day: The traditional definition of this V-day is a day for the exchange of tokens of affection.... Have you got the perfect gift for him/ her? How about a photo shoot session to capture your kids celebrating the day?

Here are some ideas on how-to capture the cute photo for their Valentines.

1. Fun Action shot - Focus on capturing the kids in action (a jump or twirling around in a circle) and the patterns created by their arms and legs.

2. Multiple Collage  shots - Double the numbers, double the Sweetness! Snap several photos at once, then put them in a collage arrangement for display.

3. Carnival shot - Take the shot to a creative level. This is a simple top-down shot. Decorate a flat surface (ground) with flowers & cutie bears and then ask the model (your kid) to sit over the decorations.

4. Cute Close up shot - Focus on facial features. To add a bit of magic, why not give him/ her a hat to wear?

5. "I Heart U" Signs - Give your kid hold-up signs with love messages.

6. Be Bold - Carefully print a short love note across the face.

Related articles

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• My wish for your Valentine's Day (newenglandpetguide.wordpress.com)


• PAS Valentine's Day equation! (rightways.wordpress.com)

Hogwarts Cupcakes

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Ingredients

For the cupcakes

• 100 g Golden caster sugar


• 130 g margarine


• 130 g self-raising flour


• 2 eggs, at room temperature


• ½ tsp baking powder


• Food colouring


• 2 drops of vanilla essence

For the buttercream

• 100 g butter


• 200 g icing sugar


• 1 tsp vanilla essence

For the strawberry sauce

• 15 strawberries


• 2 tbsp soft brown sugar

To decorate

• 1-2 meringue, crumbled


• strawberries

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.

2. For the strawberry sauce: remove stalks and slice strawberries into about 6 pieces each. Place them in a saucepan with the sugar and simmer over a gentle heat for about 10 minutes with the lid on, stirring occasionally. The strawberries will go very slushy.

3. Use a masher to gently squash all the strawberries and simmer with the lid off for another 2 minutes.

4. Run the sauce through a sieve to remove all the pips and pulp and leave to cool.

5. For the cupcakes: lay out cupcake cases. If you use silicon you can lay them on a flat baking tray, if you use paper ones, I advise using a bun tin to make the cakes hold their shape.

6. Whisk the eggs and sugar for at least 4 minutes with an electric hand whisk and beat air into the mix so it fluffs up.

7. Bit by bit, sieve in the flour and baking powder and add bits of butter, whisking the mixture each time to ensure a smooth texture, until fully mixed, then mix in the vanilla paste or essence.

8. Divide the mixture evenly into two bowls. In one bowl mix 4 tablespoons of strawberry sauce. Add red food colouring if the batter is not strongly coloured.

9. Take a spoonful of the white batter and spoon into the middle. Gently make a well with the base of a spoon in the middle. Repeat with pink mixture. Fill cupcake cases about two thirds full.

10. Put the cupcakes into the oven for 15-20 minutes until they feel spongy and the tops have got some colour.

11. Once out of the oven, place on a wire cooling rack to cool down.

12. For the buttercream: cream the butter on its own for a couple of minutes using an electric hand mixer, then add the icing sugar and vanilla essence and beat until light and fluffy.

13. Make a cupcake swirl, but after you’ve scooped the buttercream on, gently drip on strawberry sauce so that it makes a strawberry ripple in buttercream.

14. Sprinkle the meringue over the top of the buttercream.

15. decorate with a strawberry, then try not to eat them all at once.

Mommies Addiction

Dear Super Moms

This is day1 of FastFoodMom blog. In the mist  of the parenting lifestyle, one has to face reality though it may be harsh and far from our ideal. It is a solution. A Solution that presents itself in different forms... therefore we are FastFoodMoms also known as FFMs. Consumers to the mass conveniences services, products & consumable goods.

From today forth, I shall call upon all FFMs to come together and share their FFM lifestyle & solutions.

Signed

Crystal K