MCM: Dinah Babcanec

    

    Suburban stay-at-home mom during the day, band member by night! She runs 11 miles on Sundays and has her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. She's basically every young mom's role model, and she's MY sister. Dinah has been surrounded by music her entire life, and finally after 32 years she has faced her fears and stepped out of her comfort zone. She is an inspiration in my life and after reading this, I know she will also be one on yours.

Singing is new for you, what inspired you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new?

Really there was one big push and motivating factor and that was my brother, Dan. I have been so proud of him and his musical and academic achievements my entire life and was pretty flattered that he wanted to start making music with me. I had to try it if not for the simple fact of respect. Thankfully, from that first vocal practice together down in my basement our voices really meshed and we felt like there was enough potential to start practicing regularly. It had been a long time since I attempting something completely new that directly involved other people too. Playing in our band and learning every time I pick up my electric ukulele continues to put me a vulnerable position. Sometimes it's scary, especially my first time playing a show, but scary in the best way.

 

Why is it important for you to have other "mom friends" in your life?

I'm lucky to have been pregnant my first time around with my best friend. She was due with her second child just two weeks after I was due with my first. I am so blessed with good friends who are so supportive and who I can go to with any questions or just to vent. And now, I'm in the process of meeting and starting friendships with a whole new group of mom friends through my son being in kindergarten. I was so excited for him to go to school and thrive, and the community of great families that we're now a part of is such a bonus that I wasn't necessarily expecting! Being a stay-at-home mom to very young children gets lonely sometimes. Even the brief comments to another mom at the library can be a much needed human connection. It can be hard. "Mom friends" are a necessity, but so are "single friends". It's nice to go out and not talk about your kids too!

Why do you love to run?

I always think about something I heard a few years ago- It's not the running I love, it's the being done with the run that I love. That pretty much sums it up. It's a work-out that I've always been good at so why not stick with it and try to go big with it.

 

What inspires/motivates you to be a good mother?

My husband, my mother, my kids, my friends, my family. My mother was a great mom growing up. She taught me to sew, bake, play outside, have respect and precision, proper grammar, among others that only moms know how to do. I have wonderful childhood memories that positively effect how I raise my kids today. However, when I was about 13 years-old she moved two states away. From me, her only daughter who was at a critical age. We still saw each other fairly frequently and at the time it was actually fun to have a place to go visit. But that was just the beginning of a painful journey with her. When she passed away when I was 25 and engaged, I made the conscious choice to transition to adulthood. To "stop" being a daughter, who had been hurt by things outside of her control, and start fresh as a woman. A wife, and soon, a mom who can do everything in her power to make it a happy life. So probably my biggest day-to-day motivation is my own mother. I carried with me the good things and left behind the bad.

 

How do you balance your time between your family, training for marathons, spending time with friends and your band?

Being able to stay home with my kids is a big factor when it comes to fitting everything in. I'm able to manage my time more catered to what needs to be done that day or week and I'm very thankful for that. I have so much respect for full-time working moms who have their shit together. I'm pretty good at keeping a balance-mostly because I crumble under stress. I try to avoid "bad" stress at all costs. So with the help of mostly my husband and our good neighbors, I'm able to get out during the evenings for running, band practice, yoga, dinner with friends, etc. It's all vital to my sanity.  

Do you have any future goals?

The awesome thing about life is that you are never done. Same goes for playing music, running, practicing yoga, being a good mother, wife and friend- there is ALWAYS room for improvement. There is always new hope. Yesterday I mastered the unassisted headstand in yoga which felt good. It's little things like that. If you make all the little moments and decisions matter, it adds up to a good life. So sometimes my next goal is to get through the day without losing my cool, and sometimes it's a half-marathon.

 XOXO,

Thee Inspired Mommy

Happy Boob Month

October is Breast Cancer Awarness Month:
First of all,  take this time to recognize all the women in your life that are survivors, still fighting, or have lost the battle to breast cancer. These women should all be referred to as "LEGENDS"

Here are some random tips & factoids that may prevent breast cancer from coming your way!

Consider breast-feeding

Women who consistently breast-feed for the first 6 months have a 10% reduced risk of death from cancer, compared with those who don't, found a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. One reason: Because a woman doesn't menstruate while breast-feeding, it limits the number of cycles she has over a lifetime, which lowers the amount of estrogen to which her body is exposed. Bottom line: There is significant data that suggests that breast-feeding lowers risk. If a mom can do it, it's worth trying. In other words, you've heard experts say that "breast is best" for babies, and now there's extra proof that it's best for moms, too.

Eat the right foods—Every Day

I know this is difficult to do as a mom on the go, however it is a must! Research continues to produce promising evidence that what you eat can affect your risk. For example, Harvard researchers recently found that women who had the highest carotenoid levels in their blood had a 19% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels. Carotenoids are found in fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots, and red peppers. Women who consumed more carotenoids had an even lower risk of developing estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer (which is often more aggressive). 

Trade your morning Coffee for Green Tea

We love COFFEE as well, but tea drinkers likely have the upper hand—especially when their beverage is green. New findings out of Columbia University's Medical Center suggest that when women with breast cancer take oral green tea extract and their conditions improve. Bonus! It also gives you a slimmer bod. Catechins, the antioxidants present in green tea, are pros at blasting belly fat. And studies suggest that caffeine frees fatty acids so you can burn calories (and fat) more easily.

Keep that Bod in Motion!

Grab your babies and your jogging stroller because research suggests that increased physical activity reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.More than two dozen studies have shown that women who exercise have a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of breast cancer than their sedentary peers. The female hormone estrogen seems to play a key role. Women with high estrogen levels in their blood have increased risk for breast cancer. Since exercise lowers blood estrogen, it helps lower a woman’s breast-cancer risk.

Trade White For Red Wine
If you already were an avid Red Wine Drinker like we are you are in luck! Regular alcohol consumption raises breast cancer risk, except for red wine, which has the opposite effect when consumed in moderation. Studies show that the chemicals in the seeds and skins of red grapes slightly reduce estrogen levels and raise testosterone among premenopausal females - thus reducing their breast cancer risk.

XOXO,

TheeInspiredMommy

Milk Makin Mommas

Lactation Cookies to BOOST Your Milk Supply

If your a milk making momma and feeling low on your milk supply or need those extra calories, try these yummy lactation cookies that have worked for me.

Wet Ingredients

• 1/2 c. butter (softened)
• 16 oz  REAL peanut butter (not the fructose corn syrup enhanced stuff)
• 1 1/2 c. Brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 T. real Maple syrup - optional (I did not add this)
• 2 t. Vanilla

Dry Ingredients

• 1/2 t. salt maybe 1/4 if you're using really salty butter
• 3. T Brewer's yeast
• 1 c. Flax seed meal (Grind the flax seeds in a coffee grinder for fresh taste.)
• 3 1/2 c. Oats
• 2 t. Baking Soda
• 1 c. Dark chocolate chips (or toffee, butterscotch etc.  I used dark chocolate chips.)
• 1 c. Almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degree F

1. Stir together butter, peanut butter and brown sugar till throughly mixed.

2. Add eggs and beat till mixed.

3. Stir in vanilla and maple syrup.

4. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

5. Use an ice cream scoop to shape cookies (because the recipe is flourless they are sticky and harder to from.). Press flat on cookie sheet before baking.

6.  Bake for 14-17 minutes (I like my cookies soft so I bake them for 14 1/2 min.)

7.  Pour yourself a glass of milk and enjoy!

*This recipe made 3 dozen cookies so instead of making them all at once I put them in plastic baggies and make 4-6 at a time.

Thank you OrganicMamaCafe for this wonderful recipe.

XOXO,

Thee Inspired Mommy