Blog Posts by Yahoo! Contributor Network

Build your own Mother's Day casserole.

On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The day was designed to recognize and honor all mothers, both living and deceased, for their immense contributions to family and country. Mother's Day is a day for spending time with family, and being stuck in the kitchen isn't what creator Anna Jarvis had in mind.

To start your day with great food and family fun without stressing over a hot stove, try this wonderful Build-Your-Own Mother's Day Casserole. It can be assembled the night before and tossed in the oven on Mother's Day morning, freeing up your time for hugs and smiles. Even better -- hand the recipe over to your husband or older children to get the job done. Be sure to check out all the variations at the bottom so you can customize this recipe to your family's preferences.

Basic Mother's Day Casserole Recipe (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

Cooking spray or margarine

3 cups frozen hash browns

3/4 cup shredded Colby Jack

Midday workouts are perfect for working moms.

The lunchtime workout can be a timesaver for busy women. Sneaking in a workout at lunch means you'll be able to sleep later in the morning AND be able to make plans at night! Since you're likely heading back to work, or busy with kids, midday workouts require a little extra planning. Here are five things every woman needs for a successful daytime workout.

1. Non-crimping hair ties

If your hair is long enough to pull back, get it away from the sweat on your face and neck! Use the thick-elastic, super stretchy hair ties that won't leave that annoying "ponytail crease " in your hair. Securing your hair in a loose bun will also eliminate that creased look when you go back to your day. Have short hair? Use a headband to achieve the same results.

2. Tissues

Tissues are a necessity to keep in your purse or gym bag. Makeup can easily run when you're doing cardio. Grab a tissue, wrap it around your index finger, and carefully blot the sweat from under your eyes. You can also use tissues to

I am the proud survivor of one potty trained child. My child definitely wasn't one who was potty trained in three days. In fact, it took about six months before my daughter abandoned her training pants. However, there are still times when she laughs too hard and has an accident. Indeed, potty training is part of being a mom. As the mom of an almost five-year-old and a one-year-old, I have heard some funny potty training stories from other mothers. It's great to know that I'm not the only one whose child was obsessed with potty talk or had some embarrassing accidents. Here are some other "teachable moments" from moms who have potty trained.

The Trashcan

Jessica, mom of Eric, was potty training her three-year-old. Her son didn't go in the toilet. Instead, he escaped from the bathroom, knocked over a baby gate and made his way into the kitchen. There he proceeded to pee "on the side of the trashcan." It was the start of many misses in her potty training escapade. After the

Kids love making their own after-school snacks, and they're a healthy alternative.

Every day, without fail, my 11-year-old son trudges through the front door, theatrically tosses his backpack onto the nearest chair, and asks weakly, "Mom, do we have any food?"

While I'm tempted to tease him, "No, sweetheart, I'm planning to forage in the back yard for dinner," I instead ask him to wash his hands so we can make an after-school snack together. Bonus: I get to spend quality time with my favorite person. Total win!

Here's a few tried-and-true winners that will keep your kids happy and healthy.

Yogurt Parfait

There is absolutely no way to mess this up, and it's incredibly good for you. You'll need a cup of plain yogurt, fresh seasonal fruit (stay away from anything in syrup), and, if you wish, your favorite granola or dry oatmeal.

Have your child scoop some yogurt into a clear juice glass -- part of the fun is seeing all the yummy layers. Add a handful of fruit, and then top with more yogurt. We like to alternate blueberries and strawberries for extra

Serious little boy in the bathtub.

There are few places you will get more awkward questions from your small child than in the bathroom. How do you answer these crazy questions? Well, when you get finished blushing, laughing or fainting on floor, you've got to give them an answer that they can understand. Here are a few of the more awkward questions kids might ask in the bathroom, and some answers that my keep you from standing there tongue tied and wondering what to say.

What is poop?

This is an easy one! Poop is the leftover stuff that passes through our body after we get all the good nutrition we can from the food we eat. It is waste, and it has germs in it, so it's important that we wash our hands after we use the potty.

Where does the poop go when you flush?

Toilets fascinate kids. Actually, toilets kind of fascinate me, too. I'm so glad they work so well and do the job they do. To answer where the poop goes when you flush, explain that pressure and gravity help move it through pipes out of your house and

Homemade baby food.

Making your own baby food is one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can do for your family. It's also the best way you can control what goes into your baby's body. You can choose organic or non-GMO foods and also be assured that there are no artificial ingredients or unnecessary additives. It's fun, easy, and incredibly gratifying. So let's get started!

Choosing Your Ingredients

For both nutrition and taste, choose the freshest ingredients you can find. Choose fruits that are nearly ripe and free from bruises. Vegetables should be crisp and bright. Quality matters with meats, too, so be selective with your choices.

Feeding your baby organic, non-GMO foods is a healthy choice, but you may not always be able to find these options. Just like everything else in motherhood, you should try your best but be prepared to go to plan B.

Preparing Your Workstation

I suggest getting your work station all set up before you begin. Have your cook pots and steamer out on the

Green foods contain chlorophyll. Who's up for a botany lesson?

Colorful plates are healthy plates! Celebrating "green" is easy in the kitchen and gives us an opportunity to excite our kids about eating healthier. Celebrate Earth Day or Arbor Day this April with these fun and healthy recipes that you can make together. You might even learn something new along the way.

Green Macaroni and Cheese

All kids love macaroni and cheese, and this version adds a healthy bit of baby spinach for a green version just right for Earth Day. Here is some fun spinach trivia you can share with your kids while cooking:

* Medieval artists used spinach to make green paint.

* Crystal City, Texas, which grows a lot of spinach, put up a statue of Popeye.

* Spinach is a member of the goose-foot family. The leaves look kind of like the foot of a goose.

Green Ice Pops

Popsicles are a no-fail way to get your kids' attention. This version uses kale, pineapple, bananas and coconut for a healthier green version that is just as fun to make as it is to eat.

Towels don't have to take over your bathroom!

With four people in my house, the towel situation can quickly get out of control. If everyone were to use a different towel every day, I would have to wash 28 towels a week. That's a lot of laundry. In order to keep our towel situation manageable, I have put several procedures in place. This ensures I'm devoting less time to chores and more time with my family. Here are some of my mommy tricks for keeping the towels under control.

Assigned Towels

I share a lot with my family. However, I don't like to share bath linens (or the germs that may be lurking on the towels). There are plenty of cute towels out there. My children both have hooded towels that they use. This makes it easy for me to find their towels when they get out of the bathtub. For older children and adults, you can purchase personalized bath sheets or monogram the towels. To keep the bathroom looking stylish, I like assigning a different, yet coordinating, towel for each family member. I keep another set of towels