expert advice: from Dr. Elizabeth Lee, plastic surgeon

Whether you've had one, two, three kids--or more!--chances are your body looks and feels different than it did before you ever gave birth. And all the diet and exercise in the world (IF you could muster up the time and energy to do it!) doesn't always bring things back to normal. Luckily, there are cosmetic surgery procedures on the market for those of us who need some reshaping--like the Mommy Makeover (average cost: $12,390), a post-pregnancy procedure designed to counter sagging skin.

Hesitant about going under the knife? I know I am! Before you book your appointment, check out http://www.realself.com/was-it-worth-it, a community where members share their unbiased opinion and stories about cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery. Each person rates their treatment (worth it/not worth it) and offers his/her comments. The Mommy makeover shows a staggering Worth It Index of 95, post-pregnancy procedures to counter sagging skin.

Here, Dr. Elizabeth Lee, a Bay Area plastic surgeon and member of RealSelf’s doctor community, talks about her Mommy Makeover procedure. Are you willing to give it a try?

Kidandcaboodle: What is a mommy makeover?

Elizabeth Lee: "A mommy makeover generelly involves surgery to both the breasts and abdomen, the two areas most affected by pregnancy and nursing."

K&C: Why is it so appealing to moms?

EL: "Some of us stretch out and lose our shapes in such a way that we can never get back to a comfortable body contour with just diet and exercise."

K&C: What are the pros and cons of the procedure?

EL: "Breast surgery can restore breast shape and size. Tummy tuck can help tighten the "core" muscles that may become permanently separated during pregnancy. In addition to contouring the body, repairing these separated muscles may improve posture and core body strength. Taking out excess stretched skin on the lower abdomen makes women much more comfortable both physically and emotionally. Of course, surgery has risks and it is important to be healthy and to plan properly for your recovery."

K&C: How long do the results last?

EL: "Results are permanent, but the aging process goes on and gravity continues to work against us. Barring more pregnancies or large weight gain, breasts and tummy will never be as loose and droopy as they were before the mommy makeover."

K&C: How long is the recovery time? Do you have any advice on how to recover when you have a baby or other kids at home?

EL: "Recovery is a gradual process. The majority of swelling and tenderness resolves in the first two weeks. However, the healing process continues for up to a year. For six weeks after surgery you will be much more tired than usual and need more sleep. This fatigue usually improves by week seven. You will need full-time help with young children for two weeks after surgery. The best way to ensure an easy recovery is to plan for adequate help."

K&C: How can this procedure help a mom's self-esteem?

EL: "Becoming a parent changes a woman's life in many ways. Handling young children can be exhausting. Our relationships to our jobs, our spouses, our friends all change. Having a body that no longer resembles our internal image of ourselves can be uncomfortable. Healthy eating and exercise cannot tighten up what is stretched out and sagging. We feel more powerful and competent when our bodies are intact. A mommy makeover can help a woman feel whole again."

K&C: Is there a memorable patient's reaction or story about someone who underwent the procedure that you could share?

EL: "Most of my patients feel much better about themselves, exercise more comfortably and feel that they have more energy for their lives when they don't feel miserable every time they look in the mirror or have to get dressed."

Fashion's Night Out: First Dog Event

Fashion goes to the dogs. But it's a good thing! This year, Fashion's Night Out focuses on a huge number of amazing fashion events--including one for your favorite pooches! On Friday, September 10th from 7-10 PM, you can shop for the latest canine fashion, dog carriers, accessories and spa and grooming services at THE DOG STORE (170 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065; 212-317-5982). Hosted by Edward Alava, it promises to be an amazing event. The best part: Proceeds will benefit Frankie’s Friends, an organization that provides money to New Yorkers who cannot afford medical care for their pets. Sponsored by NYC and The Hamptons Veterinarian Dr. Cindy Bressler, Isle of Capri Restaurant, FUR by J Mikel, Best Pet Rx, Canine Celebrations, and Throw Me a Bone NYC. For more info on Fashion's Night Out events, go to www.fashionsnightout.com.

happy new year: from Manischewitz

Dreading spending time in the kitchen preparing for Rosh Hashanah? Need a quick and easy last-minute recipe idea? Whether you're cooking for four or fourteen, Manischewitz comes to the rescue with some delectable dishes that will help you welcome in the new year.

We've all grown up on Manischewitz basics--matzah, chicken soup, even gefilte fish. Now there are ways to incorporate a little Manischewitz into all your meals. The company just launched some new staples that are sure to impress.

There's an all-natural Beef Broth (in a new 32-ounce reusable container--great for cooking for a crowd) that beefs up just about everything, a Vegetable Broth that adds flavor, a Chicken Broth (also in the reusable container) with no MSG and a revamped, ready-to-serve Chicken Soup with Matzah Balls that's all natural with no MSG and no trans-fat.

Will it replace Bubbe's version? That's up to you. But if she's not around to cook it, it's a great alternative.

Manischewitz also offers some delicious recipes to try. Check them out below, and see more at www.manischewitz.com. Have a happy new year!

GRILLED MAHI MAHI WITH VINEGAR SPIKED VEGETABLES

Cooking Time: 45 min

Ingredients

3/4 cup baby carrots

3/4 cup leeks, chopped (rinse well)

3/4 cup rutabaga, chopped

3/4 cup green bell pepper, sliced

28 oz (2 cans) Manischewitz® Vegetable Broth

1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced

1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

6 (6oz) Mahi Mahi filetsManischewitz®

Kosher salt, to taste

Cracked black pepper, to taste

6 onions

3 cups cooked rice

2 tablespoons parsley

Preparation:

1. Marinate vegetables in 2 oz vegetable broth, ginger, garlic, vinegar and sugar for 30 minutes.

2. Season Mahi Mahi with salt and pepper; grill on both sides until flaky.

3. For each onion, cut 1 inch slice off the top and a thin slice off the bottom so it will sit flat, discard the slices. Peel the onions and with a melon baller scoop out the inside of each onion, leaving the outer 2 layers. Char onion cups on grill and fill with cooked rice.

4. Heat remaining vegetable broth; add marinated vegetables and cook for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender; add Mahi Mahi; garnish with parsley.

5. Serve with rice filled onion cups.

SWEET POTATO RAVIOLI WITH LIGHT CREAMY SAUCE

Cooking Time: 30 min

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Manischewitz® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 spanish or white onion, diced
5 cooked sweet potatoes, skinned and mashed coarsely
1 teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon curry powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
Manischewitz Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 package of pre-made frozen ravioli rounds or wonton wrappers
Small cup of warm water
corn starch
2 tablespoons pareve margarine
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup Manischewitz® Beef Broth
1/3 cup non-dairy whipped topping
Pinch of kosher salt
Pinch of white pepper
2 tablespoons dry white wine (optional)
Fresh parsley for garnish To make ravioli:
In a large frying pan on a med-low heat, sauté the onions in olive oil until they turn translucent. Add the mashed sweet potatoes, cumin, curry, allspice, garlic, salt and pepper to the onions. Mix well and allow to sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes. Set aside potato mixture and let cool to room temperature.

Preparation: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a small soup pot; add desired amount of salt. While you wait for the water to boil, sprinkle counter with a little corn starch and lay out the ravioli rounds. Gently dab the perimeter of the ravioli with some warm water (this acts like a glue) and drop a spoonful of the sweet potato mixture in the center of the dough. Fold closed and pinch the ends of the ravioli to secure. Drop ravioli into the boiling water and cook until they float to the top, about 4-5 minutes. Scoop out with slotted spoon and keep warm on a plate.

To make creamy sauce:
Melt margarine in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir until mixture is well blended. Gradually stir in beef broth and non-dairy whipped topping. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to boil and thickens. If using optional wine, add now. Simmer, stirring frequently, over very low heat for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

To Serve:
Drizzle creamy sauce over sweet potato ravioli and garnish with fresh parsley.

sweet deal: cupcakes help CancerCare for Kids

All kids love cupcakes (even big kids like us!) so you know you're putting a smile on someone's face when you pass them around. göt2b takes the cake when it comes to doing good by participating in Cupcakes for a Cause Week. From September 20 – 26, bakeries and grocery stores around the country will be selling specially-decorated cupcakes and donating a portion of the sales to CancerCare for Kids, a program that provides free support services to children affected by cancer and their families. Here's how göt2b is sweetening the deal: 1) For every free e-Cupcake sent, göt2b will donate $1.00 to the cause (up to $10,000) and 2) For every new “like” on got2b’s facebook page, got2b will donate $1 (up to $1000) Plus, if got2b reaches 10,000 “likes” by September 30, got2b will donate an additional $1000! While you’re treating friends to cupcakes and e-Cupcakes, göt2b will treat your tired, limp locks to an instant volume makeover with its collagen-infused fat-tastic collection. The line, which features got2b fat-tastic root-boosting spray, got2b fat-tastic thickening plumping mousse and got2b fat-tastic thickening non-aerosol hairspray gives women a delicious feast for fine hair for thicker, plumper locks that are big on style! Visit www.cupcakesforacause.org for all the details.

The Ultimate Lifestyle Diet: Yes you can!

We all know dieting is not a trend, it's a lifestyle. But, c'mon moms, how hard is it to practice? You've got kids who only want to eat pasta all day every day and long hours that lead to grabbing a bite while you can and snacking when you shouldn't. Thankfully, Bariatric surgeon and weight loss expert Dr. Carson Liu releases his Ultimate Lifestyle Diet.

“Obesity is much about behavior, not just eating the wrong foods,” says Dr. Liu. “Most people view diets as a temporary and time consuming activity.” Dr. Liu’s Ultimate Lifestyle Diet recommends 10 easy, guilt-free actions that will make a difference for a lifetime. Dr. Liu points out that the best diet technique is to make multiple simple changes in behavior that will help move a person towards a better and healthier life. Here, his secrets to your dieting success...

1. Don’t eat packaged food that has the word Fructose or a chemical with numbers in the ingredients (that means, bypass the snack aisle at the grocery store).

2. Don’t eat food that is delivered to your house or through your car window (no more Sunday night Chinese food!).

3. Before shopping for food, eat a meal. Never shop hungry. (Easier said than done!)

4. Switch out sodas for sparkling water, candy for carob chips and high calorie snacks for nuts and fruit. (Limited nut intake, that is...)

5. Cook your own meals and reduce the portion size of bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. (Size does matter!)

6. Eat from small plates. (Ditto!)

7. Eat slowly using a child’s size spoon, knife or fork. (My kids might fight me for it but okay...)

8. Wait 20 minutes before having a second helping. (Good one!)

9. Don’t eat while watching TV. (It doesn't matter that all the prime time series premiere in a couple of weeks...)

10. Turn off your computer and or TV for one hour per day and take a walk. (Exercise will do you good).

For more information, visit www.drcarsonliu.com.

Decadent Dessert: Your Kids Will Love New Duncan Hines Decadent Cakes and Glazes

Typically, my kids won't eat anything "decadent". I've labored over complicated main dishes, time-consuming sides and fancy desserts to try to peak their culinary experience, only to find them making a sour face at the dinner table and claiming they are full. OK, maybe it's my cooking! But I decided to give Duncan Hines' Triple Chocolate Cake ($2.99) a try and see what they thought.

OK, you're thinking, "How can you go wrong with a boxed mix of chocolate cake?" To make things a bit more challenging, I decided to bake it without adding the eggs since my son is allergic. In trying to accommodate his allergy, I have found that most recipes that call for egg don't always need it.

The kids--who find mixing something in a mixing bowl more entertaining than the latest computer game--gave me a hand. After getting the mix into the pan, we topped it with the special fudge topping and set it in the oven. The batter even had real chocolate chips chunks in it! After about 30 minutes (maybe a little longer since I never have the right-size pan), it was ready. We didn't have one of the newly launched Decadent Glazes ($2.49--available in chocolate and vanilla, they're not as sweet as frosting and are easy to squeeze on your dessert) so we sampled it without.

Here's what the kids said:

Harrison, age 4: "I love it! It's so sweet. I like that it's soft inside!"

Ava, age 2.5: "I like the chocolate chips!"

Harrison: "Yeah, I like the chocolate chips too!"

After further discussion, we have decided to switch our standard cupcake recipe (we tote them to all the birthday parties so Harrison can have one when the other kids have their cake or cupcakes during the happy birthday song) for the DC mix.

The best part: The cake has zero grams of trans fat and no hydrogenated oils. Still, not as healthy as an apple but sometimes you just need to satsify that sweet tooth!

For more info, delicious recipes and to find out where to get Duncan Hines new Decadent Cakes and Glazes, visit www.duncanhines.com.

Party Entertainment: Let Your Kid Be a Rock Star

Good kids' birthday party entertainment is hard to find...but I found it! I booked Ryan Paulson, of "A Sing-along with Ryan," for both of my kids' first birthday parties as well as two holiday parties for the family network group in my apartment building. He is talented, experienced, great with kids, affordable and easy-going with parents. Now he is offering a brand new party package that's definitely worth looking into.

The Rock Star Party ($500 for 1.5 hours) is a full blown entertainment experience. Temporary rock tattoos, full size inflatable guitars for each child to keep and rock costumes give the feel of a real concert as Ryan leads the kids in classic rock songs from the Beatles, Van Morrison, Elvis and more. Along the way, Ryan teaches the kids how to be rock stars, instructing them on everything from how to play the guitar like a rock star, dressing like a rock star (complete with costumes for the kids to dress in) and the rock star voice.After the rock training is finished, the newly christened rock stars are given authentic rock stickers in recognition of becoming true rock stars.

Another plus: You can have an original song written for your child too. An accomplished songwriter and musician for almost 20 years, Ryan can craft a custom song about your child for any occasion. Just tell him a little about the child — what does she like, who are her friends — and he will write an original song all about him or her. And a recording of your child's song is a great keepsake too. (Add: $150 per song, plus an additional $50 for a recording). Book a weekday party and save 15% on any party package or service!

For more info or to book your child's best birthday party ever, go to www.ASingAlongwithRyan.com, call 646.373.5550 or email Ryan at RyanLukePaulson@gmail.com.