Hi there. Some things that have helped me...
I try to do cardio for at least an hour 4-5 days a week, which helps to burn the calories. In the last two months, I've worked in some weights, which has definitely helped with toning. So, if you can work it into your busy schedule (which I am positive your schedule is VERY, VERY busy), it's well worth it. I wake up early (5:00 a.m.) before my husband goes to work, so I don't have to worry about our 2 yr old. I hated working out early when I started, but it definitely kick starts my day, gives me extra energy, and gets my metabolism going! I don't mind getting up now, but I had to train myself to do this. It's totally worth it.
Keeping a food diary is really good. Just jot what you eat down in a notebook every day. 1200-1500 calories per day is a good number to shoot for. Unfortunately, you have to read labels and pay attention to portion sizes at first, but once you get used to it, it's not that big of a deal. Losing weight is a numbers game, so you have to burn more than you take in. That's the bottom line. So, calorie tracking is very helpful. I didn't realize how much I was eating/drinking until I really started paying attention to portion sizes and what was in the food I was eating.
When you feel like snacking, go for water. Usually if you chug a glass of water it will taper the appetite. I drink 64 ounces (half during the first part of the day/and half during the second part) of water a day now, religiously. The best way to do this is buy a water bottle and carry it with you. I only have to fill my Camelbak bottle once in the morning and once in the afternoon, since it's bigger. Don't wait until the end of the day to drink the water though or you'll be running to the bathroom all night. :) Drinking water also helps wash toxins out of your body, so this is a win-win strategy.
Try to keep as many healthy snacks around as possible and toss the bad ones! Stock fruit, raw almonds, low sodium vegetable juice, low fat cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. I try to portion out snacks and pretty much everything else into a bowl these days, too. This way, you won't overeat and keep portions under control.
Quick main dishes...Lean Cuisine is pretty good (portioned well) and lists the calories for you, low sodium soups, low sodium turkey wraps, fish, grilled chicken, lots of fresh fruits and veggies. You can't go wrong eating fresh fruits and veggies, kidney beans, chick peas, avocados, etc. on salads and the salad spritzer bottles are nice for portion control with salad dressing. Even though these are healthier options, portion control is still key, even if they are "healthy" and good for you, so keep measuring.
Lastly, I cook with olive oil a lot, pass on mayonaise, french fries, and try to avoid food with "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" ingredients. I rarely drink soda. There are options like Propel or other flavored drinks that have something like 20-50 calories instead of the usual 110+ calories per drink. A cold glass of water is always the best option though. You can always squeeze some lemon into it for flavor. :)
It's fine to indulge once in a while, too! If so, there are some great options...sorbet is yummy, go for a piece of dark chocolate (at least 60% real cocoa) or just eat half of the dessert you used to eat once a week.
Ultimately, have fun and don't stress over it. It's a lifestyle change, but all for the better. Some things may feel odd and seem not fun at all when you get started, but if you hang in there, I think you'll see great results and feel great.
Good luck!
Barb