Start your fitness regime with the food you eat, it is important that food is a family orientated matter, this is vital not just to review what your kids are eating but you can really set a good example for your children in this scenario.

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But remember to give treats when they are deserved; everything in moderation will give your kids the best start and will give them a healthy outlook on food for the future.

Try to make food interesting and have your children try different cuisines from around the world, you could have themed nights for different countries, this not only broadens their horizons gastronomically but teaches them about other cultures.

Ditch the gym for a while. This might sound like a crazy tip but if you want your children to follow in your footsteps they have to see them first! If you disappear off to the gym for a couple of hours, they have no visual representation of exercise to strive for.

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Seek out neighbourhood and community health initiatives and sports clubs for kids. Nearly every community has them, from ballet to trampolining to tennis and team sports. Crazy golf is a great way to get children introduced to an adult’s sport while keeping it fun for them. Sports clubs keep your children active while teaching them the value of sportsmanship and the importance of being a team player. Teams and clubs also give children the opportunity to socialize with other children outside of school; exposure to an array of different people when you are younger makes you a rounder more tolerant adult.

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If your children really do love their video games there are loads of fitness and sports related options out there. Try to stick to ones that actually accelerate your heart rate through movement. Don’t let the game do all the work though, remember children learn by example and you don’t want a child raised by a games console. It is important to mix up the indoor and outdoor activities as well; one of the best things for a child is simply getting some good old fashioned fresh air!

This article was provided by Joan Waterhouse on behalf of premier golf holiday supplier YourGolfTravel.com. I’m a busy mother or three who loves to keep active. I also enjoy travelling and compete in various sports.

The “A Princess Wish” fragrance collection consists of shimmer body lotion, body wash, body mist, and eau de toilette, as well as two boxed sets.  A Princess Wish fragrance collection is available now at Disney Stores nationwide and online at DisneyStore.com.  In lieu of their new fragerance line, Pj Mommy has teamed up with Disney to offer our readers a chance to win A Princess Wish Eau De Toilette (SRP $24.50)!

For  your chance to win, please leave us a comment below telling us about your favorite thing about Disney.  Whether it be the characters, theme parks or items in general– we want to know!

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CONTEST ENDS ON MAY 19TH @ MIDNIGHT EST.

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CONTEST ENDS ON MAY 19TH @ MIDNIGHT EST.

• A copy of the beautifully illustrated, award winning book The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life from nationally recognized life balance expert, Renee Peterson Trudeau
• A free teleclass with Renee on The Transformative Power of Self-Care (meet Renee here)
• A chance to win the Yummy Mummy Year-of-Self-Care Package (winner will be announced on Mother’s Day).

CONTEST ENDS ON MAY 12TH @ MIDNIGHT EST.

Crockpot meals are low cost. The idea behind a crock pot is to drop your protein and let it cook and marinate. You can add anything you want to your crock pot meal like veggies, grains, sauces, spices and more veggies! And the added bonus is that dinner will be done when you get home.

An easy way to save on money is stick with proteins like chicken and beef. Chop up lots of vegetables and purchase some chicken stock or flavored salad dressing that sound delicious to you. You can also freeze in a zip lock bag and later drop in the crock pot later in the week for an easy, inexpensive dinner. Here are two low cost recipes that are under $3 per serving to get you started:

Triple-Layer Lasagna (from Prevention.com)

Prep: 20min Cook: 6hr 10min

• 1 lb extra lean ground beef
• 14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 C sliced mushrooms
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 28 oz tomato sauce
• 16 oz fat-free cottage cheese
• 2 C shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

NOTE: Ingredients for a changed serving size are based on a calculation and are not reviewed by the author or tested. Please also consider scaling up or down cooking containers as needed.

1. Combine beef, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, and garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Coat 4-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Place 3 noodles, side by side, in bottom of cooker. Top with one-third each of the tomato sauce, cottage cheese, beef mixture, and mozzarella. Repeat layers two more times, ending with mozzarella. Sprinkle Parmesan on top.
3. Cover. Cook on low 5 to 6 hours, or until lasagna is cooked through and cheese is bubbly.

Barbecue Pulled Chicken (from EatingWell.com)

Prep: 25 minutes Cook time: 5 1/2 hours

• 1 8-ounce can reduced-sodium tomato sauce
• 1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles, drained
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon sweet or smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced

1. Stir tomato sauce, chiles, vinegar, honey, paprika, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ground chipotle and salt in a 6-quart slow cooker until smooth. Add chicken, onion and garlic; stir to combine.
2. Put the lid on and cook on low until the chicken can be pulled apart, about 5 hours.
3. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred with a fork. Return the chicken to the sauce, stir well and serve.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post from Laura Backes, she enjoys writing about all kinds of subjects and also topics related to internet providers in my area.  You can reach her at: laurabackes8 @ gmail.com.

C-Preme, makers of the infamous Raskullz 3D helmets for kids, have recently launched their new 3D helmet line called KRASH.  My son was recently given the opportunity to review their Liberty Spikes helmet.  C-Preme utilizes their patended 3D technology with a soft, rubber-based material and then draws inspiration from various sources.  For the guys, a helmet with ‘liberty spikes’ recalls the punk music scene of the ‘80s. For the girls, the company looks toward current fashion and cultural trends to interpret into unique designs.

Being a stunt devil, my son was able to put his new helmet to the full test within the first two days of wear.  The helmet not only protected his noggin from serious head injury, but it also managed to keep itself together.  We did manage to get a few small scratches to the helmet, but that is impressive considering the blow it took when it hit the ground.  To me, that says a lot about a product.  Not only is it fashionable, but it’s protective.  KRASH helmets are here for Spring/Summer 2012 at Target, Toys R Us, independent bicycle stores, toy stores and sporting goods retailers for $24.99. Bike-related products and back-to-school products such as backpacks are set to follow later this year.

When my son entered into kindergarten this year, the teacher sent home a small list of things the kids would need to bring to class with them and snacks that parents could purchase to ensure the safety of all the children.  Quite honestly, I was nervous about sending food and/or snacks to school with my son.  With food allergies in children on the rise, I did not want to be that mom.  You know, the one who unintentionally caused another child to get sick.

Having a list directly from the teacher helped ease my nerves.  But what if your child’s teacher, coach or caregiver are unaware of your child’s allergies?  Below you can find a few basic tips to help ensure your child’s safety, in case of an emergency.

Tips

1. Logistical Coordinator – let friends’ parents, coaches and field trip chaperones know of your child’s specific food allergies, how to recognize an allergic reaction and what to do in case of emergency. The best way to do this is to schedule an advanced one-on-one meeting.

2. Wrist Candy – Medical safety bracelets have saved hundreds of lives since EMTs are trained to look for them. The only way a bracelet can save your child’s life in an emergency is if they are actually wearing them. Nowadays, many companies, like Medical ID Marketplace (www.hopepaige.com) are creating trendy bracelets that kids no longer have to be embarrassed for wearing them. They have hundreds of designs fit for every kid’s personality. The bracelets also come with a complimentary engraving and allow parents to include emergency contacts and health info.

3. Play Ball – allergies should never come between your child and their extracurricular activity. Make sure to pack a smart snack and a proper medicine kit (i.e. EpiPen, Inhaler, etc). This is where the one-on-one meetings come in handy. Make sure the coaches/staff know how to use the medicine kit correctly, so there is no fumbling around in emergencies.

4. Smart Snacks – kids will be kids and should not be deprived of a mid-afternoon snack because they have allergies. Instead load them up with “safe” alternatives like Oreos and Skittles that are all peanut-free.

WHAT: 23^rd ANNUAL SUSAN G. KOMEN GLOBAL RACE FOR THE CURE®

 WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012 – 8:00 AM EST

 WHERE: NATIONAL MALL, WASHINGTON, D.C.

 REGISTER: www.globalraceforthecure.org

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure and Komen 3-Day for the Cure, we have invested more than $1.9 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

I had a day off from work coming to me so I decided to go ahead and take it and have some fun with my daughter and my two grandchildren. My daughter had a great idea for us to go to the strawberry field just a few miles from her house. It is a place that you go pick your own strawberries, and you pay by how many buckets you pick. Before we went there we went to a local restaurant to have a late breakfast of pancakes. Then we headed out to the field and spent about an hour and a half with the kids picking the strawberries. Then we headed back to her house with lots of ideas of what to do with the strawberries. As we drove down her street we saw a police car in her driveway. Apparently someone had tried to break in to her house while we had been gone. Thank goodness she had gotten one of those home security systems that had alerted the authorities when the attempted break-in happened.

So how can you be open to choosing ‘differently’ and BETTER? For once, be clear about what it is that you DO want. Have a sense of purpose. With a target to aim for, you’ll know what will serve you best.

This One Amazingly Simple Step, that really successful people take, is to plan their lives in detail on paper (to start)… AND THEN, they actually work their plan.  And when I say detail – I mean EVERY detail.   They wrote down a plan for every aspect of their lives and then they went after it.  Step, by step, by step!!

Now let us get down to business! Here is a tough question for you. Are you working someone else’s plan for your life? If you are NOT getting what you want from life, it is probably because you have allowed someone else to design your life plan.  This could be your parents, your spouse, your boss, the government, even your friends, that might oblige and be happy to plan and map your life FOR you. BUT, this is not the fast track to success – if anything, it is the slow boat to mediocrity.   Success is a do-it-to-yourself proposition, that comes from designing the life you want and deserve and then taking significant action to achieve it.

Now let us get down to business! Here is a tough question for you. Are you working someone else’s plan for your life? If you are NOT getting what you want from life, it is probably because you have allowed someone else to design your life plan.  This could be your parents, your spouse, your boss, the government, even your friends, that might oblige and be happy to plan and map your life FOR you. BUT, this is not the fast track to success – if anything, it is the slow boat to mediocrity.   Success is a do-it-to-yourself proposition, that comes from designing the life you want and deserve and then taking significant action to achieve it.

Stop and ask yourself in-depth get-real type questions, like: “Why am I doing this? What do I want to achieve?”

Write down your answers. Use your journal. Get in the habit of carrying and using your journal as a success tool. Be more conscious of how you are spending your precious time, because this is your life passing by. This will help you start to recognize where you’re doing well, and when you are headed down the wrong path altogether. I spend a good amount of my time writing out what I wanted, because it helps me stay focused on the goal everyday. I look at it and I know how I am going to spend my time that day.

I want to encourage you to step out with confidence and really give it your all.  DO NOT  let ANYBODY stand in your way! A ‘victim’ mentality will typically keep great people from coming into your life. Only YOU can decide to stop being a victim and start living today!

Be open to possibilities for yourself. Select one area of your life where you are unsatisfied, and choose something new, something more for yourself. Do different things and do things differently. Risk more.

The following is a guideline that can help you achieve your goals:

State your goal as a positive statement (“do”, instead of “don’t”)

example : “ I will earn $150,000 a year” instead of “I won’t make less money than I deserve.”

Be precise about your goal (state dates, and a measurable amount of achievement so that you can know when you have achieved your goal).

Set priorities(so that when you have several goals, you won’t feel overwhelmed, you’ll know which ones are the most important).

Write your goals down (this solidifies them and makes them feel more important).

Keep your operational goals small (having many smaller goals is better than one large goal, since it’s easier to see your progress and stay motivated).

Instead of setting an outcome, set a performance goal (this way, there is a control factor to your achievement.  Nothing is more dispiriting than failing due to reasons beyond your control, such as bad business environments, or just plain bad luck).

Be realistic about your goals (set goals that you can achieve, and don’t be influenced by others, who try to set goals beyond your abilities.  You can always set another goal if you discover that your first goal was not reaching high enough).

Don’t set your goals too low (otherwise, you will slow down your progress, become lazy, and simply won’t achieve your maximum potential).

When you do achieve one of your goals, make certain that you have taken the time to enjoy the satisfaction of having accomplished your desire, by allowing yourself a well deserved break or reward. (It can be as small as an afternoon off to go see that movie you have wanted to see).

It is also important to make certain to absorb the implications of the achievement of your goal, and have a look back at the progress you have made.  You should also look at the progress that you have made towards other goals.  If the goal was especially noteworthy, make sure that you reward yourself appropriately.

Article written by Tara Brooke, author of Beautiful Ambition.

So let’s take a look at; what is gluten?
Gluten is a composition of four types of proteins called prolamins, glutelins, albumins and globulins.

Albumins and globulins are real perpetrator as far gluten intolerance is concerned. Source of these types of proteins are wheat, barley, rye, spelt. A study found that these grains contain eighty percent of gluten composition. And other two type of proteins i.e. albumins and globulins are commonly found in grains such as corn and rice. Taking all these proteins into your meals makes you prone to be hit by the disease called celiac. The most common blood test for celiac disease actually looks for anti-gliadin antibodies in your bloodstream.

What is gluten free Food
It is not easy to find out if your food is gluten free or not and how to avoid gluten if it is so all-encompassing and sinister in our food manufacturing. But if you are smart or if you keep a little vigil around, you can keep eyes on these intricate things. First and foremost you need to avoid packed food. It would be good to you if you eat natural food that has been prepared by you. Because mostly premade or packaged foods have hidden source of gluten. So if you want to be healthy and free from gluten free it is important for you to take on more activities of cooking and food preparation.

Gluten free foods will exclude anything that has wheat, rye, barley, kamut and most of the oats. All these grains are full of gluten in them. Make it habit to have fresh vegetables and fruit to your diet. As these fresh vegetables don’t have gluten and contain proteins that are not harmful to a person suffering from Celiac, and keep you fit and healthy. Gluten free frozen waffles, plain frozen fruits and vegetables, ices are some ingredients that you can take into your regimen. These are not only free from gluten but taste delicious. Instead of cereals grains like simple rice, wheat, barley or any other cereal food that contain gluten, I would suggest to you take Wild Rice, Brown Rice and Brown Rice Flour, Bean Flours, Buckwheat into your diet.

Next comes why should take these gluten free food in you eating routine.
As has been discussed above that having gluten into your food makes you prone to attacks from diseases like celiac. Your immune system can also misfire, causing various diseases. So if you are attacked with celiac disease, taking food laden with gluten is very risky to you. A study of Medical researchers in America found that symptoms of celiac disease are so widely that diagnosis is difficult. A gluten-free diet is the only way to heal your damaged intestinal villi, The diet does not cure sprue, but manages it.

Not only gluten that’s laden into your food cause celiac disease but it is the main problem of people suffering from wheat allergy. The easiest way to avoid the allergen is to adopt a gluten-free diet. This problem commonly outgrows between the ages of three to five, wheat allergy is rate in youth and adults.

There may be other reason that you are required to take gluten free food habit into your eating routine such as weight loss, treatment for irritable bowel syndrome and relief of autism symptoms.

In nutshell taking gluten free diet not helps you to prevent several sever ailment but help you to add few more days into your life by keeping you fit and healthy. It will increase nutrients that may make your body thrive, and in the short-term you will see increased energy levels and overall increase in health levels. If you suffer from other medical conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Parkinson’s disease or Osteoporosis, then choosing a non gluten diet is a great way of losing weight, and getting healthier quicker.

The author is an expert in writing on topics like Food, health and Medical Issues. She is a fitness freak and believes that nutritious food and good health are the essential elements of life that help a human being lead a quality life. Being gluten intolerant she is a big time advocate of a Gluten Free Food and Gluten Free Recipes.

Forgiveness is an essential part of your life…or it should be. Your mind was not meant to harbor ill memories, nor do your emotions remain stagnated with anger. But, without forgiveness as an integral part of your life, that is what will happen–if you refuse to let go of the wrongs done to you (not forget, but accept for your advantage), you will never be able to experience the joys of life. You will be too consumed with anger.

Keeping a Positive Forgiving Attitude

No one ever said, “Life was easy”, unless they were un-naturally lucky. Instead, most of us will admit that life has its good and bad moment, its highs and lows. Of course, staying positive for the highs is easy; everything goes your way—it is the low points that truly test your nature and character:

Do you have enough trust in yourself to remain positive in your life?

Do you have enough faith in the power of forgiveness to see yourself through darker times?

A Forgiving Lifestyle is Good for You!

Forgiveness should be looked upon as a gift you give to yourself. This makes forgiveness an inward act, as opposed to an outward act, merely for someone else’s benefit. While the person you forgive may feel better, their feelings cannot match the joy you give yourself by your willingness to forgive.

That might however still be much easier said than done. Anger and resentment are easy to generate and maintain. Forgiveness requires effort and imagination. If you can imagine a future devoid of the anger, you can begin to feel forgiveness. A heart free of hurt and anger, is more open to accepting and expressing positive emotions.

That is not to say you should never feel or express anger. If you feel wronged, you will benefit from expressing your feelings – if not to the offender, then to a third party willing to listen. Getting the feelings out is called venting, as in letting off the steam, releasing the pressure. If you cannot bring yourself to speak to someone, consider writing your feelings down, or speaking into a tape or voice-recorder, (for your ears ONLY!).

The important thing is to say what you are feeling, that the emotions do not get bottled up inside. Denying a problem does not contribute to a solution. Denial only leads to repressed emotions, which contribute to physical and psychological problems in the long-run. For one thing, you risk casting yourself in the role of the victim in perpetuity. You also taint your relationships, which cannot be healthy and productive, if you refuse to let go of negative emotions. If you want to increase your odds of living a long and healthy life, you have to address each and every issue that threatens your wellbeing.

Once you have given voice to your feelings, you are ready to tackle the more difficult task of forgiveness. It all comes down to making a conscious choice to forgive. Letting go of negative emotions, is a healing process that releases internal pressures and literally lightens the mind.

Living a Lifestyle of Forgiving, Will Add Years to Your Life!

If you want to live a longer, healthier life, start by embracing the concept of forgiveness. You might be surprised by how much better you will feel.

People who hold grudges are more likely to develop headaches, ulcers, and other physical ailments, due to unreleased negative emotions that can actually produce toxins within the body. New research suggests that harboring feelings of betrayal may be linked to high blood pressure, which can ultimately lead to stroke, kidney or heart failure, or even death.

Effects of Un-forgiveness on Health: Things Even Your Doctor May Not Know

Forgiving is an extremely important part of your everyday life.  You have surely been told this since you were a very young child, but how many of us actually apply this to the way that we live as adults?

It has been discovered that people living a forgiving lifestyle, also experience lower cases of heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, (to name a few) due to the lower levels of stress experienced For this conscious choosing of forgiveness over bitterness and resentment, or harbored anger.

As you can see, it is extremely beneficial to your health to reduce the number of grudges that you hold, and begin making a regular habit of forgiving people whenever possible.  This is not to say that you should become a doormat, because that is not what forgiving is all about.  What it does mean, is that when someone says that they are sorry, and you believe that they mean it, forgive them, both by telling them that they are forgiven, and by meaning what you say!

You will feel much less stress, have a lighter overall view on life, and feel much more content about the world around you, and, as you can see, you have a healthier life while you’re at it.  Avoiding an unforgiving life, also therefore means avoiding much more than grudges – it is the emotional equivalent to an apple-a-day needed for regular health and happiness, (to keep the doctor away!).

Article written by Tara Brooke, author of Beautiful Ambition.

Obesity isn’t just an American problem; in Britain, doctors have begun administering the diabetes drug metformin to the unborn babies of morbidly obese mothers-to-be to reduce the fetuses’ weight.

The reason: dangerously overweight pregnant women create excessive amounts of insulin, which results in “sumo babies” weighing 11 pounds or more. These extra-large newborns have twice the chance of becoming obese adults, and their numbers have risen by 50 percent in the past four years. Obese pregnant women are at a higher risk of dying while pregnant, and their babies are more likely to be stillborn.

“I don’t know how many more signs we need in Western society before we really get serious about our health,” says Gordon Filepas, author of Lean And Healthy To 100 (www.adviceformychildren.com), a guide for achieving optimal health based on studying cultures where long lives are the norm.

“Are we really treating unborn babies for obesity?”

In his research, Filepas found many common practices and characteristics in especially healthy cultures. They include:

• Calories: It’s not necessary to count calories; people in healthy cultures don’t! Once you give your body what it needs, you’ll naturally consume fewer calories. This puts significantly less stress on the digestive system and reduces the potential of ingesting toxins.

• Heavy on nutrients: Human beings evolved as hunters and gatherers who took every opportunity for caloric intake. In the process, a wide spectrum of nutrients became the norm, and that is what bodies still crave today.

• Focus on whole and unprocessed foods, fats, and oils: Examples include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and grains. Meat, which is usually the main dish in Western culture, is often treated as a side dish in the cultures Filepas studied.

• Limited toxins: This includes few, if any, pollutants from processed food, water and other beverages, medicine and air.

• A sense of purpose: Individuals from these cultures feel like they are making a difference beyond earning money, and tend to work long days, six days a week.

• Innate exercise: Virtually no additional form of exercise is needed beyond their daily activity.

• Alcohol: Every culture has alcohol. Healthy populations drink regularly, but in moderation. And, they take a greater sense of responsibility for their health.

• Traditional cooking methods: This means low-tech methods, absent of microwaves.

Finding a lifestyle that naturally promotes excellent health became an obsession for Filepas after the deaths of his father and brother in a three-month time span. He wanted to ensure he and his wife and three sons would be together for years to come.

“I tell my friends, family and anyone who will listen: Whatever you hear about health in America, do the exact opposite and you’ll be much healthier than the average American,” he says. “Americans are bombarded with confusion and misinformation about health; it’s a life-or-death situation.”

About Gordon Filepas

Gordon Filepas spent 20 years researching Lean And Healthy To 100, interviewing physicians, attending seminars, and reading medical journals and other health-related literature. He is the founder of TGM Partners, a consulting and investment firm. Filepas says he was motivated to learn more about the requirements for optimal health following the deaths of his father and brother within three months of each other. He hopes to ensure the good health of his family, including his wife of 25 years and three sons.

• Secure your home’s exterior. There are nefarious people out there who want to take your stuff and harm your family. Most of us go through life, thankfully, without ever actually encountering them. However, home invasions do happen. You need to make sure that your home is safe from predators. Home security cameras, surveillance equipment, and a high-quality home security system can all help to make your home a safer place. Today’s home security technology can even allow you to remotely access cameras in your home via your smart phone or computer, making for some truly useful options.

• Identify and secure dangerous objects. Obvious you’re not going to leave a cleaver laying on the carpet just inches from your now-crawling baby. However, you might not think about storing that knife somewhere out of reach of your toddler. It’s not just knives, either; you need to think about the various appliances and electrical equipment you might have in your home. Just because you have outlet covers on all of your outlets doesn’t mean your little one can’t reach over and start chewing on the cord to your lamp.

• Beware of falling objects. That lamp can pose another threat, as well. Even if your child is too old to decide to chew on the cord, he could trip on it and bring the lamp crashing down on top of his head. The same goes for that TV on a stand. Consider attaching your television securely to the wall with mounting brackets, and make sure anything that’s heavy isn’t stored in a precarious positions where it could be tipped over or fall from a height.

• Be picky about who cares for your child. It’s a startling and sad fact: the majority of non-parental abuse cases that wind up occurring in our society come not from strangers, but from friends and family. Think carefully about who you let watch your child. If there’s a doubt in your mind, follow your instinct. You can also add another layer of protection here by popping in on a babysitter unannounced, or even by using your home security or “nanny cam” cameras to keep an eye on things while you’re out.

• Shield your children from the worst of the Internet. There was a time when Internet filtering software couldn’t keep up very well with the creativity of adult-related websites, spammers, and more. Today, however, you have plenty of options. It’s not hard at all to lock down your computer and restrict it to family-friendly sites. Do keep in mind that children are clever, and that sometimes they’ll try to find a way around these measures.

• Educate your child about safety issues. From a young age, parents are in the business of helping their children learn about safety. Simply saying “No!” when the child reaches for an outlet is, in some ways, doing safety training. As your children grow, talk to them about what to do in certain safety-related situations. Help them understand how and when to use 911, and how to get help in an emergency.

• Have and practice a disaster plan. Your children should know what to do if there’s a fire in your house. Talk about how to recognize if there’s a fire on the other side of a doorway. Arrange a safe meeting spot for when there’s a disaster. Have drills at least a couple of times a year where your family enacts what they would do if an emergency hit. It might feel a little bit corny, but the fact is this kind of preparation can save your child’s life.

Our instinct, of course, is to wrap our children in bubble wrap and hide them away. While good parents know that’s not the right thing to do, they also do what they can to insure their children’s safety both inside and outside the home.

Author bio
Greg Robinson is the Social Media Coordinator at Vuezone.com, a completely wireless personal remote video monitoring network that is often used as a pet cam, nanny cam, or just to keep an eye on what you care about most while you’re away.

After the birth of our son, my husband and I quickly re-prioritized our wants, wishes and needs.  We buckled down with a budget, spent wisely and saved as much as we could.  We had someone other than ourselves to worry about.  Life was grand after the birth of our son and money was rarely ever tight.  My husband had an excellent job that provided well for our little family.

Twenty four months later, every thing changed.  My husband lost his job two weeks before the birth of our daughter.  The shop he worked at for nearly six years closed down and relocated to Mexico.  Not only did we lose our source of income, but we lost our healthcare.  The loss of his job completely rocked our world and for the first time, we had no idea what we were going to do.  We had enough in our savings to hold us over for three months maximum.  It was at the point in our lives that we knew we needed to do what no parent really wants to do– we had applied for public assistance.  It was a hard thing for us to swallow, but it is what saved our lives.  We had health care and our children had food in their bellies.

Our past experience is what has made the person I am today.  Our families uncertainty about the future has made me compassionate for those who struggle each and every single day.  It has also made me a big contributor to causes that matter, such as the Child Hunger Ends Here program by ConAgra Foods.  On their website you’ll learn about Food Insecurity*, alarming statistics** and ways to help keep the bellies of children full.

This is where you, my loyal readers, can help.  When you purchase participating brands (e.g. Chef Boyardee, Orville Redenbacher’s, Healthy Choice, Peter Pan, etc), look for a code on either the back or side of the can and enter on the Child Hunger Ends Here website or clicking the logo below. For every code that’s entered, ConAgra Foods donates one meal to Feeding America and you get a free song to download.  So please, help us help ConAgra Foods to end child hunger!

For more information about the Child Hunger Ends Here program, please visit their website.

Child Hunger Ends Here is ConAgra Foods community built to raise awareness and fight child hunger in America. For every code that is entered on behalf of CHEH, ConAgra Foods donates 1 meal to Feeding America.
Users will be able to enter their code directly into widget in exchange for a free download of the “Here’s Hope” song – sung by Jewel, Jay Sean & Owl City. Once the song download is complete, users can share (via Tweet or Facebook) the content with their friends.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by ConAgra Foods via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of ConAgra Foods.”

**1 in 5 children in America does not know where their next meal is coming from.

Young, the CEO of Armor Concepts, is especially troubled because crimes are increasing in the suburbs and small towns where it rarely happened in the past.

The recent murder of Yeardley Love, a star Lacrosse player from the University of Virginia, who was killed after her boyfriend allegedly kicked in her door, underscores the theme of bad things happening to good people in good areas. “In any type of home invasion, buying time is critical. If a potential intruder can kick in a door and be in your home in 10 seconds, you don’t have a lot of time to react. If getting in is more difficult, you have time to call the police, plan your escape or possibly prevent them from coming in at all. Home invasions can happen anywhere and at any time,” commented Young.

Featured on local news segments as well as programs like the CBS Early Show, The Today Show, Fox News, Bloomberg and The Discovery Channel, Young explains there are three  important factors in making your home secure: “Use some common sense. Don’t post vacation plans on Facebook and don’t post vacation photos while still on vacation. Many burglaries are committed by someone you know or by someone connected to someone you know. Letting the world know that you’re not home is an easy way to become a target.”

The second is to make your home a less inviting target than your neighbor’s. By this, he means keeping shrubs trimmed and installing proper lighting (inside and out). “This will make your home less attractive to a burglar unless he knows you have something he really wants.”

The third factor is about securing the exterior of your home, namely doors. While home alarm systems are helpful, with police response times often greater than 20 minutes the burglar could be in and out before the police arrive. Young equates an alarm system with having OnStar? in your car: “Would you not buckle your seat belt because OnStar? will call the police after you have an accident? Alarms are a good addition to your home’s security but 85% of all break-ins are through a door. Secure your doors and you greatly increase your likelihood of success against a burglar.”

For door security, Young recommends EZ Armor, an inexpensive kit that reinforces the jamb, locks and hinges on an exterior entry door. The kit can be installed in about 30 minutes by a do-it-yourselfer; it’s guaranteed to help prevent kick-ins and it can be purchased at major hardware/DIY stores, or online at www.armorconcepts.com. Easily installed on any door, this would also help bring parents some peace of mind while their kids are away at college.

Young was featured on Nashville news last year when a couple, who had been victims of burglary, avoided a repeat offense by taking Young’s advice. After being robbed, the couple installed EZ Armor as kick-in prevention on their door. When the same burglar came back weeks later and tried to kick in the same door, he made so much noise that the neighbors called the police and he was apprehended. Young reiterates: “Security doesn’t need to cost a lot, it just needs to work. Anyone that tells you otherwise is taking you for a ride. With a little common sense and a little effort you can effectively secure your home.”

Many other valuable home security tips, along with recommendations for what to do after a burglary, can be found at www.armorconcepts.com.

The Paula Kluth library, valued at $282.65, includes:

-“You’re Going to Love this Kid!” Professional Development Package DVD
-“You’re Going to Love this Kid!” Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom, Second Edition
-From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks: 100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K–12 Inclusive Classrooms
-“Just Give Him the Whale!”: 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to Support Students with Autism
-Pedro’s Whale
-A Land We Can Share
A is for “All Aboard!”

The multi-author autism library, valued at $239.65, includes:

-The PRT Pocket Guide: Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Robert L. Koegel, Ph.D., & Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D.

-Pivotal Response Treatments for Autism: Communication, Social, and Academic Development, by Robert L. Koegel, Ph.D., & Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D.

-Individualized Autism Intervention for Young Children: Blending Discrete Trial and Naturalistic Strategies, by Travis Thompson, Ph.D.

-Unstuck and On Target!: An Executive Function Curriculum to Improve Flexibility for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Research Edition, by Lynn Cannon, M.Ed., Lauren Kenworthy, Ph.D., Katie C. Alexander, M.S., OTR, Monica Adler Werner, M.A., & Laura Anthony, Ph.D.

-“You’re Going to Love this Kid!” Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom, Second Edition, by Paula Kluth, Ph.D.

-Bringing ABA into Your Inclusive Classroom: A Guide to Improving Outcomes for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Debra Leach, Ed.D.,

-BCBA Executive Function in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Improving Performance and Enhancing Skills for All Students, by Christopher Kaufman, Ph.D.

In addition to the autism library giveaway, Brookes is offering several other promotions throughout Autism Awareness Month, including 40% discounts on select titles and Q & As with top autism experts on Facebook and Twitter.

complete press released copied

Now that we are pregnant with baby number two, we turned to Evenflo again for our feeding products. Evenflo has recently released a new line of feeding products. The Bebek line features bottles, pacifiers, microwave steam sterilizer, training cups, and extra silicone nipples.

Bebek Starter Set

1 – petite-sized 2oz bottle

1 – 5oz bottle & 1 – 8oz bottle

1 – small silicone pacifier

1 – pacifier holder

1 – bottle brush

This set contains the necessities you need to get started in infant hood. The bottles are designed to reduce colic, gas, and fussiness. The pacifiers have an orthodontic design which makes it comfortable for baby when the sucking stages are a must. Also, the pacifier holder helps keep the pacifier attached to baby, so you don’t have to worry about losing the pacifier.

Bebek Trainer Cup

The Bebek Trainer Cup comes in two different colors: pink and blue. The features included are:

-Promotes smooth transition from bottle to cup
-Soft spout is gentle on teeth and gums
-Unique handle is easy to hold from any angle
-Expertly designed not to leak

Classic Bottle Collection

And of course, Evenflo still has their Classic Bottle Collection. The Classic Bottle collection has been around for years and it was actually the first bottle we tried with our daughter. The bottle didn’t help much with her spit-up and gas issues, but it was definitely the “back-up” bottle when others were piled up in the sink needing to be washed. The Classic Bottle collection features:

-Made without BPA
-CustomFlow™ Nipple adjusts to baby’s pressure
-Micro Air Vents™ keep air out of baby’s tummy
-Comes in 8 and 4 oz sizes
-Available in 1pk or 3pk
-Bottles includs Custom Flow Silicone nipple (slow flow)
-Evenflo’s Clear Classic Bottles come with hoods and cap rings in multiple colors

All Evenflo products are sold in retail stores and online.

Pajama Mommy Giveaway

Even though I received the above items to review, I am actually going to give the items away to one lucky reader of Pajama Mommy. The winner will receive the Classic Bottle set, the Bebek Starter Set and the Trainer Cup. The color is girl friendly but I am sure you can use it with a boy if you didn’t mind the pink.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves

2 teaspoons finely chopped white onion

2 teaspoons minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies, seeds and membranes removed, if desired

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

2 large ripe avocados, preferably California Haas, peeled and seeded

2 tablespoons cored, seeded, and finely chopped plum tomatoes (1 small tomato)

2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lime juice

8 6-in corn tortillas

6 cups canola oil

Instructions:

1. Heat canola oil to 375 degrees in a deep fryer or large sauce pot.
2. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
3. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings, and serve with a basket of warm corn tortilla chips or veggie sticks, for a lighter option.
4. Cut tortilla strips like a pie into eighths. In batches (as not to overcrowd fryer) place chips into hot oil and fry until golden, two to three minutes.
5. Drain on a paper towel and serve chips warm with guacamole.

1 part Sauza® Tequila (Sauza® Silver Tequila recommended)

½ part Triple Sec

1 part fresh lime juice

1 part blueberry-pomegranate juice

Blueberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake hard: Strain into a margarita glass with fresh ice.
2. Garnish with fresh blueberries

When I first got married, my grandmother and mother purchased me cookbooks.  I thought these things were amazing and tried re-creating recipes from them all the time.  It took me a few years to notice a pattern in these recipes.  They were all super fattening, made with not-so-overly-healthy ingredients and took a long time to prepare.  My husband and I were starting to put on the bulge!

After receiving an excerpt from Tania N. Boughton’s cookbook, Eating Light, Done Right: Simply Sinless Recipes from the Single Mom Next Door (Inspire On Purpose), I wound up purchasing the entire book a few short days later.  Not only is it a cookbook, but also a story about this woman’s journey with food, weight and struggles with emotional eating.  People, this story is truly amazing and inspirational.  I fell in love with her story because I could relate to her and her recipes?  Absolutely amazing and delicious!

Here’s one recipe that I felt the need to share with y’all, as I’m a HUGE pasta/carb junkie:

Low-Fat, Short-on-Time Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds 93% lean ground beef
• Cooking spray
• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 jar pasta sauce (I like the Healthy Choice or Ragu Light versions)
• 3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan (reduced-fat if you can find it)
• 3/4 cup egg whites
• ½ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Oven-ready lasagna noodles (I prefer whole wheat for nutritional value)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the lean ground beef in a large saucepan coated with fat-free cooking spray over medium heat until browned. Drain off excess fat and stir to crumble. Add water and pasta sauce and bring to a near boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Combine 2 cups of the mozzarella, cottage cheese, Parmesan, egg whites, parsley, and black pepper in a bowl. Mix until thoroughly blended.
3. Spread 1 cup of beef mixture in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and arrange three or so noodles on top. Top with 1 ½ cups of beef mixture. Spread half the cheese mixture on top of beef. Continue layering noodles, beef, and cheese, finishing with one more layer of noodles and one more of beef.
4. Cover and bake at 385 degrees for 45 minutes. Then remove from oven and uncover, add remaining cup of mozzarella, and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes or until brown and bubbly.
5. Allow to cool and set for 15 minutes prior to serving.

Baby Gourmet was created by Jennifer Broe, a mom herself, who wanted to feed her babies food that was healthy and tasty, but was disappointed by grocery store options. Every package of Baby Gourmet passes strict nutritional and food safety guidelines. We pass all USDA and organic certifications. I am comfortable feeding my child a snack knowing it was created by a mom and passes all the guidelines and organic certifications.

There are three different stages to the Baby Gourmet line and each stage is designed to meet baby’s needs as he/she grows. Also, each Baby Gourmet meal is:

-Organic
-No thickeners or fillers
-No added sugar
-No added salt
-Kosher
-BPA-free re-sealable packaging
-USDA, FDA and organic certification

My daughter had the opportunity to try all nine flavors in the Baby Gourmet Line. I knew she would be particular about the temperature, as we have tried other squeezeable packed meals, so I would put one in the refrigerator the night before using it. Now, the squeezeable pouches are designed differently from other ones we have tried and I actually prefer the design over the others. The Baby Gourmet meals are mess free, as long as your child doesn’t squeeze the pouch hard enough to make all the food come out of the top. When we first started using pouched meals my daughter was around six months old and she did not understand the concept to suck out the food and squeeze when it needs to be moved to the top. At two years old, she definitely has the technique down pat. Also, you can squeeze the meal onto a spoon and spoon feed children who aren’t ready to be independent feeders. I really like the Baby Gourmet meals because of the convenience, ease of use, slim design for easy storage in purse/bag, and the fact that they are absolutely delicious. I have always tried everything my daughter has eaten, even the nasty foods in a baby jar. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t feed it to her. So far, I haven’t disliked one of the Baby Gourmet meals and the only one she was kind of “iffy” about was the Roasted Squash and Fruit Medley. Her favorites have been:

*Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
*Tropical Banana Bliss
*Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto

I fully recommend Baby Gourmet products for moms who are always on the go. Baby Gourmet products can be purchased in many stores and even on Amazon.com (you will save 35% shopping at Amazon).

Disclosure: I did receive the nine flavors from the Baby Gourmet line free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

The sports space is one of the big areas where gadgetry is used massively to help with monitoring an athletes speed, strength and power. There’s already a multitude of products available, you only need to go down to your local supermarket and you’ll find loads of options when it comes to fitness devices.

For example a great device for helping one achieve their fitness goals are running watches it’s amazing just how many of these devices exists and each of them unique. There are a few companies that make these products however one that stands out is Sunnto. Not only do these manufacturers know exactly what the market wants they also know how to deliver the functionality people need.

There are numerous running watches on the market and 95% of them do everything that is expected. They are costly and I would suggest that you do your homework and read things like this Forerunner 210 review to get a better understanding of what to look for. The person who wrote this seems to know their stuff about these products and explains things in a very easy to understand way.

Runners are the biggest user of these products and you’ll find a lot of them will be wearing one of these devices on their wrists, you may even notice it more than you did before. There are several running watches which are 100% water-proof; such as the Forerunner 310 and the 910. These two GPS watches are a little more expensive than some of the others however they do give you that extra piece of mind.

As I said; running is typically where you’ll find most of these gadgets and historically only runners would make use of and own a running watch nowadays more and more people are taking the plunge and are wanting to wear these devices. There are a few who wear these GPS watches as their normal timepiece.

You can easily get a running watch from most shops however always go to somewhere well known. I touched upon a great place (http://www.gpswatchreviews.org/ ) for more info and they even show you where you can get one safely. However you get a GPS watch you’ll definitely be please with your purchase and you’ll soon find that they really are an amazing bit of kit.

With three girls in my neighborhood graduating from high school this year, I wanted to do something special.  Luckily for me, I was introduced to a fabulous company called La Bella baskets.  Through their website, I can purchase each and every single one of these girls a care package or gift basket (of choice and suitable for their personalities).

La Bella Baskets was kind enough to send us their All American Favorites Snack care package.  Our care package items were neatly tucked away into a red box.  My husband and children were eager to dig right into it upon it’s arrival.  Inside our care package we found:

• Starburst Fruit flavored candies
• Cheez Its crackers
• Chex snack mix
• Reese’s peanut Butter cups
• Snyder’s pretzel twists
• M & M Plan Candies
• M & M Peanut Candies
• Planters Roasted & Salted peanuts
• Skittles fruit flavored candies
• Cracker Jacks
• Classic Hershey chocolate bar
• Nestle Crunch & Munch
• 2 Movie Butter Microwave popcorn
• Rice Krispies Treats
• Payday Candy bar
• Kit kat chocolate bar
• Twizzlers Red Licorice vines

Honestly, I am not sure there could have been a better suited box for our family than this.  Thank you, La Bella Baskets, for giving my family the opportunity to enjoy one of your care packages!

Female pattern baldness, or hereditary hair loss usually occurs later in life and impacts approximately 50% of the female population. By using magnification on the scalp, a medical professional can examine if a woman’s follicles vary in size – with some thick and others thin. These are two telltale signs of female pattern hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia.

A lot of women also suffer hair loss in their younger days during pregnancy. During the months of being pregnant, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, hair falls out more drastically, often causing women the anxiety of going bald. After this stage,  hair growth cycle returns to normal, which means hair will fall out and re-grow at a normal pace.

Differences between genders:
Men and women have different hair loss patterns. Men’s hair tends to recede from the forehead or the crown of the head while women tend to notice thinning on the top third to one half of the scalp. More women have underlying medical conditions that may cause hair loss then men. These include treatable conditions like anemia and thyroid disease. In particular, women with a form of thyroid disease called Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis may suffer from hair loss because of it. These conditions are diagnosed by your physician and confirmed by blood tests. If you notice drastic or sudden hair loss, it could not hurt to pay a visit to the doctor to find out the cause. It is one thing to be suffering from female pattern baldness, but another to be balding from a medical condition or disease.

• Causing further anxiety to women experiencing hair loss, are the many myths on why women (and men) lose their hair. For the most part, these myths are what they sound like- slightly ridiculous and scientifically unproven. But some hold degrees of truth in them, which is probably how these myths became so exaggerated in the first place. Some common myths on hair loss in women are: Frequent shampooing contributes to hair loss. Frequently washing or shampooing your hair does not make you bald. Too much washing can, however, strip the hair of its natural oils and thus may weaken the hair strands and follicles. Hair should still re-grow normally. If it keeps falling without growing back, there could be some other underlying conditions causing the hair loss.
• Hats and wigs cause hair loss. Wearing hats and wigs cannot cause hair loss directly. Constantly covering your head with hats or wigs does, however, cut circulation to the hair follicles. This should not bring about sudden hair loss, but the hair can begin to thin from the lack of “breathing” so to speak. Ease up on the hat and wigs and you should be fine.
• Brushing your hair 100 strokes each day creates healthier hair. This is unfounded, as no amount of hair brushing can make the hair healthier or grow faster, any more than it can make you bald.
• Perms, colors, and other cosmetic treatments cause hair loss. An occasional perm, coloring or having extensions would not make one bald. However, perms and coloring solutions contain a lot of chemicals, and mostly toxic. If not administered and applied properly and professionally, the harmful chemicals can harm the scalp, and hair follicles residing in it. Weakened hair follicles can cause hair to fall out. Prolonged perms and coloring to your hair can cause visible damage. Protect yourself from permanent damage to your hair by taking precautions when getting these hair jobs done.
• Healthy women are expected to develop significant hair loss. Healthy women are expected to have normal hair cycle, which means losing and growing hair in repeating cycles in their lives. Significant hair loss, not brought on by pregnancy, can be warning signs to a more serious condition.
• Shaving one’s head will cause hair to grow back thicker. There is no proof that shaving the head can make hair grow faster and healthier, just as there is no proof that doing so can damage the follicles enough to stunt any growth. Best to leave that head alone!
• Standing on one’s head increases circulation to the scalp and stimulates hair growth. Aside from dizziness, standing on your head does nothing to stimulate hair growth.
• Dandruff causes permanent hair loss. Dandruff is on-the-surface condition that has to do with the scalp, and not the hair follicles. Dandruff has not found to be the cause or symptom of hair loss.
• Some cosmetic products will cause the hair to grow thicker and faster. Some products intended for eyelash growth, might work on hair. But so far there hasn’t been any conclusive findings on such products. Then there are hair loss topical solutions, like Rogaine for women, which might help slow down hair loss and help regrow a little bit of hair back.
• Stress causes permanent hair loss. Stress can strain a person emotionally, mentally and physically. While it is not the direct cause of baldness, stress can alter the chemical and hormonal balance in the body, causing hair follicles to weaken and hair to fall out. Once the stress is gone, the body should return to normal and hair should fall out less.
• Hair loss does not occur in the late teens or early twenties. Hair loss can happen to anyone, at any age. The age of onset, and the degree of hair loss varies from person to person. A genetic predisposition to baldness can bring about hair loss earlier in life.
• Hair loss affects only intellectuals. Hair loss can affect anyone, from any walks of life.
• Androgenetic Alopecia (or male/ female pattern baldness) can be cured. Male/ female pattern baldness cannot be cured. No amount of medication or treatments would prevent it. They might be slightly effective in slowing down the balding, but hair lost due to androgenetic alopecia cannot be regained. The only proven solution to this is permanent hair restoration- hair transplantation.

Now that we have cleared some myths regarding hair loss, here are some real and common causes of hair loss in women.

• Alopecia Areata.It is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity — from small, round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment, to chronic, extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body. Treatment of this type of hair loss includes therapies such as glucocorticoids, topical immunotherapy, anthralin, or biologic-responce modifiers, such as Minoxidil.

• Telogen Effluvium. If hair follicles are uniform in size, or if the hair loss is sudden, it is likely to be caused by something other than heredity, like a medical condition. This can be caused by pregnancy, thyroid disorders, anemia, autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Other causes could be from extreme stess (mental illness, death of a loved one), physical trauma like surgery or intense illness, dramatic weight loss over a short period of time, and taking too much Vitamin A. hair loss can occur a couple of weeks to six months after any of these.

• Anagen effluvium. It is hair loss caused by Chemotherapy. Since chemotherapy targets your body’s rapidly dividing cancer cells, your body’s other rapidly dividing cells such as hair follicles in the growing (anagen) phase, are also greatly affected. Soon after chemotherapy begins approximately 90 percent or more of the hairs can fall out while still in the anagen phase.

• Traction alopecia – This is hair Loss caused by tight hairstyles that pull at hair over time. If the condition is detected early enough, the hair will regrow. Braiding, cornrows, tight ponytails, and extensions are the most common styling causes.

• Andogenetic Alopecia. Women with this have diffuse thinning on all areas of the scalp. Men have more distinct patterns of baldness. Some women may have a combination of two pattern types. Androgenic alopecia in women is due to the action of androgens, male hormones that are typically present in only small amounts. This can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including, ovarian cysts, the taking of high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause. Just like in men the hormone DHT appears to be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization of hair follicles in women suffering with female pattern baldness. Heredity plays a major factor in the disease.

Finally, there are other types of hair loss in women that while not common, are deserving of attention all the same.

Some women may notice hair  loss that appears in patches. This can be due to fungal infections such as ringworm or other skin fungus. Hair loss can also be as simple as being a side effect of some medication.

The first key in finding a solution is admitting a problem exists, and not being ashamed of it. Bosley  encourages those who think they might be experience hair loss should talk to their physician first to eliminate any medical conditions.

Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D. is a Faculty Member, New York University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatopharmacology and a Medical Director at  Bosley  . He and a team of Bosley Doctors write articles to help educate the public on the facts about hair loss and the available treatment options.

Many women, like myself, have horrible eyelashes.  We’re talking barely there, wimpy lashes.  And more times than not, we have to resort to voluminous mascaras or more recently, eyelash conditioners. GrandeLash-MD, a lash conditioner formulated with peptides, vitamins and botanicals that works to  thicken and increase lash growth within 3-5 weeks of initial use.  They state that you will reach your maximum growth within three months time, which is approximately how long each tube lasts.

If you are under thirty years of age, it is recommended that you use once nightly and for those older than thirty years of age, it is recommended that you use it twice daily.  It works for both, top and bottom lashes and advises you to use caution to not get product in  your eyes as irritation may occur.  It is also advised that if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or going through chemotherapy that you avoid using GrandeLash-MD for the time being.

After using the product for approximately two weeks, I can honestly say I have noticed a slight difference in my eyelashes when applying mascara each evening before work.  Will keep everyone updated as I continue my trial of this product over the course of this month and next.  Overall, I would suggest this product to someone who is looking for a lengthening lash serum.  You can purchase a tube of GrandeLash-MD for $59.90 at GrandeLashMD.com

Thankfully, I had an amazing nurse.  She smiled and complimented us on Ethan, asked when he was born and immediately had a diagnosis prepared for me.  She explained what she believed to be going on, but that she would talk to the doctor on duty and go from there.  I had x-rays to verify her concerns- constipation.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think it was constipation!  All of the post-delivery medications I had been prescribed had my system completely out of whack.  They gave me something to eliminate the problem and a prescription for a stool softner to take to counteract my iron supplements.  Needless to say, I was one happy mama after that visit!

According to a survey of 1,000 new moms conducted by Russell Research and commissioned by Purdue Products, L.P. line of laxatives, 62% of moms with newborns under six months old didn’t anticipate experiencing occasional constipation after childbirth. Isn’t that insane?  We discuss so many other things with our OB/GYN’s during and after the birth of our children, but something so simple never comes up.  Hopefully my experience will help shed light to those of you who, like myself, are struggling or will struggle with bowel troubles after child birth.

To help bring comfort to new moms, Colace® Capsules has just announced a new nationwide promotion, the Colace® Comfort Sweepstakes.  New moms can enter the sweepstakes as many times as they like by visiting the promotional website, www.ColaceComfort.com or through a free standing FSI coupon in more than 46,000,000 newspapers across the country. The coupon features a special QR code enabling smart phone users a quick link to the sweepstakes entry page. Consumers can also enter offline by mailing their contact information to Colace® Comfort, P.O. Box 724, Southport, CT 06890. Hundreds of prizes totaling over $50,000 will be given out to randomly selected winners. Prizes include Tempur-Pedic Mattresses, Apple iPads, Kindle Fires, Keurig Coffee Makers, Bose Headphones, Ralph Lauren Cashmere Sweaters and more, all designed to make life a little more comfortable for new mothers. For more information on the Colace® Comfort Sweepstakes, visit www.ColaceComfort.com.

To help Colace kick off the start of their awesome sweepstakes, the Pajama Mommy Community has been given the opportunity to giveaway a Kindle Fire ($199 value).  How awesome is that?  All we’re asking in return is that you leave us a comment on this post, telling us what provides you with comfort in your life. Extra entry options will not count if the mandatory entry is not completed. We do verify.

::.BONUS ENTRIES.:: (Leave additional comments per bonus entry

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CONTEST ENDS: APRIL 6TH @ MIDNIGHT EST.

1. Having a protein bar in place of a more calorific dessert could help. Available from retailers such as Predator Nutrition, they’re low in fat and sugar, and contain a high level of protein. As well as helping with weight loss, along with exercise, they could aid the building of lean muscle.
2. Some sports supplements could also help with weight loss. The use of legal, natural supplements like creatine supplements can, alongside a healthy diet, increase your chances of getting slimmer. Using them as meal replacements or snacks could help to cut a lot of fat, sugar and other junk out of your diet. If you decide to use sports supplements as part of your weight loss program, it’s important to read the label before taking them to check that all the ingredients are natural, especially when stories such as a lawsuit claims that some sports supplement have dangerous ingredients.
3. Include plenty of fruit in your diet. To beat any craving you have for sugary foods, an apple, banana or orange should help to beat it. It might be worth mixing several vegetables with honey to make a tasty fruit salad.
4. Eat your greens. Spinach, broccoli and other leafy greens can, if cooked correctly, be very tasty. Braising them in a pan brings out their natural flavour, which is much nicer than the bitter taste that comes with boiling.
5. Most cuts of meat, although high in protein, are also high in fat. Substituting meat for tofu is a great way round it. Tofu is a versatile food, which can be used in salads and as part of a main meal. As well as being surprisingly flavoursome, tofu has a naturally-occurring chemical called genistein which helps to reduce appetite. If it works, then you won’t feel the need to gorge yourself on junk food at any time of the day.
6. Avoid low-fat salad dressings. It may sound weird, but they often contain sugar to compensate for any loss of flavour, while full-fat dressings don’t have so much sugar, which reduces the overall calorie content.

*Gripe Water
*Belly Bouncing
*Warm Baths
*Swings
*Carriers
*Bouncers
*Different Formulas/Bottles

Nothing helped. Our colic adventures lasted twelve weeks. I say, “ours” because the entire house was affected by our baby having colic. I was blessed to have a husband who helped out and would take shifts to give me a break. I have heard of households where a baby has colic in the middle of the night for 5-6 hours. I am glad we did not experience the late night colicky stage, but I know it can happen. I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and the thoughts of colic actually scares me especially with having a toddler to take care of. Dr. Greene has 10 tips to reduce colic and how to deal with fussiness while breast-feeding.

There was a recent survey conducted by Clarity Research on 100 moms with colicky babies. Results of the survey showed that parents of colicky babies feel overwhelmed and stressed, experience severe strain on their marriages, and were often confused about best practices on soothing their babies. Findings include:

-Nearly one in five said that having a baby with colic almost led to a divorce.
-More than 1/3 responded that having a baby with colic made them doubt whether they wanted another baby.
-More than 1/3 said that having a baby with colic greatly contributed to their post-partum depression.
-Nearly 3/4 revealed that they felt as if they were failing as a parent when they were not able to make their baby feel better.

I understand the strain colic can have on a household. Not only was I a first time mother of a preemie with some minor health conditions, I was also experiencing postpartum depression myself. I encourage mothers and fathers to have a support system during the colicky stages. If at all possible, take a date night, recruit grandmothers and friends to give you a break for a few hours, and always try to take care of yourself.

Born Free, a leader in juvenile feeding products, has declared March Colic Awareness Month. I believe having a month dedicated to colic awareness will help parents who are struggling with current colicky babies and educate parents to be on the do’s and don’ts with colic. Born Free which was acquired by Summer Infant in March 2011 actually has bottles clinically designed to reduce colic and gas. The Active Flow Venting Technology of Born Free bottles is a two-part venting system modeled after a mother’s natural milk flow in order to reduce the amount of air ingested when compared to other bottles. The goal is to offer babies a calm feeding experience.

Born Free is generously giving away the Classic Bottle Gift Set to one lucky reader of Pajama Mommy, in honor of Colic Awareness Month. I had the opportunity to review the set myself and am extremely pleased in the natural aspect of the Born Free bottles. We did not have the opportunity to use Born Free bottles with our first child, but will be using them with our baby boy. We want to be fully prepared in every way possible for the colicky stage by having a natural choice in feeding with Born Free bottles.

THE GIVEAWAY

The winner will win one Classic Bottle Gift set (Valued at $65) and the set will include:

3 -5 oz. Classic Bottles
3- 9 oz. Classic Bottles
3- Level 3 Silicone Nipples
1- Formula Dispenser
1 – Twister Bottle Brush Set
Features:

-Natural Milk Flow, controlled by baby for an experience closer to breastfeeding
-Naturally Fuss Free, ActiveFlow™ Venting Technology clinically designed to reduce colic symptoms
-Naturally Safe, free from BPA and PVC
-Premium, durable material that is ideal for sterilization
-Dishwasher Safe

HOW TO WIN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did receive the Born Free Classic Bottle Gift Set free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.