Posts filed under 'health'
The most important skin cream you can use is SUNSCREEN! The sunny time of year is here or approaching, depending where you live, and the Environmental Working Group conducted the first-ever study on the efficacy and safety of sunscreens out on the market.. Those found to be effective and safe might as well be considered samples from the “Fountain of Youth.”
EWG stepped up because, “After 29 years of debate, the government has failed to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for sunscreen, but the rules are not yet finalized. In the meantime, companies are free to make claims about product quality.” Scary!
To see how your sunscreen stacks up, which is healthiest and most effective, visit EWG’s Skin Deep. While you’re there, check out any of your products for their safety as well as this handy-dandy parents’ buying guide. Parenthood is so busy that it is wonderful that this site has sussed out the good, bad and the ugly for us! I love this site!
Mama Jen
April 21st, 2008
Two products I have come across look like great ways to dial-up safety measures in your home.
Hot Stop has faucet, shower head, and shower-head/faucet combos to protect your family from scalding hot water. You can turn your water heater to a setting below 120 degrees F, but that isn’t a sure-fire way of knowing how hot your water can get. These products , that were featured on the Today Show will cease the flow of water in the event that it reaches an unsafe temperature. I found a link to a horrible tragedy I heard of in the last two weeks, and surprisingly it occurs more frequently than we think.
Definitely check your water heater’s thermostat, manual, and look into installing these devices in your home. If you are currently building, you can request that safety units be installed “behind the scenes.”
I also received a link recently to this video which shocked me out of my socks! Every parent should see this video— Most kids don’t wake for fire alarms!
They will, however, respond quickly to fire alarms that use the voice of their parent to deliver the warning. I found some of these types of alarms at Amazon and a price comparison at Nextag where you can record the more effective “familiar voice.” Pricey, but safety and piece of mind are invaluable! I am sure after more looking, deals on these items can be found. Just make sure it allows you to record your own voice. For a more formal study on this phenomenon, here is a Pediatric study that was published on the matter as well.
Feel free to leave a comment with your safety tips!
Mama Jen
April 14th, 2008
Recently, I was reading a forum where lots of moms were praising something called a “Balance Bike.” I had no idea what it was, so I HAD to look into it.
Balance bikes are an alternative to the use of training wheels for the beginner cyclist. The balance bikes supposedly allow your child to transition to a full-on bike more easily and quickly than if they had started out using training wheels. That’s because the hardest part—balance—will have been learned.
In my searching I came across an aptly named balance bike company called SKUUT. Scoot is what you can do on these things while your body learns to balance the bike. You can walk them, ride them, “skuut” them or glide them. Definitely something to check out.
Check out the Skuut website or call your local bike shop to see if they have balance bikes for you to look at. Very Interesting!
Mama Jen
March 31st, 2008
If you are interested in teaching your child yoga, Little Yoga: A Toddler’s First Book of Yoga is a great place to start.
Full of colorful illustrations of beginner poses and whimsical text, you can both take a much needed breather and practice yoga together. (This works great especially if your child was more interested in taking props from other little yogis while in yoga class…not my daughter of course)
Watch for the DVD to come out—Gwyneth Paltrow will be doing the commentary since she loves the book for her children. Currently, the book is available at most book stores including Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.
Namaste!
Mama Jen
March 20th, 2008
Mama Kate mentioned to me that she watched an episode of Lifetime’s “How to Look Good Naked,” with Carson Kressley from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and that I should check it out. I decided I would because Carson has such a vibrant energy and manages to get me laughing outloud. Well—The show is a phenomenal! Carson gives women with low self esteem due to poor body image a makeover from the inside. It is so refreshing to see women come on the show feeling that way and leaving with a new outlook and confidence–sans surgery!!!
Carson has such a great sense of humor and is wonderful at conveying to these women that their perceptions aren’t necessarily reality. He also gives them great tips to help them choose the best undergarments and clothing items to set off their figure.
Carson appears today on Oprah to talk about this wonderful new show which began in England. You can catch the show on Lifetime Fridays 9pm/8c It’s got a permanent spot on my DVR’s “to record” list…Mama Jen
February 15th, 2008
I’m in love with … my grocer. Sounds scandalous, but really it’s among the best relationships I’ve had. For a delivery fee, my grocer will shop for me from my very specific list, call with questions, pack it up and deliver it to my door per my instructions.
Something that makes your life this much easier sounds almost too good to be true. But, true it is and, thus, Willy Street Co-Op’s delivery service has stolen my heart. It’s saved me from torturous grocery shopping trips with the kids and made my life a little more stress-free.
Here’s how it works. Check out Willy Street Co-op’s web site. Become a member (see site for membership details and options — you’ll need to stop by the co-op at 1221 Williamson Street to officially sign up). Then, register for on-line shopping and fill your virtual cart. Delivery fees depend on where you live in Madison, but generally are up to $10. Delivery days also vary by region. And, if those don’t work for you, you can always pick up your order at the co-op — packed and ready to go — for a mere $3.
This was my experience: I placed my order at 9:30 one Tuesday morning and by mid-afternoon, vóila, my groceries were delivered. My order ran the gamut from bulk items (like flours, and baking supplies and dried fruits and nuts) to frozen foods, fresh organic produce to and heatlh and beauty products — from face and shaving lotions to deoderants and vitamins. The delivery staff even called me a few times to clarify: They didn’t have a one-pound turkey breast as I’d ordered; the smallest was 6 pounds … did I want that whole bird? Or, how ’bout a small roasting chicken instead? Perfect. Thanks for checking.
The fact that you can give special instructions on the order — where to leave it, where to reach you, etc. — is a major bonus, as is the fact that you can choose how you’d like your bulk items packed (in plastic bags or bottles, or you can purchase other packaging if you prefer). And, if you’re not in the know, the co-op is about the best place in town to find organics, satisfy special dietary needs and philosophies (gluten-free, wheat-free, vegan) and purchase locally grown and produced foods and products. Its got a great deli and bakery, too. (We always order our birthday cakes there. Can’t beat the banana cake: moist and delicious; thick cream-cheese frosting; feeds a crowd; only $20.)
Really, this service is a sanity-saver. We’ll be ordering weekly, especially as it’s a great way to help track and control the grocery budget. Usually, when it comes to keeping tabs on my spending in any grocery store, well, forget about it. By the end of a trip with the kids, I’m just throwing things in the cart, or dashing for the door with only half my order. The co-op lists all weekly and monthly specials, and I find looking at the list online and adding/deleting items to my cart that way infinitely easier than returning to aisle 1 to reshelve a product while my 1-year-old protests.
For more details check out the co-op’s site or call (608) 251-6776. This is definitely one retail affair worth having!
Mama Kate
February 6th, 2008
While on vacation, I saw the Infant CPR Anytime featured as a “mommy must-have” on Martha Stewart. This was such a wonderful find since I keep meaning to sign my husband and I up for a refresher CPR course now that it has been a while since we have had one.
What has been holding me back is the difficulty of finding a sitter for the time the classes are available etc. This is the next best thing and I am so happy I found it! I am going to figure out which kit best suits my family and get one!
If you are like us, and getting out to a CPR class is difficult, give this at home kit from The American Heart Association a try!!!
January 10th, 2008
Just a note to our local MomAppeal readers to make sure they check out our post on Madison MomAppeal to read about the next Mommy Mojo event at Bean Sprouts that you won’t want to miss…Spa la-la-la-la!!!!
Mama Jen
November 29th, 2007
Anke Johnson has put together some fabulous and reasonable tips for surviving the Thanksgiving meal or meals if your me and have two Thanksgiving dinners to attend!
Have a Healthy, Happy Thanksgiving!
By Anke Johnson
For most of us, Thanksgiving is one of the happiest times of the year. The weather is cool and crisp. The wine is flowing. And we get to enjoy the company of family and friends. What’s not to love?
The only drawback might be the extra weight some people gain during the holiday season. Now, I’m not going to be a Scrooge and tell you to skip your favorite dishes on the 22nd. But here is what I do suggest: Focus on eating more of the healthier foods.
There are many healthy foods to choose from at Thanksgiving. Fill up on the turkey, tomatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, salad, nuts (preferably raw and unsalted), and all the other things that are good for you. Eat slowly and stop when you’re full. You don’t have to miss out on the candied yams (but if they’re not candied, fill up on them as well), stuffing, and dessert, but if you fill up on the healthy stuff, you won’t have much room to overindulge in those less-healthy options.
After dinner, take the kids out on a post dinner walk, before you do the dishes. The fresh air will invigorate the most tired cook, but most of all you’ll get the much needed blood flow back for proper digestion.
Follow this advice and you just might make it till dark without passing out in a food coma.
Above all, enjoy your holiday! www.naturalsolutionsbyanke.com
November 12th, 2007
Healthy Child Healthy World is a great place online that gives all sorts of information to help you help your family have the healthiest start in life. Many mom celebs like Sheryl Crow, Laura Dern, Brooke Sheilds and Meryl Streep give a voice to this wonderful site that offers answers, support and solutions for for creating a healthy and safe environment for kids.
I highly recommend you check it out to see what green tips and inspiration the site can offer you snd your family. It is so nice to have so much information in one place! For more local informationabout this great organization and it’s partners please contact Anke at info@naturalsolutionsbyanke.com
Mama Jen
October 31st, 2007
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