Featured Blog Posts – September 2009 Archive (27)

GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE - Vitamin D for Infants

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends that all exclusively breastfed infants receive Vitamin D supplementation of 200 IU per day beginning during the first 2 months of life. Many of our mothers are questioning the need for Vitamin D supplementation for their Southern California babies. What is the purpose of this vitamin? What are good sources? How much sunlight is necessary to avoid supplementation?

Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin, but rather a steroid… Continue

Added by Wendy R. Haldeman on September 28, 2009 at 9:41am — No Comments

Must Have Workouts ~ Burn More Fat In Less Time!

Your Must Have Workout: Resistance Training!

If muscle is your metabolism and the only way to create a lean and toned body, why aren't more women making resistance training the heart of their workout plan?

Top 3 Reasons WHY More Women are NOT Doing Resistance Training

1. Believe the answer to Fat Loss… Continue

Added by Holly Rigsby on September 28, 2009 at 7:39am — 1 Comment

DIY Fall Centerpieces

Autumn is here in NJ and the leaves are already starting to change color. If you live in a part of the world where the seasons change, by all means bring some of the beauty of fall into your home. The decor is free and literally falling from the sky - compliments of Mother Nature! So don't let a tight budget stop you from decorating for the season.

Below is the a very clever idea for a DIY Fall Centerpiece. I found it via iDIY.com who… Continue

Added by Dawn on September 28, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Reading, Writing and…Pesticides?

What a month. After desperate, late-night trips in search of third-grades’ perfect notebook and fifth-grades’ essential pencil sharpener (“Not that one, this one!”) and endless potty pleadings with the toddler (only to realize that her new school doesn’t require it), I finally got the kids into school.

Part-time, on behalf of the Barnacle (read: baby), but school nonetheless, conjuring up visions of four—count ‘em, FOUR—whole hours of… Continue

Added by ecostilettor on September 25, 2009 at 10:12am — 1 Comment

TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Nicole Bohorad!

If you've had a baby recently, color me jealous. Not only do you get to hold that warm, sweet, miraculous little bundle all you want... you also get the Best Baby Loot. Evah.

Yeah, I'm talking about those kick-butt strollers that can conquer Mt. Everest, yet still fold up to fit in your wallet. The cutest organic-cotton onesies printed with hilarious, ironic sayings. The safest, most educational, BPA- and lead-free toys and supplies. The chic-est, most slimming maternity… Continue

Added by Lea Curtes-Swenson on September 25, 2009 at 6:10am — 7 Comments

What is Your Superpower?

We all have a reason for being. A special skill that sets us apart from others. I think of this as YOUR SUPERPOWER (my good friend Lisa's actual term - Kudos).

For some your Superpower is guiding others, for others it may be design, building, creating, art or music. Giving LOVE is a great Superpower. Being a Truth Seeker is another good one. Discover your superpower with these quick questions:

Take Action - Here's how to do it.

1. Take out a blank sheet of… Continue

Added by Lynne Kenney on September 24, 2009 at 6:00am — 3 Comments

I may be 40, but I'm "snugglish."

One of my favorite things about living in this new/old house (new to us/actually 101 years old) is our morning ritual. One or more of the girls pile into bed with me, and for a few precious minutes, we snooze and snuggle quietly, listening to our particular tangle of suburban morning sounds through the open windows:

* Birds calling, woodpeckers occasionally attacking the house.

* Cars carrying human early birds to work, I imagine with steaming, no-spill commuter mugs of coffee… Continue

Added by Lea Curtes-Swenson on September 23, 2009 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

Taste Wine Like a Pro with 6 Easy Tips

I love wine and this time of year my crush on it gets even more intense. September to October is harvest season in wine country, and is known as the Crush. I was very fortunate a few years back to visit Napa during the crush. It's an amazing time to be there and you can feel the excitement in the air as wine growers, producers, tasters and masters begin the process of creating the new year's wine. A new harvest of grapes that holds a… Continue

Added by Dawn on September 22, 2009 at 1:30am — No Comments

What taking care of yourself really means?

While it might sound fairly obvious to suggest to mothers the importance of practicing great self-care, I have found that most of us moms just don’t get it. I speak with moms and women’s groups all the time and, consistently, when I ask mothers, “How do you practice self-care?” I am met with silence or the typical day spa, mani and pedi response. Self-care isn’t really a consistent thought in motherhood. It is not until a mother becomes stressed out at her spouse, frustrated with her children… Continue

Added by Mia Redrick on September 21, 2009 at 7:53pm — 4 Comments

Are Your Workouts Busy or Productive?

What type of feedback are you getting from your workouts?

Are your workouts Busy or Productive?

Being busy means being engaged in action.

Being productive means yielding results or benefits.

I hear all too often that women are just working out to workout. Sure, there is a goal out there to lose weight, but the workouts chosen are getting them nowhere fast and leaving so many feeling frustrated, exhausted or worse -… Continue

Added by Holly Rigsby on September 20, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Awesome Tips on How to Boost Your Mommy Confidence!

Tips from The Go-To Mom

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT

www.TheGoToMom.TV

• Make a concerted effort to engage in “Mommy Cherishing” activities -- How many times this month did you do something just for yourself? Did you take a nice long bubble bath, read a great book, or get your toe-nails painted fire engine red? Moms are happier and more mentally balanced when they… Continue

Added by Kimberley Clayton Blaine on September 20, 2009 at 2:54pm — 1 Comment

TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Amy Sapirstein!

I love fall. I don't know about you, but I welcome the crisp nights and cool mornings, which turn into pleasantly warm afternoons. Even better, our scenery here in Minnesota gets spectactularly colorful -- something I've really missed in our time away. Time to hit a local apple orchard, take a hay ride and start thinking about pumpkins, Halloween costumes and digging out my family's winter gear.

Those of you who'll soon be bundling up your stroller-age children will enjoy… Continue

Added by Lea Curtes-Swenson on September 18, 2009 at 2:32pm — 6 Comments

My $30 Face Lift

Spent 8 minutes this week having my eyebrows shaped. Yes, I am aware how ridiculous this is. That a decent pair of tweezers and a steady hand can do the same thing and for $30 less.

But there’s the rub. I don’t have a steady pair of hands – nor do I trust my visual abilities to know if I’ve done the trick or not. When I started seeing Connie two years ago, my fascist technician, she fairly yelled at me for the destruction I had brought on my face.

“This is too short. This… Continue

Added by Lauren Barack on September 18, 2009 at 5:12am — 1 Comment

Boycott Vogue! The Anachronistic “September Issue” Shows Us How Far We’ve Come

“There’s always a way to wear fur”

--Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief, American Vogue

“Anna is the most powerful woman in the U.S.”

--Andre Leon Talley, Editor-at-Large, American Vogue

“Nobody was wearing fur until Anna put it on the cover in the ‘90s.”

--Tom Florio, Publisher, American Vogue

Are you sensing a pattern here?

Yesterday, I saw a matinee of “The September Issue.” I… Continue

Added by ecostilettor on September 17, 2009 at 8:30pm — 7 Comments

100 Calorie Packs: Cost to Wallet and Health.

No one denies that snacking, when done properly, is a great way to keep your energy up and your weight down. And with today’s busy lifestyles, having “grab and go” snacks are a way of life for most of us. But have you ever stopped to think of the cost to your wallet and your health? The snack industry estimates that the retail sales of packaged snacks are at $68 billion for 2008, with projected sales to be near $82 billion by 2013. Yes BILLION!

I agree in some way that having… Continue

Added by Beth Ann Bentley on September 17, 2009 at 12:56pm — 1 Comment

Knowing Your Child's Learning Style Leads To School Success

School is in!

Your child may be driving you nuts with, "Mom, where are we going, "Mom what are we doing after school?" or alternatively your child might be appearing asocial 'cause she likes to do her homework in her room and tells you how noisy the house is at dinnertime. Breathe easy. Like you, your children have different temperaments, learning styles and sensory thresholds. These are genetic, we have them at birth.

Your children are also born with a tendency to… Continue

Added by Lynne Kenney on September 17, 2009 at 6:00am — 4 Comments

Tips for Tailgating in Style!

Autumn in the Northeast is a miraculous experience. The crisp air, the vibrant color of the leaves, and the ultimate sense of renewal as a fresh school year begins and anything is possible. It is also the last chance for a picnic before winter sends the earth to sleep until spring. A tailgate is the perfect way to celebrate this spectacular time of year. Whether you tailgate outside the football stadium, in a field to watch horse races, at… Continue

Added by Dawn on September 15, 2009 at 4:00am — 3 Comments

10 Healthy After School Snacks In A Hurry

Need some quick, easy and healthy after school snack ideas?

Tyler is excited to show you what is in his Snack Box!

The key to making your children’s after school routine successful and stress free is Planning Ahead.

Yes - there is the "P" word again, again and again - maybe if I tell you enough, it will make a difference for you.

You must know what to have on hand - which… Continue

Added by Holly Rigsby on September 14, 2009 at 4:29am — 1 Comment

Are you the blog of the week?

Hello moms,

We’ve been getting feedback from the community about ways to improve our newsletter and make it more interesting. One thing we’ve added is a new blog of the week feature. The first one is below. We’d love to hear more from you about what you’d like to hear about.

We also worked with our friends at Gap Outlet to bring you and your Twitter followers… Continue

Added by Megan Calhoun on September 13, 2009 at 9:00pm — 10 Comments

Let's start a MOVEMENT!

So I started what I was hoping would become a 'movement' earlier this year. My goal for this, at least on a personal level was two fold. First, as an active young mom, I wanted to give "me time" a makeover and share my experiences with others. Secondly, I was hoping to inspire other moms do to the same. I termed these experiences, 'momME-adventures'.

I have been having a great time accomplishing the first half of my mission. To date, I have gone on 5 of my own 'momME-adventures' and… Continue

Added by AMY SAPIRSTEIN on September 12, 2009 at 9:30am — 8 Comments