Showing posts with label guest post. Show all posts

Monday, July 25, 2011

Get a Magazine-Cover-Worthy Bod With These Tips From An Overweight Mom Turned Model

Tosca Reno, over-weight mother of four turned cover model and New York Times best-selling author of the eat-clean diet series, reveals fitness models’ top secrets of getting into shape. The health and fitness guru lost weight at age 40 following the same regimen. Now, she has launched her 12th and 13th books and offers her top tips.

Ever wonder how the models you see in fitness magazines really stay in shape? So did Tosca Reno, who got seriously fit in her 40s with the help of these women. Tosca herself competes against 20 year olds on her show, “Tosca: Flexing at 49!” on Oprah’s OWN Network.

“I learned the tricks of the trade from the best of the best when I was preparing for my own competition nearly 10 years ago,” says the 52 year old Tosca Reno. “These athletes have the science behind them to create beautiful physiques with the perfect combinations of diet and exercise. If they can do it, why can’t we?”

Tosca Reveals Her Top Tips:

1) Experiment with Spirulina: This nutrient-rich blue-green algae helps decrease appetite

2) Get A Spray Tan: A tan helps hide cellulite and a body with a bit of color to it always looks leaner

3) Freeze Food: I make large batches of dishes and freeze them in individual containers for on the go meals

4) Pre-Eat: Eat a healthy meal before meeting business associates or friends to avoid eating heavy or unhealthy foods, or avoid getting hungry. I am able to focus on conversation.

5) Strength Train: Muscle burns fat. And strength training not only stimulates your muscle while you’re working out, but for hours after.

6) Eat Regularly: Eat small meals every 2 1/2 to 3 hours to keep your metabolism going

7) Make Your Last Meal Three Hours Before Bedtime: Determine your hunger after dinner. If hunger sets in decide if it’s true hunger or emotional eating. If you are physically hungry, eat! Just don’t go overboard.

8) Straighten Out: Slouch? You’ll appear to lose at least five pounds just by correcting your posture.

9) Drink Plenty of Water: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking water keeps your body lean by helping nutrients flow through it and by washing away waste and free radicals.

10) Go Harder: Increase the intensity, not the duration, of your cardio workouts. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) shows that people who incorporate HIIT lose twice as much weight as those who don’t.

11) Avoid Sugar: The average person consumes 60 pounds of sugar per year, or one pound every few days. I rank sugar’s dangerous effects up there with cocaine and heroin. All three are white powders, all give you a high and crushing lows, all are highly addictive and all destroy you.

12) Make Lunch a Culinary Affair: I create a fine-dining experience everywhere I go. I keep a plate, cutlery and placemats in my office and use them every day. I savor my food. I’m always satisfied at the end of the meal and I return to my desk with a clear head.

13) Broth is Best: If you’re out to eat and there is no healthy salad, have a broth-based soup.

14) Fletcherize: This is the practice of chewing each mouthful of food a minimum of 25 times. Doing this gives your body time to recognize that you are slowly becoming full and satiated.

15) Host a Game Night: You provide the healthy snacks and they’ll provide you a night filled with laughs.

16) Pack Your Lunch: Having healthy food on hand prevents you from grabbing food in a hurry

17) Join a Team: Join an adult sports league. You can play a wide range of sports, also opening yourself up to meeting other people who are just as interested in being fit as you are.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Avoid Wolves in Volunteers’ Clothing at School: Why Background Screening for School Volunteers is Important

Avoid Wolves in Volunteers’ Clothing at School

Why Background Screening for School Volunteers is Important

By Bill Tate

As the back to school season swings into full gear this fall, there are many opportunities for adults to volunteer and support school activities. Volunteers lend valuable time and assistance to our school systems, and while the majority of school volunteers are law abiding role models for our nation’s children, unsavory adults sometimes come into the mix. Predators, or “wolves in volunteers’ clothing,” can be quite wily at finding ways to be near children. When the infamous bank robber, Willie Sutton, was asked why he stole from banks, he said, "Because that's where the money is."

Individuals who work closely with children, whether it is a teacher or a volunteer, a coach or cafeteria or maintenance worker, should be subject to background screening before their interaction begins. Most of us assume that every adult working closely with our children is carefully vetted by the schools with which they are associated.

The practice of background checks for school employees is standard issue for all employees with access to children. Background checks reduce organizational liability and help protect children. So why should this practice differ with school volunteers? Depending on the role of the volunteers and the level of supervision they will have, many believe school volunteers should be subject to the same screening criteria as any other school employee. While not universal, more and more school districts across the country are adopting policies mandating that volunteers who interact with students must go through a criminal background check first. School districts in Charlotte, Nashville, Seattle, and San Antonio, for example, actively screen all volunteers who will interact with students.
However, such policies are not in place in all school districts. Some schools are concerned that background checks on volunteers will reduce volunteer involvement. But every school needs to carefully consider who they allow to interact with their students – on school grounds and at school sponsored activities. Background checks on school volunteers may reveal that someone has a criminal history or is living under an alias. Most parents don’t want volunteers who have misdemeanor and felony convictions at their school.
It is important that parent volunteers don’t become offended when asked to go through a background check. A comprehensive screening policy should dictate that everyone interacting with the students be screened – even if they are a parent of a current student. Most parents will understand this need and will support the school district’s commitment to student safety.
Parents should inquire about the background screening policy at their child’s school. This will allow parents to better understand the school’s position on the issue and what will be required of them if they have the opportunity to volunteer. If there is no background screening policy for volunteers, ask for one. It is important that schools establish criteria for background checks, and guidelines for unsupervised access to children. What level of access is the volunteer given? Are they alone with children in the classroom? Are they transporting students in a vehicle? Are they acting as the primary student supervisors on overnight trips?
As a parent and human resources professional, I believe that all concerned parents should be active in ensuring that a background screening process is in place for all people who come into contact with their child at school. There is nothing more important than the safety and security of our children. As our children return to school this fall, I recommend that we ask our school administrators the following questions. With the answers to these questions, we learn what policies and procedures may need improvement, and where schools may even be exceeding our expectations:
1. Does the school have a policy in place to ensure background screening for all employees of the school? Are teachers, crossing guards, teaching assistants, nurses, cafeteria workers, maintenance people – virtually all paid employees – screened?

2. What type of background screening is conducted on employees? Is a national criminal background check conducted? Is the school conducting drug and alcohol testing?

3. Does the school permit parents, grandparents and other family members to volunteer?

4. Are non-familial relations (i.e., area residents, nannies, family friends) permitted to volunteer?

5. Is there mandatory background screening for all school volunteers – whether they are family members or non-familial relations?
While some schools engage only in limited county or state checks, the national criminal background check offers the most comprehensive way to investigate someone’s criminal history within the United States. A national criminal background check searches for criminal and county court records, correctional facility records, and sex offender, terrorist and most wanted criminal records. National criminal background reports show current and historical felony convictions and misdemeanor offenses.
Federal and state laws strictly regulate drug testing procedures in order to protect the interests and rights of employers and employees. Should teachers be randomly drug-tested? Practices vary across the country. Teacher drug testing was the subject of court cases in North Carolina and West Virginia, where educators argued that time and costs associated with random tests would be better spent in the classroom. Hence, it is no surprise that if our nation’s teachers are not subject to drug screening, the volunteers are also getting a free pass. Every school should include a careful review of its state’s laws, as well as teacher’s contracts and union agreements, when developing a background screening policy
In addition to wanting to serve the best interest of the students, many school boards are open to the idea of background screening because they understand the risks they take by not doing so. The school itself is likely to be held responsible if a child is placed in danger from a volunteer or an employee. For the safety of our students, parents’ peace of mind and fiscal health of the school, it makes sense for schools to implement a comprehensive background screening program.
As parents, we are the best advocates for our children’s safety, and schools should truly be a safe haven.
Parents, along with parent’s associations, teachers’ unions and school officials, should review the level of access volunteers are granted to the children when building an effective volunteer background check program. Children are our most precious resource and they must be vigorously protected. Ensuring that “wolves in volunteers’ clothing” don’t enter our children’s vulnerable world is of paramount importance.

About the author:
William (Bill) J. Tate is President of, HR Plus, www.HRPlus.com, a leading provider of comprehensive employment and background screening solutions and a division of AlliedBarton Security Services, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Nerd Chick Adventures: Summer Safety Gadgets

Nerd Chick Adventures: Summer Safety Gadgets

By: Andrea Eldridge

The Eldridges are a summer loving family. From lazy afternoons floating in the lake, to the cool tingle from the first lick of an ice cream cone, it’s no wonder we spend the winter counting down the days. Now that I’m a mom of a water-obsessed toddler, however, the season also brings some extra worries. Will those new water wings make him less cautious around the pool? Is it too hot to load him, or the dog, into the car? What if we have car trouble when out on one of our weekend exploration drives? Luckily I’ve found some great gadgets to curb some of my summer safety fears.

Every time I watch my two year old launch himself fearlessly into the pool, I smile, and then I try to ignore that little voice in my head that whispers, “What if he tries to do it when you’re not here?” If you also worry about the safety of your kids, pets, or weaker swimmers around your pool, the Poolguard PGRM-2 (http://poolguardsafety.com/zm_poolguard-pool-alarm-for-in-ground-pools-meets-astm-standard.asp) is the least expensive in-ground pool alarm to be highly recommended by Good Housekeeping and Dateline independent testing. Once installed on the side of your pool, the Poolguard will monitor the surface of the water, sounding alarms both outside and through an in-home monitoring device if anything over 18lbs enters the water, but won’t false alarm under high winds conditions. Available for about $200, the surface monitor runs off a 9V battery and will alarm if someone attempts to move or improperly disarm the device, or if the battery runs low.

While that’s a great option for home, what about that houseboat trip you’re looking forward to? Safety Turtle (www.safetyturtle.com) has developed a Personal Immersion Alarm that attaches to your child's wrist or a pet's collar. When activated, the alarm triggers a loud siren from the wireless base station if your child or pet falls into water. The system is portable and easily usable at home, on a houseboat, at the lake, or even at a public pool. One base station can monitor multiple wristbands, so you can keep track of all of your young children and pets with one system. The base station is available for about $119, while each wristband or collar costs about $53.

ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_11) is available for about $60. If you aren’t intimately familiar with the internal wiring of your car, check with your mechanic before buying one to make sure they’ll be able to install it for you.

Once I’ve made it safely into the car, air conditioner running, I tend to feel that arriving at my destination is a foregone conclusion. It only took one flat tire with a dead cell phone battery to teach me that I’d better plan for the worst. My husband likes his battery backup device, but the worrier in me knows that I may not always remember to keep that charged if it stays in my car. I prefer the Etón American Red Cross Microlink FR160 (http://www.amazon.com/American-ARCFR160R-Microlink-Self-Powered-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKCE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309929123&sr=8-1), which retails for $30. This small, hand-held device has a rechargeable battery pack that can be charged by AC adapter (if you plan ahead), solar panel (if you’re stranded in the daylight), or manual hand crank (for the truly unlucky, like me). It can charge most USB-powered cell phones, has an AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio, and an LED Flashlight. Leave it somewhere in the sun and you’ll never again be stranded on your way to summer fun.

Do you have more summer safety concerns ruining your cool? Drop us a note on Facebook (facebook.com/nerdsoncall) or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Friday, July 8, 2011

Stay Engaged with Your Kids This Summer

Parents, Another Reason To Stay Engaged With Your Kids This Summer

by Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC

Summer is really here. No more scheduled homework nights, no more packing lunches, and no more worrying about teacher reports and whether your child turned in their homework. We are not worry free though. The CDC has just released a report which is startling to parents of tweens and teens. The report is below, but first,

Read This!

The CDC lists prescription drug abuse as the fastest growing drug problem among 12-17 year olds. One in four high school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug without a prescription. The number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300%. Emergency room visits for prescription drug abuse have more than doubled since 2004. 48% of all ER visits for prescription drug abuse are by young people ages 12-20. Prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine, combined.

The National Family Partnership is concerned that parents may be drug suppliers over the summer without even knowing it. If you aren't talking to your kids, and trying to give them a "summer off", you could be setting them up to become involved with prescription drugs. With the end of the school year, children look forward to a long break and a lot of time at home alone. Substance abuse has been noted to increase with long school breaks especially among those teens with little supervision. NFP (National Family Partnership) goes on to report:

70% of teens who abuse Rx drugs get them from family and friends.
68% of households do not properly secure their Rx medications.
Studies show that unmonitored kids are four times more likely to engage in substance abuse.
The distressed employment market makes it harder for teens to find summer jobs, leading to more boredom, restlessness and free time.
A new study surveyed 2,500 high school students and reported that one in four admitted to abusing Rx drugs.

This is frightening especially if you are a single parent of a tween or teen with little means to afford camps and other summer programs. The main things you can do, no matter what your income, are:

Safeguard all medicines by monitoring quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine cabinet and lock them up.
Talk to your tweens and teens about the dangers of prescription drugs. Remind them that they are just as dangerous, addictive and lethal as street drugs. Studies show that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as "safer" to abuse than illicit drugs.
Properly dispose of old or expired medicines in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before throwing them away.
Don't have kids at home? What about your grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and your friends' kids that visit your house?
Consider help from resources such as www.truecare.net. They have information about how to talk to your children and how to keep them safe with text messages and social networks. They are also able to help you by alerting you if your child is engaging in unsafe texts or websites. I work with this company and they have saved the lives of many at-risk youth.

Summer will always hold special memories of being free and "on vacation." You can allow your child those memories of freedom and vacation, but you need to talk to them and let them know you are very much engaged in their life. Parents who set boundaries and have expectations for their children, raise children who are responsible and connected to their family.

Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, is a licensed psychotherapist and co-author with Janine J. Sherman, of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom About Health, Sex or Whatever. Read more about the book at www.StartTalkingBook.com and more about Rapini atwww.maryjorapini.com.

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Eight out of Ten Parents Admit to Cursing in Front of Their Children

According to a national survey commissioned by Care.com, Inc. (http://www.care.com), parents believe that cursing has become more prevalent in today’s society, particularly among children. Eighty-six percent of parents who responded to the online survey agree – and 52% agree strongly – that kids ages 2-12 today are cursing more than when they themselves were children.

Care.com, Inc., the premier source of trustworthy family care options, including profiles of hundreds of thousands of babysitters, nannies, and senior caregivers, also found that while 93% of parents have made an effort not to curse in front of their child, eight out of ten reveal that they have cursed in their child's presence. Additionally, a majority of parents (54%) reveal that their child has cursed in front of them. Twelve percent admit that the child was repeating a curse a parent had said, and 20% believe that the child didn’t understand the impact of what he or she was saying.

Nearly forty percent (39%) of the time, parents of a child who cursed blame other children, either from day care, a playgroup or older siblings. More than a third (34%) blame television, games and movies, though nearly a quarter (24%) blame themselves or their spouses.

Despite the universal belief that kids are cursing more, nearly a quarter (23%) revealed that they were shocked to hear a child of theirs curse. While more than three-quarters (77%) explained that it was a 'bad' word, ten percent laughed.

“Cursing is something that is definitely going to happen, and parents should know this is something to expect and not a reflection of being a bad parent,” said Care.com’s Parenting Expert and psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig. “However, there are steps parents can take to stop the language before it continues, from creating consequences to monitoring the TV shows and movies your kids watch to correcting houseguests and encouraging the use of alternate words.”

Visit Care.com for a full list of Dr. Ludwig's tips on how to prevent your children from cursing.

The Care.com survey was conducted via an online survey at Care.com among 700 parents from June 15, 2011 – June 27, 2011.

About Care.com, Inc.

Founded in 2006, Care.com is the largest and fastest growing service used by families to find high-quality caregivers, providing a trusted place to easily connect, share caregiving experiences and get advice. The company addresses the unique lifecycle of care needs that each family goes through-child care, special needs care, tutoring and lessons,senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. The service helps families find and select the best care available based on detailed profiles, background checks and references for hundreds of thousands of mom-reviewed and pre-screened providers who seek to share their services. Through its Care.com Employer Program, corporations can offer Care.com memberships as a benefit to employees. www.care.com.

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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

There's More to a Child Than Outside Behavior

There's More to A Child

Than Just Outside Behavior

By Gary M. Unruh MSW LCSW

Asking children repeatedly to complete chores or homework seems like just one more roadblock to effective parenting. It is...and here's why. Parents focus on behavior -- their child's outside part -- and miss the child's inside parts: feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and, most importantly, trust in one's self-worth.

When a car will not start, do we keep turning the key, hoping the battery will miraculously function each time? No, we go right to the inside part. We pop the hood and charge the battery. Then we turn the key, and voila! We're good to go. Inside part fixed; outside part works fine.

Knowing a child's inside and outside parts will eliminate a lot of roadblocks, making your parenting journey a lot more pleasant.

Here's a quick "parts" review.

Outside parts -- performance and character.

Good performance and good character are two important cornerstones for building self-worth.

There's nothing like an A as a reward for great effort. Most parents focus on the end goal -- a clean room or completed homework assignment -- and they don't pay enough attention to the effort part. Teach your child to exert his or her best effort at all times and your child will be successful. Effort is a lot easier to control than results.

Positive character ensures enduring relationships -- the most rewarding and healthy life success. Responsibility, perseverance, empathy, self-discipline, and honesty are the basic character traits that need to be taught daily.

These character traits have two big-time positive consequences:

acceptance by adults and peers, and
self-confidence.

We're not born with these traits; they need to be learned. And you, the parent, are the best teacher.

Inside parts -- thoughts, feelings, beliefs.

These are the inside mechanical parts of a human being, the power source for doing what we do. We all have about forty thoughts per minute going through our minds, each thought filled with feelings (happiness, sadness, anger), causing what we say and do. And beliefs give us our internal rules for right and wrong and are the cause of everything we do.

Feelings are the most powerful inside part, the energy source for determining your child's outside behavior. When Amie's mad, she'll yell, argue, or hit. When James is happy, he'll laugh and joke. Feelings are the x-ray picture of what's going on within the heart of your child at any given moment. Respond to your child's feelings first and your child will feel you meeting his or her life -- essential need to be understood, especially during conflict.

Trust is an essential human need for our entire lives. Developing trust in a child is in a parent's job description: Instill trust and your child will become a trustworthy, successful adult.

During infancy trust is about being adequately nurtured with food and feeling emotionally comfortable when upset. Then throughout the adolescent years, it's about physical and emotional safety and feeling understood and accepted, no matter what problems pop up.

And the result of instilled trust?

Children feel comfortable in their own skin, they learn to rely on themselves, and they'll know when to trust others. Translated into a kid's lingo: Since Mom and Dad trust and believe in me, I feel good enough about myself and know I can handle just about anything -- including finding great people to love.

Sound complicated? It can be, but the following three tips will make it a lot easier and you'll get plenty of rewards along the way.

1. Support your child's individuality. Trusting yourself comes from knowing and being comfortable with the way you're built. Display eight-year-old Nate's prized Lego piece on the dining room table. Ask tween Terry to read her creative essay at the next Friday family meeting.

What about the not so great stuff? Help Emma trim off the jagged edges of her daily drama while letting her know, "Your excitement about life is really fun to be around." And deal with Ethan's temper tantrums by saying, "I know it's really hard to not blow up, but we'll help you put words to your upset so you can be calmer."

2. Set firm limits to instill good character. People trust kids who show good character-qualities like empathy and admitting mistakes. A child's not born trustworthy, so that tendency to look out for number one needs to be harnessed. A great starting point is to teach consideration for others through social graces: thank you, please, sorry.

3. Start discipline with support to avoid shame. Shame doesn't instill trust. Parents who balance support and correction avoid shame. Instead, you reach an important goal: your child feeling basically okay while wanting to correct a mistake. Becky didn't study for a test and she got a one-legged A. After Mom gently asked why this happened, Becky and Mom worked out a mutually agreeable way to handle studying for tests. Correcting mistakes openly and easily is a sure sign of "I trust myself, I'm okay."

Conclusion: Pay attention to the inside parts of your child and teach them to trust themselves and all kinds of good things will happen.

Gary M. Unruh, MSW LCSW, is a child and family mental health counselor with nearly forty years of experience. He is the author of the award-winning book Unleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids(www.unleashingparentallove.com).

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It’s a Cruel, Cruel Summer

It’s a Cruel, Cruel Summer

By Nadia Mohamedi, OTIS Teratogen Information Specialist

Summer is here and it feels like it happened so fast! The temperature is rising and the summer BBQ’s are beginning. While some may think we’ve got some time before the hottest days of the year, research shows that in all 50 states the hottest month is already here. In fact, the record temperature has been broken in all 31 days of July, with August having only 10 days with record-breaking temperature. These hot days can feel like torture for pregnant women, who already feel like a furnace due to their increased blood volume and weight. So, I’d thought I’d help those who are sweating for two and give some tips on how to survive pregnancy in the HEAT.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Everyone know they’re supposed to drink 5-8 glasses of water per day, but who really does? Even though it feels like a lot of water, pregnant women really should pay attention to this recommendation, not only to cool themselves down but to prevent dehydration. Being dehydrated in pregnancy can cause a mom to faint or have preterm contractions. Iced tea can feel amazing on those hot summer days, but iced tea can have as much caffeine as soda and make you more dehydrated. So, put some water bottles in the freezer and take a few cold ones with you before you head out for the day!

Gym, TAN, laundry: Well, forget the gym/laundry part, but some sun in pregnancy is beneficial! Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women, even when women live in sun-filled areas. Being deficient in Vitamin D can contribute to preeclampsia, low birth weight and having a baby with fragile bones. For a light-skinned person, getting full-body exposure in peak summer sun for only 10-15 minutes will release 20,000 IU of vitamin D into circulation. Vitamin D also increases your absorption of calcium, which your baby loves to steal from you. Catch some rays for a healthy pregnancy and get your glow on, but don’t forget the SPF!

Cant.Move.Too.Hot: While it is nice to get some summer sun, it’s important to use your own common sense to know when it’s time to chill out, literally. Normally, your body can self-regulate its temperature by expelling heat when the core temperature rises higher than 98.6⁰F. However, when the temperature outside is warmer than your core temperature and the humidity is over 75%, it’s a lot harder for the body to release its own heat into the environment. This can result in your core temperature rising, just like it does when you have a fever. In the 1^st trimester, having a core temperature of over 102⁰F can increase your baby’s risk of being born with a neural tube defect, like spina bifida. Rising internal temperatures can also cause heat exhaustion or even heat stroke when core temperature reaches 104⁰F. Symptoms to watch out for are rapid breathing, nausea/vomiting, headache, fatigue, dizziness and an abnormal mental status (i.e- confusion or hallucinations).

Ways to prevent heat-related illness are restricting exercise, staying in the shade or air-conditioned locales, hydrating, and wearing light loose-fitting clothing. If you find you cannot cool yourself down, and you start to experience symptoms, you should call your doctor or get medical assistance. Occasionally, it is too hot outside and not completely safe for anyone. Even though this may mean watching family BBQ’s from the inside this summer, your baby will thank you for chilling out!

Listeria Hysteria: Personally, my favorite part of summer BBQ’s is all the MEAT – hot dogs, hamburgers etc. However, undercooked meat can contain a parasite called toxoplasma gondii. Additionally, hot dogs could be contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes causes Listeriosis , which is more likely to occur in pregnant women due to their decreased immune systems. Although the risk of actually having the listeriosis infection are very low, pregnant women can avoid exposure by eating food as soon as it is prepared (a great excuse to jump the line!), re-heating until food like hot dogs and cold cuts are steaming, and washing raw veggies. Food to totally avoid, unfortunately, are soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk (like feta and Brie- I know, so sad), raw/smoked seafood (i.e-sushi or smoked salmon), and pate. Listeriosis in pregnancy can increase one’s risk of having a preterm delivery, miscarriage or stillbirth. The newborn infant can also be born with the infection as well. Check out our Listeriosis fact sheet for more info: http://www.otispregnancy.org/files/listeriosis.pdf.

One nice cold beer won’t hurt, right? Wrong.: With all these summer events outdoors, it seems like everyone has got a nice coldie in their hand. Thanks to some fancy cans, you can even see how cold the beer is by how blue the mountains are. Great. This can make drinking so much more tempting, but, remember, there is no safe threshold for drinking in pregnancy. You can hold the cold beer up to your forehead, but if you drink it at any time during pregnancy, you may be doing permanent damage to your baby. See our Alcohol fact sheet for more information: http://www.otispregnancy.org/files/alcohol.pdf. Even the non-alcoholic beers have some alcohol in them, so sit back with some cold sparkling juice and know that you are doing two great things at once: cooling down and contributing to a healthy life for your baby.

Now that you know the tips for having a healthy pregnancy this summer, enjoy the beautiful weather, time with family, friends, and good eats! Now that doesn’t sound so cruel after all!

**Nadia Mohamedi is a teratogen information specialist and also serves as a research assistant/interviewer for OTIS studies in San Diego, CA. She holds a BA in neurobiology and a minor in psychology from Harvard College. In addition to her work with OTIS, Nadia has worked for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program at McLean Hospital as well as served as a teacher’s assistant at a school for children with disabilities in Lima, Peru.

OTIS is a North American non-profit dedicated to providing accurate evidence-based information about exposures during pregnancy and lactation. Questions or concerns about medications and other exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding can be directed to OTIS counselors at (866) 626-OTIS (6847) or online at OTISPregnancy.org.**

References:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2662811/hottest_months_of_the_year_in_the_us.html

Haddad, J. G., Matsuoka, L. Y., Hollis, B. W., Hu, Y. Z. & Wortsman, J. (1993) Human plasma transport of vitamin D after its endogenous synthesis. J. Clin. Invest. 91:2552-2555

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Tips on How to Budget for an Affordable Family Vacation

Summer is the time for vacations, whether it’s visiting family or just getting away for a weekend. The only problem: vacations can be expensive, from gas for the car to flights, hotels, and every meal at a restaurant.

Chicago Healers Practitioner Julie Casserly, MBA urges vacationers to “Position yourself to be lucky to spend the amount of money you actually have for a vacation, instead of going into debt and later on having to pay for past choices. No one likes having what I call a ‘spending hangover;’ it takes all the fun out of going on vacation in the first place.”

Last Minute Deals – In a world where there are so many things to do, most of the travel websites will have last minute trips at a deep discount, particularly in economic environment. Decide a budget and search online for an all-inclusive trip for the long weekend that falls into that number. The exciting part is that you are leaving yourself open to trying a new adventure or a new place.
Look At The End, First - Decide priorities for a vacation and what amount to spend, and then build a plan out from there.
Choose the Day – Choose to travel on cheaper air fare days, say Tuesday – Saturday
Name Your Price – Rent a car, hotel, or airfare through priceline.com where customers can name a price. Sometimes it can be 30% less expensive.
Pack the Snacks – If a road trip in the works, pack a cooler!!! No need to spend extra money on those high cost, high calorie snacks and fast food meals.
One Stop Shopping – Buy in bulk; get airfare, hotel, and car from one vendor.
Locals Know Best – Interact with the locals to learn the best restaurants and tours, where the prices won’t be spiked just for tourists.
Set the Plan and Open an Account – Plan for future trips: set financial intentions by opening up a separate savings account that is ONLY to be used for vacations. Set a plan for how much to spend each year on vacations and be sure to put aside an appropriate amount per paycheck that will allow for this later in the year.

Casserly explains further saying “It’s all about what free cash you have to be able to afford a vacation and about what is right for you and your family, there is no right or wrong, it’s about what you have chosen as your financial priorities and making sure that you create a positive energy flow from your spending (spending on a cash basis) and not a negative energy flow (spending with debt).”

About ChicagoHealers.com
Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy. Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website. With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications. For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

5 Tips For Using Up Your Gift Card Balance

If the answer to the question "What's in your wallet?" includes gift cards with a useless balance -- say $2.34 -- you'll be pleased to hear about a bill passed May 25 by the Oregon legislature. Fed up with the serious amount of unused plastic in their wallets, house members voted to require businesses let customers exchange their gift cards for cash, if the balance is under $5.

According to The Oregonian, the state's citizens are presently encumbered with $100 million worth of unredeemed gift cards.

It may not be long before other states follow suit but, until then, here are five ways to deal with pesky balances on those glorified plastic coupons.

1. Know The Balance
This is easier than it sounds. Check your gift card balance to determine if your balance is $2.50 or $25. GiftcardGranny.com, which also allows you to buy and sell discount gift cards, offers a simple method of checking your balance for more than 300 merchants. You could also call the retailer's 1-800 number, but this method could mean a lot of time spent on hold.

Some cards require you to register your card to check your balance, but this can be useful if that piece of plastic is lost or stolen.

2. Keep Track of the Balance
Some gift cards have a little box on the back where you can note your remaining balance. If your card doesn't have one of these, write the total amount on a sticky note and wrap it around the card.

3. Add to the Balance
Amazon and Walmart allow you to add any increment to a gift card, so if the balance is $2.95 and you want to make an online purchase, calculate the total cost at checkout then go back and buy a gift card for the remaining amount. With any luck, this policy will catch on with other merchants and services.

4. Know a Merchant's Policies
Some stores allow card holders to pay for purchases in multiple ways, so you can empty the card and fork over cash or use a credit card to complete the transaction. You'll also want to check whether a store takes less-frequently accepted gift cards, such as Discover and American Express.

5. Know Your Spending Habits
Will you likely spend $50 at a store and never visit again? Then purchase a card with a $50 balance and avoid a dangling balance. Merchants with whom you shop more frequently, such as grocery stores, may call for a $100 gift card, since you know you'll use up the balance. Keep in mind you can buy discount cards for less than the face value, which can save you anywhere from 15% to 50%.

### Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "5 Tips For Using Up Your Gift Card Balance" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured as a media expert source on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or find more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

More Dads Than Moms Feel Their Job Interferes With Their Ability to Be a Good Parent - Care.com

Perhaps this Father's Day (Sunday, June 19), we should give dads a break rather than a new tie. According to a new national survey commissioned by Care.com (http://www.care.com), one third (33 percent) of working fathers (compared to 15 percent of working mothers) believe that the demands of their jobs interfere with their ability to be good fathers.

Care.com, the premier source of trustworthy family care options, including profiles of hundreds of thousands of babysitters, nannies, and senior caregivers, found in its survey that nearly half (48 percent) of working parents with children younger than 12 agree that choosing to spend more time with the family can impact their professional development.

The survey also revealed that nearly half (48 percent) of working parents with children younger than 12 agree that choosing to spend more time with the family can impact their professional development.

While seventy percent of employed people reveal that daily distractions prevent them from getting work done during the workday, three in ten (30 percent) of working parents with children under 12 years old are often distracted at work by a childcare issue, such as a sick child.

"We were surprised to learn that fathers are twice as likely as mothers to feel that the demands of their jobs are interfering with their ability to be good parents," said Sheila Marcelo, Founder and CEO of Care.com. "More parents today – men and women - feel the demands of work enter into their personal lives, and that's creating a great deal of anxiety. We believe that employers need to address these sentiments, and provide solutions to decrease distractions, in order to maintain focus among the workforce."

This report presents the findings of two telephone surveys conducted among a national probability sample of 2,018 adults, men and women 18 years of age and older. Interviewing for this CARAVAN®survey was completed by ORC International during the period of May 5-9, 2011.

About Care.com, Inc.

Founded in 2006, Care.com is the largest and fastest growing service used by families to find high-quality caregivers, providing a trusted place to easily connect, share caregiving experiences and get advice. The company addresses the unique lifecycle of care needs that each family goes through-child care, special needs care, tutoring and lessons, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. The service helps families find and select the best care available based on detailed profiles, background checks and references for hundreds of thousands of mom-reviewed and pre-screened providers who seek to share their services. Through its Care.com Employer Program, corporations can offer Care.com memberships as a benefit to employees. www.care.com.