Lily’s Story

I had Max, my Shih-Tzu/Maltese mix, for almost 16 years when he passed away. Life felt empty without him following me around the house, barking at people walking down the street, even sleeping next to me on the bed. I was sad.

Initially, I thought I would wait quite a while before getting another dog. Then I thought about what I had with Max. We had bonded. It was then I realized that my love for Max didn’t end when he took his last breath. It was still very much alive and there were thousands of other dogs who deserved loving homes. I wasn’t replacing Max by getting another dog. I was spreading the joy and love he brought into my life.

I decided to get another dog about three weeks after Max passed. I wanted a rescue. As I scanned Petfinder for my new dog, I came across a two-year-old red-headed Sheltie mix named Foxy. She had been rescued by a woman who found her in a shelter, pregnant, and about to be euthanized. The woman had taken her into foster care, helped Foxy have her puppies, and now Foxy was ready for a forever home.

Two weeks later, Foxy rode a pet transport up the East Coast with other dogs who had found families in New England. She was home. The first thing I noticed was she had energy. Compared to Max, who had slowed down considerably in his last few years, Foxy was ready to power a city with all her extra energy!

That first weekend we must have gone on 10 or 12 walks just trying to get her to calm down. One of my friends who had owned a string of Shelties told me she would settle in. She was right. Foxy settled into a routine, but still needed hours of attention playing ball, taking walks–it was as if she was making up for lost time. Pretty soon, it became clear Foxy needed a friend.

Going back to Petfinder’s website, I spotted Murphy, also at a Tennessee rescue. He was blonde, naturally bob-tailed, and I fell in love. Murphy traveled north on the pet transport soon thereafter.

To say Murphy is unique is an understatement. He has scraggly teeth, a slightly under-slung jaw, the ears of a terrier, a blue and pink tongue, and, as the vet said, resembles an ottoman with legs. He also has a heart of gold. He and Foxy have been fast friends ever since they laid eyes on each other that February day four years ago.

Max had been paper-trained, which was convenient for me. I didn’t have to worry about rushing home to take him outside if I was a bit late coming home from work; he would just go on the newspaper we put down.

I had the idea we could train our new dogs the same way. Instead of using newspaper, I would going to buy wee wee pads, which seemed more sanitary with their plastic backing. At first, Foxy and Murphy had other ideas about using the pads–they rarely went on them, preferring to hold it until I got home. Had they been puppies when we adopted them–like Max was–they may have taken to the pads earlier. But I eventually won the battle!

Murphy definitely needed some assistance in the dental department. His teeth were atrocious! Brushing was impossible. Then I saw some Greenies for dogs at the pet supply. “Are Greenies good for dogs?” I wondered, as I looked over the ingredients. As a stop-gap measure–until he would let me actually brush his teeth–I decided to buy a bag. He gobbled it up and wanted more. Murphy loves to eat–anything.

Would I recommend getting a rescue dog instead of buying a dog from a breeder? Absolutely! I am so glad I could save an animal from being euthanized. And the costs were reasonable, especially when the puppy was brought to me. The adoption fee was about $400 each, including transportation, spay and neuter, shots, and a vet check. That was all done before they came home.

Foxy and Murphy are the most loving dogs I have ever met. Foxy loves to sit on my lap, give hugs, and have me kiss the top of her head. I cannot figure out why she ended up in a shelter! Murphy, who turned out to be a Shih Tzu/Australian Shepherd, or “Shihtzulian Shepherd” as I call him, is a natural clown, a dog’s dog who is enjoying the good life. Max would be proud!

Photo by jjgwarren

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Every time I think of the stress that accompanies finding the perfect wedding invitations and making sure they show up on time and without error, I think of an episode of Gilmore Girls. Granted, I can very well compare most of life’s events to an episode of Gilmore Girls because I am one of those obnoxious fan types, but bear with me here. In this particular episode, Sookie’s wedding invitations arrive at the inn she works at with Lorelai. When Lorelai brings them into the kitchen, Sookie immediately begins to rip open the box, eager to see them while excitedly telling Lorelai how they are pearly white with a beautiful lavender stripe and how she is going to love them. When she sees them, however, her name is misspelled, so it reads that “Susie St. James” is getting married. Sookie’s immediate reaction is to declare “I’m gonna choke somebody by the neck until brains ooze out of their ears.” When she calls the company’s customer service line, she goes completely ballistic, saying “How dare you do this to me! You’re ruining my wedding! It’s the most important day of my life! It’s my life, it’s not Susie St. James, are you listening to me?”

Yeah, that is a whole lot of stress and something no one wants to have to go through, especially when there is practically no time in between the time your wedding invitations arrive and when they need to be sent out to guests.

Avoiding a spelling error is just one of the benefits I see in personalizing your own wedding stationery online. Another great benefit of the right online retailer is the variety. Not everyone is looking for the standard, conventional wedding invitation that can be seen featured by traditional wedding supply retailers, so the fact that online retailers have a mix of classy and contemporary, out-of-the-box styles is only a good thing. Of course, finding the right online retailer can be a challenge.

Hello!Lucky has an awesome selection of unique and memorable cards and stationary for all occasions, especially for weddings, and include save-the-date cards and invitations to your big day. They also carry RSVP cards, place cards for your tables, menu cards, and more.

What I was really happy to see on their website is that Hello!Lucky offers 3 free samples of their invitations. Buying anything online also comes with a certain bargain, one that no bride-to-be is willing to make when it comes to the specifics of her wedding day. You want to know exactly what you are getting, and the fact that you can receive 3 separate samples of stationary to ensure the quality meets your standards is really great.

All of Hello!Lucky’s cards and invitations are customizable, but it’s often difficult to know how to start. For this reason, Hello!Lucky also has a wide range of wedding invitation wording examples regardless of how formal or informal your event is. You can use these examples on your invitations or simply use them as a jumping off point and inspiration for your own words.

If you’re looking for wedding stationary or even greeting cards, birth announcements, birthday cards, thank you cards, or more, check out Hello!Lucky and don’t forget to come back here and tell us what your favorite designs are!

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Teachers and Other Caring Adults

My son had a fabulous student government teacher that believes high school is about more than algebra and college application essays. He believes that high school teachers can, and should, teach students lessons in integrity, service, and community involvement. Instead of asking continually for donations and pledges from community business owners, he constantly looks for opportunities for the students to serve the community.

Students are expected to complete at least 30 hours of community service on their own. Additionally, they complete several service projects every year as a group. The highlight of the year is the Make a Wish fundraiser in connection with Homecoming. Last fall, students hosted a barbecue and concert that raised over $2,000 so a child in the community who has leukemia could go with her family to Disney World.

But not every service should be highly visible or rewarded with praise. After we have bad weather, this teacher texts his student government students and issues an assignment: find a neighbor who needs some help and help clean up their yard.

This attitude of service has become so ingrained in my son that he doesn’t wait for a text from his teacher anymore. Bad weather or a snowy day means more than just a day to sleep in. He’s up and putting on his boots and gloves without any reminders.

This is just one example of how children’s lives have been blessed by caring adults. My neighbor hires my son to care for his pets when he goes on vacation, and doesn’t shrink from teaching opportunities. The first time my son watched the dogs, he did a less than stellar job and my neighbor kindly told him so. He hired him again, though, and my son improved, learning how to care for dogs and use training puppy pads on days when it was hard to take them out. My neighbor rewarded him with positive encouragement and a nice payment. Lesson learned. Later on he even taught him more about taking care of his dogs, including dog dental care. I hope that made an impression on my son, who thinks very little about his own oral hygiene!

Family and Community

Extended family members are a great resource for teaching kids lessons in character. We don’t have extended family close by, though, so I’ve had to create an extended family for my kids in my own community. Here’s a few of the ways we’ve found to create an “extended family” for our kids:

• Join a community church and become involved in youth activities.
• Get to know neighbors. We hold annual events, such as a Labor Day picnic, but the real bonding moments are every day happenings. We frequently sit on our neighbor’s porch visiting or inviting them to dinner. When my neighbor’s pipes froze, every person on the block was there with buckets, shop vacs, and towels. These types of activities unite a neighborhood, form strong bonds, and leave a lasting impression on kids. As P.D. James said, “What a child doesn’t receive, he can seldom give later.” Early opportunities to serve set a foundation for later community involvement.
• Regularly visit a senior citizen center. Most kids today are alienated from the older generation. We visit the local senior’s center to sing songs, help with a craft, or provide a meal. The kids were apprehensive at first, but they’ve learned to appreciate the stories and wisdom of their elders.
• Form friendships with people outside your regular circle. Most of my friends are people who I share similar interests with, but kids need to become acquainted with people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and walks of life. I have a dear friend who is a widow that we regularly have dinner with. When my dog died, she was the first one at my door with a potted plant and a hug.

Photo by MZM-Photo

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Vincent had energy like I had never seen before; he climbed up curtains, scratched our furniture obsessively, was afraid of the lid on his litter box, and would urinate where he slept, whether it was on a particular spot on the floor, on towels and blankets, on the furniture, or in our bed. I just about lost my mind cleaning up after him, but it did lead me to develop my own all-natural cleaner through a process of trial and error as I experimented with ingredients and found what worked best for cat messes and odors. I also drove myself a little batty as I attempted to figure out why he was acting like he had been possessed by gremlins that were fed after midnight. Much to my relief, he calmed down a bit after being neutered and continued to wind down as he got older, but the occasional urine marking and scratching remained.

A cat’s nature and instincts are numerous and sometimes difficult to pin down or understand. In our minds, a little thing like moving furniture around in one room is insignificant, but to a cat it can be a major trigger for stress. It is this mindset that gave me a ray of hope for Vincent and his bad behavior, especially when I was being asked by several people why I didn’t attempt to find him a new home. Cats can’t help what it is in their nature to do, but there is a product out there that works with their instincts to alleviate bad behavior.

Comfort Zone is a line of spray and plug-in diffuser products for cats and dogs that mimic the pheromones secreted by these animals that mark areas as safe and familiar.

I have been using the Comfort Zone with Feliway plug-in diffuser for cats over the past few months in my home office, where the cats spend most of their time and where we have had the most occurrences of Vincent spraying. For the first month, nothing changed. Not a damn thing. It was as if I hadn’t plugged in the diffuser in the first place and I frequently wondered if it was actually “working.” On a few occasions, while on my hands and knees scrubbing yet another mess up off my carpet, I muttered that I was glad I had been fortunate enough to receive the diffuser and refills as a review product and hadn’t spent the $50+ on it. I was beyond frustrated, but as the next month rolled around, I changed the Comfort Zone with Feliway refill and yet again waited for something to change. And it did, eventually.

In total, it took nearly two full months of having Comfort Zone with Feliway present in my office for Vincent to cease any and all spray marking and he has only exhibited scratching on my desk chair and only when he is demanding my attention–he has always been a very needy little guy who is adamant on laying on you and being pet. I have not had to clean up even one Vincent-related mess in over a month, and that has been such a tremendous relief!

In February, my partner and I are moving into a new house. This move will undoubtedly trigger both of our beloved cats and under any other circumstances, I would have already begun to stress out about what I will be put through at the paws of my cats by putting them through the stress of a big move. Fortunately for me, I know I have a tried and tested ally in Comfort Zone with Feliway and you better believe I will have diffusers plugged in at the new house to help make the disruption in their routines just a little more pleasant and a lot less messy.

Comfort Zone products are clinically proven to be effective against most, if not all bad pet behaviors, including scratching, spraying and urinating, adaptation behavior, traveling, and general stressful situations including unfamiliar environments. Comfort Zone products include plug-in diffusers and sprays for both cats and dogs and can be purchased at your local pet retailers or any trusted online distributor.

I received a Comfort Zone with Feliway product for review. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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“The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic.”
-Henry Warren

When I was a child, I put “puppy, kitten and small zoo” on every birthday and Christmas list I ever made. Children love animals, and many of them spend months and even years pleading with their parent for a pet. For their part, parents are often unconvinced that their children will be able to properly care for a pet. Choosing the right pet for your child can be challenging, and the truth is that there’s no universal perfect pet. Instead, it’s important to take into account your child’s age, responsibility level, and unique personality. There are good pet choices for almost every child, and here are five of the best.

Small Furry Animals

Small animals like guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits are popular classroom pets. because they are inexpensive, many parents assume that they are great pets for children. These animals can make wonderful pets for children who can’t care for dogs and want a furry pet. They are also ideal choices for kids who love dogs and cats but suffer from allergies. But small animals aren’t without problems. These animals are generally best for older children who can play gently. Small animals also require weekly cage cleanings and annual veterinary care.

Dogs

Dogs are the classic pets of childhood, and for good reason. Dogs provide unconditional love, can teach children responsibility, and can even protect your child in an emergency. Dogs require supplies which can include a crate, potty pads for dogs, toys, treats such as Greenies dog chews and an assortment of collars and leashes. A dog, then, is only a good pet for a child when the parent also likes dogs. No child is responsible enough to provide all of the care a dog needs, and dogs also require veterinary care and the proper food. If you’re considering getting a dog for your child, the dog should be a project for the entire family. When dogs are family pets, they can substantially enrich life, but a dog left to the care of a child will be an unhappy dog.

Cats

Cats can make excellent substitutes for dogs if you’re unable to provide daily walks and training sessions. Cats adopted as kittens will bond strongly to their owners and are generally friendly with children. Although they are generally less expensive than dogs, cats require annual veterinary care as well as spay and neuter costs. Cats are also unlikely to respond to training and are generally uninterested in long play sessions with children. These animals make good pets for children who want an animal they can occasionally cuddle but who don’t need a permanent best friend.

Reptiles

Reptiles are frequently overlooked as pets for children. Parents’ unease with slithery animals may cause them to preclude these animals as potential pets. However, reptiles can make excellent pets for older children. They require minimal care and, although they can bond with their owners, do not require daily love and attention. Reptiles are ideal pets if you’re not terribly interested in spending a lot of time with your child’s pet, and if your child is old enough to properly handle her reptile. Generally speaking, reptiles are not good choices for children under 10.

Exotic Pets

Exotic pets include a diverse array of animals including sugar gliders and chinchillas. These animals are excellent substitutes for dogs because they bond strongly with their owners and are highly intelligent. Much like dogs, however, these pets should be taken on as a family project because they require daily care. Even very young children can learn to properly handle small exotic pets as long as they receive careful adult supervision.

When contemplating getting a pet for your child, remember that you’re getting a pet for yourself too. If your child is unable to care for the animal, responsibility will fall to you, so choose an animal with whom you are comfortable. Pets can bring lots of love into a family and provide valuable opportunities to spend time together training, playing, and caring for your pet. If you treat your pet as part of the family, you’ll have years of happiness and fun times together to look forward to.

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The good news is that you can sit back and relax. It’s time to cut to the chase with the top three tips that you can use today to have a healthy, safe, and happy pregnancy before you welcome your bundle of joy into the world:

Consider your dental hygiene. When you’re pregnant, the last thing on your list may be making a dental appointment. But due to higher levels of progesterone and hormone changes during pregnancy, it can promote increased bacterial growth on your teeth. Basically, your gums will be much more susceptible to infection and inflammation, which leads to gingivitis. And when you add to that strange cravings for brownies, lemons, and pickles, your teeth may be pretty out of whack. Do yourself a favor and check in with your dentist several times during pregnancy to prevent any unnecessary infection that could spread to your baby.

Think before you eat. FYI, the whole “eating for two” concept is actually a myth. For many pregnant women, this may be terrible news. But when you think more about what you eat, you’ll feel better and improve your energy levels day by day. All you really need are 300 extra calories a day to compensate for your baby. According to MSNBC, your baby requires 55,000 calories from conception to birth–that’s it! And contrary to popular belief, there’s no reason to load up on calories in your first trimester. Begin to eat more healthy foods and proteins in your second and third trimester to compensate.

Have a glass of wine. Yes, you read that correctly! Drinking wine on occasion won’t pose any risk to your baby, and it may even have the opposite effect, according to research from the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. The study showed that pregnant women who drank one to two glasses of wine a week actually had better behaved children than women who abstained from alcohol altogether. Of course, heavy drinking poses behavioral and emotional risks to your baby, but sticking to a few drinks a week under the supervision of your doctor is perfectly fine.

Photo by Veritas Supermercados

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Baby’s first Christmas is one of those things that is a rite of passage in your parenting life span. There are so many wonderful milestones to look forward to and embrace along your journey. The first Christmas is however one of the most meaningful along the way.

This is a time that’s all about creating lasting memories and inventing new traditions. The irony in all of this, however, is that baby won’t remember a thing! Knowing this, how can you still make the season bright for Baby and create memories she can look at later through pictures, Christmas cards and other mementos?

Pick a Theme

We did this for my daughter’s first Christmas and carried the tradition over into my son’s as well. We picked a classic Christmas theme such as snowmen or angels and then geared all of their special trinkets around that.

In my daughter’s case, we choose angels and bought her an angel ornament that first special year. We have since carried this through and get an angel ornament for the tree in her honor each and every year.

This idea can carry over into the outfit that Baby wears or even in the Christmas cards that you pick. It’s just a fun way of marking the occasion of your child’s first Christmas.

Celebrate the Season

When you become a parent you are instantly introduced to all of the fun Christmas events around town for kids. I found a great breakfast with Santa and a local Christmas parade that we took our daughter to the first year. She may not have understood what was happening the first year, but this became the backbone for an excellent family tradition.

We still attend these local events years later, as we have incorporated them as a fun family tradition. We knew that as our little one got older she’d love to be involved in these types of Christmas events, and so the first year presented the right opportunity. It has been such fun to see how she has evolved through the years and has really come to embrace a tradition that started when she was tiny.

Show the Growth

We all like to see how our baby grows through time. Celebrate baby’s first Christmas by snapping a photo of her sitting next to a festive stuffed animal in the house or in a photographer studio. Keep this special stuffed animal only for this picture each year and mark the occasion with it.

The point here is that just as you would use some creativity to come up with ideas for a birthday party, you want to use that same thought process in developing fun little traditions based on baby’s first Christmas. This gives you something fun to celebrate with them now and something fun to look forward to each year.

You’re going to take a picture of baby that first year for the family Christmas card anyway. If you put the thought into it you can show your child’s growth by using a festive stuffed animal as the measure. Have her hold the animal each year while you snap a pic. This is so easy to put together, costs you next to nothing, and yet is a great way to kick off years of fun Christmas photos starring your little one.

Baby’s first Christmas is an amazing occasion and one to really enjoy every moment of. It’s all about creating new traditions that can be savored that first year and well beyond. This is a wonderful time for you as a parent. So use a bit of creativity and you’ll quickly see how this will be your best Christmas yet.

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In most homes, the Thanksgiving table is set to look as good as the meal being put on it. The good china and silver comes out, there’s a centerpiece, candles, or candles incorporated into a centerpiece, and if your gathering is large enough, sometimes there are even name tags accompanying each setting. If you’re still stumped on what to add to your Thanksgiving table this year and need some inspiration, here are some stunning pictures of Thanksgiving table settings all found on Pinterest.

And now for some kids tables…

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If you find yourself in the same predicament, or even if you’re just a little bit curious about how to induce labor naturally, superstitions surrounding labor and delivery are worth exploring. More and more expectant mothers are considering these alternative methods, according to a recent study from Ohio State University. Roughly 50% of mamas who are 37 weeks pregnant have tried different superstitious methods to stimulate labor, including masturbation, sex, and eating spicy food.

The good news is that none of the above methods are harmful, so many pregnant ladies think why not? To break it down for you, here’s the 411 on the most common old wives tales used to induce labor:

1. Castor Oil: One of the most famous old wives tales surrounding labor is drinking castor oil to get that baby moving. Castor oil releases prostaglandins, a chemical known to stimulate contractions. Still, castor oil isn’t the most pleasant remedy. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or both, which may put unnecessary stress on your body before labor.
2. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a fairly successful method used to induce labor, potentially within only 48 hours of treatment. The good news is that acupuncture is safe and relaxing and will only stimulate labor if your body is ready. Acupuncture works to cleanse energy blockages in your body to prepare your body for labor at the right time.
3. Spicy Food: If only it were that easy… Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that eating spicy food will trigger labor, but if you can handle a little extra salsa on your tacos, then go for it. But keep in mind that overdoing it on spicy foods could actually cause heartburn instead of triggering labor.

For many women, they believe that Murphy’s Law is the best method to induce labor. Meaning, don’t shave your legs–or your lady parts–and that will be the time that you’re bound to go into labor. Whatever method you decide to use to induce labor and get that baby moving, remember to stay relaxed (as much as you can) and try to enjoy the ride!

Photo by holding graz

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Prenatal massage is an excellent way for a pregnant woman to relax, unwind, and relieve stress safely and naturally.

Here are some of the top reasons to enjoy a prenatal massage today:

• Reduce Anxiety: Studies have confirmed that regular massage treatments throughout pregnancy can help to reduce anxiety and even alleviate depression. Most prenatal massage is done through the lighter therapy of Swedish massage, which helps to relax tension in the muscles and improve circulation using mild pressure applied to the muscles. Swedish massage is the recommended form of prenatal massage since it will help to alleviate discomfort without causing any harm to the baby.
• Relieve Muscle Cramps: For any pregnant women suffering from muscle cramps, spasms, and lower back pain as a result of carrying around extra weight, prenatal massage may be the answer. Prenatal massage is safer and much more effective than taking over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain. This will help a pregnant mom to feel more balanced and serene to improve her overall health. The act of relieving physical stress during pregnancy is a powerful tool to relieve emotional stress at the same time. This pain relief can work hand-in-hand to reduce even more stress and anxiety that a pregnant mom may be carrying around without knowing it.
• Reduce Swelling: If a pregnant mom is struggling with swelling of her joints later on in pregnancy, this is often a result of reduced circulation that occurs when the uterus places pressure on major blood vessels. Regular prenatal massage will help to stimulate soft tissue and reduce accumulated fluid to ease swelling. This will help to flush toxic waste from the body and aid in hydration.

Women who enjoy prenatal massage can greatly improve their circulation to relieve minor aches and pains, like headaches. If a woman is having difficulty sleeping at night, a prenatal massage can often help to put her body back into balance so that she sleeps more deeply to get the rest that she and her baby need.

Prior to considering prenatal massage, make sure that you work with a licensed prenatal massage therapist. It’s also important to discuss with your doctor beforehand to ensure that you are a candidate for prenatal massage.

Photo by vincentmeloche1

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Can you imagine anything more disheartening than spending the first week of your life as a Mrs. stuck inside of your hotel room because of bad weather? Yes, many brides-to-be get excited about planning their honeymoons and put careful thought into every painstaking detail…except the weather.

This is not to say that you have any control over Mother Nature. But there is a little thing called the Internet that will help you to do some preemptive planning to choose a honeymoon locale that is likely to be beautiful the month that you get married. Don’t forget to do your homework and check out the average weather conditions before traveling on your honeymoon!

A vacation destination’s busy season is normally the time of the year that the area has the best weather. It only makes sense! Some locations like the Caribbean and Hawaii don’t have dramatic weather changes throughout the year, making it easier to visit these locales throughout all of the seasons besides just the summer months.

You can check out the weather details about a specific destination online or even call the country’s tourism board to confirm. Make sure to check the weather forecast before traveling, just in case a tropical storm is set to hit the day you arrive.

You can also use the helpful guide below to find exotic honeymoon locations that normally have great weather in the following months:

• January through March: In winter and early spring, it’s best to visit the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada (for skiing), the Caribbean, New Zealand, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii.
• April through June: In late spring and early summer, check out the Bahamas, Canada, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Hawaii, Thailand, and even South Africa.
• July through September: As the summer wraps up, this is perhaps the most popular season for taking a honeymoon. Most of the world is your oyster, but check out popular destinations like Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Central Africa, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Thailand, and the US.
• October through December: This is an excellent time of year to check out the US and Canada for skiing, the Caribbean, Mexico, New Zealand, and the Florida Keys.

By doing your homework before jet setting off to your honeymoon, you can ensure that you enjoy every moment of your new marital bliss to the fullest. That doesn’t mean that you can’t visit other locations outside of the guidelines above, but make sure that you are vacationing in a country where the weather conditions match the style of honeymoon that you have booked.

If you want to go skiing, check that there is ample snowfall in advance. If you want to sip margaritas and lay on the beach all day long, then look for a country with warm weather and sunshine for most of the year.

Photo by IDEE_PER_VIAGGIARE

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• Have a realistic attitude about sleep. Sleeping isn’t a habit that you can force your baby into. Instead, it helps to create a secure environment that will help your baby to naturally fall asleep. Sleep should be a pleasant and secure state for your baby. Many sleep issues in children and adults start out as babies who have an unhealthy relationship with sleep due to anxiety or distractions.
• Try to remain flexible. Not every sleeping tip will work with every baby all of the time. But don’t give up hope just yet! If one method of sleep training isn’t working, then move on to another to see what works best for your baby.
• Find out where your baby sleeps the best. Some babies may sleep better in a crib in your bedroom, while other babies may do well in their own nursery. Try to tune into your baby’s needs to find out where he sleeps most comfortably.
• Start using sleep associations. The way that a baby falls asleep at night is the way that he will expect to fall asleep again when he wakes up in the middle of the night. If you rock your baby to sleep, he will need to be rocked back to sleep when he wakes up at night.
• Keep your baby peaceful all day long. If you hold and soothe your baby all day long, this peacefulness is likely to carry on into the night for a restful night of sleep.
• Use consistent nap times. Pick convenient times of day for consistent nap times for both you and your baby, like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This will give you the opportunity to catch up on rest as your baby naps.
• Use a consistent bedtime routine. It is important to put your baby to bed consistently each night with a warm bath, lullaby, or by reading a book so that he will begin to expect to fall asleep.
• Use natural calming methods. The simple act of giving a baby a warm bath before bed will relax his muscles and his mind so that he easily falls asleep.
• Keep your baby active in the daytime. Once your baby learns that daytime is for activity, he will be more likely to fall asleep at night.
• Nurse your baby to sleep. After a warm bath, a warm bottle of milk or breastfeeding will help your baby to naturally drift off to sleep.

Photo by And3rei

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Don’t let the baby naming blues get you down! Whether you are totally stumped or just can’t come to a compromise with your spouse, here are a few tips that you can use to pick out the perfect name for your bundle of joy well before he or she born:

• What is your baby naming style? This could be where you and your spouse fall into a disagreement. Perhaps you are a traditional namer who likes Michael or Jessica. Your spouse, on the other hand, maybe a trendy namer who prefers newly popular names like Leonardo or Harper. Try to come to a compromise between the two by choosing a unique, classic name that you both can agree upon.
• Consider a gender-neutral name. If you are waiting to find out the sex of your baby until it’s born, why not consider a gender-neutral name for either sex? A gender-neutral name can be strong and unique and work for a boy or a girl. Examples include Robin, Evan, Ashley, or Reese.
• Think about your inspiration. Many people are happy to name their baby after a beloved family member, like a grandmother who has passed away. Or perhaps your religion can inspire you to name your child after a saint or after a character in the Bible. Baby names are often much more meaningful if they have inspiration behind them.
• Think twice about nicknames. Today, there are no rules when it comes to baby names. Many people choose a longer name specifically for its nickname, like Ben for Benjamin. But who says you have to name your baby a longer name first? More and more couples today are naming their baby a nickname instead of a longer name that will be shortened later. Examples include Bo, Jess, Jodi, or Katy. Think outside of the box and don’t be constrained to a longer, traditional name when you could use a shorter version instead.
• Consider an unconventional name. If you keep going back and forth between old favorites like Jennifer and Alexander, consider an unconventional name instead. It may be difficult for people to pronounce or understand an unusual name at first, but unusual names are easier to remember. Why not name your baby Ireland, Althea, Griffin, or even Selma?

Photo by ElisaVarelaT

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See a collection of images gathered from Pinterest that represent fall in all of its greatness by reading more.

Going to the pumpkin patch is an activity that gets everyone totally in the mood for fall. Every year we go to Roba Family Farms where there is a great pumpkin patch, farm animals that you can pet and feed and a 5-acre corn maze.

Check out this pumpkin made out of an old book! I would love to do this, but I don’t think I would be able to part with any of my books in order to make it. My books are that precious to me.

Pumpkin butter is delicious and I found a great recipe on how to make your own slowcooker pumpkin butter at home. Put it in a mason jar and cover with fall-themed fabric and a matching piece of elastic to keep the fabric on and you’ve got yourself an awesome homemade gift!

Hurricane candle holders filled half-way with acorns (or any other fall-themed items) and a large candle makes for some gorgeous home decor for fall.

A fall wreath full of bright-colored leaves, small pumpkins and different gourds.

I really, really need to make these sweet potato cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting soon! Like, really soon! You can find the recipe for them here.

A fall bucket list full of great things for you and your family to do this year to get the most out of the season. Which of these do you plan on doing this year?

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To her helping homeless animals is a natural part of life so when she saw five little babies heading to the local animal shelter she knew right away what fate they had in store. She also knew that mommy doesn’t offer to help too many kitties and so she offered to take full responsibility if I said yes. What she saw was an opportunity to save five kittens. What I saw was an opportunity to teach!

You see animal rescue isn’t all about fun and playing with cute babies. In fact there is a huge amount of responsibility in their care, feeding, hygiene and vetting prior to adoption. Until now my 10 year old spent her involvement on the play side of rescue. Now was my opportunity to get her involved on the more demanding side, and that included helping maintain a clean, odor- and hair-free living space!

It All Begins with the Litter Box

What many cat owners may not realize is the majority of your cat odors come from the litter box. Either odors seep from the box or particles stick to your cat’s paws and fur when using the bathroom, later to be tracked all through your house. If you can properly maintain your litter box you’ll be leaps ahead of kitty odor.

But it’s not just odors we are preventing when it comes to a clean box. Failure to remove dirty litter can actually lead to diseases such as urinary tract infections. When you have five kittens this becomes five times more important!

So my daughter and I sat down and discussed the frequency it would take to ensure our home smelled clean and our cats stayed healthy. We agreed to scoop the box twice a day and a complete change out once a week. After showing her how to clean the litter box I turned the complete responsibility over to her, with a little reminder if it needed to get done.

No More Cat Hair? It’s All in the Way You Vacuum

If you’ve ever assigned vacuuming to your children then you are probably all too familiar with their haphazard approach to sweeping the floors. I am always amazed to see my children push the vacuum in a zigzag back and forth over the same spot then wrap up and claim they’re done.

This type of sweeping will never remove the fast-accumulating cat hair from these five kittens and it was important that my daughter understood that. To begin I let her vacuum her way for a week. Then at the end of the week I took a broom and “swept” up all the hair along the edges of the carpet.

She had to laugh when I showed her how much was there. After this demonstration she happily confessed that she figured since our allergy vacuum was so good it would get all the hairs by itself. Such a simplistic view I always admire.

It only took one time showing her how to make sure she covers the entire floor and the speed in which she should move the vacuum to ensure picking up as much hair as possible. After a few practice runs she was ready to take charge again and I was more than satisfied with the end result.

Lending a Hand with Odor Control

It wouldn’t be fair to put the entire burden of odor control on my daughter. After all we do have other rescues in the house that she didn’t ask to bring in. This is where part of my system comes in handy. Remember I said I have a proven system that worked? A huge portion of that is of course how I clean on a daily basis, but one portion is definitely lending a hand when those sneaky odor particles get past our efforts.

When my daughter brought home her foster kittens we had already select which air purifiers we would need to manage all the pollutants and odors that float around our home. Adding the kittens and their litter box was well within the air purifier’s capacity to clean from the air.

So that my daughter could be part of this aspect too I showed her how to monitor the purifier and determine if it needs service (we don’t use filters) and how to assess if we might want to consider adding an extra purifier to the mix.

By allowing my daughter to take responsibility and foster her first litter of kittens I not only encouraged her passion to save a life, but I also got a helper in the daily routine of controlling animal hair and odors. After all, life gets easier when you have someone to cut your chores in half!

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Pasta is such a staple in our house, as well as in the houses of most everyone else, because it is extremely budget-friendly and there are so many different things that you can do with it. We typically tend to stay on a tight budget around here and at the same time, we are pretty picky eaters who very frequently grow tired of seeing the same thing grace our dinner plates. In most cases, we don’t typically have the same thing for dinner more than once every two or three weeks; but with pasta, even if we have it twice a week, which we frequently do, it’s a totally different meal and experience each time.

One of the easiest ways to reinvent a pasta dish that has become completely boring to you and to your family is to add to it. Adding fresh spices, vegetables and different types of meat to your base sauce can really spice up your dish and make all the difference.

I was recently sent a Le Creuset saucepan from Ragu which has made our experimenting with sauces an even more enjoyable experience all around, not to mention much easier than using our very old large pot that has been on its last legs for quite some time now. Seriously, I love this thing.

And not only because it matches my tea kettle.

Check out a new video from Ragu featuring some awesome moms talking about how they spice up their pasta dishes at home:

Here are a few choice pasta dishes to try from Ragu’s selection of recipes, including the dish that was mentioned during the end of the video above! Also, every dish below are all under $2 per serving. How amazing is that?

Baked Pasta Primavera Casserole Cost per recipe: $10.32 Cost per serving: $1.72 Get the recipe »

Better for You No Boiling Baked Ziti Cost per recipe: $11.34 Cost per serving: $1.42 Get the recipe »

Easy Skillet Ravioli Cost per recipe: $5.75 Cost per serving: $0.96 Get the recipe »

Fettuccine with Chunky Feta Tomato Sauce Cost per recipe: $7.80 Cost per serving: $1.30 Get the recipe »

How do you spice up your pasta dinner dishes?

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

All pasta images via Ragu

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The source of most of our frustration with Vincent has been the litter box. He has historically been so off-and-on with using it that I could not figure out what, exactly, his problem was with it.

I first interpreted his litter box problem as spraying and marking his territory because it started when he was so young. A few weeks before he was six months old we had him neutered; what he lacked in age he made up for in weight, so having the procedure done before he was exactly six months was still completely safe. Phase one of narrowing down Vincent’s litter box problem complete.

We then started going down the list of factors that could cause cats to have this particular problem. He did not have a urinary tract infection, he had no reason to be overly stressed, the litter box was cleaned daily, and we changed litters hoping to find one that he liked more than the others. Through this process, Vincent began urinating where he was sleeping most often. Unfortunately for my partner and I, this meant our bed and any blankets we had laid down anywhere for the cats, whether on the couch, chairs, or on the floor. Needless to say, there has been a lot of cleanup needed around our apartment. My partner had seriously considered trying to find a new home for Vincent, but I got attached to him and believe strongly that if an animal is experiencing a problem that we cannot figure out, it should never mean that the animal loses its home. It should never work that way.

In the end, we found that Vincent is afraid of litter boxes that have a cover on them causing him to simply avoid the litter box. I actually found this revelation to be kind of cute, thinking that he is afraid of the dark and of venturing into a litter box he can’t assess first from the outside. By simply removing the cover of his litter box, we have not had any problems since. I wish I had thought of this before the months of frustration ensued.

So, you’re probably wondering how we removed all of Vincent’s little “accidents” up until the time we finally figured out what the problem he was having with his litter box was. Here is a little recipe for a natural cleaner to get rid of your pet’s messes and odors.

You Will Need

• Hot water
• Vinegar
• All-natural, all-purpose soap
• Baking soda

Directions

1. Fill spray bottle with hot water, two tablespoons of vinegar and a generous squirt of all-natural, all-purpose soap. Shake well.
2. Spray cleaner over area until it is soaked completely. Let cleaner set into area for about an hour while periodically soaking up excess water with a towel.
3. When area is dry, cover with baking soda and let sit. After about an hour, vacuum up the baking soda.

This has worked much better than any other pet cleaner I have ever bought, which makes me just a little ticked off that I wasted a good amount of money on cleaners that never worked half as well as this natural cleaner I made at home did!

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Ragu recently asked moms to describe what dinner is like in their house using only one word. So far, there has been a lot of response and the one word that has come up the most by far has been “chaos”. However, when it comes to dinner in my house, the one word that immediately pops into my head is togetherness.

My partner and I both work from home, so you would think that we are together so much that we’re completely sick of each other by the end of the day. You would be wrong. He is a musician while I run this here website; if you have ever heard someone play the same guitar riff or the same ten seconds of a song repeatedly for hours on end, you’ll understand why we work in separate areas of our apartment. So when dinnertime rolls around, no one is on a computer, a cell phone, no texting or checking email; it is just a time of togetherness.

Perhaps the reason why dinnertime is one of my favorite times of the day, coming in second to smelling fresh coffee brewing in the morning, is because while I do get in the kitchen and show off my skills, these skills are not so awesome, nor are the product of these “skills” always edible. So for the most part, we have an arrangement that works very well for us: my partner makes dinner and I am the designated cleaner-upper. I like this arrangement mostly because you cannot overcook, under-cook, or burn dishes, the counter, the floor, or anything else that resides in the kitchen. This is assuring to me.

Over the past year I have started experimenting in the kitchen more than I have ever in my life and I have made it a point to make meal preparation and the entire experience of a meal more fun. So with that, I am really psyched to tell you all that from now until the end of the year, I am a Ragu Mom’s the Word on Dinner ambassador. What this means for you is, well, quite a lot actually; I will be posting more here about dinnertime over the next couple of months and what dinnertime is like in my household, and Ragu will be sponsoring some awesome giveaways for you to enter to win! Ragu will also be giving me the opportunity to host in-home parties to try out some recipes made with their selection of really great sauces, in which I’ll be posting a lot of pictures of.

This new partnership is particularly awesome because I have used Ragu sauces for years. In fact, just a few days ago we had some delicious spaghetti, featuring organic chicken breasts smothered in cheese, and topped with Ragu Old World Traditional sauce.

This was really delicious, and now, armed with Ragu and some handy dandy new recipe cards, I will be embarking on a journey. Destination: my kitchen, mission: create delectable, or at least edible meals, probability of hilarity ensuing: high.

So stay tuned, I am positive I will have a lot to share with you all with upcoming posts, pictures, and videos.

Now it’s your turn! How do you describe dinner in one word?

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

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If you’re attending a wedding, do you want to even attempt the often-futile process of getting the bride and groom something they both will love? Do you want to keep track of exactly what has been bought for the soon-to-be married couple and plan your purchasing around this information? Do you want to have to find your receipt so the newly married couple can return the gift you so carefully chose?

Each of these questions have the very same answer: No, of course not. That’s why gift card registries are gradually stealing the spotlight from traditional registries.

But how do these new-age registries work anyway?

Well, here’s a step-by-step from the engaged couple’s perspective.

• Pick your favorite stores
• Press save
• Inform your guest list

That’s all there is to it. There’s no inventory of desired gifts and, perhaps most importantly, no endlessly answering questions about what you want. If you’re the gift giver, it’s just as simple. All you must do is log onto the recipient’s wish list, pick a store and a denomination for your gift card, and fill out some information in regards to billing and shipping. You might even be fortunate enough to find their desired gift card on sale at a gift card exchange.

A gift card registry doesn’t narrow the scope of the gift you can receive either. By setting one up, you’re not simply resigning yourself to a bunch of Barnes & Noble or iTunes gift cards. Rather, the breadth of available options is essentially as wide as the selection of stores one could visit in person. The options really do run the gamut from a Macy’s Gift Card to a Southwest Airlines Gift Card to your local furniture store’s gift card.

Sure, that seems easy enough, but what are the real benefits of using a gift card registry?

A gift card registry has a few clear perks, including:

• No duplicate gifts
• No unwanted gifts
• No returns

What might not be so obvious is the fact that a gift card registry actually fosters the giving of better gifts. This is because gift cards don’t necessitate shipping costs or wrapping paper, which means gift givers can use the entirety of their budgets on the actual presents and not logistics.

Gift cards can also be used together to buy much needed big-ticket items–like furniture or appliances for a new home–that would be somewhat inappropriate to request as part of a traditional registry. This could even help the newly married with some of their most pressing needs–like accommodations for a honeymoon.

Ultimately, it therefore seems there’s no real reason not to use a gift card registry for any upcoming wedding you might be involved with, either as a participant or a guest. And if you’re not yet on board, you better hop on quickly, considering 30% of all annual wedding occur during the summer, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Photo by julian wylegly

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It is likely at least one partner will enter the marriage with significant debt. The average credit card debt per borrower is $4,679 according to TransUnion. The average debt of student loans and financial aid for graduating seniors ranges from $20,000 to 25,000. These debts can cause significant stress on a couple before they even get to the rehearsal dinner.

The best way to avoid financial stress is to reveal these debts early in the marriage planning. It’s not romantic and may be difficult, but it’s not fair for your spouse to learn about these when the bills come in.

Getting married does not automatically make you responsible for debts incurred by your spouse before the marriage. Your partner’s debt will not show up on your credit history as long as you aren’t added to the accounts. However, the debt will still affect you when it comes to income and there is a lot less money to pay for other bills, to save, or to spend in ways that are much more enjoyable than debt payments.

Financial Tips for Newlyweds

• Before you get married, know how your future spouse will treat money. Don’t assume your spouse shares your beliefs about money–the spending and saving habits may surprise you. A free spender before marriage will probably be a free spender after marriage. Ask about their regular indulgences.
• Before the wedding, reveal everything in your financial closet. Be honest about your income, debts, and money problems. Bring out your bank statements from the past twelve months to show what you did with your money. Explain your strengths and weaknesses with money. Admit if you are a spender or a saver.
• Each of you should get a copy of your credit reports from the three credit bureaus. This will give you a clear picture of credit accounts, debts, and how creditors will judge you. Aim to get your scores over 750 to receive the lowest interest rates for your first mortgage and other loans.
• If your partner has been married before, find out about their financial obligations to the ex-spouse and children.
• Have a wedding and honeymoon that you can afford. Do not start a life together charging thousands of dollars in wedding and honeymoon expenses to your credit card if you can’t pay it off within a year.
• Avoid credit card debt. The best rule of thumb is simply, “if you can’t pay for something with cash, you can’t afford it.”
• If you have a credit card balance, pay as much as you can above the minimum each month. If you receive gift money, a bonus, a second job or a tax refund, use this to pay off your debt. You can even make micropayments multiple times during the month to pay off your balance faster. Eat a meal at home and immediately apply the money you saved to your credit card balance.
• Before the first bills come in, decide who will pay the bills and when this will take place. If you have separate accounts, know which account pays each bill. Also notify creditors of your name change and new address.
• Reduce your debt-to-credit limit ratio. This will help improve your credit score. Your monthly debt, including your mortgage, should not exceed 35% of your gross income.
• Each spouse should have a credit card in his or her own name to build an individual credit score. Keep that card for a long time. Use the card for several purchases each month and pay the bill in full immediately. Building a long term payment history with one or two credit cards is an important factor in your credit score.

Good Credit Cards for Newlyweds

• Citi Platinum Select has 0% for 21 months on purchases an balance transfers. This is a good introductory offer that can help you pay down balances on higher rate credit cards as well as providing an interest-free loan for 21 months. Make sure you can pay off the entire balance by the expiration date.
• Chase Freedom Visa has a relatively low APR–9.99%–and some attractive cash back rewards. Receive a $50 cash back after your first purchase. Then earn 5% cash back each quarter in rotating categories, like gas, restaurants, home improvements, and department stores; and 1% per $1 on all other purchases.
• Capital One Venture Rewards gives miles that can be redeemed for travel, hotels or gift cards. It offers a generous 2 miles per $1 on every purchase. The $59 annual fee is waived the first year.

Photo by badwine

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Inspired by Annie, the rescue puppy of the animal-loving family behind this line, AnnieWear’s high-quality and fun products are made for newborns, infants, toddlers and kids up to size 7. A portion of all AnnieWear sales are donated to animal rescue programs around the country, so you can feel great knowing that you are helping animals in need while also purchasing items you will completely fall in love with. AnnieWear also makes it easy to teach your young children about the importance of helping others.

It’s time to start gearing up for summer and AnnieWear has just the products you’ll be reaching for again and again throughout the season. Below are some exceptional summer must-haves for babies and kids. Plus, from now until December, you will receive 15% off any purchase. Just use discount code BLOG2011.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in which I was compensated for brought to you by Project You Magazine and the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.

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In the United States today, the cost of in vitro fertilization starts at around $12,400 per cycle. Most often, it takes multiple cycles of IVF in order for it to prove to be effective and still, at the end of your treatment, there is no guarantee that you will come out with the success you had hoped for.

Infertility is recognized by the World Health Organization as a legitimate disease and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has publicly stated that infertility is an “emerging public health priority.” Regardless, it is extremely rare to find IVF, as well as any other assisted reproductive technology services, listed on insurance policies. In fact, only 15 states have passed laws to date that require insurance companies to offer some level of treatment for infertility. That isn’t to say that you will find IVF listed as a covered course of treatment within all 15 of these states, but you will find some form of treatment that will be made available to infertile couples.

Considering that an extremely limited group of people are likely to ever find in vitro fertilization, or most other services like it, listed as a covered course of treatment on their insurance policies, the only other option those seeking this procedure is to pay for it out of pocket. This does not look too great for, well, most people who are diagnosed with infertility. This is especially true since while we have seen a subtle rise in our national economy, we are still very much dealing with the aftermath of a historic financial crisis.

There are obvious considerable cost barriers that infertile couples are faced with. This bill would help to alleviate some of this well-known struggle by making tax credits available to taxpayers who earn an adjusted gross income of less than $182,500. This bill would also make these tax credits unavailable for those who earn $222,520 or more per year.

While the introduction of this bill is light at the end of the tunnel for many who hope to undergo fertility treatments but cannot afford to do so, spreading the word about this bill also raises awareness about the importance of egg donation.

We don’t hear about the option for healthy women to donate their eggs very often. The term “in vitro fertilization” has quickly become quite common and has reached the point where most everyone knows what it is and how it is done, but we usually have a very one-sided thought process when it comes to the procedure. We think about the women undergoing IVF, but not about if she will use donor eggs or who they come from.

In most cases, there is a six to nine month matching wait associated with IVF when a woman is using eggs that are donated. This is merely more time that women undergoing IVF must wait in order to attempt to conceive, not even counting the amount of time one cycle takes to complete. This can become an understandably hard time. The key to more women wanting to donate their eggs is letting them know that it is an option and what qualifies them in order to start the process.

Photo by jeo0072002

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Developing into a tween can be a pretty difficult and uncomfortable time for any kid. Throw monumentally embarrassing into the mix and you’ll have my own tween years described in just a few words.

I distinctly remember several highly embarrassing moments from my tween years and the only way I can think of describing that time in my life is by saying my brain and my body were not working together in harmony; in fact, they weren’t even close to meeting along the same wavelength. My brain was still a blissfully ignorant kid that didn’t have to worry about anything in the realm of cosmetic appearance. It was very content in running out the door every morning throughout the summer after throwing on whatever clothes happened to be laying around my room without a second glance in the mirror. My body, however, had warped into its own wildly out of control life form without letting my brain in on what was going on.

One summer afternoon while carelessly running around in my bathing suit and jumping in and out of the local pool, my father’s girlfriend, who had taken a very active role in raising me and my younger sister throughout my tween years, mentioned the word bikini line. That is the pivotal moment when my brain had a complete and utter freakout session of monumental proportions. It could no longer deny what my body was up to and it was officially time to soak up any and all advice my father’s girlfriend, as well as my grandmother and aunt, were willing to dole out.

The same very well goes for tweens when it comes to the topic of body odor. You smell it, every adult, and perhaps even their friends, are cued right in to the rampant hormones running throughout their bodies, but they may still be blissfully ignorant. Their kid brain is still very much running the show.

Unilever, the makers behind Degree, Degree Men, Dove and Suave deodorant products, has just recently released a pretty awesome resource for parents of tweens to help parents navigate conversations about even the stinkiest of tween issues. Don’t Fret the Sweat contains expert advice, tips and personal anecdotes from a variety of different moms, educators and physicians, including Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally recognized expert on children, teens and parenting, and “New York Times” bestselling author of the book “Queen Bees and Wannabes”, which was the basis for the movie “Mean Girls”.

You will also find answers to frequently asked questions regarding tweens and their body odor, like what to do when your child is using deodorant but it doesn’t seem quite strong enough. Perhaps one of the best resources Don’t Fret the Sweat has to offer is their product matchmaker which will help you and your tween choose the perfect deodorant that will work with them to keep them comfortable, dry and smelling fresh and clean throughout the day.

“Like” Don’t Fret the Sweat on Facebook to gain access to all of this information and more. Also be sure to check out the videos below that feature several moms just like you sharing their stories and tips with Rosalind Wiseman on how to help their tweens through this body-morphing time in their lives with ease.

Disclosure: This post was written as part of a blog posting campaign with the One2One Network.

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Eating well, keeping stress at bay, and exercising regularly are all important for everybody, but perhaps even more-so for expectant moms. Women who work out or are otherwise physically active might heave easier and more enjoyable pregnancies. Prenatal workouts and fresh air can even help reduce pregnancy signs like morning sickness, fatigue, and mood swings. But how do you stay active?

Prenatal exercises and an active lifestyle are suitable for almost every woman. Only if you are on bed rest for a threatened miscarriage or pre-term labor should you shun physical activities, as they can trigger contractions in women who are already at risk. For everyone else, even women who were mainly sedentary when they were wondering how to get pregnant, an active pregnancy should be encouraged.

If you were not working out before you got pregnant, it is best to start slowly and discuss your exercise plan with your doctor or midwife. Gentle cardio is a great place to begin–walking and Pilates are both wonderful options, and swimming is especially beneficial because it supports your body while also exercising your muscles. Do make sure to stay hydrated during your workout, listen to your body and take a break when you start getting sore or tired.

Do you have a busy schedule or work full-time? I know from experience that it can be hard to know where to fit in time for exercising. The good news is that everything that gets you busy and makes your heart beats faster is physical exercise, even if you never step into a gym. Gardening, decorating your baby’s nursery, and walking up and down stairs all contribute to your physical health. Don’t feel the need to take it easy and avoid these activities just because you are expecting a baby, as they are hugely beneficial for you.

Some types of exercise are not suitable for pregnancy. At the risk of stating the obvious, I’ll say the bungee jumping and white-water rafting are not a great idea while you are expecting a baby. Horseback riding, skiing, or any other sport that carries a large risk of physical injury should wait until after you give birth. And as you enter the third trimester, lying on your back for prolonged periods of time can reduce blood flow to your baby’s placenta. As long as you stay away from obvious risks and listen when your body tells you to stop, an active pregnancy is healthy, enjoyable, and might even help you have an easier labor and delivery.

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Easter has never been more “egg-citing!” Wubzzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand new, special seasonal DVD. In addition to the six “egg-ceptional” episodes, this DVD also includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

The winner of this DVD giveaway is Nicole Hatch

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win through this giveaway, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” is available in stores nationwide. You can also purchase it on Amazon for $14.99.

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” in order to write a review, as well as the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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