Milestones, Weaning and Natrel’s Baboo #NatrelBaboo

My son Liam hit 18 months on Sept 29 and since then, I’ve been reminiscing of how much he’s grown since he was born. As my third child, it seems like time moved even quicker as with your first child, it seems like it takes forever for them to reach each milestone:

• Smiling/Laughing
• Rolling
• Sitting
• Crawling/Walking
• Feeding Self
• and so much more

At (now) 19 months, Liam speech is amazing and he runs and climbs. No more slow toddling ahead. At 18 months I decided it was time for us to get started on the weaning journey. After 12 months I had offered him cow’s milk a few times but he really had no interest in it. At 18 months, I was getting ready to go on a trip, gone 24 hours total and I wanted him to be able to get his nourishment from milk since I wouldn’t be there to nurse him. If he had no choice (i.e. I wasn’t there) he would drink it but he still preferred breast milk. I am both sad that breastfeeding is almost done with and happy to have my body back and be able to leave him overnight.

I was offered a chance to try Natrel’s Baboo, a milk drink for ages 12-24 months to help transition from formula or breastmilk to regular milk.

How is Baboo Different?

Easy to digest, because it has a lower protein content than regular milk and provides a whey/casein ratio close to that of breast milk.

4% fat content.

Contains a natural source of Omega-3 DHA.

Excellent source of calcium.

A source of vitamins A, C, D, E and B6.

Made with fresh Natrel milk.

Ready to drink and does not need to be diluted or reconstituted.

Can be stored at room temperature thanks to its packaging, which is 100% impervious to oxygen and light and preserves Baboo’s great taste and nutritional content.

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I love that it didn’t need to be store in the fridge till opened. This makes it perfect for storing in your diaper bag just in case. Also it comes in one big 1L Tetrapak or a set of 6 little 250 mL ones with straws for your older toddler to just drink herself.  Tetrapak cartons are recyclable so you can save on dishes and be good for the environment.

My son liked the taste and didn’t seem to notice any difference in taste from the cow’s milk he was drinking. This is good because later when you switch to regular milk, your child wont’ even notice a difference so the change should be seamless. It doesn’t have any odor and if you saw it sitting in a glass, you would think it was regular milk.

My Suggestions for Uses:

1. You are weaning off breastmilk or formula (at 12 months+)  but you are worried about losing the extra nutrients your child is getting (Baboo has vitamins and Omega-3s)
2. You are weaning and your child has digestion issues. (Baboo is easily digested)
3. You use regular milk already but you want something you can bring with you easily without worrying about refrigeration (Baboo can be stored at room temp till open.)
4. You breastfeed (12 months+) but want something more than regular milk to leave with her when she is being cared for by others.
5. He’s was a preemie and the doctor said you can stop formula but you are worried about losing the extra nutrition.
6. You are having trouble getting your child off the bottle (Baboo comes in cartons with straws.)

Baboo is sold in the 10 Canadian Provinces in most major chains and grocery and pharmacy chains. The SRP is $3.29/L or $6.99/six-pack.

Baboo’s F.A.Q. has tons of great information if you want to know more, here are a few interesting things I learned:

Why was this product developed?

• Baboo is the first Canadian dairy product especially designed for toddlers aged 12-24 months to ensure a smooth transition from breast milk or infant formula to regular milk.
• Baboo is the culmination of two years of R&D at Natrel.
• This category of toddler dairy product has been available in parts of Europe and other parts of the world for more than 20 years, but nothing like it has existed in Canada until now.

What are the ingredients?

• Baboo only has six ingredients: reconstituted ultrafiltered milk permeate, whole milk enriched with vitamin D3, cream, whey protein concentrate, acerola cherry juice concentrate powder and algal oil (Omega-3 DHA).

Can I use your Natrel Baboo for cooking and baking?

• Yes, you can interchange whole milk with Natrel Baboo in any cooking or baking recipes, it will keep its properties. For recipes go to natrelbaboo.com.

If it has a shelf-life of up to 4 months, how could it possibly be fresh?

• Often chilled milk is referred to as “fresh” but the “freshest” form of milk comes directly from a cow and isn’t cold when it comes out.
• Aseptic technology used by Tetra Pak protects Baboo from light and oxygen, sealing in the fresh nutrients of the dairy product, without preservatives, using Ultra High Temperature during the packaging process, which is why Tetra Pak’s motto is “protect what’s good”.

Would You Like to Try Some?

Baboo is giving away 50,000 free coupons on the Natrel Baboo Facebook Page.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Baboo Blog Tour by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Natrel. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

These Hot Men Want You To Touch Your Breasts

*Don’t worry this is family friendly

How would you like a hot man to remind you to check your breasts and get your mammogram? Breast Cancer Awareness month is almost over but you need to check your breasts regularly, not just in October. Downloading the Your Man Reminder app for Android or IOS will help you remember

Features:

• Hot Video Messages – You’ll love the attention our hot guys give you as they remind you to show your breasts some TLC.
• Reminders - Tailor your calendar schedule with settings for weekly, monthly or surprise reminders.
• Risk Reduction – The App features special tips than can help reduce your breast cancer risk.
• Education - The App includes a special “signs and symptoms” tab to hone in on the importance of early detection.
• Get Checked – Use a variety of scheduling options such as doctors’ appointments and many more.
• Man-O-Gram – Send a personalized message from a hot guy to a friend to help them stay on top of their breast health.

Check out the video to see the app updates and find out more:

Available for FREE on Android and IOS – Your Man Reminder App

*Disclosure: Nothing was received for this post, I love the idea and wanted to share

Where Do You Keep Your Family’s Important Health Information?

What’s the name of his medication again? When was she in the hospital for her surgery? What is his blood type? Where did I put that vaccination record?

Do those questions sound familiar? I’ve always struggled with how to keep my health information organized and now that I have three kids and a husband, I have even more things to keep track of. Thank goodness our family doesn’t have lots of complicated conditions or I’d be lost.

I’m always on the lookout for a easy to use record keeping place for all our health information that is also private and secure.  I find the few I have used were limited in one way or another. Either it was created in the US or UK so has different names for medications, terms or measurement units or it became out-dated because it was a program you bought for your computer so it could never be updated.

Emergency Profile in partnership with Canadian MedicAlert Foundation® created a secure online profile where you can organize all your medical information together and edit it or access it from anywhere. Best of all it’s FREE.

What Keeps My Information Private/Secure?

Emergency Profile is an exclusive feature of TELUS Health Space®, a secure online data storage place certified by Canada Health Infoway and powered by Microsoft® HealthVault®.

How Can I Use My Information?

In addition to keeping your information all in one place and being able to update it or reference it right from the doctor’s office or hospital from a smartphone or tablet, you can also share it electronically or in print with babysitters, day care workers, teachers, family members etc.

What Sort of Information Can I Keep Track Of?

Types of information you can add:

• allergies
• medical conditions
• medical devices
• measurements (blood glucose, blood pressure, height, lab test, peak flow, weight)
• Family History
• Immunizations
• Past procedures
• Demographic Info
• Emergency Contact Numbers
• Health Provider Contact Numbers
• Medications
• Even Important Documents (Continuity of Care for example)
• Blood type

What If I Only Want to Share Certain Information With Someone?

No problem! When you share, you create a passcode they can use to access your information and when you set it, you can also choose which types of information above they can view and whether they are able to change any information or just see it.

How Do I Sign Up?

Go to emergencyprofile.com and click on Get Started. Enter your basic information, health information and emergency contacts and save. Afterwards you can go in and add more details.

If you try it out, let me know what you think!

Turkey Cooking Safety for Thanksgiving

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! For my American friends, you can remember this info for a month from now when it’s your turn. International friends, perhaps you cook Turkey for another holiday, you can use this too!

© Flickr User tuchodi. Used under Creative Commons License

You don’t want your happy celebration to be abruptly ended by food poisoning do you?

Turkey Cooking Safety Tips:

1. Don’t put your turkey directly in the fridge or on the counter without putting a plate under it to collect juices. Even if it comes in a sealed bag, it still make leak juices and you don’t want those juices all over your other foods and surfaces.
2. Thaw turkey in the refrigerator or in cold water, not on the counter.
3. Wash your hands carefully with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry.
4. Use a food thermometer to tell if turkey is fully cooked. Measure in thickest part of breast or thigh and ensure it’s at least 85ºC (185ºF)
5. Put leftovers in the fridge within two hours of cooking. Use leftovers within 2-3 days or freeze right away for later use.

Read more on Turkey Safety, Temperature Guidelines, Holiday Food Safety and Poultry Facts visit Health Canada (even if you aren’t Canadian.)

Tic Tac Canada Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

Just like last year when Tic Tac Canada released limited edition Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs, they are at it again this year with Strawberry Fusion.

Tic Tac Canada creates these pink Tic Tacs in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Tic Tac Canada has donated $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and launched the Strawberry Fusion Tic Tacs as of September 1.

Strawberry fusion is sweet like strawberries but with a tartness mixed in for a sweet-tart flavour punch. I am not a big fan of strawberry flavoured foods and candy but I liked these.

While no donation is made for each purchase of the limited edition Tic Tacs, you can feel confident knowing that Tic Tac Canada has already made such a large donation to help the Breast Cancer Society of Canada research and hopefully eventually cure breast cancer.

Also, for all of September and October, the Tic Tac Canada Facebook Page will be posting pink-related promos.

Have you had Tic Tacs? What is your favourite flavour of Tic Tacs?

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Oral B Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Toothbrush

*This review was done by Barb, a member of my review team.

The closest I’ve come to using an electric toothbrush is the old Water Pic I had many years ago. So I was very excited to have the opportunity to review the Oral B Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Toothbrush.

I was impressed as soon as I opened the box the product came in. The SmartGuide display was on and made me want to see more.

Besides the big box that housed the Oral-B I was also sent Crest Glide Deep Clean Floss, Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste, and 2 bottles of Crest Pro-Health, alcohol free Oral Rinse.

What It Includes

The Oral-B Smart Series 5000 comes with:

• a Waterproof, Ergonomic Rechargeable Handle with 5 Brushing Modes
• A Portable Charger that fits into the Charging Station with Brush Head Storage
• The Oral-B Wireless SmartGuide that has a pressure indicator and a professional Timer with Quadrant Prompt and a wall mount.
• One Floss Action Brush Head
• Travel Case.
• Replacement batteries for the SmartGuide
• A coupon towards more Brush Heads

First Impressions

Before I even opened up the Toothbrush box I got excited reading the contents. The first thing that caught my eye was the “Floss Action Brush Head”. This should be the perfect head for me. I HATE floss. My dentist gave me a rubber tip gum stimulator to use as I will not use floss. The second thing I saw I knew would be great for my husband, the Pressure Indicator. My husband kills a toothbrush in only a few weeks. The pressure indicator means that if you push too hard, you get a sad face and it flashes a red light on the handle.

Using the Oral B SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Toothbrush

It wasn’t difficult to get all the pieces ready to go. I was however disappointed that I had to wait for it to charge before I could use it. An electric toothbrush takes a little getting used to but I think my Dental Hygienist will be pleasantly surprised to see me at my next visit. Tarter builds up quickly on my teeth and I have a hard time so I go more frequently than usual for my cleanings. I can tell just by using it a few times that it will help with that. I like that it encourages you to spend enough time on each quadrant. I do wish the SmartGuide display would turn off to conserve battery life between uses. The five brush modes are: daily clean, deep clean, sensitive,
whitening and massage.

Final Thoughts

I am most defiantly a toothbrush convert. I love it! I’m a 4 star brusher and always have a Smiley face on display. What could be better, a toothbrush that encourages and makes you feel good about brushing your teeth!

You can connect with Oral B on the Oral B Facebook Page and find more information on electric toothbrushes, reviews and fun stuff.

*Disclosure: The reviewer received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Children’s Eye Health–Interview with Optometrist

Do you have any questions about your child’s eye health?

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At my school, in Kindergarten they send home notices recommending we get our children’s eyes checked and there are certain optometrists who will provide free glasses if your child needs them and is in Kindergarten.

Last year my girls went to the eye doctor for a check-up. I explained what would happen beforehand and the optometrist was very friendly (I had her when I was a kid) and explained things as well. They got to watch Dora while they waited and felt at ease through all the tests. They were rewarded with a prize from the prize box afterwards.

I was able to interview an Optometrist to get answers to some common questions parents might have about their child’s eye care. This is especially important with back to school time. Most important answers are in bold if you don’t have a lot of time.

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Interview Guest Bio:
Dr. Patrick Quaid, Optometrist at IRIS The Visual Group in Guelph, Ontario completed his Fellowship with the USA based College of Optometrists & Vision Development (COVD) and has attained USA Board Certification designation. As he has personally lived it, Dr. Quaid is passionate about spreading knowledge on the impact that abnormal vision can have on a child’s potential to learn and the importance of treating these conditions properly as early as possible.

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Question 1: Why is it important for a child to get their eyes examined before they start school?

80% of learning is vision based and especially reading depends very much on not just having clear vision but also properly working eye muscles that co-ordinate the eyes together. A recent paper we published in a peer reviewed journal has shown that reading speed and accuracy is correlated to several clinical measurements which reflect how well the eyes are co-ordinated together. Of note, over 85% of the children with reading based learning difficulties saw 20/20 on presentation. Thus, is it very important for parents to understand that simply having 20/20 vision certainly does not rule out ocular problems. In Ontario for example, where children’s eye examinations remain a government insured service, it is of great concern that only 40% of children will have had a full eye examination by the end of high school. It is advisable that the first eye examination occur by 12 months and every year thereafter until 20 and then 1-2 years thereafter.

Question 2: If a child’s family wears glasses, are they more likely to need glasses?

Both genetic factors and environmental factors play a role in the development of one’s vision. We are not born with good vision, it is stimulated and trained, 0-2 being the most important time. Eye turns (called “Strabismus”) and lazy eye (termed “Amblyopia”) certainly have an hereditary component with children of parents with such conditions being at a 20-40% higher risk of developing similar issues. However, in the absence of these issues the heredity pattern is not as clear-cut. We know for example that with near-sightedness or myopia (i.e. distance blurriness) that this does not usually occur until about age 5-7 (whereas far-sightedness or hyperopia is usually is picked up much earlier).

There is some mounting evidence from research done in the UK and USA that myopia may be as a result of prolonged near work and reduced exposure to distance vision. For example, a recent large scale study in the UK showed that higher degrees of near-sightedness were associated with children who spent less time outdoors. It is clear that our vision tends to adapt to our surroundings, thus with technology being so prevalent in our society, it is important to get your child to take frequent breaks from their devices and computers, and (heaven’s forbid)......play outside!
*image source

Question 3: Why does my child need an eye exam yearly? Why can’t I just bring her in if she is having trouble seeing?

The main reason for the annual check-ups is that if your child is having issues they are quite simply unlikely to complain (especially children under 6-7 years old). After all, how can someone complain that their vision is “abnormal” if they have never seen normally? This is the same reason that hearing checks are done from a young age. Interestingly, hearing checks are mandatory (and some schools even prohibit your child attending school without proper immunizations now), it is certainly interesting that eye examinations have not been given the same level of respect given that 80% of learning is visually based. For more information readers are encouraged to visit www.iris.ca and download the binocular vision brochure in the children’s section. Another useful link is www.visionhelp.com, a wonderful resource for parents of children with eye co-ordination issues.

Question 4:  Is there anything I can do to prepare my child for her eye exam?

We at IRIS usually advise the parents to prepare the child for the possibility of having eye drops as this can be the biggest source of apprehension for the child. Mom or dad could even practice with artificial tears prior to the appointment. It is vital to have the drops done especially in cases of learning disabilities as children can have moderate amounts of far-sightedness but be able to compensate for it. However, doing so will leave their eyes under strain and likely lead to a significant reluctance to do near work for prolonged periods of time (hence the overlap with ADHD symptoms). If the drops are not done and your child is learning disabled, we suggest you ask your eye care professional to consider doing them or discuss the reasons why it is not being done. It is also important to re-assure your child that there are no “needles” as the term “doctor” in some children often invokes these fears.

*image source

Question 5: How do I choose an eye doctor for my child for their first examination?

You cannot beat recommendations from family and friends. If you don’t have any, you should look for a doctor that has up to date equipment like retinal photography, and spends enough time to not only examine your child but answer any questions you might have. Your eye doctor should always develop a comprehensive treatment plan that may include a specific eyeglass lens technology and sun protection. The most important advice I can give here is not to base your decision on cost. After all, your child’s vision is more important than saving a few dollars. In most provinces children’s eye examinations are insured by the provincial health plan so you can use these savings to invest in proper glasses which provide good quality vision and are supported by a comprehensive warranty. For example, at IRIS we warranty our frames for two years and our fully coated lenses for one year regardless of whether the damage is the child’s fault or not. This type of warranty is vital with children especially, as they can be quite hard on their glasses.

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A big thank you to Dr. Quaid from IRIS for answering my questions. I hope you learned something of value.

Please share your experiences with children’s eye health or what you learned from this post in the comments!

REVIEW: Always Radiant and Tampax Radiant Feminine Products

WARNING: Talk about Periods Coming Up - if you don’t want to know, don’t read on. You’ve been warned.

It’s an inevitable part of life for women, the time of the month, our period, menstruation.

We all have different preferences for what to use and there’s a lot more to choose from then there was when our mothers were young.

Common Complaints about Pads/Tampons

• Too Bulky – pads feel like I’m wearing a diaper or like I have to walk differently and people will notice.
• Messy to change – Pads can rip apart if they are left too long or sometimes rip completely instead of peeling off the underwear, especially cheap brands. When you insert a tampon that comes with an applicator, and you put it back in the wrapper, you still have to wrap it with toilet paper to cover the mess.
• Odor – face it, menstrual blood doesn’t smell very good and with most pads, I can smell it before it needs to be changed, which is gross.
• Insertion Issues – with tampons, most you can never get a good grip to insert them and it ends up being a two handed, messy job. That’s one reason why I’ve been using ones without applicators lately.

I will admit that often times I like a product I try for review but don’t continue to purchase it on my own. Well I tried some Always and Tampax Radiant products and let me tell you, I WILL be purchasing this kind from now on.

How is the Radiant collection different?

When I reviewed Always Infinity back in 2009 I remarked on how the new spongy design was better fitting and there was no more diaper feel. The Always Radiant collection ties in the Always Infinity pads as well as Infinity pantiliners and Tampax tampons.

The Always Radiant Incredibly Thin Liners are thinner than you can imagine, while still protecting you from your lighter flow days and with flexible edges to fit any panty style.

The Always Radiant Infinity Pads really are like nothing else. If you’ve never tried them, the spongy materials is incredible. It stays flat even when it’s full (unlike other pads which bunch up in certain places where more of the flow accumulated) and I can’t see it ever ripping apart. I noticed less odour too.

The Tampax Radiant Tampons have the first ever resealable wrapper. It has a little flap and after you place the applicator back in the package, the seal goes down, covering any mess and you can just toss it in the garbage without worrying about someone else seeing it and thinking eww.

The Radiant collection also have a beautiful package design which you can see even on the wrapping. I know you might be thinking why does the wrappers have to look good, they only go in the garbage. This is true, but I really enjoyed the packaging, it made me feel better about having to be on my period and it somehow seemed less embarrassing if I accidentally flung a pad or tampon out of my purse while reaching in for something else.

So show of hands (ie. comments) – who had ever accidentally had pads/tampons displayed in public? (fell out of purse, kids played with them etc.)

*I received product from a company or PR agency for evaluation purposes. All review are honest.

Sharing the Blog Love: Blogs I Recommend

I read a lot of blogs. Instead of reading every post on a few blogs, I prefer to read a few posts on lots of blogs. I read a large majority of blogs by women and most of them are moms but not all. Even among those who are moms, they don’t all blog specifically about being a mom.

I wanted to recognize a few blogs who I think are doing an awesome job and focus on a certain topic or two. Most of them focus on a topic you don’t normally think of right away. Check them out, find a new blog to read and let me know what you think in the comments. (Feel free to mention a niche blog you enjoy too!)

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Marriage

Newlywed Survival covers relationships, saving money, budget, creating a home, fitness and recipes.

I especially enjoy her relationship posts.

We haven’t had a wedding yet but we’ve been common law married for 6 years and together for 8 but I still can use her advice.

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Mental Health

Insane Mamacita’s Musings is a Canadian blog run by a WAHM and her mental health is only one of her topics but it’s the one I remember the most as I struggle with mental health too.

In the future I’d like to talk about that more on my blog.

I enjoy her Project Happy posts especially.

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Fatherhood

Canadian Dad is a funny Dad blog, whether you are Canadian or not. Though they don’t seem to take the spotlight enough, there are dad blogs out there and you don’t have to be a dad to enjoy them.

I love the way he writes and his stories are always full of laughs and sometimes even tears.

It’s different to read about kids from a man’s point of view.

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Creativity

Sophie’s World is something else. I’m fairly new to reading this blog. I was reluctant at first because although I have creative ideas, I don’t have the patience to put them into practice so I don’t knit or sew or draw or paint and I don’t read blogs about those subjects too often.

This isn’t another craft blog though. She is a party planner but used to be a nanny and the ideas she shares on her blog are so different from anything I’ve seen anywhere else. I love this: Map the Neighbourhood with your young child. How many bloggers do you know have a games listing?

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House and Home

Clean Mama is the ultimate blog for helping you keep your home clean and organized.

She has a free monthly cleaning schedule and tons of helpful posts. She sells handmade printables in her Etsy shop if you like to keep things organized on paper.

She has a guide for making a Homekeeping Binder.

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These are just a few of the many blogs I love to read. I hope you found something new!

If you’d like to suggest a blog in the comments, I only ask that you please suggest SOMEONE ELSE’S BLOG and not your own. Share the Love.

REVIEW: Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables DVD

How do your kids feel about eating fruits and vegetables? Considering the amount of picky eater questions I get in my Ask Callista submission form, it’s obvious most of us struggle with getting our kids to eat their vegetables.

Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables was created because of the recognition that children do what they see other children doing. This DVD is first in a series designed to encourage healthy habits in young children. The series is for children 6 months to 5 years.

The video is divided into chapters and covers the following fruits and veggies: Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Avocado, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Oranges, Bananas, Raspberries, Strawberries, Apples & Blueberries.  Each chapter shows children of various ages enjoying the featured food. They are happy and clearly enjoying every bite.

When I first heard about this, I was sceptical. How could seeing other children eat make someone else want to eat it. I should’ve know better. My kids are 5 and 6 so a little too old for the videos and they liked seeing the kids and reading their names and ages but it didn’t make them want to try the veggies anymore. However I am proud to say I have started eating Bell Peppers since watching the video with my girls. I am not kidding. I never liked them and now I eat them raw and cooked. The girl eating the red pepper whole, just eating it like an apple made it look SO good.

Running Time: 115 mins
Price: $19.95
Buy Now: at Copy Kids

You can check out the trailer here.

Also check out Copy Kids on Facebook

5 Steps to Better Computer Posture and Less Back Pain and Headaches

Whether you are a fellow blogger, or you work in a sit down job using a computer, or just use your computer at home a lot, poor posture can lead to pain in back or headaches. It seems like everyone “knows” that to have good posture, you should “sit up straight” but there is more to it than that.

I’m going to share 5 easy steps you can take to improve your posture at a desk. My daughter is helping me out by being my model.

1. Sitting Up Straight Does NOT Mean Pulling Your Lower Back In.

To be sitting up straight means that your spine should be straight from your neck to your tail bone. Often times we think we are sitting up straight but we are really bending too much and making our lower backs go in and sometimes our heads go back too far. I told my daughter to sit up straight and this is is how she sat (left.) Just by having her pull her stomach back in a little and her neck forward, she was all of a sudden sitting properly, with her spine aligned.

2. Feet Should Be Flat On the Floor and Supported If You Can’t Reach

I am guilty of this one all the time (even now… ooops!) Your feet should be flat on the floor, not tucked under your chair or tucked under your bottom. (left) If your feet can’t properly reach the floor and you can’t lower the chair, then you should have a small stool or box under your feet as a support. (right)

3. Your Whole Body Should Be In Line

Not only should your spine  be aligned but so should your thighs, legs and feet. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor and your feet should be under your knees.

4. Keyboard Should be Arms Length Away and Desk at Elbow Height

The table and keyboard above are NOT at the right height for my daughter. In the picture on the left, the table is about an arms length away but is too high. You can tell because her arms should be parallel to the floor just like her thighs are. Her upper arm should be perpendicular to the floor. In the picture on the right, I moved the table forward a bit. Her forearm is a bit more straight but the table is too far away. The problem with this is she will most likely lean in to see or reach better.

5. Take Frequent Breaks

The most important thing is to take frequent breaks. Sitting for too long, even the correct way is not good for anyone. It’s said you should take a 15 minute break every hour. Even if that’s not possible, I try to get up out of the chair at least once an hour to stretch my legs and my eyes. After looking at a screen up close, look at something far away (like down the street) to give your eyes a rest. Walking around or laying down will help rest your back.

Be Safe!

^{This Post Brought to You By Healthy Back. See more}

Beanitos and Wholly Guacamole–A Good Combination #CANsnack

I just recently started eating Avocado. I love it now in salads and on burgers and tacos. I never really liked guacamole though. Every kind I tried just wasn’t for me. I tried at least 3 different kinds, some homemade, some store bought. They were too overpowering.

Wholly Guacamole - The Test

So when I was able to try out Wholly Guacamole, I jumped at the chance because I wanted to see if there product was as good as everyone said it was. I figured if a non-guacamole eater loved it, it MUST be good.

Well guess what, I DO love it. It’s creamy, NOT overpowering with garlic or onion and is a nice cool snack (that’s healthy too!)

Oh and I think I know WHY I love it so much. It’s FRESH. It doesn’t have any preservatives or hard to pronounce ingredients and it is even found in the produce section.

Ingredients: Hass Avocados, Jalapeno Puree (white vinegar, jalapeno peppers, salt), Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic.

All natural ingredients - Preservative and Additive Free - Gluten Free & Non-GMO - Kosher Certified

I tried the SPICY one too and whew is it spicy! My mouth was on fire and I had to run for water but it was GOOD! (this coming from the person who didn’t like anything spicy or hot ever before baby #3)

To find Wholly Guacamole in the US, check out here. In Canada find it at Freshmart, Loblaw's, Safeway, Real Canadian Superstores, Fortinos, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, IGA's in British Columbia Overwaitea, Metro, Sobey's (Atlantic stores only) (A friend saw it in a Walmart too!)

Wholly Guacamole is not currently available in Quebec.

Follow @eatwholly and Like on Facebook.

Try Beanitos For a Different Pairing

Instead of eating it with regular corn chips though, may I suggest you try Beanitos? Beanitos are chips made from beans instead of corn or potatoes.

Beanitos are now available in single serve bags and are new to Canada.

New Single-Serve Size 1.25 oz, - 175 Calories - 6 g Protein & 6 g Fiber – GLUTEN-FREE, CORN-FREE, WHEAT-FREE, SOY-FREE, NON-GMO and LOW ON THE GLYCEMIC SCALE

Other companies have “bean” chips too but they all have corn in them too and can’t claim all the health benefits the other ones can either.

The four flavours I was able to try were Black Bean, Pinto Bean and Flax, Black Bean BBQ Chipotle and Pinto Bean and Flax Cheddar Cheese. Eaten alone, I really only liked the Cheddar Cheese but eaten with the guacamole I preferred the plain Black Bean and plain Pinto Bean and Flax. I was not a fan of the BBQ Chipotle.

Sharing With Other Moms

However I took the Beanitos and Wholly Guacamole to playgroup and shared it with all the moms there for our Mother’s Day feast and they were POPULAR! The kids were eating them, the moms were eating them, it was great. Everyone had their own favourite. Many moms were asking what stores they could get the products at! 

Beanitos are in 12,000 stores across the US, including Whole Foods, Krogers & Safeway. You can see a list here. Beanitos have just recently come to Canada –– find at select Horizon, Sobeys and Longo's.

Follow @beanitos and Like on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ask Callista 4/13 –New Weekly Feature–Get Your Questions Answered

A Little Background

I love knowledge and I love helping others. When I started my blog, one of the things I wanted to do was impart knowledge to others. Not that I claim to have all the answers of course but what I don’t know, I have fun looking up.

When I was a kid, my mother and I would pick a topic, research it, and present it to each other in a fun way (demonstrations, bristol board displays etc.) Yes like a grade school project, but for fun.  As a teenager I research Autism and made my own binder full of notes and research. I still have it I think.  I didn't really know anyone with Autism, it just interested me and still does.

So yeah, I love knowledge. It`s why I read almost exclusively nonfiction.

On to the Feature

So every Friday, I will answer questions submitted to me by readers and friends. They fall under one of three categories: General Knowledge (Something I could look up if I don`t know), Advice/Opinions (My advice on the subject or I will gather advice from others if I don’t know or feel qualified to answer) and Personal (questions about me or my blog.)
You can submit your questions here.

The Questions

Samantha asks: What do you suggest for a child who is interested in potty training some days and will do good for a week or two, but then will stop and not want to use the potty at all for a few weeks? My daughter will be 2 and and half in May and I would really like her to be potty trained by the end of the summer.

Callista says: Potty training is difficult because we control so much about our children’s lives and potty training is the one thing that we can’t control. We can’t MAKE them go. We can put them on the potty, we can reward, bribe or threaten all we want. But we can’t make them go.  Many parents have a goal of when they would like their child potty trained by and it’s okay to have a goal but ultimately, the decision rests with the child. If she is showing interest and has even gone a few times, then she does want to do it, but she may either feel pressured and be pulling back or she may be nervous about moving to the next step.

Make sure you not only praise her when she goes but when she chooses to just sit on the potty. If she goes in her diaper, don’t make a negative comment. It’s tempting to say something like, “You know you should really do that in the potty” or “Big girls go on the potty” but that may backfire on you. Just change her diaper as if it’s no big deal, do it quick. One trick to try is to start dumping the poop into the toilet before throwing out the diaper. It’s a subtle message about where it should be, without saying anything. Depending on how often she is going in the toilet and if she is interested in wearing underwear and if you are willing to deal with a lot of mess, some parents (including me) have found just switching to underwear a good way to go. Once they actually have to FEEL their mess, they are more apt to go to the toilet. However you don’t want to switch back to diapers so take this step only if you are both ready.

Jen asks: When milk is heated does it lose any nutrients or calcium?

Callista says: I had a lot of trouble finding an answer to this one! There is a lot of conflicting advice around and the sources I would trust, didn’t seem to have anything on it.  I think the main consensus seems to be that heating at high temperatures can make milk lose some of it’s nutrients but that heating up milk in the microwave for a baby or a hot drink should be okay if you heat it up in short bursts, for as little time as possible. Heat no more than 30 seconds at a time, and you really shouldn’t need much more after that anyways. I will look into this furthur and see if I can find a more concrete answer from a reliable source. If I do I will be sure to share it. Also remember I am not a medical professional and will not be held liable for my advice.

Rebelle of Dishin with Rebelle asks: What is some advice you can give to new bloggers or even bloggers that have been around awhile but are still struggling?

Callista says: My two biggest tips/advice for new or struggling bloggers is this:

1. All is Not What It Seems
It may look like that bigger blogger has it all, has more time to devote to their blog than you, is just better at blogging than you, got lucky when it comes to opportunities or has a huge fan base that comments on every post but NOT NECESSARILY.  Those bloggers have a larger fan base and great opportunities because they work hard for it and they’ve figured out shortcuts to save time. They use scheduled posts, scheduled tweets and post/email templates. They often spend many hours on their blog, getting little sleep. Most of all, they have #2 on my list.

2. You Need a Community
I’ve blogged for years, some of which were on and off, but fairly steadily since at least 2007 yet I got piddly stats until just recently (2011).  The biggest help to my blogging has been the blogging communities I’ve found and joined. I bounce ideas off of them, they help me with problems and they exchange comments, retweets, giveaway entries and stumbles with me. (Also pins, follows, +1s and visits) It takes some time to find the right one(s) for you. I’ve joined some and found they weren’t for me and moved on. My two biggest community groups are the Canuck Bloggers Network and She Promotes. Just make sure you follow any communities rules.

Okay that’s it for today, this post has gotten really long! If you submitted a question and I didn’t answer it, check back next week! If you want to submit a question, fill out this form.

REVIEW: Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates: Four DVD Pregnancy Series

When you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you are excited about your (hopefully) impending baby. Often though we have a fear of gaining weight because we know it's not common to lose all of it after birth (except for celebrities!)


Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates is a set of four DVDs for different parts of your journey from TTC to After Baby.

Triple Threat - Get in shape before your pregnancy.
Pilates for Pregnancy - Maintain strength and prepare for birth.
Post Pregnancy & C-Section Recovery - Get your pre-pregnant body back.
Exercise with Baby - Bond with your newborn and stay in shape.

I love the little saying on the cover of the DVD case:

"Become STRONG for pregnancy, PREPARE your body for labor. Bounce back QUICKLY after birth SAFE for mom & baby."

The DVDs come all together in one DVD case which is nice because often times DVD sets take up a lot of room on your shelf or don't fit in your DVD holder.

The workouts are not too intense and have a comforting feel to them. This isn't a drill sergeant workout, it's a fellow mom leading you in exercises. The one for exercising with baby includes your baby in the workout which is HARDER than it sounds. Laying on your back and lifting baby up is HARD WORK. Especially with the big babies I make.

Recommended for yourself or as a gift for a special someone who is expecting.


*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Article: New Pain Relief for Women Suffering from Endometriosis!

Severe menstrual cramps, painful intercourse, painful urination, and lower back or abdominal pain.

These are all symptoms of Endometriosis, a painful and debilitating disease that affects approximately 5-10 per cent of women who are of reproductive age.

The condition causes an excess growth in tissue that responds to the monthly menstrual cycle and when the tissue breaks down; it can lead to inflammation, causing pain.  Endometrial growth usually occurs on the ovaries, on the uterus and behind the uterus.[i] 

The good news for those living with this condition is that Bayer HealthCare recently announced that Visanne® (2 mg dienogest tablets) was approved by Health Canada for the management of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

Visanne is the first long-term, oral, progestin-only regimen specifically developed for women with endometriosis in more than 10 years.[ii] Clinical trials regarding its efficacy have lasted up to 15 months and are responsible for the management of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

This is a big advancement for those living with the condition as it can greatly impact a woman’s social, professional and personal life, and women with endometriosis often experience depression and emotional distress due to the uncertainty of diagnosis, unpredictability of symptoms and living a normal life.[iii]

Besides having a high prevalence, there is also a lack of general disease awareness as few women recognize the symptoms – meaning that most aren’t even diagnosed. Studies show it takes an average of three years from the time a woman has her first symptom to the time she discusses it with her doctor.[iv]  It also typically takes up to 12 years for a woman to get a confirmed diagnosis from the first time she seeks help for her symptoms.[v] 

With Endometriosis Awareness month coming up in March, it is especially imperative to shed light on the disease, so that women experiencing these conditions will no longer live in darkness. If you or any one you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of Endometriosis, be sure to talk to your doctor about a diagnosis and the treatment options that are available.

References:

[i]  SOGC.ca.  What is Endometriosis?  Available at http://www.sogc.org/health/health-endometriosis_e.asp.  Accessed November 1, 2011.

[ii] Lupron Depot Canadian Product Monograph. http://www.abbott.ca/static/content/document/LUPRON-DEPOT-ENDO-PM-23MAR10.pdf.  May 20, 2011.

[iii] Kennedy S, Bergqvist A, Chapron C, D'Hooghe T, Dunselman G, Greb R, Hummelshoj L, Prentice A, Saridogan. ESHRE guideline on the diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Human Reproduction 2005;20(10):2698-2704.  Also available online at: http://guidelines.endometriosis.org/.

[iv] Diagnosis:  http://www.womenshealthmatters.com/centres/pelvic_health/endometriosis/diagnosis/index.html.  Accessed November 1, 2011.

[v] SOGC Diagnosis and Management Guidelines.  Available at: http://www.sogc.org/guidelines/documents/gui244CPG1007E.pdf. Accessed November 1, 2011.

 *Disclosure: This is a guest post. No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Stopain Cold (Non-Oral Pain Relief)

Stopain was my sponsor for the Toast to 2012 giveaway hop that recently passed. I've been waiting for a chance to try the product out to review but of course, murphy's law, because I have it waiting here, I haven't had muscle pains.


Stopain is a nice alternative to oral medications when you hare dealing with muscle pains and stiffness.

"The active ingredient in Stopain is menthol, recognized by the FDA as an analgesic indicated for the temporary relief for minor pains and stiffness of arthritis, muscle aches, strains and simple backaches. It also contains peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil, recognized by the FDA for their analgesic properties. Extra-strength Stopain formulas are also formulated with glucosamine and MSM, essential nutrients that support joint health and mobility."

Unlike other topical pain relievers, Stopain comes in a spray, roll-on or gel so you can apply without getting it on your hands if you want.

Some features of the products:

- No Drip (Spray)

- Non-greasy

- Clear, non-staining

- Light, vanishing scent

"Stopain is also proud to be a Proceeds Sponsor of the Arthritis Foundation. The Stopain labels feature this sponsorship and for every unit of Stopain products sold, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation with a minimum contribution of $25,000."

I guess I'll have to come back and add more after I've tried it.

Where to Buy: Stopain is available in Canada at Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart and Jean Coutu. For where to buy in US or online, go here.

Visit the website for more information and also like Stopain on Facebook, and look for ongoing sweepstakes

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Burt's Bees Products (Christmas Gift Guide 2011)

Any of the products from Burts Bees would make a great stocking stuffer because they are the perfect size! Here are some ideas.

Lip Balms - especially Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil.

Eye Creams - refresh your eyes with these creams. Softens skin.

Men's Collection - for the men in your life, Burts Bees has Aftershave, Cologne, Deodorant, Soap and Shavecream.

If you are looking for something for yourself, you might need this foot cream after all that shopping!

If you don't need any more stocking stuffers, you may be interested in one of these kits of more than one product together.

*Disclosure: I received one of the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: Twooth Timer (Christmas Gift Guide)

You are supposed to brush your teeth for 2 minutes...did you know that?

Getting your kids to do that is a whole other matter. I tell my girls (ages 4 and 5) to brush for two minutes and they say

"How long is 2 minutes? Am I done yet? Now? Now? Now!?"

It just doesn't work. I tried to tell them 2 minutes is as long as the song Happy Birthday but they can't sing in their head yet and they can't sing while they brush. So I try to tell them when two minutes is up and I get side tracked and forget to tell them to stop until 10 minutes later they are still brushing.

So I was happy to see the Twooth Timer. It's a timer in the shape of a tooth, designed to time only 2 minutes, just enough time to brush your teeth. Just spin it around till the arrow points to the 2 and let it go. It ticks until it reaches the 0 and then rings to tell you that you are done brushing.

I taught my kids to put toothpaste on their brush first and make sure they are ready and then to brush well during the whole 2 minutes. After the timer goes off, they are to rinse out their mouths and such.

It's a really cute little timer but we don't have any counters in our bathroom and I can't put it on the windowsill because it moves around when it ticks and rings and it would fall off and break. My younger daughter gets scared when it goes off anyways so now it sits on my computer desk and they can hear it from the bathroom but it's not too loud!


The Twooth Timer Company has a blog where you can read news and other posts on dental care. They also carry some other products like a booklet, tattoos and a stuffed tooth!

Check out the Free Downloads and find Twooth Timer on Facebook and Twitter.

BUY IT: You can purchase the Twooth Timer products at the store or at these online stores and dentists offices. (Twooth Timer is not currently available in Canadian Dental Offices but Twooth Timer would like to change that! If you know any Canadian distributors - tell them you want the product in Canada! - Canadians CAN buy online though.)


GIVEAWAY

To enter, please use the rafflecopter form below. If you don't know how to use it, see this rafflecopter guide. A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules. If you have any problems, email me callista83@cogeco.ca

GIVEAWAY RULES:
One Person Per Household. Open to US/Canada 18+. Giveaway open until December 16, 2011 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winner will be selected using random.org on December 17, 2011 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 2 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Click Read More if you can't see the widget.

REVIEW: Foods from The Zone Fast Weight Loss Program

Zone Labs and the Zone Fast Weight Loss Program were one of my sponsors for the Coupon Cabin hop that just ended.

I was sent a two week supply of food just like my winner will receive to try out. You can see the full list of food here.

The bread products tasted pretty regular. The bagels were a bit smaller but other than that, they tasted like your average bread product. We made pizzas with the pizza crusts and the flatbreads and they were yummy. The cinnamon swirl bread was delicious!

The snacks were different. The "cookie" was nothing like a cookie but was still tasty. To me it was more like a rice krispie "square." The nougat bars had me conflicted. I loved the Double Chocolate Fudge one but didn't like the fruity ones.

I used the orzo pasta for a dish but have not tried the fusili yet but I do want to try one of the recipes that came with the food.

Please note that bread products should be refrigerated or frozen if not to be used right away to assure freshness. 

The program also comes with a 2 week supply of Daily Essentials. (supplements), information booklets and a sample 2 week menu.

I can't speak for how filling the foods were (they are supposed to keep you full for longer) because I am struggling with overeating and was eating even thought I wasn't hungry.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

WARNING: Reading This Blog Could Be Dangerous to Your Health!

You never know, you might go blind from eye strain, see ads that cause you to go on a shopping spree until you are broke, gain knowledge that makes your head explode or you may become addicted to my twitter feed!

Does any of this sound ridiculous to you? I sure hope so. The Canadian Reader's Digest magazine for December 2011 has an article titled The Petrified Woman by Lenore Skenazy. It's listed as humour but really I'd say it a social commentary. It's about the many warnings we get from society about everything in our life and how society really needs to lighten up.

"Stop! Are you about to eat a scoop of onion dip? It could cause meningitis. Showing some kids around your workplace? For God's sake, keep them away from the stapler. Planning a walk? Bring plenty of water or you could end up in a coma! And let's not even talk about what could happen if you take the kids to the mall and find yourselves contemplating an escalator ride. Suffice to say you should tie their shoes, insist they hold the handrail, place them in the centre of the steps and say your prayers." - pg 104 Reader's Digest December 2011

Lenore Skenazy became well known when it came out that she let her 9 year old son ride the New York Subway alone and she received thousands of vicious emails. This led to her speaking out about our scared to do anything society and then to the term Free Range Kids and it's corresponding book and blog.

"For about a month, I watched TV, cruised the internet and read a bunch of books, magazines and email "tips" to see what the average person gets warned about in the course of everyday life. The result? I am typing this from inside a giant safety deposit box. You can feed me - but no onion dip, please - through a hole I drilled in the side. I don't have a cellphone, because it could give me a brain tumour. I don't have a bottle of water, because the plastic could disrupt my endocrine receptors and turn me into a woman. Oh, wait. I already am one." - pg 106 Reader's Digest December 2011

There are some warnings in here that she found that are so ridiculous. Even if a child actually DID get hurt that way, doesn't mean the risk is high enough to warrant not using the item ever again. The Dr. Oz show is mentioned and even though I LOVE Dr. Oz, his show is not good for the paranoid. He warns against seemingly everything.

"My advice? Pay attention to your health - and a little less to the health scare of the day - and you'll be fine." - pg 109 Reader's Digest December 2011

GREAT article, I highly recommend you read it. I'd also LOVE to hear your thoughts!

*Disclosure: The link to the book is an affiliate link. I receive a few pennies if you buy something from it. No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.