If you haven’t discovered Pinterest yet, you are definitely missing out on a great way to find things you like and file them for future reference. I was on Pinterest this morning when I saw this:

Immediately, I thought “Why didn’t I think of that?”

With different members of the family needing to take different medications – some twice a day for 5 days, others 3 times a day for 10 days, it gets really hard to remember who has had what and who needs what. This photo solves the problem of keeping track of what medication has been taken.

Take a simple Sharpie marker and make a grid on the bottle that indicates how many days the medication must be taken and how many times each day. AWESOME!!

It’s sometimes difficult to figure out the original source of something on Pinterest, but I am attributing this image to Kim and Kimberly as it says the image was uploaded by the user and is not linked to a website.

When was the last time you had your eyes checked? If it was over two years ago, the time has come to go visit your ophthalmologist or optometrist. Why? Because your vision is nothing to joke about. We spend countless hours at the gym running, cycling, lifting weights – just to appear healthy. We also spend a lot of time meal planning, weighing out foods, and peering at nutritional charts just to make sure we’re eating balanced meals. But what about our eyes? Isn’t having your eyes checked to see if we need eyeglasses an important part of being healthy?

You’d be surprised how often people put off looking for new glasses because buying glasses is considered a luxury to them. Is seeing properly a luxury?

Many people view vision care as a luxury because the cost of prescription glasses is out of control! Ask yourself this: would you rather invest $200 in a really nice gift for someone for the holidays or spend it on a new pair of glasses? Given that it’s the holiday season, you’re probably thinking “gift”. What if the glasses were only $50 and not $200?

If you search for glasses online, you’ll see that there’s a plethora of sites to visit but not all sites are made the same. Additionally, not every site carries high quality glasses. Some sites mark their products really low and it seems too good to be true. If it seems too good to be true, it may be. GlassesUSA.com is a site you can trust!

Millions of Americans trust GlassesUSA.com when it comes to their vision because their prices are competitive, their quality can’t be beat, and their customer service is extremely friendly and helpful. Why opt for bad vision because glasses can be expensive when you can get great eyewear for a fraction of the cost? It’s a win-win situation! You can even get a great deal on their eyewear! From now until December 4th, you can take 30% off any pair of glasses on their site and you get FREE U.S. shipping. Basic single vision lenses are included but you’re welcome to upgrade for an additional cost. To take advantage of this sale, use the code CYBER2011 during check out.

This holiday season, give yourself a gift – the gift of sight. There’s never been a better time to start taking care of your vision.

This post was paid for and sponsored by GlassesUSA.com

Let’s call this post my friendly little reminder service for you, because I like you! We Moms (and Dads) are SO busy taking care of everyone else that sometimes, just sometimes (ok, most of the time) we forget to take care of ourselves. That goes for dentist appointments, annual physicals at the doctor’s, appointments with specialists for things we think we can live with but wouldn’t ask any other family member to, and so on.

You are worth it! And your family would like a happy, healthy Mom who sets the right kind of example when it comes to taking care of herself.

So where is all this coming from? Well, me, of course! I have spent almost every day in the past week at some sort of doctor’s appointment for ME. This is what happens when you put it off for a few years while you are too busy taking care of the rest of the world.

In the past week, I have found out that after 15 years of high blood pressure, I have lowered my blood pressure to a very healthy level through exercise alone; got my annual well woman exam done just to find out it was time to reevaluate my birth control options and schedule a mammogram (ouch, but I did it); and had a long overdue visit to the dermatologist to get a baseline on any potential skin cancer issues and she removed this really irritating little skin tag on my eyelid in a matter of minutes. WOOHOO!

Sorry if that was all TMI for you, but it is time you and I take time out to take care of ourselves – because no one else will!

What are you waiting for? Pick up that phone and schedule your annual well woman visit, your physical, your skin cancer screening, your mammogram, your dentist appointment, your manicure (just checking to see if you are still with me) or any other appointment that is for your benefit that you have been putting off. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

It is officially tick season in our area – typically considered to be April to September in most of the south eastern United States. In the past two weeks my son has found two ticks on himself and we have removed countless ticks from the cat (which tells me we need to switch flea/tick medicine).

The first tick we found on the back of my son’s knee (see picture to right). It was so tiny but it had obviously been there a day or so because of the redness around the tick. Usually when we find a tick we just remove it with tweezers, apply anti-biotic cream and a bandage, and observe it for a few days. Unfortunately with this one, the tick was so tiny and so well embedded, I had no choice but to take my son to the doctor and have the doctor remove it and then put him on a round of anti-biotics – just in case.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks - photo from NIH.gov via Medline Plus

Ticks are small blood sucking insects – actually classified like spiders – that crawl and attach themselves to animals and humans to feed. They are notorious for transferring diseases from animals to humans and are found in tall grassy or deep forested areas.

How to Prevent Tick Bites

The best ways to prevent tick bites in the first place are to wear long pants and long sleeved clothing when hiking through the woods, wear insect repellent that contains DEET, and always inspect your body – arms, legs, torso – for ticks when coming in from the woods.

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If the tick has not gotten all comfy on your body yet, they can be fairly easy to remove with a pair of tweezers. Make sure you get as close to the tick’s head as possible before pulling it out – you don’t want to leave part of the tick in the skin. Next wash the area with soap, apply an anti-biotic cream and a bandage. Observe the area for signs of redness and if the person affected is not feeling well, go to the doctor and have it checked.

Some people recommend putting the removed tick in a ziploc baggie and saving it in the freezer, just in case the person affected gets ill, so doctor’s can test the tick for Lyme Disease and other diseases. Never try to burn off a tick or smother it in any chemical substance.

If the tick looks to have been embedded for more than 24 hours, the area around the tick bite is red, or the tick is too small to easily remove – GO TO THE DOCTOR’S office right away. This is definitely one situation where you are better off to be safe than sorry! We have had friends get very ill from tick bites – it’s just not worth the risk.

For more information on ticks, the diseases they carry and how to deal with them safely, check out:

• Medicine.net
• Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases – very informative presentation by the Virginia Department of Health
• Be wary of the bloodsuckers as tick season arrives from Roanoke.com

Did you know that:

• American obesity rates have increased 37% between 1998 and 2006. The average adult is 23 pounds overweight.
• About one-third of American kids are overweight, with more than 15% of them obese. It is estimated that by the end of 2010, some 20% of children in the United States will be obese.
• The problem is starting earlier than ever – the obesity rate for children 6-11 has more than quadrupled over the past four decades.
• Between 1997 and 2005, the prevalence of 11 chronic conditions associated with overweight/obesity grew 180%.
• PE programs have been cut back as schools have come under pressure to meet national academic standards.
• Among children ages 9 to 13, more than 61% do not participate in any organized physical activity during out-of-school hours.

As a parent, these numbers are shocking to me. The concept of everything in moderation is definitely out of balance for a large portion of society.

The numbers come from the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation – an unprecedented partnership of leading brands that have joined forces to help reduce obesity. Their 80+ members and partners include national retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, sporting goods companies, and insurance companies as well as non-profit organizations and trade associations. HWCF wants to help consumers lead healthier lives by making energy balance – calories in balance with calories out – a daily habit. They are doing this by increasing access and opportunities for physical activity and healthier nutrition options and by raising awareness of the energy balance approach – in the marketplace, in the workplace and in schools.

Food=Fuel

Let’s get back to basics for a moment. Food is fuel for our bodies. The calories in food are converted into energy. Our bodies burn the fuel it needs to get us through our daily activities and stores the rest in the form of fat. The growing obesity issue is primarily due to this unbalanced equation. In general we are eating more, eating higher calorie portions and burning less energy - our balance is off. It is time we tip the scales back to a more sensible, balanced approach to living to put a stop to this trend.

Teach your kids the concept of fueling their bodies for the activities they do. In other words, “Eat well, play hard, burn energy.”

Some of the strategies I have implemented in my own family include:

1. Menu Planning - Each Sunday afternoon or evening I take a few minutes and look at the upcoming week’s schedule. I figure out what nights we have sports or activities and plan our week’s menu. By planning the meals I find we eat more balanced meals and save so much money on our family grocery bill.
2. Buy Fresh – Fresh fruits and vegetables are one of the best ways to help tip the balance back towards better eating habits. Take the kids with you and shop local farmer’s markets for fresh, local grown produce. Encourage them to ask questions, pick from a rainbow of colors and try new foods. If you have the space (even if it is just a container on the windowsill) try planting tomatoes with the kids. Who knows, you may even spark an interest in gardening.
3. Have a Kids Cook Night – When kids are involved in the selection and preparation of their own food they are more apt to try new things. Encourage the kids to help you in selecting meals and teach them how to cook using fresh ingredients, healthy cooking techniques and fun presentations.
4. Get Active – Start by setting an example for your kids. Invite them to join you for walks, hikes, a friendly backyard soccer match, or go swimming. Find some of the activities you and your family enjoy doing and do them together. Encourage the kids to try different sports and get them signed up for some form of organized sports – from neighborhood soccer or swim leagues, to dance, karate or similar sports lessons. And while you are at it, go visit Parents.com where you could win $250 to put toward family activities.

I encourage you to visit the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to become more educated on ways to help your family find the energy balance, try out new recipes and get involved in ending the obesity trend.

This post was sponsored by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and while I am being compensated for my time, this is a topic I feel very strongly about and my views are my own.

Photos: Stock.xchng

This winter has been tough on my kids and their health, specifically my 13 year old son who is growing so fast it scares me. He has been having a lot more difficulty concentrating in class, he is always tired, his body aches and he just hasn’t been himself. After doing a lot of research, having him tested for everything under the sun at the doctor’s office, and talking to a few other parents with boys, I came to the conclusion that there is something missing in his diet.

I have increased his overall calorie count (he’s a 6′ tall 13 year old boy who swims 3 times a week and is not all about food), doubled his protein, added a B complex vitamin daily, and added an Omega 3 supplement. The Omega 3 supplement was recommended by a mom who I was talking to about our boys and their ADD tendencies even though they are ridiculously smart. She said that the Omega 3 supplement was really helping her son be more focused and feel better overall.

After doing more research on Omega 3, I came to the conclusion that we all need to be taking it. Some of its recognized health benefits include:

• Heart, Brain & Eye health
• Healthy triglyceride levels
• Reduction of inflammation throughout the body
• Joint health and mobility
• Mental clarity and balance

Next the challenge was finding an Omega 3 supplement my kids would take. A large gel cap that smelled of fish oil was not going to go over well. Neither was a product that left an oily aftertaste. I found the Coromega brand which offers the Omega 3 as a Squeeze. The orange flavor squeeze comes in a single serve pack and tastes like an Orange Creamsicle – no fish or oily taste at all! You can mix it in yogurt or a drink, but my son and I both just squeeze the packet straight into our mouths and its done. Plus it is absorbed by the body faster than the softgels. Easy peasy orange squeezey!

It has been one week and while I won’t say it has been a miraculous turnaround, I am seeing overall improvements in his energy, mood and he says this week at school has seemed better. Time will tell, but I think we are moving in the right direction.

You can find the Coromega brand of supplements at Amazon or through my favorite source, House of Nutrition. Click on the images below for product details and ordering information.

Coromega’s Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement 90 Daily Dose Packets (Orange Flavor) Coromega’s Kids Omega3 Brain and Body Squeeze Pkts Lmn-Lme 30Pkts Coromega’s CoQ10- 50 mg (Juicy Orange Flavor) 30 Squeeze Packets Coromega’s Omega-3 Squeeze Packets Lmn-Lme 90Pkts Coromega’s Prenatal OmegaBaby Squeeze Packets Perfect Peach 30Pkts Coromega’s Healthy Heart Omega-3 & Co-Q10 30Pkts Coromega’s Multi-V Multi-Vit & Multi-Min Gummy Fruits 60Gms

I don’t know about you, but between the dry winter air and the dry air created by the fireplace and our heater everyone in our house is beginning to crack – literally! Our skin, our noses, our lips – it’s horrible. I know it is like this in the winter, but for some reason this winter seems worse than usual so it’s time to take some more preventative measures.

Here are three easy things you can do to ease the effects of dry winter air on your family:

• Increase your water intake – yep, give your body a little help from the inside out. Make sure the kids are drinking plenty of fluids even if they don’t say they are thirsty – water, juice, tea and hot chocolate, even.
• Add moisture to the air – use whole house or room humidifiers to increase the moisture in the air. Not only will your skin thank you, but breathing the moist air will help keep nasal passages healthy and will help fight colds and flu. If you don’t have a humidifier, heat a pot of water on the stove and let it simmer (make sure you do not leave it unattended though) for a while.
• Seal in the moisture that is there. Give each family member their own tube of lip balm and keep hand lotions readily available in bathrooms and the kitchen for use after washing hands. You can also add a little bit of baby oil to the kids’ baths or apply immediately after bath time.

Just a few preventative steps will go a long way to helping your family stay more comfortable this winter. And, before you know it, we’ll be talking about the effects of summer’s humidity! Speaking of summer humidity, you may realize that you actually need to remove moisture from the air. You can read dehumidifier ratings to find the best option to remove moisture.

Some of our favorite humidifier styles: