A New Year Pantry Makeover!

Your Mission, Should Your Accept this Assignment, is Not Impossible. Is your kitchen stocked with plenty of healthy food choices? Or are your cupboards overloaded with temptations that lead your family’s diet off-course no matter which meal you’re serving? In the spirit of new beginnings and a New Year, we invite you to take a good look inside your refrigerator, pantry, and... Read More

Nursery Essentials for the New Baby

By It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of nursery accessory choices available before your baby arrives.  Granted, the major cuteness factor of all things baby makes it extremely tempting to buy anything that strikes a doting parent’s fancy.  But, before you break your bank account, here’s some basic tips to get you started equipping your nursery. Remember, your... Read More

New Dads and Depression

Experts tell us that it’s not unusual to feel depressed before or after your little one is born. Don’t ignore your feelings, Dad. Get the help you need to cope with the anxiety. Whether for a first-timer or a seasoned dad, fatherhood can be a roller coaster ride of emotional upheaval. It’s supposed to be a time of gurgles, coos, and teddy bears, but the combination of a colicky... Read More

Diabetes Alert Dogs are “Dog gone” Amazing!

The nose knows…Special dogs and, in some cases, even the family pet, can be trained to use their powerful sense of smell to detect a particular change in body chemistry that occurs when there is a drop in a diabetic’s blood sugar level.  With specialized training, man’s best friend can become an important ally in alleviating the worry associated with monitoring and coping... Read More

Playing It Safe to Prevent Concussions

Every year, thousands of children sustain head injuries playing sports, in car and bicycle accidents, fights, and even minor falls. Most childhood head injuries are not serious and affect only the outside of the head; however, children may experience a temporary loss of brain function known as a concussion.  Although some accidents can’t be avoided, simple safety precautions... Read More

Is Your Pet Safe?

What you may not know can harm your pet. Here are a few quick tips to keep Fluffy purring and Fido frisky… Most people know that chocolate can be toxic to pets and that certain plants can make them sick.  However, there are many easily-swallowed, dangerous items found in the home and certain hazardous issues that pet owners should consider when providing a safe environment for... Read More

The Power of Pink

Courageous cancer survivors make a fashion statement to save lives! Some might say that a visible bra strap is a major fashion faux pas. And, certainly, wearing a bra as a top would be downright risqué! Well, how about wearing a pink bra on top of your shirt? You won’t see this curious fashion statement on New York’s Fashion Week runways. However, during October, you will see... Read More

Real Estate Savvy – The Truth about Short Sales…

By now we have all heard the term “short sale,” but few know what it is and what it involves.  If you are a buyer, you likely think that you are going to get a great deal, but if you are a seller, you probably have a more negative, uncertain view.  So, instead of guessing what this process involves, let’s take a look at the facts. A short sale occurs when a seller sells... Read More

Alzheimer’s: How to Talk to Your Children about It

When a grandparent or other loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it can be the children of the family who are most affected. Here’s how to address their concerns and give them a meaningful role in the support process. When Jill Ormachea’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008, she had already prepared herself for the worst. After all, things hadn’t... Read More

Music Education Hums with Potential

Seven years ago, Merlyn Fernandez noticed that her 6-year-old son, Rafael, was having trouble focusing in school. A music lover, she decided to sign him up for piano lessons so he could work on his concentration, hoping that this outlet would provide discipline as well as fun. “It was a miracle to see the benefits…more than I could have expected,” she says. “He learned that... Read More

New Hope for Infants with Vascular Birthmarks

A new Mom shares her initial worries and the latest information on some common infant conditions. “Come here and take a look at this,” my son’s pediatrician said, as he motioned to two nurses standing outside of the exam room. Roughly one week earlier, I had discovered a small, flat, red line on the corner of my son’s lower left lip.  He was a voracious nurser, so I believed... Read More

Infant Swim Resource

A Program Making Strides in Water Safety for Infants and Young Children The horrifying image of a nine-month-old little boy who drowned in a drainage canal forty-six years ago still keeps Dr. Barnett awake at night. That’s why Dr. Barnett, a pioneer for children’s water safety and survivor skills, labors twenty hours each day, with only four hours of sleep per night. “I looked... Read More

Summer Outdoor Safety

Tips to safely swing, swim, and enjoy your s’mores Parents, when you tell your children to go out and play this summer, you may know that your yard is fenced with a child-proof lock to keep them close to home, but do you know if your own backyard is safe for them to play without injury? June is Home Safety Month and it’s the perfect time to take a careful look around your yard... Read More

Children Who Stutter…

Communication difficulties are merely the tip of the iceberg. Fear, depression, and loneliness can be the unspoken consequences of the disorder. The experts tell parents when concern is warranted. Imagine that you are a youngster who stutters. Now imagine the fear and panic of standing up in front of your class while attempting to introduce yourself or answer a question. You want... Read More

Women and Stress – Is It Your Hormones?

The Answer May Be on the Tip of Your Tongue Carol had been experiencing insomnia, headaches, irritability, night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and low energy. In addition, the 40 year old woman just couldn’t seem to lose those last few unwanted pounds.  Sound familiar? It’s All About Stress Women frequently blame their hormones for these symptoms, usually associated with... Read More

Anxiety in Teens

Your teen is constantly tense, irritable, and reluctant to engage in life. When should a parent take action? Jill, a high school senior,  stands in front of the mirror trying to tame the frizz in her hair. She fights the rising panic she feels every morning wondering how she can possibly keep her grades up for college, have time for dance class, volunteer at church, and still hang... Read More

PROM

Rated PG for mild language and a brief fight. In theaters 4/29. Ok for kids 9+ Several stories unfold at a high school as the big dance approaches in this Disney film about the precarious passage from high school to independence. For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her “perfect”... Read More

Parents…Create an Awesome, Treat-Filled Easter Basket

–Only you and the Easter Bunny will know it’s Healthy Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Blue #2, Isoamyl Acetate, Yellow #6, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, Dimethyl Sulphide, and Red #40…Would you feed your children foods containing chemicals like these?  That may be exactly what you’re doing if you give them a typical Easter basket! Are you aware that certain dyes have been linked... Read More

Tanning Myths and Sun Protection Test – How Does Your Teen Score?

OMG–Prom season and bathing suit weather are fast approaching…Let the tanning begin! Studies show that it’s become trendy for winter-white teenage girls to start making appointments to climb into tanning bed in pursuit of the perfect bronzed look to go with formal attire and bikinis. Research cites one in four fair skinned females between the ages of 13 and 19 years... Read More

Bedwetting

A parent’s nocturnal nemesis, but part of the potty training process for some kids Nocturnal enuresis is the medical term for bedwetting, or involuntary urination during sleep, and can be one of the most frustrating aspects of potty-training in children. It’s estimated that seven million kids in the United States wet their beds on a regular basis. Controlling bladder function... Read More

Want Weight Loss Success? Experts Say Go For Tiny, Simple Changes

We all know how to lose weight, but what really works? Over the past three decades, obesity rates in the U.S. have soared among all age groups, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While many weight-loss efforts have relied on the drastic elimination of certain foods and beverages, health professionals say it’s time to focus on the adoption of small... Read More