Holiday tips from GameStop & the ESRB

With holiday shopping here, it's likely that video games will be atop the wish lists of a lot of folks. Blockbuster titles, motion- and 3D-based game systems, tablet and mobile device gaming…all set to be big movers. But then come the questions: What title is best for my kid? Which games are family-friendly? What can I get if I’m shopping on a budget?

For this year, GameStop and the ESRB have teamed up on a number of parent-ready videos with different tips for picking perfect gifts for the gamer in your life, regardless of his or her age, likes and even your holiday budget.

The first 4 videos are now live and cover the ESRB ratings system, pre-owned/trade-ins, new titles and downloadable content (DLC):

• http://bit.ly/v5PftB

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

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Back to School Countdown: 7 days, 7 ways to make the most of the final week

7 Days, 7 Ways to Get Set for the New School Year
By: Kati Chevaux, organizational expert and editor at Cozi.com

Day 1 – Refresh the calendar

The school year is chock-full of calendar events: school functions, athletic events, classroom parties, library due dates, gym days, music lessons and parent-teacher conferences. Get a calendar to record everything so you aren’t tracking down flyers, paper schedules, emails and notes from school for your day-to-day planning. Cozi makes it easy with an online calendar that the whole family can access either online or via their mobile phone (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) so families have their to-do lists at their fingertips no matter where they are. Even better, you can sync your Cozi calendar with school district event calendars and your home calendars.Cozi lets you send reminders and agendas to keep everyone on the same page.

Day 2 – Inventory the kids’ closets

You don’t have to go on a huge shopping spree, but make sure each child has enough clothes for the first few weeks of school. Go through the kids’ closets, dressers and storage bins of clothes. Then make it fun by having a “fashion show” to find out which clothes fit which kids and who needs to buy what. This saves money and time since you aren’t heading out to buy new outfits for a child who can now wear an older sibling’s jeans that are still in good condition.

Day 3 – Create a morning checklist for the kids

Ever get frustrated that you have to remind the kids of seemingly basic tasks (brush your teeth, get dressed, get your backpack together) every single morning? Thought so! Put it all on a list and hand it over to the kids to use each morning. You can stop nagging because the responsibility of completing the list becomes the child’s. Just don't allow play time or TV time until the tasks are done. (Here's our morning checklist on Cozi: http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/school-morning-checklist)

Day 4 – Set up the time-to-go area

This is for backpacks, homework projects, shoes, coats, lunch sacks and anything else besides the clothes on their back needed to get out the door. Have the kids ALWAYS store these items in the time-to-go area and make sure it’s all there before they go to bed. It might take some time to get everyone in the habit, but getting out the door without a last-minute scramble for the hat your son can't leave without is well worth it.

Day 5 – Set up the homework routine

Will there be a dedicated homework area? When will homework get done – right after school, anytime before bed or in the morning before school for early birds? Letting the kids know what you expect for where, when and how homework gets done means fewer daily struggles over the task.

Day 6 – Make a list of favorite family meals

With summer’s end comes more structure to the evening schedule. One of the best things you can do to make the daily dinner decision easier is to keep a list of go-to meals that are easy to make and the whole family loves. Go a step further and plan out two weeks of family dinners so you don’t have to decide each day what’s for dinner during those busy first weeks of school. And you’ll end up with a treasure chest of ideas for the future when 5 o’clock rolls around and you haven’t a clue what to make.

Day 7 – Decide what you’ll do with schoolwork and art

Otherwise, you might end up with huge bins of papers and art projects that you couldn’t bring yourself to throw out the day they came home. Some ideas: keep one piece of art or school item for each child each week, use one container for the year and limit what you save to what fits in the container, display new art as it comes home in easy-to-use frames or with clips.

About CoziCozi is a free Web and mobile service that simplifies busy family life. With Cozi, families have the tools to manage schedules and activities with an online calendar, track grocery lists,shopping lists and to do lists, organize household chores, and share family moments with relatives and friends—all with one solution. Families can access Cozi from any computer at home or at work, and can get their grocery list, shopping list, to do list, schedule andmessages on any mobile phone. Located in Seattle, Wash., Cozi was founded by veterans of Microsoft, Expedia and Amazon with a vision for creating technology tuned to the family. Cozi has over 3 million registered family members, and is available for free at www.cozi.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Tips to Enjoy the Outdoor Activities this Summer!

REI (a national outdoor gear and clothing retailer), is partnering to host the National Wildlife Federation’s 7^th annual Great American Backyard Campout®. The Great American Backyard Campout, encourages families to open the door and sleep under the stars in their backyards or a local park. Over 180,000 families participated in REI’s Family Adventure programs last year, so this is a great way to jump in on the fun this summer.

 

In honor of the Great American Backyard Campout, REI is sharing a helpful list of camping tips by its' very own Green Vests (outdoor activity experts).

CAMPING TIPS:

Before an Overnight Trip:

• Practice camping at home: If your kids are outdoor newbies, pitch a tent in the backyard or even inside your home. Let them hang out in it and sleep in it so they become comfortable with a new sleeping environment.
• Take a trial run: Before your overnighter, try a family day outing at a close-to-home park. Spend a half-day or so at a lakeshore or park and see how your kids react to extended outdoor excursions.
• Take notes: Write down reminders for future trips: "Pack more sunscreen." "Bring long pants." "Leave bongos home."

Preparing for a Trip:

• Be enthusiastic: Why should kids get fired-up about an outdoor adventure if you're not?
• Involve your kids: Make trip planning a family affair. Ask kids for ideas of possible things to do or see at your destination. Take their input seriously.
• Kids as packers: Give children the responsibility to pack their own gear at home (using a list you've created). A parent should double-check a child's packing job before leaving home.
• Keeping kids (somewhat) organized: Have your kids pack every personal item in a duffel bag and encourage them to always return those items to that duffel. ("Mom, where's my paddleball set?" "Look in your duffel, dear.") Each child's duffel should be a different color for easy identification.
• Favorite toys: Let kids bring some of their favorite playthings so the campsite doesn't feel entirely foreign to them. Need ideas for new toys? View our suggestions later in this article.
• Friends are valuable: It can be fun for kids to camp with another family that has kids. Your kids may get bored with adults after a while. With playmates, they could be happily occupied for days.
• Bring bikes: Bikes are handy in a campground, so consider bringing a few along. If it's a long way from your campsite to the beach or play area, it's faster (and more fun) to use a bike instead of walking or firing up your vehicle. Bikes keep kids entertained, too.
• Check fire restrictions: Planning on a campfire? Before you leave home, make some calls to determine if campfires are permitted at your chosen campground. If not, make sure everyone in the family knows in advance. There's no bigger disappointment to a kid who has packed all the s'more fixings than to discover that a burn ban is in effect.

At the Campground:

• Exude a positive vibe: Family-camping rule No. 1: Be prepared to cope with inconvenience. Everything is in a different place. The bathroom is no longer down the hall, it's 6 campsites down the path. As an adult, you must lead by example with an upbeat, can-do attitude.
• Organize: Establish fixed locations for important items. "The forks and spoons are in the blue tub." "Flashlights are in the green stuff sack."
• Then stay organized: Remind everyone to always return items to their established locations so others can find them. If you're especially industrious, create a reference list of where-to-find-it locations. Tape it some place obvious.
• Keep everyone oriented: Help kids memorize the number of your campsite or point out landmarks ("We're 4 sites from the amphitheater") to help them remember its location.
• Make kids feel important: Kids like to feel important and involved. Assign them some meaningful camp chores, such as gathering firewood or collecting water from the pump. Recognize their contributions with praise or a treat (or both).
• Be safe: Make sure your kids always carry a whistle (teach them to blow it if they become separated from you) and have easy access to a flashlight or headlamp. Attach a lanyard to both the whistle and light and tie them to one of the child's belt loops.
• Wildlife: Ask park rangers about wildlife activity in the area you are visiting. As the adult, you need to take the lead and understand any precautions necessary (such as proper food storage or how to react during an up-close encounter) for safely coexisting with wildlife. Educate your children about the importance of not feeding wild animals (it negatively alters their food-gathering patterns) and treating wildlife with respect and caution so everyone stays safe.

When Outdoors, Be Outdoors:

• Make the most of nature: Look for wildlife. Check out bugs. Examine rocks. Identify birds, flowers, clouds, constellations. Lead kids on a rock scramble. Show interest in things that interest them. Bring a field guide to help you identify and learn about the things they find.
• Be active, stay loose: Try to keep your kids active without following a regimented schedule. If they're entertained by skipping rocks on the water, give them time to perfect the multiple-skip fling.
• Attend ranger talks: If you're camping at a state or national park, attend the ranger's evening talk. Ask staff if the park offers a junior-naturalist program or other kid-focused activities.
• Geocaching: A GPS-guided treasure hunt engages kids physically and mentally. Check our link to geocaching to see if any caches are hidden in the area you'll be visiting.
• Share time together: "Hey, mom, remember when we saw that deer?" Great memories are one of the great payoffs of a camping trip. Come home with the sort of stories that can only be created outdoors. Shakespeare must have been camping when he wrote, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

Fun Stuff You Can Bring:

• Paddleball set: At one of our photo shoots, the kids accompanying our crew couldn't put this game down.
• Marshallow launcher: Traditionally you toast them. Now you can shoot them at one other, too. Imagine: The common marshmallow, transformed into a summertime snowball.
• Animal-shaped flashlights: Leapin' lizards! Sharks, orcas and toucans, too.
• Kits, discs and flying toys: If it flies, it's probably a heap of fun. Our faves include lighted discs and Djubi balls.
• Make ice cream: Have some low-tech fun (with delicious results) with a boot-around plastic ball from Camper's Dream.
• Stream Machine: Camping in warm weather? If you can tolerate a little flying water, this is a kid's ultimate way to cool off.
• The glowing, multicolor flying disc: Whoa . . . it's psychedelic, man. Illuminated with LEDs, this disc changes colors while you play.
• Foot bags: So simple, so entertaining.
• Educational games: What? You haven't played "Pass the Pigs" or "Why Knot?" Well, why not?

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

New parents are filled with joy and excitement upon bringing home their newborn, yet this time can also be overwhelming. To help address the anxiety that new moms face during this time, Playtex partnered with Dr. Laura Jana, a renowned pediatrician and co-author of the award-winning, newly released second edition of the book, Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. Here, Dr. Jana provides some simple tips to help new parents adjust to parenthood and the important role they play in feeding their newborns.

·     Go with the Flow with the Feedings:  Getting babies to follow some semblance of a feeding schedule is subject of great interest to many parents of newborns. It helps to remember that not everyone eats the same thing, in the same amount, at the same time, day in and day out--and babies are no exception! Prepare for a reasonable amount of variation in the amount your baby eats as you establish a routine with your baby. Focus your attention on making sure that your newborn is waking up every few hours to feed and is getting enough to eat to gain weight and grow as expected. 

·     Babies, Bubbles and Burping:  Gas, colicky symptoms and spit-up are some of the most common feeding challenges new moms face. If you find yourself faced with a gassy baby, try burping your baby halfway through the feeding as well as after.  Also try to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows while feeding by responding to your baby’s cues that he’s hungry before he really starts crying to keep him from swallowing extra air.  To further reduce colicky symptoms, gas and spit-up, consider using a bottle that doesn’t interfere with an infant’s natural suck, swallow and breathing patterns or cause the baby to swallow extra air. A bottle system like Playtex^® Drop-Ins^® that allows babies to suck more naturally and without extra air -similar to how they would when breastfeeding - can help make the bottle feeding experience smoother and less likely to cause gas, colic and spit up.

·     Prevent Nipple Confusion:  While most new parents have heard of (and often dread) the words “nipple confusion,” many are not actually clear on what nipple confusion really is. Simply put, some babies adjust to the use of an artificial nipple better than others. For those babies who will be going back and forth between the breast and the bottle, the potential “confusion” between sucking the two types of nipples can pose a bit of a problem. Look for a bottle with a nipple that allows for age-appropriate flow and is designed to more closely resemble the breast – helping babies avoid any unnecessary confusion and thus facilitating a much smoother transition to successful bottle-feeding. 

·     Moms on the Go: If you know you’re going back to work or traveling, try introducing the bottle several weeks before, so you can address any challenges in advance.  Experiment with different bottles and nipples until you find the one that works best for you and your baby. Using a bottle that allows your baby to continue using a natural sucking motion typically makes it that much easier to switch between bottle and breastfeeding.

·     Decrease Stress:  A new baby and a significant dose of sleep-deprivation is understandably enough to make new parenthood seem a bit overwhelming. To help manage this stress, accept any and all offers of help when it comes to cooking, cleaning, and otherwise maintaining some semblance of order in your new daily routines and don’t be afraid to ask rather than waiting for an offer. The support of a hands-on spouse or family member is important, and for babies who are bottle-fed, simply having someone else take over a single feeding can also afford you a longer uninterrupted stretch of sleep or a couple of very valuable hours in which to feel more caught up and in control.

·     Think Outside the House: There is a lot of advice out there about taking your newborn out of the house with you. While planning your day around your newborn’s anticipated feeding schedule may not always go as planned, it is worth a try. You may increase your odds of success by venturing out just after your baby’s just nursed or taken a bottle, has a clean diaper, and is content. In addition, going out for errands during off-hours or in less crowded places is also a good idea as you and your newborn get the hang of heading out of the house together.

·     Go Pro:  Your pediatrician, a lactation consultant, or other health professionals can all serve as valuable expert resources as you go through many firsts with your new baby.  When it comes to new parenthood, there’s no such thing as a stupid question, and every pediatrician wants to help make feeding your baby, along with all of the other daily activities of parenthood, successful and enjoyable.

For more helpful information on caring for your new baby from Dr. Jana and Playtex, check out her book, Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality and visit www.Playtexbaby.com.

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

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Tips for Parents and Students for College ACT Test Success from Virtual Nerd Expert Tutor Leo Shmuylovich

The ACT college entrance exam is December 11 and many students are feeling extremely pressured as this test can be the deciding factor as to which college or university they will attend.  Test-taking anxiety and high stress levels are common this time of year and expert tutor and co-founder of the “Parent Tested Parent Approved” interactive tutoring website Virtual Nerd, Leo Shmuylovich, is here to help.

Leo offers the following steps for successful ACT testing:

1)        GUESSING IS OK - First and foremost, remember that there is NO PENALTY for guessing. No matter what, make sure you at fill in a bubble for every single question. That means you have to make sure that you leave yourself enough time to bubble in an answer on every question (even the ones you didn't have time to read).

2)        ELIMINATE WRONG ANSWERS- You’ll have a better chance at guessing right if you first eliminate some answers, so when you a read a question, read the answers too! You’ll be surprised how many answers you can eliminate if you just take the time to read them over and apply them to the problem. Process of elimination is a technique that tutors really focus on for ACT and SAT.

3)        PLUG ANSWERS CHOICES INTO THE QUESTION - One way to get intuition about eliminating answer choices is to plug in every single answer in a math problem and check to see if it works. So if the problem is asking you to solve for a variable in an equation, just plug in the different answers and the one that works is the right answer! When you’re taking the test there are some tricks to plugging in the answer choices, and ACT tutors love teaching those to students. The key though is to get comfortable working with the answer choices, because then you’re not just taking the test, but you’re taking the test apart!

4)        FOCUS ON CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS - Diagrams and charts are also really important parts of the ACT. If you have a geometry problem without a diagram, then drawing one yourself, and keeping it to scale, can be a great trick for quickly figuring out the problem. If there is a diagram already drawn, use the diagram to estimate what they’re asking about. On the ACT, diagrams are almost always to scale. When you see a chart or graph, especially in the science section, you should get excited, because for the most part the problems in that section will be based completely on just interpreting the chart or the graph. You can basically skip the written description! ACT tutors often tell their students that 1/3 of the science section can be completely mastered if you just get good at interpreting charts and graphs. So when you’re practicing the science section, focus on charts!

5)        TIME MANAGEMENT IS KEY - There are also some tips to keep in mind for time-management. One of the best things for time management is to stay calm as you take the test, and that’s why I always recommend that students practice without time restrictions. That way they are able to focus on the test and can overcome their fear of it. Then, we can add time pressure back in gradually, and that helps deal with issues of time management. Also, it’s a good idea to skip around the test, and pick off the questions that are easiest for you to do. If something is taking too long, try to eliminate an answer choice and just move on to other stuff. You can always come back at the end, and remember, don’t leave any question behind, bubble in every question!

6)        SEEK HELP IN WEAK AREAS- So far these tips have been all about cracking the test, dissecting it and using its tricks and structure to your advantage. It’s important to remember though that the test does rely on some basic math and science knowledge. As you practice taking tests, keep track of the problems that you find confusing, problems where the math was tricky or hard to remember. Make sure you seek out help for those topics, and strengthen your math and science foundations. Tutors and teachers can help you with this, and a lot of online resources exist as well that can help you strengthen your fundamentals and be fully prepared for the ACT!


ABOUT LEOLeo Shmuylovich just completed his Ph.D in Physics from Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently on a year leave from medical school to help launch the company he co-founded, Virtual Nerd (http://www.virtualnerd.com/). He has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, having graduated Magna Cum Laude in three years—and he was named a Merrill Presidential Scholar, one of the university’s highest honors. As a tutor and lecturer for The Princeton Review, he taught MCAT Physics and Biology classes, as well as SAT Math classes, to hundreds of students. He’s also worked individually with students on SAT, SAT II, AP exams, and science and math courses at both the high school and college level.

FACTS ABOUT THE ACT
http://www.act.org/news/aapfacts.html

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

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15 Travel Packing Tips For Suitcases Of All Sizes

photo courtesy of washingtonpost.com

Packing can be harder than it seems...especially if you are packing for more than one! Women want an outfit for every mood that strikes; men bring too many toys. I wanted to share with you some packing tips from Hotels.com Travel Expert Nicole Hockin. Nicole is author of the Travel Smart Blog, which provides advice for travelers on a regular basis. Today, she posted on packing tips.

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Wondering how to avoid wrinkles in your suitcase or simply how to fit it all in there? Here are a bunch of helpful tips for packing a suitcase whether traveling for business or pleasure.

1. If you are flying, check the baggage fees and weight requirements BEFORE you pack. I always weigh my bag as I’m packing to stay within the usual 50 lb allowance.
2. Wear bulkier items on the plane so you have more room in your bag.
3. Put your name on both the inside and outside of your bag in case your bag is lost; also, a copy of your itinerary or destination contact information inside the bag will make it easier for an airline employee to find you.
4. Pack a day’s worth of clothes in your carry on. If your bags do become lost you won’t be stuck frantically trying to find something to wear.
5. Pack a swimsuit in your carry on, too. If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll be able to hit the pool when everybody else is waiting for their bags to be delivered to their cabins.
6. Pack chronologically. Place the items you will wear first on top (usually pajamas) and leave the last day outfits to the bottom of the bag.
7. Pack things inside of other things. Women’s shoes inside of men’s shoes, jewelry inside a pair of shoes, etc.
8. Get a small laundry bag. I happen to like the one at  http://www.rojeti.com/.  I hang it in the closet and it’s a great way to keep your room picked up and to separate the clean and dirty clothes.
9. Use plastic baggies. Fill them with anything: jewelry, toiletries that could leak, and your undergarments. For the undergarments, I usually do one bag per traveler. Be sure to squeeze out the extra air. Then at the end of the trip you simply empty them straight into the laundry.
10. Do more with less. Can you get multiple wears out of a pair of pants or skirt paired with different blouses? Can you get away with one pair of shoes? I can’t – but let’s say two! Leave anything that only goes with one other item at home.
11. Hang your clothes up as soon as you can. Save yourself the trouble of ironing and hang your clothes up immediately.  You can always turn the shower on hot and hang the clothes behind the bathroom door to steam away the wrinkles.
12. You will save space and avoid creases by packing pants 1st in the suitcase. Lay them across the length of the suitcase with the waist to one side and the legs hanging over the other side.  Layer the next pair on top with the waist at the opposite side (on top of the previous pair’s legs).  Once pants are in, continue packing clothes on top of them. Fold the legs in on top of your clothes at the end of the packing.
13. Use plastic dry cleaning bags between shirts/blouses and dresses to prevent wrinkling.
14. Always put plastic on top of your clothes before zipping the suitcase shut. It will protect your clothes from shoes that you may want to layer on top. And, if the suitcase gets unexpectedly wet while traveling, it will also keep your clothing dry.
15. Do NOT pack wrapped gifts.  Pack the wrapping paper/gift bag/tissue paper and a baggie with the necessary tape/pen/scissors separately and then wrap the gift upon arrival.  You will either be disappointed because the wrapping was damaged or that TSA opened the gift for inspection purposes.

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Tips on Halloween Candy and Avoiding Tooth Decay

Tips on Halloween Candy and Avoiding Tooth Decay

By Dr. Margaret Mitchell

Kids love candy and Halloween is a great time to celebrate that love. However, what is a parent to do if they are worried about tooth decay from all this candy consumption? Candy usually contains sugar, which the bacteria that cause tooth decay dine on. So eating a food loaded with carbohydrate or sugar feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Consequently, to avoid negative impacts from candy, we have to do two things: 1) Avoid excessive consumption of these sugary treats and 2) Lessen the amount of time the sugar is present in the mouth.

As the owner of Mitchell Dental Spa, a dental spa facility in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, I’d like to offer the following tips to for protecting your kids teeth at Halloween.

• Examine your child’s candy to see if it meets your approval.
• It is okay for your child to eat any candy that you approve of, but to help lessen the chance for tooth decay, have them brush as soon as possible (after eating the candy). If a child or adult brushes right after, the impact of the candy on the teeth is minimal.
• Avoid sticky candy such as taffy, gummy bears, caramel, etc.  Sticky Candy adheres to teeth and causes decay
• Kids can eat candy ANYTIME, there is not a good time of day/night to eat candy
• Prior to Halloween, visit your dentist to have sealants put into the child’s teeth grooves
• If brushing soon after eating is not possible, then try the following:
• Consume the candy with a meal. The increased saliva production while eating will help wash the sweet off the teeth.
• Rinse the mouth with water.
• Chew a sugarless gum (especially those containing xylitol) after snacking on candy. The increased saliva from chewing will help wash the sugar off the teeth and xylitol gums help control the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• Eat the candy quickly in one sitting to decrease the amount of time it is contact with the teeth. Avoid eating any candy slowly over an extended time or over multiple sittings. Recent studies have shown that length of time eating a sweet can be more harmful than the amount of sweet consumed. This means hard candies, breath mints, etc. (long residence time in the mouth) can actually be worse for your teeth than a chocolate candy bar (shorter residence time in the mouth).
• Avoid sugary sodas.  They are: 1) Loaded with sugar (often over 10 teaspoons per 12 ounce serving), 2) Are acidic enough to dissolve away tooth enamel, and 3) Are often sipped for long periods of time, resulting in teeth that are being bathed with sugar and acid almost continuously throughout the day.

For more information, please visit www.MitchellDentalSpa.com.

About Mitchell Dental Spa

The philosophy of the Mitchell Dental Spa is over-the-top dentistry combined with over-the-top amenities.  Unlike other cosmetic dental offices which only have dental services, the Mitchell Dental Spa is a full-service facility offering dentistry along with massages, facials, and skin rejuvenation. Complimentary 10-15 minute spa treatments are included with every visit and this is offered up along with refreshments, a friendly staff and world-class professional service.  The Mitchell Dental Spa is located at 845 North Michigan Avenue in Suite 922 East in Chicago’s Water Tower Place. For more information, please call (312) 642-1014 or visit http://www.mitchelldentalspa.com.

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

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A Healthy Parent's Guide to Keeping Feet in Tip-Top Shape!

The premier event of New York runners, the New York City Marathon, is one of the world's great road races. Drawing more than 85,000 applicants the race attracts world-class professional athletes, driven to cross the finish line in Central Park. Running is a great cardio workout for your body, but pounding the pavement over the course of a long run can be extremely harsh on feet. Every stride taken while running applies a force of 3-4 times your body weight across knees, ankles and feet. During a 10-mile run, feet make 15,000 strides, which means thousand of pounds of force are placed on the feet of runner’s during the New York City Marathon!

NYC podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong is one of the premier cosmetic foot surgeons in the country. He serves as the Director of Surgery at NYC FootCare and is on the Board of Directors at Gramercy Park Surgery Center. Dr. Zong offers foot related advice and tips to runners participating in this year’s New York City Marathon, for keeping feet in tip-top shape and feeling like a champion at the finish line.

Keep Your Feet in Tip-Top Shape With 10 These Tips from Dr. Zong:

1. Stretching. Stretching primes the body for the strenuous activity. Stretch before and after running. Concentrate on the calves, hamstrings, quads and feet.

2. Shoes. Invest in a good pair of running shoes. They provide specific impact support that running demands. There is a variety of sneakers for every runner at retail outlets like www.shoes.com. If feet sweat heavily during running try putting talcum powder in your shoes to keep feet dry.

3. Orthodics. If you have arch or heel pain, you may be a perfect candidate for orthodics. Visit a podiatrist to inquire about purchasing orthodics for your shoes.

4. Socks. Cotton socks absorb moisture. For a long run like a marathon, your feet may require a synthetic sock (containing acrylic), which helps alleviate moisture from your skin. Make sure that the seams of your socks are not in an area of pressure, which can lead to a lot of pain. If you cannot find a comfortable location for the seams try turning socks inside out.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Medications. Do not pop Advil or Aleve before a race to prevent aches that may arise during the race. Save this treatment for the day after the race. Taking anti-inflammatory medications will mask any pain that is felt during the race and can lead to more serious injury. Pain is a valuable feedback mechanism that you need to pay attention to during a long run.

6. Groom Toenails. Make sure your toenails are not long before a race. They should not extend past the tip of your toe and should be shaped in a straight cut. If you do not properly groom your toenails before a marathon you run the risk of developing an ingrown nail or even a fungal nail.

7. Toes. If you have a tendency to develop corns and callouses on the tips of your toes try adding padding in your sneakers underneath your toes. If your toes or toenails turn black you may have developed subungual hematoma (bleeding under the nails). This may cause nails to fall off. Keep the area clean and dry to prevent infection and seek treatment from your podiatrist.

8. Blisters. Blisters are the results of excessive friction between shoes and feet. Take preventative steps by making sure shoes fit properly and are laced up so that they are form fitting to your feet. If you are prone to blisters apply Vaseline to problem areas prior to your run or try padded “blister proof” socks like those made by Thorlo. Additionally, applying moleskin to problem areas also prevents blisters from forming.

9. Visit Your Podiatrist. Dr. Zong’s patients who run in the New York City Marathon make appointments the entire week before the race to get rid of corns, callouses, get moleskin, have their orthodics padded, and in some cases receive cortisone injections for their heel spurs (plantar fasciitis) so they can run in their dream event.

10. Finish Line. When the race is complete Dr. Zong says practice RICE:

• Rest your feet.
• Ice helps keep inflammation and swelling down.
• Compression with ACE wraps will also reduce swelling.
• Elevation will help your feet rest up for the next big run.

About Dr. Oliver Zong
Dr. Oliver Zong is a podiatrist in Manhattan’s influential Financial District. As one of the premier cosmetic foot surgeons in the country, he serves as the Director of Surgery at NYC Foot Care and is on the Board of Directors at Gramercy Park Surgery Center . Besides traditional and cosmetic foot surgery, Dr. Zong is also an accomplished cryosurgeon and co-founder of the Podiatric Cryosurgery Center of New York. He is an attending physician at New York Hospital Downtown, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Cabrini Medical Center, and Gramercy Park Surgery Center. An accomplished foot surgeon, Dr. Zong is credited with coining the terms, “Foot Makeover”, “Foot Facelift”, “The Toe Tuck”, and “High Heel Feet”. For more information please visit www.NYCFOOTCARE.com.

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

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Consumer Money Resource Bills.com Shares Tips for an All-Cash Holiday

Low consumer confidence and less than expected back-to-school spending are reliable indicators that consumers plan to be conservative with their wallets this holiday shopping season. To help those planning to shop on a budget, consumer money resource Bills.com today shared tips for an all-cash holiday shopping season.

“The holidays are a difficult time for those on a budget because they want to share in the season with loved ones, but they must also watch every dollar closely,” said Ethan Ewing, president of Bills.com. “The best way to avoid headaches this year is to plan for an all-cash holiday. It will leave you with no debt but plenty of holiday cheer.”

To begin saving for an all-cash holiday, Bills.com recommends a two-pronged approach:

1. Begin Saving Now:

Identify the ways in which you can reduce your monthly spending now to put money away towards your holiday budget later.

Dial back your cell phone plan:
By reducing your plan to the next tier of minutes or limiting the number of texts you send for the next three months you can save a substantial amount of money. Rely more on email or a landline for this short period while you save for the holidays.

Brown bag it:
Eating out every day for lunch can lead to big expenses. Packing a lunch at home uses a fraction of the dollars and can save hundreds of dollars over the next three months.

Grab office freebies:
For those in the know, the office provides some simple ways to save money every day. Drink free kitchen coffee instead of buying a latte or patronize the water cooler instead of buying a bottle of water.

Bike it or bus it:
Put the car in the garage for the next few months in favor of your bike or public transportation. In addition to saving money on gas and parking expenses, you could even get some extra exercise.

Cut the cord:
By opting for free online content or low dollar subscription services like Netflix instead of hefty monthly cable or satellite television bills, consumers can save hundreds of dollars between now and the holiday season.

A coupon lifestyle:
Break out the coupons to shave money off your grocery bill. Search online and in the newspaper for ways to find additional savings.

Find cheaper entertainment:
Consider Redbox for new DVD releases instead of heading to the movie theater. For avid readers, save the cost of a new book by visiting your local library.

Automate and forget it:
To make sure that this savings remains saved, open up an automatic savings account. Craft a budget to determine your potential savings and then have it automatically taken from your paycheck or checking account.

2. Shop Smart:

With cash in hand, you can use these strategies to better handle your holiday wish list, saving you time, money and stress to better enjoy the holiday season.

Make a list and set a budget:
List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage.

Buy early:
Avoid the holiday crush by shopping for gifts early. You’ll often find that they can be cheaper this far in advance and that hot gift items are still on the shelf.

Look for price-matching policies:
Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor’s prices. Talk to your local retailers to see if they can match or beat an online price.

Go online:
Take advantage of price comparison websites and mobile shopping applications. If you decide to buy from an online merchant, keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind.

Beware package deals:
Carefully consider bargain offers that are based on the purchase of additional merchandise (i.e. “Buy one, get one free” or “Free gift with purchase”). If you don’t need the extra item, it’s not a deal.

Layaway is new again:
Take advantage of store layaway plans. It’s an interest-free way to buy larger items this year and also make sure that the hot gift you want is still in stock.

Leave the credit card at home:
Now that you’ve saved up a large cash reserve and purchased most of your items already, be sure to leave the credit card at home for any last minute store visits. You’ll avoid temptation and stay on budget with only your debit card or checkbook.

Ship early:
If you’re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping. If you wait until the last minute, you may pay a hefty price for express or overnight shipping.

“Plan to save now and shop smart for an all cash, no credit holiday that will help you avoid a holiday financial hangover,” continued Mr. Ewing.

For more tips on holiday shopping or to ask a Bills.com financial expert your money question, visit http://www.bills.com/.

About Bills.com
Bills.com is the leading resource for free and personalized money help. Founded by a group of financial experts dedicated to helping consumers save time, money and stress, Bills.com is designed to give consumers confidence in making money decisions. The site offers useful information, powerful tools, and real money experts to give consumers the information they need in the way that they want it.


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Family Impact Parenting Products

About the ProductsAre Your Kids Driving You Nuts?

The Are Your Kids Driving You Nuts? is a 115-page parenting resource manual. It teaches you how to avoid parent traps like Control, Anger, Rage, Arguing, Lying, etc. Dr. James Jones has a down-to-earth approach that teaches the principles of correct parenting with humor and common sense. You will find practical, easy to understand solutions to many common parenting problems--and they really work!

My Take on the BookA humorous, but insightful book on the pitfalls that many of us fall into as parents and what we need to be thinking about if we are to survive. I know that I have definitely struggled with a number of the issues that Dr. Jones talks about in the book, and the nice thing about this book is that it does not make you feel stupid for having difficulty. On the contrary, Dr. Jones make you feel empowered and willing to take on a new challenge one at a time. This will definitely be a book that I will be reading over and over as I make the change myself for the better!

If you have an interest in this book you can find it on Amazon!

The 3 Nevers

Single CD

$35.00

Dr. Jones most popular CD. Find out how to immediately improve your family relationships.

 

My Take on the CD

I was given a sample of this audio CD. I was impressed by how straight-forward, humorous and self-effacing the speaker was. He made me think twice about some of the practices that I was using with my own child and I can say that I would definitely have listened to the whole lecture if I had been given the chance. Family impact offers 16 full length CD's for families on a number of issues. If all of the other lectures follow the same mantra of this, I would highly recommend that you also listen in to gain some great insights into your own parenting skills.

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

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