“Want dat-one di-pah?” Spliggle tells me as he points to which diaper or pull-up he wishes to use. (And then the other day, we found him in big-boy underwear, much to our surprise. Sadly, that didn’t last long.) He tells me when he wants to be changed, and runs away when he doesn’t.

He eats a lot. He drinks a lot. And thus, we go through lots of diapers!

Spliggle is opinionated. He is independent. He is on the brink of being toilet-trained, but when he isn’t interested, he is stubborn. And when he isn’t thinking “potty,” then he certainly won’t do anything about it. And so, overnight is a critical point. He doesn’t have “potty” on the mind as he sleeps...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Spliggle has two favorite DVDs right now. The first is “Happy Feet,” because the Cat has an obsession with penguins, and Splig likes to follow along.

But the second is “Go Potty Go!” which we received free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

As many of my readers know, I have a six year old son who was diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder at the age of four. What some of you also know is that prior to being a parent, I did neuroscience research. Neuropharmacology was one of my favorite classes in graduate school, followed close behind by things like biochemistry and oncology.

It is not surprising that I would jump at the chance to review Vaccinated. My scientific background is curious for the history and fascinating puzzles to be solved, and my parent-of-a-child-with-autism viewpoint wonders how the “vaccine controversy” will be presented in a pro-vaccine book...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Husband used to be addicted to Diet Coke. Around the same time, he was also very enamored with “Emergen-C” and “Airborne.” He has since moved on to Propel vitamin-enhanced flavored water.

And so, when the Parent Bloggers Network gave me a free-for-review batch of Nozin, I had to laugh, since this is the sort of thing in which Husband would be very interested...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

It is no secret that I am trying to sell my house. And of course, an on-the-market house must be a clean house. Right around the time we decided to move, the Parent Bloggers Network enabled me to receive a free-for-review bottle of Kaboom Shower, Tub, and Tile Cleaner and their Never-Scrub Continuous Toilet Cleaning System.

The timing could not be better. I needed clean: fast and easy! And Kaboom claimed to do just that...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Surely by now you realize the sun-scorched look is out, right? People blessed with rich hues in their skin are beautiful, but those of us with pasty white thighs should rejoice in their ghost-attracting abilities, too, right?

Always wear sunscreen. It doesn’t matter your natural color. Protect your skin...Via the Parent Bloggers Network, I received a variety of products free-for-review from KINeSYS...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Junior high is a tough time. I don’t think anyone would deny that. The implications of the awkward onset of puberty and the questions of sexuality, changing bodies, and raging hormones continue onto high-school and college.

A few years before I got my period, my mom gave me a book by a rather conservative author. I don’t think she really recognized it for what it was: a condemnation of the female body and emphasis that sex was something done only when the husband wanted it done. I didn’t finish the book because I was in tears during the first couple chapters. My mom took it away, figured out what it really said, and threw it in the trash.

Alas, there was no replacement. I learned things only via the rather dry biological descriptions in sex-ed, but didn’t get the real scoop on what “everyone else” was doing. What is really normal for a teenager: in looks, in function, in level of “experience” in the sexual arena?

Twenty years later, I received a free-for-review copy of Girlology: Hang-Ups, Hook-Ups, and Holding Out via the Parent Bloggers Network.

Shortly after the Cat was born, we moved from NYC to CA. I think I was wearing worn-out loafers or something. I doubt I had a pair of athletic shoes to my name. But, I was eager to get back in shape and had visions of walking to the store, baby in stroller. And so, I went to TJ Maxx and was thrilled to see a bright-white pair of Tommy Hilfiger sneakers that fit me.

I still had images of junior high in my head in which everyone wore bright-white sleek Reebok shoes, but my wide hobbit-feet could only accommodate these puffy ivory ones that looked like knock-offs, even though they were “real.”

So back to the Hilfiger: I thought I was cool. But that was nearly seven years ago. Since then, I’ve worn them to death. Several times I considered replacing them, but figured they still looked okay and felt fine. (In reality, even if old shoes feel comfortable, they aren’t providing the appropriate support.)

My old shoes took me through the Cat’s post-partum period, plus Spliggle’s pregnancy and aftermath. Last year I wore them while losing 20 pounds by walking around my local reservoir. I have since gained 10 back, but was ready to hit the pavement again when I heard that the Parent Bloggers Network and RYKÄ were teaming up to enable active bloggers to try out some spiffy shoes.

The familiar orange-pink swirled envelope came in the mail last week. This time, enclosed within was a DVD offering a free trial of NoodleNet, a safe way for kids to browse the internet. Sometimes it will be a fabric softener sample, or a DVD of a new television show, such as when "Meerkat Manor" came out.

I still have fond memories of the show "Cover Shot," for which I voted on a "final shot" as one of the original VocalPoint members. I was in "the Club" so early in the game that I actually voted on the design of the envelopes in which VocalPoint sends their product samples, coupons, and announcements!

Why did I become a member?

My kids are pretty good at eating their veggies. The Cat loves to dip carrots (and sometimes celery) in ranch dressing. While the boys were big “Wonder Pets” fans, they ate celery pretty often. The Cat adores butternut squash and peas. Spliggle is less vegetable-happy, but will eat the plethora of meats the Cat shuns. There are definite holes in each of these kids’ diets, though.

Meanwhile, I like vegetables provided they are prepared well. In restaurants, I eagerly eat them up. But at home, the produce that looks beautiful in the store ends up rotting in my fridge as I run out of time to create something with them or they end up prepared rather blandly. I tend to get grand ideas about cooking something delicious, but then end up ordering pizza instead.

Husband and I have our favorite “fall back” meals, which are fine, but on repeat do not provide the nutritional range our family should have.

“Deceptively Delicious,” by Jessica Seinfeld, is a how-to in kitchen organization, meal planning, and - most famously – sneaking healthful ingredients into yummy food. I received this valuable resource free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network.

I’ll admit, I usually make two or perhaps three recipes from any given cookbook before I get bored and move to the next. Sure, recipes catch my eye, but then I forget, or I think it will be too hard, or I get lazy. Amazingly, I’ve made many recipes from Deceptively Delicious. And I know I’ll make more.

Gayle Weiswasser is hosting an online book club discussion of The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of the book so that I could join in. If any of you wish to ask the author your questions, please visit Gayle's place to submit them.

I have read "cancer books" (and blogs) before, but I have been lucky enough not to understand what it feels like to go through what Corrigan has. Sure, I have had a friend with cancer to whom I brought meals, and I've had abnormal moles removed in the name of preventing cancer. But my frame of reference is very different than people who have lived it.

But this isn't really a "cancer book." It is a memoir. It is a spirit-lifting, page-turning, comfort-inducing memoir. Did I just say "comfort" and "cancer" in the same paragraph?

When the Parent Bloggers Network offered me the opportunity to review The Ultimate TEA Diet, by Mark "Dr. Tea" Ukra, I thought it was going to be a "drink only tea, all the time" diet. Still, I was intrigued, so visited the website and discovered it is not a single-ingredient starvation diet. (Whew! - especially since I thought I didn't like tea. Turns out I just hadn't found one that I liked yet.)

I was eager to try out the book to learn more.

I had lost about 20 pounds in the early part of 2006 prompted by a "Biggest Loser" style challenge amongst the members of my mom's club. I came in second, winning some cash and some fuschia knock-off Prada sunglasses. But, as I noted later, the Cat's expulsion from Kindergarten and Spliggle becoming too active to sit patiently in the stroller (or be trusted as I exercised in the house) meant that my ability to carve out the time or method to exercise was stunted. I had plenty of excuses for why I wasn't cooking healthful meals, too.

I gained the weight back.

Fortunately, with both boys in school, my ability to exercise has picked up. I've gone "off and on" with walking or stationary biking. But my Coke Zero habit remained.

I took the opportunity to review The Ultimate TEA Diet as being a challenge: could I switch my Coke Zero for tea and lose weight?

I imagined myself putting together a neatly-organized progression of posts to accurately recap my feelings on Johnson & Johnson's all-expense-paid blogger outreach "Camp Baby;" however, as inspiration strikes at odd times, I think I'll just let things "spill out" where they may. Ahem

---

This morning as I walked around our local reservoir, I was a bit perturbed to see a size 000 woman (probably thinner than my already-too-thin boys) energetically power-walking with an eensy-weensy baby in a Baby Bjorn. My Baby Bjorn hurt my back after awhile, so I couldn't imagine exercising with my baby in it, but more than that I was astonished at how active (and thin!) this woman was post-partum. Sure, maybe she is not the one who actually gave birth, but let's pretend for a moment.

As I watched her quickly stride out of my sight, I recalled how the nurse giving us the tour of the maternity ward laughed when I asked if I could walk the four NYC blocks home after giving birth. After all, she was talking about how the hospital requires everyone to have carseats before being allowed home. I wondered if I could be exempt because we wouldn't be taking a car.

"You'll feel as though you were hit by a bus," she laughed. "You'll be taking a car home!"

And indeed, I did. I took a taxi home with my mom (the shortest taxi ride in the driver's history, I am certain,) and Husband walked home in the rain with the newborn Cat in a Baby Bjorn.

Nearly two years ago, the Cat was asked to leave a private kindergarten. Among the unacceptable behaviors they cited, the most problematic was that he was pinching his classmates. When his teacher asked why, he couldn't answer. She asked me, but I didn't know either. The Cat hadn't pinched anyone before attending this school. I tried to get information about what was happing just prior to the pinch. Finally, we determined that the pinches occurred during times of transition.

One particularly problematic afternoon started because the other K-1 class came over to visit. When they left, the Cat pinched a classmate instead of saying "goodbye." This snowballed into a situation where the Cat couldn't explain his actions, so became more distraught when the teacher continually asked him "why." He didn't know why, and he was upset. The more upset he became, the more he acted-out, and the greater he was punished.

That day involved both a change in routine (that the other K-1 was invading "his" classroom) and then an unwanted transition (that his friend left the class to go back to his own.)

Although the Cat has matured a great deal since then, I was intrigued when the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Skill Building Buddies: Handling Transitions and Change.

The Cat's very first preschool experience ended in tears.

Mine.

I cried and cried the morning that the preschool director called to tell us not to come in. I was still crying when she came to pick up the fax machine she had lent me so that I could do the bookings for the preschool. (That's right, I lost my job in addition to losing a place for the Cat to go to school.) The Cat ran away, playing, oblivious at how deeply I was hurting - and completely clueless that the reason for my tears was directly connected to his behavior.

The Cat didn't know how to interact with his peers. He'd go up to a child, grin, and push them over. It wasn't meant to be malicious; it was his way of saying "Hey, let's play!" But he didn't know how to say "hello."

Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse from Notabilities begins with a lesson and song about greeting words.

I wish I had that DVD when the Cat was going through his first attempts at socialization.

This weekend we made a spontaneous decision to go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. As I scrambled around packing, I made sure to bring along plenty of sunscreen. I've had ikky-mole scares and while my olive-skinned older son is perpetually tan, Spliggle is blonde and ghostly-pale like me.

Last year, we tried out KINeSYS, and I was glad. I enjoyed the ability to spray it on without worrying about coverage. (I do cheat and "spread" a little "just in case.") Also in my sun-arsenal is Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer. A couple years ago, I had tried an SPF 50+ from L'Oreal, but it smelled disgusting, rancid even. I am not sure how I decided to try Neutrogena, but I did.

Then when I went to Camp Baby, one of our freebies was a bag filled with Neutrogena products. I didn't know that Johnson & Johnson owns Neutrogena! (I also didn't know they own Aveena.) As part of my stash, I received more Ultra-Sheer, plus their Face-Block and a spray-on sunscreen.

While I was at Camp Baby, I learned of two impressive programs that I would like to mention here.

Today I will profile Safe Kids USA. National "Safe Kids Week" was actually last week, so I missed the boat in announcing it week-of; however, the Safe Kids USA website has plenty of valuable material for parents.

Although some hospitals have carseat checks before the new parents are allowed out of the parking lot, and many police departments offer free carseat checks, many parents don't take them up on their offer. I remember traveling down the freeway when Splig's infant seat tipped over, despite being installed by several people who should have known what they were doing.

And then there is water-safety. (Pictured are Oscar winner actress Marcia Gay Harden and Charisse Nurnberg, mother of Matt, who drowned at the age of 3 - photo from Safe Kids USA) Unfortunately, I have a scary story to tell:

The Cat is very sensitive.

He is sensitive to noise, pressure, smells, and food. When he feels just a little "off" it can translate into a big "off" in terms of behavior. Sometimes seasonal allergies will get him in a moody state, or a typical cold will turn off his impulse-control. Even happiness can become more like a mania, so "too much fun" is just too exhausting. (And yes, Spliggle is on the wired-up with glee train too, as many children are at times.)

The Cat is especially sensitive to sleep. Like most kids, he needs just the right amount. This can be tricky for someone who wants to stay up late and get up early in the morning. He has too much fun to do during the day than to sleep! And then there are those days when it is tough to awaken him. Right then, I can pretty much guarantee we'll have a Cranky Cat on our hands.

It is imperative that the Cat find comfort in his bed so that he can get to sleep quickly, stay asleep, and awake refreshed. Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to receive a Lands' End PureLoft Mattress Topper.

While I started shopping at Whole Foods and other "organic-health-conscious" stores to find Feingold-safe food, I've started to notice and purchase environmentally-conscious products from pine-pellet cat litter to natural pest control solutions. After all, being healthful isn't just in things one eats, it is also what one breathes, uses on the skin, or on one's teeth. And being "green" in ways other than buying local produce or all-natural, organic products is important.

My kids are into the eco-conscious action, too: the Cat remarked the other day after I filled up my gas tank, "Mom, you're hating on the world because you drive this van instead of a part-electric car like Daddy!" But I digress...

In the household product aisle, I've been drawn to the brightly-colored Preserve plastic cutlery. I bought a whole bunch of lime ones since the Cat's favorite color is green.

Well, it turns out that Preserve makes more than just tableware. Thanks to Mom Central, I had the opportunity to receive two free Preserve toothbrushes.

There are many things about this toothbrush that warrant mention:

1) The bristles are WHITE. This may not seem like a huge deal at first glance, but the majority of the brushes found in drugstores and major-chain grocery stores have dyes on the bristles. Some brands market this as an indicator that when the dye fades it is time to replace the brush. But of course, the dye is going into your mouth or the mouths of your children.

After I received a rare white-bristled child-sized brush from my dentist, I begged him to let me snag a few more. He gave me his final two, and told me that the other brushes he had were dyed. I copied down the manufacturer's information and purchased an enormous package of the white-bristled ones direct from the supplier. Thereafter, I received mail about "my dental practice."

Fortunately, I found some white-bristled toothbrushes at health-food stores, but I am very relieved to know that Preserve toothbrushes are available. Preserve Jr. has some models that include dye, but they also have some all-white bristled ones as well.

2) Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled material, namely yogurt lids. The Sundance Channel published a video about this process. [edited 2/2009: The website has been revamped; below is a quote that appeared on the original site.]

"Since 2001, Preserve and Stonyfield Farm have partnered to keep (literally) tons of plastic out of landfills. We collect cups and scrap plastic from Stonyfield's manufacturing facility in nearby New Hampshire, as well as the used cups that people who have enjoyed Stonyfield Farm yogurt return to them. Then we turn these cups into Preserve Toothbrushes, Tongue Cleaners and Razors."

3) Preserve toothbrushes are themselves recyclable. Their website includes a postage-paid label that can be affixed to a package of used toothbrushes, razor handles, and tongue-cleaners.

4) It turns out that Preserve products are not just sold at expensive health-stores. Preserve toothbrushes are available at Target stores nationwide for only $2.04! Plus, here is a printable coupon! [no longer available.]

Thank you Mom Central for letting me know about this fantastic company, and thank you Preserve for creating products out of old plastic that we can use and then recycle yet again!

I have fond memories of baking with my mom. Especially memorable are those days we ended up covered in flour on purpose. My brother had even more of a cooking-knack and soon started making "no recipe cakes," which initially tasted okay, but some of his more adventurous versions were rather disgusting. Still, we ate them up with glee because he had made them with such pride. He later took cooking classes and is now an excellent chef in addition to his computer-related day job.

Although we've baked Christmas cookies, I don't do much baking with my kids. They enjoy trips to Grandma's for that (Splig recently helped her make lemon-milk sherbet) and beg Daddy to let them help him with his kitchen creations. Yes, Husband logs more cooking time than I do.

Thanks to Mom Central and Kellogg's Snacktivate! Ideas, my kids and I just spent part of the afternoon creating a version of "Sassy Sun-pops." The original recipe calls for almonds, but since the Cat follows Feingold and almonds aren't allowed on Stage One, I created one pan of the cookies with cashews instead. Also, I didn't actually make the cookies "pops" with candy sticks, although perhaps I'll give that a try next time!

The boys had a blast making these cookies. The Cat counted out the 60 mini-wheats necessary for the recipe, and Spliggle enjoyed crushing them. (Surprisingly, mini-wheats do not contain BHA, BHT, or artificial flavors that we avoid on Feingold, although there is BHA in the packaging itself. For those concerned, there are other mini-wheat-like cereals out there that can be used in this recipe.)

Splig helped me measure ingredients, and both boys enjoyed decorating the cookies. The Cat created a smiley-face which Splig then replicated. I gave them each a "big cookie" to decorate in their own style.

These cookies are definitely more healthful than the ordinary cookie. I'd bet they would pass our school district's "wellness policy." Of course because they contain peanut butter and include nuts on the top as decoration, they are not safe for those with nut allergies; however, Snacktivate! has plenty of recipes which do not contain nuts, such as the Butterfly Quesadillas that I hope to try next.

As for the taste of the cookies we made? Well, Splig immediately gave the thumbs up with an enthusiastic "Yummy!" I thought they tasted fantastic and am trying to think of other ways of sneaking in flaxseed to my meals (I didn't realize I actually like the taste!) The Cat, who fears novel things, said "It tastes kind of weird," but then he hid a smile. I think he wants to make sure it isn't too easy to introduce new foods to him.

We had a fun afternoon. The kids enjoyed creating what they later ate, and I didn't worry about them having another cookie since they aren't of the high-caloric, heavy frosting variety. Check out Snacktivate! to find some fun and healthful recipes for your own family.

When I was a kid, any cookies or brownies that had nuts in it was automatically bleeech even though nuts-alone suited me just fine (just don't tell the other kids, 'kay?) I enjoyed making the Sassy Sunpops recipe earlier this summer (which has nuts and flaxseed.) I ate them. The kids ate them. It was great.

Shortly thereafter, the kind folks at Snacktrition sent me a great spread:

Yummy, yummy!

When they contacted me, I specifically asked for cashews, since the Cat is allergic to almonds, but they also have almond varieties of their suped-up nuts (such as the divine-sounding "Calcium Smoked Almonds.") But these nuts aren't suped-up with artificial preservatives, crazy fake flavors, or other additives that would spoil the nut experience. Quite the contrary, the ingredients listed are cashews, inulin, sea salt, black pepper, and canola oil (on the "Fiber Salt & Pepper Cashews" variety.) The "Calcium and Fiber Fruit & Nut Mix" understandably has more ingredients since it has lots of fun things inside, like blueberry and yogurt chips. But the list of ingredients doesn't contain any of that nasty stuff: No BHA. No BHT. No TBHQ. No artificial flavors. No artificial colors.

So what's with this "added fiber?" Well, according to the Snacktrition website, "Some researchers have calculated that if Americans double their intake for fiber, they could cut 100 calories from their daily diet, which could shave 10 pounds off their weight, yearly."

And you may have caught "inulin" on the list above - what is that? Well, apparently, "Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides (several simple sugars linked together) produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers known as fructans... Most plants which synthesize and store inulin do not store other materials such as starch." And "IInulin contains a third to a quarter of the food energy of sugar or other carbohydrates and a sixth to a ninth of the food energy of fat. It also increases calcium absorption and possibly magnesium absorption, while promoting the growth of intestinal bacteria. Nutritionally, it is considered a form of soluble fiber and is sometimes seen as a prebiotic." Apparently, too much inulin can cause gas, but it is a better alternative than starch, and contains less fat. Truth be told, I don't know anything about inulin other than what I just read, but my experience with eating the nuts hasn't left me bloated, farty, or otherwise ill. Quite the contrary, I've really enjoyed snacking on these tasty nuts!

But what about the Cat and Splig? Well, I received the package while Splig was in preschool and the Cat was over at my parents' house. I ate the entire sample bag of "Fiber Salt & Pepper Cashews." Fortunately, I had another carton available for the boys to try. Not surprisingly, Splig loved them. He enjoys flavorful food. The Cat, meanwhile, declared them "too spicy," but for me (and Splig) spice is the point. The Cat much preferred the "Fiber Sea Salt Cashews."

Honestly, I hadn't heard of Snacktrition until I heard from them. But I am definitely intrigued since I've enjoyed tasting their products. The food is good, and doesn't contain oil or the dreaded preservatives. And then part of their proceeds benefit The Mama Cares Foundation, a group that has worked both internationally and nationally to feed and shelter those in need.

These nuts really are tasty - and they aren't dry, which is what one would expect of nuts that weren't made with heaps of oil. Thank you Snacktrition for introducing me to a yummy snack that I can feel good about enjoying, and that I feel comfortable about giving my kids in their school lunches.

Awhile back, I wrote of a brightly colored fruit snack that Spliggle enjoyed personalizing. The Cat enjoyed personalizing it on the computer, but we wouldn't dare give him the artificial color. While Spliggle happily handed out his "Happy 4th Birthday!" concoctions, I ended up throwing out the extras because the dye affected him, too - not to the extent of the Cat, but enough for me to worry. Plus, do I really want him ingesting those chemicals, anyway? As I said in my review of that product, I recall they had some Feingold-safe varieties in my day. I wish they'd bring them back.

Well, luckily, the fine folks at FruitaBü noticed my struggle: love the concept of fruit snacks, but don't love the artificial stuff.

FruitaBü is organic and additive-free. Whew! No artificial colors. No artificial flavors. No BHA. No BHT. No TBHQ. Rather, the flavor involves concentrates made from the actual fruits and the color is from... the actual fruits.

My boys were excited about both the Flats and the Twirls.

The Flats are rectangle-shaped pieces of flat fruit. They are easy to pack in a lunch, and quick to eat. The Twirls involve a skinny piece of fruit rolled up (with a paper backing for easy removal) like one of those bubble-gum twirls. These are much more fun, but since the fruit is sticky, it isn't a good idea to unroll the whole thing and then try to whip your brother with it. Just sayin'. Seriously, both varieties are great for school lunches (Eeek! Yes it is back to school time!) I think the Flats are probably easier, but now that the Cat has experienced the Twirls I am pretty sure he'll never go back.

Now technically, we avoid apple and grape for the Cat, so trying these "Stage II" foods together was a treat. (To clarify: Feingold eliminates all those extra petroleum-based additives like BHA, but also initially limits foods with particular salycilate qualities. Those foods can slowly be added back in "Stage II" since they are healthful foods, but some kids may not be able to tolerate them.) We've found that the Cat is particularly salycilate-sensitive, so have tried the "Stage II" foods sparingly.

We allowed the Cat to try the Smooshed Grape Fruit Twirls and Flats. He didn't have a reaction. Whew! And he loved them. Double-whew! The Grape variety includes apple, as many fruit snacks and products do. It also includes soy lethicin. Since we avoid too much soy for the Cat, I don't think the Twirls will be an every day snack in his lunch, but we can certainly use them as a once-a-week treat.

Meanwhile, Spliggle is not salycilate-sensitive to our knowledge. The FruitaBü Flats and Twirls are a perfect lunchtime snack for him. Ever since we've gotten FruitaBü in our house, he's stopped asking for those birthday roll-ups.

Truth be told, the FruitaBü website drives me a little nuts because it is so interactive and flash-heavy. But for those of you looking for an adventure, click away. Otherwise, look for FruitaBü in your grocery store. It absolutely beats the artificial stuff. I feel much better giving my kids these organic, additive-free varieties. They are still tasty. They are still fun. But they aren't artificial. Whew, no "Boo!"

For the last few days, the Cat has requested pancakes for breakfast. I've complied. After all, the first week of school is important. It is that time when routines seem to work well (later abandoned as the hectic-ness of life takes over.)

But breakfast will remain important, even if I don't have the time to make pancakes. And besides, a diet involving pancakes every single day is probably not a good idea.

One of my favorite things to eat is granola. Sometimes I eat it with milk, sometimes with yogurt. I have several favorite brands, one of which is all-natural, baked from whole ingredients Bear Naked. (I especially like the Banana Nut - it is like eating banana bread for breakfast.) I was very lucky, and received some free samples of their two new flavors, so new that they don't appear on their website: "yumberry gogi currant" and "mango agave almond," both are from the new Bear Naked Native line.

The "yumberry" is definitely "yum," so much so that Spliggle ate a good part of the package as well. I am a big almond fan. I am a big mango fan. Putting these together in the "mango agave almond" created quite an enjoyable combination of flavors. The mango bits were gumdrop-like in taste and consistency, but not too sweet for breakfast. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite: both were tasty for different reasons. The "yumberry gogi currant" is more of a light fruity taste, while the "mango agave almond" is more complex: part earthy, part candy.

Another quick breakfast option that I enjoy is the cereal bar. I've been a Kashi fan for a long time: from the basic rice cereal to their TLC (tasty little cracker) cracker line. I've tasted their rice bars, but was thrilled to receive two of their new cereal bars. TLC now also stands for tasty little cereal-bar.

Usually it takes my stomach a minute to "warm up" to the idea of food, so on those days when I don't have the luxury of sitting around for awhile, grabbing a bar to take with me in the car is a preferable option to realizing halfway through my errands that I am devastatingly hungry.

First I ate up the "blackberry graham." I intended to let Husband try, since he loves blueberries. And blackberries are almost blueberries, right? But I loved the bars so much that I ate them all up myself. It was easy to just grab on my way to the Cat's early morning soccer practice.

Spliggle is a fan of the "baked apple spice." It is the first cereal bar he has finished. Usually, he gets excited about the idea of a particular bar, but after a couple bites leaves it on the counter. Not the case with the Kashi "baked apple spice" bars - he gobbles up the whole thing, and usually wants another. I think next I'll have him try the "ripe strawberry" since he loves strawberry-flavored things. But remember, these aren't artificially flavored with things like blackberry and strawberry; these are the real-deal. No artificial additives here.

In September, I'll be hosting a giveaway where you could win some of these great breakfast products. Yummy, yummy!

Typically I talk about all the things out of the house that we're doing, from soccer to gymnastics. More and more, families are scattered about after-school. The reasons are "good:" the kids are attending religious youth group organizations, taking music lessons, or participating in team-building, obesity-fighting sports. But so much research has said that a strong family unit is the key to success, and that sitting down at the table as a family is a must.

I admit this is very difficult. Usually Husband has meetings, so I know that at the least I should sit down with my kids to eat. But we end up grabbing something on the way home from gymnastics, or on the way to soccer. I end up snowed-under in work and fail to make dinner, so tell the kids to go grab a Balance bar (which is a fabulous snack) or I quickly make pasta (yes, I use the Bertolli pasta sauce I received when I met Rocco.)

All too often, Husband comes home to a hungry family and will end up either bringing us takeout or cooking us something (yes, he's the chef in our house.) But by then, we're so tired and otherwise occupied that we might be in the same room, but aren't really "eating together."

Via Mom Central, I received some Libby's canned vegetables and information about their Get Back to the Table resources. Check out their "CANvenient" Recipe Section, with gems such as "$10 Meals in 10 Minutes."

I need meals that are:
- quick
- inexpensive
- healthful

Fortunately, Libby's recipes and products deliver on all three. Of course, the Cat has some dietary concerns in that we follow the Feingold Diet, so that is always a concern with recipes, but we can alter where necessary. For example, the tasty "Kicked Up Mac & Cheese" doesn't specify the brand of Mac N' Cheese, so I can easily insert in some of the organic non-artificial stuff like 365 or Annie's. And Ian's makes great panko bread crumbs. I can omit the pimentos for the Cat since he is allergic, but can add-in later for other family members if they are interested. Meanwhile, the Libby's corn and peas remain the same. Since canned veggies have such a fantastic shelf-life without those petroleum-based preservatives to which the Cat is allergic, it is a great option for "stocking up" the panty and then grabbing when needed to make dinner in a flash.

Some people have a negative association to canned products. But the truth is that different recipes do better with canned, fresh, or frozen. The different consistencies of these vegetables can aid in various recipes. So while I admit that I like to buy fresh, the truth is that it often wilts on the counter or rots in the fridge, whereas if I have some frozen or canned vegetables around, they'll be handy for when I finally try out whatever recipe I've been meaning to prepare. (And those canned and frozen veggies end up having more nutritional value than old soggy "fresh" ones.) Meanwhile, although the Cat is very picky about food in general, "mixed vegetables" is an amazing fall-back for him. Having cans of mixed vegetables in the pantry or bags in the freezer is imperative for us.

Convenience foods need-not be unhealthy. Using canned vegetables, such as Libby's, along with other easily-stored things like pasta and canned chicken broth, can be very easy and economical. Many recipes can also incorporate fresh ingredients and allow flexibility for personal preference.

Check out Libby's Get Back to the Table tips, and print out a coupon for 50 cents off a can of Libby's!

When the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story, I agreed because I was curious. The early reviews sounded fabulous and the cover shot looked perky and inviting. Yet I didn’t think I would be so engaged by a novel about infertility.

First, I don’t have any experience in the subject. Sure, it took a few more months to conceive my second son than my first. And yes, I felt disappointed and annoyed when it didn’t “work” month after month, but “month after month” was probably less than eight. I have no frame of reference other than recalling how desperately I wanted each of my kids, and watching the struggles of friends who haven’t been as lucky.

Second, the subject of infertility is a “downer.” But Maybe Baby is anything but. In a way, I feel bad for laughing at some points; and yet my chuckles are testament to Matthew Miller’s amazing ability to entertain and engage his readers. We forget at times that this novel has a heartbreaking longing at its core, and yet we cannot forget because Miller’s personality is such that we can’t help thinking “This guy would make such an excellent dad!”

He is the guy you want to be your best friend. He is an entertainer. He is resilient, yet sensitive. And most importantly, he is honest. His descriptions, manners, desires and temperament show he is an excellent fit for fatherhood.

The memoir is not the same story page after page; each new adventure of Matthew and Constance may have the same ultimate goal each month, but the journey and twists are different. The obstacles they face include flat tires and “no semen after noon” rules at the hospital. And of course there is the financial aspect: “We keep paying to have wands shoved in your hoo-ha, for me to masturbate at the hospital, and for us to be criminally disappointed every month,” Miller writes a conversation with Constance on pg. 206.

This book is educational and entertaining all in one. New to me, but Miller describes on pg. 222 the bizarre-yet-logical “cum courier” role: “… the endocrinologist conductor shouted, ‘Last Call!’ for the express brassiere train for which my semen now held a one-way ticket…” A dry description of how the woman should carry her partner’s semen to the hospital in her bra to maintain optimum temperature wouldn’t have been nearly so entertaining. I can’t help laughing at his descriptions of procedures that should be embarrassing, like huddling in a bathroom that smells of “poop in a peach patch” to unromantically create the seed from which his maybe baby might occur. But I feel mortified on his behalf, too.

Miller is not a “victim” despite his position. His voice is strong. His character, solid. And yet he and his wife have been denied month after month after month. There is no condescension as I desperately wish for a happy resolution. “They deserve it,” I think, as I turn each page hoping for that “Hey! We won the conception lottery!” declaration. Throughout the book, each pregnancy announcement is someone else in their family.

Maybe Baby is definitely worth your while. The story is compelling and romantic without being sappy. Sounds cliché, but I laughed and I cried. Further adventures of Matthew M.F. Miller are at maybebabyblog.com.

I loved The Middle Place. It hit me in ways I hadn't anticipated. Today, the paperback version hits shelves.

Kelly Corrigan's publisher made the below video in honor of the paperback release. It features an essay included in the book about women's capacity to support each other:

Be sure to check out other Kelly Corrigan You-Tube pieces. The book is meaningful and moving all on its own, but seeing Kelly read the words is powerful.

Did you make any New Year's Resolutions to get fit in 2009? We're ten days in, and I imagine that already there are folks crashing on their sofa instead of pounding the treadmill. It isn't too late to get back on the bike. And it isn't too late to resolve to do better this year than last.

Last year, I reviewed the Ultimate Tea Diet. I lost some weight on it - both from eating less because my tummy felt nice and full and warm with the tea, and because I was making a conscious choice to try to eat better, so was also more consistent in my exercise routine. Alas, the whole situation didn't "stick," and once the Cat had his annual regression (which I'm hoping doesn't happen this year,) things slid downhill. I can point to several different stress points in 2008, and embarrassed to say I couldn't recover from them, so gained instead of lost.

I was one of the lucky folks who preordered a Wii Fit, so received mine immediately after they were released in May. I took to it immediately. Yes, the Wii Fit called me "overweight," and it was humbling to see my Mii balloon up, but from May to the end of June, I worked out every single day. (I only stopped at the end of June because our family took a trip, and I couldn't see bringing the Wii.)

I was enthusiastic about Wii Fit, and figured I'd review it... I just wanted to lose weight so I could declare it a success... which didn't happen that summer.

Lookie what I found!

I should tell you all about my oral obsession. Or maybe I shouldn't.

I am was am a nail-biter. I love to chew gum. And those little "Stim-U-Dents" make me very happy. Regular toothpicks are eh... okay, but I still pick them up at restaurants. (Fear not - I won't pick my teeth in front of you.)

Well, I ran out of "Stim-U-Dents" and was perusing the toiletries aisle at Whole Foods when I came across these excellent cinnamint-flavored huge toothpicks. I say "huge" because they are substantial, unlike the "free in restaurant" or "buy in bulk" varieties. These won't leave little slivers of wood in your mouth (the ol' I got out the piece of broccoli, but now I've got wood stuck in my teeth.)

These toothpicks have great flavor, and I think they clear out my sinuses fairly well, too, given the minty "bite" : clean your teeth, clean your sinuses - probably not the jingle they were after.

The packaging is sleek (and recyclable.) It fits nicely in a pocket or glove compartment. And unlike some of those other toothpick varieties, since it is in a plastic tube, it won't get soggy and torn like those cardboard packages.

Preserve didn't give me these toothpicks for free -- I found them on my own accord (there were several brands from which to choose at Whole Foods.) Given my previous relationship with Preserve - from cutting boards to toothbrushes, with my first exposure completely by chance at Whole Foods in the cutlery aisle - I went with the Preserve variety, and it didn't disappoint.

As readers of my main blog, The Karianna Spectrum know, I've been spending the last month doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred.

Last Wednesday, I completed the thirty days.

A quick look back, for those who haven't been reading along:
- I joined the Shreadheads
- Graduated from Level One
- Graduated from Level Two
- Graduated from Level Three

... now on to continued use of the 30 Day Shred plus Bob's Weight Loss Yoga to continue toning and hopefully losing some weight in the process!

When I started the Shred, I weighed 137.5 pounds with a BMI of 24.37. On Day 30, I weighed 134.5 pounds with a BMI of 23.83. And so, I only lost 3 pounds, although during parts of the month I was down around 4-5 pounds.

The Shred has been a challenge, but has also helped me tone up and feel more "in control" of my body. I've noted some difficulty sleeping and some mood issues, but my hope is that as I continue to exercise on a regular basis and get some sleep, these things will regulate themselves to a net improvement.

While I huffed and puffed the first time I did Level 1 of the Shred, just the other day after doing Bob's Level 1 yoga, I found myself easily knocking out the exercises with Natalie (the "follow if you are advanced" model on the Shred DVD.) Even if the scale doesn't show it, I know my body is getting stronger. I started with soup cans (roughly less than a pound) but now use 5 pound weights for most of the exercises.

I am still a work in progress. My new goal is to complete Bob's whole yoga series. The DVD recommends two weeks at each of the three levels, and then apparently there is a "maintenance" level as well. I plan to follow this model, but also include workouts from the Shred to maintain the abs, strength, and cardio work in Jillian's style. That isn't to say yoga isn't challenging -- it certainly is, particularly with regard to strength (using one's own body as resistance) -- but I want to "mix it up" in order to make sure my body is being sufficiently challenged.

Although when The Biggest Loser came out on T.V. it was thought to be a mockery of America's obese, it has become an inspirational tool for many couch potatoes that we can become healthy.

Most of my life I was perfectly skinny and fit. I was a dancer, spending hours in the studio. Around junior year of high school, I decided I had to be "serious" about academics, lest I not get into a good college. I dropped out of my dance performing division and instead hit the books. In college, I took up ice-hockey, a hobby that continued after college and even for a couple seasons after I had kid(s).

Still, there was this undercurrent that adults aren't meant to have fun. I'm not sure where I got that notion, but I expect it had something to do with the chatter that went around when we were in high-school that of course we'd all have to stop dancing because only the very best would have a career in it, and even those folks would be relatively young when they'd finally have to retire. I suppose college was supposed to be "serious" and kinetic intelligence isn't valued as much as academic intelligence (unless it is in professional sports.) Taking a dance class or going out to play pick-up hockey was seen as "taking the easy way out" or "goofing off." If I was taking a run, I should have been studying. And yet I know that I shouldn't have thought of exercise in that way. (It is ironic, since "adults" see exercise as a chore, and yet when I was younger, I saw it as a privilege that kept me away from my "real" responsibility of studying!)

Fast forward several years, and my efforts have been all about the kids, making money, and keeping the house clean. It doesn't make sense to go out for a walk if I have clients emailing and calling wondering when is my URGENT project going to be finished!

I'd think to myself, "I'll just get this one urgent thing done. And then I can take a walk..." But of course it never happened, because yet another request would roll in. I couldn't say "no." I couldn't lie and pretend that my walk was "a meeting." And yet, I realized last autumn that was exactly what I'd have to do.

September was a horrid month work-wise. Not surprisingly, I gained a lot of weight. At the start of October, I saw my nurse practitioner, who told me point blank that at 35 years old, my ability to shed pounds and get in shape is much greater than what it will be at age 40. The nurse put me on South Beach. I lost around 15-20 pounds.

Something clicked.

Suddenly I realized that age 35 is simultaneously very old and very young. I realized that this is my only life. As I watched the gymnasts while Splig worked out, I reminisced about my dancing ability and how I used to do some gymnastics as well. Why can't I do that anymore? I realized that I wanted to reclaim some of my youth, or at the least, my ability to better control my body. I don't want to give up and let my body continue getting weaker and heavier. It is not too late.

There was a German gymnast in this past August's Olympics who competed at age 35. And then there is 41 year old Dara Torres. Both of these women have have children, and yet both have athletic bodies. I am not washed up just because I am a 35 year old mother.

According to wikipedia, Jillian Michaels is 34. That is only a year younger than I am. Also, she's apparently 5'2.5". My biggest "excuse" for my stocky look is that I am only 5'2.75" (I usually say 5'3") If I only had a few more inches, my 135 pounds would look skinny, I thought. Well, Jillian is 120. So only one year, one quarter of an inch, and fifteen pounds separate me and Jillian. (Well, and some endurance and muscles, but I'm getting there.) I have never been 175 pounds as Jillian apparently once was. My highest non-pregnant weight was around 155. (My highest pregnant weight was 165.)

And so, it is not unreasonable that I can get back into shape. It is going to take time and effort, but in just a month I've become much stronger.

It is possible. And if I can do it, then YOU can do it.

--
I purchased both Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and Bob's Weight Loss Yoga with my own money. I was not asked to review either of these DVDs, nor have I been given any compensation for mentioning The Biggest Loser or any of their products. I am simply a fan who wanted to lose weight and get in shape. Kristen Chase's Shredheads provided this opportunity - but aside from this community motivation, I haven't been "rewarded" for my endeavors here. No free DVDs. No gift certificates. No money. This review is real! [This disclaimer motivated by concerns regarding bloggers' liability in the product review market]

May is Skin-Cancer Awareness Month!

While I haven't actually had skin cancer, I have several scars to show that I've had irregular moles removed. Perhaps you all remember the Code Blue in Dermatology drama?

Several years ago I had two moles on my leg removed. I haven't worn shorts since, because they left huge bruise-like gashes. But having those is better than being dead.

Of course I don't want my kids to get skin cancer, nor do I want them to get nasty looking scars. With that in mind, I bought them a bunch of UV Skinz (who I found out about through Cool Mom Picks.) I also bought several for myself: a black jacket that I can simply zip over any tank top, plus two long-sleeved swim-shirts (that I am going to use as wear-while-at-the-boardwalk rather than for swimming.)

When the UV Skinz arrived, an additional product was put in my bag: a Baby Skinz to donate to someone else. All UV Skinz customers completing an order in the month of May will receive a free Baby Skinz. They request that these Baby Skinz be donated to a needy cause of their customers' choosing. Customers can then share their donation location - good karma points!

They write, "Protecting our children from becoming the one in five Americans who will be diagnosed with skin cancer within their lifetimes starts from day one! Teaching safe sun habits to every child is imperative to help eradicate a disease that is almost entirely preventable. Every child deserves to live safe under the sun!" UV Skinz have a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks out over 98% of the sun's harmful rays. In addition to the free Baby Skinz, they offer free shipping on orders over $50.

Sounds great - but do the products deliver?

Well, my youngest son adores his new Skinz. He's worn them around "just because" (even to his preschool art show!) and also in the swimming pool. I've worn mine too - I wore the black jacket as I hiked around the reservoir. I wondered if I would overheat, but the material was thin and breathable, so I wasn't uncomfortable at all. I felt glad that my arms, neck, and chest were all protected. (Now I have to get a cute-looking hat...)

I'm also eyeing some UPF 50+ clothes from Athleta, but haven't yet taken the plunge (they are expensive.) The Athleta clothes are more "regular clothes" whereas the UV Skinz definitely have the "water" vibe. If I give Athleta a try, I'll report back here. But for now, I'm pretty excited about my UV Skinz - and plan to wear those shirts on what I imagine will be our many trips to Splig's Favorite Destination Ever - the beach boardwalk.
--
My posts about the whole forehead mole situation:
- I am not Smurfette
- Code Blue in Dermatology
- Decisions and Delays
- Not Again
- Where Everybody Knows Your Name
- Blocking Pesky Betas
- En Route to a Harry Potter Scar
--

Disclaimer: UV Skinz did not contact me in any way to promote their product. I did not receive any special treatment in exchange for mentioning them. I learned of the company on Cool Mom Picks and decided it would be a good match for our family. I then learned of their May promotion and wished to spread the word as it is generous and important!

It isn't too late for YOU to make a "delicious change" - keep reading to find out more about the Water Way Challenge, my reasons for doing the challenge, and links to the posts I did for the two weeks i was on the Challenge:

I've been trying to become healthier recently. It started this past autumn when my nurse practitioner who always has an easy answer to my woes told me I had to lose weight. Huh, not such an easy answer. Through both diet and exercise, I lost weight. Of course, novelty wears off, and the tools I used pre-gluttonous holiday season became less attractive after the lefse and pumpkin pie. Fortunately, I didn't fall completely off the wagon, but various stressors like my eldest son's behavioral roller coaster and my youngest son's surgery have left me grabbing vending machine fare and perceiving that I don't have time to exercise.

Luckily, I've found some great camaraderie in the exercise department thanks to some online pals. Unfortunately, I still reach for my trusty diet cola before, during, and after my workout.

I'm not a coffee gal. Nope. First thing in the morning, I grab a soda. About twenty minutes later, I grab another. Bored at the computer? Hey, let's have a soda! Driving my kids to gymnastics or soccer practice? Better pack a soda!

It isn't funny how much soda our family goes through.

In my mind, I reason "Better to drink a calorie-free soda than to munch on chips!" and yet I know that my dentist would tsk-tsk the carbonation and my nurse practitioner would tell me, "Hey, caffeine dehydrates you - so not only are you making your workouts less effective, but that whole peeing problem you were telling me about... yeah." And then there is that little thing about all those aluminum cans that pile up in our recycling bin.

I've had great success with powdered drinks that I can add to my water, stick in my favorite aluminum bottle, shake, and take with me. I was doing great with drinking more water until I realized my powdered drink had expired several months ago. Oops! And so, when I learned of the Crystal Light Water Way Challenge, I was eager to get back on the powder and cut down on the pop.

For the next two weeks, I'll be reporting back here on my progress. You'll learn what flavors I received from Crystal Light, and which I like the best. You'll watch to see if I end up drinking more water (of course I will because you'll cheer me on!) or whether I'll stick by my more-than-a-six-pack a day habit on the cola.

The best thing about the Water Way Challenge is that you can be a part of it too. Join the conversation by joining the Crystal Light Water Way Challenge Group at BlogHer. I'll be posting there too, so say "hello" over there as well as right here. Head on over to Crystal Light to make a delicious change. Test your "water wisdom," create your own Water Way Challenge Widget (like mine above) and even register to win a prize.

Join me - it is going to be a great start to the summer for us all to stay hydrated and healthful!

--

* Crystal Light Water Way Challenge
* Blogher's Water Way Challenge Group
* Crystal Light official site

Wow, so this is it! I've been drinking Crystal Light for two weeks. I must admit it went by quickly, and I was surprised at how I was able to cut down on soda. I not once went a day without a soda, but I certainly didn't have as many in a day as I was used to.

Typically I would have a soda beside my computer as I write; but instead I have a huge red sports bottle next to me, filled with Crystal Light. Making the switch was definitely not "painful" as I had anticipated. I thought I'd be drinking the same amount of soda, but then adding a bunch of Crystal Light on top of it. But indeed, I cut down on my need for soda because the flavored water satisfied me. As an added benefit, my skin has looked terrific now that it has been hydrated instead of pelted with caffeine each day.

The trickiest thing has been forgetting to update my widget. It seems that I'm drinking so much when I'm away from my computer (in the car, at the gym, outside) that I forget to record my intake. But since I have to refill the sports bottles, I am aware of how much I'm taking in - lots!

Even though my two weeks are up, you can be a part of the Water Way Challenge - the summer has just begun. Join the conversation by joining the Crystal Light Water Way Challenge Group at BlogHer. Head on over to Crystal Light to make a delicious change. Test your "water wisdom," create your own Water Way Challenge Widget (like mine above) and even register to win a prize.

Thank you to BlogHer, Crystal Light, and the fun gals at the Challenge Group - these two weeks have been fun!

If you haven't been reading along during these two weeks, please visit my introductory post to the Water Way Challenge. This explains a bit about why I agreed to do the challenge, and links all the posts I've done these past two weeks.

Other Helpful Links:

* Crystal Light Water Way Challenge
* Blogher's Water Way Challenge Group
* Crystal Light official site

Women: do you remember the first day you got your period?

In the months before that "official" period, I had just spotting. A small pantiliner fit the bill, and I figured that was that. But then the real thing arrived, and I learned that I needed a great deal more protection (and medication.)

On one hand, that first period meant I was making a fresh start as a "woman" but of course it also carried with it a great deal of "complications." I am sure every woman has at least one "leak story."

Mine was when I was wearing an outfit I thought was super-stylish. It was a light aqua color, made by a designer totally "in" at the time. Apparently I misjudged the amount of time I could wait between changing my protection, because when I finally arrived in the restroom, I discovered I had a huge red stain on my backside. (Nobody told me about it, but isn't that junior high?) Of course the expensive, stylish outfit was ruined, and I was mortified.

Junior high mortification may seem like the utmost in severity, but as a real adult, "grown-up" woman, I know better now. I know that there are women out there whose problems far eclipse my petty junior high ones. There are lots of women out there who just wish they could make a fresh start.

The makers of Carefree® pantiliners are partnering with First30Days.com - experts at helping people through change - on a new program to help women make a fresh start. Women who visit CarefreeFreshStart.com will find tips for making a fresh start and the chance to receive up to $10,000 through the Carefree® Fresh Start Fund.

To apply for funding, women need to share why they want a fresh start, plans for reaching their goal, and how the funding could help.

Ten finalists will receive funding to help make their fresh start a reality, and the public will then have the chance to vote online for the best fresh start plan. The top three winners will receive $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 respectively, plus other benefits and prizes. All other finalists will receive $1,000 to help begin making their fresh start.

The deadline for submissions is July 10, 2009.

You readers notice I have a "Feingold" category in the sidebar. I don't talk about it much, per se, but on occasion I like to do a little shout-out.

In short, the Feingold Program is an elimination diet I tried at age 5. I went from having "F"s in behavior (with my name on the board day after day) to getting "A"s. No joke. I was a hyper kid who settled down markedly after going on Feingold. Since it worked for me, we put my oldest son on the diet once it was clear he is also a "live wire." It has made a big difference for him, although he is definitely still a high-energy, quirky kid.

I know elimination diets and other "alternative" treatments for autism, hyperactivity, ADD, and the like are considered "controversial" but I'd implore you to consider how dietary changes in Celiac disease and diabetes are considered completely "acceptable." Likewise, there are various food allergies that cause physical problems (hives, anaphylactic shock) why not behavioral problems?

And so, every so often I like to plead my case while also insisting that I don't claim this is a "cure all" situation.

With that in mind, I just learned of two things that I really want to share:

1) Feingold has a little intro (split into two parts) on YouTube. For those of you who don't like wading through the written word (such as on the Feingold website) you might appreciate the videos I embedded below. Just listen in the background if you like. (I find this progression into YouTube funny because in my shed I have a bunch of old-time cassette tapes bound together with multiple rubber bands: these are the old Feingold materials from the 70's that my mom got from the Association back when she tried the diet with me.)

2) A Feingold Cookbook: People making dietary changes worry that cooking will be hard or that they'll have to make everything from scratch. They are worried that the process of eliminating various foods from their diet will be "too difficult."

Well, the Feingold Association list tells you which foods are safe for "Stage One" and "Stage Two." These companies fill out an ingredient list for the Association so that they can be included as being "safe." There are definitely convenience foods that are both kid-friendly and Feingold-safe: hot dogs, oreo-like cookies, and string cheese, to name a few. There is even a fast food list that includes items like McDonalds hamburgers and Noah's bagels. (Of course, I am not advocating fast food all the time, but it is nice to know there are all-natural convenience food options out there.)

With membership, subscribers are given a little recipe list with things like tomato-less ketchup and other things that can be used as substitutions in recipes. Well - now there is a whole cookbook. "Feingold Family Favorites" is a collection of the best recipes from members, family and friends of the Feingold Association. Apparently it contains 300 recipes including appetizers, main dishes, desserts and more. Each recipe is marked Stage One or Stage Two.

I'm ordering mine right now (and perhaps will report on it later) but I thought I'd pass on the news now in case some of you are interested. Just go to the Feingold shopping page, select your country, and scroll down for the cookbook. While you're at it, purchasing the membership materials won't hurt if you are curious - information is power.

As I watched these videos, here are the thoughts that come to mind:

- The "foodless foods" concept is similar to what Jillian Michaels (and probably many other fitness experts and physicians) discusses in Master Your Metabolism (You DID read my review of Master Your Metabolism on the Shredheads site, right?)

- Additives may save money upfront, but cost much more down the line both economically and psychologically: gym memberships, medications, tutors, time spent disciplining, and so forth. (This is assuming both weight and behavior issues from these sorts of food.)

- Obesity is increasing and behavioral problems are increasing in the United States. Similarly, consumption of these cheap "non-foods" is on the rise. Coincidence?

Just like with the vaccine issue, I don't claim that food additives "cause" autism. Rather, if a child is sensitive to such things (be it petroleum, salycilates, other substances) then exposure to those things in increasing numbers can create problems.

Many kids have had astonishing behavioral transformations once they've eliminated the foods on Feingold. Other kids have found success with gluten-free/casein-free diets (particularly those who have celiac in addition to an autistic spectrum disorder; the existence of both together is common - coincidence?)

Please listen to or watch the below videos. One thing that is great is that Feingold Association National Director Jane Hersey does a direct comparison of foods not acceptable on Feingold with those that are, but she uses the exact same brands. For example, Duncan Hines' "Devil's Food" cake mix is not Feingold-safe, but Duncan Hines' "Dark Chocolate Fudge" cake mix is Feingold-safe. Kraft's regular "Mac N' Cheese" is artificial, but their "Premium White Cheddar" is not. Even Cheetos has a Feingold-safe option! (Pretty-please do a natural option, Crystal Light?)

Behold, the videos:

Disclaimer: The Feingold Association did not pay me to write about their program. They didn't send me the information about the videos or the cookbook because they thought I was going to publicize it. Rather, I received the email from them because I am a Feingold Member. My mom learned about the diet from Kaiser - ironically enough, since they are now such a poor advocate for autism treatment aside from "just medicate them into oblivion. (If Kaiser would again recommend trying dietary change, they might save a lot of money down the road in regards treatment relating to both behavioral and obesity related conditions.) I blog about Feingold from time to time because it is something that helped me, and now my son. I will be happy to answer any questions about our particular experience - my email address is in my header.

Last Sunday was my son's end-of-year soccer party. I was the "team photographer" and had lovingly created Blurb books of each player. I really wanted to see the families' reactions to my books, as well as to enjoy a slide show of the team. Plus, I welcomed a chance to socialize instead of just scurrying away post-game to another commitment.

But Jill Asher told me that the Silicon Valley Moms Holiday Party - sponsored by Chevy - was a not-to-miss event. Fellow SV Moms told me it would be worth it to skip the soccer party.

And oh yes, it was worth it.

Now, I'd like to think I'm not a completely greedy person, but let's just say my calm approach to the event turned into a surprised excitement along with that ooooh, I wonder if I can get me some of that.

And there was a lot of that to be had:

I am only an "expert" on what I've been using, but wanted to give a "shout out" to the things that have been helping me on my runs during the past six months.

Six months. Wow. I can't believe it. Yes, on June 9th, I ran for, like, thirty seconds, and my lungs burned. Today, on December 8th, my lungs burned a little bit with cold, but I ran for far longer than I did that day. I did the BlogHer 5K, then an "official" 5K at Disney, another 5K local race, a 10K local race, a 5K trail race, and I'll be doing a 10K this Saturday. I'm signed up for a New Year's 5K and then two half-marathons in February and March, respectively.

So no, I am not an expert, but I've come a long way in six months.

The first few races I did in shoes made for walking. I had received them for a Ryka review back in September 2007 when my exercise was walking. Sure, they were fabulous shoes at the time, especially since they were specifically designed for walking -- but two years later any shoe is going to be inadequate for a newly-minted runner. I went to a real running store to get fitted for running-specific shoes. I ended up with New Balance 1011s. It really is a personal choice - I know people who are thrilled with many other brands.

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Tom's of Maine.

When I was in Kindergarten, I was put on the Feingold Program, a diet that eliminated artificial flavors and artificial colors, as well as other food additives that can cause behavioral problems in sensitive children. One of the first substitutions my parents made was to get rid of that brightly colored, highly flavored toothpaste that most kids use. Instead, they gave me Tom's of Maine natural toothpaste. Cinnamint became my favorite flavor.

When my son went on the Feingold Program, I was surprised and happy to see that Tom's of Maine had expanded its line to include more flavors and types than those selections available when I was young. (They even have natural mouthwash that doesn't taste like some of those other all-natural products out there.) I was especially excited when BlogHer contacted me recently to ask if my kids might want to try Silly Strawberry Children's Toothpaste.

Silly Strawberry. The name makes me think of kids' toothpaste, definitely. It makes me think of bright red color and artificial flavor. It makes me think of something that kids would think was great, but might not be great for them. But since it comes from Tom's of Maine, I know that it is NOT bright red. It is NOT artificial. Tom's of Maine's Silly Strawberry toothbrush uses calcium and silica to strengthen and polish teeth.Tom's has made a toothpaste that sounds kid-like, but without those crazy things that usually attract kids.

But what matters is what the kids think:

Last Spring I took up running (much to my surprise!) Somehow, what started out as a peer-induced challenge ("Let's run a 5K!") turned into an actual hobby. While the summer months were hot at times, the autumn and winter brought the dry skin and chapped lips out in full force. It isn't surprising that I jumped at the chance to try out a different challenge: Neosporin's 3-day Healthy Lips Challenge, thanks to Mom Central. I received two products: Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy.

To put it bluntly, I didn't need three days. My lips improved overnight on the very first day. The Overnight Renewal Therapy was so soft and moisturizing that on the second day I ended up using it on a couple of my toes and on one cheek that had gotten a bit of a dry patch. Both of these other body parts cleared up immediately. Meanwhile, the Daily Hydration Therapy gave me satisfyingly slick lips with a little gloss. My lips felt great, but also looked great. As a bonus, the Daily Hydration Therapy is SPF 20 to prevent further damage.

Three years ago we moved from a big house with a little yard to a little house with a big yard. I had excited ambitions for planning my own garden, but my plans fell flat. Embarrassingly, the gardening work the previous owners had done was wasted when my purple thumb came along. In the midst of my farming failure out in our back yard, I noticed that the containers I planted in our front yard actually did well. A lime tree gave us limes for our beer, and an initially small rosemary plant is now enormous and can provide seasoning to whatever I happen to be cooking. (Okay, I don't cook much, but I have big plans for that, too!)

I hope to plant other easy-to-grow herbs in containers in an attempt to incorporate more fresh seasoning into my (future) cooking, and to essentially take "baby steps" towards having a more sustainable experience. Maybe I'll cook more if I know I already have basil, sage, and rosemary growing right there?

It was with a hope that I can make this a reality that I happily accepted Mom Central's opportunity to review Triscuit's Home Gardening Program. Triscuit has placed plantable herb cards in four million boxes of Triscuit crackers. I was fortunate to receive one of those boxes in exchange for spreading the word about their program.

I can think of many ways that people can argue over toilet paper, but none is so polarizing than whether you "roll over" or "roll under."

Cottonelle knew such a question would get plenty of opinions. Indeed, they conducted a Roll Poll.

Not surprisingly, my side won.

Yeah, that's right. I am a roll-over!

It was with passion for my roll-over-ness that I gladly decided to participate in Mom Central's blog tour about Cottonelle. After all, I love validation, and who is to turn down free toilet paper, particularly soft and fluffy paper like Cottonelle?

This past weekend I went on an amazing whirlwind of an adventure in the form of participating in The Relay, a 199-mile run from Calistoga to Davenport (near Santa Cruz.)

Thanks to the fabulous connections of several members of my Eat Blog. Run team, we ended up with some pretty spiffy sponsors who made our trip that much sweeter. Thanks to them, we had transportation, nourishment, and rest.

Our big sponsor was GM, who graciously provided us two "red jewel" Acadias for our trek. Three fabulous GM reps took us out to dinner the night before the race to carb-load and to learn more about both the Acadia and slightly-smaller-but-packed-with-features Terrain. Our team was easily the snazziest on the road. Most of those other teams rented white vans. Our team was definitely visible in our "red jewel tintcoat." Of course our crossovers were even more visible as we drew all over them, giving shouts out to our sponsors and providing tally marks for important things like U-turns, bathroom breaks, and number of compliments we received on our sparkle skirts.

Win a Treatment Pack for Yourself or Your Teen!

Zits. Pimples. Poppers. Blemishes. Spots. Acne.

Whatever you call 'em, they are a fact of life for most teens, and for many adults as well. What started out as almost an exciting rite-of-passage quickly became a complete horror for me. (I wanted braces, too, go figure. But of course once they were on I wanted them off.) We all have stories of the perfect date-face gone wrong at the last minute because of a horrid inflamed red bump. Or how those darn blemishes showed up on Picture Day and during the school play.

When I was a teen, I had a lot of "white-heads" and of course a bunch of "black-heads" as well. I even had plenty of bumps on my face that weren't discolored in any way, but were just not smooth. And everyone knows your skin has to be smooth to be beautiful. And you have to be beautiful to be popular or accepted in any fashion.

My mom took me to a fancy dermatologist who poked and prodded my face, and then prescribed various creams that burned my skin or otherwise didn't do the trick. I had the most consistent results simply using those familiar Oxy circular slightly-abrasive face-wipes on a daily basis. And honestly, I still use them to this day.

It isn't surprising, then, that I was happy to try out Oxy Clinical Solutions thanks to Mom Central. After all, Oxy has been a winner for me for decades. This new Acne Solutions Pack is an over-the-counter trio of treatments that deliver prescription-strength results - or at least, that is their claim!

For the past three years, one of my favorite parts of the BlogHer conference is the CheeseburgHer party. What started out as a stuff-the-suite-with-cheeseburgers event turned into a full-fledged ballroom filled with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and McDonalds new Angus Snack Wraps. Of course there was a large cheeseburger bed in there, too. And sure, the photo booth was a great touch for my friends and I to show just how delectable we found the food.

I was intrigued by the new Angus Snack Wraps. I love the Chipotle BBQ grilled chicken wrap, so was definitely in favor of new wraps. The Angus Snack wraps come in three flavors: deluxe, mushroom & swiss, and bacon & cheese.

I tried the mushroom & swiss.

When I went to Johnson's Camp Baby I arrived with the perspective of someone who enjoyed their products as a child, but who had gravitated elsewhere, especially after having a son sensitive to various dyes and fragrances. Other Camp Baby attendees had similar concerns - sure, J&J's smell and look was iconic, but many moms today are looking more towards the "natural" products, and are willing to pay a premium for them.

Well, much to my delight, Johnson's came out with their fragrance-free baby lotion last year, and have just launched entire "Johnson's Natural" and "Johnson's Natural Kids" lines that are 98-99% natural, plant & fruit-derived ingredients, with "ALLERFREE" fragrance. And, every Johnson's Natural cleanser contains their gentle NO MORE TEARS® formula.

Thanks to Mom Central, I had the opportunity to test several products from their new lines: 2-in-1 hand and face wash, 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner & body wash, head-to-toe foaming baby wash, baby lotion, and baby shampoo.

During BlogHer I was introduced to SOYJOY. I was fortunate to attend a breakfast talk with some fabulous food (some of which was indeed made with soy) and excellent speakers who explained some of the ways we could eat healthfully with our family. And, of course, they let us know the benefits of soy, while also speaking to some of the concerns we've heard in the media about soy products. It was a great event, and I was happy to come away with a sample of their new and improved SOYJOY bars. I received banana.

Well, when I heard that Mom Central was looking for folks to spread the word about the new SOYJOY flavors and encourage entry into their Second Chances Contest, I jumped at what would be my second chance to try SOYJOY.

When I was preparing for the excellent adventure that was The Relay, I read an eat.blog.run post on the Moji Knee Brace with interest.

My right knee has been all "crinkly" ever since a car rear-ended me at a stoplight. (Instead of crashing into the car in front of me, I slammed on the brakes, thereby sacrificing my knee.) My HMO said it was just "sudden-onset arthritis" but I'm pretty sure something snapped in there. So it snaps, crackles, and pops. Sometimes it hurts, but mainly it just sounds funny. Still, after races, my knee is sore, so I often ice it.

Before learning of Moji, I used the traditional runner's bag-of-frozen-peas method. That is all well and good, but requires that I stay in one place, carefully balancing and repositioning the veggies as needed.

Every time I see a light yellow piece of paper in one of my sons' backpacks, I cringe. These "lice alerts" let me know that a child in that particular classroom has lice. Sometimes I only receive one paper. Other times, both boys bring home papers and I hold my breath. We received these notices through preschool and now during grade school. It seems as though lice is always traveling around the school.

But... knock on wood... knock HEAVILY on wood... the lice have not taken up residence in my house or on my boys' heads. (I'm seriously going to knock on wood a few more times here.) I remember dealing with lice a few times during my youth and it was absolutely no fun. I can only imagine how much worse the "mother" role is in the whole scenario.

If I were confident, I'd sing it out: "Not a louse in the house! Oh yeaaaaaah!" But I really don't want to get a puffed-up chest about this, because I fear by simply typing this post I'm welcoming the inevitable.

But for now, we're good.

This blog isn't the only thing that has been rather sluggish lately. In an attempt to correct at least one of these things, I'm jumping on the Shredheads bandwagon and tackling Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 DVD during the month of April.

Follow along on my main blog as I reveal embarrassing statistics and give my initial impressions of Level 1 of Ripped.

I'll continue to review Levels 2, 3, and the apparently nearly-impossible Level 4. Will I regain some tummy definition (in a shape other than round) or will I fizzle into a frumpy lump of fatness by the end of the month?

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Disclaimer: I purchased the Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 DVD with my own money and will not receive compensation of any sort for this post; however, the link to the DVD contains my amazon affiliate code, so I get a few cents should you purchase it.

Some time ago I was running a giveaway here. I posted it on Prizey, and while I was over there, figured I'd check out the other giveaways going on. One in particular caught my eye - for some bars from Core Foods. As a super-busy person who is always in my van chauffeuring someone to something, or at my computer with deadlines that don't involve the oven timer, I was attracted to the idea of 100% organic, raw, whole food to-go. Often convenience bars are filled with bleech, but these sounded good. And so I entered to win a case. Why not? I figured.

Well, I didn't win. But, Core Foods emailed me promoting a deal from this company called blissmo. For a deep discount I could get a sample set of all the Core Food bars, plus a voucher for an entire case of my favorite flavor.