Congestion During Pregnancy

OK, now I'm sure I am not the only pregnant woman out there that is/has/or will suffer from congestion during pregnancy! Thanks to our wonderful hormones kicking in full swing the nasal passages swell and make it difficult to breath.

After several sleepless nights I went on to search for my own holistic remedy. One drug-free method I found are Breathe Right strips. I've worn them at night and even though it doesn't clear the nose, it makes breathing easier by slightly opening up the nasal passages. Some other methods I found include:

• Saline Nasal Spray.
• Humidifier.
• Boil water than place a towel over your head and lean over the bowl of water for 20 minutes.
• Rub your tongue on the roof of your mouth and rub between your eyebrows at the same time. Yes this one seems strange, but when you are desperate you'll try anything!

If anyone has tried other holistic methods and they have worked, leave a comment to let me know. I would like to try it!

Fun Face Plate

Here's a chance for your toddler to eat their meals and express their creativity. The opportunities are endless so load on the veggies and let the food play begin. This plate sells individually for $9.99 at http://www.popdeluxe.net/.

A Guide To Playgrounds

Traveling this summer? I found this awesome website www.kaboom.org. It's a great resource to go to to find a play space or playground when vacationing or traveling with children. All you need to do is enter the city and state or the zip code into the search box and an interactive map appears.

When my family travels to Bar Harbor this summer, I've already located parks to take my daughter to. This is a tool that I will definitely use regularly this summer!

Eddie Bauer Play Yard Recall

Wednesday May 13, 2009 Dorel Juvenile Group announced a recall of about 71,000 Eddie Bauer brand Soothe & Sway play yards in the United States and 5,600 in Canada in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The rocking bassinet attachment can tilt when secured by straps in the non-rocking mode or can stay tilted without returning to a level sleeping surface while in the rocking mode, causing an infant to roll to the corner or side of the bassinet. The infant can then become wedged in the corner or pressed against the side or bottom of the bassinet, posing a risk of suffocation.

Models included in the recall are 05046 (all units) and 05044 (only those units manufactured before December 1, 2008). The model numbers and manufacture dates are printed on a sticker on one of the support legs underneath the play yard. The play yards were sold at Target, Sears, and Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide and through online retailers from January 2008 through May 2009 for about $150.

Immediately stop using the bassinet attachment of the play yard, which can then be used safely, and contact Dorel Juvenile Group for a $40 voucher toward the purchase of a new Dorel product. For additional information, call Dorel Juvenile Group at (888) 233-4903 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday though Friday or go to www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09219.html for more info.

Sale...Newborn Diapers

Looking for a deal? Diapers.com has a sale going on for Newborn diapers. They have fast and free 2-day or next day shipping on orders over $49. Plus you can save $10 on your first order by entering the following code BCENTER at checkout...what a deal!

Check it out: www.diapers.com

Ten Unique Ways to Announce That You Are Pregnant

Announcing that you are pregnant is a memorable and unforgetful moment. Therefore it needs to be memorable! I found this great site that shares fun ways to announce to your family that you are expecting a baby that they will never forget! Check it out!

www.associatedcontent.com/article/1384357/ten_fun_and_unique_ways_to_announce.html

Exercising During Pregnancy May Increase Baby IQ

I found an article which states mothers who exercise 30 minutes a day during pregnancy are helping to boost their child’s IQ. Nisbett who is a psychologist states "Exercising large muscle groups increases the growth of neurons and adds to the blood supply of the brain."

It's an interesting article that shows a different approach. Check it out www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6211362.ece

Setting A Good Financial Example

Today as women, we are more involved than ever in the financial decision making of our household. A recent study by Women & Co found that 63% of women are the CFO of their household. Therefore the impact that we will have on our children's future financial decision making is enormous. We can choose, as mother's, to have a positive or negative impact on our next generation. Here are some tips to setting a good financial example for your children.

1. Talk To Your Children About Money. Money really needs to be an open and ongoing topic with your children. Opening up the dialog, gives them the opportunity to ask questions and learn about smart financial guidelines.
2. Get Financially Fit. Get a piggy bank and create opportunities in which your children can "work" for money. Such as payments for tasks outside the household routine.
3. Practice What You Preach. The financial decisions you make will have an impact on your children. If you are responsible with your finances than your children will model it.
4. Create A Common Goal. Get your kids involved in the family financial planning early by creating a family fund that will be put toward a goal everyone agrees on. That could be a vacation, a gift, or a charity that all the family members would like to support.
5. Know Why Money Matters. Finding a balance between your family's finances and your family life. The finances should support the family life, not control it.

Pregnancy Journal & Planner

I bought and used this journal for my first pregnancy and it was a great tool to help make all the details of my pregnancy more manageable. There is a week-by-week tracker that notes the age and the length of the embryo. Here you can also make notes on how you are feeling, any movement and sensations you are experiencing, and things to do that week. I really enjoying going back and reading about my pregnancy!

There are also to-do lists; suggested questions to ask when looking for health care provider, locating childcare options, and touring a birthing facility. This journal is a great way to have all your pregnancy related information in one place!

The Pregnancy Journal & Planner can be purchased at any bookstore or on-line. I recommend purchasing it through Barnes & Noble's authorized used book sellers, since the selling price starts at $1.99 versus $11.99 new.

How To Make Play Doh

Ingrediants:

2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Water
1 Cup Salt
2 Tablespoon Oil
2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
Food Coloring

Directions:

Combine all ingrediants in a heavy 2-quart pot and stir over medium heat until the misxture sticks together in a ball. Let cool. Place in an airtight container. Lasts for several months.

The 20 Most Unique Celebrity Baby Names

I love unique names and we’ve all heard some of the strange names that celebrities give their children. But what I am wondering is how they came up with such weird names. Whether it’s to be trendy, unique, or noticed…who knows. But here are the top 20 most unique names celebrities named their children.

20. Kal-El
Parent: Nicolas Cage


19. Pilot Inspektor
Parent: Jason Lee


18. Fifi Trixibelle
Parents: Bob Geldof and Paula Yates


17. Apple
Parents: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin


16. Coco
Parents: Courteney Cox and David Arquette


15. Kyd
Parents: David Duchovny and Tea Leoni


14. Sage Moonblood
Parent: Sylvester Stallone


13. Destry
Parent: Steven Spielberg


12. Madox
Parents: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt


11. Memphis Eve
Parent: Bono


10: Ocean
Parent: Forest Whitaker


9: Prince Michael II/Blanket
Parent: Michael Jackson


8: Bronx Mowgli
Parents: Ashlee Simpson and Peter Wentz


7: Blue Angel
Parent: The Edge


6: Audio Science
Parent: Shannyn Sossamon


5: Moon Unit
Parent: Frank Zappa


4: Diva Thin Muffin
Parent: Frank Zappa


3: Moxie Crimefighter
Parent: Penn Jillette


2: Tu (Morrow)
Parents Rob Morrow


1: Jermajesty
Parent: Jermaine Jackson