I broke down…..we now have a ginnea pig. My kids have been begging for a dog and we almost got one over the summer. Long story… but I put in a deposit and dealt with a wierdo breeder who I guess just needed to make $ off of the small litter so we were not chosen to receive the puppy. So anyway….here comes summer and we’re not home anyway to take care of a puppy and my babysitter was heading to college and was looking for someone to take her 3 year old ginnea pig. I have to admit I was thinking a big rat…. but she really is kinda cute and makes these cooing noises. She looks just like a zhu zhu pet. I did not realize however that she sheds ALOT so I hope I am not allergic to her! She also poops alot too – note to self…really research a pet before you agree to take it!
The kids are enjoying her and I thought it would be a good test for them to take care of a live creature but it is weird to have a live, furry animal in the house when you have never had one before. Besides the cute cooing the other night I was like, WHAT is that noise coming from downstairs? A big bug, a mouse? Oh wait we have a ginnea pig! I guess I have to get used to the pet noises now!
Well, I wish I knew about this fab new product earlier in the summer as it would have saved me lugging around several products to the beach and pool! You know when you go on vacation or camping and you bring shampoo, conditioner, wash for the bathing suits, dish soap for the pots and pans, etc. etc. – well now you can grab this – Kiss my Face Peace Soap – a 100% natural castile soap and it does the job of several products and smells great.
Plus it’s biodegradable, environmentally friendly, made without parabens, phthlates and animal ingredients and is not tested on animals. The company sent me a sample of the pomegranate acai and it worked great (especially for washing sand and chlorine out of bathing suits!)
The multi-purpose peace soap is just perfect for traveling and camping and good for just about anything from head to toe cleaning to washing out camping gear. The peace soap is named for its support of Seeds of Peace, an organization that aims to develop relationshiopss and leadership skills among young people from regions of conflict. Kiss my Face supports seeds of Peace by donating 10% of all profits from Peace Soap to the organization.
Well, this is it- the last summer weekend before we head back to school! Backpacks, school supplies and a few outfits have been picked out as well as sneakers and sweatshirts have been purchased!
We took our last summer vacation a few weeks ago and it was very relaxing – a week at the beach. Usually we do several day trips to Maine and Newburyport, Mass. but this time we just woke up and walked onto the beach each and every day and didn’t move until we were hungry or had to run to the cottage for the bathroom!
We had lots of visitors, loads of fun and boggie boarding non-stop. While we really wanted to try surfing again we had to cross it off our list as my 10 year old slipped at the pool the day before we left and had to have two staples in her head! Originally the doctor said no swimming for 7 days (which would have been torture for her!) but my hubby asked if there was any way she could swim in the ocean and he said yes with a swim cap and we had to make sure the area was cleaned every day. So she put on her swim cap, grabbed her boogie board and was trying to be cautious! So now it’s Friday before labor day and I am trying to think of fun things to do for day trips this weekend or maybe just relax? Nah…off to the beach, the pool and a few parties!
I’ve been so busy with work, back to school shopping, etc. etc. Last week on the weekly trendymommies radio report we talked backpack safety. This week we talked about waste free lunches. Everything from stainless steel water bottles, stainless steel containers and lunch containers.
Every summer my skin is so dry and I test out so many products. Maybe that is why my skin is dry! Believe me I have tried just about every body moisturizer out there. Â Â Always on the lookout for gentle, effective products I found Auromere.
Auromere Ayurvedic Imports sent me some sample products to test out. These lifestyle products from India are a unique line of body care and gift items. The products range from incense, herbal toothpaste, handmade soaps, shampoos, massage oil and body lotion.
I love the auromere neem picks. They freshen your breath, stimulate your gums, remove food particles and plaque and leave a sweet taste in your mouth.
The Ayurvedic Hand and Body Lotion has sesame oil and almond oil which leaves skin soft and smooth. It is especially hydrating for dry, aging skin. The fragrance is so light. It is paraben and gluten free. The lotion is specially formulated with 13 skin-beneficial Ayurvedic herbs, oils and minerals so that means it helps with extremely dry skin, especially the skin on our heels that is very tough to keep hydrated. Check out all their product offerings.
This week on WCAP 980 AM trendymommies report we talked about backpacks – What makes a good one? What are the trends? Â Aren’t they too heavy? What safety tips can we share? We found out The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. offers a few guidelines on backpack safety.
As for the trends – Stores have lots of sparkle in their backpacks this season for the girls and of course the skull print is still around and lots of polka dots, quilted and guitar themed backpacks are in stores. The big retailers have great backpacks – LL Bean and Lands End but don’t forget about Gap Kids and Hanna Anderson as they have fun colors.
LL Bean does have the various sizes so you can buy for your pre-school student to you college student.  Messenger Bags are pretty popular but be careful as they tend to be slung over one shoulder. I let my kids carry them on half-days when the book load is light. In fact every year we usually snag a messenger bag on sale at Old Navy, if not for school for other trips.
But don’t let fashion take a priority over function and safety. The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. offers these backpack safety tips:
·       Make sure the child’s backpack weights no more than 5 to 10 percent of their body weight. A heavier backpack will cause the child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back. For example a 50-pound child should not carry more than 5 pounds.
·       Where it sits makes a big difference. A backpack should never land more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing the child to lean forward when walking and distort their posture.
·       Urge a child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
·       The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.
·       Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable and can dig into the child’s shoulders.
·       Use rollerpacks or backpacks on wheels with caution. Children tend to overload these packs because they are on wheels and then need to haul them up bus and school stairs resulting in injury. Many school districts have banned rollerpacks because they clutter hallways resulting in dangerous trips and falls.
·       A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.
·       Just because a backpack is bigger does not mean it’s better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry and the heavier the backpack will be.
·       Investigate some ergonomically correct backpacks
I was told lately by a hair stylist that I had dry scalp. hmm…So now I was on the lookout for a shampoo that did not have a bazillion chemicals and would help my dry scalp.
I found that neem works quite well. Have not heard of it? Neither did I. Neem is an indian tree that has been used by Ayuvedic practitioners for its ability to support sensitive skin.  Neem oil contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants, which help protect the skin from free radicals caused by over-exposure to sun, environmental toxins and other damaging elements.
Organix South sent us some wonderful products to test out.  They are the world’s leading manufacturer of certified-organic Neem products. Their mission is to create wholesome and natural products while taking care of the planet.   They have several products including cuticle oil, supplements and mouthwash.
For kids and babies they have shampoo and conditioner and we love the Neem Therape Cleansing Bar. So great for sensitive skin and it’s paraben, sulfate and gluten free.
I tried out the scalp therape shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is a bit thinner than most but works just as well and is very soothing to the scalp. The smell is awesome. Not only did my scalp feel better but my hair was smooth and shiny – even my husband noticed!
They really do have something for everyone in your family – even your pet – so check out their web site if you are looking to soothe that sensitive scalp or skin!
I was told lately by a hair stylist that I had dry scalp. hmm…So now I was on the lookout for a shampoo that did not have a bazillion chemicals and would help my dry scalp.
I found that neem works quite well. Have not heard of it? Neither did I. Neem is an indian tree that has been used by Ayuvedic practitioners for its ability to support sensitive skin.  Neem oil contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants, which help protect the skin from free radicals caused by over-exposure to sun, environmental toxins and other damaging elements.
Organix South sent us some wonderful products to test out.  They are the world’s leading manufacturer of certified-organic Neem products. Their mission is to create wholesome and natural products while taking care of the planet.   They have several products including cuticle oil, supplements and mouthwash.
For kids and babies they have shampoo and conditioner and we love the Neem Therape Cleansing Bar. So great for sensitive skin and it’s paraben, sulfate and gluten free.
I tried out the scalp therape shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is a bit thinner than most but works just as well and is very soothing to the scalp. The smell is awesome. Not only did my scalp feel better but my hair was smooth and shiny – even my husband noticed!
They really do have something for everyone in your family – even your pet – so check out their web site if you are looking to soothe that sensitive scalp or skin!
I was told lately by a hair stylist that I had dry scalp. hmm…So now I was on the lookout for a shampoo that did not have a bazillion chemicals and would help my dry scalp.
I found that neem works quite well. Have not heard of it? Neither did I. Neem is an indian tree that has been used by Ayuvedic practitioners for its ability to support sensitive skin.  Neem oil contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants, which help protect the skin from free radicals caused by over-exposure to sun, environmental toxins and other damaging elements.
Organix South sent us some wonderful products to test out.  They are the world’s leading manufacturer of certified-organic Neem products. Their mission is to create wholesome and natural products while taking care of the planet.   They have several products including cuticle oil, supplements and mouthwash.
For kids and babies they have shampoo and conditioner and we love the Neem Therape Cleansing Bar. So great for sensitive skin and it’s paraben, sulfate and gluten free.
I tried out the scalp therape shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is a bit thinner than most but works just as well and is very soothing to the scalp. The smell is awesome. Not only did my scalp feel better but my hair was smooth and shiny – even my husband noticed!
They really do have something for everyone in your family – even your pet – so check out their web site if you are looking to soothe that sensitive scalp or skin!
What’s the plan for the last few weeks of summer for the kids? Of course it’s back to school shopping but what do you do with the kids these last few weeks? We have been running around like crazy – to the pool, to the beach, to get ice cream, etc. And yes and of course I have to work during this time as well! Yesterday I conducted my weekly radio interview on the beach (away from my kids and my friends kids) but some people were looking at me funny I think because I was talking loud!
What I noticed is that many of the town camps end the first or second week of August and there are less options as the month closes out. We are on vacation the last week of August so I just have to worry about weeks 2-4! Sitters are heading back to college so I have to utilize them while I can. Here are a few tips to keep the kidos occupied.
While I don’t like them watching TV that much, my 10 year old’s friend got her interested in the Harry Potter movies – she has like what 8 movies to watch to keep up? That should take some time…..Plus after all this running around we need some down time.
My neighbor has an almost one year old. They like to head over and “babysit” her for a few hours and I think the mom can get something’s done at the same time!
When I have an in-person meeting and/or a conference call it’s daddy time. Luckily his job is flexible so he will take the kids to lunch during these times.
Exchange playdate services with a friend. Watch a friend’s kids for a few hours and she can do the same for you.
Babysitters can be pricy but many times, especially if you work from home a mother’s helper can keep the kids occupied. Make sure you talk with the younger teen’s mother about expectations.  Usually at the age of 13 they can start helping.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer as they are going to fly by!
