Choosing My Baby Boy’s Name

When my daughter was born, we had no idea what gender she was going to be. Therefore, we had both a boy and girl name ready to go. Less than two years later, when I discovered I was going to have a boy, that leftover boy name just didn’t feel right at all. I loved the name, but I didn’t love that name for my boy.

My husband and I went through name after name, decided against every single one. Admittedly, with the last name Grundig, we are fairly limited. Anything with too many consonants was pretty much out of the question. For most of my pregnancy, we called my baby boy Pea 2 (my daughter was always my Pea in utero), and had somewhat settled on the name Ryan.

But, it still didn’t feel right. Again, I loved the name Ryan, but it just didn’t feel right for my baby boy. So, desperate, I reviewed the US Social Security lists of names, and found the perfect name – Mason. It was common, but not too common. It fit well with our last name. And, most importantly, it just felt right for my baby.

My little guy turns six later this month, and I still love his name. It’s just perfect for him.

It wasn’t easy, but that is how I decided on my baby’s name. How did you decide on your baby’s name? Or do you have a great story on how your parents decided on your name? Tell me for a chance to win a year’s supply of cards from Cardstore.com!

In celebration of the 8 women who are pregnant, Cardstore.com has expanded their offering of birth announcements!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cardstore. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Tagged as: baby names

View the original article here

Read More

Salba Smart – Smarter Chia Seeds

I’m making an effort to be healthier (although I have given up the vegan diet – for the most part).   Two things that I really need to integrate into my diet is more fiber and Omega-3s – both of which help reduce cholesterol.  Chia seeds, which I’ve recently started reading about, include both fiber and Omega-3s.  Salba Smart, a company that makes organically grown and non-GMO chia, sent me some samples of their products, and I’ve integrated them into my diet over the past six weeks.

Salba Smart makes chips and salsa as well as ground and whole chia seeds.  The prepared products are wonderful – they taste great and are healthy. But, my favorites are the seeds, because I can then add them directly to my food.  I’ve added them to water, or to my granola in the morning.  They also work well as an egg substitute in recipes, and sprinkled onto yogurt, smoothies, and fruit.  It’s an extra step, but it’s so worth it.  According to their website, Salba chia, gram for gram, has:

8 x more Omega-3 (ALA) than Atlantic Salmon (EPA/DHA)2.8 x more antioxidants than pomegranates (based on ORAC values)6 x more calcium than whole milk3 x more iron than spinach15 x more magnesium than broccoli3 x more fiber than oats

All of those great benefits are definitely worth the extra step – and the seeds don’t have a taste, so they are easy to integrate into your food.

To learn more about Salba Smart, visit their website.

Disclosure: I received complimentary samples for review.

Tagged as: healthy food

View the original article here

Read More

New Spot It! On the Road Travel Game

My family is doing quite a bit of traveling this summer – from some road trips to a Canadian cruise.  We love to play board games because it’s a great way for us to bond as a family – without pulling out the Leapsters, laptops, and iPads, but they aren’t always the easiest to travel with.  And, travel versions of full board games are often a bit too small for my little ones to realistically play with.  So, I really love the new Spot It! On the Road travel game – which is great for the whole family.

On the Road is the latest of the Spot It! games.  It is played the same way as the traditional Spot It!, but with travel icons.  Kids have fun spotting the matching icons on their card, and it really is something that kids and adults are pretty equal at – so the kids have a good chance at winning without mom and dad throwing the game.

To learn more about Spot It! On the Road, visit the Blue Orange Games website.

Disclosure: I received this game at no cost for review. 

Tagged as: board games

View the original article here

Read More

New Eyewear For the Whole family from Crocs

The Grundig family lives in Crocs in the summer, and since school got out officially today, I’m considering it summer.  I was so happy to hear that our favorite summer shoe brand has just come out with a new eyewear collection for the whole family.

As a mom with a young boy and girl, I have a hard time keeping their eyes safe.  While they’ll happily wear bug repellent and sunscreen, they aren’t too excited about wearing sunglasses.  So I need sunglasses that are not only high-quality, but are also lightweight and easy to wear.  The new Crocs eyewear line is perfect.  The glasses are stylish and fun, with interchangeable hinges for some style changes.  But, they are also a nice size – covering the whole eye.  And, they are lightweight so they aren’t too heavy for my kids to wear.

To learn more about the new Crocs eyewear line, visit their website.

Disclosure: I received samples at no cost for review.

Tagged as: crocs, sunglasses

View the original article here

Read More

Final Accutane Results

When it comes to the “after” part of a before and after, seeing is always better than reading.  So I decided to put on my webcam to show you exactly what results I got from 4 1/2 months of Accutane.  It’s obnoxiously close-up, but it’s all here!

Tagged as: Accutane

View the original article here

Read More

Father’s Day Gift Picks

So, it’s a few days before Father’s Day, and if you are anything like me, you are still scrambling for ideas for Father’s Day gifts.  Well, look no more – here are a few of my favorites for the season.

Fitness Apparel

Do you have a weekend warrior or a steady athlete in your family?  Athletic apparel is always appreciated as a gift, and New Balance is offering some great items for Father’s Day, including this latest version of their iconic 990 running/walking shoe.  It’s available for women and kids too – so the whole family can match if you’d like.

The Sonos Wireless HiFi System 

The Sonos Wireless HiFi system is perfect for any music-loving dad on your list.  With the bridge, purchased separately, you can hook it up to your wireless network, play the music that is already on your computer, and control things with a remote or an iPhone/Android device.

Citizen Eco-Drive Watch Perpetual Chronograph AT Watch

My husband got this watch for Valentine’s Day this year and he absolutely loves it.  If your husband or dad needs a nice watch, this is the perfect one.  It never needs a new battery, and sets automatically after you choose the time zone.  Read my full review here. 

Disclosure: I received these items at no cost for review. 

Tagged as: Citizen, father's day, New Balance, Sonos

View the original article here

Read More

Supersized reactions to Mayor Bloomberg’s soda ban plan

Here’s a glimpse of just some of the commentary on NY mayor Bloomberg’s call for a ban on supersized soda in any public place regulated by the city health department. It’s become a battle of clever headlines:

Soda Jerk

Soda Plan Fizzles

Sugar Daddy

City Health Weasels Go “Pop”

On Philly.com, William Saletan called Bloomberg a hypocrite:

“…the harder Bloomberg presses, the more he’s outed. He’s been caught salting pizza and bagels. He drinks three or four cups of coffee a day. NBC’s Matt Lauer recently grilled him about his proclamation honoring “NYC Donut Day.” The mayor replied, “One donut’s not going to hurt you. In moderation, anything — most things are OK. … That’s exactly what we’re trying to do with soft drinks, is get you to drink in moderation.”

Really? Bloomberg believes in moderation? Then let’s talk about the wiener orgies.

12 minutes, 50 wieners

The orgies take place every year in Coney Island. They’re broadcast live on ESPN. They’re known as the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. In 10 minutes, contestants stuff as many hot dogs down their throats as they can. During Bloomberg’s tenure, the record has increased from 50 to 68. It’s pornography for gluttons.

Year after year, Bloomberg officiates at the weighing-in ceremony, praises the contestants for gorging themselves, and brags about the millions of people watching on TV.”

On TheAtlantic.com, Brian Wansink and David Just wrote: “How Bloomberg’s Soft Drink Ban Will Backfire on NYC Public Health.”

The New York mayor defends his prohibition on sugary drinks with an appeal to science, but the very people who carried out the studies in question say he’s misread their work.

A web search could give you a weekend of reading and you still wouldn’t catch up. On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart has hammered Bloomberg in a series of shows in recent weeks. Here’s one:

Not all think it’s such a bad idea.

In the Kansas City Star, Barbara Shelly wrote, “Why we should all cheer Bloomberg’s soda policy,” noting how majors in Kansas City, Newark, Oklahoma City, Boston and San Diego have also taken public steps to promote healthy weight.

And one of our expert editors, Harold Demonaco, MS, wrote the following:

Whether you agree or not with Mayor Bloomberg’s attempts to banish 32 ounce soft drinks from the streets of New York, you have to give him credit for highlighting the problem of “supersizing.”

In a perfect world, people would understand the consequences of their actions and a Big Brother approach would not be necessary.  After all, shouldn’t adults be allowed to decide what to eat and drink?  The obvious answer is yes.

Two recently published studies provide a bit more insight into the issues surrounding over consumption.

A study  published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that regulation of nutritional content of foods can make a big difference in school aged children.  California regulates the food and beverages available to students in the schools. This includes cafeteria foods and beverages as well as those sold elsewhere in the school.  On average, California students consumed about 160 fewer calories daily than their counterparts in the 14 states studied that do not regulate foods in schools.  That’s equal to a bit more than half of a 32 ounce soda a day.  Maybe regulations do work!  But of course, we are talking about children………………

Dan Ariely and colleagues published a study in February looking at what would happen if you simply invited people to downsize a portion of their meals.  Surprisingly, about one third of people asked did reduce their portion size and did so whether they received a discount or not.  They effectively reduce their calorie consumption by about 200 calories.   And they did so without changing the amount of leftovers.

I stumbled over a really interesting body weight simulator  from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.  With it, you can see what changes to your caloric intake and exercise will do to your weight, body composition and body mass index over time.

I ran the simulator to see what would happen if I drank a 32 ounce soda daily for a year.  That’s 310 extra calories a day.  My weight went from 175 pounds to 189 pounds.  And that is despite my daily exercise routine.  To rid myself of the extra pounds, I would need to increase my exercise commitment by 80% (that’s an extra 45 minutes on the accursed spinning bike daily).  Without additional exercise, I would weigh about 200 pounds at year two.

Over 60% of adults in the US are overweight and just about 30% are classified as obese.  The causes are complex and the fixes are not easily apparent.  What is apparent however is that the present course will only lead to the obesity problem getting worse.

View the original article here

Read More

Supersized reactions to Mayor Bloomberg’s soda ban plan

Here’s a glimpse of just some of the commentary on NY mayor Bloomberg’s call for a ban on supersized soda in any public place regulated by the city health department. It’s become a battle of clever headlines:

Soda Jerk

Soda Plan Fizzles

Sugar Daddy

City Health Weasels Go “Pop”

On Philly.com, William Saletan called Bloomberg a hypocrite:

“…the harder Bloomberg presses, the more he’s outed. He’s been caught salting pizza and bagels. He drinks three or four cups of coffee a day. NBC’s Matt Lauer recently grilled him about his proclamation honoring “NYC Donut Day.” The mayor replied, “One donut’s not going to hurt you. In moderation, anything — most things are OK. … That’s exactly what we’re trying to do with soft drinks, is get you to drink in moderation.”

Really? Bloomberg believes in moderation? Then let’s talk about the wiener orgies.

12 minutes, 50 wieners

The orgies take place every year in Coney Island. They’re broadcast live on ESPN. They’re known as the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. In 10 minutes, contestants stuff as many hot dogs down their throats as they can. During Bloomberg’s tenure, the record has increased from 50 to 68. It’s pornography for gluttons.

Year after year, Bloomberg officiates at the weighing-in ceremony, praises the contestants for gorging themselves, and brags about the millions of people watching on TV.”

On TheAtlantic.com, Brian Wansink and David Just wrote: “How Bloomberg’s Soft Drink Ban Will Backfire on NYC Public Health.”

The New York mayor defends his prohibition on sugary drinks with an appeal to science, but the very people who carried out the studies in question say he’s misread their work.

A web search could give you a weekend of reading and you still wouldn’t catch up. On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart has hammered Bloomberg in a series of shows in recent weeks. Here’s one:

Not all think it’s such a bad idea.

In the Kansas City Star, Barbara Shelly wrote, “Why we should all cheer Bloomberg’s soda policy,” noting how majors in Kansas City, Newark, Oklahoma City, Boston and San Diego have also taken public steps to promote healthy weight.

And one of our expert editors, Harold Demonaco, MS, wrote the following:

Whether you agree or not with Mayor Bloomberg’s attempts to banish 32 ounce soft drinks from the streets of New York, you have to give him credit for highlighting the problem of “supersizing.”

In a perfect world, people would understand the consequences of their actions and a Big Brother approach would not be necessary.  After all, shouldn’t adults be allowed to decide what to eat and drink?  The obvious answer is yes.

Two recently published studies provide a bit more insight into the issues surrounding over consumption.

A study  published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that regulation of nutritional content of foods can make a big difference in school aged children.  California regulates the food and beverages available to students in the schools. This includes cafeteria foods and beverages as well as those sold elsewhere in the school.  On average, California students consumed about 160 fewer calories daily than their counterparts in the 14 states studied that do not regulate foods in schools.  That’s equal to a bit more than half of a 32 ounce soda a day.  Maybe regulations do work!  But of course, we are talking about children………………

Dan Ariely and colleagues published a study in February looking at what would happen if you simply invited people to downsize a portion of their meals.  Surprisingly, about one third of people asked did reduce their portion size and did so whether they received a discount or not.  They effectively reduce their calorie consumption by about 200 calories.   And they did so without changing the amount of leftovers.

I stumbled over a really interesting body weight simulator  from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.  With it, you can see what changes to your caloric intake and exercise will do to your weight, body composition and body mass index over time.

I ran the simulator to see what would happen if I drank a 32 ounce soda daily for a year.  That’s 310 extra calories a day.  My weight went from 175 pounds to 189 pounds.  And that is despite my daily exercise routine.  To rid myself of the extra pounds, I would need to increase my exercise commitment by 80% (that’s an extra 45 minutes on the accursed spinning bike daily).  Without additional exercise, I would weigh about 200 pounds at year two.

Over 60% of adults in the US are overweight and just about 30% are classified as obese.  The causes are complex and the fixes are not easily apparent.  What is apparent however is that the present course will only lead to the obesity problem getting worse.

View the original article here

Read More