Not Before Coffee

Any first-time parent who has ever taken the time to read the entirety of What to Expect When You’re Expecting understands that creeping feeling of “am I really up for this?!” It seems that the list of must-do’s, should-do’s, and cannot-do’s is never-ending, and with all of that information swimming around in our heads, it can be nearly impossible to sort through it all and identify the plain truth of what’s REALLY important. Even more unsettling is the fact that some baby care tips can cost a lot of money . . . and, dare we say it, they don’t even seem necessary. So, how can you do what’s best for your baby while snubbing all of the unwarranted baby care hype? Save yourself some money by debunking these baby care myths:

Fancy movement toys. This is in reference to all those expensive walkers, bouncers, and other learn-to-walk toys on the market. These days, clever marketing gurus do a great job of convincing us that our babies are somehow not going to learn how to walk (or reach other milestones) as efficiently as they could without “proper stimulation” from toys like this. That’s poppycock. Babies have been learning to do things on their own since the dawn of humankind, and they will continue to do so without those artificial means. What’s more is that studies show using these aids can actually stunt a baby’s natural learning process.

Brain stimulation. Similar to the movement aids, brain stimulation toys are very expensive, and are touted to give your baby a one-up when it comes to developing intelligence. Babies need adequate mental stimulation, of course, but you don’t have to rush out and buy a fancy toy to do that. Just make sure your baby have plenty of sensory experiences to learn from.

Name brand products. Many new parents make the mistake of thinking that expensive name brands are automatically higher quality (and therefore necessary). Before you fork out the big bucks for name brand, read the labels and compare the expensive brands to the store brands. You might be amazed to find that store brands often have the exact same ingredients, at a fraction of the cost.

Medicine. This is another case of name brand confusion. Generic over-the-counter medications are the same as their name brand equivalents. Save your money.

Having a baby is expensive as it is. Ease the financial burden while staying true to your desire to be the best parent you can by debunking these costly baby care myths.

About the Author: Nana Sigmund is the mother of twins and would have gone broke had she invested in all of the “necessities” that really weren’t. When she’s not taking care of her growing boys, she can be found sipping the oolong tea she loves from www.goldenmoontea.com while trying to read a few pages of her favorite books.

The Paralympic Games are an inspiring and exciting series of events, featuring elite athletes with disabilities from all over the world. The fourteenth round of Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place between August 29 and September 9 of 2012, will be held in London, England. If you plan on attending the 2012 Paralympic Games, then there is no better time to start preparing for this awesome experience than now. Here is a visitor’s guide to the 2012 Paralympic Games:

The categories. This summer’s line-up includes twenty different sport competitions. These include parlympic cycling (road and track are two separate events), horseback riding, football, judo, power lifting, athletics, boccia ball, rowing, goal ball, archery, shooting, sailing, tennis, swimming, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, rugby, swimming, and fencing. Be sure to check the sport competition schedules before the event so that you can plan your itinerary and catch all of your favorite sports.

Venues. London’s Paralympic Games will take place at a number of venues in the Olympic Park area, as well as in some venues across the other side of London, and some outside of London altogether. These locales include Copper Box, Eton Manor, the Water Pole Arena, the BMX Track, the Velodrome, the Basketball Arena, the Aquatics Center, the Riverbank Arena, and the Olympic Stadium, among a long list of others. Again, because these locations are spread out, careful planning comes into play if you want to catch all your favorite games.

Transportation. With all the ground to cover, it is important that you know how to get from point A to point B. As part of the paralympic bid, London’s transportation department, Transport for London, has planned to provide access to the games by way of over ten different railway lines, which will carry roughly 240,000 people per hour. Preparation involves expanding on already existing lines, and may even require the construction of a new cable car system that extends across the River Thames.

Where to find more information. The best place to find everything you need in order to plan your trip is the London Paralympic Games website, London2012.com. There you will find interactive maps, a detailed list of venues and locations, the event schedule, and even virtual tours.

As you can see, there is a whole lot to consider when planning your visit to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London – namely, which games to see and how to get to them. Don’t fret. Through ample research and careful planning, you can make the most out of what is sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

About the Author: Cory Selle is a huge sports enthusiast and enjoys watching the Paralympic games as much as the Olympics. When he’s not tracking his favorite sports he can be found writing about general health, disabilities, yeast infection and candida issues, and health insurance.

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Giving away jewelry is SJC’s way of introducing their products-they also sell their jewelry through wholesalers and stores. There’s no solicitation – it’s just not their style!

Here’s the Deets

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I’ve placed a banner in the sidebar that updates daily with one of the latest pieces offered.

What a great way to get that Mother’s Day shopping out of the way EARLY!

Disclaimer: Anytime I find a great deal or a great product like this, I look for an affiliate signup. They have it – I did it. Your order via my links or banner result in a small commission. A girl’s gotta fund her jewelry addiction somehow

My mornings begin with a hot cup of coffee and a couple of articles pulled from my “favorite bloggers” file. This morning my selection included Michael Hyatt. Michael is the Chairman of a Christian publishing company. Michael takes time from his busy life to maintain a personal blog focusing on “intentional leadership.”

I’ve been a huge fan of his style and philosophy.

If you are going to lead well, you must be thoughtful and purposeful about it.

This morning’s choice“Why Speaking Well of Your Spouse Is So Important” resonated with me on a couple of levels. At this end of Michael’s article he asked, “How have you seen this play out in the lives of those who’ve lead you?”

This is the one example of someone I know vocalizing a protective hedge around their marriage:

Several years ago I had the opportunity to work with an executive in the pharmaceutical industry. It was because of him, I learned to set the bar higher when it comes to what I need and want from relationships.

I wasn’t but two paragraphs into Michael’s article when my mind turned to Ken. I remember every class or meeting he and I participated in, he’d always refer to his wife as his ‘lovely bride.’ Ken and his bride have been married for 30+ years. I’ve never forgotten the tone in his voice, the look on his face or the way they interacted with one another.

I had lost touch with Ken, his bride and their son a few years back, but thanks to Michael’s article, I found him on Linkedin and sent a connection request.

Isn’t it amazing how people come into your life with a purpose? As busy as I should be today, I felt the need to take a little ME time and read – the first piece I read connected me with someone who left a lasting impression in an area of my life I tend to need it most.

To continue the effort of Michael, share an example of how you’ve witnessed a great leader vocalizing and affirming their role as a spouse or friend.

“What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex — what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute.” — Rush Limbaugh

Lemme get this straight – Rush is taking issue with insurance covering contraceptives and says that would essentially mean that Sandra was being ‘paid to have sex.’

What does that make Rush Limbaugh when he was using insurance to cover those prescription medications he was (cough cough) addicted to?

Methinks Rush is just jealous that Sandra might get paid to have sex while he was just being paid to be the same douche he always is.