5 Tips to Get in Shape

Sharolyn LeitholdDon’t let bikini season sneak up on you! I can promise that you will face this summer loving yourself.
5 changes you can make to give yourself a lean and healthy body:

1). Avoid white foods. flour, refined carbs, starches and sugar. The word is avoid, not eliminate. We have to be realistic, but if you can avoid these foods 80% of the time it will make a huge difference in your health and the way your body looks. They are acidic, they compromise your immune system, they convert to sugar which causes your pancreas to release insulin and this causes your body to store fat. (more…)

Having a Great Relationship with your Nanny

nanny doctorOther than you and your significant other, your nanny is one of the most important people in your child’s life. It may be hard for some parents to think of their nannies in this way for various reasons, many related to your own feelings about being separated from your child, however your nanny’s relationship with your child is an incredibly important one. One of the most important aspects of the nanny-family relationship is being on the same page so that your child is guaranteed to be living in the most nurturing and healthy environment possible. If you and your nanny have a harmonious relationship, your child will benefit ten-fold! (more…)

Tips on Remodeling Your Kid’s Room

An exclusive interview with international designer Carrie Livingston.

Carrie Livingston shares her secrets on remodeling.

Carrie LivingstonQuestion: My kids want a “grown up” tween room. Any suggestions for how I can give them what they want without spending a fortune?

Answer: When taking on a kids decorating project, allow your kids to be a part of the process. Kids are full of creativity and enthusiasm. Allowing them to be a part of the planning, shopping and work gives them the feeling that their opinion counts. Creating a budget and careful planning at the beginning with your kids, will give them a better understanding of what choices they can make during the process. Allowing them to be a part of creating a space that is a reflection of their own personal style and creativity and one that they can continue to evolve and grow into will give both the parent and child great pride. (more…)

Eating Calcium without Dairy

When you think of getting more CALCIUM into your daily food regime, do you default to increasing your dairy consumption?

By Kathryn Cavanaugh
Kathryn CavanaughWe have been programmed to believe that increasing your dairy products is just what the doctor ordered.
I am going to offer an upgrade. Think beyond the saturated fat-filled milk, cheese and yogurt and opt for something more nutrient dense without all the sludge.

Here is the skinny of Calcium!
Harder than lead but not naturally found in its elemental state, Calcium (Ca) is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth’s crust. It might however be surprising to note, it is as well the 5th most abundant element by mass in the human body … Besides LOVE of course! Calcium is essential for living organisms — (more…)

3 Reasons Kids Should Do Yoga

By Jennifer Greenhut
Jennifer GreenhutFirstly, yoga teaches kids fearlessness. Yoga will give children an advantage as they grow up in being courageous and strong. By practicing poses where we balance, go upside down in backbends and headstands, kids will learn to overcome their fears and push their boundaries which is a great lesson to bring with them as they grow and mature.

Secondly, yoga teaches kids how to focus. Breathing techniques, sitting still, and focusing on their breath in meditation, kids will learn to practice concentration. In addition, they will learn how to go ‘inside’ and listen to their bodies and know what is going on as opposed to just reacting to everything ‘outside’. This will give them a huge advantage when it comes to studying, taking tests, playing outside sports, or just being able to express themselves and how they feel. (more…)

Donating Crayons to Kids in Need

Helping our community by recycling crayons.

By Sheila Michail Morovati
Sheila Michail MorovatiLike many busy families in Los Angeles, my family used to frequent a certain kid friendly restaurant in our neighborhood several times per week. Each time we stood up at the end of our meal, I would guiltily eye four bright, virtually unused crayons sitting on the table, knowing that they shouldn’t be tossed in the trash. I started to keep our barely-used crayons, and built up a stash of thirty-two crayons within a month. As I did the math after noticing that many other families also left their crayons behind, I saw this as an opportunity to create a change, both for the environment and for kids who might not otherwise have access to something many of us take for granted. (more…)

Dealing with Your Daughter’s Body Image

What to do when your tween or teen girl doesn’t like what she sees in the mirror.

By Rachel Bernstein
NathalieOur girls are up against some fearsome foes. Images of beauty are everywhere, and the brainwashing begins at a very young age. Media, fashion trends, culture, heritage, friends, family and even religious beliefs set and reset our and our daughters’ standards of beauty.

Psychological associations are tied to beauty. Nice characters are represented as “pretty” characters in most Disney movies and picture books. The Princess is most often kind, loved, beautiful, thin, usually fair skinned, has manageable hair, doesn’t have braces, and gets the Prince. The Wicked Witch/Wicked Step-Mother is ugly, feared and hated, has bumpy skin and a large nose, and deserves the punishment she gets. (more…)

Dealing with Mommy Stress

Stress is a natural human energy that we all take on every moment of every day. The sippy cup full of bright red juice just spilled all over your daughter and your car, your husband lost his job, or your family won an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii. There are different degrees of stress and different types of stress, but stress is stress. How you deal with it makes all the difference for you, your body, and your family’s well-being. (more…)

Spring Break Family Escape

By Josh Kafka
Spring Break is almost here. Lots of joy to come but now it’s up to us to provide the kids’ sole entertainment 24 hours a day. So what to do? Don’t panic…pack! Here’s some easy family escapes that will thrill the little ones, provide lots of family fun, and mercifully, even please mama. As always, Blisscape offers the guaranteed lowest price and best free perks. (more…)