Lifestyle

Valentine’s Day Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Valentine’s Day may be all about the love, but for kids it’s all about the food! And while it’s easy to pick up a bag of candy hearts, why not make something special to really show how much you love someone. These recipes are not only naturally sweet they’re a perfect way to get in the kitchen with your kids making something simply delicious.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts (Makes 10-11 Heart Tarts)
heart tarts

  • 1/2 Cup Raspberries
  • 1/4 Cup Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  • 1 Double Pie Crust Recipe or 1 14 oz Pre-Made Pie Crust*
  • Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 10 Raspberries for Icing or 2 Tbsp Juiced Raspberries
  • 1 Tbsp Milk or Water

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Health

Preventing the Flu

Tips on how to stay healthy during the flu season.

By Peter S. Waldstein, M.D. and Julia A. White, M.D.
This is the worst flu season we have seen in over a decade. For those of you who have not had the flu shot, it’s not too late. In addition to the flu shot, here are some tips to share with your family in preventing the flu from coming to your household.

Prevention of Influenza
Knowing how to protect yourself from illness this winter will be the most important way to keep your family healthy. People who have influenza are thought to be shedding the virus from around 1-2 days before symptoms appear to about 5-7 days after symptoms start. This can vary, however, especially in children. The H1N1 and seasonal influenza viruses spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Someone then comes into contact with these and touches his/her mouth, eyes, or nose before washing the hands and becomes infected. The influenza viruses are thought to be able to live on environmental objects for several hours after being deposited. (more…)

Lifestyle

Healthy Skin in 2013

Tips on healthy skin for the New Year.

By Rebecca Casper
Rebecca CasperQ: How do I take care of my skin in dry, cold weather?
A: More exfoliation and more hydration. Enzymes and Hydroxy acids are the best. Stay away from harsh polishing beads that can actually make dehydration more intense and contribute to aging skin. Indoor heating systems literally suck the hydration out of our skin, so we need to remember drink more water as well. If you don’t already, now is a good time to start taking a blend of Essential Fatty Acids, like Omegas, to help keep your skin vibrant from the inside out.

Q: What is the best way to get quick results?
A: STICK TO A PROGRAM. Consistency is key–just like going to the gym. To get quick results and lasting results seek professional guidance and then stay with it. (more…)

Education

Is your child getting a good education?

Five Easy Ways to Ensure Your Child Gets a Quality Education

By Kevin Chaveous
By Kevin ChaveousAmong many school leaders, the ‘crazy parents’ are the bane of their existence. Crazy parents are the ones who are always at the school, questioning the staff about things and sometimes stretching the limits by obnoxiously fighting for their child. As young parents consider how to best provide a quality education for their children, they need to adopt many of the ‘crazy parent’ approaches, minus the obnoxiousness.

All parents want their child to receive a quality education, and in today’s ever-changing educational landscape there is no shortage of options. From public schools and private schools to charter and parochial schools, parents have lots of choices. But no matter the type of school, how do you really ensure that your child is getting a good education? (more…)

Health

Getting in Shape for the New Year

By Dr. Payman Danielpour and Dr. John Layke
The holidays and all the celebratory feasting are behind us, which means we need to get in shape and make 2013 a positive year. Lots of women work out daily and watch their weight, but after several pregnancies find themselves at a loss. They complain that their breasts are small and saggy. They complain that no matter how many crunches they do, their tummies are loose. So when do you know if your a candidate for surgery or if you really can work out those inches. (more…)

Lifestyle

Festive Holiday Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Gingerbread PancakesGingerbread Pancakes
Prep Time:15 minutes, Cook Time: 12 minutes, Total Time: 27 minutes,

  • Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

    • (more…)

Education

Teen Parenting Challenges

Compassion begins with the parent’s ability to feel what the teen is feeling.

By Dr. Nelly Franoody-Zahiri
nellyIn the accelerated rush of our society today, it has taken me a decade to see what has been forgotten in Peace Learning Parenting. Parenting with the focus and the intention of knowing and feeling that we are all connected and that families do much better collectively when interacting and sharing values rather than perceiving each other as competitors in a highly individualistic society. To achieve this healthy emotional and social balance, and in order to stay connected, I suggest we add to our daily vitamins the following 5 Cs:

  1. Compassion
  2. Communication
  3. Co-operation
  4. Culture (meaning sensitivity to other Cultures) and
  5. Conservation.

These are the Big Cs for Peace Learning Parenting. (more…)

Health

Nutrients for Healthy Skin

By Rebecca Casper
As a medical skin specialist and health fanatic, I am often asked about the correlation between food and skin.
Can you really blame that piece of pizza you ate last night for your new blemish? Do skin/hair supplements really work? Traditionally, most would say no. I say yes!

There is a growing amount of research suggesting a link between bad eating habits and acne breakouts. While the idea is still not a standard view between dermatologists and skin care specialist, it does make sense when you think about the function of the skin. When you eat, your body takes what it needs and “disposes” of the rest. 1/4 of that elimination is done through your skin. (more…)