40 Great Blogs for Breastfeeding Moms

August 31st, 2010

If you've never breastfed before, the concept might seem simple, but for many women, nursing a child can often be a complicated issue with a need for medical, political, and social support. You can find much of this support online through information offered in breastfeeding blogs, and we have put together a list of 40 excellent blogs that can help you with your desire to successfully breastfeed.

General

Whether you're looking for a general discussion on breastfeeding, an introduction, or advice, you can turn to these blogs.

1. Mama is…: Mama is…features regular comics for breastfeeding moms.
2. Nursing Freedom: Nursing Freedom writes to normalize breastfeeding.
3. Lactation Narration: Lactation Narration offers a blog about breastfeeding.
4. Breastfeeding Blog: This blog has everything you need to know about breastfeeding, pumping, and more.
5. Hathor the Cow Goddess: Hathor makes breastfeeding look downright fun.
6. Lactation Conversation: Melanie Kissell opens up the conversation about lactation.
7. Breast Milk Tips: Feed a smart and healthy baby with the help of breast milk.
8. Baby Blog: This blog from the American Pregnancy Association will guide you in breastfeeding and beyond.
9. Mama Knows Breast: Andi Silverman writes this beginner's guide to breastfeeding.
10. Nursing Room Locator: This blog will help you find a quiet place to feed your baby if you prefer privacy while breastfeeding.
11. Breastfeeding Ideas: Find and share ideas for breastfeeding on this blog.

Products

You've got all the equipment you need for breastfeeding already strapped to your chest, but these blogs discuss the products that can make a breastfeeding mom's life easier.

12. The Pump Station: The Pump Station & Nurtury blog offers products and advice for breastfeeding.
13. Boob Tube: Check out the Boob Tube for breastfeeding news and reviews.
14. La Dolce Mama: La Dolce Mama sells nursing bras and accessories, and offers great advice for breastfeeding.
15. Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: On top of discussions on Motherwear (and other) products, you'll find posts about rights for nursing mothers, increasing supply, pumping, and more.
16. Momzelle: Momzelle discusses breastfeeding clothing and more.

Moms

Read these blogs to learn about breastfeeding straight from other breastfeeding moms.

17. Life as a Mommy, Wife, and Artist: Maca's blog features discussions on breastfeeding, and even all of the things she can do while breastfeeding.
18. Blacktating: Elita is a breastfeeding mom to a toddler boy, and has a passion for attachment parenting as well as natural living.
19. Martha is a First-Time Mommy: Martha shares her experience as a breastfeeding first time mom.
20. Suzette: Check out Suzette's blog, which focuses on parenting and breastfeeding.
21. Bowling Green Breastfeeder: This blogging mama shares her journey in breastfeeding.
22. Mama Seoul: Mama Seoul writes about breastfeeding, babywearing, and elimination communication.
23. Nursinmama's Thoughts and Ponderings: Read what this mom has to say about nursing with four, soon to be five, kids.
24. Hobo Mama: On Hobo Mama, you'll find posts on breastfeeding, attachment parenting, babywearing, and more.
25. Breastfeeding Moms Unite!: Melodie encourages her blog readers to think, act, and breastfeed.
26. One Girl, Two Minds: This blogger is one girl with two boobs.
27. Breastfeeding Momma: Alexandra's blog will provide you with insight into breastfeeding and more.
28. Maman A Droit: This mama loves breastfeeding and snuggling with her son.
29. Musings of a Milk Maker: Read about breastfeeding, parenting, and other issues for moms on Musings of a Milk Maker.
30. Custom-Made Milk: This mom writes to bring the public image of the breast back to what it should be.
31. Milk Mustache: On Milk Mustache, you'll find one mom's breastfeeding journal.

Law & Advocacy

Check out these blogs that offer legal support and advocacy for breastfeeding moms.

32. Baby Milk Action: Baby Milk Action shares its campaign to protect breastfeeding.
33. Human Milk Patent Pending: Valerie discusses the commercialization of human milk.

Breastfeeding Professionals

These blogs offer insight into breastfeeding from doctors, lactation consultants, and other breastfeeding professionals.

34. Breastfeeding4Health: The Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute shares commentary and controversies in infant feeding.
35. Breastmilk is Critical: Read Debbie Page's blog to find support for breastfeeding your newborn.
36. One Small Step for Breastfeeding…: Find bliss in breastfeeding with the help of this blog.
37. Lactation Laura: Lactation Laura writes to make life better for moms, babies, and the whole family.
38. KellyMom: KellyMom has support and information for breastfeeding and parenting.
39. Ask the Lactation Consultant Blog: Check out this blog to get your breastfeeding questions answered.
40. Peaceful Parenting: Dr. Momma shares resources for breastfeeding and more on this blog.

25 TED Talks Every Parent Should Watch

August 16th, 2010

As a parent, you're constantly trying to do what's best for your kids, playing nurse, guidance counselor, teacher, motivational speaker all at once. No matter what you want for your child's future, you can get inspired to make it bright from these great TED lectures. They touch on topics from personality to safety, to help you better understand your kids and better prepare and protect them for their lives ahead.

Education

Every parent worries about getting their child a good education. These talks touch on ways you can help your own child and others learn more.

1. Shukla Bose: Teaching one child at a time: Whether it's the poor in India or here at home, this lecture addresses some of the challenges of educating children and may make you feel pretty lucky to have the opportunities that you do.
2. Once Upon a School: Dave Eggers' TED Prize wish: Does your child love to write? Learn more about the amazing project author Dave Eggers undertook that won him a TED Prize in this lecture.
3. Michelle Obama's plea for education: Hear what the First Lady has to say to students about taking education seriously and get inspiration that just might help your own child as well.
4. Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution!: This talk promotes big changes in education, making learning a more personalized experience.
5. Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover: Learn some ways that you can help your kids to better understand and remember math through this talk.
6. Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity: This lecture will show you how you child's school may be stifling his or her creativity, and may motivate you to find ways you can engage them at home.

Parenting Experience

These talks share experiences and lessons from parenting.

7. What Adults Can Learn from Kids: This lecture will show you all the wonderful things your children can teach you about life, loving and laughing.
8. Julia Sweeney has "The Talk": Do you dread telling your kids about the birds and the bees? Comedienne Julia Sweeney tells about her experience with it in this talk.
9. Carmen Agra Deedy spins stories: In this talk, storyteller Deedy shares stories of the interactions of parents and kids, taken from her own experience.

Fun

Having kids can be a lot work but it can be a lot of fun too. These talks delve into games, play and fun.

10. Hillel Cooperman: Legos for grownups: Learn how those little blocks your kids love so much aren't just for kids and can be loads of fun for adults too.
11. David Merrill demos Siftables: This amazing talk will show you the toys of the future that can help your kids learn while they play.
12. Stuart Brown says play is more than fun: Check out this talk to learn why play is so important for your kids' development and why you should still seek it out as an adult.
13. Brenda Laurel on games for girls: Find out about the development of new video games that help girls learn and play in their own way.

Psychology and Sociology

Gain a better understanding of how your child's mind works, how you can help it develop and how to manage learning disorders from these talks.

14. Cameron Herald: Let's Raise Kids to Be Entrepreneurs: Whether your kids go into business or not, this lecture can give you an idea on how to prime them for success as kids and as adults.
15. Don't Eat the Marshmallow Yet: If you gave your child a treat would he or she eat it right away or save it? This talk discusses how a willingness for delayed gratification can predict future success.
16. Steven Pinker chalks it up to the blank slate: Ever wonder why kids end up a certain way despite our best attempts to teach them otherwise? As Pinker explains, it might just be who they are.
17. Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds: Temple Grandin may be autistic, but her mind works in amazing ways, allowing her to make big changes in the world. Her lecture will inspire you to support and nurture your child, whatever his or her unique abilities might be.
18. Aditi Shankardass: A second opinion on learning disorders: If you suspect your child may have a learning disorder, discover why this researcher says doctors should be looking at their brains, not their behavior.

Health and Safety

Learn more about keeping your kids safe and healthy from these talks.

19. Ann Cooper Talks School Lunches: If you've ever worried about what your kids are eating at school, check out this talk on how school lunches are changing.
20. Steven Levitt on child carseats: Think your child's car seat will protect him? This startling talk will show that it may not be as safe as you think.
21. Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food: Jamie Oliver shares his passion for teaching kids about eating healthy at home and at school in this talk, something every parent should see.

Letting Go

At some point, every parent has to let go and let kids learn to do things on their own. These lectures talk about ways you can let kids find their own way.

22. Gever Tulley on 5 Dangerous Things: Think you should always protect your kids for everything dangerous? This talk disagrees, laying out five things that may be dangerous but can help kids to learn.
23. Sugata Mitra Shows How Kids Teach Themselves: You might be older and wiser, but this lecture explains how much kids stand to gain from teaching each other.
24. Kiran Bir Sethi Teaches Kids to Take Charge: Listen to this lecture to learn about a school in India that teaches kids to take charge of their lives and their education– something all parents and educators can learn from.
25. Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering: Kids don't just learn from books. In this talk, you'll hear about how kids are learning how things work by doing things with their hands and minds.

100 Ways to Make Your Home More Therapeutic

August 15th, 2010

Your home should be a relaxing place– a sanctuary away from the stress of work and the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Yet often we let our homes become stressful places, filled with clutter, reminders of things we have to do, and simply not the relaxing retreats they're meant to be. If you feel like your home isn't nursing you back to health each night, then consider some of these tips to help make it more therapeutic and comfortable for you.

Cleaning and Clutter

If your home is overrun with clutter consider these tips to clean it up.

1. Clean out your closets. Having things fall out of your closets every time you open them can be stressful, so clear out the clutter when you can.
2. Get rid of clutter. If you have things around your home that you're not using, get rid of them. You'll be happier and someone else can put them to good use.
3. Donate unused items. You can even give yourself a financial boost by getting a tax deduction from cleaning out your closet when you donate your old things.
4. Downsize your life. Do you really need everything you have? Is caring for your home overwhelming you? Maybe it's time to consider downsizing and living with less.
5. Get organized. Being able to find what you need when you need it will remove a lot of the stress from your life.
6. Create a landing strip. Create a space in your home where you can plop down all your things when you come in the door and pick them up when you leave.
7. Create a cleaning schedule. No one wants to spend an entire afternoon cleaning. Instead, create a schedule where you clean one or two rooms a day.
8. Keep supplies organized by room. To keep cleaning supplies at hand, keep them organized and stored in the room where you'll need them.
9. Rotate your collections. There's nothing wrong with having a collection, but rotate what you have on display to avoid a cluttered look.
10. Put it away. When you're done with something, put it away. It's a simple but effective way to keep your home orderly.

Relaxation

Help create a more relaxing atmosphere at home by trying out these ideas.

11. Light some candles. The soft, flickering light of candles can help you to kick back and relax.
12. Block out noise. If you live on a noisy street, do what you can to block out annoying noises or replace them with more soothing ones.
13. Leave your shoes at the door. You'll feel more relaxed with them off and you won't track anything into your home.
14. Get a fountain. The steady trickle of water can make relaxing a cinch.
15. Try aromatherapy. Let your favorite smells remind you of a day at the beach or your favorite treat.
16. Kick out work. Don't bring work home into your relaxation space. If you have to work at home, do it in an office.
17. Play your favorite songs. Music can help you to relax, so put on your favorite albums to unwind.

Outdoors

Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all you need to relax. Spruce up your outdoor space with these tips.

18. Plant flowers. Having flowers in your backyard is sure to put a smile on your face.
19. Stick to native plants. Native plants will require less water and thrive more easily in your backyard.
20. Don't overdo it. Keeping plants in your backyard can be immensely therapeutic, but don't overdo it. Having too many plants to care for can just be stressful.
21. Add a water feature. If you have room for it, adding a small fountain can block out noise and make your backyard relaxing.
22. Get patio furniture. You'll need something comfortable to sit on in your backyard, so invest in a nice patio chair or a set.
23. Consider a fire pit or chiminea. Warm up your outdoor space with a fire pit or chiminea, if local laws allow.
24. Draw in birds. If the chirping sound of birds is something you enjoy, bring wildlife into your yard with a bird feeder or plants birds love.
25. Plant fragrant plants. Enjoy aromatherapy outdoors with fragrant plants like flowers and herbs.
26. Design for privacy. Keep your nosy neighbors out by putting up plants and cloths that keep your outside space private.
27. Get a porch swing. Rhythmic swinging outdoors can help lull all of the stress right out of your body.

General

These general tips will have you enjoying a happier, more relaxing home.

28. Buy higher quality. It might cost more up front, but it will last longer and look better in your home.
29. Invest in draperies. Draperies can block out light and give you privacy when you need it.
30. Soften the light. If you don't want harsh light in your rooms, consider sheer drapes to soften it up and trade out your light bulbs.
31. Choose happy colors. If the color blue makes you feel, well, blue, don't paint your living room with it. Instead, choose colors that make you feel happy and at ease.
32. Buy yourself flowers. You don't have to wait for a special occasion to get flowers, just pick up a small bunch at the grocery store to make your space happier and prettier.
33. Bring in the outdoors. Bring plants, rocks and outdoorsy fibers inside to create a calming, nature-filled space indoors.
34. Rearrange your furniture. Sometimes all a room needs to feel brand new is to move around the furniture. Change up your space for something new.
35. Try feng shui. This ancient Chinese art will tell you how best to arrange your home for flow and energy.
36. Change the decor. As much as you might love your home, sometimes a change is good.
37. Make it personal. Make sure your home is personal, with books, decor and objects that really represent who you are.
38. Give it a coat of paint. You'd be amazed what a difference a coat of paint can make in changing the whole feeling of a room.
39. Use the style you like. Just because other people don't like it doesn't mean it's not right for you. Do what you like and don't worry about what other people think.
40. Display items that have meaning to you. Things that make you feel nostalgic or mark important people and events in your life are great additions to your home decor.
41. Make it look lived in. If your home is too perfect it can feel less restful. Let it look lived in and comfortable instead.
42. Create a mediation space. Help calm your mind and body by creating a space in your home ideal for meditation.
43. Design a home retreat. Create a space in your home that's a special retreat for you. It can be as simple as a comfy chair by a window, so long as it feels nice to you.
44. Keep air flowing. Keeping your rooms sufficiently cool, warm and free from stuffiness is essential to getting relaxed. Invest in some good fans to keep air moving.
45. Make your own artwork. Making artwork can be therapeutic in itself and will give you something in your home to feel proud of.
46. Make it functional. Your home shouldn't just look good, it should be easy to live in as well. Make sure you've covered both bases in yours.

Bedroom

Make your bedroom into a super relaxing place with these ideas.

47. Turn off the TV. Instead, simply relax or read a book.
48. Get a new duvet. New bedding can change the entire feel of your room and make you eager to head to bed.
49. Put on clean sheets. Clean, nice smelling sheets can make your bed a wonderful retreat.
50. Use a gentle alarm. Waking up to the jarring sound of beeping isn't the ideal way to get up in the morning. Instead, get an alarm clock that wakes you up gently and more naturally.
51. Keep it dark. You'll get your best sleep in a cool, dark space, so make sure your bedroom fits the bill.
52. Try white noise. If you just can't seem to drift off to sleep, consider white noise or the sound of waves.
53. Choose a soothing color. You might love bright red but it might not make the best bedroom color. Stick with cooler, more relaxing colors where you sleep.
54. Kick out stressful activities like work and bills. Don't allow stressful things to follow you to bed. Instead, finish them before you head to sleep.
55. Turn the clock away. The glare of your alarm clock can make your sleep less restful. Turn it away for better sleep.
56. Buy a great mattress. You are going to spend more time in your bed than anywhere in your house so make sure it's comfortable by investing in a good, comfortable mattress.
57. Don't skimp on bedding. Your bedding should feel like a treat to get into every night, so skip the scratchy sheets and go for higher quality.
58. Keep your phone at bay. All the beeps and vibrations made by your phone can wake you up at night. If you can, keep it at a distance from where you sleep.
59. Add a rug. In the depths of winter it can be hard to want to put your feet on a cold floor. Invest in a nice rug to make it more pleasant.
60. Get slippers. Slippers will keep your feet comfy as you relax around the house.
61. Dim the lights. Installing a dimmer in your room can help prepare your body for sleep.

Kitchen

Whether you love to cook or hate it, these tips will make your kitchen a more pleasant place to be.

62. Keep frequently used items in reach. That way you won't have to break out a chair or search for them while you're cooking.
63. Plan meals. Not having to rush to figure out what you're going to make for dinner can take a load off of your mind.
64. Listen to music while you work. Make being in the kitchen fun by turning on some tunes.
65. Take care of dishes right away. It might seem counterintuitive, but leaving the dishes for later can actually stress you out more. Do them, then relax with nothing to worry about.
66. Use a crock pot. Crock pots are a great way to have dinner ready and waiting for you when you get home.
67. Cook outdoors. Don't heat up your kitchen in the summer months. Instead, enjoy a delicious grilled meal outdoors.
68. Get rid of foods that make you feel guilty. If you're trying to be healthy and your kitchen is filled with junk food it can become a place you dread. Get rid of those guilt inducing foods and replace them with healthy alternatives.
69. Grow fresh herbs. You'll get to not only use them in your cooking but enjoy the sight and sound of them in your kitchen as well.
70. Put a squishy mat in front of the sink. This will make it much more comfortable to stand and do dishes.
71. Get clutter off of the counters. You don't need to look at all your kitchen appliances every day. Clear out clutter to make your kitchen more zen.

Bathroom

Turn your bathroom into your personal spa using these tips.

72. Invest in bath salts and bubbles. These can turn a plain bath experience into something much more relaxing.
73. Use a towel warmer. Getting out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a warm towel is an incredibly soothing experience.
74. Place candles around the bath. If you plan on indulging in a long bath, place candles around the tub to set the mood.
75. Get a shower radio. You can make your bathroom a friendlier place with a shower radio tuned to your favorite station.
76. Buy a new shower head. A shower head that's big and lets you really enjoy taking a shower can be an indulgence well worth the cost.
77. Throw out old bath stuff. There's no sense in cluttering up your bathroom with old stuff you don't use or that's gone bad. Throw it out and give your bathroom a clean sweep.
78. Find fluffy towels. Big, comfy bath towels will take the pain out of getting up early for work.
79. Steam it up. You can turn your bathroom into a sauna by closing the door and turning the tap on hot.
80. Find products that pamper. There are loads of bathroom products out there that can help you primp and feel pampered right in your own home.
81. Make your tub a spa. Invest in some tub accessories and create a relaxing atmosphere in your bathroom with music and light to get the full on spa experience.

Living

Ensure your living space is as therapeutic as it can be with these tips.

82. Use slipcovers. Slipcovers can not only spruce up old furniture but they can also make you less worries about spills and stains.
83. Put up pictures you love. Hanging up pictures you love will make you happy every time you walk into a room.
84. Stack your favorite books. Keep you favorite books and magazines on your coffee table to make it a friendlier space.
85. Choose a mood. What kind of mood do you want in your home? People find different things relaxing so figure out what you want your home to feel like.
86. Keep things casual. If your home is too formal you can feel uncomfortable truly relaxing.
87. Invest in a comfy chair. There's nothing like a comfy chair or recliner to kick back in at the end of the day.
88. Lighten up. Brighter colors and lighter woods can help create an airier, more spa-like feel in your home.
89. Simplify. You likely don't need everything you have in your home and you don't need it all out at once. Pare down and simplify to make things look nice.
90. Add some pillows and throws. Make your home cozier by placing pillows and throws on the furniture.
91. Play with light. Light can do a lot to change the feeling of a room. Remove harsh lighting, get new curtains and try different types of lamps to get the kind of mood you want.
92. Turn down the volume. Blaring TVs and radios can make any room seem disorienting, so turn it down and relax to a lower volume instead.

Office

If you've got to work at home, keep it relaxed with these ideas.

93. Choose an inspiring wallpaper. Find a desktop wallpaper that is relaxing or inspires you to work.
94. Accent your view. If your home office has a window, make sure to showcase it.
95. Add a little green. A few plants can really make your office space seem a lot more relaxing.
96. Hang up motivational pictures. This doesn't have to mean stocking up on Successories pictures. It can be anything from photos of your family to those of a peaceful beach.
97. Invest in good lighting. Poor lighting can mean putting a lot of strain on your eyes and giving you headaches.
98. Clean up before you call it a day. Keeping your office ordered will make it seem like a more pleasant place to be.
99. Go ergonomic. Make sure your office chair and desk are ergonomic so they support your neck and back.
100. Keep the office separate. Work shouldn't intrude on your home life, so keep your office separate even if you don't have room to dedicate solely to work.

10 Famous People with Really Weird Phobias

August 9th, 2010

No doubt your time in nursing school has introduced you to lots of weird conditions and diseases. But how many idiosyncrasies and phobias are you familiar with? Keep reading for 10 famous people who suffer from really weird phobias, and you may be able to more quickly diagnose some of your patients, or treat your own irrational fears.

1. Christina Ricci: Little Christina Ricci was the cool chick from the '90s, thanks to parts in The Addams Family, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Casper as a kid and teenager, and then she grew up to work on films like Prozac Nation and Penelope. We expect child stars to have issues, but Christina seems to have things mostly straightened out (barring an eating disorder she battled as a teenager). We were surprised, then, to learn about her botanophobia, or intense fear of houseplants. She thinks they're dirty, and they "freak [her] out."
2. Pamela Anderson: She was discovered because of her outrageous hotness, but Pamela Anderson has eisoptrophobia, or a fear of mirrors. Anderson's phobia is probably really a fear of seeing her own reflection of herself, since she can't stand watching herself on TV, and even leaves the room if the channel isn't changed. Maybe all that plastic surgery is just too much to handle?
3. Kelly Osbourne: As a young reality TV star growing up with parents like Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, you know Kelly has some things she'd like to take up with her therapist, perhaps including her haphophobia. Haphophobia is the fear of being touched, and her brother Jack once said in an interview, "All you have to do is just touch her collarbone. It's awesome, she starts dry-retching."
4. Billy Bob Thornton: We all know that Billy Bob Thornton is a pretty eccentric character who does what he wants. But he's also plagued by numerous phobias, including two very weird ones: chromophobia and a fear of antique furniture. Thornton admitted that he's "creeped out by old furniture," and while it may not reduce him to a panic attack, he also has chromophobia, or the fear of bright colors. Maybe that's why he and the monochromatic Angie stuck together for so long?
5. David Beckham: David Beckham is a terrific athlete, a great dresser, and well, quite perfect-looking physically. Perhaps that can all be attributed to his ataxophobia, or fear of disorder. He's said to line up soda cans a certain way in the refrigerator, and while we don't wish him any obsessive compulsive anxiety, if that's what's behind his well-kempt appearance, it works for us.
6. Madonna: Madonna's always been a fearless femme fatale in our eyes, taking on everyone from the Catholic Church to Alex Rodriguez. But even kickboxing, leather corset-wearing megastars are afraid of thunderstorms: Madge is apparently a sufferer of brontophobia, the fear of thunder.
7. Orlando Bloom: Orlando Bloom is just too cute for words, but the green-living British actor has a strange phobia: swinophobia. It's the fear of pigs, and rumor has it that Orlando's participation in the Animal Farm remake could be compromised because of it.
8. Nicole Kidman: Lovely Nicole Kidman has admitted to suffering panic attacks when she steps out onto the red carpet, but she has another, ironic phobia: she's afraid of butterflies. Who knew that something so delicate and ethereal could freak out, well, someone so delicate and ethereal?
9. Matthew McConaughey: Come on, Matthew McConaughey isn't afraid of anything, is he? Turns out, the outdoorsy guy is petrified of tunnels and revolving doors, saying that he gets anxious as soon as he sees the spinning doors.
10. Kim Basinger: Actress Kim Basinger has put up with Alec Baldwin and Eminem, both of whom may have made her feel a little on the vulnerable side. Basinger has agoraphobia, which is the fear of open spaces, and, as People.com reports, "has twice confined her to home for six-month stints." Side effects of agoraphobia include extreme shyness and a fierce need for privacy.

10 Celebs Who Dole Out Terrible Health Tips

August 8th, 2010

Celebrities are role models whether they like it or not, but it's still up to us to take whatever they say — or what the media says they say — with a grain of salt. Some celebrities get a lot of attention for giving great beauty and style tips, and others are more honest about their challenges to look great for photo shoots, movies and on the red carpet. Other celebrities, though, probably shouldn't be quoted on their lifestyle advice, and as a nursing school or medical school student, you have an extra responsibility to set your patients, friends and family members straight. The actors, singers and other celebrities in this list may look great and make a lot of money, but their health tips could actually make you very unhealthy. You wouldn't jump off a bridge just because Zac Efron said it was fun, would you?

1. Gwyneth Paltrow: Movie star Gwyneth Paltrow is known for having killer legs, which she likes to show off on the red carpet. Her post-baby body is the result of intense workouts with her trainer Tracy Anderson, and a strict diet that often includes liquid-only detoxes and a macrobiotic lifestyle. Gwyneth has long encouraged others to try the macrobiotic diet, which mostly consists of vegetables and lean proteins like fish. She hardly ever adds any dairy to her diet, and while she has taken breaks from the regime during pregnancies and for certain movie roles, Gwyneth recently developed a disease called osteopenia, which is a precursor to osteoporosis. On her website GOOP, Gwyneth revealed that doctors found her Vitamin D levels to be the lowest they'd ever seen.
2. Demi Moore: Actress Demi Moore had a huge comeback when she wore that little black bikini next to Cameron Diaz in the Charlie's Angels sequel, and she's still considered one of the hottest women in Hollywood. But Moore's great shape may not always be attributed to responsible or healthy dieting. She and husband Ashton Kutcher recently publicized (via Twitter of course) their Master Cleanse project. It's a popular detox diet for celebrities, as we'll keep seeing below, and consists of nothing more than a mixed drink of Maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon water. Moore seemed to feel okay on the second day, while Kutcher was missing real food.
3. Beyonce: Beyonce no doubt gets her exercise in when she's dancing on stage, but the singer also admits that she spends lots of time working out in the gym and watching what she eats. She seems to have a balanced idea of fitness and dieting, but when Beyonce needs to lose weight for a movie role or other public event, she's the first to turn to the drastic Master Cleanse diet, which once helped her lose 20 lbs. in just two weeks. She drank the cayenne pepper/lemon water/maple syrup drink six times per day along with an herbal laxative tea twice a day, and that was it. Just like Moore and Kutcher, Beyonce can face major nutrient deficiencies on such an extreme diet, which also affected her mood. And while that kind of diet can make you lose weight fast, you'll gain it all back as soon as you start eating anything again.
4. Jessica Simpson: While Jessica Simpson has received praise for trying to ignore Hollywood's skinny standards and embracing her curvier figure, she is the champion of yo-yo dieters. Admitting that she likes to indulge in Mexican food and other fatty foods, Simpson also publicizes her crash diets to get her ready for red carpet events or her 30th birthday. Simpson suddenly adopts radical changes in lifestyle and diet, like going vegan and trying cupping sessions, which gave her bruises. Crash diets can "shock" your system, as Simpson said, and don't usually result in long-term weight loss anyway.
5. Madonna: Madonna has been experimenting with extreme workouts for years, and may have even turned friend Gwyneth Paltrow onto the obsession. The two used to share celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, but even though Madonna has split with the tough workout guru, some think she has gone too far with fitness and may have an addiction to exercise. Madonna is often seen in workout clothes and has little to no fat on her body. A fan of yoga, gyrotonics and cardio, Madonna has also injected herself with vitamins and continued workouts after breaking her collarbone, ribs and hand from a horseback riding fall.
6. Tom Cruise: Scientologists like Tom Cruise have non-traditional views on modern medicine and treatments, which led to a very public debate about post-partum depression with Brooke Shields and Matt Lauer. In a 2005 interview with Lauer, Tom Cruise called out Shields' struggle with post-partum depression and her use of the drug Paxil that she took for treatment. Cruise insisted that such drugs were very dangerous and that vitamins are all that's needed to help hormonal imbalances, and that there is no such think as an emotional or chemical imbalance in a human being. His statements stirred up anger across the country, especially among doctors and those who do rely on antidepressants as a healthy, monitored way of treating certain conditions.
7. Kate Moss: Supermodel Kate Moss no doubt has a naturally thin figure — she was discovered by Calvin Klein as a young teenager, inspiring the "heroin chic" trend in the 1990s — but certain remarks that's she's made about weight later in life have created a bit of controversy. In recent years, the fashion industry has been trying to refurbish its reputation for encouraging models to lose weight and creating a culture of eating disorders in the United States. But Kate hurt their campaign when she said in a 2009 interview that "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Her quote may have been taken a little bit out of context, but since Kate is the mother of a seven-year-old daughter — and had already been busted for cocaine a few years earlier — many wondered at her ability to speak rationally about body image and health.
8. Jessica Biel: You might be surprised to see Jessica Biel on this list, since she is often photographed and interviewed about her active lifestyle. Biel, who grew up in Colorado, is known to love all forms of exercise and adventure, from horseback riding to biking to hiking to mountain climbing. But Biel may have also hinted at a too-strict diet regime in an interview with Glamour Magazine. When she's filming long days, Biel avoids sugar crashes at all costs, which means she eliminates dairy, sugar, bread and salt from her diet, and rarely eats meat. She admits that she gives herself one day per week to enjoy foods she likes, but cutting out so many nutrients from your diet can be harmful and lead to fatigue and vitamin deficiencies.
9. Kendra Wilkinson: When former Playboy model and current reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson had her baby, she was faced with an unfamiliar challenge: the normally sporty celebrity had to work extra hard to lose weight and watch her diet extremely closely. Wilkinson started off her weight loss journey with a healthy attitude, experimenting with healthy recipes and enjoying the fact that the first several pounds melted off quickly. When it got too overwhelming for her, though, Wilkinson just quit her diet and said she said that "the fork is [her] friend]" and she was ready to gain weight again. While Wilkinson didn't need to get down to her Playboy weight, giving up is an unhealthy attitude that could result in major weight gain and a lack of exercise later in life.
10. Oprah: In America, Oprah is like the guru of everything: spiritual guidance, back-to-school savings, locking up rapists and of course, being more beautiful and more healthy. And while a recent Newsweek article condemning some of Oprah's healthy tips did applaud her diet and exercise advice, Oprah is often one of the first to jump on the bandwagon of new treatments, creams, and pills that are unregulated and still in the testing stage. These so-called natural products that Oprah features promise to make you look younger, give you more energy, and just generally make you more fabulous, but the talk show host hasn't been relying on concrete FDA reports or scientists for advice: instead, she's been using other celebrities as her primary references and "experts" on the subject, and possibly endangering many Americans.

100 Useful Twitter Feeds for Nursing Students

August 3rd, 2010

Nursing education is an ongoing process. Even if you're enrolled in a nursing school, your learning should extend beyond the classroom. You can stay tuned in to nursing any time by just following these Twitter feeds for nursing students.

Health & Nursing News

Find health and nursing news on these Twitter feeds.

1. @NYTimesHealth: Find warnings, vaccines, and other health articles from the New York Times.
2. @health: Follow @health for news from Health News Blog.
3. @msnbc_health: Find health headlines from MSNBC.
4. @HealthHive: @HealthHive has live health news.
5. @AmJnurs: You'll find relevant articles for nurses on the American Journal of Nursing tweets.
6. @WebMD: Find valuable health information from @WebMD.
7. @DiscHealthPR: Discovery Health offers links and discussions on health topics.
8. @medlineplus4you: Medline Plus has the latest news and information on health and medicine.
9. @goodhealth: @goodhealth features Health Magazine.
10. @digg_health: See what's popular in health news from @digg_health.
11. @NEJM: Read tweets from the New England Journal of Medicine.
12. @AmerNurse2day: American Nurse Today is the official journal of the American Nurses Association.
13. @NursingTimes: Read this feed about news and opinions from Nursing Times.
14. @NPRhealth: Check out this Twitter feed for the latest health news.
15. @CDCemergency: Get prepared for and respond to national public emergencies with @CDCemergency.
16. @WSJHealthBlog: This blog offers an excellent source for health and healthcare news.
17. @WorldwideHealth: @WorldwideHealth is an alternative medicine and health hub.
18. @cnnhealth: Find the latest health headlines here.

Jobs

Check out these Twitter feeds to find resources for your nursing career.

19. @GetNursingJobs: @GetNursingJobs has jobs, careers, and community.
20. @RNsearch: @RNsearch is an online career concierge for nurses.
21. @NursesJobs: @NursesJobs tweets tips and job listings for UK nurses.
22. @NursingJobsPlus: Find the nursing job you're looking for with @NursingJobsPlus.
23. @Nursingjobcast: You will stay up to date on nursing jobs with @Nursingjobcast.
24. @onwardhealth: Find nursing and physical therapy jobs with @onwardhealth.
25. @TexasNurseJobs: Find nursing jobs throughout Texas with @TexasNurseJobs.
26. @WorkingNurse: Check out Working Nurse to find articles and jobs for nurses.
27. @trustaff: @trustaff places nurses in facilities nationwide.
28. @rnjob: Read this feed to find out how to become an RN and find nursing jobs.
29. @travelnursejob: TravelMax Nursing is a travel nurse staffing agency for direct placement and travel nursing jobs.

Educators

Learn about nursing from those who teach it best.

30. @HeatherRN: Heather is a nurse educator.
31. @HarvardHealth: Harvard Health discusses the latest in news and developments.
32. @UTMedSchool: Follow UT's medical school to stay on top of research and more.
33. @sumedicine: @sumedicine has tweets from one of the nation's top medical schools.
34. @harvardmed: Check out @harvardmed to find research and faculty clips.
35. @SarahStewart: Here you'll find tweets from a health professional and educator.
36. @vusm: @vusm shares the official tweets from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Students

Follow along in the nursing school experience with these nursing student Twitter feeds.

37. @CTStudentNurse: Irene is a soon to be nursing student.
38. @Kat_SN: Kat is a nursing student from North Carolina.
39. @MyRoadtoRN: Be nice to Hope-she might be your nurse someday.
40. @NurseKarma: @NurseKarma is a mom, wife, and nursing student.
41. @HeatherErhard: Heather is going to school for nursing and works at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Information & Resources

Check out these Twitter feeds to find nursing information and resources.

42. @nursingideas: @nursingideas has ideas and passion for improving nursing.
43. @Ausmed: @Ausmed shares health care education and learning tools for nurses.
44. @nursingbooks: @nursingbooks highlights the best nursing books out there.
45. @minoritynurse: @minoritynurse has career, education, and health resources for diversity in the nursing community.
46. @diseaseaday: Learn about a new disease every day on @diseaseaday.
47. @DermNursing: This institute is an educational forum for nursing practice and patient care.
48. @NurseJobsUSA: Read this feed to find fresh nursing job listings.
49. @freenursetutor: @freenursetutor has free educational tools for nursing students and instructors.
50. @InformedNurse: This is the Twitter page for the RN Pocket Guide.
51. @druginfo: This community shares drug related questions and stories anonymously.

Nurses

Learn from these nurses on the front lines.

52. @Emergiblog: Kim McAllister discusses emergency nursing.
53. @linda_miner: Linda is a nutritionist and wellness guide.
54. @GeekNurse: This engineer turned into a psych RN.
55. @JennaMahanayRN: Jenna tweets about nursing, health, and more.
56. @podmedic: Jamie Davis is an RN paramedic, educator, podcaster, and speaker.
57. @Nicurnmama: Laura somehow manages to juggle being a NICU nurse with motherhood.
58. @TeriRN: Teri specializes in hospice travel nursing.
59. @ernursek: Nurse K is your friendly neighborhood ER nurse…who is also critical.
60. @mrsmc: This nurse likes bourbon.
61. @interponurse: This nurse works in healthcare information technology.
62. @marandalee: @marandalee is a SuperNurse.
63. @PMRN: @PMRN is a PM and RN.
64. @KenBBavier: Ken is a critical care RN and Duke alum.
65. @crzegrl15: Here you'll read about the life of a flight nurse and Commander in the US Army Reserve.
66. @NurseForHealth: Suzan is bringing back the DO NO HARM philosophy of medicine.
67. @ChristianNurse: @ChristianNurse points out news and resources for Christian nurses and more.
68. @nursemidwife: Angel is a Certified Nurse Midwife specializing in health and wellness.
69. @karlaRN: Karla is an RN, mom, and grandma.
70. @shototsu: Alicia left IT to become a nurse.
71. @impactednurse: Ian Miller works in the ER of a teaching hospital in Australia.
72. @nursepickle: @nursepickle offers her perspective on nursing.
73. @NurseDan: Dan Weberg is an ER nurse with a masters in healthcare innovation.
74. @humglum: @humglum works as a prison nurse.

Organizations

Get the official word from these organizations and institutions.

75. @NurseJanIAm: Jan is an oncology RN working for the California Nurses Association.
76. @happyhospitalis: Explore a happy hospital through this Twitter feed.
77. @NIHforHealth: Read this feed for updates from the NIH.
78. @NationalNurses: @NationalNurses has tweets from National Nurses United.
79. @mayoclinic: Find news, articles, and more from the Mayo Clinic.
80. @aorn: @aorn offers tweets from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.
81. @whonews: Find out about pandemics, outbreaks, and world health from the World Health Organization.
82. @MedSurgNurses: Follow the AMSN for adult health and medical surgical nurses.
83. @FutureofNursing: @FutureofNursing discusses solutions for improving quality and patient care.
84. @NotesOnNursing: @NotesOnNursing offers the Hartford Foundation's look on health and medical issues for older adults.
85. @AmerMedicalAssn: Check out the AMA's tweets about the latest health issues.
86. @AmbCareNursing: Follow the AAACN for tweets about excellence in ambulatory care.
87. @MedicalConnect: Read tweets from the Worldwide Medical Association here.
88. @RedCross: Find safety tips and more from the American Red Cross.
89. @connectedhealth: @connected health works on delivering quality patient care outside of the traditional medical setting.
90. @ANNAnurses: ANNA advances nephrology nursing practice.
91. @LIVESTRONGCEO: Doug Ulman is the President and CEO of Livestrong.
92. @WebMD_Blogs: WebMD shares a variety of health information.

Fun & Community

Experience the lighter side of nursing in these feeds.

93. @FunnyNurse: Here you'll find a humor magazine for nurses.
94. @nurseuncut: Nurse Uncut is a site for nurses, by nurses.
95. @allnurses: This nursing community has more than 416,000 nurses connected.
96. @WhatNursesDo: Read this feed to find out what nurses do.
97. @medxcentral: @medxcentral is a healthcare social networking service.
98. @NursesDailyDose: Read this Twitter feed to find funny nursing anecdotes.

Reform

Check out these Twitter feeds to learn about health care reform.

99. @2healthguru: Gregg Masters is a health system reformer.
100. @michlr: Michael Rosseel became a nurse to change healthcare through care redesign and e-learning.

What the iPad May Mean for Medicine

August 2nd, 2010

New technology has the potential to change the way we do things, from changing a single part of a routine to altering the game plan entirely. Many have lauded Apple's new iPad as one of these revolutionary technologies, and one that has great potential to be used in fields like education, business and even medicine. Whether or not the iPad can truly revolutionize the way treatment is carried out at hospitals around the nation is yet to be seen, but there is a lot of buzz about it, and more and more facilities are willing to give it a try in their day-to-day practice. If you're curious about what the iPad could mean for medicine, from nursing schools to nursing homes, take a look at these potential applications, articles and even apps to see what the iPad could change, make easier, and streamline for medical facilities.

Applications

There are a wide range of ways that the iPad has been suggested for use in the hospital setting. Here are just a few applications that can show you what the iPad could mean for changing the way you do patient care in your hospital.

• Accessing patient records. The iPad makes it simple to bring up and page through all kinds of patient records, including photos, radiology images, and much more.
• Writing prescriptions. For hospitals with digital prescription systems, or even ones without, writing and getting a prescription filled for a patient could easily work with the iPad at the touch of a button.
• Looking at x-ray images. Radiological images are already available to view on the iPhone with the right apps, but with the iPad, doctors and nurses will be able to see the images in a much larger size, making them more useful to the professionals and patients alike.
• Sharing information with patients. With its fairly large screen, the iPad makes it possible to easily show patients images and information related to their treatment. And a better informed patient is more likely to be at ease and happier with treatment.
• Communicating with hospital staff. Keeping in touch with those you work with in different parts of the hospital or even in different medical facilities altogether is incredibly easy with the functionality provided by the iPad.
• Quickly finding images and diagnoses for patients. Not sure what exactly a bump or rash means on your patient? The iPad makes it simple to look up medical reference information with high resolution photos so you can improve the accuracy of your diagnoses.
• Looking up other medical cases. If you've got a particularly difficult case to crack, you might need to do a little research. The iPad, working with some great apps, can help you do the research you need, contact other specialists and find the right information for the best treatment.
• Sharing and publishing medical research. With the iPad, you'll be able to read the latest research being done and even share your own discoveries as you're making them, keeping you in the loop and helping doctors all over the world deliver the best care.
• Taking patient history. While pen and paper can work fine for getting a patient history, taking it on the iPad means it can be instantly accessible for other doctors and nurses in the hospital and that it can be retrieved and modified in an instant.
• Managing patient care. The iPad can make it simple to manage almost every level of patient care. Taking patient history, finding a diagnosis, writing prescriptions, sending a referral, helping patients understand their conditions and much more can all be done from one simple, easy-to-use device.

Benefits

Why use the iPad in a hospital and not some other form of technology? Here are some of the main benefits the device has to offer.

• It's small and portable. Doctors and nurses can easily carry the device around or stow it away in their pockets, keeping records, information and contacts close at all times.
• It can make retrieving information a snap. The iPad's processor and functionality make it simple and quick to pull up things like patient records at a moment's notice and help medical personnel deliver care quickly and accurately.
• It offers more visibility than a smartphone. Many doctors have been using the iPhone or other smartphones to do many of the things the iPad does, but the larger screen on the iPad means more visibility, making information easier to see, access and even share with patients.
• It's relatively inexpensive. While the iPad isn't exactly cheap, it can be as cost effective as a laptop, but with increased mobility that can make it especially useful in a hospital setting.
• There are no additional fees. So long as you use your iPad on a local wi-fi server, you won't need to incur any additional fees to use it. That can be a big savings from an iPhone which requires cell and data plans.
• There's a long battery life. Longer time without a charge means it can be used throughout the day without having to take a break, sometimes ten hours or more, something other tablets can't match.
• It could potentially interface with existing iPhone and mobile devices. Sharing information between two Apple products shouldn't be a problem and could make it easy to transfer information and access it from multiple points.
• There's a small learning curve. The iPad is new, but it draws on technology from existing devices, so many will already be familiar with how to use it. And with a simple interface, even the most technology impaired can figure out how to use it.
• It makes communication easy. Both within a medical facility and with other treatment facilities, the iPad can make sending, sharing and keeping track of patient information incredibly easy.
• It is versatile. It could be carried around by medical personnel, mounted at the foot of patient beds, used by doctors, nurses, radiologists, pharmacists– the list goes on. And as the technology advances, the potential uses for it will as well.

Disadvantages

Using the iPad in a medical setting isn't a perfect solution. Here are some ways that the product might not deliver and could mean needing more equipment to get the job done.

• No Flash compatibility. Flash videos simply won't play on Apple products, and it doesn't look like Apple and Adobe will be coming to an agreement anytime soon. This could limit the types of medical information you can access.
• No camera. If you need to take pictures of your patient's condition, want to video chat or even just share images of your practice, you'll need to use another device. Some suspect later versions of the iPad will have this function, but the current ones simply do not.
• No Mouse. Those who use a lot of mouse-heavy applications may find themselves growing tired of scrolling and clicking with their fingers on the iPad. The iPad does not work with Apple's bluetooth mouse.
• Durability. The iPad is a pretty sturdy device, but it is yet to be seen how it would hold up against heavy, everyday use in a hospital setting. Additionally, because it's always being carried, there's a good chance it will be subjected to a drop or two.
• You can't swap batteries. While the iPad's battery may last a long time, the fact that it can't be swapped out for a fresh one makes it hard to use between different shifts and maintain continual care.

Articles

If you'd like to read more about how the iPad is impacting the practice of medicine, these articles are especially informative and useful.

• iPad review for doctors: A hands on guide for medicine: If you're working in the medical profession, check out this review of the device from a doctor's perspective to see how it could be useful to you.
• Apple's iPad Health Impact for Doctors and Hospitals: Read this article to see how the iPad could change how you practice medicine.
• Is the iPad About to Change Emergency Medicine?: In this post, you can read more about the potential for using the iPad in emergency medicine.
• Japanese Surgeon Uses an iPad in Operation: Doubting the usefulness of the iPad in medicine? This Japanese doctor shows one way it can be a big help during surgery.
• Medicine is the Apple iPad sweet spot: This writer talks about how the iPad is ideal for the medical setting.
• Apple tablet reps spotted at LA hospital: Here, you'll see that the iPad may have been designed partly with medical professionals in mind.
• The iPad in Medicine: The Good, the Bad, and the Germy: Read about both the positives and the negatives that come with using the iPad in a medical setting here.
• The iPad in Healthcare: A Game Changer?: Learn how the iPad could potentially change the way medical treatment works from this article.
• iPhone Versus iPad In Healthcare: Read through this article to see the differences between using the iPhone and iPad in medicine and the advantages of each.
• With the iPad, Apple may just revolutionize medicine: In this Washington Post article, Martha White explains how she thinks the iPad may truly change how doctors interact with patients and how hospitals run.

Medical Apps

Hoping to give the iPad a try in your medical facility? Consider these apps as great additions to the technology.

• Blausen Human Atlas: In this great resource, medical professionals will find 3D images of the human body along with handy images and videos explaining a wide range of medical conditions.
• Visual Dx Mobile: Not entirely sure what that rash is on your patient? Through this app, you'll find images of thousands of dermatological conditions so you can make an accurate diagnosis.
• Procedures Consult: Newbies to the medical field will love this app, with instructional videos on a procedures in a range of medical specialties, helping you know just what to do and how to do it.
• Osirix: If you need to see radiology images on-the-go, this app can make it happen, with high quality and useful imagery at the touch of a button.
• eFilm Mobile: This app is another mobile radiology tool, letting doctors and nurses easily take a look at scans from patients.
• Papers: Check out this app for an easy way to look up new research papers, store them on your device and read them when you have a spare moment.
• Lexi-Comp: Make sure your patients get the right medicines in the right dosages every time with the help of this prescription database.
• MD on Call: For students, this can be an amazing tool for learning about some of the most common conditions they'll be confronted with. They range from the simple to the complex, and courses of treatment are included as well, making it an excellent educational tool.
• Medical History: With this application, doctors and nurses can capture, store and share a complete medical history of any patient.
• ACLS Advisor: Again, this application can be a great tool for learning or as a refresher for doctors who don't often deal with coding patients.

100 Decorating Tips for a Healthy & Happy Baby Nursery

July 27th, 2010

There are so many things to do when preparing to welcome a baby into your family, and creating a healthy, happy nursery is one of the most important ones. Your nursery should be a balance of style, functionality, and most importantly, safety. Here, we'll show you 100 tips for creating a healthy, happy nursery for your baby.

General

Keep these tips in mind when putting your nursery together.

1. Match your decor: Think about the colors and decor of pieces so that they will fit into your decor for many years to come.
2. Be as simple as possible: Start with a pared-down look.
3. Mix and match retro pieces: Make your nursery timeless by mixing and matching retro pieces.
4. Choose adjustable lighting: A soft, adjustable light will be easy on your baby's eyes.
5. Create a calming atmosphere: Use soothing colors and soft tones to create a sanctuary.
6. Make items mobile: Look for furniture on casters and interactive art that can be changed and moved.
7. Choose a unisex color scheme: Be prepared for multiple children with a unisex color scheme.
8. Focus on the child: Hang pictures at your child's level and use decor that encourages exploration.
9. Don't try to do it all: Little details like photographs and lamps can be added after the baby is born.
10. Create zones: Make a sleep area, nursing area, and changing area.
11. Value functionality over style: You'll be glad that your nursery works better than it looks.
12. Be personal: Add a personal touch with old items from your childhood and photos of you as a baby.
13. Add personality with soft furniture: Blankets, pillows, and lamp shades are inexpensive to replace and can add color.

Furniture

These tips will guide you for nursery furniture choices.

14. Arrange the larger furniture first: Before adding small furniture like tables and rocking chairs, arrange your large furniture like the crib and dresser.
15. Reupholster nursery rockers: See how you can create a newly reupholstered nursery rocker with this tutorial.
16. Don't be afraid of big furniture: Some nice large pieces of furniture can make a small room feel larger.
17. Buy full size furniture: Avoid baby-sized furniture that will be outgrown quickly.
18. Get a comfy nursery chair: Invest in a comfortable nursery chair.
19. Use a love seat: If a love seat works for you, it can take the place of a comfy chair and even give you a place to nap.

Art & Decorations

Create fun, functional art and decor for your nursery.

20. Birch tree mural: Get inspired with this birch tree mural.
21. Create a border with your child's feet: Stamp a border around the room of your child's footprints as they grow.
22. Action figures as hooks: Use old action figures as hooks in your baby's nursery.
23. Leave room for imagination: Use items that can be many different things in child's play.
24. Hang plenty of mirrors: Mirrors can help spread light throughout the room and create the illusion of spaciousness.
25. Frame pages from books: Look through children's books for photos that you can frame.
26. Decorate the ceiling: Give baby something to look at while they lay in the crib.
27. Frame a family tree: Use a family tree as an opportunity to talk about your family's history.
28. Make a mobile with photos: Create a photomobile to familiarize your baby with loved ones.
29. Use wall decals: With wall decals, you can be ready to change your wall designs in a flash.

Storage

These tips will help you maximize your nursery's storage.

30. Get a crib drawer: Keep linens handy with an under the crib drawer.
31. Use a laundry basket: Many laundry baskets on the market can double as toy storage.
32. Get a large bookshelf: With a big bookshelf, you'll be able to store books, toys, and more.
33. Pick up lots of baskets: Baskets make great catch-alls and are useful for organization.
34. Use shrinking bags: Shrink bags like Space Bags can help you store all of the too small or too large clothing items you'll have.
35. Add an extra level to your closet: Put in another rod in your closet to store more items at once.
36. Use a shoe organizer for stuffed animals: Keep stuffed animals in a shoe organizer.
37. Get a dust ruffle: With a dust ruffle on the crib, you can put extra storage underneath.
38. Get a closet organizer: Hide your storage behind closed doors with the help of a closet organizer.
39. Use boxes beneath the bed: Store clothing and toys in under the bed boxes.
40. Hang a wall hammock: Store plush animals in a wall hammock.
41. Get portable storage: Get storage systems that can move around on wheels.
42. Look for double duty furniture: Benches or tables can double as storage chests.
43. Make room for keepsake boxes: Put together keepsake boxes for all of the little things you just can't get rid of.

Comfort

These tips will make your nursery as comfortable as possible.

44. Put the crib away from light: Keep the crib where it won't receive direct sunlight.
45. Use a cool air humidifier: Instead of a vaporizer, use a cool air humidifier to avoid burns.
46. Leave space on the floor: Keep a space on your floor where you and the baby can play.

Bedding

These tips will make your bedding functional and stylish.

47. Quick zip crib sheets: Use quick zip sheets to make fast bedding changes.
48. Embrace patterns: Use a few coordinating prints and patterns to make a space feel larger.

Saving Money

Use these tips to save money on your nursery.

49. Decorate with paint: Paint is one of the cheapest ways to add interest to a room.
50. Repaint items: Don't be afraid to repaint items.
51. Hit yard sales: So many people have nursery items to offload for cheap at yard sales-just make sure they're up to current safety standards.
52. Ask for hand me downs: Tell people you're on the hunt for a dresser or bookshelves and you just might get hand me downs for free.
53. Make things yourself: Create your own glider covers, curtains, blankets, or art.
54. Pick what you can stick with: Look for items that can last past infancy and into childhood.
55. Shop the outlet stores: Find big deals on items with minor flaws.
56. Look on Craigslist: Find slightly used items at a great price on Craigslist.

Green

Check out these tips to build a green nursery.

57. Consider hard floors: Hardwoods from sustainably managed forests can help you avoid the mold, dust mites, and allergens of carpet.
58. Finish painting early and air out fumes: Avoid potentially harmful fumes by finishing painting 8 weeks before the baby comes and open windows to release the fumes.
59. Pick up used furniture: Used furniture is more likely to have released all of its harmful chemical fumes by the time it reaches your baby.
60. Use green products: Non-toxic cleaning products and toiletries can go a long way to going green in the nursery.
61. Refurbish furniture: Reclaim old furniture as your own.
62. Consider organic mattresses: Organic mattresses with organic wool are safe and flame retardant.
63. Install energy saving lights and bulbs: Light fixtures and light bulbs should be energy saving.
64. Use low-VOC paint: Paint your nursery green with low-VOC paint.
65. Update your old furniture: Give old furniture new life with new handles and knobs or a fresh coat of paint.
66. Look for eco-friendly furniture materials: Materials like bamboo are safest for baby furniture.
67. Buy domestic: Buy a crib that's close to home to preserve energy.
68. Stick to organic cotton or bamboo: Look for organic bedding when choosing sheets for your baby.
69. Display mementos in a shadow box: Create a shadow box with your baby's favorite clothing, toys, and more.

Cleaning

Follow these tips for a clean and healthy nursery.

70. Contain messes: Dispose of diapers and other waste in a special place to avoid spreading germs all over the nursery.
71. Use disinfectants: Disinfectants can kill germs when used correctly.
72. Change the mattress sheet regularly: Leaky diapers and other accidents can dirty a mattress sheet fast, so wash yours daily or every few days.
73. Create a dedicated changing area: Minimize the spread of diaper germs with a dedicated area.
74. Clean the diaper pail: Don't let bacteria build up in the diaper pail-change it out and wipe it down almost every day.
75. Keep bottles away from germ spots: Baby bottles should be kept away from places like the changing table.
76. Air out the room: Leave your nursery's windows open for about 15 minutes each day.
77. Reduce pet access: Keep pets out of the nursery to cut down on germs and pet hair.
78. Sanitize toys: Throw plush toys in the washer, and bleach, boil, or use disinfectant on hard toys.

Safety

Follow these tips to keep your nursery safe.

79. Check your crib mattress for gaps: Be sure that baby can't slip in between the mattress and crib.
80. Replace door stops with removable caps: Children can choke on door stop caps, so be sure to remove or replace them.
81. Check for decorative crib hazards: Elevated corner posts and decorative cutouts can be hazardous to a baby.
82. Install window guards: Window guards can help protect your baby from falling out of a window.
83. Double check hardware: Test hardware on your crib and other furniture to make sure that it's secure.
84. Keep plastic bags out of the baby's room: Reduce the risk of suffocation by keeping all plastic bags out of your baby's room.
85. Use a firm, flat mattress: Put your baby to sleep on its back on a firm, flat mattress.
86. Avoid loose floor rugs: Loose floor rugs can be a tripping hazard, especially if you have to get up often in the night.
87. Store hygiene items on a high shelf: Keep baby powders, medicines, and more up where children can't touch them.
88. Cover electrical outlets: Use child safety covers for electrical outlets.
89. Check crib safety standards: Ensure that crib bars aren't wider than 2 3/8 inches apart.
90. Keep cords a safe distance from the crib: Be sure that baby monitors and other cords are away from the crib.
91. Secure rugs: Secure rugs to the floor with tape to avoid slipping.
92. Keep items out of your baby's crib: Don't put anything in the crib with the baby, including pillows, blankets, bumpers and toys.
93. Secure art out of reach: Avoid hanging pictures or other items over the crib.
94. Use a safety belt or guardrail on the changing table: Prevent your baby from falling off by using safety items on the changing table.
95. Use a safety strap for furniture: Anchor tall pieces of furniture with safety straps.
96. Keep changing supplies out of reach: Baby powders and diaper creams should not be within baby's reach.
97. Keep furniture away from windows: Avoid strangulation from blinds and the risk of falling out of windows by keeping furniture against walls.
98. Place carpet or a rug under key furniture: The crib and changing table should have carpet or a nonskid rug underneath.
99. Get a toy chest with a safety lid: Keep lids from falling onto your child's fingers or neck by choosing one with no lid or lid supports.
100. Never leave your child unattended on the changing table: Babies can move faster than you think-always have a hand and eye on your baby when changing.

10 Things You Never Knew About Yoga

July 26th, 2010

Yoga has become a popular form of exercise and stress management in the United States, for professional athletes, individuals on a weight-loss mission, and anyone who wants to explore the holistic benefits of combining strength training, flexibility, and deep breathing and concentration. But even though this ancient practice has become a mainstream form of exercise and relaxation, there is still a lot you probably don't know about yoga. Whether you're in nursing school and want to know more about yoga's health benefits and risks, or you're curious about the history of yoga, keep reading.

1. There are 19 types of yoga: The most common type of yoga taught in the United States is hatha yoga, which is a foundational type that teaches breathwork, postures and meditation. Other types focus on chanting and prayer, detox, strength, endurance, and total lifestyle habits like vegetarianism and non-violence.
2. Yoga may be 10,000 years old: Actual records of yoga can be traced back 5,000 years, but because yoga was passed down orally or on delicate leaves and that were destroyed, many researchers believe it is much, much older.
3. Patanjali — one of yoga's most important figures — was a physician: While yoga was first explored and recorded by priests and mystic seekers, Patanjali, who is one of the most important figures in yoga history and is called "the father of yoga," was actually a physician. Patanjali wrote down 195 sutras for explaining how yoga should be used in everyday life to achieve enlightenment and a moral life in a text called The Yoga Sutra.
4. There are four periods in the history of yoga: These are: pre-classical, classical, post-classical and modern. During the pre-classical period, yoga was being developed in Northern India by the Indus-Sarasvati people, and then by Brahman priests. This is when yoga was recorded in texts and scriptures. The classical period saw the organization of yoga into the eight-limbed path philosophy that still holds today, while the post-classical period explored the idea that the physical body led to true enlightenment, a severe departure from pre-classical ideals. In the modern period, yoga spread to the West, when Swami Vivekananda visited Chicago in 1893. Hatha yoga became the preeminent form of yoga here.
5. Yoga poses and meditation are inspired by Buddhist influences: In the earliest periods, yoga was practiced as a form of healing and path to self-discovery. Buddhist influences during the 6th century B.C. turned the focus towards meditation, too, and incorporated the practice of postures and poses.
6. Yoga's eight-fold path to a better life: Patanjali's eight-fold path is described in The Yoga Sutra. The eight limbs are yama, or social behavior; niyama, or inner discipline and responsibility; asana, or posture of yoga; pranayama, or energy force that flows through us when we breathe; pratyahara, the withdrawal of senses during meditation; dharana, concentrating on a single image or point; dhyana, meditating without an object or distraction; and samadhi, or absolute bliss.
7. Yoga's original language is Sanskrit: The oldest literary language of India, Sanskrit is also the language of yoga. The word yoga actually means yoke or union, and is translated from the Sanskrit word "yuj."
8. Your yoga experience is always changing: Some people might think practicing yoga for years or decades is boring because all of the poses are the same. But yoga's philosophy is built around the idea that your experience or relationship with the yoga poses is constantly changing. This experience is based on your physicality as you become more flexible and balanced, and also your spiritual relation and ability to meditate while doing yoga.
9. Yoga may interfere with natural growth: The American Yoga Association doesn't recommend that children under the age of 16 years old perform yoga positions, because they may hinder natural growth. And while they can experiment with breathing exercises and stretching, they should not hold their breath while doing so.
10. The number of yoga poses is disputed: In The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, Swami Vishnu-devananda explained 66 official postures for yoga, and 136 variations. Other yogis have suggested that there are more official postures, or even an infinite number of positions.

100 Empowering Blog Posts for Your Weight Loss Battle

July 25th, 2010

You don't have to be in nursing school to know that weight loss is a great way to improve your health. Of course, that's often easier said than done. These blog posts can help you get started, stay motivated, and celebrate your weight loss success.

Getting Started

Use these blog posts to get started in your weight loss journey.

1. I Am So Ready: Hollie shares her excitement about getting started on a new diet.
2. Why Wait Until the New Year for a New You?: You'll see why you shouldn't wait until the New Year for weight loss in this post.
3. Develop a Healthier Lifestyle Earlier in Life: This post explains why you should get started as soon as you can.
4. Note to Self: You Are Ready: This post asks what you're waiting for.
5. Before You Start Exercising: Stay healthy while exercising with this post.
6. Why Is Change So Hard?: Read this post that explores the difficulty of change.
7. Flat Belly Jumpstart-Does It Work?: Read this post to find out if you can jumpstart your way to a flat belly.
8. A Dream Body for Trish: See how this stay at home mom of 4 gets her exercise kick started.
9. Snow Days and Inspiring People: Hollie writes about an inspiring woman she met at the gym.
10. An Absolute Must Read: Get inspired by this magazine article.

Easy Weight Loss

Check out these posts to make weight loss a bit easier.

11. Want to Exercise Less?: Tina explains how she exercises less.
12. No Time: This blogger discusses making time for exercise and healthy eating.
13. Too Busy for Exercise? Here's a Quick Tip: Find out how you can fit exercise into a busy day.
14. Easy Ways to Burn Calories: Libby discusses some easy ways to shed a few calories.
15. When Will I Stop Being Fat?: Jenny writes about when she can stop being fat.

Positivity

Use these posts to stay positive about weight loss.

16. Sometimes Just Not Gaining is a Triumph: See why keeping your weight is a success, too.
17. The Man Who Taught Us to Believe in Ourselves: Richard Simmons brings positivity to weight loss.
18. The Ultimate Destination is the Journey Itself: Remember that the journey of weight loss is important.
19. Living in the Moment: This post reminds readers to take things as they come.
20. Always Look on the Bright Side: Beth looks on the bright side of having the flu.
21. Keep Calm and Carry On: Shauna writes about not letting stress get to you.
22. Positive!: Patsy reminds her readers to think positively.
23. A Word of Encouragement: Debby shares her secret for encouragement.

Motivation

Read these posts for weight loss motivation.

24. Find That Motivating Factor: Israel writes about finding a motivating factor.
25. Push Through the Pain: Emily writes about the payoff of pain.
26. A Promise to Myself: Keep promises to yourself for weight loss.
27. Stop Trying to Lose Weight: Shrinking Mommy says that it's all in how you word your goals.
28. Why I'm Doing This: This post is a good reminder of why you're doing what you're doing.
29. Growing Up Fat: The Anti-Jared shares the experience of growing up fat.
30. Be Your Own Cheer Squad: This post will help you find motivation in yourself.
31. Big Heist, Big Payoff: Check out this post to learn about big payoffs.
32. Pushing Yourself: This blogger remembers what he's doing this for.
33. When Inspiration Fails You: Read this post to find out what to do when your motivation and inspiration fails.
34. Make That Choice: Read this blog to make the choice to lose weight.
35. Reward vs. Abuse: The Big Bottom Blogger explains the difference between rewards and abuse.
36. Musings on Goals: Helen shares her insight on goals.
37. Losing Weight for the Big Day: See this story of losing weight for a wedding.
38. Get Comfortable Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone: In this post, you'll see how to get out of your comfort zone.
39. Finding the Motivation and Confidence to Get Started: Roni discusses the motivation to get started.
40. Conquering a Small Section of the Mental Mountain: See how you can control your mind with this post.
41. Is Procrastination Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Goals: Cut procrastination out to meet your goals.
42. Using Your Phone to Lose Weight: Check out this post to find out how you can lose weight with your phone.

Success Stories

Celebrate weight loss success in these posts.

43. I'm Losing Weight Bitches: See how Lorrie worked to lose weight on her blog.
44. Progress, Before and Afters: Jennifer shares a detailed look into her before and after story.
45. Weigh In 200 Pounds Lost: This man has lost more than 200 pounds.
46. Pre-Loser and After Pics: See before and after photos of a loser for life.
47. My Fattiversary: This blogger celebrated her Fattiversary with a tattoo.
48. One Year Ago Today: Kenz recalls a year of weight loss.
49. Happy 2nd Fattiversary: This blogger is doing so well, she got pregnant and is welcoming the challenge of losing weight again.
50. Let's Get Serious: This blogger explains why it's not easy, but it's worth it.
51. I Did It: This blogger bought a bikini.
52. My First Ever "NOTICED" Moment!: Enjoy a great moment with this blogger.
53. Ain't No Stopping Me Now!: This blogger is on a roll!
54. Michaela Weighs In: Michaela celebrates a big milestone in her weight loss.
55. Share Your Success Story: Once you've been successful, share your story here.
56. Oh HAPPY Day!: Melissa makes a McDonald's compromise.

Persistence

Find out what happens when you stay persistent.

57. Time to Lose: This blogger writes about being patient with weight loss.
58. Various Reasons Why I Can't Diet Today: This blogger knocks down excuses.
59. Frustration and Determination: In this post, you'll read about sticking with it.
60. Persistence Can Be Brutal: Read this post about sticking with it.
61. The Danger of Being Comfortable: Andrew prefers to be uncomfortable for the best success.
62. On Backsliding…: Kayla shares why it's great to be back.
63. Getting Back Up: Ashley is trying to get back up.
64. All About Balance: Lisa juggles stress and health.
65. Sticking With the Diet: Katie shares her secret for sticking with her diet.
66. Still Going Strong: Check out this post and you'll learn about sticking with your work using rewards.
67. Bad Day: Veronica shakes off her funk.
68. 10 Ways to Build the Exercise Habit: Get into a habit of exercise with this post.
69. Call In the Elastic Waist: Here you'll see how to responsibly indulge.

Self Image

These posts will help you with a healthy self image.

70. Poor Body Image: Read this post for help with your body image.
71. Making Friends With Your Body: Roni discusses making friends with your body.
72. The Naked Dance: This blogger has gotten more comfortable with her body.
73. Swim Suit Shopping: Emily feels good about her swimsuit.
74. Size Does Not Matter: Read this post to find out why you need to get out there and live no matter your size or age.
75. No Make-Up Self-Portrait: This post encourages readers to embrace their no-makeup self.
76. Progress Photos: See how Shelley's weight came off!
77. Former Fat Guy: This former fat guy shares his progress story.
78. On This Day…: This blogger celebrates a year of progress.

Support

These posts cover finding support for weight loss.

79. I Need Better Accountability: Get help being accountable for your weight loss.
80. The Advantages of a Journal: Debby explains why a journal can be helpful for weight loss.
81. Positive Reinforcements: This post explains the great feeling you get when people notice your weight loss.
82. I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends: This blogger gets support from her friends.
83. Grandma's Trying to Feed Me: See what you should do when your grandma tries to feed you.
84. Healthy Family: Read this post to see how to help your get family healthy while you're losing weight.
85. 4 Reasons You Should Be Writing a Weight Loss Blog: John explains why a weight loss blog can work for you.

Recovery

Bounce back from pitfalls in weight loss.

86. The Vicious Circle: This blogger is trying to get back on track.
87. Feeling Defeated…: Here you'll see how to get over feeling defeated.
88. Recommitment Reminder: Recommit to health with this post.
89. Starting Over Again!: Cheri is committed to health and happiness despite being ill.
90. The All or Nothing Way of Thinking: Change your way of thinking to avoid the all or nothing failure.
91. Why Your Weight Loss Diet Isn't Working: You'll see how to make your weight loss diet work with this post.
92. I Miss This: See how this blogger is getting back on track.
93. Am I a Failure?: See how you can get back on the horse.

Challenges

Here you can find weight loss challenges to meet.

94. Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It: Exercise 40+ days for Lent.
95. 3 Month Challenge: Here you'll see this blogger's summer challenge.
96. Running for Charity: Running for charities can help you get motivated.
97. Celebrating the Good Times: Barbara Berkeley discusses celebrating without the excess of food.
98. Willpower to Lose Weight: This blogger stuck with it despite temptation.
99. My Long HOT Active Summer Challenge: Stay active during the summer with this challenge.
100. But I'm Sick!: LessJess explains that if you're well enough to work, you're well enough to work out.