Guest Posts

Memorial Day Activity: Build Cardboard Cornhole

Guest post by the Mud Pie Makers.

Are you looking for a fun activity to memorialize the moments of your upcoming Memorial Day weekend? Do you have any cardboard boxes stashed away in your basement, garage, or living room? We have a great solution for you.

I am personally a big fan of cardboard boxes. I keep a stash in the basement and I have my favorite haunts for finding them. If you have ever driven behind a pet supply store or bookstore or outdoor furniture showroom you have probably seen a huge dumpster labeled Cardboard Only. Score! Yes, I have scavenged these dumpsters and have been seen hanging over the side with my feet kicking up behind me. I consider it Active Recycling . . . it’s my way of Living Green. And, as any seasoned parent knows, boxes are an endless source of entertainment for children!

Maternity Wear: Must-Have Wardrobe Essentials

by Guest Writer 1 Comment

Guest post by Kim White.

Maternity Swimwear by A Pea in the Pod at ShopStyle

No woman wants to look terrible during their pregnancy, but as any mum-to-be knows, it can also be an expensive time. Therefore it is not always possible to get a whole new maternity wardrobe, but there are ways to get a great look on a budget.

Invest in Interchangeable Pieces

The secret is to invest in a capsule wardrobe with a few key interchangeable pieces that work well together. A lot of magazines say you can get by with about three items in your wardrobe which is a little extreme but the principle is the same – choose your items carefully.
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Food Labels for Dummies

by Guest Writer 4 Comments

Guest Post.

Reading food labels is a huge part of dieting. They provide all the information you need to know about a food, from the serving size to the ingredients. The problem is that many people ignore food labels and simply guess the contents of their food and make up their own serving sizes. This is a factor that contributes to obesity: ignorance with food labels. If you are looking to have a healthier diet, looking at food labels is the first step to take. [Read more…] about Food Labels for Dummies

Change Your Exercise Routine to Reap Benefits

by Guest Writer 8 Comments

Guest Post by Ryan.

Most exercise routines are designed to help the body build endurance and strength. But there comes a point when the body stops responding to the workout. When this happens to you, then you have reached a plateau. This happens when the body becomes too used to the routine that you are doing. In order to grow and to develop, the muscles of the body need to be challenged during workouts. If you are doing the same exercise over and over again, your muscles are not challenged anymore. This is the reason why you need to change your exercise routine regularly.

Why You Really Need to Change Your Routine

Some people may ask, “but shouldn’t we stick to what works?” While it is important to stick to workout routines that seem to work for you, doing the same thing over and over again will not do your body any good. Sure, you can stick to the same old routine for the rest of your life, just don’t expect them to get you nearer to your fitness goals. The reason why “the last 5 pounds” is hard to get rid off is because by the time most people are near to their ideal weight, their bodies start getting accustomed to the things that they are doing.

Drink More Water and Lose Weight

by Guest Writer 32 Comments

Guest post by Sharon Hurley Hall

Will drinking water really help you lose weight? Yes, it certainly will! Read on to find out why it is often a big difference and read on to get strategies for making drinking more water an effortless part of your day.

Calm Hunger

The next time you’re thinking about having a snack and you know there’s no real reason for you to be having anything to eat, try drinking a glass of water instead. In many cases, your body is actually thirsty rather than hungry and the glass could help tide you over until your next proper meal.

A good strategy for reducing your snacking is to at least resolve to wait half an hour after drinking that water before eating something. If you still feel like having something to eat 30 minutes after drinking it, go ahead and have a snack.

The fact that you’ve waited thirty minutes will also increase the chances of your choosing a more sensible snack as you’re making conscious efforts when eating and that is something that minimises mindless snacking – the most dangerous kind of snacking there is!

Overview of the Developmental Stages of Infancy

by Guest Writer 8 Comments

Guest Post by Joyce Brister.

While the first five years of a baby’s development is a period of incredible growth and learning, every baby is different and each develops at its own pace. Understanding the rapid developmental changes can help parents and primary caregivers provide a nurturing environment for the child. Since a baby’s future begins even before birth, how parents deal with the baby’s development has effects that can last his/her entire lifetime.

All parents worry about their child’s growth and development, especially if the birth was difficult or the child developed a disability or chronic condition. Although each child’s rate of growth is different, the patterns of growth have common denominators and are fairly predictable. It is the timing of the stages of development that differ, even amongst siblings. For instance, many babies are walking by age one, but it is still considered normal to be walking anywhere from 9-16 months of age.