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Finally! More Female Superheroes
My superhero obsessed son is exposed almost exclusively to male superheroes – especially when it comes to superheroes who are in kid-approved cartoons. All dudes, all the time.
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I knew we needed another option when he came out with, “sorry mom, only guys are super” when I tried to join in on one of his superheroes games. Um, so not true kid.
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So, I was pleased to discover a new American-Canadian female superhero show on Nickelodeon: Mysticons.
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The show has been described as “Manhattan meets middle Earth” and showcases the inherent strength and confidence in girls by following four diverse young ladies who (like most heroes) are committed to saving a magical realm from evil. And, they fight said evil while wearing flashy form fitting duds that will make for fun Halloween costume options for little girls tired of only having a Wonder Woman option.
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I feel like I missed out as a little girl who grew up in an era when the pink Power Ranger was the only butt kicking female heroe to idolize. So, you might find me slipping back to my childhood ways by grabbing a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and plopping on the couch for some Mysticons after my Flash and Spiderman loving boys go to sleep.
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This show is likely most appropriate for children 7 and older.
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You can catch Mysticons on Nickelodeaon on Sundays at noon (ET/PT) and encore episodes on Nicktoons on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) Until then, here’s a preview.
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Destination Wedding To-Do List: 8 Months Before
You’ve locked in your wedding venue of choice, committed to sticking to your budget (you can do it!), and hemmed and hawed over that tricky guest list until it was just right – congrats! You’ve got your momentum going and have tackled some of the biggest destination wedding question marks. Next up on your schedule . . . so much more. But, peeling back one layer of to-dos at a time, and not getting ahead of yourself, will ensure it all gets done in a calm and competent manner. And, if you’re a Type-A-er like me, you’ll be flooded with bliss every time you get to check a box – so, isn’t it great there are so many boxes?!
Let’s get started:
1. Make Your Online Registry.
You’re going to be doing a whole lot of organizing to make sure all your guests have an easy and enjoyable time while attending your destination wedding, so girl, you deserve gifts. And, it’s tradition – so yay!
Why the State of Awe Will Change Your Life
Little did I know that as my son and I sat in awe as we watched athletes dressed like Spider Man, Thor, Black Widow, and other Marvel characters flip motorcycles, spin on silks, and bend in every which way, we were slowing down our perception of time, enhancing our ability to be generous, and promoting our good health.
A study done at Stanford University [http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797612438731] found that when people are in a state of awe, they feel like they have more available time. In addition, the study, published in Sage Journals, reported that being in a state of awe also encourages people to prefer experiences more than material items, and promotes greater life satisfaction. They determined that “the power of the awe” primarily comes from a heightened ability to be in the present moment when experiencing something that makes the jaw drop and the mind pays attention.
Healing After a Miscarriage
Interview on Informed Pregnancy Podcast
As summer draws to a close, a primer on beating the post-vacation blues
*Article I was interviewed for, whose advice I desperately need right now.
Welcome back.
What’s that? You didn’t want to come home? You might have a touch of the post-vacation blues.
“It’s like an anxiety disorder,” explains Erika Martinez, a Miami psychologist who specializes in wellness issues. Symptoms, she says, include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, headaches and poor attention or concentration.
Have you experienced these symptoms? As hundreds of thousands of Americans come home from their annual trips to the beaches and mountains, chances are many of them will. In a recent Wyndham Vacation Rentals study, 45 percent of respondents said the prospect of going home added to the stress of their vacation.
Destination Wedding To-Do List (12 Months Before)
The price you pay for a gorgeous destination wedding (beyond the actual price) is a lot of work on the front end, beginning about a year before your wedding date. The good news is everything doesn’t have to be done at once, as long as you spread out the to-dos over a 12-month period. To get you started, here’s a list of the top tasks to tackle one year prior to The Day.
1. Decide the Essence You Want Your Wedding to Exude.
Getting clear on the vibe, theme, spirit, or whatever you want to call it, for your wedding will make all your other decisions easier because you’ll have a better sense of what you’re trying to create. For example, my fiancé and I wanted the essence of our wedding to be classic, nature inspired, and surf centered. We ended up getting married on the beach in Nicaragua with a driftwood and local flower backdrop while surfers rode an epic set of waves behind us. I chose a classic lace dress and had white roses in my hair. Deciding on our “essence” before planning made it easier to craft our dream wedding.
Doulas Are F*cking Awesome
*Quoted as expert in article
Tracey O’Halloran had one C-section and didn’t want another, so she found a hospital that would respect her wishes — and a doula, Katie Prendergast.
Once labor began, Tracey says, “I was in full-blown freakout pain and fear … She encouraged me to get on top of the wave and ride it out and reminded me this was all normal and my body was designed to do this. I don’t know if the pain became more manageable or I became better at managing, but that was a game changer.” Katie rocked Tracey and her husband together in the midst of her contractions. She kept Tracey’s husband from chattering at her during contractions. “So many little and bigmoments, even to the gentle suggestion of using mineral oil when baby’s head got a little stuck,” Tracey tells Scary Mommy. “I am so, so so thankful.”
Tracey had it right: Doulas are amazing.
Inspired Conversations with Linda Joy
Curious about what’s it’s like to navigate the emotions of an unplanned pregnancy? Or, many of the other wonderful/crazy/confusing/transformative challenges of the journey into #motherhood? Tune into to my interview on the Inspired Conversations with Linda Joy radio show today at 2pm ET here, http://omtimes.com/iom/shows/inspired-conversations/ #pregnancy #childbirth#fengshuimommy
7 Reasons a Destination Wedding Might Be For You
The question has been asked, the ring is on the finger, you’re high with excitement, and then pop – you think about hosting the wedding in your hometown and your bubble is burst. For some, the idea of having a wedding surrounded by hundreds of their friends and family members, while immersed in a familiar environment, sounds like a dream, but if you’re someone who contracts into a stress ball at the thought, check out the following list to see if you’re a good candidate for a destination wedding.
1. You’re a Workaholic
If you’re a constant “doer” it can be tricky to be amongst the physical to-dos of your hometown without knowing how to sign off to enjoy your wedding. I’m such a habitual “get stuff done-er” I was emailing while in labor with my son. So yeah, a destination wedding was a must for me. Getting out of Dodge, or Phoenix, or New York, or wherever you hang your hat, can be the exact prescription you need to fully immerse yourself in the romantic, let your hair down, in the moment, goodness of your wedding time.
Become the Queen of Quickies
*Excerpt from Feng Shui Mommy
Exercise does not have to be held together by laces, sweat-wicking spandex, and a Jillian Michaels playlist you found in a fitness magazine. Toning and stretching your muscles and livening up your heart rate can happen anyplace, anytime. Of the suggestions below, some are a few of the endorphin-eliciting quickies I partook in while my uterus was packing a baby, and some are ideas from the human-making babes I’ve worked with. I encourage you to try these, then work out your creative nature by thinking up new ways to get in a quickie.
Squats:
While you’re doing dishes, scrolling through your phone, or engaging in any other stationary activity, squat into it. A squat is an excellent way to prep your birthing muscles and get comfortable assuming the most effective birthing position, which is . . . a squat. Play around with the squat until you find a position that you feel secure in while it’s causing your glutes and thighs to tighten. No need to assume a full squat; bending your knees a bit and lowering your tush a few inches is effective. Squat for as long as you feel comfortable, and upgrade the benefits by dropping some Kegels into the mix.
Natural Solutions: How to Have a Balanced Pregnancy
The Best Ways To Prepare For A C-Section, According To Experts
*Quoted as expert for this article.
No two birth stories are alike, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some universal guidelines that can help any mom-to be. If you plan on having a Cesarean delivery (or even if you don’t — birth is unpredictable) then you might be relieved to know that there are actually quite a few ways you can prepare for your C-section.
If you aren’t familiar with the procedure, a c-section is “the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus,” according to Baby Center. In most cases, the end result will leave you with a thin, horizontal scar slightly below your bikini line.
Due to multiple chronic illnesses which affected my pregnancy — Lupus, an autoimmune disease, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, and scoliosis, to name a few — I knew well in advance that I was going to have a medically necessary C-section. This gave me plenty of time to research, and it also gave me plenty of time to worry about every hypothetical situation in the book. Thankfully, you can ease your mind by knowing what to expect when you check out these things you can do to prepare for your C-section.
How to Prepare for a Baby – The Essential To-Do List
Preparing for a permanent resident in your life that you’ve never met can be tricky, but doing nothing to prepare is even trickier. While there is no way to ensure you won’t be popped with surprises during early motherhood, there are ways to set yourself up for greater success, satisfaction, and sanity before your wiggly little person makes their grand entrance.
To kick off your preparations, complete the following to-dos before The Day:
- Create Your Baby Zones.
Babies have a sneaky way of taking over every square inch of your house if you don’t designate specific areas wholly devoted to your noisy cherub. For example, set up a changing zone in one room of your house (or two if your home is spread out) and an always stocked and organized diaper bag you can grab for on-the-go changes (like blowouts so messy it’s best to bring the supplies to baby.) In addition, consider setting up play zones, feeding zones, sleep zones, dressing zones, and any other zones you think your baby will need.
Pregnancy Insomnia – Where it Comes From and What to do About it
Oh sweet relief- after a long day of being pregnant you’re finally nestling in your soft bed, cuddling with your body pillow, and listening to your partner not snoring – you’re ready for a good night’s sleep. But wait, you can’t sleep? While pregnant women should absolutely be exempt from insomnia it unfortunately has a one-sided love affair with them, thinking they want it in their bed when really they would do anything to get rid of it.
So, what’s up with that? Why is it so common for exhausted with-child ladies to be wide-awake for hours past their bedtime?
A few common causes of pregnancy insomnia are:
- always wanting to be aware of baby movements (making sure baby isn’t still for too long)
- having to get up multiple times to pee
- out of control hormones
- common pregnancy symptoms like heartburn and congestion that seem to relish the supine position
- an overactive imagination that obsesses over everything that could go wrong
While a few nights of restlessness are inevitable during pregnancy, you can say goodbye to regular bouts of insomnia by incorporating the following into your life:
Here Are All Of The Additional Costs C-Section Patients Have To Deal With
*Quoted in article as expert
If you’re pregnant or wanting to become pregnant you may have already envisioned your child’s birth. For some it may be a medicated birth at a hospital, or a drug-free water birth. For others a C-section, either planned or unplanned, may be medically necessary. My first C-section was not planned and there were two things I was shocked about: the recovery time and the cost. No one told me how much more expensive it was. It’s important to know all of the additional costs C-section patients have to deal with so you don’t have to be surprised like I was.
Generally speaking, C-sections are only performed for health reasons related to the mother or the baby like breech position, multiples, or past abdominal surgeries. But it’s hard not to notice the obvious increase in C-sections this country has seen recently. According to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), C-section rates in the United States were at the highest levels ever in 2009, with more than 1.3 million C-section deliveries (32.9 percent of all births) performed. With C-section rates on the rise many are questioning if they’ve all been medically necessary, especially considering the risks and costs to pregnant women.
Family Travel Guide to San Francisco’s Union Square
San Francisco has figured out how to achieve the tricky alchemy of sophistication mixed with flair and fun, making it an ideal vacation destination for a family with a varied platter of interests. From epic bay views to grassy sprawls, fine art galleries to interactive museums, and white table cloths and candles to picnic benches surrounded by the smells of hamburgers, San Francisco has something for everyone.
But, with such an expansive city to explore it can give even the savviest traveling family anxiety when deciding where to start. Union Square is a favorite home base for many families as it’s drenched in amble opportunities for shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation. Also, Union Square is within walking distance to Chinatown, the iconic cable cars, and so much more.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
The Westin St. Francis – A family friendly hotel that provides gifts for the kids at check-in and offers family rooms and complimentary cribs. This historic hotel is also a great option if your family enjoys a sprinkle of luxury. And, depending on your style preference of said luxury, The Westin has you covered, offering both classic and modern rooms.
10 New Ways to Afford Fertility Treatments
Before the birth of her daughter, Aurora, in 2016, Heather Huhman, host of the podcast Beat Infertility and founder of content-marketing firm Come Recommended, went through seven cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF), suffered four miscarriages and gave birth to stillborn twins, Eric and Alexis. As difficult and heartbreaking as the Washington, DC, woman’s journey to motherhood was, she never stopped working—she had to foot the almost-$60,000 bill for all those fertility treatments.
Heather is not an anomaly. A survey by FertilityIQ, a fertility doctor and clinic evaluation website, found that 92 percent of women undergoing fertility treatments are employed. Of those, 68 percent work a full 40 to 50 hours a week.
One big reason? More and more women are postponing pregnancy until their mid-to late 30swhile they’re furthering their careers—and this delay often makes fertility treatments necessary to start a family. But medical need isn’t the only reason working women make up the majority of fertility-care patients: The high price of help forces many women to continue earning a paycheck while trying to conceive. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine reported that the average cost of one IVF treatment in the United States is $12,400, not including the extra medications a woman might need and the added fees for using an egg or sperm donor, or gestational surrogate.
7 Family-Approved Summer Activities in Tahoe
While the spirit of many ski towns dissolves with the snow, the Tahoe area pulsates with energy all year. When the skiers and boarders skip town, usually after enjoying the snow from November to July, a fresh crop of thrill seekers and wanderlusts emerge to enjoy the hiking, biking, diving, fishing, swimming, and sightseeing in the visually rich environment.
With an overflowing platter of recreational options, this area is ideal for families yearning for adventure, but with a variety of comfort zones.
When planning your summer vacation to Tahoe, pick and choose from the following to craft an epic journey into this astounding pocket of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
1. Bike Riding: If you’re looking for a scenic, safe, and leisurely family bike ride, rent your wheels at Parallel Mountain Sports in the Village at Squaw Valley (or bring your own!) and have them direct you to the path that snakes along the Truckee River all the way to the crisp waters of Lake Tahoe.
Bailey Gaddis Blog 