Experts: Parents are Risking Kids’ Health for Dreams of Pro-Sports Fame

Posted on March 5, 2016

The number of children playing team sports is falling, with experts blaming a parent-driven focus on elite travel clubs, specialization in one sport and pursuit of scholarships for hurting the country’s youth sports leagues.

Baseball, basketball, softball, soccer and touch football — long staples of American childhood — have all taken hits, worrying public health advocates, league organizers and professional sports organizations.

More than 26 million children ages 6 to 17 played team sports in 2014, down nearly 4 percent from 2009, according to a widely cited survey by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Total sports played have plummeted by nearly 10 percent.

Some of the drop-off is attributable to the recession, particularly in low-income urban areas. But experts fear larger socioeconomic forces are in play, especially in the suburbs, where the shift to elite competition over the past two decades has taken a growing toll: Children are playing fewer sports, and the less talented are left behind in recreational leagues with poor coaching, uneven play and the message that they aren’t good enough. Seventy percent of kids quit sports by age 13.

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Eco Friday: The Numbers behind Global Food Waste (INFOGRAPHIC)

Posted on March 4, 2016

Subconsciously, we waste food every day. Each time we take too large a heaping of mashed potatoes or extra servings we don’t eat, we wast food. This casual disposal of leftover is common world wide and contributes to global food waste.

But there are things we can do to reduce waste like shopping responsibly and cooking in smaller portions. Here is an infographic that goes into the dilemma of food waste and offers suggestions on being a personal catalyst change agent.

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Study: Vitamin D in Pregnancy not that Great for Baby’s Bones

Posted on March 3, 2016

Taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy does not improve a baby’s bone density, according to a new British study.

But for babies born in the winter, “sunshine vitamin” supplementation may help counteract low levels caused by seasonal loss of sunlight, the researchers said.

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News

Viral Video: Woman surprises Husband with Pre-Flight Pregnancy Announcement

Posted on March 1, 2016

A Pennsylvania woman surprised her husband with an airplane pregnancy announcement with the help of airline personnel recently. On a flight to visit friends with her husband Eric, Lisa Sadiwnyk took two pregnancies in the airplane restroom, both which turned up positive. Having the strength of being able to keep a secret, Sadiwnyk didn’t tell Eric but instead contacted the airline crew and asked them to help her announce the pregnancy during the flight home.

Once on the plane home, the pilot came on the PA and asked the other passengers to get their cameras ready.

“We’ll have a little fun here,” the pilot’s message began.

“I’d like to turn your attention to seat 29-E where you’ll find Eric who is traveling with his wife Lisa,” the message continued.

That’s when Eric turned to his wife with a shocked look at his face.

“Well Eric, although you didn’t strike it rich here in Las Vegas, you did strike the jackpot,” the pilot said. “Congratulations! You’re about to be a dad.”

As passengers clapped, Eric smiled and leaned in to kiss his wife.

His wife gave a big “thank you” to the crew for helping to pull off the surprise.

Just as the video came to an end, you could see Eric wipe away a tear.

Check it out the video here which Lisa posted on her Facebook page. This happened on the American Airlines Flight 607 on January 13, 2016 but she probably had to wait for the requisite 3-month period before posting the video which has gone viral.

h/t Fox 8 News

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Hey, I just started a Blogging Academy, First Courses are FREE! Check it out!

Posted on March 1, 2016

Hey guys. So, it’s not like I don’t already have a million things to do running 4 active blogs, managing my household while trying to stay sane but…I have launched a digital publishing academy dedicated to training future, new and current active bloggers.

It is a labor of love but I love sharing the wisdom I’ve gained in over 10 years of blogging and over 20 years in the digital online content creation and curation space. Plus, I enjoy this stuff tremendously and am geeked about creating a platform for passing on some of my passion of blogging!

If you’d like to take a look at check out the Digital Publishing Academy HERE!

I am starting the academy with a suite of 4 FREE lunchtime courses that will begin this Friday! And even if you cannot make it, simply registering will give you access to a replay for a week! Sweet, eh?

And if blogging, website management and the like is not your thing, tell a friend, would ya? Thanks! I’d be forever indebted in gratitude!! <3

xoxo

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50 Leap Year Freebies & Deals including 10 just for ‘Leap Year Babies’

Posted on February 29, 2016

There are 187,000 leap year babies currently living the United States and since their birthdays only come around once every four years, several brands and companies use the opportunity to celebrate these special babies by offering them freebies!

Others have jumped on the wagon and extended offers to the rest of us, who equally are happy to get one extra day in February because, ‘why not’?

Here are 10 freebies just for Leap Year babies and 40 deals for the rest of us.

1. Benny’s Chop House (Chicago): Guests with Leap Day birthdays receive a complimentary 8 oz. filet mignon on 2/29/2016, for parties of 2 or more.

2. Great American Cookies –Leap year babies get a free cookie cake to celebrate your birthday if you have an ID to prove you were born on February 29.

3. Holsteins -Guests with Leap Day birthdays receive a free Birthday Cake Bamboozled Milkshake and a Classic Burger with proof of ID on 2/29/2016.

4. Houlihan’s:All customers with Leap Day birthdays can have one free entree on Monday, Feb. 29, and that’s only the start. Leap Day babies are welcomed to 28 additional free entrees–one per visit–over the following 30-day period, for a possible total of 29 free entrees. Bring photo ID with proof of DOB.

5. Olive Garden –If your birthday is Feb. 29, use the linked coupon for four free “Dolcini” desserts, valid for dine-in orders at Olive Garden restaurants from Feb. 29 to March 6.

McAlister’s Deli: Show an ID proving that you’re a Leap Baby born on February 29 and you’ll get a free cookie on Monday.

7. Hard Rock Cafe: Is giving away a free meal for anyone celebrating their birthday.

8. Pizza Hut: Anyone who shows a valid government-issued photo ID proving they were born on Leap Day will get a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut. The deal is for carryout only.

9. The Plaza Hotel (New York): Guests with Leap Day birthdays can receive a special $229 package, rate only valid for 2/29/2016.

10. Villa Italian Kitchen: Guests with Leap Day birthdays receive a complimentary slice of pizza at participating locations on 2/29/2016.

OUR PICK FOR THE BEST DEALS For the REST OF US ON LEAP YEAR DAY!

1. Verizon: Coupon code VZWDEAL will save you up to $50 off select smartphones through Feb. 29. New device payment is required and upgrades are excluded.

2. Frontier Airlines: $29 flights to select cities. Must book by 2/26, 2/29 or 3/2

3. Caribou Coffee: Buy one beverage and get the second for just 29 cents on Leap Day.

4. Chick-fil-A– Check with your local Chick-fil-A, but we’ve caught wind that some locations are offering free chicken sandwiches if you stop by 29 minutes past the hour all day on February 29.

5. Legal Sea Food: Get two one-pound lobsters (and two sides) for $29. (Typically, a one-pound lobster at the restaurant costs $25.95.)

6. Dell Refurbished Computers: Take $600 off servers of $2000 or more with code SERVER$600 through Feb. 29.

7. Aeropostale: Extra 29% off your order with code LEAP29.

8. Airport Express Get 20% off shared-ride shuttle services.

9. Betsey Johnson: Take 29% off your order with coupon code LEAP and have it shipped to you for free. Some exclusions apply.

10. Urban Outfitters: Shop a selection of products priced at $29 or less.

THE OTHER GREAT LEAP YEAR DEALS

11. CheapOAir: Use code GETAWAYS30 to save up to $30 on Getaway Vacations through Feb. 29.

12. Destination Hotels: Make reservations on Feb. 29 to receive 29% (or more) off room rates in the weeks ahead, and/or $29 daily credits at this group’s hotels, which include locations in Snowmass, Colorado, San Francisco, and New Orleans.

13. Marriott Stanton South Beach: On Feb. 29 use the code ADP when making reservations to get 29% off rates for stays between March 3 and May 31.

14. Travelocity: Get $29 off a $229 hotel with the code LEAP29 and $129 off a $1229 hotel + flight deal with the code LEAP129.

15. Arby’s: The fast food chain is offering a special vegetarian menu all day.

16. Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Get any small plate for $2.29 with every $10 spent with this coupon. Or you could receive 20% off your check with this coupon.

17. Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More: Get a free Leap Year 2016 t-shirt at any of the retailers participating locations on Feb. 29 — no purchase required.

18. Columbia Sportswear: Save 30% on select sale items with code COLSALE30, ends 2/29/2016.

19. Dog Haus: Free patty upgrade from a single to a double on all burgers on February 29! A $2.49 value.

20. Honeybaked Ham: Free or discounted sandwich on 2/29/2016.

21. Hungry Howie’s: Get a large, one-topping pizza for 29 cents with the purchase of a large pizza with one or more toppings at its regular price, Feb. 29 and March 1.

22. Krispy Kreme: On Monday, February 29, 2016, buy a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts and get a second dozen for $2.99.

23. Margaritas Mexican Restaurants: The Fried Ice Cream Dessert (normally $6.49) and the Leap Year Margarita (normally $7.99) are both $2.29.

24. Noodles & Company: Save $4 off a $10 purchase with code LEAPTHELINE on 2/29/2016 when you order online.

25. Olive Garden: Receive four free Dolcini desserts with coupon offer, valid from 2/29/2016-3/6/2016.

26. Starbucks: $29 Off Orders $100 on 2/29/2016.

27. Tropical Smoothie Café: Loyalty program members can get a a Classic Smoothie for $2.29, instead of its regular price of around $4.49, at its 465 locations.

28. Dollar General: Use code FEBSAVE to get $5 off orders of $50 or more through Feb. 29.

29. Folica: Use code LEAPYEAR16 to get 25% off Solia, Theorie, Nth Degree and AbsoluteHeat products or 30% off Sedu products through Feb. 29.

30. Foot Locker: Use code LKS16F3L to save 15% on purchases of $70 or more through Feb. 29.

31. The Greene Turtle Chow down on 29-cent wings all day on February 29.

32. Golfsmith: Take $20 off orders of $125 or more with code 86PUB022 through Feb. 29.

33. Lands’ End: This coupon will save you 20% off regularly priced swim merchandise at all Sears locations through Feb. 29.

34. Lane Bryant: Save $35 off your online purchases of $150 or more, plus free shipping, through Feb. 29 with coupon code FEBDRTLB.

35. Lids: Enjoy free shipping on orders of $50 or more through Feb. 29. No coupon code required.

36. MOO: Get 15% off greeting cards with code 7C2W8B through Leap Day for new customers only.

37. OneHanesPlace: Save $10 off purchases of $50 or more through Feb. 29 with this printable coupon or follow this link to have the discount automatically applied to your online order.

38. OshKosh B’gosh: Save 25% off orders of $40 or more with code CARU2F29 and 15 percent off site wide with code CARU2F19 through Feb. 29.

39. Target: $5 gift card with an online movie pre-order of Mockingjay Part 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, or The Peanuts Movie from Target.com/preorder through Monday 2/29/2016.

40. Urban Outfitters: Shop a selection of products priced at $29 or less.

http://www.clarkhoward.com/

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News

Adoption Agencies are Looking for Volunteers to Cuddle with Newborns

Posted on February 28, 2016

Sign us up for this one!

Adoption agencies all across America are recruiting volunteers to cuddle and spend time with newborns.

ABC News reported that the agencies need temporary caregivers to nurture and care for newborn babies that are waiting to be adopted. Volunteers must be willing to cuddle, hug, and love the babies during their first few weeks of life.

The research is indisputable that body contact, warmth, love and affection are crucial for the first few days and weeks of a newborn’s life and development. One of the reasons of high infant mortality in developing nations is the lack of attention and body-to-body connection in understaffed and ill-equipped orphanages.

If you are interested in the job, search here for your local agency and see if there is a need you can fill.

Interim Care Provider, Lewis, relaxing with baby. #InterimCare
Posted by Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children on Tuesday, February 2, 2016

h/t ABC

photo: Shutterstock

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News

Olympics: Things get Real as CDC Tells Pregnant Athletes to Skip It

Posted on February 27, 2016

In a travel advisory Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterated that pregnant women consider not going to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games or to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro because of the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil.

The agency issued the travel advisory along with its first report about infection with the mosquito-borne Zika virus in pregnant U.S. women. While the illness caused by the Zika virus is usually mild, the Brazilian outbreak has been especially concerning because of its link to a sharp rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by brain abnormalities and an unusually small head.

“We know Zika and microcephaly are associated, although we do not yet have definitive proof that Zika infection alone is the cause of microcephaly,” CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said at a press briefing, adding that “the evidence for this is getting stronger by the day.”

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News

So Scientists Can now Build Sperm in a Lab…that Creates an Offspring!

Posted on February 26, 2016

Scientists have figured out how to create sperm from stem cells to produce a healthy offspring.

A study published in the journal Cell Press summarized the work of researchers who were able to genetically engineer functioning mice sperm cells from stem cells. These sperm cells were injected into egg cells and produced fertile offspring.

“Reproducing germ cell development in vitro has remained a central goal in both reproductive biology and reproductive medicine,”Nanjing Medical University researcher Jiahao Sha said about the study he worked on . “We established a robust, stepwise approach that recapitulates the formation of functional sperm-like cells in a dish. We think that it holds tremendous promise for treating male infertility.”

Until now, researchers have struggled to create useful sperm and egg cells in the lab – especially as certain gold-standard criteria have to be checked in the process. These include showing a normal number of chromosomes and organisation within the cells, as well as a correct nuclear DNA content.

Men who suffer from fertility when their sperm cells cells fail to divide in the testes. Stem cells, however, can divide normally when cultured.

Even though this research may not necessarily translate to humans, scientists may be able to recreate the results from this research in humans, and if they do, they will be able to use stem cells from infertile men to create fully functional offspring. Then these cultured stem cells when divided outside the body can be combined with an egg to make an embryo.

“If proven to be safe and effective in humans, our platform could potentially generate fully functional sperm for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation techniques,” said Sha. “Because currently available treatments do not work for many couples, we hope that our approach could substantially improve success rates for male infertility.”

This could be a game changer for men struggling to have children.

h/t IB Times

photo: Getty

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News

New Law: Prove You’re Not Pregnant & You can get a Fast Divorce in Japan

Posted on February 21, 2016

The Justice Ministry in Japan is considering allowing women to remarry immediately after their divorce is finalized, if they can medically prove they were not pregnant at the time they separated, ministry sources said Friday.

Japan’s Civil Code has a century-old rule that prohibits women from remarrying for six months to avoid confusion over the paternity of children conceived shortly before or after a divorce. But the ministry is seeking to ease the restrictions following a top court ruling in December that concluded that the six-month ban is unconstitutional.

Under the envisioned revision, the ministry is considering shortening the period of the ban to 100 days from the current 180 days. Women with a doctor’s certificate proving that they were not pregnant at the time of their divorce, however, will be exempt.

Read more.

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