Momathon Blog

Daily doodle: garden pink

(Doodle by me, Chris Olson, and posted using BlogPress from my iPad.)

Read. Blog. Learn.

Summer is a favorite time for me because with the kids out of school and no annoying alarm clocks buzzing at 5:30 a.m. I can stay up as late as I want READING!

Ever wonder what other readers think about books they are reading? Now you can check out the Book blogger directory with all the book bloggers who attended the Book Blogger Convention this year in NYC. The directory also lists the links to their blogs. 

Have fun reading!

(Thanks for the blog tip via GalleyCat)

 

I heart calcium

 

 

I don't like taking calcium supplements so I try to get as much calcium into my diet through foods. Why bother? Because calcium supports your overall health including bone health. When your body doesn't get enough calcium it takes calcium stored in your bones and this can lead to health issues such as osteoporosis. Between ages nine and eighteen, kids need almost twice as much calcium as younger kids.

Calcium absorption can be disrupted by alcohol so it's best to drink only in moderation--one alcoholic drink a day for women. Too much caffeine and carbonated drinks can also interfere with bone health especially for post-menopausal women because caffeine increases the excretion of calcium. A general rule for caffeine consumption is to limit caffeine to under 300 mg--that's about 16 oz of coffee and 32 oz of tea a day.

How much calcium do you need?

KIDS
Check with your doctor for specific amounts for your child, but a general guideline is

• Birth - 6 months: 210 mg
• 6 - 12 months: 270 mg
• ages 1-3: 500 mg (about 1.5 eight oz. cups low-fat or fat free milk)
• ages 4-8: 800 mg (about 2.5 eight oz. cups)
• ages 9-18: 1,300 mg (about 4.5 cups eight oz. cups)
• (Source: NIH: Milk Matters Calcium Education Campaign

ADULTS

• Adults: 1,000 mg (about three 8 oz. glasses of milk a day)
• Over 50: 1,200 mg (about four 8 oz glasses of milk a day)
• After menopause: 1,300 mg
• If you have osteoporosis: consult your doctor

Calcium supplements are one way to get enough calcium, but you can also eat calcium rich foods. Great sources of calcium include:

• Low-fat dairy products, yogurt
• Fish: sardines and salmon
• Calcium fortified juice and cereal
• Dark leafy green veggies

For more information on calcium check out National Osteoporosis Foundation.

How much calcium are you getting today? Check out the Calcium Calculator

(Photo: AMagill)

A little summer magic

Find me some summer sun...

(Photo by jurvetson)

 

Summer reflections...

(Photo by RichardO)

 

Kayaks waiting for summer fun...

(Photo by Zevotron)

 

Oh summer...

(Photo by bark)

 

Why Jennifer Weiner makes me laugh and cry about the choices women make

 

The choices women make--both the good and the bad--and how women judge each other are familiar themes in books by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner. In her new book, Fly Away Home, Weiner reminds us that even though we think we know what's going on in a friend's break-up, no one really knows what is going on inside a marriage except the couple themselves. 

In her new book, 57-year-old Sylvie is mistreated by her cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater politician husband. The book is not about a victim of infidelity who goes and hides in her bedroom in self pity. It's about a woman who picks herself up, trades her designer suits for yoga outfits, and makes the choice to spend time with her grown children even though her life seems to be falling apart around her. And maybe because of the chaos in her life, she finally takes the time to really find out what's best for her.

What does Weiner think about when writing a book? Watch Jennifer Weiner's interview in the B&N video clip below.

For more great reads, check out my reading list on Momathon books.

I want to go to there...

 

 

Lifeguard stand in Miami.

Photo by [le]doo.

 

 

Garden hose spraying up into the summer sky.

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

 

Penmaenmawr beach.

Photo by RichardO.

 

A cafe somewhere near Montmartre. 

Photo by Suvodeb.

Marriage and the surprising sex stats in the book "For Better"

 

Married people are still having fun in bed according to Tara Parker-Pope's new book For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage. She interviews biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and sociologists to understand the science behind love, sex, and marital bonds. 

"Despite all the jokes about marriage being a romance-killer, research cited shows married people are actually having more sex than people who have never married, who are divorced or widowed, or who are unmarried and living together."

Unfortunately we can't read a marriage manual before we tie the knot. But Parker-Pope's book offers a practical guide to understanding many of the mysteries of love and married life.

Sex is always a hot topic when discussing a successful vs. an unsuccessful marriage. According to a Melinda Beck's recent WSJ.com article, Couples Can Still Revive Their Sexual Spark, Despite Modern Life's Many Mood Killers. Here are a few stats from Beck's article:

• Average number of times married couples have sex annually is 58.
• Average number of times married couples under age 30 have sex annually is 111.
• 70% of men think about sex every day--that's twice the rate of women.
• 40% of men and 28% of women would like to have more sex than they do.
• 83% of men enjoy sex a great deal--just 59% of women do.
• 40% of women never or infrequently feel sexual desire, but only 13% expressed discontent with sexual experience.

For more great reads, check out my reading list on Momathon books.

(Illustration above © Chris Olson)

Embrace your inner celebrity and wear sunglasses

Chances are you will remember to slather on the sunscreen if you are going to spend time outdoors. Did you know that your eyes can suffer from too much sun too? 

July is UV Safety Month. The same UV-A and UV-B rays that damage your skin can harm your eyes as well. Too much UV exposure can lead to eye health problems similar to a sunburn on the surface of the eye. Conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration can also be caused by too much exposure to UV exposure. 

Simple ways to protect your eyes
Next time you or your kids go outside wear sunglasses that block at least 99% UV-A and UV-B rays. Add a wide brimmed had and your eyes will appreciate the comfort and protection. Watch out for over exposure during midday as well as when the sun reflects the off water or snow. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

L'il monsters coming to Etsy soon

 

 
I have to find new homes for these monsters because they are raiding the fridge during the night.

Look for these creatures soon at Etsy.com, the place to buy and sell all things handmade. The monsters will be available my Luna Blue Studio store at Etsy.

What to do if you find a deer tick

 

 

What to do if you find a deer tick 

The sooner you can remove a deer tick the better. To prevent lyme disease do DAILY tick checks because you want the deer tick to embed your skin for less than 24-48 hours.

• If you find a tick on you or your pets, use a thin-bladed pair of tweezers. 
• Grab the tick by the head or the mouth as close to the skin as possible and remove attached tick slowly and gently. 
• Do NOT use the ineffective remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polishes, or burning matches.
• Save the tick for testing/diagnosis: Put tick in a small jar to give your health practitioner as soon as possible. 
• An effective history of exposure is helpful for treatment. You can take a photo of the tick or the rash and email it to your doctor for clarification. 
• You can't effectively wash ticks out of clothing, but you can get rid of them by putting clothing in the dryer for a cycle. 

Diagnosis
Because the disease has symptoms that mimic other diseases, diagnosis is often difficult. If you suspect you have been bitten, go to a doctor immediately. A physical exam and blood test may be done. But a blood test is not always conclusive. Early recognition of signs and an awareness of history of possible exposure areas is critical. Fortunately, the disease can be treated with anitbiotics. However, the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the recovery. 

To reduce deer tick population near your house: Keep lawn mowed, brush trimmed, and leaf litter away from home. Clear vegetation on paths and trails. 

Early symptoms
Symptoms that appear 3 to 30 days after the bite according to the deer tick study by the Minnesota Dept. of Health. A person may have all or just some of these symptoms. The symptoms can resemble the flu. 

• Red rash resembling a bulls-eye may be present in some case. This rash is present in 60 to 80 percent of the Lyme disease cases. 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Headache 
• Muscle and joint pain 
• Fatigue 

Symptoms that can appear later
Symptoms days to weeks after the bite according to the Minnesota Dept. of Health. A person may have all or just some of these symptoms.

• Multiple rashes 
• Facial paralysis 
• Fever - Stiff neck 
• Headache 
• Weakness, numbness, pain in arms 
• Irregular heart beat 
• Weakness or fatigue Long-term symptoms of untreated Lyme disease include arthritis, problems with the nervous system, weakness, fatigue. 

(Photo above of a female deer tick by jkirkhart35 on Flickr)

Eight tips to prevent lyme disease

 

 

Eight tips

1. Avoid wooded brushy areas with high grass and lots of leaf "litter" because ticks love this habitat. If possible, avoid sitting on the ground in these areas. 
2. Make it easier to spot the tiny bugs on clothing: When outdoors in grassy or wooded areas wear light colored clothing to help you see ticks. 
3. Create a tick barrier: Tuck pants into socks or boots when walking in deer tick areas. 
4. Keep long hair pulled back or in a hat to prevent tick attachment when sitting on the ground. 
5. Deer tick repellant for clothing should include Permethrin. 
6. If you apply repellant to the skin it should contain DEET. Don't apply DEET to the face. Read the directions carefully. Also talk to your doctor about the health precautions for repellants and children. (The CDC recommends adults using repellants with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin to prevent bites.) 
7. Daily Tick Checks: At the end of the deer have someone do a tick check. The tick must be attached for at least 24-48 hours to transmit the bacteria. 
8. Check your pets too: Check your pets for ticks each day. (There is a vaccine for pets to prevent Lyme disease, but it won't stop the ticks from hitching a ride on your pet and entering your house.) There are some topical topical repellants available for pets. 

For tips on how to remove a deer tick go to this lyme disease link.

Photo above of an adult female deer tick by Dendroica cerulea.

Ticked Off? Time to Prevent Lyme Disease

Deer tick season begins in June and that means the beginning of Lyme disease season too. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried by infected deer ticks also known as blacklegged ticks. Deer ticks are smaller than the wood (or dog) tick and are generally found in the northeastern, north central, and Pacific coastal regions of North America according to the CDC. 

The tiny deer ticks live in leaves and grasses in or near wooded or brushy areas where you also find deer, mice and other mammals. The ticks can't fly or jump so they have to latch onto you when you walk by. They usually grab on at the foot or ankle and then climb up. (They attach at ground level and usually don't climb trees to search for a host.) 

Even the nymph form of the tiny red tick can transmit the disease and these miniscule ticks can be difficult to see. (Check out the photo below.) Not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria to cause Lyme disease. Some infected deer ticks leave a tell-tale red rash from the bite, but you may only experience vague symptoms that can be confused with other ailments like chronic fatigue. Identifying Deer Ticks The deer tick is much smaller than the common wood tick. The adult female tick is red and dark brown. The male is smaller than the female and is dark in color. The tiny deer nymph is the size of a poppy seed. The even smaller tick larva is lighter in color. See the Minnesota Dept. of Health photo below of the ticks next to a centimeter ruler.

 

Left to right in this photo: - adult female deer tick - adult male deer tick - nymph deer tick - deer tick larva is to the far right. (Photo of ticks from Minnesota Dept. of Health: Blacklegged Ticks (Deer Tick, Bear Tick). 

The American dog tick (wood tick) is larger than the deer tick. Click on this link to see the American Dog Tick.