Rachel's Four Week Wedding Weight Loss Plan

By Rachel Laber

Rachel's experience after gaining and losing weight from her first pregnancy encouraged her to become a certified Personal Trainer. She now helps others "commit to the game" and live a healthy lifestyle free of fad diets. She lives with her husband and two kids in Agoura Hills, CA. Read more about her health musings and personal experiences at www.proteinpancake.blogspot.com.

It's crunch time! 

Rachel's

Four Week Wedding Weight Loss Plan

When needing to jump-start your body for weight loss - or you have a big event such as a wedding coming up! - use this plan to help you reach your goal in due time! 


Granted, you're already cutting out white flour and sugar from your diet. Add these guidelines in the weeks before your goal date:

4 Weeks Before
Eat six small meals a day. For example, 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00. Your portions should be small. First three meals should include carbs, and only lean proteins and veggies for the rest of the meals. Limit fruit to two a day and eat them before 4pm.

Workouts should be five days a week: Three hard days which include strength training plus cardio and light cardio on the days in between.

2 Weeks Before
Six small meals. Only first two with carbs. Cut out fruit. Cut out Diet drinks.

1 Week Before
Six small meals. Only the first with carbs. No fruit. No salt. No diet drinks. Stay away from veggies that cause bloating (ie,  broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc). Eat lots of lean proteins and greens and drink tons of water! Up cardio intensity to burn calories everday of that last week.

When the big day arrives, enjoy the wedding cake! 

[Please note, this is a special-event four week prep-plan and should not be used for day to day life!]

In Honor of Chof Beis Shvat: Behind Every Man

By Mimi Hecht


This weekend, over two thousand women – members of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement - will gather in Brooklyn to mark the anniversary passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. Referred to simply as Chof Beis Shvat (the Hebrew date of her passing), the convention weekend features offerings meant to personally inspire participants and embolden their work as community leaders around the globe. Women will spend a Shabbat of togetherness, then glean inspiration from popular Chabad figures and attend workshops and seminars on expertise central to running a successful Chabad House, including preparing lectures, managing schools and cooking large meals.

But a mere glance at Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s existence opens an interesting conundrum about whether a weekend about Jewish community service and leadership is an appropriate way to honor her life. The Rebbetzin was in no way the female equivalent of her husband, a highly public and outward leader whose every move was documented. The Rebbetzin’s voice was contained to the warmth of her own home - delicate whispers in private and personal conversation between few of her friends and family. Her deeds can not be heralded, for they are unknown. Pictures of her are scarce and people struggle to share memories. Essentially, her privacy was the only thing that was loud.

What, then, does the pioneering Lubavitch woman have to take to heart from the Rebbetzin’s life?

Chof Beis Shvat participants will certainly evoke the Rebbetzin’s spirit by hailing her as a great example of humility, an icon of warmth and many other accolades. But honoring merely the details and deeds of her being is missing the point. In actuality, Chof Beis Shvat celebrates not who the Rebbetzin was, but what she selflessly gave.

The Rebbetzin had the wisdom and foresight to make the sacrifice of unwaveringly supporting her husband, a leader that would change the face of Judaism. The Rebbe was able to dedicate his life to inspiring Jewish hearts and minds because the Rebbetzin was willing to forego her entitlement to a “normal” life. By accepting her husband’s exceptional responsibility, the Rebbetzin created the space for the Rebbe to commit himself fully to the revival of Judaism after the Holocaust. She gave herself entirely to the Rebbe, so the Rebbe could give himself to the world.

This weekend’s Chof Beis Shvat participants are outgoing teachers, speakers and directors who dream of teaching Challah-baking on Oprah and for whom family-purity is a public discussion. It’s fair to say that they will never truly emulate the Rebbetzin’s ways. But they were never asked to. Instead, they gather to properly acknowledge what the Rebbe no doubt appreciated and cherished about the Rebbetzin with his entire being – her self sacrifice. Today, Chabad men and women serving in leadership positions have the Rebbe to emulate, but the Rebbetzin to thank. The Rebbe spent every waking hour dedicated to the Jewish people because he had an extraordinary wife who accepted the lifestyle that would come with his mission. The Rebbetzin gave her husband to the world because she had the wisdom and selflessness to understand who he was and believe in his revolution. Because of this, every Chabad emissary recognizes that it is also to the Rebbetzin’s call they are heeding. The conference this weekend, with its leadership theme, is indeed everything she lived for.

The Chof Beis Shvat gathering is a salute to the saying, “Behind every good man is a great woman.” In a time when most women resent the phrase – and a demure and self-sacrificing woman is hardly a national role model – Chabad is celebrating the virtues of a truly altruistic woman…and the eternal gift she gave.

Our first FEET ON THE STREET submissions!

Become a LadyMama FEET ON THE STREET blogger

 by e-mailing your photos to blog@ladymama.org!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRUNGE CHIC
Submitted by Natasha Benzaquen [Seattle, Wa]

"Feet on my rug. Bought these boots on one of those 'I'm not buying anything today' days. It was shoe rack love at first sight. Can't wait to rock these grunge chic boots this weekend!" - Natasha 

~~~~~~~~~~

FUGGS

Submitted by Juliya Sheynman [Baltimore, MD]

"Nothing works better in the snow than a shovel and some Fuggs! Best part? Brand new and only $5 from Macy's. That's the power of shoe bargaining and coupons" - Juliya

~~~~~~~~~~

LACE-UP BOOTS 

Submitted by Dassi White [Brooklyn, NY]

"Okay so this is more like 'Feet on the Desk!' These rocker boots are perfect for winter in New York: real rugged for the snow, but without sacrificing style. I love pairing this menswear-inspired look with frilly outfits to add an edge! I got them at Target for only $30!" - Dassi

Couscous with a Kick

By Liorah Abrams
Liorah is a work-from-home mom, on staff with Chabad.org and running her own graphic design business. She lives with her husband and two daughters in in Boston, MA where they enjoy working to strengthen the Jewish community. Her husband is a University Professor, so between family, friends, students and clients, she never has a dull moment or an empty kitchen!

Couscous with a Kick

(Adapted from Rachel Rey)

This dish is easy and dynamic, and keeps well on a blech!

Ingredients
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
pinch of ground cinnamon
salt and peper
1 box (10oz) Israeli couscous
hot water
2 tablespoons chicken consomme

Preparation
In a large pan with a lid, heat olive oil on medium heat.
Add garlic and onion and saute 1 to 2 minutes. 
Add zucchini and tomato, cook for another 5 minutes.
Add spices and lemon juice, cook for 2 more minutes.

Measure out water to cook the whole box of couscous, according to it's directions.
Add chicken consomme and stir, then add mixture to the pan.
Stir in couscous, cover and reduce heat to low.
Cook 10 - 15 min's until water has absorbed.

Remove from heat, fluff, and serve!

Introducing: LadyMama Feet on the Street

If there's one thing that every kind of LadyMama loves...it's shoes!

If you're always on the lookout for that great new boot, heel or pair of flats, you likely often 

see someone wearing something so your style and you just have to ask about them!

Well, now LadyMama is bringing SHOE-NETWORKING to a whole new level! 

~~INTRODUCING~~

This new feature is dedicated to all the shoe-loving Ladies and Mamas who also happen to be phone-savvy and quick to snap pics with their iPhone or Blackberry.

The next time you see (or wear!) a great pair of shoes, snap 

a picture and upload it straight to the LadyMama blog! 

Simply send an e-mail to blog@ladymama.org with your phone number 

and LadyMama will enable you to upload pics straight from your phone!

You can become a LadyMama FEET ON THE STREET blogger in three simple steps:

1. E-mail blog@ladymama.com with your name and phone number.

2. We'll verify your phone number/identity via an immediate upload (to be saved as a draft).

3. Anytime you see shoes you love, snap a pic and send to mimihecht.ladymama@blogger.com. Upon approval, we'll post the pic with your name and any caption/information you wish to include!

[Please note: Only pictures of modestly clad women will be posted! To avoid the issue 

all together, try to snap pictures of the feet only! Hey, we want closeups anyways!]

Mom Shot #9: The Scene of the Crime

Mimi Hecht's captured homemade moments: random photographs and 
musings from her life as a stay-at-home and work-from-home mom! 
[See previous Mom Shots here!]

As if it weren't obvious enough, my tot left some pretty conclusive evidence at the scene of "Operation Wreck Mommy's Drawer." Look closely...do you see it?

You gotta laugh when you discover the result of harmless toddler exploration! Be happy that your kid is active and curious. And then clean it up so they can start all over again!

Tis the Season: Winter Skincare and Graduation Picture Makeup

By Chava Rosenbaum

Chava is a 26 year old mother of two girls living in Kensington, NY.  She has been a practicing makeup artist for nearly seven years and recently began doing makeup for the exploding field of religious women's theater...in which she also loves to perform! Chava offers lessons to women, teaching them how to apply their own makeup like a professional. In addition to makeup, her passions are singing, comedy and keeping her kids out of her shoe rack. Chava is available to do makeup for simchas and productions in New York. You can contact her to book a consultation of job by e-mailing beautybychava@rocketmail.com

"You have to accept the reality that your skin will be lighter in the 

winter and you must adjust your foundation shade accordingly."

Winter Skincare
BRRRRRRRR! It is COOOOOLD out there. Seriously. Like you can actually hear old man winter laugh at your pathetic attempt to thwart him with your down jacket and thermal gloves.

Now what does this mean for beauty?

Well, for many it means dry skin. The cold dry air can make your face feel rough and itchy. As always, I recommend twice weekly gentle exfoliation with a warm damp washcloth. This is a basic skincare step which is beneficial especially for those with dry skin or over the age of thirty. Exfoliation helps prevent the buildup of dead skincells which can make skin look dull and block the absorbtion of moisturizer.

Moisturize morning and evening. My favorite moisturizer is Garnier Fructis. Costco also has a nice one from the Kirkland/Borghese line which smells like lilies. Yum. Avoid powder foundations in the winter as they can absorb the moisture from your skin that you're trying to keep in. If you only need light coverage, use a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation.

Here's a great money saving makeup tip that I use myself: Make your own tinted moisturizer!
You can do this simply by mixing a bit of your favorite mineral powder foundation with moisturizer. It will last you way longer than regular tinted moisturizer, especially if you use it every day. It also allows you to customize the coverage level. Many women love looking bronzed and darker, but you have to accept the reality that your skin will be lighter in the winter and you must adjust your foundation shade accordingly. Embrace the paler, fresher you! Test out your new shade at the jawline to determine if its the right color for you. It should blend into the neck invisibly.

Time for Graduation Pictures! 
Now many of you young beautiful seniors will be having graduation pictures coming up soon. On one hand, these are the infamous shidduch pictures and you want to look elegant and mature. On the other hand you're probably 17 or 18 and don't wanna look like you're playing dress up with mommy's makeup. So how do you choose your color palette for your graduation pictures? The most foolproof way to look balanced and mild but still elegant is to go monochromatic in light-warm. Meaning, you match your eye shadow, blush and lip color. A peach, nude-pink or light copper/bronze work best for this. It prevents your makeup from drawing attention to any one specific feature, so people see the whole you - fresh but balanced. Use a brightening under eye concealer, a thin line of liquid eyeliner and mascara. This will ensure that you look aidel, yet sophisticated!

20% off for LadyMamas!
On a final note, mention LadyMama and get 20% off the first two faces when you book me for your makeup - for you graduation pictures, wedding or any other event! 718-986-1211

Happy Mom Tip: Let Them Own It

By Rivkah Caroline
Rivka is an Efficiency Coach that helps moms, individuals and companies be more productive. She lives with her husband and seven kids in Key Biscayne, FL.  Visit her site www.sobeorganized.com for more great solutions on exporting the stress and importing the fun! 

The more I let others carry their own

  responsibility, the less weight on my shoulders...

Let Them Own it

There is a wise saying, "Be kind to every-one because every-one is fighting a battle of their own." Is the quote perceptive? Yes. Is it true? Sure. Is it easy to translate into our every day lives? Not really.

We don't live our lives in a bubble and of the dozens of daily interactions we have a small percentage are going to be challenging.

Some examples from my past 24 hours: Insurance company denying additional therapy for my son, angry driver behind me on the highway, gas station attendee who wanted me to pre-pay and tell her exactly how many gallons I would be filling up, my son being pre-occupied and getting onto the school bus with no socks in his shoes, long lines at the drive in bank...the list goes on. You get the idea because first cousins of these events happen to us all, every day.

I have realized that while I can't control all the variables around me, I can control how I react. I can be constantly found repeating, "Let them own it." Who knows where the angry angry driver was heading? Maybe an emergency. It really is not about me, and not worth getting upset over ... let him own it. The ridiculous line in the bank ? Certainly not worth honking ... let them own it. I tidied up the front of my car and texted a few friends.

The more I let them own their own issues, the less frustration in my life. The more I let others carry their own responsibility, the less weight on my shoulders. The more tranquility I can bring into an interaction with strangers, the less of my headspace it takes up. So let others fight their own battles, and every once in a while consider giving them an ounce of kindness to help them out on the battlefield of life.

Got Grapefruit?

An adorable reaction to grapefruit, from 10 month-old Penny.

MimList: 10 Things I Recently Did That I Excused With "I'm Pregnant!'

By Mimi Hecht

10 Things I Recently Did That I Excused with "I'm Pregnant!"

I hate to be a complain freak, or irrational, or mindless or stubborn. But, alas, I'm pregnant. Now isn't that an excuse for everything? Here are my latest excuses - true happenings from a second-time-expecting, constantly-excusing and totally pregnant-brained LadyMama. 

1. I took my heels off and walked around without shoes at my brothers fancy engagement party. Ouch! I'm pregnant! 

2. I finished most of the Belgium waffle I was meant to share with four other people. I'm pregnant! And embarrassed. 

3. I went to bed at 9:30. I'm pregnant! Or aging. Okay, both. 

4. I tried on a diamond ring at a Jeweler and was walking out wearing it until someone reminded me. I'm so sorry, I'm pregnant! 

5. I didn't wear a coat when I went out in freezing weather. Don't look at me like that! I'm pregnant and overheating! 

6. I refused to carry my own child. I was with my mother and brother, who happily obliged. I'm pregnant! I'm carrying enough! 

7. I left a family party early without spending time to say goodbye to everyone. I'm pregnant, give me a break! Just get me home! 

8.  I dropped something and made someone else pick it up. Okay, change that sentence to the more active, "I drop things and make people pick it up." Like, all the time. Since entering the seventh month. I'm pregnant, can't you see?! 

9. I tried on something out of the dressing room. And I don't mean a pair of sunglasses. I mean a dress. I'm pregnant and not going in there! Hello! Claustrophobia! 

10. I wore a ridiculous amount of makeup to meet a friend for coffee. Do you even know what it takes to look good and refreshed these days? I'm pregnant! 

If you listen to the above circumstances, the word "pregnant" can be interchanged with "Uncomfortable," "Fat," "Tired," "Scatterbrained" and even, well, "Ugly." Don't you so want to be pregnant now? Ha! But the truth is, the wonderful world of pregnancy truly does entirely consume all facets of our emotional, mental and spiritual being. The least we deserve is to be able to use it as an excuse for all sorts of completely abnormal and utterly inexcusable behavior. 

How To Peel a Banana Like a Monkey

This Tu B'Shvat post is dedicated to all the Ladies and Mamas (and kids, too!) out there who enjoy a healthy snack! 

Here's a better way to peel a banana! And a much quicker method for when you have your own little monkey begging for some, too! 

Who knew! Maybe this guy will revolutionize how the world opens their bananas? This video has over 2 million hits and counting!

LadyMama Fashion Finds: All Organic (Happy Tu B'shvat!)

This LadyMama Fashion Find is in honor of Tu B'shvat - the new year for the trees!

We all know that "Going Green" is all the rage, and moms especially are increasingly making the commitment to environmentally friendly products, toys, cleaning supplies and more.

But what about clothing? Who says you can't help the environment in style? 

All you eco-fashionista ladies (and babies!) will love the ORGANIC clothing trends sampled here. 

For more, check out the links below as well as this amazing Eco Fashion World guide for more! 

(What IS organic clothing?)

Links

Truly Organic Clothing - Look good, naturally.

Ideo - Delicious Green Fashion

Belle And Dean - Little Organic Clothes 

Aravore - Handcrafted Organic Luxury

Glasswing Jewelry - jewelry which incorporates recycled and found objects and materials

Hovey Lee Jewelry Eco Friendly Design and Manufacture 

The Andean Collection - Chic. Ethical. Natural. 

Ajna - The Essence of Ethical Elegance 

http://www.belleanddean.com/

$34.50

The Subshoe

(Recycled Polyester)

ForYourEarth.com

http://www.truly-organic-clothing.com/

Hooded Cotton Jacket

$39.00

www.nixieclothing.com

Rosehip Batwing Dress

£ 43.00

Belleanddean.com

Organic summer dandelion bodysuit 

 S$23.50 

Hand crochet Baret

Aravore.com

$24.00

www.aravore.com

Double Breasted Pram Coat

$45.00

http://www.glasswingjewellery.com/

Makeup For All Ages

By Chava Rosenbaum

Chava is a 26 year old mother of two girls living in Kensington, NY.  She has been a practicing makeup artist for nearly seven years and recently began doing makeup for the exploding field of religious women's theater...in which she also loves to perform! Chava offers lessons to women, teaching them how to apply their own makeup like a professional. In addition to makeup, her passions are singing, comedy and keeping her kids out of her shoe rack. Chava is available to do makeup for simchas and productions in New York. You can contact her to book a consultation of job by e-mailing beautybychava@rocketmail.com


   _________________________________________________________________________________

"Many women at this age find their eyelids heavily wrinkled or droopy. 

If this is the case, eyeshadow is not your friend!"

Makeup For All Ages 

How to use the right makeup to look good at every age! 

Greetings! I am so excited and honored to be blogging about beauty for LadyMama! I'll be sharing all sorts of makeup and beauty related information, but before we get into individual looks and tips I want to go over what makeup can and can't do. I have had alot of clients who are past their twenties by a stretch and when I'm done and they look in the mirror, they are crushed. "You can see my wrinkles" they say. "Why does my skin look so rough?" "All those lines by my eyes, you can't do anything?"

Folks, you have to be realistic about your makeup. If you have wrinkles, a good primer can diminish the appearance but makeup won't make them go away. Same for lines under the eyes. If you're skin is rough, dry or scaly when you sit in my chair than the makeup will be applied to rough, dry, scaly skin. You have to exfoliate weekly and moisturize daily for some time prior if you don't want that to show. If you have acne, I can cover the redness...but not the bumps. In short, makeup can correct and enhance color, but not texture. lines, bumps, scales and wrinkles.

Now let's get down to business...

One of the biggest mistakes I see women make is not adjusting their makeup palette with age. And this can actually make you look older! People think that with time they need more makeup to cover up their age but this in fact draws attention to it. Lets go through different ages in a woman's life and talk about what kind of makeup is appropriate and enhancing.

Teens: Teens need very little makeup.  While its tempting when you first start out with makeup to go crazy with the colors, it really does look silly. Teens still have a freshness to their look that requires very little enhancing. I stick to one shade of eye shadow (as opposed to blending different colors and effects) applied lightly, with scarce eyeliner, mascara, blush and lip gloss.

Twenties: Now is the decade of makeup fun! Enjoy it while it lasts. You are mature enough to not look like you're playing dress up and your skin and face are youthful and firm enough to carry most looks and colors. Experiment now (within reason of course!), but remember the ironclad rule of not looking raunchy. Eyes or lips, not both. Either be playful with your eyes or your lip color. Whichever you choose to enhance, keep the other light and simple. Go for rich, buildable mascaras. Use powder compacts to control shine and play with highlights and contours on the face.

The Sucky Disciplinarian

By Mimi Hecht

"As a new mother, I excelled at all the nurturing. Nursing, cradling, bathing – I can do that. 

I can love. I can cuddle. I can give. Call me Mother Theresa. Just don't make me say 'no.'"

The Sucky Disciplinarian

The first time I told my son “no,” even I didn't take myself seriously. I'm pretty sure I even said it with a slight laugh in my voice. Something like “Nooooooo” with the “O” sound extending into a “Oooooh you're so frikkin cute, come here.”

Since those first ineffective “no”s my sixteen-month old's habits have turned from unpreventable no-worthies like putting dangerous things in his mouth to more deliberate actions like throwing food off his high-chair and even scratching. I am slowly coming to the realization that I am failing as an authority figure to my little two-foot human.

You see, I'm just not cut out for this discipline stuff. Which isn't exactly surprising, considering my inability to consistently reprimand and administer warranted punishments always made me the best camp counselor and babysitter when I was younger. As a new mother, I excelled at all the nurturing. Nursing, cradling, bathing – I can do that. I can love. I can cuddle. I can give. Call me Mother Theresa. Just don't make me say “no.”

Piercing Problems

By Juliya Sheynman

Juliya is a marketing professional with most of her experience working with Jewish non-profits. A first time Mama - constantly Googling everything from weight average for infants to croupy coughs and colored poopies - she now shares her Mamale questions and dilemmas on LadyMama. 

And yes, I was so pleased with her dainty new earrings and the girlish addition to her wardrobe. 

Piercing Problems 

It's every Mama's decision (and sometime's Papa's as well) to pierce or not to pierce...

...but that is not the question! I have already chosen to pierce M's ears. She got her little pearls (which her Dad picked out) at 10 months old. He was also there, holding her tight with love, as the super patient and calm woman tended to marking and stapling the pretty stones into her tiny, tasty ear lobes.

Yes, we spent quite a bit of time and convincing before deciding to do it now, while she's small. Yes, we decided not to wait until she made the decision on her own and asked for them on her 3rd or 4th or 5th birthday. Yes, it was a somewhat tough experience (though I'm pretty certain her screaming was due to the restraint versus the pain since she stopped crying the minute we let her go!). And yes, I was so pleased with her dainty new earrings and the girlish addition to her wardrobe. (By the way, she also got glasses a month later, so she's a fully accessorized babe.)

But here is the dilemma:  

About a month ago we noticed some swelling and redness on her left ear. We went through the basic and Googled steps of cleaning the affected area with alcohol swabs. We cleaned it twice daily and the infection started getting better - until that is, it got worse! It got to the point where we called for a second doctor's opinion because it was so red and we were seriously worried. We took the earring out and, thank G-d, a week later it totally healed. However, the piercing is now closed...as the nurse and everyone else we consulted expected.

So now M walks around with her teeny glasses and her one hippy pearl earring and I don't know if we should either 1) remove the other, perfectly fine hole and let her go piercing free until she does ask for it or 2) re-pierce her ear and try again. 

Would you pierce your babe again after a hole gone wrong?

Beauty/Body Blogger

LadyMama is looking for someone to contribute weekly tips on everything beauty and body related!

Have fresh content that you'd want to share with our growing community of women? 

Contact mimi@ladymama.org

Becky's Bottom Line: Winter Break, For Mom Too

By Becky Brownstein
Becky Brownstein is a  wife, mother of five, cleaning lady, chef, program/trip organizer, taxi driver, blogger and all around great gal that lives in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Visit her website at http://spitsgiggles.blogspot.com where she shares all her experiences as a mother with the motto, "When all else fails, laugh!" 

"I want to do things that take time and are not rushed. I want to be 
chilled out and not be rushed. I want to enjoy my family...because I can."

Winter Break, For Mom Too

I hated when my kids had vacation from school. The thought of them fighting, the constant cooking, constant laundry, noise, the messes (Oy, the messes) and the lack of structure caused me such headaches and back pain that I thought I would have a nervous breakdown. I needed them to be in school so I could get things done, especially because there was always a baby at home. Not to mention the much needed quiet; I needed that respite.

Fast forward to now.

My kids are on all different schedules. I am in and out of my car between 10 and 11 times a day. Pick ups, drop offs, play dates, food shopping, school lunch, nap time etc. If you could see the inside of my car you might want to vomit. It kind of resembles the inside of my purse. It consists of loose pieces of paper, receipts, sandwich baggies and various other kid and Mommy droppings. With a bunch of older-ish kids, my life is in hyper drive. I can’t catch my breath. Plus, I have a job now that I do from home and I still have my stay at home mom responsibilities; i.e., cleaning lady/cook. To say things are hectic in my life right now is an understatement.

Autism Study a Fraud

Study Linking Vaccines to Autism Is "Fraudulent"

By Alice Park Thursday, January 6, 2011 

It's unfortunate but true that sometimes the hard facts of science don't turn out to be so grounded in reality after all. Scientific fraud is certainly not new, but manipulation of medical data is always troubling, and potentially deadly, for the public.

That's the case with a controversial 1998 paper published in the Lancet by Andrew Wakefield, a former intestinal specialist at Royal Free Hospital in London. This week, the editors of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) penned a commentary calling the study “an elaborate fraud,” and accompanied the charge with an in-depth study exposing apparent manipulations of the data by Wakefield to bolster his argument that the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine was linked to autism

Contunue reading here! 

High Chairs: Decisions, Decisions!

The Fleurville Calla High Chair from industrial designer Yves Behar

They range from the cheap and simple (but worth it?) to the trendy and overpriced (but also worth it?). Who knew that the seat for our kids meals could engender so much agonizing decision making! 

Alas, most moms feel that the high chair they use can make a real difference in their lives. 

What high chair do you use? Are you happy with it? Do you have tips to share with other moms looking to buy their first high chair? Make your case (and share some links) in the comment section! 

My Ten Perpetual States

By Mimi Hecht 

My 10 Perpetual States  

Lately I'm realizing that my role as mother keeps me in a rats-wheel of sorts - all the things that make up my day and mind can feel pretty constant, never-ending. 

Here's my current top ten. They are bound to change over time (please!), but for the time being I find myself in the rather perpetual state of...

1. Washing sippy cups. Sippy cups are a relatively new chapter for us, but I'm already waiting for them to invent self-cleaning ones (that first locate them, of course.) Or maybe even a version that keeps the juice so fresh that you can feel totally safe letting your child sip from it for eternity. I believe this could really save the planet. 

2. Cutting nails. Especially now that he has this bad habit of scratching, I can't tolerate one hour with even one of my son's nails slightly beyond its bed. So I have basically turned into a manicurist. Minus the fun parts. Or the tip. 

3. Cleaning the high-chair. At what point do you just give up and start believing that the glued-on cheerios are actually a part of the high-chair's style? I'm very close to that point. Oh, you like my high-chair? Thanks! It's a new line from the makers of Coco Puffs! 

4. Bending over. Now that my kid walks, I should start permanently crawling on all fours. That way I wouldn't have to grunt every single time - about 1,000,629 times a day! - that I have to bend over to pick up a chocking hazard, spilled food or a rolling ball. 

5. Looking for my phone. If you call me and I don't answer, it could only be two reasons: my phone is on silent from the night and I don't hear it, or my son is currently using it to handle his very important business calls. With both options, my phone ends up stranded somewhere, impossible to locate. Finding it combines nicely with Perpetual State #4, as I roam my floors, squinting as I search for the blinking rescue lights of my now-dying Blackberry. 

6. Praying. I admit to not even opening a prayerbook on most days. And yet, motherhood has inspired constant prayer from my lips. I pray that he sleeps. I pray that he eats. I even pray while holding down my son, about to undo the velcro from a smelly diaper: "G-d, please, let this be a small one." But of course, I pray so much that he eats so....it's never a small one. 

7. Wiping a face. My face, his face; we're both a mess, always. Mucus. Crumbs. Tears. I'm not saying what's on who. Sometimes it's my own tears on my own face. Sometimes it's his mucus on my face. It's always crumbs on both our faces. But mostly, it's something completely unidentifiable on his face. And it's not coming off. 

8. Needing to catch up with a friend. I constantly have a friend on my mind that I am dire need of a coffee date with (I am also in dire need of that coffee). Most of these friends are busy mothers themselves, so, naturally, it's very easy to push off getting together. When I do get to meet up with a friend and cross her off my list (for a short while, at least), I get a text from someone else I forgot about: "We MUST get together, it's been AGES!" Pathetically, I'm thinking, "I just saw you last month. Trust me, dear, that is not ages. Now get in line." 

9. Missing my mother and sister. If you're one of those lucky women who live near the supportive feminine figures in your family, well, I hate you. Okay, wait, that's harsh. I'm just ridiculously jealous. Thankfully, my mother and sister visit a lot, but it's never enough. Every single day, I live with the imagination of how amazing it would be to be with each other day in and day out. Meanwhile, G-d bless video chat. 

10. Needing clothing. When will I ever be able to say "I have the clothes I need"? I was dating my husband over two years ago the last time I felt that way. Now, I never seem to have anything to wear. My body is changing. The season is changing. My style is changing. My wardrobe, alas, is lagging behind. And for the record, yes, I actually used to have a sense of style! Before all these constant things took over my truly perpetual, but completely blessed life.