Busy Mommy Media» 2009 » November

Free Holiday Music Download from Oprah

Rachel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:57:05 +0000

Download Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige’s duet “What Child Is This” and Sugarland’s “Silent Night” from November 30 at 10 a.m. CT to December 1 at 11 p.m. CT—for free!

Click Here for Your Free Download

Infant and Toddler Holiday Gift Guide

Rachel — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:09:32 +0000

There are so many products for infants and toddlers that it can be truly overwhelming buying a holiday gift for a young child. If you are buying a gift for your own baby, you at least have a basic idea which toys will be enjoyed and which ones will just add to the clutter, but if you are buying a gift for someone else’s baby you may have no idea which toys are developmentally appropriate and which ones are a complete waste of money. Busy Mommy Media has searched the stores, the internet, and the latest product releases to find you the best gift ideas for babies this holiday season.

Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys

Babies love balls. Any parent who has ever walked through the produce aisle with an infant knows this. There are many great ball toys available for infants but you do have to be careful of balls that are made of soft materials that babies can bite into (think nerf) or balls that are hard and may hurt if a baby throws it in the air. Oballs are great for older kids but I especially love them for infants and toddlers. The unique design makes it easy for even the youngest babies to hold onto them. Older babies can practice catching the Oball much easier than more traditional balls because there are just so many places to grab onto. The Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys has all the great features of the standard Oball but includes rattles inserted randomly throughout the ball. I was concerned that the rattle pieces could fall out and become a choking hazard so I have tried to pull out the rattles and have not even been able to make them budge. The Oball Rattle is so much fun for babies to hold onto and shake and helps infants practice basic coordination skills.

Age Recommendation: 2 months and up

Average Price: $8.95

Buy the Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys

The Learning Tower from Little Partners

The Learning Tower from Little Partners is one of my favorite products for infants and toddlers this year. While this may not seem like a toy, toddlers and preschoolers love it because they can use it to do so many activities, from helping in the kitchen, to putting on a puppet show. The Learning tower has some great accessories that allow it to be used for endless activities. This is probably the most used piece of furniture in my kitchen right now and I love the way it simplifies things in the kitchen by keeping my kids out from under my feet and allowing them to safely stand at the kitchen counter to help with cooking projects or other activities.

Recommended Age: 18 months – 6 years old

Average Price:$189.00 (on sale for $170.00 at Amazon.com)

Learning Tower Review by Busy Mommy Media

Buy The Learning Tower by Little Partners

Stacking Rings from Natural Pod

Stacking rings are a classic toy for babies but with all of the recalls on toys, many parents are more cautious about the products they buy for infants or toddlers, who are sure to put everything in their mouths. I love the stacking ring toy from Natural Pod. The stacking rings are made from pine and finished with pure oils (no peanut oils) that make them smell heavenly. My son received this toy for Christmas when he was one and despite the fact that it had no bright colors and didn’t make any noises, this was by far his favorite. He is now 2 years old and this is still one of his favorites. Stacking rings are wonderful helping infants and toddlers practice small motor skills and the stacking rings from Natural Pod are sturdy enough that they will be around for your grandchildren to play with . . . provided your toddler doesn’t lose the pieces.

Recommended Age: 6 months on up

Average Price: $39.95

Stacking Rings Review by Busy Mommy Media

Buy Stacking Rings from Natural Pod

Playskool Busy Ball Popper

The Playskool Busy Ball Popper is a huge hit with older infants and toddlers and you can get a great deal on this if you can catch one of the $5 off coupons from coupons.com. Parents will want to make sure that the balls don’t get lost because if they do you may have a hard time finding balls that fit but toddlers will be entertained by this toy long enough for mom and dad to clean up the after Christmas mess.

Recommended Age: 9 Months t0 3 Years Old

Average Price: $25.00

Buy Playskool Busy Ball Popper Now

Manhattan Toy Put and Peek Birdhouse

The Put and Peek Birdhouse from Manhattan toy is the perfect toy for younger babies. The soft pieces are gentle for young babies and have a great variety of textures so they are fun for babies to touch. The birdhouse has several openings for infants and toddlers to fit birds into. Each bird has a unique design and includes a rattle to give babies direct feedback as they shake.

Recommended Age: 6 Months to 2 Years Old

Average Price: $22.00

Put and Peek Birdhouse Review from Busy Mommy Media

Buy the Put and Peek Birdhouse from Manhattan Toy Now

Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle

Ride on toys are great for older infants and toddlers but there are so many on the market that are poorly designed and do not hold up to normal toddler use. The Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle is the perfect ride on for toddlers. It is lower to the ground than most other ride on toys and the 4 caster wheels allow easy movement. The Turbo Turtle does have a few buttons that make some sound but they are easily turned off for parents who prefer the strong silent type.

Recommended Age: 18 Months – 3 Years Old

Average Price: $69.00

Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle Review from Busy Mommy Media

Buy the Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle Now

Plan Toys Dancing Alligator

Plan Toys is a great company and I trust them to make green products that are safe for my kids to play with. All of the toys that Plan Toys makes are made from natural rubberwood and painted with non-toxic paint. The Plan Toys Dancing Alligator is a wonderful pull toy for infants and toddlers. The bright colors are appealing to young children and the unique design sets it apart from other pull toys on the market.

Recommended Age: 18 Months – 2 Years

Average Price: $20.00

Buy the Plan Toys Dancing Alligator Now

Together With You Personalized Video

Together With You creates personalized videos, similar to the Baby Einstein videos, that incorporate family photos. My kids loved the videos on their own but they were mesmerized when they realized that our family pictures were included throughout the video. This would be a wonderful gift for grandparents to give to their grandchildren, especially if they live far away from each other. Together With You videos help kids to learn the names of family members that they may not see often and help make them part of their daily life.

Recommended Age: Birth on up

Average Price: $19.99

LeapFrog Tag Junior

Reading is so important in a child’s early years. Kids who learn to love reading at an early age have distinct educational and social advantages in the years to come. While it is always important to spend time reading to a child, products that help make reading exciting can’t hurt either. LeapFrog’s Tag Junior is a younger version of their Tag system. The Tag Junior has an pen that is shaped so that it is easy for toddlers to hold. The board books that go with the system are sturdy and there are some wonderful classic titles that will please any toddler.

Recommended Age: 18 Months-4 Years Old(LeapFrog says 2-4 but I can see 18 month olds using this)

Average Price: $25.00

Buy the LeapFrog Toag Junior Now

FurReal Friends Newborn Puppy

FurReal Friends Newborn Puppies are small enough for toddlers to hold and despite the fact that they have some robotic features, they are still soft and cuddly. These are smaller versions of the original FurReal pets and they are available for a fraction of the price. My 2 year old has one that he drags everywhere with him and he loves the soft whimpering noises his puppy makes and the gentle way that it wiggles when he pets it.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Average Price: $25.00

Buy FurReal Friends Newborn Puppy Now

Strider Balance Bike

Tricycles are the most common first bike for toddlers but after experiencing the Strider Balance Bike first hand, I am convinced that it is the way to go. The Strider Balance Bike can be used for toddlers ages 18 months and up. Rather than training a child to first push a bike forward with their feet, then use pedals, then training wheels, the balance bike teaches a child how to master their ability to balance first so they can then be moved straight to a two wheeled bike – without training wheels.

Recommended Age: 18 Months and Up

Average Price: $98.00

Buy a Strider Balance Bike Now ($86.00 on Amazon)

Alex Toys Stickers for the Tub

Infants and toddlers love to play with bath toys but I was so fed up with all of our bath toys filling up with water and growing mildew. I am a huge fan of the Alex Toys bath stickers because they can be chewed on, stuck to the wall, used in pretend play, and anything else your child can think of, but they don’t have any little holes that will fill up with water. They are easy to wash so they stay clean for long term use without needing to replace them. Kids love these toys and they come in several different styles to appeal to whatever your child is interested in.

Recommended Age: The manufacture says 3 and up but my kids have used these very happily from ages 12 months and up

Average Price: $11.99

Buy Alex Stickers for the Tub – City Now

Lamaze My First Fishbowl

Soft, colorful toys are always a hit with infants and toddlers. My First Fishbowl from Lamaze would make a wonderful gift for infants and younger toddlers. The simple design helps toddlers practice their small motor skills and can be used for pretend play activities.

Recommended Age: 6 Months and Up

Average Price: $19.99

Buy My First Fishbowl Now

Eleven Shoes for the Holidays (Closed)

Rachel — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:40:44 +0000

Congratulations to Kristi C, the winner of the Eleven Shoes giveaway!

Eleven shoes are well loved by parents for their durability and functional styling. Eleven’s Fall/Winter 2009 collection brings back a few classic favorites that are perfect for holiday photos or parties. My kids have several pairs of Eleven shoes and they always get compliments on them whenever they wear them. The classic styling is timeless and makes Eleven shoes perfect for dressing up or dressing down during the holiday season.

Velcro Closures

The convenient Velcro closures on all Eleven shoes has always been one of my favorite features. Any parent who has ever wrestled with tight fitting children’s shoes or retied shoe laces 100 times will love the wide opening on Eleven shoes and the stylish Velcro closure that makes them so fast to put on. When you are already wrestling with kids, you definitely don’t need to be messing with difficult shoes.

Finn Shoes by Eleven

My 6 year old had the opportunity to try a pair of Finn shoes from Eleven. He is typically not a fan of solid color shoes, especially ones that don’t have any red at all on them, but even he was won over by the simple style of the Finn shoes. My son has worn his Finn shoes to dress up jeans and a t-shirt and with dress pants and a button up shirt and they add a wonderful touch to both looks.

These shoes are wonderful for holiday travel because they really can play double duty as dress shoes and casual shoes. The comfortable fit and durable suede makes this pair a favorite for kids and parents alike.

Great Kids Shoes for the Holidays

As the mother of all boys, I drool over pink things from time to time. Eleven has some fantastic shoe choices for little girls for the holiday season. The red accented chocolate suede Mary Jane Katinas would be a beautiful addition to nearly any holiday dress and the simple slip on styling gives you one less thing to worry about during the busy holiday season. If you want a dressy look that goes with just about anything, the Sylvie style with silver accent flowers would be perfect. Eleven shoes have no break in period so kids don’t have to suffer through holiday gatherings or events in stiff new shoes.

Holiday Deals from Eleven

Eleven has some fantastic deals going on right now, just in time for the holiday season. Most of their shoes are on sale for $40.00, which is a great deal when you consider how well these shoes stand up to kid abuse.

Enter to Win

Win your choice of Eleven Shoes (that are available in stock) This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on December 11, 2009.

Enter the giveaway by commenting on this post about your favorite style of Eleven Shoes.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

In compliance with the new FTC Guild lines, please note that this is a sponsored post. I was given a pair of Eleven shoes to test and review free of charge. However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.

Additional Entries

After having commented on this post, you can earn additional entries by doing any of the following. Make a separate comment on this post for each extra entry you qualify for.

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The New Jawbone Hands Free Headset in Pink and Blue

Darren Lister — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:12:00 +0000

I have always thought that if there was more to the evolution theory that moms would have developed several more sets of arms over time. You will still have to juggle the laundry, but the New Jawbone will make it easier to talk on your cell phone hands free. With many states banning the use of hand held cell phones while driving, the New Jawbone couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sound Quality

The New Jawbone with Noise Assassin technology cancels out background noise. Many headsets have made this claim in the past, but the New Jawbone actually works. I used the Jawbone while driving with the windows rolled down and the radio blasting and the person on the other end didn’t even realize I was in a car or on a headset. The application for work at home moms is apparent. It is hard to be professional with children screaming in the background. No more hiding in the closet hoping your kids don’t find you while you try and make a phone call to a client.

The sound quality is amazing and none of the headsets I have used in the past even come close to the sound quality of the New Jawbone. Most of the time, people will not even be able to tell that you are on headset and several people have told me that the sound quality is actually better than using my cell phone alone. The person on the other end will not be aware of any noise going on around you but you certainly will. The self adapting volume automatically raises the volume as it senses more background noise, which really comes in handy when you are trying to talk on the phone with kids.

Style and Design

The New Jawbone looks more like jewelry than a cell phone accessory. The sleek black design is surprisingly comfortable to wear with the combination ear hook and ear bud. The headset stays securely in place without feeling tight or uncomfortable. The size of the jawbone makes it lightweight enough to sit comfortably on your ear but large enough that you can still track it down when you need it. The only downside I can see to the Jawbone is that it really does need a case to protect it from damage if it is thrown in a purse as the ear hooks bend easily. The battery easily makes it through a day so it is ready when you need it.

Cell Phone Safety

Many states are implementing a ban against using a hand-held cell phone while driving in an effort to prevent accidents. Cell phone use contributes to accidents caused by distracted driving, and drivers who use cell phones while driving are 4 times more likely to get into a serious car accident according to a study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Using a hands-free device can help keep your focus on the road where it should be, especially if you take advantage of the voice activation features on your cell phone. While it is always best to eliminate distractions while driving, especially with children in the car, we live in a busy world and there are times when you need to make a phone call while you are driving.

The New Jawbone has found a wonderful balance between style and function and is a must have for busy moms on the go or work at home moms trying to make phone calls with children at home. The Noise Assassin technology will amaze you with how effective it is at canceling out background noise and the ease of use and comfort of the Jawbone ensures that it will get plenty of use.

Great Holiday Gift Idea for Busy Moms and Busy Dads

Jawbone now comes in Pink and Blue and makes the perfect gift for a busy mom or busy dad. The New Jawbone is a great way to safetly talk on the phone while you are driving, especially if you have loud kids in the backseat. The person on the other end of the phone will have no idea you are in a car full of screaming munchkins and you will be able to keep both hands on the wheel.

Looking for a gift to give you husband? The New Jawbone in blue would make a stylish and functional gift that any busy dad would love. The Jawbone can give you both your hands free for taking notes as you talk on your phone or driving to work. The new colors make it a fun and more personalized Christmas gift that anyone on your Christmas shopping list is sure to love.

Cranberry Walnut Pumpkin Cookies

Courtney — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:56:09 +0000

These cookies are a healthier take on the flavors that make the winter holidays great–pumpkin, cinnamon and cranberry. Chock full of pumpkin, flax, walnuts and cranberries (all things that are good for you) and lacking oil, dairy or eggs, they are a nice treat to indulge in post-Thanksgiving. These are lightly sweet, crunchy with walnuts and excellent with a glass of milk or cup of tea or coffee.

Cranberry Walnut Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup ground flax seeds, divided
1/3 cup warm water
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 Tbs cinnamon
3/4 cup firm packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1/4 cup ground flax seeds with 1/3 cup warm water and set aside to soak. Combine pumpkin, cinnamon, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Stir in soaked flax seeds and additional 1/4 cup ground flax and stir. Add flour and stir to make a somewhat sticky and elastic dough. Fold in nuts and cranberries. Drop dough onto silicone lined cookie sheet in teaspoonfuls. If a flat cookie is desired, wet fingers with a little water and tap down dough into rounds, otherwise cookies will not spread on their own. Bake for 7-9 minutes until edges just start to brown and remove to cool on baking wracks or paper.

To Read or Not to Read? – John Marsden’s Hamlet

Guest Writer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:10:17 +0000

John Marsden’s Hamlet is a novel telling of the classic Shakespeare play. Marsden has a gift for simplifying the language while not taking away from the plot and pathos of the story. The novel is mostly taken straight from canon; the famous speeches appear, but spoken in English.

Hamlet and Ophelia are two young people in difficult circumstances. Hamlet begins as a person who, already a little odd, is coming undone. Ophelia is a girl who struggles all of her life for individuality and support. Suddenly, the world they know is swept out from under their feet. They need to figure out how they are going to cope with their changing circumstances.

The novel is set exclusively in the castle of Elsinore and the surrounding countryside. The old king is dead and a new king has taken his throne and his wife. Hamlet now has an uncle for a father, his stepfather as king. He is lost by the upheaval of all he knows and has no one to turn to. Ophelia’s friends have all gone, the only people she has are Hamlet and her father, but both of them pass further and further away from her, finally leaving her bereft. The novel explores their reactions, motivations, and psychology.

The Play’s the Thing

Disclaimer: I did not go back and re-read the Shakespeare play. That being said, Marsden’s novel was remarkably faithful to the play. There were a couple jarring moments – such as at the beginning of the story when Hamlet and his friends run outside to play football. Marsden also elaborates from time to time, filling in gaps in the story and fleshing out some of the formerly two-dimensional characters.

When Marsden is taking straight from the play he uses his gifts of language. Famous soliloquies are not exempt from his touch. All of the prose, all of the dialogue, is couched in simple modern terms. The words are believable, fresh, and understandable. In this way the novel is less of a retelling than it is a translation.

Recommendations

This novel would be either an excellent introduction to Shakespeare, or a valuable companion to the play. It could also be an amazing tool for anyone struggling to enter Hamlet’s world. The language and themes are accessible to all levels from young adult to mature readers. That being said, due to some sexual themes and brief language, I’d rate it as a PG-13.

Where I’m coming from

Confession: I love to read and will devour almost any book put into my path. I also have a theatre background and a love for Shakespeare. My favorite Shakespeare play is Henry V. I enjoyed reading Hamlet and watching all of the movie versions. However, I do strongly feel that this book would appeal to any type of reader.

My rating:

(four out of five happy faces)

By Deidre Cutter

Free Homeschool Curriculum at Currclick

Rachel — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:35:06 +0000

I am not a fan of Black Friday. I hate fighting the crowds to save a few bucks because even though I may end up saving a little bit of money, I always end up frustrated over the deals that I missed. The online Black Friday deals on the other hand, are perfect. No grumpy crowds or long lines, just a few great deals shipped straight to my house.

Currclick is hosting a great Black Friday giveaway with hundreds of totally free education resources. The giveaways will run through Saturday November 28th at 10:00 a.m. CST so don’t miss out on some great educational resources for homeschooling or for some fun educational activities at home.

Friday Fitness Fact – Push-ups

Pamela — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:13:02 +0000

Most people, not just woman, think of pushups as a “Man’s Exercise”. What does that even mean? When is comes to muscles, men and woman are essentially the same. Our muscles do the same actions and, thus, can be exercised in the same manner.

Pushups=Most Efficient Exercise

Did you know that push-ups are the most efficient exercise for toning your body on a time budget? A full push-up when done properly tones your back, abs, shoulders, chest, butt and legs!! Talk about a full body workout! And you don’t need anything more then a floor and your willpower – no equipment at all!! You can even be barefoot and in your pajamas. Some of us may not be able to do a full push-up but get started on the kneeling push-ups (or “girlie” pushup) and you will be amazed at how quickly you progress. Eventually you may even be able to do push-ups on an incline and/or decline! Or even one handed or claps or any of the other favorites. Two sets of 20 everyday is a great starting point and takes 5 minutes or less!

Get Rid of Flab

There are typically three problem areas that a majority of woman have at the top of their list – 1. Saggy boobs 2. Flabby arms and 3. Pudgy Stomachs. A pushup can work on all three of these area AT ONE TIME!! As you can read in this article What’s Supporting Your Tatas?, working your pec muscles can help firm up you breasts, and reduce the “saggy” effect of gravity working on you over the years. A majority of the muscle work in a push up is done by the triceps. This is the muscle on the backside of your upper arm, and is often the place that skin gets loose and fat accumulates to create what I call “Bye-Bye Arm”. This is the flabby area that keeps waving bye-bye after you have stopped the motion. So with daily pushups you can say bye-bye to “bye-bye arm”. And lastly the tum-tum, you may not believe me but pushups can do wonders for this part of your body. Once you have worked your way up to full body or plank pushups you will be using your core to keep a flat back. So as long as you aren’t sticking your bum way up in the air (creating an upside down “v” with your body) and keeping parallel to the ground you will be engaging your core which in turn firms up those abs! So imagine your best drill sargent voice and repeat these words ”DROP AND GIVE ME 20!!”

Hotslings AP – Adjustable Pouch Baby Carrier (Closed)

Marianne — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:21:30 +0000

Congratulations to Mickie, the winner of the Hotslings giveaway!

I have been on a mission for the past year or so to try and find the perfect hands-free baby carrier. As a mom with fatigue issues I knew I would need help carrying around my new little baby and I was determined to find the very best carrier. The options are dizzying and even the simplest of carriers could find a way to be complex.

Sizing Your Hotsling

I had given up on pouch slings entirely when I tried the Hotslings AP Adjustable Baby Carrier. I had tried a competing brand’s pouch style sling and found it to be uncomfortable and unsteady. I now know that I probably just got the sizing wrong. The problem with many baby carriers is that you purchase them over the internet without trying them on for proper sizing. If the carrier is uncomfortable you’re unlikely to return it for another size. Instead you might return it altogether (thinking the problem was with the style of carrier instead of the size) or you might just let it sit in the back of your closet for a while.

The beauty of the Hotsling AP is that you size it instantly. My first attempt with the Hotsling AP was similar to my experience with their competitor but then I adjusted the fit and found that it was quite comfortable and extremely easy to use. My sister, who is a different body type from me, was able to take the baby at one point when we were out together and use the same sling simply by adjusting the straps. The whole transfer took just a few minutes.

Compact and Easy-to-Use Baby Carrier

One thing I really appreciate about the Hotsling AP is that it uses a small amount of fabric and folds up easily into a small bundle (small enough to tuck into an average size diaper bag). I have a wrap style carrier that is literally 5 yards of fabric and ends up wadded into a ball most of the time because I don’t have the time or space to fold up 5 yards of fabric when I am out and about. Also, I don’t keep my shaped baby carriers with me because they don’t fold up at all and take up valuable trunk or passenger space in my car.

Going from carseat to carrier is very easy and quick. The Hotslings AP is considerably quicker to put on than my wrap style carrier and I don’t have to worry about fabric dragging in the parking lot as I am attempting to put it on. It is also nice to have the Hotsling tucked into the basket of my stroller in case I need to switch baby from strolling to carrying. It is very straightforward and almost as quick as picking up baby and settling her on your hip.

The Baby Carrier I Reach for the Most

The Hotsling AP has found a place at the top of my collection of baby carriers and is the one to get the most consistent use. The adjustable buckles are simple to use and adjust the sling to fit their 5 most popular sizes so it truly is One Size Fits Almost Everybody (though to be safe they simply say One Size Fits Most). The Hotsling AP makes babywearing universally easy.

Enter to Win

Busy Mommy Media is so excited to offer one reader the chance to win a Hotsling AP. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on December 11, 2009.

Enter the giveaway by commenting on this post about what you which Hotslings AP you would like.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

In compliance with the new FTC Guild lines, please note that this is a sponsored post. I was given a Hotslings AP to test and review free of charge. However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.

Additional Entries

After having commented on this post, you can earn additional entries by doing any of the following. Make a separate comment on this post for each extra entry you qualify for.

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How Much Water Did You Drink Today?

Pamela — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:53:36 +0000

Are you drinking enough water? During a single bout of exercise (approximately 1 hour) it is common to lose up to 3% of your body’s water as a result of energy production. This loss can be seen in you amount of sweat you produce. One of the easiest ways to insure that your body has adequate water, and prevent dehydration, is to consume water before, during and after exercise.

How Much is Enough?

A simple rule of thumb is to consume 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight in each 24 hour period. So if you weigh in at 150 pounds, you should be drinking at least 75 ounces of water in one day. And this needs to be water (flavored or plain) and not other beverages, like coffee, juice, sports drinks or soda. Additionally, ”watering” down a juice or sports drink doesn’t count towards your water intake. It is certain components of these beverages that prevent the absorption of the water molecules. In fact, if you drink a 16 oz coffee you should add 16 oz of water to your daily intake. You also need to add about 20 oz of water intake for every hour of physical activity. This of course needs to be adjusted by the level of physical excursion. I know what you are thinking – “That’s a lot of water!” It will seem that way at first but once you get used to it you really will feel a lot healthier.

An Added Bonus

Did you know that the feeling of being bloated can be a result of mild dehydration? When your body isn’t getting enough water it actually starts to “hoard” the water in the system. This results in a decrease in expulsion of water and an increase in cell volume throughout the body. Once your body is properly hydrated you may see a lower number on the scale, up to 10 pounds, even!!

Water is the Fluid of Life

You are probably wondering why I would spend a whole post on water consumption. Well, Water is the fluid of life, it is the current that keeps our systems flowing. Water carries in nutrition, fuels the body’s processes and then removes the waste. Our bodies are more than half water and can only tolerate an 8% decrease before body systems begin to malfunction. So keeping your body – and your children’s for that matter – properly hydrated is paramount for a healthy lifestyle. Another interesting tidbit about water – If you “feel” thirsty, you are already dehydrated!!