Author: Peggy Rowland

If you want to give a baby shower gift that others haven’t thought of, consider a swaddling blanket – a step up from a traditional receiving blanket.

Swaddling blankets from Koala Kuddles are made to keep heat in, but also allow air to flow through. Koala Kuddles is based in Austin, Texas and they make authentic Australian swaddling blankets for appreciative American moms!

The blankets are made with 100% lightweight muslin cotton that’s very soft with a quilted weave. By allowing air to escape, Koala Kuddles also minimize the risk that baby will overheat and get sweaty while resting.

The piling-resistant swaddling blankets come in polka dot or Australian animals, such as a kangaroo, giant sea turtle, crocodile and platypus. You can also choose an assorted set with both animals and polka dots.

Koala Kuddles was started by a mom who moved to the US from Australia in 2005. When her son was born, the soon-to-be founder of Koala Kuddles realized that her American friends had never seen swaddling blankets like she was using from Australia.

If you think swaddling blankets may be complicated to use, just check the helpful hints online at Koala Kuddles. They suggest four easy steps for wrapping your baby, but there’s also a demo to give you a better idea of how to wrap baby up.

Even after a newborn passes the swaddling stage, the blankets may still be useful for many activities, like a cover for nursing privacy or as sun shield during a stroller outing.

Have you used a swaddling blanket?

(Images courtesy Koala Kuddles)

Post from: Blisstree

Swaddling Baby Shower Gift

A common thought among docs has been that patients who get total knee replacements will be more active with their new knees. However, a recent study reveals that the assumption isn’t exactly correct.

According to the study, patients who had total knee replacement surgery gained an average of 14 pounds over two years! The finding comes from University of Delaware (UD) researchers. Though patients in the study dropped weight in the beginning, they ended up gaining much more weight over two years than the control group of individuals who didn’t have the surgery. It seems that patients with new knees can sink back into their old, inactive habits from before surgery, when pain was more common.

Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the study is published in the January online edition of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage from Osteoarthritis Research Society International.

Sixty-six percent of the 106 people in the surgical group gained an average of 14 pounds over the two-year period they were followed after knee surgery. UD Researcher Joseph Zeni calls that a “significant increase in body mass index.”

UD Researcher Snyder-Mackler said, “If you’re not getting out of the house, you won’t gain the benefit. We need people with new knees to get out there — with the help of their family, their friends, and the community at large.”

Snyder-Mackler said that gaining weight after surgery isn’t a good idea if you don’t want to jeopardize the other knee. She said that between 35 to 50% of patients who had one knee surgery will have surgery on the other knee within 10 years. Snyder-Mackler also noted that since preoperative knee functioning can predict how a patient functions after surgery, it’s best not to wait too long to have surgery.

If you’ve had total knee replacement, do you think you’re more active now than before?

(Image via MorgueFile)

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Avoid Weight Gain After Knee Replacement

Whatever your opinion on doing laundry, chances are you may be doing something wrong. I don’t mind laundry at all, but I have noticed that the ultra-concentrated bottle of laundry detergent I use never lasts for 32 loads like the bottle says. And I think that’s all my fault. Sometimes I measure, and sometimes I guess.

According to a new Wall Street Journal article, we’re overdosing on laundry soap! The article, “The Great American Soap Overdose” by Ellen Byron, explains how we’re pouring too much soap for today’s high-efficiency machines and ultra-concentrated detergent.

To help solve the problem of over-detergenting (and resulting dingy clothes and smelly machines), Protector & Gamble is coming out with new, easier-to-read measuring caps for their detergent brands, including Tide, Cheer, Gain and Era. Come to think of it, I’ve always wondering why you have to hold those things right up to your face to see what’s what!

The makers of the popular detergents have said the new caps will feature measurement lines that are better defined with bigger, staggered (not stacked) numbers.

You may have noticed that laundry detergent measuring caps often hold much more detergent than you need. In a report last summer, Consumer Reports blamed the poor design of laundry caps for measuring woes.

Whether caps are designed to intentionally dupe consumers is up for debate, but you can squash your detergent overdose habit by paying more attention. If you don’t feel comfortable with the lids provided for measuring, use your own measuring cup. Your clothing and wallet may thank you!

To learn more about possible laundry errors you’re making, mouse around on the fun interactive illustration at WSJ.

(Image via stock.xchng)

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Laundry Detergent Overdosing

Fans of the Puppy Bowl, get ready. It airs on Sunday, February 7 from 3-5 pm (ET/PT) on Animal Planet. If you miss the first one, don’t worry. There will be five consecutive repeats.

As you would hope, no puppies were harmed during the filming of the Puppy Bowl. For the sixth straight year, Puppy Bowl has earned the American Humane Association’s “No Animals Were Harmed” ® end-credit disclaimer. ‘

What should you expect during the Puppy Bowl 2010 on Animal Planet?

Well, you can anticipate none other than 43 adorable puppies and 20 playful kittens for halftime entertainment! You can also catch glimpses of bunny cheerleaders and hamsters flying a blimp. Wow. Puppy Bowl is marked on my calendar for sure.

All the fun action is set on a scaled-down gridiron measuring about 10 feet wide by 20 feet long. If you fall in love with one of the players, you may be in luck.

All of the furry creatures on Puppy Bowl may be adopted. Yip — all the puppies, kittens, bunnies and hamsters are from shelters and rescue groups! They may be found on PetFinder.com.

Are you watching the Puppy Bowl?

(Image via flickr.edanley)

Post from: Blisstree

Puppy Bowl 2010

Meditation has a lot to do with everything. Or it can, if you let it. People practice meditation for many different reasons. Some of the health reasons noted for meditating include helping to conquer anxiety, stress, depression and pain. For some, meditation is part of religious practice.

Ed and Deb Shapiro, authors of Be The Change, contend that meditation can do so much more: It can open the door to loving kindness, to helping each other, to getting outside the world our minds have made for us to find reality. By using meditation, we can learn to see others in a different light and be more open to helping them, instead of focusing on our own stories.

Does that sound deep?

It is deep. After all, a forward for Be The Change was written by HH The Dalai Lama. The book contains what I’m calling “thought excerpts” from more than 100 meditation practitioners from many different walks of life. The contributions could also be called mini stories. You’ve heard of some of the contributors (Jane Fonda, Ed Begley, Jr.), but you can read more about any of them in the contributor bios in the back of the book. The contributors explain how meditation has profoundly touched their lives. (Disclosure: I received a courtesy copy of the book for review.)

The thought excerpts are interspersed with text from Deb and Ed, a married couple dedicated to meditation. They’ve written more than 16 books on personal development, social action and meditation. They’re also corporate consultants, bringing peace to stressed execs.

So, does this book teach you how to meditate?

Yes, in a way. And it does a bit more than that. For much of the book, the authors and contributors explain what meditation is and what it can do. That may sound boring, but it’s not. The final section of the book focuses more on actual meditation practices. You won’t learn how to meditate just by reading the book. You’ll have to practice what you’ve learned. As HH The Dalai Lama said in his forward, “Treat this book as you would a cookery book. You wouldn’t merely read recipes with approval, you’d try them out. … Like cookery, meditation only makes sense if you put it into effect.”

I recommend Be The Change for anyone wanting to explore meditation, or for anyone just looking to become a kinder person and make a difference in this world.

(Cover Image, Sterling Ethos)

Post from: Blisstree

Book Review: Be The Change

Attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings may help people with alcohol problems deal with depression as well. A team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found that those who attended AA meetings more frequently had fewer symptoms of depression, along with less frequent drinking, when compared with people who didn’t attend AA meetings as often.

Since people with alcohol problems often experience depression, it’s good news that AA meetings are helping to alleviate the problem more quickly.

AA, which began in 1935, is a fellowship of both women and men who share their experiences, strength and hope with each other as they work together to solve their common problem, alcohol abuse. There are no dues or membership fees. The only requirement to participate in AA is a desire to stop drinking. There are 53,665 AA groups in the US, and members attend an average of 2.4 meetings each week.

“Our study is one of the first to examine the mechanisms underlying behavioral change with AA and to find that AA attendance alleviates depression symptoms,” said study leader John F. Kelly, PhD.

Mood problems, such as depression, usually improve after several weeks in recovery, but the mood improvement can happen more quickly for AA participants.

Kelly speculates that the social aspects of AA meetings help people feel better psychologically and emotionally. While AA doesn’t specifically address depression, 12 steps and other aspects of AA support well being. Kelly noted that doctors can now tell patients that, in addition to supporting abstinence, attending AA meetings can help improve their mood.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

AA Meetings Help with Depression

We’re planning a vacation this summer. We’re hoping to buy a house. We love pets. We like taking walks in the park.

Do you think it’s obnoxious when couples use “we” speak?

I’ll admit it’s confusing to hear someone use “we” when the other half isn’t around, especially if I don’t know the other half. However, using “we-ness” language may indicate a happier couple!

A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that spouses who use “we” may be better able to resolve conflicts than those couples who don’t.

Researchers studied conversations between 154 middle-aged and older couples. The conversations revolved around points of disagreement in the marriages. UC Berkeley researchers found that couples who used “we,” “our” and “us” showed less physiological stress and acted more positively toward one another.

However, couples emphasizing separateness with “I,” “me” and “you” were less satisfied in their marriages. The finding was particularly true for older couples. When the older couples used “separateness pronouns,” there was a strong link to unhappy marriages.

The study findings, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, also suggest that older couples use “we” more than middle-aged couples. Researchers believe that can be explained by older couples having faced more obstacles and challenges together, leading to a greater sense of shared identity. Previous studies have shown that “we-ness” or “separateness” pronouns are strong indicators of marital happiness in younger couples.

Of course, using “we” doesn’t make you part of a happier couple, it’s just a sign.

“Individuality is a deeply ingrained value in American society, but, at least in the realm of marriage, being part of a ‘we’ is well worth giving up a bit of ‘me,’” said UC Berkeley psychology professor Robert Levenson, a co-author of the study.

I tend to use “we” more when I’m with family or close friends. Do you use “we” speak?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Are You Part of a “We” Couple?

The first month of the year is a great time to find bargains on homes, condos, TVs, linens, treadmills and more.

Chilly February is suited for hot deals on indoor furniture and humidifiers, while March is an ideal time for digital cameras, say Consumer Reports experts. They researched the best times of the year to shop for particular items when you’re looking for a deal. To make the buying calendar, Consumer Reports utilized industry surveys and publications, and consulted in-house experts.

You can find the Sales Calendar online at Consumer Reports. However, the experts do acknowledge that some of their tips won’t neatly fit into a calendar. For instance, they say that airline tickets tend to be least expensive on Tuesday through Thursday, while jewelry sales are common throughout the year, except around Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

And, in case you’re wondering, November, December and January are recommended as the best time to buy toys!

Of course, some of the tips will lead you to buying ahead for next year. For example, the Sales Calendar says that March can be a good time to buy a winter coat or winter sports gear; November is great for bike purchases; and July is an ideal time for swimwear purchases. However, one disadvantage of waiting for a deal is that the selection may be more limited in some cases. And, obviously, it’s just a general guide. You never know when you’ll find a good random deal out there.

Do you consult your calendar when shopping?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

A Calendar for When to Buy Stuff

PETA thinks Punxsutawney Phil needs a break from the lights, camera and petting. On The PETA Files, they’ve proposed retiring him and replacing the living icon with a robotic groundhog.

Yes. At a time when so many animals are suffering, PETA wants us to feel sorry for the most lucky groundhog in the world. I love what commenter 4mula1 at The PETA Files replied, “…we will not be turning groundhog day into a trip to chuckycheese so everyone can see a robotic dancing critter.” Another commenter called Cody wrote, “All other groundhogs…I bet they like getting shot at in farmers fields and being roadkill.”

PETA loves publicity stunts, it seems. They’re realistic enough to realize that their plea for Phil’s retirement will only result in news stories. They’re either not being genuine, or they’re more off their rockers than I’ve thought in the past. Either way, I wish the group would focus more on real animal cruelty, like dog fighting.

What do you think of PETA’s request for Phil to retire from his Groundhog Day duties?

(Image via flickr.Dave or Atox)

Post from: Blisstree

PETA Attacks Groundhog Day Tradition

I’ve said it before, the Ginkgo is a beautiful tree. It’s my favorite, actually. However, taking Ginkgo biloba supplements may not be the wisest thing to do.

In December, I wrote the post, Ginkgo Biloba Maybe Not So Effective, detailing the results from a large study that revealed the supplement doesn’t prevent cognitive decline or improve memory in seniors.

Now, authors of a new report say that the popular herbal remedy may actually cause more seizures in people with epilepsy. According to the report, Ginkgo biloba could reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure drugs.

The article by Eckhard Leistner and Christel Drewke was published in the American Chemical Society’s monthly Journal of Natural Products. The authors also suggest that Ginkgo could have harmful effects in other people after they eat raw or roasted Ginkgo seed or drink tea prepared from Ginkgo leaves. They caution that Ginkgo biloba tea, in particular, could contain more of the herb than is recommended.

Scientists are mainly concerned with one chemical compound in Ginkgo biloba: a potentially toxic material called ginkgotoxin. They believe that ginkgotoxin may alter a chemical signaling pathway, triggering epileptic seizures. Leistner and Christel Drewke found 10 reports in scientific research indicating that patients with epilepsy face an increased risk of seizures when exposed to Ginkgo products.

While many people take Ginkgo biloba for conditions like memory loss, clinical depression and headache, the supplements do have some known side effects, such as nausea, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, dizziness, or allergic skin reactions.

If you’re wondering whether Ginkgo biloba is right for you, talk with your doctor, especially if you take anti-seizure drugs.

(Image via iStock)

Post from: Blisstree

Another Strike Against Ginkgo Biloba

Sure, we don’t want stuff catching fire, but are flame retardants, called PBDEs, really safe to be around?

And what are PBDEs anyway?

Defining PBDE is simple, but figuring out the impact is not so easy. A class of organobromine compounds, PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) have been commonly used since fire safety standards were implemented in the US decades ago.

PBDEs are contained in electronics, fabrics, foam furniture, carpets, plastics and other household items.

Research has indicated that household dust often contains PBDEs. The chemicals are known to leach into the environment, accumulating in human fat cells. It’s believed that around 97% of Americans have detectable levels of PBDEs in their blood.

Plus, Americans supposedly have 20 times the amount of PBDEs in blood than Europeans. Because of strict flammability laws, people in California are thought to have the highest levels of PBDEs in the country.

New research using PBDE levels in blood samples from 223 pregnant women has shown that high levels of PBDEs in blood may mean that it takes longer for women to become pregnant.

The study was published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives. The results revealed that a 10-fold increase in blood concentration of four PBDE chemicals was associated with a 30% decrease in the odds of conceiving each month.

In other words, women wishing to become pregnant may have a longer wait if they have higher levels of PBDEs in their blood. Researchers aren’t sure why the chemicals impact fertility. However, all women in the study were eventually able to become pregnant.

“Although several types of PBDEs are being phased out in the United States, our exposure to the flame retardants is likely to continue for many years,” said Brenda Eskenazi, principal investigator in the study and UC Berkeley professor of epidemiology.

While the new study raises awareness about PBDEs, it doesn’t really give us any answers to the problem. It’s time for chemists and medical researchers to communicate with each other a bit more.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Flame Retardants May Impact Fertility

Cupids-to-be, don’t wait much longer to pick your Valentine’s Day gifts. And make them dreamy fun. Click on the gallery below to get a much better view of the loving picks.

Your Valentine probably wouldn’t be expecting a collage art bottle. Take a look at one-of-a-kind art bottles Dreaming Eleanor (pictured above) or a Marcella Melody, both from Ocasio Casa. Many unique designs are offered.

Surprise your Valentine with Body Coffee products, available from Taraluna. Body Wash with Coffee Blossom Essence contains coffee extracts, olive and coconut oils, aloe vera and glycerin for a seductive coffee blossoms scent. Invigorating Body Polish has ground coffee, sea salt, peppermint oil, and citrus, rosemary and mint extracts for refreshing fun.

I really couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that Godiva is selling luscious Valentine cupcakes with an extra perk inside. The Limited Edition Pink Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes feature a center of chocolate ganache inside an almost too-pretty cupcake. They’re available as a set of six.

Well, the next one is dreamy in an edgy sort of way. Chrissy Ann Ceramics is selling “Sexy Bitch” tapas dishes! They have plenty of other uses as well, such as a spoon rest or coin catch.

Moving on in the dish world, check out the beautiful, tiny bowls from Prince Design UK. I like the Pair of Lovebirds and Lacy Bluebird bowls.

The beautiful Dark Heart Earth Light from Paper Planet is handmade from banana bark paper. Several designs are available, like the Purple Larkspur Earth Light.

(Images via retailers linked above)

Post from: Blisstree

Dreamy Valentine’s Gifts

If you’re taking antidepressants and planning to breastfeed, you may have some brief trouble at the start, say researchers from the University of Cincinnati.

According to the new research, published in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, women who take commonly used antidepressants could experience delayed lactation after giving birth. Researchers say these women might need additional support to achieve their breastfeeding goals.

The World Health Organization suggests that mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months. Breastfeeding also has benefits for the mother, such as reducing breast cancer risk.

The difficultly known as delayed secretory activation is defined as a delay in full milk secretion. Nelson Horseman, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati and co-author of the study, says that a mother’s ability to secrete breast milk at the right time is associated with the production and regulation of the hormone serotonin.

Horseman said,

“Common antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs and while they can affect mood, emotion and sleep, they may also impact serotonin regulation in the breast, placing new mothers at greater risk of a delay in the establishment of a full milk supply.”

The study included 431 postpartum women. Women who were taking SSRI drugs had a median onset of lactation at 85.8 hours postpartum, compared with 69.1 hours for mothers not taking the drugs. Delayed lactation is usually defined as starting more than 72 hours after giving birth. Researchers noted that more study is needed to make specific recommendations on SSRI drugs and breastfeeding.

If you’re concerned about delayed lactation, consult with a certified lactation consultant or another health professional, such as your doctor or your baby’s nurse.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Antidepressants Can Cause Delayed Lactating

I’m blessed with two cats who always use their litter boxes. However, I do have to contend with cat vomit at times and other mysterious carpet stains that appear. Since my pet cleaning duties have been so light when it comes to carpet, I’ve been cleaning up any stains with vinegar and water, but I’ve never tried that method on something like runny puppy poo.

If you’re searching for a carpet cleaner, check out the full line of several new products designed to clean up after pets from RESOLVE at Power of Resolve.

I tried Instant Eraser pet spot carpet cleaner and Pet Deep Clean Powder on my beige apartment carpet that gets lots of love from my two cats, Choco and Oscar. I received the two samples at no charge for review purposes.

Instant Eraser Pet spot carpet cleaner comes in a steel aerosol can. It’s designed with “Odor Stop” freshening technology. The idea is to completely clean areas where pet accidents have occurred to prevent re-soiling.

RESOLVE is working with pet expert and humorist Warren Eckstein, who said,

“One of the most overlooked components of the house-breaking process is the thorough cleaning of the area where your pet had an accident. An improperly cleaned floor or carpet is an invitation for your pet to go back to the same spot over and over. Pets can smell odors that humans can’t!”

Instant Eraser did completely remove the stain from Choco’s food vomit as well as another mystery stain. Since I’m not currently training a puppy, it’s difficult for me to say if this product would be helpful in that area, but I do agree that removing odors from potty accidents is critical to proper house breaking. It’s worth a try if you’re currently having problems in that area.

Overall, I liked Instant Eraser, but it does have more of a strong scent than I’m used to with the more natural cleaning products I tend to use. It didn’t smell bad, however. Also, when spraying, some rogue foam drops go outside the stain area I’m trying to reach, even when I line up the arrow with the paint spot on the can.

For larger areas, you may like the RESOLVE Pet Deep Clean Powder to remove odors and clean pet stains. It comes in an 18 oz canister. To use this product, you shake the canister, then pour powder on the area to be cleaned and scrub with a brush until the powder disappears. After that, wait 20 minutes for the area to dry, then vacuum.

When using the powder, I noticed that the carpet does get somewhat damp, but not wet. While the product worked fine for removing a carpet stain, one disadvantage is that you have to wait about 20 minutes to vacuum after scrubbing.

Have you tried the new Pet Solutions carpet cleaners from RESOLVE?

(Image via Peggy Rowland)

Post from: Blisstree

Review: Resolve Pet Carpet Cleaning

Distracted driving — driving while talking on a cell phone or putting on makeup — can and does kill. It murders sons and daughters, and takes parents away.

A few months ago, thinking about the research that says driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as drunk driving, I made a promise to myself (and everyone else on the road) to never talk on the phone while driving. That includes hands-free devices. Even if your hands are free, you’re still distracted by that call. And if you’re texting instead of talking, that’s just as bad, if not much worse.

If you wouldn’t drive drunk, should you drive while talking on a cell phone? No conversation is worth putting other lives at risk. FocusDriven invites you to make the pledge to drive cell free.

FocusDriven is an advocacy group for victims of car crashes caused by drivers using cell phones. That’s right. Distracted driving has gotten to be just as big of an issue as drunk driving.

If you think too big a deal is made of cell phone driving, consider this: Studies have shown that people who talk on the phone while driving are four times more likely to be involved in an accident. More than 50 studies have supported the idea that driving while talking on the phone is dangerous. Research has also shown that there’s no difference in distraction when a driver uses hands-free devices instead of a holding a phone. For specifics on distracted driving studies, visit the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Distracted Driving feature.

One final number to ponder: NSC estimates that 1.6 million crashes are caused each year by texting or cell phone driving.

Please join me in putting an end to talking, texting or make-uping while driving. If you call a friend who’s driving, please tell that person you’ll check back later. And, please, never schedule interviews or important meetings to be held over the phone while driving. It’s time to put people before technology.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Yes, Cell Phones Can Kill

National Wear Red Day® is Friday, February 5. It’s your chance to show off a favorite red dress or shirt to support for women’s heart disease awareness. Guys can also participate by wearing a red tie or shirt.

If you don’t want to wear red clothing, get a Red Dress Pin. The tack pin is pictured, but you can also get a Sparkling Red Dress Pin.

Why is National Wear Red Day® a big deal?

Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women. Awareness is increasing thanks to events like National Wear Red Day®. However, studies have shown that many women still underestimate their risk of getting heart disease. Even when women are concerned, many still struggle to control risk factors for heart disease.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), risk factors for heart disease include:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Being physically inactive
• Having a family history of early heart disease
• Age (55 or older for women)

It’s important that women begin working to protect themselves against heart disease as early as their teen years. A surprising 80% of women 40 to 60 years old have one or more risk factors for heart disease. According to research compiled by the NHLBI, just one risk factor doubles your chance of developing heart disease.

After menopause, women are even more prone to heart disease due to a decline in estrogen. Early menopause, whether natural or from surgery, means you’re twice as likely to develop heart disease as women the same age who haven’t gone through menopause.

Four of the most important things you can do to prevent heart disease will reduce your risk by 82%: eat right, be physically active, don’t smoke, and keep a healthy weight.

Visit NHLBI for more tools and resources to help prevent heart disease. And remember to wear red on February 5!

(®National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA. Images provided by NHLBI)

Post from: Blisstree

Mark Your Calendar: Wear Red Day Is Feb. 5

If you made a commitment to taking your own reusable bags to the store this year, but you keep forgetting, there are several ways to help yourself remember.

Develop a system according to your shopping habits. If you always take your car to the store, then put your bags back in the trunk or glove box after each shopping trip. If your problem isn’t leaving the bags at home, but leaving them in your car, then write a reminder on your grocery list to take your bags inside with you. If you use public transportation, try to store your bags in an area near your front door or purse so you’ll think of them when you leave.

For a very visual reminder to take your bags with you, try the Reusable Bag Reminder Kit from Bagnesia. The kit includes a door hanger, steering wheel wrap, clip, reusable shopping bag and pouch.

While I haven’t tried this reminder kit, I did review Bagnesia’s produce bags, and I’m still using the handy mesh bags in lieu of the plastic bags provided at the store.

There are lots of reasons to take your own shopping bags to the store with you. One reason you may not realize is that some stores, including Target, offer discounts to customers who take their own bags shopping. Since most of the plastic bags out there aren’t biodegradable, it’s much more eco-friendly to avoid them. They’re often the cause of unsightly litter that’s dangerous to wildlife. The typical plastic bag also requires petroleum for its production, so by avoiding the plastic bag, you’re also helping to cut down on oil consumption. Plus, I’ve never had a reusable bag break on me just as I’m almost to my front door!

(Image via Bagnesia)

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Remembering Your Reusable Bags

I had a great opportunity to preview MINE, a film in the Independent Lens series, hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaul on PBS.

MINE, directed by Geralyn Pezanoski, will air on Tuesday, February 16 at 10 pm; please check your local PBS listings. I’m not going to pretend that MINE was an easy film to watch, but it’s an important film about many things — the human and animal bond, how pets live (or not) during disasters, and race and class differences in society.

Spray-painted markings indicate those homes where pets were found to let rescuers know to give them food and water or take them to one of the area’s makeshift rescue shelters. Image by Heidi Poor/ITVS.

As a pet owner, I was horrified to watch (yet again) how people were forced to leave their pets behind in order to be rescued from the aftermath of the hurricane in New Orleans in 2005. Other animals were left behind with food when people evacuated before the hurricane expecting to be able to return in a few days. It can be easy to judge those people, but they also loved their pets and perhaps didn’t have the resources to take them along, especially when many hotels weren’t accepting pets.

When filmmaker Geralyn Pezanoski heard about the rescue efforts of pets trapped in houses or on roofs, she decided to document the extraordinary undertaking of saving the Katrina pets.

MINE tells the story of how pets were rescued and how, in many cases, they weren’t reunited with their owners who desperately wanted them back. The film presents both sides of several cases of two families loving the same Katrina pet. Determining the rightful owner in such unique and complex circumstances can be tricky. The families who adopted the Katrina pets didn’t know that someone out their was looking for their dog. Some of the cases have beautiful, touching resolutions, and others will leave you scratching your head in wonder or disgust.

In any case, MINE brings to light the serious flaws and gaps in animal rescue work during disasters. It’s not the fault of those working hard to save the lives of the animals. The problem is a lack of central organization or standards and government help in the effort. In many cases, the lives of so many beloved pets were left in the hands of volunteers who did the best they could.

Please mark your calendar to watch MINE on PBS on February 16. It’s a 90-minute investment we all need to make for our pets.

(Image by Heidi Poor/ITVS)

Post from: Blisstree

When Two Families Love the Same Katrina Pet

NSAIDs Better Than Tylenol for Cramps

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen and ibuprofen, might be more effective for relieving period pain than acetaminophen. Cochrane researchers reached that conclusion after reviewing data from 73 trials in 18 countries with a total of 5,156 women. The review revealed that NSAIDs are very effective for treating menstrual pain compared with placebo, but they also carry a much great risk of adverse effects like indigestion, headache and drowsiness. The review showed that NSAIDs are also significantly more effective than acetaminophen. However, only three relevant studies have been done comparing the two drugs.

The Scary Side of Radiation Treatment

Serious accidents involving overdosing of radiation during treatment are rare, but they happen, and the consequences can be deadly. The New York Times did a great job of bringing a couple of radiation overdose cases to light. The article, which tells the story of two radiation overdose victims, is important for anyone to read. Even if you aren’t undergoing radiation treatment, one day someone close to you may have to make the treatment choice. Read the article: Radiation Offers New Cures, and Ways to Do Harm.

Another Reason Women Need to Get BP Under Control

If you have high blood pressure when you’re younger, you might be putting yourself at risk to have dementia when you’re older, say researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. The researchers say that high blood pressure may put you at risk for dementia later due to more white matter abnormalities in the brain, which are associated with increased risk for dementia, as well as stroke. Women who had high blood pressure at the beginning of the study had significantly more lesions of white matter revealed on MRI scans eight years later than participants with normal blood pressure.

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Health Bits: NSAIDs for Cramps, BP Risk

While the debate continues about whether full-body scanners at airports protect privacy, experts from American College of Radiology (ACR) say that the devices are safe.

The full-body scanners that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants to use at security checkpoints in US airports produce anatomically accurate images, allowing the ability to detect items concealed by clothing. Two different types of scanning systems have been used. One is millimeter wave technology which uses low-level radio waves similar to a cell phone, and the other is backscatter technology that utilizes weak X-rays which deliver the radiation equivalent you would receive inside an aircraft flying for two minutes at 30,000 feet. The backscatter radiation is so weak that it doesn’t penetrate the skin or show internal organs.

According to ACR, a cross-country airline passenger is exposed to more radiation during the flight than from either of the full-body scanning systems. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP) has said you’d need to have 2,500 backscatter scans a year to have what they classify as a Negligible Individual Dose. If you’re still concerned about radiation, TSA would give you the option of a pat-down instead of the scan.

Even if the radiation dose you’d receive from a full-body scan is safe, is your privacy protected? TSA has said that the images are deleted from the system after the operator views them in a separate room. The person viewing the images can’t see the actual person being scanned, and no other devices like cameras are allowed in the room with the operator. However, CNN has reported that a privacy group is raising concerns that TSA isn’t being forthcoming about the machine’s ability to store images.

According to a Gallup poll earlier this month, only 20% of Americans disapprove of full-body scans at airports. How do you feel about the use of full-body scanners at airports? Do you think other measures that would better protect privacy without radiation exposure should be used?

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Full-body Scanners Safe