Model Mama

If I read one more story about a celebrity mama who is back in her size 0 Hudson jeans within two weeks of giving birth, I think I'll gag on my lowfat snack bar. It took me a good year to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and body after my daughter was born. And my son is now three and I'm still not there yet. But you know what? I'm healthy, happy and I'm not a gym rat who is driven to work out each and everyday. So if I never look like Gisele, so be it! (because you know, before I had kids, people mistook me for her twin all the time!)


So I found it refreshing to read a quote from CSI Miami's Emily Procter who gave birth six months ago and is apparently still holding onto a few extra pounds. 


“I’m going to let myself off the hook, because if there’s one thing that is not my focus at the moment, it’s how much I weigh.”


Wow! What a concept! Focusing on your new baby and not on your own looks! How totally unHollywood of her.

Food for Thought Friday

Next year, the Food and Drug Administration plans to release new cigarette labels that depict graphic byproducts of smoking such as rotting teeth, diseased lungs, even images of corpses. Do you think such shocking photos will have a major impact on those who smoke and prevent new smokers from lighting up?

To view the new labels click here.

Here Comes the Sun

Here in Atlanta, we've already logged record-breaking high temps and summer has yet to officially begin. Each morning, without fail, I slather both my kids with sunscreen before sending them on their merry way. My six-year-old is used to the routine, but my three-year-old squirms and complains and makes it tough to apply it to his tiny features. Yet, I never give up, making sure his little ears, back of his neck and every other body part exposed to the sun gets covered.

I am constantly amazed when I see parents out with their kids, even newborn babies, without a hat and likely without any other barrier protecting their precious skin from the sun's harmful rays. In today's world, there is absolutely no excuse for not covering up in the summer. For years we've all known that tanning, even the slightest bit, causes cancer. If it's a vitamin D deficiency you're worried about, take a pill. And for heaven's sake, don't even think that those indoor tanning beds are somehow producing a healthier glow.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 65% of melanomas are caused by UV radiation. Last year, in the U.S. alone, nearly 70,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma and nearly 9,000 died from the disease. So despite what you might think, tanning may "look" healthy, but that is simply not the case. There is absolutely nothing healthy about bronzing (even lightly) your skin and the risks of future damage and even death are an incredibly high price to pay for perceived beauty. Bottom line: any level of tanning is a form of skin damage which at worst case, will lead to cancer, and at best case, will lead to wrinkled, prematurely aged skin.

I read an article on Web MD recently that it only takes one severe sunburn in your child's life to double their chances of skin cancer. I'm not a big gambler, and certainly not when it comes to the health of my children.

Unfortunately, not all sunscreens are created equal. While some tout an SPF level over 50, independent studies found that in some cases, this was way off the mark. One brand aimed at babies tested 80% lower in SPF than the label claimed. Many also contain controversial ingredients best avoided such as oxybenzone (a potential hormone disruptor) and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A that studies have shown may speed the growth of certain tumors). Zinc Oxide and titanium dioxide are the active SPF ingredients that have proven the safest for kids. For a list of the latest and greatest sunscreens, visit EWG for their yearly roundup. Be sure to check out their "Hall of Shame" for a list of brands to avoid.

So as you head out to the beach, the pool, or even your own backyard this summer, keep this in mind:

• Waterproof sunscreen only lasts about an hour and a-half, or less if you towel off. Reapply accordingly. 

• Allow sunscreen time to "set" by applying it about 15 minutes before you head outside.

• Be sure to use an adequate amount of sunscreen to protect you -- one ounce, about the amount in a shot glass. 

• Sun Protection Factor should be at least 30 and use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both ultraviolet A and B rays.

• Don't forget a hat or umbrella and seek shade when possible.

Fortunately, just this week, the FDA announced new rules for sunscreen labels that aim to make their protection levels more clear. Currently, SPF only refers to UVB rays, that cause sunburn. Now, labels will be required to list protection for UVA rays, which are the ones that cause cancer. Next year, sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or below will carry a warning stating that they only protect against sunburn and not against cancer or wrinkles. For now, look for a labels that say "broad spectrum" to be sure your coverup is doing the most complete job possible. 

I always have to laugh when I read the caution to stay out of the sun when the rays are the strongest -- between the hours of 10am and 4pm. I mean, I would personally love to be indoors enjoying my air-conditioning all day, all summer long, but how practical is that? I'm not now and never have been a hot weather kind of gal. But I have kids and they are loathe to stay indoors all the time so I suck it up and suffer the southern heat for many months of the year. But as with everything else in my life, I take precautions to make sure we're as safe as we possibly can be.

A few years ago, I discovered a product that my family swears by and I always recommend my friends try it out, especially in the summer. It's a powder that is added to the laundry that gives clothing an SPF of 30. It's cheap, easy and lasts for 20 washings so it's a no-brainer. For more info, visit Sun Guard.

Like many of you, I naively coated my body in baby oil and sprawled out on a towel practically made of tinfoil as a teenager living in Florida. You wouldn't know it now with my obsessive skincare routine and albino pallor, but I have no doubt I did plenty of damage to my skin before my 18th birthday (when most of the damage that causes skin cancer takes place). So if you can't stay cool, at least be smart about your sunning. No matter how healthy you think that tan makes you look, I promise you, it's worth the sacrifice to skip it.

Food for Thought Friday

In honor of Father's Day weekend, here's a meaningless poll to ponder:

Which celebrity father do you think provides the best role model for his children?

A. Hugh Hefner
B. Jesse James
C. Arnold Schwarzenegger

An apple a day? Depends on the apple.

As parents, we'd like to think we're being healthy and conscientious when we feed our kids fruit, right? After all, we're all supposed to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day.

Well, it turns out you may be getting more than you bargained for with some of nature's bounty. Today, the Environmental Working Group released it's annual report on the level of pesticides found in 53 of the most popular fruits and vegetables. This is the same organization that produces the so-called "dirty dozen" list of the most pesticide-ridden produce that should be avoided if at all possible. I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed to admit that I walk around with this list in my wallet and routinely check it when I'm in a grocery store.

The worst offender? Apples. The report found that 92% of apples contained multiple pesticides. Contaminants on the produce were measured after most had been peeled and washed, signaling that much of the dangerous residue is absorbed into the fruit itself. The no-no list also contains such summer staples as peaches, strawberries, celery and blueberries. My kids will be ecstatic to know that cherries have dropped off top-12 this year.

Pesticides are typically sprayed on produce to prevent insect infestation and to extend shelf-life. But these toxic chemicals have the unpleasant side-effect of contributing to hormone disruption, cancer and brain damage in children. Other studies have linked pesticide exposure to an increased risk of ADHD.

Thankfully, the flip side is a list of the "Clean 15," fruits and veggies with the lowest pesticide residue. These include corn, pineapples, watermelon and avocado. In my family, we strive to buy organic as much as possible, but it's helpful to know when it's not as vital.

My daughter, who is very taken with fairy tales, has now decided that the reason Snow White fell into a deep sleep is because the apple that the evil witch gave her wasn't poison -- it just wasn't organic.

That's my girl!

To view the full report and print out your own list, visit. www.ewg.org.

Food for Thought Friday

For those of you following closely, you'll notice I skipped last Friday. My bad! But since it was only my 2nd entry as part of this theme, kindly cut me some slack and let me start anew.

A third birthday party got me thinking. Recently, I accompanied my son to a friend's little shindig and I noticed that many of the moms (and dads) were too busy socializing to be bothered with keeping an eye on their own kids. Many of these kids were happily careening into their fellow toddlers, hurting others and themselves in the process.  While their parents chatted nearby, several kids nearly fell off playground equipment or resorted to asking complete strangers to help them. One mom even asked me if I'd mind watching her son (who does not even know me) while she took a call on her cellphone and proceeded to leave him in my care for 15 minutes while she wandered off to have what appeared to be a casual conversation.

This got me thinking...are these parents just relaxed, "go with the flow" types or are they irresponsible and lazy? Have any of you ever experienced this situation and if so, how did you deal with it?

Just curious.

Let me sleep on it

If you are anything like my family, you've amassed quite an impressive pillow collection. After all, we spend more than one-third of our lives in bed, so it makes sense. What's not impressive, is that I absolutely cannot tell you how long I've had some of these pillows and I fear they may harken back to the days when Duran Duran was still in the Top Ten on Casey Kasem's weekly countdown.

Yes, I know that is gross and that pillows should be replaced every few years. I wash my sheets each week, yet my pillows? Not so much. Ick!

Studies have shown that the weight of a pillow doubles in three years due to the remains and excretions of dust mites (again, ick!). If that isn't enough to have you yanking out your coupons and running to Bed Bath and Beyond, I don't know what will.

So as you finish your late-Spring cleaning -- and I know that is high on your priority list (wink, wink) -- you might want to consider getting rid of those soft things you drool into each and every night. It won't be an improvement that anyone will notice, but you might just breathe a little bit easier. And don't forget to invest in those zipper encasements they sell to ward of allergies and the like. Even that small bit of protection goes a long way.

I hear you can often donate used cushions to an animal shelter. Apparently, those mites don't bother the four-legged among us so much.

And now that we're on the subject, how old is that mattress you're resting on?