Food for Thought Friday

If you've ever visited the site Zappos to score shoes or clothing that's easy to return online, you may be getting more than you bargained for.

This week, the retailer (owned by Amazon) announced that they'd been hacked and that sensitive information such as emails, passwords, addresses and phone numbers were swiped. According to the company, no credit card information was stolen but since many of us tend to use the same password for multiple accounts, you may want to think twice about this -- or at the very least, update your Zappos account with new information.

Sadly, this type of things is becoming more and more common. This theft affected a customer-base of some 24 million people. If you were one of them, take steps now to save yourself more headaches later. (and snag that cute pair of boots while you're at it!)

Food for Thought Friday

It's a new year and perhaps we could all use a refresher course in those ole' CPR skills. If you haven't taken a class since your high school days, things have changed a bit. And for those of you who wince at the thought of locking lips with someone in the throes of an emergency, take heart, the new guidelines feature a "hands on" approach, no spit-swapping required.

For a humorous, yet very informative and memorable tutorial, check out this YouTube Post, sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Love the soundtrack!

A New Definition for "baby powder?"

If you thought a little stray poop was the only thing lingering on those nasty public changing tables, think again! A study from the UK paper, The Daily Telegraph, found a substance that is even more disturbing.

Click here to read the recent article.

Cereal Killer

When I was growing up, my mom had a rule I thought was cruel and unusual punishment. She absolutely refused to buy any cereal in which sugar was listed as one of the top three ingredients. As a typical kid, I often railed against this stringent decree and took it upon myself to gorge on these forbidden cereals whenever I spent the night out. I vowed that when I became a mom, I wouldn't perpetrate such injustice on my own children.

Fast-forward some 30+ years and I daresay, I've taken my mom's dietary rules to a whole new level!

Which is why I was especially dismayed to read the latest study from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) related to the health of cereals marketed to kids (or should I say, lack of health).

The study found that many of the top selling cereals, often marketed as "nutritious" are anything but -- filled with enough sugar, fat and/or sodium to rival treats like cookies and cake. Topping the list of the worst offenders was Kellogg's Honey Smacks (lest we forget it was actually named "Sugar Smacks" when I was a kid).

Don't be fooled by the honey hype. Honey Smacks packs 56 percent sugar by weight and one cup contains more sugar than a Twinkie (20grams vs 18grams). And by the way, the first three ingredients of Honey Smacks are sugar, wheat and corn syrup. Actual honey is listed as making up less than two percent of the total. Nearly 50 other name-brand cereal portions are filled with as much sugar as three Chip's Ahoy cookies, including Honey Nut Cheerios and Apple Jacks.

I'll admit, I'm a big label reader when it comes to food my kids eat. But I know I'm not the norm and it so sad that unsuspecting parents are being duped into giving their kids unhealthy fare to start their day (yes, I'm talking to you, Nutella, with your misleading commercials!)

This is just another reminder that you can't believe what you see when it comes to your kids' health. Take time to read more than just the splashy graphics on the front of the box. Just because a product touts that it contains "whole grain" or is even organic, doesn't mean that tells the whole story. Check out the ingredients yourself to get a scoop on the real nutrition and you'll really get your kids' days off to a good start!

To read more on the EWG cereal study, click here.

Food for Thought Friday

Think all things "Disney" are expensive? Think again!

Did you know that you are entitled to a replacement dvd if one of your Disney flicks gets damaged in any way? Yep, and it's nearly free.

According to Disney's DVD/Blu Ray Help Center, all you have to do is send in the movie that needs replacing and for $7 per DVD and $9 per Blu Ray, they will send you a brand new one, no questions asked.

So, the next time your disc gets mangled, crushed, or otherwise destroyed, assure your kids it's a-ok.

You can only take advantage of this program one time per calendar year. For more information on this generous offer, click here.

Clear the air - naturally

A few weeks ago, I took my son to one of those kid-friendly haircut places. It was late in the day and they had started tidying up the place in anticipation of closing. As we paid, the owner walked casually around the place, spraying an aerosol air-cleaner. I nearly chocked to death on the noxious smell. Even my three-year-old started complaining and we both tried to hold our breath until we could run out to the car.

I absolutely abhor products that aim to cover up smells by polluting the air with toxic chemicals. Before I became a mom, I used to embrace all things Lysol, but now that I know what some of these cleaning and disinfecting products contain, I only break them out when absolutely necessary.

Which is why I was intrigued by a new product I came across while perusing the web for holiday gifts. I have no first-hand experience with this product, but it has piqued my interest. It's a portable, inexpensive, all-natural air purifier, in the form of small linen bag filled with bamboo charcoal. According to the literature, it's been used for centuries in Japan to literally, "clear the air" of allergens and odor-causing bacteria. Each small pouch works for two years and covers an area of about 90 feet. With a price point of just $10, it's worth a try!

For more information, visit uncommon goods.

I Gotta Hand it to You

I know you're all very busy getting prepped for the holidays and winter break, but I'm sure you are aware (because you marked your calendars) that it is Handwashing Awareness Week! (What.... you don't have a party planned to celebrate???)

Anyhoo....as you may or may not realized, washing your hands is the single best way to prevent illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), frequent hand washing has the potential to save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. Yep, it's true. And amazingly, this miracle remedy resides right in your very own bathroom.

However, as simple as this may seem, studies have shown that very few people actually use soap when they wash their hands. Ick! This is especially important because the CDC also found that proper hand washing is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, which cause more than 3.5 million deaths worldwide in children under the age of five every year.

So, do yourself a favor and review what your parents (hopefully) taught you back in Kindergarten. There is actually a right way to wash, if you want to get rid of germs. Flu season is upon us and I for one, don't like to take any chances. Besides, what's 20 seconds out of your life if it saves you a week or more of sniffles, coughs and a house full of miserable kids.

In case you need a little review, here's what the CDC considers the most effective method of washing:

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry. 

See....now was that so hard? Take a peek at your kids sometime soon to make sure they are getting it right too. After all, nobody wants to spend winter break in bed.

At least not for the wrong reasons!