This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cafe Well. All opinions are 100% mine.
Since it's a New Year, many of us have some very specific goals in mind. Many just happen to deal with personal health and wellness, both physically and mentally. Whether your goal is losing (or gaining) weight, getting fit, or even just learning how to relax more and stress less, many of these goals can be quite difficult to achieve due to lack of support, motivation, or incentives. Doing things all on your own can be a challenge! I know it's hard for me to get a work-out in when I am staring at my husband sitting on the couch watching TV and eating a ton of chocolatey, unhealthy snacks! I don't know a lot of people in my immediate area, and I am surrounded by babies 24/7, so it makes it difficult to meet and connect with other people who share similar fitness and health goals. Plus, I am painfully shy, so that doesn't help, either! That's why I was so excited to learn about Cafe Well. Cafe Well is a unique social network with one main focus: Getting and staying well! The Caféwell Community is there to address your needs, from chronic condition support, to healthy lifestyle tips and challenges. CaféWell understands how complex and difficult the health care system is to navigate. We make it easy to get the health information you need, when and where you want it. Users can blog about their progress, set goals, and even create challenges. There are even great discussion forums so you can get to know and interact with other Cafe Well members! As the importance of physical well-being and health is becoming more and more apparent to employers, many companies are offering their employees Wellness Programs. Some are successful, some aren't. Cafe Well has an amazing program called "Race to the Moom" that is offered to corporations that are looking for fun, effective ways to preserve the health and well-being of their employees. Progress is tracked by the use of wireless pedometers which encourages participants to get up and get moving! Since the start of Race to the Moon, the program has participants who have walked over 50 MILLION steps, and average 2.5 million steps a day. Race to the Moon encourages social networking to help encourage its members. You must be member of HealthAmerica and signup for Cafe Well to participate.
Even if you're not part of the corporate wellness programs available at Cafe Well, you can still sign up for free and enjoy the benefits of Cafe Well and interact with this amazing community while working towards your own personal wellness goals! This is a great place to make new friends and get the added push required to stay motivated and on the right track!
What challenge would you create on Cafe Well? I would love to create a fitness program that helps postpartum moms get their bodies back, even if they're surrounded by little ones all day! Another thing I'd love to see is a forum for those who suffer from self-esteem and body image issues and social anxiety.
Have you been to Cafe Well? What challenges would you like to see? I'd love to hear about them!
1 Comment
WARNING: This post contains TMI! Now that 2012 is officially here, and the Holiday season is over, many people are talking about New Year's Resolutions. For many of people, myself included, weight loss and fitness is a priority. However, while the desire to shed a few pounds can be a good motivator in itself, sometimes that is easier said than done. It's hard to lose weight and keep it off, and it can be easy to get discouraged. One thing that can definitely kill motivation? The dreaded scale. Sure, a bathroom scale is a helpful tool to help keep one on track. After all, we all want visible proof that progress is being made, even before our clothing starts to fit differently. Seeing the numbers get smaller is incentive to keep going. But, if you're anything like me, seeing a physical number can be almost traumatic. If you're overweight, knowing exactly how much you weigh can be rather depressing. It can definitely kill self-esteem, which may lead to emotional eating and other behaviors that can completely sabotage any dieting efforts. Just imagine: You step onto the scale, see a number you hate, and out of self-pity, you grab that pint of Ben & Jerry's, and end up eating the whole darn thing. Sound familiar? I know I've been there before, and it's not a happy place. My Story: While I am no longer overweight at about 130 lbs and a size 6, I still have a love/hate relationship with the scale. I spent most of my teen and adult life being overweight, and still suffer from horribly low self-esteem and severe body image issues. My husband, who is absolutely wonderful, actually tells me that my eyeballs are "broken" and that I simply cannot seem to see myself clearly, the way other people do. When you've spent most of your life being called fat, it can really affect what you see when you look into the mirror. Add to that an incredibly abusive first marriage, paired with society's distorted view of beauty, and it's easy to actually believe you're never quite "good enough." My ex-husband basically brainwashed me into believing that, and even now, years later, I still suffer greatly from the after-effects of years of verbal and emotional abuse. My daughter, Sophie, just turned 2 on New Year's Eve. I can't believe how quickly she's grown! It seems like only yesterday that I looked at her sweet little face and held her for the very first time. Fast forward 2 years. Now, she can say most of her ABC's, is talking up a storm, and is always on the go. She dances, she sings, and she loves terrorizing...oops...playing with her brothers. She has a larger than life personality, and always lets you know what's on her mind. She's learning new things every day, and never ceases to amaze me with her clever nature and mischievous actions. I think it's safe to say, the sweet snuggle infant is no longer, and I have a very active, although just as sweet, toddler on my hands! One thing she has been expressing readiness for is potty training. She has started communicating when she's going, although it's generally after the fact, and she will even tug and pull at her diaper as soon as she's wet. She has even begun bringing me a diaper and some wipes when she needs a change. Didn't I tell you she's one smart little cookie? So I have decided it's time to start focusing on potty-training with Sophie. Sure, it can be a lengthy process, and there is no set age to begin. Every child is different, and they all learn and mature at different paces. The most important thing a parent can do to ensure success is to make sure that baby is ready for the change, both emotionally as well as physically. My oldest son, now almost 12, was adamantly opposed to potty-training until he was 3, despite my ongoing efforts. I tried EVERYTHING with him, from putting his favorite Teddy Bear on the potty, to rewarding him with stickers and hugs, to playing "Drown the Fruit Loops". He didn't go on the "Big Boy Potty" until he was ready. It happened in his own time, and that's exactly as it should be. Since each child is unique, it's best to look for clues that they're ready to begin this leap into greater independence. Trust me, when baby is ready, they will generally give certain signals as well as express an interest in their potty! One thing I have started doing with Sophie is giving her "naked time" and placing her potty in the room with us. This way, she is free to do what nature dictates without having to struggle with her clothing and diaper. Sure, this can be a messy way to begin, but it works for my daughter. I also put on a great DVD called "Once Upon A Potty: For Her" and allow her to watch this engaging video while having easy access to her own potty. She happily mimics Prudence, the cartoon character featured in the DVD, by sitting on her potty, too! We give her lots of encouragement as she learns what the potty is for, and when she sits on it, we clap and cheer her on. She hasn't gone to the restroom on the potty yet, but we're getting there, slowly but surely! There is nothing I love more after a stressful day than relaxing with my husband. We often have a nice dinner, along with a glass or two of wine. I wasn't always a wine drinker, but a company I have worked with many times now has changed that. Now I definitely enjoy the occasional glass of wine. I actually prefer Moscato, but also enjoy some reds. My husband on the other hand dislikes red wine altogether, and prefers to drink Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, or Riesling. This can lead to an all-out "Wine War" in my home, since our personal tastes are so very different when it comes to our wines. Part of the reason I have become a wine drinker is because of all of the recently discovered health benefits that can be found in red wine. Yes, wine can be GOOD for you, in moderation! Have you ever noticed that French people remain slim and enjoy good health, despite a high-fat diet? Well, studies suggest this may be due to the fact that the French are great lovers of wine. You see, wine, reds in particular, contain Reservatrol.Resveratrol is an extremely potent antioxidant (part of the family called polyphenols) found in certain fruits and vegetables. In nature, the highest concentration is found in grapes. I have to admit, I have always wanted to have a daughter. There's just something about little girls that makes my heart melt. Perhaps it's the old adage about Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice, or maybe it's just because I have always dreamed about having a pretty little girl to dress up in adorable dresses, tutus, and more. Sure, boys are great. I have two of them, and I love them immensely. However, you can't put a little man's hair up in pigtails and put him in a frilly dress. Well, I suppose you could, but that would just be wrong on so many different levels! So when I had my daughter, Sophia, 2 years ago, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Finally I would have a precious little princess to spoil! And spoiled she is, too! She's Mommy's Little Girl and Daddy's Little Princess, and she knows it. She has a larger than life personality and is quite the little diva. Luckily, my Sophie is the epitome of a "girly-girl" and she loves wearing dresses and other frilly, feminine clothing. Sophia was born on New Year's Eve. Since she happens to have such a special birth date, I knew I had to find a very special dress for her to wear on her 2nd birthday. I wanted to find a dress that perfectly captured her personality, with deep, rich colors and feminine details. For this occasion, no ordinary dress would do. It had to be extra special. I spent quite a lot of time looking online, and I stumbled upon a great online shop, Cuddle Boutique. Cuddle Boutique is a Mom-Owned business that was born when the owner, Kara Chase, was expecting her little princess, Olivia. She, like myself, couldn't wait to dress her little girl up in beautiful clothing and adorn her with girly accessories. She spent hours online looking for such products and realized that she has such passion for children's fashion, she should open her own boutique. As they say, the rest is history. Cuddle Boutique is Kara's labor of love, and each and every item offered is carefully hand-selected by Kara herself. Cuddle Boutique offers a wide variety of the top brands in children's fashion and accessories, such as Cupcakes and Pastries, Luna Luna, Joe's Jeans, just to name a few. Cuddle Boutique sells only items of the highest quality, including organic children's clothing, and they're sure to have something to fit every style and taste. If you like traditional pastels, Cuddle Boutique has got them. If you like things a little on the wild side, with bold colors and prints, they've got you covered there, too! Not only does Cuddle Boutique have apparel for little girls, they also carry a wide variety of boys' clothing and accessories as well. (I don't know about you, but it seems harder to find cute boys' clothing!) Cuddle Boutique is literally a one-stop shop for all of your children's apparel needs. They also provide exceptional customer service, so you can shop with confidence and rest assured that your Cuddle Boutique experience will be a pleasant one. Here are some of my personal favorites from Cuddle Boutique: _You may recall I reviewed a sleek, modern Jahgoo Potty a few months back. This 3-in-1 potty is not only incredibly versatile, it is also adored by my toddler and has made the beginning stages of potty training SO much easier! To refresh your memory about Jahgoo, please check out my previous review by clicking HERE.
Jahgoo products are brought to the market by Kastel International, the same company that offers Mutsy strollers! All of their products are innovative, modern, and functional, making them a natural choice for families with small children. Kastel International brings high-quality, modern, European baby and child products to the United States. Its featured brands, Mutsy, Jahgoo, BabyZoo and Babyhome offer well designed products that make a difference in the everyday lives of babies and parents. Today through January 31st, , Kastel International is offering a 20 percent coupon on their Facebook page on any purchase from their BabyZoo and Jahgoo lines. BabyZoo is a line of innovative sleep aids for children and Jahgoo, a collection of modern designed bathroom items. To take advantage of these savings, become a fan and claim your coupon by clicking the photo below: I have a whole slew of lucky winners to announce! Winners have all been e-mailed and will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prizes. If I don't hear from a winner in that time frame, I will be forced to redraw. Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and be sure to check back often for more great giveaways!
Without further ado, here are my winners! Congrats! BrilliantFX: Lisa Aerobie: Linda G. Oregon Trail: Susan Eddie Bauer: Sabrina Centrum: Sandy B. Zarbee's: Amanda A. Kikkoman: Hoa L. Purex: Dani Lisa Melissa One hurdle many children have to face, especially during early years, is a fear of the dark. With creepy things that go bump in the night, as well as odd sounding creaks and groans, can you blame them? For many kids, they worry about the Boogie Man in the closet or a monster under the bed. As an adult, these things sound silly. But for a small child, these fears are very, very real. Unfortunately, such fears can cause bedtime problems and sleepless nights for kids as well as parents. Night lights have always been one solution to the problem. Having a soft glow to illuminate a child's surroundings can be quite comforting and help lull them into a comfortable, restful night's sleep. But there are problems surrounding traditional night lights. For one, they are generally plugged into an electrical outlet in the wall. Curious toddlers and outlets do not mix. Trust me here. My oldest, who is now almost 12, loved trying to put scissors and more into the electrical outlets, much to my terror. Yes, he could pry the outlet covers off. He was resourceful, even at an early age. Another issue with traditional night lights is the fact that they tend to get extremely hot, posing a burn hazard to curious little tots. Sure, you might think it's fine because a child may still be in their crib, but kids can climb, and may escape the safety of the crib when you least expect it. In a darkened room, they may be drawn to the comforting glow of a night light and may suffer injuries by grabbing at it. If you ask me, traditional night lights in a child's room are far too risky, and the potential hazards far outweigh the positives. That's why I was so excited to learn about the night lights from KinderGlo. These aren't your ordinary night lights. How are they different? Simple! They are made specifically with children in mind! KinderGlo night lights come in a wide variety of cute, whimsical characters, such as a friendly elephant, a happy hippo, an adorable teddy bear, and even a peaceful angel, just to name a few. There are even a couple of non-threatening looking dinosaurs for the budding paleontologists in your life! (And what little boy doesn't love dinosaurs?!) Good looks aside, what really makes KinderGlo night lights special are how they're made. These awesome little lights are made of completely safe, kid-friendly materials that do not overheat...ever! No burn hazards here! As a matter of fact, these night lights can safely be held and snuggled by children with no worries at all! They are also BPA and lead free, and are carefully packaged with 100% recyclable materials. These huggable, lovable night lights produce a comforting, illuminating glow in a rainbow of soothing colors. You can choose your child's favorite color or set it to an ongoing color-changing mode, all with the click of a button. You can even set it to automatically shut off after 30 minutes, or allow it to remain on all night long for those tots that may take a little longer to doze off. This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine. For the past year, Walgreens has been in negotiations with Express Scripts, a middle-man between the pharmacy and various employers and health plans, who paid for their customer's prescription drugs. Unfortunately, due to the high demands of Express Scripts, who wanted total control over what fees would be reimbursed and even what drugs could be labeled as generic, Walgreens was unable to negotiate their contract while keeping the well-being of their valued customers in mind. Walgreens did everything in their power to try and negotiate, but could not meet the demands of Express Scripts. Therefore, their contract with Express Scripts expired in December of 2011. Who Will Be Affected By the Changes? These developments are affecting many patients using Express Scripts who have been using Walgreens pharmacies. You should check with your local Walgreens pharmacist to see what changes, if any, you should expect. These changes will only affect those with specific prescription plans. You can check the back of your prescription insurance cards. If it does not say "Express Scripts", you will not be affected. Unfortunately, one area of the population that is being greatly impacted by these changes is the United States Military. Our service men and women are serviced by Tricare, who utilizes Express Scripts. Walgreens offered Express Scripts a guarantee that it would match or beat the average costs of all the other Tricare pharmacies in an effort to prevent those serving our country from being caught in the middle. Unfortunately Express Scripts rejected the efforts made by Walgreens. The situation between Walgreens and Express Script is causing nothing but a hassle for many patients. They are being forced to drive further to fill their prescriptions and are not seeing any increased savings. As a matter of fact, Express Scripts even projected that there would be no savings passed on to customers as a result of this situation. Customers are frustrated and irritated, and for good reason. This is a lose-lose situation, overall. What is Walgreens Doing About It? They are offering a special discount on annual membership for its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club: Other benefits include: How Can You Continue to Support Your Local Walgreens Pharmacies? Support Walgreens and stay updated by liking Walgreens on Facebook and by following Walgreens on Twitter. (I've been a fan for quite some time, and they often have great promotions, too!) Walgreens values its customers and will continue to strive to keep their best interests in mind, both at the local level as well as in their online community! Today it will be a bit quiet around here, and for good reason: Xander is a year old today! I can't believe how quickly his first year has flown by. It seems like only yesterday that he was born. It's amazing to see how much he's grown and the sweet little guy he's turned out to be. It's funny....When we first learned we were expecting another baby, I had just had Sophie 3 months before. I hate to say it now, but I was not at all happy about having back-to-back pregnancies and c-sections 12 months apart. It took quite awhile to get used to the idea. But of course, as soon as I met my little boy, he stole my heart completely and changed my life forever.
Xander Eric, you are the love of my life. Your sweet smile and mellow attitude are simply amazing, and I love watching you grow and learn new things. You're such a blessing and I am so lucky to be your Mommy. You are, and always will be, incredibly loved. Happy Birthday, little man! Today will be spent loving on my baby and giving his first official taste of cake! I will be back later on with some more awesome reviews and even maybe a giveaway or two, but today is all about my baby. Hope you all have a fantastic day! |
PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
|