Thursday, July 29, 2010

CPR Guidelines for Infants, Children and Adults

Almost on a daily basis, I feel a little scared and guilty that I am not 100% sure on the proper CPR procedures for infants and children...or adults for that matter.  I try to run what I know through my head over and over again to make sure if ever in the circumstance, CPR would feel like second nature to me.  However, as the guidelines seem to change on a yearly basis, I decided it would be be important to post a good reference for all of you.

To view CPR for infants, children, and adults, go to www.firstaidweb.com or click here.
Baby Center online also has a great illustrated guideline for infant first aid for choking and CPR.  You can view that here.

I know that when Park was under the age of 1, there were a few times that he was choking on food where I quickly had to remember in my head the first step in CPR.  Putting him face down on my lap and a few back blows was as far as we ever got but who knows what would have happened if I hadn't done that!

In addition to the web sites above, there are many CPR and First Aid classes available.  You can contact your local fire dept. and ask for more information on upcoming classes which are usually free to the public.

~Curious Mommy

Friday, July 23, 2010

Yoreganics Review and Giveaway- ends 8/7

Like the soap used during the simple days of yore, Yoreganic's laundry products and lip balm are all natural and prove environmentally responsible and effective.  I had the opportunity to review Yoreganic's trio sampler of soap nuts, stain remover, and brightens and whightens as well as their yummy smelling lip balm.
Yoreganic's laundry soap nuts come from the dried fruit berries that fall from the soapberry tree.  The soapberries contain saponin, which is the ingredient used as soap to wash, soften, and remove odor from your laundry. 
Soap nuts are hypoallergenic, sustainable, biodegradable, antimicrobial, and best of all...non-toxic!
They are so safe to use that you can wash all your baby's laundry (including cloth diapers) too without the fear of harmful ingredients.
Soap nuts can be used in standard and high efficiency washing machines. 
For directions in using Yoreganic's soap nuts, click here.
Yoreganic's stain remover can remove anything from red wine to ink to grass stains.  Hypoallergenic, biodegradable, non-toxic and totally organic, Yoreganic's stain remover is also safe to use on all of your laundry items.  It smells refreshing and is made from all natural, simple ingredients.  Ingredients include:
  • saponified organic coconut, olive, and jojoba oils
  • organic aloe vera
  • organic blend of essential oils
  • rosemary extract
Yoreganic's stain remover is a wonderfully simple way to remove those troublesome stains and not feel guilty about the product you are using while doing so.
Yoreganic's brightens and whitens  is a great way to brighten your whites and remove stains without having to use harmful chlorine bleach.  Also environmentally safe, biodegradable and non-toxic, brightens and whitens  worked really well on washing our whites and removing food and dirt stains from our laundry items.  It can also safely be used on standard and HE washing machines.
Yoreganic's lip balm  is currently working in healing my dry, cracked lips that seem so inevitable living in my dry desert environment.  With a minty scent, Yoreganics lip balm contains only a few simple ingredients:


  • organic palm oil
  • beeswax
  • organic extra virgin olive oil
  • organic peppermint and spearmint oils
  • organic hemp seed oil
  • vitamin E
Isn't it great when you know the ingredients of a product you are using?! And so simple...just like products used in the days of yore...


Buy it:  You can purchase these or any other Yoreganic's products here.
Win it:  Yoreganics is graciously giving away the same items above (lip balm and laundry trio sampler) to one lucky winner!
***REMEMBER: POST A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY***
***Also, remember to leave your email address with your comments so you can be reached*** 
Subscribe to my blog (located on the left side of my home page) and tell me another product of Yoreganics you would like to try.  This is MANDATORY to enter the giveaway.

You also have the opportunity for additional entries (one each) if you do any of the following:  
  • follow The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Google Follower
  • follow The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Twitter
  • retweet this giveaway and add the link to your post (one entry per day)
  • follow/like The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Facebook
  • tell me something else you found interesting about Yoreganic's products
  • follow/like Yoreganics on Facebook
  • follow Yoreganics on Twitter
  • tell me about Yoreganics YouTube page 
This giveaway ends Saturday, August 7th at midnight.


Good luck to you all!!!


~Mommy Bridget

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Low Entries for Maggie's Pureland Giveaway-ends 7/25

We have very low entries for our Maggie's Pureland laundry soap giveaway.  Click here to enter if you are interested in sampling an environmentally and socially responsible laundry product!  I LOVE Maggie's Pureland for our laundry and cleaning needs!

~Mommy Bridget

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Large Studies Link Asthma And Air Pollution To Suicide Risk

Click below to read the full article:

Large Studies Link Asthma And Air Pollution To Suicide Risk

Thanks Cherise!

Mommy Bridget

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Going Garbage FREE for a Year

I'm not sure who of you have heard of the couple from Oregon who plan to live garbage free for a year but I really want to share this news with you.  It will be very interesting to see how their next year goes!

~Curious Mommy

July 6, 2009 Press Release: 

Dallas, Oregon couple attempts to live garbage-free for one year
Dallas, Oregon – Amy and Adam Korst, both 25-year-old young professionals, have challenged themselves to live for one year without creating any garbage destined for the landfill.  From July 6, 2009 – July 6, 2010, the couple will take part in the ultimate Green Movement experiment. 
Dubbing their challenge the Green Garbage Project, the Korsts have taken a hard look at every aspect of their lives to determine whether it is truly possible to live for a year without producing any trash.  Using the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – and several other strategies, they believe it is.
After learning that the average American produces 4.5 pounds of garbage a day, according to the EPA, the couple decided that one way to make a measurable difference to the planet would be to drastically reduce the amount of trash they generated each year.  The Korsts consider themselves a fairly average American couple who wanted to do more for the environment– Amy works as a high school English teacher in Willamina, and Adam works as the photo editor for the Polk County Itemizer Observer
Prior to the Green Garbage Project, the couple tried to be as “green” as possible by eating locally, buying organic, fair-trade and cruelty-free products, and taking a variety of other small steps to reduce their environmental impact.  Avid outdoor enthusiasts, the couple believes in the need to “tread lightly” and reduce one’s impact on the environment to preserve its beauty for future generations.   
Now, they take this environmental commitment one giant step further.  To make their trash-free goal a reality, they will consider how much garbage an item will generate before purchasing it.  If the product generates trash, the couple will find a trash-free alternative or do without.  Their market research suggests that, if they look hard enough, there is a trash-free option for practically everything.
The couple has discovered that many types of materials are recyclable beyond curbside collections and that recyclable options exist for many products that traditionally generated trash.  Beyond recycling, the couple plans to shop in bulk, try their hand at making items such as cheese and soap, start a compost pile, re-home possessions to thrift stores, and employ reusable containers and bags.
The Korsts will be blogging weekly about their project in addition to writing a book on the subject.  Their progress can be tracked on their Web site, www.greengarbageproject.com.  The Web site also explains in detail how and why the couple has created the Green Garbage Project and lists helpful tips and Internet links for those interested in learning more. 
The couple does acknowledge that they may be forced to generate a small amount of trash over the course of the year and will feel their project has been successful if they fill no more than a plastic grocery sack in 365 days.  Specific rules guiding their trickier trash challenges can also be found on the Web site.      
Please contact Amy for more information by e-mailing amy@greengarbageproject.com.  Amy and Adam are available for interviews, guest blogging, and freelance writing and photography assignments.  

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Maggies Pureland Soap Nuts Review and Giveaway-ends 7/25




Maggie's Pureland Review and Giveaway-ends 7/25




I had another wonderful opportunity to review a laundry soap that is more pure and environmental friendly than most you will find on the supermarket shelves.  Maggie's Pureland offers consumers a biodegradable and hypoallergenic product completely free of chemicals.  Their products are made from the dried soap nuts that grow directly from the Chinese Soapberry tree.  Even better, they also created a liquid soap made from the soap nuts, as well as lavender, lemongrass, and tea tree essential oils! It smells so yummy!
For 5000 years, humans have been safely using Soap Nuts as a cleanser.  Because of its natural sudsing power. Soap Nuts can be used for all your laundry needs.  100% all natural and biodegradable, Maggie's Pureland is safe to use for everyone in the family...including your little ones!  The soap nuts are super concentrated, so they can be used over and over again.  Just one 10.5 oz. box of Maggie's Pureland Soap Nuts can be used for up to 80 loads of laundry!  And for the price of $18.99, that's quite the bargain!


Maggie's Pureland not only cares about the importance of chemical free laundry products in your home, they care about the families in the Indian and Indonesian jungles that harvest and provide the Soap Nuts.  By purchasing Maggie's Pureland's products, you are providing the families that harvest the Soap Nuts with fair income.

Uses:
  • Made for the use in regular and HE washing machines, Maggie's Pureland Soap Nuts can be used as a laundry soap, a natural fabric softener, and for washing silk and wool fabrics.  Maggie's Pureland Soap Nuts laundry liquid works the same as the Soap Nuts but is made for those who prefer a liquid soap.   
  •  Maggie's Pureland is safe to use for all of your baby items, including your cloth diapering systems!  
  •  It can also be used as a skin and body cleanser. 
  • It is safe to use as a soap for your furry animal family members.  
  •  In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Soap Nuts are used traditionally to treat skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis.  
  •  The soap nuts can be used as a fruit and vegetable wash.
  • And you can also use it as a surfactant cleaner!  I used it to wipe down my bathroom from floor to ceiling, without the worry of my son in the room I might add, and loved the natural cleaning power of the Soapberry nuts with the essential oils.  The lemongrass scent is the best!  It left my bathroom smelling oh so fresh...
(Note: Although the name contains the word "nut", the Soapberry Nut is actually a fruit so those with nut allergies can safely use this product.)


Environmental Impact (according to Maggie's Pureland):

Our Factory is a Tree – Preserving Trees 
And it is a wild tree.  Maggie’s Soap Nuts are harvested from trees growing wild in the forests of India, Indonesia and Nepal.  The trees are naturally occurring.  No fertilizer or pesticides are used.  Soap nuts have been used as soap for thousands of years.  The booming of the chemical industries after World War II brought low priced detergents filled with fragrance, dyes and optical brighteners.  These “modern” chemicals drowned out the old fashioned organic ways.  Soap Nut trees became more valuable as lumber than as soap producing trees.  Many trees were (and still are) cut for lumber and to clear ground for coconut and other crops. 
Your purchase of Maggie’s Soap Nuts provides income to thousands of folks in our producing areas.  And your purchase saves thousands of trees.  No one cuts down a tree that gives fruit every year. 
Our Factory is a Tree – Processing Maggie’s Soap Nuts 
Maggie’s Soap Nuts really aren’t processed.  We take the seeds out by hand and let the fruit dry in the sun.  When it is dried, we put it in a recyclable box and send it to market.  It is natural, wholly natural.
There is no waste.  No waste water, no toxic byproducts.  Everything is used.  We even make jewelry and “marbles” from the little hard black seeds.  All packaging is either recycled, recyclable, or re-usable. 
Our Factory is a Tree – Carbon Footprint 
Our product is shipped to the United States and Canada by the lowest carbon cost methods available.  Then we fully offset the carbon cost by doing the obvious.  We plant trees.  We plant forests.  Join us.  Buy Maggie’s Soap Nuts and you will help plant a tree.  
Trees for the Future 
Soap nut trees require a totally frost free environment.  As they can fruit over 100 years, they have to have a very special climate.  This climate exists in three tiny areas of the United States.  In 2007 we started our first seedlings and in 2008 we will plant our first trees.  They should bear first fruit in 2016 and continue to after the year 2100.  The will be providing soap, shade and sequestering carbon for many generations to come.

Directions:

It is very important to note why the soap nuts do not suds.  Most laboratory cleaners contain foaming agents to “trick” consumers that the product is working.  In truth, the quantity of bubbles does not tell you if a cleaner is effective!  Maggie’s Soap Nuts keep you clean without phony bubbles.  Because they are low sudsing, Soap Nuts are ideal for H.E. and front loader machines. 

Click here for directions of how to use Maggie's Pureland Soap Nuts.

Suggestions:
I love using Maggie's Pureland for my laundry needs AND as a surfactant cleaner.  I recommend noting that you can use it as both on the bottle somewhere.

Buy it: Click here to view products and pricing to purchase online OR you can purchase Maggie's Pureland products in over 900 stores nationwide. 

Win it:  Maggies Pureland is giving away your choice of either an 8 load liquid sample or a 5 load raw soap nut sample!

To Enter:
***REMEMBER: POST A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY***
***Also, remember to leave your email address with your comments so you can be reached*** 
Subscribe to my blog (located on the left side of my home page) and tell me another product of Maggie's Pureland you would like to try.  This is MANDATORY to enter the giveaway. 

You also have the opportunity for additional entries (one each) if you do any of the following:
  • follow The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Google Follower
  • follow The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Twitter
  • retweet this giveaway and add the link to your post
  • follow/like The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Facebook
  • tell me something else you found interesting about Maggie's Pureland products
  • follow/like Maggie's Pureland on Facebook 
  • follow Maggie's Pureland on Twitter
This giveaway ends Sunday, July 25th at midnight.


Good luck to you all!!!


~Mommy Bridget

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Thousand Hills Golf Resort Review




Thousand Hills Golf Resort Review






Fourth of July weekend, our family made the long trip to Branson, Missouri for a weekend of family and holiday celebrations.  We were lucky enough to stay at the Thousand Hills Golf Resort in Branson where we stayed in condominiums in the "Majestic" area of the resort located along the water of Table Rock Lake.  What a beautiful setting to host a memorable weekend with the ones we love!

Thousand Hills Golf Resort, a premier Branson destination, has been in beautiful Branson since 1991 with the introduction of their golf course and their first condominiums.  Thousand Hills has everything you would ever need to spend a vacation, host a meeting, relax and play in one of their beautiful townhomes, a rustic cabin, or a condominium.  You can even own your very own piece of luxury with the purchase of a Thousand Hills condo or cabin.
  
The condos our family stayed in, like I said, are located just off the lake in the "Majestic" area of Thousand Hills, and they are BEAUTIFUL.  Each condominium is a little bit different from the next...based on the owner's personal taste.  They have beautiful furnishings that create a cozy setting for you to relax and enjoy your time in Branson.  The three bedroom condos have a beautiful balcony from the top floor bedroom that overlooks the open kitchen/dining room/living room space.  With tall ceilings and grand rooms, the condos were difficult to leave to say the least.  The furniture is beautiful, and along with the gorgeous decorative accents are stunning views of the lake and beyond.  The kitchens are fully equipped with new appliances and everything a cook could ever need to feed a hungry family.  (My family made big dinners for everyone each night and having the space made it really special.) 

My favorite part of the condos...the sunrooms!  The views are spectacular!  And to top it off, since each condo is privately owned, the owners left a journal for all who stay in their home away from home to write a little something for the next guest to enjoy!
  
And for all of you wondering if Thousand Hills has any green practices...they do!  Although they wish to have more, they have put in place the use of greener products such as recycled tissue paper, paper towels, and toilet paper.  For a resort with 300 plus condos, townhomes, and cabins, this certainly adds up to make a big difference!  I only wish more resorts such as Thousand Hills would catch on and do the same.


We are so lucky to have found Thousand Hills as our place to vacate and gather our loved ones for a relaxing getaway.


On a few afternoons, while some of our husbands and sons walked down to the lake from our condos to fish (successfully I might add!), some of us utilized the pool on the property.  Did I tell you they also have tennis courts?  AND an exercise facility?  Well they do!
And while many of us remained in our beautiful condos, swam in the pool, or walked down to the lake, others went golfing at their premier golf course.
Thousand Hill's Golf Course Facts and Amenities:
  • Golf Course Designed by Robert E. Cupp; Michael Riley, Architect
  • All Fairways are Wide & Immaculately Manicured Zoysia Grass
  • Roughs are Medium Cut Fescue
  • Large U.S.G.A. Bentgrass Greens
  • Yamaha Carts with GPS at no additional charge
  • Daily Fee Branson Golf Course
  • Open to the Public
  • 18 Hole Golf Course - par 64
  • One par 5 Hole - eight par 4 Holes - nine par 3 Holes
  • Slope Ratings: Blue 125, White 116, Red 113
  • Complete Pro Shop for all your Branson golf accessories
  • Golf Professional on Staff-PGA Professional, Dan Davis
  • Rental Clubs Available
  • Golf Clubhouse meeting facilities
  • Mulligan's Snack Bar & Grill Open April - November  
Thousand Hills has a beautiful golf course for all the golf enthusiasts out there.  Although a bit shorter compared to others, Thousand Hill's golf course is challenging enough for the experienced golfer.  The terrain of the course has it all...from smooth to rocky hills, to water and trees.
 
Thousand Hills is also proud to introduce their new concierge ticketing service for the convenience of their guests.  With all of the activities, shows, and places to see and be in Branson, this service makes it a one stop place for all your Branson needs!

I want to thank Thousand Hills Golf Resort for the opportunity to review their property and all of its amenities.  What a beautiful setting for a weekend getaway of family fun.  I highly recommend looking into Thousand Hills Golf Resort for your next family getaway.

Bridget James

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Toys on the Go

Fourth of July weekend, our family made a long trip to beautiful Branson, Missouri for a relaxing family vacation/reunion.  As many of you know, traveling with our little ones can be a bit crazy. Not only is traveling stressful with little ones (in my case horrendous...BIG apology to all of those on board the Delta flight to and from Kansas City), but what comes with traveling with children is all of their necessities to make the trip more comfortable.

Packing List for Park included:
  • his blankies
  • his pillow with the Sesame Street pillowcase
  • his puppy stuffed animal
  • his night projector
  • his sleepy music
  • Portable DVD player
  • movies
  • Game player
  • SNACKS!
  • car seat
  • Tylenol
  • Motrin
  • soap
  • diapers
  • and on and on...
Then we worry about entertaining him while we are away.  How are we going to fit toys into our luggage?  And a stroller would sure be nice while we are strolling the city.  Where is he going to sleep?  The resort doesn't offer cribs, only pack and plays which he outgrew a year ago.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!  What are we going to do?  The resort we stayed at recommended a local company to help with just this problem.  They are called Toys on the Go and they were our saviors:)

Toys on the Go is a locally owned company located in Branson, Missouri that rents all of your baby/toddler equipment needs.  Products that can be rented from Toys on the Go include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • regular strollers and jogging strollers
  • cribs
  • pack n' plays
  • high chairs
  • tons of toys for many ages
  • bedding (for girls and boys) washed in allergen free detergent which was so great!
  • car seats for all ages
  • swings for wee ones
  • play mats
  • bouncy seats
  • Bumbo seats
  • electronics
  • sports equipment
Toys on the Go literally has everything you would ever need!  And let me just say their services were so handy.  Park was able to sleep in a crib like his own next to our bed with his very own baby boy bedding! He slept soundly...as did we!  And the big basket of toys was a huge hit with not just Park.  All of the children at our reunion were entertained for hours.  Best of all, they deliver directly to your hotel or wherever you are staying during your Branson visit. Anything you rent can be waiting for you when you arrive to your place of stay.  How great is that?!  Toys on the Go sure saved the day.

Below is their contact information if you are planning a trip/event in the Branson area:
417-239-6803
www.toysonthego.com

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend,

Mommy Bridget


Friday, July 9, 2010

How to Wash and Reuse Plastic Storage Bags | eHow.com

We all know the benefits of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags.  Cloth IS the better choice.  But how about the times when we need to pack food and snacks for our little ones to go?  What is your method for storing food on the go?

I must admit, I love the handiness of zip lock storage bags.  We use them quite often in our household...but we also REUSE them.  So after a good friend (thanks Cari!) brought to my attention this great topic to discuss, I thought I would post a little something about the conservation of plastic storage bags.

After using plastic storage bags, and as long as the bags didn't contain something that could harbor strong bacterial growth (meat, dairy), I soak them in warm-hot soapy water for 15 minutes.  Then I wash them thoroughly with my soap scrubber to ensure they get clean.  Rinse.  Afterward, I dry them by placing them over a cup to make sure they dry all the way through.

I also found a handy "how to" on Ehow.com.  Click the link below to view:
How to Wash and Reuse Plastic Storage Bags | eHow.com

There are even plastic bag drying racks out there to purchase.  This one to the right can be purchased through Amazon.com.  Pretty neat huh?!

So if you are feeling guilty about your plastic storage bag love affair then don't fret, REUSE!
 

~Curious Mommy

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Nifty Napy $35 Gift Certificate Winner!

Congratulations to the winner, Jen S. of the Nifty Nappy $35 Gift Certificate!!!

Thank you to all for entering and stay tuned for upcoming reviews/giveaways.

~Mommy Bridget

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy 4th of July


Happy 4th of July to you all!  I hope you are all spending this holiday with those you love and remember how lucky we are in this country to have the freedoms we have.  I truly appreciate all that we have been given, the endless opportunities to speak, to give, to do, to enjoy.  Thank you to those who make our freedoms possible!

Sincerely,

Mommy Bridget

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Just a Few Days Left...Nifty Nappy GIveaway ends 7/6

Just a few days left to enter the Nifty Nappy $35 gift certificate!!!

Click here to enter.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Garden Delight

My family was able to eat from our garden for the very first time last week! 
This has to be the most beautiful red leaf lettuce I've ever laid my eyes on (not to mention delicious:)!!!  There aren't words to describe the satisfaction of growing our own food from seeds...

~Mommy Bridget