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Halfway between lunch and the end of the work day, do you crash? Do you get tired, find it hard to focus, and have to resist the temptation to hit up the coffee pot or the vending machine for a sugar and caffeine fix to power through? Many people experience the dreaded “3 p.m. crash,” but here are some tips to get you back on track naturally, no energy drinks required.

Think Back to Lunch

What did you eat for lunch today? If you had a sandwich, pasta, pizza, or another meal heavy on carbohydrates, you may be setting yourself up for a crash. Carbohydrates are good sources of quick energy, but once your body burns through them, you get tired, hungry, and potentially irritable. Make sure you’re eating whole grains whose additional fiber slow down digestion and regulate your blood sugar. Try to incorporate some protein and fat which help you stay full longer, too. (continue reading…)

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Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and we all want to find the perfect gift that is just the right combination of unique and meaningful. Read on for some new twists on mother’s day gifts that truly embrace the unique gift giving spirit. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - arekmalang

You are probably one of those women who looked gorgeous and radiant while you were pregnant, aren’t you? You probably only gained weight in your belly and no one could even tell you were pregnant until you were six months along. Did you wear your regular jeans until you were eight months pregnant using the rubber band technique? I bet you did. I bet you don’t even know what I’m talking about when I say varicose veins, hemorrhoids, stretch marks, heartburn and excessive flatulence. Are you one of those women who enjoyed your pregnancy so much that you practically start lactating just thinking about being pregnant again?

If so, we have nothing in common. I was one of those ladies that took a pregnancy test at six weeks and immediately looked pregnant. Except that I got pregnant everywhere except my belly first. I think my butt was the most pregnant of all. I kept asking my midwife to check for a heartbeat back there, because I was convinced I was having some sort of anatomically abnormal pregnancy where I was carrying a couple of extra babies in my rear end. (continue reading…)

Men get breast cancer, too, but the emphasis of breast cancer awareness on women can overlook the risk to the men in our lives. Here are two videos that explain the risks and signs of breast cancer in men, and how men can perform a breast self-exam.

©iStockphoto.com - joanek

I was the weird kid. You know what I’m talking about. I was the kid who wore homemade clothes and ate strange, unrecognizable foods that emerged out of dark containers, while the rest of the kids pulled up the collars on their Izod polos and ate fluffy white bread sandwiches. While the other girls in my class were at Brownie meetings, I was attending socialist freedom rallies or making up fable skits for the viewing pleasure of my sister because we weren’t allowed to watch television.

Don’t get me wrong. With all my heart, I wanted to be a Girl Scout. But when I tried to join the same Brownie troop that a bunch of kids from my class at school joined, I was told that the troop had reached capacity. I wonder why? (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - anouchka

Recently, I found I had more stress in my life than normal.  Having the kids out of school, meant more time together, adding summer activities meant more running around and having them at home also meant more home cooked meals.  As the weeks went on the pressure of keeping up increased and I seemed to have lost the order and control I normally keep in running a house with three children.  I had very little time left to work on my own business and no time at all to fit in a workout, spend time with my husband and be fun.  So after 4 weeks of running this marathon, I snapped and needed a break.

Have you felt this way?

I had my husband take over for a day and I left the house to clear my head and gather my thoughts.  Being away was exactly what I needed to gain control and be a GreenDivaMom again. So, sitting by the pool, with a laptop in my hands I put a plan of action in hand to get back on track. (continue reading…)

Thinking about conceiving when you’re over 35 can be scary with increased risks of birth defects like Down Syndrome and Neutral Tube Defects to name just two, but with preparation months before you even think of conceiving, you can increase the chances of a healthier pregnancy and baby. Follow the steps below and your doctor’s orders and you will be better prepared for your pregnancy. Plan and Prepare for your pregnancy at least 3 months before, possibly even as sooner.

Taking a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg of Folic Acid.

The March of Dimes states that women who take Folic Acid a year before becoming pregnant can help with the risk of having a premature baby and possibly help you with cancer risks. Premature babies are more at risk for lasting complications. Experts agree women should begin taking a prenatal vitamin with 400 mcg of Folic Acid which is a B vitamin, before becoming pregnant. According to the book, Healthy Pregnancy over 35 by Laura Goetzl MD, “Folic acid decreases the risk of neutral tube defects by as much as 70%. Neutral tube defects, which affect brain and spinal cord, occur during the first 28 days of conception before most women even realize they are pregnant.” (continue reading…)