WEEKLY COLUMN: April 2008 Archives

5-MINUTE WORKOUTS: I interviewed someone about effective 30-minute workouts for time-crunched parents. But this is even better. Celebrity personal trainer Kathy Kaehler offers three, five-minute workouts: www.mommytrackd.com/survival/get-movin.

I SCREAM, U SCREAM: Ben & Jerry's is hosting Free Cone Day, noon-8 p.m. Tuesday. See www.benjerry.com to find a participating scoop shop. Not to be outdone, Baskin-Robbins is offering 31 Cent Scoop Night in honor of America's Firefighters, 5-10 p.m. Wednesday. www.baskinrobbins.com.

MOTHER'S HELPER: From CityMommy.com this week: "I have a friend who is a mother. She is looking to be a part-time assistant. If you could use her help, PM me." Is this the newest trend in stay-at-home-mom gigs? I'd love to feel like a Hollywood mogul with my own personal assistant. What busy Mom wouldn't?

A GIFT FOR MOM: Mother's Day is coming up, just two weeks from Sunday. I'm not expecting breakfast delivered to my bed, but flowers or a small trinket would certainly be nice. What would make your day? Take our poll at: www.insidesocal.com/lamama/2008/04/mothers-day-expect-anything.html.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Oh, it's just so 2008. A Florida plastic surgeon has written a children's book titled: "My Beautiful Mommy," to help little kids understand why Mom's nose or cleavage suddenly look different. The Web site describes the book as a "must-have" for any mom considering plastic surgery and says, "... Learn how the entire family pitches in to help Mommy achieve her beautiful results." No, this is not a joke. www.mybeautifulmommy.com.

5-MINUTE WORKOUTS: I interviewed someone about effective 30-minute workouts for time-crunched parents. But this is even better. Celebrity personal trainer Kathy Kaehler offers three, five-minute workouts: www.mommytrackd.com/survival/get-movin.

I SCREAM, U SCREAM: Ben & Jerry's is hosting Free Cone Day, noon-8 p.m. Tuesday. See www.benjerry.com to find a participating scoop shop. Not to be outdone, Baskin-Robbins is offering 31 Cent Scoop Night in honor of America's Firefighters, 5-10 p.m. Wednesday. www.baskinrobbins.com.

MOTHER'S HELPER: From CityMommy.com this week: "I have a friend who is a mother. She is looking to be a part-time assistant. If you could use her help, PM me." Is this the newest trend in stay-at-home-mom gigs? I'd love to feel like a Hollywood mogul with my own personal assistant. What busy Mom wouldn't?

A GIFT FOR MOM: Mother's Day is coming up, just two weeks from Sunday. I'm not expecting breakfast delivered to my bed, but flowers or a small trinket would certainly be nice. What would make your day? Take our poll at: www.insidesocal.com/lamama/2008/04/mothers-day-expect-anything.html.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Oh, it's just so 2008. A Florida plastic surgeon has written a children's book titled: "My Beautiful Mommy," to help little kids understand why Mom's nose or cleavage suddenly look different. The Web site describes the book as a "must-have" for any mom considering plastic surgery and says, "... Learn how the entire family pitches in to help Mommy achieve her beautiful results." No, this is not a joke. www.mybeautifulmommy.com.

LET THEM EAT CANDY: There may come a day when you give your kids a piece of candy instead of steering them away from the sweet stuff. The dental school at Stony Brook University tested a cavity-fighting candy on a group of 10- and 11-year-olds from Venezuela. The kids who ate the BasicMints candy had a whopping 60 percent fewer cavities than those given a placebo. Turns out the candy mimics saliva in neutralizing acids in the mouth that can erode tooth enamel. Coming soon to a dentist's office near you? Stay tuned.

FAMILY DIET: "The Fittest Family," a new reality TV show about losing weight, is looking for contestants. Thin, fit families with subtle personalities need not apply. Open casting call is on April 26. See www.drivekids tobefit.org for more info.

THE 'REAL' ALPHA MOM: Heather Armstrong, author of Dooce.com, told the Wall Street Journal last week that writing the country's top parenting blog has its downside. While she does get a huge income as a stay-at-home mom, Armstrong also gets hate mail and plenty of criticism. But maybe the best part of the article was that it listed more top mom-written blogs. Alas, L.A. Mama has not yet made the list. Here are some that have: designmom.com and scribbit.blogspot.com. See Technorati.com for more listings.

SQUEEZE ON STUDENTS: The global credit crunch is hitting the student loan sector. Just like home buyers, college students looking to borrow for next year can expect to pay higher interest and go through tougher credit history checks. The Senate Banking Committee began hearings this week on how to resolve the issue.

SPA WEEK: Although Mother's Day is a month away, you still deserve a treat. Spa Week continues through Sunday, with participating spas offering treatments for just $50. Spas include Allen Edwards in Studio City, Blue Medi Spa in Sherman Oaks and DermaPhil in Burbank. Go to www.spaweek.org for more information.

POSTPARTUM RISK FACTORS: Being young, poor, less-educated and single puts mothers at significant risk for postpartum depression, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Postpartum depression was more often reported by teenage moms, smokers, mothers with less than 12 years of education, Medicaid patients and women experiencing financial stress during pregnancy.

Barbara Correa

Tupperware parties with a green bent

Barbara Correa, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 04/09/2008 08:24:30 PM PDT

EARTH DAY FUN: Goodbye, Tupperware parties. Today's stay-at-home moms meet for EcoMom parties, where hosts lecture on methods for composting, making a waste-free lunch and ridding the home of toxins. EcoMom Alliance founder Kimberly Pinkson wants EcoMom parties to become a part of wedding and baby showers, book clubs and even ladies' nights out: http://ecomomalliance.org.

VACCINES & AUTISM: Once considered a fringe viewpoint, the vaccine-autism connection is being taken more seriously since Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said she believes vaccines can trigger autism "in a vulnerable subset of children." April is National Autism Awareness Month, and a panel of experts discussed the developmental disability last week on "Larry King Live." Panelists included celebrity mom Jenny McCarthy, whose son, Evan, has autism.

GOOD GREEN FUN: Remember going to the beach and using a cut-off milk carton as a sand shovel? Now, a California company is recycling milk containers into some pretty cool toys. So far, there's a multicolored cooking set and a gardening kit. A tea set will debut next month. And, of course, there is a sand toy set: www.greentoys.com.

FIRST PREGNANT MAN? Last week, Oprah interviewed Thomas Beatie, a 34-year-old transgendered male who kept his female reproductive organs and is now with child. Beatie used a sperm bank and was artificially inseminated because his wife of five years is infertile. The couple is expecting a daughter in July. "I'm a person and I have the right to have my own biological child," Beatie told Oprah.

STOW THE CELL: Our lives are going to change July 1, when it will become illegal to use a traditional cell phone while driving. Violators will be subject to a $20 fine for the first offense, and $50 thereafter. While hands-free headsets will help busy moms who rely on drive time to make calls they can't make when kids are unrestrained, there's still the issue of text-messaging. Now, Mother Proof has compiled a list of services that use voice recognition technology that lets you text without typing. www.pinger.com; http://jott.com.

GRUNION RUN: Spring is here, and that's when the little silver fish come out to mate. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro hosts bi-weekly events featuring an educational program followed by a guided walk on the beach to watch the fish make like the birds and the bees: www.cabrilloaq.org.

Barbara Correa 818-713-3662