• The Healthy Walnut Archive

    Can one pledge love to a lip balm? I’m sure that’s just sleep deprivation talking, but my family is truly enjoying our stash of Blamtastic lip balms. Maybe it’s because they remind me of the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers of my youth that were scented like soda and tasted just as good. I was always trying to covet my older sister’s tubes (gross, I know) until I was old enough to have one of my own. I can’t decide which inventive flavor I like best: Sassafrassy Root Beer or OMG (that’s Oh My Grape). But before we go and get all “girly” on you, Blamtastic also has a Radioactive balm just for guys. Yes, even they get dry lips. All of the lip balms are [&hellip

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    Have you ever been on the go with your baby and not known where you can nurse (or pump) in private? No need to wonder. Medela has come out with an app for the iPhone/iPad that gives you the 411 on nursing. Aptly dubbed iBreastfeed, this app has a Breastfeeding-Friendly Places feature that locates Medela-reviewed and approved nursing nooks across the country. Find one that hasn’t been mentioned? You can add your own 2 cents and comment on your experience at existing locations. On top of this feature, iBreastfeed has a resource guide that includes helpful tips for overcoming breastfeeding challenges and an activity log if you’re so inclined to track your baby’s sleep and feeding schedules. With so much info at your fingertips, you [&hellip

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    Once upon a time, there lived a little girl who loved her vegetables. Be it broccoli or string beans, she devoured every green-leafed morsel on her plate. She met each carrot with a zest for eating, every tomato with an appreciation for fresh produce that no 2-year-old had ever been known to cultivate. Until, that is, the day she entered a new phase: the “I don’t like thaaatttt!” stage of development parents of toddlers have come to know, yet not love. How frustrated became her mom. “What happened to that little girl who loved to crunch and munch all things healthy?,” she wondered. She began to fret, since this child was not one for a big appetite as it was. Lucky for both of them [&hellip

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    If you’re headed to the airport with a little one in tow, the numbers 3-1-1 have more meaning than the winning numbers on a Lotto ticket.  No need to frantically search high and low for bottles and containers that comply with the latest travel requirements. (Yes, we know you’ve already been up all night trying to cram enough formula and finger foods into your diaper bag to last until New Year’s). That’s why you’ll really appreciate The First Years American Read Cross True Travel Kit. It’s the one item on your must-pack checklist that makes airport transport a little less taxing on your already-frayed nerves. The see-through bag has all the essentials to get through your cross-country flight. Plus, you’ll win points with the TSA [&hellip

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    Ah, the glory of the cold weather….the snow, the ice, the dry air that makes my skin crack and bleed. Once the heat turns on in my house, my hands turn into claws that are so dry, it looks like my cat and I had a fight, and she won. But seriously, eczema and dermatitis are no laughing matter and sadly, my young daughters seem to be ripe candidates for inheriting my sensitive Irish skin. For those families battling dry skin,exederm has a brand new line of baby skincare that can’t be beat. From baby lotion and moisturizer, to shampoo and bath soap, this collection contains no fragrance, no color or dyes, no lanolin and no parabens (if you know your skincare lingo, that means [&hellip

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    Just one day past Halloween and my sweet tooth has kicked into overdrive. Between now and January 1st, my 1st grader’s “social life” seems to be a steady endless stream of parties that include tasty treats. How fun it must all be….unless you’re a child with allergies. One of her classmates can’t have anything with gluten, and anytime there is a class party, he must trek down to the nurse’s office to retrieve one of his gluten-free cupcakes from the freezer. I can only imagine how tiresome that can get after a while. Maybe this is why Stacey J. Miller’s book, 101 Recipes for Gluten-Free Microwave Mug Cakes, caught my attention. It’s chock-full of delightful desserts that are simple as baking can be: baked inside [&hellip

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    One of the “great” joys of parenthood is checking your child for a fever. My own memories of having my temperature checked “the old fashioned way” landed me in a therapist’s chair many years later…just kidding, of course. But fevers are no laughing matter, especially when your baby is sick for the very first time. While there are plenty of thermometers out there that offer less invasive ways of testing, their accuracy is debatable. Half the time I wonder if I’m using the darn thing correctly…The Exergen TemporalScanner seeks to take the frustration out of temperature-taking. It works as an infrared device that scans a child’s forehead in just two seconds. Once you hear the beep, you’re done. Think your fidgeting toddler can cooperate now? [&hellip

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    Swaddling my daughters was something I never did quite right. While I consulted the Web and tried to follow instructions on how to create a ‘baby burrito’, it just didn’t seem to be working…seeing how they were still crying! TrueWomb is one product that aims to banish that insecurity for new moms by making swaddling as easy as 1-2-3. This sleep system is made up of different parts: the SwaddleTech Pouch, which lets a baby’s legs assume a fetal position when they’re at rest; a SecureSleeve that keeps her arms in place; and a ComfortWrap belt to keep her completely secure. Note: TrueWomb may take some getting used to, but before you know it, you’ll feel like you could swaddle your baby in your sleep. [&hellip

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    You’d have to be living under a rock not to know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And yet while you may pass by pink-hued displays at the mall, you may not be aware of how you can do your part by supporting this worthy cause. Keep an eye out this month for two worthwhile purchases that caught our eye…Make like Reese Witherspoon and help Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye with the Avon Lips for Life tote. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to benefit research on breast cancer. To help “pass the kiss on,” Avon and Reese are inviting women to send messages to their family and friends via an online widget shaped as a pair of talking lips. So, pay some lip [&hellip

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    Precious newborn skin is one of the joys of being a baby. It smells great, is buttery soft…how can you not just love every minute of snuggling close? I still relish stroking my little one’s cheeks…and she’s nearly 2 1/2! I can see why some moms choose to outfit their babies in clothing that’s made from natural fabrics, so I like to keep an eye out for companies that are dedicated to bringing high-quality to clothing stores. Enter BNature, a line of organic cotton clothing for newborns through age 2 that’s free of dyes, chemicals and other potentially harmful substances. Safety issues aside, this ensemble is ultra soft and beautifully designed in lush hues like wheat, pistachio and green tea (feeling eco-friendly yet?). The fall/winter [&hellip

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