A Gift to Remember

Organic baby clothes individually wrapped to look like flowers. Gorgeous and so unique! Versions for boys and girls, sizes 3 to 6 months. 

By Nikki Gift Baskets, sold through Amazon

Keeping Babies Away from BPA and Phthalate

Some of the major concerns with pacifiers and teethers are BPA and Phthalate chemicals found in plastics, proper teeth and gum development, choking hazards, etc. The NTP (National Toxicology Program) reports that BPA is more likely to leach from worn plastic items like a trusted pacifier.
Check out these suggestions from Dr. Greene to keep your baby safe:

·         Pay special attention to the plastics that go in the mouth, especially those used to store, heat, or serve food and drinks. Chemicals in the plastics can leach out and enter your child. Notice the recycling symbols on the bottoms of many plastics. Opt for symbols 1, 2, 4, or 5. Or choose brands like BornFree, where the entire line of toddler sippy cups, pacifiers, baby bottles and plastic water bottles are free from BPA, phthalates and PVC. Or skip plastic, and go with something like glass or stainless steel.

·         Pacifiers come in different sizes to accommodate babies’ different sizes. Most newborns do best with pacifiers designed for newborns, and preemies with those designed for preemies.

·         Pacifiers come in many shapes and sizes. Orthodontic pacifiers have been scientifically designed to support the shape of babies’ developing palates and jaws. The flattened shape not only simulates the shape of a mother’s nipple when flattened in the mouth, but also encourages the most natural sucking action to help proper oral development.

·         The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry solidly prefers pacifiers to thumbs for meeting children’s sucking needs (because pacifiers are easier for parents to control). I think pacifiers and thumbs are both fine – but bottles should never be used as pacifiers (this can cause terrible tooth decay). Nor should pacifiers be used to say, “quiet down!” without words, or as replacements for noticing babies or their needs.

·         Keep in mind that manufacturers are not required to label their products with materials used or recycling codes. If you find an unmarked product, be sure to contact the manufacturer to confirm.

·         If parents are worried about plastic teething rings, they can fall back on the old standards of letting babies suck on cold, wet cloths or fabric teethers.

Source: www.5wpr.com

50 Women Game Changers in Food: #17, Dorothy Hamilton

If you're interested in a career in the food industry, then you might consider buying a book called Love What You Do. After all, our game changer of the week, Dorothy Cann Hamilton, wrote the book and parlayed her wanderlust and love of food into a successful career. 

When Ms. Hamilton was in high school, she dreamed about going to Europe. Being a determined woman, she got a student loan and went to college in England. While there, she befriended some French girls and during their visits to France, she got hooked on French food.Then came the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1972 to 1974 where she was introduced to Asian cuisine. When she finally returned to the US, without job skills or opportunities, her father gave her a job at his trade school. Dorothy worked her way up and eventually became an expert in student financial aid. She was invited to see the top trade schools in Europe and France, where she saw the top professional cooking school, run by the French government.

Inspired by these premier vocational schools, Ms. Hamilton convinced her father they should create a culinary trade school in NYC. They actually paid the French government for the curriculum, brought over the teachers and the French maintained the quality control. So The French Culinary Institute was born in 1984. Quite a success story!

Hamilton was the creator and host of Chef’s Story, a 26-part television series, which debuted on PBS in April 2007, and the author of the companion book, Chef’s Story. Her book on culinary careers, Love What You Do: Building a Career in the Culinary Industry was published in the fall of 2009.

Most recently, she was inducted into the Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America by the James Beard Foundation and was nominated for the Entrepreneur Award of Excellence by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She has been knighted by the Association Internationale de Maîtres Conseil dans la Gastronomie Française, inducted into the James Beard Foundation Hall of Fame and awarded the Silver Spoon by Food Arts magazine in recognition of her leadership in the American restaurant community.

Because Dorothy Hamilton is not a chef, finding a recipe today was difficult. However, I ran across an interesting article in Food and Wine where she discussed a problem we all have: watching our weight while still enjoying food. She turned to the staff at FCI to help her.
André Soltner, the dean of classic studies at the FCI (and the former chef and owner of Lutèce) offered the following recipe. 

While preparing the artichokes is a bit time consuming (To see how I prepare my artichokes, click HERE; I don't clean them the way the recipe suggests.) keep in mind you can refrigerate the leftovers. I halved the recipe and ate it for two dinners and a lunch. With certainty this is not the most colorful or enticing dish to photograph, but I'll definitely make it again. The flavor of the broth was sensational.  
(One serving is 193 cal, 8 gm fat, 1.1 gm saturated fat, 23 gm carb, 5 gm fiber)

Artichoke, Cauliflower and Mushroom Barigoule 
Recipe courtesy André Soltner, the dean of classic studies at the FCI

Ingredients:
1 lemon, halved, plus 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
8 large artichokes 
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
1 large white onion, thinly sliced 
3 small carrots, thinly sliced 
5 small garlic cloves, halved 
2 bay leaves 
2 thyme sprigs 
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds 
1 1/2 cups dry white wine 
1 1/2 cups water 
3/4 pound cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (4 cups) 
3/4 pound white mushrooms, quartered if large 
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Method:
Fill a large bowl with water and squeeze the lemon halves into it. Using a sharp knife, halve the artichokes crosswise. Discard the tops. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, pull off the outer green leaves until you reach the tender yellow leaves. Scrape out the hairy choke with a melon baller or spoon. Trim and peel the base and stem, then quarter the heart and add the artichoke quarters to the bowl of water. Repeat with the remaining artichokes. 
In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and carrots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, thyme and coriander seeds and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine, water and the 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the carrots are barely tender, about 3 minutes. 
Drain the artichokes and add them to the skillet along with the cauliflower and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and cook over low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Transfer the vegetables and broth to shallow bowls and serve. 

Make Ahead. The barigoule can be refrigerated overnight. Warm before serving.


Join Mary from One Perfect Bite and all the other participants in this fun series.

Val - More Than Burnt Toast 
Joanne - Eats Well With Others
Taryn - Have Kitchen Will Feed
Susan - The Spice Garden
Claudia - A Seasonal Cook in Turkey
Heather - girlichef
Miranda - Mangoes and Chutney
Jeanette - Healthy Living
April - Abby Sweets 
Katie - Making Michael Pollan Proud
Mary - One Perfect Bite
Kathleen -Bake Away with Me
Viola - The Life is Good Kitchen
Sue - The View from Great Island
Kathleen - Gonna Want Seconds
Amy - Beloved Green
Linda - Ciao Chow Linda
Nancy - Picadillo

Week: Sunday, October 2 to Saturday, 8

This seems to be on a better road now and with 20000 hits in ten days reach we can sure help in the dance community. Meanwhile, we have analyzed a little more and find that some organizations "think" that we derive a lot more from them, than they get from us. Wrong, wrong, wrong and I am just wasting my time with them. They simply do not understand blogging and it is better if we do not bother until they know better.

"It's the most unhappy people, who most fear change."

This latest scheduling now seems to fit in better for the reader/dancers of this blog. The dancers now have a lead of two days to fit into their plans for the coming week of fun. It has always been very simple. The men are looking for places where there are women. The women are looking for places where there are men. That is the direction of this blog.

Social Media is it and perhaps only four people on the Island of Oahu know what that means. It seems to be a well kept secret throughout the island. However in the West it looks very promising and some people are getting an understanding of the benefits to their organization. At the moment our biggest gap is the upper Moanalua Corridor.

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" by The Carpenters

Sunday, October 2.

Sunday, October 2,
Bachata Party

with Salsa No Ka Oi at the
famous Dream To Dance Studio.

Monday, October 3.
Dance Honolulu,

No class at Washington Intermediate
Instructors, Line,
Roxanne Kaino
International Style:
Reggie Gascon and Gayle Kawahakui.

Tuesday, Oct 4. Dance Hawaii Kai Review night at Koko Head School
American Social Instructors Sally Forges, Vicky Visoria
Merengue, American Social Waltz

Wednesday, Oct 5.
Dream to Dance Studio, classes
No dates on Debbie's flyers. Maybe a little paragraph now & then, specially for our readers/dancers.

Thursday, Oct 6.
Salsa No Ka Oi, Charlie and Amy
at Dream to Dance Studio

Friday, Oct 7.

Greg Henry and his Salsa gang
at the Honolulu Club.
There may be no bar there anymore.

Saturday, October 8th.

DJ Rod and the Salsa gang at the
Dream to Dance Studio.

Unfortunately, I will not attend a few dances until I get my new camera. The only ones, so far, to pick up on the action of contributing photos is Kapolei Chapter HBDA. And of course everyone benefits and the hits go through the roof. Kapolei Chapter is now well known throughout the islands. This will take time for the wheels in other clubs to understand.

Dance Web sites are strictly "niche" but the one above is very much into "content." If they had a counter they would be right up there with our good blogs. They cover a wide field of dance schedules, very necessary information for all the reader/dancers.

Short Introduction about tonsillolith

Introduction - tonsillolith? Tonsilloliths, also known as tonsil stones, are irregularly shaped, whitish/yellow, foul-smelling globs of mucus and bacteria that get caught in the back of the throat.

The tonsil stones form in the tonsil crypts which are simply small pockets or divots that appear in everyones tonsils. The scientific name for these white globs is tonsilloliths.

Here is the specific method I used to get rid of tonsil stones
It is only recently that the oral care community has begun to understand what these white spots actually are - many people have reported that their dentist told them that they were just extra food debris, which is not true!
These tonsillar stones don't do any physical harm, and sporadically coughing them up doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with you. However, they can be annoying (who wants to cough one up while they are kissing someone?), and sometimes they are an indication that you have tonsilloliths and bad breath.

If you have ever broken open a tonsil stone, then you know that they smell absolutely terrible! The smell is actually caused by a combination of volatile sulfur compounds (methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide), post nasal drip, and bacteria.

They will only form in people who still have their tonsils; however, that does not mean that you should run out and get your tonsils removed! Not too long ago, they were routinely removed for being swollen and inflamed. What was not understood then was that the tonsils' sole purpose is to prevent organisms and bacteria from traveling deeper in the throat.

Tonsilloliths are not something that you have to live with - there are various treatments to get rid of them, without having your tonsils removed (which can be dangerous as people get older).

Alternative Health News

Are Cooking Oils excellent for You

Are there any oils I should keep away from totally? Yes, The bad type of oil is an element in packaged foods including some stick margarines, baked goods, chips, crackers and candy.

I’m talking about partially hydrogenated oils—or trans fats, which is how they’re listed on Nutrition Facts panels on labels. Partially hydrogenated oil is vegetable oil that has been chemically altered so it’s less likely to spoil. Food manufacturers often add it to their products because it can help foods stay fresh longer.

But even in very small amounts, partially hydrogenated oil can wreak havoc on your heart health. It lowers levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and raises LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and it even increases your risk for diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 1% of your total daily calories come from trans fat. This translates to less than 2 grams for women, who typically need fewer than 2,000 calories per day. If a food contains trans fat, it’ll be listed below Saturated Fat in the “Total Fat” column.

For the record, which is better: butter or olive oil?

From a health standpoint, olive oil is the better choice. But butter still has its place. All oils are a mixture of fats including monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA)—but in each
oil (and in butter, too, which is basically a solidified oil), one type of fat dominates.

Olive oil is predominantly rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which decreases your risk for cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. On the other hand, butter is mostly saturated fat, which increases LDL cholesterol and causes inflammation in your body. So generally, it’s best to use olive oil.

However, the distinctive smell, flavor and consistency of butter works best in certain baked goods—including cakes, cookies and pastries—so it’s OK to make these occasionally and enjoy the butter. Another butter-vs.-oil difference: Because butter is solid at room temperature, you have more control over how much (or how little) of it you spread on bread; with olive oil, it’s difficult to gauge how much oil is absorbed. So dip lightly!

What’s the difference between regular olive oil, virgin and extra-virgin?

Simply put, olive oil is made by crushing olives to make a paste that’s then put under a press. If the oil that comes out has a low acidity and a good taste and smell, it’s labeled extra-virgin or virgin. (Virgin is slightly lower quality than extra-virgin.) These types are ideal to use for bread dunking, drizzling on veggies and other foods, and making salad dressings, since their delicate flavor and aroma will be lost when heated (some chefs still prefer to use extra-virgin for cooking). The deeper the color, the more intense the olive flavor.

If the oil is highly acidic or not great quality, it’s refined and mixed with virgin or extra-virgin oil to make “regular” olive oil; this all-purpose oil is good for cooking.
The heart-health benefits of all types of olive oil are pretty much the same, although the virgin and extra-virgin ones have extra antioxidants.

How can oils be healthy if they’re so fattening?

Oils may be “fattening” in the sense that they’re pretty high in calories compared with other foods. All oils have around 120 calories per Tbsp, so you can easily gain weight if you use too much. Even butter has fewer calories than oil (100 per Tbsp of butter) because of its water content. What’s more, “whipped” butter sold in a tub has even fewer calories—about 60 to 70 per Tbsp, thanks to the air that’s been incorporated into the mix. And tub “light” margarine spreads have only 30 to 50 calories per Tbsp.

But since oils contain fats that are good for you, you’re better off getting that 120 calories from a healthy oil rather than stick or tub butter. By the way, if you’re inclined to cut out fats entirely, don’t: We do need some fat to be healthy. Without it, our bodies can’t absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, and we miss out on fatty acids that are essential for the health of your skin, hair, heart and brain—and just about every other part of your body.

How should I store oils?

Heat, light and oxygen degrade oils, which makes them turn rancid more quickly and actually promotes the formation of cancer-causing compounds called free radicals. The more polyunsaturated fats an oil contains, the more susceptible to rancidity it becomes.

Oils rich in PUFAs, such as walnut and flaxseed, are best stored in the fridge in tightly capped containers. MUFAs, such as those found in olive oil, are a bit more hardy, but you should still protect oils that contain them by keeping the lid on tightly and storing them in a dark place far from the stove or other heat source. Saturated fats, such as butter, can withstand more heat, light and oxygen, but you should still refrigerate sat-fat–rich butter, because it contains milk solids, which can go rancid. If you store oils correctly, most will last about six months to one year.

When you’re shopping for oils, reach for bottles at the back of the shelf, since that’s where they are more protected from harsh lighting that can make them go bad. Check the bottle for an expiration date (most oils have one), and every time you open a bottle, give it a whiff to make sure it doesn’t smell rancid.

Alternative Health News

Exercise Can Strengthen the Brain

Yet, another huge benefit from exercising! From the NYTimes...

"Like muscles, many parts of the brain get a robust physiological workout during exercise. “The brain has to work hard to keep the muscles moving” and all of the bodily systems in sync, says J. Mark Davis, a professor of exercise science at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina and senior author of the new mouse study, which was published last month in The Journal of Applied Physiology. Scans have shown that metabolic activity in many parts of the brain surges during workouts, but it was unknown whether those active brain cells were actually adapting and changing.

To see, the South Carolina scientists exercised their mice for eight weeks. The sedentary control animals were housed in the same laboratory as the runners to ensure that, except for the treadmill sessions, the two groups shared the same environment and routine.

At the end of the two months, the researchers had both groups complete a run to exhaustion on the treadmill. Not surprisingly, the running mice displayed much greater endurance than the loungers. They lasted on the treadmills for an average of 126 minutes, versus 74 minutes for the unexercised animals.

More interesting, though, was what was happening inside their brain cells. When the scientists examined tissue samples from different portions of the exercised animals’ brains, they found markers of upwelling mitochondrial development in all of the tissues. Some parts of their brains showed more activity than others, but in each of the samples, the brain cells held newborn mitochondria.

There was no comparable activity in brain cells from the sedentary mice."

Source: NYTimes.com

RECALL ALERT: Select Little Tikes Toys a Chocking Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today a voluntary recall of the Little Tikes™ Workshops Sets and Trucks
Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. The recalled workshop sets and trucks have oversized, plastic toy nails that can pose a choking hazard to young children.
The names, model numbers and UPC code of the products included in this recall are listed below:

Model #	Name	Picture
0914/430B	Electronic Project Workshop SOLD FROM MARCH 1994 THROUGH DEC 2003 UPC: 0-50743-00914-3 UPC: 0-57043-52613-8
0920/612237	Little HandiWorker Workhorse SOLD FROM MARCH 1999 THROUGH JUNE 2009 UPC 0-50743-10920-1 UPC 0-50743-61223-7
4146	Home Improvements 2-Sided Workshop SOLD FROM FEBRUARY 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2009 UPC 0-50743-04146-4
440Z	Swirlin' Sawdust Workshop SOLD FROM APRIL 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2008 UPC 0-50743-38540-7
4028	Black Pickup Truck with Tools SOLD FROM MARCH 2000 THROUGH APRIL 2009 UPC 0-50743-04028-3

Source: CPSC

RECALL ALERT: Tyson Ground Beef

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. isrecalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef that might be contaminated withE. coli.The products being recalled include Kroger-brand ground beef; Butcher'sBrand beef and generic label beef, which were all produced Aug. 23.The Krogerbeef was distributed in Tennessee and Indiana; the Butcher's beef in North andSouth Carolina and the generic beef in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland,Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

(Copyright 2011 by TheAssociated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Best five foods to help you sleep

Whether it’s a one-off incidence before a huge event or a nightly struggle, most of us affect from insomnia at one time or another.

Fortunately, there are many foods that can help you sleep a little easier. To help you relax and catch some Zs, check out our top 5 foods to help you sleep.

Dairy products

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, foods containing tryptophan should be a first port of call. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, helps to raise serotonin and melatonin levels in the body, both of which can help induce sleep. While turkey is a famously good source of tryptophan, other (perhaps more bedtime-friendly) sources include dairy products such as yoghurt and milk.

On top of their tryptophan levels, dairy snacks are also a great source of calcium, which helps the brain to use tryptophan to create melatonin. Research has also suggested that a deficiency of calcium in the diet can cause disturbed sleep patterns and a lack of deep (REM) sleep.

Oats

While many of us associate oats with breakfast time, they are also the perfect evening snack. Oats are a good natural source of melatonin, which is often taken as a sleep aid due to its ability to help regulate the body's internal clock. They are also another good source of tryptophan, especially when combined with milk.

Furthermore, oats are rich in both calcium and magnesium; two minerals that have been proven to promote good quality sleep. For a warm, soothing snack before bed, try eating a small bowl of porridge to help you drift off, combined with any of the following toppings to help double its effects.

Bananas

If you suffer from muscle spasms or cramps during the night, it may be that you are deficient in the electrolytes magnesium and potassium, both of which help to relax muscles and keep them functioning properly. Fortunately, bananas are excellent source of both minerals, making them a good bedtime snack, particularly after a heavy exercise session.

As well as being rich in these essential minerals, bananas also contain tryptophan, which can help to promote sleep. Researchers from the University of New England in New South Wales have also found that having a banana before bed can help sufferers of sleep apnea by keeping their throats open and therefore reducing the risk of choking.

Cherries

For those who have trouble sleeping, you may be familiar with over-the-counter melatonin supplements used to treat insomnia. However, while melatonin can help to regulate sleep, it may be unwise to rely on supplements for long-term use. Fortunately, cherries provide a great natural source of melatonin as well as being excellent for overall health.

A research study published in The Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research has indicated that consuming tart cherries before bed helped participants sleep faster and easier, making fresh cherries or cherry juice a great natural sleep aid.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds are great for increasing levels of sleep-regulating substance serotonin in the body due to their high levels of both tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the omega-3 fatty acids they contain have been proven to help reduce the anxiety, depression and stress which are leading causes of insomnia, and have been shown to be effective against the condition sleep apnea.

Not only that, flax seeds are a good source of magnesium, which is renowned for its ability to reduce stress due to its relaxing effect on the muscles and nervous system. Magnesium has also been shown to help prevent restless leg syndrome and night terrors; both of which can affect sleep.

Alternative Health News

Getting Close To Target

Sometime today, Club Dancer blog will hit 19600 total hits. By the tenth of October it will hit 20000. That means that this blog is not just fooling around. We have had some people tuning in to what we say and I can no longer think of deleting it. It must go on and I have work to do and get the important Information Contributors. They are the ones to make this a viable social media blog. And eventually they will be the ones to inherit it.

"We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less

a second chance."

This blog has gone all over the dance map and only just lately is settling down to something comprehensible. First off, it must be for the Social Dancer and that is a hard nut to define. So with the help of our six (five?) reader/dancers we will make the attempt.

The ones most acceptable to this blog are the Social Ballroom Dancers. The ones who are more interested in having fun and moving to music than the exactness of competition dancing. And all the time with a little understanding of each part of the dancing world. Acrobatic, Cabaret can be in the realm of dancing, but if they want to stress the difference from their elevated status, then we should make certain that everyone knows the type of dance we prefer to enjoy.

"Just Dance" by Lady Gaga

Two Dance Studios will be immediately accepted for their efforts in the promotion of the American Style of Dance and the resulting important Social aspects of it. Dream To Dance Studio and the Arthur Murray Studios can be in the forefront of this effort.

Yes, we get email flyers and regular flyers and more email flyers, Wow. They are not lost of course. Many tell me they put regular flyers in the bathroom in case they run out of toilet paper.

Unfortunately, most of the future makers of this blog do not have much knowledge of the functions of a blog, They will learn and gradually make the utmost use of it. Any questions please email.

Then we have the Swing Dance Clubs, the Salsa-Bachata Clubs, the Tango Clubs and the Line Dance Clubs, all with their rightful preferences. With a little fusion here and there we have a perfect blog for the ages.

Pub's Side Note: Blogging to look into: Platinum Horseshoe blog with Tim Cubero Jr write up on Kapolei Chapter HBDA social. Town Dancer blog with Calvin Ota, usual terrific blog plus video on the Champion Waltz dancers. Then check in on Franks blogs, he covers so many places that we don't or can't cover.

Understanding Toddlers' Behavior: A Guide

I really like this article from Parents.com. It explains the reasons behind some of the struggles we face when raising toddlers. Very good reading!


"They're Leaders in the Making
Although their strong wills can exhaust Mom and Dad, toddlers are natural leaders when it comes to decision making. They're opinionated, bossy, and know what they want -- even if it's cookies for dinner. Their demanding nature, if channeled appropriately, can help mold them into natural, confident adults whom others look up to. So how do you tame your budding CEO? Heidi Murkoff, who writes the What to Expect series, encourages parents to "provide some choice whenever possible. Being able to make decisions ('Do you want to eat cereal or yogurt this morning?') helps a toddler feel more in control." As we all know, Little Miss Independent is happiest when she can call the shots.

They Think Outside the Sandbox
Putting crayon marks on the wall and dead bugs in mom's underwear drawer may not seem like acts of genius, but 2-year-olds do have their own way of looking at life. They are creatures without inhibitions and with raw creativity, approaching everything they do with fresh eyes and passion. But this artistic flair can lead to outright destruction if not guided correctly. If you provide a "free creativity" space, like a backyard sandbox or a driveway with sidewalk chalk, your young artist can express himself without causing lasting damage. More important, these precious moments of unrestrained play give your mini Van Gogh the self-reliance he desperately desires, building his confidence and making it easier for him to settle down when it's time to be calm.

They Have an Adventurous Spirit
My fearless toddler is a climber. He monkeys his way onto tables and high beds, then launches himself without thought into piles of pillows and blankets. This perilous play frays parents' nerves, but limits and supervision can instill courage. Jana Murphy, author of The Secret Lives of Toddlers, believes this adventurous spirit is actually necessary for self-discovery: "There's a fine line between shielding your toddler from danger and frustration, and smothering him. Unless there's an immediate danger, let your child climb the stairs, pick up the big rock, step in the puddle, and let him try a little longer to put together the puzzle himself. He needs a chance to realize his limitations, his strengths, and his ability to make things happen on his own."

They're Willing Little Helpers
Two-year-olds are notorious for an "I can do it myself!" mentality -- a stubborn attitude that can discourage even the most patient parents. This self-sufficient spirit also makes for great helpers who love to help put away piles of laundry, get diapers for younger siblings, or even feed the dog. One way I curb this ubiquitous power struggle is to find a toddler-size chore that my 2-year-old can help me with. If I'm unloading the dishwasher, he can "organize" the Tupperware cabinet. If I'm folding laundry, he gets a small bundle of clothes to "fold" as well. I've learned that if I give him his own task, he is happily occupied while learning that helping Mommy is fun.

They Live in the Moment
Though their short attention spans can be wearisome, we could all learn a thing or two about being present. Instead of holding grudges or worrying about the past, toddlers focus on what is before them -- often content, amused, and in awe. From eating a cupcake to building with blocks, every second is savored. As for meltdown moments, take comfort in the fact that if we just wait a few minutes, our tumultuous toddlers will soon forget and be over what's ailing them.

They're in Touch with Their Emotions
Crying one minute and belly laughing the next, toddlers are the epitome of an emotional roller coaster, but this expressive nature will serve them well as they grow (and learn to control their emotions, of course). Being able to emote is a quality that many adults lack and one that is crucial for sustaining healthy relationships with family and friends. Emotional skills can be learned sooner than we may think. As Tracy Hogg, author ofSecrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers, explains, "Studies have shown that children as young as fourteen months can begin to identify and even anticipate mood (theirs and their caretakers'), feel empathy, and, as soon as they're verbal, talk about feelings as well." Although it may be on a simpler level, you can still have a heart-to-heart with your toddler.

They Make Great Students
From colors to shapes to songs, little ones love to learn new things, dissect toys, and explore various environments. Their inquisitive nature, combined with sponge-like brains, make them storage bins of information. With their language skills rapidly developing, this is a peak time to teach them multiple languages. Best of all, opportunities to learn are everywhere. From a trip to the park to walking the dog, every moment brings new discoveries. By making up songs, creating new games, and involving your toddler in hands-on activities, you can encourage her curiosity for life and its mysteries. After all, parents are their most important teachers.

They See the Best in People
Toddlers have an innately trusting spirit -- they see all new, kind faces as friends. This willingness to play with and smile at anyone they come across is a trait that many grown-ups could benefit from developing. They are quick to laugh, easy to entertain, and at a prime stage to learn about loving relationships, healthy boundaries, and acts of kindness. By embracing their naturally soft-hearted natures, and nurturing them with patience and gentle guidance, we can empower tots to have successful interactions for the rest of their lives.

They Find Joy in the Little Things
My husband and son have a routine: Every night they go outside to look at the moon. They both look forward to it, but my toddler gets especially excited, pointing to the sky and proclaiming proudly, "Moon! Moon!" From rocks to flowers to baby toes, my little man delights in life's smallest pleasures. These moments aren't just for our kids. As Murphy reminds us, "You get two big windows of opportunity in your life to do stuff like build castles, watch Sesame Street, and just plain play: the first when you are a child, the second when you haveone. Don't get too busy or wrapped up in the grown-up stuff to miss it." Whether he's digging in dirt or decorating a homemade card, it's the simple pleasures that give any toddler the most joy.

They Believe Kisses Are Magic
When life's inevitable boo-boos come their way, tots often need nothing more than a kiss from Mom or Dad. This affectionate gesture is a parent's most powerful tool, for what toddlers need most at this tender age is love, direction, and the security of knowing a parent's comforting embrace is always an arm's reach away."

Sources: Parents.com, Lauren Warner (She blogs at sippinglemonade.com.)

Stop Nagging Picky Eaters!

Parents who pressure their kids to chow down produce youngsters who are more likely to be picky eaters.

The answers given by 104 mothers of children ages 3 through 6 in the United Kingdom to questions about their kids' behaviors showed that urging them to eat significantly raised the chances the kids would dig in their heels and refuse.

The study, published by My Healthy News Daily, also found that food avoidance was more common in children of certain emotional temperaments, as well as those of parents who use food to shape behavior and don't encourage a varied diet.

"Healthy children are born able to regulate their hunger and fullness," said study author Claire Farrow, a senior psychology lecturer at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England.

"These findings support other research which has shown that if parents or caregivers override their children's signals of hunger and fullness — as in pressuring the child to eat when not hungry — then often children struggle to regulate their appetite appropriately in the future," Farrow told MyHealthNewsDaily.

And for kids who are already fussy eaters, "the use of pressure to eat can exacerbate problems and conflict at mealtimes," she said.

"If the aim is to get the child to eat more food because the parent wants the child to, then this has shown to be counterproductive. Children should be allowed to stop eating when they are full if they are to be able to regulate their appetites appropriately," she said.

Parents should offer a range of nutritious foods at mealtimes and snacks, and then sit back and let their children take the lead, said Dr. Anne Eglash, a clinical professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

"However, if the aim is to get the child to try a new food that they do not want to, then some recent research has shown that gentle encouragement and positive reward for trying new foods can be a successful strategy," Farrow said.

Source: myhealthynewsdaily

The End of Our French Polynesian Adventure: Taha'a

No...this isn't where we've just been, but it's the last post on French P0lynesia. The Nevis post will be coming soon.

Our final island, Taha'a (pronounced Ta–ha-ah), was recommended by the travel agent. We shouldn't have listened. It was lovely and so was the resort, but definitely a mistake for a mom and daughter to have spent so much time there. I'm glad we saw it, but it was another honeymoon resort and on this island, we ran into some American-hating British. Quite overt they were about it too. We also weren't terribly happy with the service...a superior attitude, which, at these prices, was quite a mistake. 

Do I sound like I'm always finding fault? Well, here's some good news: for once, the food was wonderful.

Taha'a

There's no airport on Taha'a, so we landed on Raiatea and took a 35 minute boat transfer to our hotel, Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, the only Relais and Châteaux destination in French Polynesia.

Raiatea and Taha'a are two islands enclosed in a single barrier reef. Taha'a, slightly smaller and less populated than Raiatea, has a population of around 4500 people. Taha'a is the only island in the Society Islands that can be completely circled by boat inside the protected lagoon. Taha'a's nickname is the "Vanilla Island"- because of it's constant rich aroma of vanilla. In fact, the Island boasts a full 80% of all Tahiti's Vanilla production and is also inundated with pearl farms. Because we had already visited both, we didn't go on any tours here.

On the map below, notice where Le Taha'a Resort is located...on a motu, upper left

Our resort's main selling point is its location on the small, stunning islet of Motu Tautau, off the coast of Taha'a. (Taha'a itself is just 34 square miles.) The resort faces the island of Taha'a on the lagoon side and offers an unsurpassed view of Bora Bora island on the ocean side.
You can walk 100 yards into the water here and still be only knee-deep. The surrounding waters are also advertised as "calm" which, unfortunately, was not the case while we were there.

We adored our overwater suite...it was the most elegantly appointed of any resort we visited. The woodwork was beautiful. I tried to take photos of as much of the paneling as I could. Everything was very nautical, even the entrance to the lobby, which you can see in the slideshow....an outrigger canoe with sail. Another fun little aside: guests in overwater suites can request breakfast brought to the room by canoe. No, we didn't do it, but we saw it being delivered quite often to other bungalows. It was quite a lovely ceremony, actually.
And yes, that's a glass floor for viewing fish at the foot of the bed.



There are three restaurants (important, since there's nowhere else to eat), tennis courts, a lovely swimming pool which I ended up using each day because of the wind. It may seem that there's no reason to leave the resort (which we didn't), but a visit to mainland Taha'a may be your one chance to see what French Polynesia was like before it got so popular; locals say this island is what Bora Bora was 20 years ago.

The resort’s indoor-outdoor main restaurant, Vanille, is named after the fragrant brown beans that are cultivated on Taha’a island. We ate breakfast there every morning and it was a delight. For lunch, we always ate at La Plage--“the beach”-- which served light fare like sandwiches and salads. It was located near the pool area. In addition, Manuia Bar was located beside the pool and they whipped up cocktails, juices, and smoothies.

We had two choices for dinner: Vanille or Ohiri, their upscale (and shockingly expensive) restaurant. The food at Ohiri was fabulous. We had a couple festive buffets at Vanille which were lovely.

The bar had entertainment each night which was most enjoyable. One night, while enjoying a buffet at Vanille, there was a floor show. Part of the show was an extraordinary man covered with tattoos. Face included. Not a square inch of skin left unadorned. (That I could see anyway. :) ) He was quite famous in these islands. I've forgotten his name and I wish I had taken a photo, but it was dark and the tattoos would never have shown up. I remember him climbing an extremely tall  palm tree right to the top directly in front of us, using nothing but his feet and hands.

Tattooing is an important part of the culture of the Polynesian islands. South Pacific Islanders have been decorating their bodies with symbolistic art for many hundreds of years, if not thousands... In fact, it's popularly believed among historians that the first and oldest Tattoos known to man were from the South Pacific Islands, (probably the Marquesas). Originally, tattoos indicated genealogy, rank and wealth as well as strength and ability to bear pain. Twelve year old boys were tattooed to prove they were men, while girls were tattooed to indicate sexual maturity. Tattoo artists had an honored place in society. 
(No, we didn't get one!)
 

As far as the diving was concerned, Tracy said some dives focused on shipwrecks or submerged caverns, but most were coral reef dives. Most of the good snorkeling took place in a short inlet that ran between the lagoon and the ocean. Photos below; these are views from the inlet towards the ocean and Bora Bora and the other towards the lagoon.

What did we remember most about Taha'a? Sadly, the rudeness of the young British honeymooners stands out. But because I hate to end our Polynesian Adventure on a bad note....I'll remember how esthetically beautiful this particular resort was and the excellent quality of the food. If you were going on a honeymoon, this would be the perfect choice.

You've been patient with these many posts...I know how time consuming it can be to read from start to finish. But I did want to share with you. We had such a delightful time at every island, each different in its own way, but Huahine reigns supreme in both our minds!

(For all the previous adventures, check the sidebar.)