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Sitting Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

It’s a gorgeous day outside, but my kids are at a hockey tournament so instead of being out and about, I’m using the opportunity to sit at my computer. The upside is that I’ll get to bed earlier tonight (sleep = good!). The downside is that I spend most of my waking, non-mom hours at computers (sitting = bad!).

If you work a desk job like I do, you’re probably in the same boat. Researchers are starting to notice that it doesn’t really matter if a person leaves her desk and heads straight to the gym every night — you can be totally fit, but if your day is spent on your butt, you will still have a higher risk of heart disease and other health problems. For details, check out this Men’s Health article.

Realistically, most of us leave our desks and head straight to the car to spend a couple of hours chauffeuring kids to events and practices after school. More sitting.

Ideally, researchers say

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Boarding the Blame Train

We’ve all seen Lindsay Lohan’s and Miley Cyrus’ antics (and in Lohan’s case, her lady parts) splashed across the media over the years. Understandably, most of us agree the girls are one step away from climbing onboard the Charlie Sheen train. But what really aggravates many is how their parents have long placed the blame for their indescretions on those around them.

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My Brain at 40 versus My Child's Brain Before 20

My brain is on a downhill slope. The reason? I turned 40 last month. Before you start rolling your eyes, take note: Back in September, scientists at the University of California-Los Angeles said that 39-year-olds are tops on standard tests of motor skills. After that, it truly is downhill.

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Defeating the Dinner Decision Demons

I ran into a friend last night at 6:30 p.m. on her way home from work. While we were standing on the sidewalk chatting, her husband called to find out when she would be home and — the million-dollar question — what was for supper. My friend sighed as she hung up and admitted that she had been full of good intentions of putting a roast in the Crockpot that morning, but …

Then she asked, “Do you plan your meals ahead of time?” Ah, yes, one of those things that we all know we’re supposed to do (like reading to our kids 20 minutes a day and washing our hands for a full rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star). But life just seems to get in the way.

When I got home half an hour later, I discovered that the National Public Radio show Tell Me More was featuring this very topic. (Checking out the transcript or audio file is 15 minutes well spent). The key line for me was from Aviva Goldfarb, author of The Six O’Clock Scramble, who said, “[T]he hardest thing for people about cooking dinner really isn't the actual cooking, it's the deciding.” Amen, sister.

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The $65 Million Mom

If you haven’t been scouring gossip sites or reading Us Weekly, let me fill you in on a little something.

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St. Louis Will Soon Be Robotics Central

When you first hear the term “robotics,” thoughts of fun, high-spirited competitions and unique social and cultural interaction likely don’t come to mind.

That's about to change. Around St. Louis you’ll soon be hearing a lot about robotics.
 

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Debating How Kids Learn

Note: This is the third in a three-part series. Read part 1Read part 2

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not regulate or monitor homeschooling in the state of Missouri, according to the department’s web site.

Additionally, neither the State Board of Education nor the department has authority to issue regulations or guidelines concerning homeschooling.

According to Michelle Clark, communications director for DESE, this lack of oversight would extend to unschooling, even though she had not heard of that education method.

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Hot Looks for Hot Mamas

With the snow starting to melt away and that big orange thing in the sky finally revealing itself, I’ve been scouring fashion magazines and websites with abandon, trying to get a taste of the trends for spring to plan my wardrobe for the upcoming season.

To get help in finding looks that are both fashion-forward and easy for a busy mom to pull off, celebrated St. Louis fashion stylist and personal shopper, Jan Leach of Jan Leach Style, shared with me five hot trends for spring 2011. And along with Natalie Woods, owner of Daisy Clover Boutique in Webster Groves, explained via email how anyone can pull them off so us moms can look and feel our best.

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Flowers for My Nature-Loving Valentine

At the grocery store on Friday, my son was tooling around recklessly with his little mini-cart like he usually does … until he came to the floral Valentine’s Day display. He screeched to a halt directly in front of the roses and stared at them like they were the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen in all his four and a half years.

We wound up leaving the store with a flowering plant (not roses, luckily!) that he carried out like it was a precious jewel. We propped it securely in the car for the drive home and he insisted we turn off the music so his plant could have peace and quiet. And he unloaded it from the car directly into a sunny window, with no prompting from me. He’s also been watering it and wondering when the large bud will join the two flowers that are already blooming.

Clearly this is a boy who’s suffering from a nature deficit!

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Smoke Signals

I can’t remember the last time I came home smelling like smoke. Or the last time I worried about my kids breathing in a bunch of smoke. Most of our friends and relatives who smoke hold off around the kids, and with the new city and county smoking bans, it’s going to be rare indeed for the kids to even see people smoking across the room.

So I wonder … will they be less likely to try it themselves? Or will they be more likely because it’s something exotic? Will it be like immunizations — parents who’ve never experienced a child sick with measles or whooping cough are forgoing vaccines against those diseases, and now the rates are on the rise.  Maybe my kids, never having seen a smoker puffing away despite a hacking cough, will be oblivious to the dangers.

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Never Say Never

Well, I finally did it. I went out and bought myself a minivan.

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Things to Do

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo is back for another beautifully lit season. Your family can stroll through the Zoo grounds surrounded by a million lights! Visitors will see twinkling light displays, enjoy fun photo opportunities, holiday carolers, Santa's woodland workshop, roaming entertainers, and lots more in this enchanting holiday wonderland.

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Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023

More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.

 

 

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Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Enjoy the iconic lights that adorn the Anheuser-Busch Brewery close up during walking tours. Brewery Lights features more than one million twinkling lights and lots of family friendly activities. New this year is an enhanced parade with Clydesdales and street performers, giant branded nutcrackers and interactive stage performances.

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Water Waddlers Indoor Drop-In Swim

Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.

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15 Festive and Fun Holiday Events for Your Family This Holiday Season

Your family's holiday season won't be complete without these St. Louis holiday experiences.

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St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Sets the Stage for Family-Friendly Shows All Season Long

This season, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) will once again hit the stage for its popular Family Concert series. Featuring three captivating performances, the series ensures orchestral concerts are accessible for families and thrilling for their kiddos, whether they’re regular concert-goers or experiencing the magic of SLSO for the first time. Add to the series SLSO family movie nights and digital concerts, and it’s an action-packed season for every music lover.

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Life Lessons Learned at Overnight Camp

With the perfect blend of adventure and responsibility, camp life teaches kids valuable lessons they can use for the rest of their lives. If you send your child to overnight camp, here are some life lessons they are likely to learn.

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5 Easy Ways to Start the School Year Without Losing Your Mind

As much as I love finding fun ideas on Pinterest for magical first-day photos and perfectly curated bento box lunches complete with animal face mini sandwiches, it doesn’t help me stay sane. Instead, it makes the pressure build that I am responsible for making the new school year absolutely amazing.

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6 Places to Find Fun on the Farm this Fall

Visiting a farm can be a real adventure for city and suburban kids. Getting up close to and even feeding farm animals can lead to lots of fun and unexpected learning. We've rounded up some tried and true nearby options where your family can spend a day in the country and meet some new barnyard friends.

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