My Experience with Dannon Activia

I'm at the end of the Dannon Activia challenge and here's what I've found:

Overall this was a very positive experience. I really like that Activia doesn't taste weird and is basically a good yogurt with extra good stuff added in. I'm glad that I've found an easy way to fit more calcium in my diet without having to guzzle milk.

The kicker is that I've lost two pounds since the start of the challenge, but I think that's down to eating yogurt for breakfast instead of pastries or other unhealthy things. That's one reason why I'm going to continue having it every morning. Here is a picture I snapped just a few minutes ago here at work:



Don't forget that you can get your own coupons for Activia at the website or by clicking below.

Halfway Thru The Activia Challenge

I'm on day seven of the Dannon Activia. I think good things are happening, but I'll reserve complete judgment until the challenge is over. Since I'm already a fan of yogurt, it has been fairly easy for me to incorporate it into my morning routine. It tastes really good, just like regular Dannon yogurt. I've found that I'm partial to the strawberry flavor so I'm mostly sticking with that. I like that I'm getting more calcium in my diet and I do feel that eating Activia at least once a day is having a positive effect on my digestion. BUT. Is it better at all those things than regular yogurt? That's what I'm hoping to find out over the next week.

Don't forget you can get your own Activia coupons by clicking here.

Dannon Activia 14-Day Challenge

For months now I've been looking for healthy ways to get more calcium into my family's diet and to keep our digestion on track. So when I got some coupons that could be used for free servings of Dannon Activia, which contains a special culture that could help with digestion, it seemed like fate. I've decided to take this opportunity to participate in Activia's 14-Day Challenge to find out if incorporating this yogurt into my daily diet will boost my nutrition and help me to feel better. I'll be keeping all of you posted! In the meantime, you can find out get your own Activia coupons (yay!) by clicking below.

The Big Eggs Recall

So, basically, if you have eggs in your fridge right now you might need to think about chucking them. Or at least I would, until federal regulators figure out what's happening. That's because the recall has grown since it was announced last week.
So far hundreds of people have been sickened by an outbreak of salmonella on egg shells. The egg brands affected by the recall include: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, and Kemps.

Here's how to check your carton to find out if your eggs are part of the recall.

Back To School: Old Navy Sale!

If your child is getting ready to go back to school this month, you owe it to yourself to check out a major kids sale going on at OldNavy.com. Right now, lots of separates for boys and girls are going for just ten bucks. That includes dresses, shirts, and pants.
Several other items are a nice 20-40% off. On top of that, you can get free shipping on all Old Navy orders of $50 or more until 8/14. Just click here and enter the code ONSHIP50 at checkout. The $10 sale ends on Friday, August 19th.

I've already nabbed a few things for my munchkin and I'm sure lots of other parents are doing the same. Don't miss out!

Say Goodbye to Drop-Side Cribs

After years of incidents surrounding drop-side cribs, government regulators have seen enough. The Consumer Product Safety Commission - that's the group that keeps an eye on items that might be unsafe - is rolling out new guidelines that will essentially ban the sale of drop-side cribs. This is one of those things that some people may be resistant about because they feel drop-side cribs make it easier to put a baby into a crib or because they've been handed-down a drop-side crib. But these kinds of cribs might not be worth it anymore - not when the CPSC says the cribs could pose a "suffocation or entrapment risk to young children."

What do you think? Is the government over-reacting? Did you have a drop-side crib that was "just fine"?

Running for A Cause

If you've been following the fitness journey of Renee on CutieBootyCakes, you know that her training has been an inspiration to many of us who want to live healthier lives.
But now she's preparing to run in the Nike Women's Half Marathon (that's 13 miles!) for someone who has inspired her. She is running with Team in Training in honor of a friend's 4-year old daughter, Ja'Naya, who is battling (and currently winning against) leukemia.
You can get involved in the fight against childhood leukemia by helping Renee to reach her fundraising goal of $4000 by August 5th. All proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Click HERE for the link to Renee's donation page.

Sponsored: Summer Grilling

Over the weekend, lots of families in our neighborhood fired up their barbecue grills. We all know that this is the perfect time of year for it, but we may not know how to turn a simple cookout into a backyard bash. Our friends at Kraft have some simple tips for lighting your fire.

Happy Father's Day!

Here's to all the fantastic Dads out there who enrich the lives of their children every day and in every way. Happy Father's Day!

Seven Tips for Expectant Fathers

by guest bloggers
Dr. Michele Hakakha & Dr. Ari Brown


This year alone, there are 4.2 million expectant fathers--and they're much more involved in pregnancy and childbirth than ever before. In fact, many fathers-to-be are so intertwined with their developing baby that they experience symptoms such as weight gain, nausea, insomnia, and even labor pains, called Couvade Syndrome.



Fathers-to-be go through changes that rarely get discussed, and have decisions to make that are uniquely theirs. Here are 7 tips especially for expectant dads:



Mind your own baby bump. Are you eating for two right along with your wife? Newsflash: Your wife will lose a lot of her weight automatically when she has the baby--you won't! Studies show expectant fathers often gain extra pounds of "sympathy weight" during their wife's pregnancy.



Take one for the team. Get your TdaP shot as well as seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines to protect your precious cargo, who will soon be joining the family. Seventy percent of babies who get whooping cough are infected by immediate family members like you.



Baby yourself. Have you even been to the doc lately? Studies show many men ages 25-45 don't even have a primary care physician. Go get a checkup. Find out how you're doing, healthwise. Your baby needs a healthy dad who will grow old and wise.



Mind your moods. Research shows that partners are not only at risk for gaining sympathy weight, but may also suffer postpartum depression. Seek help if you feel overwhelming feelings of sadness, lack of desire to be around family and friends, severe fatigue, or trouble eating or sleeping after delivery.



Prepare for a dry spell. Hate to say it, but there can't be intercourse 6 weeks after the baby is born. The good news? Barring any health issues, you and your wife can have sex up until the last day before she delivers. And, no, sex does not trigger labor--that's an old wives' tale.



Engage in baby talk. We now know that babies recognize their parents' voices inside the womb. So go ahead--sing Hank Williams songs, recite your favorite poem, or just shoot the breeze with your unborn baby. When your baby is born, she or he will already know you.



Dads can nest too. Expectant dads are allowed to nest too--and often feel an overwhelming need during their wife's pregnancy to rev up the power tools. Feel free to paint, spackle, drill, and build to your heart's content--but avoid toxic materials and fumes in the baby's room.

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Michele Hakakha, MD, is an award-winning obstetrician/gynecologist in Beverly Hills. Ari Brown, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician in Austin, TX, an official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the children's health expert for WebMD, and a medical advisor for Parents magazine. She has appeared widely on TV, including Today, ABC News, CNN, Dr. Phil, and Rachael Ray. They are coauthors of Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy (Windsor Peak Press, 2010, www.expecting411.com), the only pregnancy guide written by two MDs who are also moms, and part of the bestselling book series that includes Baby 411 and Toddler 411.