Six weeks ago on Sunday, the parents of now five year old Ella Newmiller of Raleigh, North Carolina received a major shock. Ella had not been feeling well, was glassy eyed and sleepy so her parents took her to an urgent care center. The following day at UNC hospitals, they faced the unfathomable news that their precious daughter has an inoperable brain tumor.

Ella’s family has a simple request of people who would like to help: please take a few minutes every day to pray for Ella, for the oncologists and physicians directing her care, for her parents, Renae and Mark, and for her brother Jack who is in second grade. Read the rest.

Have you ever taken a close look at the other women around you while you were eating out? Chances are that many of them are “hunched” over and often complain of various body pain and discomforts. Hopefully, those most affected by musculosketal injuries, and/or predisposed discomforts due to heredity, are seeking the advice of a competent physician or licensed chiropractor. However, what I have observed from my experience as a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor (as well as, being a “forty-something”, mother of two!), is that so much of our aches and pains may be relieved by simply becoming aware of the many changes that our bodies go through during pregnancy and postpartum.

In the 1970’s and early 80’s pregnant exercisers were not the norm. In fact, pregnant women were considered “delicate”. Unfortunately this “myth of the delicate condition” is still alive and well today. It is amazing to me that even in 2007, my perinatal fitness students tell me stories about total strangers coming up to them while they are exercising , saying such things as, “Are you sure that is safe for you and your baby?” If these observers introduced themselves as certified in perinatal fitness, I might listen to them. Otherwise, their comments would lead me to believe that they are unaware of the vast amount of research available today that supports the benefits of exercise before, during and after pregnancy. Read the rest »

One of America’s top outdoor destinations and the country’s fifth largest city, it is not an accident that Phoenix is home to several of the best destination resorts located in the United States. Explore desert parks and lakes, tour archaeology ruins and historic gold mining towns, or visit one of the many the museums and state-of-the-art sporting facilities.

From Surprise to Apache Junction, the twenty distinct communities that make up the greater Phoenix area offer visitors everything from the slow-paced rural southwest to a bustling college atmosphere. Whether your interest is sports or archaeology, history or hiking, biking, horseback riding, or bird watching Phoenix offers something for everyone not wanting to venture beyond the Valley of the Sun. Read the rest »

The Building Together Ministries is a Christian, charitable organization that provides services to residents in Raleigh’s inner-city. Building Together caters to parents, children, students and adults with programs that include racial reconciliation, adult learning, a pre-school and summer camp, community volunteer programs, and a mentorship program for students. Plus there’s The NeighborStore, which provides pre-owned clothing and household goods to lower-income residents and Pride for Parents Christmas Store which offers new toys at discounted prices to parents of limited means during the month of December.

Handling the Family Services division of Building Together Ministries and the Pride for Parents Christmas Store is Extreme Makeover Home Edition winner, and very Clever Parent, Linda Riggins. Linda and her husband William are the very deserving recipients of a brand new home from ABC and the Extreme Makeover crew. Catch the show Sunday, January 21st on ABC at 8pm ET/7CT. Read the Clever Parents write up on The Riggins Family: Very Clever Parents.

Clever Parents tips the hat to two Raleigh based Clever Parents, William and Linda Riggins. The Riggins are the very deserving recipients of a new home courtesy of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Linda Riggins grew up in poverty in a dangerous neighborhood and was told she probably wouldn’t graduate from high-school. Fortunately she didn’t pay attention the doubters and went on to graduate from college with honors. Linda, who earned a degree in social work, manages the Family Services program for Building Together Ministries (see our featured charity write-up.) William is a tailor by trade, but had to quit because he lost his eyesight due to Retina Peratonitis diesase. Amazingly he’s still very handy and spends his days working at Lion’s Club Industries. Read the rest »

Harsh winds and cold spells can wreak havoc on the most resilient skin. Winter’s low humidity can sap moisture from the skin, leaving it feeling dry, itchy and cracked. In humid conditions, the skin can replenish lost moisture by soaking up moisture from the air. When the humidity drops in the winter, however, your skin loses the opportunity to moisturize itself. Couple that with the low humidity resulting from indoor heating, and your skin can become tight and dry. What’s a busy clever parent to do?

Not to worry! Now is the perfect time of year to adjust your skincare routine. A few simple steps can help you combat the effects of winter skin and make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance!

Wash with lukewarm, not hot, water and use a moisturizing cleanser.
Your skin contains thousands of oil glands that prevent the skin from losing moisture and help keep it supple and soft. When you wash your skin, however, you strip away oil, letting moisture evaporate and drying the skin. Hot water and harsh cleansers further strip the skin, so be sure to turn down the water temperature and avoid alcohol-based cleansers. Read the rest »

Looking for a fun activity for the family? Bundle up and light up Fayetteville Street with Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. The first-ever holiday lighting of what has been newly dubbed “Raleigh’s Main Street” kicks of this afternoon, December 8, at 5pm. Take a carriage ride and enjoy the holiday carolers while watching thousands of white lights in the trees lining the street.

“We hope this is something that can become an annual event,” said Tracey Lovejoy, vice-president of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “Since Fayetteville Street was reopened to traffic, it really has become Raleigh’s ‘Main Street’. We had tremendous success with the Christmas parade this year and we’re looking forward to making the street beautiful for the holiday season.”

Q: At what age should a child go to the dentist for the first time and what sort of dental care should parents provide prior to that time? (i.e. when do you start brushing a baby’s teeth? when should you start flossing? etc.)

A: The recommended age for a child’s first dental visit is when the first tooth comes in, usually anywhere from 6 to 12 months, or by their first birthday. Seems a bit early, but this appointment is about learning about the dentist and dental care. Children are given the opportunity to see a dental office and equipment in effort to help them feel more comfortable about future visits. Parents will learn about preventative measures that will ensure their children’s health and smile, including education about early childhood caries from baby bottles, oral hygiene instructions, harmful oral habits and much more. Read the rest »