Earth Day is April 22nd, and no matter where you live in North Carolina, there is plenty going on! Are you looking for events and activities for you and your family? You need look no further than the Environmental Education Calendar hosted by the Office of Environmental Education. Simply type in your zip code and how far you are able to travel. It’s that easy! Even better…it’s not just for Earth Day! You can use the new calendar any day of the year to find fun, educational outdoor events and activities happening across North Carolina!

Come celebrate the color children add to our lives at the first annual Black & White Bash, a benefit for Playspace Children’s Museum in downtown Raleigh. Hosted on Thursday, May 17th, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Exploris Museum, the Black & White Bash features a live and silent auction with fabulous items up for bid, live jazz by Laura Ridgeway & Friends, catering by Lady Fingers, black and white attire and desserts by Hereghty heavenly delicious. Tickets are $45 per person for members, $50 for non-members, and can be purchased by calling Playspace at 919-832-2617, online at www.playspacemuseum.com/bash/ in person at Tookie’s Toys or Playspace Children’s Museum. Proceeds will support Playspace’s mission of advancing young children’s creative, social and emotional development through hands-on, interactive play – paving the way for success in school and later in life.

When our kids are young, they need us every second. As they grow older and more independent, they need us less and less. So how do you continually maintain a strong family unit? We found a way that worked for our family:

My son was five when ‘it’ started. He went from a needy infant and toddler that needed my undying attention every minute to a sports fanatic who suddenly was only interested in talking to his dad and uncles in a foreign language of statistics and rosters. Determined not to lose him (and equally determined not to become immersed in a subject I despised) I decided we needed to find a common interest that both of us could enjoy. What we discovered was so much more. Read how finding a shared passion has brought my son and I closer together and we urge all families to find a passion of their own. 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 »

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 »