Friday, April 20, 2012

GCDC Sponsor Spotlight: Manza Chiropractic of Rochester, NY

Kids and Chiropractic

Did you know that the use of vacuum extraction devices or obstetric forceps during the delivery process will place 140lbs to 170lbs of dangerous pressure or force to the very delicate cervical spine (neck) of your baby? This birth trauma is one of the many reasons we provide care for so many children.

Even without the use of the afore mentioned birthing devices, your children will sustain painless spinal trauma on a daily basis. A fall off the monkey bars or bicycle will contribute to poor spinal and nervous system health. Student athletes benefit from chiropractic care as they take sport specific spinal trauma in practice and games. Performance improvements have been shown in the student athlete as a result of regular adjustments to maintain the integrity of their spine and nervous system. The typical student posture consists of slouching, forward head carriage, and rounded shoulders which absolutely contribute to poor health. And how heavy is that BACK pack, anyway?

Scoliosis, a very serious spinal and nervous system condition, is yet another common childhood spinal affliction that responds well to corrective chiropractic care. As do ear infections, colic, allergies and many other childhood issues.

Please visit manzachiropractic.com and visit the FAQ and Research area of as it contains great research all parents should become familiar with. In the FORMS area of this web site you may download the Pediatric Intake form, as well as quick tips/facts regarding backpack safety, posture and scoliosis and much more. So now you see, this is why we adjust spines as soon as possible.


"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~Thomas A. Edison

Dr Joe Manza
At Wellness for You NOW Chiropractic, our PRIORITY is to provide you and your family with the highest quality, most natural form of corrective health and wellness care in a friendly, comfortable environment. We utilize the latest technology in the industry for spinal evaluation, the QROM Range of Motion Station allows us to accurately identify and correct spinal subluxations. In addition, B & I Imaging provides our practice members with cutting edge digital radiographic imaging, allowing us to provide the most accurate and effective spinal care possible.

Chiropractic care is not just for pain, it’s for living a healthy and full life. You only have one spine and nervous system, there is no replacing it, and it should last you the rest of your life. It’s our distinct honor to make sure it does. That is why we adjust all spines from ten days to ten decades.
So please join us as we invite you and your family to become part of our wellness mission. We are looking forward to providing Chiropractic care for you and your loved ones.

About the ICPA
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA, Inc) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization of chiropractic family practitioners dedicated to advancing public awareness and attainment of the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle.

ICPA practitioners provide a holistic approach to your family wellness. They provide quality chiropractic care which are specific to children, (including infants) and pregnant women.

The ICPA empowers parents with practical solutions, extensive resources and specific services for family health and wellness. These resources include the icpa4kids.org website and it's many informative articles, Pathways to Family Wellness magazine and our free e-newsletter: Family Wellness First. Members of the ICPA respect and encourage parents to make informed heath care decisions throughout pregnancy, birth and childhood.

With extensive education, advanced training and practiced based research in the realm of chiropractic care for children and in pregnancy, the ICPA members are fulfilling their vision in the world.
Dr. Joe is a proud member of the ICPA and Webster Technique Certified.

"Lifetime Family Wellness"
Wellness for You NOW Chiropractic
2040 E. Henrietta Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

BirthWrites Classes Coming to Luvaboos, Rochester NY!




You give up your self,
and finally you don’t even mind.
I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.
It humbled my ego and stretched my soul.
It gave me whatever crumbs of wisdom
I possess today.

Erica Jong, “You Give Up Your Self”

Pregnancy transforms. Throughout both of my pregnancies, I was in awe of the beautiful, subtle evolution that was taking place. It was stunning to imagine all of the ways in which my baby was growing week by week; and startling to realize that I was growing as well. I had taken it for granted that my body would stretch and shift to nurture a new life, but I didn’t fully anticipate that my perspectives, my relationships, and my priorities would also be transformed—in a monumental way.

I wanted to make sense of these changes, which meant I had to find the time to journal. This was not an easy thing to do when the exhaustion of pregnancy can make the most basic of tasks feel like a trek up Kilimanjaro! But, somewhere between eating crumbly mouthfuls of saltines and euphorically throwing newborn-sized bodysuits into the wash, I convinced myself that keeping a journal during pregnancy was as necessary as taking prenatal vitamins.

Why? Because when we are expecting, we tend to focus entirely on the miraculous event of birth, rather than on the remarkable journey of pregnancy that takes us there. We read pregnancy books, go to birth classes, and talk to other mothers about their experiences, but we don’t always take the time to listen to ourselves or to process what we’re learning from others. With all of this information and change, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Setting aside the time to journal can bring clarity and help us realize that our very own pregnancy experiences have so much to teach us about ourselves, about birth, and about who we hope to be as mothers. 

If you’ve been trying to find the time to capture and explore your unique experience of preparing for birth, join me at Luvaboos for a BirthWrites journaling class! In Prenatal BirthWrites, we’ll take the time to listen to our inner voice on this journey into motherhood, whether this is your first child or your fourth. Also look for Motherhood BirthWrites, where we’ll have the opportunity to write down our birth stories, and to reflect on our lives as we continue to learn and grow.

Don’t miss the chance to discover that each birth writes its own story!

Prenatal BirthWrites starts Tuesdays, May 15-29 at 7:30PM. Cost: $48/three classes

Classes are taught by Jana Jackle, owner of BirthWrites and Jackle WordCrafting. Jana holds an MS in Education, a BA in French & English Literature, and is a New York State Certified Teacher. She loves being at home with her two boys, practicing yoga, hiking, eating chocolate, and—when everyone is asleep—reading and writing.

For more information on BirthWritesTM classes at Luvaboos, please contact us at info@luvaboos.com or call us at 585.319.4981
 


Monday, April 16, 2012

GCDC Sponsor Spotlight on Jill Doser, A fabulous local artist!

We're super excited to share this great Cloth Diaper Change Sponsor with you all!  It's Jill, an awesome artist from Fairport, NY!
If you’re having your first baby, decorating the nursery is a memorable process. Make it unique with fresh ideas, and make it easy with a design consultation. My personalized advice will help you use an inspiration piece to create a room that simply feels good and works with your furnishings and daily routines. Choose paint colors with confidence and consider the possibility of hand-painted touches that will personalize this special space with your infant.

If you’re having a second or third baby, you might suddenly be making adjustments to please everyone. Perhaps you’re changing a room from “girl” to “boy”, or displacing the new big brother or big sister, and want them to have a “big kid room” or colorful playroom to balance the excitement of the new baby. Making big changes on a short timeline feels easy with my creative process.

 If you’re wishing big or thinking small, I’ll help you get started with it all. It’s time to turn your inkling of an idea into a completed project you’ll truly enjoy. Please contact me at www.jilldoser.com to get started on a custom solution made just for you!

Jill will be at the Great Cloth Diaper Change were you can view more of her work, and speak to her about you next great project! 

To see more of Jill's portfolio and past projects please visit her site or her Flickr Photo Stream!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

GCDC Sponsor Spotlight on Mindy of Sweet & Woodsy Aromatherapy!

Today we have a guest blog post from one of our Great Cloth Diaper Change Sponsors.   It is written by Mindy MacLaren of Sweet and Woodsy Aromotherapy.  My family has known Mindy for several years, I have had the opportunity to use many of her products, and have loved everything I tried.  Right now I am loving the tushy spray and Boo Boo Love wound care.  I put Boo Boo love on any little scrapes and bumps my toddler gets and they really do seem to heal right up.  It is of course great for the whole family too.  I also recommend her hand sanitizer, it is alcohol free, non sticky, and smells amazing!  Mindy also has a table at the Fairport farmers market Saturday mornings during the season.  Read more about Mindy and Sweet Aromotherpy below.  ~Michelle

Mindy MacLaren is a holistic aromatherapist and the owner of Sweet & Woodsy Aromatherapy, a certified green business located in Penfield, NY. She received her training at Aromahead Institute, School of Essential Oil Studies in 2008, and is certified through the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). 

Mindy is also the proud mother of 2.5 year old twin girls and uses all of Sweet & Woodsy’s products regularly and knows they contribute to her family’s good health.

In addition to making natural options to many popular cleaning and personal use products, Mindy offers classes and in-home parties to teach others how to incorporate aromatherapy into their everyday lives. One of her favorite class topics is the safe use of essential oils during pregnancy and with babies. She also offers a service called “Make the Switch” where she helps those interested switch to natural household products. Strongly against the use of pesticides in all areas of her life, Mindy uses only essential oils that are tested for purity and that come from organic or un-sprayed plants. Essential oils free of pesticides and other chemicals can enhance one’s health rather than compromise it, offering the true potential of the plant’s essence. Mindy believes being responsible for one’s own health is empowering and knows how supportive aromatherapy can be to one’s physical and emotional well-being. Please visit sweetandwoodsy.com to learn more and follow Mindy on Facebook at Sweet & Woodsy Aromatherapy.

Sweet &Woodsy is happy to sponsor Luvaboos’ Great Cloth Diaper Change event, and to partner with other local businesses in support of a happier and healthier planet for all of us.

If you're interested in RSVP'ing and attending this year's Rochester area Great Cloth Diaper Change please visit this link.


Monday, April 9, 2012

Coconut Oil, A cure all for skin and more!


About a month ago I wrote about the benefits to using coconut oil. I hadn’t used coconut oil but there’s been so much buzz about it I thought I’d give it a try. You know, see why people are raving about this white yummy smelling stuff.

After reading the article, my wonderful friend, Wholesome Wendy, gave me a tub of coconut oil to try out. Wholesome Wendy’s a very crunchy mama…she even has her own chickens in her backyard! (They also have a picture of a rooster in the coop because as Wendy’s hubby says, “This is the only rooster they’ll ever see!”) Wholesome Wendy is a major supporter of coconut oil in cooking and while she hasn’t used it on her skin she told me that it probably does possess similar benefits to using it in your cooking.

What I’ve learned from Wholesome Wendy is that you want to buy quality coconut oil. Like any product that’s going to be absorbed into your body you should do your research ahead of time and purchase a quality product. It took a while for me to find information on what you should look for when you buy coconut oil but here’s what I’ve learned:
  • It should be USDA certified organic.
  • It should not be bleached, refined, or deodorized. This strips the healthy fats out of the oil.
  • It should be solvent and chemical free.
  • It should not have any hydrogenated fats in it.
  • It should be made from fresh coconuts not dried copra.
  • It should be cold-pressed (aka Expeller-pressed) if you’re buying virgin coconut oil.
  • It should be non-GMO or hybrid coconut palms, made from real palms.
  • The higher the percentage of Lauric acid the higher quality the oil. Look for products that have 50% or more Lauric acid.
  • Look for a product that has not been exposed to high heat as that compromises the oils composition.
I’ve been using coconut oil on my face, my 8 mo. old daughter’s bum, and both of my kids’ skin after bath time. I’m pleased with the results we’ve gotten. I love it on my daughter’s bum because it’s cloth diaper friendly and clears up any redness overnight. On my face I’ve noticed less irritation than I was before with my regular moisturizer. The one downside of using it on your face is that it’s rather greasy so if you’re going to be make-up on you should give it some time to soak into your skin. I applied my make too soon after putting on the coconut oil and it ran off within an hour or so. And just because I love being the guinea pig for all of you, I took before and after pictures sans make-up. I know; I’m so nice!

I would definitely recommend giving coconut oil a try for your skin and especially as a fluff friendly diaper rash cream!
Elizabeth (aka Bert) is a stay-at-home-mom and contributing writer for She Thinks Media. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Ben, her son Buggie, and daughter Lady Bug.  When she's not trying to convince Buggie to expand his interests beyond Thomas the Train or put his pants back on she's writing about her experiences as a mom on her blog, First Time Mom (FTM). After all, Bert maintains there's a first time for everything, even if you  have more than one child! 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Tofu Cubes Recipe! A great snack for babies!

Tofu is one of those foods that instantly puts an image in your mind. If you haven’t experienced tofu it’s often an image of a white, slimy and mushy loaf usually cold with little to no taste. Actually as I’m describing it, it doesn’t even appeal to me and I like tofu! Don’t judge a book by its cover or in this case don’t mistake the sliminess of the exterior for the protein and calcium benefits hidden inside!

Now I know some of you are probably internally freaking out that I would dare to feed my 8 month old a soy product. Don’t worry. Everything in moderation my friends; I am not shoving an entire block of tofu into my daughter nor is she actually consuming enough to become a hindrance. Also, like most things we consume you need to be aware of how it’s made, grown, etc. When buying tofu purchase products that are organic and not genetically modified (non-GMO). Tofu is different and safer than eating a bag of potato chips made from hydrogenated soybean oil.

Because of its soft texture tofu is an excellent first finger food for your little one.  Made from the soybean, tofu is high in protein, calcium, vitamin B and iron. If you’re breastfeeding the calcium and iron is definitely a bonus as these are not present in abundance in breastmilk. Tofu is also very absorbent so it naturally takes on whatever spice it’s paired with making it a great alternative to meat. The firmer the tofu the higher fat content it has which is not a bad thing for your baby.

As your baby starts to show more interest in feeding him you might want to try introducing tofu into his daily meals at around 8 months. If your baby has started doing the pinching motion to pick up small items this is the perfect time to start him on finger foods. Like I said earlier, tofu is soft so it’s easily mashed into baby’s gummy mouth if he has little to no teeth. Looking for a simple way to serve tofu? Try Wholesome Babyfood’s Tofu Cubes!
First drain the firm tofu and then blot with a cloth or paper towel.
Cut the tofu into bite sized pieces suited for your baby.
Take a few cubes and place them in a Ziploc bag. Add some baby cereal or wheat germ and a dash of spice. I used cinnamon. Then toss the cubes around in the bag.
Take the cubes out of the bag and present them to your baby. They’ll love playing with the texture and feel like such a big kid by feeding themselves!

So what do you think?  Will you try making Tofu Cubes for your little one?
Elizabeth (aka Bert) is a stay-at-home-mom and contributing writer for She Thinks Media. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Ben, her son Buggie, and daughter Lady Bug.  When she's not trying to convince Buggie to expand his interests beyond Thomas the Train or put his pants back on she's writing about her experiences as a mom on her blog, First Time Mom (FTM). After all, Bert maintains there's a first time for everything, even if you  have more than one child!