Face it, aquariums are fun so I’m more than willing to share with you if you haven’t been there yet. As a member, we’ve been there countless times, and in all seasons. Summer being my favorite since the outdoor area is beautiful , but in winter it’s a nice escape and even feels a little tropical in the midst of a deep-freeze.

Another nice thing about aquariums is that , really, they are for any age. Even kids as young as 2 get excited watching the fish (where’s Nemo and Dory?)  and kids a bit older just love the sea lion show and watching the great whites in the shark tunnel. Older kids go for the rock wall, the simulator ride ( fee) and the game room. Yes, there’s even a cool game room so bring a few extra bucks. Plus indoor and outdoor dining and an ice cream shop outside. I’ve been known to kick off my flip flops and relax as the kids climb the rock wall for half an hour. There’s a great little wading area too, where families can roll up their pants and wade amongst the horseshoe crabs.

My kids love watching the seahorses and the underwater viewing of the sea lion who will swim the same lap endlessly( seriously, does this guy ever take a break?)

I really enjoy the monkeys outside and we all get a kick out of watching the bats hang upside down. To the bat pole Robin! (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Kids can feed the koi and feed the stingrays. This also is another favorite-my girl loves to pet those stingrays. On the way out, the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Conservation has a room where you can donate to help their rescued animals (there were over 25 last week they told me) and you can view a tank with one (a cute seal when I was there). There’s plenty of marine life education in the room and info about how man’s pollution is destroying water and hurting fish.That’s when you may want to take a minute to educate the kids that it’s not all fun and games, it’s about doing your part in the world.

I didn’t even mention it all as  I’m sure you’ll want to explore the aquarium on your own and who am I to take away the surprises?

Whichever season you choose, I hope you have a fabulous day at the aquarium.

Looking for more day-cations on the east end of  Island? Learn about 6  more places here.

The post Long Island Aquarium appeared first on NYC Mama .

If you are still not on Pinterest, what are you waiting for? And if you ARE on Pinterest, are you using it to your advantage?  As a girl, I cut out magazine pictures of things I wanted or just something that caught my eye. Did you do that too?  But magazines were pretty limited in my house. Pinterest, however, is like having the world at your hands. And while it’s fun to look at and pin things that catch your eye, it’s a whole lot more than that! Women around the world are getting creative and using this “virtual pin board” for many reasons and with much success.

Here are 6  top reasons to use Pinterest to your advantage.

• Plan a wedding- This is HUGE! Remember you, or a girlfriend, carrying around a notebook filled with magazine cut outs of place settings, and bouquets? and Bridal magazines with pages folded? Now it’s easy to collect ALL the images you want in one place. Pin the dresses you love, the flower arrangements, the lyrics to songs, whatever…and be able to access them from your smartphone or ipad makes it EXTRA convenient. Use the “delete pin” button to your advantage too, by deleting what you no longer like and narrow down to your best ideas. You can also share your board with relatives and friends across the country and even allow them to pin on your board! How awesome is that?

• Vision Board/Motivation- Not everyone does this but it is powerful! Seeing our vision boards daily and reaffirming our image of our future is the law of attraction in action. Some people just like to put positive quotes and uplifting words. Others images of places they would like to visit. But however you use it, it’s a great reminder of what’s important in life and can motivate you to strive for these things and to appreciate them more.

• Sell your crafts or home biz items- HUGE HUGE HUGE market out there for crafters and direct sales. Huge. No longer do you just have an Etsy store or sell on e-bay (how primitive is that?) but now you can pin images of your items for your followers to see. The more followers you have, the bigger the audience. But then it’s even better-since THEY can repin your images to THEIR followers and so on. So theoretically, thousands of people can see your images and crafts now…is that exciting or what? Same goes for those in direct sales, as long as it is allowed by the company. And really-what company DOESn’T want people to see their items and have potential sales and new consultants? It’s THE way to grow a home business!

• Virtual cookbook- Self explanatory! I mean, how many of us still have volumes of cookbooks and reach for them when we want a new meal for the fam? No show of hands? I know mine went right in the donation box. Pinterest is AMAZING for recipes…you can make boards into categories- main dishes, desserts, vegetables, etc. and then display the recipe as you are cooking right on your computer, laptop, kindle , ipad,whatever. And there’s never any recipes you DON’T want-unlike cookbooks. You choose which ones you want to make. If you make it and it sucks, delete! Easy peesy! My kids and I have so much fun pinning -and trying- new recipes. And that’s another point- you can get the kids involved by letting them choose what they’d like to try.

• Expand your blog. Every time I post a blog post, I make sure I have a picture with it and then I hit that great “pin it” button. And this really helps expand traffic to blogs. I’ve heard of blogs getting hundreds of hits a day from 1 pin alone! Crazy . but true. So never blog without pinning. And you can pin the post to various boards too, if you choose, since some people don’t follow all your boards, but rather only the themed ones they like.

• Create an idea board. No more forgetting crafts you want to try with the kids, or having ripped scraps of magazines crumbled in drawers. No more forgetting what site it was that you saw a great idea on. Pinterest makes it easy to collect your future DIY projects in one spot. You don’t even need to use your bookmarks anymore…it’s better because it’s all in one spot and very visual. From painted rocks, to home made headboards, ideas for flower gardens, kindergarten projects and Christmas table settings to anything you can think of, you can pin away and have a treasure of ideas to come back to. I just LOVE doing this and have found it so helpful and time-saving in my life!

Happy Pinning. But be warned- it’s a bit addicting.

*Want to learn more about social media marketing? Visit  successformom

The post Top 6 reasons to be using Pinterest appeared first on NYC Mama .

Photo credit: Acid Pix

Acupuncture has gained traction in recent years among Westerners, especially for its use in attenuating pain. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, about 3.1 million Americans said they had used acupuncture in the past year. This post on acupuncture and fertility is the first of a series which will discuss the use of acupuncture for different issues, including fertility and pregnancy, myofascial pain (so-called “acupuncture for athletes”) and depression and anxiety.

The Evidence on Acupuncture and Fertility

The scientific literature on acupuncture and fertility is relatively sparse. There have been, however, a few positive notes coming out of peer-reviewed journals in recent years.

In 2008, investigators published a meta-analysis (an analysis of other studies) in the British Journal of Medicine indicating that “acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization” (IVF). While The Guardian reported the increased chances of pregnancy to be 65%, the authors of the study actually cautioned that the rate was lower, specifically that “10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one additional clinical pregnancy.”

Likewise, in March 2013, researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden concluded in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism that “repeated acupuncture treatments resulted in higher ovulation frequency in…women with PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome].” PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

How Does Acupuncture Treat Infertility?

To understand how acupuncture works, I turned to licensed acupuncturist and doula Erin Borbet of Grow Wellness Acupuncture in Midtown Manhattan.

Chinese medicine, she explains, is based on a system of twelve main “meridians,” or invisible channels, that carry energy, or “qi” (pronounced “chee”) throughout the body. You can think of the channels as a life force circulatory system. Eight of the 12 meridians run through the pelvic floor and the reproductive organs.

The basic idea is that when energy is blocked, the body’s whole system is thrown out of balance, just as a fender bender on a major highway can result in hours of snarled traffic. The body works on its own to restore equilibrium, but just like a traffic jam in Times Square on a Friday evening, sometimes you need a traffic cop to help unblock the box. That’s where acupuncturists come in. Using very thin needles made usually of stainless steel, they painlessly stimulate specific points along the meridians to keep energy flowing smoothly in the body.

Meridians
Photo credit: Megan Mallen

Women of all stripes can benefit from pre-conception acupuncture. “For a surprising number of women, a lot of it is education about fertility,” Borbet says. She works with clients on understanding the best time to conceive, mapping out their cycle and so on.

For other women, it’s a matter of rebalancing menstrual cycle irregularities. Still others come from a medical doctor who diagnosed them with PCOS, polyps or endometriosis. Sometimes women want to try a “natural” approach, so Borbet works on those particular issues. In other cases, women are taking fertility medication or trying IVF. Borbet says acupuncture can be a great complement in such cases, and the studies reviewed above would seem to support her conclusion.

Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Acupuncture can also help relieve uncomfortable symptoms that accompany pregnancy. Borbet says that the most common complaints people come to her with are back pain, hip pain, sciatica and headaches. But once in her office, she can help relieve other less tangible symptoms like insomnia, acid reflux, constipation and edema (swelling).

Because the meridians run throughout the body, practitioners can access the flow of energy in one of the eight channels that run through the reproductive organs by placing needles distally (in the arms or legs). “That’s how we can treat it all very well without having to do abdominal points” when a woman is pregnant, Borbet says.

Another common use of acupuncture in pregnancy is labor preparation beginning at week 36. A practitioner will try to clear the meridians running through the pelvic floor, making sure the pelvic muscles and uterus are nourished and relaxed.

Although there are no specific studies on the benefit of acupuncture and labor, Borbet notes that, as a doula, she’s attended many births, and women who have had acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy have noticeably smoother labor. Acupuncture won’t make your labor less painful or faster, she says, but it can help keep it moving along.

A Personalized Treatment

Acupuncture is a highly personalized treatment modality that takes into account both the chief complaint and a person’s specific constitution. “There are some tried and true points, meridians and balancing treatments,” Borbet says, but everyone is different. There are few contraindications for acupuncture, but if you’d like a consultation, be sure to look for someone who is licensed in the state of New York.

Photo courtesy of Grow Wellness Acupuncture

Erin Borbet, L.Ac., MS, Doula is located at 16 East 40^th Street, Floor 2 between Fifth and Madison Avenues. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation or make an appointment by calling (646) 842-1598 or accessing the online booking system.

The post Acupuncture for Fertility and Pregnancy appeared first on NYC Mama .

Each week the apps list items and when you buy them, you earn cash back, kind of like a rebate. One app even offers up to 100% back if you share on your Facebook wall. Today , in a mini $65 shopping trip, I only bought 2 Sobe waters, 1 baking soda and 2 frozen meals that were on the list, but managed to get back over $4.00. Cash. In my account. Then I can transfer to paypal and they pay immediately. You can earn up to $40 each shopping trip with Ibotta and quite a bit with Endorse too.  If you want to earn more, refer some friends.

What I like is that they also have more and more organic brands like Annie s and Amy’s and they have basic items like baking soda, toothpaste, yogurts, eggs, and Advil too. Who doesn’t buy stuff like that?

All you need is a smartphone for Ibotta and a FB account and smartphone for Endorse. As far as I know, ipads work fine too. If they are giving away money, why not take your share? Let the earnings add up and then cash out for a pedicure or a new shirt or something fun. We all can use all the (financial) help we can nowadays right?

Join Ibotta

Join Endorse

Happy Shopping

The post Better than coupons-new free shopping apps pay cash back! appeared first on NYC Mama .

1- The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead. Personally I like the feel of it much better than the one in Coney Island, but then again, anywhere there are fish and fun is fine with me. As a member of the Aquarium, we’ve been there more times than we can count and enjoy each time.  Kids can pet the stingrays, watch the sea lions swim in circles( for some reason, this is hypnotic for us), learn about Long Island’s fish and fauna and see a sea lion show , weather permitting. Another fascinating creature to check out is the octopus- kinda creepy fascinating if you ask me. The outside areas of the aquarium are as nice or nicer than the inside so try to visit on a nice day.  Sea otters, monkeys, koi, turtles and penguins are just some of the animals you will encounter, along with an Indiana Jones styles mini cave to “excavate” and even a rock climbing wall. There’s great views of the river…you can grab lunch at the cafeteria then head over the the butterfly exhibit in the attached hotel.( extra fee). All in all, it’s a very fun day for families with kids of all ages, and even the Grandparents love to come along , as there’s not too much walking. And last but not least,I can’t leave out my kids’ favorite areas- the shark tunnel and the game room!  Learn more here

2-Farms along Sound Avenue. Set your GPS for Sound Avenue where it starts in the Wading River area, and then allow the day for a meandering drive with frequent stops at Long Island farms and even vineyards that have animals like bulls and sheep. Two favorites of ours are Harbes Family Farms and Garden of Eve Organic Farm. Both have kids play areas, tables to grab lunch or a snack and to sit and relax. The local pies and muffins and fresh in season foods make it oh-so-worth it! Bring along a big cooler with ice in the trunk and you’ll be able to bring home a nice assortment of fresh Long Island grown goodies. Continue all the way until Greenport if you’d like, a super fun town to spend an hour or two in and the kids can take a whirl on the antique carousel.

3- Montauk , the End. I’ve posted before about Montauk as one of my favorite towns and for a good reason! There’s so much to do, yet one of the best costs virtually nothing- it’s simply walking the town,  then walking the dock over at Gosman’s, watching the boats come in with the catch of the day!  Parking in town and walking to the beach gives me a real vacation-y feel…kinda like the Jersey coast or Maryland. Then head back and play a game of mini-golf right on the water. Just can’t beat a day at Montauk for fresh air and lots of wild untamed dunes to explore.

4-Botanical Gardens- The east end boasts 3 beautiful gardens to revel in. Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton is 5 acres with a ton of roses and a water garden. Madoo Conservancy was written up in a magazine for it’s literacy and artistic history. And Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton is a museum , garden and sculpture garden  that has over 60 sculptures in the sculpture garden. Visit each site to see hours since they are often limited to a few days a week.

5- Splish Splash in Riverhead. Our personal favorite summer away-from -home home. With our season pass, we can go endlessly and enjoy a whole day or just a few rides. But be warned, this place gets jammed! So maybe I shouldn’t even tell you about it. But my devotion to the East End insists on it. So let’s just say, this Travel Channel top ten park offers a whole day of soaking sopping wet fun with slides and family rides and 2 wave pools. There’s something for everyone, plenty of snack and lunch options or pack your own and eat at the picnic area.

6- Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton. The ULTIMATE beach. I love this place- for the sand, for the waves, for the sun ( it just feels different there I swear) and for the Beach Hut. Just the drive down Dune Road never fails to have someone on my tail urging me to hit the gas, but I love to browse each house and imagine ME owning it as MY vacation home. Then I plant myself in the sand, dig my toes in, grab a cool lemonade and I am officially IN VACATION MODE.

7-Long Island Live Steamers. A hidden GEM on Long Island for train lovers of all ages ( with a particular fondness for little boys in overalls who worship Thomas the tang engine). This event takes place the first and third Sunday of the month from about May through October. It’s in the  Southhaven park in Brookhaven ( see site for more details) and works on donations. You can stay for as little or as long as you’d like and ride the mini trains around the track. We’ve been going once a year for about 8 years now and the kids STILL love it! We try to ride 3 or 4 times , on a different train each time. Wear bug spray, sneakers and bring lunch or snacks or buy at the small concession stand. Official train conductor caps optional

Enjoy your day trips! Learn more about  some other Long Island towns to visit here

The post 7 Great Family Day-cations on Long Island’s East End appeared first on NYC Mama .

• Hard boiled eggs. In a pinch, this may be the easiest way to get some protein in. Sunday night make a dozen or so eggs and have them peeled and ready in a covered bowl in the fridge for AM’s.
• Pancakes. Sure some people buy frozen for convenience, but I make mine a little healthier, with whole wheat flour and flax seed. Make up a very large bunch, maybe even 2 boxes worth, on a rainy day then freeze perfect portion sizes in individual baggies for a quick grab and microwave breakfast. Same goes for french toast. Using your own healthy bread and freezing ahead ensures they eat something you feel good about.
• Smoothies and shakes. Make a large blender of a shake everyone loves so as the troops arrive in the kitchen, all they have to do is pour a glass for themselves.
• Peanut butter balls. A quick nutritious breakfast or part of breakfast. Mix peanut butter with whole oats (not instant) and some honey and cinnamon.Ground flax seed is optional. Form  bite sized balls and keep in the fridge for another quick grab n go snack. My kids LOVE these!
• Fruit salad. Keep the fruit bowl handy or make a cut up fruit salad!  When I put the bowl in the middle of the island, my kids are more tempted to grab a banana or apple in the morning or sco0p themselves a bowl. Nothing can be easier.  Keep some granola nearby in a bowl so they can dip their fruit.
• Instant Oatmeal. Put a pot of water simmering on the back burner on when you wake up. Then as the kids pile in, pour into bowls filled with instant oatmeal. Takes 5 seconds to mix and it’s pretty filling. We buy non flavored and add our own cinnamon , sugar or syrup to it so they are much less sweet and sugary than store versions.It’s a better buy that way too.
• Cereal. Of course, you say! What’s breakfast without cereal? My kids like to mix cereals so I pre-mix them in  large covered plastic containers.  It makes it easier for kids to pour in the AM without all the scrunching and mess of the dreaded cereal bags.
• Yogurt- While I love most of the benefits and convenience of yogurt, they can be high is sugar ( especially if they are eaten with a glass of juice for breakfast)  so be sure to buy a lower sugar one or only offer small bowls along with something heartier. Some kids will even go for a scoop of cottage cheese with some fruit in it. Usually it’s quite a bit lower in sugar than yogurt.
• Cottage cheese and fruit- My daughter loves this one( and so do I!). Nuke a chopped apple with cinnamon and sugar for a few minutes then serve with plain cottage cheese. Peaches, blueberries and strawberries go great too.
• Granola bars- yeah, you can make your own if you’re feeling crunchy, but try the organic store bought ones when they are on sale. Cut in 2 and layer on a plate for kids to grab with a banana or something fast and easy.
• Muffins and breads- So easy and one of our favorites. I try to make homemade healthy versions( see Pinterest for the best ideas!) or at least if i use a store bought box, I use applesauce or greek yogurt instead of oils and cut the eggs in half , using flax seed and water for the other half. Adding in berries ups the nutrient value. Or try a nice pumpkin bread or zucchini bread. The kids feel like they are having cake and may even give you an extra kiss when they leave! hey, it’s worth a shot! Make a few loaves and freeze for a later date.

No one should ever skip breakfast even if they are rushed, so having easy , quick foods to choose from and grab make for a better start to the day for everyone-Moms and kids.

The post Fast and Healthy Breakfast Ideas appeared first on NYC Mama .

Far be it from me to base my opinions purely on taste — or on junk science. I set out to do a little research: Do artificial sweeteners do more harm than good?

The site PopSugar has a great break-down on the pros and cons of different artificial sweeteners. The most disturbing fact I learned was that Stevia, the new darling of sugar substitutes, is sold as a dietary supplement and is therefore not regulated by the FDA.

For the rest, the Mayo Clinic says sugar substitutes like aspartame (Nutrasweet), saccharine (Sweet n Low) and sucralose (Splenda) are safe:

“There’s no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems. And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women.”

So far so good.

The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners

I dug a little deeper, however, and found a post from the Harvard Health Blog (published by Harvard Medical School)  entitled “Artificial sweeteners: sugar free but at what cost?” that began to confirm my suspicions. It claims, in short, that sugar substitutes have three detrimental effects:

1. Since artificial sweeteners are stronger than naturally occurring sugar, they might change the way you taste food, leaving fruits and vegetables tasteless by comparison. As a result, you’ll be less likely to reach for healthy produce and more likely to stick with nutritionless junk food.

2. Artificial sweeteners may prevent you from associating sweetness with calories and thus lead you to ingest more. In fact, “Participants in the San Antonio Heart Study who drank more than 21 diet drinks per week were twice as likely to become overweight or obese as people who didn’t drink diet soda.”

3. Artificial sweeteners may be addictive. “In studies of rats who were exposed to cocaine, then given a choice between intravenous cocaine or oral saccharine, most chose saccharin.” Yikes.

Taking the Long View on Aspartame

The New York Times Well blog also tackled the issue of artificial sweeteners last year in a piece called “Choosing a Sugar Substitute.” In it, Dr. Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, concludes that diet sodas are less bad than sugar sodas based on available evidence. But he cautions that harmful effects sometimes take a while to show up:

“[I]f you smoke cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years. And that’s a really powerful carcinogen. A lot of things don’t show up for several decades…. It took us about 90 years to discover [trans fat] was a big problem. It’s a bit sobering how long that took.”

Dr. Willett likens diet soda to a “nicotine patch” that should be used to help wean you off full-sugar soda, rather than an acceptable alternative.

I think I’ll stick with water.

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Should You Consume Aspartame? appeared first on NYC Mama .

1. Do you keep a gratitude journal? (great idea!)

2. Do you focus on negative more than positive things in your life? (learn positive thinking and focus on the good)

3.When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? (this is where the PARTY starts!)

4. Do you rush through the stores or enjoy  the shopping? (try to be conscious of everything you do and you will enjoy it more)

5. Do you smile at people you meet and do random acts of kindness? (God knows, we need more of this)

6.When was the last time you picked up a pen and wrote a list that is not  titled “things to do?”( Maybe a list of 20 places you want to go? or 20 things you love about your house? Try it)

7. Do you feel like you go through the day on auto-pilot?

8. What hobby did you have that you stopped?

9. Do you have old friends you haven’t spoken to but would like to?( call them!)

10.When was the last time you sent someone a greeting card for no occasion except to say hello or I love you? ( do it and see how good you feel!)

11. When was the  last time you watched an educational show not just a reality show? (or skipped TV entirely and played a game with the kids)

12.When was the last time you bought a new book ? (reading is good for the mind and the soul)

13. When was the last time you volunteered? (have the whole family volunteer and see how good it makes you feel)

14. When was the last time you took a class? (plenty out there for Moms- go explore your town)

15. How often do you get outside in the garden or park barefoot and dirty? (it feels good,trust me)

16. When was the last time you exercised? (Um…?)

17. Do you feel self-conscious about your weight? (then how can you be truly happy?  work on YOU and you will feel better in and out)

18. Are you eating as healthy as you should? (make small changes daily and reap big benefits!)

19. How often do you read to your children?(don’t ever stop! well, not until they ask. My eldest are 10 and 12 and I still do)

20.When was the last time you switched your skin care and make up routine? (why not shake things up a bit?)

Just some things to get you thinking and hopefully make the individual changes that will benefit your life and your attitude. Enjoy!

The post 20 questions for Moms -to get you thinking, doing and creating MORE in your life! appeared first on NYC Mama .

According to the Mayo Clinic, a gluten free diet is one that “excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye).” It’s used to treat celiac disease, since gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of people with the disease.

Makes sense so far.

But a 2012 study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found “the prevalence of celiac disease in the United States was 0.71% (1 in 141), similar to that found in several European countries [and] most persons who were following a gluten free diet did not have a diagnosis of celiac disease.”

Although another more recent study found the incidence of celiac disease is growing in North America, it still did not explain the wild proliferation of gluten free foods. After all, according to the National Institutes of Health, there are only about two million people in the U.S. with the celiac disease.

Gluten Sensitivity

A study in the October 2012 issue of Biomed Central Medicine classified three types of gluten-related issues: allergies (wheat and other), autoimmune responses (i.e., celiac disease) and, essentially, ‘other,’ or those with gluten issues where the other two culprits are ruled out.

As for a cause in the uptick in the gluten sensitivity, the researchers postulated that “the selection of wheat varieties with higher gluten content has been a continuous process during the last 10,000 years, with changes dictated more by technological rather than nutritional reasons.”

Possibly. But they also noted that the idea of gluten sensitivity contributed to a “global market of gluten-free products approaching $2.5 billion in global sales in 2010.” I’m always suspicious of strict diets, especially when someone is making a lot of money promoting them. (Good riddance South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, Blood Type Diet and “Fat-Free” Cake.)

This February 2013 post in the New York Times Well blog discusses the controversy. The doctor interviewed is a clear gluten-sensitivity doubter. He believes the number of people with true gluten sensitivities is limited to one percent of the population, and that a gluten free diet does nothing for someone without a true sensitivity or celiac disease.

Yet academic medical research is often behind on new, counter-intuitive or alternative explanations and remedies for ailments. Studies take a long time to conduct and publish, and the medical establishment is sometimes wary of non-Western approaches.

I want to hear from you: Do you have experience with gluten sensitivity? Has a gluten free diet worked for you or someone you know?

* I am a strict grammarian who despises the rampant misuse of the word “literally.” But in this case, I really literally live across the street from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway!

Images courtesy of AdamR and Marcus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Behind the Gluten Free Diet appeared first on NYC Mama .

My children are now 12, 10 and 6 and quite used to being in the car since they were babies. We’re a great traveling team and it’s because we go into it with a great attitude of exploring a new place and being excited about the whole trip, start to finish.

Here are a few tips we find very helpful.
1) Drink water only in the car and not too  much of it. Stopping every 2 hours at a rest stop is great for a stretch , but you don’t want to do it more often than that…. which leads to number 2 :

2)  An empty plastic coffee can, Snapple bottle  or small beach bucket can serve many purposes in an emergency (think being stuck in Brooklyn roadwork or at a toll booth)… a mini potty, a barf can, a garbage can…..

3) Media!  Have plenty of  DVD’s …better than just the ones you  already own, go to the library and rent a whole bunch of shows the kids have never seen before.  I find it keeps my kids quieter  much longer. Put some new games on the ipad. Have everything charged and ready to go.

4) If you are stopping on the road at a hotel for 1 night before you reach your final destination, pack clothes  and toiletries for everyone for just that one day ,  in a community bag. Then save the big luggage or individual suitcases for when you arrive and are settling in for an extended stay.

5) Snacks are good…too many are bad. Endless munching leads to tummy trouble, more potty stops, more crumbs in the car and less real food. Plan a healthy sandwich and fruit for your rest area stops if you aren’t going to buy. Oh, and lollipops are such a lifesaver, I just cant believe that they can calm a fussy 2 year old, or excite a 6  or 8 year old so much, but they do and they are not  usually messy. I’ll worry about the cavities later.  However, snacks are a necessity because gnawing hunger can take its toll, so  packing some nutritious ones like nuts, granola bars, bananas and apples will take the edge off until mealtime.

6) Designate quiet time.  Song time. Movie time. Game time.  Often I will I designate the next, say, 30 minutes or until we reach the next stop,  to be quiet time. Or we play a license plate or I-spy game . Then a movie, then quiet time again. Then we blast out some tunes and have a singalong. It really helps break up the trip. And it’s fun. Also, don’t be afraid to stop and enjoy the sites you come across. There’s no time scehdule so important as to miss a great site seeing stop, is there?

7) Travel clothes…my kids all travel in sweat pants (who wants tight jeans when you are sitting for so long?) and no shoes.They have small lap blankets too in case they get cold, or the blanket can be rolled and used as a pillow.   I also wear sweats (but with my most comfy driving shoes). I can’t drive in shorts because my legs stick to the seat. and my hair is in a bun so its not hanging in my face. Just a personal  preference , but whatever works for you. Be comfy. Be happy.

8) Sunscreen! What? In the car? Yes. Imagine the poor child whose arm (or cheek)  will be in the sun for the next 5 hours as you are on one road for the entire afternoon. Another great idea are  those child window shades you can get at baby stores. Helps with naps too.

9) A little surprise never hurt!  I pack my kids 1  or 2 surprise bags….a  new activity book, a  small candy, maybe a toy car or doll (small),  a new DS game, a small handheld game, a letter from Grandma, pen and notepads,  anything they will like ….. this is fun  to break out  when they  get  bored.

10)  Thoughtful packing helps.  Large plastic bags packed in the suitcases are great for throwing dirty clothes in at the end of the trip. Disposable sample size skin care and toothpastes are great (less to bring  home). Books for bedtime and favorite stuffed animals. A small extra pillow or 2.  A battery charger for the camera. All medicines, vitamins, and extra bandaids. Kids seem to fall more on vacation for some reason. A nail file, hair brush, razors. A book light helps me read when the kids have gone to sleep already.

And lastly,  a great sense of humor will make your trip a happy one to remember! Life’s really about having fun, so don’t stress. Just enjoy the sights and scenery and the precious time with your family.

If you’re looking to stay more local, check out these great towns in  Suffolk County,Long Island for a day trip or few day stay!

The post Useful tips for road trips with kids. appeared first on NYC Mama .