This book starts out with a warning from the author to parents.  Readers are urged to not get overwhelmed by what they are about to read.  It’s a lot of information, the author admits, but don’t freak out.  I read that part and then continued on to the rest of the book, and promptly freaked out.

Plastic bottles? Don’t use them because they’ll poison you.  Lotion? No way; it will seep into your skin and pollute your insides.  Don’t even think of the term “aerosol air fresheners” because you might lose consciousness from the anxiety that will undoubtedly ensue.

At least, that’s how it seems at first.  I was assaulted with a bunch of information that really made me want to pack up my kids and go live in a cave that was first tested for lead before we moved in.  After I got over the initial nervousness from what I was reading, however, I started to digest what was being presented and realized that this is the perfect book for any parents who want to create a better environment for their kids.  This isn’t just about how to be greener, but also how to be safer and healthier.  After all, if you don’t really care about the environment, my guess is that you at least care about the well-being of your offspring in one way or another, right?

One of the best parts of this book are all the “recipes” for healthy, environmentally-friendly items such as household cleaners and finger paint.  Everything is easy to follow and actually a lot less expensive than the stuff you can buy in the stores.  It helped me a lot that the author didn’t just say, “Don’t use toxic cleaners!” but instead said, “Use this instead, and you can make it yourself.  You’re so clever!” I’m paraphrasing there, by the way.

Another thing I really liked about this book were all the excerpts from famous parents.  Some of them were incredibly environmentally conscious while others had changed some things but were still using disposable diapers or hadn’t given up their gas-guzzling cars.  The point is that even little changes can make a difference in the health of your children and your impact on the environment, and that’s an incredibly valuable lesson to learn…even if it initially freaks you out a little.

Available now at Amazon.com

Everyone who is into research work knows how tough it is to get funding for a research project. Tell me about it. I’ve worked in the academia for 10 years before I became a WAHM.

So how can a 9-year old convince the highly esteemed members of a funding review committee at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to grant him research funds? Terence Boylan of Snyder, N.Y. did just that 52 years ago and was granted a $10 grant so that he and his friend, 14-year old Bruce Cook could build their first rocket ship. Because NIH believed in investing in kids, in science, in the future.

What happened more than half a century ago is now written in a book called “The Rocket Boys of NIH: How NIH Gives Health and Hope to Kids and the World.” The book tells the story of the two young researchers and is written at a reading level for 4^th or 5^th graders though I wouldn’t mind reading it myself.

NIH is one of the biggest sources of research funds in the US, supporting “more than 325,000 scientists at more than 3,000 universities, medical schools and other research institutions across the country and around the world.” To be granted research funds, a research proposal has to go through a very tough screening and review process.

The rocket boy Boylan is older now and has gladly agreed to share his story for the book. He didn’t grow up to be a scientist but became a recording artist who toured and worked with the likes of Steely Dan, the Linda Ronstadt band and the Eagles. Yet, he never forgot his $10 NIH research grant which he has paid back many times over now as he runs Boylan Foundation for International Medical Research in Rhinebeck, N.Y. The foundations give grants to medical students and postdoc researchers in the field of biomedical research. Boylan is also chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, in Salisbury Cove, Maine, which is is a non-profit marine and biomedical research facility.

The book is part of NIH education program for children, the formation of which was inspired by Boylan’s research application.

The book is in paperback form and is for free. You send a request to

E-mail requests can be sent to rocket@csr.nih.gov.

It is also available in Spanish: “Los Chicos, el Cohete y NIH: Como los Institutos Nacionales de Salud dan esperanza y salud a todos los niños y al mundo.”

Or in electronic form at http://www.csr.nih.gov/rocket/

A new eco-friendly book series for children was launched in September. The goal of the creators of the Little Green Books series is to educate kids and their parents about the environment and how they can protect it.

Each book in the series focuses on improving the environment and preserving habitats. The books themselves are eco-friendly and are made from recycled materials. They are also printed with soy ink.

Currently, four titles are available in the series:

• Can Save the Earth: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This story is about a monster named Max, and how he changes from a wasteful monster to an environmentally responsible monster.
• The Polar Bears? Home: A Story about Global Warming. A parent and child learn about polar bears and how they can reduce the effects of global warming.
• Little Panda & Little Monkey. These two books in the series were created for young children and their caregivers to read together. They tell the story of Panda, his best friend Monkey, and their adventures. The books are super soft and perfect for cuddling! Both books are machine washable and are made from cotton and recycled fleece. I love baby products that are machine washable!

If your family enjoys living an eco-friendly life, or if you just want to teach your children about the environment, you may want to check out this new series. More books will be added in January 2009.

From toes to nose – plastic surgery is a big moneymaker these days. Apparently, not only celebrities are opting for ?make overs.? Last year, about 1.8 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in the US, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Even concerns about economic recession and the mortgage crisis didn`t stop people from spending money on cosmetic operations.

Apparently, make overs are quite common among mommys. Pregnancy and breastfeeding leave marks on a woman`s body that time, dieting, and exercise cannot fully erase. Even more problematic are the extra fat and the slack muscles. So for those who feel they need it and can afford it, the knife is the answer to these problems. Here are last year`s top 5 surgical procedures:
? breast augmentation
? liposuction
? nose reshaping
? eyelid surgery
? tummy tuck

But if mommy`s going to the clinic, what do you tell the kids? A Florida plastic surgeon has come up with some ideas in his children`s book ?My Beautiful Mommy?. With the use of pictures, cartoons, and simple text, he explains to 4 to 7 year olds the why`s, what`s, and how`s of plastic surgery. ?A must-have for any mother with young children considering plastic surgery.? according to the website. The message comes down to this: plastic surgery will make mommy feel better and prettier so the whole family should pitch in ?to help Mommy achieve her beautiful results.?

Uh-uh. You can imagine the outrage this message caused. Self-esteem issues, too much emphasis on looks and outward beauty, blatant brain washing are just a few of the objections that came up.

I haven`t read the book except the reviews so I won`t pretend that I am in the position to comment on its content. I also don`t foresee buying or reading it in the near future. My almost 5-year old twin boys call me ?the prettiest lady in the whole world? nowadays. And I didn`t even need any make over to get this sincere compliment. I know they are biased and I know they will eventually change their opinion. But I am definitely enjoying it while it lasts.

But such a book ? if it sells well (and it seems it is) – can create a precedent for similar books to come. Pretty soon the children`s book section will be filled titles like:

?Eye and lip painting is fun? ? the basics of make up
?Shots that can make you pretty? ? on botox, of course
?One plus one equals one (or more)? ? on IVF
?Bulgy Daddy? ? on working out
?Mom wants to be Dad too? ? on transgender interventions
?Why you can`t have a baby sister or brother? ? on vasectomy and tubal ligation

Wow, the possibilities are almost endless if you have the talent and the stomach for such type of writing. Any takers? These could be bestsellers!

As for me, I`d rather earn a couple of bucks writing blog posts and then spend my money on Winnie the Pooh and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I`m sure my kids will enjoy these better.

Source:

Reuters, 17 April 2008

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