Beautisol Sunless Tanner Review

As a highly committed member of the sunless tanning club, I have tried every type of brand and application out there. To be honest, none of the store bought sunless tanners delivered a deep, dark and realistic tan like I got with my hand-done salon tans. Most people would look down upon me for not taking advantage of the Florida year-long

sunshine, but personally not only do I hate to laying out and feeling like I am melting away, I also do not want year round damage to my skin!

For the past few years I have been lathering onthe sunless tanning lotions that I buy from the store in hopes to look like I just spent the week on vacation, but have neverbeen 100 percent satisfied with the results. Luckily a few weeks ago I received a sample of the most amazingsunless tanner I have ever used, which is why I am writing this review! The brand is called Beautisol, and not only does it deliver a flawless, deep and realistic tan, but it’s also paraben-free and packed with anti-aging ingredients. When I think of Beautisol, the quote, “Too much of a good thing, is a good thing,” comes to mind.

A lot of people have trouble applying sunless tanner, but Beautisol has made it simple by providing gloves, an apply by numbers chart and also videos on their website to help users apply their products flawlessly. Another con people relate to self-tanners is the smell that most of them have. Beautisol is the first sunless tanner I have used that does not leave an unpleasant scent on your skin.

I have not found any negatives about this product, in fact I am borderline obsessed with it. It is a little more costly than tanners you would find in the store, but not by much and you do get more bang for the buck! I have never received compliments using any other sunless tanner, but the week I used this countless people commented on how tan I was and how great I looked!

If you hate lying out in the unbearable Florida heat and love your skin too much to damage it with UV rays, then I highly suggest you try Beautisol if it is in your budget! Use those few hours spent a week sun tanning on something a little more enjoyable. To check out the product I refuse to ever go without from this point on, go to www.Beautisol.com

www.beautisol.com

20% off your purchase with code: TAMPA20

Valid now through October 31st

What Do Math and Exercise Have in Common? Expert Reveals the Answer Should Be "Your Kids"

Carrie Scheiner is not ashamed of being a bit of a math nerd.

But don’t let her degree in Math education from Rutgers University fool you – she is also a big fan of physical fitness, and her passion for both has led to her to think of exercise for kids in a completely new way.

"As adults, we don’t think about it, but much of our exercise regimens revolve around counting," said Scheiner, creator of Exploracise, an exercise DVD for kids and parents (www.exploracise.com). "So I began thinking about how much more fun, and healthy, math could be for kids if we combined it with exercise. That was the genesis of my combination of the two disciplines."

Scheiner believes her approach actually addresses two of the most pressing problems in the United States today.

"Research shows that exercise improves learning and multi-sensory learning techniques improve the recognition and recall of information," Scheiner added. "One-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese and 61 percent of fourth graders are not proficient in math. That being said, it just makes sense that we start approaching these problems head-on, and we can create an economy of scale in time and resources by doing it at the same time."

Scheiner believes that parents should encourage kids to get off the couch and exercise, too, which is why she has also devised a list of tips for parents who want to see their kids exercise as they learn. They include:

Count Along – It’s not just about counting to ten when you touch your toes. There is so much more you can do when your kids are having fun. It can be as simple as having them do the same thing you do – sets of 10 repetitions of any exercise – and then have them add up all those 10s when they are done. It will help them get comfortable tabulating simple equations in their heads.

Shapes Can Be Healthy – When I was a kid in gym class, they made us do arm circles, but there are so many other shapes that can be explored. Triangles, rectangles and even more complex geometric shapes can be combined with exercise in a variety of ways. Be creative and don’t be content with your kids using their arms like windmills. Make it fun for them and it will help to create healthy exercise habits that will last a lifetime.

Scavenger Hunts – Hide and Seek is a time-honored game, and with a little twist, you can use it to make math and healthy eating fun. Hide some healthy foods around the house, and set your kids to the task of finding them, but write down the calories and fat for each healthy food. When they find them, have them match up the foods with the numbers.

"It’s all about getting kids to put down the video game controllers and to get off the couch," she said. "We owe it to our kids to start them off in life with healthy habits that we never learned as kids. As adults, we had to teach ourselves to work out and eat healthy. It wasn’t something that most of us learned when we were young. With this approach, you can help your kids develop intellectually and physically, as well as help them establish healthy habits that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives."

About Carrie Scheiner

Carrie Scheiner has a lifelong love of helping others, and is passionate about helping children learn math and healthy lifestyle concepts. She won the award for best student teacher for secondary math while receiving her Bachelors of Arts in Math and Secondary Education at New Jersey’s Rutgers University, where she also earned a Masters of Science in Statistics. She has combined her love of math and her passion for healthy eating and exercise to help the next generation overcome its current educational and health crises. (www.exploracise.com)

Healthy "Trick or Treats" Recipes

Let your little monsters enjoy the ghost and goblins of Halloween without the highs (and lows) of a sugar rush. Catherine McCord, founder of the family friendly culinary site, Weelicious.com has come up with these simple and delicious healthy “trick or treats” that ensure the monster within every child is kept at bay.

Popcorn Trail Mix Recipe:

4 Cups Popcorn, popped

½ Cup Chocolate Chips

½ Cup Dried Cherries or Cranberries

½ Cup Roasted MixedNuts, almonds, walnuts or peanuts

1. Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and combine.

2. Place mixture into individual treat bags.

3. Serve.

Spookie Grilled Cheese

Butter

8 Slices Pumpernickel or Dark Rye Bread

4 Slices Cheddar Cheese

1. Heat butter in a griddle or skillet over medium heat.

2. Using a halloween theme cookie cutter, take four slices of the bread and cut out the centers.

3. Place a slice of cheese on the 4 remaining pieces of bread and top with the cut out bread slices.

4. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the sandwiches whole side of bread facing down for 3 minutes.

5. Flip and cook the sandwiches cut out side down for 2 minutes or until golden and cheese has melted.

6. Serve.

Grave Brownies (Makes 14 Graves)

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

3/4 Tsp Salt

15 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

3 Large Eggs

1/2 Cup Semisweet Chocolate, chopped (You can also use chocolate chips)

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

2. Whisk the first 3 ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

3. In a standing mixer or bowl, whisk the melted butter, sugar and vanilla.

4. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until combined then slowly mix in the dry ingredients.

5. Pour the batter into a greased and parchment lined 9x13 baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.

6. Cool, cut into bars and top with “grave stones”.

*When cutting your brownie, use a long serrated knife and wipe it off in between cuts.

* To make gravestones, cut construction paper into stones and decorate as desired. Place a toothpick on the backside of the stone and attach with a piece of tape and poke the gravestone tooth pick into the brownie.

Catherine McCord- a model, actress and mom of two- launched the renowned cooking site, Weelicious (www.weelicious.com) in 2007 to show parent how to cook recipes that are kid-friendly, quick, andnutritious. With a culinary background at NYC’s prestigious ICE and a passion for food, Catherine makes cooking accessible using a few fresh, easy ingredients to make recipes that will appeal to a range of ages.

Local Psychiatrist Explains How to Effectively Discuss Hurricanes With Children

Unfortunately, natural disasters, such as hurricanes, are a part of life in Florida. Most children know that hurricanes are “bad,” but they may not understand much else about them. Therefore, it is critical to discuss hurricanes with your child before they happen, and to have a family emergency plan in place, which should be shared with children in terms they can understand.

The most important message you can convey as a parent or caregiver is that your child is safe and will continue to be safe throughout the duration of the disaster. This assurance is critical because it provides comfort to children at a stressful time. Let your child express how he or she feels and listen attentively. Find some quiet time sitting on the couch together. Don’t have the discussion while you or your child are doing something else. Time devoted exclusively to the discussion of the disaster sends a message of how important the discussion is to your child. Whether the hurricane is coming or has already affected some other location, explain was has happened or what is about to happen in a calm, matter-of-fact way. Do not provide information that is not relevant or may be too upsetting. For example, if there have been fatalities related to the hurricane, do not share this information with very young children. Try not to minimize your child’s expression of fear or upset. Also, realize that very young children (4 and younger) may not be able to express in words what is bothering them. Instead, they may “act out” by becoming clingy or more emotional than usual. Be aware that these might be signs of distress.

After a disaster, it is important to re-establish routines as quickly as possible. This provides the child with a sense of control of the environment, and builds confidence that life will go on. Try to keep your same routine in terms of sleep times and meals. Confirm your expectations that homework still needs to be completed, household tasks still need to be done, etc. Also, try to limit your child’s exposure to the trauma on television and the Internet. Although you should acknowledge the disaster, there is little purpose in continued exposure through the media. This continued exposure leads to ongoing emotional reaction and memories that serve little purpose in terms of healing.

Remember that it is normal to feel stress during and after a disaster. Children may express stress by fear that the disaster will happen again soon. This can potentially affect the child’s sleep patterns, appetite and reactions to daily activities. For example, a child that is stressed may eat less, have nightmares with frequent awakenings and have physical manifestations, such as a stomach ache. Some children also react by becoming more irritable, having trouble concentrating, crying easily and losing interest in activities they typically enjoyed. If such symptoms continue after a few weeks and they adversely affect the child’s ability to function at home or at school, a consultation with a pediatrician or psychiatrist might be indicated.

Be reassured that most emotional, behavioral and/or physical changes as a result of exposure to a natural disaster resolve on their own in a short period of time. Post traumatic stress disorder is a specific diagnosis with symptoms present for at least one month. Whether a child develops such a disorder depends on numerous factors, including the degree of the threat or injury. As a parent or caregiver, you know your child best. Ongoing concerns are always best treated by a visit to the physician.

This article was contributed by Dr. Kristine Vallrugo. Dr. Kristine Vallrugo completed residency training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., before conducting her fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago. Vallrugo is board certified in psychiatry, and had a private practice in Chicago. With a master’s in health law, she practiced medical malpractice in Chicago for six years. Her professional experience includes forensic psychiatry; working to evaluate prisoners for insanity defense, fitness for trial and competency. Since moving to Florida, Vallrugo has joined a private practice in Sarasota, focusing on children and adolescent psychiatry. She is a married mother of three with two step-children.

8 Tips to Avoid Drowning in Deals

Tough financial times call for smarter shopping measures. For some of us this means going to extremes and cutting up credit cards. For others, it just means clipping coupons and unplugging appliances.

No matter what your money-saving solution, merchants are catching on to these smart shopping tactics. Stores are constantly developing their own methods to make sure we keep buying. Many times, this comes in the form of a sale that looks great on the surface, but actually ends up saving next to nothing.

In fact, recent studies suggest that plenty of shoppers are overwhelmed with the flood of daily deals they receive. With so many special offers flying around, here are eight tips to help you avoid drowning in deals.

1. Unsubscribe from Newsletters
Signing up for email newsletters from favorite merchants will keep you informed about their special offers. However, these mailings are still promotional materials intended to make you spend money. If you find yourself exasperated by the breadth of deals and discounts, try following stores on Facebook and Twitter. You still get access to promotions, but they're not always being waved in your face. Instead, you can access the information only when you want to see it.

2. Set a Time to Review Deals
The urgency to get a bargain before time runs out can be a distraction. When you find yourself getting sidetracked checking each offer as it comes in, set aside a time where you can review them all at once. Sure, you might miss the occasional Groupon, but at the end of the day it's cash that's still in your pocket. Reviewing deals all at the same time lets you think out purchases more clearly, compare offers side by side, and prioritize those that best meet your needs.

3. Technology is Your Friend
Your smartphone is a surprising savings tool. Some apps like GasBuddy can help you track down the lowest gas prices, no matter where you are. The Coupon Sherpa mobile app lets you locate and scan coupons directly from your phone. Using your cell in this way allows you to find special offers specific to your shopping needs.

4. Weigh Credit Card Options
Cashiers frequently encourage you to open a store credit card, promising healthy savings if you do. While there may be a good initial offer or incentive, like a regular discount on all purchases, this is another tactic to keep you spending. It's best to just have one of these cards specifically for expenses like gas and food. You'll have to spend on those needs either way, so you might as well get a discount. At NerdWallet.com, they have a comparison of the top 18 store credit cards to help you make an informed decision.

5. Track Your Deals
Ah, the agony of a missed expiration date for a voucher. It gets in your head and makes you regret dollars down the drain. To avoid getting mixed up and missing deadlines, keep a calendar of when offers expire. This helps you track the good ones and keep an eye on how your spending matches up with your budget. You can even do it digitally at CityPockets.com. They organize all the deals you've already purchased, send you expiration reminders, and even allow you to sell unused deals.

6. Eating Out is a Trap
Restaurants are filled with drink specials and dollar menus to encourage buying. While a double cheeseburger and fries from McDonald's costs just over $2, the nutritional value is low and you'll soon be hungry again. It's surprising how much you can save buying groceries and making meals at home, instead of eating fast food. If your culinary muse has failed to inspire you, AllRecipes.com has plenty of Quick and Easy Recipes to consider.

7. Use Coupon Sites
Despite the sufferings of deal-of-the-day sites, coupon sites continue to grow, making it a good thing for shoppers. Sites like CouponSherpa.com have coupons organized by product category and retailer name, so finding a good discount is easy. The best part is, their services are offered for free; credit card information and personal details aren't required. The savings are there at your leisure with no strings attached.

8. Price Comparisons
Seeing a deal with numbers like 50-percent off can lead to an itchy mouse-clicking finger. Resist the urge to act now and shop around a little instead. Often, similar retailers are aware of their competitors' deals and will offer something comparable. Also, try to shop at stores with low-price guarantees. This way, if you find a better deal after you buy, you can still get reimbursed for the difference.

This article was written by Andrea Woroch. Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. She is available for in-studio, satelite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles. view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Give Kids the Fuel They Need with Good Nutrition

Summer is coming to an end and kids are about to get back into the swing of school. Now is the time to take a closer look at what kind of fuel they are starting each day with. The type and variety of foods that children eat can affect their academic and physical performance, mood, behavior, and overall well-being. The bottom line is children need good, healthy food in order to perform at their best.

Foods to avoid

Think twice about giving your children foods with labels listing food additives, colors, preservatives, or chemical names you can’t pronounce. Also to be excluded:

• MSG
• Artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup
• Genetically modified foods
• Trans fat and hydrogenated fat
• Fruit juice from concentrate
• White and/or bleached flour products.
• Roasted or sugar coated nuts

Healthier options – getting back to basics

Think real food! Start offering your kids whole fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, grains and unprocessed meats. Choose foods that have not been altered from their natural state. Whether your child is 2, 12, or 22 it is never too late to change the way you think about food. Here are some healthy lunch and after-school snack choices for your family that offer flavor and variety along with nutritional benefits.

Lunches:

• Turkey roll up: A whole grain, rice, or corn pita, no nitrate lunch meat, lettuce or other leafy green, sliced tomato and hummus or whipped avocado as a pita dressing.

• Almond butter sandwich:
• 2 pieces of whole grain, sprouted grain, or gluten free bread
• 1-2 Tablespoons of raw almond butter
• ½ cup of mashed fresh berries or an all natural/low sugar fruit preserve

Snacks:

• A piece of fruit or vegetable slices with raw or natural nut butter
• Trail mix: mixture of raw nuts and dried raisins, cranberries and pineapple
• Mixed berries
• Rice crackers and all-natural nut butter
• Veggie bag: snow peas, green beans, carrots
• Fruit leather, dried fruit slices, or fresh fruit
• Greek yogurt and dehydrated veggie chips

This article was contributed by: Chicago Healer's Tiffany Triner, Assistant Nutritionist at Nutrition Connection Balance, LLC. About ChicagoHealers.com-Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Announces Discount Program for Readers and Follows.

After years of positive feedback from our readers on the great products we feature in the pages of our monthly print magazine, we are happy to announce a special new program that will allow you to enjoy the products and services you see at a special Tampa Bay Parenting discount!!  We are working directly with the companies to secure discount codes and special offers.  All items will be announced here on our blog throughout the month so be sure to check back often.

It is our way of saying Thank You for your continued Support! Enjoy!

Our very FIRST company to be featured is Mine for Nine, who is offering a 10% discount. This company has been personally reviewed by one of our Social Moms Rachel, please see her post below about her experience, and we feel confident you will love their concept as well. Enjoy and be sure to share you experiences with us on this blog or Facebook.

About Mine for Nine

There's a smart, new way to shop for stylish, make-you-feel-good maternity clothes. It's called Mine for Nine, and it's one of those revolutions that your best friend and sister will say "I wish they had that when I was pregnant.” MINE offers pregnant women an alternative to purchasing an expensive maternity wardrobe or supplements the one they already have. Find the perfect business suit for that important business meeting or a spectacular evening gown for the black tie affair you were just invited to. And when you're done, no need to store clothes you may or may not wear again -- just ship them back.

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Valid September 1st through September 30th