FIVE

. . . . more days. Yipee. Skipee.

TUESDAY'S TIP: BELLY BLISS MASSAGE

Crap-dang-it. Yes, I realize it's Friday. So, sue me. But, better late than never, right?


So, I'm huge. Like really huge. Like I'm pretty sure I'm having another 9 or 10 pounder huge. Yeah. So not fun. But I've been trying really hard to stay positive, at least in the blogging world about said huge-ness. I don't want to complain, cause really, I'm super happy to be pregnant, and feel uber-blessed to be able to do this for a third time.

With that being said, let's just be honest people, the last month of pregnancy sucks. I really feel like it goes one month too long. The last month is just full of swelling, and no sleep (I literally get up about 5-10 times a night to pee or roll over from sore hips), and serious aches and pains. And since I feel like I can't really complain too much on the blog, Hubs gets most of the complaints. I mean, it's sorta his fault right? Ha. Just kidding babe. So, I guess one day all my complaining about my sciatica, and sore hips hit him, and he sent me this e-mail with a link to this lady and her little prenatal massage business. And I would not be joking when I tell you that I called her that very moment. Booked myself a massage right then and there. Huge bonus points go to hubs for taking the initiative for finding me this fabulous gift from heaven.

So, I've been twice now, and all I can say is: I wish I'd known about her sooner. Her name is Rebecca Overson, and she has magical hands people. Magical I tell you. Her company is Salt Lake Prenatal Massage or Belly Bliss Massage. She specializes in prenatal massage, labor massage, and postpartum massage. And she is awesome! And if I can talk hubs into it, I'm so going to be a regular client of hers for well, forever. Cause postpartum is like forever after you have a baby, right?

So, if you know someone who is pregnant, or you yourself are, do yourself, or your loved one a huge favor, and book them or yourself a massage. You will not regret this decision. Best thing I've done. And by the way, how awesome would it be to get this as a gift at your baby shower? Or how great would it be to give the gift of massage as a gift to a new mommy? Priceless, right? I only wish I'd known about her sooner. She also has a labor-inducing massage too, if you know someone wishing they were in labor like now. I would totally sign myself up for this pronto, but my doctor is out of town for the weekend.


So, yeah. That is my tip. Call Rebecca. Book a massage (or gift certificate). And be blissful. Oh, and tell her I sent ya.

POLAROID OF THE DAY

SUMMER + PREGNANCY =

Oh man. I swear I used to have ankles. Sad, right? This was taken last week amidst the actual summer-like temps. I could go on and on and on about how much I am looking forward to having this baby on the outside, but I'll just say that this little guy is welcome to come any time. You hear that typing buddy? ANYTIME.

Here is to only having a week and half left!

TUESDAY'S TIP: SUNSCREEN CAUSES CANCER?!!

So, lots of things are annoying in life. Pickle jar tops sealed shut tighter than all get out, my ankles right at this moment (larger than the size of Texas), how sometimes my cell phone doesn't send a voicemail through till the next day, Mariah Carey. You know, the sorts of things that just are irksome. Well, get ready to add another one to the list people.


They are now saying that sunscreen causes cancer! I know right? What will they say next? Seat belts are actually bad for you? Uggg. Well, according to this article almost all (only 39 out of 500 sunscreens tested were considered safe) of the most commonly used sunscreens may be accelerating cancer. And the kicker? The FDA has known this for almost 10 years, and said nothing!

Basically, if you don't want to read it (although I highly suggest you do), it says that any sunscreen with Vitamin A, or one of it's derivatives (most commonly called Oxybenzone), increases the speed at which malignant cells develop. This is all according to the Environmental Working Group which just released their study on Memorial Day. The study also says that most of the sunscreens which tout high SPFs are also a bunch of bull. Mostly because of user error, but EWG still thinks companies should better educate people on how to apply sunscreen correctly, or not be able to brag about such large SPFs.

In the end it says wearing even bad sunscreen is better than not wearing any at all, but I think since there are sunscreens out there with little to no Vitamin A and oxybenzone in them, we as consumers, and educated parents should only be putting low risk sunscreens on ourselves and more importantly our children.

So, to find the list of the best available sunscreens (without cancer-causing Vitamin A), or to see how your sunscreen stacks up to the competition click here. It will ask you for your e-mail, but in the bottom right hand corner of the box you can opt out.

So yeah, that's my tip for today. Go out and get yourself some "safe" sunscreen. Apply it properly and enjoy your summer. At least until they tell us something else in it causes cancer!

LET'S GET THIS DONE!

Now, I know I haven't really talked about the tragedy that is the BP disaster of an oil spill down in the gulf, but I do have strong feelings about it. Obviously. Cause I have strong feelings about most things. But I sorta don't want to always be the Debbie Downer. You know what I'm talking about, those type of people who only blog about terrible things, or only post negative, woe is me sort of crap of their facebook statuses. (oh how this irks me. ) But really, this whole oil spill thing just really ticks me off. For lots of reasons really -- no one willing to take blame, the fact that these companies have had hundreds of egregious safety violations in the past, yet we still let them drill, the fact that thousands of people are out of work because of it, but mostly cause they can't seem to figure out how to stop the flow. Now I get that we can't just put a bandaid on it, and call it good, but really? Going on 6+ weeks and we can't figure this out?

So, when I came across this little clip, I knew I had to post it. Sure, it's not gonna stop the leak --we'll leave that to the brainiacks over at BP to solve, but at least it will help clean up the ginormous mess left in the gulf and the wetlands, and hopefully keep it from spreading any further.

You can check it out here if you'd like.

TUESDAY'S TIP: SWALLOW THE FROG

So, I decided since LOST was long over, I'd have to get back to some regular old Naptime postings. So, I'm bringing back and oldie but goodie: Tuesday's Tips.

Without further ado. Here goes nothin'.

Our first Tuesday's Tip is one I read on another blog a few months back about making your mornings and days more smooth. And I've been implementing it ever since, and I have to say, it is absolutely making my life easier. And I'm all for easy, and simple, especially if it comes without a pricetag. So, this first tip is called. Swallowing the frog. Or Eating the frog. Or something like that. I can't remember exactly.

Basically it is just doing that thing you are dreading first thing in the morning. Get it out of the way, and off your mind, conscience and to-do list. For example. Maybe you dread paying the bills, or cleaning out your fridge, or doing the laundry. Whatever it is, as soon as you are up and at em, like the wise people at Nike have told us for years, just do it.

For me it's the laundry. I dread it. But even more than dreading it, I hate having it pile up all around me, and overwhelm me. So, now, every morning after I've had breakfast, I go and put in a load, transfer over to the dryer, or fold the clean ones and put them away. Whatever the laundry needs that morning. And I can't even tell you how much it has changed our lives. I've tried laundry schedules before, and just couldn't quite stick with it. But knowing that I just have to do a load every morning, just as part of my day makes it so much easier to stay on top of. Also, and here is the kicker, I've started putting away the folded laundry immediately. This is so easy, yet so hard to do, but makes the biggest difference.

I love this tip. It really has changed my life. I currently have a dark load to do today, but then everything, and I mean everything, other than what we are all currently wearing is clean, folded and put away. And that simple thing makes me so happy, relieves stress, and anxiety.

So, it may not be laundry, or any of the other things I've suggested, but whatever it is for you, once you've gotten up, and are sufficiently awake, just go ahead and swallow that frog. It will make the rest of the day feel so much better. I promise.