Category: Healthy Living

Fashion, Healthy Living, Holiday Shopping

Did You Know? Running Facts to Motivate You

Erin Sluka

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.

Did You Know? Running Facts to Motivate You

Today we are talking about running. The Holidays are here and many of you may be thinking about New Year Resolutions or after overeating you may be thinking about starting to run or even walk for a healthier start to 2018. I searched many resources along with facts I remember in my own head and I want to share the top ones that stick out to me. Motivation is key to success and hopefully these running facts will make you smile or make you more curious to take an extra step closer to starting a healthier routine.

  • Remember this name, Fauja Singh. He is the oldest marathon runner at 100 years old. He finished a marathon in Toronto in 8 hours, 25 minutes, 16 seconds.
  • I have seen in several readings that running 12-18 miles a week can leaves runners with a stronger immune system and are less prone to colds
  • Over 1 billion pairs of running shoes are sold worldwide every year
  • Like stair climbing? In the Great Wall of China Marathon, runners have to climb 5,164 steps (that’s not for me)
  • South African runner Zola Bud won two IAAF World Cross Country titles while running barefoot
  • The average exercise life of a running shoe is about 400 miles
  • The inside will wear faster then the outside in almost every running shoe (Don’t look at a car tire to judge the heath of a car. It’s the engine inside that can have the most problems) such as in the shoes lining or support system

What running shoe am I wearing now? My latest shoe is the Mizuno Wave Rider 21 running shoe. To me, a shoe that I have to ‘break in’ before I feel comfort is not the best running shoe. Like these Mizuno Wave Rider 21 shoes, they should support from the first time you put them on and that should feel comfortable to you.

Before I even stood up and took my first step in these shoes they were comfortable. I have the High Rise Greystone, but they come in 4 total colors – Patriot Blue-White, Baja Blue-Dazzling Blue and Athena-Siver. The redesigned Wave technology offers softer cushioning. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit features a breakthrough in “Triple Zone” engineered mesh for breathability, movement, and hold when it is needed while running.

These shoes are made to run and remain comfortable while offering the support your foot needs. Sounds simple, but it is hard to get style, comfort, support and breathability in one shoe. Some have support but rub and cause discomfort. Some shoes are comfortable until later that day when your feet begin hurting from lack of proper support. Some support and are comfortable but it lacks in style and color choices. Mizuno hit it all in one shoe. Know a runner? Share these with them. They may thank you later!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.

Healthy Living

Dental Tips for Baby & Toddlers

Erin Sluka

This is a sponsored post brought to you with expert tips

Dental Tips for Baby & Toddlers

Having raised 3 boys and the youngest is 9 and has his first Orthodontist Appointment next week for overcrowding teeth, I have learned a lot and am still learning about the link between dental health and overall health. Did you even know that a simple trip to the dentist can turn into a recommendation to see a Physician? When young, dental health can reveal signs of many illnesses.

Knowing this I went from thinking a good time to start dental appointments was sometime after the first teeth have emerged to even sooner then that first tooth appearance!

I really want to share these important tips below with you. It is so important that you truly understand how Dentists can make connections to improving or maintaining systemic health, many systemic diseases have oral manifestations.

Dental Tips for Baby & Toddlers

Most Asked Questions & Answers from Dr. Larry Williams of The Academy of General Dentistry and Midwestern University:

1. When should you first take your child to the dentist?

According to leading experts, the first visit should be when the first tooth erupts or at the first birthday. 

2. When should parents expect their child’s first tooth to come in?

Based on nature’s timetable, teeth can erupt at 3 months or later. If no teeth are erupted by the one-year mark, the dental visit will begin the relationship between the parent, the infant, and the dental team.

3. What can a parent expect during the first visit for their baby/toddler?

Often a first visit is simply a time to acquaint your child with the dentist and the practice. As a parent, you should reassure your child that the visit is not scary or something about which to be afraid. Short, successive visits can build the child’s comfort with the dentist and the dental office. Schedule the appointment earlier in the day, when your child is alert and refreshed. You may need to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the first examination. The first visit usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and may include any of the following, depending on the child’s age:

  • A gentle but thorough examination of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums, and oral tissues to monitor growth and development and observe any problem areas
  • A gentle cleaning, which includes polishing teeth and removing any plaque, tartar build-up, and stains
  • X-rays
  • A demonstration on how to properly care for your child’s mouth and teeth at home
  • Nutritional counseling
  • An assessment of the need for fluoride

4. How do you instill good teeth brushing habits at home?

The best way to instill habits is by starting your baby’s oral care regimen at a young age:

  • Clean your infant’s gums with a clean, damp cloth twice a day. Ask your dentist when you may begin to rub a tiny dab of toothpaste on your child’s gums. Doing so will help your child become accustomed to the flavor of toothpaste.
  • As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Let your child begin brushing their own teeth around the age of 5 with proper instruction and supervision.

 5. What promotes tooth decay in babies and toddlers?

Just say “no” to bottles in bed. Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup filled with milk, formula, fruit juice, or other sweet liquid. The sugar in these beverages can cause cavities in your baby’s bottle before bedtime. If you must give your baby a bottle when he or she is going to sleep, fill the bottle with water instead.

Get more of your questions answered by starting at The Academy of General Dentistry.

Healthy Living

5 End-of-Summer Safety Tips

Erin Sluka

The long, hot days of summer are still here, but already many of us are dreaming of days when the weather cools and brings the colors of autumn. But don’t let your guard down yet. Parents and families should continue to take care. Summer heat and the various outdoor activities we engage in outside of our usual routines bring with it an edge of danger.

5 End-of-Summer Safety Tips

Here are tips for continued summer safety for you and your loved ones.

  1. Watch the water play.

According to the US National Safety Council, between the ages of 5 and 24, drowning is the second most common cause of death.

Parents should always accompany their child to a water play area. Safety experts suggest that parents learn how to administer CPR and other rescue techniques. Children should know to never swim by themselves and only to swim in areas that are supervised by adults or lifeguards.

  1. Practice safe enjoyment of outdoor activities.

Summer is a time when kids and parents get to try out new sports and other activities that aren’t a part of their usual routine. From motorboats to ziplining to skateboarding and more. However, Houston injury attorneys warn that a serious injury can be enough to sideline a person for good.

Make sure that you take safety guidelines for each activity to heart. Emphasize to your children the importance of following instructions that are given when trying out any new activity. You do not want to frighten your child, but at the same time you want them to know that injuries are no laughing matter.

  1. Don’t compete with the heat.

Children under the age of 4 years old are at the greatest risk of heat stroke. But that’s not to say that children above 4 are off the hook. Everyone is susceptible to heat stroke if caution is not taken.

The best defense is to prevent the risk by staying out of direct sunlight. Plan for any outdoor activities during the coolest times of the day. If you must go out during midday heat, make sure all the members of your family wear hats and are covered to protect from sunburns. Other tips for staying safe include staying hydrated and cooling off with showers at the first sign of overheating.

  1. Don’t leave food out.

Summer temperatures can surprise you with their intensity. Food poisoning during the summer can happen when you least expect it. Perhaps you have been used to leaving a plate of food on the counter and returning to it in a couple of hours? During the summer, leaving food out could lead to a case of food poisoning.

The FDA gives guidelines on their site about how long food can be left out. If the temperature is higher than 90° F, then it needs to go back into the fridge after 1 hour. To play it safe, during the hottest days of summer, everything that isn’t going to be eaten immediately should be tucked away in your fridge.

  1. Dodge bees, bugs, and bites.

It’s not just children who are out in full force during the summer. Summer weather is prime time for the insect world. But there are steps you can take to make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes, bees, and other crawlers.

Bees like fragrances and floral patterns. Avoid both when choosing clothing for your children. Dress your children in clothes that provide coverage and that are lightweight and breathable. Use bug repellent spray whenever you go to the park or other area that has heavy mosquito traffic. Mosquito netting around baby strollers is another helpful way to keep mosquito bites at bay.

Most of the items that on this list are things we are aware of, but it can be easy to relax as summer’s end nears. Keep your family safe by staying aware even while you enjoy your quality family time.

Read More Here: The Ultimate Guide to Swimming safety for Kids!

Gift Guides, Healthy Living, Kids, Parenting, Reviews by Anthony

Rollerblade Spitfire XT 2016 Kids Inline Skates

Erin Sluka

Thank you to Rollerblade for partnering with us for this feature

Rollerblade Spitfire XT 2016 Kids Inline Skates

We just wrapped up our Memorial weekend and for the first time is many years we had above 80 degree weather for all 4 days! That is so rare here in Seattle. We spend the weekend visiting family, one last celebration from Anthony’s birthday last week and a road trip to Mt Rainier area for a flea market.  It was gorgeous and not much time was spent indoors with this weather. It has me so excited for summer.

Anthony is also excited as the past 2 weeks he has owned a brand new pair of Rollerblade inline skates. He has never even owned roller skates before so this is new to him and he did not know how to use the inline skates when they arrived. Now he has improved so much and thanks to this weather stretch he has been able to get a lot of practice. That means less time indoors near the TV and games.

He has the Rollerblade Spitfire XT. What is unique about these skates is that they expand in size. Because our kids are always growing these skates can stay theirs for a long time. We spend enough as they grow out of shoes and clothes so now they can keep the skates and in a minor adjustment they will expand a size. There are 3 kid size options to choose from: 11(junior)-1, 2-5 and 5-8. the Spitfire XT comes in red/black. You can find them at Dicks Sporting Goods and on Amazon

When the skates arrived I was so happy with the quality. Words can hardly express how enamored I was inspecting every stitch and feel of the skate. Sizing took a push of a button and a strong pull and the shoe keeps in place. With Anthony as a new rider he has had many spills these past few weeks and there have been no flaws of adjusting form the skates. They use the standard inline skate brake pads too so it is easy to change these out as your child wears our the pads.

Do your kids have inline skates? Have they ridden in a while?

Visit the kids rollerblade options. Let’s get them moving outdoors this summer!