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6 ways to turn your home into a natural oasis

2019-11-14T10:44:06

(BPT) – As the year comes to an end, many people make resolutions to start the New Year strong. This might mean ramping up your workout routine, increasing your self-care regimen or finding time to de-stress.

The EPA reports we spend 90 percent of our time indoors, but most people feel that spending time in nature has a positive effect on their mental well-being and stress level, according to a recent YouGov study commissioned by VELUX. So, if your goal is to de-stress, here are some healthy behaviors and design tips to help you bring nature’s sanctuary indoors.

Fill your home with photos of nature

Surrounding yourself with images of nature can have a positive effect on wellness. Try framing some photos of special memories in nature like a hike with your family, beach sunset or mountain view.

Let in more fresh air and natural light

Today’s homes are built tighter and more sealed, which means they trap toxins from daily living — such as cooking, cleaning, pets and more — inside. Adding skylights that can open is a simple home renovation project to improve fresh air flow, helping rid indoor air of pollutants. Additionally, studies show that exposure to natural light helps to sync your circadian rhythm, allowing for better sleep at night.

Fill your home with natural scents

Up your chef game by using fresh herbs in your cooking that will fill your kitchen with natural fragrance. Making an indoor herb garden ensures you’ll always have some on hand. You can also incorporate fresh herbs into bouquets or wreaths for a natural air freshener throughout your home.

Meditate or do yoga in the morning

Waking up with stretching or meditating is a great way to prepare yourself for a successful day. Open the blinds or curtains on your windows and skylights to let in early morning light and help you feel invigorated and refreshed.

Go green with your décor

Reap the benefits of nature by bringing it inside, adding greenery or even fruit into your décor. The possibilities are endless — use a bowl of fresh fruit as a centerpiece or mix different sizes of pots to create a succulent gallery. Little touches of green in each room will go a long way.

Use natural cleaning products

Many common cleaning products have harsh chemicals that can be inhaled or absorbed into your skin. Combat the dangers of these toxins by switching to natural cleaning products. You’ll feel safer and more relaxed when your home is chemical-free.

From boosting your home’s natural light to going green and adding plant life, it’s easy to turn your home into a natural oasis with these simple steps. For more information, visit whyskylights.com.


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Storage Stunners for Every Room

2019-11-13T14:09:00

(BPT) – Looking to overcome your storage dilemma with more than a metal rack or a makeshift cubby? Take your cue from these design pros. Throughout the home, they’re creating functional and beautiful storage stunners. How? They’re doing it with all-natural cypress. And you can, too!

Starting at the Entryway

Photo Courtesy Bob Gothard

A well-designed mudroom — crafted to handle the mess of rain, mud, snow and sand — can be warm, welcoming and functional. Tripp Josey of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, www.CypressInfo.org, suggests using cypress to dress up that high-traffic space. “Cypress is a beautiful wood, perfect for cabinets and cubbies, flooring, paneling and ceilings,” Josey says. “And it’s a durable material that can stand up to everyday use, and look good doing it.”

Cypress in the Kitchen

Photo courtesy Julie D. Philippus

At the heart of it all, and integral to any smart kitchen layout, is the island — that all-encompassing oasis used for storing pots and pans, preparing meals and working on homework. “In the kitchen, homeowners are looking for functional design with as much storage space as possible,” says Ellie Schroder from Maison de Reve Buildings, Abita Springs, Louisiana. “If you have modern, painted cabinets, set off the island in a complementary color and a textured wood like pecky cypress, so that the island is like a piece of fine furniture that’s different from the rest of the kitchen.”

In the Bedroom

Photo courtesy Julie D. Philippus

Closets and dressers are great for keeping clothes out of sight, but they don’t offer much storage for knickknacks, picture frames and other personal items. Woodworker Julie Philippus from Mandeville, Louisiana, suggests building into the walls for rooms lacking storage. “Built-ins can be an inexpensive way to add extra storage and a custom look to bedrooms — or any rooms — that are short on space,” she says. “To dress up basic shelving, I like adding pecky cypress backboards to create a one-of-a-kind look.”

For the (Home) Spa

Photo courtesy Straw and Co.

Whether outfitting a guest bath — or splurging on your master — creating a luxurious, spa-like sanctuary involves more than fancy faucets and fixtures! Enhance your space with a custom vanity that provides aesthetic warmth, as well as plenty of storage. “Vanities serve a utilitarian purpose,” says woodworker Jason Straw of Gainesville, Florida. “But a custom, modern vanity crafted from real wood is similar to art. When relaxing in the tub, you can sit back and enjoy its presence.”

And no worries about crafting cabinetry for wet zones. Straw believes cypress is the best choice. “It’s not only beautiful,” Straw says, “but the cypressene oil found in its heartwood naturally protects it from water damage and mildew.”

For the Finishing Touch

Photo courtesy John McManus

If you work from home or need to put in extra hours, a home office is a must-have — offering a quiet space to stay on task and organized. According to Jane Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects in Beaufort, South Carolina, and 2020 president of the American Institute of Architects, design and comfort are two primary considerations when it comes to picking out a high-quality desk.

“Touching a solid surface speaks to the quality of construction,” Frederick says. “And the finishes make a big difference. I once designed a desk made out of solid, river-recovered cypress, with a live-edge walnut top. In addition to being built to last, it’s stunningly beautiful.”

Whether building a dream home, renovating an existing one, or simply trying to be better organized, look to cypress for creating functional and beautiful storage stunners. Visit www.CypressInfo.org to see how.


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Four reasons to pursue careers in nursing

2019-11-13T08:49:00

(BPT) – As time and technology reshape the workforce, most professionals are not in the position to choose one career or one track and stick with it until retirement. Nursing offers relevant, future-focused opportunities for people of all ages and levels of experience, from those re-entering the workforce or making a career change, to registered nurses pursuing further education. Below, you’ll find for four key reasons students are pursuing licensure or a degree in nursing (RN to BSN and beyond), shared by Dr. Bonnie Stegman of Maryville University.

1. Satisfaction

If you are interested in making a direct impact on the lives of individuals and communities, you should consider nursing. It’s a rewarding career, according to nurses themselves — 83% say they are satisfied with their career choice. Many find the job fulfilling on a personal level as caring for others is a hallmark of the profession. Nurses provide a great deal of personal contact and engagement with patients, a traditional role that has only become more important in today’s often-hectic healthcare environment. At the same time, nursing is an exciting and expanding field with new areas of focus and settings in which to practice. You have more options than ever before to pursue your individual interests and work at the cutting edge of healthcare.

2. Wide-ranging opportunities

Nursing often is associated with foundational healthcare settings such as primary care practices, hospitals or nursing homes. However, nursing offers many different paths to build and develop the specific track that’s right for you. It includes many different specialties, including areas relevant to our aging population, such as gerontology (focused on elderly patients) and genetics (patients with or at risk of hereditary diseases). You also can specialize in public health, working in nonprofit organizations, community health centers or governmental agencies. Across specialties and settings, you also can build on your experience caring for patients and transition into other areas, serving as an administrator or an educator, for example.

3. Flexibility

The array of options and opportunities available within nursing means that you can pick what best fits your needs and preferences. For example, if family responsibilities mean you need to keep a 9-to-5, Monday-Friday schedule, some primary care or specialty practices can accommodate that. Through telehealth, you can provide patient care and education remotely, potentially creating opportunities across geographic areas and time zones. If you’re open to moving around, you might find work as a traveling nurse to be an interesting — and usually well paid — choice. And, this flexibility means you can adapt and shift your focus as you move through different stages and phases of life.

4. Demand and compensation

Nurses are in high demand nationwide, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. That means you can expect competitive salaries and benefits. You’ll even find that employers are getting creative in how they recruit and incentivize new hires. Mercy Children’s Hospital in St. Louis created a seasonal staffing option, where nurses can opt to work a full-time schedule from September to June, then take time off in the summer months while retaining their benefits — and a guaranteed job in the fall. It’s a valuable offering for anyone with childcare considerations. Other employers are providing financial incentives such as signing bonuses and tuition reimbursement. It’s an environment ripe with opportunity.

Make it happen

Once you decide to pursue your licensure or earn a nursing degree, you have a variety of educational options. It all starts with finding a program that offers a realistic path for your existing schedule and responsibilities.

Online programs typically are designed for flexibility. The online nursing offerings at Maryville University, for example, include an RN to BSN program with multiple start dates throughout the year that can be completed 100% online to help students balance work and school commitments. You also can find flexible options in on-campus programs as well. In addition to programs for full-time and transfer students, Maryville’s on-campus nursing options include a part-time evening and weekend program designed for working adults.

As our population ages, career options in healthcare are predicted to expand and grow. Nursing is worth considering — a resilient and wide-ranging career field with significant opportunities, now and in the future.


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Making your own jewelry is easier than you think

2019-11-12T06:01:00

(BPT) – If you love jewelry, and you also love to tap into your artistic side, you’re in luck! Making jewelry is a gratifying hobby, and there are great resources available to help you learn how to craft unique pieces. With little or no previous experience, you can make beautiful jewelry for yourself, or make meaningful holiday gifts for others. Jewelry making is an engaging pastime and produces something truly one-of-a-kind.

Find project guides and how-to videos to help guide you along the way with resources from Jewelry Television (JTV) via JTV.com, the Jewel School YouTube channel and at various times throughout the week on JTV’s broadcast. All the instructors are jewelry-making experts and enthusiasts who are constantly learning, experimenting and collaborating with each other to bring you the latest techniques and trends, from beginning beading to advanced kumihimo (Japanese braiding).

Here are just a few ways you can use the guides and tutorials to get started — or to up your jewelry-making game.

Beginner essentials

If you’re new to making jewelry and looking for basic tools to get started, check out the YouTube tutorial called “Essential Supplies for Jewelry Making” to start your shopping list.

The instructor in the tutorial explains the basic supplies you will need, such as:

  • Stringing wire
  • 24, 22 and 20 gauge wire
  • Bead stoppers
  • Crimping beads
  • Crimp covers
  • Crimping pliers
  • Chain nose pliers

Then the real fun begins — you can start personalizing your craft by selecting beads and other materials to use in your jewelry-making. JTV partners with some of the largest jewelry making manufacturers around the globe to bring all the best tools, versatile beads, wires and other jewelry-making necessities in one place. And to make things easier than wandering around a huge craft store, you can order whatever you need to get started via the Jewelry Television channel or at JTV.com.

Tutorials

Once you’re set up with supplies, look for step-by-step tutorials to help guide you through any jewelry-making project that you fancy. Try out projects like “Making Tousled Tassel with a Tassel Maker” — which you can stop and replay as needed while you’re first learning the techniques. There are hundreds of tutorials to choose from, showing you how to make everything from rings, bangles and bracelets to earrings, necklaces and pendants, in a wide variety of styles and using many different materials.

Personalize every project

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make an easy but gorgeous pair of chandelier earrings. You can customize the project to suit your own style by choosing whatever kinds of materials you prefer, and you can make the earrings as simple or as complex as you want, depending on your level of experience. Watch the video on YouTube and/or follow these instructions to learn the basics:

Step-by-step process for making beautiful chandelier earrings:

Step 1: Choose headpins and beads that fit your style and put the beads on the headpins.

Step 2: Use the One-Step Looper to make loops at the end of each headpin, creating beaded dangles you can attach to the loops on your chandelier component. By using the One-Step Looper, you get perfect loops every time!

Step 3: Use chain nose pliers to slightly open the loops you’ve made.

Step 4: Attach the loops to the chandelier component and close them using chain nose pliers.

Step 5: Rock the amazing earrings you just created!

Making your own jewelry is a fun and satisfying creative outlet that you can pursue at your own pace. You could even throw a jewelry-making party this holiday season, making new creations to wear for yourself, or to give as gifts or swap with friends.


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Natural holiday baking tips

2019-11-11T23:01:00

(BPT) – What are the benefits of baking from scratch? Mostly, it’s fun, and your whole family can join in. On top of that, nothing tastes as good as fresh baked treats right out of the oven. For another bonus, it makes the whole house smell great. But perhaps the most important reason to bake from scratch is that you’ll know exactly what’s going in everything you make.

Even when baking delicious treats, you can savor all the flavor while also looking out for your family’s well-being. Choosing ingredients carefully makes all the difference. If you want to reduce your family’s consumption of artificial ingredients, here are tips for baking more natural treats this holiday season.

1. Choose natural sugar

Skip the refined white sugar and substitute the same amount of Sugar In The Raw, made exclusively from natural sugarcane grown in the tropics. The hearty, golden crystals are made from the first pressing of sugarcane and never bleached, so they keep the rich flavor and color of natural molasses. Available in bulk, the 2lb box or 24oz, 4lb or 6lb bags of granulated Sugar In The Raw will keep you prepared for your holiday baking blitz. The product is Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, naturally gluten free and Kosher certified.

Try this recipe for Chocolate Bundt Cake with Peppermint Glaze:

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 65 minutes Servings: 16

Ingredients

Cake:

Softened butter for greasing pan
2 cups Sugar In The Raw, plus more for sprinkling in cake pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup strong brewed coffee
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Glaze:

1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup white chocolate chips or 6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Crushed peppermint candies (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Liberally butter a 10” Bundt pan. Place some sugar inside pan and rotate to coat evenly. Shake out excess.
2. In large bowl, whisk to combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
3. Add coffee, sour cream, oil, eggs and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
4. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached, 50-60 minutes.
5. Let cake cool in pan 15 minutes, then invert onto rack, removing pan. Let cake cool completely.
6. In small saucepan bring cream to a boil. Take off heat, add white chocolate, cover and let sit 5 minutes.
7. Stir until smooth, then stir in peppermint extract. Let cool 15 minutes.
8. Pour glaze over cake, letting it drip down sides. If desired, sprinkle cake with peppermint candies.

2. Use natural food coloring

For recipes needing colored icing or colored batter, you can now find natural food coloring on the market that uses 100% natural vegetable juices, rather than relying on artificial additives.

3. Try butter alternatives

While regular dairy butter provides a unique texture that other products can’t always duplicate, you can substitute at least part of the standard butter in many recipes with other choices like vegetable oils, cultured organic butter, grass-fed butter, clarified butter (or ghee), or even coconut oil as more healthful alternatives. Experiment with a favorite recipe first to see what ingredients work best.

4. Bake with fresh produce

When you’re baking pies or making other dessert recipes that contain fruit, opt for the best quality fresh produce you can find in your area. You, your family and guests will all notice the difference in taste.

Make your holiday baking tasty and wholesome this year by using the best natural ingredients available. You and your family will love your baked goods as much as you enjoyed making them.


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Stressed over open enrollment? Try these tips

2019-11-11T23:01:00

(BPT) – It’s that time of year again — employers around the country are opening their benefits enrollment window, a defined period during which employees can assess and select benefits packages. For many, this will be a period of avoidance and stress, before the ultimate last-minute race to select options that seem to have the least impact on their paycheck.

Let’s face it, the process of reviewing and evaluating workplace benefits can be confusing and stressful. Considering your benefit options for unexpected life moments means having to anticipate situations most people don’t want to imagine. It can also be overwhelming to sort through the financial details and choices while trying to figure out what benefits would actually be worth the cost.

And yet taking the opportunity to assess and ensure their benefits package supports their current needs can significantly impact most people. Prudential Financial’s recent survey of over 2,000 employed adults found that out of the 65% of people who selected new benefits last year, 79% experienced reduced financial stress year-round as a result.

Financial therapist and Prudential’s financial wellness advocate Amanda Clayman recommends tackling these sometimes difficult topics head on. “Understanding the emotions triggered by financial decisions can help alleviate your financial stress,” she explains.

Clayman offers the following tips not only to help make the open enrollment period less stressful for employees, but to turn it into an opportunity to give yourself more peace of mind about your financial situation and instill confidence in your decisions.

1. Schedule a money date with yourself

Spend some time with your financial statements before open enrollment to understand your situation better. Get to know your personal money style, such as what you value, your goals and how you cope with financial difficulty. Reducing unknowns and being more aware of your situation can help instill financial confidence. Becoming more self-aware about the money in your life, and how it aligns with your values, helps to reveal a path forward for selecting the best workplace benefits for you and your family.

2. Take time to understand the nuances

Envision a positive outcome. See the open enrollment period as an opportunity to improve your overall financial picture. Take time to breathe, focus and re-evaluate your options without getting too stressed. The Prudential survey found that 35% of people chose the same benefits as the previous year, but 65% of them chose new benefit options — which they credited to becoming more informed. Making the effort to be more informed about all of your options not only improves your situation, but also helps reduce your stress around finances.

3. Don’t get distracted by over-communication

When it came to receiving information about enrollment options, 45% of the people surveyed reported receiving more than enough information, which can feel overwhelming. Don’t let the glut of information throw you off course. Just break down the options one section at a time, starting with your most immediate needs. Ask your employer questions if you need help understanding your options.

4. Consider the big picture

Most people will opt in for health insurance, but will skip taking advantage of potentially beneficial additional coverage options. Survey results revealed 46% of employees don’t believe they are taking full advantage of all benefits offered. Make sure to review all of the tools your employer provides to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your workplace options. Considering all health and financial benefits, including voluntary supplemental health insurance products (critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity insurance) and disability insurance products can, depending on your unique situation, actually have a positive effect on your overall health and stress levels.

Deciphering your employer’s benefit offerings may be tedious, but taking the time — and preferably not minutes before the deadline — to fully dive in and understand your options can eliminate future stress and regret. Selecting a flexible benefits plan that can protect you from potential future curveballs will provide a stable foundation for your overall financial wellness, giving you more peace of mind throughout the year.

To learn more about how to take advantage of your benefits this open enrollment season, visit prudential.com.

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Fighting through the pain of a misunderstood skin condition – Hidradenitis Suppurativa

2019-11-11T16:31:00

(BPT) – Imagine experiencing symptoms like pain so severe you may not want to do tasks like showering, going to work or even getting out of bed. For people living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic, debilitating, inflammatory skin disease, this can be their reality.

Often beginning in adolescence, HS is characterized by the appearance of painful bumps or boils on or under the skin, typically in sensitive areas like the armpits and groin. Despite affecting up to 200,000 people in the U.S., many patients and physicians are unfamiliar with or mistake the symptoms of HS. This can lead to missed, delayed or inaccurate diagnoses, taking some people an average of seven years to receive an accurate diagnosis. This delay in diagnosis can be life-altering as HS is a progressive disease — meaning it can worsen over time.

This was the case for Rachelle Smith, a 34-year-old from the greater Columbus, Ohio, area, who experienced countless hospital visits and years spent living with a “mystery illness” that left her bed-ridden, isolated and in constant pain. After seven years, she was finally diagnosed with HS.

“If I can help even one person to not have to go through all the pain and confusion I experienced, I will,” she said. Today, after living with HS for nearly 20 years, Smith is passionate about raising awareness to help more people get diagnosed so they can find the right care as quickly as possible.

What causes HS?

While the exact cause of HS is unknown, it’s believed to be related to an imbalance in the immune system that causes excess inflammation in the body, typically showing up on the skin in the form of boils and bumps. This ongoing inflammation may cause tunnels to form under the skin and more abscesses that can burst or rupture, causing severe pain and permanent scarring.

The isolating impact of HS

The impact that HS has on patients’ lives can be all encompassing. Since the disease usually develops in areas where the skin rubs against skin, and can often smell, people with HS report feeling embarrassed and ashamed, and many suffer from depression, anxiety and extreme social isolation. In Smith’s case, she often missed school, sporting and social events due to fear of judgment.

“I tried to keep my HS a secret. I was embarrassed and didn’t want to be around people,” she said. “Because of my symptoms, I couldn’t participate in activities with friends, which was really hard.”

Despite her family’s support, she still felt isolated by a condition that isn’t widely known or understood. “I didn’t know anyone else that had HS; it was challenging, especially at a young age, to explain the incredible pain I was experiencing and how it affected me,” she said.

Finding the right doctor

Two years ago, Smith met Dr. Scott Drew, a board-certified dermatologist and HS expert who worked with her to develop a comprehensive care plan specific to her needs. By helping her to better understand her condition and working together to develop a personalized care plan, Dr. Drew has helped to ease her symptoms and allowed her to regain control of her life.

“Rachelle’s journey with HS is typical of what a lot of my patients experience. It’s a disease that can seriously impact the quality of a person’s life. Due to the severity of symptoms and the way those symptoms progress over time, it is crucial to diagnose and treat the disease early and appropriately,” Dr. Drew said.

Smith’s experience with Dr. Drew is an example of how important it is for HS patients to connect with dermatologists who understand this disease.

Her advice to others living with HS: “Don’t give up and keep talking to your doctor about what you need. There are treatments out there that can help. You are not alone, there is hope, just keep looking.”

For information and resources about HS, visit https://www.nobsabouths.com.

Sponsored by AbbVie.


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6 parenting hacks to save time and money

2019-11-11T08:15:01

(BPT) – Whether it’s your first child or you’ve been around the baby block a few times before, having an infant in your life is an unforgettable experience. While there are countless joys you’ll cherish forever, there are a few challenges you’ll likely face along the way, too.

Savvy parents are always looking for tricks to save time and money while helping them be better caregivers. These six simple hacks will make you feel like a superstar parent while giving your little one the best:

Fast and tidy diaper changes

Wiggling legs can make fast messes, especially when it comes time to change the diaper. To make diaper changing quick and easy, try placing a clean diaper on the changing table before laying your baby down on the table. Remove the diaper tabs, clean your baby up and pull away the dirty diaper and instantly you have a clean diaper ready to go. You’ll save time and consolidate messes in the process.

Clean stroller travel

Saving your back and making travel smooth and easy, a stroller can take you and your baby anywhere from the park to the mall and beyond. However, with those adventures comes all the nasty dirt, grime or worse that gets on the wheels. Before putting your stroller in your car for transport, place shower caps on the wheels of your stroller. Your car will stay nice and clean no matter how messy those wheels are.

Save money on essentials

Babies need many things and that cost adds up fast. Shopping sales and using coupons is a good start, but you can save even more money without sacrificing quality by looking for store brand items like diapers, wipes and infant formula. Store brand infant formula is the ultimate parenting hack because they offer the same complete nutrition as the big-name brands but can save families up to $900 a year.*

*Retail prices from October 2019 retail price survey of assorted stores. Actual prices and savings may vary.

Streamline bath time

A warm baby is a happy baby, and what parent doesn’t want to see their little one cozy and cooing? While you’re bathing baby, have someone place a towel in the dryer for five minutes. Remember to never leave your child alone in the bathtub, so you’ll need a partner or older sibling to do this. Once the dryer is done, have them bring you the towel so you can wrap baby in warmth right out of the water. You’ll never see tears from a post-bath chill again.

No more noisy toys

Kids are noisy. Kids’ toys that make noise can add to the commotion. Those loud bings, bells and songs can test even the most patient parent. When children are done using noisy toys, cover the toy’s speaker with tape to avoid any excess noise. This also works if a toy is particularly loud and could use a bit of muffling, even on the low setting. A small piece of tape lessens the noise so baby can still enjoy without Mom and Dad getting a headache.

Stay informed

Knowing what’s best for baby is a combination of using your instincts and staying informed. Having quick resources for getting useful information about important topics like health, nutrition and savings can give your parenting game an edge. For even more tips on all things feeding baby, check out the latest MommyMD Guide to Feeding Your Baby Right and bookmark storebrandformula.com as a resource to help make the wild ride of parenting a little bit easier.