We had to make our decision to move to Sweden within 24 hours, and part of me hopes that the actual move would have been a shotgun move as well. There is nothing worse than waiting, and moving forward slowly and not knowing what comes ahead. The uncertain times still continue, and truth to be told, it has been tough, especially after my husband left.

I’ve tortured my friends with updates like “we didn’t get the house we wanted, will be homeless in Sweden soon”, and complained how hard it is to leave the US, or how sad it is to give away our dog and how people who say they’ll buy your things from Craig’s List don’t show up, and how it breaks my heart to see my kids’ friends and teachers hosting them farewell parties and how much I know they will be missed and they will miss their friends.

Part of me feels like I have to dwell on the bad parts of this move too. I have to carpe the shit out of diem of the crappy days too – or how else the good moments ever felt so good, if tough times weren’t meant to feel tough too?

It’s OK if it’s tough

My mother-in-law said to me (halfly joking, I hope) that part of her is happy that we are having rough time moving out of the US, because it sure is hard for her to see us go. And I get it. We are super excited about the move, can’t wait to live in Europe, and every day I see so many things around me that make me think “thank God we are moving to Sweden.” But how would people around me feel, if I mentioned these all the time? I think it is important for our family and friends to see too the real struggles we go through too, and the reality without sugarcoating it.

We talk about things we will miss and things we won’t miss with the kids all the time. I tell them more about Europe, they are too young to remember much from when we lived there and have visited the last times. I want them soak every single thing they love about Beacon, New York, were we live, and I want them to remember the things we don’t like here either. I’ve learned so much about my children this way. If we had only focused on the positive sides and how wonderful everything will be, I would have missed a huge opportunity to teach my children about life, and I would have missed an opportunity to get to know them better.

The things we won’t miss…

In one of the pictures my youngest drew was a Walmart with its big parking lot, and McDonalds on the other side, a sushi restaurant on the other side. The Walmart and the McDonalds parking lots were empty and the sushi restaurants parking lot was full. I asked what he thought when we drew the picture, he said “I don’t like McDonalds and Walmart, and maybe other people will learn to like the sushi place more too.” It reminded me of the lunch date in the school cafeteria earlier this school year with him. It was the lunch with parents day, and I had brought in a healthy lunch for him, and the parent sitting in the same table had brought a Happy Meal for her child. The principal of the school walks by and says “lucky you, you got a Happy Meal” for the kid with french fries, soda and chicken nuggets. My son’s face was stunned. How could the principle say “lucky you,” didn’t she know McDonalds food was unhealthy? My then 8-year old whispered to me he was the lucky one to get the healthy lunch and gave me a hug.

I understand that many things frustrate the kids too, and I know they will flourish in Europe. I know this is the right decision for our family. But still, knowing all this, it’s still not easy to hug your best friends, say good byes, get rid of everything you own, give away your dog and pack up and go.

Living in the moment

I don’t allow myself to think that a week from today I will be on our stopover in Iceland soaking my tired mind and body in Blue Lagoon hot springs. It will be amazing journey. But now, I still have to scrub a New York apartment, say farewell for our family pet who can’t come to Sweden with us, sell my car and pack everything. And I am taking every moment in as it comes.

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Obesity in children is a real issue and we as a nation need a wake up call. However the ad like the one above is NOT the answer. Learn more how to take action to make sure your child is living a healthy lifestyle, read what various experts say, and learn how you can help to spread the word to others as well to fight the obesity in children – with the right tactics.

Facts About Childhood Obesity

A recent study by University of North Carolina researchers examined whether doctors informed parents that their children were overweight. More accurately, it looked at whether or not parents remembered their doctor’s sharing this. The study analyzed government surveys of almost 5,000 parents of overweight children, and found that less than 25% of the parents recalled the doctor ever saying there was a problem.

The children today are being seen with abnormal cholesterol levels and even the beginning stages of atherosclerosis and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued new guidelines regarding children and cholesterol and now recommend all children between the ages of 9 and 11 should have their cholesterol levels checked.

“It is a big change, because formerly the recommendation was only for those who had a family history of high cholesterol,” explains Dr. Pamela McCullough, a pediatric nurse practitioner and the director of the nursing program at Stratford University’s Woodbridge campus. “This should be seen by many parents as a sign of our times and what is going on with the lifestyles we are raising our children to lead. It is also a great time for families to learn all they can, and to make changes in order to live a healthy lifestyle.”

Health experts Dian Griesel, Ph.D., and Tom Griesel, authors of the new book TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (April 2011, BSH) say that even though being overweight or obese is becoming common in America, it is not a normal condition and should be easily recognized by an untrained eye, especially by doctors.

“Being obese or overweight is widely known to come with significant health risks as well as potential negative emotional conditions,” says Tom Griesel. “Fat kids are often ostracized by their peers and this can continue into adulthood. The time to address the condition is as early as possible with the education and introduction of healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Overweight children often have overweight parents and siblings who make it seem normal or perhaps somehow genetic. This belief is wrong. Nobody is destined to be obese or overweight.”

“As individuals, parents, health care providers and a society facing escalating chronic disease and the associated healthcare costs, we all need to assume responsibility for the problem and work together at improving the situation,” adds Dian Griesel.

Take Action to Take Care of Your Children

1. Healthy Diet
Focus on eating a healthy diet. This will help reverse and prevent obesity, which should also lead to a reduction in cholesterol levels. Dietary cholesterol is found in animal-based foods, such as meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy products. Focusing the family diet on healthy meals that include minimal amounts of animal products is ideal. The goal is to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-cholesterol sources of protein (e.g., beans, tofu, nuts, lentils, etc.). Eliminate sugar and sweeteners along with refined and processed foods and replace them with natural whole foods. Just be reducing the amount of “boxed food” makes a big difference.

2. Add Activity Level
Increase your child’s activity level with physical activity. Children should get at least one hour of physical activity per day, which includes such things as running, brisk walking, playing sports, bike riding, etc. It doesn’t have to be organized sports activity like playing a team sports, but playing outside in the yard, or walking to school or helping parents to do yard work are also great examples of physical activities children can do. Read the recommended activity levels here.

3. Limit TV & Gaming Time
Today’s children spend way too much screen time. Once you limit the screen time, many children automatically add more physical activity on their daily routine.

5 Tips to Get Kids to Eat Healthier

“Parents may be surprised by just how much influence there is for kids to eat unhealthily,” explains Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending. “This is why it is so important for parents, educators and other adults to make an ongoing effort to get kids to make healthier eating decisions.”

Here are 5 easy tips to get kids to eat healthier:

1. Get the kids involved in cooking and making the food choices.
Children who have fun and are involved are more likely to remember the information. The more kids are involved, the more they will get out of the experience. To learn about healthy food and nutrition, they can help garden, plan and prepare meals, etc. A fun way to do this is to let your child to pick two vegetables or fruits they want to try out or eat at the farmers market. Let the child explore and learn. You can find recipes for vegetables you’ve never tried before together and trying out new foods and recipes can be a fun adventure and activity to do together.

2. Teach children about healthy choices.
Even younger children can learn about what is healthy and not, label reading, and making healthy choices. Take the time to teach children why making healthy food choices is a better route, teach them how to read labels, etc.

3. Snack healthy.
Children usually need a couple of snacks to keep them going throughout the day. The CDC recommends that kids keep snacks to under 100 calories and it is ideal to have those snacks be low-fat and low-sugar. Help kids learn to identify healthier snack options when they see them, such as fruits and vegetables, yogurt, granola bars, and baked chips.

4. Be a role model.
One of the most important things that parents can do in order to get their kids to eat healthier is to model healthy eating habits. When parents eat healthy, they are demonstrating to their children the ideal way to eat. Consistently modeling this, over time, will influence children, even if it is years later.

5. Influence change and take action.
Work with school administrators and others to influence healthy changes. For example, work with your school to get healthier snacks and lunch options on campus, and work with local legislators to place limits on junk food commercials on television. This will also show your child you are taking this seriously, and taking action overall shows a great example for your child.

#Ashamed Twitter Party Lead by Leah Segedie of Mamavation

The Strong4Life Campaign has purchased billboard ads all over the State of Georgia and has TV commercials such as the video below in hopes to promote a “wake-up call” to Georgian parents about childhood obesity and urge parents to act on it.

One of the slogan reads “being fat takes the fun out of being a kid” and the obese children are pictured in the ads.

While fighting against childhood obesity is is important, Strong 4 Life decided to create ads that are so controversial, they are down right offensive and hurtful to children.

Mom blogging and health-based communities all over the internet are uniting today, Friday, January 27th from 9-10pm EST to petition the @Strong_4_Life Campaign and the State of Georgia to cease a child obesity campaign before it does any more damage to children.

This Twitter event is lead by Leah Segedie of Mamavation who says “Pointing the finger at this poor child only succeeds in making her feel worse. In fact, I would go even further to say that THIS AD CREATES EATING DISORDERS IN CHILDREN. They are made to feel more shame about who they are.”

Join us on the #Ashamed Twitter event tonight.

Time: Friday, January 27th from 9-10pm EST

Hashtag: #Ashamed

Purpose: To protest the Strong4Life Ads in the State of Georgia and chat about obesity and ways to solve problem

How are you taking action to stop childhood obesity?

Sources:
Stratford University
University of North Carolina
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health experts Dian Griesel, Ph.D., and Tom Griesel
Leah Segedie of Mamavation
Jolly Backer, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending

Are we just trying to Keep Up with the Joneses?

Is it true that in our society “Keeping up with the Joneses” has become more important than happiness?

If you think of your goals, dreams, and wants for your life, does your list include items that simply make you happier, make you feel you are living life to the fullest or make you feel that you are growing as a person? Or does your list include items that will improve your standing in the social ladder, makes a great story to tell your friends, or is something great to show off your co-workers?

Are you truly living the life you want – or simply trying to keep up with the Joneses?

I would love to say that I’m purely living life to myself and my family, and the outsider opinions or views of what people think of me don’t apply or matter. But I can’t. I admit, it’s difficult. I have been thinking about this a lot lately, especially when we are on the edge of moving and are doing things in an unorthodox way.

“Keeping Up” Weighs You Down

One of the things I realized as I have been getting rid of stuff – the stuff doesn’t even make me happy. I think shopping makes me happy sometimes, I love looking at things, and I was a very good personal shopper for a few years finding people exactly what they wanted. I even love online shopping and looking at things. But actually owning things, it doesn’t really make me feel happy. Experiencing things, going to places, and seeing things makes me more happy.

When we first started a family, we had much more… we bought our first house, and even once built a house.. I think when we were young and we didn’t have many things, we thought having more would make us happy. You know, you’d feel “accomplished” and that owning stuff would make you feel and look “well lived”. Now at the ripe age of 36 I disagree.

A life with lots of stuff makes me feel that the stuff weighs me down, and attaches me to an address like an anchor weighing me down. It is physically not easy to be open for new opportunities when you have a lot of things you own. Ironically it’s more difficult to even keep up with the Joneses and move to a better neighborhood in your own town when you have a lot of stuff.

I can’t believe how freeing it has been to manage this move to Sweden with no regrets of getting rid of almost everything we owned. I may not be doing well with keeping up with the Joneses, and I’m now on the bottom step of the society cast ladder when it comes to owning shiny things, but it sure feels good to be free as a bird.

How to Keep Your Jeans Looking Like New

I always recommend buying better quality and less and investing in clothing you absolutely love and you will wear again and again. Same applies to jeans.

I know you can get cheap jeans, but you know how you will feel in the right pair of fantastic designer jeans – so worth the money!! To protect your denim investment, here are some tips how to take care of your jeans, and keep them looking like new for longer. This way the expensive jeans truly are worth every penny and you can enjoy them again and again.

Read first the clothing care tips for fashionistas, most of the tips are great for taking care of jeans as well. I especially recommend a high efficiency front load washer, because it will keep your clothes looking better for longer.

10 Tips How to Care for Your Jeans

1. If you have dark jeans and you want to keep the color wash the jeans in vinegar before the first wash. Add 1 cup of regular household vinegar in your washer and no washing detergent and wash in cold water. They will not smell like vinegar, but the vinegar will “seal” the blue color and it will not bleed as easily the next washes to come.

2. If adding vinegar to your brand new jeans sounds crazy to you, try soaking your jeans in a bucket with water and one cup of salt for the same color sealing effect.

3. Washing and especially hot water will fade your jeans, so try to wash them less often. You can easily get over 5 uses out of them, especially if you air them out often in fresh air. If you want to go extreme: freezing your jeans will also refreshen them.

4. Always wash your jeans inside out and with other dark colors.

5. Always wash your jeans in cold water. It will prevent them from fading and from shrinking but especially if you use special cold water detergent and a high efficiency washer they still get clean.

6. If you can and have time.. wash your jeans in a hot tub by hand. Soak them 15 minutes in cold water and mild detergent and then rinse another 10 minutes in fresh cold water and hang to dry.

7. Use color-protection washing detergent to keep the colors from fading.

8. Don’t dry your jeans in a dryer. If you must, use the lowest temperature. High temperature is bad for the fabric, and while jeans are durable and can take it, it will shorten the life of your jeans. Try to avoid hot water and hot drying if possible.

9. While heat if bad for your jeans, to freshen up your jeans and to keep them looking fresh for longer, iron them with starch. Starch will make the jeans look crispier and you can get a few more times of use out of your jeans before you have to wash them.

10. You can get your jeans also dry cleaned and starched to get the same crispy effect – they will look fantastic and stay looking good for several additional uses, but the chemicals in the dry cleaning are bad for the fabric, so it is not recommended to dry clean your jeans regularly. But this trick is great especially when you travel, and only want to bring one pair of jeans.

My old home town Helsinki is the World Design Capital of 2012, and I am so excited that I am able to cover the events and happenings in the city this year. I had in hopes to visit Helsinki at least once during 2012, but now with our move to Sweden, I know I will be visiting Helsinki all the time!

Café Kauko

Here is one of the first quirky cool things that popped in Helsinki for the WDC 2012: Café Kauko. Café Kauko is a popup café that moves from one place to another during 2012 (currently at the shopping center Forum in the central Helsinki). The coffee shop is sleek with modern furniture, the walls are white, so are the furniture. But the entire purpose of this café isn’t to show case well designed furniture for a coffee shop – quite the opposite. The purpose of Kauko is to showcase WHY good design is important.

“Kauko” is a Finnish nickname for kaukosäädin, the remote control, and yes – the entire café is remote controllable. Anyone can virtually visit Kauko online and see live video from the coffee shop and remote control the furniture, music and lighting. You can make the chairs or the tables to go up and down, dim the lights or add some music. Unfortunately for those in the US the time difference makes it a bit difficult to play with real life situations. Kauko closes already at 7:30PM Finnish time, which is only 12:30PM EST.

Kauko truly demonstrates the importance of great everyday design for its visitors – it’s not comfortable to even sit down to have a cup of espresso when the table is way too low or way too high – or having a conversation with your friend is impossible when the music is too loud or when it’s too dark to even see her.

Kauko shows that the significance of design is often noticed only when it is lacking.

H&M DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear Collection

I can’t resist sharing these photos of the H&M DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear collection. Because I know you will want to see the pictures of the latest underwear for men, right?

H&M is also giving me one reason to consider watching Super Bowl. H&M will debut a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl to launch the new DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear collection. The commercial, what they call “stimulating”, pops the Super Bowl advertising cherry for both H&M and David Beckham.

The H&M and David Beckham alliance is just starting off with the Super Bowl ad, and the first collection is a nine-piece Bodywear collection, debuting on February 2, 2012 in 1,800 H&M stores worldwide. We can expect more from this partnership in the future.

The price point for the collection: briefs & boxers & tees $12.95-$14.95, long-sleeved henleys $29.95.

H&M David Beckham Super Bowl Ad

H&M’s advertisements are all produced in-house at the H&M headquarters in Sweden in cooperation with independent creative professionals, including the Super Bowl ad.

Mark this down: The David Beckham Bodywear commercial will have a prime position in the 2nd quarter of the game and if you are into Super Bowl advertising, I think you might want to see it. Meanwhile, more pictures from the collection.

More latest H&M news:
H&M Spring 2012 Trends: Bold Colors & Vintage Flair
H&M Home Collection for Spring 2012: Bold Colors
H&M Home Collection Spring 2012: White Rustic

We are in the risk of losing internet as we know it due possible government censorship. Read what this is about, why you should care, how you can take action and what this means to our economy.

What are SOPA and PIPA?

Members of Congress are trying to stop piracy and counterfeiters but SOPA and PIPA are the wrong way to do it.

The Protect IP Act (S. 968) is the Senate companion bill to the House’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). If these bills pass, they could open the door to widespread government regulated censorship online. While these laws are to protect large entertainment companies from piracy and to stop piracy online, they put in risk everything we all do online and open a possibility for government to censor what we do online.

READ MORE.

How this reflects on you?

Sites like Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google and several other sites relaying their existence in the freedom of sharing information will be affected. If the law passes, entire websites can be taken down if they publish copyrighted content or if they LINK to copyrighted content. Yes, one link and the entire website could be gone. All of the above mentioned websites would be censored within seconds.

While it may sound like the biggest problem for you would be that your personal use of internet would completely change, it would have additional impacts as well. So many American small businesses rely on internet as it is and the free information distribution, that it would tremendously impact on American small businesses and the entire American economy. Many only web-based companies would simply just die, but that’s not all of it. Think of how many small local businesses who have nothing to do with internet rely on internet search to even be found? (Think how much easier your life is without phone book and with internet search). Think what it will do for our economy when so many small businesses will go down?

ACT NOW

Voice your concern and act now.

What you can do:
Contact you local senator via phone (link where you can find the correct person and phone number) and tell you want her/him to vote against it.
Email your local representative and ask them to vote NO.

More importantly, take time to get educated about this issue, because this has an impact on you – and even a bigger impact on how your children’s future will look like.

As you probably already know, Swedish Polarn O. Pyret is one of my favorite Scandinavian clothing brands for children. Their clothing is classic Scandinavian, with fresh looks, bold colors and signature stripes. It’s children’s clothing meant for everyday use, clothing that will last for playtime after playtime, wash after wash.

Here are some pictures from Polarn O. Pyret Spring 2012 collection for children.

What I really like about Polarn O. Pyret, they let kids be kids, and while they have trendy skinny jeans, or graphic tees, it’s all suitable for kids, and meant for kids – not mini-sized from adults clothing.

What’s not to love, right?

PS. Check out the Polarn O. Pyret fall/winter sale by clicking the picture below. Clothing is 60% off or more and you don’t even need a coupon!