Playtex 18 Hour™ Bra Review and Giveaway
When Playtex offers to send you a comfortable bra to try out for a review, it’s not too hard to say no.
About Playtex 18 Hour Firm Support Solutions Bra
Playtex bras, with their unrivalled lift effect, natural shaping and modern look, will follow your every move, especially addressing the needs of women with fuller breasts and who require extra support to prevent back and shoulder pain. Playtex’s legendary 18 Hour™ collection offers unique moisture-wicking breathable fabric, making the bra feel like a second skin! Available at major department stores across Canada, Playtex bras will definitely fill this Winter season with oh-so-needed comfort.
Playtex 18 Hour™ Bra: My experience
Product review by Sara Hodge
Like comfortable bras?
Me too. In a big way. And I’ve been spoiled lately with some very comfortable ones which I’m reluctant to set aside.
So, when Playtex sent me their 18 Hour™ Bra to try out, I wasn’t sure I was going to want to trade my favourite for it. The photo on the box looked like any other ordinary white bra and, to be honest, in a store I might not have taken more than a passing glance at it.
Upon opening the box though, I changed my mind pretty quickly. This bra is soft. It’s wire free. And it has cushioned straps. CUSHIONED STRAPS! Love that.
The first thing that came to mind as I was looking it over was “Now this looks comfortable!”, and it truly is. My idea of a perfect bra is one that you can wear without realizing you have it on, and this one fits the bill. They had me at cushioned straps.
I couldn’t just sit here and brag about how I got this amazing bra and not share one with you! Be sure to enter our fabulous giveaway here on Mums ‘n Chums for two lucky winners to each recieve their own ultra comfortable Playtex 18 Hour™ bra in their choice of colour and size! Click here to enter the giveaway!
More about Playtex 18 Hour™ Bra
Playtex 18 Hour™ Bra is wire free. New back and side smoothing fusion fabric moves with you while providing comfortable, continous support. Seamless 2-ply wire free cups with moisture wicking fabric to keep you cool and dry. Stay-put cushioned shoulder straps that stop the slip and alleviate shoulder pressure. 4 rows of hooks for greater fit flexibility. Available in sizes B (36-42), C (36-44), D (38-44), DD (38-46) and DDD (38-44).
About Playtex
Founded in 1932, Playtex offers comfortable and practical garments that flatter the female figure. Playtex was the first to introduce a classic packaged goods approach to intimate apparel, it has created the size chart, packaged the merchandise and placed it on displays. Keeping in line with the brand’s standing reputation as the firm support solutions expert, Playtex lingerie is available through most Canadian department stores.
The products in this post were sponsored by Playtex, who provided Mums ‘n Chums with a bra sample for the purpose of product review. However, we are under no obligation to promote products that we feel are not of benefit or interest to our members. The views and opinions in this review reflect our reviewers’ genuine feelings about the products and are in no way influenced by the compaines providing them.
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2012-02-04 Permanent Link: Playtex 18 Hour™ Bra Review and Giveaway
Children's Vision and Sports
Does your child play sports? Don’t forget the protective eye gear! Dr. Joseph Chan explains what every parent needs to know.
Children’s Vision and Sports
By: Dr. Joseph Chan
Each day, your child likely participates in some physical activity, whether it is kicking a ball at recess or participating in a formal sports league. Seeing well ensures that they are always playing at their best. Protecting the eyes is important as well, since injuries can happen at any age.
Good vision and eye health starts with a visit to your optometrist. Children should have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, again at the age of 3, then annually thereafter. By doing this, vision and eye health can be properly evaluated to identify any eye problems that might affect your child’s ability to see and learn. When both eyes work well together and can see clearly at all distances, your child can master new sports with greater ease.
Some children do need glasses to see properly. For certain sports, wearing regular glasses may be a challenge though and other alternatives could be considered. Sports glasses can be used for sports like bicycling and basketball. For water sports, prescription swim goggles may be appropriate. Contact lenses are also a consideration for children who are active in competitive sports. While there is no specific age requirement for when children can start wearing contact lenses, the child should be mature enough to insert and remove the contact lenses themselves. As well, they need to be responsible enough to keep the lenses clean and disinfected. Parents can discuss these options with their optometrist to determine the best alternative for their child.
Parents should ensure that protective eyewear be used for high-risk activities, such as hockey. Visors to protect the eyes and face are always a good idea. Protective sports glasses are useful for racquet sports, like squash.
If your child is injured, it is important to assess the risk of eye damage to determine whether further attention is required. Whenever there has been a direct blow to the eye or the adjacent region, an immediate visit to your optometrist is warranted. They will determine if there is any internal damage to the eye, such as retinal detachments or bleeding inside the eye. Sometimes, the impact can even cause a “blow-out fracture” where the bony structure that protects the eye gets damaged. Certain head injuries may also affect the eye. If your child suffers a fall or blow to the head, a visit to your optometrist may be important, particularly if there is any change to their vision.
To find an optometrist near you, please visit our website or call toll free 800-540-3837 to book an appointment.
Annual children’s eye exams are covered by Provincial Health Insurance (OHIP) in Ontario until 19 years of age.
Learn more about our Eye See…Eye Learn program for Junior Kindergarten children by visiting www.EyeSeeEyeLearn.ca
Dr Joseph Chan
Ontario Association of Optometrists
For more articles related to your child’s eye health, be sure to check out our archives:
Recognizing Your Child’s Visual Milestones
Children’s Vision: Facts and Myths
Children and Contact Lenses: Myths and Facts
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2012-01-26 Permanent Link: Children's Vision and Sports
Natural Health: January 2012: Natural Treatments for Constipation
Do you or your children suffer from occasional constipation? According to Dr. Tanya Lee, N.D., it’s one of the most common complaints among patients. Get relief with these simple, natural remedies!
Natural Treatments for Constipation
By Dr. Tanya Lee, N.D.
I can’t believe how quickly 2011 has come and gone. This past year has brought a number of new and interesting conditions through my office doors, but there is one classic symptom that seems to be dominating over the rest. Constipation – many of us have had our experiences with this difficult symptom before. Constipation can be acute, or can be a long term symptom. Bowel movements are essential for removing unwanted toxins and waste from the body. If one is constipated, it’s usually an indication that the organs of detoxification are not functioning optimally.
Optimal frequency for bowel movements:
- Adults and children over age 4 should have at least one sufficient bowel movement daily.
- Children under 2 should be experiencing bowel movements 2-4 times daily.
- Infants should be eliminating after every feeding.
- Bowel movements should not require straining, nor should they cause any pain.
- Bowel movement should typically be one smooth package, medium brown, with no signs of undigested food (exception corn), blood or mucus.
With the types of food and drinks that tend to frequent the tables at holiday parties, it’s no wonder that many of us tend to have trouble with constipation after major holidays. Here are some basic at-home tips that you can try in order to keep your detoxification centres smooth and functional.
First and foremost I must warn that signs of constipation should always be first assessed by a medical professional (naturopathic doctor or medical doctor). Here are some warning signs you need to consider before trying these natural treatments:
1. Constipation in an infant should ALWAYS be checked out by a medical professional. Please do not try natural remedies for constipation in an infant until a full medical examination and proper imaging has been done to rule out any serious condition.
2. If constipation is associated with severe pain, then please follow up with your medical physician before trying any natural remedies.
3. If constipation has lasted for more than 2 weeks and you have tried home remedies, then consult with your medical practitioner.
4. Cases of chronic constipation (long-term) should always be assessed by a medical practitioner.
5. If you are someone who suffers from long-term (chronic) constipation and all of a sudden experience watery diarrhea, bloating and pain, rectal bleeding, and/or low back pain, please see your doctor.
6. Any signs of blood, or mucus in the stool should be followed up by a medical practitioner before trying these natural treatments.
Natural Treatments for Constipation
1. Lots and lots of wonderful water will help move those stubborn bowel movements along. Constipation can be a sign of dehydration so making sure you get your 8-12 cups of water daily can help with this stubborn symptom.
2. Insoluble fibre help keep the stools loose and fluid by decreasing the time it takes for stool to pass through the intestines. Sources of insoluble fibre include lots and lots of veggies (especially dark leafy greens), fruit skins (apples, pears), nuts (avoid if there are nut allergies!) and seeds.
3. Constipation can be a reflection of a poor-functioning liver. During the weekends and holidays many of us indulge in more fatty foods and alcohol, rendering the liver weaker than usual. Liver supporting treatments such as castor oil packs helps keep the liver functioning optimally, allowing our detoxification centres to run efficiently and smoothly. For children try castor oil belly rubs
4. Prune juice is an age-old remedy used to help treat constipation. The reason why prune juice is so good is that it contains sorbitol, a natural sugar which acts as a laxative. Just like any laxative, this should not be used long term as your body will become dependent on it. It is recommended to drink 8 ounces of prune juice twice daily before meals to help treat constipation. Once your constipation improves, you can cut this down to 1x/day. If the prune juice does not work within 1 week, discontinue this approach.
5. Healthy Flora! Like I’ve pretty much said in all my articles, probiotics are wonderful for regulating the gastrointestinal tract and great for alleviating symptoms of constipation. Healthy flora is essential for proper bowel movements and exposure to not-so-healthy food, and antibiotics can disrupt your natural intestinal flora.
If the constipation does not seem to improve with these home remedies, stronger treatments are needed to heal the gut. Naturopathic doctors are highly trained in assessing constipation to determine what therapy is needed. Vitamins, herbs, homeopathics and acupuncture, all have been very effective in treating symptoms of constipation. Please be aware that a healthy diet is the best cure for any digestive concern.
Dr. Tanya Lee is a naturopathic doctor currently practicing in Toronto and Milton Ontario. Tanya was drawn to the naturopathic profession for its core beliefs in treating the whole person. Dr. Lee practice general medicine, with a special interest in children’s health, women’s health and pregnancy. For more information on Dr. Lee and her practice, please visit, www.tanyaleend.com .
Be sure to check out our past articles by Dr. Tanya Lee:
Top 5 Nutrients for Back to School
Staying Healthy in the New Year
Keeping Up With Your Child’s Immune System
Tanya Lee, BSc (Hons), N.D.
Infinity Health Centre
39 Lower Simcoe St.
Toronto, ON M5J 3A6
416.544.0628
www.infinityhealthcentre.com
Health Centre of Milton
400 Main S. E Suite 210
Milton, ON L9T 1P7
905.878.8131
www.healthcentreofmilton.ca
Comments? We would love to hear them. Please note your comments may be posted on this page. To leave a comment, click here
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2012-01-26 Permanent Link: Natural Health: January 2012: Natural Treatments for Constipation
Funny Mummy: January 2012- Twits the Season
Funny Mummy: January, 2012
By: Kathy Buckworth
Twits the Season
Let’s face it, if you’re a Mom with a newborn you may as well give in and embrace the world of Twitter, and chat online at 2am instead of watching those info-mercials. If you haven’t entered the world of Twitter yet, make 2012 the year to get online and in the know. Worried about what to expect? I’ve prepared a handy round up of all the Tweets you’ve been missing this past year, as they relate to kids, house, home, and husband, so you’ll be caught up. Ready? Here we go:
- Moms don’t sleep, and the first thing they do when they’re not sleeping is to Tweet out the fact that they’re not sleeping. Which causes them to stay awake longer. Which they will also Tweet about the next morning. And occasionally throughout the day, as they’re also not napping.
- None of us exercise enough, according to our outside voices on Twitter. And the ones that do work out, as a rule, we don’t like. They’re just bragging about it. It’s not motivating at all. (You might want to go back to watching late night TV ads for Thigh Masters if the “Fitter Twitter” Tweets get to be too much for you.)
- If you want reinforcement to have that next glass of wine, eat that extra piece of chocolate, to blow off the lunch date with that Mom down the street you really don’t like, or to prove once and for all your husband can’t do anything right, you’ve come to the right place. Vent ladies, vent. For support and for that extra piece of chocolate. (Just don’t expect any virtual pats on the back when you try to work it off the next day.)
- People really don’t Tweet about what they had for breakfast. Unless they take a picture of it first. Don’t even get me started on dinner. Or snacks during Glee, Real Housewives, or The Biggest Loser.
And because the New Year always has us thinking about resolutions – things we will stop and start doing to have a better year – I’ll let you learn from my mistakes and share my own personal twi-resolutions on what to stop:
1. Tweeting out any remarks, photos, or comments that in any way suggest a nine year old boy is still “cute” or “adorable”. He’s a Jedi Warrior (awww how cute is that?).
2. Tweeting out any type of bodily function that any children have. It’s really not necessary. This type of thing goes on ALL THE TIME. (The functions, not the Tweeting. Ok, both.)
3. Tweeting out something that describes a situation that is unfortunate, but happens to all of us, and then ending it with “That.” For example “You know when it takes you 8 hours to make dinner and the kids eat it in 2? That.” I know, right? Boring. That.
Run out of things to say? No worries. You can always Tweet about what you just bought on the Home Shopping Channel at 2am. A “Tweep” will then back you up on it, and convince you to grab a glass of wine while you’re doing it. Because that’s the way we Tw-roll.
When not writing down everything her kids say, Kathy is hard at work on her next book, “I Am So The Boss Of You”, due out with McClelland & Stewart, Spring, 2013. Follow Kathy on twitter at www.twitter.com/kathybuckworth , and visit www.kathybuckworth.com
About the Author
Photo by CL Buchanan Photography
Kathy Buckworth is an award winning writer, public speaker, and television personality. She is the author of five books, including “The BlackBerry Diaries: Adventures in Modern Motherhood” and her latest, “Shut Up and Eat:Tales of Chicken, Children & Chardonnay”. She is a feature writer for Sympatico.ca in their parenting, travel, and auto sections, and is also a columnist for ParentsCanada, Womens Post, Ottawa Families, Dabble Magazine, and GoodLife. She also regularly contributes to national magazines such as Canadian Families, Disney Playhouse, and Oh Baby. Her monthly “Funny Mummy” column appears on 25+ websites across North America. She is a parenting correspondent for CTVNewsChannel, and appears on shows such as CityLine and The Marilyn Denis Show.
Kathy is the only two time winner of the Professional Writers Association of Canada Award for Excellence in Humour, and is the 2010 recipient of the Mississauga Arts Award for Established Literary Arts. She is the Managing Director of 4WordsComm.com and has over 18 years of corporate marketing experience, with CIBC, Royal Bank, Telus and Coca Cola Foods. She has acted as corporate/media spokesperson/social media consultant for blue chip companies such as Procter & Gamble, Research In Motion, Presidents Choice Financial and LeapFrog Toys. Visit www.kathybuckworth.com or follow along at www.twitter.com/kathybuckworth
Kathy’s latest book, “Shut Up and Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children and Chardonnay” can be found at bookstores and online, everywhere.
Check out our review of Kathy’s book, “Shut Up and Eat” here
Other Funny Mummy articles on Mums ‘n Chums:
Zombie Moms: Not Just for Newborns
Parenting: The Ultimate Workout
Watch Kathy discuss the latest hot parenting topics every Friday at 11:20am on CTVNewschannel.
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2012-01-25 Permanent Link: Funny Mummy: January 2012- Twits the Season
