Newsletter

April 3, 2008

Is it really spring?  Can we open the windows? Are we free of the threat of a blizzard?  Hopefully our warm weather is coming soon, but as many of us know, along with spring comes...... ALLERGY SEASON!  Here are some tips for living a little more comfortably these next couple of months:

• Close doors and windows when pollen counts are high
• Use air conditioning in your house and car. Air conditioning cleans, cools and dries the air or suffer and remain green.
• Avoid outdoor activity when pollen counts are highest.
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
• Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity.
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom and keep windows closed at night.
• Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up pollen and molds. If you do outside chores, wear a dust mask.
• Sweep up dust slowly, better yet "moist mop" - a clean house is a good defense.
• Shower frequently, but especially after going outside, to rid your hair and skin of irritants; and toss those clothes you were wearing outside into the washing machine!
  
• Change your pillowcase daily.
  

Check local counts at pollen.com for 4-day pollen forecasts.  or go to Weather.com.   Pollen season can vary from year to year depending on a variety of factors, including weather.

Car Seat Inspections 

Here's a little known fact - according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 80% of child safety seats are installed incorrectly. On Thursday, April 17, 2008, the Harbor Child Care Center in Glen Head (located at 700 Glen Head Avenue) will be hosting Mr. Chris Mistron from the Nassau County Traffic Safety Bureau checking car seats.  Call 516.571.6218 to schedule your appointment.  Appointments are running every 15 minutes between 930am and 2pm.

Want to Win? 

If you are looking for great baby accessories or simply a gift for a new mom, don't look any further than Bawl Baby's Ultimate Burpies.  These are NOT your ordinary burp cloth - they are amazingly practical burp cloths made of incredible fabrics that are both beautiful and so soft.  The Ultimate Burpie is extra long and extra wide, giving you more coverage from spit up accidents, as well as featuring two pockets to keep tissues, diapers, socks, pacifiers and anything else that potentially could go missing during the day while caring for a newborn.  The Ultimate Burpie does this all using beautiful fabrics and without any zippers, buttons or velcro.

Do you want to win an Ultimate Burpie from Bawl Baby?  Send us an e-mail, name one celebrity who has received an Ultimate Burpie and whether you would like a girl or boy burpie if you win, and you'll be entered!  You have until the end of the day on April 11, 2008 to enter.  Two winners will be selected at random to each receive one Ultimate Burpie!

You Can Be On TV! 

Pam Rich, North Shore Chapter Leader of Holistic Moms, is a regular guest on Family and Children Really Matter, a 1/2 hour public access TV show.  On Saturday, April 5th, they are taping shows on a topic very close to parents - vaccinations.  Pam has asked us to reach out to our users and find Moms with varying views on the topic to share their passions, thoughts, concerns, and findings. The show is not trying to portray one point of view, but more the point that as parents, we should have a say and our decisions for our children should be enough - whatever they may be.

If you are interested, please contact Pam directly (you can e-mail her at northshoreholisticmom@yahoo.com) with your name, children's ages, whether you have vaccinated, delayed vaccinations or not at all, and a phone # where you can be reached. You will need to be available for approximately 2 hours between 1030am and 1230pm on Saturday, April 5th, at the Lynbrook Cablevision Studio.

Still Looking for Summer Camps? 

Green Tip of the Week 

There are many green cleaners currently on the market. While there are no specific criteria that qualify a product as green, many claim to be biodegradable, phosphate- and chlorine-free, deriving their ingredients from plants rather than chemicals. Even if a product claims to be green, make sure to read the label! Also:
* Spray your cleaner on a cloth, not surfaces --- you will use less.

* Use the cold setting on your washer when possible.

* Try washable, reusable cloths instead of paper towels.