Children more likely to have heart attacks than parents?

The likelihood of our children living healthy, long lives continues to decrease. A new study from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that children now have more risk factors for heart disease than their parents. Our kids are now more likely to have a heart attack at some time during their lives than we are!

The major reason for this increased risk is the significantly increased rate of obesity among children. Studies show that children today have a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than children in the past. Even more disturbing, they also have increased mass in their left heart ventricles, a known risk factor for both heart attacks and strokes.

This study supports what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been saying for the past few years; pediatricians and parents MUST start screening kids for obesity and taking action immediately. We can no longer wait until our children “grow out of their baby fat”. Unfortunately, today’s kids keep their baby fat and continue to add to it throughout their lives. Without some sort of intervention, our children will continue to eat themselves to death.

One major hindrance to treating overweight children is that parents and pediatricians often fail to recognize that a child is overweight. Our country’s perception of normal is completely skewed; we have lost sight of what a child is supposed to look like. Studies show that the majority of parents of obese children consider their kids “normal weight”. In fact, some of these parents labeled their kids as “underweight”.

We must look at the facts and ignore our preconceived notions of what is a normal weight for a child. The body mass index (BMI) percentile is the best way to screen a child for obesity.

Pediatricians use BMI percentiles to determine if a child is overweight or obese. BMI is a measure of body weight relative to height. You can’t determine if a child is overweight without considering the child’s height. For example, is a child who weighs 90 pounds overweight? That depends. That child would be overweight if he were three feet tall but would not be overweight if he were five feet tall. BMI tells us how appropriate a child’s weight is for his height and is a better measure of body fatness than body weight.

With adults, BMI interpretation is very cut and dry. A BMI between 25and30 is considered overweight, between 30 and35 is considered obese, and between 35 and40 is considered morbidly obese.

It is not so simple for children. Children at different stages of growth and development are expected to have different amounts of body fat. At some stages of childhood they should have more body fat and at other stages of childhood they should have less.

To decide if a child is overweight or obese, we look at a child’s BMI percentile. That is, we compare a child’s BMI to the BMIs of all children of the same age and gender. We then see how the child compares to his peers.

What does it mean if a child is in the 88th percentile? A child whose BMI is in the 88th percentile has a BMI that is greater than 88% of all children of the same age and gender. This child is in the overweight category.

A BMI between the 85th and 95th percentiles is considered overweight; between the 95th and 99th percentiles is considered obese; above the 99th percentile is considered morbidly obese.

Parents should ask their pediatricians about their child’s BMI percentile at each well child visit. If your child’s BMI is greater than the 85th percentile, you must take action immediately to minimize your child’s risk of a heart attack and to maximize your child’s lifespan. Do not wait to intervene!

Reposted from
Joanna Dolgoff @ Twitter Moms

Jack Frost

Though he’s a respected sprite that shows up in English folklore, Jack is a mysterious figure in the sense that no one  knows exactly where he originates from.  Two of the most popular guesses are Scandinavian Mythos  (this one suggests that he might be connected to a frost giant named Jokti) and Russian Mythos (where it is thought that he might be connected to Father Frost).  Though Jack is the personification of the spirit of Winter as are the others, he has a much milder manner.  It’s my personal belief that this is because Winters are somewhat milder here in England.
Standing at just 2 ½  feet and dressed in a clear costume covered with icicles, Jack is one of many sprites that has weather control.  He’s only limited in the sense that he can only use his powers during the Winter months.  The rest of the year he lives with the rest of the Winter Court in Faery.
Though he brings about the Winter chill, Jack is far from being an aggressive sprite.  Providing that you’re properly prepared for the Winter, he is actually quite playful.  He enjoys both the reaction and the shocked energy he receives from people when he randomly nips their nose, fingers, or toes on a cold night.  It’s said if you’re quite sensitive and listen very carefully that you can hear his peals of laughter as he goes about this game.
Not only is he a top notch prankster but a matchless artist.  The intricate designs that he paints with ice on windowpanes makes Michelangelo  himself appear but a mere amateur.
This year as you celebrate your Winter holidays be on the lookout for the impish sprite known as Jack Frost.  And if you wish to join him in his merry making, take a walk down the street on a cold frosty morning and admire his handy work on windows and car windshields.  Marvel at the intricacy and differences of the icy patterns.  Then when you’re finished go home and drink a hot drink in his honour.

Reposted from Jack Frost

Citrine or Honey?

What a Beautiful Treasury!

http://efpromotions.blogspot.com/

10$ Tees, Free Shipping on Soap, Buy 2 Get 1 Free Children Clothing Items, Buy 1 Get 1 .20,
Discounted Aprons & Buddies, discounts on patterns, jewelry, handmade gifts & doggie treats

Amievoltaire's Children Clothing & More Giveaway

Giveaway

A few weeks ago I participated in Etsy's Buy 1 Get 1 Free Weekend Deals and a gal purchased a skirt and asked to give her store credit away to a lucky winner. You can enter to win her credit on this blog

B.inspired Mama. The in store credit applies to anything in the store Amievoltaire.etsy.com. Giveaway ends 10/18

Good Luck!

Meet 

A fabulous Etsy Jewelry Seller and Member of Facebook Fans on Etsy Street Team!

She loves to trade, offers wholesale and donates 10% of her profits to charity.

"10% of all my proceeds are donated to a local homeless shelter called "Open House Ministries."

To find out more about Open House Ministries check out their website at http://sheltered.org/ 

What a fabulous lady!

Check out her shop Rose Works Jewelry 

Busy Mom of the Day

ME!

Hurray I'm the Featured Busy Mom of the day

On my Busy Moms Street Etsy Team

Bijoux Designs For You Wrote up a beautiful summary about me :<) Thank you Bijoux!

You can read at Bijoux Designs for You

I'm my weekend!

My Skirt is also Featured on Etsy Finds: Weekend Deals

This Weekends Store Deals are

Buy 1 Get 1 (at the same price or less) Free on all twirl skirts.

Enjoy! Have a Great Weekend.

Meet Busy Mom Jessica

Jessica offers vintage, dressy and everyday jewelry in her shop.

These are a few of my favorites.

I'm offering a 10 dollar skirt sale on select skirts. 

Search 10 dollar sale here 

Have a great weekend!

Meet Today's Busy Mom

Stolen Time

Stolen time makes adorable plush friends & art smocks.

How She Came up with her name

"I'm a stay-at-home mom to two busy kidlets. I knit, sew and craft in whatever time I steal during naps and after bed. Hence, my little shop’s name – StolenTime!"

Read more about Sarah on her blog Stolentime-Sarah and if you are a Facebook Junkie follow her at Stolen Time

She also offers vintage items in her other shop Found Time

Buy from her on the BNR and you will get your store name posted on the thread .

*************************************************************************************
20% off your entire purchase
Sept 3 - Sept 7th



at Amievoltaire
Add Labor Day Weekend Deal to the notes.
20% -exluding shipping - will be refunded through Paypal

 Busy Moms 

2nd Annual Marketing Blitz

My Busy Mom's Etsy Seller's Group is gearing up for the Holidays by sharing member shops throughout September and October.  Watch for deals and spectacular items.Our Feature for September 2nd & 3rd is E's Things please enjoy reading bout below.

... If you are an Etsy seller, and want to join a group of helpful sellers and possibly get some sales in return, visit this BNR...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7470308&section_id=6346469

Today's Busy Mom's Feature:

EsThings makes jewelry, Christmas Ornaments, and Tie Dyes T-shirts. She is a full time working mother who likes to share her experience with life's variety through her jewelry. She takes everyday experiences and turn them into beautiful art to wear.




She writes, " I got tired of buying jewelry that I “kinda” liked and wanted jewelry I “really” liked. My daughter and I went to the store and I started putting beads, chains, tools, cloth, rope, etc. into the basket and so began the fun."

Visit E's Things





Enjoy your Wednesday!

Etsy Friends Tuesday

Meet my Etsy Friends

First we have Vickie Porter with


In My Head Studios

Vickie is a highly active member of Etsy with running the Etsy Twitter Street Team and her involvement on the Facebook Fans of Etsy Team. She's a tech guru who loves working with blogs. Her store offers these adorable tile necklaces. Check out her personal blog at In My Head Studios

I bit about Vickie

Says Vickie, " I have to make art like I have to breathe! I intentionally keep a messy desk so I can be inspired by the play of papers together. I have WAY more ideas for art than time to do it in!"

Read more about Vickie and In My Head Studios on the Etsy Twitter Team Blog

SHOP OF THE WEEK SPECIAL:
15% off all orders (not including shipping).
Discount refunded via Paypal.

Next I'd like you to meet

Etsy Friends Teammate Jane from

Jacaranda Designs

Jane is a member of the Etsy Friends street team and offers beautiful jewelry.

For Newbies, Jane suggests:

If you had one piece of advice to give to a newbie starting out what would it be?

Have great photos, work hard and be patient.

Read more about Jane on the Etsy Friends Blog

My 3rd Friend
From the Busy Moms of Etsy street team

Flying Frog Apparel

This Busy Mom is environmentally concerned and shows it in her Organic Tee Shop.She

Makes barettes, headbands and Appliques Organic tees Made in the USA. Check out her shop and share your favorites from her store here.

Thank you for reading about my friends.

See you next week when we meet more of my friends!

The Spotted Box

60 Tissue Cozies in the Mail!

Phew!

Yesterday I mailed off 60 tissue cozies, samples to be distributed through The Spotted Box 

What is it?

The Spotted Box is a box of family-oriented, eco-friendly samples from independent crafters, all packaged together and sent directly to you! Designed with the young family in mind, these handmade samples are focused on children and their mothers.

What does it have in it?

The Spotted Box can include samples like: Bath and body, doublers, candles, bookmarks, candy, stationery, bibs, wool food, toys, paper arts, wipes, wool wash, tarts, mama pads, dish clothes, teas, food, dog treats, gift certificates, magnets, pens, hair products, jewelry and more! Each month it changes depending on the participants. (from About the Box)

By sending in Samples The Spotted Box will feature my store for the month of September on their site and 60 people will receive a sample of mine with my business card. And, since I send 60 samples instead of 20 I will receive a mini box of my own. Can't wait to get it :<)

Check out my feature & other Sept. participants :<)

 September Boxes

Boxes go on sale September 15th

If you would like a box visit 

The Spotted Box

Childrens Giveaway

UTAH ETSY MEGA FALL 2009
GIVE AWAY

Children Accessories

For the next few weeks my Utah Etsy Teamates will be giving away several goodies. This week the theme is Children's Accessories (see all item giveaways below).

I'm giving away 10$ toward my any item / items in my store.




Amievoltaire


Requirements

For each giveaway is to post on the Utah Etsy blog which giveaway you would like to win. The allow you additional entries if you view the stores, blog about the giveaways and more opportunities. Check out the entries at UtahEtsy







Grandmas Sewing Room




Olive Janes

FFEST Taking Etsy by Storm

FFEST

Taking Etsy by Storm

Read more about FFEST (Facebook Fans on Etsy Street Team)

at :Amievoltaire

There's a New Team in Town


Meet FFEST

the Newest Etsy Street Team

Read the team's story of how a group of Etsy Sellers met through facebook
and turned into an Etsy Team below.


Less than a day old an already a Team Treasury!
Click pic to Stop by and say Hi!

Etsy Team Beginnings...
written by our fearless team leader

Just about a month ago, I started a thread in the Etsy forums to gain my Facebook Fans for my Etsy shop's fan page. Little did I know that 68 pages and 668 posts later the thread would still be alive and well.

Please read more on founder and leader, Gloria Bray's blog Lucky Ladybug DesignsLucky Ladybug Designs.

The Etsy forum post fantastic turn out encouraged Gloria to create a Facebook Fans on Etsy Group and the extensive networking there led to the new Etsy Street team. Our team is made up of the best of the best on Etsy.

Current members are also active members of various Etsy street teams such as Etsy Twitter Team, Etsy Friends Team, Utah Etsy, Busy Moms of Etsy, plus POE TEAM (photographers on Etsy), EFA team (Etsy for Animals), etsyveg team, efc team (Etsy for Charity), and veganetsy team. PHEW! We're busy ladies!

The Facebook Fans On Etsy (FFEST) team is handpicked and will grow slow to ensure we acquire active, go now member. You may see the team requirements for active participants as well as the requirements to join on the team blog FacebookFansonEtsy

South Paw Studios

.

Joyce Richards of Beads of Glass, my Etsy Twitter Team Member, is diagnosed with Stage 3 Lung cancer and it's now spread to her brain. Our team is helping her raise treatment funding by "attacking" her shop with sales. Please browse her Etsy store and see if she has something for you.

 South Paw Studios is donating 60% of the next 10 sales directly to Joyce.

Etsy Friends Tuesday

Meet My Etsy Friends

I'd like to introduce you to two of my Etsy Friends

Tea and Sweets

&

Firebirdhouse Designs

Carrie from Tea and Sweets is my Etsy Friend Teammate

She joined Etsy recenty and has enjoyed baking since she was little.

If you visit TeaAndSweets you will discover a world of scrumptious goodies like the following. Make sure you check out her delectable shop and read more about her at our Etsy Friends Blog

Firebirdhouse Designs is my Etsy Twitter teammate Kristen.

She is a compassionate Friend and Jewelry Designer. Read more about Kristen.

Thank you for reading about my friends! Visit me at Amievoltaire