Ask A Midwife – Breech, Sickness, Cycles & Loss

Editor’s Note: Good morning. The crew from Plum Midwifery is here this morning answering four very interesting and provocative questions about pregnancy and childbirth – all submitted by OBE readers (thanks to everyone for your fantastic questions).
The Plum Midwifery crew includes Joanne Daviau, Amy Kelly, Emma Gledhill and Jessie Shannon, as well as the [...]

Finding Your Parenting Zen (and Strength) with Yoga

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today we have Marcie Dumais discussing one of my passions – yoga. Here she is:
As parents, the wellness of our little people is top priority – making sure they have nutritious meals, stimulating activities, exercise, time outdoors, caring role-models, quality education and so on. We devote a lot of time and [...]

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday! Dr. Amy Wells is here helping us learn more about Traditional Chinese Medicine and the benefits of treatments. Here she is:
Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM, is a 5000-year-old eastern medical system that includes a method for diagnosis and treatment. This medical model emphasizes a lifestyle that promotes health as much [...]

The Fit Family – Building In A Routine for All of Us

I have to admit that working out these days is like pulling teeth – for a couple of reasons.
Still trying to figure it all out, it looks like I have a combination of adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues wreaking havoc on both my energy and my stamina. I’ve given up on the regular doctors and have [...]

Esther Kane – More Men Than Ever Struggle with Food

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Registered Clinical Counselor Esther Kane is here discussing the growing struggles that men and boys face with eating disorders. Here she is:
In this article, I’ve decided to tackle the topic of males with eating disorders for a couple of reasons. I’m working with more men with this problem than ever before [...]

Tips for Making Hearty Food Fit For Your Family

Editor’s Note: Happy middle of the week! This morning we have food lover Sarah Stromquist dishing up tips on a year of positive eating. Here she is:
I no longer make unrealistic resolutions for the New Year, only to later feel the guilt of not sticking it through. That sense of failure does nothing for me [...]

Sunshine in a Bottle – Why We Need a Daily Dose of Vitamin D

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday! This morning Dr. Amy Wells is on site discussing the benefits of Vitamin D. Bring on the sunshine! Here she is:
After the craziness of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations died down, I made the mistake of saying to my toddler one morning “Okay, I’m ready for Summer now!” Every morning since, [...]

Fit Family – A Forced Reset of Family Priorities

I never find it a good thing when you head to the doctor, get some blood work done, and they call you for a follow up that starts with “Come on in today.”
That’s what happened to me in mid-December. I knew I wasn’t feeling good. I thought it was general malaise, some un-checked emotional goo, [...]

Year In Review – Family Health in 2009

Editor’s Note: If you missed this morning’s post, check out Assistant Editor Bevin Clempson’s tips for reducing holiday waste HERE. Now, it’s time for a trip in the way back machine to check out 365 days of preventative health care with Dr. Amy Wells:
If there is one thing that has dominated family life this year [...]

Hand Sanitizer – Not Every Germ Killer is Equal

While I was in Vancouver last week, one of the pervasive concerns amongst the crew – none of whom were Canadian except for me – was not getting sick.
This was especially true for the moms in the group who, even though they were in professional mode and sans kids, found themselves seriously concerned about taking [...]

Is It A Cold or the Flu? Symptom Checker

Editor’s Note: If you missed the morning post by Marcie Dumais on helping kiddos learn the value of generosity, you can check it out HERE. This afternoon, we have some great information on the topic of cold Vs. flu.
With the news this week that St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox is asking people who have only [...]

Regional Growth in Your Backyard

Editor’s Note: Good morning and welcome to SHIFT News. Today we have Comox Valley reporter Colleen Dane here with the first of a two-part series on the critical roll that local residents can play in the creation of the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).
In part one, Dane takes a look at the background of [...]

How and When to Introduce Babes to Solid Food

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday the 13th! This morning we have Dr. Amy Wells on the subject of solid food introduction – a big step in the life of our tiny people. Here she is:
As my newest little man is watching my every mouthful of food, I’m wondering how he’s going to hold out for solids for another [...]

Top Reasons Why Moms Actually Go to The Spa

Editor’s Note: Ah, Sunday… hope to see you out today at the Family Heritage Experience out at The Filberg. We’ve got great heritage activities, tours and a public art quilt. So, head on out. We’re there until 2 p.m. If you missed the morning post, be sure to check out our November Mom Entrepreneur profile [...]

10 Walks To Beat the November Blues

Good morning. As the darkness of Fall sets in, so does my urge to lay on the couch and moan. Obviously, this is not a solid use of time to pursue on a daily basis. So, one of the things that we, as a family, focus on with the onset of the rainy season is [...]

Parent Wellness – Dress Up For Grown-Ups

Editor’s Note: Today we have the super fun and friendly Marcie Dumais serving up some tips on laughing your way to better health. Get your costumes ready… Halloween’s just around the corner. Here’s Marcie:

At this time of year our “tickle trunk” is in high demand. Knights, storm troopers, super-heroes, ghosts, fire fighters, pirates, farm animals, dinosaurs [...]

The Fit Family – The Flu, Frustration & Funk

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in The Fit Family – the OBE year-long adventure from flab to fit. Robin and Ken are here today in diary style talking a bit about how the process is taking shape. They need a boost. You may want to send some love their way today. It’s ugly [...]

Top 10 Immunity Boosters for Kids

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday. This morning we have Dr. Amy Wells serving up ten of her favorite immunity builders for children. With cold and flu season ready to strike, she certainly got me thinking about the state of my family’s immune system, especially the small person of the house. Here she is: 

While autumn signifies the end of summer and [...]

Grand-Parents – Aging With Dignity

Editor’s Note: This morning we have Wendy Johnstone on site discussing aging with dignity and all those myths that tag along with aging. On Sunday, Our Big Earth is lending a hand with the Walk of Dignity at the Filberg Park and Heritage Lodge in Comox to help connect children to grandparents and grandfriends, also [...]

The Fit Family – Week 1, The Harsh Reality

Editor’s Note: During the week here at OBE, you’ll now be getting a morning AND an afternoon post with some fun new features and timely coverage of community events in which Our Big Earth is involved. Our morning post today was a product review on gorgeous wooden Waldorf rainbow stackers. Check out the review HERE. [...]

Mindful Eating Roadblocks (Part 3)

Editor’s Note: The lovely and knowledgeable Esther Kane is with us today sharing tips from her latest book on practicing Mindful Eating. This is the third part of her Mindful Eating Roadblocks series. You can find the first two parts here – Part One & Part Two. Here’s Esther:

For this article, I will share with [...]

Creating An Idle-Free Zone

It began with a pet peeve and some serious evaluation. Oh, that drive-thru line-up with its length of vehicles and thick haze of exhaust. Oh, the strong smell of exhaust as you and your child walk beside a parked car, its engine running and the driver nowhere in sight. What’s the point of unnecessary idling?
Honestly, [...]

Motivating the Motivationally Challenged

Editor’s Note: This morning we have Marcie Dumais coming clean about exercise and sharing ten tips on getting motivated.
Check them out:
September will always be a start-up month for me.
I’m not sure if it is because of the twenty-one years of being a student, or the fact that I am a teacher and I come from teacher [...]

Out and About – Does Sunscreen Equal Prevention?

Editor’s Note: Beat the heat today out at ASH Berry Farm as Don and Louisa McClellan host the final Farm Event of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. This fun day is all about berries, pigs (brings your veggie scraps to feed them) and farm sprinklers.
It’s all from 10 a.m. to 2 [...]

Prevention to Keep Kids Asthma at Bay

As I chase my toddler around the backyard on these Spring afternoons, I breathe deeply the fresh newness of this season.  I watch as my little guy gets out of breath from running, takes a quick five-second rest and recovers enough to continue playtime.  I take a minute to be thankful for his gift of [...]

Family Fitness – Safety Keeps You Fit on the Trails

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. Today we’re hanging out with Equilibrium Lifestyle Management owner Sarah Seads as she gets us geared up for long Spring days out on the trails or at the beach.

After this crazy Winter, I know I’m totally excited to get back out there and spend some quality time working out and [...]

Growing Children with Song

Editor’s Note: This morning, Comox Valley Children’s Choir Director Carol Anne Parkinson has stopped by to talk about the wonderful ways song can help your children grow strong.
Music was a huge part of my childhood. It gave me the space to be that could be found no place else.
Enjoy!

From my very earliest memories, I [...]

Moms in Need Seek Affordable Fitness Trainer

As parents, we will do almost anything to ensure that our children are healthy and well cared for.
We do whatever it takes to get them to eat their veggies, give them creative/ play time, and make sure they get adequate sleep and exercise each day.
Our priority is to give them the best possible start, all [...]

Fit Pregnancy is Possible (and fun!)

How are your New Year’s resolutions going?  Did you manage to start eating healthy, exercise daily, be good to your family, and meditate all while living in the NOW?
We all know how hard it is to keep promises to ourselves.  It can be even more difficult to set goals and achieve them while you are [...]

KidSports – Big Fun, Build Skills with New T-Ball

Editor’s Note: Good Morning! It may be still be Winter, but all signs point to sunshine and outside fun – including T-BALL REGISTRATION, which begins Monday morning (Feb. 16) at the Lewis Centre, Comox Rec and Happy ’s Source for Sports (on Sixth in Courtenay).
That also means there couldn’t be a better time to [...]

Sunday Morning Walk – Courtenay Riverway

Good Morning. Hopefully, the strange fog that’s been dominating our days is headed in a different direction as we look forwarded to a bit of sunshine. But, in the mean time, checking out the cool effects of light and clouds – all while getting a front-row seat to hang out with some of the most [...]

Winter Nutrition From The Grocery “Garden”

Another new year! But with the remnants of snow it is hardly a time to be gardening. So I thought we’d take a look at a few common foods available at the grocery “garden!”
Typically the new year ushers in new year’s resolutions, and eating healthier is a common goals after the onslaught of Christmas [...]

Kid’s Mental Health Effected By Heavy Metal Toxicity

During this time of environmental uncertainty, we’re all doing our part as parents to protect our kids against pesticides, hormones in our food, plastic by-products and heavy metals from various sources.
Because our children’s bodies are smaller and made up of fewer cells, equal amounts of pollutants and chemicals are exponentially more toxic to our little [...]

Local Fresh Bread – Wheat- & Gluten-Free

Eating wheat-free or gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to give up foods you love! It seems these days.
Many families have to eliminate wheat products from the household grocery list because of intolerance or allergy. Bread lovers (myself included) find it hard enough to curb this staple from our daily diet (who can resist carbs!), and [...]

Mommy Talk – Cure Post-Holiday Blues

It hit me about 9 a.m. yesterday morning – Christmas is over. All the wind up, the preparation, the crazies (which I could have totally lived without) and sugar rushes are now just a memory and, whew – I feel a little low.
While we kept it all pretty darn modest this year – no big [...]

Milk…Does It Really Do A Child’s Body Good?

As an adult, I have fond childhood memories of evening dinners with my family that included good conversation, a home cooked meal and a tall glass of ice cold milk to wash it all down. Milk was a staple in our house, as it was in many others. I remember a neighbor telling [...]

Love The Skin You’re In – Say No to Dieting

Editor’s Note: Local clinical counselor Esther Kane joins us today for the first of many a guest column about self-esteem and healthy body image for women and girls.
I have most definitely struggled with my weight and a pretty warped out body image since I was a young girl going through a terribly awkward chunky phase [...]

Building Immunity for Children, Naturally

A week ago, my little guy and I were walking by Thrifty’s and I was showing him how the leaves on the two big trees out front where changing from green to yellow, and how when we walked over the leaves on the sidewalk, they made this beautiful crispy, crackling noise.
Yesterday, as we walked [...]

Fish Oils & Children’s Health

When I remind my dad to take his omega 3’s, it will inevitably result in a history lesson on Newfoundland’s cod fishery! That being said, my grandmother knew the benefit of subjecting her kids to their daily spoonful of cod liver oil. And back then, I’m told, there wasn’t lemon flavour!
I started my [...]

Making New Year’s Resolutions as a Family

I have one resolution this year, to make 2008 the year of the strong, healthy family.
For us, that means physically, emotionally, financially and socially. One very serious tall order that appears at least mildly overwhelming.
But, as an overall goal, I’m thinking it’s right on target. So, that’s what we’re going to focus on here [...]

Family Fitness – The No-Excuse Excuse

It seems so very appropriate that, on a day when the weather man reveals that we are supposed to get 50mm of rain and that crazy wind action that is a solid island Winter storm, Comox Valley Kids debuts its new Family Fitness column.
Once a month, local fitness expert, Vanier track coach and nationally-lauded running [...]

More Recalls and Ideas for Being Proactive

The rash of recalls lately – particularly the ones for lead paint – have brought to the forefront a renewed deep concern on my end about the toys that live in this house.
I remember while I was pregnant and right after our daughter was born I wouldn’t have even considered putting anything plastic or painted [...]