Guest Post: MyHeritage.com Look-alike Meter

It may be somewhat early to decide who your child takes after, but most parents say they can see certain traits — Dad's eyes, Great-Aunt Patty's dimples — or an overall resemblance right away. Especially for the newborn first baby excitement can flare up discussions whom Junior resembles the most. Good we have technology to decide for us… ;-)

For parents out there, set this discussion straight once and for all with the free face recognition Baby Lookalike Metertool, by My Heritage, the family tree software maker.

Baby Lookalike Meter is a web based widget that uses face recognition technology to find facial traces in photographs uploaded to the application. To use it, simply upload front-facing photos of you, your spouse/partner, and your child. The Look-alike Meter's face scanning software will then get to work. In minutes you'll have your results and if you have a blog or a Facebook profile, you can show it to the world, make polls and create a friendly and fun debate among your friends and blog readers.

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Black and white photographs - Family tree layout

I had a lot of fun using the look-alike meter. Gavyn looked like daddy from the day he was born. Zoe on the other hand is a mixture. It was easy to use where I just uploaded a photo to their site and the site crops out the faces and told me who my kids looked like. I am proud to say my angel Zoe looks more like mama by 3%. Not a big number I know but she still looks like me more :)

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Now Gavyn on the other hand will and has always looked like dad. He beat me out by 11%. It's a fun application. Try it out and see who your child looks like.

Guest Post: Nurse Barbara Dehn Sleeping Tips!

* One of the first things I always tell new moms is to lose the guilt! It’s inevitable for new parents to feel nervous, unsure and often guilty when caring for their infant – especially when it comes to sleep. I’m constantly reassuring both moms and dads to go with their gut feeling on all fronts and follow their infant’s lead. If your newborn tends to fall asleep in his swing or rocker – go with it! Not allowing yourself to feel guilty during the first few months will only help your baby acclimate to a schedule. Typically, confidence and a bit of relaxation will follow.

* Moms can maintain their baby’s natural sleep patterns and overall health with a proper feeding schedule. By establishing both day and night feeding routines that follow your infant’s natural hunger cues, you are helping your baby receive the nourishment that will support growth and development. When my patients ask about feeding with formula, I recommend Similac, which offers a wide range of specialized formulas and products all designed to support baby’s natural growth and development process by providing excellent nutrition no matter what time of day or night.

* Try to remain cool, calm and collected during the first few months of your baby’s life. Infants’ are on sensory overdrive and are attuned to both anxiety and fear. Mood, touch and sound are all stimulators and can interrupt your newborn’s sleep cycle. Keeping a calm atmosphere can help your baby find his natural sleep cycle.

* I often tell new moms to turn off the TV! Feeding time is often a good opportunity for mom to kick up her feet and unwind. Use this time to connect with your baby and avoid your regular relaxation routine like flipping on the TV. The light and noise can distract your newborn and interrupt his eating.

* Bath time does not always need to take place before bedtime. Some infants are extremely agitated from a bath, regardless of the calming scents, soft sounds and soothing touch you use. If you notice your baby is relaxed and calm without a bath before bedtime, go with it! Changing the bath time routine can make the overall experience more enjoyable for both mom and baby. This can also help your newborn develop daytime and nighttime routines.

Tips are from Nurse Barbara Dehn

Guest Post: Kijiji

HOLIDAY RECOVERY AND 2010 RESOLUTION HELP FROM KIJIJI.COM

Kijiji.com, eBay’s safe and family-friendly free classifieds Web site, can help consumers deal with some of their top resolutions including saving or making extra money, getting organized and getting fit.

Gifting Guilt

According to a recent survey from Kijiji.com and Chadwick Martin Bailey, a custom research and consulting firm, found that 3 in 5 consumers (59 percent) keep unwanted gifts they received during the holiday season citing two common reasons for holding on to that ugly sweater from grandma: don’t want to upset the gift giver (60 percent) or for sentimental reasons (25 percent). Women tend to worry more about upsetting the giver, with 64 percent of them keeping the items to avoid hurt feelings, compared to 55 percent of men. Other recipients think they may use the gifts eventually (51 percent) or think it’s just too much effort to return them to the store (33 percent).

Over a quarter of consumers admitted to engaging in the controversial practice of regifting, and attempted to pass the undesirable gift onto someone else. Women are more likely to exercise their thriftiness, with one-third (33 percent) of ladies admitting to regifting, compared with 23 percent of men.

Selling unwanted presents on Kijiji is completely free and very convenient, and allows you to avoid the embarrassment of Aunt Melanie realizing you just gave her the same necklace she sent you for your birthday last year. There’s sure to be someone out there who would love to have that leopard-print blanket with sleeves that your well-meaning boyfriend put under the tree for you.

Maximize Your Finances

The Kijiji survey also found that 1 in 10 gifts (10 percent) given during the holiday season are kept by the recipient, even if they don’t want or will never use them. So if your resolution is to make the most of your finances in 2010, why not start by looking at those gifts you’ve received that weren’t on your list?

Kijiji.com can help consumers achieve their money making resolution because selling unwanted items on the site allows consumers to clear out their cluttered homes and make some extra cash at the same time. Kijiji’s free, family-friendly local classifieds site makes it easy for people to buy, sell and connect within their communities.

Get Your Home in Shape

Kijiji’s survey found that one-third of respondents (33 percent) just put aside the undesirable loot and let it contribute to the clutter in their homes, and only 10 percent consider trading their unwanted gifts in for cash by reselling them. Keeping unused and unwanted gifts only contributes to your clutter so if you’re resolving to kick the clutter habit in 2010 start by clearing out the things that you don’t need.

Start by taking a look around your home. Are there any gifts from 2009 that haven’t been opened since you ripped off the wrapping paper? Even though only 1 in 10 consumers are likely to resell pesky presents, nearly three-quarters of consumers (71 percent) would expect to receive at least half of the gift’s original value. For example, the ping-pong table that’s been folded up in your basement could be worth $80 or those skis that you received last year could get you $29, according to eBay Marketplaces data. So by getting rid of these unused and unwanted gifts you will make a little extra cash and clean out your clutter.

Get Yourself in Shape

Decluttering not only helps you get your home in shape, but yourself as well! You may not realize it, but decluttering is actually a great way to stay active at home – it’s an easy way to multitask, especially if you don’t have time to get to the gym. Experts say just an hour of cleaning and organizing each day can help you burn an extra 200 to 300 calories! If you’re looking to really amp up your exercise routine, check out Kijiji to find gently used exercise equipment in your area, like treadmills and ellipticals. No shipping necessary!

No matter if your resolution is to maximize your money, get organized or get fit, Kijiji can help!

For more information, visit http://www.kijiji.com.

Survey Methodology

Data was collected from 1,554 adults (aged 18 and over) via a nationally representative online survey questionnaire within the United States on behalf of Kijiji by Chadwick Martin Bailey between October 22, 2009 and October 25, 2009. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population over ages 18 and older. Complete survey results are available to members of the media and can be obtained by request.

Guest Post: GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Before You Buy, Be Aware of Risks to Children’s Health

We all love a good deal on products for children, but no parent likes the idea of compromising their children’s health for the sake of a bargain. If you’re about to embark on preparing a nursery for a new arrival or updating a child’s bedroom, first take a moment to consider how the products you purchase can impact the quality of the air inside your home. Paint, carpet, furniture and many other household items can release chemicals that can be harmful to your health, and even more so to the health of your children. Children’s organs and immune, neurological and respiratory systems are still developing, which puts them at a greater risk for the ill effects of toxic airborne chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

So, before you buy products for your child’s room, consider these simple tips for reducing indoor air pollution within your home:

* Look for paints and stains that state "low-emitting formula" on their label. Keep in mind that many products are labeled for VOC content (e.g. "Formaldehyde-Free" or "Low-VOC"), but that may not give you a clear picture of the chemicals that are actually released from a product. To be on the safe side, always ventilate a space when using “wet” construction products.

* Odors are bad! Yes, even those “natural” odors like lemon or pine. Avoid products with strong or enduring smells, as this typically indicates high chemical levels. When you buy a new product, such as a piece of furniture, unpack the item and let it air out for at least two weeks before placing the item in your home. Contact the manufacturer if strong odors linger.

* When it comes to cleaning your home, opt for water-based cleaners that are odor-free and biodegradable. And for your health’s sake, avoid products whose labels say "danger," "caution" or "flammable." Do not use any air cleaners that release or use ozone in the process. Use non-fragranced cleaners and polishes that rub on rather than spray on. And remember that vinegar and water makes for a great floor cleaner and damp cloths often work better to control dust than chemical cleaners!

There are several resources that can help you find independently tested and verified low-emitting products for your home. These resources include GREENGUARD Certification (www.greenguard.org), CRI Green Label Plus certification for carpets and rugs (www.carpet-rug.com) and Green Seal (www.greenseal.org).

Here’s to happy shopping and healthy breathing!

Thank you to GREENGUARD for this article and being a guest on my blog and sharing this information!