Postpartum Support – MOD L Photography Dallas Fine Art Photographer

What is Placenta Encapsulation and where to find it in Dallas? – Dallas Maternity Photographer Mod L Photography

Laura Levitan — Mon, 13 May 2019 20:58:42 +0000

Guest blog by Lauren Bullington of North Dallas Doula Associates

Let’s talk about Placenta encapsulation

A few weeks ago I met with my new friend Lauren Bullington at the beautiful Northpark Mall in Dallas for coffee to discuss the benefits of placenta encapsulation. As a maternity and newborn photographer topics surrounding birth come up a lot with my clients. Until I met with Lauren I knew next to nothing about placenta encapsulation. Frankly, and I’m now embarrassed to say this, the idea of it grossed me out and I didn’t do it with any of my children. Placenta encapsulation wasn’t readily available when I had my two oldest and as for my third and fourth kiddos I just didn’t know anything about it. But with more and more information out there about the benefits of this practice, I knew I needed to learn more. I also wanted to share it with my clients and blog followers. After learning more about the practice of placenta encapsulation I think it sounds intriguing and it’s definitely something I would consider if I were still in the business of having babies. The following are Lauren’s answers to my questions about placenta encapsulation.

What is Placenta Encapsulation?

Placenta encapsulation is the practice of a mother consuming her placenta afterbirth, most routinely through capsule form. There are several forms of consumption. Some forms involve raw placenta, others do not. Ingesting the placenta can provide several benefits for a postpartum mother.

What is a placenta?

Let’s begin with understanding the anatomical parts and purpose of a placenta during pregnancy. The placenta is an organ. It develops and attaches to a mother’s uterine wall within the first six weeks of gestation. It connects to the fetus through an umbilical cord which develops from the center of the placenta and binds to the fetuses belly button. The umbilical cord contains one vein and two arteries. This vein is used to transport nutrients, oxygen, and blood to the growing fetus. These arteries are used to carry waste away from the fetus. The umbilical cord is the only resource connecting the mother and fetus throughout pregnancy.

What is the function of the placenta?

The primary function of the placenta is to act as a filter and catch basin for all products being transferred between mother and fetus. Throughout pregnancy, the placenta retains and produces several important hormones and nutrients.

Why would you ingest placenta?

If a mother ingests her placenta postpartum, she will be replenishing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone hormones, all which aid in the development of mammary glands and prepares the breasts for lactation. The placenta also contains prolactin, which is the key hormone used to produce breast milk. Prolactin increases a woman’s milk supply. Other benefits that ingesting placenta provides are decreasing postpartum depression or baby blues, replenishing iron from blood loss during birth which helps prevent postpartum anemia, produces a consistent flow of oxytocin after birth euphoria has dissipated, provides the HPL hormone which helps establish early and healthy milk supply, encourages stabilizing ever-changing hormones post birth, restores B vitamins and energy, can inhibit infection and bleeding, and it can offer natural pain relief from the process of labor and birth of baby.

How do you ingest placenta?

The most common placenta encapsulation process is called Raw Foods Method which involves the placenta to be cut into strips and placed in a food-grade-dehydrator for 18-24 hours, until the strips are crisp. The strips are then placed in a blender which turns them into a powder to be encapsulated. The other common placenta encapsulation method is derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine. This involves steaming the raw placenta in natural herbs before placing the strips into a food-grade-dehydrator and blender to be encapsulated. Another common option for postpartum placenta consumption is in the form of a tincture, an alternative to gain longevity from the placenta. The tincture contains 100 proof of brandy or vodka and a thumb nail size piece of placenta, it is also possible to tincture the entire placenta but is a less used practice. It is necessary for the tincture to ferment for 6 weeks before digesting 7-10 drops under the tongue 3-4 times a day.

A gorgeous print of an actual placenta taken by NDDA doula Lauren Bullington

Where do you go in Dallas for placenta encapsulation?

North Dallas Doula Associates in Downtown Dallas offers many different services including placenta encapsulation. Lauren Bullington the talented doula who wrote this guest blog offers placenta encapsulation services at NDDA. Contact NDDA for more information:

North Dallas Doula Associates

107 Murray St. Dallas, TX 75226 Tel: 469-360-3810

Tel: 469-608-0071

Follow them on: Facebook and Instagram

Contact us!

Prenatal and Post Natal Yoga in Frisco – by Dallas Newborn Photographer

Laura Levitan — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:47:00 +0000

Prenatal and Post Natal Yoga in Frisco – by Dallas Newborn Photographer

Dallas Newborn Photographer Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography loves to provide her clients with helpful information and resources about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Her blog is a helpful resource to parents all over Dallas, Forth Worth and beyond. Check out other entries in the blog for great local businesses.

How did you get started teaching yoga?

Originally from Belgium, I was recruited by an American organization while I was still in college to come teach French in elementary and middle schools in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was 1993, I was only 22 and I came to the States by myself. Even though it was an exciting adventure, it was also quite stressful to be in a foreign country, without any family, as I was just starting my life as an adult.

I remembered that, in my first year in college, I had taken a semester of yoga and the teacher had shared that practicing yoga was a great way to deal with stress and anxiety. I started taking yoga classes after work and fell in love with the practice.

Within a few months, my teacher encouraged me to get trained to become a yoga teacher myself. I did, and pretty soon, she was asking me to sub for her on a regular basis when she was on vacation or out of town in business.

What made you interested in prenatal yoga?

Fast forward a few years, and I got married, moved to Dallas, took several more yoga teacher trainings and started working full time as a yoga teacher. In 2000, one of my older sisters got pregnant and had a very difficult pregnancy and postpartum recovery. That prompted me to start researching how yoga can help women in pregnancy and postpartum. By 2003, I started specializing in yoga and massage for pregnancy and beyond. I designed a very basic webpage and started advertising my classes. That was the start if what is now Bami Yoga.

What is special about your pre and postnatal yoga classes?

I provide moms-to-be with a community where they come each week to share their joys and challenges, learn yoga and massage tools to stay physically and emotionally strong. They have the opportunity to pick up tips to use in their daily life to reduce the aches and pains of pregnancy. They also learn to prepare their body and mind for the physical and emotional challenges of labor, as well as birth and finally postpartum.

What are your goals while teaching prenatal and postnatal yoga?

To built communities that nurture and empower families from early pregnancy through new parenthood. We work on prenatal and postpartum yoga and bodywork, childbirth education, and baby massage instruction. My goal is to help them really enjoy their pregnancy/postpartum period.

Where are your yoga and infant massage classes located?

Bami Yoga is located in Frisco. You can schedule a class by clicking here: Bami Yoga Schedule

What types of classes do you offer?

Bami Yoga offers multiple types of classes:

Prenatal Yoga

Partner Prenatal Yoga Date Night

Yoga to Support Childbirth

Mommy and Me Yoga

Infant Massage

MUTU System – a total body fitness system for women to heal the body from the inside out, flatten the belly, improve pelvic floor function, strengthen the core, and improve health through mindful changes to eating habits.

Visit Bami Yoga to learn more and to schedule a class!

Contact Mimi via email: mimi@bamiyoga.com

Best sleep coach in Dallas – vetted by Dallas Newborn Photographer

Laura Levitan — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 17:49:24 +0000

dallas newborn photographer Mod L Photography

Dallas newborn photographer Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography interviews experts in the Dallas Fort Worth area who serve expectant mothers and families with young children. Laura loves to connect with the community and help her clients by providing excellent reviews of other businesses in the city.

Meet Mary Cantwell of Rest To Your Nest

I was honored to meet Mary last year and become her friend when I first interviewed her for a blog post I did called How Can I Get My Child to Sleep. She is well known all over Dallas as the best sleep consultant. She uses holistic methods to find the perfect sleep solution for every family. Mary is well-loved and recommended by everyone in-the-know. I hope you enjoy this updated interview with her about her amazing business Rest To Your Nest.

What led you to become a sleep consultant?

I am a mom to two kiddos (a 9-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl). I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and moved to Dallas 14 years ago with my husband (a native Dallasite). I was in Corporate America for 17 years prior to pursuing my passion and calling as a certified child sleep consultant. This passion comes from a hard time in my family’s story. With my first child, I personally experienced what not sleeping well did to my family and how helpless I felt during that time. I also believe I had undiagnosed postpartum depression. Sleep deprivation did not help the situation. After about 8 months with our baby we had hit a wall and with a lot of love, reading and research about sleep, determination and trial and error we had a baby who was sleeping well and it made such a huge impact on my family’s life that I wanted to support and serve families in their sleep journey. When I am not supporting families, I am hanging out with my family, biking around White Rock Lake, trying new restaurants, traveling and taking dance classes. I danced in my childhood and it is still my happy place.

How do you help your clients get a better nights sleep?

Sleep is not a one size fits all approach and I work with each family to customize a plan that works for their child and the family unit as a whole. We serve families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that are struggling with sleep. Sleep challenges that range from nap transitions, crib to bed transitions, short naps, sleeping through the night, early morning wake-ups and coordinating multiples schedules. I believe each family and child is unique and I customize the approach for that family based on their parenting philosophy and lifestyle.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment since you became a sleep expert in Dallas?

My biggest accomplishments are the confident and well-rested families I get to serve. Also, the great partnerships and friendships that have evolved in the birth community. And I am honored to have been named Best Sleep Specialist multiple years in a row by DFW Child Magazines.

What has been the biggest struggle since you became a Dallas-based sleep consultant?

My biggest struggle has been the business side of running a business. There was so much to learn from an administrative, marketing, and everyday flow of running a business efficiently. As in life, you just jump in learn, listen and keep evolving.

What is your main goal as a Dallas sleep consultant?

My goal is for your family to feel empowered by knowledge and information about your child’s sleep. I want you to feel confident about your child learning their sleep skill that we are targeting.

Where can we find you on the web?

Facebook

Instagram

www.resttoyournest.com

Acupuncture Juncture – Fertility Acupuncturist in Dallas, Texas – By Dallas Maternity Photographer Mod L Photography

Laura Levitan — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:55:06 +0000

Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography specializes in creative maternity pictures for pregnant clients and follows them through to capture newborn portraits as well as baby milestones. As a way to provide an extra service to her clients, Laura interviews and features businesses who serve expectant and young families in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Follow the blog to stay up to date on all things within the birthing community in Dallas.

how did you get started in fertility acupuncture?

I began as an intern for an established fertility acupuncture practice in 2004. That experience really helped shape and support my idea of where I wanted to take my practice. Working with them I moved to Dallas to open and direct 2 acupuncture clinics. In 2012 I decided it was time to go out on my own. Having the foundation of working with this practice gave me the confidence and experience to continue in this field of fertility acupuncture and I love it. I continue to grow and educate myself so I can continue to provide top of the line care for my patients and be informed by the most recent research coming out of our medicine.

What are your main areas of focus in your acupuncture practice?

Stress is a huge one, educating patients on proper hydration and nutrition. I show my acupuncture and fertility acupuncture patients ways to implement simplicity in their life. This helps them switch off the constant fight or flight stage we all seem to be living in. My main areas of expertise are; irregular menses, PMS, peri and post menopause, infertility, headaches, and digestive issues. I enjoy helping with the “hormone havoc”.

What is your mission in your fertility acupuncture practice?

To change how we look at preconception and postpartum care. Proper preparation can lead to healthier, smarter babies and a better outcome for maternal postpartum recovery on a physical, mental, and emotional level.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment since you started the Acupuncture Juncture?

I believe I’ve been able to establish myself as one of the premier fertility acupuncturists in Dallas. However, I have much bigger goals on the horizon. As a result, I will be adding online diet and nutritional counseling that is based on blood and genetic testing. Lots more to come in 2019!

What has been the biggest struggle since you began the Acupuncture Juncture?

Finding and maintaining the ever elusive work\life balance. My nature is to try to help – always. I’ve learned over the years (sometimes the same lesson multiple times in different ways) that in order for me to provide the level of care my patients deserve, I need to take better care of myself even though sometimes it may feel like I am being selfish.

If you could tell people one thing about your fertility acupuncture practice what would it be?

My practice is a place for people to truly unload and relax. It’s a space of trust and non-judgment where you can learn how to help yourself be a healthier you.

More about Emily Guevara L.Ac, Owner – The Acupuncture Juncture

Emily began her professional career by attending the prestigious AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine where she earned her Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. While in school she began an internship at The Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture (TCRA) during which she had the opportunity to study under Kirsten Hurder-Karchmer, whose innovative leadership in fertility acupuncture stoked Emily’s passion for helping couples. Through her extensive experience, Emily has recognized how the impact of nutrition, digestion, stress, and lifestyle choices can have on our overall health and works to gently encourage nature’s intent by improving each of these areas. Her goal which each patient is to provide excellence in care as she continues to build on her education in this field to become a better resource for the families she works with. Now, the owner of The Acupuncture Juncture, she offers acupuncture and alternative healthcare options for those suffering from issues such as infertility, digestive disorders, pain, stress, migraines, and seasonal allergies. Her goal is to provide compassionate and effective treatments to her patients in a relaxing environment. She is excited to continue to provide safe, effective, and proven methods for treating infertility and allergies. If you are interested in learning more about how fertility acupuncture may be able to help, please give her a call.

Where can you find Emily?

The Acupuncture Juncture

5510 Abrams Rd. Ste. 103

Dallas, TX. 75214

Call: 214-306-3529

Email: acuemily@hotmail.com

Click here to follow her on Facebook

Click here to follow her on Instagram

Take Charge. Period. – Head Shots. Period. – An event to support women – normalizing menstruation

Laura Levitan — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 09:04:30 +0000

Mod L Photography is a studio specializing in fine art portraiture for maternity, newborn and first year of life. Laura Levitan, owner and lead photographer blogs about issues and topics of interest to her clients. Women’s health is very important to her. Read more below to learn about a cause very near and dear to her heart – the period positive movement and normalizing menstruation.

What is Take Charge. Period.?

Take Charge. Period. is an organization that exists to provide free menstrual products to underserved women and girls who menstruate. In our country, feminine hygiene products are considered a luxury item and they are taxed by our government. Additionally, menstrual products are not included in SNAP benefits or included in programming in schools and restrooms. Take Charge. Period. aims to provide free products, education to normalize menstruation, and end the taboo surrounding menstruation that exists worldwide.

Why is the period positive movement important?

Women and girls menstruate. That is a fact. Whether we are able to purchase feminine hygiene products or not, females still need them. Imagine if you didn’t have access to these products how that would impact your daily life. What types of activities you would have to avoid, school, work, job interviews, etc. Simply taking care of your family would be difficult.

What did we decide to do about it?

My two good friends Mary Cantwell of Rest to Your Nest and Krisha Sears of The Dallas Moms Club and I had a talk about how we could make an impact and help Take Charge. Period. We decided to host an event with members of the birth community here in Dallas. The concept was simple. Bring three packages of pads, get a free headshot. Any additional headshots you might want would require a donation to Take Charge. Period. (If you would like to donate to Take Charge. Period. please click here).

Mary is an amazing Dallas-based sleep consultant, read more about her here on my blog. She works with clients in Dallas and worldwide to help their kids (and the whole family) get the best night’s sleep possible. Krisha is a nurse and lactation consultant. She provides concierge postpartum care and peri-natal classes to moms in Dallas. Keep an eye out for a blog post featuring her and her business!

The event was a major success!

Several birth workers from around Dallas attended the event. It was an amazing show of support for women in our community and a great opportunity to bond over a shared mission. Thank you to all the ladies who came and supported this worthy cause. We collected over 1600 pads and raised over $500. If you are looking for a way to support Take Charge. Period. here are a few ways:

Like them on Facebook

Follow them on Instagram

Hold an event

Donate to Take Charge. Period.

Some of the lovely ladies who attended:

Amy F Tate, CPM, LM, CLC – Owner and Midwife at Origins Birth and Wellness Dallas

Megan Desrochers CPM, LM Staff Midwife at Origins Birth and Wellness Dallas

Dr. Erin Stark Calaway, Owner and Chiropractor of APEX Wellness Center

Melissa Espey-Mueller – Birth Doula, Educator, Speaker, Owner & Founder of North Dallas Doula Associates

Emily Guevara L.Ac, Owner – The Acupuncture Juncture

Cori Lively, LM, CPM Owner & Midwife at Barefoot Midwifery

Tiffany Wicks, MS, LPC owner and therapist at Push Counseling & Coaching

Mimi Mears, RPYT, LMT, LCCE, owner, Bami Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

Amber Reynolds, Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Doctor – Owner of Self Care Integrative Health Dallas

Caitlin Allday, RDN – Nutrition for moms and babies

Pregnancy Chiropractor in Dallas Tx – Dr. Erin Calaway Apex Wellness

Laura Levitan — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 15:52:53 +0000

Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography is a maternity and newborn photographer located in Far North Dallas. Laura meets with business owners in the birth community and others who serve families with young children, in order to blog about the goods and services they provide. She hopes this will provide her clients with a necessary resource when visiting her website.

Last week in my post Dallas Maternity Chiropractor Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness I wrote about meeting with Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness she is a pregnancy chiropractor in Dallas, TX. She is also an amazing family,and pediatric chiropractor serving Addison, Plano, Richardson, Carrollton and surrounding areas.

What is the goal of chiropractic care during pregnancy?

The goal of chiropractic care during pregnancy is to provide safe and effective relief of a variety of symptoms and to improve overall function during the pre and postnatal period. Some symptoms that may be alleviated with the help of your chiropractor are; nerve pressure and muscular strain, reduced localized muscle pain and extremity pain. Chiropractic care can also help your body to function better in general to reduce swelling, morning sickness, and hormonal swings. It can possibly help to make labor more quick and easy.

What is one of the main ways chiropractic care can help during pregnancy?

During pregnancy the growing fetus puts a great deal of strain on the mother’s spine, buttocks and legs. A common complaint during pregnancy is sciatic nerve pain. Chiropractic care can help to alleviate sciatica.

Read Dr. Calaway’s recent blog article about Pregnancy Chiropractic Care in Dallas, Tx for more information.

When can you start chiropractic care during pregnancy?

The earlier the better. Chiropractic care can assist in helping the body to run more smoothly during all stages of your pregnancy.

What makes your chiropractic practice different?

I look at my patients as whole people. My goal is to develop a program in the office and at home. I call it a whole body approach. In the office we use chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and massage therapy. But treatment doesn’t end there. We send our patients home with a comprehensive plan. Exercises designed to maintain health. And diet recommendations to improve overall wellness. I don’t simply adjust you and send you on your way. I make sure to work on underlying issues so that you maintain your health over time.

What about pediatric chiropractic care?

We treat all ages of children at my practice starting with infants. Some things it can help with are colic, allergies, ADD, sports injury and cold and flu symptoms.

Visit Dr. Calaway at Apex Wellness:

Apex Wellness

6009 Belt Line Rd #110 Dallas, TX 75254

972-392-9402

Dallas Maternity Chiropractor Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness

Laura Levitan — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:43:50 +0000

Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography is a pregnancy and newborn photographer in Dallas, TX. To better connect with her community and her clients, Laura meets with and features other businesses who serve her clientele. In this blogpost Laura interviews her friend, North Dallas Maternity Chiropractor Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness.

In this two part series I’d love to introduce my friend Dr. Erin Calaway. She is an amazing Webster Certified Chiropractor located in Far North Dallas, right near my studio. At the cross streets of Preston and Belt Line, Dr. Calaway’s practice – Apex Wellness – is near Addison, Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano. Apex Wellness also offers acupuncture and massage.

North Dallas Maternity Chiropractor

I recently met with Dr. Calaway to interview her for a blog post about chiropractic care in pregnancy. We arranged a time so that I could tour her amazing North Dallas chiropractic practice and get to know her better. As we spoke we discovered that we had actually met years before! That was before our kids were born and careers were started. No wonder we felt so instantly comfortable with each other!

Planning for beautiful wall art

It wasn’t long before we decided that it would be fun to decorate one of the beautiful walls at Apex Wellness with some of my wall art. A maternity chiropractor with beautiful maternity pictures and newborn photography on her walls? Why not?

After months of planning and collaboration, I sent the design to be printed through my archival printing process. Soon the artwork was delivered and then ready to hang at Apex Wellness. I have been honored to work with some of Dr. Calaway’s patients so we were able able to incorporate some of their portraits into the design.

How to hang a large wall art collage?

I take great pride in proper installation of wall art. Especially such a large design. The first step is to carefully plan the pieces so that they fit properly in the desired location. Secondly, I use rolls of paper to layout the design and mark places for where nails will be located. Thirdly, I hang the paper on the wall and use it as a guide. Lastly, I hang the portraits and remove the paper.

I hope the patients and staff of Apex Wellness enjoy their new artwork. I know I am grateful for the opportunity to display my work.

Next week please join me to learn more about Dr. Erin Calaway and her extraordinary practice at Apex Wellness. Pregnancy Chiropractor in Dallas, TX – Dr. Erin Calaway.

To visit Apex Wellness or to schedule an appointment for maternity, newborn, child, individual, or family chiropractic care please contact:

Apex Wellness

6009 Belt Line Rd #110, Dallas, TX, 75254, US

972-392-9402

Community Acupuncture for Fertility in North Dallas

Laura Levitan — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:43:05 +0000

Laura Levitan is a newborn and maternity photographer based in Dallas, Texas. She serves the entire Dallas metroplex and has the opportunity to interact with many pregnant mamas and newborn babies. Laura became particularly interested in how acupuncture for fertility can make a huge impact. As part of her blog series on Parenting in Dallas, Laura speaks with Kathleen Ellerie, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. of Beachside Community Acupuncture. In her practice, Kathleen strives to improve her patients’ overall health and quality of life. She discusses how this can make a positive impact on fertility, pregnancy and surviving the rigors of parenting. Beachside Community Acupuncture is located in North Dallas near Addison at 14330 Midway Rd, Ste 205, Dallas, TX 75244.

What is community acupuncture?

Laura: Kathleen, tell me about Beachside Community Acupuncture.

Kathleen: Well so there are a few things that contributed to how I founded and structured my practice. First of all, it is very important to me to provide excellent care and access to Traditional Chinese Medicine in the form of acupuncture, diet therapy, herbal medicine, supplements and essential oils. I want every patient to be their own health advocate. They may have looked to western medicine and not found relief from their symptoms. So they come to my clinic for an alternative.

My intention is for everyone to be able to access affordable acupuncture care in a relaxing setting. My clinic is set up so that you may be treated in the same room as another patient. That can be an amazing plus as it allows you to bring a friend or family member with you to experience treatment at the same time.

Laura: Is that why you made it feel like a beach in here?

Kathleen: I love the beach. I grew up in South Florida so I wanted to bring a bit of that back here to Dallas and give people the feeling of being on vacation in the middle of their day. We have salt lamps, diffusers filled with lemon and orange essential oils, and the sound of the beach. People rest in leather recliners for an hour during their treatment, and many are so relaxed that they fall asleep

Laura: That sounds amazing! Any new parent would benefit from an hour of relaxation.

Kathleen: Definitely

Can you talk about acupuncture for fertility?

Laura: So tell me more about using acupuncture for fertility treatment.

Kathleen: With acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we want to make sure all organ systems are in balance. That is also true for the reproductive system. By the time a woman comes to me with fertility concerns, she is usually frustrated from trying to conceive. I work with my patients to focus on their overall well being. If the body is stressed and fatigued you will have more difficulty getting pregnant. My treatments focus on bringing the body as a whole into good health, making lifestyle and diet changes, and may also involve adding herbal medicines.

I also work with mothers undergoing fertility treatments and can develop a plan based on that.

Click here to read more about acupuncture for fertility in Dallas on Kathleen’s website.

Acupuncture for Postpartum Depression

Laura: What about postpartum depression? Or depression in general?

Kathleen: Absolutely. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we believe that emotions are the biggest internal factor in creating disharmony in the body. When emotions are intrusive and unmanageable, TCM can be helpful as a tool in treating those feelings. After pregnancy, many mothers (and fathers) are faced with depression, anxiety and a host of other strong feelings. TCM is a great way to bring the body back into balance through relaxation and resetting the body so that it has a chance to get into a restful state.

Visit Beachside Community Acupuncture on the web:

Beachside Community Acupuncture

Kathleen provides great helpful tips for living a more balanced, intentional and healthy life. Introducing TCM into your life can be beneficial and fun.

Thank you, Kathleen, for inviting me into your practice and discussing acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine with me. Book your appointment today at Beachside Community Acupuncture.

Babysitting in Dallas – Made Easy with Bambino Babysitters

Laura Levitan — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:06:44 +0000

Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography is a newborn photographer, and maternity photographer in Dallas, TX. Laura is interested in all things related to parenting and decided to apply that interest to her blog. As a result Laura interviews businesses, and local organizations in Dallas that are relevant to her clients. She loves meeting with other business owners to establish meaningful community connections and help bring her clients great resources and information with regard to parenting. If you’d like to read more from this series you can see previous posts on the main blog page. In this blog post Laura meets with Sarah Brown of Bambino app to talk about an easy way to find Dallas babysitters.

BAMBINO THE BABYSITTING APP

Laura: This is Sarah Brown from Bambino. Hi Sarah! Can you tell me more about Bambino? What problem are you solving for your customers?

Sarah: The problem we’re solving is that we are a local, trusted app. We help parents find local, recommended babysitters. So it would be the electronic version of asking your neighbor or best friend, “Hey, I want your babysitter’s number” or “Who do you use?” The problem is that no one wants to give up their favorite babysitter. They’re afraid they will be booked up if they let everyone else know about them. If everyone puts their favorite babysitters into a pool or in the app then there are more to choose from.

It’s all these local babysitters who live on your street, have been recommended, and you know where they go to school. They come to your house and they can babysit. Recommendations come from your friends and neighbors. And you trust them and trust their recommendations. There is a star rating system, you see background checks, who works with babies, who can cook, who’s comfortable with dogs, etc.

HOW DID BAMBINO GET STARTED?

Laura: How did you find out about Bambino?

Sarah: Well I’m from Los Angeles, and my good friend started the company in L.A. They wanted to to open new communities so I suggested Dallas because Dallas is such a community-oriented area. I started building my local community based on my neighborhood, local schools and it has just taken off like wildfire. We’re now in 85 cities all over the country, and we’re continuing to grow. Dallas is one of the cities where we have over 250 registered Dallas babysitters in the area.

Laura: When did the app launch?

Sarah: The app launched in December (2016). We are opening up new communities daily. Mom’s all over Dallas can reach out if they want bambino in their neighborhood by contacting me at sarah.brown@bambinositters.com

HOW DO YOU USE THE BAMBINO APP?

Laura: Run me through using the app.

Sarah: So let’s say I need a sitter for Sunday, at 5:30, and I’m gonna end my sit at 9:30. Now my network of sitters shows up. Its’ organized is who is closest to me and by parents that I am connected with. It shows how many sits the sitters have completed through the app, and their ratings. It shows if they’re CPR certified, or if they drive. Whether they are comfortable with babies, cooking, and with dogs. It also shows who has used the sitter, and what they thought. So I can scroll through a list of them and decide. I’ll select the sitters I’m interested in, and then I’ll get a text message saying “Good news, this sitter is available!”. Then you can go in and see who said yes or no, and choose which one you want.

HOW TO SELECT YOUR FAVORITE DALLAS BABYSITTERS?

Laura: Can you request a specific person?

Sarah: Oh yeah. What happens is, all of your favorite sitters come up and then your parent’s network, the people you live near or know, it goes by who lives closest to you.

Laura: So if a babysitter has already been booked for the night, they won’t pop up on the app?

Sarah: That’s correct.

CAN YOU CHOOSE DIFFERENT SITTERS FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS?

Laura: So whats the average age of a sitter?

Sarah: It varies. We have different tiers. So there’s junior sitter, standard, advanced, and elite. Depending on what the needs are, like its the afternoon, or I want to run errands or go to the doctor, I’ll get a junior sitter. Or if I’m going out or my husband and I have a big event and I know I’m going to be out til 1 or 2 am I get a more advanced sitter who will cook dinner, bathe my kids, help with homework and more advanced needs.

Laura: Do they have a set rate based on their level?

Sarah: They set their own rate. Depending on who they are and what their experience level is we try to steer them towards a specific rate based on the market, but they can really set their own. But the babysitters who tend to set their rates really high don’t get used as much. Usually, the average is between 10 and 15 dollars an hour.

Thank you, Sarah, for meeting with me and teaching me about this great app. I know so many families who need babysitters all the time and have difficulty locating them. If you’d like to check out Bambino it is available in the app store for download. If you’d like to learn more about this service visit their FAQ on the Bambino App website.

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Essential Oils for Kids: Oilogic

Laura Levitan — Wed, 02 May 2018 23:13:29 +0000

Dallas family photographer, Laura Levitan interviews Jordan Morrow about her new line of essential oils products for children: Oilogic.

Why essential oils for children?

[Laura]: Okay. Tell me about Oilogic. Where did you guys come up with this idea?

[Jordan]: I was at home with my two kids, and I found out I was pregnant with my third. There are a lot of medicines that I can’t take because I had high-risk pregnancies. My allergies were awful, so my friend talked to me about using essential oils.

[Jordan]: I bought an essential oils book then I bought a starter kit, but I was at a loss for what I was supposed to do: how was I supposed to mix this? Was it safe? Ultimately through trial and error, I found solutions that worked for me and several solutions that helped my entire family. While I loved the end result, the experience was expensive, overwhelming and time-consuming.

One of my previous colleagues had a similar thought as me- she loved essential oil benefits but as a full time working mother of 2 busy boys, who had time to DIY? We thought there’s got to be an easier way to use essential oils, and that’s where the idea of Oilogic was born. We partnered with experts in the industry and developed Oilogic essential oil blends to help with common issues and dilute them appropriately with natural carrier oils, and put them in easy to use packaging, making them easily accessible for moms who don’t have time to figure all of that out. Making mom’s life easier became the mission of Oilogic.

[Laura]: That’s awesome. I’ve looked into essential oils and was immediately overwhelmed.

[Jordan]: It’s intimidating. We strive to make the process easier and more accessible to mothers.

What does Oilogic have to offer?

[Laura]: So tell me a little bit about the product line.

[Jordan]: When we first started we would talk with the moms. We would ask them: What issues are you having? And overwhelmingly we kept getting the same things, like we need help with sleep, coughing, gas, allergies, etc. That’s really where we came up with our core products which are the Slumber and Sleep, Stuffy Nose and Cough, Soothing Baby, Gas & Upset Tummy, Bug Bites and Itches, Sneeze & Allergy, and Ouchies & Boo Boos Ointment.

[Jordan]: Since the need was so great for the sleep and the cough, we created more products around those issues to create a routine for moms. Stuffy Nose and Cough has a vapor bath which is a great option for a child who is congested or not feeling well and is too young for traditional medications. For a better night’s sleep, we have the vapor bath, calming cream and essential oil roll-on. Anytime your kids are having a hard time sleeping, a bath is a great way to start. It’s all about routine; giving your baby a bath and using the roll-on essential oils is going to make an easy sleep routine.

[Laura]: But what’s interesting about creating that routine is that when I would take parts of the routine elsewhere, those pieces of the routine would help the baby go to sleep.

[Jordan]: A bedtime routine isn’t just like a checklist of ten things you run through. That can be too difficult. But if certain things are consistent it helps to send signals to the child that it’s time to go to bed. Our Slumber & Sleep line, for instance, can be used throughout many stages of the going to bed routine. My kids use the roll-on every night. It’s part of their routine to calm down and go to sleep.

How has Oilogic been received and where is the company going?

[Laura]: So the response has been pretty great, but will you tell us what you’re doing right now?

[Jordan]: Our brand is offering another choice for mothers, when before their options were limited. We launched the brand at Buy Buy Baby and at Target. In 2017, we have gained distribution at Meijer, SuperValue, Bartell Drugs, Pharmaca, and HEB. Early in 2018, Oilogic will also be available at Walgreens and CVS.

In addition to new retail distribution, we launched a wellness line of products for moms and dads and a NEW Kids Collection for ages 2-12. These new products are a natural extension to our original baby collection.

How does Oilogic handle safety?

[Jordan]: Oilogic products are Pediatrician and Dermatologist tested. They’re free and clear of all sulfates, petroleum by-products, phthalates, parabens, gluten, DEA, dyes, synthetic perfumes and mineral oil. Oilogic roll-ons, vapor bath, and creams are vegan and cruelty-free. We the MADESAFE seal of approval on all our essential oil roll-ons, which ensures our products have been screened for behavioral toxins, endocrine disruptors, GMOs, pesticides, and other toxins and harmful chemicals. Our products also contain age ranges and come with infographics on where to use the product. We also have instructional videos on our website.

Our essential oils are sourced from their indigenous countries and then go through numerous testing procedures to ensure the quality of each oil is 100% pure. The next process is the dilution process where we combine the carrier oils such as castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc. with the essential oil blend for topical application. It is important to dilute appropriately to ensure the potency of each product is effective, but also safe for application. Our brand is here to soothe, comfort and relax; we’re not here to treat or to cure any diseases. Oilogic is providing moms easy access to natural solutions.

Visit Oilogic online at: www.oilogiccare.com