Chatterbox Blogs - News and views from the staff of FamilyEducation

Before you buy this season's most popular video game...

Mitch — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:15:38 -0500

If there's a gamer in your house, chances are that a game called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is on his Christmas list. Maybe you've even bought it for your young'n already: the game grossed $310 million dollars on its release day, November 10, and earlier this week passed the $550 million mark. But before you wrap it up and put it under the tree, do you know what you're actually buying?

The boobie breakdown

julieFEN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:50:14 -0500

I'm not at the age to have regular mammogram screenings, and according to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force I get another 10 years till I need to start.

The Task Force recently announced that women in their 40s don't need to have routine mammograms for early detection of breast cancer, but should talk with their doctors before deciding.

Monday's Health Tip: Remember the Suncreen

Lindsay — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:35 -0500

I know this may seem like an odd post for this time of year, but actually, it's not! Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean the sun goes into hibernation mode.

So many people forget about the sun in the winter months, but it's important to remember you can still get quite a nasty burn if you're not careful. I'm one of those people who burns at the drop of a dime. I've even been known to get sunburns when it's cloudy.

I know, it's ridiculous.

The world's scariest ski slopes

Mitch — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:35:04 -0500

Amid the weeping and wailing about impending winter weather, there is an undeniable bright spot: the beginning of ski season. Some resorts are opening trails here and there, and most will be in the full swing of things by Thanksgiving weekend (hey, that's only two weeks away!)

Monday’s Health Tip: Clean out Your Medicine Cabinet!

Mitch — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:13:46 -0500

Swine flu (H1N1 for you proper folks) is running amok. Knock on wood, I haven’t gotten sick, and none of my friends or family has been unfortunate enough to catch this icky virus. But, a few acquaintances, friends of friends, and friend’s family members have gotten it, and from what I’ve heard, it’s a real bear to deal with.

Aside from the flu, this time of year is chock-full of other fabulous illnesses, including the regular flu and the common cold. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your medicine cabinet is fully stocked…with fresh medicine.

Because we all needed another reason to fear swine flu

Mitch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:12:14 -0500

To be honest, until recently I just wasn't concerned about swine flu. Sure, it targets the young and healthy, and I'm young and healthy, but how bad could it really be? I'm young and healthy! Even as more and more people started coming down with it -- even two of our own bloggers -- they all seemed to recover after a few days. Big whoop.

That was before I found out about the Cytokine Storm.

Monday's Health Tip: Halloween Candy for Troops

Lindsay — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:26:58 -0500

If you're the parent of a little one, your child is probably still buzzing from all the sugar and candy he consumed over the weekend. And if you're worried your child is going to over-do it with the sweets, you might be wondering what do with all that extra Halloween candy.

Why not send it overseas? Not only can you get rid of your child's Halloween candy, you can help put a smile on a soldier's face, too. What's better than that?

How to junk your junk mail

Mitch — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:36:50 -0400

One of the most useful sites my wife and I have found for urban living is Apartment Therapy, which contains oodles of tips for maximizing your cramped space. Occasionally the site runs a series of "cures," which are step-by-step instructions for de-cluttering and renewing a specific space in your home.

Have a mean, green Halloween

Cara — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:15:54 -0400

Costumes and candy and crepe paper, oh my. You’ve been preparing for weeks, and now the hour is drawing near for the big night! Before your little tricksters head out for their treats, make your Halloween a green one. It’s not too late to make it a healthier celebration, for you and planet Earth.

Halloween costume hoopla

julieFEN — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:10:36 -0400

Wow! Halloween crept up pretty quickly this year, and I still don't have a costume. Growing up, my mom always made our costumes out of old "dress-up" clothes which consisted of my parents' threads from the '60s, '70s, and '80s.