Daisy Girl Dorian
December 9th, 2009
Dorian is 11 years old and already has a passion for rescuing and caring for injured animals. Dad says Dorian is always nursing injured ‘creatures’ back to health at their home and then returning them back to their natural environment.
Dorian also loves to help keep our planet green and clean! She always brings a garbage bag along to family outings to the beach so she can help clean up any trash left behind. GO DORIAN!!!!
Exercise Ideas For the Whole Family
December 3rd, 2009
Did you know that as a young tween, you are supposed to get 60 minutes of exercise each day! Sounds like a lot, but it’s really not. And, there are so many fun ways to get in your 60 minutes of activity. You don’t have to do the entire 60 minutes of activity at one time, you can break it up throughout the day.
Why is it important to stay active?
Exercise helps us feel and look our best. It makes us feel happy, it’s good for our bones, heart and brain!
Here are a few family activities that can be done throughout the day to make sure you get your 60 minutes of activity in!
- Take a bike ride with your family. It doesn’t have to be a long one, just go around the block a few times
- Take a walk with mom or dad. If the weather is nice, go for a nice stroll before or after dinner
- Take your dog for a walk. This is great for your dog and you! Make sure mom or dad goes with you.
- Vacuum! Yes! Doing chores can actually count as physical activity. Get moving! Vacuum, dust, sweep the floor…it counts as activity!
- Play catch or throw a Frisbee back and forth…you’ll be surprised how quickly you work up a sweat.
The most important part about getting your daily activity is having fun. This should be a time you look forward to spending with your family and enjoying laughs.
Exercise can be fun and it can be something the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t have to be boring of painful.
So remember, make a family occasion out of walking the dog or going for a bike ride. Your heart and brain will thank you!
Have you been bullied?
November 28th, 2009
Just Say No to Bullies!
Do you know what it means to be a bully? A bully is someone who calls other people names or says mean things. Sometimes bullies may even push, shove or kick another person for no reason. People who bully other people can really hurt them, both physically and emotionally. Sometimes other people may cry because they have been bullied and it hurts their feelings. It’s really sad when someone is made fun of for no reason. It really hurts their feelings. Instead of picking on other people, you should try to be their friend and be nice to them.
Have you ever been bullied? If you have, you know how sad it makes you when someone is mean to you. So what can you do if someone is bullying you? Well, you should tell someone that you trust, an adult. Let them know that someone is making you feel bad and that it’s not right!
Have you ever bullied someone else? Sometimes when we see our friends acting a certain way, we think we should follow their behaviour and do the same thing. Sometime’s that’s ok, except for when your friend may be bullying someone else like calling them names or picking on them. That’s just mean! And being mean is NOT cool! Be your own person and stand up to a bully! The best thing to do is to tell someone that you trust, like your parents or a school teacher. Let them know if you think someone is being a bully!
Why do people bully? It’s hard to say for sure why people bully other people. It could be that they are jealous of you and it makes them feel better to be mean to you. Maybe they think they will gain more friends by being a bully, because people will be scared of them. Regardless of the reason, you should know that no one deserves to be bullied, ever!
Did you ever stand up to a bully to protect yourself or someone else? If so, we want to hear about it and feature you in our “Flower Power” blog. Send us your story to info@shopdaisygirl.com . Make sure you have your the permission of your parents to do so.
Foods that Fight Acne
November 20th, 2009
Hey Daisy Girls, here are some foods for thought….
Although it isn’t scientifically proven that eating junk food like chocolate and pizza can cause breakouts, scientists do agree that certain foods can help make your skin more beautiful and help minimize acne breakouts.
Here are the top recommended foods for gorgeous glowing skin!
EGCG- (found in green, black and white tea) helps prevent inflammatory agents involved in acne. It also helps prevent skin cancer and has a whole host of beauty benefits. So start your day with a great big cup of Green tea ( I like decaf! ). During the winter, I love a hot cup…in summer, I put mine over ice!
Olive oil – Contains fatty acids (omega 3’s) that nourish the skin and help it glow. This is the good type of fat that not only our skin needs but our hearts and bodies need as well. Add a tablespoon of olive oil over your salad or sprinkle some on your pasta with a little bit of grated cheese.
Walnuts - They are rich in omega-3 oils too!Omega-3 oils are also found in oily fish such as salmon, or in flaxseed oil. Omega 3 fatty acids keep your hair shiny too!
Berries – Blueberries, raspberries, cranberries are all rich in phytochemicals that are protective of skin cells. They must be fresh! You can’t get the same results from frozen or preserved fruit.
Low-Fat Dairy Products – Got milk? One the most important components of healthy skin is vitamin A, found in most dairy products. So drink your glass of milk each day (or have it in your cereal) and make low fat yogurts a part of your daily diet routine.
Brazil nuts – Brazil nuts are actually the richest dietary source of selenium. Experts say selenium plays a key role in the health of skin cells. Some studies show that even skin damaged by the sun may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.
Water - You use moisturizer to hydrate your skin on the outside, but you also need to nourish from the inside. Good hydration plays an important role in keeping skin looking healthy. You must drink good ol’ purified water. Iced-Tea, sodas, seltzer and juices won’t do the same trick.
So next time mom or dad goes food shopping, ask to go with them and be sure to get some of these great acne fighting foods into your shopping cart!
Acne: Whiteheads, Blackheads, Pimples, OH MY!
November 6th, 2009
Stomp Out Acne!
If you are experiencing any of the above forms of acne, guess what…YOU ARE NOT ALONE! More than 85% of young teens experience acne. I’m sure that doesn’t make you feel better about your own, but at least you know that tween and teen acne is very common!
There are many terms for acne…zits, pimples, blemishes, blackheads…etc. The three main contenders are whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Here are brief definitions of each:
- Whiteheads are pores that have become closed and clogged with oil.
- Blackheads are clogged pores that haven’t closed; pigment has turned the oil black.
- Pimples (or zits) are red, inflamed, clogged pores that sometimes are filled with pus.
What causes acne?
There is no absolute reason for acne, but we do know this…As you start to mature, your hormones start acting a little crazy, and you start producing more oil…ever notice at the end of the day your face is a little shiny? OIL! Well, oil can become trapped in your pores and eventually bacteria invade. You are left with any of the above three forms of acne.
How can I treat my acne?
It’s important to understand that there are several ways to target and treat acne. One way is to kill bacteria that is on the skin. Many over the counter products that contain benzoyl peroxide (like Clearisil) can be used to kill bacteria. No bacteria no acne, right? Wrong!
There are still other reasons why we get acne. For instance, if oil, sweat or dirt becomes clogged in our pores, and then dead skin cells grow over those pores, we get zits or whiteheads. So we need to make sure that we exfoliate our skin regularly to avoid dead skin cells from piling up on clogged pores.
Products that can help with this contain Salicylic Acid. This type of acid helps your skin to shed dead skin cells so dirt and bacteria doesn’t get trapped inside. Neutrogena has a nice facial cleanser that contains 2% Salicylic Acid (that is the proper amount). You can also purchase a generic brand or Target makes their own as well and it’s really good.
Also, it is good to use a gentle exfoliating product at least 1x per week. Like St Ives Apricot blackhead scrub. This scrub is a bit abrasive so be gentle! Contrary to popular believe, scrubbing your skin will not make it cleaner, it will actually aggravate acne and may worsen your condition.
So, here is a basic cleansing ritual you can follow:
Morning: Wash with Neutrogena 2% salicylic acid, follow with oil-free moisturizer wherever your skin is dry (I like Oil of Olay).
Evening: Wash with Cetaphil anti-bacterial soap (it’s gentle and doesn’t dry your skin). Apply Clearisil benzoyl peroxide cream only to problem areas. DO NOT USE TOO MUCH. Using too much will dry your skin and cause your skin to produce more oil. Use only a dab in the areas you experience problems.
Everyone’s skin is different so it may take some time and trying new products before you get your acne under control. If you have severe acne or are unable to see improvements after using acne control medicine, ask your mom to take you to a dermatologist or get on a regular routine of facials at your local spa.