Stl Family Life » In The Spotlight

Some Like it Hot: StL Couple Competes in Culinary Contest

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:34:50 +0000

Dora and David Smith are a University City couple competing for Pyrex products and $10,000. One need only take a quick glance at this photo to know they’ve definitely got the America’s Hottest Culinary Couple contest clinched.

Check out the finalists’ videos and cast your vote for our favorite couple from now through 11 p.m. Central time on Friday.

The two couples with the most votes will compete in a cookoff for the grand prize.

The couple, married for 10 years make cooking a family affair. Their two boys (ages four and six) enjoy helping out in the kitchen too.

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Moms About Town

Lisa Bertrand — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:11:04 +0000

I’m sure by now you’ve seen this post about Virginia Kerr’s virtual baby shower. She’s the beautiful face that greets you with a smile every morning on Channel 4′s early morning show Awake. Ria and Suzanne, the talented women behind My Mommy Manual and KMOV are co-hosting A Mom Is Born: The Virtual Baby Shower Celebrating a Woman’s Journey into Motherhood. (Check our post for the details or check Ria and Suzanne’s for the whole scoop.)

Today I thought we’d mention the bloggers who are participating with us. We’ve got some great company and we hope you’ll join us next week Wednesday. (Plus there are cool prizes! And proceeds benefit the March of Dimes.) Check out these talented bloggers!

And Twins Make Five

Kim Gellman of Artistic Sensations

Babbaco by Jessica Kim

I Heart Single Parents

Look It’s Megryansmom

The Single Mothers Chronicles

St. Louis Kids

Zensible Mama

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Racing to raise awareness

Kelli — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:40:51 +0000

In July, 2009, Craig and Dani Siebert were given a diagnosis for their three year old son that completely changed the course of their lives.

Christian was autistic.

“We didn’t even know anything was wrong. We thought the warning signs were simply part of his personality. Autism never occurred to us. So we were very shocked when the diagnosis came back.”

The day they received the diagnosis, Craig and Dani realized how little they knew about autism. “We didn’t even really know what it was,” Dani admits. “We had, of course, heard about it and had a basic idea of the effects that it had, but we were surprised at how little we actually knew about this developmental disability. It became our mission to learn as much as we could about autism so that we could help Christian reach his full potential.”

Coincidentally, just a few weeks earlier, Dani, who is an avid runner and triathlete, had been searching for an organization to pair up with so that her love for racing could have an impact on raising awareness. She and Craig, also an avid runner, were searching for an organization that they wanted to support through racing. So when Christian was diagnosed, they decided to look for an organization that supported autism.

“We began looking and realized there aren’t really any organizations that were geared specifically toward autism awareness. So we decided to combine our love for racing with our passion for helping our child.”

Craig and Dani also realized very quickly how little insurance companies were willing to do to help children with autism receive the treatements that they needed. This became the catalyst for their desire to create an organization that supported parents and gave them the necessary information needed to make sure they understood how to best help their children. So they created a website for parents where they included all the information that was most useful and helpful to them.

“We created I Tri 4 Autism to be both a community of fellowship for those who have been affected by autism as well as a place where people can learn more about autism – what the treatment options are, what’s happening politically regarding insurance companies and coverage for children with autism and so on. It is exactly what we were looking for – a place to raise awareness. And we’re using racing as a platform.”

When you visit the I Tri 4 Autism website, you will find not only information on the epidemic of Autism, but you will also be given a list of helpful websites for autism research, books that the Seibert’s found to be particularly helpful, information on vaccines (it was discovered that Christian had allergic reactions to vaccinations), and ways that you can support autism awareness. From the sale of t-shirts to the ability to donate to Autism Speaks, you will be able to make a financial impact on autism if you so desire.

“There is no financial obligation to I Tri 4 Autism,” Dani is quick to point out. “Our main goal is to raise awareness.”

You will also find training schedules for 5k’s up to full marathons and triathelons. These training schedules are designed for everyone from the beginning runner to the more advanced runner and they are meant to help you in your own personal fitness goals while also giving you a chance to race for a reason. There are so many ways to be involved in autism awareness and Craig and Dani hope that I Tri 4 Autism will be a helpful site for all of those who are searching for answers, treatments, help and a cure.

“We want people who are battling autism to know that they are not alone. There are many others out there who are dealing with the same struggles and who are walking the same path. You never know who will be the next to receive a diagnosis of autism for their child. We wanted to do our part to get information out there in a way that is fun, non-threatening, and beneficial to all,” says Dani.

If you would like to learn more about how you can support Autism Awareness, visit the I Tri 4 Autism website.

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Are You Prepared For A Disaster? Lindsay’s Lessons.

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:10:39 +0000

This post was written by Lindsay Ferrier, the creator behind the blog Suburban Turmoil. The Nashville resident is sharing the lessons she learned (as well as a link to a great organization that’s helping flood victims). The original post can be found here.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feeling I had when the power went out on May 2nd.

It was Sunday morning and in the face of a second day of torrential rains and horrific flooding across the city, we already had decided not to attempt driving to church. Within a few minutes of that decision, the mayor of Nashville made a statement asking everyone who could to stay home that day.

So instead of getting dressed, I turned on the news, got online, and began monitoring the situation around town. One television station was live broadcasting the attempted rescue of a man here in Bellevue (a Nashville community), who’d gotten caught in the swollen river. On Twitter, pictures were being posted in real-time of various landmarks and neighborhoods around town that were quickly filling with water. I started to panic a little bit.

And then the power went out.

And somehow, I knew it was going to be out for a long, long time.

I was totally unprepared for a disaster. We were out of milk (a calamity in itself, as far as my 3-year-old is concerned) had no working flashlights, and my cell phone was dead. Worst of all, I had just one diaper left.

ONE DIAPER.

Hubs, therefore, decided to try and get to Publix before the floods got any worse. He made it the two miles to the store, where inside it was dark and chaotic. Water was rising in the parking lot and several cars already were underwater. While Hubs spent a few hurried minutes in the store, the flood waters moved about ten parking spaces closer to the supermarket. Shoppers were coming out to find their cars had become submerged while they were inside. By the time Hubs made the return trip, police were shutting down the street that provides the only access to our neighborhood- he barely made it home.

As I said. Totally unprepared.

Over the next couple of days, I would come up with a laundry list of items that I will ALWAYS keep on hand now, in the event of an emergency. Even before the flood, the idea of being stranded for days had become less and less farfetched. It wasn’t that long ago that we had a severe gas shortage here and had to face the possibility that we might be trapped at home until more gas could be trucked in. Then there are the occasional snowstorms and the tornadoes that periodically tear through our area. Really, you never know when the unexpected will happen. If this flood proved anything, it was that.

With this in mind, here are the things I think we should all have in our homes at all times- Trust me, if disaster unexpectedly strikes, you’ll be glad you were at least somewhat prepared.

1. A car cell phone charger.

I have often cursed myself for not taking the time to buy a car charger for my cell phone, but never more than I did in the midst of this flood. The power was out, Hubs and my stepdaughters had left home to try and get to his TV station, and I had a dead cell phone and no idea of what was going on. My husband and girls didn’t get home that night until 2 am, and I didn’t know where they were or what had happened to them. Dumb move on my part.

2. Flashlights and extra batteries.

Ordinarily, we’re pretty good about keeping working flashlights in the house- but that becomes a little more of a challenge with an inquisitive three-year-old boy who counts flashlights among his favorite toys. When Hubs went to Publix, he picked up plenty of batteries and an inexpensive lantern/flashlight like this one, which was invaluable. I plan to buy two or three more. I could use it to light a room as a lantern (much safer with kids than candles) or turn it on its handle and use it as a flashlight.

3. Acetaminophen/ Ibuprofen, for adults and children, as well as Bactine, Neosporin, and plenty of Band-Aids. And keep at least two weeks of your prescription medication on hand at all times.

I actually had these things in the house, but only after a few midnight incidents when my kids’ fevers shot up and I had nothing on hand to bring them back down. Hearing stories from around town during the flood, I can tell you that Murphy’s Law definitely went into effect- While so many of us were trapped in our homes, stories of illness and accidents abounded. Always be ready to treat illnesses and minor medical emergencies at home, whether you want to or not.

4. A car power converter.

For around $30, you can buy a device that plugs into your car lighter and provides an outlet. There are many possible emergency uses for a device like this one- My friends used theirs to help save a baby’s life. Incidentally, my son had a bad chest cold while our power was out and I would have absolutely used his nebulizer to relieve his wheezing if I’d had one of these in my car. We’re buying one, ASAP.

5. A weather radio and a battery-operated FM/AM radio.

When so many lost power during the flood, our local talk radio station provided wall-to-wall coverage so that we could hear what was going on, too. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a battery-powered radio, so the only time I heard the coverage was when I was in the car. NEVER AGAIN. I found this version for $30 on Amazon, which has AM/FM/Weather radio dials, an LED flashlight, a USB charger, and can also operate on solar energy or with a handcrank. Love.

6. Water.

I can’t stress this one enough. More than once during the last week, we came dangerously close to losing our water supply. By the time I could get to Publix to get ice and bottled water, they had run out of both. I will always keep at least one case of extra bottled water on hand from now on.

7. Firewood.

Obviously, this one only applies if you have a fireplace and firewood did us no good during the flood. However, we had a big snowstorm earlier this year and we were very low on firewood. If the power had gone out, we would have been miserable. I decided then to stock up on a few days worth of firewood each winter in the event of a long-term power outage.

8. Appropriate food.

We had food we could eat during the power outage, but it wasn’t very good. Be mindful of what you have on hand that you could use to make entire meals for your family if you were without power for a few days. Canned meat, potato chips, fruit snacks, and crackers won’t really cut it for more than a meal or two. I plan to find a few recipes online that don’t require cooking or refrigerated products and keep those items on hand in addition to snack foods.

9. Stay informed on what’s going on news and weather-wise, and when you hear of bad weather or a possible crisis approaching, take action immediately.

I’m generally pretty good about this one- The moment I heard about a possible gas shortage last year, I filled up our cars. That’s how we avoided waiting in 2-3 hour lines for gas a few days later. And when I hear about the possibility of snow in the forecast, I usually stock up on extra food and necessities several days in advance. Now, I’m going to be more mindful of approaching severe weather as well.

I’d love to hear your ideas for disaster preparedness. What do you always have on hand? Have you learned any lessons the hard way? Let us know!

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When A Child Is Missing, Minutes Matter.

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:29:44 +0000

When a youth is reported missing, minutes matter. That’s why Progress West HealthCare Center and SafeAssured™ Identification Solutions are partnering from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 8 at 2 Progress Point Parkway to create the most complete youth identification solution available to St. Charles County families.

According to Ernie Allen, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), “Time is the enemy when it comes to recovering a missing child. A critical element to the first few hours of an investigation is for law enforcement to have a good quality, current photograph of the missing child. NCMEC urges parents and guardians to maintain easily accessible, good-quality photographs of their children. SafeAssured helps them accomplish this.”

The SafeAssured Solution provides families with an added sense of security and peace of mind. The mini-CD captures physical characteristics and video footage that can be provided to law enforcement within moments of disappearance. Families receive a mini-CD that contains: streaming video, digital voiceprint, a digital photograph, a full set of digitally scanned fingerprints, and general physical information. Private and sensitive data are encrypted, accessible only to law enforcement. Lastly, families receive a durable, full-color photo ID card and a guidebook, written in conjunction with NCMEC, which contains helpful safety tips.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital will be on hand to help kids make their very own first aid kit. The O’Fallon Police Department will display their C.E.R.T. trailer for disaster preparedness. And, be sure to meet O’Fallon’s own arson K-9, Bo. Committed to the area youth, Progress West HealthCare Center proudly supports SafeAssured and encourages all parents and guardians to register for this event by calling 636.344.CARE (2273) as space is limited and appointments are required.

For more information on Progress West HealthCare Center feel free to visit their site. For detailed SafeAssured product information visit theirs as well .

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From St. Louis to Los Angeles: A Conversation with Kelly Stables

Kelli — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:00:46 +0000

Ten years ago, Kelly Stables packed up her Ford and with a big dream and a lot of ambition, headed to LA to pursue acting. Shortly after arriving, she was cast in her first role: As ape number 437 in Planet of the Apes. She was an extra, but she was an extra in a movie and it was a small step forward. In the decade that followed, Kelly has worked extensively in theatre, movies and television and is slowly but surely proving that she has the staying power needed to see great success in Hollywood.

Making connections along the way, Kelly received her first big break when she was cast as the Evil Samara in The Ring and The Ring 2. Many other projects followed including, most recently, her guest role as Jon Cryer’s girlfriend, Melissa, on Two and a Half Men. Her hilarious turn on television’s most watched comedy opened up the door for a regular role on the new comedy Romantically Challenged, starring Alyssa Milano.

Kelly was kind of enough to spend a little time talking with me about how she made the journey from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

STL Family Life: How did a girl from St. Louis end up an actress in LA?

Kelly Stables: It’s been quite the journey! I graduated from Lafayette High School (’96) where they had a great theater program and that’s really where I got started. That’s where I developed a deep love and passion for acting. I then went on to Mizzou where I majored in communications and theatre and as my time there came to a close I decided I should really give this acting thing a try and see if I could make it work. I graduated early and packed up my car and headed out to LA. I met [make up artist] Rick Baker early on and he is the one who helped me get the role in The Ring and The Ring 2. From there it was just a matter of working hard and really networking and meeting the right people.

STLFL: Was there ever a moment that you questioned your decision to move to LA?

KS: There have obviously been some ups and downs emotionally, especially when it came to my confidence in my abilities. Most of my job is auditioning so it can be tough. If person after person doesn’t want me, it can start to feel personal, you know? I start to wonder if I should even be here. But I’ve never really been a quitter and I have had great people surrounding me, always encouraging me to keep at it and not let the rejection get me down. I also have to remember that there are literally hundreds of people up for one part so when I get rejected, they aren’t rejecting me personally. When I was working with Jon Cryer on Two and a Half Men, he gave me great advice. He told me, “Don’t take anything personally.” It really encouraged me to hear that from someone like him who is so established in this field.

STLFL: What has been the biggest challenge as you’ve pursued your dream?

KS: Probably just dealing with rejection and confidence issues. It’s such a competitive industry so I try not to let disappointment and rejection hurt. I constantly have to remind myself that at the end of the day and, ultimately, at the end of my life, I probably won’t remember that one job I didn’t get. It helps to keep that perspective.

STLFL: What has been the biggest blessing?

KS: Work-wise, Two and a Half Men was a huge blessing. It opened up a lot of doors and I learned so much working on that show. I got to do comedy, which I love and is just so fun and I got to meet some amazing people. Big picture, though, I’d say the biggest blessing has been the encouragement I’ve received from friends and family who have supported me and cheered me on. It’s really shown me how blessed I am in life.

STLFL: Are you still involved in theatre or are you concentrating on TV and film these days?

KS: I’ve always been involved in theater all along the way. Theatre is to the actor what ballet is to the dancer. It’s expression and art in real life and you always have to be prepared because anything can happen. It’s so fun and energizing so I will always stay involved in the theatre.

STLFL: What was it like working on the set of Two and a Half Men?

KS: Really, really fun. They are such a fun, loving cast. They’re very professional and focused, but at the same time, they have a blast. It’s the most watched comedy on television so I had to work really hard not to get distracted by my insecurities or fears and really focus and give it my all on the show. And everyone was so encouraging and supportive. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

STLFL: Tell me a little about Romantically Challenged?

KS: Romantically Challenged is a new comedy premiering on ABC on Monday, April 19^th at 9:30/8:30 central after Dancing With the Stars. It’s really about a group of friends who love each other and are navigating their way through love and life. They help each other out and give each other advice. It’s a great show. I play Alyssa Milano’s younger sister who is a kindergarten teacher, which is so fun because if I wasn’t an actress, I would love to work with kids. It’s really a funny show and we have so much fun on set. We’re laughing a lot and just having a blast on set. I really hope America enjoys it and we have a chance to keep doing this for a long time.

STLFL: What’s it like working with Alyssa Milano?

KS: She is just so cool. She really took me under her wing and has become such a big sister figure for me. She’s taught me a lot, including the ins and outs of Twitter! She is just this beautiful, successful woman but she’s also a real family girl, which I can really identify with. It’s so wonderful to work with someone who shares my same values.

STLFL: In your wildest dreams, when you left for LA way back when, did you ever imagine you would be working with one of the icons of television like Alyssa Milano?

KS: Oh this is such a dream come true for me. Of course, I always imagined and hoped that I could someday be on a sitcom, but to actually be here is just amazing. Working on a show like this where we tape with a live audience is so fun. It’s a lot like the theatre with the audience responding and laughing. This is just everything I had hoped for and it’s really much more what I had in mind rather than dressing up in a monkey suit. (laughs)

STLFL: Is there anything about the Midwest that you miss living on the West Coast?

KS: Everything! I love LA, but I do miss the people of St. Louis. I miss knowing my neighbors, and knowing their kids and their dogs and the real sense of family and community. St. Louis is just who I am and I miss it a lot.

STLFL: When you come back to St. Louis is there any place you just have to visit in order to feel like the trip was complete?

KS: Steak and Shake and Silky’s. (laughs) Those are the two places that I always find myself craving and a trip home just isn’t complete without them.

To find out more about Kelly, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter. To see tonight’s episode of Romantically Challenged, tune in to ABC tonight at 9:30/8:30C.

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When disaster strikes: be prepared

Lisa Bertrand — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:46:23 +0000

Unfortunately emergencies and disasters happen. While we can’t control the motion of certain events, we can at least be prepared.

Clorox and the Red Cross have compiled a list of preparation steps that can keep you armed:

*Get a kit — Have an emergency preparedness kit for your household. Include basic supplies like water (1 gallon per person, per day for drinking and washing with a minimum 3-day supply); at least a three day supply of non-perishable food, flashlight, multi-purpose tool, radio, first aid kit, important medications and copies of personal documents and disinfecting bleach for cleaning, disinfecting and emergency water sanitation.

*Make a plan – Meet with your family or household members and create a plan of action in case you are separated during an emergency. Be sure to practice and review the plan twice a year.

*Be informed — Get to know the types of disasters and other emergencies that may occur where you live, learn, work and play and how to respond as safely as possible. Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information.

When many people think about surviving a disaster, they only about the first few hours or the early days after. But sanitation and cleanup can be just as dangerous.

Ways to prevent illness and clean up after a disaster:

*Evaluate home safety – Report downed power lines and gas leaks, inspect foundations and roofs, keep electricity off and have a professional inspector clear the home before entering.

*Clean and disinfect — Rid the home of any excess moisture. Excess moisture left behind will fuel the growth of mold, which can be a health risk for you and your family. It’s important to get non-porous surfaces dried and disinfected quickly.

Of course an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are a few tips prevent illness in the aftermath of a natural disaster:

*Keep your hands clean either by washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer

*If you feel feverish, see a doctor immediately

*Eat healthy foods and drinks lots of clean water

*If water supplies are compromised and you are unable to boil water for one minute (three minutes at high elevation), you can create potable water by using un-scented disinfecting bleach such as Clorox. You can also use bleach to clean non-porous surfaces in your home.

For specific details visit: www.clorox.com/redcross to download the preparedness guide.

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Lake St. Louis one of the “Best Places to Live”

Lisa Bertrand — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:58:56 +0000

When a girlfriend told our circle of friends that she was moving to Lake St. Louis, we all grumbled. Our group lives in West County and were used to her living a short walk away. “Why can’t you stay closer?” We asked. “Why would you want to live there?” (Not that any of us thought there was something wrong with Lake St. Louis. Just that we didn’t want our beloved friend to move!)

Well, now we know why! Lake Saint Louis has not only made Money magazine’s top 100 list of the Best Places To Live. The city is ranked #9 nine, according to the August edition of the mag.

According to the profile in Money Lake Saint Louis’ property crime incidents are very low. And although the median family income was listed at $95,139 (lower than the Top 100 average) the job growth percentage category is quite impressive. Between 2000 and 2009, the city had a 38.48 percentage increase in jobs which is quite a bit more than the 19.58 percent average.

Median home prices are low. The average on the list totaled $262,148 while in Lake Saint Louis the average is $183,635.

Also? Math and reading test scores are much higher than most of the top 100 cities. The city of 14,000 also enjoys a high quality of healthcare. The nearby SSM St. Joseph-West Hospital is rated in a top 10 health care provider listing.

For the full review, see money.cnn.com.

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Spotlight Parent: Jaelithe

Lisa Bertrand — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:40:18 +0000

If Jaelithe Judy had a nickle for every time someone told her “you should be a writer” she could have bought herself an island by now! She started blogging in October of 2005 at State of Discontent as a stay-at-home mom to her little boy Issac who was a toddler at the time. Over the years, she’s tackled a number of subjects like politics, Sensory Integration Dysfunction and aggregation and splogging. Her husband John, also blogs. His place? Mental Detritus.

Jaelithe, also works as an SEO consultant. The born and bred St. Louisian is also a contributor at Momocrats.