Phil & Ted's Stroller for sale

Geek of the Week: Mind Mapping

Have you tried mind mapping? It's a way to organize information, brainstorm, plan projects, etc., and is a great memory-enhancing tool.

Check out this mind map I made of the 20 fundamental amino acids using Nova Mind (I'm still under my free trial period for the software, that's why it's unlicensed!). Click on it to enlarge---it's SO cool!



In essence, the mind map helps you create a visual representation of the way your brain thinks about certain information. It really helps me, because I'm a super detail-oriented person, and this enables me to see the big picture.

For a really great overview of mind mapping, how it works, and its benefits, look here.

Anniversary Sale

In celebration of our one year anniversary at Sweet Bean's Shop, we are having a sale! All Diaper Dust and pre-made scrapbooks are 30% off. Sale runs through the end of September.

Thank you, Sweet Bean's customers!!!! We've had a great year.

Big Day at Sweet Bean's

Nie Nie Day

The lovely and generous Design Mom is hosting a special event for a family in need. Stephanie (of the equally lovely Nie Nie Dialogues) and her husband Christian suffered very critical burns during a recent plane crash, and are in for months of recovery. Their friends and family have rallied around them courageously, caring for their four very young children while Mr. and Mrs. Nielson travel the long road of recovery. In short, this is a family that needs our help.

Enter Design Mom and the blogosphere. Gabrielle is hosting a silent auction today to benefit the Nielson family, and is advertising the 100s (?) of auctions by crafters, bloggers, kind souls who are willing to lend a hand. She's pretty great.

I plan on opening my wallet big time to support the Nielson's, because I cannot even begin to put myself in their shoes. Check out Design Mom and the countless others (all listed here), and bid to save a family. You'll be glad you did.

P.S. Check out this hilarious post by Stephanie's sister, Courtney, on her first day of being a mom of four.

P.P.S. Check out these AMAZING auctions: a custom painting just for you, tickets to freaking Maroon 5...people are really pulling out all the stops!

Microbiology and Your Home

Various biochemical tests indicative of Proteus vulgaris.

Microbiology has been very eye-opening to me in many ways, but especially when it comes to cleaning! Here are some tips on how to keep you and those you love as disease-free as possible:

1. Don't use antibacterial soap (surprise!). Over-use of these products leads to a buildup of antimicrobial product in the water supply, which, in turn, selects for those organisms that are resistant to antimicrobials. Handwashing appropriately with regular liquid soap should do the job. In fact, handwashing is by far the very best way to prevent the spread of microbial pathogens. If you need extra germ-killing power, use Purell.
   
2. Follow the directions on your cleaning products. Disinfectants (bleach, lysol, etc.) need to be used at the appropriate concentration and must have time to work. Bleach (10% solution) can kill HIV, but only if it's at 10%, and is given 10 minutes of contact time.
   
3. Clean first, then disinfect. Soap and water mechanically removes dirt, food and lots of bacteria. Often, a disinfectant won't work nearly as well if the surface you are disinfecting is "dirty."
4. Get a vacuum with a HEPA filter!!!!! This has made a HUGE difference for us, and now I understand why. Vacuums suck in air, and then that air is recirculated back into your room. Filtering this air through the HEPA filter removes most of the bacteria, cleaning the air you breathe.
5. I've seen some vacuums that have a UV light attached to the front. UV light kills lots of bacteria, but it can take up to 60 seconds to kill some species, and it doesn't have very good penetration. It might be worth the cost, but you might have to aim the light at a spot for 15-60 seconds.
   
6. It's true that we need to be exposed to germs in order to build an immune response. However, little kids have very unsophisticated immune systems, and cannot build "memory" like adults can. Do your best to keep your babies and toddlers and preschoolers away from other sickies. Their bodies aren't built to handle it.

Anyone have any other tips on keeping your family healthy?

Sky-U-Mah

I have orientation this morning for school. It'll be exciting to be there and meet everyone, see the facilities, etc., but I won't really feel a part of things until next year, when I'll attend full-time.

Going to such a huge school is a completely different experience than the two previous institutions I attended. A big school has this energy that is like nothing else, like there are millions of things happening around you at all times. I guess that's why I'm looking forward to working in a hospital, too...lots of action.

Wish me luck!

P.S. What does Sky-U-Mah mean...Patrick? Krista? Mom & Dad? Everyone in my family has attended the U of M. I was the rebel, until now. Dang!
P.P.S. The U of M mascot is Goldie the Gopher...lame. I guess you can get rabies from a gopher, and that would be fearsome.