US Japan Fam

Fall Favorites for Women - from Fashion to Health

10/26/2020

The weather is cooling down and you're still "safe at home", so it's time to make sure you're stocked up on ways to be warm and cozy, bonus if they spark a little joy at the same time, am I right!? Here are some items I'm loving this fall, and where you can grab your own!

**disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links, you don't pay more but we'll receive a commission from sales made after clicking**

Cozy Teddy Bear Hoodies & Cardigans

I recently bought the Dokotoo Women's Fuzzy Fleece Cardigan (below left) which is a #1 best seller on Amazon. It's 95% polyester 5% spandex and is about the softest most cuddliest thing I have ever worn. I'm obsessed with it. My kids are obsessed with it. I'm half ready to buy one in every color LOL! Sure I kinda look like I'm wearing a bathrobe but I just don't even care, it's that comfy and warm!!

Fleece Lined Leggings, Joggers & Sweats

If you're running around the house all day in jeans, good for you. But I can assure you, I am not. No way. Jeans and their potential muffin topping discomfort are only for public life. Around the house it's all about leggings and joggers for me!

I've been living in a pair of black sweat pants basically since the start of September when the weather started to chill, and I realized, I need some more color in my life. Just "invested" in the esstive ultra soft fleece joggers in Marled Smokey Blue (below left) and they're great!! Fitted bottom, super soft, great colors to choose from!! I also recently got the Diravo Fleece Lined Leggings in Royal Blue (pictured below second from left) and they are SO comfy, thick, and warm. I can't attest to whether or not they'll pill, but so far so good!

Cozy Slippers & Socks

We've been living the NYC apartment life for many years, where you have no control over the heat and it's like 85*F in there in February! It was wonderful! But now we're in a house and pay for our heat. So... we need to dress warmer!! So I'm all about warm socks and grippy slippers now!! Got the (below left) Fralosha slipper sock and they're super soft!! Was on the fence about getting something with a firmer and more padded bottom, but decided to go for these which are more flexible like a sock so I can keep them on the sofa for lounging!

Tumblers, Mugs & Decor

"Fall Is My Second Favorite F word", I mean, come on, that sparks so much F'in joy in my life! ha!

Keep the Draft Out

You want to stay warm and also cut energy costs (and wastefulness) am I right? Don't forget to block drafts coming from doors and windows! We got this magnetic door draft blocker for our doors and it is doing a great job at keeping out the cold air and also the creepy crawlies (we had a bit of a gap between the door and frame!!

Supplements for Fall & Winter

As winter approaches, we get less time in the sun and need to be sure we don't become Vitamin D deficient. So, it's not just time for Pumpkin Spice everything but think also about your diet, and consider adding some extra sources of Vitamin D (but first, talk to your doctor regarding your health specifically, of course)! You might also want to talk to them about probiotics and other immune supporting supplements like these:

For Your Hot Showers

If you have colored hair, you may have been ordered to keep to cool showers, but in winter!? I mean, come on!! So, consider a coloring conditioner to keep it from fading, despite wonderfully hot showers! I've loved oVertone but am gonna give this one by Keracolor a try soon! Also, keep your skin moisturized (I know, hot showers are bad for this too)... be sure to moisturize all skin with a thick lotion or balm right after showering, while skin is still slightly moist. YoRo Naturals Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream is an AMAZING one, all natural and safe for the whole family, even babies! And if you have eczema or stubborn dry flakey spots, it's a MUST HAVE!

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How to Make Trick or Treating Safe During the Pandemic

9/22/2020

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US Japan Fam's How to Make Trick or Treating Safe During the Pandemic

In no way do I take this pandemic lightly. I pulled my kids out of school in NYC before schools officially closed, we locked down at home for weeks before starting to slowly venture out to open parks in masks. Heck, I'm even homeschooling them this year!! It's been a LONG six months and it's really not likely to end any time soon (quite the contrary, it'll probably get worse with the 2nd and 3rd waves before we get the vaccine). That said, we've learned alot about how to prevent transmission and it really is fairly simple:

Wear masks.
Social distance.
Limit time together (especially indoors).
Wash hands.

Can we accomplish all 4 of those while Trick or Treating this year? Abso-frickin-lutely!! But some adjustments will have to be made. You can't close off streets and have thousands of families congregate for block parties like we used to love doing in our previous home of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. But, kids should be able to have fun with some version of Trick or Treating, either at home or out and about, depending on your comfort level. Keep reading for some ways I think we can make trick or treating safe during the pandemic:

1. Everyone MUST Wear Masks
I'm talking kids trick or treating, parents escorting them, and people handing out candy. Nose and mouth need to be covered properly and masks shouldn't be touched or taken off until you're far from others and able to wash or sanitize your hands. Bringing a baby or toddler along who won't tolerate a mask? Consider putting them in a stroller with the rain cover on.
**Bonus - faces covered in masks = no face makeup this year! That stuff is so messy and gross anyway!!

2. Social Distance with Halloween Spirit
Have you seen this Ohio dad's idea of the Candy Chute (watch video below)!? BRILLIANT!!! We need more ideas like this!! You could also put a barrier or some sort of marker 6 feet from your door for trick or treaters to stop there. You can toss candy into their bags. You could leave a bowl out there for them to serve themselves (even better if you have a scooper so they're not putting hands into the bowl and touching all the candy, bonus if you also put a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the bowl). You could put markers and arrows along your walkway and driveaway to show them how to keep the line moving in a single direction and have kids waiting in line 6 feet apart (think caution tape, halloween luminaries, pumpkins, you name it). Of course, traditionally kids just all rush together in huge masses but I think they're getting used to lining up far apart at school, in the grocery store etc. This won't be anything new for them! But will definitely require chaperones to help them stay organized and safe.

3. Choose Your Group Wisely
The best idea would be to simply trick or treat with only the family you live with. Next best would be with a couple of friends from your child's school pod, since they're together all day anyway.

4. Quarantine the Candy
Most of us are totally over the whole sanitizing your groceries thing, am I right? I mean, to be honest, I never did that. But Halloween Candy? QUARANTINE THAT STUFF!! I'm serious. It could even kind of be fun, drawing out the Halloween Celebrations! They collect the candy, hopefully most being tossed in so they don't even touch it. Get home. Bag goes into a closet for 3 days. Boom. After quarantine you could have a little Halloween Candy Release Celebration! If you want to treat them with some candy on Halloween night or before quarantine ends, open it up for them and put it on a plate so there's no cross contamination. You never know who handled that candy before you. Ick. Not worth the risk IMO.

My family actually gets visited by the Switch Witch (see last year's video below). Traditionally I let them pick out 10 pieces of candy to save as soon as we get home from Trick or Treating. The rest gets left out for the Switch Witch who comes at night and leaves a toy or some sort of prize in place of the candy. It's actually really fun!! Switch Witch can still be done this year (it's probably best if you start when they're young, i.e. 3 years old which is probably the first Halloween they might remember). My almost 8 year old still loves doing it!

5. Avoid Large Groups
Depending on where you live, this may be tricky. It may mean trick or treating earlier than usual. It may mean not staying out as long as usual - just doing your block and calling it a day perhaps, rather than going out for 5 hours and collecting 2 pillow cases full. This year will not be like past years. Make sure your kids know that. It can still be fun, but it won't be the same and the rules aren't the same either. Try to stay 6 feet from other groups. If you start crossing paths with the same groups of kids switch it up and go to the other side of the street or try a different area.

6. Trunk or Treat
If traditional trick or treating leaves you super nervous, organize something different, something you can have a bit more control of. For example, you could do a Trunk or Treat through your school's PTA. Cars have to sign up so it would be limited to only be one per every other parking spot. Kids don't go up to the car but rather stand 6 feet back and get candy tossed. You could have a little dance party too, kids stay by their own car with music blasting from one car. Or get a DJ for the middle of the parking lot. Sounds amazing to me!

So, there are just a few ideas I have. The thought of canceling Halloween and Trick or Treating altogether just really really bums me out. I really have no idea why people are even tossing around that idea, it seems there are plenty of ways to make it safe. If someone in your home is immunocompromised, you could even just do trick or treating at your own house, kids get dressed up and take turns trick or treating and handing out candy to each other. Why not!!

If you have any thoughts on this or ideas for ways to make Halloween special and safe for the kids this year, please drop them in a comment!!

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Results After 1 Month on Always Eat After 7 PM Diet Program

6/15/2020

23 Comments

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own. This post also includes affiliate links - you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

If you're new here, you'll probably want to check out my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd blog posts about "Always Eat After 7 PM, The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight" by Joel Marion. This post serves as an update on how it's been going since I've been reading the book and implementing the 3-phase diet plan!

As anticipated, the skipping breakfast part was hardest for me, however it didn't take long before my body got the hang of it. Having a "huge" dinner and yummy protein-rich snack later in the evening seems to be doing the trick to tide me over through those 16-hours of fasting, during which I'm sleeping for most, so it's really not that bad. I actually skipped the after 7pm snack one night and noticed a BIG difference in my bedtime hunger, and even woke a few times in the night from hunger. So, that late night snack has really been doing wonders. I've pretty much been sticking to low fat cottage cheese with frozen blueberries - yum!!

As Joel explains in the book, “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.” He also debunks the myth that late night eating just gets stored as fat, “Research shows that the average person’s metabolic rate is no different during sleep than during the day. In short, your metabolism doesn’t slow down at night. Nor does your body store fat at the end of the day. Whether it’s 8 am or 8 pm, you use food for energy the same way.” It's really cool to be on this new diet plan and despite late-night snacking, neigh, because of it, you still see the pounds coming off!

I wake up around 8am and start the day with one of the 3-minute fat-burning drinks recommended in the book. Super Greens (MetaboGreensTM) Drink (which was provided as part of this campaign) and black coffee were two recommendations in the book, but I ended kind of personalizing my morning routine. I blend together a scoop of MetaboGreens and a heaping tablespoon of instant coffee into 24 ounces of water and sip the whole morning til breaking the fast at lunch time. The first time I tried this concoction, I was less than impressed, but it really grew on me and now I love it! I actually just purchased another pack of MetaboGreens - I'm hooked!!

Water is key, for anyone, whether on a diet or not. “Water helps digest your food, expel wastes, regulate your temperature, protect your tissues, cushion your joints, and protect your spinal column, among many other vital functions. It is through water that hormones flow to the proper organs, that nutrients reach all cells, and that toxins are diluted and removed from the body.” He recommends getting half your body weight (pounds) in water (ounces). So if you weigh 200 pounds you should be getting at least 100 ounces. I calculated I'm getting about 90 ounces of water throughout the day - in straight water as well as in my various blends with protein and metabogreens.

The "fast" continues until lunchtime at around 12. Then I usually have dinner around 5:30pm with my kids, and a snack after they go to bed at about 7:30pm.

I'm not going to lie, the 2-week acceleration phase is pretty brutal, not because I was starving the whole time but it was just a drastic change of eating habits and meal planning to wrap my head around, oh and alcohol is discouraged during this phase. But what is very encouraging is seeing the weight come off much quicker than with other diets I've done in the past! And, they give great sample meal plans and weekly schedules, it's really not a huge deal, and I could even use those meals for my whole family! They also have AMAZING delicious recipes in the back of the book, some are super low or no carb (for the acceleration phase), others utilize what they call "super carbs" like certain veggies and beans, and always lots of protein.

They give you the first week to gradually quit the breakfast ritual, though I decided to start skipping that first meal cold turkey from day one. In the book they mention you don't have to skip breakfast during this week or at any point in the program, though results will be slower. I ended up losing 4 pounds during the first phase, which was exciting, but was excited to transition to phase 2 which is a tad more lenient by bringing your calorie intake up a bit and even allowing a cheat meal or day after eating clean for 6 days. This actually is beneficial and they go into great detail about how this works hormonally in the book, "Leptin levels decrease by about 50 percent after only one week of dieting. Fat loss slows down, and you feel bad psychologically. But because the relationship is linear, the opposite is also true: an increase in calorie intake results in an increase in leptin levels. And fortunately, it doesn’t take nearly as long for leptin to bump back up with a substantial increase in caloric intake—only about 12 to 24 hours. That’s right. It takes only one day of overfeeding or “cheat-ing” to bring levels back up to baseline." Can I get a hallelujah!? They figured out how to break the dieting plateau! On my cheat days, I enjoyed pizza and sushi. It really helps get you through the week of "dieting" knowing you had a day coming up that you were not allowed to eat normal again but were required to! HA!

In the next 2 weeks of the main phase, I lost another 2 pounds, which is pretty normal for myself on a diet, to lose about 1 pound a week. So after a month on the plan, I'm down 6 pounds and feel fantastic!! My energy is better than ever - I don't know if it's the intermittent fasting or simply the types of food I'm eating that help regulate energy and mood better but it's pretty amazing!!! I'm planning to stay at this phase until I've lost a total of 10 pounds, so probably 1 more month. Then I'll move to the lifestyle phase, to maintain this energy and weight for the long haul!

I definitely feel more energy being on this diet, and I am a lot more knowledgeable about how various foods interact with our bodies and minds. This book goes into such detail comparing various types of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates - not all carbs are bad, did you know!? “So, despite all the bad press over the years, certain carbohydrates play an important role in balancing your hormones and regulating your metabolic rate, while avoiding the dreaded weight loss plateaus that accompany conventional mainstream diets. Furthermore, when you eat these carbohydrates, you’ll feel much better than you would if you were following a traditional diet.”

I hope you were able to learn something through my adventure here. If interested, you can learn more about the book and how to purchase here. Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase.

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.

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Always Eat After 7 Author Interview

6/1/2020

17 Comments

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

If you missed my last blog post about why I'm reading "Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight" by Joel Marion, check it out here. Basically, I think it sounds like a fascinating and life changing diet that hopefully will help me get away from my 10 pound up and down yoyo lifestyle, and have more energy throughout the day!

Based on surprising science, Always Eat After 7 PM debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning and allows you to indulge in your most intense food cravings: Eating the majority of your calories at night. We’ve been traditionally taught to avoid carbs, have an early dinner, and never eat before bed. But the fact is, the latest scientific research shows us this earlier model is not the most ideal “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.” By learning what foods help keep my weight in check, increase my energy and regulate my moods, I have high hopes for this book changing my life!

Here are some interesting questions and answers from Eat After 7 PM author, Joel Marion:

What inspired you to write the book?
After authoring 6 best selling books it was glaringly obvious there were 2 huge misconceptions about dieting that needed to be exposed. The first is that you can't eat late at night or before bed, which science now shows is NOT true. And second, you can't eat large portions that satisfy your natural instinct. This book solves both these problems by providing an evidence-based, enjoyable approach to dieting that can be used by any person to quickly achieve their weight loss goals.

How long did it take for you to develop the diet?
It actually took several years of researching for me to discover the real science of eating late night. After a few years of tweaking and refining, I finally came up with a rapid fat loss solution that overcomes all the pitfalls of traditional diets.

How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?
It's not. And that's exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7pm works because it caters to our bodies natural instincts.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.

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Spring Must Haves for Women

3/13/2020

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Spring is here (or nearly here), along with Coronavirus, but this post isn't about that so much. Other than to say, online shopping and DIY hair and nails at home is where it's at, talk about proper social distancing, am I right!? Besides stocking up on sanitizing goods and staples for the pantry, how about stocking up on some fabulous springtime goodies to brighten your day and have you ready to take on the world in a few weeks (or months!?), after the whole "flatten the curve" strategy has hopefully worked and we're ready to go about our normal social butterfly lives again!

US Japan Fam's Women's Spring Must Haves

Disclaimer: This post includes some items that were provided in exchange for my promotion or review, but all thoughts are my own and unbiased. This post also includes many affiliate links - you won't pay more but I'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. This is how we bloggers survive, ya'll! Thank you and arigatou!!!

US Japan Fam's Women's Spring Must Haves - Arcopedico Harley Wedge Sandals

Arcopedico Harley Wedge Sandals
Springtime means getting your tootsies pedicured and ready to great the world. What better way than in some super cute (and comfy) sandals!? I just recieved this pair of Harley Wedge Sandals from Arcopedico and while they are MUCH higher than my typical shoes (I'm an inch taller than my husband so tend to shy away from any lift or heel), I'm absolutely in love with them and dying for the weather to warm up so I can take them out on the town! The ankle strap is actually velcro so has some good adjustability. Upper is made of their patented Lytech™ blend, and the Arne-Dry footbed makes this wedge shockingly lightweight! You can find them in black/silver, grey/white, and camel (which I chose as I currently didn't have any neutral shoes), in sizes 36 (US 5.5) - 42 (US 10.5-11).

BUY: $115 - $120 on Amazon (affiliate link) and arcopedicousa.com

Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings
I don't know about you, but I really miss my maternity pants. Not just that the elastic waist is super comfy, but buttons and zippers add so much bulk to your midsection! A fellow twin mom recommended Old Navy's Rockstar Jeggings to me about half a year ago, I ordered a few, and became a die hard fan. They're basically all I wear now. Oh crap, now everyone knows my secret. The fun thing is that they are actually jeans, not what you think of "jegging" material which is so fake and gross. These are jeans, that are nice and stretchy, and instead of a button and zipper they just have a tall elastic waist that smooths out your mom pooch instead of cutting into it creating a muffin top on even a skinny mom! They're flattering, comfy, and stylish. And if you time it right, you can grab them on a super sale, at the moment many styles are 30% off!

BUY: see all Rockstar Jeggings styles here (affiliate link; regularly $34.99 - $44.99)

US Japan Fam's Women's Spring Must Haves - Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings

Boxed Semi-Perm Hair Dye
I've been dyeing my hair fun semi-permanent colors for about 2 years now. You can read more about each experiment here - I've tried several brands and colors, all wash out pretty much by 10-15 washes (teal was the exception, it lingered as a hint of green for quite some time, and if you have very light hair, bleached or otherwise treated hair you may also experience lingering as well). Here are some fun springtime colors you may want to try. These contain no bleach or ammonia, which means they are kind to your hair with absolutely zero damage! And now is the perfect chance to go for some funky hair if you've suddenly found yourself working from home due coronavirus containment policies!

Glasses & Sunglasses
I've been a huge fan of DiscountGlasses.com for a while now, even before becoming one of their Ambassadors! With a large selection of glasses and sunglasses for babies, kids, and adults starting at just $20, with virtual try on and free 365 day returns, you can't lose! I recently got their super lightweight and colorful Westend Cherry Creek glasses in Multi Blue (see below left, $20 with lenses!!), which I find not just comfortable but so cheerful! And don't forget about my Westend Bexley sunglasses (see below right, $69.95 with lenses), I mean, how fabulous are these!?!?

Buy: on DiscountGlasses.com (affiliate link)

US Japan Fam's Women's Spring Must Haves - DiscountGlasses.com

Colorful Silicone Necklace
I got into silicone jewelry back when I had babies and wanted fun items that the kids could chew on and yank without destroying it. Fast forward a few years, my kids are 4, 4, and 7 and these are still pretty much the only necklaces I wear! HA! And every time I go out with one on, I get a compliment. So, yes, they're marketed as teething jewelry, but anyone can and should wear them. So fun! Colorful! Durable! Chewbeads is probably the most well known brand but you can find a number of brands as well as homemade ones on Etsy.

Buy: on Amazon (affiliate link)

Tumbler & Reusable Cups
We all know single use bottles and cups are a no no. So stop using them and make sure you have a few great reusable tumblers on hand at home, in the car, in your bag, under your stroller etc so that you're never caught out having to use a disposable one. Personally I think having really cute designs will help you stay motivated to BYO! Check some of these out:

Other great stuff and DISCOUNTS:

(affiliate links follow)

- Get straighter, brighter teeth in an average of 6 months for thousands less than braces. Get started with Candid clear aligners for 65% off the starter kit. Use code: NEWSMILE65

- Up to 65% off Women's Clothing at Jane.com! Shop today!

- Cricut Explore Air™ Machine + EVERYTHING Starter Set - Mixbook's Home Decor

- Shop Travel Label Packs from Mabel's Labels

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How to Get More Information from your DNA Raw Data with Xcode Life

1/28/2020

9 Comments

How to Get More Information from your DNA Raw Data with Xcode Life

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Xcode Life but all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post also includes affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking the links.

For under $100 you can get your DNA analyzed by a number of companies who will break down your ancestry and ethnicity into easy to understand percentages and maps. It's very cool, in fact my husband and I had ours done by 23andMe a couple of years ago (see that video here) and my Japanese born and bred husband had pretty shocking results that he was not 100% Japanese!! You can learn about yourself, connect with distant family members, and for those adopted, even have the chance to find your birth parents or siblings! The science behind it all is fascinating, and frankly way over my head!

Did you know, you can very easily download the raw DNA data from 23andMe, Ancestry, FamilyTreeNDA, Living DNA, MyHeritage DNA and a number of others, and upload it to Xcode Life (who sponsored this post) to gleam even more information about your health, personality traits, fitness, skin, and more!?! That's right! It's super easy, and their reports are provided SAME DAY!! Watch my overview video here, that includes going through my own results live!!

Some of the insights I found the most valuable and interesting for myself were:

I'm less likely to lose weight from exercise and should experience weight loss better with a high protein and high fiber intake. The reports even broke it down and provided me with a recommended diet plan of 45% carbs, 35% protein, and 20% fats, and exercise plan of cardio 3-4 days a week, strength training 2-3 days a week, and flexibility training 3-7 days a week.

US Japan Fam - Xcode Life Review - Weight Loss and Exercise Recommendations

I have a high risk for hemochromatosis (iron overload, which can be deadly if unaware that you have it). This is actually something my uncle was diagnosed with a few years ago, so this result was extremely eye opening and has prompted me to make an appointment with my doctor to discuss any necessary diagnostic tests.
I'm likely to have both the warrior personality trait (better processing of aversive stimuli) and worrier personality trait (advantage in memory and attention tasks; associated with more pain in response to aversive stimuli).
It also ran through a long list of allergy risks, which are not diagnostic like a blood or skin test, but are still useful and could prompt one's decision to go in for further testing, or perhaps to understand your baby's possible increased risk before introducing first foods. I found it interesting that I have a high risk of peanut allergy, yet I don't have one and neither do my 3 kids, thankfully.

US Japan Fam - Xcode Life Review - Allergy and Health Reports

All in all, it's fascinating to read through all of these reports about yourself. It's very possible you will discover something that will improve your health or even save your life. Discovering you have a high risk for something such as diabetes or Alzheimer's, for example, will hopefully prompt you to have a much needed conversation with your doctor, and be on the lookout for early signs of disease onset that you might have otherwise shrugged off!

If interested in learning more or making a purchase, you'll first need to order and submit your basic DNA / Ethnicity / Ancestry Kit through one of the following companies compatible with Xcode Life. Here are a few available on Amazon (all affiliate links):

After receiving those reports, you can head on over to shop all of Xcode Life's products here, and get $10 off the Mega Pack with code "USJAPANFAM10" (valid through February 15, 2020), and of course you can find them on Facebook and Instagram!

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Prepare for NYC's Plastic Bag Ban with these Shopping Hacks to Save the Planet

1/17/2020

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Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

One by one, cities and states and countries around the world are hopping on board the train to Save the Planet. No matter how small, each step every person takes can make a difference. But let's be honest, sometimes it takes policy change to force individual change. This is why I couldn't be more thrilled to hear that NYC's "Plastic Bag Ban" is taking effect March 1, 2020!! That's right!!! Any retailer required to collect NY State sales tax will not be allowed to distribute single use plastic bags.

Retailers can, but don't have to, sell single use paper bags for $0.05. And many will have reusable bags for sale for those who forget a bag. But don't be this guy who ends up buying bag after bag because you keep forgetting!! This is rather wasteful, after all, which is what we're trying to avoid here! Stock up on a few great bags now - keep one in your work bag, your diaper bag, in the stroller, a few in the car, you get the idea!! Shop local if you can, and if you prefer to order online, here are a few cool ones we've seen, as well as a few other hacks like using a wagon or home delivery!

Self-Storing 2oz Polyester Fabric Reusable Bag
This super lightweight polyester fabric reusable washable bag weighs only 2oz yet can hold a max weight of 40 pounds. It folds into its own pocket for super quick and easy storage, with no extra bag to lose!

Ripstop Polyester Fabric Reusable Bag
Made of lightweight but durable ripstop polyester fabric, this washable and reusable bag squishes into a 4" carrier and can hold up to 50 pounds.

Washable Cotton Mesh Bag
Made of 100% cotton, these washable and reusable mesh bags hold up to 40 pounds and are great for produce shopping.

Cart or Wagon
Of course, you can go beyond bags. I have been LOVING my wagon - it carries my kids and their stuff, and it also carries my groceries, no bags required!! Many New Yorkers are used to the standard vertical carts, but they're not so practical as you have to be very careful with stacking your goods. My Wonderfold Wagon can hold up to 200 pounds, and it collapses so it doesn't take up too much space in our entry way! Get 25% off a W1 or W2 model at wonderfoldwagon.com with code "heathert25", or find on Amazon.

Home Delivery (Fresh Direct)
You may find this the push to do more home delivery, which will use more gas, and require a tip and possibly a delivery fee, but it sure is easy to shop from home! Personally, I'm a huge fan of Fresh Direct - they have same and next day delivery, and the bonus is that they use HUGE reusable bags. They'll pick up your last batch of bags with your next round of groceries, and in between you are free to use their bags as needed - I usually fold a couple and keep them in my wagon to organize local grocery shopping! Did I mention, THEY'RE HUGE and very strong!!

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How to Choose a Pediatrician

7/20/2019

7 Comments

Whether you're pregnant and looking for your baby's first pediatrician, or you recently moved and are looking for a new pediatrician for your brood, it's not a simple task. You don't just look on the map and choose the nearest doctor. Oh no. There are a bazillion things to consider, and I hope my list will help you find the perfect match for your family! If I missed any key points, please do comment and let me know so I can add them!!

Actions to take when seeking out a Pediatrician:

search online for reviews - check yelp, local Facebook parenting groups, etc
come up with a list of possibilities and schedule a consultation with each practice (most offer this free of charge, some even have meet & greet events)
come up with a list of "must", "ideal", and "not important" items (our list below can help you narrow it down)

Policies and Factors to Consider:

Proximity - How far is their office from you? Is it easily accessible on foot or by public transportation when you have a stroller with you? If you'll be driving, do they have parking available?
Insurance - Obviously you'll want to make sure they take your insurance! If you don't have insurance, find out what kind of payment options they have.
Access to Second Opinion - is there more than one doctor in the office at a time, allowing for a quick consultation amongst doctors, or a second opinion on an urgent matter?
Vaccines - Some practices follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) Vaccine Schedule strictly, others allow for spacing vaccines out (without delaying them), and others allow delaying or skipping some/all vaccines. (Important note: It is very important for the health of your child, your family, and the community at large to fully vaccinate every child and adult, on time. Some cannot be vaccinated due to serious health conditions, and for some vaccinations do not provide full immunity, which is why it's SO SO SO important for the rest of us to be vaccinated. PLEASE do not take this lightly!!!)
Antibiotics - Newer thought is that antibiotics aren't needed in some conditions they were previously automatically prescribed for, and overuse can cause more harm than good for that individual (gut health) and the community (antibiotic resistant bacteria). Each doctor and practice will have a slightly different stance on this, and it's worth considering - how do they handle ear infections, for example - automatic antibiotics or wait and see policy.
Waiting Rooms - do they separate well and sick patients into separate waiting rooms, or separate appointment times? How do they clean the rooms, waiting areas and toys?
Office Hours - are they "working parent friendly" with hours available on evenings and weekends?
After Hours Access - Can you call a doctor or nurse with an urgent question? Can you text a photo for advice? Do they use a answering service where you leave a message and a doctor calls you back?
Flu Testing - Some practices do not test for flu, they simply treat it as any viral infection - stay home, rest, hydrate. If you go to one of these practices and want to know if your child has the flu, you'll have to take them to Urgent Care to be tested. This is a deal breaker for some families, and no biggie for others.
Blood Work and other Testing - Many practices do blood work and other basic tests in-house, and others will require you to make a separate appointment at a lab.
Breastfeeding Support - Do they support breastfeeding or push formula? Do they have a Lactation Consultant in-house?
Additional Services - Do they have any extra offerings for patients? For example, CPR classes, new parent meetups, nutritionist, expertise with children with special needs, support for single parent with multiple children (can a nurse come in to assist)?
Access to Records - Do they have an easy-to-use online system where you can fill out forms before an appointment, get text or e-mail reminders for upcoming appointments or the need to schedule one, and see all previous labs and information about your children?
Hospital Affiliation - Will your pediatrician have the ability to visit or care for your child if admitted into a hospital?
Wait Times - What is their average wait time (ask the practice and word of mouth from others who use them)?
Office Staff & Paperwork - What is the response time when calling the office or requesting forms (for school, camp, work permit, etc)? Do they charge extra for forms or sending records? How friendly and helpful are office staff over the phone, email, and in-office? What is the process for obtaining referrals? How is billing handled?
General Vibe - How do you feel about the doctor(s) and office. Is it clean, modern, friendly? Do they answer your many questions without a condescending tone. Do you feel like this is someone you could trust and have open discussions with regarding your child(ren)'s health?

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Variety Fun Snack Subscription Unboxing

7/17/2019

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**Updated 7/29/19: Enter to WIN your own FUN BOX (40 snacks) in the rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post**

Snacks. You can never have enough snacks, am I right!? Our kids go through them like water - snacking in the stroller, in the car, at school, at the park, you get the picture! So we were really excited to work with Variety Fun Snack Subscription on an unboxing!! Their snack boxes are available in bi-weekly and monthly delivery options, and with over 500 variety of snacks, you'll get new stuff every month! Oh yeah, free shipping of course, and cancel your subscription anytime!

Variety Fun has 2 types of boxes to chose from:

FUN Snack Box, $24.99 for 40 snacks (i.e. 0.62/snack) - classic snacks such as Cheetos, Oreos, M&M cookies, Lays, Doritos, Skittles, and more!
FIT Snack Box, $39.99 for 30 snacks (i.e. $1.33/snack) - healthy premium snacks such as KIND bars, Terra chips, CLIF bars, Krave Jerky, Hippeas, and more!

Watch our fun unboxing below and don't forget to use code FUN20 to get 20% off your 1st box!! And leave us a comment below - what's your favorite snack!?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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How to Reduce Waste by Switching to Silicone

5/31/2019

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With NYC banning styrofoam and plastic bags, and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's recent special report, the time is now to step up and do our part to, for lack of a better phrase, reduce - reuse - recycle. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the topic, and I'll admit to often making choices based more on convenience and budget than sustainability and carbon footprint. But I need to do better, and thankfully such is the growing mindset out there!

There are simple choices we can all make, that are healthier for us and the planet, and sometimes even for our wallets! And the impact, when we all make these choices, can really add up! Reducing our usage of plastics and single-use items is one of those choices we all need to be focusing on, and I'm happy to share with you why and how silicone can help you do this!

How to Reduce Waste by Switching to Silicone

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Hilary Abbot Communications on behalf of GoSili, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased. This post also contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but this blog will earn a small commission from any sales made.

Why Silicone?
According to GoSili, silicone is:

non-toxic: free of BPA, BPS, phthlalate, PVC, lead, and petroleum products
sustainable: 100% plastic free and recyclable at specific facilities (you can ship your products back to GoSili to recycle them for you)
practical: pretty much indestructible! Also sterilizable, boilable, freezable, microwaveable, unbreakable, dishwasher-safe

Ditch the Disposables!!
All those single-use snack bags, beverage containers, straws, and lunch and grocery bags add up to a LOT of waste. Some of them may end up being recycled, but most end up in a landfill or even worse, in the ocean. Did you know there are amazing reusable products out there for just about everything? Glass, stainless steel, bamboo, and silicone are just a few of the more eco-friendly sustainable materials to choose from, and below are a few of our favorite silicone products that can replace common plastics and disposables you're used to using.

Silicone Straws
Plastic straws - why oh why are these still being distributed!? According to GoSili, 500 million plastic straws are thrown away every day in the US!! No more, we say!! But that doesn't mean you have to give up straws completely! These Reusable Silicone Straws by GoSili come in pretty colors, are easy to use and clean, and they fold up nicely, too! Get 1 in a travel case for $2.50 - 2.99 or a 6-pack for $6.95 on Amazon (affiliate link). While you're at it, grab some silicone straw tops (affiliate link) to make any glass, mug, or cup spill proof!

US Japan Fam reviews GoSili's reusable silicone straws

Silicone Coffee Cups / Travel Mugs
Sure, walking into the coffee shop and grabbing a to-go cup is easy. Too easy. According to GoSili, 100 billion disposable cups go to land fills each year. Stop the insanity! Bring your own cup, and do it in style! These Reusable 16oz Silicone Coffee Cups / Travel Mugs by GoSili are brilliant - the entire cup and lid are made of silicone, and include an internal stainless steel ring so they won't collapse under your grasp! Amazing, right!? Grab them for $14.95 on Amazon (affiliate link), they're also available in 8oz! Do note they're not spill proof as there is no plug for the little sippy hole. Hey GoSili, there's your next product to work on - the coffee cup plug!

US Japan Fam reviews GoSili's reusable silicone coffee cup / travel mug

Silicone Sippy Cups for Kids
Want to have a laugh at your toddlers, big kids, or even your spouse trying to figure out how to drink from a cup? Get them a 12oz Silicone OH! Cup "Drink From Anywhere" Cup by GoSili! At first glance, you can't figure out how to take a sip - there are no holes! But there are actually teeny slits across the entire top ring of the lid (see my image below), hence the "drink from anywhere" part of its name! So, when you tip it back and suck, out comes your drink! But when you flip it over, no spills! It's amazing!! Once you explain it to your kids, they'll pick it up no problem, but first be sure to get their no-explanation first attempt on video!

US Japan Fam reviews GoSili 12oz Silicone OH! Cup

You can also create a sippy cup out of any glass with these silicone sippy tops (affiliate link)! These are great for throwing in your bag when going to a restaurant with your kids, so you can say "No thanks!!" to those plastic disposable kids cups they usually bring! Be sure to check out our previous review of Siliskin silicone straw tops, spoons, and bibs here, and Silikids silicone placemat here!

Silicone Sandwich Bags
OK, no one is more addicted to ziplock baggies than me. But when I sit back and think about how many my family has used, and thrown away, I feel a bit ill. There are better options, maybe not as easy, nothing's as easy as simply using and tossing! But this is why our planet has seen better days. So, who's up for trying some reusable bags!? GoSili has silicone snack and sandwich bags (affiliate link), though they don't seal completely, so you can't put anything too liquidy or with teeny pieces in there. Itzy Ritzy snack bags are another option, with a zipper closure and waterproof lining. I haven't tried either yet but will update this post when I do!

Silicone Baby Food Pouches
Single-use baby food pouches are easy to grab and feed little ones on the go, but super wasteful. Not to mention you can't utilize them with homemade baby food. But don't worry, I got you. The answer: Squeasy Gear Silicone Pouches!! We have been using ours for years now, and they still look brand new (except for the 1 that got left in the car with water for 1 week and I couldn't get rid of the mold, so be careful about that!). These aren't just good for baby food though - fill them with yogurt, applesauce, or smoothie and throw them in the lunch box. And because of the removable no-spill insert, they're even great for liquids! They come in 3.5oz, 6oz, & 16oz for $12.99 - $16.99 on Amazon (affiliate link).

US Japan Fam loves Squeasy Gear silicone food pouches!

Some of these products might be tough to find at local retailers, but you can grab them on Amazon here (affiliate links):

So, what do you think!? Are you already using some of these silicone products? Have others you love? Any tips for reducing, reusing, recycling!? Shopping at zero waste bulk stores yet? Leave a comment below!!

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