baby onesieby Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff

Executive Director/CEO

Healthy Child Healthy World

www.healthychild.org

Have you checked your toy list twice? Wait, let me rephrase that: Have you checked the list of what's in your toys twice? I just discovered the toy database at HealthyStuff.org, which ranks more than 20,000 toys or toy components, organized from "none" to "high" levels for dangerous chemicals.

I checked my list against theirs-my daughter's coveted Baby Alive is a low, thank goodness-and crossed off a few, noting the irony of Target's "green baby" shirt weighing in with dangerously high levels of lead and arsenic. Sheesh!

Especially this time of year, it's worth looking into what you buy. In November, the Illinois PIRG Education Fund released their 26th Annual Survey of Toy Safety report, which found that lead, a known neurotoxin, is still a problem, with several toys exceeding the generous 300ppm standard set by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, and

Caitlin, Nutcracker Angel
"The Nutcracker" season is in full swing all across the country as ballet's biggest box office draw once again delights young and old alike. Chances are you'll be in the audience at a performance near you, perhaps with the grandchildren in tow. Yet while you and yours are enjoying the enduring charm of the holiday classic, those of us who dance in or direct a production are dealing with plenty of artistic and technical challenges. And for all of us in the ballet world, myriad visions of Sugar Plums past dance in our heads when we bring the magical story to life for another annual run. Here is an insider's peek at what can happen behind the scenes and on stage:

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An All-Pointes Bulletin

Before the curtain rises, the bevy of ballerinas who will dance sur les pointes are inevitably obsessed with putting on their shoes. A dancer who is cursed with a toe that's longer than the rest

Daniel Craig
For the guy who's best known as playing James Bond, the British secret agent who lives his life without an iota of fear, actor Daniel Craig couldn't wait to put on a new persona, one that comes a bit closer to the reality of life. So when director David Fincher offered him the plum role of investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the Hollywood version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Craig jumped at the chance.

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"The most important thing about this character for me was to make him as real and as believable as possible," the ruggedly handsome 43-year-old explained during a press conference in New York City.

"I wanted to put the reality into this. He gets shot at and he runs away. I mean, screaming. Like anybody else would," he elaborated. "That was really the key. It was that easy. What I love about this character is that he doesn't have to prove he's a man. He's a nice

Airplane
Visiting far-flung family members during the peak travel times of the year puts you at risk for everything from colds and flu to falls, tummy troubles, and even highway accidents. The weather is often at its most uncooperative, making roads and sidewalks slippery if not impassable. Mother Nature is also a master at causing flight delays. Beyond that, with so many people going home for the holidays, traffic jams are inevitable. Crowds are a given as well -- including babies and children who, with their immature immune systems, are notorious for spreading germs. Not only that but if you're trekking a good distance, the changes in time zones and resulting jet lag will throw off your circadian rhythms. But cheer up! With a few simple strategies, you can ward off problems and enjoy the merriest of festivities with the ones you hold dear.

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Before You Leave:

Get Your Flu Shot

You

When it's the season to welcome friends and loved ones into your home, how do you do it? Well, the type of celebration you choose to host reveals the secrets about your strongest friendship traits. "We tend to plan activities that fit best with our natural strengths and preferences," says party-planning veteran Phyllis Cambria, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Throwing a Great Party." So choose the way you plan to party and discover how you celebrate your friendships, too.

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So to procrastinate packing and getting ready to head home for Christmas, I decided to dig through the old entries on my Yahoo! Notepad and share something. For some reason, I chose this poem. I wrote it when my high school football team was playing in the semi-finals. Enjoy it or not, I don't care...

snowflake

The beauty is in the stillness
The quiet before the big plays
That you sense, standing there
Seeing their breath
Steaming little puffy clouds
The tension killing you
Standing silent
Among the screaming fans
Watching, focusing intently
As they line up
Wondering what will happen
Momentarily you remember
Your feet are nearly frozen
Then it happens
The Saints score
For a final time
You realize this game
This game was the best
That you had ever seen
And probably will see
Ever again in your life

7 Pretty Chandeliers You Can Make Your Yourself... I know that DIY chandeliers aren't new, but that doesn't mean I don't love them. It seems they've made a resurgence through the crafty blogosphere, with unique interpretations of the traditional chandelier popping up all over the web. I have been searching for some chandelier ideas for my own home and wanted to share some of the favorites I've found. Most of them have lights, but not all of them do - sometimes you just need something cool to fill a space, but don't necessarily need the light part. One of my favorite discoveries which does have a light is this custom beaded chandy. I can imagine it in so many colors! Check out these 7 pretty chandeliers you can make yourself and get decorating!





Pretty in PInk
1. Pretty in Pink
The wire baskets used to make this chandelier were found at The Dollar Store!
Find out how to make it


Cascading Color
2. Cascading Color
Leftover paint chips tied to string make an ombre effect in this awesome chandelier project.
Find out how to make it

Related: 10 daring ways to revamp your

The Ideal Gift For Every Sign!
Ever feel like you're experiencing deja vu every holiday season as you wander through stores, with absolutely no idea what to buy for whom? Based on the qualities of all 12 Sun signs, these gift suggestions are geared toward each sign's unique personality. Discover the perfect gift for everyone in your life -- with a little help from the stars!

Aries
Rams are fiery, impulsive and active, so any gift that saves time or enables an athletic hobby will go over well. Aries are playful, so try a fun gift such as a game, or an "experience gift" such as sky-diving lessons -- or for the tamer set, a gift certificate to miniature golf. Don't give the Ram anything too practical; the gift that challenges them, initiates a new project or utilizes their intense physical energy will stoke their spirit!
For the Aries men in your life:
A durable watch, the latest digital camera, sturdy sunglasses, shaving kit (nothing too fancy), sky-diving lessons, tickets to a playoff football game, fireplace