Restaurants are banning children

I don't really have a problem with restaurants having a designated "kids free" zone. I hate it when the service is slow and my kids get bored and want to run around and I am constantly saying "Shhh, sit down. It's only a few more minutes." I look around worried someone is going to complain or be annoyed. Actually, I hate taking my kids out to eat. It's just not fun. It's stressful and they rarely eat the food and it costs a lot more than eating at home. I would much rather go out to eat with my husband at a quiet restaurant. Granted, my kids are little and wild! If I had older, quiet kids I would probably feel differently!

FROM NBC: Restaurants are banning children. Some diners say its way overdue while others think it's not right. This story is about one Augustine, Florida dining room where you have to leave the kids at home. Randy and Debbie Morris are celebrating a quiet, romantic 30th anniversary dinner.

"Beautiful sunset." But tonight's celebration is actually a repeat of last night's disaster, at a different restaurant.

Randall Morris: "We couldn't hear ourselves think. It's not the kids fault, it's the parents who haven't taught the kids how to behave." "We're restaurateurs, we're not babysitters." Three years ago, Cap's on the Water became a pioneer in what is becoming a growing national trend.
Vivian De Raad/Restaurant Owner "You want to have a nice bottle of wine and dinner, i think you should be able to do that without children crying and running in and out."

"Now let's be clear, kids are allowed in this restaurant, just not this room. Here's the cutoff point right here. To get in here, you have to be 16, in most cases."

"16 would be the cut off for me." "if there a calm 16?" "exactly, laughs." And yes, they've had some upset customers.
Bernard De Raa/Restaurant Owner: "I think as a young parent, it's hard not to feel insulted. It's got to feel personal. Your kids not welcome in our dining area, who are you, I'm spending money here.

But overall, customers, and the money have been flowing in. "I think it's been up." So, don't be afraid to bring your kids to cap's just be afraid to bring them in this room. "If you can't see my point, own your own restaurant, buy your own restaurant and have your own policies."

Caps is not alone in Florida. There are a number of restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, and even some airlines that are going kid-free.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

2011 Mom Makeover Winner

You have to watch this story. It is one of my favorites and it's about two incredible moms who took care of loved ones with cancer. I cried with them, laughed with them and was inspired to think about what matters most in life. I encourage you to do the same!



Ann Troxell is focusing on taking it one day at a time. her husband Doug passed away from breast cancer just 5 months ago, leaving her two little girls without a dad.

Ann said, "The biggest thing I want to say is, when he told me he thought he had breast cancer, I laughed at him because i didn't think men could get breast cancer."

You'd think Ann is our Mom Makeover winner, but she is actually the one who nominated her best friend Nikki Cihi for the award.

Nikki said, "I have goose bumps just thinking about it. It speaks volumes as to the type of person she is."

They share a common bond. Nikki said, "March 28th of 2006 he was diagnoses with leukemia. He was seven years old."

Nikki's son Zachary is 10 years old today and in remission.

Nikki said, "He has lost friends, kids younger and kids older to cancer, I just can't imagine life without him. He's my hero."

Zach and Ann's husband Doug fought cancer together.

Ann said, "I didn't know what to feed him. I didn't know how to help him and Zach helped me with that. I could go to Zach and say, what do I do? How do I help him?"

Ann said, "It was the weirdest thing. My husband was talking to this little 9 year old and he was making him feel better. It was incredible and she raised him. She is responsible for that."

Ann says Nikki's courage and incredible friendship is how she got through it.

Ann said, "The last night before Doug passed, she slept in my bed with me. I don't think we slept, but just knowing she was there."

So today, these two friends are sharing a much needed new bond--a happy one.
Nikki said, "So I looked on-line and saw that I had won and said-what did you do?"

Ann said, "I was standing in my kitchen screaming. The neighbors probably thought I was looney."

These two local moms are taking care of themselves today, getting a physical and spiritual makeover.

And here's Nikki's new style! (Before and After)


-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

I am a Screen-time Hypocrite

Um, I admit the television is on way too often at my house. I feel like I am constantly turning it off-only to find someone has turned it back on within minutes. And when I am relaxing, it's not uncommon for the television to be on while I type on the computer. If I get a text while I am doing that, I sometimes respond to that as well. So I certainly don't think these kids are "so bad." On a positive note, they are learning how to multi-task!

FROM NBC:Cutting down on your kids' screen time may be more complicated than simply turning off the T.V. Researchers in the UK questioned 10- and 11-year-olds -- who overwhelmingly said they often used multiple electronic devices at once -- watching t-v and chatting online while texting their friends during commercials, for example.

Television programs were often used as background entertainment when the family was engaged in an activity, like eating dinner.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Soccer Goal Deaths

It makes me sick to think 11 kids had to die from soccer goals before a law was passed. It's just wrong. A soccer goal is so non-essential in life.

FROM WHOI: A new law signed by Governor Quinn today is aimed at making soccer goals safer.
The bill honors a norther Chicago suburban boy who was just 6 years old when a goal fell on him and killed him.

The legislation was deemed Zach's law, and it was passed unanimously in the Illinois General Assembly.

The law bans the manufacture or sale of new soccer goals that are not tip resistant.
And Older goals must be properly anchored to the field.
Zach's parents say in the last eight years since their son's death, 10 other children have died in cases of goals falling on them on soccer fields.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Free Birth Control

Wow! More women will be getting free birth control. I am not sure on the political details of this one, but it sounds like a plan that will help a lot of women.

FROM NBC: Starting August 1st, 2012 -- insurance companies will be required to cover all FDA approved contraceptives for new plans without a co-pay. This includes the pill, IUD's and the so-called "morning after pill" a prescription that works by blocking or delaying ovulation.

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. Dr. Deborah Nucatola/ Planned Parenthood Federation: "Women, when they do have unidentified pregnancies, are less likely to seek prenatal care, and if they do seek prenatal care, they are less likely to get enough prenatal care." OB-GYN'Ss say the ability to plan for pregnancies is crucial for women's health.

Dr. Ted Anderson/Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Women who have rapid successive pregnancies that is pregnancies within a year of their most previous delivery are at increased risk for preterm delivery and other complications of pregnancy."

And "birth control" isn't the only reason women use it. Dr. Judy Yolkar/Cleveland Clinic: "Contraceptives are used top control irregular bleeding, skin conditions, endometriosis treatment." The guidelines include a provision that allows religious institutions to opt out of birth control coverage.

Women with health coverage will also be entitled to an annual physical, HPV screening, Breast pumps and counseling on domestic violence. The guidelines do not require coverage of RU-486 and other medications used to chemically induce abortions. Some brand name drugs may have a co-pay if a generic version is available.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.