ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Stroke Rates Up in Pregnant Women, New Moms, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/stroke-rates-up-in-pregnant-women-new-moms-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/stroke-rates-up-in-pregnant-women-new-moms-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/stroke-rates-up-in-pregnant-women-new-moms-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Credit: Getty Images

We've asked this before, but don't pregnant women have enough to worry about already?

Now, you can add an increase in stroke rates to their list of health concerns.

According to the Wall Street Journal, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found the rate of pregnant women being hospitalized for strokes rose 47 percent between 1994-95 and 2006-7, while the rate rose 83 percent for women who had given birth within the last three months.

Now, those numbers are still very low, the newspaper reports, with just .22 hospitalizations for every 1,000 deliveries, but, still, the numbers have experts concerned.

The findings, published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, could be a result of pregnant women being at risk more and more often for things such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, all risk factors for stroke, the Journal reports.

Lead study author Elena Kuklina, an epidemiologist at the CDC's heart disease and stroke prevention division, tells the newspaper women should get general health exams before they plan to get pregnant to determine any issues that could be reversed.

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]]>pregnancy and strokepregnancy healthstrokestroke ratesLesley KennedyFri, 29 Jul 2011 15:30:00 ESTGap Sparkle Backpackhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/gap-sparkle-backpack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/gap-sparkle-backpack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/gap-sparkle-backpack/#commentsFiled under:

Your kid is sure to sparkle at school with this backpack from Gap. Credit: gap.com

It may seem like you're just getting into the swing of summer, but back to school shopping season is already upon us. New clothes, new shoes, new supplies, and, of course, a new backpack are all on our lists.

And, knowing a very girlie girl, or two, we can't help but be drawn to this spectacularly sequined backpack from GapKids. Available in pink, light blue, black and silver, it's just perfect for your little shining star. It's never too early to add a little glam to your gear.

At gap.com, $30.

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]]>backpackgap bandgapkidssparklehorseLesley KennedyFri, 29 Jul 2011 14:00:00 ESTPregnant Moms Who Use Mouthwash Not as Likely to Have Preemies, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/pregnant-moms-who-use-mouthwash-not-as-likely-to-have-preemies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/pregnant-moms-who-use-mouthwash-not-as-likely-to-have-preemies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/pregnant-moms-who-use-mouthwash-not-as-likely-to-have-preemies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Credit: Getty Images

"Floss, floss, floss!" You've been commanded by dentists for years to heed that advice. Now, it may be time to add "mouthwash, mouthwash, mouthwash!" to your oral health routine.

A new study finds pregnant moms with gum disease have a better chance of delivering full-term babies if they use mouthwash while they're expecting, Reuters reports, as preggo women with periodontal disease have more premature babies than moms with healthy gums.

Researchers found when women used an alcohol-free mouth rinse, the risk of early labor seemed to be decreased by three-quarters, according to the news service.

Reuters notes staff and funding from the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, came from Procter and Gamble -- a company that makes mouthwash.

The study doesn't draw specific conclusions, but Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, lead author and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, tells the news service dental care is crucial.

"They need to use a soft toothbrush and floss the right way," wrapping the floss around the tooth, she told Reuters in an earlier interview. "The first goal with almost all dental disease is prevention, prevention, prevention."

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]]>mouthwashpreemiespregnancypregnancy mouthwashpremature birthLesley KennedyFri, 29 Jul 2011 12:00:00 ESTRachel Zoe Working on Children's Fashion Collectionhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/rachel-zoe-working-on-childrens-fashion-collection/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/rachel-zoe-working-on-childrens-fashion-collection/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/29/rachel-zoe-working-on-childrens-fashion-collection/#commentsFiled under: ,

When one of the world's best-known fashion stylists has a baby, you just know a children's line can't be far behind.

And, so is the case with Rachel Zoe. The reality show star who dresses celebs like Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson on Bravo's "The Rachel Zoe Project," is a new mom to Skyler, 4, months, with hubby Rodger Berman, and she tells ABC's "Nightline" she is working on a kiddie collection.

"Let me tell you, there is going to be a lot of boys' clothes in my line," she tells the news show.

Of course, Skyler, naturally, already has an amazing collection of clothes. His closet, shown on "Nightline," is, as Zoe would say, ba-na-nas. Huge and filled with the usual stuff -- you know, Missoni sweaters here, a Gucci bomber jacket there -- she tells the show he is fully dressed until age 2.

It won't be the first collection for the stylist. Zoe already sells affordable styles on QVC and plans to launch an upscale collection of clothing and bags this fall, according to "Nightline."

"Every day I wake up thinking, what can I do next and what more can I do?" she tells the show. "With my husband by my side, and now Skyler, my son, and the team that I have, I feel like anything is possible."

But while motherhood has changed her lifestyle -- and some of her clothing choices -- she tells the show you won't catch her in sweats. "But you will catch me in less jewelry," she says, adding that she will hold Skyler when she's wearing her trademark 6-inch heels, but she won't walk with him while she's in them.

Zoe does have some advice for moms when it comes to fashion.

"Wear your clothes," she tells "Nightline." "What are you saving up for? I'm wearing my sequins at 12 noon to lunch, and I'm wearing, you know, five cocktail rings to the supermarket."

And new moms should think functional.

"Chunky jewelry and sky-high heels are reserved for night," Zoe tells the show. "During the day you have to keep it minimal. You need to be realistic. I can't honestly hold my son, feed him and push a stroller in a sequin ball gown and 6-inch Atwoods, as much as I would love to."

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]]>childrens fashionfashionkid clothesrachel zoerachel zoe babyskyler bermanLesley KennedyFri, 29 Jul 2011 11:00:00 ESTCellphones Don't Raise Risk of Brain Tumors in Kids, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/cellphones-dont-raise-risk-of-brain-tumors-in-kids-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/cellphones-dont-raise-risk-of-brain-tumors-in-kids-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/cellphones-dont-raise-risk-of-brain-tumors-in-kids-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Put down that cell phone, child! It'll rot your brain and give you cancer!

No reason to put the fear of God into your iPhone-loving kid. We can't comment on the brain rot, but a new study does show that children who use cell phones have no greater risk of getting brain cancer than kids who don't use them, Reuters reports.

Researchers looked at brain tumor patients ages 7 to 19, to gauge their risk of getting cancer from cellphones, and found the patients weren't any more apt to be phone fanatics than the control subjects who were cancer-free, according to the news service.

"If mobile phone use would be a risk factor, you'd expect cancer patients to have a higher amount of usage," Professor Martin Roosli, who conducted the study, published this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, tells Reuters. The research was partly funded by cellphone operators, the news service adds, although they had no part in the study's design, analysis or interpretation of data.

The World Health Organization said in May that cellphone use could increase the risk of some types of brain tumors, Reuters reports. But this study didn't find a connection.

"What we found was that there was no (significant) difference in the amount of use," Roosli tells the news service, adding that any risk "would be a really small risk."

Roosli tells Reuters future studies should look at longer-term use of cellphone use among kids.

"(This study) provides quite some evidence that use of less than five years does not increase the chance of a brain tumor, but naturally we don't have a lot of long-term users," he tells the news service.

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]]>brain cancerbrain tumorscancercellphonescellphones cancermobile phonesLesley KennedyThu, 28 Jul 2011 16:00:00 ESTCeleb Clan Close-Up: Brooke Shields and Her Pretty Babieshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/celeb-clan-close-up-brooke-shields-and-her-pretty-babies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/celeb-clan-close-up-brooke-shields-and-her-pretty-babies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/celeb-clan-close-up-brooke-shields-and-her-pretty-babies/#commentsFiled under: ,

Brooke Shields and her family hit the blue carpet at "The Smurfs" premiere. Credit: Steve Sands, bauergriffinonline.com

Brooke Shields just seems to get better looking with age. The 46-year-old stunner hit the appropriately colored blue carpet recently for the New York premiere of "The Smurfs," which opens nationwide Friday.

With her were her funnyman hubby, Chris Henchy, and their daughters Rowan, 7, and Grier, 5.

We love the matching mother and daughter clutches. Smurf-tastic!

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]]>brooke shieldschris henchygreer henchyrowan henchysmurfsLesley KennedyThu, 28 Jul 2011 14:30:00 ESTP'kolino Little One's Art Easelhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pkolino-little-ones-art-easel/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pkolino-little-ones-art-easel/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pkolino-little-ones-art-easel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The P'kolino Little One's Art Easel is two-sided for double the fun. Credit: pkolino.com

Want to foster your kids' love of art, but get tired of picking up loose pieces of paper and broken crayons off the floor all the time? Set them up with an art easel!

This new double-sided easel from P'kolino allows two children to create at the same time. One side has a chalkboard, the other a whiteboard. Just add a paper roll when the lil' ones feel inspired to make their drawings more permanent.

P'kolino Little One's Art Easel is available Aug. 15, but can be preordered now, $80, at pkolino.com.


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]]>art easeleaselkids artpkolinoLesley KennedyThu, 28 Jul 2011 14:00:00 ESTTooth Fairy Latest Victim of the Economyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/tooth-fairy-latest-victim-of-the-economy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/tooth-fairy-latest-victim-of-the-economy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/tooth-fairy-latest-victim-of-the-economy/#commentsFiled under:

Credit: Getty Images

Cutting back on cable, new clothes and trips to the gas pump are all indicators of a bad economy, but when the Tooth Fairy starts shorting kids, you know things are serious.

The Denver Post reports U.S. kids are getting an average of $2.60 a tooth these days, compared with $3 a year ago, according to a recent survey by Visa. For those who don't like math, that's $.40 less than last year -- but still a heck of a lot more than we used to get, when a quarter was considered a score.

Thorton, Colo. fourth grader Alicya Rodriguez tells the Post she gets a $1 a tooth. She may want to have a word with the Tooth Fairy. The average amount traded for teeth in the West is $2.80, while kids in the East get $2.10, kids in the South get $2.60 and kids in the Midwest get $2.80.

"The survey gives parents the opportunity to start talking with kids - even pretty little ones - about money management," Jason Alderman, Visa's senior director of financial education, tells the newspaper.

Not sure what you, er, the Tooth Fairy, should spend per tooth? Dr. Rhea Haugseth, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tells the Post parents should just be reasonable, and pay no more than $5.

"I tell them there are 20 baby teeth and they need to think about what that could cost," Haugseth tells the newspaper.

Best start saving now.

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]]>baby teethbad economyeconomytooth fairyLesley KennedyThu, 28 Jul 2011 12:00:00 ESTPregnant Man Sheds Baby Weight, Shows Off New Bodhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pregnant-man-sheds-baby-weight-shows-off-new-bod/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pregnant-man-sheds-baby-weight-shows-off-new-bod/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/28/pregnant-man-sheds-baby-weight-shows-off-new-bod/#commentsFiled under:

Pregnant Man Shows Off Killer AbsYeah, we get jealous when we see the Madonnas and the Victoria Beckhams and the Jessica Albas of the world go from pregnant back to size 0 in what seems like a matter of hours.

Now we have Thomas Beatie to add to our list. So, no Beatie isn't a super star celebrity, but the transgender man has made headlines for giving birth to three children.

And, now, the New York Daily News reports, he's gotten himself in post-baby shape that would even make Madge envious.

The Oregonian, 37, known in the press as Pregnant Man, has traded his baby weight for ripped abs, according to the newspaper, and E! reports it was done through a combination of diet, exercise and testosterone doses.

E! also adds Beatie is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Beatie, born a woman, has three children with his wife, Nancy, the Daily News reports. He says he does not plan to have a full sex change, according to E!, as he says he is legally considered a man already.

The Daily News reports Beatie had 10 years of sexual reassignment therapy, including chest reconstruction surgery.

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]]>baby weightpregnant manthomas beatietransgenderLesley KennedyThu, 28 Jul 2011 11:00:00 ESTGirl's Dream of Providing Poor With Clean Water Comes True, Even After Her Tragic Deathhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/girls-dream-of-providing-poor-with-clean-water-comes-true-even/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/girls-dream-of-providing-poor-with-clean-water-comes-true-even/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/girls-dream-of-providing-poor-with-clean-water-comes-true-even/#commentsFiled under:



A girl's goal to raise $300 for a nonprofit clean water group was cut tragically short when the 9-year-old died last week in car crash.

Rachel Beckwith, of Bellevue, Wash., needed about $80 to complete her goal of sending the money to charity:water, a group dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to poor nations, MSNBC reports. But now people across the world are hearing her story and sending in money that has topped $360,000 in donations, the Seattle Times adds.

After news of the girl's death and her goal made local news around Seattle, and soon spread worldwide through social media, contributors began making pledges on Rachel's webpage.

"What could have been simply a senseless ending to such a beautiful beginning of your story has turned into something so much more," an anonymous donor posted. "I hope that if at all possible the obvious compassion so many others have shown in taking up your empathetic cause brings some peace to you and your family."

Rachel became involved with charity: water through her church, according to MSNBC.

"On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9," she wrote on her page on mycharitywater.org. "I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations."

Samantha Paul, Rachel's mother, posted on the site earlier this week that she is in awe of the reaction.

"In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope," she wrote. "Thank you for your generosity! I know Rachel is smiling!"

Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water, tells MSNBC more than 3,600 donations have been made. As of this morning, that number was up to 7,500, according to the Seattle Times.

"Her little dream of helping 15 people has turned into almost 10,000 people and counting," he tells the network. "I wouldn't be surprised if she gets 1000 times her wish."

Harrison tells MSNBC he has seen people rally around things like this before.

"The selflessness of a 9-year-old girl who said, 'I don't want a birthday party, I don't want gifts, I just want people to have clean water' - that's the way it resonates with people," he tells the network. "I'm not surprised it's resonated with Rachel's friends and church community and people around the world."

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]]>charitycharity:waterclean waterdonationsgirl diedrachel beckwithLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 15:30:00 ESTSelma Blair Names Son Arthur Sainthttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/selma-blair-names-son-arthur-saint/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/selma-blair-names-son-arthur-saint/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/selma-blair-names-son-arthur-saint/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Selma Blair. Credit: Getty Images

She's been making moms envious for months, with her pretty amazing pregnancy style, but actress Selma Blair will soon be back to regular clothes following the birth of her son, Arthur Saint Bleick.

People magazine reports the boy was born July 25 to Blair, 39, and her boyfriend, Jason Bleick, a fashion designer, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

In other celebrity baby news:

Neil Patrick Harris tells Parade magazine he and partner David kept the pregnancy of their 9-month-old twins Gideon and Harper under wraps during the filming of his upcoming "Smurfs" movie.

"When we were filming the movie, [David and I] were about five or six months pregnant and we weren't telling anybody. When the script came my way, we had just started that process, so it felt like good timing. It was certainly easy to film things like looking at an ultrasound photo and feeling what emotion that brings. It was a nice little secret moment."

Jessica Alba tells Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that her baby is due "soon, very soon." And that her 3-year-old daughter, Honor, is "excited."

"She says she's gonna actually be the mommy, I'm gonna be the grandma. That's the way that she phrases it," Alba says on the show. "My girlfriend asked her, 'are you excited about being a big sister?' And she's like, 'yeah, because I'm gonna be a grown up, I'm gonna drink vino and drive."

And Pippa Middleton is sparking a baby naming trend. Read about it here.

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]]>arthur saintceleb babiesjessica albaneil patrick harrisselma blairselma blair babysmurfsLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 15:30:00 ESTFijit Friendshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/fijit-friends/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/fijit-friends/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/fijit-friends/#commentsFiled under:

Figit Friends dance, talk and tell jokes. Credit: mattel.com

What's a Fijit Friend, we asked our toy-savvy 6-year-old. "Oh, I want a Fijit Friend. They're like these little dancing robot thingies. And if you say, 'I love you, Fijit Friend,' they say 'I love you, too.' I really want one for my birthday. Can I have one for my birthday?"

OK, OK, we get it. Fijit Friends are fab. The little robots from Mattel dance when you play them different songs, give them a squeeze or poke their bellies, busting different moves. They also talk, tell jokes and recognize your kid's voice.

Four friends are available -- Sage, Logan, Willa and Serafina. Be prepared for your own birthday gift requests.

At shop.mattel.com, $50.

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]]>dancing robotfigit friendsmatteltoy robottoysLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:00 ESTUpdate: Mom Won't Serve Jailtime in Son's Jaywalking Deathhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/update-mom-wont-serve-jailtime-in-sons-jaywalking-death/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/update-mom-wont-serve-jailtime-in-sons-jaywalking-death/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/update-mom-wont-serve-jailtime-in-sons-jaywalking-death/#commentsFiled under:

Her son died tragically after Raquel Nelson and her three children crossed four lanes of highway without a crosswalk and a hit-and-run driver struck the boy.

The driver, Jerry Guy, who had two previous convictions for hit-and-runs, pleaded guilty to one count of hit-and-run and served six months, "Today" reports, while Nelson faced 36 months in jail after being found guilty of second-degree vehicular homicide, reckless conduct and failure to use a crosswalk during the accident that killed A.J. Nelson, 4.

But the Marietta, Ga., mom will not serve time in jail, according to the news show. Instead, she received a sentence of 40 hours of community service and 12 months probation and was granted the unusual chance for a new trial.

"One year probation, it was better than jail time, of course," Nelson tells "Today." "I was just happy to be walking out of the courtroom. ... When (the judge) said what she said, it was a relief. I probably could have kissed her."

Nelson tells "Today" she's still deciding whether or not to go through with a new trial.

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]]>a.j. nelsonboy killedjaywalking deathno jail timeraquel nelsonLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 13:30:00 ESTHow to Make a Paper Water Balloon Bombhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/how-to-make-a-paper-water-balloon-bomb/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/how-to-make-a-paper-water-balloon-bomb/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/how-to-make-a-paper-water-balloon-bomb/#commentsFiled under:

When the temperatures are soaring and it's too hot to do much of anything, we have three words for you: Water. Balloon. Fight.

What's that you say? It's too steamy out to force yourself to leave your house in search of balloons to fill? Sit your sweaty self down and check out this video on how to make a water balloon out of paper. That's right -- using this origami technique, you just need a large piece of paper and a little know-how.

Follow these easy folding steps, fill your balloon with water, and it's bombs away. Just don't be surprised if you experience a little retaliation.

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]]>origamipaper water balloonsummer funsummer gameswater balloonLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 13:00:00 ESTPippa Gaining Ground on Top Baby Name List in 2011http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/pippa-gaining-ground-on-top-baby-name-list-in-2011/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/pippa-gaining-ground-on-top-baby-name-list-in-2011/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/27/pippa-gaining-ground-on-top-baby-name-list-in-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

pippa middleton

Pippa Middleton. Credit: Getty Images

She's been capturing headlines all over the globe since her famous sister Kate became British royalty, and now Pippa Middleton is sparking a baby naming trend, too.

Reuters reports the baby name website Nameberry analyzed 23 million page views of baby name pages on various naming sites and found celebrities are having a serious impact on the monikers folks are bestowing on their little ones.

"Five years ago, I might have said that the biggest overarching factor was personal meaning, now the biggest factor is celebrities," Nameberry's Pamela Redmond Satran tells the news service.

True, Isabella, Sophia and Emma were the top names for girls last year, with Jacob, Ethan and Michael winning out among boy names, but names such as Pippa, Elula (the name actress Isla Fisher and actor Sacha Baron Cohen chose for their daughter), Mila (as in "Black Swan" actress Kunis) and Flynn (the name of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr's son) are gaining steam.

"There is a culture of the celebrity baby," Satran tells Reuters. "The whole world goes on name watch. By not telling the name, it becomes a big news event."

Satran tells the news service the number of searches for a baby name can help predict how popular that name will become.

Nameberry compiled a list of hot names so far for 2001, posted on Today.com. Here's what people are searching.

Pippa: "Both the familiar Pippa and the more formal Philippa is the Number 1 hottest baby name of the year on Nameberry. Pippa ranks 35 on our most-searched list so far this year, after not appearing at all among our 200 most popular girls' names of 2010. While Kate is up too, it's not nearly as hot as Pippa.

Asher: "The soft, Biblical Asher takes the Hottest Boys' Name spot by virtue of having unseated Henry as the all-time Number 1 name for boys on Nameberry."

Elula: "Elula, the unusual Hebrew calendar name chosen by Isla Fisher and Sasha Baron Cohen for their second daughter, was not even in our database last year and now is the Number 38 most-searched name on Nameberry."

Everett: "The popularity of Everett, up 50 places on our most-searched list, was inspired by such stylish girls' choices as Eva and Evelyn."

Hadley: "The success of the bestselling novel 'The Paris Wife' has catapulted the intriguing name of Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson, 50 spots up our list this year over last."

Arlo: "... Arlo, as in folksinger Guthrie, (is) enjoying a popularity surge. Other o-ending names for boys heating up in 2011: Nico, Hugo, Otto."

Mila: "It's the name of a gorgeous young star, Mila Kunis, PLUS it resembles a handful of trendy names -- Mia, Maya, Lila -- that are due for a hiatus."

Flynn: "Finn is already hot, but cousin Flynn, baby name choice of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr, is taking off."

Ada, Adele, Adeline, Adelaide: "If it's a vintage girls' name that starts with Ad-, it can't miss this year, it seems."

Archer: "Archer, as in Henry James' 'Portrait of a Lady' and Edith Wharton's 'Age of Innocence,' is perfect: It's unusual, classic yet contemporary-feeling, and there's no danger of anyone actually having read the books."

Luna: "The real hottie launched by the Beckham name quest was otherworldly Luna, the name rumored to be their girls' pick for most of Posh's pregnancy."

So, don't be surprised if the kindergarten class of 2016 is full of Pippas, Milas, Elulas and Flynns. Kinda sounds like a new sort of British invasion, now, doesn't it?

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]]>baby namesceleb baby namescelebrity baby nameselulaflynnmilamila kunispippapippa middletonpippa nameLesley KennedyWed, 27 Jul 2011 11:00:00 ESTFish Eyes Rod and Reel With Underwater Video Camerahttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/fish-eyes-rod-and-reel-with-underwater-video-camera/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/fish-eyes-rod-and-reel-with-underwater-video-camera/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/fish-eyes-rod-and-reel-with-underwater-video-camera/#commentsFiled under: ,

See what you're catching with this camera rod and reel from FishEyes. Credit: Amazon.com

Gone fishin' with the kids yet this summer? What are you waiting for? Say you don't really have a great rod and reel for the little ones to use? No excuses: Here's the FishEyes Rod and Reel with Underwater Video Camera.

Yep, the name may be about as long as that giant bass you supposedly hooked last time out, but it's totally worth the extra breath.

An underwater video camera transmits live footage to an LCD full color screen, so kids can see the fish and other underwater life. A removable sun shade means the harsh light won't stop the viewing fun.

FishEyes works on the dock, in a lake or in the ocean and comes with two bait baskets, two sinkers and 10 line attachment clip sets. Get ready for some wild fish tales. At amazon.com, $80.

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]]>fisheyes rod and reelfishingfishing pollunderwater cameravideo cameraLesley KennedyTue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:00 ESTStudent Sues School District, Claiming Her Race Kept Her From Being Sole Valedictorianhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/student-sues-school-district-claiming-her-race-kept-her-from-be/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/student-sues-school-district-claiming-her-race-kept-her-from-be/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/student-sues-school-district-claiming-her-race-kept-her-from-be/#commentsFiled under:

Credit: Getty Images

Did an Arkansas school deny Kymberly Wimberly from serving as sole valedictorian because she is black?

Her rhyming name may sound a bit silly, but Wimberly, 18, is serious in her lawsuit against McGehee School District, its superintendent and the McGehee Secondary School principal, MSNBC reports.

Wimberly's suit claims she had to share the valedictorian title, despite the fact that she had the school's highest grade point average, according to the news site.

"Even though she had the highest Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) in her class, Defendants forced Wimberly to share the title of Valedictorian with a white student," the lawsuit states. "Defendants' actions were part of a pattern and practice of school administrators and personnel treating the African-American students less favorably than Caucasian students."

MSNBC reports Wimberly, who plans to attend Harding University in Searchy, Ark., this fall, received all A's and one B at McGehee.

According to Courthouse News Service, Wimberly's mother, Molly Bratton, who serves as the school's "certified media specialist," states in the lawsuit that she heard school personnel express "concern that Wimberly's status as valedictorian might cause a 'big mess.'"

Bratton, MSNBC reports, says she was not allowed to challenge the decision before the school board until after graduation.

According the the website, the suit seeks punitive damages and wants school records to show Wimberly as the only valedictorian.

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]]>black studentkymberly Wimberlylawsuitraceschool suedsuesvaledictorianLesley KennedyTue, 26 Jul 2011 13:30:00 ESTGirl Bitten By Shark: 'I Forgive Him'http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/girl-bitten-by-shark-i-forgive-him/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/girl-bitten-by-shark-i-forgive-him/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/girl-bitten-by-shark-i-forgive-him/#commentsFiled under:



Six-year-old Lucy Mangum grabbed headlines last week after a shark bit her while she was floating on a boogie board in 18-inches of shallow water in North Carolina.

"Today" reports there have been five shark attacks in the state since last summer and two in less than a month.

"She could have certainly lost her leg with this type of injury," Dr. Richard Zeri, who treated Lucy, tells the news show. "She was lucky."

In the hospital, Lucy reportedly told her parents, Jordan and Craig Mangum, "I hate sharks. I like dolphins way better." Now, she's talking forgiveness.

"Last night we were chatting about it," Jordan Mangum tells "Today," "and she said, "I don't care that the shark bit me. I forgive him.' "

Doctors lost count of how many stitches Lucy needed, but they tell the news show the girl should be walking and running in six to eight weeks.

Craig Mangum, an emergency room doctor, tells "Today" he knew immediately that the injury was very significant.

"We knew right away that this was something that was going to require some extensive surgery and some reconstruction," he tells the show.

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]]>girl bitten by sharklucy mangumnorth carolinasharkshark attackshark biteLesley KennedyTue, 26 Jul 2011 11:30:00 ESTBoy, 12, Wins Fashion Contest, Hopes to Dress Michelle Obamahttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/boy-12-wins-fashion-contest-hopes-to-dress-michelle-obama/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/boy-12-wins-fashion-contest-hopes-to-dress-michelle-obama/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/boy-12-wins-fashion-contest-hopes-to-dress-michelle-obama/#commentsFiled under: ,



First lady Michelle Obama isn't afraid to wear designs by relatively unknown, young designers. But a gown by a 12-year-old boy? Now, that would be a first.

NBC reports Texas tween Grant Mower bested design students in college and high school in his home state to win a contest that could lead to Obama wearing his design during a Utah fund-raising event. He'll travel to Utah for the chance to schedule a fitting with the first lady, the network adds.

"First, I was just drawing little girls stuff, then I came up to where I am now watching Chanel shows and you know sort of a growth in fashion and maturity," Grant, who made his first dress out of newspaper, tells NBC.

Grant's mom, Moanna Mower, tells the network her son has faced bullying for designing clothes.

"He would look for validation, and not get it, so he'd come home from school and it would take him three hours for me to just get him back," Moanna Mower tells NBC. "And out of desperation I would do things like, 'Do you want to watch a Versace fashion show?' "

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]]>design contestfashionfashion designfirst ladygrant mowermichelle obamaLesley KennedyMon, 25 Jul 2011 16:00:00 ESTTeens Mauled in Alaskan Bear Attackhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/teens-mauled-in-alaskan-bear-attack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/teens-mauled-in-alaskan-bear-attack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/25/teens-mauled-in-alaskan-bear-attack/#commentsFiled under:

You don't mess with a mama grizzly and her cubs. It was a severe lesson dealt to seven teens over the weekend, as four of them were mauled while hiking in Alaska's Takeetna Mountains.

Four of the teens were seriously injured, Reuters reports, after the bear attacked them as they were trying to cross a river.

Joshua Berg of New York and Samuel Gottsegen of Denver, both 17, were leading the group and suffered the worst of the attack, according to the news service. Noah Allaire, 16, of Albuquerque, and Victor Martin, 18, of Richmond, Calif., were also hospitalized after the mauling. The three other teens suffered minor injuries or ailments related to exposure, Reuters adds.

Other teens in the group, on a 30-day backpacking trip as part of the National Outdoor Leadership School, activated an emergency beacon, the news service reports, and the Alaska Air National Guard rescued them.

Don Ford, the school's Alaska director, tells Reuters the bear likely was protecting a cub.

"They didn't actually see the cub, but they saw some rustling in the brush," he tells the news service. "... This is our 40th year of operation in Alaska. We have not had a bear attack in all of that 40 years."

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]]>alaskabear attackbear maulingteens injuredteens mauledLesley KennedyMon, 25 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST