TypePad Featured Blogs

Baby Babble

Stonyfield Farm is the leading organic yogurt manufacturer and makers of YoBaby yogurt, which makes them the natural host of the child-friendly blog, Baby Babble. It’s a spot where YoBaby parents can “see what’s new in the world of parenting and kids, the latest research, the quirkiest fads, and the most fascinating bugaboos in child behavior”. Posts are submitted by experts in the field, nutritionists, and everyday bloggers, and range from subjects faced by parents everywhere, to working moms, to health. What makes these posts intriguing is their interactivity – virtually all posts have a “mini poll” or “tell us your opinion” field; readers’ responses add to the sense of community and the answers may surprise you. Additional links to Stonyfield products (for both baby and Mom), special “Moosletters”, “Ask the Doctor” Q & A, and money-saving coupons add to the resources found here.

Skin Library

Here’s a trivia question for you: what’s the largest organ in your body? It’s your skin, and as Skin Library will tell you, “your most personal and precious possession” – a thought befitting this information packed, skin care blog. Expert dermatologists offer advice, treatment news, and answer questions about skin care, including adult acne (a growing problem in today’s stress-filled, fast food environment), the care and treatment of men's skin and on the opposite side, skincare during pregnancy. And since the road to beautiful skin can’t start early enough, there are lots of tips about “sun proofing” your skin (and that of your kids). You can ask the experts your skin questions and buy products designed to help you attain what we were all born with: healthy, young-looking skin.

Eating Disorders Today

As issues such as body image and beauty continue to be top of mind, so too, are the aftereffects: eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Psychotherapist Joanna Poppink’s blog, Eating Disorders Today offers a welcome blend of professional and personal advice, knowledge, and guidance for those with the disorder and those close to them. Specializing in eating disorder recovery, Ms. Poppink utilizes her site to dispense treatment news, create a supportive community, and provide invaluable information. Understanding and treating eating disorders can take many forms, as Ms. Poppink’s post on dreams and their effect on health demonstrate. There are many categories here, covering disorders such as Anorexia and its effect on family and friends. There’s a section on teens – perhaps the segment most vulnerable to eating disorders, as well as additional links to related blogrolls and supplemental information. This is an invaluable site for anyone seeking information on this issue.

Healing Combat Trauma

For anyone looking for an informative, apolitical site on this important subject, Healing Combat Trauma provides “resources (and) focus on effective medical, psychological, and legal care”. Readers looking for quick information will find posts on relevant topics such as the effect on trauma on families, women in the military, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The posts offer insight and support; many contain links to outside articles for more information. In addition, the site offers an expansive list of support material, such Therapeutic books and blogs relating to military service and healing.

Sports Geezer

As the title might suggest, Sports Geezer has a definite goal and demographic in mind: “health, fitness, and lifestyles tips for men and women over 40 who still like to play hard”. And with millions reaching that age every year, the site is a welcome repository of facts and figures of interest to them. This is not your parents’ regimen of sweatin’ to the oldies, but a place to discover the benefits of parkour (a routine making use of the urban environment and seen in videos and movies worldwide) , listen to the Perfect Workout Song, read about the importance of “fast twitch” muscles, and discover exercise’s role in minimizing the negative aspects of menopause. Lots of guest writers, experts, trainers, and news sites enhance the posts (from books to yoga with opinions, insights and news of their own, all geared to the different needs of older men and women. We’re all getting older – but thanks to Sports Geezer, it’s a journey we can look forward to making in good shape.

Healthy Concerns

Staying healthy means staying informed…about living right, eating better, and listening to your body – especially when something’s not right. Demystifying illness and treatment options and presenting “healthcare from the patient’s point of view” can be found in the pages of Healthy Concerns. Here’s a blog that’s not afraid to take healthcare issues out of the doctor’s office and discuss items that many might find uncomfortable – that is, health and illness and subjects such as depression, pro-life vs. pro-choice, and breast cancer. These are sensitive subjects, and the author treats them (along with related issues such as treatment options, insurance coverage, and success rates) with passion, personal insight, and the latest news. For those seeking a more in depth look at the subject at hand, the blog features a rich array of categories and links to other medical blogs as well. And for an additional look at how body and mind work together, read the
“sister” blog, Hip and Zen for a look at modern lifestyle products that nurture the body and soul.

The Cottonwood Institute

Here’s an exciting challenge: Create future community leaders through an exciting blend of adventure, wilderness survival, and environmental service. No, it's not the latest episode of some reality TV show, but the goal of The Cottonwood Institute, a non-profit organization based in Denver – one dedicated to “changing the word one adventure at a time”. That they do, and most successfully, as a new generation of young community leaders who are environmentally aware, civically engaged, and empowered to make a positive impact on their respective communities can attest. Global responsibility starts with us all, of course as the blog’s posts on ways you can change the world on sustainability education and non-profit management point out. For the adventurous among you, never fear – there are great survival tips included here as well (but be sure to read them thoroughly before heading for the Great Outdoors! (And if you’d like to check out the program in more detail, go to their website.

Lumosity Brain Health Blog

The Lumosity Brain Health Blog, maintained by cognitive neuroscience company Lumos Labs, deals with improving and maintaining memory, attention, and other components of mental acuity. Checking in here is a no-brainer if you want to learn tips on remembering a list, or the truth behind the Ginkgo biloba myth. (Fact: no proof exists that Ginkgo leaf extracts can improve memory.)  So forget the Gingko, try these brain foods, and keep coming back for more information on topics like brain health and Alzheimer’s, and to play brain games like Lost in Migration. Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste. (Not to mention that this site is fun!)

New Jersey CrossFit

CrossFit is a type of strength and conditioning fitness program that is used by military special operations units, police academies, martial artists, and many athletes. New Jersey CrossFit is the blog about Michael Stehle and James Milkowski's training facility on the Jersey Shore. They work with their clients on a six-month minimum basis and the blog acts as a home for workout schedules. You're likely to see a hybrid of gymnastics and weightlifting, with parallel bars, rings, dumbbells and barbells as some of their regular tools. Michael and James are proud of their clients and routinely post pictures of their accomplishments as well as everyday training. If you want to get a feel for what their program is like, check out their "High Intensity Interval Training" in their Video section. Despite the heavy lifting required of crossfit training, there is a light and welcoming air to the website. You'll immediately feel a sense of community  on the blog and don't be surprised if you find yourself inspired to re-think your own physical fitness routines.

Attraversiamo: The Weight is Over

Read through the posts in Attraversiamo: The Weight is Over and you may think you're reading the daily diary of  a harried tech worker in the Pacific Northwest. And you are, albeit one who has struggled mightily to come to the point where work, family, and romantic issues are the peaks and valleys of her story. Once, it was all about Marybeth's weight. As someone who was morbidly obese (a condition where someone's weight is likely to cause life-threatening complications), she faced a whole different set of daily challenges. Years ago, Marybeth decided to take action and have surgery to facilitate weight loss. And while these kinds of surgeries offer a good chance at success, there are no guarantees. That said, over four years later, Marybeth has kept off an amazing amount of weight and seems to be coping with the challenges she faces at her healthy weight with the same kind of spirit and determination that she used to approach her surgery. We wish MB and everyone who faces serious medical challenges the best of luck and thank her for sharing her story.

Dr. Craig Kasper

Craig A. Kasper is the Director of Audiology for the New York Otolaryngology Group and Co-Director of the New York Tinnitus Center. His new blog, Dr. Craig Kasper, aims to offer information and resources for the hearing impaired. While most of us connect hearing loss with getting older, Kasper points out that's not the case. His downloadable book, The Simple Guide To Optimum Hearing Health For The mp3 Generation, addresses today's music listeners and how some behaviors can put you at risk for permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. He's not saying don't listen to your iPod, he's just trying to tell you how you can protect your ears. Come to the blog to read more on dizziness, grab some quick tips on how to you’re your ears, and if you have a much larger question, just Ask the Audiologist.

MediSys Network News

MediSys is a three-hospital health network in New York City with 10,000 employees. They needed a blog to "provide constant news and information about our hospital network to our employees and medical staff as well as the community." If you look at the content of MediSys Network News, it's just what you might imagine the Public Affairs office would have normally published via a costly paper newsletter. Of course, with a blog the news can be delivered just when MediSys needs it. If there's a special event, the message can be delivered when it will make the most impact, not just when a publication schedule allows. And when a related news item comes across the wire, MediSys can share that information freely, without worrying about space or cost constraints. Finally, MediSys's TypePad blog allows them to share rich media such as video and audio, embedded right in the page. That's a feature no printed newsletter can match, regardless of the skill of your communications department.

Parent Hacks

If only kids came with instruction manuals, right? You've heard it a million times, but there's no better school for parenting than the real world. Parent Hacks is a top-notch blog that leads you straight to experiential tips and tricks for raising your child(ren). The authors, moms Asha Dornfest and Margaret Foley, are comfortable speaking their minds and sharing their hard-won wisdom. Clearly their kids must be great nappers for them to find the time to post three times a day. The categories are well organized by age-group, activity, and concern -- whether you need to learn how to breastfeed, find the appropriate kid gear, or just need a little mental support without asking your mother-in-law. Parent Hacks scours the web to find sites giving the best advice, and delivers it straight to your inbox. With more than 5,000 subscribers, you know that this is advice worth coming back to again and again.

Happy Feet

It's easy to take our feet for granted. Until something hurts. John Vonhof takes his and your feet seriously. He's the author of Fixing Your Feet: Prevention And Treatments for Athletes and the man behind Happy Feet, a place for advice on everything from choosing the right shoes and socks, to orthopedic shoe options, to patching heel blisters. Avid walkers will appreciate the post on Vonhof's favorite socks, and those that hate shoes will find themselves welcome, too. Barefoot feet are happy feet, too. Readers will be surprised to find the wealth of info on their tootsies in this blog. It's been running strong for a year and a half.

Rudd Sound Bites

Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity is dedicated to making a real change in the world's diet. Rudd Sound Bites is their community blog that sheds some overdue light on this serious epidemic. It's not a preachy diet blog.  Rather, Rudd faculty members are connecting media topics and governmental policy with everyday life. They are addressing the prevention of obesity and battling weight stigma head on. From discussing programs like the Calorie Restriction diet to raising the topic of a junk food tax, Rudd Sound Bites points to news and debates around the world, and links to other valuable resources and articles. Don’t let the word policy scare you off, the team posts about weight issues in film, fast food, and the work place, too.

The Health Care Blog

Want to know what's wrong with the American health-care system? How much time do you have? Most of the general population can't exactly put their finger on the problem, but Matthew Holt is trying to change that. As a much-praised resource for news, independent opinions, and ideas about the future of  medicine, The Health Care Blog tries to pull aside the curtain shrouding the sometimes arcane world of medical, technological, political, and  pharmacological health-care trends. Jump right in to the Consumers category and move on to Policy/Politics when you're good addicted. The blog points to more than just broadcast media, Holt sheds light on key bloggers, worthy podcasts, and includes article contributions from other industry insiders. Holt has been writing The Health Care Blog since 2003 and his voice is genuine, dedicated, and smart. He's been in the industry for 14 years, but he's built this blog in an effort for all of us to improve the system as soon as bureaucratically possible.

Diabetes Mine

Diabetes Mine offers "straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes" by hosting an impressive collection of information, commentary, and links about the disease and how to cope with it. Blogger Amy Tenderich, who was diagnosed as a diabetic a few years ago, has a background in journalism and writing. Her talents shine through as she takes on topics from diabetes-related products to diabetes in the news, from books about diabetes to her own struggles with the disease. In recent months, Amy has turned her attention towards collecting her diabetes knowledge into a book. The result, Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes, written with Dr. Richard Jackson, will be released next month. If the book is anywhere near as compelling as Tenderich's densely packed and direct blog, it's certain to be a great resource for diabetes sufferers.

Endurance Is

Dean Karnazes is redefining adventure sport. On a mission to inspire people of all ages to become active, the man called the "ultra marathon man" is running 50 marathons, in 50 different states, in 50 consecutive days. Some might shake their head and call that nuts, but before you decide that a blog about running isn't for you, understand that Endurance Is reads like a story about America. On Day 46 Dean's run takes him through the streets of Maryland where serendipity plays a part in saving the lives of three from a burning building. In Indiana, Dean runs with several first time marathoners through a difficult trail of streams and woodland, and in Cleveland, he meets a grandmother and granddaughter who are running through miserable conditions. The support for the Endurance 50 journey is endless, with adventure enthusiasts flying in from all parts of the country to help out, added by cards and emails from fans around the globe. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Dean's kids meet him and run the last leg with him to celebrate Nicholas's ninth birthday. Dean is also the author of the best-selling Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner and his 50th and final day of the event takes place on November 5, 2006 with the famed New York City Marathon.

Candid Diabetes

Tiffany has had Type-1 Diabetes for more than 15 years. She's been blogging about her life for over a year. Candid Diabetes is filled with educational information about Diabetes and those who have it. This is not a "woe is me" personal journal, it's diary from a  spunky girl with a lot more going on than just her diagnosis. Tiffany loves books, her Border Collie Mollie, aquariums, and abbreviations. Candid Diabetes is just one of many blogs in the Diabetes Online Community, and offers information for both people in the know and those new to the disease. There's Diabetes 101 with information and tips for those new to the Sugar-Free Nation, and handfuls of resource links, calculation formulas, and info about infusion sets. While this blog is by no means a replacement for medical advice, those with Diabetes will feel welcome here, and on Tiffany's discussion board for users of insulin pumps.

Diet Talk from the Doc

Diet.com's resident expert, Dr. Robert Kushner, offers sage advice about weight loss on Diet Talk from the Doc. Each post presents the physician's insights about the implications of various diet-related research and news stories. For instance, Dr. Kushner tackled a recent story that called Starbucks' lineup of coffee drinks unhealthy due to a lack of calorie information on the menu board coupled with the chain's use of trans fats. (The doc says: Become an informed consumer, don't rely on the store to do the work for you.) Other topics include the tie between food and mood disorders, packing your own lunch to control calories, and  the some great, suprising benefits of exercise. For those of us who struggle with weight contol issues, it's great to have Dr. Kushner's advice and encouragement close at hand, sharing new insights and reminding us of what we already know. Of course, if you decide to take control of your own weight issues and change your own eating and exercise routine radically, as always, you should consult your own physician. That's one topic that we know Dr. Kushner agrees with.

The Worldwide Fight Against Cancer

Worldwide, cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. The American Cancer Society launched their TypePad blog to help support their international program whose goal is to eliminate cancer by preventing it in the first place. Their blog is a report from the front lines of this battle, featuring photos, news stories, and event details.

The Nata Village Blog

Jon Rawlingson was travelling through a remote village in Botswana when something profound occurred to him. He could make a difference. After meeting Peace Corps Volunteer Melody Jenkins and seeing her efforts to help the struggling community fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, Rawlingson, a film producer and editor, offered to create a website to focus attention on the village's plight. The resulting Nata Village Blog is a moving effort, with photographs, stories, and amazing videoblog entries. The blog documents both the challenges and the successes of the residents, clinic workers, and educators facing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Here is a case where no description can do justice to the actual content. Please, just go visit the blog. It offers its authors and its readers alike a chance to do something profound.

Healthwise Agewise

Do you spend your sleepless nights fantasizing about the fountain of youth? Well, even if you're not a believer in that kind of rejuvenation, Katrina Gwinn-Hardy, MD, and her brother Carl Gwinn, PhD, are tracking real-life resources for living happier, healthier -- and longer. Gwinn-Hardy has worked at the Mayo Clinics in Scottsdale and Jacksonville and is currently at the National Institutes of Health. Healthwise, Agewise includes topics on Dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), strategies for quitting smoking, eating berries for anti-oxidents, and how moderate drinking can contribute to lower risks of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. New posts come every few weeks, and the archives are well worth perusing, especially since aging is something we all have to face and hopefully, with the right information, we can all enjoy.

Take it Off with Julia

Are you falling all over yourself just to drop a few pounds? Let Julia Havey be your personal trainer via her blog, Take it off with Julia!. Known as a master motivator for eDiets.com, her biggest claim to nutritional fame may be that she lost 130 pounds and kept it off! Havey uses her blog to feature her weight loss products like "The Life Changer," and her book, 52 Weeks: Lessons in Motivation. But it's fine to leave your wallet at home -- Julia's blog offers high-spirited encouragement through her everyday activities, humorous weight loss cartoons, and links to news about weight issues in the media.