T-Tapp Moms

Is Organic Baby Food Really Organic?

Is Organic Baby Food Really Organic? By Tiffany Karp Let me start by saying that I am not a mom. You read that right. I am not a mom. However, that doesn't mean I don't care about what our children eat! Like all of you, I know that true organic is the best food you [...]

Managing Thyroid Disease During and After Pregnancy

Managing Thyroid Disease During and After Pregnancy: Guidelines By Mary Shomon Thyroid disease is known to affect many aspects of pregnancy and postpartum health, as well as the health of the baby. In an effort to organize the various and sometimes contradictory practices with regarding to thyroid disease and pregnancy, clinical guidelines for the [...]

Go Ahead, Shoot Me Son! 6 Steps to getting a workout done around children.

Go Ahead, Shoot Me Son! 6 Steps to getting a workout done around children. by Kayla Howard Hold up number three preventing ladies from getting a workout done seems to be the kids. This is a true difficulty—especially if your children are young! When I started exercising, (T-Tapp) I had three very young children. [...]

Family Fun: Ideas That Get Your Children (And YOU) Moving

Family Fun: Ideas That Get Your Children (And YOU) Moving By Elizabeth Platt I’ve found that a lot of the advice and tips out there on how to help children stay healthy and active are not very helpful to me. Most articles and tips I find assume exercise is another thing we have to [...]

My Daughters In The Mirror

My Daughters In The Mirror By T-Tapp Trainer Elizabeth Platt If you have a daughter and worry about how you can help her develop a healthy and positive body image, when she is bombarded daily by society's values on being thin and skinny and having the “perfect” body, then keep reading. I’m a mother to [...]

Clearwater Intermediate School Hoe Down Showdown Recap

Posted by admin on May 18th, 2012

Clearwater Intermediate School Hoe Down Showdown Recap

Yesterday the T-Tapp Staff, along with Teresa Tapp, went to do a Hoe Down Showdown at Clearwater Intermediate School. The Hoe Down Showdown was organized as a fund raiser for the school so they could hold 8th grade graduation.

All the 8th graders participated in the showdown. The rules were simple. Everyone would start doing Hoe Downs and once you got tired you sat down. The last 3 kids would be the ones completing for a cash prize of either $100, $50, or $25. We also brought shirts for everyone that they got at the end of the hoe Down Showdown.

What Are Your Intentions?

Posted by admin on May 10th, 2012

What Are Your Intentions?
By Tiffany Karp

“Our intention creates our reality.” –Wayne Dyer

Intention. The dictionary defines intention as (n.) an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. Intention might not sound big but it is really a driving force in your life.

Tips for Shopping at a Farmer’s Market

Posted by admin on May 3rd, 2012

Tips for Shopping at a Farmer’s Market
By Stacy Myers

It’s that time of year! The Farmer’s Market is back open and in full swing. I’m not sure about you, but there is just something that fills me up with a joy and contentment when I can shop for my things outside and support local people. It’s the best of ALL worlds! Plus, no dragging your kids to the grocery store…we all know THAT is an adventure.

But, before you head out to the Market there are a few tips I want to pass along that might make your shopping trip a little better. So, take note of these and then head out to soak up all the local culture…and eat a sticky bun for me, would ya?

You Too Can Be a Cloth Diaper Extraordinaire

Posted by admin on April 26th, 2012

You Too Can Be a Cloth Diaper Extraordinaire
By Valerie Brown

Having a baby brings a whole new set of challenges especially when trying to reduce your environmental impacts. My desire to be a sustainable mommy led me to investigate cloth diapering. So, I wanted to share my cloth diaper experience with you. Today’s cloth diapers aren’t like grandma’s diapers (thank goodness). No more pins or dunking in the toilet. Cloth diapers today come with snaps or aplix (Velcro) fasteners, are easy to change, super absorbent, and come in some really cute colors and patterns (I just found one in leopard print). I chose cloth diapers based on their environmental benefits—no more little plastic wrapped packages of poo sitting in our landfills for eternity—but have also learned about their financial and health benefits too!

Disposable diapers contain quite a few chemicals in those ultra-absorbent crystals, namely dioxin and sodium polyacrylate. Dioxin is a by-product of the bleaching process, a known carcinogen, and has no safe exposure level. Sodium Polyacrylate was banned from tampons in 1985 due to its link to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Needless to say, I felt compelled to keep these chemicals off my baby’s behind. As a result, my bundle of joy has had almost zero diaper rash which makes us both happy.

Have you been bitten by the bug?

Posted by admin on April 19th, 2012

Have you been bitten by the bug? The Social Media bug?
By Tara Chatzakis

Social media is FUN! Are you taking part?

Which platforms do you use? Now there are many out there but some are more famous than others. The most popular, by far, is Facebook. Facebook has over 845 million active users! Phew! And what do people do on Facebook? They go there to talk to friends and share pictures with them, share funny stories and links to other places online that they have found. Are you on Facebook?

The second most popular has to be Twitter. Now Twitter is a little more unknown. Most people aren’t very familiar with Twitter and find it a little daunting. Although saying that it has approximately 127million active users. Basically on Twitter you write, in 140 characters or less, what you want to say. So you kind of keep updating a mini status, constantly throughout the day. You can share quotes, ask questions or add a link to a site you’ve found.

Who’s The Fairest of Them All?

Posted by admin on April 12th, 2012

Who’s the Fairest of Them All?
By Tiffany Karp

What is the one thing that all of us are exposed to millions of times a day and don’t even really realize is effecting us?

The answer: advertising.

Budgeting for Baby

Posted by admin on April 5th, 2012

Budgeting for Baby
By Stacy Myers

As a general rule, most mommies know that they are pregnant for about 8-9 months. However, from the way most of them act when the hospital bill comes in; their pregnancy was a complete and total shock. It should come to no surprise to you that there will be medical bills for your baby’s birth. Whether you choose a hospital birth or you birth at home with a midwife, there WILL be bills – you WILL spend money. It only makes sense to be prepared for this expense.

So, let’s take a look at how you can budget in advance for your baby’s birth so that when the bill comes due, you won’t pass out in the floor and be rushed to the ER…resulting in more medical bills. ?

Daughter Knows Best

Posted by admin on March 29th, 2012

Daughter Knows Best
By Jennifer Tomlinson

There are times when the tables turn that we need to listen to our children’s advice. The real trick is to recognize that moment when it has arrived. Unfortunately, as you'll see from my story, I didn't "listen" to my daughter on that fateful day in March of 2008.

My daughter Chloe, who was only 4 years old at the time, was used to me riding our horses at least a few times per week. After all, I was an experienced rider and had ridden horses since I was her age. What made this day unique was that Chloe asked me not to ride. Her reasons seemed unfounded and trivial, and I was eager to ride as always, so I proceeded with business as usual.

It’s a Numbers Game

Posted by admin on March 22nd, 2012

It’s a Numbers Game
By Tiffany Karp

Numbers are everywhere and they can mean almost anything. We think about them, use them, stress over them, applaud them and abuse ourselves with them daily. Most of the time, we aren’t even aware that we’re doing these things as our reactions are mostly subconscious. With T-Tapp we spend a lot of time with numbers as well, getting comfy and cozy with the inches side of our measuring tape.

Our focus on inch loss compared to weight loss is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because you get your mind away from the scale. Most people gain up to 7 pounds of muscle in their spine alone in the first week of T-Tapp. Therefore, getting away from the scale is important. The problem is that people don’t understand how amazing they are doing when all they see is an inch or two gone in a couple weeks. To them, an inch is not good enough. It’s nothing. But let me tell you that in actuality one inch lost is amazing!

Don’t Forget to BREATHE!!

Posted by admin on March 15th, 2012

Don’t Forget to BREATHE!!
by Vanetta Stephens

Maybe your personality is different from mine. I like to get up in the mornings then start working down my to-do list, marking things off as I complete the tasks. Finishing by noon is a very, very good day, in my book.

As a former homeschooling mom of three, I remember having this same approach with my family as we went through our days. After exchanging morning pleasantries, and finishing breakfast, we’d begin moving forward getting tasks crossed off our lists. School began after completing the morning chores which was about 9:00 AM.