Each year, one week before Thanksgiving (which this year is November 16 - 22), National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  My son's school is taking part and our family is doing our "little" part, in helping with the hunger issue.  If everyone does their "little" part maybe we can make sure that no one goes hungry this Thanksgiving.  Go to nationalhomeless.org for more information and ideas of things you can do.

Tonight, November 15, 2008, at 9:00 EST, the Hallmark Channel premieres Accidental Friendship.  From the Hallmark Channel's press release,

“Accidental Friendship,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Chandra Wilson, Ben Vereen and Kathleen Munroe, is the true-life story of Yvonne Caldwell (played by Wilson), a middle class working woman whose spiral from work and ownership to desperation, destitution, and pushing a buggy on the streets is a sad and familiar tale. Caldwell is befriended by empathetic LAPD officer Tami Baumann out of the love they each have for dogs, and a friendship – tenuous at first – takes hold.

When Wilson, Munroe and Vereen accepted their roles, they took on an experience that not only gave them great acting challenges, but helped open their eyes to the lives of the homeless.

Says Vereen, who plays Wes Smith, a streetbound friend of Yvonne’s, “Having the chance to have that little, vague glimpse into that world is an honor.”

To most of us, they are nameless panhandlers, people living on the fringe of humanity, surviving on the street, barely fending off hunger, poverty and worse. We can’t understand why they would continue to choose such a life or how they even got in such a predicament. “Why don’t they just get help?” we ask ourselves.

As the three actors learned, any of us could easily be in the same spot as the homeless around us.

“Most of us feel like we’re immune to this,” says the real Tami Baumann (who is played by Munroe). “I’ve known many police officers who have gone through a divorce or lost a home – where do they go? Los Angeles is so expensive and the cost of housing puts even full-time working people at risk.”

Says Munroe, “There are a great number of people who had a home and a job and have lost them. Homelessness is hitting home for a lot of people in a big way, especially through this foreclosure crisis.”

Most of us think of homeless people as either mentally ill or alcoholic, though Wilson notes that isn’t always the case. “That’s only about 50% of the homeless population out there. Every case is different.”

Yvonne indeed does have an alcohol problem, but, Munroe says, “This film is a nice piece because it doesn’t play into the negative stereotypes at all. Her alcoholism and homelessness are definitely not incidental because they account for her situation, but you get to know her human side. You can appreciate the person that’s struggling and all of her complexities.”

“Any of us at any time are two paychecks away, one disaster away, one illness away, from being out on the streets,” adds Wilson.

“If you’re the kind of person that blames everybody and everything for why you don’t have what you need in life, then you’re set on a path to make some big mistakes. That’s where Yvonne was in this story. You can convince yourself that this is your choice, and when you want to do something different, you’ll do something different. We don’t realize how bad our circumstance is until we get out of it. The financial crisis today is ensuring that more and more people will never be able to step out from the streets.”

Adds Munroe, “Most of us think of them as people that just decided to quit. But, think about children and how filled with promise they are. No one ever begins in life just to quit.”

It can be a struggle for the homeless to accept help, as Wilson shows in her portrayal of Yvonne as she resists getting treatment for her alcoholism.

“There is a real fear, as Chandra portrays so well, of not being able to make it,” says Munroe. “What if it doesn’t happen? What if she can’t do it? What if she’s not good enough? And without a really substantial support system, it could be impossibly hard.”

Even giving up their meager belongings might make or break an attempt at help. “With Yvonne, it meant she’d have to give up that basket full of crap to fix herself,” Baumann recalls.

“They’re very attached to their basket. It’s nothing but their blanket they sleep on and whatever else that’s their little stash, but it’s their whole world.”

“Yvonne’s is not a Cinderella story. All of her problems don’t resolve at the end of the movie. But today, Yvonne is in treatment and determined to be well. You root for her, heart and soul,” says Wilson.

Baumann’s heart and soul reaches out to those she serves in the very tough LA neighborhood around the 77^th Station. “The rise in everyday staples and the declining value of minimum wage has put so many people at risk of being homeless. My heart breaks when I see people working full-time jobs living in doorways and alleys, and any of us could be there and be them.”

Hallmark Channel’s “Hitting Home” encourages every day people to reach out charitably to those on the fringes of life. In catastrophes near and far, Americans are #1 in giving, even when it hurts! Even in recession charitable giving has never fallen as far as the economy.

It is hard to fathom that there are 750,000 homeless Americans who are literally ignored either intentionally or subconsciously.  It seems that people feel threatened by homeless people.  I'm not sure if this is because they feel that a homeless person is beneath them or out of fear.  Fear that it could be them.  I believe it is the latter.  In today's economy many of us could be two or three paychecks away from being homeless.

Just think "if it were you and/or your family, would you want to be ignored?"  Tonight watch Accidental Friendship, and get inspired.  And as a side note, Chandra Wilson who stars in Grey's Anatomy is a phenomenal actress and I look forward to seeing her in this role.

It is that time of year again; Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up fast and many people will be getting together with extended families.  I know how stressful it can be to just plan and prepare dinner... not to mention decorating and/or cleaning your house if the get together is at your home.  If the family gathering is out of town, you have all the packing and all the things that leaving your home for a couple of days or more entail; as well as the traveling to do.

I've decided to use humor to help us get through this holiday season's family gatherings.  I promise to write a more serious holiday survival guide before Thanksgiving.  Who knows you might be able to use these tips; and sometimes... humor is the only way to survive the holidays.

Let's break it down by the family members that cause so much tension during the holidays.

Mother and/or Mother-in-law

Many people are lucky to think of their mothers or mothers-in-law as their best friend.  In many cases though, mothers and mothers-in-law are the single biggest person of contention for us.  If you have a mother or mother-in-law that is over-bearing, their way is the only way or has a narcissist personality, to name a few, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.  Unfortunately, many of us know the stress this type of person can be on a good day... add in all the pressure of a holiday and well - it can be more than we can handle sometimes.  Here are a few tips on how to handle those too annoying mothers and mothers-in-law:

• If you can't beat 'em, join 'em -  If your mom or mother-in-law likes to tell you how you should do things or implies she could do it better- start telling her how you would/could do whatever she is doing  better.  Start annoying her back.  Sometimes they do things to get a rise out of you; so don't let them see you sweat.  Give it right back to them... but better.  You will be giving her a taste of her own medicine.
• Ignore her -  Pretend she is invisible... do not respond not matter what she says or does.  This may be hard to do sometimes.  I remember my mom telling me as a child that if someone was bothering me to just ignore them.  She said this would irritate them more because they were doing things to get my attention; so ignoring them would be the worse thing I could do.  So when your mother or mother-in-law starts in... ignore her.
• Drink - get sloshed; get numb.  Get drunk and she won't get to you.  Maybe you'll just laugh at everything.

Father and/or Father-in-law

This special man in your life can be a strong and loving role model.  However, if you are one of the unfortunate ones, that have a father or father-in-law that is loud, obnoxious, flirty, self-righteous or any other irritating trait then you are not alone in dreading the holidays.  Try these tips out while around your father/father-in-law this Thanksgiving or Christmas:

• Avoidance - try to stay clear of him.  Take an Ipod or book for example, and hide out in the bathroom.  Conveniently come down with a stomach bug.  This works best if there is two or more bathrooms.
• Pretend - this is closely related to the above tip.  In this situation, claim to have strep throat or some other contagion and you don't want to breathe on them.  This can keep him at a distance.
• Drink - get sloshed; get numb.  Get drunk and he won't get to you.  Maybe you'll just laugh at everything.

Brother or Brother-in-law and/or Sister or Sister-in-law

Siblings and siblings-in-law can really try your patience.  Sibling rivalry is commonplace.  During the holidays a brother or sister can really step on some nerves.  Do you have a brother or sister that are the favorites?  The perfect can't do anything wrong brother or sister?  Or do you have the whining brother or sister that never takes responsibility for their actions?  This Thanksgiving and/or Christmas try these tips out:

• Be childish - if things get too stressful with a sibling revert to your childhood.  Resort to name calling, and those ever popular phrases like "I know you are, but what am I" and "I'm rubber you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you."  You can also cry and/or have a temper tantrum, this especially works if you want to have all the attention. 
• Avoidance - this one works well for siblings and siblings-in-law.  Once again just hide away in the bathroom proclaiming a stomach bug.  Sometimes it's best to just avoid those that stress us.  Especially at family gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Drink - get sloshed; get numb.  Get drunk and he won't get to you.  Maybe you'll just laugh at everything.  As the Pink Floyd song says get "comfortably numb".

I've covered the family members that generally cause the most discomfort during family gatherings; I know there are other relatives that can irritate us,  like crazy aunts and uncles or the obnoxious distant cousin.  You can use these tips on any and all family members as needed.

Please, take these tips in the light in which they were given.  I find humor to be a great way to deal with things and sometimes (like holiday gatherings) it's best to laugh... or else you might be cry.

Next week I'll give you a more serious and realistic survival guide for your holiday get togethers.  Until then try to find some humor in your upcoming holiday festivities.

If you have a humorous tip on how to deal with a family member during the holidays... please share it with us.  We would love to hear it!

Did you know that the second week of November is Pursuit of Happiness week?  This year that's November 8 - 14, 2008.  I like the idea of Pursuit of Happiness week and hope I strive for happiness every week.  Shouldn't we all be in the pursuit of happiness, everyday?

Sometimes we get caught up in all the mundane day to day tasks and responsibilities that we may forget to pursue happiness.  So for this week make a conscious effort to pursue your happiness... and remind others to do the same.

A few tips on how to find happiness:

• Figure out what is important to you right now -  Is it time with family or a better position at work?  Or more "me" time or better health?  The possibilities are endless... just write down the first things that pop in your head. 
• Make happiness a priority in you life -  Think about the times in your life when you were truly happy.  Remember the feeling and actively strive to attain it now.
• Take baby steps -  Start with little things each day that make you feel good.  Do something that relaxes you and makes you feel good; like taking 15 minutes to read, take a bath, meditate, call a friend, take a walk, just to name a few.  Just take the time and do it.
• Train yourself to be an optimist -  Think of the bright side and let go of negative thoughts.  Every time you start to think a negative thought - stop!  Replace it with a positive thought.  It may seem difficult (and yes, at times it is), but if you practice thinking positively, you will be surprised at just how easy it starts to become.

If you really want to be happy - you will be.  And pay it forward... do something that will make someone else happy, without expecting anything in return. 

Here are some free e-cards you can send to family and friends for Pursuit of Happiness week.  This week would also be a good time to watch Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith.  If you haven't seen it yet... I highly recommend it!  If you have seen it already... watch it again.

Here are two web sites that are perfect for Pursuit of Happiness week... and everyday:

1. eHappyLife - I discovered this site recently and must tell you it is one of the best places to help you find your happiness.  On Sundays you can read their Life's Lessons.  I'm still reading them and hope to get caught up with them all soon.  Excellent reads and excellent motivators.
2. The Quote Garden - a collection of inspirational quotations to inspire happiness.

One last and very important thing... be thankful.  Be thankful for what you do have and where you are at this time of your life.  Everyone can find something, regardless how small, that they can be thankful for.

My wish for you is that you will find happiness in the smallest of things; and before you know it, you'll receive happiness in the biggest of things.  Happy Pursuit of Happiness week!

For the first time in many years, millions of parents are finding themselves saying - No.  We want our children to have all the things we didn't; I know I feel that way.  It scares me to think that today's children may be the first in many years to have less than their parents.

It is important to teach our children at a young age the concept of money, and in today's economy it is crucial.  Children will have a greater respect for money and be able to make smarter choices if parents start teaching them financial responsibility as early as possible.

I feel that we have a generation of children, especially teens, that have gotten use to getting everything they want.  Now with so many families struggling to make ends meet - doing everything they can to not lose their homes or to just put food on the table - it is vital we teach our children the importance of a budget and how to save.

Believe it or not you can teach children as early as age two the concept of money.  Children see their parents spending money, writing checks and using their debit/credit cards; whether or not they totally grasp the idea of money that can understand that there is an exchange of money for goods.

These tips will help you to teach your children to be responsible with money.  Who knows, you may even learn a few things yourself.

First you need to teach your children the concept of money.

They need to recognize and learn the value of coins and paper money.  If you don't have a piggy bank, use a jar.  Just don't spend money on one (be creative - any container with a lid will do). This first tip is for young children.  If you already have tweens and teens you can skip to tip two.  Some ideas for teaching money concepts are:

• Differentiate between the coins -  Show them how the coins are different in color and size.  One concept that is difficult for young children to grasp is that the dime, although smallest, is worth more than the penny and nickel.  You need to do this on a regular basis until they get it. 
• Pretend - Play store.  If you have a toy cash register use it... if not just pretend. Let them go shopping for toys they already have and pay for them.  At the bottom of this post is a link to a site where you can print and then cut out play money.
• Use real life - Take advantage of opportunities to teach them about money.  When you go to the grocery store or shopping explain to them that you have to pay for the things you are buying.  Let them hand the cashier the money.  This works especially well if they are buying something for themselves using their allowance or money they earned.

The second tip is to lead by example.

Should you be open and honest with your children about how much you make?  A few years ago I would have said no.  However, I think it is important that your children understand how much you earn and bring in to the household versus how much is going out.  Of course, you can't tell your four or five year old how much your salary is and the amount the mortgage you pay monthly...  unless you want it announced to the world.  I think by the age of seven or eight kids can be told the truth about the family's finances.  Start by explaining what the word "debt" is and if you have debts let them know.

You need to be a good role model when it comes to money.  If you want your children to be financially smart - YOU have to be financially smart.  If your kids see you budget and act responsible with money it will help them to do the same. 

If they don't know the financial situation they assume that money is a bottomless pit from which money will always be there.  I remember my mom asking me  "do you think money grows on trees?"  This made me pause for a minute... hmmm, did it grow on trees?!  This was my introduction into money - where it came from and at that time in our lives... how little there was of it.

So be as open and honest as you can about finances.  Don't scare your children or stress them out but teach them the value of money.  Teach them that you work hard for your money and that you should act responsibly with that money.  Teach them by example the importance of saving for your future (or a rainy day), giving to charities and spending sensibly.  This leads me to the next tip:

The third tip is let them be responsible for their own money.

When they receive money as a gift for birthdays and holidays is a great time to teach them to be responsible with their money.  And If you do have the money and want to give your child/children an allowance for doing things above and beyond what they should/have to do as far as chores go this is a good way of teaching them work ethics.  Remember, their allowance is an equivalent to a salary.  So they only get their allowance/salary once a week if they earned it.  Think of it this way, an allowance should be given to promote healthy money management.

Maybe they can negotiate pay raises once or twice a year.  On the other hand, you can also exercise your right to make pay cuts if they aren't doing a good job.  Now here are three things to teach them to do with the money they receive, either as gift or an allowance:

I'm optimistic that the state of today's economy will not last forever.  My hope is that my son will have a healthy and wealthy future.  Even if things turn around in the financial world these lessons will still be invaluable.  After all, most self-made millionaires/billionaires are smart with their money.  So teach your children today how to be tomorrow's billionaire.

Check out MoneyInstructor.com where you can print out money and coins to teach your young children about money.  They have free printable worksheets and teaching lessons.

Just remember, it is never too late to start teaching good financial responsibilities to our children; but don't delay... get started today!

I'm looking forward to watching the original movie Living Proof that premieres tonight, October 18, 2008, on the Lifetime Channel at 9:00 p.m. EST.  This movie is important for anybody who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor or knows of anyone who has/had breast cancer. 

October is breast cancer awareness month and the Lifetime channel is doing its part by not only bringing Living Proof to television, but making a commitment to fight breast cancer.

From MyLifetime.com,

“Living Proof” is the true story of oncologist and researcher Dr. Dennis Slamon, the UCLA doctor who helped develop the breast cancer drug Herceptin, and his effort to keep the drug trials afloat. His inspiring journey shows the sacrifices he makes in his personal life and the obstacles that he faces to get the drug approved. Thousands of lives have been saved because of his dedication. (Based on Robert Bazell’s book “Her-2.”) Renée Zellweger, Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, and screenwriter Vivienne Radkoff are the executive producers.

Go to MyLifetime.com to read a description of each character and a bio of the actor.  The all-star cast and characters in Living Proof are:

• Harry Connick Jr. - Dr. Dennis Slamon
• Bernadette Peters - Barbara
• Amanda Bynes - Jaime
• Amy Madigan - Fran Visco
• Angie Harmon - Lilly Tartikoff
• Swoosie Kurtz - Elizabeth
• Tammy Blanchard - Nicole
• Jennifer Coolidge - Tish
• John Benjamin Hickey - Blake
• Paula Cale Lisbe - Donna Slamon
• Regina King - Ellie
• Trudie Styler - Tina

Also go to the  My Lifetime web site to read the interview with the real Dr. Dennis Slamon.  And make sure you go to mylifetime.com to see what you can do to help!

Dr. Susan Love is making a plea to women, healthy women, that are willing to do whatever it takes to help fight breast cancer.  From the TodayShow.com, a message from Dr. Susan love, MD.

The time has come for all women to stand up and say that we are not going to take it anymore!  Breast cancer does not have to go on to another generation; we can be the ones who stop it once and for all!  Join the Love/Avon Army of Women for you [sic] mother, sister, friend and daughter so that no one ever has to hear the words “you have breast cancer” again!

What Dr. Love is imploring "healthy women" to do, is go to armyofwomen.org and join the movement to go beyond the cure.  The goal is to get a million women to join.  She said on the Today Show this morning that they do research on treatment and cures mainly with women that are in hospitals and battling breast cancer.  What they need is healthy women for research so they can find the cause and potentially the prevention of breast cancer.

It would truly be great if our grandchildren never heard the word breast cancer.  I know there is a lot of websites, articles and blogs about breast cancer, Dr. Susan Love and the Army of Women but the way I see it... I want to do my little part in spreading the word.

You can go to TodayShow.com and watch the video of Dr. Susan Love. 

If you are a women (and some men), you are at risk for breast cancer.  So as women let's join together and find the answers to prevent breast cancer from ever touching another women's life.

On the Today Show this morning, September 26, 2008, they were discussing the Parenting magazine article on Why Good Dads Make Moms Jealous. 

I will admit to a twinge of jealousy from time to time when my son prefers my husband over me.  However, I think it is wonderful that my husband wants to be a hands-on dad.

According to todayshow.com,

Today's dads spend 21.7 hours a week on childcare and related duties like shopping and housework, up 9 hours from 30 years ago, according to research by the University of Maryland.  We moms say we want our spouses to be do-it-all dads: We're forward-thinking women of the 21st century. Besides, if they did less, we couldn't possibly juggle our busy lives without going nuts.

Although moms confess "We don't ever want to be pushed off that throne of being Mommy."

I guess some women's egos get the best of them.  We as women, have come so far and are so used to having to do everything (in many cases) that it's hard to let go and not be in charge or "be the best" at everything. 

Sometimes we have to relinquish some of our power.  This is something I finally realized... and it has turned out to be a good thing in our family. 

See I wanted my husband to help more and be an active participant in parenting our son.  Luckily, my husband also wanted to be an active dad from the start.  The thing is that when he did parent, I would find fault in it.  What I mean is that I was being too picky...  I knew (in my mind) that I could do it better.

Come to find out... sometimes I couldn't do it better.  In fact, sometimes daddy actually did it better!  Much to my dismay.  So I started backing off and letting him do things the way he chose to do them.

Now 5 years later we have it down to a science, well not exactly, but it does work for us.  There are things that he does better, or my son prefers his daddy to do; and there are some things that he prefers his mommy do.  The other things... well, we just take turns. 

I am very happy that over the years men have stepped up and are taking their role as dads more seriously.  I know my husband is the best!  Now if I could just get him to clean the bathroom.

I would love to hear how you feel about this topic.  Hope to hear from you!

I am fascinated by the human body; just how everything works!  I think our bodies are an amazing thing.  I am most intrigued by the brain. Tonight on the Discovery Health channel they are airing the first segment of Body in Numbers, which premieres at 9:00 p.m. EST.

From DiscoveryHealth.com:

From the moment we are born, each one of us goes through a series of extraordinary transformations as our bodies change. But have you ever thought about what our bodies really do every second, every moment, to keep us alive? How the body copes as we develop from a fertilized embryo to a newborn; how we change so fast in the first few years of our lives; how eating, drinking, playing sports and having sex change our physiology; and how different we are as men and women?

Based on amazing facts and calculations, the series explores the body's facts in numbers, according to the website.  This will be great for people who love statistics and/or who grasp a firmer understanding of things when they have numbers to back it up.  This will also be a great show for children, especially teenagers.

Body in Numbers will air the whole month of September, starting with the Miracle of Life airing September 3, 2008 at 9:00 pm., and ending September 24, 2008 with Our Life in Numbers.  Between these two episodes they will air Body in Numbers Childhood and Becoming Men and Women.

You can go to DiscoveryHealth.com and get an email reminder of each episode, so you won't miss them.  Check out the quiz as well; I scored 6/8 on it.  After you take the quiz, do the jigsaw puzzles.  If you watch the Body in Numbers series, let us know what you think of it.  Hope to hear from you!

There has been a change in women over the last three decades.  Mostly good and some bad, as I'm sure some would argue; but one of the biggest changes is in the motherhood department.  Or should I say the lack of motherhood. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau report. "American Community Survey 2006 and 2006 Population Survey," today's, U.S. women are having fewer babies, and more women are choosing to be childless.

The data is from the Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey.  The surveys aimed to discover how many children are being born, to whom, and what the fertility rates are around the country.  Women aged 15 to 50 were surveyed about fertility between 2005 and 2006.

Although I didn't have my son until I was 38, these findings were astounding to me.

The report finds 20% of women today aged 40 to 44 have no children. That percentage is double what it was 30 years ago.

Here are more statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau report

• The average number of children a woman aged 40-44 will have is 1.9
• 67% of women who recently gave birth worked outside the home.
• 36% of women who reported giving birth for the survey were never married separated, divorced or widowed.
• Mothers in North Carolina, Mississippi and the District of Columbia were the lease likely to have never married.
• Of those 1.5 million mothers who were not married, 190,000 of them were living with an unmarried partner.

The Face of Poverty

• 25% of women aged 15-50 who'd recently given birth were living below the national poverty level.
• Fertility rates were twice as high for those living below the national poverty level when compared to those living more than 200% above the poverty rate.

International Moms

• 20% of all births reported in the survey were to U.S. moms that were themselves born in another country.
• In California, that percentage doubled, with 41% of moms being foreign-born.

So Who is Having the Most Children?

• Hispanic women average the most children at 2.3.  That's higher than for Asians, non-Hispanic whites and African-Americans, although second-generation Hispanic women have fewer babies than their mothers did.

Most Delays in Having Babies are for School

• Women with a bachelor's degree or more college education had the highest fertility rates between the ages of 30 and 34 (133 births per 1,000 women).
• Women who did not complete high school had the most birth rates between the ages of 20 and 24 and 25 to 29 (199 births per 1,000 women and 146 births per 1,000 women, respectively).

It is interesting to see that not only are women having children later in life, but either opting to not have children at all - or by waiting to finish school and start careers, they have missed their window of fertility altogether.

Whatever their reasons...more and more women are foregoing motherhood altogether.  If you have an opinion about these statistics, we would love to hear them.  Hope to hear from you!

SOURCES: U.S. Census Bureau report. "American Community Survey 2006 and 2006 Population Survey." News release, U.S. Census Bureau.

If you wake up in the mornings feeling bloated and achy, you may want to try these tips that were discussed by Hoda and Kathie Lee on The Today Show this morning. 

Things to do to keep that bloating down are:

• Eat less salt - salt causes us to retain water.
• Drink plenty of water - water flushes out impurities.
• Eat plain yogurt - don't get the sugar/fruit already added.  Eat plain yogurt and add fresh fruit to it if you like.
• Lettuce - eating lettuce is good to eat if you have bloat issues.  It has lots of water.

Things to avoid or ingest in small amounts:

• Beans - beans are great for you but if you are prone to getting gas or bloat, don't eat in large amounts.
• Sugar - honestly there is nothing good about sugar.  They break down too quickly and ferment contributing to gas/bloat.
• Carbonated beverages - any carbonated drink will cause gas and/or bloat.
• Eat slower - eating fast contributes to gas and bloating.
• Chewing gum - when you chew gum you are swallowing a lot of air; which in turn, can cause bloat.

I hope that if you do happen to be one of the millions of people that suffer from bloating, you'll be able to find these tips helpful.  Here is a great site that includes a diet for gas and bloat prevention.