This morning was a special day for the mommies in my playgroup and I. Today we donated over 150 stuffed monkeys to the children being cared for at North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) in honor of our Angel Odessa. Odessa Virginia Webster was born at NFRMC on February 24, 2003, and landed back at the same hospital on March 25, 2004 for care after a fatal head injury. At thirteen months old, Odessa was stolen from her parents Matt and Anita, her loving family, and our already tight playgroup family. It was devastating for all of us, and out of our grief came an intense drive to honor our "Angel O".

To back up a bit, our playgroup began when our infants met at a "new mommy" luncheon hosted at NFRMC when they were two weeks old. Well, the infants didn't exactly meet each other, but us moms did ... and we decided then and there that we wanted to stick together. That made ten families dealing with the insanity of newborns and leaning on each other for friendship, advice, stress relief, and fun. We literally have been getting together for "playgroup" every Tuesday since, and our children are all addicted to each other; the best of friends. At the start, we would have never imagined what would come for us, for her, the following year. I just remember checking my email one day and opening one from Anita with "Odessa Virginia Webster" as the title. I expected to see a new photo from a portrait studio. A portrait was included, but it went along with a letter written by Anita informing us that her daughter was gone. "Please don't call now. I'm not ready to talk" she wrote. I simply can't describe the agony that followed for all of us.

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I recently started running again. Since completing the Kona Marathon six years ago this month, my stride has been very sporadic. I bought my first house, had my first kid, moved across the country and bought my second house. I lost my focus and began getting a workout in any way I could and with a variety of activities.

That hasn't been a bad thing, necessarily. But I realized a while back how much I missed the mental benefits of running. It may be hard on your knees, but it's sure great for your head. All exercise is supposed to be. But I've never experienced anything like the clarity, absence of depression and pure elation that running induces.

And for those of you out there that think running isn't for you or have tried to run a mile and given up, please reconsider. Save for those dreaded laps in junior high gym class, I had never incorporated running into my active life before training for that marathon. In my experience, the payoff is well worth the painful beginnings. Pretty soon, you'll hit your stride. And it doesn't matter if it's a slow one, either. Habitual marathoners are a whole lot thinner and faster than I am, but I've got a head that's every bit as healthy as theirs.

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I know that winter is coming to a close -- perhaps more rapidly in some areas than others -- but I know that for me, the weather extremes that occur at the end of winter tend to cause absolute havoc with my hair. I don't know if it's the return of the sun, the sudden, massive snowstorms, the wind or perhaps a combination of all of the above and more, but the months of February though April tend to bring fly-aways, split-ends and, of course, hat head on the colder days.

So what can all of us who suffer through the horrors of winter hair do to ease our suffering? Apparently there are a number of pretty simple ways to tame static, prevent flakes caused by dryness and maintain shine despite the crazy weather. Check out the tips listed here for ideas on how to keep you hair looking luscious, even in the waning days of winter.

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Every time you smoke another cigarette, it's almost like loading a Russian Roulette revolver with another bullet. This dangerous habit markedly increases your chances of premature death, be it from cardiovascular complications or several types of cancer. Lung cancer is typically among those most closely linked to cigarette smoking, but the risk of head and neck cancers is also be increased.

A large study on smoking, conducted by the National Cancer Institute, revealed a strong association between smoking and malignancies of the neck and head. These cancers also include cancers of the nasal passage, larynx, pharynx, and oral cavity. An estimated 500,000 people are diagnosed with one of these types of cancer each year. While it was already known that smoking elevated the risk of these types of cancer, the study uncovered new information regarding gender.

Evidently, smoking may play a greater role in the development of head and neck cancers in women than in men. After examining an extensive amount of data, researchers found that 45 percent of these cancers could be attributed to smoking in men, 75 percent could be attributed to smoking in women.

The results of this study can be found in the October 2007 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cancer.

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Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts is bald, thanks to breast cancer and chemotherapy. She's done a bang-up job of covering up since she shaved her head in preparation of the big fallout -- her wig is a perfect match for the hair that once sprouted from her scalp -- but she recently decided to bare her shiny scalp. She did it to challenge her comfort zone, she says.

What started as a dare had Roberts braving the catwalk the other day as part of Isaac Mizrahi's runway show, live from New York Fashion Week. All of her friends and fans knew she was doing the show -- they just didn't know she'd do it bald.

"This is who I am," Roberts said about her decision to ditch the wig.

When Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer last July, the last thing she felt was beautiful. When the folks at Good Morning America dared her to be model, she seized the opportunity. It was a perfect way to push herself outside a certain comfort zone.

To transform herself into a supermodel, Roberts worked with Tyra Banks on walking the runway, Mizrahi on finding the perfect gown, and model Nikki Taylor on photo shoots -- a special layout will appear in an upcoming Redbook magazine.

Check out Roberts here in this video where you'll see a courageous woman make a bold statement as she fights to regain her health. Now that's what I call a model -- a role model.

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Serious headaches can come from any angle. Whether you're used to them or not, targeting the cause isn't always easy. Here's a no-frills article about seven of the most common triggers that you can blame migraines on. Even though these might not apply to everyone, the solution may be simpler than you think!

For example, one of the causes points to a person's diet. Most foods out there are highly processed and include a host of added chemicals. But natural foods can trigger migraines too. The article recalls a patient who suffered a headache each morning, having no idea why it happened. It turns out he had a glass of milk each night before going to bed -- once he stopped, so did the migraines.

The weather can also have something to do with it. Dr. Lawrence Newman, who is director of the Headache Institute in New York, says that 70 percent of people who experience migraines do so under climate changes. That can include moving from a humid environment to a dry one. Ever experience a headache right before a big rain? Air pressure is the culprit as well. These are just a couple triggers, so check out the full article to learn more.

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Over Christmas, I met up with some cousins I hadn't seen since I was young. I knew we shared the thin blond hair that runs rampant in our family, but I found out we had another similarity--we get dizzy whenever we stand up. I guess it's not an uncommon thing, but I've never met someone who has this as often as I do.

Why do we get dizzy? It's because the blood rushes from our head too fast when we get up. In my case, it's down to a family history of low blood pressure, but there are lots of causes out there, including:

• Blood pressure medications
• An irregular heartbeat
• Dehydration
• Prolonged bed rest.

If you're feeling dizzy too often, try drinking more water. If that still doesn't help? See your doctor and get your blood pressure checked.

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Brrrr. Winter is in full force, at least where I live in Canada. We've been under a thick blanket of frost for the last week or so, and the cold shows no signs of letting up. Now I'm getting re-aquainted with all my old wool sweaters, heavy jackets, toques and mittens. Truth be told, I'm used to it, but I know a couple who just moved here from Louisiana and I'm a bit curious as to how they're going to adjust to our sub-zero temperatures. Staying inside is a good tip but sometimes even the indoors can be chilly.

Having grown up in Canada, I know a thing or two about staying warm. Here are some tips:

Keep your head warm. It will make a big difference. You might look silly wearing a wool hat to dinner but you'll be nice and toasty.
Your feet too! I wear wool socks to bed and sometimes I get too hot.
Wool is amazing. Seriously, I can't wear my favourite wool sweater unless the temperature is well below freezing
because it's just too warm. I have wool blankets on my bed too, and they work great. Plus wool is a wicking fiber -- it removed wetness from your skin so you don't get a chill. But wool's not waterproof or wind proof so get a good layer to go over it if you're going outside.
Don't wear wet clothes, especially scarves. So bring an extra outfit if you're bound to get into a snowball fight.
When all else fails, sip tea. You'd be surprised at how well a warm cup of herbal tea can warm your hands - and the rest of you too!

Want more tips? Click here.

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The world has come a long way in the area of helmets over the years, both in how important we understand them to be and in our ability to make technologically advanced and more effective kinds. We now specialize helmets for the specific sport or activity, for age, and of course for size. But that's not all! We have helmets out there that are "green" and made of bamboo, helmets that do nothing but give great head massages, and even ones that will electronically monitor and record impacts and potential head injuries during a football game.

Very, very cool.

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Want more brain power? Who doesn't! But who knew it could be as simple as using your other hand to control your computer mouse?

By switching your mouse and mouse pad to the other side you'll be forcing yourself to use your non-dominant hand, which means all the information will go through your brain in a different way and the neurological connections between the two halves of your brain will get stronger. Research has shown that ambidextrous people have (on average) 10% more nerve fibers joining the two halves of their brain together.

I don't know about you, but my brain can use all the help I can give it -- more fibers and stronger connections? Yes, lets do that!

For tips and hints on how to make the switch check this out.

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Helmets are something I've come to really respect, especially since I spent some time working to rehabilitate young adults who had suffered traumatic brain injuries during routine activities like playing sports and riding motorcycles. I've read that long-term and professional football players commonly suffer from negative head-impact effects like poor memory and short emotional fuses. But would you spend $1000 on a football helmet for your high school student to wear?

Riddell is hoping so, as they plan to start marketing their latest high-tech helmet creation to parents next month. The helmet not only provides state-of-the art impact protection but also tracks the location and severity of every bump and bang.

It is pretty pricey, no doubt about that, but can you really put a price on your child's health?

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Dieting isn't just a physical thing -- it's a mental thing too. In order to achieve your weight-loss goals, you have to be positive and confident in yourself. But that's not always as easy as it sounds, especially if you're used to beating yourself up over your weight. WebMD has some great tips on how to change your thinking and get thin:

• Have patience: weight-loss is a big, long, difficult journey. Don't get frustrated if you don't achieve your goal in a few days
• Picture it: Imagine yourself thin, and imagine how good it will feel.
  
• Be realistic: You're not going to lose 10 pounds a week. Expect to lose 2 pounds a month, and re-evaluate that goal after 6 months.
  
• Set small goals: Don't plan on running a marathon right off the bat -- aim for something manageable, and make a bigger goal once you're comfortable with that
  
• Seek support: It's much easier when your friends and family are on board with your plans
• Plan: create a detailed plan -- don't think you can just wing it
• Reward yourself -- often: The best way to keep something up is to implement a rewards system -- just make sure the reward isn't food!
• Identify your bad habits and slowly try to break them
• Keep track of your progress: Weigh and measure yourself often to find out where you are on the journey.
  

How do you think yourself thin?

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Nothing will ruin a good day like a terrible headache -- it's especially annoying to wake up and have to start your day with a throbbing skull. Often these types of headaches are the result of muscle strain from sleeping in a funny position. This very common type of head pain, which occurs because of muscle-or eye-strain, stress or being overly tired, is called a tension headache.

There are other varieties of headaches though, and these include sinus headaches, which usually accompany a cold and can be felt at the front of the head, the ice-pick headache, which comes on fast, is localized to one area and only lasts 20 or 30 minutes and the granddaddy of them all -- the migraine. Migraine pain can be severe and affect work and home life. Lasting from a few hours to a few days, those who suffer from migraines may also experience nausea and blurred vision.

If you suffer from any of these headache varieties learn ways to prevent and treat them here.

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Of all the people you know who suffer migraines, are more of them women or men? According to recent research there are more women out there suffering because our brains are quicker on the trigger than men when it comes to getting a migraine started. Yay! Not.

It comes down to new brain imaging techniques that are debunking the old idea that migraines are caused by expanding and contracting blood vessels, and showing instead that excitability seems to be the cause. And women, lucky us, have more excitable brains.

Of course, like any of these studies, the good news is that now researchers have a new direction to take as far as treatment goes -- maybe they'll finally come up with something that works!

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I don't think anyone enjoys their yearly check-up. In fact, I know some people who skip it altogether, which is, of course, a terrible idea. Sure getting a pap smear is anything but fun but neither is fighting an uphill battle against cervical cancer. While there are a number of standard tests that your doctor will perform during a yearly exam, there may be other questions that you should be asking.

This guide gives details on important stuff not to forget at you next check-up with respect to every region of your body including head, heart, chest, pelvic area, skin, blood and bones. Things not to forget include whether or not to take an aspirin daily (heart), if a sinus headache could really be a migraine (head), whether you've got dense breasts (chest), if your skin type affects your risk for skin cancer (skin), whether or not you should take the HPV vaccine (pelvis), whether you're at risk for blood clots (blood) and how much calcium you really need (bones).

Lots more questions are included and while they're not all applicable to every person, it might be a good idea to take a look and see if any apply to you before your next visit to the doctor.

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