“10 Commandments” at Macleans OnCampus

I made a new post on my blog at Macleans OnCampus. It’s another humor post. I seem to be doing a lot of those these days. But it’s good, I enjoy writing them.

This one is called “10 Commandments of the Summer Job”. Enjoy!

Also, I decided to remove the “Published” page from this blog. I haven’t updated it in ages. Besides, I post all my recently published stuff on here anyway. So, it’s not a big deal.

“Scholarships” article & J-H.com update

A few weeks ago, I finally added some content to the new-and-improved version of Jillianne-Hamilton.com. Today, I added a Testimonials page (under Misc.). I mostly added it for fun but if I ever get any more good quotes that say something about me, I’ll be sure to add them.

I also wrote a new post for the myUsearch blog: 12 Tips For Finding and Applying For Scholarships.

East Coast Overture

After months of research, work and preparation, my East Coast music website is finally finished. I’m so relieved to finally have it up and done. But I hope to add new reviews, articles, interviews and links at least once a week from now on.

If you or someone you know would be interested in helping out with the project, please leave a comment with your contact info.

You can check out the site at the address below. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, feel free to email me.

HTTP://EASTCOAST-OVERTURE.COM

Three new posts

I have 2 new posts published at the myUsearch blog, both concerning their recent scholarship contest. “Check out Meet Our Scholarship Winner, Chelsea Lorimor!” and “Does the SAT/ACT Measure Me? The Students’ Perspective“.

Also, I’ve done three posts for my Maclean’s OnCampus blog (That’s What Jill Said) but I think my latest is worth showing off: College: Lies You Should Tell Your Parents.

Blogging for Maclean’s OnCampus

I’m now a college blogger for Maclean’s OnCampus. Check out my blog there: That’s What Jill Said.

“Campus Visit” Guest Post

I did a guest post (for myUsearch) and it was recently published on CampusCompare. You can check it out at the link below.

Spotting a Good Fit on a Campus Visit

Guest post & Internship

I did a guest post (for the myUsearch blog) for WeCompareBooks.com (or, more specifically, their blog). Check it out if you wanna.

Speaking of myUsearch, I’ve accepted the position of summer intern for the website. I’ll be doing odd jobs, helping out with site traffic and that kinda stuff. I’ll continue writing a few articles over the summer too. But it’ll be something else to add to ye olde résumé.

Two articles on myUsearch

So, I’m not 100% up-to-date on posting my articles that I did for Truro Daily. But I’ll get those posted. Eventually.

Anyway, my 2 newest posts for the myUsearch blog were published on April 27th and April 30th.

• How Will the Economic Stimulus Affect Higher Education?
• America’s Greenest Campus: Green College Campus Contest

Just hangin’ out

Conrad Kelly, 5, enjoys a day at the park after a spring rain shower. Published as a stand-alone photo on the front page of the TRURO DAILY NEWS on April 14, 2009.

Mothers not breastfeeding long enough: survey

TRURO – Roxanne Beavers of Lower Onslow said she’d like to nurse her seven-month-old son for at least a year.
Medically, she’s golden. But statistically, she’s going against the grain.
Many moms are choosing to stop nursing their babies sooner than they perhaps should, despite increasing breastfeeding rates for 20 years.
A recent survey by Maternity Experiences Study Group, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada, showed 90 per cent of women planned to breastfeed their babies longer than six months – but only 14 per cent of those women actually did so.
“A lot will depend on work, and a lot will depend on him,” Beavers said, referring to her son Oliver.
Many women have to stop breastfeeding earlier than planned for health reasons, too.
“Usually it’s a physical as opposed to an emotional choice,” Beavers said.
Communities – and hospitals in particular – need to be more supportive of breastfeeding, Beavers said. A ‘nurse-in’ was staged in February at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax after a woman was told to “cover up” while breastfeeding her baby.
Beavers said she tries to cover up in public while nursing but wishes she didn’t have to worry about not exposing anything.
“But what does it matter? It’s food – the original fast food.”
Workplaces, too, need to be more supportive of breastfeeding and allow mothers to pump milk at work.
“Pumping will keep your supply up,” said Beavers, 32. “If you’re only nursing a few times a day, I think it’s harder to keep going.”
Janet MacNeil, mother to eight-month-old Georgia, said the statistics of women breastfeeding long-term are discouraging but she understands why some women can’t do it.
“Some people have to go back to work or they just feel the baby is ready to move on,” said MacNeil, 35.
The Onslow Mountain resident said starting out nursing can be daunting. “If you make it to six weeks, you’re doing good.”
Kathie Sutherland, a parent educator and co-ordinator at Maggie’s Place in Truro, suggests more support groups and more information for new mothers are the keys to improving duration rates.
“The goal is that every baby be breastfed, exclusively for six months, and continue breastfeeding for two years, as the World Health Organization recommends,” said Sutherland.
She cites negative connotations and myths about breastfeeding as some possible reasons why women choose not to breastfeed long-term.
“In North America and western cultures, that’s not the norm,” she said. “There’s still lots to be done to inform people and to advocate for babies and mothers.”
The health benefits of long-term breastfeeding can do wonders for a baby, Sutherland added.
“The longer babies are breastfed, the stronger those benefits are and the longer they last.”
But the health benefits of breastfeeding don’t only benefit baby – but mom, too.
“Many people think of breastfeeding as being hard on a woman’s body but while you’re breastfeeding, you absorb calcium and other nutrients very efficiently,” Sutherland commented. “Most women don’t know about these things.”
Unfortunately, Sutherland said, the longer you breastfeed your baby, the less community support you’ll probably get.
“The challenges of breastfeeding change as the baby gets older.”
Maggie’s Place is a support centre for families with young children and babies. The next breastfeeding support group at Maggie’s Place is scheduled for Monday, May 4 at 10-11:30 a.m. For more information on breastfeeding, visit the La Leche League of Canada’s website at www.lllc.ca.

(This was published in the April 13, 2009 edition of the Truro Daily News.)