Here's a free tip: don't buy shoes that tie until your child is ready to learn to tie them. Sure, they look cute on the 3-year-old, but by the time you have tied his shoelaces for the tenth time that day – and it's not even dinner time – you will know what I'm talking about.

My 3-year-old has a cute pair of sneakers that tie. They were his brother's shoes when he was that age, but his brother preferred the Velcro shoes he could quickly put on by himself. My youngest child, however, loves these shoes with their big kid laces.

Submitted by Lisa A. Yackel, CVPM, PHR

Hospital Administrator at Case Veterinary Hospital

Once again, the Mediterranean Diet is making news. In the largest randomized trial on this dietary regimen to date, researchers followed more than 7,400 people adhering to either a Mediterranean Diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil, one supplemented with nuts, or a standard reduced-fat diet for approximately five years.

With the coming of St. Patrick's Day and all the hoopla that surrounds it in Savannah, I think it's good to take a moment to consider the origins of this most festive holiday. I like to explain to my kids the meanings behind events when I can, and St. Patrick's Day is a great opportunity for some basic investigation.