Keeping Your Child Healthy and Happy with the Right People

Your child’s health and happiness is your top priority. Achieving this begins with having the right people there to help you.  Establishing a relationship early on with a pediatrician or general practitioner, a dentist, and an eye doctor is a good idea. Not only will you have people that you can rely on in emergency situations, but you'll know where to turn for answers to all of your important questions.

• A General Practitioner
  You will most definitely need a good doctor that you trust and your child feels comfortable with. Search for ones in your area with good reputations. Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations. Set up an appointment with any potential pediatricians or family doctors so you can talk to them and discuss any concerns you may have.
   
• A Dentist
  As soon as that first tooth pops through, you want to begin teaching your little one how to brush and care for their teeth properly. You also need to take them for regular check-ups at the dental office. A st johns county pediatric dentist can help you keep your child’s teeth healthy and attractive. They will be the person that walks you through every step of their oral care.
   
• An Eye Doctor
  By the time your child starts kindergarten, you will want to take them to an eye doctor for an examination. Children often cannot tell if they are seeing properly or not. These professionals can spot problems before they become big issues as well as set them up with glasses if necessary.

Once you have established a relationship with a good pediatrician, dentist, and eye doctor, you will feel much better, and your child will get a wonderful start in a life filled with health and happiness.

I Just LIKE to be Barefoot

But it looks like there are plenty of benefits too!


I'd heard that walking barefoot outside is very beneficial, but this video shows much more than I was aware of. I'm going to have to make a point of walking barefoot on earth more often. Though, with winter fast approaching - it was 18° this morning - I may have to wait a bit. Unless I want cold toes.

I have been known to put my bare toes into the snow... (though that was a warm and sunny day and most of the snow had melted except for this little pile right here)

Getting Care At Home

If you've been on the fence about whether to use a caregiver in the home or to take your loved one to a nursing facility, here are a few good reasons to consider. In-home caregiver agencies can be very beneficial to the client.

• There isn't any place like home for recovery after surgery, after an illness, or during your loved one's last years of life. An in-home caregiver makes it possible for clients to remain in familiar and comfortable surroundings instead of being in an environment where they don't know anyone.
   
• The caregiver can keep the family together. Sometimes, family members might not be able to go to a nursing facility to visit a family member, but it's much easier to make visits to the person's home. There are sometimes restrictions as to who can visit residents in a nursing facility if there are illnesses, which you won't need to abide by if your family member remains at home. Clients can maintain the independence that they have when they stay in their home. They can watch television, take a shower or bath, and take part in the other daily activities that they are accustomed to but with the assistance of a caregiver who can ensure that the person is safe in the home.
   
• Staying at home promotes faster healing than being in a nursing facility where you are unsure of your surroundings and might not receive the proper medical attention that you need at all times. Although it does cost money to hire a caregiver, it's not as expensive as using the services offered by a nursing facility, and your family member can keep any government assistance or social security payments instead of turning them over to the facility. Staying at home with a caregiver is often safer as the person knows where everything is located and will have the assistance of someone throughout the day to help with walking and other activities. 

Wellness 101: How To Get Healthy In 2018

In today's world, many people are beginning to realize that a lack of mental and physical health can and does lead to substandard living. If you're opposed to mediocre living on any level and want more for your life, it's time to recognize that you have the power and intelligence to make the lifestyle changes necessary to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Below you'll find three techniques that can help you begin your journey to wellness:

1. Focus On Your Food.
   If you're serious about making wellness your permanent reality, it's important to begin focusing on your food. The typical American diet is full of foods that cause weight gain, detract from your vitality, hamper immunity, and generate numerous other problems. Our "foods" are synthetic, chemical-laden, and highly processed. The first step to better health is to adopt a countercultural approach which involves forsaking the junk food and increasing your consumption of nutrient-dense foods like high protein lean meats, complex carbs, and plenty of vegetables and fruits.  Having a delicious green smoothie for breakfast every morning is a good way to get started. Focus on eating more and more of the good foods, and you won't have room for the bad stuff.
   
2. Avoid Sedentary Living.
   In addition to focusing on your food, make sure that you avoid sedentary living at all costs. Taking this step is important because a lack of physical activity can generate a wide range of unwanted outcomes like weight gain, compromised immunity, and mood instability. On the other hand, regular exercise can promote a wide range of great outcomes like sustained happiness, mental clarity, weight loss, and clearer skin. There are many forms of physical activity that you can engage in to start attaining these life-giving benefits. Some of them include high-intensity interval training (HIIT), jumping rope, and pilates, but you can start slowly and build up to the higher intensity exercises. Build activity into your daily life - park at the far end (or middle) of the parking lot and walk to the store; take the stairs instead of the elevator; etc. These exercise videos from BeFit are also a great option.
   
3. Help Your Children Develop Healthy Habits.
   One final strategy you can employ to get healthy in 2018 is focusing on your children's level of wellness. Caring for others is known to promote mental well-being., which is good for you, and helping your children to develop healthy habits while they're young is good for them in the present and long-term. It's better (and easier) to stay healthy than have to reclaim good health after losing it. Also note that when the people around you are healthy, you're much more likely to maintain the high levels of physical and mental well-being that promote happiness and vitality. In the event that you're looking for an ABA therapy Sarasota FL company, know that the professionals of Engage Behavioral Health can assist you.
   

Conclusion:

Three health strategies that you can implement to cultivate a lifestyle of wellness include focusing on your food, avoiding sedentary living, and helping your children develop healthy habits. Implementing these strategies consistently will likely enable you to lead the lifestyle of wellness that makes you a more productive, positive person!

New Year New You

A new calendar year rolls around, and we begin to see it all over again. The health clubs are offering special sign up deals and affordable monthly rates, the stores are advertising exercise clothing and exercise equipment, and people are starting new diets and new exercise programs, hoping that this year will be the year. This is the year they will finally lose that weight, get in shape, and take back the life they know they should have.

Are you ready? Will this be your year? Utilize some or all of the techniques outlined below to begin pursuing optimal well-being now:

• Join A Health-Based Community.
  One of the best ways to take your mental and physical health to a new level is by joining a health-based community. Joining a community ensures that you will have support and encouragement as you implement lifestyle changes that promote healthy eating, regular exercise, etc. Use Internet-based resources such as www.meetup.com to determine which local communities you might join to take your health to a new level. You'll find information about different communities that may be active and alive in your local area. Sign up. Get involved. Make some friends and have some fun!
   
• Start Meditating.
  Meditation is one of the most important activities to engage in if you're serious about making wellness an integral component of your life. This technique can work in numerous ways, and the outcomes are not the same for everyone. For example, many people find that meditation engenders sustained introspection and self-awareness, thereby empowering them to cultivate a life that is more conducive to their personal values or professional purposes. Some of the other positive outcomes that can result from regular meditation include better sleep and boosted immunity.
   
• Take Care Of The People Around You.  
  
  
  While many health experts acknowledge that self-care plays an integral role in promoting optimal wellness, it's also important to know that taking care of the people around you can engender a profound sense of well-being. This is the case for many reasons, including the fact that practicing empathy can create happiness by making life feel more meaningful. This process can transpire as an individual experiences the emotions of another person and then takes strides towards alleviating their suffering. Your acts of empathy do not have to be confined to the human world. Taking care of pets is also a wonderful way to demonstrate empathy. Note that finding a cat care clinic Washington residents can rely on to offer exemplary pet services is a wonderful way to keep your feline happy and healthy. 

Will those New Years resolutions and goals quickly fall by the wayside? Like every other year? Not if you start now by intentionally implementing new strategies in your pursuit of good health and optimum living. Take one step at a time; make one small change at a time, and then make another one. And remember, if and when you fail - pick yourself up and keep moving forward. Today. Tomorrow. Don't wait for another new calendar year. Every day is a new day, one day closer to your goals.

Wellness Tips for Great Health

Many people want to get healthy, but then they engage in behaviors that are diametrically opposed to the realization of that goal. If you realize that getting healthy takes work and are ready to put in the required effort, here are some tips for you. Utilize some or all of the information found here to make great health yours:

1. Stop Watching Television And Become More Active.
   Research studies have indicated that people who watch more than three hours of TV may be compromising their brain health. As indicated in a LiveScience article, one study found that individuals who watched a lot of television performed more poorly on cognitive tests than those who didn't. Thus to promote not only your physical health but also your brain health, put that remote control down and become more physically active. You'll reap a wide range of brain benefits when you engage in exercise, some of which include improved memory and enhanced cognitive function.
   Some of the other great benefits of exercise include:
   
   • increased pulmonary ventilation
   • increased cardiac output 
   • increased respiratory capacity
   • improved body composition
   • increased aerobic capacity
   Note that the ideal exercise routine will include stretching, cardiovascular activity, and weight-bearing exercise. Also keep in mind that if you don't like lifting weights, you can do resistance exercises using your own body weight. If you haven't exercised in a long time, it is a good idea to speak with a physician like one of the professionals at Cypress Family Medicine before you begin.
    
2. Get Off The Standard American Diet (SAD) Right Now.
   If you eat like most Americans, know that your food habits are not conducive to optimal health. In fact, the SAD is chock full of harmful processed goods and sodium-rich items that can take a toll on your heart and weight. To really eat in a manner that is conducive to wellness, be sure to incorporate more leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale into your diet. Also consume a wide range of delicious fruits such as apples, bananas, pears, cherries, and peaches. Finally, make a point to educate yourself about nutrition. For example, note that vitamins perform specific physiological functions that enhance your level of well-being. Vitamin E is responsible for protecting blood cells and fatty acids from destruction within your body. You can obtain vitamin E through foods such as nuts and green leafy vegetables.

So, basically - get off your butt, get moving, and stop eating all that junk food!

Turning the television off, exercising regularly, and abandoning the traditional American diet are three keys to attaining optimal health. Make these lifestyle changes immediately so you can begin to thrive inside! I promise it will all be worth it.

Independent Health Insurance Options

Many small businesses and families need independent health insurance. In Florida, the Office of Insurance Regulation reviews health insurance plans that offer wellness and preventive care benefits. Insurers must provide access to health care and medical services when the insured needs them.

Independent health insurance Florida plans offer a few different options. Most insurers offer the same kinds of health services, but plans differ in cost sharing and the manner in which services are provided to beneficiaries. The following type of independent health insurance plans are offered in Florida:

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Options

A private Florida PPO allows the insured to receive health care and medical services for any provider or doctor. Costs to the insured are less when he or she uses the PPO’s in-network providers. All PPO plans in Florida require the beneficiary to pay a deductible. It’s necessary for the insured to meet the deductible threshold before the PPO plan begins to pay a portion of healthcare costs.

If you’re scheduling a surgical procedure, take the following steps to ensure your medical costs are covered by the PPO plan:

• Check the PPO provider directory. Confirm that the surgeon, surgical center or hospital, or other healthcare providers are participating in the PPO network.
• Call the healthcare provider’s office to confirm that he or she is in the PPO network.
• Realize that you must pay more for healthcare providers who don’t participate in the PPO network.
• Note that some plans, such as Florida Blue, allow the insured to receive services from any healthcare provider or physician, but out-of-network costs may be significant.
• Check “pre-determination of benefits.” Ask the provider to estimate the costs of the procedure. Alternatively, use the private health insurance plan’s cost estimator tools.

Before receiving any care from the provider, surgical center, or hospital, the insured must show his or her plan member identification card. This information can help the provider to determine the insured’s costs of care.

Standard and high-deductible PPO plans are available in the state of Florida. To offset the out-of-pocket costs of care, it’s possible for the insured to use funds in a Health Care FSA or a Limited Purpose FSA for vision and dental costs.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Options

HMO plans can help the insured to save money on private health insurance plans in Florida. Unless the insured goes out of network, he or she typically has no deductible to meet for the plan year in a standard HMO plan. The insured may need to make copayments for provider visits or make higher contributions for coverage. A Health Care FSA can help members to offset the costs of healthcare in Florida.

A high-deductible HMO costs less in premiums to the insured but includes a higher deductible, such as an in-network per person or per family deductible for the plan year.

Health Care Made More Convenient

Looking for a physician for your health care needs can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.  However, many Houston family physicians have chosen to provide healthcare options all in one online place through Spring Medical Associates.  Many people call them their go-to website and love the convenience of having several types of doctors all in one place.  They provide a variety of convenient healthcare services via online appointments, specialists are also available as well as onsite x-rays and labs.

Healthcare in One Place - Searching for a general physician or even a healthcare specialist all over the internet can be a challenge.  To make healthcare a lot more convenient and easier to handle, many healthcare developers are combining services in one central online location to meet the demand of their patients. Spring Medical Associates is one of these places that have gotten onto this new type of healthcare bandwagon.  On websites such as this one, patients can easily search for the doctors by name, gender, specialty, and even language.  Sites such as this one allow the patient to search by languages, such as Chinese, Hindi, Telugu, and French.
 

Specialists Available - Specialists doctors may be another challenge for some patients to find. However, websites such as Spring Medical Associates helps patients find specific specialists all in one online site.  The website provides walk-in appointments, online appointments, and same-day appointments for specialists, such as ear-nose-and-throat specialists, interventional pain specialists, and breast specialists.  Patients can also find specialists that work in primary care or family medicine, urology, and even general surgeons.

Onsite Technology - Another challenge in healthcare is finding doctors’ offices that have onsite x-ray technology and labs.  Spring Medical Associates is one of the places where patients can make a doctor’s appointment and know that laboratories and x-rays are on site.  This can save the patient time, gas money, and energy when they are especially sick.

Getting check-ups, routine care, and maintaining health care are so much more convenient when medical associations provide a network of healthcare providers all in one online location.  

Get Healthy In 2017

If you want to lead an amazing life, it's important to know that getting healthy will increase the likelihood of realizing that goal. Being healthy ensures that you will have the energy and mood stability necessary to excel in your professional life while also pursuing your personal dreams with passion. Luckily, there are hundreds of wellness strategies you can use to get healthy in 2017. Some of them include:

1. Focus On Dental Health.
   Focusing on dental wellness is a wonderful way to get healthy in 2017. This technique is important because dental health contributes to overall wellness. For example, people who take good care of their teeth are less likely to experience unwanted conditions such as toothaches and severe mouth pain. If you do find yourself in need of an emergency dentist Charlotte NC residents can rely on to offer exceptional services, the professionals of Charlotte Dental Partners can assist you. To ensure that you select the right dentist, make sure that you use the internet to check his or her online reviews. If the majority of the dentist's online reviews are positive, you can be fairly confident that he or she will offer you the exemplary dental services you deserve.
    
2. Develop An Exercise Routine.
   Another strategy you can implement to remain on the path to great health is developing an exercise routine. There are many benefits that result from regular engagement in physical activity. Some of those benefits include:
   
   • clearer thinking 
   • more youthful looking skin 
   • better memory 
   • improved sleep quality
   • enhanced metabolism
   • better posture
   
   Note that the ideal exercise program will have three components: cardio, strength, and stretching. Three types of exercises that would contribute to a holistically sound exercise program would be cycling, weight-lifting, and pilates.
   
   
3. Invest In A Monthly Massage.
   One final technique that will keep you on the road to amazing health is investing in a monthly massage. This step will provide you with a wonderful way to combat the anxiety that tends to surface due to factors such as a stressful job, death in the family, new relationship, etc. In addition to helping people fight stress, a monthly massage will help boost your metabolism and improve your digestion!

Don't Delay: Get Healthy Today!

Individuals who want to get healthy should know that there are numerous options they can explore to make it happen. Three of them include focusing on dental health, developing an exercise routine, and investing in a monthly massage. Start using these techniques now to put yourself on the path to better health!

I Love My Himalayan Salt Lamps

I had never heard of Himalayan salt lamps until we visited Cory in Door County the summer he interned with Door Shakespeare. I didn't end up buying one, but we had an interesting conversation with the shop owner about all the benefits, and I knew I'd want to get at least one of these lamps for my home. Not only are they pretty, but they have quite a few benefits. Himalayan salt lamps create these little things called ‘negative ions’, which are amazing for killing bacteria, cleaning the air, alleviating allergies and anxiety, and much more.

Here's some info I received in my email recently:

Experts have been studying negative ions and Himalayan salt lamps for some time now. Here are some of the things they can do for you:

• Improve mood - Negative ions are thought to create reactions in the brain that release mood chemicals and literally make you happier and more content. They also improve blood and oxygen supply to the brain, relieving stress, anxiety, and brain fog.
  
• Improve sleep - Himalayan salt lamps relieve allergies and anxiety, and help prevent irregular sleep patterns. That means even just one by your bed is certain to help you fall asleep and stay asleep in the most restful way possible.
  
• Clean the air - Himalayan salt lamps essentially suck in air filled with dust, pet dander, mold, and so on, trap the gunk inside the salt, and release the pure, cleaned air back into the room. Those with allergies or asthma would LOVE the noticeable change.

I'm not convinced enough to keep one in the bedroom, because even with a very low wattage bulb, these lamps put out quite a bit of light. And, no, you do not want to turn it off or unplug it when you go to bed, because it's the reaction of the heat with the salt that creates those negative ions and gives you all the benefits. Also, especially in the summertime, you'll want to replace the bulb pretty quickly whenever it burns out, because the salt attracts moisture and will become wet. These really are supposed to be on all the time.

So far I only have two of them - from Amazon and linked in this post - but I keep thinking about buying more. I like the first one best, mainly because all of the salt glows, from top to bottom. The second one is taller, and the light just shines in the bottom with the salt on top looking like there's no light. Maybe that would be the kind to use in the bedroom, perhaps if hidden a bit behind something else?

Do you have salt lamps in your house? Have you noticed any of the benefits?

Monitor Your Health with Test Kits

Some people think that the only way they can know what is going on inside of their body is by visiting a doctor, paying a consultation fee, paying for tests, and then paying for the doctor to give them the test results. Of course, there are times when consulting with a medical professional is absolutely essential if you want to maintain good health, but there are also some good options for monitoring your health on your own. There are devices and test kits that you can purchase in order to monitor many different health problems you have or even to find out if you have a particular health problem.

Many people will purchase different types of test kits in order to monitor a particular condition. They will work closely with their doctor in order to find out how to use the kit and then to do the testing on a regular basis. When they notice a change, they will report this change to their doctor, and then they will get the treatment or the help they need. There are many reasons why this is beneficial. First, it gives a person peace of mind. Just think about how a person who has high blood pressure feels when they know they have high blood pressure. They may take steps in order to lower their blood pressure, but if they only have their blood pressure read when they visit their doctor, they will not know how their blood pressure is doing until the next appointment. However, if they get a blood pressure monitoring device and keep it in their home, they can measure their blood pressure whenever they want to. This will help them to chart their progress and see if they have made any improvement.

Other people decide to do different types of tests that they can purchase online.  When a person begins to do research on different conditions they have, they may see that other tests may be available, tests their doctors have not thought about or will not order. There are a variety of tests available, including ELISA kits, for example.  Individuals will purchase these tests, visit a local laboratory in order to have their blood drawn or in order to drop off other specimens, then they will return in order to pick up the results. Once they have these results, they can consult a medical professional. The great thing about the ability to do this kind of testing is that it helps an individual to accurately see what is going on inside of their body.

Homemade Hairspray

In my last post I mentioned that a good way to save money is to make your own beauty supplies.  Here's one that I found on Pinterest and just recently started making and using.  It's a very inexpensive and easy-to-make hairspray.  I am very pleased with how well it works.  I really wasn't sure what to expect the first time I made it.
 

Homemade Alcohol-Free Hairspray
found on whole new mom

Ingredients:

• 1 cup filtered water
• 4 tsp. sugar
• 5-6 drops essential oils (I used a combination orange and peppermint oils)

Directions:

1. Heat water to boiling
2. Remove from heat and stir in sugar until dissolved
3. Allow to cool and use a funnel to pour it into an empty hairspray bottle.  Add essential oils, screw lid on and shake well to combine.
4. Use as you'd normally use hairspray.

That's it!  Simple, cheap, and I'm hoping that no longer using hairspray full of alcohol will be much better for my hair.  I'm not sure about that yet; I just made my second batch of this, and I'm still using regular shampoo and gel in my hair, so I know that's a factor.  I do have a couple recipes for hair gel pinned, but I haven't gotten around to trying them yet.

I'm really liking the scent of the orange and peppermint oils, but you can use the essential oils you like.  The scent is subtle but nice, and a huge improvement over the overpowering scents of most hairsprays you can buy, unless you buy the unscented.  Why do the people who make hairsprays, shampoos, conditioners and the like think they need to have a strong annoying scent? 

Ideally, this should also be stored in a glass bottle instead of any old hairspray bottle, but I am currently using what I had on hand.  Good thing I don't always throw empty bottles into the recycle bin because I 'might need them' someday!  If I continue to make this - and I see no reason not to - I will probably look for a glass spray bottle to use.

Are there any DIY beauty products you make and use?  Do they work as well or better than the products you used to buy?

I Did 50 Push-Ups!

My friend Jennifer posted this 50 Push-Up challenge on Facebook.  She had decided to do it and challenged the rest of us to do it too.  I have never felt that I could do push-ups, even modified 'girly' push-ups.  But, hey - why not?

The plan is simple - start slowly and work up to doing 50 push-ups in 30 days.  Honestly, I was kind of surprised that I could do the 5 push-ups called for on the first couple days.  But, as the number increased, the confidence and knowledge that I indeed could do these push-ups also increased.

In the past, every time I tried to do push-ups, I was trying to lower myself all the way down to the floor and then somehow push back up.  While I realize some people can do that, that wasn't happening for me.  And since my right shoulder occasionally bothers me, I really just can't do that even if I wanted to - not without asking for some serious pain, and not the good kind.  But these push-ups?  These I can do.

I didn't follow the plan exactly, because sometimes I took a rest day when it wasn't scheduled, based on my schedule, and my shoulder started bothering me partway in, so I took some extra rest days letting that improve.  Magnesium oil is pretty great stuff for that.  So, it may have taken me a bit longer than 30 days, but this morning I did 50 push-ups - all in one go.  (on the day I was supposed to do 38, I actually did 30 and stopped because my nose was stuffed up, and I wasn't breathing properly.  So I stopped for about 30 seconds to blow my nose and then went back to do the remaining 8 - and just kept going.  I did 20 more, so I actually did 50 that day - just with a short break.  Let me tell you, my arms and legs were shaking that day!) 

My arms weren't shaking quite so badly this morning, but I could definitely tell I did something.  Though the challenge says that it will "transform your  body in 30 days" I'm not really noticing any big transformation.  All I know is that it feels good, and I plan to continue doing my push-ups.  (I haven't quite decided how many and how often.  Yet.)

What now?  Well, I'm kind of glad Jennifer didn't find the One Hundred Push-up Plan first, because if I thought 50 push-ups sounded intimidating, imagine the sound of 100.  But, since we're up to 50 already, we can start with Week 3 of the 6-week plan, and it should only take another 3 weeks to get to 100.  I'm seriously thinking about it...

How about you?  Are you in?

Tips for Improving Your Dental Routine

Your dental health is important. You only get one set of teeth in your life, and even if there have been improvements in dentures and dental implants, these aren’t things you should be relying on in your old age.  Instead, take the time to care for your teeth now, no matter how old you are. A better dental care routine, like this one sanctioned by a Brooklyn NY dentist, is your best bet.

Here are some tips to make sure you’re taking care of all of the basics the right way. Just doing these things can help keep your teeth in much better shape for years to come.

• Brush Often
  Everybody knows that brushing is not optional. However, most people really don’t brush as often as they should.  To keep your teeth clean and healthy, you should be brushing after every meal and snack. This might seem like a lot, but for the most part, it’s easy once you get in the habit of brushing after you eat.  However, when you eat acidic foods you should wait about 30 minutes before brushing because the acidity can attack your enamel and brushing can actually do some damage. In the meantime, simply rinse with water. 
• Carry Dental Floss
  A lot of people brush their teeth after they eat, but many people neglect the dental floss entirely. If you ask a dentist, they’ll tell you that only brushing your teeth, even if you do it regularly, is still an incomplete dental routine. Carry dental floss with you and use it after you eat. Obviously you don’t need to do this in a restaurant if you’re going home, but having floss in your car and office can help you keep those pearly whites cavity free.
• Chew the Right Gum
  Gum with xylitol helps to clean your teeth, and if you can’t get to floss and a toothbrush right away, it is your best bet, along with rinsing with clean water. Keep sugar free gum with xylitol nearby when you’re on the go.
• Visit Your Dentist Regularly
  Taking care of your teeth at home is all well and good, but you need to be visiting the dentist regularly if you want a healthy mouth. Make an appointment for a checkup and cleaning every six months.  By doing this, your dentist will be able to catch any problems before they become serious and painful. 

Are there any other tips you'd like to share?

Things You Can Do To Prevent Mold

Mold within a home isn't just unsightly, it's dangerous. Certain types of mold can pose serious health risks and lead to respiratory distress which can prove fatal to the very young, the very old, and those with compromised immune systems. It's important to know what steps you can take to prevent mold from forming within your home.

1. Dry wet areas immediately.
   Mold requires moisture to grow. If you find an area in your home that is wet due to a leak, dry it as quickly as possible. Look for areas that are frequently wet and do what you can to identify and solve the problem. Doorways, improperly sealed windows, basements, and other areas where outside moisture may seep in or a leaky pipe may cause problems should be watched carefully to ensure mold isn't forming out of sight.
2. Ensure your home is properly ventilated.
   Proper air flow will ensure that moisture dries quickly. Areas with high amounts of moisture, such as a laundry room, bathroom, or kitchen should have a good air flow through them to ensure nothing molds. Dishes tucked away at the bottom of the sink, laundry buried at the bottom of the pile, and other oft-overlooked culprits of mold are usually the things people forget about.
3. Use mold resistant products.
   Mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock is available for purchase. If you're renovating your home, consider using a type of material that will resist mold growth and help keep your home safe from an insidious threat that you may not even know is there until it's too late.
4. Direct moisture away from the home.
   Ensure your gutters are in proper working order, and make sure the ground around your home doesn't slope down towards the foundation. If water is frequently entering your home from outside, it could be because your home's drainage is compromised. Speak with a landscaper to fix the issue and keep your home dry.

If you already have mold in your home, you should contact a professional company right away to remove it. There are a number of companies that offer mold remediation DC. Employing the services of any one of these companies can make the difference in your quality of living. However, doing what you can to prevent mold from forming in the first place is important.

Magnetic Copper Bracelet from Earth Therapy

I've been wearing this Pure Copper Magnetic Bracelet pretty much all the time for a couple of months now.  I've heard good things about the benefits of copper and magnets - being an Effective Natural, Non Invasive, Pain Relief Aid for Arthritis, RSI, Carpal Tunnel, Migraines, and Fatigue.  This bracelet combines the two, being made from the Best Quality Solid Copper and including 6 Powerful Therapeutic Magnets, along with being sleek and stylish.

This bracelet is a medium Size (6.5") and adjusts to fit most sized wrists.  I have quite small wrists, so I have to squeeze it together until the ends almost meet.  It then fits securely with the magnets against my wrist, but it is loose enough to push up my arm when I'm trying to work.  I usually only take it off when I go out in the sun, since it's been summer, so I don't have a copper-bracelet-sized line on my arm.  And then I put it on again.  So far it seems to be holding up really well with all the squeezing and loosening of putting it on and taking it off.

I can't say for certain what the benefits of wearing this bracelet have been, but I have had some pain in my right shoulder for a while now.  I was trying to help Jeffrey carry parts of The Coolest Garden Ever, which he built in front of the house, and then they had to be carried to the back yard, and I ended up hurting my shoulder.  Thankfully a very nice young man lives next door, and he helped Jeffrey carry the majority of the garden sides to the back yard.  Anyway, my shoulder does still bother me occasionally, but I have noticed that it's usually on those evenings when I have taken the bracelet off and not yet put it back on.  So, I'm going to believe that it's helping, and I would certainly rather use something natural like this than even think about pain killers or drugs or anything like that.

I noticed that several reviewers (on Amazon) mentioned that the magnets in their bracelets fell out after just a few days, but like I said, I've been wearing this for a couple months, and I haven't had any problem with the magnets.  They're all right where they belong.  The bracelet is starting to look a little scratched up, because I do wear it all the time.  While I like the smooth look of this particular style, I think I'd go for one with a braided or designed look, like this Mens Heavyweight Pure Copper Magnetic Bracelet (which I really wanted to order, but I knew it would be too big for my wrist), if I were to order another one.  I think that would hide the wear better.

The bracelet comes with the Magnetic Therapy eBook "Heal Your Pain Through Magnetic Therapy" by Dr Tulsi Dabhi along with a RISK FREE. 60 Day Earth Therapy Full Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee and a 1 Year Product Warranty.  There are several other styles and sizes available.  Be sure to scroll down to the Special Offers and Promotions section to see how you can save when you buy two or more Earth Therapy products.

Disclosure: I received a Magnetic Copper Bracelet from Earth Therapy in exchange for my review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

True Healthcare Reform

This whole Obamacare idea of requiring everyone to have health insurance or be fined for not having it, doesn't seem to have anything to do with healthcare reform or making health care affordable.  In fact, I have a friend who was quoted over $900/month for insurance - not remotely affordable.

True healthcare reform would mean that doctors, hospitals, and clinics would be required to charge reasonable fees - to everyone.  The biggest step in moving toward in true healthcare reform seems to be a requirement for reasonable charges and fees - not a requirement for those in need of healthcare, but a requirement for those providing it.  It's crazy how much a basic doctor visit or lab test can cost!  But that's not the craziest part.  The craziest part is that they charge those ridiculous amounts, then, if you have insurance, the insurance company looks at the charges and says, "No, that procedure or visit should only cost this small fraction of the original charge.  That's all we will pay."  And that's that - the doctor, hospital or lab gets paid what the insurance company says they get paid.

 Example: We got a recent bill for some kind of lab tests.  For some reason, the lab hadn't gotten the insurance information, so they billed $70.  We didn't pay that.  We gave them the insurance information, and the end result was that the insurance company disallowed basically $60 of the original $70 and paid the lab $9 and something.  And that was that.

 But why do we even need insurance companies for this?  If the lab would simply charge about $10 in the first place, most people could afford that.  (especially if they're not forced to pay money they don't have to get insurance in the first place)  And for those who can't afford even that, those subsidies the government is supposed to provide would go a lot further if they would go toward providing actual care instead of paying some insurance company.

Doctors and hospitals should have to make their costs and fees for everything public, so people could look at them ahead of time and be able to choose a provider based on cost, if that's what they want to do. Where else do we 'buy' something without knowing beforehand what it is going to cost us?  Groceries, clothes, cars, houses, etc.  We get to decide ahead of time what we are going to buy and what we can and cannot afford (never mind the over-use of credit cards) because we are given the prices and costs up front.  But go to the doctor, and that cost is always a surprise after the fact, and even if we did know ahead of time, who knows what a normal and reasonable cost is.  Is this doctor charging me more than the one down the street?  Is this charge reasonable or maybe an extremely good deal?  There's no way to know.

It seems to me they went at this whole idea of healthcare reform the wrong way.  But, they didn't ask me...

Review: Buddha Teas

I'm a coffee person in the mornings, but if I want something later in the day, I love a nice comforting cup of tea.  I was recently drinking some tea when I opened an email asking me if I'd like to check out Buddha Teas and give them a try.  I'd never heard of them before - perhaps you haven't either - but I checked out their web page and replied that I was very happy to try them.

Buddha Teas come in many different varieties and all are 100% unaltered, organic teas made from the freshest herbs, carefully packaged in bleach free tea bags.  They really understand the importance of purity so that the true flavor of the tea comes through and that a cup of tea doesn’t contain any harmful additives or toxins. As I was reading through all the benefits each of the types of tea can have - detoxification, energy, brain function, immune support, digestive support, to name a few - it really hit me how important it is to have the purest herbs without any added toxins.  For some reason I had never given much thought to the tea I drink beyond choosing a flavor that sounded good. (Maybe I should go read the labels on all my tea boxes?)  Seriously, if I'm going to be drinking herbal tea, shouldn't I want all of the positive benefits I can get without adding anything that would counteract that?

From popular green teas to obscure bark and seed teas, Buddha Teas is sure to have something for everyone.  They have many unique teas that you won’t find offered anywhere else.  Some of them I'd heard of, but there were many I hadn't.  It was interesting reading through all the descriptions and trying to choose some teas to try.  Maybe I should have started with their list of Popular Teas to help narrow it down, but I didn't.  (I did end up ordering one of the teas on the page anyway)

I decided to try as many different types of teas as I could - Leaf Tea, Root Tea, Flower Tea, Bark Tea, Berry Tea - and I ordered a couple of the Specialty Blends, too.  I have been enjoying all of them, but I think my favorite is the Zenergy Blend.  It's a nice pick-me-up in the middle of the afternoon. The single herb teas are all good, and I find them very mild and enjoyable, too.  Most of the time I add a bit of honey and a squeeze of lemon.

The only thing I don't really like about these teas is that, once you get them out of the box, you can't tell them apart.  Each tea bag is individually wrapped, which is nice - but nowhere does it say what kind of tea is inside the wrapper.  The tag on the teabag itself isn't labeled either.  I didn't notice this until I pulled a few teabags - from a couple different boxes - to take with me on a trip.  I got ready to pack them and then looked at them and realized there was no way to tell which tea was which.  So, when you get these teas, you'll want to keep them in their own boxes - or forever be (pleasantly) surprised when you brew your tea.  The boxes really are kinda cute, and made from recycled materials.  I have a nice stack of them on my kitchen counter.

If you're looking for high quality organic teas, be sure to check out Buddha Teas.

• Receive an additional 5% off when you use coupon code TODAY at checkout.
• Get FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more.
• 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee

I was provided with these teas from Buddha Teas in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Heart Healthy Recipes and Savings from Campbell Soup

This post is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company

The busier we all get the harder it becomes to eat right and keep our families healthy.  It's just easier to grab a fast food dinner while on the run or fix pre-packaged convenience foods.  That's OK once in a while, but studies have shown that eating home-cooked meals at least five days out of the week can have a big impact on your health.

Of course, that's not all there is to it.  I cook most of our meals, but I don't always think about whether a recipe is heart healthy, low in saturated fat or cholesterol, or any of the other health-related concerns I should probably be thinking about.  Usually I just fix whatever sounds good to me.  Thankfully I do like healthy food, and I'm not a big fan of fried foods or sweets, so we probably eat healthier than a lot of people.  There's always room for improvement, though, and I really want to feed my husband healthy meals because that is one thing I can do for him and his health.  I can't exercise for him - though now that we're into Daylight Saving Time, we have some extra daylight in the evenings so maybe I can get him back to walking - but I can make sure he eats right, at least most of the time.

Campbell’s Soup realizes that keeping our families healthy can be a challenge for all of us, so they've put together some heart-healthy tips and “American Heart Association Certified Recipes” as well as great coupons and special offers at addressyourheart.com.

Here are some of those hearth healthy recipes that caught my eye:

Slow-Cooked Chicken & Butternut Squash
(easy and healthy, don't you just love the slow cooker?)

Creamy Chicken & Vegetables over Spaghetti Squash
(I love spaghetti squash!)

Creamy Turkey & Vegetable Lasagna
(looks like comfort food to me!)

Pizza Primavera with Cauliflower Crust  (I have been wanting to try a cauliflower crust and look at those veggies!)

Pork Medallions with Spinach & Barley  (I'd use turkey since I don't eat pork, but I'm kind of obsessed with spinach and barley right now)

Don't those look yummy?  Just click on the picture to get any of the recipes.  There are quite a few more recipes available so be sure to check all of them out, and visit the Campbell's Kitchen Facebook page for even more.  Also be sure to grab some Campbell's money-saving coupons before you head to the store so you can fix dinner for less.

Related articles

• Staying Heart Healthy With Campbell's
• Campbell's Heart Healthy Recipes
• Campbell's Heart Healthy Recipes #sponsored

New Years Resolutions - There's an App for That!

It's that time of year - an new year, a new start, a new chance get the things right that you didn't get right last year.  According to an article I read in Parade Magazine, the 10 most common resolutions among Americans are:

1. Lose weight
2. Improve finances
3. Exercise
4. Get a new job
5. Eat healthier
6. Manage stress better
7. Stop smoking
8. Improve a relationship
9. Stop procrastinating
10. Set aside time for yourself

Are any of these on your list?  Are there any resolutions you made that didn't make the list?  I've never made any resolutions myself, but #9 is definitely something I could work on.  I also think we could all benefit from eating healthier, and I'd like to start buying and using more organic foods.

According to another one of those articles in Parade, the statistical success rate of New Years resolutions is 8%.  That doesn't sound very encouraging, does it?  Still, it's a bright shiny new year, and we'd all love to do better this year, wouldn't we?   Also remember that, even if you make a resolution and fail, you do not have to wait until the beginning of another year to try again.  Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and try again.

Did you know there are apps you can put on your smart phone or tablet that can help you stick to your resolutions this year?  I mean, why not?  There's an app for everything else, why not apps to help us live better lives?  Isn't that what it's all about anyway?  If our technology isn't helping us, then we might as well not have it, right?  It has to be more than just games and Facebook. (though those are pretty fun)

Here are some apps that might just help you keep those resolutions this year or get started again:

• To help us eat healthier - Fooducate.   This one looks really cool.  It lets you scan barcodes in the grocery store to get nutrition information about the products you're thinking of buying and offers healthier alternatives. 
• To help me stop procrastinating, I'm sure there's a Productivity app that will help me.  The Parade article mentioned Finish, which is available on iTunes for the iPad Air.  It looks pretty handy because once you enter the stuff that you need to get done and when it needs to be done, the app reminds you until you actually get it done.  I wonder if you'd just go ahead and do whatever the thing is just to shut the app up?  Worth a try, anyway.
• If you want to stay in touch with your friends and family (besides on Facebook), Skype is great.  It lets you talk face to face with someone, even if they're hundreds of miles away.  For free!  It's one of the best ways to talk to our grandson Jason, now that we don't live in the same town anymore.  He'll talk to us longer when he can see us than when we're just using the phone.
  
• For managing and improving finances, there's Mint.  I've been using the Mint website for a while - and I use the term 'using' loosely because I really don't take advantage of all the features.  Mint can help you track spending, create budgets, and send alerts for upcoming bills or low balances.  It's a great way to see where your money is going and take charge of your finances.  I'm going to download it to my U.S. Cellular Samsung GS4 and see if I can keep better track of ours.

Those are just a few of the very helpful apps available to help us take control of our lives.  Whatever your resolutions or goals are this year, I bet there's an app for that!  Be sure to visit Google Play or iTunes and search for the apps that will help you.   If you've found some that have been very helpful in your life, be sure to share them.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.