Archive for Health

Coronavirus and Grocery Shopping

The coronavirus has literally changed everything. Grocery shopping, work, school and socializing. We have been sick with coughs, runny noses and headaches for the past couple of weeks. No, I do not think it is the coronavirus, however, we have been staying pretty close to home so we do not spread what we do have.

Coronavirus and Grocery Shopping

 

Empty store shelves.

Empty store shelves.

In light of this bug and the coronavirus, I decided to try grocery shopping via an express shopping service being offered by one of our grocery stores. By doing this it saved having all of us in the store being sick (except one who has mysteriously remained healthy), or being exposed to other germs while our immune systems are down.

While I am very grateful for the express shopping service, I prefer to shop for myself. Here’s why:

1. The substitutions really did not compare to the original product.

2. Some of the pricing did not match the savings I would have had with the original item.

3. I do not receive a receipt for my shopping trip. Just the credit/debit receipt. How could I confirm my order that had been drastically changed with substitutions and missing itmes?

People are going nuts with hoarding everything from toilet paper, milk to batteries. I could not get a 12 pack of AA batteries (our wireless computer mouse/mice? use them)! Granted, they did substitute it for a 16-pack. Maybe it was because the 12-pack was on sale? But folks, why are they hoarding batteries?

I haven’t been grocery shopping in nearly two weeks and what I had on my list was in line with what I would normally buy, given the sales and the emptiness of certain pantry cupboards. But I could not purchase what I normally buy because people are buying for months, years even, instead of a couple of weeks. The food supply chain has not shut down!

Ok, that was a bit of a rant but I seriously wanted to get that out in the open space that this blog provides. Note to all the hoarders: Save food for those coming behind you for normal every day living!

Maybe this post will come back and bite me, but it is only how I feel today after a not so great grocery shopping experience. Not being able to buy our regular food items will do that to me, wouldn’t it affect you? Is it affecting you?

Share your shopping experiences, what are your stores like, can you get your normal items, etc. in the comment section below.

Stay safe and good health wishes to all!

 


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TBBlood Test

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“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the TB Blood Test. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

As nurturers, we constantly try everything in our power to ensure the well-being of our loved ones. But, let’s face it, planning ahead for every situation proves impossible, and we welcome help with open arms. With our busy schedules, especially during routine back to school check-ups, receiving the most reliable care and accurate results leaves less time spent worrying.

Providing more ease, more time, and more certainty-families everywhere rest easier knowing their loved ones remain safe and healthy – allowing more time during the back-to-school season and throughout the year.

While trying to stay healthy , thoughts of a TB blood test is in the air.
When think of TB tests we usually think of the skin test… well there is a better alternative! The TB Blood test! Why is the blood test better? The blood test gives more accurate results, which in turn are more reliable.

The TB blood test is the only available method of testing for TB with completely objective results. Other tests, such as the skin test, are subjective and open to visual interpretation.

How does the blood test differ? Well, with the TB skin test, another visit to the doctor for a physical examination is necessary after a few days. If you are infected with TB, a raised lump will develop at the site where the tuberculin was injected. However, a previous TB vaccination is likely to cause a false-positive result and individuals may also experience severe itching at the puncture site. The TB blood test allows you to get accurate results in just one visit leading to meaningful benefits – more ease, more time, more certainty.

For questions or more information on the TB Bloodtest visit

#TBBloodTest

 

 


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Veggie-Go’s

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My kids eat very few vegetables. I either have to add a lot of cheese to mask the taste, or puree vegetables and sneak them into casseroles.  Even then, my kids notice them.  I have yet to find a way for them to eat vegetables willingly.  That is until they tried Veggie-Go’s.

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Veggie-Go’s are the original fruit AND veggie strip.  These amazing strips provide half a serving of fruit and half a serving of vegetables.  They are also GMO free, organic, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan, and have no added sugar.  The best part of all, they taste delicious! My kids had no idea they were eating vegetables or fruit, just a tasty snack.  They even asked for more!

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Veggie-Go’s come in some really unique varieties including Mountain Berry Spinach, Carrot Ginger, Cinnamon Spiced Beet, TropiKale, and Sweet Potato Pie.  My son said his favorite one was the Mountain Berry Spinach.  There is no way he would eat another one if I told him it was made with spinach and sweet potatoes!  Veggie-Go’s are individually wrapped so they are great for on the go.  They are available at your local Whole Foods as well as online at

www.nakededgesnacks.com

I highly recommend them, and definitely plan on buying more of them.

 


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How To Pick The Perfect Swim Instructor

How To Pick The Perfect Swim Instructor

by Kaitlin Gardner

When we started a family, I wanted my kids to learn how to swim. It was a skill that they would use for a lifetime, and our family would be around the water many times. Just going to the local pool and signing them up for classes didn’t feel right for me. I did homework to find the best instructor I could for my kids.

Ask around. I asked a number of parents with older children about their swim instructors. I heard some good things, and some parents steered me away from programs where they didn’t feel satisfied with the results. I was glad I took that time, because it helped me narrow down the choices before I went any further. I’ve found some great resources with more detail about swim programs for kids:

Boy Swimming

Photo attribution: Yatmandu

Learn To Swim: The Importance of Swimming Lessons

What Every Parent Should Know About Choosing A Swimming Instructor

Swim Lesson Plans

A personal visit. Once I narrowed down my options and had a list of swim schools that sounded the strongest, I made visits. I talked to the manager of the school, to get an impression of how professional the person was, because I felt like his approach would filter down through the school. I wanted someone who took the job of teaching my kids to swim as seriously as I was approaching it. I was really impressed by the commitment of the school managers, and knew I was on the right track.

What’s the plan? I wanted to know how the teaching would be handled – would they just have the kids jump in the shallow end and start showing them the Australian crawl? I wanted classes that would work through a plan where the kids learned basics and moved forward building on that foundation. I found several schools that had similar lesson plans, and I felt really good about the thoroughness and approach of the lessons.

Check instructor credentials. I asked the school managers what certifications were required for a swim instructor. I had looked online and found the required levels of certification, and in every case, the swim schools followed those standards. I was feeling really good about the schools at this point. Some people might think I was going a little overboard, but with the lives of my kids at stake, I was willing to take extra steps.

Watch a class. I asked the managers of the schools if I could watch a class. I had read that if they don’t want you to do that, it’s a warning sign that the school is not a good one. In every case, the schools I was considering encouraged to watch their swim classes. I sat and talked with other Moms who were watching their kids in class. I got a couple of names of great instructors from them, so I made sure to sit in on those classes. I had narrowed my choices to a couple of instructors by this point.

How’s the attitude? I didn’t want my kids to be taught by somebody who was just going through the motions, so watching the class, I was checking for the attitude of the instructor. I was amazed at how calm, caring and thorough the instructors were. They made sure each child demonstrated proficiency with what was being taught before they moved on. I was astonished by how well mannered and orderly the kids were. When I made my final choice, I was confident I had found the perfect instructor for my kids. It made me smile to watch them learning how to swim, and how their confidence in the water grew with each lesson.

Kaitlin Gardner started An Apple Per Day to explore her passion for a green living lifestyle, and healthy family living. She and her husband have just moved to rural Pennsylvania, where they enjoy exploring the countryside to discover interesting and out of the way places. She is also learning how to paint watercolors.


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Drop Your Pants for Underwareness Movement

Thank you to Depend for sponsoring today’s discussion.

Underwareness Bladder Leakage

Drop Your Pants for Underwareness Movement

I am not quite ready to drop my pants (and yes, some people are literally dropping their pants for this campaign!!) for Underwareness, but I do want to share the reality that over 65 million Americans experience bladder leakage. That is a pretty high number, isn’t it? And I am one of those 65 million. Maybe I didn’t do enough kegels during pregnancy or after I had my babies? Maybe I inherited weak bladder muscles? Whatever the cause, it affects me each and every day. I can no longer be as physically active as I once was without the aid of bladder leakage protection. I can no longer laugh, sneeze or cough without suffering from the offensive “bl”. Very dear people in my life joke about “needing a panty liner” when we get together, but the truth is, I need something more than a panty liner most days or I may find my pants wet!

So to help support Underwareness and bring the condition and Depend Underwear out of the wall of shame, Depend has created a new social movement and charitable cause called Underwareness. You, too, can share your story. You will be helping Underwareness, supporting the millions of Americans with bladder leakage and helping to break down the stigma of the condition and Depend Underwear. Depend offers discreet products that are thin, not a bulky diaper, which are a much more comfortable option for those suffering from this often viewed “shameful” condition. Thus, helping people regain their freedom and get their lives back. If you are wondering what to wear for bladder leakage, Depend products include:

Depend products

For Women:
– Depend® Silhouette® Briefs for Women
– Depend® for Women Underwear with FIT-FLEX™ Protection

For Men:
– Depend® Real Fit® Briefs for Men
– Depend® for Men Underwear With FIT-FLEX™ Protection

Underwareness Campaign

Depend will donate $1, up to $3 million, over the next three years to charities that advance the research, education and awareness of bladder leakage for: Every pant drop, photo and video shared. Use hashtags #Underwareness and #DropYourPants in your social sharing.

Depend- Full disclosure this article is financially supported by Depend

For more information visit www.Underwareness.com to join the movement and request free samples of Depend. Claim your free samples by visiting the Depend landing page and clicking on the “Get a Sample” button located at the top right-hand side of the screen. Then, select which sample you would like to receive and wait for them to arrive.

Don’t forget to use these hashtags in your social sharing! #Underwareness and #DropYourPants


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Smiley360 – Children’s Mucinex Review

mucinex

’tis the season. Oh the joys of noses running and hacking coughs. As much as I appreciated the Smiley 360 Blogger offer to do a Children’s Mucinex review, I didn’t want to have to try it. I’m sure all you Mom’s understand. Well, low and behold my little darling started showing signs of the stuffy nose and cough. Good thing we had our Children’s Mucinex in the closet. The multi-symptom cold with expectorant cough suppressant and nasal decongestant was just the thing we needed. It covers the stuffy nose, cough, chest congestion and breaks up mucus in a favorable flavor of Very Berry. After I read all the warnings, uses and directions the first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the dosing cup. It’s a short and wider than other dosing cups included in other brands. Which was much easier for my daughter to drink, it fit her mouth more like a cup she normally drinks out of. She’s not fond of tastes of medicine (but who really is, right?), she said it was good. The Children’s Mucinex helped her cough and stuffy nose, especially throughout the night, which makes this Momma happy.

Children’s Mucinex is alcohol free and there are 7 kinds of liquid forms to choose from depending on the ailment. In addition, there are 3 “mini melts”. From what I read about Mini Melts, you open the packet and pour the contents on your child’s tongue and they swallow it.

Complete drug facts, uses, warnings, dosing chart, and active ingredients please click here.

If you are unsure about using Children’s Mucinex® Multi-Symptom Cold liquid for
your child, talk to your pediatrician. With Children’s Mucinex and all medication, please read all the instructions before you dispense it to your child! Please call the toll free number 1-866-MUCINEX (1-866-682-4639) if you have any product related questions.

Please like Mucinex on Facebook and Twitter .  Click here for a $2.00 coupon too!

#ChildrensMucinex

received this product for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. You can join Smiley360 here!”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product and promotional products from Smiley 360 in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Smiley360 – Crest Sensi-Stop Strips Review

I received this product for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. You can join Smiley360 here!”

crest_logoOh that OUCH when you eat something cold or hot. Perhaps you ate something too sweet or acidy.  Crest Sensi-Stop Strips are here for you! Just open up the strip and apply it to the sensitive area. It will give you instant relief and you will get up to a month’s protection.

How do they work, you ask?

Crest Sensi-Stop Strips are thin, flexible strips that contain dipotassium oxalate desensitizing gel on one side. “

crest

It goes on to say the strip makes a barrier that helps to stop the pain by blocking tubules. They will last up to 1 month and many people find relief when they first apply the strip.

My husband has the sensitive teeth in our family. He was quite impressed with this product. His sensitivity is toward sweet foods. He found relief quickly after reading the directions and applying the Crest Sensi-Stop. It also made me happy that after the strip is applied you are able to use your regular toothpaste.

To help your sensitive teeth buy yours today by clicking here. Don’t forget to like Crest Sensi-Stop Strips on Facebook!

#SensiStop


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GoodNites* TRU-FIT* Review and Giveaway

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for GoodNites* TRU-FIT*. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

goodnites-logo

Did you know that….

“According to a GoodNites® brand study, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 4-12 in the United States suffer from nocturnal enuresis, more commonly known as bedwetting”

More than 40% of parents find it frustrating and feel that bedwetting can be “trained” out of a child.

goodnites-tru-fit-underwear-starter-packs

Accidents happen – even for big kids once in a while. I dealt with a similar issue when I was a child. I used to sleep so tight and I never realized that I had an accident. My daughter has the same problem. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed by, it’s not her fault.

Well, thankfully GoodNites® developed a product called TRU-FIT*. They are undies with a plastic liner that you put a disposable insert in. The starter pack comes with 2 pair of machine washable underwear and 5 disposable inserts for boy or girls. GoodNites* TRU-FIT* are available at retailers nationwide.

“87% of Moms that tried the product said that TRU-FIT* will make their kids more confident.”

Goodnites 3

We received the girls with a purple pair and a purple striped pair of underwear. They are cute and fit my daughter well. They do give her more confidence and that make this Momma feel much better too.  I will admit the inserts are a bit long and are tough to get into the underwear. Once they are on your child, just make sure they are not all bunched up in the front or back. That can be uncomfortable for your child. We have found these are working well for us. I do make sure my daughter uses the bathroom before she goes to bed each night also.

Giving your child support is the main thing if they have an accident. They don’t even realize this is happening.  This is not something that can be “trained” out of them. The child is already probably feeling bad about themselves and need you, as the parent, to let them know that this is okay and you will get through it together.

Click here to find out more information about GoodNites* TRU-FIT* Underwear and getting a coupon!     Don’t forget to link GoodNites* TRU-FIT* on Facebook.  #MC  #sponsored  #TRUFITBetterNites

$40 Gift Card Giveaway

Enter to win $40 Gift Card. Giveaway ends 9/26. Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Mom Central.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Go Back to School with Harvest Snaps #HarvestSnapsFan

This post was created in partnership with Harvest Snaps. I have been compensated for this post in the form of product. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Looking for a healthy back to school snack for you and your children? Try Harvest Snaps ! Harvest Snaps come in six different flavors: Snapea Crisps Black Pepper, Snapea Crisps Lightly Salted, Snapea Crisps Wasabi, Snapea Crisps Caesar, Lentil Snaps Tomato Basil, Lentil Snaps Onion Time.

Our children really liked these snacks. I only got to try a couple and thought they were powdery tasting. It was a weird taste bud war going on, seriously, because I wanted to like them. Our youngest found the Green Peas Black Pepper flavored one hot, so he only liked the non-hot flavors. These made a great after school or before bedtime snack. Of course, I forgot to take photos of them snacking! Other ways I can see Harvest Snaps being used are: back-to-School lunchboxes, post-workout snack, lunch sides, crunchy salad toppings and for sports fans gameday snacks and tailgating events.

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A Little Bit About Harvest Snaps

Here are some Harvest Snaps facts:

~ Snapea Crisps are made from 70% pea. Lentil Snaps are made from 65% lentil.
~ Harvest Snaps offers a healthier snacking option. They are baked, not fried.
~ Harvest Snaps are all-natural and guilt-free. Each of the 6 flavors are high fiber and protein, and low in sodium and fat.
~ These healthy treats are a great snack for the whole family, except my hubby did not try them. I think we forgot to ask him! Oops…
~ They are non-GMO.

FFR Harvest Snaps


Harvest Snaps Fun

For fun, you can visit the Lunchspiration microsite, create a Bento Box and be entered to win your own Harvest Snaps!


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Garden Harvest – Wordless Wednesday

Garden Harvest

The little ones raided the garden one day and found these organic veggies! Can you say yummy garden harvest?

FFR Children's hands full of veggies


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