Keeping the Kids Healthy During the Winter: Common Diseases and How to Counter Them

Winter is in full flow now, although it’s going to get a lot colder real soon! The onset of winter usually proves to be a tough time for seniors and young children in particular, as they are the most vulnerable to diseases which the cold usually brings with it.

To keep children safe from the many threats of winter, it’s important to be aware of them first. Read on as we discuss some of the most common diseases that affect children in the UK every year during the colder months, and how to prevent them.

Common Cold

The common cold virus is just far too common during the winter for comfort! Given that young children have weak, underdeveloped immune systems, the virus often finds them to be easy, recurring hosts. Protect your child from the common cold with the following tips:

• Wash the hands of toddlers in warm water frequently
• Teach the importance of doing so before every snack and not just meals to slightly older children
• Always use disposable tissues for runny noses; fabric just reinfects the child continuously
• Keep the indoor temperatures high - heat helps in both prevention and healing
• Prevent exposing toddlers and infants to cold weather

Norovirus

One of the rare bugs that affect our digestive systems during winter would be the norovirus. Aside from the same measures we mentioned above, there’s not much else one can do to prevent the infection.

It’s highly infectious, very common in all parts of the UK, and in the case of young children, the disease can take a turn for the worse. Common symptoms of a norovirus infections are as follows:

• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Low – mid level fever
• Pain in the muscles
• Weakness

Back in the day, when Isaak was sick.

Healthy adults will get over it in a week or less, but young children might need hospital care. If you notice signs of dehydration in your child, don’t wait around for too long.

Raynaud’s Disease

Now, Raynaud’s Disease is not as much of a disease as it is a genetic condition. Everyone gets cold hands and feet from time to time during the winter, but children and even adults with Raynaud’s phenomenon will actually feel pain once the blood vessels in their hands and feet begin to shrink from the cold.

Bluish or whitish fingers, tingling/cold/numb/painful extremities are all symptoms of Raynaud’s disease. Those with the disease will suffer most as children, although the condition can become less bothersome as they grow up. Some of the common, effective methods for preventing Raynaud’s flare ups would be as follows:

• Keep the child in weather controlled, significantly warm temperatures as much as possible
• Make sure that they are wearing gloves and socks at all times
• If they can’t keep their body temperature high even after that, consult a doctor

Handling Emergencies

Never ignore the symptoms of a disease, whether it’s your child, or yourself. Even if you don’t have the funds for covering unforeseen medical costs immediately, or to invest in a new boiler for keeping the house warm and healthy, there are options out there. Whatever your reasons, new payday loan lenders like BingoLoans offer clear, transparent platforms with instant approvals online. Just be sure to make the repayments on time to keep the costs from spiralling out of control.

Emergencies seldom announce themselves and, alongside children, adults may also experience diseases more frequently as the mercury begins to dip. Heart attacks and debilitating pain in the joints are common emergencies that may make themselves apparent at any time. Awareness, preparation and timely actions are the keys to keeping everyone fit and safe.

WW: Room {Linky}

I've been fairly busy.

Our old loveseat that we had, for cough 17 or so years was ready to retire. We heard a snap, when one of us sat on it. It had stains that I washed out many, many times. The velcro was coming off, so the cushion wouldn't stay put. We gutted it! Nothing in our house is every easy. Most people would just throw it on the side of some dumpster, somewhere. Travis wanted the pieces. I only cared to get the furniture tacks.

Good-bye Loveseat:

Sure enough it was a piece of wood that snapped.

Pay attention to the green shelves. I repainted them!

Hello Chairs:

I really wanted another loveseat. We are a family that loves shows and movies. Laying down is well...awesome! 

BUT we had a horrible time finding what we wanted. Travis wanted to be able to sit in whatever we bought. I'd find things online, but he couldn't sit in them. I finally saw our seats at The World Market. It was the Bohemian Style I was looking for, we both liked them, and they were 50% off. The sucky thing, they weren't a loveseat. I'm going to have to find a way of making poufs or footstools. We're already missing laying down. 

We were going to place the chairs next to each other, but changed our minds. Here's the chair Travis designed, next to one of the other chairs. I repainted the green shelves. 

I found a pillow that has sections just like Travis' chair.

Here's a better look at the shelves I painted:

Lots of stripes like the chairs have. Last coat of varnish! 

Travis put in the loveseats's furniture tacks. It sounds easier than it was. That wood was hard! He had to pre drill holes, to get them in. 

Then his sculpture went on top.

Here's the other side of the living room. 

The leather couch has furniture tacks too! We got an off white pillow that has the same pattern as the red one. The other bohemian case is new too. 

See the Cheez-It trunk in the back? I got that filled with products to review a long time ago. It's such a cool trunk. I love Cheez-Its, but I'm thinking about repurposing that. I want to have a board cut bigger than the trunk, add the red fabric from Travis' chair (he had extra), stuff it with batting from the loveseat, and screw the board on up through the bottom of the top. I'd have to add sliders, or wheels on the bottom. 

Sunny approves! The kids prefer to lay on the couch. 

Do you like ottoman's, or poufs better? 

If you're like me, and have no idea what a pouf is, here they are:

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Poufs look cozier, but some ottomans can store things. Whatever I end up with I'll probably make it. Poufs and ottomans are just as much as the chairs! The Cheez-It trunk gets repurposed, for Travis' chair.

Guarana Berry Seed Powder Review

We had a delicious smoothie this morning: 

• Guarana Berry Seed Powder
• Frozen garden strawberries
• Frozen garden mulberries
• Frozen garden raspberries 
• Banana
• Water 
• Ice 

About Guarana Berry Seed Powder:

It is US Department of Agriculture 100% Certified Organic. I feel better about consuming things that are certified organic. I can't help but to think allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses are getting worse for people because of all the sprays farmers use.

Alovitox gets the powder from farmers in the Brazilian Rainforest. 

There is no artificial colors. The US is bad with all their artificial colors. Colors are so strong here in comparison to the UK.

It came in an 8 ounce bag. The bag was pretty full; in comparison to other packaging, for other products I've gotten.

It’s a natural energy booster, caffeine. A wonderful pick me up for the morning. It's hard to tell if it did boost our alertness. I think it's difficult to measure how awake you feel. I'll take their word, for it. 

Where to get Guarana Berry Seed Powder:

You can pick it up at Walmart $16.99. It shipped super fast! You can get it here: https://www.walmart.com/…/USDA-100-Certified-Orga…/106386747

Do you add anything to your smoothies?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchanged for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

7 Unknown Benefits of Dental Crown You Must Know

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Dental crowns are caps that have the shape of the human teeth. They are caps that you place on your teeth for restoring the strength, size, shape, and appearance. Dentists recommend dental caps to people who have dental infections or have undergone a dental procedure. They are an effective way to act as a guard for your teeth because of the material that the dentists use for preparing dental crowns. The dental crowns fully cover the entire visible portion of the tooth that lies above the gum line, and this is why they are the best option for protecting your teeth from any problem or infections.

WHY DO YOU NEED A DENTAL CROWN?

Dental crowns are one of the best dental accessories that protect your teeth from any kind of damage. Apart from this, here are a few reasons why you need a dental crown:

• Dental crowns like resin crown help to protect the weaker teeth from decay, cavities, etc. They also protect the teeth from breaking and are a good option for holding together the parts of cracked teeth. 


• They help in restoring the broken teeth or teeth that have had a lot of damage. 


• They also help in covering up and supporting teeth that have large amounts of fillings. This is also true in case of teeth that do not have a major portion of the teeth left. These types of teeth have fillings to restore the shape and functionality of the teeth.


• They serve an excellent function of holding together a dental bridge. Dental Bridges need support to hold on for more extended periods, and dental crowns help them by providing support. 


• Dentists use dental crowns for their dental cosmetic purposes, like making cosmetic modifications with the teeth. 


• They also serve their role by covering dental implants and protect them from any kind of external damage.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DENTAL CROWN?

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As already discussed above, dental crowns are an extremely useful dental accessory. Dentists all around the world suggest their use to their patients because they have a lot of benefits. The kind of protection that dental crowns provide to your teeth, no other dental accessory, can keep your teeth and mouth that much happy and healthy. Here is a list of seven very important yet unknown benefits of Dental Crowns. After reading these benefits, you will have a positive outlook towards the usage of dental crowns.

1. COMPLETE TOOTH SUPPORT: Dental crowns are the best for providing comprehensive tooth support post all kinds of treatments and procedures. They are an excellent way to cover your teeth from germs and infections. They act as a protective shield for the teeth so that the teeth do not catch any more infections. They also provide support to damaged teeth that become weak due to decay and infections. Therefore, Dental crowns provide complete teeth support to teeth that have undergone any kind of dental treatment or surgery. 


2. RESTORE TOOTH AFTER SURGERY: Since dental crowns provide protection to the teeth that have any kind of damage, dental crowns are also beneficial for restoring teeth after any kind of surgery. They are very helpful in providing protection and restoration to teeth post root canal surgery. Root canal surgery is one of the most painful and tough dental surgeries, and dental crowns are an excellent source to restore the teeth that undergo surgery. 


3. HOLD TOGETHER BROKEN OR DAMAGED TEETH: Dental Crowns can help to hold together the teeth that have cracks or break due to specific reasons. The fact that dental crowns constitute solid materials or metals helps them to be sturdy and provide overall protection to teeth that suffer or are on the verge of suffering from damage. The strong outer coverage of the dental caps accommodate the broken teeth and keeps them in their place and prevent them from any further damage. 


4. PROVIDES PROTECTION TO WORN TEETH: Dental Crowns also help to provide protection to teeth that wear out and lose their strength and also lose their tooth enamel. Dental Crowns also help such teeth by providing them protection from any contact from anything that goes inside the mouth. Since you wear a dental crown, the worn-out tooth does not get in touch with any kind of food or drink. This further helps the teeth not to get any additional infections inside the mouth. 


5. ANCHORS THE DENTAL BRIDGE: If you have any problems that relate to a dental bridge, then a dental crown helps in anchoring the dental bridge. A dental bridge helps in filling the gaps that are inside your mouth due to missing teeth. The dental crowns support and protect these dental bridges from any kind of external damage that can occur. Since a dental bridge contains false teeth, dental crowns are caps that protect these teeth from any further infections and cavities because the dental bridge is sensitive in nature. Therefore, dental crowns are excellent sources to anchor the dental bridge placed inside the mouth. 


6. THEY ARE CUSTOM MADE: Dental Crowns are not like other ordinary dental equipment made generally for all types of people. Dental Crowns are custom made for you according to your mouth and smile. You do not have to worry about looking bad or think before smiling after wearing a dental crown. Dentists design the dental crown after closely examining your mouth and smile pattern. They also call you to test the dental crowns. You can finalize the dental crown once they satisfy your requirements. 


7. THEY LAST FOR A LONG TIME: The other significant benefit of having a dental crown is that they last for a long time. You do not have to worry about visiting the dentist again and again for get the dental crown as they have a long-lasting span. The materials that comprise dental crowns are very sturdy in nature and help to restore the dental crowns for a reasonable amount of time. Apart from that, dental crowns are durable, reliable, and are capable of tolerating a lot of extremities.

Dental Crowns are the best dental equipment that your dentist will recommend you to use for protecting your teeth from all kinds of decay and infections. Apart from these benefits, the dental crowns also help in enhancing the appearance of your teeth as the teeth look very healthy and strong. Since you can select the dental crowns as per your own choice, you must choose a dental crown that suits you the best and does not cause any problem to your dental health.

Disclaimer: This is a guest post.

#longsleeve #pullover #sweatshirt Review

I've been purposely picking out tops that will go with these Bohemian Shoes. What would you wear with them? I like them, but whatever I wear has to have these colors in it, and be really busy like they are or not busy at all. I think this shirt goes well with them.

Colors:

I'm happy with the aqua color I picked out. It's not a color I normally wear.

It also comes in: Tan, Grey, and Blue.

Sweatshirt or Shirt:

On Blacknear's site they call this a sweatshirt. It's not thick like a sweatshirt. It's more like a shirt to me. It doesn't bother me. I like that it's thinner. If I want to be warm, I'd prefer to dress in layers. Then if I get hot I can take off the top layer.

Fit:

I like that the arms in this shirt are longer than most shirts. They could easily make this shirt one of those that has fabric that fits into the hand. I think it would work with the style. I have problems with my arms being too long for most shirts. It's pretty frustrating. The sleeves goes slightly into my hands. YAY!

The collar doesn't seem to want to sit right, for me. Maybe it doesn't have to. The material isn't stiff.

Fabric:

95% Polyester
5% Spandex

It does feel super soft.

Machine wash, and tumble dry.

Cost:

You can get it on Blacknear for $53, on sale for $33. The sale price makes it reasonable.

You can get it here: https://backnear.com/collections/sweatshirts-hoodies/products/zipped-neck-long-sleeve-pullover-sweatshirt. They do have Paypal, for funds, and tracking. It did take a month to ship. I'm so spoiled with Prime. I just don't like waiting for my package to come.

Did you get any new clothes for Christmas?

Disclaimer: I got this product, for a heavy discount in order to help with my review. The company did not tell me what to say. All opinions are my own.  

#bohemian #sweater #cardigan Review

Bohemian Style:

I just got this Bohemian Stripe Knitted Cardigan Sweater. I'm in love with the Bohemian Style, so much! It's cool because there's lots of color, patterns, and can go with many things.

You can dress up Bohemian clothes with slacks, black pants, or a black skirt. It can also be worn on days where you don't want to dress up; by pairing it with jeans.

I happen to have Bohemian shoes, so I wore them with the sweater. My pants and top under the sweater were all black.

Good for Snowy Days:

Yesterday it snowed. The boys got off school, for the second time this winter, due to snow. My students had class. I really didn't want to go in to teach; it was cold, the boys were home having fun without me, and I knew many students wouldn't show up.

I actually had most of my class show up in the morning, but they trickled down to a wapping two students by the afternoon. It boosted my moral by wearing something new, and warm. The classroom I was in is always cold.

What the Bohemian Sweater is Made of: 

I’m not to fond of what it’s made of:

55% nylon
40% acrylic
5% rabbit fur

I wish companies would add less plastic in clothing, and packaging! I'm ok with animal fur as long as the animal passed away naturally, or it's being used fully. Native Americans used animal fur, but they also used their bones, their meat and so on. I hate the idea of animals being killed just so one part of them being used, for our consumption. Does that make any sense? I know only 5% is rabbit fur, while the rest is other things. What are the best things to use to make fabrics? Any thoughts?

Care:

It can be washed in a standard washer!

I actually bumped into the car yesterday when I was cleaning it off. The sweater got black snow on it. Those that live in the south, snow is only pretty, for one day. After that it's a black slushy mess; from cars, trucks, busses, and SUVs! I just washed my sleeve in the sink with a drop of hand soap, and it came clean. 

Where to Get This Stylish Bohemian Sweater?

You can get it for $145, but it's on sale for $65 at Backnear https://backnear.com/collections/sweaters/products/bohemian-stripe-knitted-cardigan.

It did take a long time to get it. I'm spoiled with Amazon Prime. I think it was worth the wait. I'll wear it a lot.

Are you a big fan of cardigans and sweaters?

Disclaimer: I got this product, for a heavy discount in order to help with my review. The company did not tell me what to say. All opinions are my own. 

WW: Outside {Linky}

Do you ever feel really cooped up during the winter time? Maybe in the south people do not. In the midwest it is really a thing. I don't want to go anywhere because it's cold, grey, and windy. Sometimes snowy and icy too.

A few weeks ago Travis convinced all of us that we needed to get out of the house. We went hiking at OPPD Arboretum and Heron Haven Nature Center. Both a small, but do have some walking/hiking you can do.

I did opt to digitally enhance the photo above. Again I'm already sick of colorless grass. It makes me want to see Wyoming - Geyser's once again, in the hot summer of course. 

The boys like any kids do wanted to explore this tunnel. Isaak got a bit freaked out that water would start flowing fast in it, and they wouldn't be able to get out. I think he's been watching too many movies/shows.

He felt better when he was safe. Too good really. The punk kept annoying all of us. Ha! 

This tree begged me, for a photo:

This bark looked a bit like camouflage:

We saw some cattails, which I don't know if I've ever noticed them - except in cartoons.

Do you feel stir crazy during the winter?

Random Tid Bits

1. I think it's really sexy that Prince Harry is walking away from his royal duties to honor his wife and mother. He has to do what's right, for his family. It's crazy that I could careless about the royal family any other time.
   
   

   

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2. My coworker helps me with Wall Critiques. Basically I took it on to critique student's wall spaces before they have a digital portfolio. I go over their work, their work habits, their personality traits that could enter their work more. I told her this year I want to give them each an artist's name to look up that reminds me of how they work. She gave me a handful of designer's names. I emailed her back saying, "I understand why you want me to add designer's names, but it's for Illustration class and I don't know how the student's designs will look. They just started Design and Layout class." She understood. I hope I didn't rub her the wrong way. I don't think I did.


3. Travis has to go get a scope done soon of his throat. Long story short he had to get surgery on his esophagus when he was 19. Now when he eats he has trouble with his food going down. At first it was funny. He'd get hiccups. Now it's rather scary because it happens more than we'd rather. We wonder if he has scar tissue that's built up there. His parents have both had problems with that from different surgeries they've had.
   
   I'm not looking forward to all the medical bills, but it's something that needs to be checked out!
4. Isaak had Strep Throat right before Christmas. That bill came in. $546 for the doctor and lab fees! With insurance it is $240.69. Medical bills are crazy high!
   
   I just read an article where it costs more to have a baby than a woman can make in a month. It's been like that for awhile!
5. Isaak is in Art now, and he's loving it! I hope it's just as loved as the piano is for him.
   
   
   
   

Scam, Scam, Everywhere Are Scams

I ordered Isaak a gold Steel Drum, for Christmas. It was ordered on November 3rd. He wouldn't tell me what he wanted, but I thought he'd love it.

Their image. Oh they probably stole that too.

It never came. I had inner freak outs many times over this. The first was when it was a few weeks until Christmas, and I never got a tracking number. The next one came when I clicked on their website, and poof it was gone. Then another inner freak out when I clicked on my order, and it was gone. I also saw what I ordered on facebook, and the company kept on changing. I wish I would have seen that one before I ordered it! When I ordered it, I saw nothing suspicious. I looked it up on Google, and nothing came up. The freak outs kept on coming...

Now it's been reported to PayPal. I also sent an invoice to their customer service email. I don't know if anything will come of this. I tried.

Piss off Flowershave, Highlife Technology LTD. Just trying to bring awareness to the whole situation.

Crazy thing...I know who 2 of the scammers are on facebook. One made the mistake of saying something about the product taking awhile to get to people. Then the one told me to look up another, and ask him.

I was really happy when Code Piano came through. They gave me the product to review.

Have you ever been scammed before?

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

4 Home Improvement Projects for the New Year

The start of the year is the perfect time to carry out home improvement projects and enhance your living environment. What’s more, home projects don’t have to be overly expensive or time-consuming. There are simple ways to improve your home and create a better living space for you and your family. Here are four home improvement projects you should consider in the new year.

1. Do a major house clean

A clean, tidy living environment will boost your home’s visual appeal and make it easier to complete your daily tasks. Maintaining a clean, organized home can also have several benefits on your mental health. According to maids.com, housework can effectively reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Creating a peaceful, clutter-free environment encourages a calm mind and good mental health. Now is an ideal time to do a major house clean and donate any items you received over the holidays but don’t need or want. This will help to prevent clutter from accumulating in your home. Make house cleaning fun and quick by getting the whole family involved in your cleaning efforts.

2. Upgrade your household appliances

Upgrading your household appliances is a great way to boost your home’s appeal and increase functionality. Modern appliances are far more energy-efficient than older models. This means that upgrading can also be an excellent way to lower carbon emissions. Some of the most cost-effective appliances to upgrade in your home include your boiler, radiators, and kitchen appliances like dishwashers and kitchens. When upgrading, make sure to look for models that are economical and will complement your existing decor. For instance, Warmrooms offer a wide selection of vertical radiators that are cleverly designed to provide more heat to a room when there is not enough space for a traditional horizontal radiator. They come in a wide range of stylish designs to create an eye-catching focal point in any room.

3. Freshen up your home interiors

There are so many ways to freshen up your home interiors. This includes repainting your walls, replacing old carpet with modern styles like laminate flooring, and adding new furnishings. While cleaning, it is the perfect time to switch up your decor and inject some personality into your home style. You should try experimenting with vibrant colors and patterned wallpapers, adding some wall art, or purchasing some trendy home accessories like rugs, cushions, and mirrors.

We're in the process of taking apart our loveseat. We want to use the parts (like the furniture tacks) to refurbish shelves. I'm playing with the idea of making a few ottomans or poufs with some of the old loveseat as well.

We bought two decorative chairs to replace the loveseat. I'll share updated pictures when the torn apart loveseat is out of our living room. 

4. Boost your curb appeal

Your home exterior is extremely important as it sets the tone for what the rest of your home is going to be like. Luckily, you can easily enhance your home’s curb appeal with simple improvements like repainting your home’s exterior, tidying up your yard, replacing your windows and doors, or installing outdoor lighting. Make sure that you also inspect your home exterior regularly to check for any signs of damage to areas like the driveway or roof. If you notice anything, then have it repaired as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to your property. You should consider hiring a professional landscaper if you want to give your curb appeal a serious boost and get your outdoor space looking in top condition.