Health

Talking to Kids About the Dangers of Vaping

November 28, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

When I was a young teenager, I went through some pretty shy and awkward years. And eventually, in an effort to fit in, I ended up starting smoking.

It was a terrible decision that cost me money and damaged my health for over a decade, but ten years ago I quit for good and never looked back.

Now, with my oldest son on the cusp of his own teenage years, I know that he’ll face some of the same worries and insecurities as I once did. And unfortunately, there are even more dangerous things that he may be pressured into trying.

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Top 5 Emergency Telephone Hotlines To Keep on File

August 6, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

We’re lucky to live in a society that has emergency hotlines to help those in sudden need. But it is very important to have those hotlines on file in case a crisis arises. It’s not always an easy step to pick up the phone and ask for help, but it can be necessary when you’re in a situation where you cannot help yourself or the person in need.

A hotline enables you to communicate with trained personnel who know how to handle your current situation, and offer you the assistance that you need. Several organizations offer immediate help. From sexual assault to substance abuse to domestic violence, you can get help 24 hours a day.

Of course, calling a hotline might not mean calling every time a problem arises. Some issues, especially those to do with mental health, will be far more effective if a person seeks further assistance from a medical practitioner after dealing with the immediate crisis. [Read more…]

MegaFood Baby & Me Supplements Help Keep Moms and Babies Healthy-Giveaway

May 3, 2018 by Kathryn 13 Comments

When I was pregnant with Cormac, I got a little bit obsessed with proper nutrition. I took both a prenatal vitamin and an Omega-3 supplement. I also tried to eat as healthily as possible, though it wasn’t easy considering my huge cravings for sugar!

The hardest thing about taking my vitamins was how they upset my stomach. I was often nauseous for about half an hour afterwards, even though I was eating a meal at the same time. So, I was very excited to learn about MegaFood Baby & Me supplements. Not only are they packed with all the nutrition pregnant and breastfeeding women need, they’re also designed to be less likely to cause nausea the way some other supplements do!

So, what makes the Baby & Me products different? The secret is whole foods. The supplements are all made with whole food products (like Vitamin C from oranges and Vitamin A from carrots), which means that they’re less likely to lead to an upset stomach since they are digested in a way that’s similar to the body processing real food. [Read more…]

Simple Solutions for Natural Allergy Relief-Giveaway

April 6, 2018 by Kathryn 37 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

To say that I’m antsy for spring this year is a pretty big understatement. My family moved into our beautiful new custom-built dream home on October 27 and while we’ve enjoyed every minute, we can’t wait to start landscaping and enjoying the six acres of land around our house.

So far, we’ve made plans to build our deck, seed our lawn and plant border trees along the perimeter of our property. I also bought bulbs for a cutting garden and I’m hoping to get the chance to plant strawberries and raspberries as well. Needless to say, we’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors when the weather warms up. [Read more…]

Six Supplements To Boost Your Health in 2018

February 5, 2018 by Kathryn 24 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my afﬁliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

With the new year underway and my birthday just having passed, I’m already feeling the first early signs of spring fever. February always seems to be an energetic month for me, and so I use that to kick-start my health and fitness routines.

Eating wholesome foods and getting some daily exercise are the basics of healthy living, and they’re a great place to start. But for specific goals or concerns, I turn to health supplements from Orange Naturals to help feel my best. Wondering what health supplements to try yourself? Start by considering one of these six must-haves!

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My Top 5 Must-Haves for Baby’s First Sniffles

January 16, 2018 by Kathryn 31 Comments

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

There’s so much to love about a little one’s first Christmas season, and I enjoyed plenty of fun and festive moments with Baby Cormac this year. Having a baby in the house makes holidays even more magical, and our entire family loved every minute of it.

At only four months old, Cormac was still too young for some of the holiday highlights, like traditional festive food and waiting for Santa. Yet he loved looking at the colourful Christmas tree, playing with the jingling bells we had around the house and, most of all, seeing all his extended family members!

But while Christmas with a baby was non-stop fun, winter with a baby can be significantly more challenging. From the extra time and effort of bundling up my baby before going outside to the worries about him catching a cold, I can’t help but sometimes wish we lived in summer warmth all year long.

Cormac had a healthy winter right up until January and then got his first real cold after a holiday season spent visiting dozens of extended family members. Luckily, I made sure to stock the house with essentials that I always find myself using when my little one ends up with the sniffles. When it comes to helping my baby feel comfortable, I don’t want to be scrambling for what I need! These are my five top must-haves: [Read more…]

Keep Bones Strong and Remember Your Daily Calcium Supplement with These 5 Tips

November 24, 2017 by Kathryn 33 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Did you know that one in three women will suffer a fractured bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime? Or that both men and women start losing bone in their mid-thirties? November is Osteoporosis Awareness Month and as a mid-thirties woman, I’m happy not just that awareness is being brought to the disease, but that I’m leaning more about it as well.

As a fairly healthy woman, I try my best to make sure that I’m getting all the nutrients I need, including daily calcium and Vitamin D. And having just had a baby, I was extra vigilant about my daily dose of calcium the entire time I was pregnant.

But now that Baby Cormac has arrived, I have found that I’m not as good about remembering to get the calcium I need. With my baby taking up so much of my time, remembering to take two separate vitamins (my multi and my calcium) at different times seems to be more than I can manage!

So, what’s a new mom with a bad case of mom brain to do? Here’s my bullet-list of techniques that may help you remember to take that daily dose of calcium! [Read more…]

First Time Mom Tips from a Mom of Three

November 22, 2017 by Kathryn 13 Comments

Being a first time mom can be overwhelming, especially in the first year! From post-partum recovery, to adjusting to a new sleep schedule (or lack thereof!), to learning to recognize your baby’s cries and wants, the first year is a struggle for even the strongest of women. To help make baby’s first year a memorable one for you and baby, these three tips may get you through the first milestones with ease:

Take a Postnatal Vitamin

Most new moms walk around in a state of exhaustion. Eating well can be tough when caring for a newborn, so taking a postnatal vitamin can fill in any nutritional gaps and help give you and baby what you need when nursing. First Response Prenatal & Postnatal Gummy Multivitamins are a go-to. They come in an easy to take gummy format – perfect for pregnancy and beyond to provide calcium and other essential nutrients, like B vitamins and folate. [Read more…]