Costly Medical Errors

Hey neighbors!

I know we have all heard horror stories regarding the medical profession and the errors that can be made.  Normally someone share one with you right before you are headed in for surgery or some other medical treatment.  I still remember a "friend" who came by to watch the children on the day I was having my 4 wisdom teeth removed.  I believe she shared over half an hour of descriptions od dental disasters.  Needless to say, by the time I arrived at the dentist's office, my blood pressure was pretty high.  He had to wait for it to lower before he could proceed.

Anyway, although the above story is slightly humorous, medical errors do occur and probably more often then we think.  Another dental example is when my husband was a dental tech a dentist he was working for filled the wrong tooth.  It was completely on the wrong side of the man's mouth.  When my husband pointed it out, the dentist told the man he noticed another cavity and to set up an appointment on his way out.

I am not writing this to cause fear, but to make you aware that medical error does occur, and that it can happen to 1 in 4 patients.  Statistics show that some doctors are even repeat offenders.  Medical error can include, misdiagnosis, incorrect diagnosis, and wrong site surgeries.  You can find more information HERE.

Thanks for stopping in today!  See you again soon.

Fall Finds Event Starting Soon

Hy neighbors!

We are planning an event for the next month or so!  We are so excited, because we really have been slow the last few months due to travel, illness and just plain living.  My sons have moved into their own home, several of us have had that cold that hangs on forever and we had company here for two weeks.  We had to find a home for Tip because my daughter's Sheltie hated him, and we added a German Shepherd puppy.  We also changed several bedrooms, because we had a free bedroom after the boys moved out.  So, we want to get up and get busy again with At the Fence!

HONOR

We are going to feature those products that get you thinking about cooler weather, walks outside, hot tea or coffee, curling up with a good book, watching the leaves change color, and whatever might take place in your neck of the woods during fall.  I personally am so ready for fall to arrive!

So, to start this off, I am going to offer a giveaway with 3 essential oils.  We have Lemon, Grapefruit and Lime.  They are from Melaleuca.  So who is interested in some fresh new scents for fall.  They smell great in a diffuser!

So, the entries for this one are of course going to be to share as much and as often as you can!  Let's go!

You Have The Right To Remain Curly! #CurlyHairCare from Jessicurl #Giveaway

Do we have any curly readers out there? How many of you have ever had a hard time finding a shampoo, conditioner, or styling aid to keep your curls (or waves) looking clean, fresh, smooth and frizz-free? That last one is my hardest. I have naturally wavy-to-loose-curl hair (depending on if I trim it to halfway down my back or let it grow out longer) that frizzes extremely easily. No matter what styling creams, gels, sprays, oils, and mousse I use it's inevitable that by the end of the day my hair is frizzed and/or my waves have gotten droopy looking. That's why I was so excited to try out Jessicurl, a company that specializes solely in products for curly/wavy haired people. I received the Light and Luminous Collection, a set designed specially for people with finer curls and waves. This set includes the Gentle Lather Shampoo, Aloeba Daily Conditioner, Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner, Gelebration Spray, Confident Coils Styling Solution, and Awe Inspiraling Spray.

This set actually works as a system. Obviously the shampoo and the Aloeba conditioner are for use whenever you shower. I like to use the Too Shea extra moisturizing conditioner once a week, plus a little for a leave-in a few days a week. After washing and conditioning, and without squeezing out your hair or using a towel, spray in the Gelebration spray, then scrunch your curls upwards. After that you may use a microfiber towel to gently scrunch again, removing excess water from your hair. It's recommended to not use a standard towel, as that can cause frizz. The next step is to squeeze a small amount of Confident Coils styling solution into your hand, and distribute evenly through your hair, again making sure to scrunch to encourage the curls. You can then either air dry or blow-dry with a diffuser. I usually don't blow dry my hair as even using a diffuser it causes more frizz, but I did try it out after using this system. To my surprise it didn't add frizz like it normally does...which means now I don't have to walk around with wet hair half the day!

You're probably wondering what the last product in the set, the Awe Inspiraling spray, is for. This is for those days where mid-afternoon or evening your curls start to lose their hold, and start looking droopy. Maybe you used the system in the morning, now you're headed out for a special evening, and want to touch up your curls. This is where the Awe Inspiraling spray comes in! Simply mist into your hair, scrunch, and you're good to go. I love that this doesn't add a new layer of hold that will end up weighing your hair down, it actually refreshes the product you already have in!

As you can see, the Jessicurl products are amazing. This system all works together to give you hair that is clean and smooth, curly, and drastically reduces the amount of frizz I normally have to deal with. I honestly haven't ever used a better line of products for curly hair. This is definitely going to be on my holiday shopping list this year for all my curly-haired friends and family!

Jessicurl sent me a Light and Luminous Collection Trial-Size Set for a giveaway!! 

This set includes a 2-ounce bottle of each of the products I reviewed, perfect for you to experience the beauty of Jessicurl products!

Make a (THM) Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte at Home! #Recipe #DIY #Coffee #THM

If you're anything like me, then you are anxiously waiting for fall. Cooler weather, the color changes outside, boots and sweaters, our annual trip to Pigeon Forge, and of course, Starbucks' popular pumpkin spice-flavored coffees! Last year was actually the first time I ever tried the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks (I don't know why I never tried it before!), and with the first sip I was hooked. I'm not much for hot beverages even in the winter, so I stuck with the iced lattes and frappuccinos, but the pumpkin spice flavor quickly became a favorite. Now, there are two problems with being a pumpkin spice coffee fan. Number one, Starbucks (and most other coffee shops) only carry this flavor in the fall. Which means the other 7-9 months of the year (depending on how long your local cafe has it available) you're totally pumpkin-less. And number two, the cost of an iced pumpkin spice latte can be expensive-especially when I could easily down a couple a day! So, since going for three quarters of a year without one of my favorite beverages is a dreadful thought, and I can't spend all my savings on Starbucks every fall, of course it became obvious that I needed to find a way to make this delectable drink at home. I browsed online and found a few recipes, took some of those and came up with my own - and even THM-ified it - and now I'm sharing it with you, so that you too can enjoy the pumpkin spice iced latte year-round, at a much lower cost, and it's even healthy! (For those not aware, THM is Trim Healthy Mama, a healthy eating plan). It's very simple, only needs a few ingredients, and you can actually make a double batch and store the "syrup" in the refrigerator so it's even easier to make for those mornings you're in a rush!

Ingredients:
1 cup Half and Half
2-4 tablespoons Splenda or sweetener of your choice (I like mine sweet, so I go more towards 3-4 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons Pureed Pumpkin
2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
1/4-1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice (adjust to your tastes, just be aware PPS is rather strong, so start on the lower end and add more if needed).
1 cup of strong black coffee or 4 shots of espresso at room temp.

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine half and half, splenda and pumpkin puree, cook on low just until dissolved and blended.  Remove from heat, add vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Pour into a blender and whip for 15 seconds or until foamy. Divide into two cups over ice. Pour half cup of coffee (or 2 shots espresso) into each cup. Top with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon. Or, if you're only making for yourself, store the other half of the syrup in the refrigerator and you're ready to go tomorrow morning!

Interesting Facts You Never Knew About Your Mattress

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We’re going to educate your minds with some mattress facts today, and we’re warning you - they aren’t all pretty. It stands to reason that something we sleep on every day is bound to get dirty and grimey over time. These facts are both disgusting and fascinating, and they might just encourage you to think more carefully in the future. Don’t think you need a new mattress? You might after reading this.

You’re Shedding Skin Cells Over It

No matter how many times you vacuum your mattress, you can’t prevent it from becoming filled with your own skin cells. In fact, you’re shedding millions on skin cells on a daily basis. You’re bound to spend a large part of that day sleeping, and those skin cells fall onto your bed. You also sweat during the night, which is another problem. What can you do about it? Use a protective mattress cover. Make sure you regularly clean it, too.

You’re Sharing Your Bed With Dust Mites

So, you know those skin cells you’re shedding on a nightly basis? They aren’t just gross to think about. As mentioned at Live Science, you’re sharing your bed with dust mites, and guess what they love to feed on? Yep, skin cells. The best ways to reduce dust mites is to wash your bedding regularly and use anti-allergen bedding if possible. Don’t panic too much - dust mites won’t pose any severe threats, but might aggravate allergies and asthma conditions.

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Messy Beds Might Be Healthier Beds

You know how your mother always used to tell you to make your bed? Now, you’ve got a reason to argue. According to a 2005 study, it is believed that an unmade bed might be a healthier alternative. The reason for this is because, with a made bed, you’re trapping dust mites underneath the covers. Leaving those sheets exposed can help to kill the mites by exposing them to conditions they can’t thrive in.

They Can Last 8-10 Years

Depending on who you talk to, mattresses are generally expected to last around 8-10 years. Once you’ve hit that limit, it’s always best to seek a new one. However, high-quality mattresses like memory foam are expected to last a little longer than usual. Getting rid of a mattress is always a pain, but there are more options than you might expect for this, too. Arguably the easiest is something like Bay Wide Hauling offers - mattress removal services that haul it away for you.

You Shouldn’t Hide Valuables Under Your Mattress

You might think that hiding your valuables under your mattress is a good idea, but it isn’t. It’s far too common a strategy, and thieves are clued-up about this technique. Also, sleeping on anything isn’t going to help your comfort levels. You might be doing serious damage to your back by loading your bed with valuables. It isn’t worth it!

The Olympic Games and P&G

Hey neighbors!

How many of you are keeping an eye on the Olympic Games right now?  I know I like to keep posted on what is happening, especially in a couple of different competitions.  Generally I have to watch afterwards where someone else has shared the event.  Now as a family we all enjoy a good game of volleyball, especially my daughter who is 15.  We get some really good competition going on during a game.  We will never compete professionally, but we enjoy our games with friends and family.  Not only do we have volleyball in our back yard, but two of our close friends do also.  As a matter of fact, their churches get together and have a huge game going!

Proctor & Gamble brands and Walmart have joined together to show their support of this year's Olympic Games.  By purchasing participating Proctor & Gamble products you can help support the USA Olympic team.  Visit the Walmart  Let's Power Their Dreams page to see what products qualify.  You can help... #LetsPowerTheirDreams !

 

We received the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Smooth Treatment made with a bit of Olive Oil and Australian Ginseng.  Team USA volleyball member April Ross is helping promote the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Smooth Treatment.  A couple of my daughters have the frizzes appear.  Now with the Aussie product, they are able to tame the frizzes before heading out for the day.  The extreme heat we have been having seems to intensify the frizziness of their hair, so we were happy to get a chance to try the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Smooth Treatment.It smells great, and helped with the frizzes.

Follow Aussie on their social media:
@AussieHair
facebook.com/AussieHair

Even the boys take their volleyball seriously.

So enjoy watching the OlympicGames this year, especially the sport of your choice, then when in Walmart, help support Team USA by purchasing some of the P&G products!Thanks for stopping by today, and "GO Team USA!"


Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G.

NeilMed Naspira Oral-Aspirator

Hey neighbors!

How many of you as moms have had a baby or toddler that was having trouble breathing due to congestion?  No mother likes to hear their child struggling to breathe.    I would like to share with you a little bit of information regarding the NeilMed Naspira Oral-Aspirator.

A unique feature of this aspirator is that you use suction from your mouth with the aspirator to remove nasal mucous.  A one way valve prevents air from your mouth from entering your child's nose.  There is also a filter to prevent the mucous from entering the parents mouth.  The clear bulb and tube allow you to see what is inside.

The aspirator comes apart for easy cleaning.  You receive extra filters, so they can be exchanged after use, as you should only use the filter once.  Also included is a net bag, to store the aspirator in.  You can also use as a regular single bulb aspirator.  Simply close the end with the green cap.  After each use clean and sterilize the aspirator.  The aspirator is made without BPA, Latex of Phthalates.

Be sure to have a NeilMed Aspirator on hand, for those times when your little one needs a little assistance from mom or dad.  These are a great gift idea too!  Retail price ranges from $10 - $15.

Be sure to follow NeilMed on their social media:
Facebook - HERE
Twitter - HERE

I also have a promo code to share with you, that will give you $3 off your Naspira purchase on the NeilMed website.  Just use - MOMSBLOG

One neighbor will receive a NeilMed Naspira Oral-Aspirator.  Enter below and thank you for stopping by!

  I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet. com), May Media Group LLC, who received

it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product. 

Make Sure You Attend To Your Dog's Major Needs

Your dog is a part of the family, just like anyone else. Anybody who has ever had a dog will know that this is the case. Regardless of how long you have had them, there are certain needs which they need to have met if they are to be happy. Of course, no two dogs are the same - and that is part of the joy. However, there are some things which they have in common, and that is what we will be focusing on here. In this article, we will go through some of the major needs which your dog has. We will look at how you can attend to those needs easily and without trouble. If you are keen for your dog to be as happy as possible, then make sure you are getting these aspects just right.

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Play

This is actually one of the most important parts of looking after your dog. In fact, it is something which is essential for any pet. However, dogs in particular are heavily reliant on being able to play properly with their owners. If you are keen for your dog to be happy, then you should set aside some time each day to play with them. It is also a good idea to ensure that you have a wide variety of toys to play with them with. Often, this is a matter of trial and error. Work through different toys until you find one that seems to click. For a look through some of the best, take a look at http://dabestreview.com/top-7-dog-toys-of-2016/.

Diet

It goes without saying that the food your dog eats is an essential consideration which you need to think about. After all, you want to ensure that they live a long and happy life. The best way to ensure that they do is by looking after their diet. It is important that you feed your dog a variety of foods. There is nothing worse than just feeding them dried food. At the very least, you need to make sure that you are also providing them with some kind of meat. The more variation you can include in their diet, the better. Of course, this is sometimes difficult with dogs, but it is a good idea to do it as best as you can. For more on diet for dogs, see http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/diet.

Exercise

Your dog will, in all likelihood, get a decent amount of exercise by themselves. However, this will only be the case if you allow them to. It is generally advisable not to even get a dog if you do no0t have garden space. However, either way, you should also make sure you take them on regular walks. Twice a day is the gold standard, but any more is better of course. It is a good idea to take them on longer walks on occasion, too. This gives them the chance to run around and get the heart pumping. This in itself will go a long way to increasing their lifespan - and their quality of life.

Deal with Stress When Handling These Major Life Events

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There are some hugely stressful events in life, such as losing a loved one or being unemployed. These are all difficult things to deal with, and many seek professional help to cope with them. However, there are also many events that can cause us stress that we think we shouldn't make a big deal out of. These smaller events might not cause as much stress as losing your house, but they can still disrupt your life. Finding ways to cope with them makes it easier to deal with the stresses of everyday life. You can then feel like you're able to manage larger stressors more easily.

Going on Vacation

Going away is meant to be a happy and fun thing to do. However, it's often very stressful for many people. In particular, parents often find that they spend a large chunk of their vacation time worrying. Ensuring that everything goes off well can take a lot of effort. And if anything does go wrong, trying to correct the problem often ruins the vacation. The best way to reduce vacation stress is to be as prepared as possible. Having travel insurance and backup funds will help out if anything happens. Planning to arrive early wherever you go will give you extra time to get where you need to be.

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Moving Home

It's often said that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do. While it is stressful, it's certainly not as troubling as some other major life events. However, it can cause months or more of worry. If you have to sell and buy properties at the same time, it can take a lot of work. And the physical act of moving means a lot of coordination and planning. You can make it easier by hiring as much help as you can. Use a realtor to help with buying and selling, and hire movers for the moving part. Try to be as prepared as possible so that you don't have to do anything last minute.

Stress at Work

Having a job is almost as stressful as not having a job. You might have an income, but it could still disappear at any moment. No matter what you do, some periods at work become extremely stressful. You could be a retail worker or a high-flying corporate professional. Sometimes it all piles on and gets too much. There are some things you can improve by confronting the problem. For example, you might have a colleague causing you stress. However, sometimes all you can do is learn some techniques to relax and wait for your job to get a bit easier again.

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Busy Life

Sometimes life just gets on top of you, and you have too much to do. Making it through these busy periods can be hard. The first thing you should do is cut back on anything you have control over. For example, you can't avoid picking the kids up from school, but you can skip making a complicated dinner. Breaking down what you have to do into manageable chunks will make it seem less daunting.

Handling stress can be difficult for anyone. Knowing how to cope can get you through tough times.

Pet Hydration Month - Current Pet Fountain from PetSafe!

Hello Neighbors!

July was Pet Hydration Month (sponsored by PetSafe), and although this is a little late, we still wanted to remind you to make sure your pets are properly hydrated in all of this heat!  (Just in the past week we had "feels like" temperatures of 110*)  Even though it has been a little bit cooler here recently it still gets pretty hot, and it's necessary to make sure all of the animals have enough water.

Today I want to share the Current Pet Fountain by PetSafe with all of you.  We received the large (in forest green), and decided to set this up near Pansy's bed so that she could have fresh, filtered water available 24/7.  There is an instruction manual for first setup, but it is very easy to get the fountain up and running and it comes a part for cleaning.  It has a submersible pump to keep the water moving, and a carbon filter to keep the water clean.  The fountain holds 120oz., so it's sure to last her all day.

Did you know that your pet should have 1oz. of water, per lb. of body weight each day in order to stay properly hydrated?  Symptoms of dehydration in your pet can include a lack of energy, vomiting, dry gums, excessive panting, etc.  Be sure to watch your pets carefully in this heat, and keep an eye out for warning signs of dehydration.

We've had this set up for Pansy for several weeks now, and it works great!  She even occasionally has visitors that also like to try out her fountain (such as Little Bit, above).  :D  She doesn't mind sharing.  What pets do you have that could use a Current Pet Fountain?  Be sure to visit the PetSafe website and choose one of the many water fountains for your furry-friends.

Home Under Attack: The Signs To Look Out For

Our homes can be under attack for many different reasons. From human interaction down to creepy critters nothing can be 100% safe. But what you can do is be prepared for any outcome. This is where you are aware of the signs to look out for, potential weakness in your home, and work out the best solutions to resolve the issues. It’s better to be safe than sorry. With that in mind I thought I would share with you some of the signs you should look out for in your home. They may identify problems already occurring or help you prevent them.

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Damaged wood

Whatever your home is made up of the chances are there are many wood elements to the frame work. This might be more in the loft, or it could be the make up of internal walls. Which is why your home could be attacked by infestations of things like termites. If unnoticed you could cause a lot of damage to the structure of your home. Which is why it's always worth doing regular checks. You can consider standard termite chemical barrier treatments. They could help prevent things like this occurring.

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Easy entry to your home

Unfortunately, just as much as animal, creepy crawlies and other things like rodents can get into our property, so can other people. It’s a sad fact that burglaries do happen more often than we would like to think about. Which is why it’s always worth taking out extra measures to protect your home and belongings. This means looking at windows and making sure they can be locked securely. It’s checking out locks on doors and considering two locks for added security. You may also want to consider an alarm system and even security cameras. No security is too much. Many of these things you have could have sentimental value and not many can be replaced. It can also feel like a violation when someone enters your property. Try and avoid you hoe coming under attack like this and make the necessary checks and changes to keep your home safe.

Infestations

Finding an infestation of some sort, no matter how small, can give you the creeps. Anything from ants and flies, through to rodents and bats. They can all find a way into your home and create their nests. This is where you can end up with a huge problem if those nests go unnoticed. Thankfully, while you may not always be able to stop it from happening you can easily get rid of nests that are created. Calling in professionals and exterminators who know what they are doing is advisable. They will safely remove the next and provide you with some tips on how to avoid it happening again.

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Mould or damp areas

Finally, if your home is subject to water damage recently from a flood. Or happens to have humidity and condensation. You are prone to mould and damp areas. If these things are left untreated they can cause serious harm to your health. Especially if you have respiratory problems like asthma. Thankfully again this is easily rectified. Just keep an eye on your property for the signs of this developing.

I hope this helps you become more prepared in the future.