Maria's Space: February 2019

Monday, February 18, 2019

3 Ways to Stop UTI Discomfort with Natural Prevention Methods



Most Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)s aren’t serious. But the severe pain in the bladder region during a UTI attack can be unbearable to most people. If left untreated, the infection can spread up to the kidneys and bloodstream and become life-threatening. Kidney infections can lead to kidney scarring and eventually kidney damage.

Symptoms of a UTI usually improve within two to three days after starting antibiotic therapy. Many doctors prescribe an antibiotic for at least three days or more, depending on the severity of the UTI, which can be seen from the report of a urine culture. If you are prone to getting UTI attacks, take heart that you don’t have to resort to antibiotics each time you get an attack. There are natural prevention methods like a daily uti prevention pill or UTI prevention drink made from natural ingredients that you can take.

While antibiotics is the standard treatment, researchers are noticing that antibiotic-resistant bacteria are reducing the effectiveness of some antibiotics in treating UTIs. Some UTIs don’t clear up after antibiotic therapy. When an antibiotic medication doesn’t stop the bacteria causing an infection, the bacteria continue to multiply.

The overuse or misuse of antibiotics is often the reason for antibiotic resistance. This can happen when the same antibiotic is prescribed over and over again for recurrent UTIs. Because of this risk, experts have been looking for ways to treat UTIs without antibiotics.

Here are 3 simple ways on how you can prevent recurring UTIs:

1  Drink plenty of water
Although urinating can be painful when you have a UTI, it’s important to drink as much fluids as possible, particularly plain filtered water. Basically, the more you pee, the easier it is for bacteria to be flushed out of your bladder.

2 Take a UTI prevention drink everyday
Target from Uqora flushes out new bacteria that may have been introduced during certain activities. It binds with UTI-causing bacteria and increases urinary flow to flush them out of your urinary tract while boosting your immune system. All at the right time.

3  Pee when you need to
If you are prone to UTI attacks, never ever hold your urine or ignore the urge to urinate.  This allows bacteria to multiply in your urinary tract. As a rule of thumb, always use the bathroom when you feel the urge.

Other UTI prevention ways include getting enough sleep everyday, exercise regularly, eating alkaline foods (an alkaline environment prevents growth of bacteria), wipe from front to back, avoid swimming in public pools,  avoid wearing damp clothes and wear loose clothing (choose skirts and dresses over tight pants and jeans).



Ben 10: Out To Launch DVD Now On DVD + Ben 10 Transforming Figure #Ben10 @CartoonNetwork @PlaymatesToys

Join Ben in even more alien adventures with Ben 10: Out To Launch now on DVD. There are 18 galactic episodes from Season 2 of the adventure driven series which aires on the Cartoon Network.

Ben is a 10 year old boy who discovers a magical device that turns him into 10 different aliens that each have their own super, unique super power.  Ben, his cousin Gwen and even Grandpa Max stop the bad guy do whatever they can to help others.

Even with all these abilities Ben still manages to get into some trouble once in a while. After all he is still just a kid.

Check out our Ben 10 Unboxing




To Purchase:

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest review. No monetary compensation was offered. 





Tuesday, February 12, 2019

A Children's Book About Dealing With Loss - Maybe Tomorrow? By Charlotte Agell

 A heartwarming story about loss, healing, and how to be a friend.

"[Offers] hope that the world can be beautiful place...an excellent purchase." --School Library Journal

Elba has a big block. She's been dragging it around for a long time.


Norris dances everywhere he goes, even uphill. He is always surrounded by a happy cloud of butterflies.

Can Norris and his butterflies help ease Elba's sadness and convince her to join them on a trip to the ocean?


This tender exploration of loss illuminates how kindness, empathy, and friendship can lift our spirits and see us through many tomorrows. It will resonate with anyone who has experienced hardship or grief, from the death of a loved one or a pet, to a friend moving away, or the transition to a new home or family situation.

The 411: 

I haven't had a children's book make me tear up since I Love You Forever. Maybe Tomorrow? Is beautifully written and illustrated. 

Elba the pink hippo has been dragging around a big black box that weighs her down, makes her tired and brings her all over sorrow. 

Norris the dancing Alligator has a swarm of butterflies following them around. 

Elba obviously needs a friendly person who understands that she needs to talk but is quiet and patient enough to make her open up without prying. She eventually, walks and starts talking about her grief and sadness which allows her to unload some of her issues making them smaller and lighter. Before she knows it, that big, huge block is a small enough to manage.

I love everything about this book from the message to the soft illustrations. While I didn't read it to my class yet, I plan to. My reason for not reading it was that the message was so big, I wanted to be able to talk more about it before I jumped into the book. 


To Purchase:



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.



Last Minute Gifts For Friends - One Tough Bitch




While I am not a female who uses the word bitch as a term of endearment I know many friends who use it for all their best friends or themselves. I am in love with a company called One Tough Bitch and love why the name was chosen. Founder Shelly Fisher is a Cancer survivor who after hearing she had cancer for a second time she decided to make her mantra into a necklace "one tough bitch". She wore it backwards but it gave her strength. Eventually she spoke about the necklace and many people came forward telling her they needed the necklace because they needed to find their own "tough bitch." Everyone is fighting something and sisterhood is a real thing. I don't know what I would do without my friends and YES...after everything I have been through...I am proud to say I am also One Tough Bitch.

If you're single and dreading the month of February, DON'T! February 13th (AKA Galentine's Day) is a day for all your best gal pals to get together, forget about silly boys and enjoy each other! From ordering pizza and getting your nails done to exchanging gifts- this day is all about YOU!

To make this Galentine's Day even better, One Tough Bitch, fashion/accessories brand created to empower other women has JUST LAUNCHED a line of best friend jewelry. Buy one and you get a second included to gift to your best friend!



OneTough Bitch Dual-Sided Galentine's Day Bracelet and Necklace ($29.95)

  • One Tough Bitch is more than a brand, it's a movement. By recognizing the unique emotional challenges all women face in our cultural climate, One Tough Bitch offers the reminder of inner strength and honors a woman's bravery in the face of adversity, whether that be illness, grief, divorce, etc.
  • The symbol featured on the One Tough Bitch accessory line is a triangle with an upward facing point representing the mind, body and soul; the inner strength of each woman wearing it.
  • 10% of the royalty proceeds will be donated to Give Her Camp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which offers women's empowerment weekends.  Give Her Camp offers scholarships to women who can't afford it.  In particular the donations from the sale of One Tough Bitch products will be for the benefit of scholarships for Breast Cancer Survivors. The website is www.campowerment.com.


Remember when you and your friends all wore the same necklace, earrings or bracelet. My besties and I wore earrings that came in three parts. We each wore a part and together it made a complete heart. We were each other's family. We were roommates by necessity and family by choice. These necklaces are perfect for your best friends or that special woman in your life who means everything to you. I don't know where I would be without all the special woman in my life and I wish I could get a necklace for each and every one of them.




I posted these photos on my Instagram and my sister-in-law a woman I look up to wrote "wants". So guess what she is getting for her birthday this month?

One Tough Bitch has many products to choose from clothing to jewelry and accessories. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with their news.

Disclaimer: I received a free product for my honest opinion. No other compensation was offered.

Fun Read Out Loud Books For 2+ Monkey & Cake

Meet Monkey and Cake.
Cake has lots of questions. Monkey has lots of answers.
They are silly. They are curious.
Sometimes they fight.
But Monkey and Cake are always best friends. 


From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, Drew Daywalt, and illustrator Olivier Tallec, comes a fresh new duo Monkey and Cake. In this book, Monkey and Cake cannot agree what's inside Monkey's mysterious box. Is it a kitty? Is it a dinosaur? How will they find out -- and what do you think is inside? 

With Daywalt's signature quirky style, the relatable humor of Elephant and Piggie, and the wise friendship of Frog and Toad, Monkey and Cake invites readers to laugh along and let their imaginations soar.




The 411:



When Cake decides to build an exclusive fort, Monkey feels left out. But before long, Cake discovers that being alone in a fort is no fun! Will these friends be able to work together, and find room for both of them? 





The 411:

I read these to my 2 year old preschool class and they loved it as much as I loved reading it to them. It reminded me of the Elephant/Piggy books but the characters are more Adventure Time. It says the books are good for readers age 4-8 however I think the dialogue is great for preschoolers as they can remember the dialogue easily and will love that they can read to themselves just after a few times of hearing it read to them.

To Pre-order:




Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

How Often Should You Send Emails?


 
The number of emails that are being sent every day has increased steadily over the past years. There was a time when people did not think much about emails. They thought that this was something that people would forget after some time. It turns out that this is one of the things that email marketers are using now if they want more people to become familiar with the things that they are offering.

Now that you are an email marketer, you want to know the latest information about when you should send emails to your subscribers. There is such a thing as sending too often. If you send a lot of emails in a short amount of time, your subscribers may just delete your email the moment that they see it. Some of them will even block you from sending any more emails.

Do you want to gain more information on how often you should send emails to your subscribers? There is something you should know: there is no definite answer to this. It may change depending on what your business is promoting or what you are selling. If in case you need more help, you can always gain more details from here. Emma is a website that all marketers should check. It may provide the information that you need.

These are some of the things that you can remember so that you can hopefully send the right number of emails to your subscribers:

l   You should become more aware of what your subscribers want. What do your subscribers want? Do they feel that you are sending too many or too few emails? You can learn more when you ask them to answer a very short quiz or survey. Some of your subscribers will be more than willing to provide the details that you need.
l   Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing. The frequency that your competitors are doing is probably the standard one that you can also do. You can also check what marketing influencers are doing in order to get more information.
l   You can check your analytics from time to time. You have to know if the things that you are doing are working or not. If they are not working, you can make the necessary changes.

Sending emails can be tricky. If you send too little, people may not remember that your brand exists. If you send too many emails, then people will block you from their list. Segment your subscribers too so you can send accordingly.

Reluctant Reader Spotlight - Weirdo & Weirdo2 Even Weirder by Ahn Do


From bestselling author Anh Do comes the hilarious hit chapter book series, WeirDo. These illustrated books will keep readers laughing as Weir and his friends navigate the trials of elementary school.

Meet Weir Do.

No, that's not a typo, that's his name!

Weir Do's the new kid in school. With an unforgettable name, a crazy family, and some seriously weird habits, fitting in won't be easy . . . but it will be funny!

The 411:

This is almost like a graphic novel for ages 7-10.  It was a fast read and perfect for reluctant readers who feel overwhelmed with too much text. 

The story revolves around Weir Do whose name is often the butt of all jokes including teachers who have a hard time keeping a straight face when they first hear his name. 

It is definitely a great book full of humor and fun illustrations.

To Purchase:


 


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinon. No monetary compensation was offered. 


Ashes In The Snow by Ruta Sepetys - Book Review

Last month I wrote about a movie entitled Ashes In The Snow. I cannot wait to see it especially after I just finished reading the book of the same title.



Fifteen-year-old Lina is a Lithuanian girl living an ordinary life — until Soviet officers invade her home and tear her family apart. Separated from her father and forced onto a crowded train, Lina, her mother, and her young brother make their way to a Siberian work camp, where they are forced to fight for their lives. Lina finds solace in her art, documenting these events by drawing. Risking everything, she imbeds clues in her drawings of their location and secretly passes them along, hoping her drawings will make their way to her father’s prison camp. But will strength, love, and hope be enough for Lina and her family to survive?


The 411:

Originally released as Between the Shades of Grey now changed for a movie tie in, Ashes in the Snow was beautiful written in all it's horrifying glory. I not only read it, I saw it. The author did an amazing job of creating emotion that was palpable. While fictional characters just knowing this was based on a true time in history made each death even more moving and horrifying. I found myself tearing up many times realizing that 20 million innocent people lost their lives under Stalin.

Lina and her family were forced from their home by Soviet officers. Separated from their father they must do what they can to survive while others all around them are dying. On a packed train living on rationed bread the Lithuanian people dream of home and wonder where they are heading while under the brutality of soldiers who have no qualms about shooting, beating or using people they believe are dirt under their feet.

While the story was gut wrenching at times, the writing was perfect. Each character no matter how small was very developed leaving pieces of themselves with you long after you close the book.

I recommend this book and believe that middle schoolers should be given the book to discuss. It also has a discussion guide in the back.

This book of endurance, hope, love, loss, and strength.


Friday, February 08, 2019

Letter A - Ants In The Pants From Teachers Pay Teachers.Com


This week we worked on Letter A for my preschool class. 2 years olds are funny. 2-3 year olds are by for my favorite age to work with an were probably my favorite age to parent my own. They are old enough to teach, and baby enough to still want you to "mommy" them. Working with 10 to do an art project requires lots of patience. It makes for an interesting day. You need to be hard, soft, mommy, teacher, friend and comic all at the same time. My class loved this project.


The kids did a fabulous job. We added the legs and antenna but them did the rest! I think they look adorable. 

Thank you Teachers Pay Teachers. You guys rock!

Thursday, February 07, 2019

My Life In Photos January 21 - January 26

January 21 - Our home base weather station. My husband had asked for one last Father's Day then said, don't spend the money. I kept it in my Amazon cart and finally ordered it for Christmas. He loves it and it has become the place we all go every morning to see what is going on.


January 22 - I love how Sage is laying in the sun but has her paws over her eyes. So cute!



January 23 - This guy! I love how he was sitting in the chair he used to sit in when he was 2 years old. So damn cute. I seriously need to find a photo of him sitting in this chair.


January 24 -  When your boss knows what your soul is craving! Gifts from my boss make me so happy. She made me a charm bag for protection. Her hug was warm and our hearts met.  What she puts out into the universe is pure and magical.


January 25- This shot of Jinxy makes me so happy! Look at that derpy face.


January 26 - Home from an office party and I realized I never took any photos. Late, hair and make up a mess but it was good to get together outside of work and the food was amazing.




Valentine's Day Gifts From Gourmet Gift Baskets.Com - Unboxing and Taste Testing With Goddess #ad

Valentine's Day always sneaks up on me except for this year. My decorations went up in the classroom and the house 2 weeks ago and I have been adding hearts to the kids doors every day stating something I love about them. They enjoy reading them in the morning and sometimes leave notes back to me on the heart I left them. It is very cute and I already know what I am getting them, I just need to pick it up. Hopefully, something special will come my way from the family but if not Gourmet Gift Baskets.com has already given me the sweetest gift basket perfect for Valentine's Day.
They have so many to choose from ranging in price from $19.99 and up. Some even have shipping included. The Teddy Bear & Chocolate Valentine's Gift Basket that was sent to me did.

https://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com/Teddy-Bear-And-Chocolates-Valentines-Day-Gift-Basket.asp

The basket includes:


  • Teddy Bear - This soft and sweet-faced teddy bear is made from perfectly plush fabric and adorned with a purple bow.
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies by Byrd's Famous Cookies - 4 oz. - Rich, crispy, buttery cookies are laced with melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips.
  • Belgian Chocolates by Annalie's Chocolates - 1.76 oz. - Decadent chocolate truffles with flavorful centers and a crisp chocolate shell.
  • Chocolate Wafer Rolls by Dolcetto - 4.4oz. - Pillow-shaped all-natural crunchy cookies stuffed with a rich chocolate cream.
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles by GourmetGiftBaskets.com - .8 oz. - Ganache infused with hazelnut covered in smooth milk chocolate.

The 411:

Goddess and I love the basket. We thought the bear was adorable with it's little paw prints on the bottom. It was squeezably soft and not too big or too small. We love stuffed animals but as a mom I am always thinking where will we put another stuffie. For an adult it is the perfect bear. Cute enough to cuddle but not big enough to take up too much bed space.


Goddess loved the Belgian Chocolates from Annalie's best. There were 4 of them and they were not only tasty but beautiful to look at.



My favorites were the Chocolate Chip Cookies from Byrd's Famous Cookies. They were the perfect combination of buttery, chocolate chip cookies. Delicious.



We also enjoyed the Wafer Rolls by Dolcetto with rich chocolate cream inside them. Goddess has asked that I put one in her lunch box as a treat this week. I put one in my lunch box this week too!


The Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles were amazing.  There was one for each of us. They were so good with a whole hazelnut in each.

(dang..no photo of those)

We will definitely, be mailing out one of these baskets and a Valentine's Day Cookie Cake to family out of town.  I cannot wait to see what they have for Easter.

Check out my unboxing and our Taste Test here.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.