by Valerie Paxton

by Valerie Paxton

Every day I’m contacted by local or national news sources looking for potential candidates for phone interviews. Writers and reporters are always looking for people to answer questions or discuss their various situations, conditions, illnesses, parenting issues, health care expertise, use of products, etc. for magazine articles, newspapers and television.

Sleep apnea is a condition where there is a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea (CSA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and mixed sleep apnea (both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea). Sleep apnea is seen predominately in obese patients. There are several non-surgical treatments for sleep apnea patients. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association CPAP therapy is the most common non surgical treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP therapy works by preventing the airway from closing during sleep. It is administered at bedtime through a nasal or facial mask held in place by velcro straps around the patient’s head. The CPAP Multi-Mask Sleep Pillow is highly recommended device used for CPAP therapy. The CPAP Multi Mask Pillow Improves mask comfort, provides freedom of movement during sleep, enables multi-position sleeping for side, back and stomach sleepers, and gives neck support and spinal alignment.

So, the other day I picked up one of those, Folding Shopping Cart . I just got it in the mail (the black one) and my kid already has it filled with toys and is bringing it from the front yard to the back yard to the neighbors house. I might have to order myself the red one so I can use it for my original intention, the flea market. When I’m not on the treadmill I like to get up early Saturday morning and go to the local flea market. My husband likes the dried fruits and doesn’t mind multiple trips to the car, but not me. I enjoy walking around looking at all the new items but not spending the day going back and forth to the car. This folding shopping cart is going to be perfect. Lightweight and easy to fold up and put away, and it doesn’t take up much room in the car. I might have to bribe the kid to get to use it this weekend, or maybe I should stop this blog and just go ahead and order the red one now.

As a mom of an eleven year old son I struggle with the dreaded question of what’s for dinner? He never wants to eat what I cook which usually includes some variation of a lean meat like chicken, veggies or salad, wild rice, and fruit. I vary it of course but he still pushes the food around on his plate and I find myself gently encouraging him to finish his dinner.

I began my quest to find healthy tips on kid friendly recipes. I found a great website at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org that provided receipe tips, shopping and planning, a mom2mom forum and more! It also mentioned that March is National Nutrition Month. Because A large percent of Amercian’s fail to eat the daily recommended fruits and veggies the PBH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are introducing strategies and tips called Get Smart! Fruits & Veggies–More Matters. Glad to see it’s a whole nation of picky eaters and not just my family:0) I can not wait to try some of there receipes like Vegetable Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes.

Thick it was introduced in 1987 and was the first instant food thickener on the market. It was joined in 2005 by Thick-It Purees; a line of great-tasting, shelf-stable pureed foods. Thick-It Purees are ideal for operators needing the convenience of “heat and serve” pureed foods and/or for emergency needs. Their development, carefully overseen by Precision Foods’ Registered Dietitian, was driven by a passionate commitment to deliver pureed food with reliable consistency, proper nutrition and superior flavor. For nearly 20 years, foodservice directors, dietitians, speech pathologists and home care-givers across the country have relied on the Thick-It brand for quality products they can count on to treat people dealing with dysphagia. Thick it and all your swallowing disorder products can be found at Allegro Medical.

February’s national health observance is American heart month. The American heart association provides some pointers on there website on living a better lifestyle and incorporating habits that can reduce your risk for heart attack. The website indicates that you are what you eat and points out other factors that people should be paying attention to like exercise and fitness and managing your weight. Live healthy and be good to your heart!

I am constantly looking for healthy alternatives to satisfy my sweet tooth cravings and found that fruit is a great alternative to candy and cookies. Eating a banana or apple helps satisfy my cravings and helps me manage my weight. Yogurt & smoothies are also a great substitute for ice cream. Check out this link for other healthy alternatives called Alternatives to Junk Food Snacks.

If you have found that your financial disposition is less then you desire then take control over your finances. Many people overcharge and live off of there credit cards, over leasing, or are buying luxury items that they have no business purchasing.

A few steps to help you manage your money & eliminate debt are to first find out how much debt you really have. Then track just how much money you are spending and on what. Create set budgeted amounts to pay off your credit cards. Remember to stop spending money! Even something as little as $10 on frivolous items a day could have been better spent if it was applied to your debt. Once you have this down take the time to create a spending plan for each month. And don’t forget to save money even if it is a small amount in the beginning it will eventually add up!

If you follow these simple steps you will be on your way to financial freedom! It will feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. For more information on money management check out Oprah’s debt diet.

Clutter is your enemy. It leads to disorganization, messiness and a frazzled mind. Simple habits can eliminate clutter and keep it from coming back. I found a great article to check out on how to manage clutter in your life called Declutter 101: Where Do I Start?

Once you take the time to declutter your life you will see a notable difference in your stress level!