June 5th, 2010 
My Health 
Posted in Natural 
Tags: Conditioner, good, Hair, Natural, Searching, Shampoo, That's, Transitioning 
1 Comment » April 4th, 2010 My Health 11 weeks pregnant with #2. Does anyone have any good natural cold remedies?? I can’t breathe from the nasal congestion, my cough is horrible and I am desperate for relief. I spoke to my OB and they said I could take tylenol cold but I don’t feel comfortable taking it as my previous OB that I had while pregnant with my daughter said it wasn’t safe to take. So due to the conflicting advice, I feel more comfortable not taking it.
January 5th, 2010 My Health How to choose a vet
Your vet is a pretty significant figure in your dog’s life – and thus, in yours. Hopefully, you’ll only ever need him or her for routine checkups and preventative procedures; but just in case, it’s worth taking the time to develop a good relationship with a suitable vet, before you need their services.
WHERE AT LOOK
Sure, you could just pick a vet at random from the Yellow Pages or from an Internet search; but having the right vet is crucial to your dog’s health and happiness (and, presumably, this plays at least some part in your own happiness and peace of mind as an owner, right?)
Think about it this way: if you were trying to choose a doctor for yourself, would you be happy to just select one at random from an impersonal list?
Probably not. You’d want somebody who comes highly recommended – somebody you feel like you can trust.
Your vet isn’t just your dog’s doctor; he or she is also the dentist, manicurist, psychologist, and – hopefully! – a friend. When you roll all these things up into one, you can see why it’s necessary to spend some time confirming that you’ve made the right choice.
The best place to start looking for a vet is by word of mouth. If you have any friends or relatives who take good care of their dogs, then that’s a great place to start: ask them who they’d recommend, and why. This last one is particularly important, because everyone has different priorities: for example, perhaps they like their own vet because he/she is a specialist in their own particular breed; or they don’t charge very much; or the clinic is only five minutes’ drive … their priorities are not necessarily yours, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your values coincide with the person giving the recommendations.
Another great place to find a vet is through local training clubs (Schutzhund, agility, herding classes, police K-9 academies, etc.) These organizations are almost guaranteed to place a great deal of importance on high-quality veterinary care, because the health and well-being of their dogs is such a priority.
Once you’ve got a list of vets that you’re interested in pursuing further, all you have to do is call up the clinic and explain that you’re looking to find a regular vet for your dog(s): can you come in for a quick chat, introduce your dog, and have a look at the premises?
HAVE A LOOK BEFORE YOU NEED TO
Before you decide to align yourself and your dog with a particular clinic, test the waters first. Ideally, you want a chance to talk to the vet, and discuss his or her philosophies and approach to pet care.
This is really important. If your dog ever really needs vet-care (if there’s an emergency, or if she needs an urgent short-term appointment), you want to be sure that you’ve made the best possible choice as far as her health and comfort levels are concerned. Neither of you should be subjected to any unnecessary extra stress at a time like that – and you can avoid a lot of grief by spending a bit of time in preparation.
THINGS TO ASK THE VET
While you’re at the clinic, you’ll want to be assessing your potential vet’s overall attitude and approach to health care and animals; and you’ll also probably want answers to some specific questions.
Here’s a list of useful questions to help you on your way:
- How many vets are there on staff? If you need to make an urgent appointment, you don’t want to be waiting around while precious minutes tick past. Ideally, there’ll be at least two qualified veterinarians on hand (not just technicians or assistants.)
- What kind of testing and analysis capabilities does the clinic have. If they have to send away to a lab for this kind of stuff, it means that the results are going to be delayed. If your dog is very sick, time is an important factor: it’s best if the clinic has at least blood-analysis testing on hand.
- What after-hours services are available? A lot of clinics close the doors in the evenings and on weekends, which means that if there’s an emergency, you’ll have to go somewhere else – and subject your dog (and yourself) to an unfamiliar vet. (If you don’t mind this, then that’s fine; but be aware that in a high-stress situation when emotions are running high, it’s reassuring for your dog and yourself to deal with someone familiar.)
- What’s their price range? How are payments made? Is there a facility for payment plans in case of unexpected vet bills? The payment-plan option is particularly important. Even with pet insurance, vet bills can sometimes be astronomical – and not everyone has the resources to deal with large vet bills straight away. Ask the clinic how they cater for situations like that.
- How up-to-date is the staff with advances in the industry? Do the vet, the technicians, and the assistants attend seminars and workshops regularly? The field of medical care is always moving forward – responsible vets make the effort to keep up with the times, and see that their staff do, too.
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
When you choose a vet, you’re balancing convenience and quality. There’s no right or wrong vet for you and your dog – which is partly why making the choice can be so confusing. There are lots of vets to choose from, and they’re all different!
Even though it’s tempting to go for the one right around the corner with the rock-bottom prices, it really is worthwhile taking the time to shop around. Your dog is utterly dependent on you for her healthcare – and if you take her seriously as a companion and member of the family, you’ll want to do the best thing by her.
A good vet knows how to take care of you as well as your dog. The relationship that you have with your vet will hopefully be one that’s based around a healthy mutual respect and positive synergy – there should be very little scope for misunderstanding. When the two of you see eye to eye, it makes caring for your dog that much easier.
FURTHER READING
For a complete survival guide on stress-free dog care, including detailed information on when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to pet emergencies, dog First Aid, and all common health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. It’s a complete handbook on dog health care, and teaches you how to take a proactive and prepared approach to knowledgeable dog ownership.
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December 18th, 2009 My Health Economy, economy, economy! In our election cycle that we have just survived, economy was a word we heard constantly. And the reality is, we are in an economic squeeze. So most of us are looking for ways to prepare more meals at home. But in our busy society, these meals need to be not only economical but also quick and easy. Here are some recipes that should fill that need. Easy Taco Dinner is just what the name implies. It is a tasty, easy, quick, taco tasting meal. Want a vegetable to go with it? Give these Corn Stuffed Golden Baked Peppers a try. And how about Caramel Apple Walnut Squares to finish off your meal? Delicious!
This was on an old newspaper clipping in my mother’s recipe box. I have no idea where she got it. But it is good and easy, as the name states.
1 lb ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 envelope (1 1/4 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 cup water
1 pkg (12 oz) tortilla chips
1/2 head lettuce, shredded
2 med tomatoes, chopped
1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (about 4 oz)
2/3 cup sour cream
Cook and stir ground beef and onion in a 10-inch skillet until beef is light brown, drain well. Stir in seasoning mix and water. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Spoon beef mixture onto the chips. Top with the remaining ingredients.
Serves 6.
CORN STUFFED GOLDEN BAKED PEPPERS
I believe this is another recipe from an old 1970s “The Workbasket” magazine.
3 green bell peppers, cut in half vertically
1 jar (5-oz) sharp pasteurized process cheese spread
1 3/4 cups whole kernel corn, drained
1 tomato, chopped
1 cup soft bread crumbs
2 tbsp butter, melted
Remove seeds from peppers then parboil for 5 minutes. Drain. Heat cheese spread in a saucepan over low heat; stir in the corn and tomato. Divide corn filling between the 6 pepper halves. Toss bread crumbs with butter and use to top the corn filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
I believe this recipe was cut from a magazine advertisement for Borden’s Eagle Brand Milk.
1 3/4 cups unsifted flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup cold margarine or butter
1 cup chopped walnuts
20 caramels, unwrapped
1 (14-oz) can Borden’s Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 (21-oz) can apple pie filling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking soda, and salt; cut in margarine until crumbly. Reserving 1 1/2 cups of crumb mixture, press remainder on bottom of 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. Add walnuts to remaining crumb mixture. In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt caramels with milk; stirring until smooth. Spoon apple filling over prepared crust; top with caramel mixture then reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until set. Cool. Best served warm with ice cream!
Enjoy!
Grandma Linda has a large collection of old fashion recipes. For more of these recipes, visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com
December 2nd, 2009 My Health If you are a salad person but you want a little more than just lettuce and vegetables, here is a recipe for you. This black bean chicken salad with lime vinaigrette dressing combines healthy black beans, fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, cheese, salad greens, and chicken. This gives you a meal in one dish. You have meat, vegetables, and dairy. Combine all that with this tasty lime vinaigrette dressing and you add citrus and heart-healthy olive oil. Not only do you have a complete healthy meal, you have a tasty one. And this salad is perfect for diabetics too. Give it a try and you will no doubt add this new recipe to your file.
BLACK BEAN CHICKEN SALAD WITH LIME VINAIGRETTE DRESSING
SALAD:
6 cups mixed salad greens
1 1/2 cups cubed grilled or sauted chicken breast
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinse well and drain
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced, halved red onion
1/2 cup low-fat mexican-blend shredded cheese
DRESSING:
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped tomato
1 tbsp vinegar (I prefer cider vinegar)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp lime zest
1 garlic cloved, minced
dash of salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder
In a large salad bowl, combine the salad ingredients. In a food processor or blender, combine the dressing ingredients. Place lid on container and process until you have a smooth dressing. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.
Makes 4 servings. Each serving: 298 calories, 26 g carbs, 28 g protein
Note: I adapted this recipe from one I saw in a Light & Tasty magazine a few years ago.
Enjoy!
For more of Linda’s recipes and writings, visit her website at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com
