Brilliant Choices

There seems to be a classic debate on stockings: do you put gifts in stockings, just candy, practical items, fruit, or all the above? Answer: YES! There really is no written law about the contents of stockings so make it fun and make it tailored just for your family by thinking about what everyone likes best. I’ve always taken a practical approach to stockings by putting gifts in them, gifts that are useful and meaningful to each person. Gifts that aren’t “junk” to be thrown away in six months time because they are useless. Want to make your stocking stuffers useful and “healthy” for your family but don’t have a clue where to start? Let’s explore some great, useful stocking stuffers!

If the beast of a year called 2020 has taught us anything, it is this: no matter how dark things may seem, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. I have so often caught myself focusing on what 2020 has taken from me: trips and vacations, experiences, crowded events, and family members we have lost. But other times I realize those things I “lost” have pointed me to those things I’ve had all along but didn’t stop to be grateful for every minute of every day: a safe place to call home, precious time with my family, and the joy of extended family and friends still alive and healthy. For everything 2020 may have “stolen” it has replaced with gentle simplicity. Things that were always there, we were just too busy to notice and reflect general gratitude for. Maybe all the chaos was meant to, in a way, reflect us back to the simple pursuits of life: a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, a job to pay the bills, and family and friends to do life with. We may not have physically seen those we love in the past months, but the assurance of their health and the gift of technology keep us connected. The holidays may look and feel different this year, but our gratitude for life can and should grow the most during this time. Being grateful can flow from our emotions and feelings, but it’s also a choice, and one that can turn everything around for us, if we choose to focus on being grateful for what we do have. 

As the holidays are upon us it is important to remember that there are many people in need of help. Every day of the year is a good time to reach out and support those in need, but the holidays are also an important time to focus on how we can help others. There are thousands of wonderful organizations doing fantastic charity work. Some right there, in your own area, you might not even be aware of. Though we can’t highlight them all, let’s take a look at a few of the many charities that are changing lives and making dreams come true, every day and in this holiday season.

It’s that time of the year again: time to start planning your holiday get-togethers and draw up a menu with who is bringing what dish. Whether you are the host and thrive on holiday parties or one who attends and hopes to be assigned the paper products, there are some really good, easy, simple to make, delicious holiday recipes that will fool anyone into thinking you are a first class chef (or you at least know how to make a mean side dish). It doesn’t take nuclear engineering to put together some tasty holiday concoctions. Prove to everyone, and yourself, you can bring some show stopping items to your holiday parties without killing yourself in the process. There are plenty of easy, tasty holiday recipes out there, let’s pick a few and wow those naysayers who said you can’t cook!

Poor oral care can ultimately lead to innumerable problems. Those problems don’t always stay stationary to your mouth either. Did you know that when your oral health is poor, not only can it cause disease and irreversible damage in the mouth, it can also have a negative affect on your overall health

When you think of the term “oral care”, I’m sure the first thing that pops into most people's mind is “toothbrush, toothpaste and teeth”. Simple, right? Not quite that simple. Oral care is much more than a few items to pick up at the store, and it should begin much earlier than when actual teeth are involved. Not only should successful oral care start early, like “Newborn Baby Early”, but there's more to it than just brush, spit, repeat. It begins when life begins!

Using a soft toothbrush for sensitive teeth isn't always the answer for tooth sensitivity. Even the softest toothbrush for sensitive gums and teeth will fail to address the problem and will only focus on the symptom, if something greater is the driving force of discomfort.

November brings much needed awareness to an illness that affects millions of people. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and shines a light on the 29.1 million people in the United States alone who themselves deal with this disease every single day of every single month. That figure itself is a staggering 9.3% of the current population of America. Diabetes itself is a disease where the body itself cannot properly process glucose (type of sugar). The levels of glucose in the bloodstream are controlled by a hormone called insulin that is produced in the pancreas. No insulin there to regulate the glucose is the problem. 

There may be millions “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree” and claiming this as “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” but for others it’s the beginning of an intense time of sadness and depression. It’s not a personal distaste for the holidays or dread of a new year (though some do experience those feelings), it is clinically classified at SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it is very real to those who suffer from it. The National Mental Health Institute describes Seasonal Affective Disorder as a type of depression that is classified by a seasonal recurring pattern. On average, over 10 million adults in the US are affected by SAD at least once in their life with women 4 times more likely than men to experience this form of depression. SAD is categorized by a change in feelings, moods and behaviors due to the change in seasons. A large quantity of SAD cases come from the change of temperatures and shorter length of daylight hours in the fall and winter. SAD usually comes and goes at the same time every year. There’s a lot to unlock about this disorder and we will take a look at the symptoms, types, and treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

 

The holiday season is upon us and it’s time for us “Christmas Crazies” to begin our most favorite time of year. There are those that are one Hallmark Christmas Movie away from losing their grip on reality, and there are others who find the holidays fully nauseating. Whichever category you fall into, or if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, the holidays are quickly approaching and it’s better to be prepared than to find yourself stressed and in a panic in the eleventh hour. Decorating, shopping, wrapping gifts, cooking and baking, where does one even start to prepare? Let’s break it down into 10 easy ways to organize yourself before the holidays come, giving you a plan and a way to enjoy the time you will have with loved ones.

Nothing is more satisfying than waking up after a long, full night of sleep to see the sun rising, hear the birds singing and have a refreshed, renewed energy to start the day. It's a beautiful image in your mind, but not your reality? The National Sleep Foundation reports that over 30% of the population has trouble sleeping through the night, some not being able to fall asleep at all. This unfortunate problem has a name, Insomnia, and is defined as a sleep disorder in which one has trouble falling asleep and being able to stay asleep for long periods of time. This disorder is debilitating and awful for those it affects. Some of us suffer from a culmination of a few bad habits that are preventing us from a getting a good night of rest and we aren’t even aware! Ready to try and improve your shot at a full night of restful slumber in dreamland? Let’s take a closer look! 

Now, more than ever, we are aware of how important exercise is to our overall health and wellbeing. Over 60 million Americans were running for exercise in 2017. Running isn't’ a new thing, it’s been around since the beginning of time, but it remains one of the most common forms of physical activity for us because, to put it honestly, it’s free! No gym membership, online activity fee, exercise DVD to purchase, you just get out and do it! There is one important form of equipment that you do need to run effectively, for protection for your feet, knees, back, legs and joints: GOOD running shoes! Are the shoes you wear while running really all that important?