Quick tip

I wanted to share this link about using canning seals as an anti-slip solution for small carpets. It was something that my Nana did and can still be useful even in this day and age.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/prevent-rugs-from-slipping-wit-160357

Neti Pot Safety - Part One

Sinus infections suck major big time. I am currently surviving asthma, pneumonia and a sinus infection. This is always interesting. Thank goodness for antibiotics.

http://www.netipot.com/usa/index.php

One thing that keeps going through my mind is "I need to use my neti pot" just so I don't use as much tissue paper as I am. Thing is, I remember one time I went to the hospital emergency room with a sinus infection and the doctor said to me to use either previously boiled or distilled water and I could not figure out why. I figured that my municipal water was safe, so what was with this advice?  Now that I think of it, all municipal water is only chemically treated, usually with chlorine and fluoride and  who knows what else, and that's about it.
Chlorine is a great chemical but it doesn't always kill microorganisms such as amoebas.  And here you are, putting tap water up your nose. This is can be a  bad thing because the membrane between your nose and your brain is the thinnest and who wants an amoeba in the brain?
I'm not trying to scare anyone from trying a neti pot, what I want to do is make sure that everyone has a great use of something ( that I call a watering pot for the nose) and can use it safely and to great effect.
All I'm saying is that I follow (now) the doctors advice to use previously boiled water and I find that (A) the salt is easier to dissolve in  the water and (B) the water is not so harsh on my nose. These are the only reasons I use boiled water now and that's all that matters to me. There are readymade packets of neti pot solution, but I've not tried them yet.
Next Time... I'm going to post how to clean your neti pot.

An Update

Hi All,
I've not been writing because I have been taking care of myself which I have not done since who-knows-when.  I'm thinking of writing a memoir and that may take up a lot of my time in the near future. I also have other stuff on my plate and, unfortunately, my blog suffers. I hope you will put up with me while I figure out what to do. Keep your eyes peeled because you never know when I may post something.

Blessed Be,

Jerith

Eating essential oils...NOT

I Know I've not been writing for a long time . I like Pinterest and Facebook and a lot of other platforms but one thing I REALLY hate is irresponsible  advice on the ingestion of essential oils.  I dislike DoTerra and Young Living recommending that you INGEST an aromatherapy blend!

YOU DO NOT NEED TO EAT ESSENTIAL OILS !

I'm sorry for shouting but there is  only a little bit of evidence that essential oils work internally..

I try to be, as they call, "EVIDENCE BASED" but even the Doctor Oz show has only a roughly 25% Accuracy rate.

Personally, the thought of eating roughly 2 handfuls of herb that are in one drop of essential oil  is something  I do not want to take it in my water.(Think about it )
The other reason I do not like the popular essential oils sites ( DoTerra etc.) is that the companies do not take into account other medical  conditions or where the oils are from. There is no guarantee that all essential oils ingested are food grade or even therapeutic grade.

If you have certain illnesses, aromatherapy may not be the best for you, but if you do go to someone who understands and has been truly educated, (ie. epilepsy, high blood pressure) and knows drug interactions and more, you can have a safe and enjoyable time.

Quick Tip for Colds

A tiny amount of Vapor Rub (sore bought or homemade)  under the nose can help with the problems of a runny nose and the soreness that comes from blowing your nose all the time when you have a bad cold. The eucalyptus and menthol (or peppermint if homemade) in the rub help with the congestion, can ease a runny nose and are anti-inflammatory, antiviral and healing to skin.  The base of the rub, whether from the store or homemade, helps with the skin irritation from tissues from blowing your nose so frequently by moisturising and protecting the skin.

I've done this for myself a great many times and it does seem to help. I will say that Vapor Rub does sting when you first apply it but it fades after a bit especially the next time you blow your nose. Also try not to apply too much as the aromas can make the eyes water and sting if you apply too much.

New Leaves of Absence for Working Caregivers

Here in Ontario, the Ministry of Labour announced that effective on October 29th, 2014, there are 3 new unpaid leaves of absence available for working caregivers to help protect jobs. They are the Family Caregiver Leave, Critically Ill Child Care Leave and Crime-Related Child Death or Disappearance Leave. You can find out more information here.

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A New Twist on an Internet Scam - VERY IMPORTANT

I have a friend,  who is a senior living in his own apartment, and was scammed by at least 2 people OVER THE PHONE with the beneficiary scam. I don't know if you've seen this scam in your spam but it is basically the scam where a mysterious overseas beneficiary has named you to receive their money and you can get millions of dollars out of the airport for a "small" amount of money.  Unfortunately, he fell for this once and I've been trying to persuade him that it's too good to be true - even if  one guy claims to know that the other person, that my friend also spoke to ,  (whom the one scam artist KNOWS by name) is a scam artist, that he (the second guy) is really legit, will bring lawyers and police to the drop off and that it will only cost X number of dollars more.

This is something that makes me furious!  I have been trying to get in touch with the police and anyone else who is supposed to protect our seniors from financial abuse and identity theft (not that I know his identity has been stolen).  So far I have had no luck letting the proper authorities know.  I'll let you know when I do.

 I just wanted everyone to know that even if you don't have the internet (like my friend) that this can happen to you or a loved one. 

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Dry Shampoo: Tips and a Review

Use a dry shampoo to keep your loved one's hair looking clean between washes if they have difficulty getting in and out of the shower or are bedridden. They are easy to use and usually come as a spray or a powder and nowadays you can find them easily in the drugstore. Just spray the product in the hair, wait about 2 minutes for the product to absorb the oils from the scalp and brush out. If you are in a pinch, you can use baby powder or cornstarch as a dry shampoo. To use either of these I recommend using an old (but clean) blush or shaving brush to apply either the cornstarch or baby powder to the roots of the hair so you don't end up with a big chalky mess in the hair. Wait the 2 minutes then brush out.

I've personally tried the cornstarch, baby powder and Klorane oil absorbing  and gentle oat dry shampoo for myself ever since I got hair extensions put in, hurt my shoulder and wasn't able to wash my hair regularly. Out of the three methods, I have to recommend the dry shampoo first, cornstarch second and baby powder last.

With the Klorane dry shampoos (both aerosols and that I bought myself), I found that the oil absorbing one worked best for me as I have very baby-fine and oily hair. It was dead easy to use, smelled nice, absorbed oils really well and added texture and thickness to my hair. With the gentle oat dry shampoo, it was also easy to use, smelled nice and absorbed oils but left my hair a bit limp. I believe that the gentle shampoo would work best for people with normal to dry hair. Neither of these dry shampoos left much of a white residue in my hair.

Using the cornstarch, I put some on a small plate, applied it with a blush brush to my roots, waited and brushed it out.  It worked pretty well in absorbing the oils from my hair but I found that it left a bit of a white residue in my hair that was a little tricky to brush out.  I used the same technique with the baby powder but I found that it left more stuff behind in my hair but it did smell OK. 

Using both the baby powder and cornstarch was also the messiest method I used as it left powder all over my clothes (not nice on black clothes) and floor whereas the spray dry shampoo was the neatest.

In terms of cost, I'll admit that the Klorane was a bit pricy ($14 CAD not including taxes) and the cornstarch and baby powder the least expensive (about $2 for the cornstarch and $1 ( from the dollar store) for the baby powder) but for its ease of use I think the Klorane was worth it. 

I wish I had remembered about dry shampoos while I was caring for my mom and husband. It would have made their lives a little easier as well as my own.

Quick Tip - Using your Smartphone Camera for Labels

Original Images: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Take a picture of your medicine bottle labels with your smartphone's camera. This way you can use the zoom function to easily read the instructions on the label. This is also useful for reading ingredient labels and menus.

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A way to cook pasta in the summer

I know I've not been posting for a loooooong while but it's been a hectic time here. I've sold my home, moved and have been working to get my life on an even keel since the death of my husband almost a year ago.

Now that I've moved to a rental apartment with no air conditioning, I figured that I'd share my method for cooking pasta in the height of summer.

Basically, you start cooking your pasta the regular way as described on the side of the package, but here is the trick.... after about 2-5 minutes of bringing the water back to a boil, turn the water OFF and let the pasta sit just a little longer than it says in the directions or until you reach the doneness that you like. That's it, you then treat the pasta the way you'd usually do.

I like this method just for the reason that you don't have the stove element on longer than needed, thereby keeping your home cooler and you can save electricity or gas. (I know this because I've done this trick on both types of stoves)

It's also a great method for cooking pasta for summer salads as it takes a little less time for the pasta to cool in the fridge.

May is Mental Health Month

Explore more visuals like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Quick Tip: Gift Cards

This idea was given to me by my friend Carol who happens to spend a fair bit of time in hospitals: Get gift cards for the coffee or sandwich shop that is usually in the lobby of hospitals ( Tim Horton's, Second Cup, Timothy's, Subway) for the caregiver or for the patient if they're mobile. This will allow the caregiver or patient not have to worry about money for getting coffees (or tea) while they hanging around the hospital and can also provide a change in food instead of that boring hospital food.

An Informal Survey

I just recently read a study abstract that was about colicy babies and their gut bacteria. Apparently colicy babies gut bacteria are off and this is what causes all the problems. This got me thinking about the fact that I was a colicy baby and I still end up with gut problems as an adult. So my question is this: were you a colicy baby and do you have gut problems as an adult? To respond to this informal survey, please click on the title of this post and leave your responses in the comments. Thanks.

Caregiver Consultation Event in Canada !!!!

The Canadian Home Care Association and The Way Forward are organizing consultations in the Toronto GTA (including Burlington and Hamilton) with caregivers with experience looking after a loved one with a life-limiting illness.  The caregiver consultation may be by phone, Skype, or if possible – in groups. If there are any caregivers who might be interested in participating, kindly forward their names to Nujat Nawrin.

Attached is the letter to the caregiver and a poster.

Please contact Nujat Nawrin for more information. 

Nujat Nawrin 

Project Lead
Canadian Home Care Association 

Phone: (289)290-4376
nnawrin@cdnhomecare.ca 
www.cdnhomecare.ca 

Cinnamon Toast Lip Scrub

I don't know about you, but this winter has been playing havoc with my lips - they have been so dry that I have a white line where my lips are so dry that it even shows through lipstick. I came up with my version of a lip scrub so that I could deal with this. Currently I have limited resources so, as per usual, I make do with what I have. This lip scrub uses stuff that you probably have in your kitchen right now. If you don't have coconut oil I'd suggest using olive oil.

Cinnamon Toast Lip Scrub

1 Tbsp coconut oil 

3 Tbsp sugar

Approx. 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients in a small container or bowl until evenly distributed and has the consistency of a thick paste. 

To use, take a small amount on your finger and scrub your lips. Rinse with water when you feel you're done.

Now I'll admit that these amounts are approximate. What you want is to have the scrub to have the consistency of wet sand or a thick paste. I also like the fact that this lip scrub is edible, moisturizing and works! Part of my reason for adding cinnamon is it's irritating action - who needs expensive lip venom to plump your lips when you can make it your self?

Hope you enjoy!

10 Steps to Self Care

I saw this on Facebook and just had to share it.

Original Image: Shut Up I'm Still Talking

Looking After Yourself and Looking Good : Part 1

Spoiling yourself may seem like something selfish but at times it can be your best retreat from the stresses in your life. 

Some of the things that I have done for myself to deal with stress have included taking aromatherapy baths and showers, meditating, yoga, making my own face scrubs and trying out new nail polish designs. I will admit that sometimes doing things like my nails has not worked out (adjusting someone in bed with slightly wet nails sucks) but sometimes these little things have made me feel better.

There is a saying "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" and I feel this phrase works well for caregivers. The reason for this is that although you may be overwhelmed with the changes in your life, how you look can change your opinion of yourself. You can be stressed out but, if you look half decent, I have found that you look at life from a brighter side and can do a better job no matter what you do.

When I'm stressed out I have found that my face breaks out with zits way more. I have tried prescription  Retinol creams, things like Clearasil and pine tar soaps. Of course the zits affect the way I feel about myself - the more zits the worse I feel. One thing I have found to work for me is called oil cleansing. What you do is moisten your face with warm water, apply a little coconut oil and wipe off with a damp washcloth - it's kinda like using Pond's Cold Cream. I also make  a face scrub using coconut oil and baking soda with some essential oils to help my skin. Since I have been doing this, my breakouts are smaller and easier to hide with a tiny bit of makeup. ( I believe I have seborrhetic dermatitis although this has not been proven )  I will admit that this has worked for me and even other people have noticed how much my face has improved.

In doing my nails, I found that taking a couple of days to do them can help with the problem of a botched manicure. Personally, I'd rather wait and get my nail design right rather than do it all at once. I'd rather take a day or so to do a couple of layers of polish rather than have my Mani ruined. Doing a layer at at a time can be a problem ( I hate it when nail polish chips) but you're less likely to have a problem in the long run especially if you have to adjust your care partner.

Makeup may seem like something to be avoided but, I have found that if you at least do your eye make up, you feel better about yourself and don't feel so tired. That and a bit of lip-gloss and you're ready to go.

Dressing "up" may seem silly, but I've found that if you dress in your grungy clothes, you feel grungy. Now if this is a look that you're going for, by all means have at it. Dressing nice means that you feel nice. This is not to say that you can't wear sweats, just make them look amazing (think Lulu Lemon or Nike ads).


More Later.....