Sharing the “air up there” with your

When my hubby, Dave, returned from 3 months living with his mom (that’s a story for another blog post) while looking for work  out-of-town,  he was grumpy (no sleep from pain),  in pain (from a torn bicepital tendon) and wheezing (he’s got adult asthma) after 15 minutes back on home turf.   Now it’s always easiest to blame your allergies on the first thing you see (yes, it was me – but that’s why he takes Benedryl – just kidding).  In this case it was my daughter Polly’s cat, Elijah.

Elijah is not a breed I’m especially fond of … he’s a small part Mackeral Tabby (complete with the “M” on the forehead which she thought was a ’sign’ he was to belong to her – her last name begins with an “M”), but a bigger part Siamese.  Very classical Siamese.  Ever since watching “Lady and the Tramp” as a child, I’ve never liked Siamese cats.  LOVE cats … just not the Siamese variety.

Before Dave left home for his mother’s place- oops – his out-of-town job quest, Elijah was an iddy-biddy kitty not more than 5-6 weeks old.  Very adorable, even for a rotten Siamese.   Grandkids loved the little fur ball, my daughter Polly (short for Pollyanna, so you’ve got to know where this is going) promised to take total control of the wee beastie  (yeah, right)  and all we had to do was try not to trip when he got under foot.    Dave’s allergies didn’t seem to be bothered, so needless to say we were totally unprepared for all the sneezing and wheezing that erupted when he returned home.

After a couple weeks of trying to sweep, mop, dust, change bedding, and generally keep the house tidy, Dave suggested that perhaps it was just the Siamese brand of cat he was allergic to … that maybe cat hair and dander were different on different breeds of cats – the Siamese being a really old breed dating back to Siam – yada, yada, yada.  While I’m not particularly fond of Elijah kitty’s ancestry, here are just the facts … Dave.

While it’s been believed for years that a cat’s hair was the allergen culprit, it is now recognized that it’s the DANDER which is the cause of allergic reactions (not to be confused with dandruff, the flaky-white ’snow’ you see on people’s collars).  SO…let’s review some STUFF.

Dander is dead skin cells, and every living creature covered in skin has dander.  We as people have dander – losing skin cells like crazy all the time.  The fur (hair) on an animal may shed but that is not dander, nor is it the cause of your allergies; the length of the hair on your pet – long vs short – makes no difference to the amount of dander your pet produces.

If you’re a cat lover with allergies, know that your pet’s skin growth cycle is approximately every 21 days.  So no matter the breed. your cat can and will produce dander –   IF your cat has skin – which I’m sure it does.

While a few breeds of cats may have slightly faster skin growth cycles which may result in a higher dander level, most cats are pretty much the same, give or take, even the Siamese, Dave.

Fact tidbits: **older cats produce more dander than younger ones, because – like humans – they tend to have drier skin as they age (little Elijah is only 3 months old!); **whole cats produce more Fel D1 (the allergen that makes you wheeze) than neutered cats ;  **male cats, particularly if they’re NOT neutered, produce more allergens than the females.

Black Cat

Blue Cat (Grey Cat)

Brown Cat

Calico Cat (tri-color)

Colorpoint Cat (Siamese)

Mackerel Tabby

Red Cat (Orange, Marmalade)

Tortoise shell Cat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS TO DO – - – FOR YOUR CAT

• Bathe cat once weekly, thoroughly wash your cat’s face and ears as well as his/her body to cut down on dander;
  
• use hypo-allergenic pet wipes between weekly baths (these wipes are fantastic at neutralizing the dander allergen);
• Use a vacuum hose (at the lowest setting, possible) on your cat’s fur (some cats will like this, others just tolerate it, and those hating it will still lose a lot of their dander and loose fur into the hose before they jump out of your hands).

THINGS TO DO – - IN YOUR HOUSE

• Be the new Mrs. Clean!  Twice yearly (at minimum) wash your walls and ceilings with hot, soapy water;  re-paint those tacky looking walls when needed.  Reducing pet allergens isn’t the only reason to practice cleanliness;  my grandmother ALWAYS did a Fall and Spring housecleaning, wall-washing included!
• Put a HEPA filter on your vacuum and use that vacuum on everything!  Again, this isn’t a new notion;  my mom even vacuums the grill on the back of her refrigerator twice a year.  Go around baseboards, over windowsills, drapes and lamp shades, too.
• Hardwood and/or tile flooring is always best for preventing build-up of allergens – even if you don’t have an indoor pet.  Remember?  We humans shed dried skin cells, too which feed dust mites!
• Buy an air purifier with a HEPA filter for the main living rooms in your home.
• Furniture boasting leather or vinyl instead of fabric traps less allergens and is easier to keep clean.
• Use anti-mite covers on your bedding - although keeping bedroom doors closed so your pet isn’t tempted to snooze in there is far easier and less expensive.
• Clean your ductwork and furnace twice yearly (this is actually a safety precaution protecting you against fire hazards that should be done anyway).
• Change furnace filters every 3 months
• If the litter box is indoors (it’s always best to keep litter boxes out of the house for reasons other than dander – like PARASITES), choose a dust-free litter rather than clay and use a face mask and gloves when cleaning up after kitty’s dirty work (YUCK).

All said and done, there ARE ways to lessen your discomforts when you have a pet as part of your family.

It takes some effort … but families always do.

 

 

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You look outside and there they are … all over your porch, sidewalk, driveway and yard.  Those Fall leaves are tumbling down, again.  But don’t get your rake out, yet.  Pick some of the nicest ones of rich, Indian Summer hue, and wax them for lasting beauty.  A great way to decorate both in October and then into November (Thanksgiving time), waxed leaves are a super way to decorate a table or put onto your wall (as a fall-inspiration batik) or to hang in the windows (as a mobile).

HERE’S THE DIRECTIONS:

You Will Need:

• Paraffin wax (about 1/4 pound)
• 2 clean cans, one smaller than the other (we used a 13 1/2 oz. and 28 oz. size)
• Newspaper
• Colorful leaves
• Waxed paper

Place a piece of paraffin wax in the smaller can, place that smaller can inside of the larger one and add warm water to BOTH cans, filling them to about a half-inch below the rim of the small can.Simmer the water over medium heat until the wax (it’s in the smaller of the two cans) has melted (*why this is an older kid’s craft…and it’s still a good idea, Mom, to stand by).  When the wax has melted, it will float on top of the water.  To avoid hot spatters, don’t let the water and wax come to a full boil.  Just simmer, gently.Use pot holders to remove the cans from the stove burner and put them on the newspaper (here’s where it gets a bit messy).Hold a leaf by its stem and carefully dip it into the wax … then lay it on the waxed paper to harden.Viola!  You have some really nice waxed leaves (when they’ve dried and hardened) for special fall decorating or using in other crafts.  I like to place them on my mantle amidst a scattering of my newest pot-pourri find

(from Primo Potpourri)  which they call “Orange Spice” but which I call

This is a scent to "chai" for!

“Pumpkin Chai“.

Technorati Tags: fall, fall craft, leaves, leaf craft, fall leaf craft, fall craft for older kids

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FACT:  Almost 80% of women with breast cancer do NOT have a family history of the disease.  (Source: American Cancer Society)

FACT:  1 in 8 women who live to be 85 years old will develop breast cancer.  (Source: American Cancer Society)

FACT:  Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women. (Source: American Cancer Society)

   According to the American Cancer Society, there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., alone.   That’s a lot of unexpected, ugly surprises.

When we were young, a few good pumping exercises were all we needed (or thought we needed) to keep our ‘girls’ in shape. But there are alarming statistics that prove a woman’s breasts change over the years; with every 10 years into womanhood, you – me – every gal on the planet will face the challenge of these changes … even if she isn’t aware of it.

F.Y.I.

You looked good in your 20’s - mostly because your breasts had some tone and didn’t even think about pointing south.  Your risk factor for breast cancer wasn’t much of a concern; maybe not even a thought.  It was the best time to start some healthy hooter habits … but did you?  Experts on breast health now agree that the  lifestyle choices we made in our 20’s was either a preventative or a black mark in our becoming a dreaded breast cancer statistic.

Aside from pregnancy and no-no, yo-yo dieting, your breasts in your 30’s shouldn’t change much.  But that doesn’t discount some breast lumps, bumps and pain that might suspiciously be claiming your attention.   NOT getting it checked out can be deadly – putting you in the overall risk category of 1 in  233 (according to a study done at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy).

Ahhh, the uphill climb to the 40’s!  Don’t you feel old?  Not yet?  Great!  BUT … how are the girls doing as your reproductive hormones begin to decline?    Less breast tissue & more fat gain may be your story – leading to common (but usually benign), fluid-filled cysts.   Did you get regular screenings?  Hope so; because your 40’s puts you up into an even higher risk level … 1 in 69.    One of the warning signs: atypical hyperplasia (too many abnormal cells lining the breast ducts).  Mayo Clinic states women experiencing this condition are 4 to 6 times more likely to develop BC.

In your 50’s and counting … Menopause is an enemy of unknown proportions, especially when it comes to breast health.  More changes occur due to more fatty tissue and less estrogen production.  Although tumors at this stage of the game are easier to detect, if you do find a bump or lump get ye to a doctor!  A check up at this time in your life is important, as your odds of a nasty diagnosis within the next 10 years and beyond is now 1 in 38.

Doom and Gloom?? 

Not Hardly … These are Cold Facts you CAN Change! 

• If You’re In Your 20’s:   **Know how your breasts feel by doing monthly (or more often) self-exams.  That way you’ll know a difference (if any) when you feel one.  ** Apply some SPF moisture to your upper chest/breast area just like you do on your face.  Exposed skin is exposed skin – no matter where it is on your body.  ** Yes, you’re of age…but think before your drink!  Women who are social drinkers have a 34% higher chance of developing hormone-positive breast cancer!  ** Don’t do the yo-yo diet thing; work at keeping your weight on an even keel (and yes…it IS work for most of us).  ** Get rid of that underwire bra, for gosh sakes!!  Underwires trap lymph in delicate breast tissue instead of allowing it to drain.

• If you’re in your 30’s:  ** Do some family tree investigating: were there any ovarian or breast cancer victims in close proximity, such as a mom or sister?  Don’t forget about your grandmother, aunts, nieces and cousins, either.  If you discover some skeletons in your health closet, talk to your doctor who can help you with proactive ways of figuring out if this discovery makes you more at-risk.     **  Clip the caffiene routine and opt for a daily dose of supplements, especially if you’re experienceing any breast pain: Vitamin B-6 (about 100 mg.), some Evening Primrose Oil and 400 IU’s of Vitamin E.  ** Opt for lean chicken, pork and/or fish instead of so much red meat.  One Harvard study showed that women who regularly consumed red meat tested double in their risk of hormone-induced breast cancer as compared to gals who ate beef  less frequently.

• In Your 40’s … You need to be proactive, and that doesn’t mean taking every new drug that comes down the pike promising to reduce your breast cancer risks!  ** Increase your self-massage/exams to daily – when you take a shower is an optimum time and use of an herbal breast salve or oil can help clear breast tissue from stagnant fluid and keep your tissues cyst-free.  ** So you’re not an exercise buff – get re-acquainted with the local gym, Y.M.C.A. or biking trail.  It’s a fact that women over age 30 who exercise on a regular basis  were less likely to develop this disease (not to mention others) than gals who preferred to sit and watch TV in their spare time.  ** Help the skin tone of your decollete with a collagen/elastin type cream that can erase unsightly stretch marks and give needed skin support.

• The Big “50″ and then some:  ** Just because hormone replacement therapy is on the boob tube every night (no pun intended), don’t believe everything you hear.  In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative linked synthetic estrogen and progesterone with a 27% INCREASE in breast cancer risk.  Synthetics are forms of chemical poisons…why are we encouraged to think poison is good for us??  There are other options available that can naturally ease and assist – like Wild Yam’s root cream, Black Cohosh capsules and many others.  ** If you think taking a walk is romantic … it’s so much more!  During and after menopause, women tend to gain weight and lose muscle mass – where the estrogen is stored by the body – and regular exercise like taking a daily walk can fight that.  ** Just because you can’t have babies anymore doesn’t mean you fire your baby doc!  An annual pelvic and breast exam is just smart thinking!  ** Watch the weight…and the blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin levels!   All these “over 50″ health concerns can stimulate cell growth and increase estrogen production, which beats a path to breast cancer. 

If you or someone you love identifies with anything in this post, BE PRO ACTIVE and do some homework to see all the wonderful options available to you for breast health, naturally.  Information is power – the power to help yourself to health.

Have sensational - NOT statistical – Health and Wellness.

 Blessings,     …      ~ Allyson   

Technorati Tags: breast health, breast health awareness, breast cancer, how to prevent breast cancer, taking care of your breasts, proactive ways to keep breasts healthy

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Where Does Mozilla Get These Kool Names??

This Blogger’s Review of “Zemanta” … the Super Virtual Writing Assistant!

I no sooner finished my review of Scribefire, Mozilla’s awesome FireFox add-on to aid bloggers as they write, then I scurried down internet street to Zemanta to download that add-on – all for FREE, I’m happy to say!

As Scribefire “fires you up” to write on the fly, resting in a secondary editing window just waiting for your next great mind-fart to blow onto the screen, Zemanta adds it’s own very cool, two-cent’s worth by bringing extra content to your attention while you write.  Talk about auto pilot awesome!  It quietly recommends contextual links, (contextual meaning it knows what you’re writing about and ‘relates’ – do do – do do- dodo-dodo-dodo *Jaws theme music*) images and related articles, enabling you to write more niche-rich blog posts and/or articles and – check it out – even super-informative emails!  G’mail and Yahoo mail, look out!!  Yow! Information is power, and Zemanta brings it on.  And get this – Zemanta switches on automatically the first time you write a new email or blog post!  You don’t even have to remember which cute FireFox icon to click to get it working!  Is this the twenty-first century or what, Buck Rogers???

So stop losing precious time browsing the net for royalty-free images; never again think about SEO because the perfect tags for that post pops up for ya; worry not about google-ing for related content to use as additional links of interest for your readers.  Zemanta provides it all.

With over twenty different sources of content for your blog (YouTube, Amazon, Crunchbase, Flickr, Musicbrainz, MySpace, Twitter and Facebook to name a few) and compatible with all the major blogging platforms (Blogger, WordPress, Drupal, Typepad, MySpace, Windows LiveWriter and Scribefire – my new fav – to name ones off the top of my head) I’d have to say “I’m in love!”

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