Flu Shot- What You Need to Know

Here is information from SELF magazine on flu shots- who should get them and how they work. Just a tidbit of info that everyone should know. Plus, a bonus- this year may be ouch-free!

5 Things You Must Know Before Getting the Flu Shot

Flu season is peaking over the next several months, and this year, the CDC is urging everyone over the age of 6 months to get a flu shot. That means you! 

The flu causes approximately 5 million illnesses each year, and you don't want to be one of the victims. It's miserable!

We called on pharmacists and sorted through the latest Centers for Disease Control data and studies to come up with this list of things you should know before getting vaccinated.

1. If you're preggers, it's a must. Fewer than half of all pregnant women get the flu vaccine. Don't be one of them! When you have a baby brewing, you're at an increased risk for flu-related complications, so it's particularly important to get vaccinated. 

And it not only protects you: A recent study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine suggests that babies born to moms who get the flu shot may have some additional protection against the virus (since they can't get vaccinated until they're 6 months old, this is a very good thing!).

Do not opt for the nasal spray vaccine -- which contains a weakened "live" virus -- and, if you're worried about Thimerasol in the vaccine, preservative-free versions are available, says Stacia Woodcock, a Walgreens pharmacy manager in New York. Check in with your doc for details.

2. Feeling sniffly? Don't blame the shot. It is a myth that you can catch the flu from the vaccine. According to Amy Arbogast, a CVS pharmacist in Indianapolis, Ind., the injectable flu shot contains viruses that are inactive -- literally dead viruses. "Because flu season typically coincides with cough and cold season, people may mistake cold symptoms for flu systems."

3. One and done. You only need to get one shot.

4. Make it painless. If you tend to get anxious before getting a shot, be sure to eat and drink something beforehand to help prevent nerve-related nausea, says Martha Sullivan, director of health services at the College of the Holy Cross. And, hey, throw in something sweet: In some studies, kids who were given sugar before an injection felt less pain.

5. One excuse not to get the flu shot. If you're allergic to eggs or think you might be, talk to your doc before getting stuck.

Click here to find flu shot locations near you.

 

A bonus: This year, you may be able to skip the big, scary needle that shoots deep into your arm muscle and opt for a thinner, shorter needle that barely pricks your forearm.

 

 

The so-called "ouchless" needles are less than one-10th of an inch long and are about the width of a human hair, according to ABC News. Compare that to the one-and-a-half-inch needles used for a standard flu shot. 

Health officials say it takes at least two weeks for vaccines to start becoming effective. In the meantime, don't forget the obvious ways to boost your immune function: Get plenty of rest, eat a well-balanced diet boasting loads of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and wash your hands!

We've got a few other strategies to help you shore up your immune system so you can get through the season sick-free:

-    Eat chicken soup: Chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine that prevents inflammation in the nose and thins nasal mucus. Plus, chicken soup usually contains fresh garlic and onions, both of which contain powerful immune-enhancing chemicals. A bonus: If you're already sick, the hot liquid also helps soothe a sore throat.

-    Take warm or hot baths: Taking a hot or warm bath helps stimulate blood and lymph circulation, which can help rid the body of toxins more efficiently. 

-    Drink fluids: Hot tea is best since it can help increase the mucus flow in your nose and flush out the virus. 

-    Lose the booze: A glass of wine with dinner is OK, but more than that and you may compromise your immune system. As little as two drinks a day can reduce antibody production by two-thirds, say experts.

-    Skip sugary foods and sodas. Studies suggest that consuming 75-100 grams of refined sugar (about two 12-ounce cans of soda) reduces the ability of white blood cells to engulf foreign bacteria by 40 percent.

For more information about the seasonal flu vaccine, please visit the CDC website.

2011 Goals

For 2010, I had talked about the goals I had for myself for the year. First and foremost, I have not yet achieved my Jennifer Aniston Abs. However, with all the random things that have been happening lately, I have not been making it to the gym like I should. I am proud of myself for running on the beach while on vacation. That was one goal that I am glad that I accomplished.

1. Sky Miles. I wanted enough to 'pay' for 2 flights out to San Francisco. I met that goal with a little help and was able to take an almost expense free vacation this fall to the west coast.

2. Loans. My student loans have been slowly making their way to the big zero. Recently, I took the plunge and just paid them off completely. I thought that it would be a lot more freeing of a feeling, but really- it wasn't. I just see my savings account, get down a little on the balance and tell myself, "That money will return in just a few short months. Don't fret."

3. Savings. Goal was to have one year's worth of gross salary in the bank. I hit my goal last month, but decided to pay off those pesky student loans, which dropped me back to the 50%-60% range. This account is separate from all other accounts (including the illustrious Gift Fund for Christmas and birthdays, and the emergency fund for all other unexpected expenses). According to my predictions, I should be back to where I was within the next 3.5 months. Yes... it does take me into 2012, but those are the breaks, Kid.

Winter is upon us here in the Midwest. Time to start thinking about my goals for the elusive 2012. Should I even make goals? Isn't the world going to end?? Remember Y2K? We didn't have a Y2K stock of food, but my then-boyfriend's family sure did! I guess I am just not superstitious enough. I digress.

My new goals for 2012 are pretty lofty.

1. Train enough to be able to run. Real running. My bum knee is no longer going to keep me from doing this. Slow and steady, however. My first step is to see how far I can get on the treadmill at the gym this weekend. I am hoping 3 miles. If that is the case, then I will slowly train for a 5k this November. Work my way up from there.

2. Continue to build up my savings. My goal is to be able to buy a house. It would be best if I had the patience to wait until I could buy one outright, but I am not sure that is the case. I have been able to cut back my spending substantially and am willing to put the goal of 1.5x my yearly salary in savings by the end of 2012.

3. To work my butt off and hopefully get another pay increase in March. I understand that there is a lot of potential for me to rise in the ranks this year (and the next 5 years as well.) I hope that I can accomplish this and that it will help me meet and exceed my financial goals.

4. Get an A in my Spring semester class. That one should be easy enough.

5. Find an internship that doesn't conflict with my current job. Now that one might be impossible. I guess we will see how it goes. This goal, Goal #5, is very flexible and does not need to be finished in 2012.

Sweet Love- Until the End

This is a story from ABC news. I only wish that my life is filled with as much love as theirs.

By CHRISTINA NG

Oct. 19, 2011

A devoted Iowa couple married for 72 years died holding hands in the hospital last week, exactly one hour apart.

The passing reflected the nature of their marriage, where, "As a rule, everything was done together," said the couple's daughter Donna Sheets, 71.

Gordon Yeager, 94, and his wife Norma, 90, left their small town of State Center, Iowa, on Wednesday to go into town, but never made it. A car accident sent the couple to the emergency room and intensive care unit with broken bones and other injuries. But, even in the hospital, their concerns were each other.
"She was saying her chest hurt and what's wrong with Dad? Even laying there like that, she was worried about Dad," said the couple's son, Dennis Yeager, 52. "And his back was hurting and he was asking about Mom."

When it became clear that their conditions were not improving, the couple was moved into a room together in beds side-by-side where they could hold hands. "They joined hands; his right hand, her left hand," Sheets said.

Gordon Yeager died at 3:38 p.m. He was no longer breathing, but the family was surprised by what his monitor showed. "Someone in there said, 'Why, then, when we look at the monitor is the heart still beating?'" Sheets recalled. "The nurse said Dad was picking up Mom's heartbeat through Mom's hand." "And we thought, 'Oh my gosh, Mom's heart is beating through him,'" Dennis Yeager said.

Norma Yeager died exactly an hour later.

 

"Dad used to say that a woman is always worth waiting for," Dennis Yeager said. "Dad waited an hour for her and held the door for her." The inseparable couple was engaged and married within 12 hours in 1939 on the day Norma Yeager graduated from high school. "She graduated from high school on May 26, 1939, at about 10 a.m., and at about 10 p.m. that night she was married to my dad at his sister's house," Sheets said.

The vibrant duo had a "very, very full life."

They worked as a team. They traveled together, they were in a bridge club together and they worked in a Chevrolet dealership, creamery and other businesses together. "They always did everything together," Sheets said. "They weren't apart. They just weren't."

Dennis Yeager described his father as an "outgoing" and "hyper" man who was still working on the roof of his house and sitting cross-legged with no problem at age 90.

"The party didn't start until he showed up," he said. "He was the outgoing one and she supported him by being the giver. She supported Dad in everything. And he would've been lost without her."

Dennis Yeager said it is strange today to go into his parents' home and see the "two chairs side-by-side that they sat in all the time," empty. He said it was in those chairs that his parents cheered on the Arizona sports teams they loved and rarely missed an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Price Is Right."

According to their obituary, besides their children, the Yeagers are survived by her sister, Virginia Kell, and his brother, Roger Yeager, as well as 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

HG is at it AGAIN!

Anyone that knows me, KNOWS I am somehow unearthly addicted to McDonald's Big Macs (extra pickles, extra sauce). I am well aware of how sickeningly bad these puppies are for me, yet they are like my very own special brand of crack. McCrack. Now, HG has done it again. I almost passed out at the sight of the email this morning. Not only did it reference my inner-geek by playing on a Star Wars reference, but it took my favorite guilty pleasure and just made it *gasp* HEALTHY. Time to hit up the grocery store!

Baby Got Stack!

We FINALLY tackled the Big Mac! And by that we mean we took it on and made it over in typical HG fashion. At no point did any HG employees physically wrestle a Big Mac to the ground... that we know of. Enough silliness -- on to the recipe!

Ingredients:

Sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. fat-free Thousand Island dressing
1/8 tsp. granulated sugar
1/8 tsp. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. finely minced onion or 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion

Sandwich
2 portabella mushroom caps
1 1/2 small light hamburger buns (1 top and 2 bottoms), or HG Alternative!
1/4 cup shredded lettuce, divided
1 slice fat-free American cheese
1 tbsp. diced onion, divided
3 hamburger dill pickle chips

Directions:

To make the sauce, combine dressing, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl. Mix well. Stir in minced onion and set aside.
Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Place mushroom caps side by side in the skillet, rounded sides down. Cover and cook until soft, about 4 minutes per side.
Place one bun bottom on a plate, and spread with half of the sauce. Top with half of the lettuce (2 tbsp.), followed by the cheese slice. Place one cooked mushroom cap on top, and sprinkle with half of the diced onion (1/2 tbsp.).
Spread remaining half of the sauce on the other bun bottom, and place it on the sandwich, sauce side up. Top with pickle chips and the remaining 2 tbsp. lettuce. Top with the remaining mushroom cap and remaining 1/2 tbsp. onion.
Add the bun top and open wide!

MAKES 1 SERVING
Serving Size: entire recipe
Calories: 234
Fat: 2g
Sodium: 946mg
Carbs: 45g
Fiber: 9.5g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 14.5g
PointsPlus® value 6*

HG Alternative! Feel free to use 1 bun as opposed to 1 1/2 -- just spread the 2nd half of the sauce on top of the 1st cooked mushroom (instead of the middle bun piece). Then your burger will have 194 calories, 1.5g fat, 854mg sodium, 38g carbs, 7.5g fiber, 12g sugars, and 12.5g protein (PointsPlus® value 5*).

Get Polished Nails Dry- Fast!

Here's a little bit that I ran into on a blog that I came by while looking for something COMPLETELY different. However- GREAT TIP!




Here’s a tip from my BFF in grade school – yes, grade school! She taught me this when we were about 10 years old and just starting to play around with nail polish. I don’t know where she got this trick from, but it sure does work! Basically, it’s just putting cold water on your nails after painting them. Once your nail polish is partially dry, run cold water over it for about 30 seconds (or if you prefer, dipping your fingers into a bowl of cold water). The cold temperature will set the nail polish, speeding up the drying time greatly.

West Coast-ing It

Starting tomorrow is my vacation for the year. For the next 4 days I will be living here:

Thanks to Roo's family, who put us up in a BEAUTIFUL beach house. I look forward to waking up with the sun, going for runs on the beach, enjoying wine on the deck (while reading my book!) and falling asleep to the ocean waves. Worst thing about the trip is having to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. (I'm terrified of heights!)

Here's to getting to spend time with Miles, Katie, Nathan, Nicole, Aniah, David, Sandy and the rest of the Rosenberg clan!! Plus, a beautiful outdoor wedding for Ben and Frances! Thank you so much, everyone, for inviting me and taking me in like family. Loads of Love!

Diamondbacks Push Brewers to Game 5

It's been an interesting series. One that a lot of Brewers fans (yours truly) have found excting, then irritating. Especially those of us that have game 5 tickets. I wanted a sweep and then my tickets would magically transform into NLCS game 1 tickets. Now that would have been amazing to see. Alas, our Good Ole Boys are not hitting their stride out of town. Pun intended.

After taking the afternoon off on Friday, Roo and I headed down to the park for some tailgating. The game was intense, and in the tenth inning, I have never yelled so loud in my life. This game will always stay with me (even when the Brewers suck) and I will tell my grandchildren about it. Such a huge moment in Brewers history.

Now, on to game 2 of the NLCS. I'm in a raffle for tickets to tonights game. Send all your luck my way!! :)

Day of Caring

Here at my company we do a lot of community work. Most recently we particpated in a United Way Day of Caring. It was a great time, and serious employee bonding! We meet up at a group home, and repainted a VERY bright orange room.

Check out the retro wall art!

Starting the second coat of primer.

Taping the floor covers down. It was harder than it sounds!

The top 6 inches, painted by the tallest member of our crew.

Touching up the closet doors, which were splatter painted orange.

Wait? Why am I the only one painting? Let's take that picture again.

Yes, it is a posed shot- but look how happy we are to paint!