Do you get enough sleep? Sleep is the one thing we spend about one-third of our lives doing, but rarely think about- unless you can’t sleep. The Centers of Disease Control recommend the average adult get around 8 hours of sleep per night, but about 30% of adults report getting less than 6 hours.  Sleep is essential to life.  Not only does getting a good night’s sleep help you feel more alert and energized, but it is also the time when your body does its “routine maintenance” of hormone release and cell repair. In fact, a person can actually die...

  A Gift for Grandpa He’s a part of “The Greatest Generation”, the ones who fought on foreign shores in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; the ones who survived The Great Depression and the Cold War; the ones who put a man on the moon and saw the rise and crumble of the Berlin Wall. His generation was raised to be patriotic, hardworking, honest and courageous; to work for what they earned, be true to their word and be loyal to their country.  The Greatest Generation were the ones who stayed at a job for decades, married their high...

  Kids Happily Heading to Summer Camp Being away from home a while and heading to summer camp for the first time is a childhood rite of passage. Every kid dreams about being away from home awhile and being on their own. Why wouldn't they? They feel as if they are tasting  ultimate freedom for the first time! They get to sleep in cabin bunk beds while talking all day to their friends and roast marshmallows. Seeing the mile-long packing list and planning what to take with them is only half the fun. They can't wait to explore as they...

Pesky Fleas  You are sitting in your home and you notice something oddly different with your dog; they are constantly scratching themselves or licking their fur when, at first, you thought it was nothing out of the usual. Warm weather invites many insects to come out and dance in the seemingly harmless grass. Because of this, we want to be wary and pay special attention to flea prevention during spring and summer Maybe your dog hasn't fallen victim to the "endless scratching syndrome" yet, but you want to take steps to prevent the little buggers from invading both your pet...

The Precious Amethyst Amethyst has served many purposes for a variety of cultures over the centuries. For the ancient Hebrews and Egyptians, amethyst was thought to open spiritual connections with the Divine, and was used by Eastern cultures as temple offerings.  Catholic bishops wore amethyst rings to protect themselves from evil thoughts, and to keep their minds on spiritual matters. It is the stone of Saint Valentine where it is believed to attract and retain the kind of love that endures throughout the ages.  Benefits of Amethyst In the modern society, amethyst is known for its ability to calm anger, soothe a grieving...

When Children Feel Pain No one likes to feel pain, and everyone (men, women, and children) expresses it in different ways. Children may or may not be able to signal that are pain and it will be up to you to determine if they are in acute or chronic pain. Even children have various tolerances for pain so every child will be different, but there are things they will do or you can determine to find out when they are in pain.  They will either eat less or lose their appetite High-pitched crying Restlessness Grows upset or pulls away anytime...