Sweet Dreams with Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask | Review

Sleep … blissful and yet, often unattainable! Despite that I’ve been impatiently awaiting the warm weather after the insane polar vortex, summertime apparently brings with it not only warm weather, but earlier sunrises … and birds that like to get up before the sunrise to chirp up a storm! Normally all of this would be lovely but a bout of insomnia has me a little miserable.

Enter … the Sweet Dreams withBedtime Bliss Sleep Mask that includes earplugs and a convenient carry/storage case. While I can easily state that the sleep mask fits comfortably and is adjustable to fit almost everyone, and that the earplugs block out the noise from those chirpy birds, I’m not a sleep mask/ear plugs kind of woman. So, Sweet Dreams with Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask gets a plus as a product but a pass from me personally.

If you’re in the market for a sleep mask, Sweet Dreams with Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask with Ear Plugs and a carrying case is a good bang for your buck. Sweet Dreams normally sells for around $30, but is currently on sale at Amazon for $13.97. Enjoy and here’s to a good night's sleep!

Easter egg safety: Tips to keep your family healthy

Solstice in Times Square ‘Mind Over Madness’ hosted by Athleta and TSA

The 11th Annual Solstice in Times Square, one of the largest gatherings of yogis and yoga enthusiasts, will be held on June 21 at the Crossroads of the World. The event is hosted by the Times Square Alliance (TSA) and the premium fitness and lifestyle apparel brand for women, Athleta. June 21 is the longest day of the year and marking the occasion, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., will be five free “Mind Over Madness” yoga classes and a yoga village in one of the world’s most feverish places … Times Square.

The challenge is to find peace, tranquility and transcendence in one of the world’s most chaotic environments. Yogis of all skill levels and ages have the opportunity to participate in free outdoor yoga classes and visit a yoga village with booths, giveaways, and activities.

11th Annual Solstice in Times Square events schedule:

• Early morning yoga at 7:25 a.m. featuring veteran instructor, acupuncturist and Athleta model athlete Drisana Carey with special pre-class meditation by Tao Porchon-Lynch, 94 years-young and founder of the Westchester Institute of Yoga
• Mid-morning yoga at 10 a.m. with Paula Tursi of Reflections Yoga in NYC
• Lunchtime Bikram yoga at 1 p.m. taught by Donna Rubin of Bikram Yoga NYC along with special guests
• Late afternoon yoga at 5:30 p.m. taught by Colleen Saidman – the “First Lady of Yoga” – and her husband Rodney Yee
• Evening yoga at 7:45 p.m. led by Douglass Stewart, co-founder of Solstice in Times Square

Extending peace and tranquility across the nation, for those that are unable to make it to New York City, Athleta stores will hold free yoga classes. In conjunction with the Solstice in Times Square event, yogis are invited to participate in the “Seize the Solstice” Instagram contest by posting photos to @Athleta. For more information about the 11th Annual Solstice in Times Square visit ‘Mind Over Madness’ and for more information about “Seize the Solstice” visit Athleta.

Immunotherapy

March of Dimes celebrates 75 years of achievement

Skin Self-Exam: How to Do

Click the below link to read the article:
How to check your skin for skin cancer

How to check your skin for skin cancer

Body Mole Map

Click the above link to get your "Body Mole Map"

Yummy Mocktail Recipes

Papaya Cooler

1/2 cup papaya juice
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 banana
1 cup crushed ice

Blend all ingredients until ice is chopped and mixture is smooth. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Sparkling Orange Punch

1/2 cup lemonade
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup ginger ale

Mix all ingredients, pour into a glass and serve. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Strawberry Cream Soda

1/2 cup strawberries
1 cup soda water
1 large scoop ice cream

Blend all ingredients until mixture is smooth. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Caesar Straight

1 1/2 cups tomato-clam cocktail
1 shake celery salt
3 drops tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp lime juice

Mix all ingredients, pour into a glass and serve. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Cranberry Bubbles

1 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup sparkling water

Mix all ingredients, pour into a glass and serve. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Chocolate Monkey

2 cups ice
1 cup skim milk
1 cup frozen vanilla yogurt
½ banana
Low-fat dessert topping
Chocolate syrup topping

Blend all ingredients until ice is chopped and mixture is smooth. Pour into a fancy glass. Top off with low-fat dessert topping and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Orange Peel

180 ml orange juice (frozen)
1 1/3 soda water
1 tablespoon confection sugar (heaping)
½ teaspoon imitation vanilla extract
Ice

Prepare orange juice according to directions on can. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend and pour over crushed ice. Makes 1-2 servings.

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Fuzzy in Pink

1 ½ L cranberry raspberry juice
1 L pina colada mix (or one frozen can)
2 L ginger ale

In a large jug, combine cranberry raspberry juice with pina colada mix, and freeze overnight. Remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to serving. Empty entire mix into a punch bowl and slowly pour ginger ale on top.
Makes approximately 10 servings.

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Fruit Blast

2 large 1L cans of fruit punch
2 large 1L cans of unsweetened pineapple juice
2 355ml cans of ginger ale
½ bottle of grenadine
Ice

Mix all ingredients together and serve. Makes approximately 10 servings.

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Blueberry Allure

1 cup blueberries
1 banana
½ cup pineapple juice

Blend all ingredients and enjoy! Makes 1-2 servings.

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Tutti Frutti

1 cup frozen strawberries
½ cup frozen raspberries
1-2 cups of fruit punch
Fruit (kiwi, peach, pears)
Ice

Blend all and serve. Have fun mixing up the fruit combinations to create something new! Makes 2-3 servings.

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Slurp Berry Sling

¼ cup cranberry juice
¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Fruit (cherry, lime or orange)
Ice

Blend together and serve. Makes 1 serving.

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Jungle Berry Fizz

1/3 cup 7 UP
1/3 cup cranberry juice
¼ cup orange juice
Garnish with orange

Mix all the ingredients together and add an orange slice to the rim of the glass. Makes approximately 1-2 servings.

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Peach Parade

1/3 cup peach juice
1/3 cup ice tea
Club soda
3 fresh blueberries, 2 fresh raspberries, 2 fresh peach slices
Ice

Combine peach juice and ice tea in a glass with ice and stir. Top up with club soda. Float blueberries and raspberries in glass. Add peach slices to rim of glass as garnish. Makes 1 serving.

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Hot Hit

Freshly brewed decaffeinated coffee
2 sugar cubes
Cinnamon
Whip cream
Chocolate sprinkles

Pour a cup of freshly brewed decaffeinated coffee and stir in 2 sugar cubes with a dash of cinnamon. Top with whip cream and chocolate sprinkles. Makes 1 serving.

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Tropical Cocoa

1 teaspoon instant decaffeinated coffee
2 teaspoon instant chocolate drink mix
½ cup water
Lemon carbonate drink mix
2 orange slices
2 cocktail cherries
Ice

Mix instant decaffeinated coffee, chocolate drink mix and water until contents are dissolved. Divide the mixture between two tall glasses. Add ice and top up glasses with lemon carbonated drink mix. Add a cherry and an orange slice to the rim of each glass, and serve. Makes 1 serving.

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Mock Champagne

4 cups club soda
4 cups ginger ale
3 cups unsweetened white grape juice
Ice

Chill the club soda, ginger ale and grape juice over night. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and serve. Makes approximately 8-10 servings.

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Hot Spice Cider

6 cups pasteurized cider
½ teaspoon whole cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a 3L sauce pan over med-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Simmer over 10 minutes. Strain mixture to remove cloves and cinnamon. Serve hot if desired. Makes approximately 6 servings.

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Mellow Melon

3 cups lemonade
2 cups cantaloupe

Chop cantaloupe into small pieces and add to blender. Add lemonade to blender and blend away! Makes 3-4 serving.

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Fruit Function

2 cups pink grape fruit juice
2 cups apple juice
1 banana
3 strawberries
1 cup ice

Add all ingredients to blender, mix and serve! Makes 4-5 servings.

All recipes courtesy of Peel Public Health

OFFICIAL CDC HEALTH ADVISORY

August 3, 2012, 11:00 EST

CDCHAN-00325-ADV-N

Increase in Influenza A H3N2v Virus Infections in Three U.S. States

Multiple infections with variant influenza A (H3N2v) viruses have been identified in 3 states in recent weeks. From July 12 through August 3, 2012, 16 cases of H3N2v were reported and confirmed by CDC. This virus was first detected in humans in July 2011. It has also been isolated in U.S. swine in many U.S. states. Since July 12, 2011, there have been 29 cases of H3N2v virus infection, including the 16 cases occurring in the last three weeks.  All 29 cases were infected with H3N2v viruses that contain the matrix (M) gene from the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus. This M gene may confer increased transmissibility to and among humans, compared to other variant influenza viruses. All cases have been laboratory-confirmed at CDC. Each of the 16 cases identified since July 12, 2012, reported contact with swine prior to illness onset; in 15 cases, contact occurred while attending or exhibiting swine at an agricultural fair. While the viruses identified in these cases are genetically nearly identical, separate swine exposure events in each state were associated with human infections. There is no indication that the cases in different states are epidemiologically related.

Clinical characteristics of the 16 H3N2v recent cases have been generally consistent with signs and symptoms of seasonal influenza, and have included fever, cough, pharyngitis, myalgia, and headache. No hospitalizations or deaths have occurred among the 16 confirmed cases since July 2012. Public health and agriculture officials are investigating the extent of disease among humans and swine, and additional cases are likely to be identified as the investigation continues.

Novel influenza A virus infection has been a nationally notifiable condition in the United States since 2007. Since that time, human infection with animal-origin influenza viruses has been rare, with ≤6 cases reported each year, until 2011 when 14 cases were identified. While most of the cases are thought to have been infected as a result of close contact with swine, limited human-to-human transmission of this virus was identified in some cases in 2011. Therefore, enhanced influenza surveillance is indicated, especially in regions and states with confirmed H3N2v cases.

Source: CDC