October is RSV Awareness Month: Learn About RSV Symptoms and Prevention

This post was sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. 

All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

My oldest daughter was born in the summer and it was more than a year before she got sick for the first time. I didn't quite know what to expect this past year when I had a baby born in the winter. My youngest was born in February and despite my best efforts to keep her healthy, unwanted germs entered our home and before I knew it, I had a very sick baby. Just 7 weeks after she was born, we were in the pediatrician's office with nasal and chest congestion and a fussy baby that could hardly eat because she couldn't breathe through her nose. She was wheezing, and our pediatrician, along with a nurse and nurse practitioner spent two hours trying to stabilize her oxygen levels. Normal is 100%, acceptable is in the 90%'s. We were sitting steady at 80%.

Infant airways and lungs are so tiny and so fragile and I learned through our experience that it doesn't take much for a baby's illness to escalate to the point of not getting enough oxygen. Thankfully babies - and their lungs - are incredibly resilient. Still, it's scary. As parents, we need understand what's happening, when to seek help, and what we can do to attempt to avoid it.

October is RSV Awareness Month, a great time to learn about what RSV is and how to prevent it. RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Disease - is more common than you might think. In fact, most babies will contract RSV before the age of two. Thankfully, it's not nearly as common for symptoms to become severe enough to require hospitalization. RSV is a seasonal virus that typically shows it's ugly head between November and March. It's the leading cause of hospitalization for babies in their first year of life.

We did everything we could think of to try to avoid illness in our baby, but with an older child who was unknowingly bringing germs home from school, it wasn't too surprising that despite our best efforts, we ended up with a sick baby. Thankfully we had a team of people that helped her to get well really fast and our hospital stay was short and sweet. We're hopeful that we'll make it through this RSV season without another hospitalization and we'll be sure to do what we can to prevent it - frequent hand washing, keeping baby away from crowds and young children (especially those with colds) as much as possible, washing toys and bedding often to get rid of any stowaway germs, and of course, avoiding any exposure to cigarette smoke.

Learn more about RSV disease and how to help

keep your child healthy this RSV season!

Introducing the TB Blood Test!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the TB Blood Test. 

I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I'll be honest. I'm into "health" but I'm perhaps even more into ease and convenience. Anything that combines the two is something that I'm interested in learning more about!

Let's talk TB tests. You know what I'm talking about, right? The test that tells you if you've been exposed to tuberculosis. The one that's required of all employees working in the healthcare field, for instance. The one where you go to the doctor's office and they insert a needle into your arm filled with who-knows-what, make a little bubble of who-knows-what under your skin, leave it there for a few days, and then make you come back in to the office to see if you turned all red or something like that. Supposedly if you have a reaction to the test you've tested "positive." I don't know for definite what happens if you test positive but I do know that sometimes people have false positives, etc. I also know that even though I've only ever tested negative, I've always found these tests to be inconvenient and time sucking. I live 40 minutes from my doctor's office. That means I have to drive a total of 160 minutes over several days for this little bubble. Not into it.

But, regardless, TB tests are important.

Introducing the new TB Blood Test!

The TB Blood Test is a huge scientific advance over that ridiculous skin test (which I just learned is archaic - it's 110 years old!). It helps diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infection with even greater accuracy and a more reliable result. It's the only available method of testing for TB with completely objective results. The skin test is open to the interpretation of the person administering and checking it. The blood test is not.

And, you can guess my favorite part of the TB Blood Test! One visit. No need to head back to the doctors a few days later for checking. One and done.

With the TB Blood Test you get:

• The most accurate test for TB infection - no cross reaction with a previous TB vaccination (the most common reason for false positives)
• Only a 3ml blood draw - regardless of age or anything else
• Total convenience of just one visit to the doctor's office.

Win, win, win, win, win!

So check out the TB Blood Test website, read more about it, and the next time you or your family member is due for a TB test, ask your primary care provider if it's right for you. I know I will!

No More Mid-Morning Tummy Growling with Dannon Light & Fit Tiramisu Flavored Greek Yogurt!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dannon. 

I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. 

All views and opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Dannon.

Having a mid-morning snack is a vital part of my day. I eat breakfast daily but regardless of what I eat, I simply cannot make it until lunch before my stomach starts growling and I need to eat again! I'm not too picky about what I snack on - whatever is handy and whatever I'm in the mood for will work - salty or sweet, crunchy or smooth - it just has to taste yummy and hold me over until my next meal. Historically, it hasn't even mattered to me if my mid-morning snack was a healthy one. In fact, an entire bag of chips would probably do the trick. Sitting at a computer, popping one right after another until lunchtime has happened before - and although I certainly enjoyed it in the moment, I'm not proud to admit it!

Don't you feel so much better - both physically and mentally - when you eat a healthy snack? I do! I was recently introduced to a new, limited edition item from Dannon - Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt - Tiramisu Flavor to be exact (!!) and I could not be more pleased with my new favorite mid-morning snack!

Although I've always been a yogurt lover, I've been somewhat ambivalent about Greek yogurt. It's thicker, creamier, and in my opinion has a much bolder, and sometimes even bitter taste when compared to typical yogurt. If I find a flavor I like, I enjoy it, but it's not normally my go-to when I shop for yogurt. Somewhat to my surprise, I have found Dannon Light & Fit Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt to be exceptionally yummy! The flavor is so wonderful, and the creaminess truly makes me feel like I'm eating a fancy dessert. The most surprising aspect of this yogurt to me has been how well it fills me up during that mid-morning stomach-growling time!

I am filling my hunger (and feeling good about it!) with the most decadently delicious treat every day! Each 5.3 ounce cup of Dannon Light & Fit Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt has 12 grams of protein, 80 calories, and 0% fat! I feel totally fulfilled and ready to continue my morning each time I eat it - and I'm pretty sure I already mentioned it, but I'll mention it again - I feel good about myself when I have a healthy snack, and that's just what this is!

If you're looking for a snack that's healthy, filling, and makes you feel like you've just eaten the most perfect dessert (without the calories and fat!), give Dannon Light & Fit Greek Tiramisu yogurt a try! In fact, I bet you could even serve it up in fancy dishes after dinner and trick most everyone you know...

If you'd like to connect with Dannon online, visit them on their website, or the social media channels listed below!

Dannon Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dannon
Dannon Twitter Page: @Dannon
Dannon Pinterest Page: https://www.pinterest.com/dannonyogurt/
Dannon Light & Fit Website: http://www.lightandfit.com

Dannon Light & Fit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightandfit
Dannon Light & Fit YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/lightandfit
Dannon Instagram Page: https://instagram.com/dannon/

Try it! And let me know what you think!

Earlier, Easier, and More Accurate Pregnancy Results from First Response!

I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for First Response. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own.

My daughter was born in 2010, which was quite some time ago. Regardless of the amount of time that has passed and memory lapses that come along with being a busy mom, the journeys of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth are ones I'll never forget!

July 2010 - just a couple short days
before my daughter was born!

I'll certainly never forget the moment I found out that I was pregnant - but I'll also never forget that grueling and infamous "two-week-wait" - formally termed the TWW on all the online TTC boards (that stands for "trying-to-conceive" for any of you that haven't visited those online forums!). You know that time I mean, right? That time between what you hope was conception and the time when you can actually confirm it. It's brutal. You have very few people, if any at all, to talk to about your secret, and you are super aware of any and every twitch in your body. You google everything with the words "symptom" or "pregnancy" attached to them and regardless of what you search for, you find one website that tells you that you're pregnant and another that tells you that you're not. I've come to conclude that no matter what you think or want the answer to be when you do an online search, you will find it during your two-week-wait. It's the only thing that gets you through the two weeks and yet it's the most frustrating, draining, and ridiculously inaccurate way to determine if you're pregnant.

If you've tried to conceive, I guarantee you've googled, "When can I take a pregnancy test?" Right? Of course! And you've come up with various answers for that too. We all have. You want to test as early as you can because you've been waiting for what feels like a lifetime, and yet, you dread the early test because you are so sure it will be negative. And honestly, if we all tested as soon as we wanted to, our tests would be negative whether we had experienced a successful conception or not.

Veggie Fries ~ Now at Stop & Shop and Other Local Retailers!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Veggie Fries. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions and reviews are my own.

A working mom and dad combined with a picky-eating preschooler means dinner times around here can get a little mundane. We tend to eat the same meals weekly without much change. My daughter has her favorites and she usually sticks to those - regardless of what else I've chosen to prepare. Meals for her typically include chicken tenders, french fries, pizza, fresh fruit, cereal, grilled cheese, or peanut butter. I try to provide those favorite foods in the healthiest ways possible - I prefer to use high quality brands, fresh ingredients, and go homemade when possible. Sadly, you don't see veggies on that list, do you? That's because my picky eater is not a huge fan of veggies. She likes corn-on-the-cob and corn-from-the-can and that's about it... unless you count the french fries made from potatoes?

Despite the pickiness of eating habits in our home, I prefer to add some variety whenever I can. That's one of the reasons why I was so excited to be asked to try a new "french fries" option - and the fact that this new option provided those vegetables that we've been so desperately lacking was the icing on the cake!

Authentic Homemade Asian "Takeout" from Blue Dragon ~ Review and Giveaway!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Blue Dragon. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own.

I cook dinner for my family daily and it's often a struggle to decide what to make. We have our favorites but eating the same few meals each week gets a little boring. I love searching for recipes online and can often find some new ideas but even those searches can be daunting because there are so many options and I don't always have all the ingredients I need on hand. And let's be honest... sometimes takeout sounds really yummy and easy! Our favorite takeout option is Chinese food but (unfortunately for my taste buds) we don't often splurge on that treat.

We were recently introduced to Blue Dragon, a company that provides everything you need to treat yourself to some homemade, super easy, and super fast Asian cuisine! Providing everything from noodles, to spring roll wrappers, to sauces, condiments, and a plethora of quick and easy-to-follow recipes, Blue Dragon has it all.

Blue Dragon was named after the Chinese symbol of good fortune. Over thirty years ago, the founder of Blue Dragon realized that it was nearly impossible to create truly authentic Asian dishes at home because it was just too difficult for people to find all the necessary ingredients in the grocery store. Well, that problem has now been solved with Blue Dragon products and after a quick trip to your local grocery store, you can simply and quickly pull together delicious dishes from China, Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam right in the comfort of your own home!

Following some recipes straight from the Blue Dragon website, and using some high quality products that were truly so user friendly, along with a few things I already had in the house, I was able to create three absolutely delicious Asian dishes - in less time than it would have taken me to order, pick up, and bring home my favorite Asian take-out!

Here's what I used:

And here's what I created:

Chicken Pad Thai

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound sliced chicken
• 1 egg
• 2 cups cooked flat rice noodles
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• Sprig of cilantro - chopped
• 1 ratchet Blue Dragon Pad Thai Stir Fry Sauce

Instructions:

• Heat oil in wok, add the egg, stir fry until almost cooked through.
• Add chicken and stir fry for one minute.
• Add pre-cooked and drained noodles and sauce.
• Stir until heated through
• Garnish with lime juice and cilantro.

General Tao Stir Fry

Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 large onion, sliced
• Cornstarch to coat
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 satchet General Tao Stir Fry Sauce

Instructions:

• Dip the chicken strips in the beaten egg and then toss in the cornstarch.
• Heat the oil in a pan and carefully fry the chicken pieces.
• Once browned, add the onion and sauce and continue to simmer for approximately 2 minute until onions are tender and all is heated through.

Sweet Chili Quesadillas

Ingredients:

• 4 tortilla wraps
• 1/2 lb cooked chicken, shredded
• sliced green onions
• 4 tbsp Blue Dragon Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

• Heat large frying pan over medium heat.
• Place flour tortilla in bottom of pan.
• Top with half of chicken, onion, dipping sauce and cheese.
• Top with second tortilla.
• Once the base is golden brown and crisp, use a spatula to flip over and repeat cooking on the other side.
• Repeat with remainder of ingredients.
• Let sit for 1/2 minutes and slice into wedges.

I adjusted these recipes only minimally from those on the Blue Dragon website simply because I wanted to cook with what I had in my home already since my family was hungry and excited to try our new Blue Dragon products! Beyond the meat, I only needed minimal ingredients. Each dish tasted authentic, and truly delicious! The cooking sauces were so flavorful, the noodles cooked up in a flash, and, because it absolutely deserves it's own shout-out, the Blue Dragon Sweet Chili Sauce is AMAZING.

So again, I was literally able to pull these meals together with less money and less time than it would have taken to pick up Asian takeout. Does it get any better than that? But, I'll be honest - there is something sort of special about treating your family to takeout, so we even served up our creations in takeout containers and used chopsticks. Why not, right?!

We are so excited for the opportunity to offer one of our readers a chance to win everything needed to create your very own delicious homemade take-out experience with the help of Blue Dragon! Your prize will include samples of Blue Dragon Sauces and a cooking kit including a wok, spatula, chopsticks, and takeout containers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway runs from Tuesday, February 10 through Tuesday, February 17 at 11:59 PM. Entrants must be age 18 or older. Open to residents of the US only. Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central.

If you like to try before you buy, check out a Blue Dragon tasting event at a store near you!
Shaw's in Canton, Waltham, Worcester, and Littleton all have tasting events coming up on 2/15 from 11-4. Or you could head to Market Basket in Nashua on 2/13 from 11-6 or Revere on 2/14 & 23 from 11-6. If you're wondering if there's a tasting at your store and it's not listed here, let me know!

Here are some places where you can get to know Blue Dragon online:
Blue Dragon Recipe Inspiration
Blue Dragon Online Cookbook ~ Chop To Chopsticks
Blue Dragon Facebook
Blue Dragon YouTube
Or search on your favorite social media channel for #BlueDragonMeals