Drinking Water is Often Overlooked as a Necessary Part of Staying Healthy

 

In addition to my human children, I am the mom of two active, healthy male cats. After losing my beloved Tiffany to "industrial" poisoning about 15 years ago, I opted to raise all my future felines with the finest, human-grade products possible. Given the supply-chain problems our nation is currently facing, this is a challenge, but I am committed to giving my boys the healthiest foods available. 

This means corn-based litter, no or low-grain foods, and dietary supplements such as Lysine, dental chews and daily vitamins. Their diet is one half of a can of high moisture, poultry flavored food (low or no grain), a tablespoon of kibble, and added water, twice daily. One or two times a week, I drain a can of tuna fish or canned chicken and dilute with filtered water, to increase their fluid intake.

The moisture content of animal food is very important. Cats are prone to kidney disease and male cats also are prone to cystitis, which is an inflammation of the bladder. It is very painful and often becomes chronic. In most cases, the cause of this inflammation is a urinary tract infection. While the reasons a cat develops cystitis are unknown, studies show stress, anxiety, other diseases, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, urinary tract tumors, and other things may all play a role in the development of cystitis. Traditionally, treatment involves medication and increasing water intake, which has been shown to improve the outcome. 

I live in a community with very hard water. For years, the cat dishes, and our plates and cups accumulated a white film which was a build-up of sediment. Imagine drinking that!

To combat this, I added a whole-house water-softer, began using the Brita filter system for my family, and upgraded our refrigerator to one with an in-door dispenser which featured a high-quality filter, to ensure our that water source was purified as well.  

So, obviously, the fur babies deserved equal care! I have long been fascinated by the concept of introducing a water fountain for the cats, but was leery of electrical cords, messy spills and a constant noise. Yet, I knew a circulating filtration system, which uses a replaceable filter to purify the water, remove dirt and food particles from our tap system would provide them with a healthier option. 

The first time out, I shopped local and bought the only fountain they had. All plastic and it required an engineering degree to assemble. This proved to be too frustrating, so I gave up, returned it and posted on social media, to see what other fur moms recommended. I discovered that the Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain Stainless Steel, 2.4L/81oz Automatic Cat Fountain with LED Light and Switch for Cats and Dogs was an Amazon Choice

It features:

• High-grade stainless-steel top is unbreakable, durable and easy to clean. It’s hygienic and dishwasher safe. Cat fountain includes stainless steel top, 3 carbon filters, 1 foam filter 2 cleaning brushes. Food grade material and BPA free Pet fountain is safe for your pets.
• The pump is whisper-quiet and stays below 40 decibels. Low-voltage pump is dependable and usually lasts 2.5-4 years. Light switch on power cords allows you to shut off the light quickly when needed. It is easy to see water level through window.
• The circulating filtration system uses a replaceable round filter to purify the water, remove dirt and food particles and a pre filter sponge to catch the hair and debris.
• Pet fountain has 3 different drinking modes. A source of running water encourages pets to drink more rather than still water. Hydration helps prevent your pet from urinary and kidney diseases.
  

Most importantly, the Wonder Creature pet water fountain was so easy to set up and costs under $30; plus, as the other fur moms noted, it has a 4.5 rating.

 My cats love it, and so do I.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MKSC82B?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

 

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." — Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

Reading is the cornerstone of all learning, and its benefits are both cerebral and emotional: reading makes you smarter and it keeps you sharp as you age; it boosts analytical skills; increases vocabulary; improves writing skills and memory. It is also a great escape from life’s everyday stresses!

The love of reading is the single most important gift a parent can give a child. From the time a baby can sit up, parents should hold their babies close and read, talk, and sing to them. Almost immediately, your baby will start reacting to mirrors and pictures of faces, shapes, colors. By six to 12 months of age, your baby will seek tactile responses and want to touch the book or place it in his or her mouth. As the child gets older, he or she will enjoy the basic stories contained within the pages of the books. Most libraries have mom-tot programs that incorporate a thematic story time and book selection. Seek out activities at your local library or books store. They are important first steps to growing the “love of books.”

Unfortunately, when children transition into school, reading tends to become an arduous task. In our world of instant gratification, we fail to remember that children learn to read step-by-step in a process that takes time and patience; each child grasps the concepts at his or her own pace.

Children who are slow to catch on may feel dejected; they are subjected to reading aloud in class, sent to visit reading specialists, and judged by other children unfairly. It is easy to see why reading may become a dreaded activity, especially when homework includes keeping a daily reading log.

At home reading activities should be casual, creative, and stress-free. Leave a newspaper on the counter and mention that you had begun to read an article; ask him or her to read it to you. Have them spell out any words of which they are unsure. While cooking dinner or making a special dessert, let your child read the recipe aloud. When shopping, let them read the circulars, food labels, or birthday cards, before selecting the right one. If done right, your child may not even know your ulterior motivation.

The most obvious benefit of reading is that practice makes perfect; the more you read the accomplished you become. The following strategies are good active reading habits that will help any build reading and comprehension skills:

• Lead by example: Shut off the television, power off the cell phone and read side by side. If your child has a mandated 15 minutes per night, use that time to catch up on your reading. Better yet, go to the library and take out a book. Show your child that reading can be as entertaining as a sitcom  Focus on one sentence at a time: Seeing too many words on the page may become distracting, causing your child to lose his or her place. Use an index card or blank piece of paper to cover everything except the sentence that your child is reading. When they finish a line, move the card down and repeat the process.
  
  
•  Point to the words: Encourage your child to follow their reading with their finger, or non sharpened pencil. This technique is beneficial to visual learners. Eventually, they will recognize the repetition of a word in context.
  
  
•  Take turns reading aloud or mouth the words: When reading at home, give your child an opportunity to read out load. Whenever possible, switch places and read out load to them. For auditory learners, hearing the words as they are visualized will improve comprehension.
   
• Discuss what you have read: Close the book and ask your child to take a few minutes to explain what he or she just read. If the text is pertinent to an exam, help your child by writing a few notes to review. Both techniques will help him or her to retain the information and recall it the next day.
  
  In the world of video games, Tik-tok, cell phones, Kindles, and computers, sitting quietly with a book can appear to a boring activity. Yet, nurturing the love of reading and ensuring that your emergent reader understands what he or she is reading will prepare them for a lifetime of entertainment.

 

@nymomto3boys @amazon #kindle #tiktok  

Yes, I Joined the Air fryer Craze!

I confess. I am kitchen gadget geek. The quarantine has only enabled this addiction. 

My mother was a fantastic cook, in a time when there were few kitchen helpers. But, I remember going to trade shows and staring at all the new enhancements- a new sifter, plastic grater, rosette wheel. I was hooked. I begged mom to replace her peculator pot (or awful instant coffee) with a drip maker and shopped for a countertop microwave. It was I who purchased our homes first Crockpot.

Newly married, I added a wok, bread-maker, espresso maker and various pots and pans. Our coffee maker was constantly updated to the news technology. Blenders, choppers, food processors. In the early weeks of the lock down, I traded some gift cards for a shiny new Stand mixer and several attachments. But, I use them all. I passed on the InstaPot but finally purchased an air fryer a year ago.  Life-changing! My kids use it constantly.

Best chicken tenders you can make! Awesome fries, great way to cook frozen foods. Certainly helpful to the diet! But the mess?! Then I went onto Amazon and purchased parchment liners. Great, but learned hard way that they can catch on fire if your leave them in when you preheat the device. 

Also, they are messy to remove from the rack. Useful, yes. Messy, also yes! 

Then I returned to Amazon and purchased Airware Aeromats The Original Reusable Air Fryer Liners. They come in a two-pack and are under $10. 

Easy to clean. Airware Aeromats feature a perforated design to ensure optimal air flow around food items for crispy, even cooking.

https://amzn.to/3Hftljt

https://www.amazon.com/Airware-Reusable-Air-Fryer-Liners/dp/B08HYHN7RG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=6SY1Z9KRYJIR&keywords=air+fryer+silicone+liners&qid=1643470952&sprefix=air+fryer+sil%2Caps%2C890&sr=8-7 

@nymomto3boys

#air fryer #ww @amazon #amazon

 

Ready to Smash Records!

On the last day of my sixtieth year, I have a lot to process. Personally, it ranks as the third worst year ever! There are no do-overs in life and I am a glass half-full sorta girl, so as the clock nears midnight, I will leave it here!

Sixty was a runner-up to the two worst years of my life; 1988, the year I became a motherless daughter, was my all-time worst. I had never been exposed to such pain, shock and awe about how ripping one's mother from their life could alter ever ounce of your being. My whole out-look on things changed. In some ways it made me better, but the void will never be filled. It still resonates 33 years later. 

The runner up was 2020 for obvious reasons. Our world changed, and unbelievably, the fall-out is still here two years later. The stress of working in an office when all others were safe at home was excruciating, but leaving the house daily had it's positives. The gyms were closed, so I walked five miles daily. Kept me sane. Called my dad on these walks... 

Then, in the fall of 2020 adult orphan, while quarantined with COVID (the first time) and was unable to gather the friends and family I needed by my side, due to COVID restrictions. I was unable to be by my father's side, as I was for my mother. The changes that resulted in his passing made my sadness even greater, as family dynamics change when a parent dies. My kids tried to help me navigate; but I masked my pain and battled on. Celebrations continued in a reserved way. The elephant in the room was huge. 

New Year, and the optimism was short-lived. As I tried to get my footing, in the post-holiday season of January 2021, and rolled towards my sixtieth birthday- BANG. The two kids at home got COVID and I had to quarantine again. Ironically, when I had it, I tested negative and was able to keep my staff home and work. I only learned I was positive when I tried to donate convalescent plasma in the pre-vaccine world of  November 2020.

So, there would be no parties (I hate birthday parties anyway) no cake (as we were unable to leave the house) and no birthday kiss, for obvious and non obvious reasons. My son's girl friend came to his rescue with flowers and M&M's, to mark the day. A friend sent flowers to my office when I returned, but all in all it sucked!

As 2021 continued, what I thought was post-COVID complications was, in fact, a congenital kidney defect that was never discovered and had to be repaired. Immediately. Countless doctors and tests followed. Happy to say the issue is now stable.

Like a bad country music song, it got worse. The powers that be at my job decided to escalate a merger and while I was home, recovering from my operation, I was laid off. Thankfully, I was taken care of financially, but not emotionally. 

There were some bright spots; the amusement of a new kitten, the casual company of some fleeting friends, the joy of seeing local bands play and the pride of being a #momto3boys. Some of these moments brought temporary relief from the stress and sadness. A dinner here, a cup of coffee there, a meet up to walk the lake, or a cup of frozen yogurt on an early summer evening. A live concert! The breeze of the Hudson River and a good book. 

New Year, new optimism? Um, no. As New Year's 2022 began we saw a new up-tick in COVID.  (I have my suspicion that I had another mild case Christmas week). So instead of going out with friends to see a band, or join one special friend to ring in the year together, I sat in a nondescript bar with two friends, ringing in the year, as I tried to correct a buzz text sent as a status check.  Both the recipient and the intended recipient evidently ghosts in the night. Another one bites the dust!

For those who follow sports, back in the day 61 was a milestone. Sixty was a threshold that many thought would never be surpassed In a sad way, I had the same feelings, when my mother died at 53. Yet, here I am, 60 years and 364 days. About to turn the page on a terrible year.

I'm a glass half-full sorta girl. So, as the snow piles up outside my window and I have a scant few hours left of this crappy year, I am about to step to the plate and hit my 61st home run out of the park. I look to the potential of a clean slate. Health, the eventual new job, and a new life on the horizon.

The short range forecast? The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun. Just thinking about tomorrow, clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow, till there's none.... Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love you tomorrow! You're always a day away!

 

#momto3boys

#birthday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WW Recipe to Curb Hunger

Guilt-free Revised Pumpkin Bread
(The old Weight Watchers staple on new plan)

Ingredients:
1 cup canned pumpkin = 0 points
2 eggs = 0 points
6 T flour = 5 points
2/3 C non fat dried milk = 5 points
6 packets sweet n low (must be able to cook with the artificial sweetener = 0
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons Cinnamon = 0
1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie spice = 1 point
1 tsp baking soda= 0 points

If you add nuts or raisins, add points accordingly, divided by 12.

 

Mix ingredients and bake in a greased (Pam) loaf pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

As it is, this recipe is 12 points for 12 muffins, or the whole loaf pan, or 1 point per serving. 

 

This recipe makes 12 muffins or one loaf pan.

 

#pumpkinbread

#ww lifetime

A Relection of Time

 

At a certain age, the loss of a singer/actor/athlete/author opens the floodgates of memories which were packed away for years. With the recent passing of Meatloaf my mind rushed back to the late 70ie, when I first heard "Bat Out of Hell" on FM radio. 

 This album (yes album) was popular when I was in high school; the theme was teenage love- and my younger sibling was not allowed to listen (of course she did it when parents weren't around.) To this day, these songs bring me back to a simpler time.

Working at a retail store, wrapping gifts and babysitting. Listening to local bands with friends on a Friday night. Being able to leave the doors unlocked and car on driveway. Two rings (or reverse charges calls) when you got home. The smell of a newspaper delivered to the driveway and Sunday NY Times and Daily News on Saturday night.

Sleeping in, Love's Baby Soft, cheap beer, Jordache Jeans, Cousin Brucie, Walter Cronkite and long talks with my parents about music, sports and life.

Preparing resumes and cover letters on a Smith-Corona manual typewriter to ads you see in the newspaper, white-out, interview suits, running to the post office for a 15 cent stamp and rotary phones.

Now, I'm the mom, and it's Nike sweats, Corona is a beer, Twitter and Apple Music. Email, job boards, Zoom and cells. The thrill of cutting off the plastic and playing an LP on a turntable with a new needle will never be experienced by my kids.

And the teen-defining music sung by Meat Loaf will not be matched by today's musicians. RIP
#Meatloaf #fridaythoughts #love #school #sports #corona #interview #music #email #job #readyforwork #recruiters #callmetoday #writersoflinkedin #linkedin #executivedirector #executiveleadership #servantleadership #workingmom #rutgersuniversity #rutgers