All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.

Parenting

Why are Video Games Good?

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We live in the 21^st century where technology has invaded every facet of our lives. Children nowadays spend most of the time playing video games rather than playing outside. Many parents consider this a bad thing. However, every coin has two sides. Not only are the video games enjoyable, but they also help in the character development of your child. Apart from this, video games also help in improving the hand and eye coordination of your child. Here are a few ways how video games can help your child:

Education

Video games can be a medium of education. They may not provide an academic form of education, but they help children learn some real-life skills which are not found in textbooks.

Exposure to different environments

Through video games, children are exposed to a wide variety of environments which they don’t face in their daily lives. This exposure helps them adapt better when such an environment is faced in real life.

Minimizing risk

Through video games, children can experience a wide variety of scenarios and situations without directly being exposed to them. This helps in developing their ability to deal with scenarios without exposing them to the real dangers and risks of it.

Interactive experience

Video games allow children to directly take control of what is happening on the screen. This gives the whole thing a realistic feel. Moreover, this kind of interaction and control is not provided by other means of entertainment like TV shows or movies.

Entertainment

Video games are one of the leading forms of entertainment in today’s world. They’re relatively affordable and provide a great amount of choice to the children through one platform itself. Children love video games, and they spend hours playing them.

Living Multiple lives

A video game allows a child to transcend to a different life and a different reality. In video games, the physical confinement doesn’t stop them from doing what they want. Thus, they end up living many different lives adopting many different personas while playing these video games.

Dealing with Emotions

Video games allow children to mentally and emotionally migrate to a different environment. Thus, it can become an outlet for emotions. They can help children deal with their emotions in a constructive way. Independent studies have shown that video games can even reduce aggressive behaviour among children.

Feeling Special

Video games can really make a child feel special. When played in groups, they can really help children bond with each other and make new friends. Moreover, they make children feel consequential which further adds to their effect of making children feel special. When played during gatherings such as birthday parties, they make the gathering much more memorable and enjoyable.

The problem that limited the widespread use of video games in gatherings such as birthday parties was that it’s difficult to arrange for a large number of people. However, game trucks have now stepped in to fulfil this demand. Not only have they become quite popular in recent times, but they’ve also carved out a niche for themselves. Gamer vs. Gamer is one such company providing game trucks for social gatherings such as birthday parties.

Gamer trucks have now added a whole new dimension to video gaming. They not only add the much-needed portability to video games, but they have also greatly enhanced the experience of playing video games. Instead of trying to fight the onslaught of technology, it’s better to embrace it.

It’s time to incorporate video games into our daily lives and make them a part of social gatherings as well. The time has come to tap into the huge entertainment potential offered by video games.

Parenting

A Concise Guide to Job Seeking for Stay At Home Moms

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Taking care of an infant and raising a child in early years is even tougher. There is too much on your plate as a mother to a young kid and the situation could be worse if they are more. In such circumstances, many mommies choose to take a break from their careers and focus their time on taking care of their kids. This is completely understandable because it is not easy to manage a job when you are the sole responsible person for taking care of a tiny human being who requires your attention 24/7. It is difficult to focus on your career while you are worried about a toddler throwing tantrum or feed times or diaper changes among other things.

No matter how dedicated mother you are, there will be a time when you will feel the urge to go back to go work. Many Giving birth to a child is a physically draining, emotionally exhausting and mentally taxing process. mommies decide to start working to generate extra income to be able to provide a better life to their little munchkins while some wish to go back to their careers for their own satisfaction and self-actualization process. Whatever the reason is, what shudders them from taking the leap is the break that marked their profile while they stayed at home taking care of their bundle of joy. The good news is that contrary to popular opinion, being a stay at home parent does not mean your career aspirations are gone forever. You can still land a decent job if you know the right tools.

Network, Network, Network

Be socially active and that will take you a long way in your career. Networking plays an important role in the recruitment process and you can easily benefit from it. Join women support groups and mommy groups and be vocal about your career aspirations and how you took a career break to be with your child. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn can also be of great help. Whenever you interact with people, be honest about the reason of gap in your career and take pride in it. Most people will actually respect you for that rather than looking down upon you for it.

An Honest Resume

Your employer will be assessing you majorly based on your resume and it would be a bad idea to either lie about your time gap or to not explain it altogether. You need to be honest with the recruiter and let him know that you were busy fulfilling your duties as a parent. The best way to do that is to mention it as part of your occupational profile and mention the year range. There are a lot of resume examples online that will explain to you how you can explain a time gap in your career on your resume. Many people are concerned with the fact that their knowledge or skill might have become obsolete and job market requirements might have changed. You can simply catch up with the changes by enrolling in flexible courses or relevant distance learning programs that can help upgrade your skills and knowledge.

Travel

Activities to Try in Goa Within RS 3000 Budget

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A budget trip to Goa is always on the ultimate bucket list of every college-goer in India, whether they are from Delhi or Mumbai. But that dream seems quite difficult when you hear the amount of money people spend on their trips to Goa. The reason? Well, they don’t take tips from us!

And now that you are reading this article, we understand that you are travel-pro who knows how to get things done in their own way. Now we won’t waste your time more, so, check out these fun activities that you can try in Goa within Rs 3000 budget and get the best of your trip.

Water Sports

How can we even talk about activities to try in Goa without beginning with the amazing water sports, right? Beaches in Goa have plenty of water sports activities available at multiple price range suiting the needs of various travellers. Some of the popular water sports packages you can try within Rs. 3000 include parasailing, banana ride, boat ride, jet-ski and many more. When you are checking your Mumbai to Goa flight status, you can also book various water sports packages online and even get some discount coupons on early booking.

Scuba Diving

Another most sought-after activity to enjoy in Goa, scuba diving gives you the chance to discover the mysteriously beautiful world under water. Just like water sports packages, you can also book scuba diving packages within Rs. 3000 at selected beaches in North Goa. The activity lasts for about 45 minutes under the supervision of trained experts.

Kayaking

A budget kayaking tour in Goa will not even cost Rs. 1500. Yes, it’s that affordable! So, don’t miss it on your trip to Goa. Some of the places where you can enjoy the sunset kayaking are Mandrem Beach, Aguda River, Miramar Beach and Mandovi River among others. This two-hour long activity takes you through the mesmerising places where witnessing the sunset makes you forget all your worries and enjoy the beauty of life.

Go-Karting

Over the past few years, go-karting has become one of the favourite activities in Goa. There are two karting tracks in Goa; one in North Goa and other in South Goa. The best thing is that it costs you just 150 bucks! So, this is a perfect budget activity for a budget trip.

Snorkelling

The best place to enjoy snorkelling is near Fort Aguada where you can also get lucky to see dancing dolphins. The activity costs around Rs. 1,600-2000. The organisers use all the safety measure, and experts are there to train you how to snorkel.

Rafting

Another thrilling activity in the list, rafting in Goa takes place on Mhadei River for a stretch of around 10 km. It can cost you around 2000 as per the season. If you are going to Goa with your friends, whitewater rafting on Mhadei River is a must.

Trekking

If you have heard of Dudhsagar Falls, imagine how adventurous and thrilling it will be to trek to the majestic waterfall through the lush forests in a budget of just Rs. 2000! The enchanting trek will also take you to the mysterious Devil’s Canyon and fizzing ponds on the way to waterfall. Worth trying, isn’t it?

Planning budget trip is not a child’s play. But if you do your ‘homework’ properly, no one can stop you from a wonderful Goa-trip. Moreover, while planning the trip, do keep in mind the safety measures and avoid missing important things like checking your Mumbai to Goa flight status before going to the trip. All the best!

Health

What are my Options to Reduce Sinusitis?

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Sinusitis or an infection of the sinus is a condition that results in the inflammation of the air cavities in the nose. The condition may be caused by an allergy or irritation of the airways in the nasal cavity. Some symptoms of the problem include headaches, tenderness in the facial tissues, pain in the sinuses, stuffiness in the nose, fever, sore throat, and swelling in the face.

The condition does not always call for surgery. In fact, you will have to visit your doctor first for diagnosis and treatment. If the medications don’t work after three months, the doctor may diagnose it as chronic sinusitis, and you will have to go for a CT scan and may eventually need sinus surgery. Surgery is recommended when you have cancer of the sinus, a fungal infection and a problem that has spread to the bone. Other reasons for sinus surgery include:

Polyps in the sinus and nose
Structural problems in the nose
HIV, in addition to the sinus infection

What Types of Surgery Can You Get for Sinusitis?

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery is an advanced procedure that does not involve any incisions on the face or mouth. It is performed through the nose and makes use of an instrument known as a nasal endoscope. This small telescope is placed in the nostrils so that the surgeon can see the insides of your sinuses. Usually, the endoscope is fitted with a video camera at its end.

The surgeon will then use specialized equipment to eliminate the causes of the blockage. These could be polyps, scar tissues, or other natural blockage elements. The doctor will also straighten the septum and alter the size of the turbinates if necessary.

Advances in technology have made this procedure almost painless. It is also carried out with minimal nasal packing and patients recover in a shorter period. Many people are actually able to go home on the same day.

Before the surgery, your doctor will prescribe certain medications to reduce inflammation. It is important to start taking these drugs at the stated time until you go in for the procedure as they will make the process a lot smoother. The surgeon will also require that you get cleared for the procedure by your primary care doctor. If the doctor deems you healthy enough for surgery, the surgeon will proceed with the procedure.

You will also need to avoid smoking for at least a month before the procedure, and another month after the surgery. This is because smoking will lead to the failure of the surgery and can make it harder to heal.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is the most common solution to chronic sinusitis. However, it is not ideal for people suffering from aggressive fungal infections or tumors of the sinus. These may have to be treated through external surgeries.

What are the Risks of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Although the procedure is significantly advanced, it still has some risks. These include:

Bleeding- Normally, you should expect little bleeding during the surgery. This is never a serious issue as it subsides after some time. In rare cases, patients experience excessive bleeding, and the surgeon will simply terminate the procedure. In case you bleed after the procedure, the surgeon will place nasal packing to stop the bleeding.

Infections- In case you develop an infection after the surgery, you will need to take strong antibiotics. Infections are rare since the patient gets antibiotics during the procedure.
Blurry vision- Since the sinuses are very close to the eyes, the procedure can cause changes in your vision. Some people even end up with double vision. This may be temporary or permanent.

Some patients will also lose their sense of smell and may experience cerebrospinal leaks.

Balloon sinuplasty

This procedure does not involve the cutting or removal of any bones or tissues. Instead, the surgeon will use small and flexible balloon catheters to unblock the sinuses. These catheters will be inflated in the sinuses so that they expand the passageways and saline will be sprayed to drain the mucus that typically accumulates in patients with chronic sinusitis.

With this procedure, patients will be back to their normal routine within two days. It is possible for some patients to experience longer recovery periods, but this is the average time taken.

What are the Risks of Balloon Sinuplasty?

Here are some risks of this surgery:

You might end up losing your sense of smell
It might affect the appearance of your nose. This might be because of the swelling.
It might affect the connection between the nose and the brain and lead to some leakage of the brain fluid
Poor aftercare can lead to the development of an infection

Open sinus surgery

This is a traditional treatment method. Your surgeon will make incisions directly over the sinus so they can open and remove the diseased tissues. This method is highly effective in treating aggressive cases of sinusitis. That being said, the procedure may result in disfigurement and scarring on the cheeks. For these reasons, the procedure is often treated as a final resort. The other less invasive procedures have greatly reduced the instances of traditional sinus surgery.

Open sinus surgery is ideal if the patient suffers from an infection of the facial bone, a brain abscess or if they have a mucocele in the frontal sinus. Risks of this procedure include excessive bleeding, blindness or partial loss of sight, inflammation of the brain membrane, and even death. Recovery takes much longer than with the other two sinus surgery options.

Conclusion

Sinusitis is primarily treated using medications. However, the body may fail to respond to these drugs, and you may be forced to go for a surgery. In such a case, you will have the option of choosing traditional sinus surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, or balloon sinuplasty. Traditional sinus surgery is the most dangerous as it involves the making of incisions in the facial tissues. The other two options are generally more preferable and involve much less recovery time. For your sinus surgery needs, you can contact Ran Y. Rubinstein, MD of Hudson Valley Sinus Center on 845-562-6673.

Health

What Type of Scarring Does Breast Reduction Result In?

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Breast reduction is a surgery that involves incisions on the surface of the skin, so some scarring is typically expected. However, you do not necessarily have to end up with massive scars just because you need a breast reduction. There are several different surgical techniques that result in different types of scars, and the severity of your scars can be affected by your genetics and your care after the surgery. Here’s what you need to know about scars following a breast reduction.

Where Are Breast Reduction Scars Located?

The location of your breast reduction scars will vary depending on what type of surgery you get. You may have anywhere between two to three scars. Some procedures only use a few small incisions to do a vertical breast reduction. This technique is called a “lollipop” surgery because the scars will circle around the areola and then go down vertically to the crease of the breast. It is also referred to as a shorter-scar technique because the incisions are smaller. This type of breast reduction can only be used in cases where the reduction is smaller and the patient does not want lifting. If a patient needs to go down more than a couple cup sizes, their surgeon will most likely suggest an anchor procedure. This involves incisions around the areola, horizontally along the bottom crease of the breast, and vertically between the areola and the breast crease.

What Do Breast Reduction Scars Look Like?

Once you finish the surgery, you can expect some scarring anywhere that an incision was done. In the weeks after your surgery, the incision areas will look reddened and lumpy. They may have an uneven color with patches of purple or darker red. As they heal, the scarring will typically begin to flatten and lighten. Genetics can affect the final look of your breast reduction scars. If you have very pale skin, the scars may appear darker than your skin, but they can look lighter than the surrounding area if you have darker skin. Some people are genetically predisposed to get keloids, which are raised scars that have a slightly thickened appearance, but this is quite rare. Those with thicker and more elastic skin tend to have better outcomes, and scarring is generally lessened when the patient is young and healthy.

How Do Breast Reduction Scars Change Over Time?

Over time, breast reductions cars will typically fade to look like thin, white lines. Within a few years, you may find that the scars are barely noticeable. The scarring around the areola tends to blend in to the areola over time. However, you do need to keep in mind that your scars can actually worsen over time if you do not take care of the area. Tanning, smoking, or irritating the area by scratching and scrubbing can all cause scar tissue to build up and create wider scars. Depending on how your scars heal over time, you may find that they cannot be viewed while clothed or wearing a bikini. However, some people find that the scars can be visible when they are wearing very thin clothing.

What You Can Do to Reduce Scarring

Be sure to follow all post-operative care instructions because any infection could worsen scarring. You will most likely need to wear bandages and a surgical bra in the week after your surgery. Try to keep everything clean and change the bandages as instructed. As the area heals, gently massage it with your fingertips. This can help to reduce the chance of getting a stiff and inflexible scar.

There are a few other things you can do to ensure that your scarring is as slight as possible. Smoking greatly impairs the body’s ability to heal, so you may want to consider stopping smoking if you currently use tobacco products. Drink plenty of water and eat a lot of fresh produce to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal. If you go out in the sun, wear sunscreen because UV rays can penetrate through fabric and darken scar tissue. All of these techniques will help to keep dark scars from forming, and if you are still unhappy with the appearance of your scars, you can get a scar removal procedure like laser therapy or chemical peels.

It is important to select an experienced surgeon because a skilled doctor can provide a better outcome with less scarring. Dr. Joseph W. Rucker Jr. is a board certified plastic surgeon that has been refining his techniques for over 20 years. He completed his training for five years in general surgery and a three-year residency in plastic surgery including a fellowship in breast reconstruction. He has performed more than 10,000 reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures. Contact Dr. Rucker to find out how you can get started on your breast reduction journey.