Here Are Some Ways New Technology Can Help You Make Healthier Habits

technology healthier, vapes online, fitness

Whether it stems from a New Year’s resolution, a medical scare, or just a desire to get back in shape, there are countless reasons a person might want to pay more attention to his or her health as the aging process starts to set in. While this is not exactly an easy prospect in any environment, certain aspects of our modern society can make it a bit easier to live a healthier lifestyle. Implement the following techniques to get the most out of what the digital world has to offer. Continue reading “Here Are Some Ways New Technology Can Help You Make Healthier Habits”

Outdoor Spring Activities – Physical Fitness Month

spring activities, get up and go, go organically organic fruit snacks, outdoor spring activities

Hard to believe that we are already into May and almost half way through the year. Spring is in full swing with warmer weather, plants are in bloom, and a great time to get outdoors and get active. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month—which makes it the perfect time to renew your commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle while inspiring your kids to do the same. Continue reading “Outdoor Spring Activities – Physical Fitness Month”

Love Your Body with Aurorae Yoga

With the new year came new resolutions and or goals to take better care of ourselves. Working out, eating right, and trying to find the balance of all of these positive goals and plans. One of my goals was to be more loving on my body with gentleness. As a full time CrossFit athlete and mom I beat myself up A LOT not only in the gym but at home. Our gym began to see the trend as well. Continue reading “Love Your Body with Aurorae Yoga”

Bowls of Plenty – Healthy Hearts Giveaway


For many eating out is a thing of the past. Between supplying proper nutrition to our families and gathering around the dinner table to interact with family, even if only for a short time, eating is has become the new norm for most families. Finding great inspiration for preparing these meals is important and with Bowls of Plenty, Recipes for Healthy and Delicious Whole-Grain Meals by Carolynn Carreno, you’ll have a great place to start. Continue reading “Bowls of Plenty – Healthy Hearts Giveaway”

Loving Care with LaKota Herbs

Lakota Herbs, herbal supplements

As you know our family is pretty crunchy, green, granola and alternative. I see a naturopathic doctor on a very regular basis. Not that I am opposed to western medicine by any stretch, however, my medical history with western doctors left me heavily medicated and with more problems than what I was originally diagnosed. So I have sought out natural and herbal remedies for our overall health and wellness. By no means am I endorsing that herbs and alternative medicines are the end all be all, however, I am saying that these alternative methods can be an excellent way to support your overall wellness and well-being. Continue reading “Loving Care with LaKota Herbs”

Aurorae Sport & Swim Towel

aurorae sport and swim towel

Living an active lifestyle is rather messy. A day at the gym and I am a hot mess. An afternoon by my pool is much the same, sweaty and drenched in water in some fashion. Hikes in the cooler mornings and temperatures can also result in being a bit disheveled. Using my clothes to soak up my events makes me a bit more uncomfortable, so I always take a towel. I am finding that my usual hand towels cannot stand up to the job. Continue reading “Aurorae Sport & Swim Towel”

Common Breast Cancer Misconceptions

It is not surprising that a disease as devastating as breast cancer would have myths or misconceptions surrounding it. It is sometimes hard to know what to believe – and even mainstream media is guilty of propagating some of these falsehoods. In this day and age of instantaneous publishing, some studies would likely not pass muster in highly regarded peer-reviewed scientific publications, but are widely posted online and even broadcast by major media outlets. Continue reading “Common Breast Cancer Misconceptions”

Naturalico Rechargeable Electronic Callus Remover Giveaway

callous removal, callous removal tool

Are you feet beach and summer ready? Do your feet leave you feeling self conscious? It’s time to get our Summer Feet on and to do that we might need a little help. Let the Naturalico Rechargeable Electronic Callus Remover help get those feet looking their best. In no time your feet will easily have that rough skin removed in the comfort and ease of your own home.

Sport those bare feet, sandals, flip flops, or gents you can cuddle up to your lady and play footsie without those rough feet and heels.

Welcome to the Summer Feet Event sponsored by Networking Perks!

and

Thank you to our Co-Hosts

Deliciously Savvy
Momma without a Clue
Tales From A Southern Mom
Totally Temberton
Pretty In Pigment

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclosure: The bloggers participating in this event have NOT been compensated for this post. Networking Perks and The Five Fish is not responsible for prize fulfillment; Bakeit Fun will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media. If you have any questions or would like help in promoting your own product please contact joie@NetworkingPerks.com or Karie@thefivefish.com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

4 Tips To Adapt To A Hearing Aid

If you have an older relative who has recently begun using a Miracle-Ear hearing aid, then you might be encountering some difficulties in helping them to adjust. Hearing aids are a great way to restore hearing capability and improve quality of life, but getting used to them can certainly be a bit of a learning curve. If you want to help an older relative transition smoothly into their new life with a hearing aid, here are four great tips to help you get started. Continue reading “4 Tips To Adapt To A Hearing Aid”

I wasn’t ready to be a parent

boys at airport

Saturday morning was shaping up to be like any normal weekend. Sleeping in, The Chad and I enjoying coffee and a bit of indulgence in our favorite MMORPG. We whipped up some breakfast for the three footers, retreated for some more quiet time at which time G and his sibling entourage asked for their 30 minutes of play time on their tablets. The Chad and I see the importance of practicing with technology as we found their standardized tests include capturing these skills, so we obliged to their request. Little did we know that G would take advantage of this play time and he would be exposed to material beyond his years. He wound up on adult sites and when we discovered his transgressions, at that moment I wasn’t ready to be a parent, I wasn’t ready for my 11 year old son to be exposed, I wasn’t ready to accept my son was growing up way too fast.

When The Chad found G fumbling with his tablet and his face stark with surprise, almost ghastly, we knew something was wrong. The Chad snagged the tablet and we began to review the history. What we saw was something no parent is ever prepared to digest.

We immediately addressed the discontinued use of the tablets and any other technology until further notice. Our daftness was slapping us squarely in the face. Assumptions that we made that our children were too young to seek out these urges were piercing us. We needed to take corrective action post haste, while too late, we had to prevent future damages.

I stood in my kitchen, gazing lovingly at my little boy, sick to my stomach. My doe eyed, chubby baby who was always happy was now exposed to something way beyond his young years. When did he start to grow up? I was choking down tears as my jaw was clenched in pain to hide my fear, my sadness, my immense concern. Reeling over what to say next. His fear pained me the most. G was more concerned about our upset, thinking that he was in trouble and not that his search yielded results that were inappropriate for him, his age. I reached out to him to tell him we are only concerned, we are not mad; we asked him what he was feeling, what he was thinking. At that moment he is what mattered, his experience, and how we explain the experience in an intelligent, objective manner.

I hunched over my sink as I continued to fight any urge to vomit and prayed. I prayed to God for wisdom, strength, clarity, on how to address our conversation with G. I prayed for understanding as to why my son was seeking out adult material on the internet. I prayed just to tell my Father of our experience and that I was so uncertain of what came next but that I trusted he had a plan.

The Chad and I ducked into our room with G to talk about the events. I wasn’t prepared for this. The Chad wasn’t ready for this.

We started off with the basics. Anatomy. In order for him to understand the gravity of the information we were about to share with him he needed to be able to hear the science. He is a science kid, we knew he would get the science. I’m rambling, much like I was that day…at moments.

After we covered anatomy we discussed the mechanics of how the anatomy operates. We paused and asked him if he had questions, we knew he was soaking in all we were telling him like a sponge. We continued down Alice’s rabbit hole as we tripped along, maintaining our diplomacy.

G explained to us that he had urges, thoughts, he was curious. Curious about what exactly. “Undressed women” he said. Composing my laughter was a struggle so I maintained a stone face at his proper choice of words in his answer. Digging more into this we found he was curious about the opposite sex, nude, as boys would be, the desire and curiosity were natural. His comfort level began to increase and he detailed how, while inappropriate for his age, he was curious and interested in “naked ladies.” So much of me was relieved at his naivety and sweetness. I appreciated his candor, his honesty, his ability to speak boldly to us at a time where we felt uneasy, knowing he was uneasy.

Explaining sex to a young boy, I thought might be easier. What was easy was explaining how none of this was wrong. His feelings weren’t wrong. His urges weren’t wrong. His curiosity wasn’t, isn’t wrong. Sex is not wrong. False expectations is wrong. False hopes, those are wrong. The expectation that sex is perfect the first time is wrong. We wanted him to be prepared for reality.

Discussing sexual intercourse with my son was not a highlight for our weekend. Discussing pornography was not what I thought would be the catalyst for our conversation into sexual intercourse. Having this discussion with my [too young] son was not what I was prepared for as a parent. I knew the day would come but I was hopeful, fairy tale hopeful, I had more time. As The Chad and I talked to him about everything we finally got into the details of what led us to this conversation. Our assumptions were that he was seeking pornography at some level, our assumptions were awful, maybe a coping mechanism. When G began to unravel the details and we were more level headed we were greeted with relief.

Comedic relief came when we digressed a bit from the topic of his searches. Pausing to allow him to ask questions, the most memorable question arose and still makes me laugh is, “why does it pop up?” As adults, we automatically go dark on our humor, but his question was in relation to pop up advertisements when he improperly clicked during his search.

My heart swelled with love and joy for his innocence and grasping for understanding at this strange new world I wish he had not yet been exposed. While at that moment I wasn’t ready to be a parent with the sobering experience of detailing sexual intercourse and the entrails that accompany, I thanked God for my son. I felt blessed in that moment that he still had some innocence, that he had such an amazing spirit and outlook. He asked questions, listened with intent. Most of all, I was [am] grateful he had both of his parents to discuss such a difficult, intimate, and sometimes precarious conversation. We both spoke to him with love, facts, and understanding of sex from each of our points of view as a man and a woman. We precluded assumptions, expectations, falsities. His father and I reassured him that there is no shame and he could continue to be open with us as he evolves and matures during this difficult time in life where everything seems to be spiraling out of control. When we felt life as a parent was spiraling out of control.