Tips on Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Krissyar

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month I figured it might be a good time to think a little bit deeper on ways to help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Though breast cancer risk factors like family history can’t be changed, you can at least make some lifestyle changes to help lower that risk.

Breast cancer prevention starts with healthy habits – and these types of changes have been shown in studies to help decrease breast cancer risk even in high-risk women.

  • Limit Alcohol. The more you drink -the more the risk of developing breast cancer. The general consensus is to limit yourself to less than 1 drink per day. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase your risk.
  • Don’t Smoke. There is evidence suggesting a link between smoking and breast cancer risk especially in pre menopausal women.
  • Control Your Weight. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer, especially if you gain weight later in life (especially after menopause).
  • Get Active. Physical activity is good for your general health – but also to help maintain a healthy weight (which as we mentioned above, does help prevent breast cancer). Its recommended you get at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week.
  • Breast Feed if Possible. Besides health benefits for your baby, breast feeding may play a role in breast cancer prevention.

 

Be vigilant about breast cancer detection. If you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump or skin changes, consult your doctor. Also, ask your doctor when to begin mammograms and other screenings based on your personal history.

DID YOU KNOW??

  • A woman in the United States has about a 1-in-8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer.*

  • About 40,920 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2018 from breast cancer.

  • Breast cancer incidence and death rates generally increase with age.

  • Women and men with a family history of breast cancer, especially in a first-degree relative are at increased risk for the disease. Compared to women without a family history, risk for women with one affected first-degree female relative is 2 times higher and with more than one first-degree relative the risk is 3-4 times higher.

 

 

*https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2017-2018.pdf

 

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Behind the Scenes of Dent Schoolhouse – and New Treats at Dunkin’!

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Krissyar

Every Halloween season me and my niece Kayla search for the scariest adventures we can find!  We finally got to go to the Dent Schoolhouse last year for the first time so to get the chance to do the behind the scenes tour thanks to Dunkin’ Donuts we jumped on it! Literally! This Haunted house is not like any other!  (It was creepy even with the lights on!) It’s rumored that the old school house in actually haunted!

So the story goes that the Dent Schoolhouse was actually a real school that opened in 1894, and still has the original working school bell in the bell tower. Rumor has it that children started to go missing around the 1940’s and 1950’s! They say that Charlie the janitor at the school was the one who was responsible for the missing children. It’s been said that he had the rotting bodies of the students he had murdered stored in the basement!

We really don’t know if this is truly what happened but the school was closed down in the 1950’s and never opened again. The Boy Scouts ended up opening the school as a haunted house until the current owners transformed it into what we now know as The Dent Schoolhouse.  It’s now been a haunted attraction for over 20 years, and gets scarier every year! Everything in the schoolhouse is themed as if the schoolhouse shut down in the 1950’s and the is jam-packed full of real antiques and artifacts from that era.

The haunt is home to over 200 prop jack o’lanterns and the catacombs section of the schoolhouse is home to almost 4,000 handmade human skulls! America Haunts has ranked The Dent Schoolhouse as #3 in America for 2018

 

Be prepared for MONSTER sized spiders, a trash dump filled with human body parts and don’t forget the saw that cuts up the human flesh for the school’s sloppy joes!

The Dent Schoolhouse has over 200 employees throughout the season from costume and makeup design to GREAT actors that really know how to play the part! Thanks to The Dent Schoolhouse and Dunkin’ Donuts we got a chance to get some hands on experience with one of their make up artist and created a scary look of our own!

The Dent Schoolhouse is open Thursdays and Sundays 7:30pm – 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm – 12am now through November 3rd!  You can get discounted tickets for the Dent Schoolhouse at all 47 Great Cincinnati area Dunkin’ Donuts locations including the NEW Burlington, KY store that’s now open!

National Coffee day is today 9/29! Don’t forget to stop by your local Dunkin’ Donuts for a BOGO offer (Saturday 9/29/18 Only) Buy any Hot Coffee & Get One of equal or lesser value FREE!!

While you’re there make sure you get some of their AMAZING donuts! We got to decorate some donuts during our scary adventure at the Dent Schoolhouse. We also got to try their new Oreo Donuts and Oreo Hot Chocolate that comes out October 1st! It was AMAZING!

Make sure you come back to The Dent Schoolhouse in December for one weekend ONLY  (12/7 & 12/8) to celebrate Christmas at a haunted house with their “A Christmas Nightmare”.

ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO DENT BELOW! (Ends on Friday, so get your entries in!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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How to Give Your Pet a Perfect Life

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Krissyar

A pet is part of the family. In fact, pet owners commonly accommodate their pets even if it meaning going out of their way, spending extra money for toys and supplies, and some people might even move locations for a better environment for their pet. Different pets require different accommodations, however, so what’s does yours need for maximum happiness? Give your pet the best with this simple guide.

Dogs

Your dog will always think you’re the best person in the world, even if your cat doesn’t. For this loyalty, your dog should be rewarded. Whether you have a Pomeranian or Rhodesian Ridgeback, all dogs deserve their own bed. Pamper your dog with top-tier dog food as well. Make sure your pooch is fed with grain-free food; grain-heavy food can cause weight gain in your pup. Top-tier brands like Acana Regionals Dog Food and Holistic Select Grain Free provide great options for both dry and wet foods respectively.

When it comes to fun, your dog is probably a pro. A ride in the car with the windows down, a walk in the park or along the beach, maybe some frisbee or stick toss, will always keep your dog entertained. Many dog breeds require space to roam and run, which may necessitate a move for a larger yard or regular trips to the dog park.

Cats

Your cat may sit across from you in the morning with a scowl on her face, but when you’ve had a hard day at work, she also wastes no time on curling up in your lap as you binge your latest Netflix obsession. Make sure your cat gets the exercise she needs while you’re gone all day with a cat castle, tree or condo. Cats have a natural instinct for heights that lets them survey the lay of the land.

For a treat, get your cat organic catnip and a feather dangly. Similarly to dogs, cats shouldn’t be fed grain-heavy foods, as it can increase their weight. Feline Natural and Orijen are two of the top cat food brands of 2018.

Rabbits

Rabbits are a more uncommon pet due to the fact they are prey animals. Rabbits can be afraid of anything, so it’s paramount that you provide safe places for him to hide. Cardboard boxes with two exits can work well indoors. If he is an outdoor rabbit, a thoroughly fenced yard coupled with a tube system he can hide in will also make him happy.

Rabbits graze, and they don’t do well with specific eating times. Rather, rabbits do best when they can nibble on grass, lettuce, carrots, etc. all day long. However, rabbits can be beggars when it comes to pellet food. Resist his cute wiggly nose, as overfeeding will cause weight gain.

Dogs, cats and rabbits all have special needs. Dogs typically require more outdoor time, while cats are self-sufficient when given enough food, water and litter. While rabbits will fend for themselves if left outside, it’s important they are given the shelter they need to hide from potential predators. Take the steps above to ensure your pet is happy, healthy and leads the best life it possibly can.

 

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How To Care For Yourself As A Carer

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Krissyar

Many of us spend so much time looking after others that we have little time to look after ourselves. This is particularly the case with parents, carers of elderly relatives and carers of the sick/disabled. Looking after yourself is just as important as looking after other people – you could be jeopardising your health by not giving yourself the TLC you deserve. Here are just a few ways in which you can start caring for yourself whilst caring for someone else.  

Consider what you’re financially entitled to

Caring for someone else is enough of a struggle without also having to worry about your finances. Make sure that you’re getting all the money that you’re entitled to, whether it’s government funding or even charity funding if your finances are particularly suffering. One study found that 35% of carers weren’t getting the benefits they deserved, simply because they weren’t aware that they were eligible. Make sure to go online and do your research or talk to someone from the citizen’s advice bureau.  

Share the responsibility with someone else

Being a solo full-time carer can be exhausting – don’t be afraid to share the load with someone else. If you’re a new single parent, don’t be afraid to ask someone to babysit now and again whilst you socialise, pursue hobbies or simply get some rest. It could even be worth looking into childminding services. As for caring for elderly or disabled relatives, consider looking into the option of hiring a carer to help. Home care costs can vary depending on the level of care you need – if it’s only an hour or two a week you could find it to be fairly affordable. You can also hire help as a way of allowing you to work, but this shouldn’t be the only time that you call for assistance as work is not the break that you need from caring.

Reward yourself with a break

A longer break could also be necessary in some cases. This could be anything from a day trip to a holiday. A relative could look after your kids whilst you are away or you could invest in respite care for an aging or disabled relative. Don’t feel that this is selfish – a break could be just what you need to give your body and mind a rest.

Look into counselling when you need it

If you’re struggling with the duties of being a carer and feel you don’t have anyone to talk to, don’t be afraid of looking into counselling. This could be a one-on-one counselling session or a counselling group aimed at other people that are also carers. Counselling doesn’t work for everybody but it’s worth trying.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: GET INVOLVED!

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Krissyar

This post is sponsored by ValPak.

In case you weren’t aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign that is organized by major breast cancer charities every year to increase awareness of the disease – and raise funds for research, prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cures.

The Susan G. Komen foundation has always been a cause close to my heart. My Grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was just a little girl – and since I was about 12 years old my Dad and I have participated in the Race for the Cure; which is the largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer ever created. The series of 5k runs and fitness walks raises significant funds and awareness for the breast cancer movement, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lose their battle with the disease.

That’s why I am proud to be a part of the ValPak community, who has partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation this year -sharing the vision of a world without breast cancer.
To help amplify awareness for this vision, Valpak will turn its Blue Envelope PINK this coming month to bring awareness to the communities. ValPak will donate over $50,000 this year to Komen and encourages you to donate too!

 

Not only can you donate, but you can get involved! Find your local Race for the Cure here. (If your local, be sure to join me at Coney Island Park in Cincinnati this weekend!) People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome – walkers, elite runners, and everyone in between!

You can save $5 OFF your registration using the code DEALPRO

A handful of locations across the country are participating in a new Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk event. Along with a new name, it will include a fresh new look and experience. The biggest difference is it doesn’t have a run element. Focusing on the walk everyone can focus on maximizing the amount of funds raised by the event. I’m proud to say Cincinnati is a pilot testing center for this walk – and I couldn’t be more excited!

Also – be sure to enter the KitchenAid Giveaway from Valpak by telling them about a More Than Pink hero you know, and how they’ve taken action in the fight against breast cancer!

 

 

 

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