Christmas has become enormously commercial.
According to the news, millions of people flocked to stores and malls today, braving the crowds and the elements…as early as 3:00am in some locations!…just to get a wicked deal on some fantastic goodies.
So, Team ModernSage wants to know…did you make it out of the house for a little pre-Christmas shopping today? Or was it simply not worth the effort?
For those of you that did enjoy the post-Thanksgiving sales, was it well worth it? Take our poll and/or leave a reply!
Black Friday,
Family,
holiday shopping,
Living Well
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As the Holidays approach, so does the food. And with the abundance of food, comes the tendency for some people to overeat or to eat foods that have an adverse effect on your digestive system.
Millions of Americans will be popping antacids like candy to treat their symptoms of heartburn this holiday season. Although typical over-the-counter medications are okay in moderation, they can destroy your body’s ability to absorb nutrients if taken over a long period of time. Why not try some better and safer ways to cool down?
Gastro esophageal Reflux occurs when the valve at the bottom of the esophagus, the tube that leads to the stomach, weakens, allowing the stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, causing the intense burning of heartburn. If you suffer from pain and discomfort due to heartburn, try these all-natural remedies, obtained from Bill Gottlieb’s book of Alternative Cures, to ease your symptoms.
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Licorice: A natural antacid that protects the lining of the esophagus. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, which is the chewable form of the herb, can also be used to protect against the formation of some ulcers by hyperacidity.
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Aloe – This gel helps protect and heal the delicate lining of the esophagus. The drinkable gel can be diluted for taste. Always be sure you are getting the form of aloe intended for internal use.
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Slippery Elm – This herb relieves symptoms of acid indigestion by healing the mucous membranes that have been irritated or injured. The herb is available in capsule form.
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MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) – A nutritional supplement that strengthens the lining of the esophagus. Available in capsule form.
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Sleep – Positioning yourself on your left side or on your back encourages stomach contents to flow up into the esophagus. So if you are suffering from heartburn, try lying on your right side.
This information is provided for reference only so you can make an informed decision about your health. It is not a substitute for treatment from a physician. If you have chronic acid reflux, I strongly advise you to seek out competent medical help.
acid reflux remedies,
alternative remedies,
heartburn,
Living Well,
Natural Health,
natural remedies for heartburn
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After years of living in a city away from my immediate family, my heart was heavy. The holidays weren’t what they used to be. I would wonder to myself, what happened to the big holiday “get-togethers”? I remember as a child we would go to a different uncles’ house every night from Christmas to New Year. We would of course wear our Christmas outfits and black patent leather shoes. The weekend after Thanksgiving was always reserved for decorating the house for Christmas. On the 8-track player you would find “The Partridge Family Christmas” the entire weekend. We would sing and dance and I would live through the familiar holiday songs. We would really use that weekend to get into the spirit of the holidays. It seemed that there was indeed “a spirit” of the holidays. Now, my poor children were growing up without tradition: without the drama of the family. What would they be like without it?
Sure, I would attempt to carry on traditions; I would decorate the house a plenty and buy the fixin’s for an elaborate dinner and then have the big let down when nothing seemed different. It was always the same guests, my husband and my kids. I could have cooked mac ‘n’ cheese. They probably would have been happier. It was sad every year. For me, I longed for the “good ole’ days”. I craved for that spirit to enter my adult home, my children’s lives. However, year after year, it was always the same old thing. Holidays were lonely, never an event. I would call my brother across country and every year, it seemed like his life was so full and happy. He had his wife and son and her family, her parents, her aunt and uncle, and her sister and kids. WOW! I would romantically imagine what it would be like to be around them all… a big family and a huge holiday dinner. Being invited to other peoples’ homes. I just couldn’t get over the visions in my head of how great that must be.
One day while vacationing in Hawaii, I made a life changing decision to sell our homes and move across country to be closer to family. I must admit that the only thing I saw in my mind was Christmas. All I saw was holiday dinners and get-togethers. Our first Christmas in Arizona was going to be something really special. I was excited and my kids were excited…finally a big family holiday. Our first year was great. It was filled with excitement, going to peoples’ homes, lots of conversation, and it really was everything I imagined it would be. There were 8 kids under the age of 12. The house was chaotic and the food was plenty…absolutely fantastic!
We lived 10 minutes from my brother and 10 minutes from my father. My mom had fallen ill during my move here and she was in a nursing home at this point. So with the favor of the holidays, came tending to the daily assistance of my aging parents. With that came disagreements with my sister-in-law, awkwardness between my dad and her parents and many disagreements with my brother about my mothers’ care. Witnessing the substandard care of nursing homes that subsequently led to my mom moving in with my family. With her came doctor appointments and blood testing, wiping bottoms, and snapping bras. With her came jealousy from my children that grandma was taking up all mom’s time. With all that came exhaustion and guilt.
I now long for the days of being alone, I long for less hectic holidays. I now see exactly what is meant by… “You can’t choose your family.” I now romantically envision my quiet holidays at home, when we didn’t have to drag our children away from their Christmas toys on Christmas day to go to a relatives’ house. I miss the people I thought these relatives really were. I miss who they thought I was. My kids don’t get along with their cousins. My brother is never around. My husband gets annoyed when the conversation is always about the family victim and I really found I prefer my own cooking to some of the other family members. Four of the eight kids are born the first week of September, so the entire month is spent going to birthday parties where the date changes, but the guests don’t.
Now, the holidays are upon us once again and so I reflect on this 3rd year of being around family. I can think of just one thing… “Be careful what you ask for”.
Family,
Holiday Blues,
Holidays and Family,
Inspiration
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ModernSage.com is offering its newest eBook “Holiday Family Fun” for everyone. This unique and creative collection of recipes, crafts and stories is a positive addition to your ebook collection.