March Monthly Favorites

Hey guys,

Wow! I can't believe tomorrow is already April.  I haven't done a monthly favorites in a very long time, so I decided to post another as everyone's favorites are different and they are interesting to read/watch. My favorites for this month includes a juice, candy, snacks, clothing and more. If I can locate the links to the items, I will leave them at the end of this post.

Juice:  Tropicana Carrot, Pineapple and Mango Juice. I don't like carrots or pineapples and you can't taste them in the juice! 

Candy: Hershey's Cookie Layer Crunch- The Mint. Check out my review here.

Snacks: Entenmann's® Little Bites® in the Party flavor, and Original Ritz Crackers.

Clothing: Purple Fleece from Five Below and leggings from Walmart (Leggings are not pictured as they are currently being worn. Lol. Oh,and I also owe the mint and gray version of the fleece. I currently don't owe the coral one yet.).

Restaurant:  When I stayed at my (now ex) boyfriend's house recently, he introduced me to Panera Bread!

(https://twitter.com/panerabread)

Office Supplies: Paper-mate Flair Pens M. They make my penmanship even better! I also like writing in pens rather than pencils. How about you?

Beauty Related: Blistex-Medicated Mint

Websites: Blogger. I love writing and posting!

(https://blogger.googleblog.com/2009/08/partly-cloudy-chance-of-labels.html)

Links to items:

Purple Fleece- https://www.fivebelow.com/style/tops-amp-tees/purple-full-zip-fleece-928bee.html

Mint Fleece- https://www.fivebelow.com/style/tops-amp-tees/mint-full-zip-fleece-c9e1c5.html

Did you have a favorite thing this month?If so, leave me a comment below letting me know what it was.

<3 Amanda

Mint Hershey's Cookie Layer Crunch Bars

When I first saw these, I knew I had to at least try them because who doesn't love chocolate and I like mint. They come in two different way; (1) like a Hershey's bar size or (2) like fun sized in a bag which is shown below. The only bad thing about the bag option is that you only get 9 fun sized bars but on the other hand, you don't have to finish your Hershey's Bar sized one right away as you could always get the fun sized and just grab one when you get a chocolate craving.  They have two other flavors as well: Caramel and Vanilla Creme.

(Actual Sized)

Serving: 2 Pieces

Calories: 200

Total Fat: 13g

Cholesterol: <5mg

Sodium: 65mg

Total Carbohydrates: 24g

Protein:2g

I would definitely eat these again. I would rate these a 9 out of 10 stars because I feel a regular Hershey's Bar is a little big better. What about you; have you tried these and what did you think of them?

<3 Amanda 

April The Giraffe

(http://myfox8.com/2017/03/27/watch-live-april-the-giraffe-showing-interesting-behavior/)

Have you been watching April The Giraffe since the beginning; February? I have been checking in now and then to see if there is any updated news about how she is doing and if she had her baby yet. I feel like April has brought people together that would have never communicated because they all are excited to see her baby and to watch her and see how she acts. I will say that there are trolls on the live feed but for the most part everyone is nice. There have even been conversations other than about April and her baby such as the state/country that you're from, your age and etc. It's interesting to see how spread out everyone is and that any age can be watching April's journey to give birth.

Here are some facts about April, Oliver and their baby (Some Fun Facts About April The Giraffe., 2017) :

• She is 15 years old; He is 5 years old
• Her live feed first went up on Feb. 22
• This will be her 4th calf
• Animal Adventure Park will hold an online naming competition after the calf is born
• The baby giraffe will weigh around 150 pounds and will be 6 feet tall at birth

Here are some facts about giraffes in general (Some Fun Facts About April The Giraffe ,2017) :

• Their tongue is about 18 to 20 inches long, and they use them to grab leaves
• They almost never lie down—they sleep and give birth standing up
• They gestate for 15 months, almost twice as long as humans!
• They have 7 vertebrae (neck bones), which is the same number that humans have

Now if I was April, I'm not sure if I could give birth to a calf that's 150 pounds. That is more than I weigh and also the calf will be 6 feet tall which is also taller than me.  I don't know if they said if it's a boy or girl, so what do you think it is and what would you name it?

Reference:

Some Fun Facts About April The Giraffe. (2017). Retrieved March 29, 2017, from http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/03/15/some-fun-facts-about-april-the-giraffe/

<3 Amanda 

American Red Cross Month

(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/415597871833391427/)

March is American Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross helps with disaster relief, wildfire relief, home fires and much much more. Their Mission Statement is: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors  (Mission & Values, 2017).

Their Vision Statement reads (Mission & Values, 2017):

The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that...

...all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope;

...our communities are ready and prepared for disasters;

...everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products;

...all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and

...in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.

The American Red Cross is a very important resource in my opinion. It is very very helpful and everyone is so nice and caring. In 2016 they responded to 16 large disasters around the country and thousands of smaller disasters.Other 2016 numbers are (Where Your Money Goes, 2017): 

• Meals and snacks provided: More than 4.1 million
• Relief items provided: More than 2.1 Million
• Lives saved:197
• Smokes alarms installed: 702,060
• Assisted people affected by crises in 26 countries: 4.6 Million

Have you ever donated blood to the American Red Cross? If you want to learn/read more about The American Red Cross, click here.

References:

Mission & Values. (2017). Retrieved March 27, 2017, from http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/mission-and-values

Where Your Money Goes. (2017). Retrieved March 27, 2017, from http://www.redcross.org/donations/your-donation-impacts-lives/where-your-money-goes

<3 Amanda 

Bummed Out!

(http://www.iemoji.com/view/emoji/24/smileys-people/crying-face)

Hey guys,

I know I already posted for today but I needed to get this out. I could honestly cry right now. I was working on tying to make my blog better and I accidentally deleted my blog post titled "Epilepsy Awareness Day - Purple Day". It was one of my favorite posts, not only because it had around 92 views on it but because those 92 people read about Epilepsy and were educated about Epilepsy. 

I write posts about cancers,diseases, etc. because I like spreading awareness to them as I feel like people should be educated about them and because I have family and friends who have been affected by them. I know I can write posts like that one again.  I may be sad right now but that doesn't mean that I'm giving up; I'm NOT quitting!!! 



<3 Amanda


Update: My blog post titled "Epilepsy Awareness Day - Purple Day" is now back up!  :)

Nature Valley Review/Comparison: Chewy Oatmeal Bites and Granola Cups

Hey guys,

If you're anything like me, you are not a big fan of granola bars because you don't like the fruit in them and/or you're a picky eater. Since I decided to eat more healthier (haven't been the easiest and I'll be honest, I'm not doing the best I could be doing), I decided to try some new types of granola products. The products I chose to try were: Chocolate Chip Chewy Oatmeal Bites and Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups.


Chocolate Chip Chewy Oatmeal Bites:

Serving size- 1 pouch

Calories- 150

Total Fat- 6g

Cholesterol- 0mg

Sodium- 130mg

Total Carbohydrate- 24g

Protein- 2g

In my opinion, they kind of taste like the Kellogg's cereal Mini Wheats. It is a nice size pouch if you need a quick snack or if you're running out the door in the morning or anytime of the day. They do contain wheat,milk, egg, and soy ingredients so just a heads up if you're allergic to them. A fun thing that they have on their pouches are jokes.The joke that is written on the pouch that is by me is "Why did the kid take his computer to the beach?" The answer is "To surf the Internet". 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups:

Serving size- 1 pouch

Calories-  200

Total Fat- 12g

Cholesterol- 0mg

Sodium- 180mg

Total Carbohydrate- 20g

Protein- 5g

When I first tried these, I thought they would have more peanut butter on them. I chose to try this product as they reminded me of Peanut Butter Cups.  Again, this snack is also a good snack to just grab in the morning or for a snack to get you through until you can have a proper meal.  This product has more chocolate on it than the oatmeal bites and chocolate is always a good thing. For a heads up this product contains peanuts, milk; and may also contain egg, almond, wheat and soy ingredients in case you're allergic. 

Chocolate Chip Chewy Oatmeal Bites  VS.  Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups

While comparing the two products' nutritional facts, the Chocolate Chip Chewy Oatmeal Bites was the healthier option. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups do have more protein in it due to the peanut butter, If I was given the option to choose one or the other, I would have to go with the Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups. 

If you would like to try Nature Valley products and see what other products they have to offer, click here for their website.

<3 Amanda 

Blogger Spotlight:Silent D And Me

Hey guys,

Today Blogger spotlight is with Caroline and her blog is called Silent D And Me. You can find it by clicking here.  She has depression, that is where the Silent D comes into play. Having a blog is a great tool to have when you need to get things out of your mind, and especially for me writing and posting a blog post is a good time to just be alone so you can get everything out that you want to say without any distractions.  From reading her posts, I can tell that she is a very strong person so Caroline if you're reading this, you're a great role model to all.


Q: What is the meaning behind your blog name?
A: The name Silent D And Me depicts my life with clinical depression.

Q: What made you decide to start blogging?

A:  I began blogging in May 2015, following a family member's suicide. I took my blog down in September 2015 and restarted it in December 2015, following a friend's suicide attempt. My motivation for blogging is to raise awareness of mental illness (that might sound trite) and to connect with others who are living with mental health issues.  

Q: What do you blog about?

A: I blog about everything I feel is mental health related. I blog about my own experiences mainly and I've had a fantastic fellow mental health blogger share her story with my readers. 

Q:How long have you been blogging?

A: I initially started blogging in May 2015, so over a year now.

Q:What do you like to do beside blogging? Any hobbies?

A: My hobbies include reading, writing, walking, swimming, spending time with my family, DIY, baking and I hope to run marathons in the future.

Q: Have you had writer’s block? What did you do?

A: I get writer's block all the time. I find that I have lots of ideas, but the minute I sit down in front of my laptop, my mind goes blank. I find that jotting ideas down as I get them helps. If the block is severe, I take time out from writing and spend the time reading. 

Q:  What’s one thing you want your subscribers to know?

A: The one thing I want my subscribers to know, is that I have more draft posts saved, than I have published ones. I spend a lot of time deciding which posts my readers would like to read. 

Q: Where do you see your blog in 5 years?

A: I hope to still be blogging in 5 years' time, that's for sure. I hope that my blog has reached even more people and helped them. I'm aiming for my blog to become less about me and more about mental health as a whole. People don't want to read about the author all the time. 

Q:  What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their blog?

A: The advice I'd give to a new blogger would be to take your time. You'll want to get all your ideas out there as quickly as you can,  which is great, but you run the risk of burning out. Also, make sure you cite all quotes you use in your posts, and make sure any images you use are free from copyright. 

Q: Do you have any other social media sites?

A: I use Twitter and Bloglovin to promote my blog posts. I used to use Facebook, but I have recently de activated my account.

Thanks Caroline for letting me interview you and help promote your blog. Again, if you want to check out her blog, click here.

<3 Amanda 

Epilepsy Awareness Day - Purple Day

(http://www.purpleday.org/)

Today is Epilepsy Awareness Day or also known as purple day. Do you know what Epilepsy is?  It is a condition of the brain that is characterized by recurrent seizures. Approximately one in ten people will experience at least one seizure during a lifetime. A single seizure, however, is not epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition that is defined by multiple seizures. Besides being a condition of the brain,Epilepsy is also is a seizure disorder. A fact is that Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders, which has an estimated 50 million people worldwide who has epilepsy. approximately one percent of the general population has epilepsy (About Epilepsy, n.d.).You can read more about Epilepsy here.

Purple Day was created by Cassidy Megan who herself has epilepsy. Her goal is to get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia came on board in 2008 to help develop Cassidy's idea which is now known as the Purple Day for epilepsy campaign (Purple Beginnings, n.d.).

Some facts about Epilepsy are (Quick Facts, n.d.):

• There are approximately 2.2 million Americans living with epilepsy
• Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease. Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.
• There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.  

Some famous people who had or suspected of having had epilepsy are (Quick Facts, n.d.):

• Julius Caesar 
• Thomas Edison
• Harriet Tubman  

Some celebrities who have epilepsy are (Ellis, M., & Krucik, G. , 2017):

• Lil Wayne
• Danny Glover
• Neil Young
• Susan Boyle
• Rick Harrison
• Prince

Here is what you need to do if you're with someone and they are having a seizure: 

(http://www.purpleday.org/quickfacts)

Lastly, an acronym for tonic-clonic seizures is ACTION:

A	Assess Assess the situation – are they in danger of injuring themselves? Remove any nearby objects that could cause injury
C	CushionCushion their head (with a jumper, for example) to protect them from head injury
T	Time Check the time – if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes you should call an ambulance
I	IdentityLook for a medical bracelet or ID card – it may give you information about the person’s seizures and what to do
O	OverOnce the seizure is over, put them on their side (in the recovery position). Stay with them and reassure them as they come round
N	NeverNever restrain the person, put something in their mouth or try to give them food or drink (Take epilepsy action campaign, 2017).  References: About Epilepsy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/aboutepilepsy Ellis, M., & Krucik, G. (2017). 13 Celebrities with Epilepsy. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/celebrities-epilepsy#1 Purple Beginnings. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/aboutus Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/quickfacts Take epilepsy action campaign. (2017). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/campaigns/take-epilepsy-action

<3 Amanda

TV Show Review: The Mick

(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5638056/)

Hey guys,

Have you ever been bored so you decide to turn on Netflix or Hulu but you have no idea of what to watch? Well that was me recently.  I turned the TV on and flipped it over to Hulu and was just scrolling through all of the different shows. There was one show that I have seen before that was listed that looked good but never watched it and that changed that night. I clicked on "The Mick". It is about a hard-living aunt that is forced to take care of her wealthy sister's spoiled kids after the mom flees the country to avoid criminal charges (The Mick (TV Series 2017– ), 2017).

There are a few main characters based on the way you look at it, but the main main character is named  Mackenzie (Micky) played by Kaitlin Olson.  You might recognize that name from another TV show ,"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".  To be honest, I have only watched only a few episodes of IASIP and didn't get that into it unlike "The Mick" when it only took me about 3 days to watch all of the episodes provided on Hulu currently.  I would say that the show is for adults as there are some things that are inappropriate for children. If you like comedies and/or Kaitlin Olson, I would recommend "The Mick". I would rate it a 8/10 stars.

About the show:

• Half-hour show
• Comedy
• 7.7/10 (The Mick (TV Series 2017– ), 2017)

Reference:
The Mick (TV Series 2017– ). (2017). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5638056/

<3 Amanda 

What I Ate Friday

Hey guys,

Before I posted what I ate (and drank) today, I wanted to share a Facebook post that I shared on my personal Facebook earlier today.

"I have been debating with myself to post this status or not. Yes, I know that I weigh between 130-135 (give or take) but I dislike the way that I look. you might ask yourself, you weigh approximately 130 lbs, why is there any reason why you dislike what you look like? Well, I'll tell you: in my mind I look f**. I hate that word but that's how I honestly feel. I have tried eating healthy before and then always quit but TODAY IS THE DAY that I put myself first and make myself feel better for myself and get more self-confidence. I'm proud of myself for what I ate this morning; A smoothie with frozen fruits (Mangoes, Pineapples, Oranges, and Bananas. There were Sweet Potatoes, but I removed them),Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese and buttered toast. I'm posting this today as I will have my off days and days that I feel like quitting but I feel like I need people keeping me accountable and hearing that I can do this and that they are proud of me, will definitely boost my self- esteem and confidence."

I want to get healthier because I feel like it will help me with a lot of things in my life. I want more self- confidence and not feel all defeated all of the times when I give up, which this time I'm telling myself from the beginning that yes I'll have off days when I eat sweets but there's no giving up. There's no looking in the past only the future.

Early morning snack:

Most of the time I'm not hungry when I just wake up so sometimes I eat something small. My favorite flavor is Party Cake.

Brunch:

Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, buttered toast, and a mango,orange,banana and pineapple smoothie (it did have sweet potatoes as well but I removed them before I blended).

Snack:

Band aid= Paper cut!

Yum! Carrot, Pineapple and Mango juice!

Dinner:

Gravy/sliced turkey, Angel Hair Pasta and Green Beans along with some Tangerine Lemonade.

Night snack:

Review in the next few days, so look out for that! Also, drinking water right now.

 What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to snack foods?


<3 Amanda

National Kidney Disease Awareness Month

(http://www.hospitalgiftshop.com/Shop-by-Condition-Kidney-Disease.htm)

Did you know that March is National Kidney Disease Awareness Month? Chronic kidney disease (CKD) includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick.  There are many complications that you could experience, which are: high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. One of the many terrible things about CKD is that it increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. Something that I wasn't aware of was that Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life (About Chronic Kidney Disease, 2017).

I have a personal connection with Kidney Disease. Last September, I was informed that my uncle was diagnosed with Kidney Disease and it was in stage 4. . In the middle of October, my cousin donated a kidney to her dad. I have seen them both afterwards and they both are doing well. My uncle was back in the hospital but for a different reason from his kidneys. 

Some facts about Chronic kidney disease (CKD) are:

26 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk.

Heart disease is the major cause of death for all people with CKD.

Two simple tests can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine.

Persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine) means CKD is present.

High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney failure.

(About Chronic Kidney Disease, 2017).

Reference:

About Chronic Kidney Disease. (2017). Retrieved March 24, 2017, from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease 

Candy, Snacks and Miscellaneous Sayings for Gifts

(https://whydyoueatthat.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/tidbit-tuesday-candy-and-trick-or-treating/)

Hey guys,

Earlier this year, I threw a birthday party for my dad and on the snack table I had little sayings by each snack.After posting the pictures on my personal Facebook, I had likes and compliments so I thought I would share my snacks/candies/misc sayings with all of you if you need ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. 

Candy

• Life Savers (Can either do hard or chewy):You have been a "life saver" to me; Thanks for "saving" me.
• Gummy Bears: You're "beary" nice .
• Hershey Kisses: I love your "kisses".
• Mints (any brand/flavor): You were "mint" to enter my life. We are "mint" to be.
• Skittles (any flavor): You have brought color into my life.
• Toostie Roll Pops (or a father/grandfather's birthday): Happy birthday, "Pops".
• Gum(any brand/flavor): I "chew" you.
• Pop rocks: You "rock"
• 100 Grand: You're worth more than a grand to me.
• Fun Dip: I'll go with you through the "fun" and the "dips" of life
• Toostie Rolls: I'm so glad you "rolled" into my life.
• Reese Pieces: I love you to pieces
• Sweetarts: You're a sweet heart.
• Reeses Peanut butter cups: The "reese's I love you are......
• Red Fireballs: You're hot.
• Snickers: You make me laugh
• Skor candy bar:  I skor'ed when I met you
• Starburst:  you make my heart burst with (love,happiness, etc)

Snacks

• Goldfish: I now these are cheesy, but I really do love you.
• Donut holes: I love you a "hole" bunch
• Lucky charms: I'm lucky to have you in my life. I'm lucky to have met you.
• Hot cocoa: You're hot.

Misc

• Crazy straw: I'm crazy for you.
• Maze: You're amazing
• Pocket(s) of kool-aid: You're kool.

If you need any help with a saying for something that's not listed above, leave a me a comment and I'll help you out  :)

<3 Amanda 

St. Patrick Day 2017 Recap

(http://clipartall.com/clipart/2688-st-patricks-day-clipart.html)

This St. Patrick's Day I was staying at my boyfriend's house for a few days. On St. Patrick's Day, he goes drinking with his group of friends mostly beginning at 8am (I know, crazy right? I'm still sleeping at 8am). He woke up, went to breakfast with friends and then went to the bar.  I on the other hand woke up around 11am,got ready(of course,I wore a green shirt) and then texted him around 2pm saying that I was ready to go so he came ad grabbed me and we went back to the bar where his friends were. His friends after a while left and the people who were left were: my boyfriend, his 2 cousins,  his cousin's husband and myself. 

We then left bars, but not before we stopped at his cousin and her husband's house. We lyfted to a different bar which had a wait so we went to a different bar down the street. At that time, my boyfriend's cousin met up with us and also her date as well.  We stayed at that bar for a few hours and then decided to leave. We again used Lyft (as we are safe people).  We ended up at a bar close to my boyfriend's house. It was packed (obviously since it was St. Patrick's Day) so we all (6 of us) sat packed in a booth. We were there for awhile until my boyfriend, his cousin, her date and myself went back to my boyfriend (and cousin's house). Again, we were safe and requested a lyft. When we got back to the house, we all hung out and drank wine ( it was really fun socializing with them). After awhile, we all went to bed.

Some things you might be wondering is what did I drink. Well, I ordered water since I'm more of a wine person than a beer person but I did try some of my boyfriend's beer.  Second, did they all get their cars? In the morning my boyfriend urbered to his car and later that afternoon, we drove his cousin and her date to where their cars were. With it being my first St. Patrick's Day out,I had a fun time!

What did you do for St. Patrick's Day? Did you remember to wear green or did you get pinched?

<3 Amanda


Update-I'm no longer with this boyfriend