Tips On How To Become A Morning Person

Do you have issues falling asleep or staying asleep? Lucky for me, I'm the type of person who passes out the minute my head hits the pillow. My husband is so jealous of this special power I have. He has to go through a series of drinking bedtime tea, meditation, or listens to soothing music to get him relaxed enough to fall asleep. 

Below are some simple tips to help you get a better night's sleep, from Leesa, an online mattress provider. You might even become a morning person in the process.

Graphic courtesy of Leesa.com.

Keep Track of Your Platelets To Fend off Disease (Guest Post)

Platelets are regarded as the most crucial cells which are found in our blood. They have the function of binding together whenever our body encounters vessels which have been damaged in order to prevent blood loss. There are a lot of benefits our human body receives from having such cells. They have the main role of forming blood clots in order to stop bleeding which would otherwise prove out to be harmful. There are a lot of factors which come into play when dealing with thrombocytes and more info can be found at Thrombocyte.com

These amazing cells are the smallest one in our blood and are able to be seen only from a microscope. They have the shape of small plates, thus their name. When one cuts a blood vessel due to various causes, they quickly receive an alarm signal which puts them in formation to stop the bleeding. Under a microscope, they form just like small tentacles to bond together in order to repair the damaged vessel.

Healthy Platelets are Extremely Important

One of the many problems our blood vessels can encounter is a sudden drop in platelets, which might lead to some serious bleeding if the problem is not addressed immediately to a medic. One should take into account the fact that blood diseases are extremely dangerous and are potentially life-threatening if not taken care of appropriately.

Such diseases are extremely dangerous and usually signal the fact that something is terribly wrong with our blood and have a worrying potential to significantly damage our bodies. On the other hand, having too many platelets will lead to the formation of unwanted blood clots which have a serious threat regarding our lives when taking into account that such clots can reach our brain and slowly damage it.

Few Platelets Disease

When one person has too few platelets the disease is called thrombocytopenia and there are a lot of symptoms to take into account as individuals are extremely prone to bruising and encounter frequent bleeding from their gums as well as nose. Such drops in platelets are encountered when a few factors such as inherited conditions as well as medication and too much alcohol happen.

Such conditions can easily be inherited and if one of the members has it, one is advised to immediately alert a doctor if such events occur. The most common blood-thinning medication is aspirin but recent studies have shown that it is too ineffective to completely cure such problems.

Diseases related to platelets are extremely dangerous as they have the potential to put your life at risk and should be immediately addressed if one presents the aforementioned symptoms. We strongly recommend getting regular checks at your doctor in order to make sure that one stays safe from such conditions which may put your life at risk.

My Kitchen Cleaning Must Have Item- Chore Boy Golden Fleece Cloths

Do you have a specific thing you use every day that you can't live without? That is how I feel about my Chore Boy Golden Fleece Scrubbing Cloths . These scrubbing cloths are unlike any scrubber I have ever used. I cook in stainless steel pots and pans as well as cast iron. The golden fleece cloths work so well to get my cookware super clean. I will put it like this: my cookware sets are 24 and 18 years old, and you would never know it! I cook every day of the week so my pots and pans get a lot of abuse use. The golden fleece cloths are what has kept them in such good shape. I also love using them on my cast iron pans because it cleans the stuck on food without damaging them. I give my worn out scrubbing cloths to my husband so he can use them for his outdoor cleaning projects. These babies get so much use!

I have been using them for over 20 years! Sadly, I have been experiencing issues finding them in my local stores. It seems like no one carries them any more. Last year I found them on Walmart.com, but when I went to place an order last week, they no longer carried them. I looked around on Amazon and found them. I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I was. Yes, it's that serious to me! When the USPS truck pulled up this morning to drop off my Amazon Prime package, I was internally screaming with joy! I have tried almost every scrubber around and this one can't be beat. I have no idea why they are so hard to find, but glad I can order them on Amazon. I plan to buy up a bulk so I don't run out. I really hope they don't get discontinued, because that would break my homemaking heart.

Have you ever heard of or used these scrubbing cloths before?

This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase anything, I will get a teeny tiny commission. 

Vitamin D Deficiency Update

Over three years ago, I had some lab work done at my doctor's office and it was discovered that I was vitamin D deficient. My doctor explained that this is very common in people of color and that our skin simply does not absorb vitamin D easily like a fair skin people. The normal range you should be in is 30-100. I was coming in at 12.5. I was placed on a high-dose supplement for 12 weeks and was rechecked. I then came in at 21, but my physician was not happy with that and recommended that I take a daily 5,000 IU D-3 supplement. 

I have been doing that for a full year and would notice a difference in how I felt if I skipped a few days to a week. Since taking the vitamin D supplement, I have felt a lot more energized. Also a lot of odd issues I was having like leg or foot pain, depression, and a few other things seemed to have lessened or ever disappeared altogether. It is amazing how your vitamin D level can affect your overall health. 

 

I went in last month for my annual physical including labs and my results were amazing. Everything came back normal and my vitamin D level is currently at 50! That is a HUGE improvement and proof that the supplement does actually work. I have even noticed my hair, nails, and skin look even healthier. I have been taking the brand pictured above that I purchase at my local Kroger store, but any kind will do.

If you find yourself feeling sluggish, depressed, achy or just off for no reason, chances are you might be vitamin D deficient. It won't hurt to try a supplement, even at a lower dose to see if it helps. I had such great results and figured I would share it with you all. Be well xoxo

Why We Love Mr. Fish Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, SC

We frequently visit Myrtle Beach, SC and have tried many of the dining establishments in the area. One of our go-to places is the Mr. Fish Seafood Restaurant located at 6401 North Kings Hwy. We discovered it a couple years ago when we were on the hunt for a very specific menu item. When you first walk into Mr. Fish, you will be greeted in the traditional southern way and escorted to your table. The decor is very funky and whimsical. Very beach-y and fishy, of course. Maybe we have been lucky the times we have been because we have never had to wait and we were served quickly. Once you place your drink order, a basket of golden brown hush puppies are brought over to your table to tease your taste buds. Don't they look tasty?

We dined at Mr. Fish last weekend and I had a grilled chicken sandwich. I was impressed and loved how tender and flavorful the chicken was. I'm always happy when I can see the seasoning. The roll is soft and perfectly toasted.

The steamed oyster are so fresh and delicious. It's actually a lot of fun prying them open and making a big mess. We love topping them with their special cocktail sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

The special menu item we were on the hunt for in the past was the soft shell crab sandwich. Oh man, it is SO good! It's super fresh and prepared so simply to highlight the natural crab flavor. This is a must try if you haven't had a soft shell crab sandwich before.

Nobody would believe this when going to a seafood joint that collard greens would be on the menu. I know we are in the south, but still. Well let me tell you this, these greens are the star of the show! They are the BEST we have ever had and you find yourself craving it. It has an unusual sweet taste that I can't explain. Mind you, I don't normally like collards. I feel like we need to order a bucket of it on our next visit. You can't go to Mr. Fish's without ordering the greens! 

The best part is that the prices are very reasonable and you will not ever leave hungry. Mr. Fish serves a variety of seafood dishes including fish, shrimp, crab, oysters, lobster and even sushi. Of course they offer non seafood options as well. They have something for everyone. We are going back later in March and I plan to try some sushi rolls and of course a side of greens. If you are ever in Myrtle Beach, you must try them out. We have really enjoyed the times we have dined there and figured we would share our experience here. If you go, let us know! 

You can check out the full menu on their website and find them on Facebook.