Can a Sports Watch Give You Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

A couple months ago, I started experiencing some weird sensations in the tip of my thumb. It initially occurred when I was harvesting okra from my garden. It almost felt like my finger was pricked by a splinter, and was a bit tingly. It felt like teeny tiny electric pulses concentrated in my fingertip. When I carefully examined my finger, I saw no signs of a splinter, but more of a pink spot. Then I thought to myself that perhaps it was an insect bite. I decided to watch it for a few days to see what would happen. 

Day after day, it was the same feeling. It felt like a part of a splinter was left in my finger coupled with little electric pulses. This went on for 3 weeks. By that time, it started to skip around to different spots on that same finger. I was definitely able to rule out a splinter at that point because it's not possible for it to move to another spot. I did some online research and I saw mentions of nerve problems associated with diabetes as well as carpal tunnel syndrome. I was able to rule out the diabetes part, and the carpal tunnel had me confused since my wrist seemed fine. 

After going into 7 or 8 weeks of this, the tingling sensation started to jump to a couple other fingers on the same hand. Things started getting uncomfortable at this point so I started to get desperate to get to the bottom of it. I knew I have a an upcoming appointment with my doctor, so I decided to wait out the week before I was going to see her. I did one last bit of research and wondered if a sports watch could cause CTS. After all, I do wear my sports watch during every waking hour and also to bed to track my sleep. The only time I ever really take it off is when I have to shower or enter water for any reason. There was no real evidence that this was the case, until I decided to try something. I took the watch off and within an hour, the electric sensation started to spread throughout my hand and wrist. 

I was so shocked and realized that the watch was the culprit. I saw my doctor the next day and explained what had been going on. She confirmed that it sounded like a mild case of carpal tunnel, and suggested keeping the watch off for a while. She told me if I absolutely couldn't live without it to wear it on the opposite wrist and be sure to not wear it at night. I took her advice, and I now feel 100% relief. I am no longer having any uncomfortable sensations in my fingers or wrist. 

If you wear a sports watch all the time, I highly recommend that you don't wear it as tight if you can help it. I have very tiny wrist, so in order for it to stay put, I pretty much have to wear it on the tightest slot. I left the watch off for a few days, and have started back wearing it on the opposite wrist being sure to leave a tiny gap so that this does not happen again. In the event this happens to you, I suggest taking Ibuprofen only as needed, keep your wrist elevated when you can, limit time on devices, and keep the area warm. Cold temperatures will set it off easily. It's all about resting your hand as much as possible. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! 

Hallmark Channel Original Premiere of "Christmas in Harmony" on Friday, Oct 29th at 8pm/7c! #CountdowntoChristmas

Can you believe that we are in the last couple months of 2021? The holiday season is nearing, and many of us are making plans to attend parties, decorate our homes, and of course, do some baking. Every year we make it a family affair to decorate our house inside and out. It's so much fun coming across those ornaments the kids made when they were in elementary school. We also start prepping and packing for our annual family beach trip. We started that tradition 4 years ago, and always look forward to that family time. It's such a great way to unwind and reconnect at the end of the year. 

Today's post is sponsored by Hallmark Channel

Another tradition that is a must during the holiday season is watching Hallmark Movies with my daughters. We try to catch every new movie, and this year there are 41 ALL NEW original movies premiering on Hallmark Channel and on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. We grab our snacks, drinks and set up our very own watch parties right at home. 

We are extra excited for the  Hallmark Channel movie premiere, "Christmas in Harmony" on Friday, Oct. 29th at 8pm/7c. Christmas in Harmony Stars: Ashleigh Murray, Luke James, Loretta Devine, Michelle Williams, and Basil Wallace. We will be live tweeting, so please join us! Check out the trailer below. 

Harmony is tricked into auditioning for the Holiday Chorus - directed by an ex-boyfriend. By Christmas Eve, they could be harmonizing in the key of love. You have to tune in to find out! 

If you love all-things-Hallmark Channel, be sure to check out: 

• HMNow- (Hallmark Movies Now service) so you can watch your favorites any time you want 
• Grab the Holiday Cookbook so you can bake up some tasty treats!
• Download the Hallmark Movie Checklist App and get notifications for new movie premieres!
• If you're a wine drinker, check out the collection of Hallmark Channel Wines. We are looking forward to trying them. 

We have some great news for our readers. We have partnered with Hallmark Channel to offer a fun giveaway for one lucky winner! The "Holiday Happiness" Package includes:

(1) Hallmark Channel Gift Wrap Package

(1) Hallmark Channel Wines digital gift card

(1) Holiday tea tin from Republic of Teas

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and ends on November 10, 2021. Must follow rules in Rafflecopter. One winner will be chosen randomly. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

3 Beginner Tips To Help You Master the Art of Horse Riding

Are you hoping to pick up horse riding as a hobby? Whether you’ve dabbled in horse riding in the past and have recently decided to get serious about it or whether you’re a total newcomer to the sport, there are several important tips that can help you learn the ropes of this unique hobby quickly. Take a look at these three tips that can help beginners quickly master the art of horse riding. 

1. Prepare With All the Necessary Accessories and Safety Gear

Before getting on a horse, it’s important to make sure you’re properly prepared with all the necessary horse jump accessories and other safety gear essentials you may require. This gear can help keep you and the horse safe in the event of an accident and is an absolute must for both beginners and those riding at a more advanced level. If you’re just now shopping for your safety gear and other basics, make sure to pick up:

• Helmets
• Knee pads and elbow pads
• Sturdy riding boots
• Riding gloves
• A safety vest
• Riding pants

2. Practice Getting On and Off Your Horse

Although it may sound simple, beginners may need a little practice mounting and dismounting a horse. Spend a little time just practicing this one skill before moving on to others. To successfully get on your horse, you should:

• Start from the left side of your horse
• Hold the reins loosely in your left hand
• Start by putting your left foot in the stirrup and step up
• Swing your other leg over the horse and take your seat carefully

3. Take Lessons and Practice Essential Horse Riding Skills

Lastly, you may want to consider starting off your riding days with some professional lessons to help you master the basic skills you need to know. Having a strong foundation can help set you up for quick progress. You can opt for individual or group lessons for beginners that can help you learn more about:

• Trotting and walking
• Trail riding
• Standing quietly
• Mounting and dismounting
• Slow reversal
• Side-passing

Learning to ride horses as a hobby can help you stay in shape, bond with these majestic animals and enjoy a time-honored tradition. If you’re a beginner, these top tips can help you master the basics of horse riding in no time. Make sure you have all the safety gear you need, practice mounting and dismounting and consider taking lessons to move from beginner to pro at a steady pace.

Easy Ways To Take Care of Your Mental Well-Being

With the hustle and bustle of life, it's easy to put yourself and your needs on the backburner. However, when you ignore your needs, you'll find that you eventually burn out. When you face burnout, you might find that you are tired more than usual, have greater anxiety and are unmotivated to do even simple tasks. 

When things get terrible, you might find that you have to see a doctor or use holistic learning materials to feel better. To avoid letting things get out of control, you need to take time for yourself. Here are some simple ways you can take care of yourself physically and emotionally. 

Choose Good Foods

If you have a diet primarily made up of processed, fatty foods, you're probably not feeling the best. A poor diet harms how your body functions. You will likely find that you lack energy and have a hard time thinking clearly. 

To avoid feeling crummy and not thinking clearly, you should eat whole foods. Your body needs the vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. If you eat meat, choose lean, lower-fat options. 

Work on a Hobby

When you do things you love, you will likely find that you're more relaxed and can think more clearly. Hobbies don't have to be anything overly expensive or creative. You could enjoy a nice warm bath and read a book. Work in the garden while listening to a podcast. If you love woodworking, then build some cabinets. You just want to make sure that you're doing something you enjoy. Your life shouldn't just be about other people and work. You matter, too.

Learn To Say No

Sometimes telling someone you don't want to do something can be challenging. You don't want to come off as rude and have them think poorly of you. However, your mental well-being should always be more important than someone's feelings about you. If you don't have the time to do something or it will be too much of a stretch to make it happen, just say no. Explain to the person that you wish you could help, but you just won't be able to work. Anyone who respects you and cares about you will understand. 

Get Moving

Exercise is sometimes thought of as a wonder drug because even a little bit can make a huge difference. Find ways that you can move more each day. Perhaps go for walks in the evenings after dinner, or go to the gym before work. No matter what you do, you're going to see an improvement in your mood and thought processes. 

Celebrate Halloween with Muffin’s Halloween Costume Contest and #LoveLittleBites + A Giveaway

***This giveaway is closed***

The winner is Linda T. Congratulations! 

Happy Fall, y'all! I don't know about you, but I just love this time of year. There is just something about when the seasons change, and things start to cool down. Halloween is coming up, so it's time to get ready for class parties and trick-or-treaters. If you are looking for non-candy goodies to send into your child's class, you should consider *Little Bites snacks. Kids (and their parents) love them, and you can feel good about them being in portion-controlled packs, and they contain no high fructose corn syrup and zero grams of trans fat per serving. 

Our favorite variety during this time of year is the limited edition pumpkin muffins. We definitely stock up since they aren't around for very long. Of course Little Bites snacks come in a wide variety of options to choose from, featuring real ingredients such as chocolate chips, blueberries, and strawberries. 

Right now, Little Bites is running an Instagram contest for Halloween. Here's the scoop: 

Information about Muffin’s Halloween Costume Contest:

• Fans can visit Little Bites® official Instagram page daily to locate an image of Muffin the dog on Instagram Stories, which fans can screenshot and use as a blank canvas to create his unique Halloween costume by drawing/dressing him with various gifs, emojis and coloring using Instagram drawing tools.
• After you customize the image, you can post the design to your Instagram Story and tag the brand @LittleBitesSnacks as your official entry. Be sure to include the hashtag #contest in your entry. 
• Each Friday, four winners will be chosen based on creativity and originality to win exciting prizes, including a year’s supply of Little Bites® product (52 coupons) and a $250 gift card for Halloween supplies. 
  

Entry Period 1: October 4 - October 7 (Winners selected: Friday, October 8)

Entry Period 2: October 11- October 14 (Winners selected: Friday, October 15)

Mom Files is thrilled to offer our readers a sweet prize pack giveaway including a $25 Visa digital gift card (for online purchases only) and (3) coupons for up to $5.29 off the purchase of any Entenmann’s® Little Bites® courtesy of Entenmann's. Enter below:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway   

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and ends on October 14, 2021. Must follow rules in Rafflecopter. One winner will be chosen randomly. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

*The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Little Bites® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Little Bites®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Little Bites®.