Smoking Alternative

I quit smoking several years ago and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I had smoked for many years. Ironically, I started smoking when I became a nurse in the late 1960's. I worked in a hospital setting and when I would go on break most of the doctors and nurses in the break room would be smoking. Back then I knew more people who smoked than didn't.

I tried several "stop smoking aids" while trying to quit. The gum did not work for me. I didn't like how it tasted and it did not take away the urge to smoke. The nicotine patch worked for awhile but then I developed an allergy to the adhesive and had to stop using them. I, also, think the patch put more nicotine into my system than the amount of cigarettes I smoked. I had frequent dizziness when using the patch. What finally worked for me was a medication called Chantix. It has been a few years since I stopped smoking and I still crave a cigarette at times. Sometimes I give in and have one and then I feel very guilty.

I have recently learned of electronic cigarettes as an alternative to smoking. With these battery operated cigarettes there is no ash, no odor, and no tobacco and they even come in flavors!

I have been paid for this post. The opinions are my own and have not been swayed in any way.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile might just be your most important feature. It is what most people will notice about you at a first meeting. If you want to make a good impression you will want to keep your smile looking it's very best. Visiting your dentist regularly and practicing good oral hygiene at home are excellent ways to do this.

Still not quite satisfied with your smile, even though you are brushing and flossing and getting regular checkups? Are you looking for whiter teeth or perhaps straighter teeth? Dentistry has come a long way in the last 30 years. Today it is possible to have a complete smile makeover and achieve the smile of your dreams. Cosmetic dentistry offers many procedures as simple as teeth whitening to veneers to full orthodontia. If you are looking for a San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist you will want to check out Cosmetic Dental Associates. They have a qualified team of professionals with 25 years of experience in providing exceptional dental care to their patients. Their on sight lab makes it possible to give you spectacular results in a shorter time frame. Check out their website and then give them a call. Your smile will be your reward!

I have been paid for this post. The opinions are my own and have not been swayed in any way.

Tacky Tourist Party

One of the gals I work with turns 50 this month and we are having a party for her this week. We decided our theme would be "tacky tourist" or to be more specific "The Tacky Tourist Tiny Town Tavern Tour". Everyone is to dress up as (you guessed it!) a tacky tourist. This would be a little easier if it were summer and warmer but we will make do. I found a sombrero at a 2nd hand clothing store and I will be wearing a fanny pack along with a very flashy sequined vest. It should be a fun time.

Christmas Shopping

I have started my Christmas shopping. I have only bought a few things, so far, but it is still early for me. I find it difficult to get those I buy for to give me ideas, and without any ideas I am at a total loss. I am still buying for all immediate family members and so there is a variety of ages to shop for. I have my daughter and her family and my son and his family with ages ranging from 2 to 42 years. You would think that the younger kids would be the easiest but I don't always know what they already have so I have to talk back and forth with parents so that I don't buy something that they already own! That makes for sad faces on Christmas Eve!! The older girls, who are 12 and 15, are pretty good to give me ideas and they also like gift certificates to their favorite stores so if I get in a bind I can always go that route. I find my son-in-law and my son to be the most difficult to buy for. It is not that they are very picky but they hardly ever give me any ideas. They are both over 6 feet tall and to find mens big and tall sizes in my area is not so easy. This year I may try to find their big and tall sizes online.

I have been paid for this post. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been swayed in any way.

Still Lovin' My Car

I've had my Mercury Montego a little less than a month and I am liking it even more than when I bought it! This car has more "bells and whistles" than any car I've ever owned. I have found that you really don't know what you have been missing until you have it. I could easily go back to not having things like keyless entry and heated leather seats but I will enjoy them for now. I have taken one 200 mile road trip to visit my daughter and her family and the car rides very smoothly. It has an excellent sound system so I could enjoy my music during the ride. My daughter confirmed my feeling that it looks like a "grandma car" but I love being a grandma who is riding in style!!

A Career in Nursing

When I was in high school I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life as far as a career was concerned. My Mom insisted that I go to college even though I had no idea what I wanted to study. I attended a college about 75 miles away from my home and the first year there I became interested in nursing, even though the school I was attending had no nursing program. I talked to an uncle, who was a doctor, and he encouraged me to be a licensed practical nurse or LPN. There was an LPN school only 30 miles away so I enrolled after I finished my year at college. This was a 12 month program and it was a tough one. We had many clinical hours at a local hospital and also class time hours. I spent my evening hours with the books open and my mind absorbing anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing procedures. There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel and find something else to do with my life. But, at last, it was time for graduation. We had a ceremony where we received our coveted caps and nursing pins. It was a long, hard year but I have never regretted it. Even though I no longer work in the nursing profession, I still have that nursing pin and am very proud of it.


I have been paid for this post. The opinions are my own and have not been swayed in any way.

Daylight Savings Time

Credit: Free images from acobox.com
This is the weekend that we set our clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings Time. Last weekend I had to call my son to find out if that was the weekend that we were suppose to set them back because I could not remember. It seems that every year we do it a little later than the year before. I don't really like this ritual, but I hate getting up in the morning when it is dark, and setting the clocks back will cause it to be a little lighter at 6:30AM. Of course, that means that it will be darker at 5:00PM when I get off work, and I don't like that either. The days are definitely getting shorter and that means winter and my desire to hibernate like the bears. I guess it won't be too long and the days will start to lengthen again. I would not be very happy living in Alaska or other northern areas where they have darkness around the clock for days on end.

Vegging out

Written by my friend Constance Hayden

The weather has been terrible the last two days. I have been off of work, and of course the two days that I am off, mother nature decides that she wants it to start snowing. It has been a storm/snow mix and it is only October. Thank goodness that we got direct tv deals because I have at least have had something to do in the house. I haven’t been able to go outside because it is just too cold. I have been snuggled up on the couch with my beagle and watching television during the day. Usually, I use my vacation days I try to get all of my errands done. This vacation, the only errands that I had to run were to mail something at the post office. Because the weather was so nasty, I just didn’t feel like getting out in the rain and snow. I must say that I have successfully vegged out for the last couple of days and gotten a lot of rest. As much as I hate to go back to work, I feel like I am well rested. Rest is exactly what a vacation is all about.


I have been paid for this "Guest Post".