Creative Christian Mama

God bless all Mothers

Miriam Dunning

How The Breast Cancer Surgeons Los Angeles Had To Offer Helped My Family

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There is a lot that you learn about yourself and others when bad news arrives, something that happened to my family just 2 short years ago. My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, news which shattered our family and left my Mum in a very difficult position. We were told that the cancer had been found early and that we shouldn’t worry too much, easier said than done. My Mum ended up having a lumpectomy and ever since has been in remission. We were fortunate that a friend of the family was one of the best breast cancer surgeons Los Angeles had to offer, and the way in which he supported our family was pivotal to us getting through it. I wanted to share the way in which he helped us so that you can help someone else out in the future should this terrible disease befall their family.

Open and Honest

One of the most important things to do with your family during this tough time is to be open and honest with how you are feeling. Many of us will go into our own shells or bury our heads in the sand when something bad happens but this can leave a lot of emotions unresolved, and they can manifest themselves in negative ways in the future. Make sure that, whenever possible, you are speaking in a frank way with your family about how you feel.

Positivity

There are thousands upon thousands of cancer survivors each and every year and whilst there are always negative and tragic stories which you could read about this disease, there are just as many positive stories. It is therefore, important that you focus only on the positives and that you try as best as you can to have a positive outlook on the diagnosis.

Comedy

One thing that really helped my family, and this was inspired by our surgeon friend, is our ability to look at the lighter side of things, this is of course not to say that we laughed at the situation, but there are some areas where you can find comedy. They say that laughter is the best medicine and this certainly helped us to deal with what was going on.

Understanding

Just because the disease is being looked after by professionals, that is not to say that the family and the patient themselves does not have a responsibility towards what is happening to them. You must take ownership of the cancer in order to help your loved one to be as healthy and strong as possible. A doctor may prescribe a course of treatment but they do not look after the diet which your family member eats, or their level of exercise, nor the administration of the tablets. As a family it is important that you have an understanding of how to approach this disease and informing yourselves is the best way to do it.

Dentist Clinton Clinic Helps Reduce Levels of Dental Phobia

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Around 15% of the population in this country is said to have a fear of the dentist, and this is stopping them from receiving proper dental care. This is something that the best dentist Clinton has to offer is attempting to address. They have introduced a number of new, state of the art dental procedures that are completely painless, and this is helping them to attract more patients to their books.

People are afraid of dentists for a variety of reasons. The instruments look frightening, people feel out of control why they let someone place instruments in their mouth, and patients are afraid of perceived pain. This fear is so real that they will avoid any kind of dental appointment, including a routine cleaning. However, Clinton dentists have come together to introduce completely painless procedures, thereby ensuring patients no longer feel any discomfort. They are confident that, if they can just convince patients to attend a clinic once, they will be able to break through the fear and ensure they meet all their regular checkup appointments.

Dentist Clinton Clinics Offer Painless Procedures

There are a number of different ways in which dental offices in Clinton can guarantee that their procedures are painless. The first is that they work with state of the art tools and equipment that no longer hurts people. For those who have a significant fear, and for procedures that are more painful in nature, they offer sedation dentistry, ranging from laughing gas to full anesthesia. They encourage people to visit them in their clinic to discuss the options that are available.

Indeed, building a relationship with a dentist is an important element of overcoming dental fear. People can have consultations without having any treatment, which means that they can get to know their dentist and the office, without needing to brace themselves for any treatment. In so doing, they can also discuss their particular concerns and worries.

When someone consults with their Clinton dentist about painless procedures, they will discuss what treatment has been received in the past. If the patient is comfortable with that, they may also complete a routine exam, during which no treatment is offered. It literally only means that the dentist will take a look at someone’s teeth to assess their general dental health. Based on this, they can then recommend whether there are any treatments recommended to ensure oral health can be either improved or maintained.

Most of all, however, dentists are going out of their way to show compassion and empathy during their care. They know that their job is a feared one and that they have a bad reputation. However, they are trying to change this misconception, showing people that having regular dental visits is nothing to be afraid of and that it can also help to avoid more painful procedures in the long run. So far, Clinton is setting a real example of best practice with this, having noted a significant increase in uptake.

The Advantages of Different Ways of Looking up People

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A lot of people want to find out whether someone new in their life, be that neighborly, romantically, or professionally, has a checkered past. To do this, you need to complete a people search. However, there are lots of different searches around and it is important that you pick one that is actually effective and gives you the information you need. Plus, defining what a good service is can be difficult, as different people have different needs. Let’s take a look, therefore, at the different options out there and how they could benefit you.

Free People Searches

Firstly, you can look someone up for free. For instance, you can go to Zaba Search, Yahoo! People Search, Google People Search, and the White Pages. While it is true that the word “free” immediately sounds interesting, the reality is that you get what you pay for. Hence, what you get in this case is nothing much. You are likely to find the information to be outdated, incomplete, or just downright inaccurate, which means you can’t trust the things it says.

Public Record Search

Option 2 is the public record search. There are companies who do this and they usually allow you to complete part of a search for free. This means they show you what they have found, but don’t really let you look at it until you have made a payment. Options for this type of search include Intelius and U.S. Search. They are quite affordable, however, and definitely of better quality than the free options. The information is gathered from public records, however, and that means that you still don’t have any guarantee of the information being up to date, accurate, or complete.

Private Investigator Searches

Last but not least, you can hire a private investigator. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean an ex-police officer in a mac coat and a cigar dangling from his mouth. Rather, today, private investigative services exist online. They offer:

  • Fully comprehensive information.
  • Current, accurate, and up to date information.
  • A satisfaction guarantee.

Clearly, the last option is by far the best one. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is also the most expensive one, and that is a significant disadvantage for most people. As with the public record search, however, there are different payment plans available. For instance, you could pay for a full search of a single individual. Alternatively, you can sign up to a subscription plan, which allows you to check the information on a set number of individuals each month or year. The more you pay, the more searches you can perform.

So which one is best? It all depends on what information you are trying to find, and how important it is that the information is accurate. If you just want to know what is available about you online, then a free search is all that is needed. If you want to make sure your new boyfriend isn’t a sex offender, however, then a private investigator search is probably the best option.

Why You Need To Start Investing in Bitcoins

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For just over 2 years now I have been investing with the guys at Prescott Regency in cryptocurrency and in the main, Bitcoin. Now, I am aware that this cryptocurrency thing is a new concept for many and if you fall into this bracket you should start getting some education on what this new, digital currency is, and how you can make big money from it. I have done pretty well in the last few years through my investment in Bitcoin and I am confident that the other currencies which I have invested in will follow suit. If you aren’t sure, here are just a few reason why you need to invest in Bitcoin.

Evidence and Predictions

Bitcoin was the very first digital currency that came into existence and it used to cost a couple of dollars per Bitcoin. Over the years however, the people who thought that it was a passing phase or a flawed idea, have come around to the notion that cryptocurrencies will change the way in which we use money and the price has risen. The price hit an all time high this year of $5000 which is serious money and further evidence that this is an idea which carries weight.

The people who correctly predicted that Bitcoins would be worth $5000 have also gone a step further and suggested that it could go as high as $100,000 in ten years.

Wider Acceptance

It is not just people trading with Bitcoin who are interested in the digital currency and there are many online retailers and even governments such as in Japan, which are now accepting Bitcoin. The fact that ether is now wider acceptance for this form of currency is further proof that it demand is rising and this means that if you have Bitcoins, people will want them and the prices will rise.

Limitations

We already know that there are only 21 million Bitcoins which can be in existence and at the moment, just over 50% of them have been mined and are on the market. What this limitation does is ensure that demand constantly increases and will usually outstrip the supply. Therefore if you can get in right now in terms of investing, you stand to do very well in the future once the final Bitcoins have been mined, and we must move on to other digital currencies.

Lack of Knowledge  

Whilst there are some heavy hitting financial investors who are looking to invest in digital currency, there are still very few people who actually understand what cryptocurrency is and how successful it may be. This means that right now is there perfect time to get in before others do, in order to bag yourself a healthy profit later on down the line. Mark my words, this will be the end of cash as we know it and that makes this the perfect time to invest in the future.

Advice on Having Younger Looking Skin

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One of the biggest challenges for women all over the world is how to find the perfect way to create great looking, and great feeling skin. Over the years we have been told about the many benefits of a range of products, serums and magic potions which are supposedly there to instantly rejuvenate and fix our skin woes, in truth, these rarely live up to the billing. I have tried for many years to create fresher, healthier and younger looking skin, and so far things are going pretty well. I wanted to share with you then some very simple, yet very effective things that you should be doing to ensure that your skin looks great, and stays looking that way.

Products

There are many products on the market to choose from, and my experience has been pretty disappointing so far, especially with the highest priced products. In actual fact the products which I have found to help me the most are those from beauty and skincare giants Jeunesse, not only are they well priced but they are made using almost 100% natural ingredients and they make your skin feel great. I would recommend Jeuenesse’s products to everyone but I must stress that they key is to find a product which works best for your skin, and stick with it.

Food and Drink

The food and drink that we put into our bodies has a direct effect on how our skin looks and you must be very conscious about what you are consuming each day. Starting with drinks, the very best way to ensure that you have incredible looking and healthy skin, is to make sure that you are keeping your body hydrated. What this means in practical terms is that you should avoid drinks such as coffee or too much alcohol, and you should also ensure that you are consuming at least 3 litres of water per day.

Regarding foods, what you should be looking for here is a healthy diet, plenty of fruits and vegetables which are packed with minerals, nutrients and vitamins, all of which help your skin to protect itself, repair itself and most importantly, look great. Avoid fatty or greasy foods if you want to keep your skin looking beautiful.

Nightly Routine

I cannot stress enough how important it is that you stick to a sincere routine in terms of cleansing, toning and moisturising with products such as neck cream. I believe that the best time to do this is on an evening just before bed, and here is why. Firstly, daily life takes a real toll on your skin as it faces weather conditions, pollution and all other manner of damaging elements. Secondly, ensuring that you do your skin routine at night, means that throughout the night your skin can rest, and the products which you put on your face can do their work. Having a daily routine that takes place in the morning is not necessarily a bad idea, but I have always felt that the products won’t be able to do their job as well as if you put them on at night.

How to Make a Good Guitar Riff

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One of the most iconic sounds in the world is the sound of a strong guitar riff.  You have Iron Man from Black Sabbath or Smoke on the Water from Deep Purple, these are riffs that live effortlessly through multiple generations.  How cool would it be to make your own, something so catchy that you and others can’t stop humming or tapping their feet.  I can’t promise that any riff that you create will still be in people’s minds twenty years down the line.  I am sure you will be able to bring down a local gig with your band if you get the formula right though.  Below I have included some hints and tips that can help when it comes to writing your riff.

I have had a chat with Tom Hess guitar maestro about creating that perfect riff, before we get into it let’s find out a little more about Tom.

About Tom

Tom has over 3 decades of experience when it comes to guitar playing; he has had success with his bands Rhapsody of Fire and HolyHell.  Academically Tom has also managed to gain two music degrees, one in music theory and the other in composition. Tom now dedicates a lot of his time to teaching other through his online courses.

Establish a Rhythm

Usually when it comes to riffs, most inexperienced players believe that riffs only consist of power chords.  You can create a pretty decent sounding riff based on power chords absolutely, however to master the power of writing a great riff you need to start to add notes to the power chord.  Adapt the rhythm to your level of guitar playing.

Don’t Focus Just on The Guitar

When creating a riff you need to keep in mind the sound that the other instruments will be bringing to the table.  The sounds from the other instruments in the band will help round off the perfect riff.  Add layers to the riff, your bassist doesn’t have to be playing the same rhythm and figure out the pace for the drummer.

Master the Minor Pentatonic Scale

The Pentatonic Scale is one of the most commonly used scaled when it comes to creating a riff.  This scale has been used for well over 50 years and has featured in many of the most iconic riffs off all time.  There any examples of how to learn this scale online but master it and you have the bases in place to start creating a masterpiece.

Experiment

Creating the perfect riff will rarely come instantly; it is down to a lot of trial and error. Jam with it; don’t get disheartened if it is not coming to you straight away.  Even if you think you have something but can’t move it to the next step, be patient, don’t lose your temper.  Once you have the rhythm the rest will come in time.  Creating music is a constant learning curve, take your inspirations and build from what you know.

How to Pick The Right Beauty Clinic For You

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Us women rely on our beauty clinic to get hair cut and removed, we use them for facials, massages, anti aging treatments and all manner of things to help us to be at our beautiful best. I am fortunate that I have a fantastic clinic very close to my house, check out the Sono Bello reviews to see just how good my local clinic is. Not everyone is as fortunate as I was when it comes to finding a clinic and with so much choice, it can be tough to decide which is the one for you. To help you find the best beauty clinic, here is what you should be looking for. 

Price

Prices from clinic to clinic will vary wildly and it is important that you opt for a clinic which offers prices that you are happy with. Be mindful that a low price can indicate poor quality or poor products being used so the key is to look for somewhere with mid-range pricing. 

Service

In order to test the service of a clinic you will have to both experience your local clinics, and read through testimonials and reviews. Even the best looking clinic can offer poor service and given that it is the service which makes going to a clinic worthwhile, you must lay heavy focus on this aspect. 

Quality of Treatments

Naturally you want to know that the quality of the treatments which you receive will be high and in order to find out how the treatments are, make sure that you do plenty of research online and find out what people have been saying about the particular clinic. 

Range of Treatments

I have always been wary of those ‘Jack of all trade’ type clinics who somehow offer every treatment known to man. Instead I prefer to go with a clinic that specializes in a handful of treatments, and does them well. It is nice to have such a range of treatments all under one roof, but being able to specialize in a huge range would require many members of staff, something that you usually don’t find. 

Location of Clinic

If you have a day off and you want to go to your local clinic for a treatment, the last thing that you want to do is have to travel far so make sure that you select a clinic which is in your locality. Decide how far you are prepared to travel and then take a look in your maps to decide which clinic is best for you. 

Opening Hours

If you work Monday to Friday, 9-5, having a clinic which opens 9-6 Monday to Friday is not going to help you out. Try to find a clinic which has opening hours that fit in well with your day to day life. 

General Atmosphere

The final key to finding a great clinic is to go there and see how it feels. The atmosphere should be relaxing and comfortable and you should feel calm when you are there. The only way to find out, is to try it out.

Brendan Wetzel’s Top Tip for Children’s Illustrations

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Children’s book are always filled with art and illustration. According to illustrators like Brendan Wetzel, this is due to the fact that it speaks more to them, particularly since they cannot read yet. Through the art of illustration, characters get personalities and emotions can shine through. They say a picture paints a thousand words, and that is true for children as well.

Brendan Wetzel on Why Children Need Illustrations

Children are notoriously impatient and they often struggle with keeping their attention on a single page for long periods of time. They prefer having a glance and making up their own mind about a story. If an author writes a children’s book, or a magazine targeted at children, therefore, they must enter into a solid partnership with their illustrator if they are to be successful. Hence, they must also know where to find good illustrators and familiarize themselves with their work.

A good artist will be able to immerse a child in their images in a way that captivates them. In the world of children’s literature, this is actually a two way street. For instance, an author could write a book and ask an artist to come up with images, and any images that are not chosen can inspire the author to write another story. Sometimes, illustrators become so skilled at what they do, that they start to write their own stories to accompany the images that they have made. These are the ones who can create true magic, using both images and words to tell stories.

There is a very big difference between the illustrations needed for medical writings, journals, articles, and regular literature. Those that are created for children are truly unique, because they enable to tell a story in a single image for those who cannot read. For adult writings, images are a point of reference, rather than the story in its own right. Good artists also understand the visual processing capabilities of young children, sticking to simple shapes and primary colors for the very young, and going more in depth as the child ages. They also use a range of different mediums, such as paper cut illustrations and acrylics, and different types of inks, such as pastels, water colors, color pencils, dark markers, oil paints, and so on. A good artist is able to adapt their personal style to the theme that they are working on, creating something that is both unique and fit for purpose.

Some children’s illustrators have become global sensations. Interestingly, many of these came from the Netherlands. For instance, the recently deceased Dick Bruna created the Nijntje (commonly known as Miffy) character, made solely from simple shapes and primary colors. Anton Piek, meanwhile, worked on the Brothers Grimm stories and his drawings were eternalized in the creation of an entire theme park with a magical forest in which children can literally immerse themselves in Piek’s drawings. While many of us remember authors, it is perhaps time that we started to remember illustrators as well.

Trident Society Defines Compassionate Care and Its Role in Today’s World

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A lot of people live in a world that seems to be all about “number one”. Often, they will have a quick glance at the people around them, but their personal goals will always come first. This may sound horrible, but it is a vital survival skill as well. If we don’t look after ourselves first, we cannot look after others either. However, there are many situations in which compassionate care is an absolute necessity, which is something that Trident Society aims to offer.

Trident Society on Compassionate Care

On the one hand, looking out for number one is a vital survival skill. However, the reality is also that we all get to a point in life in which we simply cannot do it alone anymore. We need the help of others to get us through life. This could be because we are diagnosed with a disease, or perhaps when a loved one dies. We then need professionals to guide us, friends to listen to us, and family members to give us moral support. This is what compassionate care is, and that is also something that frightens many people.

Trident Society frequently works with people, for instance, who have to make cremation and burial arrangements. They are independent people who have always done everything themselves. Yet, suddenly, they are called upon to respect the last wishes of someone else, and the entire family circle looks towards them to make those important decisions. That is a heavy burden to shoulder, but people no longer know how to reach out for help, or how to admit that things are just too much.

Arranging a cremation service is complex psychologically. It means respecting the wishes of someone who can no longer express those wishes. It means making decisions that you never wanted to make. And all the while, you are dealing with the very real grief of losing a loved one, someone that you cared about. Compassionate care, in that sense, is about having professionals take over who know what they are doing and who listen to your needs and wishes, but also to the things that you find hard to express.

At the same time, they also deal with caring for the deceased individual. Giving the body of a loved one out of hands, to have them dressed, embalmed, arranged for public viewing, and so on, can feel very frightening. You need to know that they will be looked after properly, and that they will be respected in death as they were in life. This is perhaps the hardest thing of all to come to terms with, that as much as you finally want to do something for someone else, you can’t.

There is a place for survival of the fittest in this world. But, equally, there is a place for togetherness, mutual support, community, and compassion. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t be afraid to trust people like Trident Society to provide you with what you need.

James DeVellis MD on Preparing for Orthopedic Surgery

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If you have sustained a local injury to the musculoskeletal system, it may cause overall forms of misconduct. Your range of movement is likely to be impaired, you won’t be able to carry as much, and you are likely to be in pain. Eventually, without proper voluntary treatment, you will be given the news that you need an orthopedic surgeon like James DeVellis MD to help you.

James DeVellis MD Helps People Prepare for Surgery

Before you have any kind of surgery, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork. Sometimes, this has to be done several weeks in advance, which also protects hospitals against any types of allegations that work wasn’t completed properly. This paperwork will also help surgeons determine you get the treatment you need.

Once you have an appointment, you will also be given various instructions. You must follow these to the letter. You will, for instance, have to stop taking certain medications (aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants), as those could place you at grave risk during surgery. Unless you look forward to spending several weeks in a hospital bed watching Fox reruns, you should follow the instructions, therefore. They are likely to tell you to stop taking vitamin E and any over the counter supplements as well.

The night before you have surgery, you will have to start fasting. Usually, you cannot eat or drink anything for some 12 to 14 hours before. Depending on your condition and the extent of your surgery, you may have already been admitted to hospital the night before. It is important to have an empty stomach, so that nothing interferes with the anesthetic provided to you for the surgery itself. Furthermore, if you have a full stomach, you are likely to feel quite uncomfortable after the surgery.

Sometimes, you will also be prescribed Celebrex. This is a strong type of anti-inflammatory medication that can help reduce the levels of pain you are likely to experience after your surgery. If you are prescribed this drug, you will usually have to start taking it a few days before you have the surgery itself. Doing so will significantly help with your recovery time. However, it is not suitable for everybody, which is another reason why it is so important that you complete all the paperwork mentioned at the start.

Should you develop an illness or injury in the two weeks before you have surgery, then you must immediately contact your surgeon to tell them about this. Dr. DeVellis, like most other doctors, will not complete an operation if you are currently suffering from any kind of infection. Doing so is so risky that it can actually be fatal. As much as you probably don’t want to wait to have the procedure, you will have to have it postponed at this point.

So long as you follow your physician’s orders completely, you should find that your surgery is a success and your recovery a short one, so that you can return to your normal life as soon as possible as well.