Varicose Vein Treatments: Which is right for you?

Varicose veins, although not a serious health risk, can be embarrassing and unsightly for many men and women. The enlarged red or blue veins appear on thighs, calves, or face, and can make those who suffer feel self-conscious, especially when he or she takes a trip to the beach or camping! Fortunately, there are many treatment options that are safe and minimally invasive. Here are the top three treatments for varicose veins. Which one is right for you?

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Laser Surgery – Laser surgery is similar to sclerotherapy in that the goal of the procedure is to cause damage to the varicose vein so it will form scar tissue and close. A simple laser treatment is usually an outpatient procedure. Physicians direct a laser onto the vein; the heat damages the vein, leading to scar tissue. Laser surgery is often used in conjunction with other types of varicose vein treatments.

Is it for you?  Simple laser surgery is non-invasive and works best with small varicose veins. The treatments take longer – often 6 to 12 sessions total – and take longer to fully disappear (up to a year in some cases.) The bonus of simple laser surgery is that the down time after treatment is minimal; most patients return to their daily routine immediately after treatment. 

Sclerotherapy – In this type of varicose vein treatment, physicians inject a special solution directly into the vein, causing it to scar and collapse. Blood that normally would go through these veins are redirected into other veins, and the unsightly, dark vein disappears within a few weeks through reabsorption into the tissue surrounding it.  The procedure is relatively painless (except for the sting of a small needle) and can be done in a comfortable office setting. Full results can be seen in three to six weeks, although it may take several months for large veins to disappear completely.

Is it for you?  Sclerotherapy is typically used on small spider veins that appear in legs or arms, and for cosmetic reasons. The outpatient procedure is very safe, and is the  treatment of choice for small varicose veins. Some of the side effects are mild inflammation, air bubbles, darkened skin or bruising, and small skin sores. Your doctor will ask you to wear compression stockings for about three weeks after the treatment, avoid sun exposure and halt strenuous exercise for a few weeks after.

Endovenous Ablation – This procedure, although minimally invasive, is a bit more complicated than the first two varicose vein treatments on our list. Endovenous ablation basically closes a large, long varicose vein by using heat energy to seal it shut from the inside. Local anesthesia is administered, and then a thin catheter is inserted in an entry point (usually close to the knee.) Lasers or radio frequency energy is administered to the vein to seal it shut.

Is it for you?  Of the procedures to get rid of varicose veins, endovenous ablation is perhaps the most complicated and has the most down time and complications. The procedure is outpatient, but patients must wear compression stockings for about a week after the procedure. Pain and bruising are common, but can be treated with over-the-counter non-aspirin pain relievers. Walking is encouraged, but strenuous exercise (like running or cardiovascular workouts) are discouraged for a few weeks after. Only one large vein can be treated at a time, so for numerous large veins, subsequent treatments are necessary.  

Amanda is a social media manager for a health care organization by day and a blogger and freelance writer by night. She's also a mom to an amazing 2 year-old boy and wife to a great guy who indulges all her celebrity gossip. Amanda loves healthy living, coffee, fashion, Twitter, makeup, nail polish, and cats (not always in that order.) Her work has been published on family.com and blogher.com. For more celebrity gossip, fashion, beauty and DIY, visit Amanda's blog, It's Blogworthy (http://itsblogworthy.com) or follow her on Twitter and Google+.

Our Entry in the AlexandAlexa Fruit Carving Contest

Noah and I had the opportunity to participate in the  AlexandAlexa Fruit carving contest. The prize is £250 AlexandAlexa gift card. Here is my entry:

This was so much fun. I am not much of a carver but it was fun to try! Noah decided he wanted us to do a traditional jack-o-lantern face. He did the carving himself with a butter knife.  I think it turned out great for being made by a seven year old.  His name is Eyeballs and Brains.

Making the Most of Your Living Room Space

Does it ever feel like your living room gets smaller every year? As the kids get bigger and the family accumulates more “stuff” it just seems sometimes like your house is shrinking. But before you start looking to knock out a wall, follow some of these tips to maximize the space you’ve got.

 

1. Find Functional Furniture

Look for furniture that can multitask. Use end tables to strategically hold lamps or accent pieces but also as a means of storage with shelves or drawers underneath. You can also place magazine bins or baskets underneath open tables. Similarly, look for ottomans or couches that can double for additional storage spaces to keep kids’ toys and television remote controls out of site.

 

2. Don’t Add On, Build In

Rather than adding more furniture or shelves to a room, think about building into the space you already have. Built-in cabinets can add dimension to a small room and double as both a display space or for added storage. A recessed day-bed or window seat can eliminate the need for added couches or chairs while still allowing for plenty of seating options.

 

3. Think Big

Sometimes there is the idea that if the room is small, you need to fill it with small furniture. However, several small pieces can make a room feel cramped. Opt instead for one or two larger pieces that serve as a main focal point and keep the room feeling clean and clutter-free.

 

4. Go Vertical

Rather than several shorter shelves or tables, choose taller pieces that take advantage of the height of the room. Look for tall book shelves and store your “already read” books on the uppermost shelves. Add a hutch with drawers and shelves to your desk or workspace rather than cabinets that take up more floor space and look for shelving with an extra tier or two to hold those picture frames and accent pieces you accumulated over the years.

 

5. Find Your Own Nook

If you haven’t a separate office or den, avoid making the living room your workspace. Not only is it important mentally not to work where you rest, but you’ll find the room will quickly fill with extra office clutter. Instead, find an unused corner to create a workspace all your own where papers, computers, books and other office supplies can be kept. Utilizing space by a window will allow you to use the natural light and keeping your desk facing away from a television will keep you from getting distracted.

Hair Extension Handbook: Everything You Need to Know

Hair extensions can be a great way to add length or volume to your hair. But with so many options available, it’s hard to know which route to go. Here’s a look at a few different techniques that can change up your look in no time flat!

 

Clip-in hair extensions are an easy and quick way to add length and volume to your hair without any long-term commitment. The best part is, you can easily buy them online from reputable sellers like Hershesons who use 100% real human hair. These easy-to-use extensions are practically invisible and can be styled as if they were your own hair. There’s also no damage to your existing hair. Simply clip them into place you’re ready to go!

 

Sewn-in extensions are another option if you’re looking for a longer commitment. They generally last two to three months and you have the option of selecting any texture of hair you want since your own hair is hidden under extension. The only drawback is that this technique can be somewhat more bulky and noticeable than others.

 

Malaysian extensions are a newer technique that works similar to sewn-in extensions. While sewn-in extensions utilize braids to add the piece, Malaysian extensions are sewn in via a track pattern created from your own hair. Once the track pattern is created, the extension is sewn in and should last for a few months. This method may not be ideal for ponytail-wearers, but it is a less-bulky option than the traditional braided sewn-in method.

 

For those looking to avoid salons altogether, tape-in extensions are a great DIY option. The hair is on a track with tape. You simply sandwich your own hair between the tape for added volume and fullness. The method is easy enough to do at home and generally lasts about two weeks before the tape starts to loosen. This isn’t a technique for those looking to change up their current texture since your own hair is still visible. Rather, it’s good way to add volume or length to your current style.

 

Another quick method to add some length or volume to your do is to incorporate the use of ponytail extensions or wig fringes. Ponytail extensions come in a variety of styles. Choose from added waves or curls or longer braided pieces to add some flare to the traditional up-do. Or, if you’re looking to change up your look but don’t want the commitment of snipping your locks, opt for a wig fringe. These clip-in bangs let you try a wispy side-bang or a fuller chic style without any fuss.

I Wish I had a Home Cinema System

I love to watch movies. It’s one of my absolute favorite things to do. I don’t like going the theaters much for a few reasons. It’s too expensive, there are other people there, I can’t press pause it if I need to, and I can’t wear my jammies.  Not to mention I eat way too much popcorn and then get a stomach ache.  Noah has started to like movies a little bit, but I remember one time we went to the movies.  He cried and talked during parts of it. He wouldn’t watch it, he ate too much popcorn. He is much better now but man oh man. I prefer to stay at home in my jammies and watch movies.  I can relax and I don’t have to worry about making noises or dealing with people who kick my chair.  One thing I do miss when I watch dvds at home is the surround sound and the THX capabilities.

 I don’t have a home theater. I hope to some day to have home cinema speakers from MK Loudspeakers. I remember when I would go with my dad to look at the show homes some of them had movie theaters in their houses. They even had the theater seating.  I thought that was the coolest thing.  I don’t think that I would want to have theater seating because I am too old for that but a nice surround sound system would be great. As big as a movie buff I am I should already have one.  Some TVs especially older ones don’t have great sound so in order to hear the movie or show you have to have it turned up really loud depending on what channel you are watching. When you change the channel it scares you because it is so loud it makes you jump.  I think that if you are however watching a scary movie or a thriller, those loud noises are meant to make you jump and make your heart race.  It can really lose its scare factor when you are watching it at the movies vs. watching it at home without surround sound.  My ex husband and I had made our own home cinema speakers. We used  a big speaker that also dubbed as our coffee table and an old radio receiver hooked up to our TV.  It was nowhere near as nice as an actual system but it worked for a while.  I will have to wait until I am no longer living in an apartment because I wouldn’t get the full effect of having it.

Do you have a home theater system in your home?

My Tablet is not Working Properly

I allow Noah what we call tablet time.  He loves to play educational apps along with fishing games.  He even has his own virtual fish tanks.  Like most children, he has the Minecraft bug.  He loves Minecraft. It is a really fun and creative app. He even built me a house out of pink wool.  Tablet time is something that he earns for good behavior. It is not something he always gets; it depends on what is going on and how his day has been.  He hasn’t had much tablet time lately because my tablet doesn't always work.  This makes both of us very sad.  Noah told me that I need to take it to a device repair place the next day. I haven’t fixed it yet. I think that I know what is wrong with it. I want to check with Ipad (either 1 2 or 3) Repair by Fone Angels just to make sure it isn't something else. Normally I have great luck with electronics.  My sister however, has huge problems.  She has probably broken every phone she has ever owned. She is always cracking the screen, dropping it in the toilet, and other assorted things.  I am not sure what her issue is.  It seems like she is constantly getting her phone repaired.

 I have only broken two phones.  One I dropped on a sidewalk and it broke. Thankfully it wasn’t an expensive phone.  The other one, I was on vacation in San Diego, and we had just arrived and we went to the beach.  I was so excited to see the water I went in to the ocean with my phone in my pocket.  I was extremely tired from traveling all day.  I think when you are traveling is the worst time to have your phone break. My friend was nice enough to share hers with me so I could still call my family.  Thankfully I must have foreseen this happening, because I had upgraded my phone the night before I left for my trip and it was going to be delivered the day after I got home.  That was an ordeal too getting it activated. I ended up missing a friend’s child’s birthday party.  It’s usually a lot cheaper just to get your device repaired than to buy new. Smart Phones are so expensive and if you get a discount on it, you usually have to renew your contract or what we call in my family your prison term.

Have you ever broken your phone or tablet?

Alife, Haathi and the Magic Bioscope App Review

Noah is interested in learning about other countries and cultures. I try and expose him to learning about them at a young age.  He must have received that from me genetically.  I loved when we would learn about other countries in school. I even did folk dancing where we did dances from many different countries. It is so interesting to learn about places and see how they are similar and different. I can sometimes find it challenging to teach Noah about different countries and cultures.  It needs to be age appropriate so he can understand. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to take him to each country and show him first hand. There are also places that have really interesting cultures that may not be the safest places to visit.  So, I have to rely on apps, stories and activities. I want to start making crafts and food from different places.  I want to make sure he understands just because they are different than us, they are just like him. I really embrace and teach him the fact that it is awesome to be different.  

 

One country we both find interesting is India.   There isn’t a ton of stuff out there about India so, when we found an app called Alife, Haathi and the Magic Bioscope. This app is an interactive story book.  He loves to read so, when it is educational and not about Lego Star Wars it is a good thing.   Noah loves to go on adventures when he reads. He likes to learn about animals too.  Noah really enjoys Alfie and Haathi and the Magic Bioscope. His favorite character is Haathi. He thinks it’s cool that Alfie is friends with a baby elephant.    I love that they include a great moral about friendship.  I think that is an important thing because it really reminds kids of the importance of being a friend.  It helps the child relate to the story.

Here is some information from the developer:

“Haathi and Alfie were the best of friends…”
Take your children on a journey of discovery with Alfie, a curious little boy from India, and his best friend, the baby elephant Haathi. Watch as your kids engage with the interactive storybook app, bringing animals, objects and Alfie to life in each scene.
As Alfie and Haathi discover the animal kingdom, your child will build their reading skills, comprehension skills and motor skills. With the rich background music and illustrations, your child will also get a glimpse into Indian culture.
When Alfie and Haathi discover a dusty old box, they can’t begin to imagine the adventures it’ll take them on! Alfie loses Haathi as they set off on their first adventure. Join Alfie in his search for Haathi, and along the way learn all about bioscopes, making new friends, and discover the meaning of true friendship!
Recommended ages: 2 to 6

Features:
- An interactive storytelling experience.
- “Read to me” option allows parents to turn off the voice-over and read the storybook to their children themselves.
- Page selector allows for easy navigation to a non-consecutive page.
- Professional audio narration.
- Custom background audio for each scene created by acclaimed Bollywood music producer Ram Sampath.
- Hints to guide parents and kids by highlighting all interactions in each scene.
- Objects, words and characters come to life with animations and/or interesting and educational factoids.
- This app is universal and has been optimised for Retina displays and the iPad.

Alfie, Haathi & the Magic Bioscope is available for free on iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/alfie-haathi-magic-bioscope/id699499278?mt=8

For more information about Alfie, Haathi & the Magic Bioscope and Growl Media, please visit:

Growl Media

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