Thank you AstraZeneca for sponsoring this post. Many of you who are long-time readers of Tough Cookie Mommy know that I originally began this blog after being diagnosed with leukemia. The diagnosis literally rocked my whole world as a young mother with a toddler and a newborn baby and I just needed a place where I could vent and share my emotions whenever I was feeling overwhelmed. I had no idea then that I would be telling my story to other women and families so many years later. And with September being Blood Cancer Awareness Month, I feel it’s more important than ever to share my story. My journey began in 2007, shortly after the birth of my youngest son. I had a routine follow-up visit with my doctor and she noticed that my White Blood Cells (WBCs) were kind of high after she reviewed my bloodwork. She discussed with me that, although it was probably nothing, she wanted me to see a hematologist just to make sure that nothing else was going on with me. She explained that a … [Read more...]
Manage Your Child’s Allergies Once And For All!
I am participating in an influencer program on behalf of Claritin®. This program is paid for by the makers of Claritin® and I have received compensation for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own. Seasonal allergies have been the bane of this family's existence for as long as I can remember. Not only did I suffer from them as a child, but now my son suffers from them as well. The problem is that he is also asthmatic, so his asthma is aggravated whenever he gets congested or irritated from his allergies. As a result, we have spent a lot of time in doctor's offices over the years. Thankfully, the Smart Allergy Mom Toolkit® by the makers of Children’s Claritin® has empowered me with the information that I need to get a handle on my son's allergies once and for all! In my son's case, he happens to be allergic to something in every season, so it has been difficult to get his allergies under control in the past. Some of the most … [Read more...]
Choosing The Right Children’s Hospital For Your Child #HassenfeldChildrensHospital #Ad
*This post is brought to you by The Motherhood and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. All opinions are my own. Having a child with a chronic medical illness is extremely difficult. As parents, we never want our children to be ill and we want to make them better right away whenever they do get sick. As many of you know, my younger son has had Benign Rolandic Epilepsy since he was eight years old. I can still remember the first time I witnessed him having a seizure, it was one of the worst moments of my entire life. As a result of his illness, we have spent quite a bit of time at the hospital having him tested as well as taking him to the Emergency Room. As I navigated the medical system at our local children’s hospital, I learned that one of the best things that parents can do for their children is to advocate for them to receive the best care from the best doctors. It’s so important to choose the right children’s hospital to entrust with the care of your … [Read more...]
Enjoy Peace Of Mind Overnight! #TryTENAOvernight #Ad
*This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampaignHashtag #CollectiveBias Most nights, I often have a lot on mind about everything from what I am going to teach my students the next day to what project my sons have due for school. This is a given for someone like me who juggles having a full-time career and a family, among other things. What I don't want to have to worry about when I'm trying to go to sleep is bladder leakage because, although it is a reality for many women, it's not something that should be keeping me from a good night's sleep. After having two children, bladder leakage can definitely be an issue at times but I manage to keep feeling confident with protection for the Unexpected Leak™, with TENA® incontinence products for women. I love that they are designed for comfort and made for performance while allowing me to do the things I love, without missing out on any moment or experience. If you … [Read more...]
Poise Keeps Me Laughing! (+ $2 OFF coupon!) #PoiseMoment @Poise #Ad
Do you sometimes leak a little when you are laughing and hanging out with family and friends? Believe me, I know it is not something that you like to talk about but, for many of us, it is something that we deal with in our lives. In my case, it is something that began after having children and can be an inconvenience sometimes. The good news is, you are not alone. The reality is that 1 in 3 women experience light bladder leakage, or LBL, and Poise® gives you one less thing to worry about any time of day or night. Whether you prefer absorbent pads and liners, or Poise® Impressa® Bladder Supports, a non-absorbent solution that helps stop leaks before they start, Poise® has a wide variety of options for your LBL needs. So, I never have to worry about LBL and I can stay in the moment! That is exactly what I did this past weekend when I visited my new niece in South Carolina. Although I initially worried a little about taking such a long road trip with my LBL, I knew that I … [Read more...]
Remove Snow Safely This Winter
How will you remove snow safely this winter? Once again, New York City is scheduled to get some snowstorms this weekend for the New Year. It's something us New Yorkers are used to with the kinds of winters we get around these parts but they still require some preparation on our part. Many people are unaware that removing snow can become a dangerous task and should be done with some caution. Unfortunately, we learned this lesson the hard way when the father of an old friend of ours suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow in front of their home. He subsequently died as a result and it was sobering to think that something like snow removal could prove to be such a perilous activity. Studies show that shoveling snow can increase a person's risk of having a heart attack. Additionally, there are other injuries that can arise from clearing snow including pulled muscles, broken bones, and hypothermia. There are some precautions that one can take to decrease these … [Read more...]
Help Children With Cancer This Holiday Season! #tacklekidscancer @tacklekidscancr #Ad
The holiday season is in full swing and, during this special time of the year, it is so important to embrace the full meaning of the holidays. While many get caught up in giving and receiving presents, others are treasuring the things that really matter in life like family and loved ones. These support systems become especially important for families with children who are battling pediatric cancer. Tackle Kids Cancer provides an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer. It is a way for a child to help another child, and families to help other families. Unfortunately, only 4% of government cancer funding directed towards pediatric cancer, and childhood cancer being the number one cause of death by disease in children – funding in all forms is crucial. Those of you who are long-time followers of this blog know that as a Leukemia Survivor, advancing cancer research is very important to me. As a mother, my heart bleeds for these families … [Read more...]
Real Women Have A Real Conversation! #AlwaysDiscreetBoutique @AlwaysDiscreet #Ad
I have become a firm believer in the fact that, in order to have a healthy lifestyle, you have to be in tune with what your body needs and honest with yourself about addressing these needs. Over the years, I have noticed that we women are not always open with one another with the changes that our bodies go through after childbirth and as we mature into our beautiful selves. One of these taboo subjects has always been Adult Incontinence, despite the fact that it is a lot more prevalent than you would think. As a matter of fact, 1 in 3 women experience bladder leaks1 and 2 in 3 who have tried bladder leak underwear avoid wearing them all together, even when they know they need them2. It's time that we have a real conversation about how AI has affected many of us. There shouldn’t have to be a tradeoff between bladder leak protection and feminine underwear that makes women feel beautiful and confident. Part of being true to all of you and to myself includes me sharing my … [Read more...]
Let’s Reduce Breast Cancer Risk Together! #BCERP #Ad
Those of you who have been following Tough Cookie Mommy for a while know that cancer advocacy is a cause that I am deeply committed to. As a Leukemia Survivor, I know all too well the importance of being proactive about my health and the medical care that I receive. Additionally, I also educate myself on the foods that I eat as well as what I expose my body to on a daily basis. In my role as a parent, I have also worked hard to impart this awareness on to my children. Since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is fitting that we should discuss how we can attempt to lower the risk of breast cancer by having these important conversations with our daughters, our nieces and the other women in our lives. We all try to help our children grow up healthy. But the environment around a young girl may change the way her body develops. It is too soon to say for sure that avoiding certain chemicals or foods lowers the risk of breast cancer. Still, to help protect our … [Read more...]
Teach Students Healthy Habits #Lysol #Ad
It's fitting that I should be writing this post as I currently battle pink eye in, not one, but both of my eyes! Getting sick during back to school season is one of the things that affects teachers and students alike. It's something that occurs but it can be prevented with a few precautions. Back to school supply shopping is a must-have for students, school administrators, parents and teachers know that Lysol® products are a must when it comes to keeping students healthy! Although it's difficult to prevent exposure to all germs within a school setting, Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. I am keeping illness-prevention on all of our minds this Back to School season and reminding parents to donate disinfecting products to help create a healthier classroom. This is possible with Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes and Lysol® Disinfectant Spray. Helping to stop the spread of germs in the classroom not only helps reduce a child’s absenteeism but can also be … [Read more...]
