A First Line Of Defense #Eczema Product - Cheryl Lee MD

Eczema is one of the most common and irritating skin conditions out  there. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it is a problem with the lipid barrier that attracts and retains moisture. It has broken down. Some of the triggers are stress, hot/cold temperatures, household chemicals, pet dander, and dry skin!
 For myself, as sure as winter turns to spring is when my eczema will flair up. It only affects my hands and fingers. But try squeezing a lemon, washing dishes, or getting excess nail polish remover on my finger, to name a few things. The pain is sharp and intense. Otherwise, it just drives you mad with the itching. There is really nothing I can do to cure it...all I can do is control it. And believe me, it's very hard to control. I'm just lucky that it goes away in the winter. It's sort of opposite from the norm, it usually gets worse in winter! But that's how I roll!

#MyPostMonday Link-Up--The Week's Best Original Content!

 Exploring One Way Or The Other

With the trending craze and obvious popularity of the new "Poke Mon Go" App, I've been a little dumbfounded by the whole thing. There are things that I can see which are very detrimental to a generation of children, raised on staring down at a phone for inordinate amounts of time. But I just know if I was a kid when this came out, I'd be all over it too! To be given a certain amount of time by my parents to roam freely around a neighborhood, letting the game dictate where the next stop is would be amazingly liberating. But what about all the phone neck injuries from staring down so long, and the accidents that will inevitably happen to the unobservant? It was bad enough for me as a teenager, without Poke Mon! For example, I rode my bike into a road construction hole because it wasn't clearly marked and the sun had gone down. I was fortunate to avoid the rebar protruding out at all angles. I spent a mere two days in the hospital with bruised kidneys. Imagine what I'd be like staring down at a game! 

Pioneer Day At This Is The Place Heritage Park + #Giveaway

In Utah, folks are lucky to get two celebrations in July! And celebrate they do! It is home to the 'Stadium Of Fire' celebration on the 4th, one of the largest in the country. Utahns certainly love their fireworks, even if they do have to travel to Wyoming to get the heavy duty ones because they are illegal to sell here and probably to light off too!

Then there is the 24th of July, where Utah is all about celebrating the pioneers who traveled from Missouri in the midst of tremendous hardship, so they could practice their freedom to worship without being persecuted. I'll admit it, most people just use the holiday to blow off more fireworks!

But at 'This Is The Place Heritage Park', celebrating the pioneers is exactly why this park was originally created. From the imposing monuments at the park's entrance, to the authentic time period buildings and costumes worn by the workers, it all takes you back to the mid-1800s, when the pioneers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley!

Last weekend, the park was on point with all pioneer celebratory revelries.

Clear Vision + #MyPostMonday Link-Up

It has been a really hard few months for everyone and I'm not just talking Americans. With the advent of the internet, we are painfully aware of many of the world's tragedies unfolding before our eyes. And since it is so easy to hop on a plane, and be in another country in a matter of a few hours, we feel more connected than ever to our brothers and sisters overseas. There is anger and outrage, no matter what side you're on, and either side feels they have the monopoly on being right. There seems to be no shortage of those who will take matters into their own hands and wield out punishments they feel are deserved for injustices caused, not even to them personally, but done to others who may be similar in circumstances, beliefs, color, religion, politics, etc. The list goes on and on. 

Personally, I feel like crawling in a little hole and just letting it all pass by, hoping I somehow won't be affected by it all. Not saying I'm doing that--I am very tuned in to Social Media, like everyone else. I get the news. I get at least several reports per day on the things that are going down. It is disturbing. Those who do nothing are as bad as those who go against the cause.

The Full Moon Zip Line Tour At Sundance Resort #BeUtahful

I am transfixed by views from above. On one hand, I am petrified, on the other, I am elated! Being up high is the only way you can experience certain sights first-hand. Whether that vantage point is on top of a very high sky-scraper, aboard a roller-coaster just before you plummet down at heart-stopping speed, atop a summit that you've just climbed, or from an airplane. All these options are at high altitude, (and of course, there are more---what about sky-diving?) yet they each provide a somewhat different perspective of what being up high really means! And then there is that ever-present gnawing at the back of my gut telling me that were I to accidentally lose control up there in the stratosphere, I would never live to tell the tale!

Watching The Olympic Trials + #MyPostMonday Link-

The Olympic Trials ended yesterday and it has been so much fun watching them~~So many exciting moments and some heartbreaks. I loved watching the track athletes the most, just because of the sheer discipline they have! My heart goes out to Allyson Felix because of her foot injury that has been plaguing her this whole time. She didn't make the 200m cuts to defend her title at Rio, but she will be there for the 400m. Hopefully her foot gets better!  And what about Justin Gatlin, age 34, getting to make yet another trip to Rio to represent the U.S. in the 100m and the 200m! He is the oldest sprinter to make an American Olympic Team!

Supplemental Nutrition That Heals, Energizes And Beautifies #NeoCell

The Perpetual Argument. 
I consider myself a supplement user and have been so for awhile! Now, I am fully aware of the back and forth between the press and the nutrition industry. I even understand why the press is mostly antagonistic--it's because of the charlatans in the nutritional field, the ones who ride on the backs of the legitimate, scientifically backed, conscientious, companies who are advancing the health of millions of Americans everywhere. These sad impersonators have nothing to offer except disillusionment. It's a shame. We could be a more healthy population if people saw more of the positive results from actual scientific findings in nutrition. In addition, nutrition companies have to adhere to the behemoth FDA, that insists that any supplement claims, regardless if it is backed by solid science, have to state they are not evaluated by the FDA and that they can't claim treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. The one positive take-away is that it does tend to make us responsible for our own research and health choices. But really, who can compete with the giant pharmaceutical companies, with their billions of advertising dollars and virtual free rein in the medical field?

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A Masterpiece + #MyPostMonday Link-up

Sometimes things happen and it just seems wrong! Long story short--if the beauty of nature is formed under duress, I guess we can assume that as humans we take similar patterns. Here's my thought--
Our untold potential lays dormant, waiting for us to make of ourselves what we have the potential to do. We have the power within to mold something spectacular. No excuses. It doesn't happen overnight. But we are eternal beings of intelligence and light. We have the ages on our sides. Each stage of life holds an opportunity if we but take hold of it. Just as beauty is created from opposing forces of nature, so is the soul. Take the things that happen which are painful, cataclysmic, and searing to render a masterpiece!

Image by Kris Moffitt

5 Empowering Ideas To Uplift Your Family #UpliftFamilies

Every family is different with a lot of different personalities, ages, likes and dislikes. But they're still ours and it's the greatest when we can come together and support each other, no matter how crazy we are!

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Love The Journey + #MyPostMonday Link-Up

Today is the first day of summer, or summer solstice, and it came at the right time I'd say, reaching almost 100 degrees today. June is also Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month and so I'm thinking about my mom, who I lost way too early, 7 1/2 years ago, to Alzheimer's Disease. Luckily, she didn't have to endure the disease in its entirety because she also had a weakened heart from rheumatic fever she had as a child. Instead of doing major heart surgery, the family opted to let her heart run its course naturally because her Alzheimer's was starting to ravage her mind. It was such a hard thing to do. She suffered a bit at the end because she refused to take her medications because she thought they were bad for her.  It was hard to see her forget some of the names of her children or leave the house on a walk and get hopelessly lost. I remember she still tried to make meals, but eventually my dad took over because it was hard for her to blend the correct ingredients.

I believe she had early-onset Alzheimers because even in her fifties she was a little slow about making decisions, getting things done, or recounting experiences. But she was so wise! I relied on her advice so much. 

Sometimes I wonder if I will come down with the disease, since I am her daughter and it is hereditary. However, I learned that less than 10% of Alzheimer's cases are from heredity.  

That's so life!---We can be fighting battles to succeed, have goals and dreams of what life will be like. But there is never a guarantee that it will be the dreamed-about ending. I'm going out on a limb and saying that it almost never is.

That is why the journey is so important, and learning and enjoying it while you go! If you forget to enjoy the things that you experience while you are on the journey, it may be that when you reach the end, you'll have lived a lesser life. I think that is why my philosophy is to learn and grow, with as many resources as possible. But growing to the point that you are not instilling self-imposed suffering. I say, be kind to yourself, as well as to others. Life is too short for bad vibes!!

Yes, my mom was so dear to me and I learned so much through her example. We lost her too soon, however. I know she made my journey brighter. May we live each day to appreciate our journey! Who do you know and appreciate who enjoys the journey and makes your life better through knowing them?

Image - Gavin Schofield

Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself! But this linky is for non-sponsored posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links welcome!)