Pets Need Healthcare, Too

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While having a puppy can be great, it can also be very expensive. If the little guy doesn’t get the proper healthcare he needs, it can result in issues later on in their life. We have to keep those little scrappy guys healthy if we want all the puppy kisses!

Lamb posing for a picture with her mom.

Last year an old teammate of mine decided she could no longer care for her puppy, and was trying to find her a new home. I could not see this little dog go, I just had to take her. So I did. I adopted my little gremlin, Lamb, with just her first round of vaccinations, no spay, and little bald spots quickly popping up. I have had dogs before but that’s just it, they were dogs. Fully grown, fixed, vaccinated, healthy dogs. My little Lamb was none of those things.

After some research I found a Puppy Plan offered by PetSmart. After taking her in for her first check up, I immediately signed her up. This Puppy Plan is great for young dogs who need a lot of help, the healthcare plan consisted of monthly payments that included a spay, all her vaccinations, and heart worm/flea and tick prevention I added to the plan. The plan also includes check-ups, so Lamb got her bald spots looked at and diagnosed immediately. After some antibiotics; bought at a discounted price because of her Puppy Plan, she was better than new.

Lamb enjoying a puppuccino after her routine checkup included in her Puppy Plan.

My teammate did her best to take care of Lamb but if she had known about this customizable Puppy Plan she might have felt she could continue to keep her. If you’re looking to adopt a pet you need to be prepared to do more than just put food in a bowl, pet healthcare is much more accessible than one would think. Every pet owner should look into PetSmart’s health plans, they can greatly improve your little loved one’s life and cover a variety of pet species

What Foundation Fits You?

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Are you tired of fighting with so many foundation brands? With so many options it may be hard picking the perfect one. Should you buy oil-free, full-coverage, or sheer? I am here to help you find out what is best for you.

First, the best foundation should disappear into the skin. If this is the only thing you take from reading this, remember that the best foundation disappears into the skin. It keeps the lines, wrinkles and pores from showing, but also covers the redness on the face.  

Before buying you might want to try one out. You cannot judge the bottle by the color. I would recommend going somewhere like Ulta, Dillard’s, or Sephora. Although you may not buy from these stores, they are able to apply it for you and give you an idea about the brand. Do not buy the foundation and get home to find it is the wrong shade. When you find the right brand that you enjoy using, you may can find it cheaper at your local Walmart, drugstore, or even online.

When you go to these places to find the best foundation that disappears into the skin, arrive with a clean face. Do not show up with a full face of makeup on. This may affect the way colors show up to the skin. The best parts to test foundations are the jawline or cheek. After application, check the colors under natural light or the lighted mirror in the store. Keep in mind that your shade varies from seasons such as winter and summer.

Picking the right formula for the skin may be tricky, but here is a tip. Many women’s skin changes with the weather. Winter season, your skin may tend to be dry, while in the summer it may be oily. If your skin is dry, look for hydrating or rich moisture on the bottle. If your skin tends to be oily, look for oil-control and oil-free bottle. If you’re in between, mineral foundation may be the best way for you. It works well on mostly any type of skin and sensitive skin.  

Lighter coverage is better in the summer and creamier, heavy cover for the winter. Many foundations will read on the bottle about the types. Also, you always want the best foundation that should disappear into the skin.  

Start Wrong? Finish Strong!

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Back to school I go…

Most older people think of going back to school and immediately say, “nope, not me…it’s too late!” However, the key to finishing anything is to simply start. Now, degrees aren’t for everyone but if they are…if it’s what you want, then why not go get it? Now, I’m not oblivious to life and the various ways one can be challenged but “Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough” (Og Mandino).

Many people look at going back to school as failing before even starting. However, failure and failed attempts are two different things. If you don’t succeed at something the first time, keep trying until you get the desired outcome or something better. For example, I’m 24 and going to get my bachelor’s degree. Many people say, “oh, you’re still young, that’s not too bad.” However, most of my high school classmates have completed either their bachelor’s or have landed their career job! My current classmates are between 19-21 and when they find out I’m 24, I always get an odd look or “oh, my sibling is the same age and s/he is working with such and such company!

Despite the minor embarrassment or the occasional panic attacks when I realize how close I am to 25, I appreciate the detour I took to get here. I didn’t go right off to college like my high school peers but in the short time since I graduated in 2013, I’ve traveled to amazing places like the top of a mountain in Colorado, received great internship opportunities, and met amazing people from known celebrities to cooperate business professionals!

Final words: Trust the detour, its part of the process! If you are 24 like me or 45 like others and you want to go back to school…do it! If you started wrong? You can STILL FINISH STRONG!

Simply Start.

Daily Kinky Hair Routines

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Natural hair takes time and effort to grow and keep healthy, especially if you don’t have a routine of how you take care of your hair. Everyone’s routine is different, some people wash their hair every day, every week, and some wait even longer. There are naturally oily scalps and there is a naturally dry scalp. And knowing how your hair reacts to different products is especially important.

If you’re like me, for example, I have very thick, kinky hair, and my scalp is always dry. In turn, I part my hair to make sure every inch on my hair has been taken care of when moisturizing and oiling my scalp daily, otherwise I will have dandruff everywhere. My mother has thin, wavy hair and scalp keeps oil longer compared to mine. She can wash her hair every day, and her daily hair routine doesn’t take so long.

Products

Finding natural hair products are becoming easier because more people are coming out with products, the only barrier I face is the cost. I find some products on the expensive side but work so well with my hair. If I feel like the product is worth it then I continue with it, if not my main goal I find a good oil, tea tree, coconut, and almond are a few I use. For other oil, choices click here.

Options

After the day of getting my big chop, I was a new person. I had to form myself a routine to keep up my new hairstyle.

I tried washing every day, moisturize, but eventually, my scalp said no. I used Cantu for a year or so and then my hair became immune to the whole product line. Eventually, I found a product good to hold my hair, and I flat twisted it on Sundays and I kept it all week for the next week to wear a fro. When my hair was long enough, I started wearing box braids. Oiled my scalp and may be used mouse or oil sheen every now and then. This was my routine: braids for about three months let my hair breath for a week or two and get braids again. Living in Texas, the heat is unbearable so during the summer I would wear my natural out all three months but would get my braids as soon as school started back. Not too much maintenance and my hair grew so fast. Until it didn’t grow anymore. Now I am on another journey to grow it longer.

Not everyone can wear box braids, but there are other options.

Find your routine, whether it is washing every day or every two weeks. Stick to one product or multiple products. Or use protective styles every now and then.

Before Buying Your First Guitar

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Finding the right guitar can be a fun and exciting experience. However, there is so much to consider before you purchase your first guitar. Whether you want an electric guitar or an acoustic, it is important to know what sound you want to achieve. Acoustic guitars are soft and mellow in sound. It is the type of guitar you play around a camp fire, for example. Electric guitars are raw and more vibrant in sound. If you want to shred some riffs and rock, an electric is the guitar for you.

In addition to knowing what sound you want to achieve, you will have to consider purchasing oil for the neck of the guitar, picks, extra strings, pedals, and amps, all the things you will need for guitar maintenance to make your guitar last longer. These vary depending on the type of guitar that you purchase, but know that you will be spending quite a bit when you get started.

Something to consider is the cost of the guitar and additional gear that you will need for maintenance. The typical guitar costs as low as $300 and as high as $3000. Something to remember here is the quality of the guitar. You will typically see quality reflected in the price of the guitar. The best thing to do is shop around because you might find a great guitar in a pawn shop or you can find a reasonably priced guitar at a local music store. Definitely don’t be afraid to check out the higher-end guitar sellers, such as Fender and Gibson because they might be able to give you a better idea of what you are looking for. A cool place to check out, especially if you are ever in Chicago, Chicago Music Exchange. They have a great selection of guitars to choose from, in addition to other musical instruments.

If you want an electric guitar, keep in mind that you will be spending more on additional items for your guitar. Electric guitars rely on amps to amplify their sound. You can also change the sounds of your electric by hooking up pedals to your amp, such as the wah-wah pedal or an overdrive pedal. That being said, the acoustic is a great first guitar because it tends to be a little less costly than an electric, nor does it require as many accessories.

Something to also consider in the process of purchasing your guitar is the playability of the guitar. Definitely go for a thin-necked guitar with good flexible strings so that you will have a more comfortable time playing. Go and play around with the different guitars in person to find what feels right to you. Something to consider as well regarding playability is whether you are left-handed or right-handed, but no worries! They make guitars for both lefties and righties.

After you purchase your first guitar, whether acoustic or electric, remember that practice makes perfect. You might not sound like Van Halen or Slash from Guns N Roses right away, but with time you can achieve that level of play. Ultimately, guitar is one of the coolest instruments to learn to play, and is one of the most popular instruments on the market today.

MeOmyO! Ville Platte Platters

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A new family owned restaurant has opened in Texarkana, Texas. If you are down for some good Cajun food, this is the happening place for you. MeOmyO’s is now open on State Line Avenue for you to come check out!

Trevor Aslin and his brothers have been in East Texas for quite some time, but were raised in Ville Platte, Louisiana. This interested him in to opening a restaurant to show off his works of art in certain dishes that are dear to him and his family. “Having the whole variety of Cajun food in one place is difficult, so we just like to keep it Ville Platte style,” Aslin said. He went on to explain his step mom Cyn who was also Cajun, showed them to use the ‘trinity’ which (is a combination of onion, bell pepper and celery.

I’ve known this family my whole life and can tell you the flavor and richness in their food makes it Cajun. Many people think of the spiciness, but if it doesn’t have the flavor of the ‘trinity’ it is not as flavorful. Cyn will be visiting often to cook for the restaurant and also share new recipes with her boys. MeOmyO’s is named after an alligator that lives on their bayou property, and the logo has a secret joke, if a customer looks long enough.

Many great things are coming to the menu of this restaurant as they build from the baby steps of this new business. “We will be expanding our hours and adding menu items as time goes on, but we want to make sure we are ready for each step,” Aslin said.  As of February 12th, they posted on their MeOmyO’s Facebook page they are open till 9pm. So, if you haven’t already, try out some crawfish etouffee, Cajun shrimp ravioli, or a Po Boy sandwich. It is located on 2122 N. State Line Ave.

Marshall Health Nuts

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Healthy restaurants are hard to come by in Marshall, Texas. Just recently a new restaurant opened up called the Health Nut, bringing new varieties of healthy foods that most places in Marshall cannot offer. Health Nut offers foods such as vegan wraps, sandwiches, and tasty smoothies. For snacks, they offer acai bowls and fruit. While this place is quite small, it has a lot to offer the small town of Marshall.

During the grand opening, I was able to talk to the owner, Jane Hollifield. Mrs. Hollifield said her idea behind Health Nut was more of a lifestyle she and her husband developed years ago. It was not money motivated, she simply just wanted to share her healthy lifestyle with others.

Hollifield did not think it would have as large an impact on her community as it did. When asked how she and her husband managed to open up such a trendy restaurant Hollifield said it took them at least three years of consistently saving money and only buying things that they absolutely needed. On Health Nut’s first day open they sold out of everything in just four hours. In the first week open, business did now slow down, but became even busier.

Many patrons interviewed said they really enjoy their food and were glad that something so good came to such a small town. Some even said that Health Nut makes them want to change their lifestyle into a healthy one. Others said they were so motivated that when they got home they threw away all of the fatty foods out of their pantry. This new restaurant is already having a big impact on the small city of Marshall.

Is Technology Becoming a Threat?

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The potential for technology has dramatically improved in recent years. We now have Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Video games are becoming more realistic. Robots are becoming more human-like. Driverless or self-driving cars are being tested. The possibilities are endless in the age of technology. However, these new developments make some question whether the benefits truly outweigh the potential for these advances to be used for something more sinister. Peyton Gregory, a mother-to-be, said, “These dangerous aspects of technology are really terrifying for parents when considering the safety of their children.” Lauren Johnson, a local high school student, said that such technologies really freak her out and she would never want to use such technology if it were offered to her.

In recent months we have been introduced to deepfakes, and voice cloning technology. Deepfake technology is used to create fake videos by taking images of a person’s face to create a moving image. Initially it was designed for film production in Hollywood. Although revolutionary, deepfakes are being used to create revenge porn, which started to surface on Reddit in 2017. Many young female actresses such as Selena Gomez, Emma Watson, and Scarlett Johannson have fallen victim to having their faces placed into these inappropriate videos. This form of technology has also plagued the lives of everyday women. Not only does it lead to fake porn and silly memes, but the creation of fake news reports and government videos. This is very dangerous to the safety of the nation, taking into consideration military and governmental use of such technologies. It could become very dangerous and even disastrous. It has the potential to lead the way to another World War if it were used strategically.

Voice cloning technology can use one’s voice to create a computerized voice avatar that is supposed to sound just like their very own and can be used to say anything that is typed into the computer. A program designed by Adobe Voco has this same concept, which was never released to the public because of these scary scenarios. However, an app available to the general public called Lyrebird can be used for those willing to share their voice. Regardless of the revolutionary aspect of these new developments, the potential for them to be used in a negative way still stands a risk if it were to land in the wrong hands.

23 & Me, the Best DNA Company

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The definition of genealogy is a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. I believe every human once in their time has thought of their origins. DNA companies such as 23&Me, MyHeritage, FamilyTree and so many others have gained a lot of popularity over the years. According to Forbes, Ancestry.com DNA database alone tops about 3 million, sales rise to about $850 million back in 2017. It seems like many people want to know about their past. I’ve gained a profound interest in understanding the genesis of my paternal and maternal ancestors, as well as the ancestors of my ethnic group and of course fellow human race. Hopefully this will be some use to people who are considering buying a DNA kit.

One of the main reasons that I’m well versed in DNA test is because I took four DNA tests: 23&Me, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA. I don’t want anyone to overpay or buy a DNA kit and end up confused about the results or not liking the company. So, I’ll rate from the best company out of those four from 0 to 10 and focus on the best throughout but let’s start with the best.

I would say 23&Me was the best by far, followed by Ancestry.com, then MyHeritage, and finally FamilyTree. The reason why I like 23&Me out of the others is because it has more to choose from than the others, it’s less expensive, only costing around $40 or $50 dollars if there’s a holiday or random sale.

Now, when I say 23&Me has more to choose from, it’s due to their many different selections such as: Ancestry, Health, Research, Family & Friends. When you choose one they then break into various subcategories. Here’s an example: let’s say you want to know more about your father’s side. All you have to do is click “Paternal Haplogroup” under the Ancestry/Summary tap. It tells you, who you descend from on your male side going back over 5,000 years it’s quite extraordinary. But let’s say you want to know about your mother’s side? At that point you click “Maternal Haplogroup” under the same tab Ancestry/Summary. Theirs tons of other selections on 23&Me whether you want to learn about your “DNA Relatives,” “Ancestry Composition,” “Your DNA Family,” so much to see and learn about according to your genetics.

Some came close in features such as Ancestry.com. However, if you want to learn more about the history of your family in America, you had to pay extra for birth and death certificates as well as for any military information or newspapers/slave records. This additional information such as documents would be great to have, spanning back for decades but you have to pay extra for it or monthly. I imagine most people don’t have the extra money to do this, but if you do, you may love Ancestry.com.

The company does have a wide database that can provide governmental information on just about anyone’s family in the past. They’re the best company if you’re into documents on your family but over-all very basic when it comes to their DNA Story. They only provide broad regions of the world that your ancestor came from such as: Mali or England but it doesn’t breakdown into specific ethnic groups like: Igbo or Anglo-Saxon. The DNA story is to broad in that sense, however, they’re always updating so it may get better. Nevertheless, Ancestry.com is good the only downside is broad regions and monthly expense which is why I have it second on the list. If you get Ancestry.com at least get it along with MyHeritage.

The reason why MyHeritage is third is because it’s similar to Ancestry.com but unfortunately has less information when it comes to documents i.e. certificates. The only reason I’ll get MyHeritage along with Ancestry is to see if the results come back the same or at least similar. This is why I recommend taking at least two DNA test from different companies to make sure that the results are close or the same. Also, it’s wise to check on your family to see what you should or might have so you can get a basic idea of what to look for. Needless to say, MyHeritage gives a general regional location of where your ancestors came from in the last few centuries but it doesn’t get into specific people groups, however, if that’s what you looking for (geographical regions) then MyHeritage is for you.

My least favorite is FamilyTree, simply because I refuse to pay $400+ for a full Y-DNA search test. For the male lineage it’s more expense than the female. That alone should be a good enough reason to not buy it, but it doesn’t end there. FamilyTree is a less known company thus their database is small. The reason why these DNA companies have so much information about your past is because they have millions of people genetic history in their system. The smaller the company the less they can work with according to DNA, which is why they may be so expensive. This company also in my opinion tends to be for experienced geneticists, because of their slightly confusing layout and terminology.

If anyone is interested in learning about their heritage, I recommend you buy 23&Me first then Ancestry.com if 23&Me wasn’t good enough for you. I also recommend you buy these DNA Kits during a sale, but the main reason why you should choose 23&Me first is because it has more options for you to choose from according to: genetics, lineage, regional ancestry, and it provides deep ancestral roots than any other DNA company. Breaking down your father or mother side when it comes to DNA Haplogroups and gives you a specific point of origin for your ancestors. And I will always recommend that you further your studies particularly on Haplogroups to get the full scope of your lineage.

New Light on Leukemia

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There have been cases of cancer throughout recent years, many incurable. One of these diseases is leukemia, a dreaded cancer of which there was no hope for a cure. Many elderly people died from this cancer which deeply saddened their loved ones. However, recent research suggests that eventually scientists could develop a cure for leukemia before it undergoes a more aggressive form.Image result for leukemia microorganims

Leukemia is a disorder in which the blood cells and bone marrow accumulate at unstable levels through the lymphatic system. Sometimes a person’s diagnosis for leukemia may not be accurate. No matter the case, it cannot be cured even if a patient goes through chemotherapy. The therapy does work for some patients, but it only regulates symptoms for others.

Yet on January 29, 2019, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Drug Discovery program discovered a brand-new type of therapy that may treat leukemia. In tests, the protein MLL-1 binds with another called WDR5 causing leukemia. Researchers now plan to disrupt this process so that stopping the cancer is a possibility. This development soon led the Celgene Corporation to make a large investment to ensure further research and innovations for preclinical trials. Since then, there have been many collaborations to make this cure a reality.

For information on leukemia symptoms-click here

And for more information on leukemia cure development here