Take a Holiday from your Headaches! ($100 American Express Giveaway!)

Well the countdown is officially here!  It is twelve days until Christmas Eve and although I do indeed feel that this is the most wonderful time of the year, it can also become the most stressful if you aren't careful!  We all look forward to the sights, smells, foods, beverages and merriment associated with the holiday season. However, sometimes the things we love the most about the holidays could trigger migraines.  With all the indulgent foods and drinks, shopping for the perfect gifts, tons of parties to attend, and often times less sleep then usual migraine triggers are at an all-time high. 

That’s why the makers of Excedrin® Migraine invite you to “Take a Holiday from Headaches” by following these simple steps, provided by Dr. Keri Peterson, M.D. to help avoid your triggers:

•   Stick to your regular routine. Eating, sleeping and exercising as you do the rest of the year can help reduce the chances of getting a headache/migraine. *
•   Manage your time and plan ahead. Coordinate plans and responsibilities in advance with relatives and friends, compose set menus when hosting a party and try to purchase gifts early so you’re not rushing at the last minute.*  I am pleased to say I am almost finished with my shopping- finding the perfect gift can sure be stressful if left to crunch time! 
•   Stay in ventilated spaces. As you browse through the mall, watch out for those scented candles or perfume if you are sensitive to smells.**  Some perfumes and MANY colognes are a huge trigger for me.  I will never forget the Stars on Ice event I went to where the man in front of me was so over loaded with cologne I could hardly breathe.  Instant migraine. 
•    Eat and drink in moderation. Eat, drink, and be merry, but try not to consume sweets or alcoholic beverages in excess, as they could trigger migraines.**

Holiday time can also mean lots of traveling, so be sure to carry Excedrin® Migraine (or any of our other regular migraine/pain meds) with you when you’re on the go for fast relief should a headache or migraine strike. There is nothing worse then not being prepared when you are already feeling so darn bad!!

With all of the stress that can come with the holidays, the makers of Excedrin® are hoping to help alleviate some! Visit Facebook.com/Excedrin between November 1, 2013 and January 1, 2014 to enter the “Take a Holiday from Headaches” sweepstakes, where you’ll be eligible for a chance to win daily prizes including gift cards to popular retailers and one lucky grand prize of $25,000 to help with shopping, travel and other holiday expenses – all of which can give anyone a headache.

See official rules: https://excedrinhosweeps.icgrouplp.com/OfficialRules.aspx

Giveaway!!

And to ease some of YOUR holiday stress, Excedrin is offering a $100 AmEx gift card to one of my readers. To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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Disclosure: I am a paid Excedrin® Migraine blog ambassador. Compensation has been provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own. I am a paid Excedrin® Migraine blog ambassador. Along with compensation, three giveaways were provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own.

*Can be sourced to Cleveland Clinic
** Can be sourced to Headaches.org

Isn't that the truth?! lol

Congratualtions to my winners!

I am excited to announce my two winners, Angela Jimenez and Laura Adkins! Please send me your addresses ASAP so I can get you all of your goodies!  And thank you to everyone else that participated- be sure to try again next time! 

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Back to School with Excedrin + Giveaway!

Well school is well underway and went pretty much without a hitch.  Jackson just loves school, he thrives while learning, having schedules, and keeping busy!  He is a busy boy that needs activities to keep him focused and on track, so honestly we were all very excited about summer coming to  a close and the new school year beginning.  This also gives me lovely one on one time with my littlest peanut, Owen.  It is hard to believe that I only have one child home with me now full time! 

According to a recent survey by the makers of Excedrin®, 69% of parents, who have at least one child in school this coming year, say they are excited for their child’s first day of school. That doesn’t change the fact that 44% of parents also say they expect to get a headache during the back to school season. As a matter of fact, more than one-third of parents cite getting themselves (41%) and their children (43%) back on a schedule at the top of the list of things that might cause their headaches during the back to school season.

Since Jackson is still young, he is in first grade this year, our schedules aren't too  terribly hard to coordinate.  but I know the older the child gets, the more activities, sports, clubs and play-dates they will have and need to be organized.  We have some friends that have a family of 10- talk about juggling schedules!!  Phew, that gives me a headache just thinking about it!

Probably the most stressful thing about getting Jackson ready for school is the ridiculous school supply list we had to go on a scavenger hunt for.  Not only does he need pencils, crayons, scissors, and glue sticks, but he needs specific brands, colors, sizes and mass quantities.  And of course NO ONE seems to carry the non-purple glue sticks that are on everyone's school supply list!  This year we had to go to 3 different stores in order to acquire all of the supplies needed for his 1st grade class.  talk about annoying.  I'm not alone in this frustration, more than one-third (35%) of parents say shopping for school supplies give them a headache. With all the pencils, folders and notebooks, us parents should always remember to put Excedrin® on our back to school shopping list! lol! 

I have to say though, I do LOVE our school system.  They genuinely love their students and do their very best to keep the kids growing, learning and staying on top of the academic ladder.  We are truly blessed.  But no matter how happy you may be in one area, I am sure that there is always something your school could use to improve or upgrade, like supplies such as pencils and paper, computers or software and gym or sporting equipment.  Here is your chance to make a change for your very own school!

In response to a survey given to parents, the makers of Excedrin launched the “Help Your School Excel with Excedrin” sweepstakes, which is a fun and migraine-free way for FIVE individuals to win $10,000 for their child’s school. For more information about the sweepstakes, and a chance to win, please visit the Excedrin Facebook page!

Giveaway!!

 

In keeping with the back-to-school theme, this month’s giveaway package is meant to help parents stay organized, hydrated and migraine-free as you all adjust to hectic schedules and spend increasing amounts of time on-the-go. The lovely people of Excedrin are offering TWO giveaway winners a 2013-2014 academic planner and pen, a magnetic memo board and an aluminum tumbler!!

WIN IT!!! (MANDATORY ENTRY)
- Tell me in a comment what about the back-to-school season gives you a headache.

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Disclosure: I am a paid Excedrin® Migraine blog ambassador. Compensation has been provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own. I am a paid Excedrin® Migraine blog ambassador. Along with compensation, three giveaways were provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own.

ABBREVIATED RULES
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Runs 8/15/13 at 9:00:00 AM CDT to 9/15/13 at 11:59:59 PM CDT. Must be 18+, a legal resident of the 50 U.S./D.C., & have a valid email address & Facebook account. See www.facebook.com/excedrin for rules. To enter for free, hand-print your full name, address, phone number, date of birth, email address, and name of school, and mail to: “Help Your School Excel With Excedrin® - Free to Enter”, PO Box 11387 South Bend, IN 46634-

And the winner is...

Congratulations Katie Johnson! 

You are the winner of the giveaway in honor of National Migraine Awareness Month!  Please send me your contact info ASAP so you can get your goodies right away!

And thank you to everyone else that entered and be sure to give the My Migraine Triggers app so you can start discovering the triggers of your migraines and in turn moving you closer to a pain free life!

National Migraine Awareness Month

June is National Migraine Awareness Month- a time to inform and increase awareness of Migraine and Headache Disorders. Roughly 36 million people in the United States suffer from migraines , and three out of every four migraine sufferers are women typically ages 18 through 35. I turn 35 this year so this means I will magically stop getting them soon, right?! Haha. Don't I wish it was that simple! The pain of a migraine is some of the most severe and debilitating there is, and yet I find it amazing that there isn't more known about this disease- yep, that's right. Migraine is a disease, not just a headache. Symptoms can include an intense pounding or throbbing; without any bit of exaggerating, I can describe the pain as feeling like my brain is swelling up so large it is going to make my skull explode. Gross visual I know, but it is true. In the midst of a migraine, I am not only in pain but honestly am afraid that major damage is being done to my head- even though I know it isn't the case, it truly feels like it. Migraines are typically associated with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound and the pain is usually felt on one side of the head.

While fatigue and stress can trigger headaches in some people, migraines also have additional unique triggers:

Diet: Certain chemicals in food and beverages can cause migraines. Eating more fresh and fewer processed foods can also help rid your body of toxins or chemicals that could be causing your headaches.

Hydration: Dehydration can lead to migraines. Drinking plenty of water can help prevent this, and also helps rid your body of chemicals and toxins.

Weather changes: Changes in weather or barometric pressure can trigger migraines.

Menstrual cycle: Women with a history of migraines often report headaches immediately before or during their periods, when they have a drop in estrogen.

I am lucky enough that I can eat or drink what I want and not be affected by migraines.  Foods are not one of my triggers.  But really I wish they were! My own personal triggers are weather changes (hello storm- hello headache!) and my menstrual cycle.  Without fail, I get at least a migraine a month due to my cycle.  Unfortunately I can't control the weather or the fact that I was born a woman! So it looks like my migraines are here to stay. 

As there are numerous potential migraine triggers, and these triggers vary from person to person, tracking these potential migraine triggers is key for helping to manage migraines.  In fact, a recent survey conducted by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine found that an overwhelming majority of female migraine sufferers (93%) wish they knew more about their migraine triggers, while only 11 percent of women who suffer from migraines track their triggers regularly.

I've told you about the  FREE My Migraine Triggers iPhone App before and if you aren't using it yet, go download it now!!  (it is available for android as well as iPhone). It is an invaluable resource in discovering what it is that is your own personal trigger.  It can be anything from chocolate, red wine, the smell of cologne, MSG, flashing or florescent lights, weather, and hormones... the list goes on and on! It isn't the same for any two people, so seeing what causes you pain can help you steer clear of those things and stop a future migraine attack from starting. 

With the use of this app, I was able to discover that birth control pills were actually contributing to my migraines! I stopped taking them in January, and guess what- my migraines have reduced enormously! At first I didn't put two and two together, but the app helps keep track of everything you can think of and helps to discover the common denominator to the problem.  And as I look back into my medical history, I can see that yep, the times when I was Birth Control free I had much fewer migraines. 

I am over the moon that I have paired up with Excedrin Migraine and get to work as an Ambassador, spreading awareness and offering information to all of my fellow sufferers. If I help one person, I did my job!  Another lucky perk is I get to host yet another Giveaway! 

One lucky winner will receive A Prize Package to help you relax, hydrate and stop a migraine before it starts!

Aero Snooze:

Three-piece set includes TSA-compliant carrying pouch with soft nylon eye mask and foam earplugs to help travelers drift off to sleep.

Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow:

This u-shaped travel pillow is made of memory foam to provide support that correctly aligns your neck and spine, while supporting your head in sumptuously soft comfort.

Tritan from Eastman Water Bottle W/ Straw:

This 25 oz. bottle is made of durable Tritan material, BPA free and meets FDA requirements. This bottle is impact and shatter resistant and does not retain odor and/or taste.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!

Congratulations Winners!

Congratulations Jacqui Roberts and Laura Finlay Adkins who were my two winners for the Excedrin Migraine Giveaway!!

 

Please message me ASAP with your addresses so you can get your goodies right away! Thank you everyone else that entered and stay tuned for future giveaways on the horizon... there are quite a few on the way!!

Are Particular Foods A Migraine Trigger For You? *plus a Giveaway!*

There are countless things that can trigger a persons migraines. Not enough sleep, barometric pressure or changes in the weather, particular smells like perfume or cologne, and most common are different foods and alcohol.  There are many foods that can potentially trigger migraines and for those who suffer, it’s extremely important to identify those trigger foods. By knowing what they are – and avoiding them – migraine sufferers can help reduce the frequency of their migraines. 

My migraines are most often triggered by barometric pressure and lack of sleep.  But so many of my friends have food and especially red wine triggers.  Having a night out full of Chinese food and a bottle of wine could leave them crippled in bed with a raging migraine.  So awful!! 

I talked to you guys previously about The My Migraine Triggers™ iPhone developed by the makers of Excedrin®.  It is an app that allows migraine sufferers to track the causes of their migraines.  Well it also has a place to track food and drink as well!  It then gathers this data into reports and charts that can easily be shared with your doctor. This app is so, so easy to use- you don't need to be tech savvy to figure it out.  It just walks you step by step through the triggers, you check them off and the app does the rest for you.  After you are done you can easily see what needs to be avoided in your life or your diet to keep yourself migraine free.  It is a Godsend!

Registered dietitian Keri Gans offers valuable information about potential migraine trigger foods that every sufferer should know:

• There are many foods and drinks that can trigger migraines, like citrus fruits, nuts, and foods that contain MSG. It’s important for folks to determine which foods are potential migraine triggers for them. By tracking their triggers, people can avoid them in the future, to help prevent or minimizing migraine attacks.
• Tyramine: Tyramine is a substance found naturally in some foods, like aged cheese and red wine. It’s formed from the breakdown of protein as foods age. A good rule of thumb is that the longer a high-protein food ages, the higher the tyramine content. Some common foods that contain tyramine include: aged cheeses, red wine, alcoholic beverages and some processed meats.
• Alcohol: Alcohol increases blood flow to your brain, which can cause migraines and headaches. Red wine, beer, whiskey and champagne are the most common culprits.
• Other potential migraine triggers include: artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame), chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee or tea, tannins, (like red-skinned apples or pears) caffeinated soda, foods that contain MSG, and nuts or nut butters.
• Food For the Brain: There is emerging science that suggests foods rich in magnesium, such as kale and broccoli, support healthy brain function. Try swapping kale for romaine in your salad at lunch to increase your magnesium intake.

And of course, don't forget to keep on hand a bottle of Excedrin® Migraine for those moments that a migraine does spring on you! It is the #1 neurologist recommended over-the-counter brand for migraine relief. It offers convenient and effective relief for migraines and was the first non-prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat all the symptoms of a migraine.

Be sure to follow Excedrin on Facebook  and on Twitter to stay up to date on their latest news and promotions!

To learn more about Excedrin Migraine, please visit www.Excedrin.com

The My Migraine Triggers app is FREE. You can find My Migraine Triggers app on iTunes or in the app store on your apple device.

 

 

Enter To Win!!

As an Excedrin Migraine Ambassador I am lucky to host another awesome Giveaway for all of my readers!  As a way of keeping us forward thinking on food recipes and eating healthy for our bodies and our brains to keep migraines at bay I am giving away some awesome kitchen items!  Being that cooking is one of my most favorite hobbies, I am super excited about this giveaway!! 

TWO Lucky Winners Are Going to Win ALL of These Goodies!!

The Veggie-Peel - This innovative fruit and vegetable peeler features a patented, built-in chamber that retains peels during use. Scraps are held in the durable, thermo-plastic chamber, eliminating messy peelings and clogged sinks. The double sided stainless steel blade allows for both right and left handed use.

Harold Import Company Avo Saver - Avo Saver is easy to use and will reduce a cut avocado’s exposure to air, greatly slowing the destructive oxidization process.

Dressing Emulsifier - The Emulsifier is an innovative way to mix up and store delicious salad dressings. It's very easy to use; simply remove the top of the Emulsifier, fill with oil, vinegar and herb replace lid and squeeze the handle to blend.

Emson Two Tier Microwave Steamer Food Cooker – This microwave steamer retains more vitamins & nutrients than other means of cooking vegetables, perfect for healthy cooking. It allows you to cook/steam two dishes at once, fits in most microwave ovens and is dishwasher safe.

Simply enter by using the Rafflecopter form below!  Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclosure: I am an Excedrin® Migraine brand ambassador. Compensation was provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own.

Baltic Amber Necklaces

Have you heard about these things? Baltic amber is a natural resin. When worn against the skin the warmth of your body releases the natural healing oils called succinic acid while naturally relieving pain associated with headaches, TMJ, neck and shoulder pain, migraines, and teething (they have them for babies too). When worn on the wrist it can heal pain associated to carpel tunnel, RA, arthritis, and so much more. Truly a remarkable way to heal naturally!

I didn't learn about these necklaces while my children were still teething.  But I did get one for myself- as you all know about my complex neurological condition, Occipital Neuralgia, that gives me Chronic Daily Headaches and Migraine disease. It's debilitating. I have been taking the highest dosage of anti- seizure meds and an antianxiety pill to balance me out and make my days livable. It helped with my headpain immensely. BUT I had no short-term memory. I lost words (would totally forget what a rock was called while I was looking at it, for example). These meds are also hard on a woman's bones, so long term use is not ideal. 

We decided a few months ago to start trying for another baby and along with this decision I had to go off everything- they were all Class D drugs. Needless to say I was terrified of going back to debilitating pain. I did some research and discovered the amber necklaces. I bought it 2 months ago, only take it off to shower and I am PROUD to say I have only had a itty bitty handful of minor headaches since (I have had them everyday, all day for the past 6 years).  If a person needs medication I believe in it 100%!!! There is no reason to suffer. A person needs to be able to live a good quality of life!! BUT if you can find something that works just as great, AND has no side effects- well obviously that is a huge win!!The necklaces work amazing and love the fact that I no longer have to be on ANY MEDICATION!! They were a life changer for me. I have my life back, and my memory too.

There are many, many places online that you can buy these necklaces (and bracelets) at.  But please be careful because there are many fakes out there.  Finding a reputable seller is key.  As far as online retailers go, I would recommend Inspired By Finn, amber24 and Hazelaid. I bought mine at a local natural parenting store here in Ohio, The Breastfeeding Center, LLC.

I just checked out amber24 and I can't get over how beautiful some of the adult necklaces are!! Considering I never take mine off, I would love to have some variety! The designs are just stunning. I am going to have to stock up....Now how on earth am I going to decide on a fun new one- I want them all!! lol

God bless natural healing!