Category: Non-seasonal

Father's Day, Mother's Day, Non-seasonal, Reviews, Seattle Area Attractions, Travel

Nomad Battery Cable: Lightning Cable and Charger in One

Erin Sluka

I was provided sample. Opinions are my own

How many cords and chargers are lying around? Funny how 10 years ago we would wonder why I would ask such a question and here we are carrying cords, battery packs and extra car chargers around with us. With a house of boys it is a constant struggle to keep track of cords and battery packs. The Nomad Battery Cable is a game changer in this house and now I need 1-2 more for even more organization. Here is why…

I have a battery pack and so does my husband and son. Each of those bulky packs needs the cord. So, I always keep 2 cords in my car, one for our son in the back and for us in the front seat. Then I do the same in our truck for when we drive that. Those cords never stay put! That is because it gets grabbed to use for a charger and then never put back.

The Battery Cable from Nomad is a lightning cable and charger in one! Better yet, the charger is a small cylinder and not a large ‘brick’. Now, my goal is to just keep one of these in each car and one in the living room. This way plugging the charger back in means the cord is also available with it and that is less of a cord hunt when we need one.

  • New robust aluminum housing
  • 2,800mAh of power storage
  • 1X iPhone charge
  • Apple MFi approved
  • Pass-through charging technology
  • ballistic nylon braided
  • The battery enables one full charge for iPad, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, X, 8, iPhone 6, 6S and 6/6s Plus.
  • charges your phone first before then charging its internal battery

It is compact enough to just slip in my purse and if I need the phone plugged in, I can just reach for the lightning end of the cord and plug it into my phone without taking it fully out of my purse or travel bag.

You will love the convenience of carrying 1 cord that is light and compact! They make great gifts for Mom, Dad and are a game changer for traveling!

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Healthy Living, Non-seasonal, Pets Products

How to Train Your Dog Using Sound Aversion

Erin Sluka

I was provided sample. Opinions are my own

We adopted Maya September of 2017. She is a Whoodle (Standard Poodle and Wheaten Terrier) and is incredibly smart. Teaching her tricks like sit, shake and dance were natural for her. The problem with a smart dog is she thinks she can outsmart us. She will purposely ignore us-even turn her head away as if to say “I can’t hear you…”. This is stressful when outside because she will wander and not come back or come inside on our command.

We have tried punishments, treats and she still wants to listen only on her terms. Then we got the Doggie Don’t device and overnight she began to listen and without hesitation. This is how to train your dog using sound aversion and it is working well on Maya and her new sister, Leah.

Click video below to see how Maya will now ‘Come’ on command and I don’t even have to use the sound anymore……

With the Doggie Don’t device it makes a (very) loud sound dog’s do not like. I show it in the video above, but you know the sound a taser makes? It is like that and you can hold down for a long play sound or just tap the button for a short, loud audible and that usually is enough so the neighbors shouldn’t get too annoyed-lol.

The sound gets your dogs attention. Eventually, you should be able to say your commands and not need to use your device. Be consistent to change behaviors. Say your command, use your device properly and reward your dog for good behavior to transform your dog into a well-behaved and socialized pup.

It is important to note that this is not a crutch! You use this to teach voice commands and the goal is to eliminate the device so they respond to your voice and words. For example, if your dog runs through the front door and heads towards the road you may not have the Doggie Don’t readily nearby. You would want your dog to stop instantly as you yell your command or they may keep running toward the road. Never use a device as the only command, but rather as a training tool until training is complete.

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Healthy Living, Non-seasonal

Everything Men Need To Know About Testicular Cancer

Erin Sluka
Photo by Urmi (License: Creative Commons BY)

As we welcome in the cheerful season of spring with refreshing rain showers and the budding of new flowers, we’re also provided with an opportunity to step back and focus on optimizing our health. With April being Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, it allows men (who historically have a disconnect from their health) the time to learn more on warning signs, treatment, and effects the disease has on their daily routines. With early detection being as detrimental as it is, a month centered around awareness will give many the information that could possibly be a matter of life or death in the long run. Read below for all the information you need to know about testicular cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

Catching these warning signs (at an early stage) can be tricky. Testicular cancer symptoms tend to appear mildly, and easy to write off, so it is important to be familiar with your body and what presents as abnormal!

The most common symptoms that typically gets men into the doctors office is the formation of a lump on the testicals or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Other signs to be on the look out for are back pain, dull aches in the abdomen, a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum, or an enlargement or tenderness in the breast area. If you experience any of these symptoms, especially for over two weeks, you should visit your physician immediately.

Potential causes

There are no proven causes for testicular cancer, however there are factors that may put you at a greater risk to become diagnosed. Testicular cancer tends to affect younger men between the ages 15 and 44 (however, it can occur at any age). Abnormal testicle development can also negatively impact your odds.

Treatment

As with many cancers, the extent of the treatment depends on the stage your cancer is diagnosed in. However, throughout all stages, doctors tend to recommend removal of the cancerous testicle. After surgery, you will either be closely monitored with regular physical exams or treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, if your cancer has spread to other parts of your body, the treatment will become more aggressive, making early detection even more important for survival.

Effects on You

A question that lingers in most patients heads is how will this affect their day to day life once they overcome the cancer. Many fear that since they had cancer in one testicle, they are bound to have it in the remaining one. Others focus on the impact the treatment will have on their sex drive, fertility, and erections. While cancer survivors are twice as likely to receive “second cancer”, with the right information and awareness, survivors will be well equipped to catch it in the early stages and fight off the new cancer with greater odds. In regards to sex drive, a loss of labido is completely normal, and may not even be permanent. Luckily, there are many ways to treat a decrease in sex drive to help provide the most normal transition into your romantic relationships. However, if you’re struggling to hold an erection read how you can prevent and treat erectile dysfunction. Chemotherapy can also temporarily damage sperm, while high dosages and removal of both testicles will cause infertility. It is highly recommended to preserve your sperm prior going through treatment.

Knowledge is power, and becomes your greatest weapon of defense with diseases such as testicular cancer. Spreading awareness is the best way to support, battle, and ultimately eliminate testicular cancer.

Food, Non-seasonal, Recipes, Reviews

Easy Cauliflower and Sausage Casserole in my Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Erin Sluka

I was sent the Dutch Oven mentioned. Opinions and recipe is my own

I won’t start a recipe post with 17 paragraphs of a life story because I know you just want the recipe! However, I will give credit to this fabulous Dutch Oven I am in love with. I will also mention some variations so you can make this dish match your taste.

This Easy Cauliflower and Sausage Casserole is one of our favorite ‘leftover’ meals. I say that because it is a great way to use up leftover veggies and meat. We love Aidells sausage so I always make it with sausage, but you can use any (cooked) meat you may have leftover such as pork or steak.

You just need 2 pots on your stove to cook the meat and onions in. You can also add any leftover veggies you need to use up like belle peppers, zucchini or diced potatoes.

If you have soft veggies like tomatoes to use, don’t add those quite yet. Just head the meat and veggies and you can add spices or use the flavored sausage like I do and no extra spices are needed, but some salt or pepper.

In your second pot, blanch the cauliflower. Cut in chinks or use frozen flowerettes like I did and boil for 3-4 minutes in salt water. You can also substitute broccoli if you are not a fan of cauliflower.

Let me take a quick moment and tell you about my Cast Iron Dutch Oven by Marquette Castings. It works great from stove top to oven and comes in 4Qt or 6Qt. It has an enamel finish, non-stick, non-toxic, easy to clean, beautiful and durable. Built to last a lifetime (even with lifetime warranties).

Marquette Castings has affordable, high quality cookware you will love as much as I do! Isn’t the white stunning?

Don’t you love recipes that allow you to use up those veggies in your fridge?

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