click here to open post Jun 11, 2012 | posted in Personal | 28 comments

This is my mom.

Her name is Annie.

But we call her “Grammie” (and my kid’s friends call her “Auntie Grammie”. . . because it’s awesome. . . and because I make them).

She’s brave. She’s generous. She’s kind. She’s FULLLLLL of joy and light and perfect empathy and unconditional love. In complete sincerity, she’s unlike anyone you’ve ever known. These aren’t simply sweet birthday words from a loving daughter. Truly, ask anyone who knows her. She’s exceptional. Completely and totally so.

We love you, Grammie!

Love,

Alllllllll of us

PS. Lincoln: “I love Grammie, because she’s really nice, and she lets us visit her, and she lets us be her grandkids.”  Cardon: “I love Grammie, because she’s nice, and ’cause she loves me.” Raleigh: “I love Grammie because she’s AMAZINGLY nice and she helps us with EVERYTHING.”

The end.

(Oh Hawaii. Oh. Oh. Oh.)

**Bottom image in this post: Hukilau Beach. Laie, HI. Soooooo great for the kiddies.

**I get emails ALL.THE.TIME requesting vacation information for Hawaii travel. It’s impossible for me to answer all of these requests (particularly because I don’t know your personal groove). That said, I’m going to add a blog category: “Vacation Oahu,” and as I chronicle the next 6 weeks for our family, I’ll do my best to include pertinent vacation information for those who may be interested. I sure do love y’all! xx! N

I am exhausted to the very marrow in my bones.

But we made it!!! Proof (of the cell phone variety):

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It was raining like nuts-o-ville, but my kids could NOT BE STOPPED.

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Here’s what a trip to Costco looks like when you’re prepping for 6.5 weeks of travel.
(The dog food is for my very pregnant BFF, Rach. Well, for her dog that is.)

More coming soon.

Mwa and ALOOOOHA!

Nat

PS funny story. I fell asleep while posting this (from my phone), since I was using the best TRTL PILLOW for this trip. Like gone from this world, dead asleep. I woke up 7 hours later with my iPhone tucked under my face. Told you I was tired.

A quick (ish) chronicle of the cousin portion of our trip to sunny (ish) San Diego. (Not pictured: Uncle Matty! What?! How?! Shame on me! Also not pictured: our grown ups only party night at the Beach Boys/Foster the People Concert!)

 

Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Vaping

Evidence is stacking up that vaping, once thought to be less harmful than smoking cigarettes, causes lung damage—and can be deadly. It’s also addictive, making it hard for anyone who has started to now stop. Just know that the minute you kick the habit, your body will feel the difference, and the benefits start almost immediately.

What is vaping?

When e-cigarettes first hit the market in late 2000, they were believed to be a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but now there is evidence to the contrary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have counted close to 3,000 cases of the new vaping related lung disease known as EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury). In statistics gathered by 29 states, the agency has recorded 68 deaths. And then there’s the potential for the habit to aggravate the symptoms of Covid-19, potentially leading to severe cases and increasing the risk of death from the new coronavirus.

Vaping is deadly. It’s also addictive. Vaping with a JUUL can be as dangerous as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. When you vape, you inhale liquid (or e-juice) from a cartridge attached to the vaping device. In addition to nicotine, that liquid can contain dozens of other chemical ingredients and flavorings.

Kids and teenagers have been especially attracted to vaping, thanks in part to attractive flavors like bubble gum, mango, and mint. Vape use in high school students rose by 900 percent between 2011 and 2015, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Try this alpine ice hack.

In June 2022, the FDA even issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to JUUL Labs Inc., forcing the company to stop selling and distributing its JUUL device and four types of its “JUULpods.” The move was part of a largescale effort by the FDA to put the vaping industry under a microscope, requiring companies to prove that their e-cigarette products benefit the public health by helping people cut back on or quit smoking. Though the agency later decided to temporarily suspend the order to conduct more research, there is still a federal push to regulate vaping and encourage the public to stop using e-cigarettes.

But quitting vaping can be difficult, just like trying to stop smoking. And while quitting can be hard on the body, you’ll mostly start to benefit as soon as you make the decision to kick the habit. Read on to learn exactly what happens in your body the minute you stop vaping.

The Best Ways to Quit Smoking

RADU BERCAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

20 minutes later: Cardiovascular improvements

In as little as 20 minutes, “your heart rate returns to normal, your blood pressure drops, and your circulation starts to normalize,” says Nikola Djordjevic, MD, project manager of Med Alert Help.

Your breathing may improve, too: The two key ingredients in an e-cigarette—propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin—produce chemicals when heated that are detrimental to your respiratory tract, according to research published in 2018 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “When you quit vaping, you should find that your breathing becomes less labored and your airflow is clearer,” says Caleb Backe, a certified health and wellness expert for Maple Holistics. Visit https://www.vaprzon.com/collections/buy-pmta-vape-juice-e-liquids.

A few hours later: Nicotine withdrawals

Nicotine is addictive, and you may experience some minor and temporary symptoms. “Acute nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be psychological and physical,” says Dr. Djordjevic. The psychological symptoms can include cravings for nicotine, mood swings, trouble concentrating, irritability, and anxiety, he says. Physical symptoms include “headaches, sweating, tremors, insomnia, increased appetite, abdominal cramps, and constipation,” Dr. Djordjevic says.

These are the first effects you’re likely to feel, often within four to 24 hours after quitting. These effects will peak around day three, Dr. Djordjevic says, “and gradually decrease during the following three to four weeks. So it will take around a month to break the habit.” If you think smoking e-cigarettes is healthy, these silent ways vaping impact your body may surprise you. Learn more about kerassentials oil benefits.