Let’s Talk FAM (Finances and Medicine...and more).

Promote Speech and Language Development: Tools to Help Your Toddler Talk April is Autism Awareness Month. Speech Delay can coincide with Autism. Communication is always a goal for toddlers, whether communication delay is present or not.  You can benefit from tools to promote speech and language development whether your little one is meeting communication milestones or not.  Let's look at tools to help YOU help your toddler talk. Start with Sign Language Starting with or relying on sign language is not a hindrance to speech development - quite the opposite! Children mimic motor movements or move their bodies sooner than they say words.  Using signs to communicate can help your child get their needs met and reduce frustration while facilitating the use of spoken words. Use Mirrors Liberally What little one doesn't like to look at themselves? They may like to communicate with their reflection. Full length mirrors are great to show body movements that are an important pre-spe...

 Door Security: 5 Cheap Ways to Secure a Door There are many reasons to seek door security. Whether you're at home or in a hotel, you may wish to secure a door for peace of mind.  Perhaps a pricey security system isn't in the budget, or you're a renter not yet in your forever home and unable to install cameras, etc. Spring break is upon us, heralding the busy travel season.  You might have someone in the home that likes to open and close doors, is beckoned by the outdoors, and may be unaware of the potential dangers of wandering outside.  Safety should be a priority wherever you find yourself. Let's look at 5 cheap ways to secure a door.  Warning: there may be times when entry is desired, such as in the case of an emergency. Added security measures such as these could thwart such efforts and affect timely intervention.  **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your...

7 Ways to Save Money on Christmas Gifts Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can cost you. Americans planned to spend an average of $823 on Christmas gifts in 2022 according to a  NerdWallet  survey.  This amounts to a staggering total of $178 billion in gift spending. What's concerning is that one third of gifts in 2021 were charged to credit cards, the balances of which are not yet paid off ( NerdWallet ).  The average credit card interest rate in America is over 24% according to  lendingtree . Those Christmas gifts will cost a lot more than what's on the price tag if you can't afford to buy them outright, or to pay off your credit card balances in full when the transactions post. You can do Christmas without going into debt. Let's look at some ways to save money on Christmas gifts.  ***This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for you...

What Does Pumpkin Do for Your Skin? Pumpkin Benefits for Skin and 7 Pumpkin Skincare Products to Try. Pumpkin has many benefits for your skin. Pumpkin is a type of squash with components that promote skin health, making it the perfect ingredient for skin care products.  The ingredients in pumpkin enzymes that promote healthy skin include Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), Beta Carotene/Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Zinc ( marthastewart.com , banish.com ). AHA is a gentle exfoliator that promotes shedding dead skin cells to improve the look and feel of rough and bumpy skin Beta Carotene is a form of Vitamin A that stimulates collagen production to plump and firm Vitamin C tones, brightens and provides a barrier against harsh environmental factors  Zinc can prevent or treat breakouts by reducing inflammation, oil and bacteria 7 Pumpkin Skincare Products to Try Test new products on a small area of your skin to ensure you tolerate it before applying to the entire affected area. **This post cont...

Best Laundry Products  for Eczema and Sensitive Skin My daughter and I both experience eczema symptoms. As a physician assistant, I've treated countless clients with contact dermatitis from the wrong laundry products.  Laundry products can trigger symptoms for individuals who suffer from  eczema  and sensitive skin. The best treatment for eczema and sensitive skin is to identify and avoid irritants and triggers.  Let's look at the best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin.  **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions for clicks that result in qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Less is More The best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin is BASIC. Keep it simple. Choose fragrance-free formulations. Popular branding terms are free, gentle, hypoallergenic, sensitive and unscented. Laundry detergents that seem to be well tolerated by individuals with eczema and sensitive skin includ...

Back to School Essentials for Little Kids 2023 I was bombarded with back to school sales when I entered a store on July 5th. It feels like summer just started, yet here I am talking about going back to school!  This list of back to school essentials is meant to supplement basic needs (clothing, diapering, etc.) and guidance from their school/teachers. Check out this post for a more comprehensive list of  back to school essentials for little kids in daycare . **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks that result in qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Backpack with Chest Strap   When my toddler started preschool, the backpack was an important part of the routine: taking it off and hanging it in the cubby , then packing and donning it at the end of the day.  While I don't mind carrying, wearing or adjusting the backpack for my only child, a teacher with a class full of kids might not feel the same!...

Back to School Picture Ideas 2023 No matter how you do school, taking back to school pictures at the start of each new year is a great way to document growth and change. Let's look at a few ways to commemorate the first day of school. **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks that result in qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Say it with a Sign  Use a  chalkboard sign  or felt letter board  (commissions earned). This is a great investment, because you can change the details year after year.  Document the grade level, interests/aspirations, teacher or parent if you homeschool. Chalk it up Use  sidewalk chalk  to create a masterpiece your child can pose with (commissions earned). Write their grade level and use their school colors or mascot for inspiration.  My mascot was a greyhound. If I couldn't tap my artistic friend to draw a greyhound, I could probably swing a set of paw pr...

  Let's talk must have baby registry items. Perhaps you or someone you know is expecting. It's common to shower the expectant with gifts for their little one. Now that my daughter is a toddler and we are blessed to have all the things, I've grown to appreciate the items I've continued to use beyond the newborn stage.  It may not feel like it when you're in it, but the time truly goes so fast. Before you know it, you won't need as much when your baby is not so little anymore (unless perhaps you plan to have more children).  This list will suggest baby registry items to include on your baby registry (or give as a gift) that can grow with your child (commissions earned).  DaVinci Jenny Lind convertible crib .    Most cribs are convertible in the sense that you can lower the bottom as your child grows so they may remain in the crib as long as safely possible. I love this one, because you can purchase the  DaVinci Jenny Lind Toddler Bed Conversion Kit ...