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Okay, first things first: I am not a vet and this post is not medical advice. I believe the Western medical community should pay more attention to natural healing modalities, and until they do, I try to pay more attention to them and share what I learn.

I am a pet owner, who paid a large vet bill when I brought my cat in to the emergency vet for a urinary tract infection a year or so ago. Afterwards, I became motivated to find alternative ways to help my cat heal.

A couple things became clear as soon as I started my research online: there is a lot of mystery surrounding feline urinary tract infections and UTIs can quickly lead to SERIOUS health ramifications in cats. So, please do not mess around if you think your cat has a urinary tract issue. If the problem has progressed to a point where your cat is in pain, please take your pet to the vet as swiftly as possible.

If your cat is not in dire straights yet, then maybe some of these tips will be helpful. You can make these changes all at once or gradually over time. Obviously sooner is better than later if your kitty is having trouble, but please use your best judgment.

Here are all the steps I took for my young cat who developed a urinary tract infection:

  • I started feeding her a can of wet cat food a day. I mix half a can of food with 2-3 tablespoons of water and feed that to her twice a day. I alternate between a couple kinds of food so she does not get too bored. Check out the cat food at Trader Joe’s for excellent prices. My cat will only eat the paté variety and is a bit picky about flavors, so don’t be surprised if your cat is also finicky. Bottom line: a lot of cats won’t drink water on their own, even if you provide a water fountain. By putting water in their food, you take the guesswork out of whether or not they are hydrating. Of course, I still always have plenty of fresh water available by bowl.
  • I also add two supplements to my cat’s wet food, also twice a day. I use both items as directed on their labels.

Tinkle Tonic:

Natura Petz Organics Break It Up! Meal Topper

 

If you have a dog, you can get this supplement in pill form, as well.

  • Back to the list…although I continue to feed my cat dry food in addition to wet food, I changed food brands. I now feed my cat Wysong Uretic(TM). I order this food online since I cannot find it locally and one small bag lasts a long time since my cat primarily eats wet food with water and supplements added.
  • I separated my cat from her two siblings (I noticed her brother, who is much larger, was stalking her when she was in the littler box — what a naughty boy!). So I put her in her own room, got her a litter box just for her, and switched her to a less dusty cat litter.

All of these changes may seem like a bit of bother, but if your cat has started peeing where she is not supposed to and she is only three years old (not to mention the cutest cat in the whole wide world), there’s a pretty good chance, like me, you will be motivated to do whatever it takes to correct any urinary issues.

Of course, I cannot guarantee that taking these steps will cure your sweet kitty. But I wish I had read a post like this when I was desperately scouring the Internet trying to put together a formula that would bring my cat relief and save our furniture.

If you have stumbled on this post and you are desperate for solutions, I hope any or all of these tips help you and your pet feel better as soon as possible. Best of luck!

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I am currently taking celery juice for multiple health benefits, and it has been recommended by Anthony William for fibroids. Has anyone else considered this option? I’d like to hear from you. (More on my experience with celery juice in a future post.)

[This blog does not contain medical advice. I am not a physician, I am a journalist and blogger who is interested in expanding the conversation about this and other topics. If you have a medical condition, please consult your doctor. I also encourage you to seek more medical opinions if you are not satisfied with the original physician’s opinion.]

I am feeling dissatisfied with the American medical profession’s attitude towards fibroid tumors in women and that is why I am starting this post.

About 20-80 percent of women deal with fibroid tumors by the age of 50 (source). What the heck! These numbers are way too high.

I feel that there is a negligence going on, and the root causes of this epidemic are not being adequately explored. Without understanding the causes, prevention and avoidance are difficult, if not impossible.

I thought by opening up a conversation that is more global in nature, perhaps we could understand alternative ways to manage and avoid a fibroid diagnosis.

Don’t we want to help our daughters avoid fibroids in their futures? We assume that progress will happen in the medical community, and yet, too often progress in women’s health issues is not prioritized.

I have come close to death twice because of fibroid tumors, and I continue to wish to keep my uterus. I have no problem with others who have undergone fibroid surgery. For some women, there are no alternatives. Yes, fibroid are a sensitive topic and the topic can bring up challenging emotions, but we have to talk about them anyway. Regardless of the outcomes of medical diagnoses, we can still explore this topic and try to suss out solutions for women in the future.

I have written about issues related to fibroid tumors before. Please visit the following posts for more information. I am proud to say that a woman wrote to me and said the information I shared was instrumental in surviving surgery. I am humbled by such feedback, and I have a keen desire to share information that helps women thrive despite challenging circumstances.

Have you asked your doctor about taking Lupron? Why not bring it up with your doctor and see if you qualify. This is not an endorsement of Lupron. It’s just that some doctors may not bring it up as an option, and patients deserve to know what their options are. Learn more about Lupron here.

Best Supplements For Mid-life Women Dealing With Anemia, Menopause & Osteopenia

Anemia Is No Fun: Here Is How I Have Bounced Back From It

Our Medical System Is Out Of Balance: Medical Medium Balances The Health Scale With Equal Access For All

Do you have insights into causes or treatments for fibroid tumors? If so, please comment below. Your comments may be woven into the fabric of this post in the future. If you would like your comments to be anonymous, please submit them to me via my contact page. Thank you for your participation!

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We are living in a world where narcissists are coming out of the woodwork. Certainly the White House seems to be occupied by one.

And what about the victims of narcissists — their spouses and their children? Victim wounds are usually deep, painful and crippling. However in our society we prefer not to acknowledge any affliction that cannot be proven in a laboratory or a court of law.

And this is why I believe every parent — from the brand new parents all the way to the seasoned grandparent — needs to read Toxic Parents, Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy And Reclaiming Your Life by Susan Forward.

Maybe you were affected by a toxic parent. Maybe you do not believe you were. Certainly you do not want to be or become one.

I am not referring to blatant abuse that happens in the public eye. I am talking about hidden, secret, unconscious abuse that takes place in families where narcissism and other disorders are untreated and running rampant.

And let’s say your parents were not toxic and you are not toxic. It’s crucial to not dismiss or minimize the real-life trauma that others have experienced and are experiencing. You can also be a healthy adult with good boundaries in an abused kids’ life. People like this can make a huge difference to a child who does not even know how traumatized he is.

Personally, I believe that President Trump is in the White House to give the world a crash course in narcissism. We all need to raise our awareness about what narcissistic abuse is and isn’t. And then we need to examine our own families and family histories. Because kids are traumatized each and every day by narcissistic parents, who are never, ever going to seek help themselves. What are we going to do about it?

We can at least educate ourselves. Even if we cannot change narcissists, I think we can still empower victims. And I think we can start by making books like this more known and more widely recommended. Please share this post if you agree with me and comment on any other books you admire on this topic in the comments section.

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I am just going to get straight to the point. I am not a fan of our current medical system, but I am a fan of Medical Medium, Anthony William, and his series of books, which are listed below in reverse chronological order.

What I love most is that William’s recommendations are accessible to all. For example, you don’t need an insurance card to purchase a package of celery. So why wouldn’t an ill person want to try some of his approaches, if not first, then at least at the same time as other approaches?

Way too many people in our world are suffering from serious health problems. The politicians cannot fix this mess. The corporations cannot fix this mess. And the medical industry cannot fix this mess. None of them are motivated to fix our health care crisis, and I don’t think the current system is fixable, even if the people in power wanted to try.

We need a health revolution of individuals championing our own health. This is our fastest road to improved health that raises all boats. William provides the information ill people need in order to embark on a road to recovery. And that road needs to be full of trial and error by individuals, not skepticism and rebukes from nay-sayers.

I have been drinking one cup of celery juice for about a month now (not even the full recommended amount), and I have experienced noticeable effects. I have more energy, I think more clearly, my long-term seasonal allergies never happened this spring, my skin is transformed, and here’s the weirdest but best effect of them all — my eyes feel incredible. Maybe it’s partially the lack of allergies, but my eyes are so hydrated and lubricated that I feel like I have new eyes.

Typically, I have both low blood sugar and low blood pressure. Both had recently been causing me problems, especially light-headedness. After one month of daily celery juice, I no longer get dizzy when I stand up quickly. In fact, I have more physical energy and stamina than I have had in years.

I am going to increase to two cups of celery juice a day in June and see how it goes. If you are concerned about encountering too strong of a detox effect from drinking celery juice, then I suggest you do what I have done and start with one cup a day initially and then increase to two cups a day eventually.

But you may want to hurry. We will likely encounter a short-term celery shortage as more and more folks discover the multiple benefits of drinking celery juice, so I hope that some enterprising farmers will anticipate the greater demands and hop on the celery-growing bandwagon.

Since making this post, I have been asked which juicer I use. I went with a budget juicer for about a hundred bucks to get started. Here’s a link to the juicer I am using — it’s a masticating juicer that is easy to clean and makes great juice! https://amzn.to/2VH6xRd.

In the meantime, I leave you to the wisdom of Anthony William. He has a lot to offer, and I hope you will check out his work, especially if you are not feeling your best.

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You know what keeps me going some days when the media circus just feels like too much?

My feminist coffee mugs, that’s what.

There are a lot of things and people who have kept me going over the years when events in the world seemed positively bleak. And one of those people is Marianne Williamson. Are you familiar with her work?

Marianne Williamson just gets it, when it comes to being a woman in America, and I am thrilled that she is running for President as the Democratic Candidate. (I actually like several of the Democratic candidates, so stay tuned for more on that.)

We need strong, smart, emotionally intelligent women leaders in the United States — and Marianne Williamson is such a woman.

So, I thought I would gather up a bunch of Marianne Williamson books that I highly recommend. You can usually read them or listen to them. Take a look if you are so inclined!

A must-read for every woman:

Where it all started:

For those who suffer from anxiety or depression:

I want to listen to this (but I want to listen to every audio, so…):

We all need to read this:

This one is coming out in April!

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Shopping Recommendations For Holiday Time Or Any Time Of Year

Here’s some soulful shopping recommendations for a happier, simpler holiday.

The Christmas Tree Stand That Will Save Your Marriage

My Jewish husband always enjoys having a Christmas tree but he used to hate getting the darn thing into its stand. With this amazing Christmas Tree Stand from Krinner, we bicker no more about standing up the tree. I swear this tree stand will make your holiday jollier, starting the day you decorate for the holidays. Click on the image to learn more.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap

Shop fall lineup

I have the best luck with the seasonal scents at Target. But you usually need to buy early because the seasonal products clear out quickly. Here’s the link to the hand soap Amazon page and the Mrs. Meyer’s website. I love the Orange Clove, Peppermint and Iowa Pine scents for the holidays. Other favorite scents include Rhubarb, Basil, Apple, Radish, Parsley, Lilac, Apple Cider and Pumpkin. Here are all of the holiday scents!

Trader Joe’s Holiday Groceries

Because we have a small family, Trader Joe’s is the perfect place to shop for groceries. I find the everyday prices are cheaper on most things than my local grocery store, I trust the quality, and Trader Joe’s donates food to families in need. Products I love this time of year include the Racine Danish Kringle Almond Kringle, which they sell for $7.99 (compare the Almond Kringle to the usual price online of $20.95!). TJ’s Sipping Chocolate makes a great teacher or hostess gift. And we usually purchase our Gingerbread House at Trader Joe’s each year. Year-round favorites of mine include the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, heck, anything on the shelves that is covered in dark chocolate works for me! We make good use of their frozen fruit year round for a nice variety of smoothies. I also love their cracker selection, Nacho Tortilla Chips, and selection of nuts, dried fruits, and granola bars. Find the Trader Joe’s nearest you by visiting their website. Be sure to check out the prices on their spices and pet food, which can save you tons of money. I love you Trader Joe’s, but please bring back the blue cheese pecan dip!

World Market Rocks!

Like Trader Joe’s, another place I love to shop that has a global flavor is World Market. If you are looking for fun stocking stuffers, you can’t go wrong at this store. They always send me a birthday coupon, which makes me like them even more. Sign up for their rewards program, so you can benefit from discounts and coupons.

Take Excellent Care Of Your Pets

Go ahead and get that puppy or kitten for a holiday gift, I say. Better yet, get pets in twos. This is especially helpful if you are away from home much of the day, so they can keep each other company. I have six pets (two dogs and four cats), who give my family lots of love all year-long, and I want to take excellent care of them without spending a fortune. A lot of times we talk about toys and treats for pets, but I find that keeping these things to a minimum extends the life of my pets. What I focus on instead is the highest quality food we can afford and whatever supplements they need to stay healthy at their age. I take quality supplements to stay healthy, so it’s no surprise that they help my pets, too. When our cat Maggie recently came down with urinary tract issues at the ripe old age of three, we eventually switched her food to Uretic from Wysong. I combine this food, with wet food with extra water and with two other products — Tinkle Tonic and Natura Petz Organics Break It Up Meal Topper (follow instructions for all) and the healing has been dramatic. Improvement didn’t happen overnight for Maggie, but it has happened slowly and steadily over time. If you have a cat with urinary tract challenges and no other serious health issues, I suggest trying this routine for a couple of months. We feed our pets without health issues Canidae foods and have been using them for many years. Choose the variety that best suits each pet’s age and needs. Our dogs love Nupro Joint Support. We mix this powder with water and their dry food and they love the flavor. They are noticeably more spry while taking this supplement, so I highly recommend it. Nupro comes in a variety of sizes, please follow instructions for best results. We usually purchase wet food and treats at Trader Joe’s because I trust them and they save money.

Supplements For A Healthy New Year

HealthForce SuperFoods Products

I have written fairly extensively about my choice of supplements over the past few years. If you are looking for general good or improved health, I recommend Healthforce supplements. If you are dealing with issues related to being female, I recommend Vitanica (see the post I wrote for further information and recommendations).

Purchase Magazine Subscriptions In November

For me, sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine with a cup of tea or coffee is the ultimate self-indulgence. This is the second year I have gotten a year’s worth of magazines at a ridiculously low price. I shop Discount Mags between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The first year I did Cyber Monday and got 10 magazine subscriptions for $30, and this year I hand-picked discounted titles and got exactly what I wanted for the year at a good price. Highly recommend this way of purchasing magazines. It has saved me hundreds of dollars and provided tons of good collage journal fodder.

Audible Is My Gift To Myself This Year

People can be snobby about reading, but guess what? It does not matter how you do it. So do it your way, if you prefer listening while you drive, garden or do chores. I am not a sedentary person. So when I am not writing at the computer, I prefer to be in motion. And I am certainly not going to apologize for that! Audible is my gift to myself this year. And you know what? I deserve it. Join me and either get a month free or take advantage of holiday discount offers! The first book I am going to read is Michelle Obama’s Becoming. Becoming is the perfect word to describe the last few years for me. I love the person I am becoming and I can’t wait to hear what Michelle Obama has to say on the topic.

Life Is Too Short To Eat Bad Bagels

bagels

Here’s my final shopping tip. If you love bagels as much as my family does, take advantage of Monday Half-price bagels at Einstein’s Bros. Bagels. I am about to scoot up there right now to get our weekly bagel order. They will slice them for you and give you freezer bags to store them. They taste just as fresh as the day they were made when you toast them. I purchase smoked salmon from Costco (they carry a variety) and Cream Cheese from Trader Joe’s to go with them. Because life is too short to eat even one bad bagel. That’s my shopping motto. What’s yours?

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. I am always adding new items to my Etsy shop. I hope you will swing by, take a look and favorite my shop!

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Edie M. is the winner of the Halloween Garland from my Etsy Shop! Congrats, Edie!
I just got two things for free in a row today and they both made me so happy!

So now I am inspired to give away something from my Etsy shop for free.

Here’s how it’s going to work:

I will ship one of my Orange Halloween Chinese Lantern Garlands to one lucky winner.

All you have to do to enter is email me about why you love to use natural decor in your home. Comments to this post will be closed. Instead, email me at least three full sentences on this topic, and you will be entered to win the random number drawing on Monday.

Here’s the nitty-gritty:

New customers to my Etsy shop are welcome to play. All I ask is that you pop over to my shop and check out the orange garland I am giving away before you enter.

Returning customers to my Etsy shop are also welcome to play. I also ask you to check out the orange garland I am giving away before you enter.

You have until Monday, October 22, 2018 at noon to play along. On Monday at noon PST, I will use a random number generator to select a winner and ship the garland to them free of charge!

I will only ship to the contiguous US. But if you live elsewhere, you are welcome to play along and ship the garland to a friend who resides in the US as a gift.

We cool? Sound fun? I am psyched. Paying it forward always feels good.

Let’s do this! Can’t wait to hear from you.

Remember, don’t comment, don’t message me on social media — it has to be an email with three whole sentences about why you love to use natural decor in your home.

And if you don’t love to use natural decor, feel free to share this post with a friend who does.

Thanks in advance for your support and happy weekend!

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. I am always adding new items to my Etsy shop. I hope you will swing by, take a look and favorite my shop!

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Chinese Lanterns Physalis Alkekengi

Hello beautiful, creative people!

I want to tell you about some experience I have been having selling Chinese Lantern decor in my Etsy shop.

Chinese Lanterns Physalis AlkekengiThis was the effort that inspired me to start using the phrase “passion project.”

A passion project is something I do because I love it rather than for some intellectual reason.

I guess you could say that passion projects come from the heart, not the head.

Over the summer, I had this crazy Idea to sell Chinese Lantern decor after I spontaneously started making garlands out of last year’s dried Chinese Lanterns.

The process of making the garlands was not earth-shattering. It just felt like a fun and relaxing way to invest my time while doing something creative with a whole bunch of Chinese Lanterns I’d collected the year before.

Chinese Lanterns Physalis AlkekengiWhen my new harvest of Chinese Lanterns came in this year, I thought I’d see what else I could do to sell them in my Etsy shop. In the end I had several products: Chinese Lantern Garlands, Chinese Lantern Stems (medium and long), Chinese Lantern Mantel Spray, and Chinese Lantern pods.

I am all sold out of stems and mantel spray for this year but I do still have more beautiful garlands and pods that you can use in displays or as vase filler, in case anyone wants to bring some natural zing into your autumn home decor. And I can’t wait to do this all over again next year.

This was a big leap of faith, since I’d never sold physical products in my Etsy shop before. I was initially concerned about setting up and managing the shipping, but I gotta tell you, Etsy makes it all so easy.

I cannot possibly say enough good things about Etsy right now. I am a very happy vendor.

Chinese Lanterns Physalis AlkekengiI have changed a lot over the past couple of years and I am looking forward to sharing some of this journey with you. If you had told me a year ago that I would be on Etsy selling something I grew in my garden, I would not have believed you.

But here’s the thing: I love nature and I love home decor. Decorating is always such a relaxing and creative outlet for me, and if my products bring another person a fraction of the joy I experience, then I feel great.

And I guess they do because I’ve gotten positive reviews. Here’s a few so far:

What beautiful lanterns! All arrived intact and seller was very attentive.

Well shipped and look like they were just snipped from the garden.

Chinese lanterns were in perfect condition when they arrived and looked just the picture. Beautiful!

Adding a few of these lanterns to a grapevine wreath, and others perhaps to the dining room table or a jar. Vibrant and beautiful for fall!

The whole project has been a fun and engaging process. I guess at this point, I am feeling ready to wrap up the rest of the orders so I can move on to the next passion project. You will never guess what it is. Stay tuned!

Chinese Lanterns Physalis AlkekengiAnd while I am busy doing that: what’s your next passion project? Do you know? Do you have something you have never dared to do before that is calling you? Since I stepped outside my comfort zone, I want to encourage you to do the same.

Please stay tuned for my next passion project. I am a little nervous to share it. But I’m going to follow through, one project at a time. Thanks for being here!

Please share this post with anyone you know who loves fall decor. I hope you are enjoying all of the passions of this lovely season.

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. I am always adding new items to my Etsy shop. I hope you will swing by, take a look and favorite my shop!

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Imagine being able to take every course in my online school — in a row! Maybe you never had the time before, but now the timing is right. You’ll get over 50% off when you purchase all my classes as a bundle. And, as always, you’ll get four months to complete them.

Is the timing right for you? Don’t miss out on this amazing offer!

How much is it to take every course in my online school? You won’t believe it. Click on the link below to find out.

OR sign up for three courses for the price of two.

OR get a discount on individual courses.

Because it’s back-to-school time, I am pulling out all the stops for my biggest online school sale ever. I can’t promise this will happen again, so take your pick now.

Remember to use the pull-down menus after each course description so you can see all the price options.

Are you feeling as creative as you can possibly be? Register now and spend the summer and fall inspiring yourself! You’ve got a week to make up your mind. Or buy them all for this low-low price. You will be so glad you did.

Visit my school now to check out all your options. Sale ends September 30th!

Creative Confidence Courses With Christina Katz

Photo: Danielle MacInnes via Unsplash

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. I am always adding new items to my Etsy shop. I hope you will swing by, take a look and favorite my shop!

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