Things of Interest

Hispanic Scholarship Fund #HablaConHSF #ad

December 13, 2014 By denise 5 Comments

Disclaimer: This is part of collaboration sponsored with Latina Mom Bloggers. All opinions are 100% mine.

Growing up going to college was a big thing in my household, and when you have kids you realize how time flies by and suddenly you are faced with the questions about preparing them for college, school visits, tests, and how to pay for it all.

As parents we play critical role in helping children prepare, plan, and pay for college. Parents can find the support they need via the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, http://hsf.net/en/resources/parents/, which includes the information they need to guide their children through the application and enrollment process and also to ensure they have the financial resources needed to graduate.

Did you know that Hispanics account for 19% of all college students, ages 18-24? That’s a major increase, up from 12% in 2008. What’s more, 69% of Hispanic graduates are now going directly to college after graduating high school, a rate that is higher than that of the general population.

But the surge in Hispanic college-bound students presents a greater need for more information about college and financial support. As all parents that have college bound students can attest, navigating the application process can be daunting.

When the time comes to deal with this it can sometimes be intimidating and if you are not familiar with the educational system, preparation and proper procedure you can find yourself being overwhelmed. Do not let your fear stop you from taking advantage of the opportunities that are available.

Visit the Hispanic Scholarship Fund http://hsf.net/en/resources/parents/ and stay tuned with the discussions following the hashtag #HablaconHSF and #HSFChat on social media.

Also follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HispanicScholarshipFund

Follow on Twitter @HSFnews

Created pro bono by The Vidal Partnership, these PSAs feature actor, writer and director Adam Rodriguez from CSI: Miami and Reckless, and actor and director Edward James Olmos, known for many roles, including Battlestar Galactica, in addition to Univision co-anchors Jorge Ramos and María Elena Salinas. Check out the video to help you with these choices

o Edward James Olmos – Hispanic Scholarship Fund Spanish PSA 2014
Embed Code:


Creating a Blogging Planner

November 30, 2014 By denise 1 Comment

As I have been growing as a blogger, I have been keeping track of my events and my schedule on my phone. I had little notes all over my desk. I found that as I continue to grow I needed to rethink this idea. I have always been an organized person, so it was time for me to get my blogging organized also. I created my own blogger planner.

The first step is to decide what type of planner I wanted. I know that I was going to use a binder, because it would be easy for me to add and remove pages, and easier for me to carry around.

I simply went to staples and purchase a three hole binder to begin with, I also purchased Avery labels that were listed for the next twelve months, so I had a section for January, February etc.

I then decided what pages would I like to include in my planner and I came up wit the following ones, you can use whatever you think is needed for your planner.

Cover Page
2015 Monthly Calendar
Future Posts
Weekly Post Planner
Expense Tracker
Paid Sponsor Post Tracker
Passwords
Future Projects & Ideas
Future Post Notes
Series Post Notes
Blogging Contacts
Giveaways & Reviews
Monthly Statistics

I then reviewed websites that could provide me with these pages and found www.bloggingplanner.com. I found all the pages that I wanted and that they had a whole lot more in case I wanted to add pages in the future.

So if you are like me and you are looking to get better organized in 2015, I suggest you create a Blogger Planner and get creative in making it your very own.

Thanks to Mama’s Got It Together for those last few pages.

Medimmune/RSV Awareness #RSVawareness #PreemieProtection

November 6, 2014 By denise Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Medimmune and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

When you have a new baby at home you think that you will experience crying and sleepless nights. If you have a premature baby many parents face greater challenges to protect their children.

Each year worldwide, 13 million babies are born prematurely. Despite these overwhelming numbers, many parents still aren’t aware of the risks of premature birth — the leading cause of neonatal death. In fact, 75 percent of parents don’t know the definition of prematurity (birth at or before 37 weeks gestation), and during prenatal care, most pregnant women don’t ask their healthcare provider about the risk of delivering prematurely and the potential consequences of preterm birth for their child.

Because of their immature lungs and fragile immune systems, preemies often have specialized health needs. Preterm infants do not receive the full amount of infection-fighting antibodies that are transferred in utero, leaving many susceptible to a variety of illnesses and infections, especially during the winter months. In the time leading up to November 17—World Prematurity Day—we’re hoping to educate all parents of the increased risks that often come with premature birth, particularly around one seasonal virus that poses a threat to infants – Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

It is not until your baby gets sick that you understand what true panic feels like. Many times you don’t know what is wrong with your little one, you are lucky if you have a good pediatrician that can listen and see you when you need too.

After a good examination, your baby could be diagnosed with upper respirator infection or RSV.

What is RSV?
• RSV is a common seasonal virus, contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, and
typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms in healthy, full-term babies.
• RSV occurs in epidemics each year, typically from November through March, though it can vary
by geography and year-to-year.
• RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of
life in the United States, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 200 infant
deaths each year.
• Despite being so common, many parents aren’t aware of RSV; in fact, one-third of mothers have
never heard of the virus

Why are preemies at Higher Risk of RSV?
While every baby is at risk of contracting RSV, babies born prematurely are at increased risk for developing severe RSV disease. In fact, preterm infants are twice as likely as full-term infants to be admitted to the hospital for RSV-related symptoms.

What are the Symptons of Severe RSV Disease?
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:
• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
• Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F [rectal] in infants under 3 months of age)

How can I protect my baby from RSV?
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Additionally, the virus can live on the skin and surfaces for hours. There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. To help minimize the spread of RSV disease, all parents should:
• Wash their hands and ask others to do the same
• Keep toys, clothes, blanket and sheets clean
• Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season
• Never let anyone smoke around your baby
• Steer clear of people who are sick or who have recently been sick

There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. A pediatrician is the best way for mothers to get answers to their child’s health issues. Speak to your child’s pediatrician to determine if your baby is at high risk for RSV disease, and if so what additional steps maybe recommended. For more information about RSV and prevention, visit www.RSVprotection.com

No once their child to be sick, but being armed with all the knowledge that is out their regarding all illnesses will make parents better able to prevent and cope with these types of viruses.