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Parents Are Having a Healthcare Crisis

Remember the days when your worst fear raising kids was them falling down and skinning a knee? Today parents still fret over innocuous accidents but are much more anxious about the rise of very real threats they have no control over. Threats like mass school shootings, the possible turnover of Roe V Wade, and the huge number of adolescent drug overdoses. These are some serious reasons for parents to feel more fearful than at any other time. Taken together, parents are having a healthcare crisis.

And they (and their children) need our help if they are going to make it through with their mental states intact.

Parents Healthcare Crisis 1

Mass shootings are a devastating healthcare crisis for parents and their families. And since the number of them is skyrocketing, there is an ever-widening number of people directly impacted by them such as the victims, the victim’s parents, parents of their kid’s friends, teachers, the shooter and his family and friends, the first responders, policemen and women and their friends and family. That’s alot of people in crisis.

According to the Washington Post, “Mass shootings, where four or more people — not including the shooter — are injured or killed, have averaged more than one per day so far this year. Not a single week in 2022 has passed without at least three mass shootings.” If that’s not a healthcare crisis for those parents I don’t know what is. These frightening statistics move the issue from being a political one to a health care crisis because the results are death, extreme depression, and anxiety.

“In 2021, almost 700 mass shootings occurred, a jump from the 611 in 2020 and 417 in 2019. Before that, incidents had not topped 400 annually since the Gun Violence Archive started tracking in 2014.” To date, 256 people have been shot and killed so far in 2022 – not including suicides, murders, gang violence, and all other types of shooting deaths. If each shooting affects approximately 20 people that’s 6,120 in crisis.

The mental health toll on the shooting survivors and their families (more than 14,000 people per year) is so traumatic some say they will never be the same as they were prior to the shooting experience.

In my mind assault weapons should be reserved for the military and police only. No one goes hunting with an assault weapon, nor needs to own them for recreational use. The fact is more people die from suicide by a gun than they do from mass shootings. And the reason is that guns are so accessible and therefore tempting.

Parents Healthcare Crisis 2

Abortions; plain and simple. Since they were legalized in 1973 death by abortion has dropped significantly and the number of abortions performed has dropped significantly as well. According to the CDC roughly 1.5 Million abortions were performed in 1980 and 862,000 were performed in 2017 (the last year the CDC updated the numbers). That’s a drop of about 50%. So fears that abortions would be used as a form of birth control by anti-abortionists are completely unfounded.

Instead, it’s just the opposite. Women having better access to healthcare prevents them from having unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Now they have access to medical professionals to discuss all types of birth control, specifics about abortion, and other choices they can make. You can read about it in more detail here.

Parents Healthcare Crisis 3

Addiction and overdoses. It has been proven that addicts are people with a mental health disease plain and simple. They are not criminals (though they may steal to get enough money for a fix) and they are not people who simply can’t control their impulses. They are mentally ill and require medical, and psychological treatment to effectively combat the disease. You can read more about Fentanyl in my previous post.

Punitive measures like jail time and fines do not help the addict overcome his/her illness. Instead, we should be thinking about putting harm reduction measures in place (view details here), and training emergency room doctors in the science behind addiction so they can speak to the patient about their options for getting better and recommending appropriate care.

Parents Desperately Need Our Help

In large part being a parent means protecting your children by providing them with a safe environment. But these three catastrophic healthcare crises have become a crisis for all parents. How many parents have kissed their kids goodbye in the morning before school not knowing it would be the last time? Or how many parents gave their teenage son/daughter the keys to the car to attend a party not thinking it’s the last time he/she will need them. 200,000 parents found themselves in this position in 2021. And if you multiply this by several years you are talking about half a million parents trying to move on after surviving their child’s death.

How many daughters will no longer have access to legal abortions and agency over their own bodies? How many will die from trying to undue pregnancies themselves?

These three healthcare crises are having a very negative mental health impact on parents and their children right now. And since parents are the foundation of our families and the bedrocks of our communities we must provide laws and policies in place to prevent more senseless deaths. And we need more crisis centers where these parents and their kids can get the help they need right now. Let’s all support the organizations that are attempting to reverse these patterns (both financially and physically). Let’s all get in the same boat to make life safer for our parents and their kids.

We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines any more. We must change these trends. Here are some resources to both get help and provide help:

Mental Health Foundation’
March for Our Lives
Everytown – for Gun Safety
Planned Parenthood
The ACLU
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration

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This we week we lost our beloved son JACK LIAM HARRIS. He had the sweetest soul and the most infectious smile. He battled opioid addiction for 7 years and unfortunately succumbed to this fatal disease. We are heartbroken and will keep him in our hearts forever. May he find the peace he tried so hard to find on earth in heaven. #addictionawareness #opiodepidemic #njharmreductioncoalition https://njharmreduction.org/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ch5RumNvlJ3/ For book lovers this is a good one. #booklovers #greatreads To the happy couple. Mazel Tov. #engaged #engagement #love 💍🇬🇧 The best is yet to come. #love #loveislove #engaged Elliot and Liz are getting married. We wish them all the love and good fortune in the years ahead. Xox. @ebharris1 #loveislove #love #engaged Sunsets and Homemade Potstickers. Perfect night. Having Fun at the Park with our campers. Reveal2Heal - a foundation supporting kids and their families. @reveal2heal #foundation #givingbacktothecommunity #revealtoheal Reveal2Heal is a consulting and non-profit providing kids and their families with the support they need.

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Amy Harris

100 Wilson Road
Springfield, NJ 07081
amyharrisonline.com@gmail.com
917.327.0701

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7 Days in London

I just spent 7 days in London and it is truly a magical place where tradition is king and the government is run by a Queen. Yes, an actual Queen. The Queen is not just a ceremonial position. She actually signs off on every bill that comes out of Parliament.

Queen Elizabeth is highly respected for her devotion to her civic duties and will be celebrating her 70th anniversary as England’s monarch – the longest any monarch has served. The celebration is called The Jubilee and takes place for 3 days beginning on Friday, June 3rd, 2022.

Because of the unusually clear skies and sunny days, I decided to make the most of London from the outdoors and by walking as much as possible. This trip recap can be used as a guide to help you plan your own vacation to London.

London’s Overall Look and Feel

There is so much to see you can get bogged down with just visiting museums, churches, and castles without getting a real sense of what life is like living in London. I chose not to go this route and did not go to Buckingham Castle, The National Gallery, or Westminster Abby. The weather was too perfect each day to spend it in dark spaces. Instead, I chose to soak up the sites, sounds, and overall feel of the city by taking advantage of all that Hyde Park has to offer, eating at high-end restaurants, taking a side trip to the English countryside, and shopping til I almost dropped.

London in 7 Days – The Look and Feel

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Overall, you’ll notice from the pictures that the city is incredibly clean and well-manicured. Every home and store either has colorful blooming window boxes or pots, or both. The buildings are much lower than in US cities like NYC or Chicago, letting in more sunlight. It doesn’t have that cement feeling because trees and flowers accent virtually every street.

Day 1 of My 7 Days in London- Hyde Park

While Hyde Park is about half the size of Central Park in NYC, it feels much bigger. The formal gardens, fountains, commemorative statues, diverse walking paths, and Kensington Palace and Gardens make it feel much grander. Alongside the walking path is a bridle path for horseback riders.

Some iconic views not to miss are:

  • Gardens Along Walking Path
  • Ice Cream Truck
  • The Albert Memorial
    Prince Albert Memoriall
  • Formal Garden in Hyde Park
    Formal Gardens
  • Horseback Riding in Hyde Park
    Horseback Riding Ring
  • Horseback Riding Along the Walk in Hyde Park
  • Serenity Sculpture
  • Serpentine Bridge
  • Serpentine Lake
  • Kensington Palace in Hyde Park London
    Kensington Palace Where Charles and Diana Lived for 15 Years
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Statue of Princess Diana with her Children
    Princess Diana with Her Children
  • Fountain and Reflecting Pool
Princess Diana Memorial
Bird Sanctuary

Day 2 – of My 7 Days in London – A Cruise up the Thames

This is a really great way to see London.

Tower Bridge London UK
Tower Bridge
Having Fun on Our Cruise up he Thames
London Tower Palace viewed from the Thames
The Tower Palace

The West End

The West End is London’s theater and arts district. Ticket prices for shows are far more affordable than in New York City. We saw a great pop musical titled Six which is now on Broadway. It’s a must-see.

It’s a pop concert spectacle featuring the 6 wives of King Henry the VIII. It is now on Broadway. Get tickets.
Covent Garden
A few Blocks Away is Covent Garden with loads of shops, and restaurants.

You Can Also View Gravity Defying Street Performers

Days 3 and 4 – of My 7 Days in London -The English Countryside

We took an overnight trip to Windsor – approximately 45 minutes west of London. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular and so was the hotel we stayed in. It’s called the Oakley Court Hotel and is a fully renovated Victorian-style mansion built in 1859. It sits on 35 acres along the Thames and is a stone’s throw from Windsor Castle.

There is a grand entrance, many sitting rooms, eating areas, and approximately 150 hotel rooms. The traditional details have been meticulously restored and is decorated with modern furnishings. It doesn’t feel old and stodgy as some of these old estates can feel.

Oakley Court Hotel
One of Many Sitting Rooms
Library
Afternoon Tea Served Here
Another Sitting Room
The Solarium
The Grounds
View of the Thames From the Back of the Hotel
A Separate Space on the Grounds for Eating and Drinking Called the River House
You Can Also Get a Private Dining Speace
Private dining tents at the Boathouse
The Grounds on the Oakley Court Hotel
The Grounds of the Hotel

Visiting Windsor Castle

This is a side trip worth your time – no matter how limited it may be. Windsor Castle is where the Queen spends most of her time when she is away from Buckingham Palace attending to her official duties. It is the most used palace of all.

It was built in the 11th century and has been used by the reigning monarchs since then. It is the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe. The tour takes you through all the staterooms which are bigger than any room I have ever seen and are lavishly decorated.

And every hour there is a formal ceremony for changing of the guard.

The Food Scene in London

There is a very strong pub culture that frankly surprised me. After work, people swarm the pubs and drink out on the sidewalks. Pubs are less of a bar and more of a neighborhood gathering spot. While I ate in a couple, I much preferred the more contemporary restaurants with great decor and dine where the beautiful people go.

Dinner at Fischer’s

Fischer’s has a warm ambient light with a warm cozy atmosphere. They serve Vienese (Austrian) fare and it is delectable. I had a traditional Viener Schnitzel and it was perfection

Fischers Restaurant in London UK
Fischer’s Restaurant London UK Delicious Viennese Food

Lunch at Chiltern Firehouse

Chiltern Firehouse is both a hotel and a restaurant and is a converted firehouse. It offers indoor seating as well as a beautiful tented terrace. We ate on the terrace. The food was delicious.

Roasted Cauliflower
Great Salad
Anchovy Pizza

The food scene includes traditional English fare. On Sundays, everyone goes to their neighborhood pub to enjoy Sundy Roast as a late lunch. This can be found in any decent pub throughout the UK.

Sunday Roast
Traditional Sunday Roast – typically eaten in a pub.
Digging in to my Sunday Roast
The roast includes meat, gravy, roasted vegetables, and, classic Yorkshire Pudding.
Leisurely dinner at Oakley Court in one of the many sitting rooms
Leisurely dinner at Oakley Court in one of the many sitting rooms.

Days 5 and 6 – of My 7 Days in London – Shopping in London

We hit 4 main shopping areas and that’s not even half of what’s available.

Selfridge’s

Selfridge’s is a unique department that is equal parts apparel, jewelry, and fragrances mixed in with entertainment, and live experiences.

Marleybone Village

Marleybone is one of the poshest residential neighborhoods in London that also includes great shopping and dining. There are a few American chain retailers like Theory and Lulemon, but we didn’t go into them. Instead, we focused on purely English brands. And we did quite well.

Notting Hill / Porto Bello Road

This neighborhood was made famous by the movie with the same name. It was once a slum inhabited by immigrants, but has been gentrified to become an affluent neighborhood that hosts an incredible amount of boutiques.

Porto Bello Road is within the confines of Notting Hill, but has its own shopping district and an open market on the weekends.

Day 7 in London

I was sad to leave but knew this was a city worth coming back to for at least another 7 days. Read about my other excursions here

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Why Roe V Wade Is Such a Big Deal

Boy, the shit has hit the fan on this issue. I can’t believe in 2022 the supreme court is considering overturning a hard-fought battle to make Roe V Wade a national law in 1973. Abortion has now been legal for 49 years. That’s why the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade is such a big deal. So why are we considering taking a giant step backward in this modern era?

The answer is twofold – the first is men and their power base and their need to control women. The second is the conservative Christian’s view about when life begins. Can you imagine if the situation were reversed and we were debating whether men should have the right of agency over their own bodies? It would never happen. That’s why the Roe V Wade ruling is such a big deal.

If we look at the statistics, while abortion initially increased substantially right after Roe V Wade was passed in 1973 – 1980, since then (from 1981 through 2017) the abortion rate fell approximately in half, according to the Center for Disease Control. In the 1970s, the conservative movement peddled unfounded fear that if abortions were to become legal it would be used as a birth control method and abortion rates would soar. unfounded.

Graph of US abortion rates 1973-2017 by the Guttmacher Institute
Abortion Rates from 1973 – 2017 collected by the Guttmacher Institue

Why Roe V Wade is Such a Big Deal:

Anti Abortionists – I refuse to call this group “pro-lifers” since the other side isn’t “pro-death.” Anti-Abortionists are composed of a minority of Christian religious right activists. They believe that life starts at conception. That’s what their religion teaches them. So, they don’t believe abortion should be legal at all even in cases of rape and incest because it goes against their religious beliefs. But we are a country of diverse religions, many of which do not share this belief.

Additionally, our country was founded on key democratic principles, one of which is the separation of church and state. Overturning Roe V Wade for religious reasons removes the separation of church and state and could lead to other religious beliefs dictating laws like gay marriage. That’s why overturning Roe V Wade is not only a big deal but a huge one.

Pro-Choice – This side is the majority of voters who believe that according to a recent poll by Reuters of 998 voters (since the Supreme Court’s ruling was leaked), “52% of respondents said it should be legal in most or all cases, while 40% said it should be illegal in most or all cases.”

This group is backed by the constitution’s 14th amendment. The amendment was primarily added in 1868 to provide civil rights to black/minority people. But it also includes the clause “the right to privacy without any government interference.” So Pro-Choice advocates and the Supreme Court from 1973 onwards believed women were solely responsible to make the decision to abort a private matter.

If abortion were to become outlawed in the US, we would be joining only 24 third-world countries with this law. This includes; the Dominican Republic, The Congo, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jamaica, Laos, Madagascar, Malta, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sierra Leon and the Palestinian Territories. Conversely, abortion is legal in Canada, most of Europe, Australia and Russia.

Abortion protests with pro life anf pro choice activists

My Opinion on Roe V Wade

I am not a Christian nor a Catholic, so I don’t share their religious beliefs about conception. Just like many other laws in this country, just because something is legal doesn’t mean you have to participate. Simply put, if you don’t believe in abortion – don’t have one. But should your religious beliefs govern the many thousands of Americans who believe differently? It’s a lot like the gun debate. Personally, I would never own a gun, but they are legal. So, if you want one, by all means, go get one.

It may or may not be right for me to have an abortion, but I don’t think I should have an opinion on whether you should be allowed to have one or any number of personal decisions about how to live your life.

The idea of a religious belief becoming law in a diverse country like the United States makes the Roe V Wade debate a very BIG deal.

Read More About the Debate Here

A Summary of the Law

Defining What is Pro-Choice and Pro-Life

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Bras Are A Painful Necessity

Wearing a bra has been a painful necessity since the 16th century. If you are like me, taking your bra off at the end of the day is the first thing you do when you get home. Why are bras still a necessity? Who invented them and why? In this post, I will provide you with the history of the bra, figure out how they came to be, why we still wear them and recommend the most comfortable, supportive ones on the market today.

History of the Bra

The predecessor to the bra was the corset an even more painful necessity during the 16th century. According to Wikipedia, “In the 16th century AD, undergarments were worn by wealthy women in the western world. The corset was meant to train the body to be more erect and to support the breasts by shifting their weight to the rib cage.” It sounds painful. The combination of medical experts who were concerned about the long-term effects of corsetry and the feminist movement which sought liberation from wearing these painful devices ended the corsetry era. Thank God.

“In the latter part of the 19th century, women experimented with various alternatives such as splitting the corset into a girdle-like shaping device for the lower torso and transferring the upper part to devices suspended from the shoulder.” By the 20th century, bras became common for all women – used with and without a girdle.

So there you have it. All of the earliest patents for bras are owned by men. Inventing the modern bra was another way men control women – this time with their undergarments.

History of Bras
Courtesy of Glamour Daze

It wasn’t until the 1920’s that bras went from flattening breasts to lifting them. These early models were invented by women forming companies like Maidenform. In the 1940’s conical-shaped bras were all the rage as worn by starlets Lauren Bacall and Jane Weiman.

Underwires were used from the 1940s until today as a way to take the weight off the shoulder straps while still lifting the breast. But women tend to find them uncomfortable and having metal against your breast 12 hours a day became a questionable health issue. Due to consumer demand, bras have once again been reformulated with more wireless bra options.

When we talk about bras today, it is a whole different ballgame. Women are disrupting the bra market by starting their own companies since they consume lingerie and know what feels right and what doesn’t. Their sole goal is to make quality bras that provide coverage, support, and comfort – no pain allowed. And these companies have been disrupting market share from the behemoth companies like Victoria’s Secret (owned by a man) which has closed 25% of its stores.

Instead, women are happy to shop online for bras, shapewear, and lingerie where they can order a style or two in varying sizes and try them on in the privacy of their own home and return what doesn’t work. The following brands do not cause pain and are all available online only.

Some Suggested Bras To Try for Support and Comfort

Honeylove at honeylove.com @honeylove. Their bestseller is their “V Neck Bra.” Their site says it is “so comfortable you’ll forget you are wearing it.” The company was founded by a woman named Betsy Larkin who was a vocalist and couldn’t find a bra that was both comfortable and supportive, so she invented one. They serve all body types and also make shapewear as well.

Second Favorite Bra

Another female-founded brand is Negative Underwear, https://negativeunderwear.com/ @negativeunderwear. They define themselves as providing “uncomplicated, considered, minimal luxury.” And it’s true; bras used to be quite complicated which meant more painful straps and closures rubbing up against your skin. Simplicity is king in this market, but it needs to provide the right amount of support.

Their Sieve bra does all it says and comes in different fabrics and 3 colors to suit your needs

Another newer company by the name of Third Love, https://www.thirdlove.com @thirdlove, whose best-selling bras have underwire. However, they promise that the memory foam cups and pleated straps make it extremely comfortable and seamless for wearing under T-Shirts. They also make wireless bras like the Smoothing V Neck wireless Bra pictured below.

I’ll admit I gave in and tried Kim Kardashian’s line called Skims, https://www.skims.com @skims. They have the largest assortment of bras and shapewear by far of any of the aforementioned companies. They offer 7 bra styles and the widest range of colors and fabrics within each style. Their fabric quality is excellent. In addition, the line is very female-focused making sure that fabric weight and sheerness are factored into each style. Here are just some you can choose from.

The good news is there are dozens more female-founded companies disrupting the lingerie market and making bras that are no longer painful to wear. Those that are owned by women are succeeding because who better to understand what a woman needs from a bra than a woman?

Read more Online Shopping resources I vetted here and here.

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5 Clean Beauty Finds I Bought On Instagram

As you know from previous posts, I am an avid Instagram shopper. Recently, I’ve been on the search for quality clean beauty products. It is unimaginable to think women have been slathering chemically-laden products on their skin, eyes, lips, and nails since the beginning of time. Just like eating wholesome non-genetically modified food became a trend, now the big buzz phrase in the beauty industry is “clean beauty.” So I vetted some, and in this post, I am reviewing 5 clean beauty finds I bought on Instagram.

What is the Meaning of Clean Beauty?

Clean Beauty means that the products don’t get tested on animals, are manufactured sustainably, and are made from only natural ingredients. To be safer and because I am environmentally conscious, I am slowly converting all of my skincare and makeup products to clean ones. For this post, I tried a healthy amount of clean beauty products from a wide range of vendors and have come up with 5 Clean Beauty Finds I Bought on Instagram.

First Clean Beauty Find

I have been a fan of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics for a long time. I love her make-up colors and her personal philosophy of makeup being an enhancement and a call to celebrate your own beauty.

When Bobbi was just 34 years old, she sold her namesake line to Estee Lauder for a staggering $75 million.

In 2020, during the height of the Pandemic, at the ripe age of 62 years old (a great example of a woman of a certain age), she launched a brand new line named Jones Road @jonesroadbeauty. This new line uses only clean ingredients and is cruelty-free. Once again her philosophy is to enhance your own good looks, not cover them.

So I ordered some products from the line to test them out.

Bobbi Brown Does it Again

Of the four products I purchased, I found 2 of them to be very worthwhile. One of the most popular products in the line is titled Miracle Balm. It is a highly emollient (some would say sticky) balm that smells great and serves multiple purposes. You can wear it as a blush, or all over your face to achieve glowing skin. You can also dab some on your lids and lips as well for that no makeup, makeup look. On her website she shows how to use it by breaking the seal, rubbing it into the palms of your hands and then working it into your face. Here is how she suggests using it

I tested 4 Jones Road beauty products

I bought Miracle Balm in 2 colors – one to wear for an all-over glow and one to use as a blush. The first time I wore it I actually received a compliment on my skin from a co-worker. But it is quite sticky and requires you to actually wash your hands before moving on to the next step in your makeup routine.

Next, I tried the Sparkle Wash which is a liquid eye shadow on my eyelids. But, the color is very sheer and it just looked like I had sparkles on my eyes. That was not the look I was going for. I wanted a good amount of pigment with some sparkle. Not the other way around.

Lastly, I tried a product titled the Best Pencil to line my eyes. The color doesn’t transfer easily so I had to go back and forth across my upper eyelid several times before it showed. Overall, I give Jones Road a “Meh.”

Second Clean Beauty Find

My second clean beauty find is not only clean but organic as well. The line is called Ogee @aogee and they explain on their website that there is a difference between a clean beauty line and an organic one. Clean means the product’s ingredients are all-natural. According to Ogee, “an organic beauty line gets the stringent NSF Organic certification for all of their products and covers every facet of product development, from the farm where the ingredients are grown, harvested and processed, to the lab in which they are batched and bottled, the sustainably sourced paperboard in which they’re contained until they end up on the vanity on which they’re placed.” This line is both clean and organic.

Ogee Sculpting Stick great for contouring the face

Organic beauty lines are rare and mesh well with my own ideology. I was in the market for a contour and bought their Sculpted Face Stick in Amber

And I love it. It goes on so smoothly and is easy to work into your skin. I think the only thing I regret is not getting it a shade darker in the Copper. But since the price is a bit steep at $52, I’ll wait until I run out before buying another one.

Ogee Gets : Thumbs up

Third Clean Beauty Find

I’ve recently fallen in love with Victoria Beckham’s beauty line @victoriabeckhambeauty. I love her apparel too but it is way out of my league. Her beauty line is gorgeous from the packaging to the product delivery and it lives up to each claim it makes about its products. It is also a clean, female-owned beauty line which are important traits for me in choosing what I put on my skin. They also use crystals in products to aid in well-being.

Initially, I ordered 1 product – an eyeliner. I was so impressed, I bought 4 more products.

5 clean beauty products I tested from Victoria Beckham's beauty line

The Satin Kajal eyeliner goes on so smoothly that I now have it in two colors. It stays put, even if you use it in your waterline.

The posh blush is creamy and blends easily. I got it in Rollerskate – which is a pinky coral. I would get it in Major next time, which is a pink flush.

The Victoria Beckham line of blushes

Because the Jones Road eye shadow color I bought was all sparkle without any real pigment, I tried Victoria Beckham’s Lid Luster eye shadow. The pigments are deep and formulated with actual crystals. Victoria apparently surrounds herself with crystals for good energy and “each shade is infused with a different crystal for aura-amplifying energy.”

I used it sparingly over my liner for extra depth. It comes in 8 colors

The Posh lipsticks are ultra-creamy with rich color, buttery shine, and light-as-air wear. They describe them on the site as ” a clean, nourishing formula powered by superfood ingredients that provide intense moisturization for supremely healthier, happier, fuller-looking lips.”

Victoria Beckhams' lipstick palette
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipsticks

Overall, I give Victoria Beckham Beauty a “Hell Yeah.”

Fourth Clean Beauty Find

The very first clean beauty brand I bought was Thrive Causemetics @thrivecausemetics about five years ago. In addition to using all-natural ingredients, and being cruelty-free it is a woman-owned company that donates a portion of each sale to one of 5 charities – which you get to choose. They say on their website, “Thrive Causemetics purchase helps us donate to organizations that uniquely uplift women and their communities.” I have included them in a previous post which you can view here.

Their Buildable Blur Color Correcting Cream is a hard-working, multi-tasking product that is a moisturizer, a skin color corrector, and an SPF 35 sunscreen all in one tube. I use the Fair with Neutral Undertones and it makes my skin look smooth without being cakey or flaky. See pic below.

I also love their Lash Extensions Mascara – which is great for sensitive eyes. It is buildable and thickens and lengthens.

Thrive Causemtics CC Cream
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Extensions Mascara

Thrive Causemetics is an excellent clean beauty find.

Fifth Clean Beauty Find

Why stop with cleansers and makeup? Did you know about all-natural nail polish? I’ve tried Static Nail @staticnails in 3 colors, plus their basecoat and topcoat. They say on their website that, they have “A breakthrough formula loaded with rich pigments and natural antioxidants for a healthy manicure that actually lasts up to 10+ days without chipping when paired with Static Nails Liquid Glass Primer and Top Coat.”

I love natural-looking nails as well bold colors – but nothing in between. The Milky Pink shade pictured below is a perfect shade with a good amount of coverage, but not too much. It equates to Essie’s color called Ballet Slippers.

Static Nails color in Milky Pink
These are the 5 products I have bought from Static Nails

I now bring Static Nails base coat, color and top coat with me for my weekly manicures and you can definitely get 10 days out of them.

Putting My Clean Beauty Finds All Together

I decided to test-run everything I bought to see how the products worked together. I used my Thrive CC cream as a foundation. Then I added the Jones Road Miracle Balm for the glow. I placed my Victoria Beckham Cheeky Posh Creamy Blush Stick on the apples of my cheeks. Added my Ogee Sculpting Stick for contour. I used an eye shadow palette I already owned. Lined my eyes with the Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Cocoa and went over it with the Lid Luster in Mink. Lastly, I applied my Posh Lipstick in Sway. And here’s how it came out.

Amy all Made Up

REMINDER– Unlike many bloggers and influencers I am completely independent of the products I review / recommend and do not profit from any of the brands I showcase. I don’t have sponsors or advertisers paying me to be their brand ambassador. My opinions are just that – my opinions.

Let me know if you try any / or all of these products and what your experience was like.

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contact me

Amy Harris

100 Wilson Road
Springfield, NJ 07081
amyharrisonline.com@gmail.com
917.327.0701

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Fentanyl Overdoses Are Killing Our Young People

Every 15 minutes at least one person dies of a drug overdose in this country. From April 2020 to April 2021 (the most recent data available) The Center for Disease Control estimates over 100,000 people died from overdoses. That number is up from 76,000 in 2020. Two-thirds of those deaths were from the synthetic opioid called Fentanyl. Teens and young adults are known to experiment with drugs and alcohol — it’s almost a right of passage. But now, they are unknowingly consuming a drug called Fentanyl which is killing our young people.

According to CNN, adolescent overdose deaths in the United States more than doubled from 2010 to 2021, jumping from 518 to 1,146 deaths annually. The good news? Drug use has substantially decreased amongst teens. But when they buy synthetic Adderal, Xanax or Oxycodone from a dealer, they are likely taking Fentanyl instead. And that’s why Fentanyl overdoses are killing our young people.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine. It is used for medical purposes for patients in severe pain post-op.

Overdose Deaths

Source: KFF

But now it is being produced in labs in China and smuggled in through Mexico to the United States. Cartels distribute Fentanyl by the kilogram.  One kilogram of fentanyl (approximately 2 pounds) has the potential to kill 500,000 people. Most drug users don’t know they are taking something mixed with Fentanyl so they take their normal dose and end up overdosing.

This year Florida has had more Fentanyl-related deaths than any other state. To help combat this, they are providing Harm Reduction services right at Fort Lauderdale Beach where many Spring Breakers go to party. They have a mobile unit on-site in case anyone overdoses from Fentanyl. Plus they are distributing kits with Narcan – a drug that can prevent a patient from overdosing if given early enough.

Preventing Fentanyl From Killing More Young People

In addition to the occasional user, opioid addicts are dying in droves from Fentanyl as well. In San Francisco, in 2021 there were twice as many Fentanyl overdose deaths as Covid deaths, most of whom were heroin addicts. Addicts use Fentanyl knowingly and unknowingly. The knowing group uses it because it is cheaper than heroin and a little goes a long way. Unknowing users don’t know that it is mixed in with either the pill they are taking or the heroin they are injecting. So they take their normal dose and end up overdosing. We need to educate occasional users as well as addicts about the high risk of Fentanyl overdoses.

One group that is doing a great job of advocating for those at risk is The National Harm Reduction Coalition, a non-profit organization solely committed to preventing overdoses. Instead of being judgemental or shaming users, they treat them with humanity. The Harm Reduction volunteers are there to help keep the addict alive. Some of the critical services they provide are:

Me Volunteering at At the NJ chapter of the Harm Reduction Coalition
  • Narcan Distribution – a drug in nasal spray or injection form that reverses the effects of an overdose if administered during the actual overdose. Police and EMS workers now carry it on hand.
  • Needle Exchanges – dirty needles can cause abscesses (serious bacterial infections) amongst other problems for the addict because they use the same needle over and over to save money. Needle exchanges allow the addicts to turn in their used needles for new ones.
  • Distribution of Fentanyl test kits – so the user can test the levels of Fentanyl in the drugs he buys.
  • Political Action – New Jersey just passed The Syringe Decrim Bill (S-3493/A-5458) which decriminalizes possession of syringes and allows for expungement of previous convictions. Treating addicts like criminals instead of treating them with dignity does nothing to stem the problem. It makes them self-isolate, which only perpetuates the addiction.

Let’s Fight to Keep Our Kids Alive Despite the Influx of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is much stronger than heroine or morphine and is responsible for many overdoses.

While almost every young person experiments with drugs the consequences have never been higher. While 90% of adults will never get addicted in their lifetime, we treat the 10% who do like criminals. Instead of using punitive measures to curb the use of drugs, it should be treated like the mental health issue it is (like eating disorders). Our jails are filled with non-violent drug addicts who would be much better off getting therapy and medication instead of losing their rights as a citizen. Incarcerating an addict is like jailing a person who has diabetes without providing them with insulin. It is the absolute opposite approach to remediating their addiction.

Even today, with all of the science to the contrary, there is still a drug possession arrest happening in the US every 23 seconds. Possession of a substance shouldn’t be a crime – but a call for help! While most people think decriminalization would increase usage the facts prove just the opposite:

  • Millions of people would no longer be arrested, (re)incarcerated, deported, and burdened by criminal records
  • It would free up law enforcement for more serious offenses
  • Prioritize health and safety over punishment for drug users
  • Stop the illegal importing of Fentanyl

Prevention of More Fentanyl Related Overdoses in Young People

As parents, we need to get the word out to our children about the lethal dangers of taking Fentanyl before it is too late. The teens think they’ll be safe because they are buying a prescription drug like Adderall, Oxycodone, or Xanax. Instead, they are buying a synthetic pill manufactured by Mexican Cartels. A 14-year-old in Connecticut took 1 pill (thinking it was Oxycodone) and it had enough Fentanyl in it to kill 4 people. He bought it off of Snapchat.

How about the 4 West Point cadets who went to Spring Break in Florida and overdosed on what they thought was Cocaine, but it contained Fentanyl? Two are currently on ventilators. What you can do to save your kid(s):

  • Talk to your teenagers (as young as 12) about the risk factors inherent in buying street drugs or drugs off the internet
  • Tell them what Fentanyl is, how it is likely mixed into whatever drug they are buying, and its effects on the human body
  • Provide them with literature about the dangers of Fentanyl

I hope the urgency of this issue motivates you to stand up for drug users and addicts, recognize the disease for what it is, advocate to fund more resources for treatment, and most of all treat them with dignity.

If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs they can call the 24-hour National Help Hotline at 800 662-4357.

Ways to Get Involved

You can volunteer, donate money or help get the word out about Fentanyl through these 3 and many other organizations:

The Voices Project

National Harm Reduction Coalition

Safe Project

Featured

My Top 30 Book Recommenda -tions

When was the last time you read a really good book? Finding one that captures your attention and immerses you in the characters and plot is especially challenging considering the number of new books released annually. With this in mind, I decided it might be helpful to share my top 30 book recommendations with my readers.

One of the many benefits of being a woman of a certain age is the increase in leisure time I have to spend reading books while curled up in the comfort of my own home. And I do mean books. I’m not a fan of e-books or books on tape. I like the act of holding a book in my hands, flipping back and forth, and feeling the texture of the pulp.

I choose genres based on the last book I read and my current mood. Do I feel like being challenged? Do I want a page-turner to take on vacation? I also gravitate towards categories including true crime, contemporary literature, and historical fiction. I get inspired about which books to choose by browsing in bookstores – a passion of mine, from the well-edited website Good Reads, from Reese’s Book Club (formerly Hello Sunshine) who chooses books written by women, about women as well as Oprah’s picks. Together they provide a perfect combination of serious, amusing, creative, and inspirational reads that fulfill my varied interests. So without further ado, here are my top 31 book recommendations.

My Top 6 Page Turner / Thrillers

The Couple Next Door bt
A true page turner with so many twists and turns you will never guess the end.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkin Reid
Set in the current day a world famous model is throwing her end-of-year party. But things do not go according to plan.
Defending Jacob by William Landy
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
A contemporary story of super rich Americans and Asian who find undying love.
Judge's List by John Grisham
In this mystery thriller the judge is the crominal
Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
A fictional story addressing white privilege and racism without being preachy.

My Top 11 Literary Fiction Recommendations

The Dutch House by Anne Patchett
a novel that explores the meaning of home.
Bel Canto by Anne Patchett
Somewhere in South America a birthday party for a famous businessman. The star opera singer performs and all goes well until a gang of terrorists breaks in and holds the guests hostage.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Set in 1939 during the depression and the longest drought in the Great Plains history a mother and daughter flee to California to start a new life. But it isn’t any easier.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
A novel about a dysfunctional family that tries to start anew by moving to Alaska. But things get alot worse.
Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark D. Sullivan
a true story about an American diplomat and his family sent to Berlin just before WW II breaks out.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Contemporary novel about 2 brothers getting out of a small town and head to California
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Set in the late 1960’s in the Brooklyn projects and how cracked changed the entire neighborhood.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Set in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS crisis its a story about love and redemption.
In the Garden of Beasts
Tells the story of a US diplomat and his daughter who were sent to Berlin in 1933
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
American Dirt by Jeanne Cummins
A harrowing tale of 2 Mexican sisters and a young boy seeking refuge from gang violence, travel to the US border.

My Top 4 Recommended Novels Set in Worldly Places and Eras

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
A fictional account of a young girl in S. Korea in the early 1900’s who gets pregnant by a married man.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
This story tells a tale about a modern woman fighting against traditional Indian customs
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amore Towles
A royal member of of the old guard is found guilty by the new Russian government and is sentenced to serve his time in a luxury hotel.
Outlawed by Anna North
A very young woman joins the Hole in the Wall Gang when she is shunned by her community

My Top 3 Recommended Non-Fiction Books

Caste by Isabell Wilkerson
This Pulitzer Prize winning book demonstrates how the caste system is alive and well in the USA.
Dopesick by Beth Macy
A real life story of how Americans became addicted to Opiods, how hard it is to recover from them and the family that manufactured them knowing their long term affects.
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Underground Railroadis a fictional account of a slave trying to escape to the north.

My Top 6 Recommended Historical Fiction Books

  • The Great Alone
    A novel about a dysfunctional family that tries to start anew by moving to Alaska. But things get alot worse.
  • The Book Thief
    Set in 1939 a young girl finds a book someone left behind and starts her on book thief journey. It is a harrowing tale and was made into a major motion picture.
  • In the Garden of Beasts
    Tells the story of a US diplomat and his daughter who were sent to Berlin in 1933
  • A Well Behaved woman
    Set in the Guilded Age in New York City it combines fact and fiction to tell the story about the Vanderbilts
  • The Four Winds
    Set in 1939 during the depression and the longest drought in the Great Plains history a mother and daughter flee to California to start a new life. But it isn’t any easier.

Just Finished

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer Smith

Totally unremarkable and forgettable.

Beartown by Frederic Backman

Plan to Read

Already on my shelf and can’t wait to start

You’ll notice 2 authors each have 2 books on my list. They are Kristin Hannah and Ann Patchett. I highly recommend everything they write because they are both imaginative storytellers and their books envelop you. I know it looks like a lot of books and I don’t mean to overwhelm you. So, start with a genre you enjoy and go from there.

My Bookstore Recommendations

The Bookhouse in Millburn, NJ is a great independent bookseller
The Book House in Millburn, NJ
Words Bookstore Maplewood, NJ is another great independent bookseller
Words Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ

All of the books featured in this post can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or from your favorite independent booksellers. I like to support independent bookstores as much as I can. I have 2 favorite ones near me in New Jersey; The Millburn Bookhouse and Words. Selecting books in-store is still my favorite way of deciding what to read next because I can get honest feedback on the newest titles by speaking to like-minded readers, asking the owner for recommendations, page through the books that area book clubs are reading, etc.

If you have any books you would like to recommend to our readers (in addition to this list of 31 book recommendations) , please fill in the form below. Also, let me know if you disliked a book so I don’t waste time on it. Happy Reading.

Books I Do and Don’t Recommend

Like What You Are Reading? There’s Lots More.

Fentanyl is Killing Our Young People

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Amy Harris

100 Wilson Road
Springfield, NJ 07081
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