#SDMFluFighters

Escaping the Cold? Make a Winter Travel Checklist

February 5, 2016 By Lena 33 Comments

For Canadians, escaping the winter is a thing.

And why not? Winter travel down south offers an opportunity to get away from the cold, endure one less week of slush, sleet and snow, and trade windchill values for humidex values. Okay, so it’s not just a thing… for many, it’s a necessity.
12070644_1502206640097187_1907736570_n Of course, while jetting off to a sunny vacation in the throes of winter is the epitome of awesome, it also presents its own set of challenges that requires some planning ahead. My advice? Make a winter travel checklist! …

What Will You Do? Where Will You Be… When You’re Flu-Free?

February 1, 2016 By Lena 27 Comments

This past weekend, I was out and about. I shopped for groceries, attended my son’s indoor soccer game, took my other son to a birthday party and even managed to squeeze in a quick brunch with a friend, which yielded the following plate of scrambled eggs.

I think I’ve been eating scrambled eggs the wrong way my entire life. Oh-Em-Gee.
12556141_1005051036240084_1934865149_n My weekend was fun, productive, and most of all – I didn’t miss out on life’s little adventures because I was sick at home with the flu.

How did you celebrate a flu-free weekend? I posed the question to my followers on Twitter, and it was heartwarming to read all your responses! From enjoying time outdoors with the kids to celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, nothing kept you down. Congratulations on being winter warriors! …

I Had the Flu Shot. No Big Deal.

January 7, 2016 By Lena 24 Comments

Well, okay… maybe it was a big deal, because it was my FIRST flu shot EVER.

But really, it’s business as usual here. I didn’t get the flu immediately after taking it; I didn’t suffer any strange side effects and my arm definitely didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. All in all, I pretty much felt the same – except now, I’m less likely to contract the flu this season. Sounds very straightforward and reasonable… so *why* did it take me so long to get myself vaccinated?

The truth is, I believed in the myths that I stated above. I actually thought that taking the vaccine might give me the flu, and after watching my husband whine and complain about how much it hurts (he takes the flu shot annually) I’ll admit I was hesitant to take it on the wuss-factor alone. But this flu season, with one vacation under my belt and another just days away, I decided not to take chances with my health or the health of my family.

That’s me in a photograph taken last month. I’m enjoying the stunning winter wonderland that is Mont Tremblant, and am healthy, energized and most-importantly, flu-free!
12346025_855546841229468_1373533255_n Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t actually think I’m Superwoman or immune to contracting the flu. But with careful hygiene (hand washing and sanitizing) and healthy eating habits, I’m much less likely to succumb to the dreaded virus. (And if I do, I’ll hopefully have a shorter, less intense bout of illness and recover more quickly.) …

It’s Snot Your Imagination: The Ins and Outs of Sick-Etiquette

November 21, 2015 By Lena 20 Comments

Ah, flu season. Why are you a thing?

I suppose it comes with the territory of being Canadian; as children strap on hockey skates and parents pull on their warmest toques, so shall the influenza virus make its way through schools, businesses and homes alike. It’s clockwork, it takes no prisoners, and it really, really has poor timing – striking when you’re mostly likely to least expect it.
(Well hello there, co-workers! Stock photos like this exist for a reason!)

Yes, flu season is here, and there IS such a thing called Sick-Etiquette. Simply stated, it’s a collection of unspoken rules that you should abide by during cold and flu season, and I’m happy to share them with you today! …