Currently, there is a baby formula shortage due to many factors. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, formulas like Simulac may be good in a pinch, but what did mothers do before the invention of store-bought formula? Mary Semiene Harris, the Lottery Trend architect herself, provided her input on her experiences with homemade baby formula, and a link for a recipe appears at the end of today’s post.

If your baby has milk allergies, please forego the reading of this column.

Parents,

Allow me to offer my personal experience with baby formulas. I had to call up from memory a baby formula I used out of desperation nearly 35 years ago. I raised my first child on commercial baby formula. He couldn’t take any formula with iron, and the only formula that he could take was Isomil. Enfamil, Similac, and all the other formulas I don’t remember with iron – my son could not handle them. So, my husband and I made it through the first child, our son.

Then came the second baby three years later. This time it was worse. Our daughter was born three weeks early, and she was skin and bone (and extremely long). When we picked her up, her body would uncurl into this unbelievably long and skinny thing. It frightened my husband. I didn’t feel the fear until ten days after she was born. We had to put her on formula, because I had to get back to work, and as it turned out, she couldn’t take any formulas.    

Her pediatrician said she would have to go into the hospital. Now, I was scared to death. And I went into overdrive.

I remember a time when there was no commercial formula. Not that they didn’t exist, but that my family was too poor to buy commercial formula. I wasn’t aware that there was such a thing. I was three years old when I learned to make baby formula. My mother, who worked, was relying on me to help her out when she went to work her twelve-hour job in 1958.  My first babysitting job was at the age of three-and-a-half, where my mother had no choice but to leave me in charge. One of my brothers was born in August of that year, and it was a couple of months after he was born that I learned how to make the formula. I remember standing on the chair at the stove after mixing the ingredients with my mother, and her teaching me how to test the formula’s temperature for my baby brother’s safety. I got to the point where on my own I would turn the stove off, pull the chair carefully up to the stove, take the bottle and sprinkle a little of the formula on my wrist. 

I did this so much I never forgot the formula, but I didn’t use it with my son, because, let’s face it, it was a lot easier to buy baby formula already made. I also remember the advertisement back then that so clearly stated commercial baby formula was the closest thing to mother’s milk. I wanted the best for my son, and since I wasn’t producing enough milk, I went the commercial route.

Fast forward three years when my daughter is born, and all what I learned as a new mother went out the window.

As I said, I went into overdrive. I didn’t know what they would do for my daughter in the hospital, but she looked so tiny and so skinny. I couldn’t imagine her little body taking on much more stress.

The first ten days when I breast fed her, she flourished. She would feed every 1.5 hours. When we tried to transition her to commercial formula, she started going downhill. 

I still remembered the formula, but this time, I realized that my mother never measured it. She taught me to make it the way she made it: by estimation. Some evaporated milk (Carnation or Pet), purified (actually, boiled) water to dilute the milk (Yes, you must dilute the milk because it’s concentrated, but I had a nutrition table for infants and toddlers I used to ensure that my daughter didn’t lose out on nutrients), dry baby cereal, olive oil, Molasses or Karo Syrup, and PolyVisol Vitamin drops for infants.

Fortunately, nutrition was a second hobby of mine. I had dozens of nutrition books, and I knew just where to go to determine what nutrients, as well as the required amount, were needed based on my baby daughter’s age and weight.

The main nutrition book I used was the Nutrition Almanac (John D. Kirschmann, Director with Lavon J. Dunne).

However, as it turns out, I don’t have to redevelop the baby formula recipe. Below you’ll find a link to a tried-and-true homemade baby formula recipe. 

I nourished my daughter on homemade baby formula until she was ready to graduate to solids. By then she was a healthy, plump (filled out beautifully) baby.

She grew up to be Salutatorian in a class of nearly 700. She went on to graduate from college with a high GPA in Engineering. She is almost 35 years old, and my, is she flourishing! She is beautiful with all her pearly whites (has never had a cavity), and I am extremely proud of her. I know the homemade baby formula provided her with the foundational nutrition she needed going into toddlerhood.  And had it not been for that recipe nearly 35 years ago, I dread to think what would have been.

Just think about it. Before there were commercial baby formulas, what did mothers who couldn’t breast feed their children do?

My maternal grandmother died in childbirth. She gave birth to twins, one stillborn. My uncle was raised on goat’s milk, and he lived to see his children’s children.

https://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-emergency-baby-formula-recipe/

Tonight will feature two blog posts. This first post is a guest post from Artur Meyster of careerkarma.com.

Feeling uncomfortable at work may compromise your performance and stop you from achieving happiness in life. If you’re considering quitting, you may have landed the wrong job. Recognizing when your job isn’t a good match can be hard when we don’t keep our eyes wide open. Today, many employers are doing everything they can to meet workers’ needs because of the talent shortage. However, since overwork and stress can have adverse effects on your health, just a good salary isn’t enough. 

To identify if you’re in the wrong place, here are some signs that will tell you what’s wrong with your job. They will help you make the right decision at the right time with ease.

You Hate What You Do At Work

If your current position seems like the job of your dreams during the interview, but you realize that you hate what you do, this is a huge sign you’re in the wrong place. When workers don’t enjoy what they do, they provide poor results and feel frustrated. In this case, you should consider talking to your boss to fix the issue. 

If not using your strengths is what makes you feel unmotivated, try to collaborate in projects. It’s ok not to love everything about the job. But, if the bad outweighs the good, you should quit ASAP. Feeling frustrated won’t allow you to achieve happiness and might trigger strong emotional reactions. In other words, your job isn’t healthy, and you shouldn’t stay any longer.

The Work Environment Is Terrible

If the position is everything you have always dreamed of, but the work environment is awful, quitting could be a good alternative. If you feel that your current job is negatively affecting your mental health, you shouldn’t keep it. When the work environment isn’t good, no matter how happy you are at the beginning of the day, you’ll always have a bad mood at the end of your shift. Don’t forget that keeping a good emotional state and a positive attitude is essential to move forward and improve your well-being. Thus, you should look for a job that makes you feel comfortable.

Google, for example, is concerned about workers’ health. The company offers amazing perks to help workers feel comfortable, create relationships, and improve their well-being. Google’s workers love their job and enjoy what they do. As a result, they work harder day and night to help the company achieve its goals. 

There Are No Opportunities to Grow

If you applied to your current job just because of the money, you’re probably in the wrong place. No matter how good your salary is, your job is stopping you from achieving happiness if you can’t grow. Having a monotonous life may cause mental and emotional issues. If you feel stuck at work, consider starting a new job search.

Before making your decision, you can ask your boss for a new position or a promotion. If they agree, you might be able to solve the problem. However, if they disagree, leaving is the best decision you can make. 

Keeping Your Skills Up-to-date Is a Nightmare

Job training has become essential for employees to stay relevant. The competition is getting more challenging, and if you don’t want to be taken out of the game, you must keep your skills updated. If expanding your skills and developing your potential is a nightmare at your current job, this is a clear sign you’re in the wrong place. Get a job that allows you to enroll in coding schools like Lambda School or Rithm School. They are among the best options to get equipped with in-demand programming skills and learn how to build websites.

On the other hand, if you would like to solve the issue, you can ask your boss for free coding resources. Learning how to code will allow you to implement better techniques and provide better results. Also, if you get equipped with machine learning skills, you’ll increase your chances of getting a better job as you will have what it takes to help companies succeed. 

In Summary

If you recognize any of these signs at work, you should consider getting a new job. Nowadays, several companies are concerned about workers’ education and well-being. Therefore, don’t hesitate to take the leap and get what you deserve. Don’t forget that having a great work-life balance is vital to keep excellent health and achieve happiness. 

Hello, everyone. If you’ve been following our blog, there was no Mega Millions post. This is because we went close to three days without electricity. As for Lotto Texas and Powerball? We got our electricity back late last night and will not be able to provide analysis tonight. We’ll be bringing you the latest Mega Millions analysis in Saturday’s post.

Late Sunday night/early Monday morning, Texas was hit with snow and ice, plus record-low temperatures that hadn’t been seen in decades. The state’s power grid couldn’t handle the load and parts of it needed to be shut down. Otherwise, it would have spelled an even larger catastrophe.

Because of the refusal to properly winterize Texas’s power grid, millions were left cold, hungry and frustrated. As many dealt with (near) freezing temperatures in their homes and/or pipes that had burst, some lost their lives.

The saddest part is that all of this could have been avoided. As Texas continues to get back on its feet, keep us in your thoughts, y’all.

For years, I resisted the urge to create another social media account. I rarely post on Facebook, so why invest in yet another platform…which is now owned by Facebook?

Resistance was futile, as it was late last year that I broke down and created an Instagram profile. I wanted to show my artistic side, build an audience so that when other artistic endeavors drop, there’s a fan base ready to like and spread the word. Oh, there would be pictures of food here and there, too. And then, I was hit by a double whammy.

One, I wasn’t consistent with posting and when I did post, my feed wasn’t really consistent. Number Two was something crazy in hindsight, and it’s something I do not recommend to anyone engaging in creative endeavors: I compared myself to other artists. That, and not knowing what to draw caused me to avoid Instagram altogether. I let the account set for almost a year before I posted anything.

Back in September, I participated in an art challenge. Once every three days, I’d post something, and it got me some likes. Okay, I thought, this is something I could work with. Then October came, and I started posting more drawings. I was starting to get back in the groove and finding my aesthetic.

And then, November’s Huevember challenge really helped me find something I could stick with, and as a result, I ended up archiving September and most of October’s posts. The challenge helped remind me of the other reason I joined Instagram: to maintain a consistent drawing habit.

Here are a few things I worked on in December:

A recent sketch:

Want to see more of my artsy side?  Check out my Instagram account @artofzematter. Feel free to like, comment, share and follow!  

Happy Tuesday, everyone! If you’ve stopped by this blog, chances are you want to win those millions.  Thing is, winning the lottery requires both picking the right numbers and patience. In the meantime, you need money, not just to play the lottery, but to live.

But what if you’re currently unemployed or feeling unfulfilled at your current job? Tech jobs are in high demand. Career Karma is a network of like-minded individuals helping each other seek employment and enhance their careers in the STEM world. Today’s guest post is by Artur Meyster, CTO of Career Karma:

Feeling Uncomfortable at Work? How to Tell if It’s Time to Quit

When searching for a new job, many people have high expectations. However, after starting out in a new role, sometimes things might not be what you expected. Because of the high demand for qualified talent, employers are doing whatever they can to convince skilled candidates to join their company. Even though you may be making an exceptionally high salary, you could still be unhappy.

If you’re in a job where you feel unhappy but don’t know if it’s the right time to quit, you should look for the following signs. Noticing these will help you decide if your job is not a good fit for you.

You Can’t Be Yourself

Your personality is what makes you unique. If you can’t be yourself at your job, it’s a sign that it’s the right time to quit. When employees can’t express their feelings, they feel uncomfortable and frustrated. In this case, your performance will start to decline. Talk with your boss to express your feelings and try to find a solution. But, if you can’t solve the problem, don’t hesitate to write a resignation letter.

The Company Doesn’t Practice What It Preaches

Maybe during the interview, it seemed like the job of your dreams. But, you arrive at your new job, and the company doesn’t practice what it preaches. If this happens, you should leave to look for a job where your values align with those of the company. Before applying for new jobs, do some research to see if the company’s culture meets your expectations.

Your Responsibilities Are Overwhelming

Having a lot of responsibility on your shoulders can increase your stress levels significantly. Constantly dealing with stressful situations can have adverse effects on your health. Admitting that you can’t handle your work tasks may be a blow to your pride. But, don’t hesitate to ask for help or a break if necessary. Don’t push yourself too hard and recognize when it’s time to take time off.

A full-stack developer, for example, often has to deal with stressful situations during a project. They have to meet deadlines and provide results in a short timeframe. Given that, they must ask for help, otherwise the company will not meet its deadlines. If your boss makes you feel even more stressed, it’s another sign you should leave.

The Company Does Not Encourage Learning

Keeping your skills up to date is crucial for staying relevant and increasing your future job opportunities. Having a job that provides you with personal and professional growth is essential. If learning isn’t emphasized by the company, you should think about quitting. If you can’t learn new skills, you’ll be left behind, and finding a better job will be a struggle. Ask your boss if you can take online courses or enroll in a vocational school.

Vocational schools like General Assembly, for example, help students learn in-demand programming skills. Ask your boss if you can get tuition reimbursement benefits for a course like this. Otherwise, analyze the situation and see if there’s a chance for the company to provide an on-site class.

You Don’t Feel Motivated

A lack of motivation can be a good sign you should leave your job. However, before making a decision, you should see what’s going wrong. Being unmotivated will affect your performance. Analyze if it’s the work environment or your colleagues that are harming your motivation. Collaborating on projects and engaging in teamwork can be one way to fix the issue. If your co-workers disagree to teamwork and keep you in a bad mood all day, you should think about quitting.

You Aren’t Using Your Strengths

Sometimes you may land in a new job that seems perfect. But, in a few months, you may realize that you aren’t using your best skills. If you can’t use your strengths, you will feel frustrated and overwhelmed.

For example, if a software engineer isn’t using their coding skills, they can’t learn new techniques to implement better practices. As long as you can use your strengths, you will be on the right path to success. If there’s no chance that you can use your strongest skills, you should leave.

Conclusion

A job that allows you to become better each day is essential to prepare yourself for future challenges. If your current position affects you emotionally or is holding back your career, don’t hesitate to start a new job search. Although money is important for paying the bills, remaining competitive requires more than just a handsome salary. Look for jobs that will provide you with an appropriate work-life balance and the benefits to help you level up your skills.