Do you know what to do if you are bitten by a tick?  The following tips will help you know exactly what to do to minimize the risk of infection and also help you catch any potential infection early on for best treatment outcomes. Quick treatment is key to recovery!

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Medical disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nor do I want to be. Consult your doctor for any specific concerns you may have about ticks and tick bites.

What to Do if You are Bitten by a Tick

If you are hiking, camping, or just spending time outdoors, it is important to do tick checks on everyone in your family. Ticks can transmit devastating illnesses to humans and animals, so tick checks are important any time you spend time outdoors. If you do find a tick attached during your check, here are the steps you should take. (If you’re looking for natural ways to prevent tick bites, this post might help.)

First, it’s very important that you don’t panic! Not all types of ticks cause disease (primarily the very small deer tick). In fact, according to Science News, fewer than 5% of tick bites lead to any illness at all. Stay calm and understand that most tick bites are gross, but not necessarily dangerous. However, given the severity of many tick borne illnesses, it’s important to take the following precautions anyway.

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First, remove the tick properly

Tick removal is not as simple as just grabbing it and pulling. In order to lessen the chances of the tick releasing more potential illness or parasites, get a pair of tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the head as possible. With a straight out and up motion, pull the tick out without twisting it. If you leave the head, that’s OK. You can try to grab it after, but if it won’t come out, don’t ‘fish’ for it as this can lead to infection. Your body will push it out on its own.

Clean the skin around the tick bite properly

Once you’ve removed the tick, it’s important to clean the area properly. Using an antibacterial soap, clean the area well. This is important to ward off skin infections. Don’t listen to old wives tales about how to remove the tick. Trying to drown the tick with soap, rubbing alcohol, or lotion to get it to un-attach itself will not work. Also, it goes without saying that holding a match to burn the tick off your skin is a bad idea. Both of these methods are not only ineffective, but can actually make the tick spill more saliva into your body. Since saliva is what causes the infection in the first place, it’s important to minimize how much is transmitted into your blood stream.

Decide what to do with the tick: get rid of it or keep it.

To dispose of the tick

If you just want to get rid of the tick, it’s recommended to flush it down the toilet. After you flush it, verify that it goes down and keep flushing until it is GONE.

To keep the tick for testing

Instead of flushing the tick, though, I recommend keeping it as you might want to have it tested. This is especially important if your tick bite happens to develop the bull’s eye rash or you start feeling poorly shortly after the tick bite. Some places, like the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, will test your tick for free if you fill out their form and mail in the tick. You can find more free labs by Googling ‘free tick testing.’ If you decide to keep the tick, put it in a ziplock baggie and then put the baggie in your freezer. You might want to label the baggie.

Watch for signs of illness or infection

Watch the area of the bite over the next couple of days for signs of infection or illness. Tick borne illnesses often carry symptoms such as fever, severe fatigue, headache and body aches. Often, but not always, there is a bulls-eye shaped rash at the site of the bite in Lyme disease. Watch for any signs of rash at all by drawing a circle around the bite spot so you will remember where it was. Unfortunately, the bulls-eye rash is not always totally obvious, so be vigilant when observing the body after a tick bite.

Be tested by a doctor if you are concerned

If you are concerned, make sure to see your doctor right away and ask for the Elisa and Western Blot tests. These two tests are the most common tests used to determine tick borne illnesses. However, they can have false negatives and sometimes one might be positive when the other is negative. Most people think only Lyme Disease is caused by ticks, but there are other tick borne illnesses as well. It’s important that your doctor considers more than just Lyme when examining you.

Get a second opinion if you don’t feel you have been heard

Tick borne illnesses are not something every doctor is educated in and some doctors don’t take them as seriously as they could. Make sure to seek a second opinion if you feel your voice was not heard. You can look for a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) to answer questions and for further testing. To find a LLMD in your area, visit the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society website.

Are you concerned about tick bites? Make sure you read this post on natural ways to prevent tick bites too.

Here’s my grocery report for April – what we bought and how much I spent to feed our family of six last month. I’m also including my thoughts on is a Costco Membership worth it. Do you think a Costco membership is worth it? I’d love to hear!

April Grocery Report + Is a Costco Membership Worth it

If this is your first time reading one of my grocery reports, you might want to read the explanation I included the first time I did this. I started these reports in January of 2018 so that I could better understand our spending and see how we compare to other families. Each month, I share all the food I buy to feed my family of six – two adults and four kids (15, 13, 11, 8) and compare it to the USDA Cost of Food at Home.

USDA Cost of Food at Home

Here’s what the website says about the USDA Cost of Food at Home: “The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost, differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods.”

It’s actually worth revisiting the USDA Cost of Food at Home, as it was updated in February 2019. Here’s what it says about my family:

	Thrifty	Low-Cost	Moderate	Liberal
8 yr old child	138.90	192.00	234.40	276.90
11 yr old child	158.10	208.60	272.70	317.90
13 yr old boy	168.90	240.20	300.80	354.10
15 yr old girl	165.50	206.10	245.30	304.40
Male Adult	186.70	242.10	302.00	369.50
Female Adult	165.90	210.00	257.00	329.80
	984.00	1299.00	1612.20	1952.60

According to the USDA Cost of Food at Home, I could spend anywhere from $984 to $almost $2000 each month to feed my family which I think is just crazy. I don’t feel very thrifty – I buy as much organic food as I can and we certainly don’t go hungry. However, I don’t think we have ever spent over the Low-Cost plan – and rarely do we go over the THRIFTY plan. I think we eat a pretty balanced diet full of high quality food.

What do you think of the USDA chart? All righty then, here’s what we bought in April!

What Groceries I bought in April

If you read my monthly grocery reports, the following list won’t be a big surprise. I pretty much buy the same stuff over and over again. I’m not the only one, right?

4/1/19 Jeff’s Market – $4.70

• Cottage cheese – 3.89
• Bananas – 1.81

4/2/19 – Costco – $83.17

• Organic strawberries – 5.99
• Asparagus – 5.99
• Dried cheese tortellini – 6.49
• Pecan halves – 13.49
• grape tomatoes – 5.99
• Organic carrots – 5.49
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese – 10.79
• Organic half & half – 5.99
• Organic basil hummus – 6.99 (not very good)
• Bananas – 1.49 x 2 = 2.98
• Organic spinach – 4.49
• Frozen blueberries – 8.49

4/5/19 ALDI – $64.59

• Organic frozen strawberries – 2.89 x 3 = 8.67
• Mini cucumbers – 2.49 x 2 = 4.98
• Avocados – .49 x 6 = 2.94
• Cilantro – .69
• Hash brown patties – 3.29
• Sliced mushrooms – 1.69
• Tortillas – 1.99
• Cabbage – 1.59
• Bananas – 2.36
• Organic gala apples – 4.69 (I don’t usually buy apples off season, but for some reason I did this day)
• Limes – 1.69
• Pineapple – 1.89 x 2 = 3.78
• Organic whole milk plain yogurt – 2.89 x 4 = 11.56
• Organic mini peppers – 3.29
• Organic diced tomatoes – 1.65 x 4 = 6.60
• Organic grape tomatoes – 2.39 x 2 = 4.78

4/12/19 – ALDI – $55.40

• Pineapple – 1.89 x 2 = 3.78
• Salami – 2.59
• NEVER ANY lunch meat – 3.29 x 2 = 6.28
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese – 1.49 x 2 = 2.98
• Sweet potatoes – 2.39
• Navel oranges – 1.99 x 2 = 3.98
• Corn tortillas – 1.99 x 2 = 3.98
• Bananas – 1.13
• Organic grape tomatoes – 2.39
• Chocolate bunny – 2.29 x 4 = 9.16
• Easter chocolate – 1.69
• Organic blackberries – 2.99
• Easter chocolate – 1.99 x 2 = 3.98
• Organic roma tomatoes – 2.49

4/15/19 HYVEE – 28.74

• Veggie juice – 2.99
• Organic beef stock – 2.99 (should have made my own)
• Organic whole milk – 2.59
• Organic half and half – 4.99
• Bean sprouts – 1.89
• Green cabbage – 4.86
• Organic peppers – 2.50 x 2 = 5.00
• Snow peas – 3.53

4.18/19 Costco – 202.51 (paid with my yearly Costco credit card rewards and got a refund of 44.75!)

• Wild caught Alaska salmon – 33.79 x 2 = 67.58 (I’m a little confused by this. Normally I only buy one bag of salmon at once, but I can’t remember if I may have bought 2 for some reason. It would totally be out of character for me which makes me wonder. It’s always a good idea to double check your receipts quickly before leaving stores!)
• Asparagus – 2.69
• bananas – 1.24
• Organic tortilla chips – 4.59
• Organic half and half – 1.97 x 3 = 5.91 (The expiration date was approaching and these were marked down. I bought 3 for about the regular price of one. When I got home, I opened the two extra, dumped a little out, and then froze them. I just pulled the last one out of the freezer!)
• Organic triscuits – 9.59
• Frozen strawpres – 6.99 (Can’t figure out what that was! Any ideas??)
• Organic maple syrup – 10.79
• Frozen cherries – 8.99
• Organic strawberries – 7.49
• grape tomatoes – 5.99
• Organic whole chickens – 18.07
• Frozen blueberries – 8.49
• Organic frozen strawberries – 9.59
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese – 10.79
• Organic ground beef – 19.99

4/20/19 ALDI – $8.78

• Hamburger buns – .85
• Frozen french fries – 1.65
• Winking Owl wine – 2.89 x 2 = 5.88 (includes deposit)

4/28/19 Costco – $125.15

• Organic frozen berries – 11.69
• Organic tortilla chips – 4.59
• Bagels – 5.99
• Organic carrots – 5.49
• KS U/S QTRS – 10.35 (Some kind of chicken?)
• Anjou pears – 5.89
• Mini peppers – 5.99
• Pine nut hummus – 5.99
• Organic strawberries – 6.99
• Frozen blueberries – 8.49
• Organic eggs (2 dozen) – 5.99
• Organic romaine lettuce heads – 4.99
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese – 10.79
• Cucumbers – 3.49
• Bananas – 2.48
• Snap peas – 4.49
• Asparagus – 4.49
• Rotisserie chicken – 4.99
• Grape tomatoes – 5.99 x 2 = 11.98

So, how’d I do in April? Well, out of pocket, I only spent $370.53. If you add in the cost of the groceries I got for free using my Costco credit card Rewards, I spent $573.04. Either way, that’s the lowest amount of money I’ve spent on a month of groceries yet this year. To be fair, Dan and I were gone for a week so all four kids were fed by their grandparents for a week.

Is a Costco Membership Worth it?

I have been a Costco member since they first came to Iowa City several years ago. I was excited when they opened because I was looking forward to access to more organic food options. Iowa has been slow to offer organics, in my opinion.

Anyway, I splurged and purchased the Executive Membership for $110 annually. I also applied for the Costco credit card – currently a Visa. You can get a basic Costco membership for $55, but the EM gives you 2% back on your purchases, compared to 1%. I always make back my annual fee. You only have to spend $2750 per year (or $230 per month). You can tell from my monthly grocery reports that I have no trouble spending $230 a month at Costco.

I also enjoy the credit card rewards. I spend those rewards at Costco in April to reduce my out of pocket grocery expenses. You do not have to spend the money at Costco – and they will give you cash back on whatever you don’t spend. Mind – we pay our credit card off in full each month. I do not recommend using the credit card if you carry a balance and pay interest.

I just checked on my store rebate and see that I am at $110 currently. My rewards come out at the end of May – so basically I’m shopping at Costco for free. I’ll get a little over the $110 annual fee back, but not much more, and that’s fine with me! 

What do I buy at Costco

You can see from these monthly reports that I buy a lot of organic food:

• organic half and half
• organic ground beef (in between farmer beef purchases)
• organic tortilla chips
• organic chicken when I need it
• organic frozen berries
• organic produce, fresh and frozen
• wild caught Alaska salmon

I also started buying Costco brand dog food this year. I get the Kirkland Salmon / Sweet Potato. Our dogs started having skin issues so I switched their food and they seem to do be doing well on it. Other miscellaneous items I buy at Costco:

• clothing for my kids
• flower bulbs for the garden
• the occasional bottle of wine or booze

I hear a lot of people talk about how cheap Costco gas it, but it’s almost always cheaper in my hometown than it is at Costco, so I rarely get gas there. Occasionally, I’ll buy a rotisserie chicken -their $4.99 price tag is just too cheap to pass up some days.

In all, I like Costco. I have a large family so their bulk items work well for us. I like that the company pays its employees well and provides health care. I’m happy to support Costco.

What do you think? Is a Costco membership worth it to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts on April’s grocery report!

Curious how my April Grocery Report compares to other months? Read these:

March 2019

February 2019

January 2019

If you’re looking for easy to care for plants to add to your decor, we think you will find the perfect one on this list of the 12 best house plants you can bring back to life after neglect!

The 12 Best House Plants that You Can Keep Alive!

It’s spring and lots of people are outside in the garden working with outdoor plants. That doesn’t mean you should neglect the houseplants though. We think houseplants are a wonderful addition to any home. They add an instant pop to a drab decor and they also can help your health! Did you know houseplants help keep your indoor air clear? If you don’t open your windows much, it’s even more important to add a few plants to your home.  Potted house plants also make great gifts for gardeners too!

Based on my experience with houseplants, and from scouring the internet, I’ve come up with a list of the 12 best houseplants you can grow. Most of them can tolerate abuse and neglect and somehow keep on thriving. I’ve owned most of these myself. Just a heads up – you CAN eventually kill them if the abuse and neglect continues indefinitely! Just a heads up that they are not 100% foolproof.

Tall House Plants

Tall house plants are lovely to add visual interest to your decor. Not only are each of these three plants pretty, but like every plant on this list, they are easy to maintain.

1. Dracaena Marginata – I love the way this plant looks – especially the tall ones. True story: I bought a small dracaena at ALDI and then completely forgot about it for MONTHS! My husband recently pulled it out of the dark and put it in a sunny window. We started watering it and it looks great after only a couple weeks! It’s great for low-light spaces and is durable and easy to care for.

2. Snake Plant – This plant is supposed to be nearly indestructible so if you have really bad luck with houseplants, this might be the one for you! Let the soil completely dry between waterings on this low-light tolerant beauty.

3. Rubber Plant – Rubber plants are also very forgiving plants that tolerate sporadic watering and different levels of light. They’re a pretty, and tall plant that will add beauty to you house.

Succulent House Plants and Cacti

I love succulents. In my experience they are so easy to grow. If you have a window with lots of light and can commit to watering them occasionally, succulents might deserve a place of honor in your home. Here are some of my favorites:

4. Aloe Vera- Not only is aloe easy to take care of, I love it because it’s medicinal as well. We love to smear fresh aloes on sun burns, when we accidentally get them. Aloe grows well in a variety of light conditions and tolerates people who forget to water it.

5. Jade Plant – Low water plant, great for people who forget to water! Jade plants do like lots of light though, so find a sunny window to place it near.

6. Catci – We can’t forget about the lovely cactus. There are lots of varieties of cacti – some very prickly and some not so prickly. My kids know not to touch the tiny cacti we have and so the spines don’t pose a problem at my house, but do take the spines into consideration before deciding on cacti. The key to growing catci well is choosing the right soil and making sure it drains properly.

Image by Luisella Planeta Leoni from Pixabay

Indoor Hanging Plants

7. Pothos – I have had the same pothos plant for years, and I can attest that this plant will not die. I forget to water it for long periods of time and it keeps on hanging on. Of course, it does much better if you water it, but I have not been able to kill this plant – despite killing off almost every other plant we’ve owned.

8. Spider Plant – This is another hanging plant that’s very easy to take care of. I love spider plants because they grow little babies that are easy to propagate and turn into new plants. Spider plants are also tolerant of sporadic watering and will do well in a low light environment. 

9. Wandering Jew – I’m not sure who named this plant, but I love this one because it thrives on neglect and it’s so pretty! You can forget to water it and it will do just fine, as long as you eventually get back around to it. I also love it, because like the Spider Plant, it’s very easy to use cuttings and propagate new plants too.

Lovely Plants but Require More Consideration

10. Peace Lily – This plant will thrive in low light, but if you want it to flower, it needs adequate light. It’s a very forgiving plant that will come back if you periodically forget to water it. A word of caution – the Peace Lily is poisonous, though, so if you have small children or pets who enjoy chewing on your plants, the Peace Lily may not be for you.

11. Dieffenbachia- This plant has very pretty leaves. It does well in low to medium light, but it does need to be kept evenly moist so don’t forget to water this plant.

12. African Violet – These plants are easy to keep alive if you leave them alone. They’ll do well in a low light environment but are a little pickier about how they’re watered as they don’t like to get wet and don’t want to be overly saturated. They key to African Violets is to find them a nice spot and then don’t move them as the acclimate to their area and don’t tolerate being moved that well.

Do you have a favorite house plant that I didn’t include on the list? Let me know in the comments! 

Here a few more posts you may enjoy:

Colorful Shade Loving Perennials for Show Stopping Containers

Poinsettia Care Tips for Beautiful Flowers All Season

5 Minute Succulent Planter