A lot of people think of medical ID jewelry and think about the unattractive, drug store medical IDs so many of us wore as kids. The thought of going to work wearing one of those IDs is what keeps so many adults from wearing a medical ID, until, that is, they find out that the days of uncomfortable, ugly medical IDs are over.

Thank you to everyone who entered last week's Free Stuff Friday giveaway! As you know, 5 winners were selected this week rather than the usual 3. If you are a lucky winner, you can expect to receive an email shortly.

Today, I'm catching up with our amazing customer service manager, Tracy Battmer. If you've ever placed an order over the phone or called in with questions, chances are you've spoken with Tracy.

Time to gear up for Fourth of July, and that means BBQs, sun, fun, and fireworks!

As much fun as July 4^th can be, it’s important to think of safety first during this annual celebration, as fireworks, tiki torches, fire pits, bonfires, and even plain ole sparklers can be seriously dangerous. In fact, every year, ERs in the US see an estimated 10,000 injuries just related to July 4^th fireworks, and half of those who are injured are children.

This giveaway is now closed. 

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month, and even if you’re unfamiliar with the term itself, odds are you’ve known (or known of) someone with aphasia. “Aphasia,” explains Gainesville, Florida-based Speech Language Pathologist, Sharon P. Ascher, MA, CCC-SLP, “is a language disorder that occurs when there is damage to the language center of the brain. It can be caused by trauma or stroke.” That means aphasia is more common in adults, says Ascher, because, “…stroke is more common in adults, especially older adults. Aphasia can also occur from Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI] so it is possible for a child to acquire aphasia due to a brain injury.”

Do You Have Allergies And Pets?

People with allergies tend to feel that they miss out on things now and then. It’s definitely hard having to completely avoid certain foods or places. However, in recent years, much has changed for the better. People with milk allergies have more options than ever for enjoying treats like dairy-free ice cream (that actually tastes good!) without triggering their allergies. People with gluten and wheat allergies are finding more and more food manufacturers and restaurants are catering to their increasingly common needs. And animal lovers are even finding that breeders are learning to produce pets far less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.

Send us your photo and receive $5 off your next Lauren's Hope order!

1. Take a picture of yourself or a loved one wearing a Lauren’s Hope medical ID. The face of the person and Lauren’s Hope product must be visible.

The dentist.

Even if he’s the nicest guy you know, most people simply don’t want to go in for a visit. However, those twice a year dental cleanings and exams are essential to our overall health, and ditching your dentist can have long-term, negative effects on more than your teeth and gums. In fact, failing to visit the dentist regularly and take proper care of your teeth dramatically increases your risks of periodontal disease, which is not only painful, it’s actually bad for your heart.

After retiring from 25 years of teaching 6^th grade, Lauren’s Hope customer, Traci Cunningham, was ready to embark on her second career: a life in archaeology. Just 48 years old, Traci had been doing archaeology work part time for the last ten years of her teaching career. The first ten months of this new adventure were an incredible time spent at The Center for Archaeological Studies at the University of South Alabama. “I [participated in] a field project, outside all day long, digging dirt, pushing wheelbarrows with the college kids,” recalls Traci. “I was so healthy. I hadn’t been to the doctor in about eight years. I didn’t take any prescriptions…I was in pretty good shape, 48, thin, really pretty healthy. And a month later, this hits. Just out of the blue. It started out with a stomach virus that my husband brought home. He got well within a couple of days, and I didn’t.”

Tips for Celebrating National Men’s Health Week

Every year, the week that leads up to Father’s Day in the US is also National Men’s Health Week. This week, we celebrate all the terrific men in our lives by looking out for theirs!

Every year around this time, kids set out in search of the perfect Father’s Day gifts. This typically means badgering their moms for rides and coming home with “unique” ties and golf-related socks that the awesome men in our lives wear proudly. This year, however, instead of another “World’s Best Dad!” mug (you know he has three already!), we have some suggestions of our own.

This week marks National Cancer Survivors Day, and here at Lauren’s Hope, we think that’s a pretty big deal. We reached out to our Facebook fans and asked for cancer survivors to answer one question: “What has beating cancer meant to you?” Four ladies answered us, and their answers were pretty inspirational!