Observant readers might’ve noticed that the blog has been quiet lately—really quiet, I haven’t posted for an entire week! (That’s the longest stretch ever since I started blogging.) Mind you, this wasn’t by choice; I was under strict orders not to use the computer, read, drive, or do anything that required intensive eye focus.

It all started last Monday. I woke up with a strange sensation in my right eye (fluttery, lid spasms, and very sore). Many of you know that I’ve been experiencing this on and off since 2014. Sometimes the eye is better, other times, it’s worse. Monday was much, much worse. In addition to all of the uncomfortable symptoms I’ve been dealing with, a new problem popped up: a slight gray dot in my vision. It doesn’t happen constantly, mainly just in bright light/glare, but it’s unpleasant and kind of scary. I called my doctor immediately and he thinks it’s probably a harmless floater combined with severe muscle strain. I’m going in for tests in April and will know more then.

Needless to say, this has thrown my life into chaos. Not being able to do everyday things that I usually take for granted has been so hard. There have been many moments of tears and despair. I’m feeling a little better now, and I can see, obviously, but the right eye is definitely not the way it should be. I also have constant headaches and wobbly balance because my vision is off.

One of the things that I’ve missed the most is blogging. Getting to create new posts, share fun things, and interact with my readers is what gives me so much joy! I really do love all of you and it’s so nice to be back.

For the time being, there may be a lack of new content. I’ll probably be on social media less and I may not be answering emails as promptly. Even though I feel so guilty about this, getting rest and focusing on my health has to come first.

I would love to hear advice/kind words from anyone who has time and prayers are especially appreciated!

I love learning from my readers. When I posted about what TV shows I’d been enjoying and asked for suggestions, multiple people mentioned Empire. I’d heard a lot about Fox’s smash hit, but I never found the time to watch. (I’m bad about tuning in weekly. I’d much rather get the DVD and binge).

Wouldn’t you know it, I was browsing at my local library and they had just bought Season 1. Not only did I get to see the show from the beginning, I also got to watch it for free, at my leisure. Nice, huh?

After watching, I understand what all the fuss was about. Empire truly is super with great actors, an engrossing storyline, and smart writing. While I don’t really like hip hop music, I did like the characters. Cookie is my favorite. Seriously, look at her style. I can’t get over the clothes, furs, wigs, etc, and her one-liners are hysterical. (“Not everybody can handle the streets, that’s why they made sidewalks.)

So, now I’m hooked on the urban soap opera and can’t wait to watch the next season. Thanks again, dear readers, for this tip and the many others you give me all the time.

If you’re a blogger, writer, or student, you have to check out Grammarly—a new and improved version of spell check that works up to 10 times better than a word processor.

Grammarly has all of these great features:

• Instantly find and correct over 250 types of grammatical mistakes
• Contextual spelling checker (fix correctly spelled words used in the wrong context)
• Vocabulary enhancement (word choice suggestions to instantly improve the readability of your document)
• Detect plagiarism by checking your text against over 8 billion web pages

By using Grammarly, I’m able to work faster and more efficiently and I think my writing flows better as well (less redundancy, clearer, and more concise). There is a small monthly fee for the service, but if you do a lot of writing, it would be worth it.

This post is sponsored by Weruva and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network. I’m being compensated for helping create awareness around the brand new Caloric Harmony premium dog food, but I only share information that’s relevant to readers. Weruva is not responsible for the content of this article.

One of the biggest challenges for senior dogs is keeping them active. My beloved Chihuahua, Oscar, is almost thirteen now, and he’s not as spry as he used to be! Over the years, he has mellowed a lot and developed some medical problems like Arthritis. While I know part of that is the natural aging process, I want to encourage his vitality.

I’m focusing on taking shorter but more frequent walks, interactive play time, and especially on good nutrition (the vet told me the right food is key for longevity). Feeding him junky stuff that’s full of empty calories will only cause more problems. What Oscar needs is the right balance of fat, protein, and carbs (protein being the most important). Obviously, only a premium pet food will do.

Recently, I was offered the chance to review WeRuVa® Caloric Harmony—a high quality, all natural, dog blend that’s produced in a human food facility. 

WeRuVa was created by the Forman family and is named in honor of their 3 rescue cats: Webster, Rudy, and Vanessa. Unable to find the right products for their special pets, they set out to develop their own line. 10 years, they’re still doing it, with a commitment to provide only the best for dogs and cats everywhere.

Caloric Harmony is available in three flavors; Oscar sampled the Chicken Dinner with Pumpkin. I’m very impressed with the great benefits it provides:

• Grain free and gluten free
• Free of commonly used fillers: Potato, tapioca, corn, & soy
• 80% protein – sourced from cage-free, deboned chicken
• Contains pumpkin & organic seaweed (for healthy digestion)
• Carefully selected carbs: Chickpeas, lentils, & split peas 
• NO Chinese ingredients! (This one is a biggie for me.)

Since Chihuahuas are notoriously picky, I wondered if Oscar would enjoy it. I must tell you that he did. Look at him digging into that bowl with gusto! 

As an added treat, WeRuVa was kind enough to send along some treats, too. Each pouch is good on its own, but he really loved it mixed with the dry kibble. It’s Oscar tested and Oscar approved!

WeRuVa products can be purchased at Pet360.com. You can also check out their website and connect with them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.